“Hey - I’m glad you’re okay Asuka...” Shinji started tentatively to the prone form of Asuka who sat curled up in a ball of misery. Behind her was a yellow tape which read “caution”, quarantining her from the rest of the people who resided in Tokyo -3 -- not  that there were many people out so soon after an event like this.
“Shut up. Who in the HELL is okay? How could it get any worse? That bitch - that little bitch Rei rescued me. I hate her! I hate you Shinji, I hate EVERYTHING!” With that Asuka broke down into sobs of anger and grief. Shinji, not certain of what to do, thinking and wanting to comforting her, but not wishing to make her any angrier, just stood there for a few moments. Finally, unable to see the Asuka he knew to change so much, he walked under the tape, the warning unheeded, knelt down beside her, and slowly and cautiously put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Asuka resisted, trying to shoulder him away, but Shinji persisted and she let herself in the end to be comforted.
Resting her head against his cheek, she slowly stopped weeping and fell into a doze from the exhaustion of the mental assault which she had just experienced. Noticing this, Shinji, cradling her in his arms, wondered at how peaceful, serene and beautiful she looked as she was resting. Then, decisive, he hooked an arm at the back of her knees, placed her arm around his neck and lifted her up. He was amazed at how light she was, and as he pondered over this, he made his way ,slowly, so as to not wake the girl, back to the only place in this city he could call home.
As people were still unnerved from the coming of an Angel, not many were out of the shelters. No one saw Shinji and Asuka, or wondered about why these two pilots, one walking, the other in his arms, who protected their city were moving through the streets of Tokyo -3.
By coincidence, the place where Evangelion Unit - 02 was not very far from Misato Katsuragi’s apartment, but it was still a sizeable distance. Today however, Shinji was able to make without the slightest bit of difficulty, even with the extra weight of Asuka.
Misato wasn’t home when Shinji arrived. Not feeling tired as of yet, he laid Asuka down on the couch in the living room and sat next to her, pushing locks of auburn hair that fell over face back to their rightful position.
Still in their plugsuits, Shinji watched her as she slept. As he watched, he thought about her and why she acted the way she always did in front of most people. *Why?* he thought.*Why must she be so full of herself and obnoxious? Is it to hide her true feelings about everything? Why can’t she just be herself? And why am I watching her? Is there any reason?* Although he said this to himself he still watched her, thinking it was the right thing to do. *Is it....is it because...I love her?*
*          *         *
Back at NERV headquarters, Captain Misato Katsuragi was worried.
“Misato, don’t you think you should be going home now?” Ritsuko asked.
“I can’t. The Commander has given me some paper work to fill out” *Heartless bastard*
“Oh, I see.” There was a long pause between the two friends, whose friendship which had been recently strained to a breaking point. Ritsuko swivelled away from her terminal to see Misato still standing there, seemingly lost in her own world.
“Misato..?”
“Huh? Hmm..?”
“Didn’t you say you had work to do?”
“Oh yeah...I’m just worried about Asuka.”
“Obviously. Well I am too. I hope her ego hasn’t been that damaged.” Another pause.
“Well, I guess I better get going, huh?”
“Yes. And by the way. Do you know that the Commander has ordered me to keep Asuka as the Second Child?”
“What? Even though she disobeyed a direct order?”
“Yes. As to why? I’m not certain myself. From her current state of mind...I’m not sure if she’ll even be able to synchronise with her Eva.”
“What is the Commander planning?”
“That is what I would like to know.”
*          *         *
“It is impossible to retrieve the Lance of Longinus.” Kihl, head of the Committee, began the discussion.
“Why did you use it?”
“And about the Eva series. We don’t have them all scheduled yet.”
The members of the Committee called SEELE asked questions almost on top of each other, seeking to find the answers they needed from the representation of Commander Ikari.
“Destroying an Angel is our top priority. There was no other way.” Commander Ikari argued calmly and firmly.
“No other way? You had better come up with a more believable excuse than that.” Another SEELE member questioned.
“Your actions these days belie your lack of respect for this Committee.” Kihl said.
“The Lance of Longinus was the only weapon available, at the time, with enough power to bypass the Angel’s A.T Field and destroy the target. You may access the Magi’s data records to confirm that information.”
“Yes, but you used the Lance without our consent. That itself is inexcusable.”
“The need was justification enough. Otherwise Tokyo -3 and the rest of the world would have ended in Third Impact.” Shortly after Ikari arrogantly continued.
“I see no further need to continue this endless loop of a debate and I now take my leave.” With that the representation of the Commander faded.
After a pause of shock and anger, Kihl said to no one in particular. “ Are you planning on betraying us Ikari?”
*          *         *
Shinji didn’t sleep. He couldn’t. He was too worried about Asuka. Earlier Misato had rung, and he thought about what they had discussed.

