Prelude to a Kiss
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by Florencio B. de la Merced Jr. (fmerced@pworld.net.ph)

A fanfic inspired by the anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion...created by Gainax,
no claim whatsoever on my part.

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Shinji crossed the intersection, carefully looking in both directions before
catching up to Rei who was two to three steps ahead.  Rei was a mystery to
him.  Not even the slightess bit of response to any of his antics which
Asuka would always pay him for with murderous insults.  "Rei, where are we
going?"

The first children stopped walking almost abruptly.  Shinji bumped into her
in his haste.  "Ikari-kun?"

"What?"  Shinji asked as he tried to pick himself up.

"I brought you here to ask you a question.  Why does the second children
always goes in here?"  Rei turned to Shinji, a blank yet auspicious look on
her face.  Her hand raise deceptively, pointing at a huge doorway.

"Um, that's the department store, Ayanami-san.  It is were Asuka goes
shopping."  Shinji finally relaxed, realizing Rei's curiousity was
unfounded.

"What does she shop for?" Rei asked, lowering her hand as if satisfied a
little by Shinji's information.

"Um, I guess she buys things that she likes there."  Shinji muttered, not
really confident in himself or the answers he wasn't qualified to give
anyway.

"Likes?  Show me."  Rei grabbed Shinji's arm and dragged him inside the
department store.

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"This is...um, a mini-skirt." Shinji briefly held the flare-red mini in
front of Rei before shamefully placing it back among a pile of clothes that
were on sale.  "And, this is..." His eyes widen in surprise at the piece of
clothing he had accidentally picked up, "um, well...its something you put on
your legs...or something."  He immediately placed it back.

"Interesting.  So Asuka wears these for you?"  Rei's innocence really shown
through with that question.

Shinji's face redden in embarassment. "No. No!  It's not true.  She doesn't
wear these kind of things..."  Right there and then, visions of Asuka in
black laced pantyhose, and a mini-skirt played in his imagination.

"And with this on top?"  Rei held up a white laced bra and transfixed it
over her own chest.

Shinji now had the complete picture, and it was too much for him to resolve.
"Ack!  No.  Not really.  She just wears common clothes around
Katsuragi-san's apartment."

Rei brought her arms down, her face shown inquisitive thinking.  "Does
Katsuragi-san wear things like this?"

Shinji's head exploded, the vision of her guardian replaced Asuka in those
provocative clothes.  "Arrgh!  No!  No way!" Shinji stepped back, her arms
were fighting the ghostly images of his vivid imagination.

"I'm sorry, Ikari-kun." Rei and Shinji stared perplexed at what had just
happened to both of them.

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"You did what?!"  Asuka screamed every syllable ever so forcefully in
Shinji's ear in total disgust.

"I...I only accompanied her."  Shinji's answer was neither comforting nor
was it enough to stop Asuka's onslaught.

"You helped Wondergirl buy clothes!  What do you think where you doing,
BAKA!"  Asuka grabbed Shinji's shirt by the lapels.

"Ah!  What's wrong with that?"  For once, in any argument he had in the past
with her roommate, he made a very sound question.

"Um...well, I....you...see."  Asuka lost for words somewhat helped her calm
down.  "Oh, shit!  Shinji no BAKA!"  She let go of her grip, turning away
from Shinji in retailiation.

"Um...Asuka?"

"Nevermind.  I guess there isn't anything wrong with you JUST accompanying
Rei to MY store."  She huffed off towards the kitchen.  Shinji was about to
follow when he heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"  The swung open, and to his surprise, Rei Ayanami had paid him
a visit.

"Ayanami-san.  What are you doing here?"  Shinji allowed Rei inside.  He
noticed a small bag she was carrying, it was the same package they had
bought a while ago.

"I...came to give this to Asuka."  Rei's voice was silent yet reserved.

"Really?"  Shinji turned his head towards the kitchen.  "Asuka!  Rei is here
to give you something."

Asuka's face jutted out of the corner, she had a look of disbelief.  "What
the...Wondergirl...you?"

"Asuka, this is for you."  Rei handed the bag to Asuka as she finally came
from the corner that she was hiding from.  "I think you may need them."

Asuka looked at the gift, digging inside to find some lingerie.  "What are
these for?  Rei?"

"I thought you might need them, because Ikari-kun seems to see you a lot in
those kind of clothes, but he says you don't really wear them for him."
Rei's revelation both stunned Asuka and Shinji.

"What?"  Shinji stepped back, fearing for an unknown danger lurking in his
midst.

"You mean?"  Asuka glared at Shinji.  "Shinji-BAKA!  You've been peeping at
my room haven't you!  Why you pervert!!!"

Shinji crosed his arms as the bag of clothing slapped across his being again
and again.  "Arrgh!  Asuka its not true!"

"I'll show you!  BAKA!  ANTA BAKA!"  Her pummelling continued.  Rei looked
on with mystery.

Finally, about a minute or so of undisturbed beating, Shinji wrestled the
weapon away from Asuka.  "It's not what you think!"

Asuka didn't want to believe and she struggled with Shinji to grab her gift
back.  "I'll kill you, I swear Shinji Ikari!"

"Don't do that."  Rei's voice took the two out of their cat quarrel.  They
turned to Rei, who to their even more surprised imagination, had stripped
off her school uniform and was now wearing a black laced pantyhose, a red
miniskit and the same laced bra that had those slinkly straps that was just
offset on her shoulders.  "I'll do it, Asuka...if you won't."

Shinji eyes were wide open, the sight that was before him was a once in a
lifetime experience...unfortunately a hand cut off his pleasure the same
instant.

"What are you doing?!!"  Asuka had covered Shinji's eyes, blocking him as
much as she could from the freak show Rei was putting up.  "Get you clothes
back on, freak!"  She pushed Shinji farther away from Rei, she tussled and
struggled in using her hands, arms, and body blocking Shinji's view.

"If you won't make Ikari-kun happy, I will."  That reply shook Asuka down to
her very soul.  Her head was spinning more and more...she looked at Rei, her
gorgeous body was willing and so full of confidence..it hurt her even more.
She struggled to gain control of her senses, her resolute integrity and
consciousness.  In the end the stimulation surged in her head, forcing the
blood flowing within her.  The force of anger, jelousy and pride raged
against the timidness, corruption and chaos she was feeling in her heart and
soul.

Then she opened her eyes.  Sunlight was filling her room, and the alarm
clock had a minute left till it was about to ring for the morning.  She
walked out of her room, still shaken but unstirred.  She reached Shinji's
room.  She took a peek inside.  She saw him, cradled in a womb like figure,
embracing his very nature just before he woke.  She slid in quietly and
approached Shinji's unmoving figure.  "Baka."  She whispered in the still
cold air and in her heart as well.  She kneeled down, brushed his hair off
his rising face and slowly kissed him on the cheek.  "There, happy?"  He
didn't answer her.

The doors slid open and then closed.  Just then, the alarm clock sounded off
and the day was about to start.

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The End

C & C privately, coz for whatever reason I don't just know...but I can't
subscribe to the ffml anymore...shucks.