Seeing as I have a bad case of writers' block, I'm sending out what I
have in hopes of gathering comments and/or ideas. Please respond? It'd
be most appreciated, even if to say "I don't like it. You suck."

To Lem Chen and Brazil... If you wanted the entire FINISHED chapter...
sorry. I'm not there yet ;)

-M.
---
***********************W*A*R*N*I*N*G************************
NOTE: Neon Genesis Evangelion and the following fanfic
express religious and moral views which may not coincide
with your own. This fic contains spoilers. Also, the Angels
from here on out are not in order of the original series.
Please read at your own risk. Thank you for your time.
************************************************************

Neon Genesis Evangelion (C) GAINAX / Project Eva. * TV Tokyo
* NAS

Released in North America by A.D.V. Films.
Planning and Original Story: GAINAX

This story takes over after NGE 0:6 (ep 12) and has been
affected by the events contained within those episodes. To
better understand this chapter the author strongly advises
reading the preceding chapter.
------------------------------------------------------------
                        Presenting-
       An original Neon Genesis Evangelion fanfiction
             by: Mark Eymer (saotome@micron.net)

                   Neon Genesis Evangelion
              It's Just Been One of Those Lives
                          Chapter 2
------------------------------------------------------------

[Obligatory nostalgic sequence about the past week of how
 Shinji has been acting lately, what with his new outlook on
 life and such as it is. Do this from Misato's view, Asuka's
 view, and then center it on Shinji and continue. Split each
 up and mix them into the story. ie: Misato, story, Asuka,
 story, Shinji, rest of story.]

        Audible only because of the increased volume in the
shout, Misato heard Shinji's trailing words as he left the
apartment for school.

        "Misato! I'm taking off!"

        Sitting slightly up in the tub, Misato called back
in the sweetest voice she could muster for this time in the
morning, "Alright, Shinji! Have fun!"

        The sound of an automatic, sliding door opening and
then closing soon after announced the exit of Shinji and
Asuka.

        The idea that Shinji and Asuka were both leaving for
school at the same time was not a foreign one. That happened
quite frequently, actually. The foreign idea was that of
Shinji and Asuka continuing on to school together. Normally,
the two would split into their own respective group of
friends and continue to school seperately.

        However, since the incident with the eleventh Angel,
and Shinji's near death, things had been steadily changing.
For one, Shinji was much more passive about things that
dealt with other people's feelings toward him. He was still
the same old Shinji, he just didn't seem to care about what
people thought of him, anymore. His outward appearance
hadn't changed in the slightest, and his attitude toward
most things was a replica of how it had been before...
almost.

        Now, if he wanted something done he'd just up and do
it. No ifs, ands or buts to it, he'd take charge and if a
change needed to be made, he'd make it. Misato was actually
quite impressed with his new attitude towards life.

        Adding to her euphoria was the fact that he and
Asuka had scarcely gone head to head about anything lately.
They had not fought for a solid week. Not once, save a scant 
misunderstanding, since Shinji's experience.

        Trouble always found ways to rear its igly head,
though, and Misato found that she could not get the details
of Shinji's near death experience out of him at any cost.
Whenever she approached him with it he would simply dodge
the question. Tactfully dodge the question in fact, tact
being a new thing... for Shinji at least. There was the
possibility that he might just refuse to speak about his
'death', too, though.

        Not only that, but he was also closed mouth about
his experiences inside the Evangelion while trapped in the
Angel. The same mysterious reluctance that Misato found when
querying about the afterlife, she also found when asking
about the sixteen hours Shinji had spent preparing to rot
and die inside the eleventh Angel.

        Becoming annoyed at his repeated refusal to describe
his ethereal experiences, Misato had once outright ordered
him to talk. He had outright refused, retiring to his room
shortly thereafter and refusing to emerge until Misato had
agreed to completely drop the subject.

        Come to think of it, though, that was one of the
things that remained one of the most astounding changes as a
result of Shinji's experiences. Misato had fully expected
him to simply slip back into the depressed self he had been;
the doormat. Backbone was now where there was none before.
Ever since he had 'died', Shinji had not stepped down from
anything concerning anyone. He hadn't let others walk on
him to benefit themselves by his own submission.

        Stifling a giggle, she remembered the first time
Asuka had discovered this change. The three had been sitting
around the television, quietly watching a documentary
detailing the events of the Second Impact. Thoroughly bored,
Asuka had opted to change the channel; what a mistake. Shinji
had simply turned to her, asked, "What are you doing?" and
stared steadily at her.

        "Changing the channel, dummkopf. What does it look
like? Don't tell me you were actually _enjoying_ that
show..." Asuka had sassily replied.

        Gaze not wavering in the slightest, Shinji had
returned, "Maybe I was... dummkopf." He then picked up his
remote and changed the channel back to its original
placement.

        Talk about a Kodak moment! Asuka's jaw had hit the
floor. Misato couldn't stop herself and had burst out
laughing at Asuka's shocked expression. This hadn't helped
matters any but had, in effect, compounded the problem.

        Asuka had simply risen, glared daggers at the back
of Shinji's head, hushed Misato's laughter with a somewhat
reproachful stare, and had retreated to her room for the
night. Upon leaving she had icily informed the two that she
was going to bed.

        Shinji had simply lifted a hand, and not turning,
waved at her before she stormed off. Misato hadn't laughed
that hard in a long time.

        Recalling more details about that night, Misato
remembered thinking how Shinji had adopted a rather "Carpe
diem!" attitude toward everything. Judging from the fond
way he tended to look at Asuka when she wasn't aware,
though, it might have been safe to say it was becoming a
"Carpe Asuka!" attitude.