“Hello?”
“Shinji?”
“Yes?”
“Shinji. Are you alright?”
“Yes I’m fine. But Asuka...”
“I’m sure she’ll be okay. So she’s with you?”
“Yeah. I brought her home. Why is there a problem?”
“It’s just that some NERV agents just told me that they couldn’t find Asuka. I’ll tell them to call off the search and forget about their previous orders.”
“What orders?”
“Um..well I don’t think you would like to know.” Now, regretting what she just said, mentally kicking herself.
“TELL me.” Shinji said a bit more firmly than he meant. Misato wondered at why Shinji was being so protective all of a sudden.
“Well..they were ordered to pick up Asuka and bring her to the hospital to check her state of mental health.”
“She’s fine Misato. She’s just angry and depressed. She’ll be alright.”
“Okay...Shinji, I won’t be back until tomorrow. Will you two be alright until then?”
“Yes, we’ll be fine. Why? What’s happening?”
“It’s nothing I just have some work to do.”
“...Work? at a time like this? You should be here for Asuka as well Misato.”
“I know. It’s just that the Co- it’s just that it’s very important and it can’t be delayed.” Misato stopped herself from saying the Commander just in time.”
 
 
 

“...okay.” Shinji replied hesitantly, feeling that something was up.
“Oh, yeah and Shinji? If Asuka wakes up tell her she’s still the pilot of Unit- 02.”
“What? Who ordered that?”
“The Commander.”
“My father? But why?”
“I don’t know. It might help Asuka feel better if you tell that....well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Yeah...see you tomorrow.”

When Shinji had returned to Asuka, she seemed slightly frantic in her sleep, reaching out. Shinji sat down beside her as lightly as possible and put his hand over hers. Then in death grip, she held his hand fiercely and quietened down, becoming less restless.
That was many hours ago. It was now 2a.m. And so Shinji’s silent vigil continued.

*
At 5a.m, Asuka was still holding onto Shinji’s hand. Suddenly, she woke with a start.
“Huh? Shinji? What are you doing? How did we get back home?”
Afraid that she might be angry, he stuttered. “ I..er..I..” Seeing his hand holding hers, she pulled it back. Slightly miffed, Shinji continued. “I..well I sort of carried you back home” Asuka’s eyes widened. *He carried me all the way to here? I didn’t know he was that strong.*
“All the way home? Are you sure? Didn’t Misato take us?”
“No. She’s still at work. She’s going to be there until tomorrow some time.”
Asuka noticed that Shinji seemed rather tired. A few moments of silence passed between the pair before Shinji spoke again.
“Are you going to be alright now Asuka?”
“What about you? You don’t look so good yourself.”
“Well that’s because I’ve been awake all night.”
“All night? But...why?” *Why would he stay awake all night for me?*
“Well..it just seemed like the right thing to do at the moment. ....I..I was worried about you Asuka. I couldn’t sleep unless I knew you would be okay. I guess...I guess it’s because I care about you. I was so scared you were going to die when my father -Shinji winced- didn’t let me help you. I didn’t know what I would do without you.” Asuka was speechless after this truth that he had admitted to. Shinji took the silence the wrong way.
“No.” He said firmly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” With that he stalked off angrily to his room, not believing what he had just said and the fool he must have made of himself. *Why would Asuka like me? I’m weak and a coward. She must think i’m stupid as she always does. She could have anyone she wants and I am nobody to her.*
Not fully registering what he just said and how he felt about her, Asuka heard him berating himself under his breath. As his words sunk in Asuka suddenly felt very guilty. *I’ve been terrible to him. All I’ve done since we’ve met each other is insult him. yet he said he cared about me. How could he like me after all I‘ve done to him? Is it my appearance? Or does he like me for the true me inside?* Thinking about this, Asuka also thought about all the moments of herself and Shinji. She thought about the time he had saved her in the volcano. She thought about the time they had kissed. She had liked it then but would never have admitted it at the time.  She thought about other things up to now. *Shinji had carried me home. He watched over me the whole night. He must care for me a lot. And I  think...I think I care about him the same way.* And so, finally, Asuka had at last accepted what she had known all along, but never had acknowledged -she loved him.
With that thought in mind she went over to Shinji’s room and cautiously entered it. Shinji was lying on his bed and staring up at the ceiling - one of his favourite pass timers. Standing at the door, Asuka began speaking.
“Shinji...I’m sorry that..” But Shinji interupted her.
“That you don’t care about me the same way I care about you? That’s just like you.” Suddenly angry. Asuka was taken aback. *Shinji was never angry at anyone unless it was at his father.*
“Shinji! That’s not it!” Asuka said also raising her voice.
“Then what else could it be?” Shinji replied almost shouting. “You’ve never shown that you even like me. You always insult me and put me down, ever since we met.”
 “Shinji I..”
“You what? Feel sorry for me? Feel sorry that I’m such a weakling and a coward?”
“I....love you.” Asuka said in a small voice.
“Of course you feel sorry for me -” Continuing his mad tirade. Then the words sunk in. “-what?”
“I said I love you, you idiot!”
“Asuka...” Shinji quickly got up and stood in front of Asuka. Asuka noticed that he was slightly taller than before, a bit taller than her now, seemingly more mature. Gazing into his eyes, she saw that they were a dark blue, and not dark brown as she had always thought before.
“Asuka..do you really mean that?” Shinji asked, daring to hope.
“Here. I’ll prove it.” With that Asuka moved closer to him and approach his lips with her own. Remembering the time he had done this before, he was a lot more comfortable now being able to breathe, and he kissed her this time, his hands resting at her waist.
Surprised at his decisiveness, she gasped a bit but then responded to his kiss. When they finally broke it Shinji smiled slightly and saw Asuka with a small smile aimed at him.
“Idiot.” she said fondly. “And I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For everything that I’ve called you. And all the other things. I’m sorry Shinji.”
“It’s okay Asuka.” He replied, his hands still at her waist..
“Shinji..thankyou for everything. Thankyou for helping me after the Angel - ” Then remembering all that had happened the previous day, she slumped to the floor, on her knees, a fist crammed into her mouth to stop herself from crying again.
“Asuka! What’s wrong?” Shinji asked his hands following her down before the rest of his body.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” She said almost hysterically. “I’ll never be able to pilot Eva again. You say your the weakling? Well that’s not true. I’m the weakling. Only a weakling couldn’t pilot an Eva.”
“Asuka you’re not -- I know your not.” Then remebering what Misato told him.“Oh yeah...I almost forgot to tell you - my father ordered Ritsuko  to keep you as the pilot of Unit-02!” Her reaction was not really what he had expected.
“You almost forgot?” Asuka’s mood suddenly changed from sad to angry. Shinji was amazed at how her mood could turn. Smacking him on the head. “How could you forget you idiot? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Ow! I-I’m sorry. It’s just that I was distracted.”
“And by WHAT?”
“Well..er..you.” Asuka backed down.
“Well that’s okay then.”
“What?” *Since when did Asuka say something like that?* Shinji thought to himself.
“But why? I doubt I could even synchronise with it.” Asuka went on as if he hadn’t spoken, feeling tears build up again.
“I believe you can Asuka.”
“You think so, Shinji?”
“Yes I do. Just don’t think about it too much okay?”
“Shinji, that’s why I like you so much.” Asuka said hugging him. “Shinji?”
“Uh..Yeah?”
“Can I sleep here today?”
“..yeah..okay.” Shinji then made to go for the lounge when Asuka stopped him.
“Shinji, where are you going?”
“What? To the lounge..?”
“Come here with me.”
“What do you mean...er..ng..don’t you think we’re er..a little bit young fo--”
“OF COURSE NOT THAT YOU IDIOT!!!” yelled at him, then lowered her voice. “I just want to be with you today.” With that Shinji got into his bed with Asuka. As they lay there, Shinji put his had on top of hers. Asuka smiled at him, and they both fell asleep to the dawning of a new day, neither of them noticing, nor caring that they were still wearing their plugsuits.