        The possibility of Asuka and Shinji getting together
had definitely made itself known in the mind of Misato
Katsuragi. In fact, she thought the two would make a good
couple...

        A grin borne of scheming spread upon Misato's face
as something sprung to mind. She could help the two realize
their feelings for the other. She had a new mission! She
_would_ see Shinji and Asuka together before the end of the
week. Provided her alcoholic tendencies didn't cause her to
forget before that time...

        Speaking of which... time for a beer.

        Misato slowly rose from the tub and toweled the
remaining water from her skin. Time to greet another day.

-------------------------

        As the morning wore slowly on, two figures could be
seen walking together to school. One, decidedly female, was
walking beside another, definitely male in appearance, when
she suddenly seemed to perk up as a calculative grin played
along her lips.
        
        In the midst of a contemplative silence, Shinji
was roused from his thoughts of school by an all too
familiar voice calling, "Ohhh, Shinji..."

        A week ago Shinji Ikari would have cringed at the
tone with which he was currently being spoken to. Now,
though, a small smile graced his features as he turned to
face his companion.
        
        "Yes, Asuka?" he calmly replied.

        "Who do you... like?"

        Mirthful amusement showed in Shinji's eyes as he
made a show of shaking his head in feigned exasperation.
"What the hell kind of question is _that_, Asuka?" He had
been slightly surprised by her forward manner, truth be
told, but not caring much about the outcome, he decided to
play along in hopes of passing the time.

        "It's a totally legitimate question, dummkopf!
Now, who do you like?"

        "What do you mean who do I like?"

        "What girls do you like?"

        Shinji stifled a chuckle... just barely. "What
_girls_ do I like?! Since when have _you_ cared about that?
Besides... I'm male. I like almost every girl I meet..."
Grinning in satisfaction at Asuka's indignant expression,
Shinji added, "As friends."

        She humphed cutely and sighed, "Stupid, Shinji. Not
a platonic kind of like, dummkopf! I mean _really_ like."

        Feining understanding, Shinji played along, "OOOooh!
You mean _like_ like. I understand, now."

        "So?"

        "So what?" Shinji prodded.

        Asuka seemed to twitch slightly as her face turned a
light shade of red. "SO WHO DO YOU _LIKE_ LIKE, YOU IDIOT!"

        Shinji waited until the ringing in his ears died
down before answering. "I don't know... Who are my choices?"

        "What do you _mean_ choices?!"

        "I mean who do I have to choose from?"

        "Any girls you know! What are you, stupid?!"

        "Any girls I know?... There are so many... There's
that supermodel... whatzername, and then there's that
actress... and then the star of 'Sleepless Tokyo' has a
_really_ nice pair of-"

        "Alright, already!"

        "Eyes," Shinji clarified with a smirk.
        
        Asuka was turning a delightful shade of crimson at
this point. As she normalized her blood pressure the vein in
her forehead stopped throbbing; something Shinji found
immensly ammusing for some reason. "Let's see... Who do you
_like_ like out of the following: Misato, Wonder Girl,
Hikari, any other girl at school or... me?"

        "You?... You must really think I'm stupid."

        "What? Why?!"

        "If I liked you then _why_ would I want to tell
_you_ that? So you could make fun of me or something?"

        "Ahh... So you _do_ like me! I knew it!"

        "Wait a minute... I never said that. I simply said
_if_ I liked you, you'd probably make fun of me." Shinji had
slipped up on that last one... time for him to recover the
control of the conversation. Grinning he continued, "And
maybe I like Ayanami."

        "WONDER GIRL?!"

        Shinji cracked a smile first, but soon found himself
reduced to a laughing mess as he beheld Asuka's outrageous
expression. He had never seen someone turn so red before!

        "So you were kidding, then?!"

        Shinji wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes as he
replied evenly, "Maybe. And then again, maybe I like you or
someone else for that matter."

        Suffice it to say, the rest of the walk to school
was punctuated by silence.

[Begin chapter. This one will deal with more character
 development. Shinji and Asuka becoming closer. Having a
 heart to heart. Fighting. More of Misato getting drunk.
 Add Kaji in for some fun. Incorporate more Eva characters:
 Gendo, Hyuga, Maya, Ritsuko, Pen Pen, Fuyutski, Hikari,
 Touji, Kensuke, and maybe even the old fossils that make up
 SEELE. Start to develop relationship between Touji and
 Hikari, possibly... undecided as of late. Definitely on the
 "to do" list but may not begin it just yet.]

------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Notes:

        Firstly... There is no such show, to my knowledge,
called 'Sleepless Tokyo'. I just needed a name suiting a
cheesy sounding drama, or soap or something. Any better
ideas on one? I'll use it.
        
        It's about time I got this chapter underway.
Something occured to me while I was in the preliminary
planning and outlining of this chapter... namely, out of the
few fanfics I've ever written, I've never seriously
continued any one of them. Well, there's got to be a first
time for everything I suppose. I've tried to center the
chapter around character development as well as developing
Shinji's new attitude towards life in general. See last
chapter if you haven't already. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed
reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Comments and
criticism are always welcome.

Special thanks go to:
-GAINAX / Project Eva. and Hideki Anno for this wonderfully
 thought provoking universe wherein I can spend my time.
-A.D.V. Films for releasing this with such appropriate voice
 actors. Those against dubs in general must hate them, but I
 personally like them.
-Andrew Huang for stimulating many of the thoughts that went
 into this piece, growing from my discussions with him about
 his own series, Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut (Great fic).
And to:
-White Wolf and the FFML for being a place wherein I may
 spread the offspring of my brain and imagination.

Thank you for reading,

Mark Eymer (saotome@micron.net)