Thanks to Ammadeau, Donny Cheng, Alan Harnum, Richard Lawson, 
              and the C*B*L for pre-reading duties.


Characters belong to Gainax, and they need the money more than I 
         do probably - unless they get audited for fun.



                            P A G E S

                         by Lara Bartram
                         ---------------

Page 1


	"You're insufferable!"
	"Just like you."
	"Why I put up with you..."
	"I offered to buy the pizza and beer."
	Yui paused.  "Then why haven't you yet?"
	Smiling, Gendo answered, "As the lady wishes."  Another 
night of studying, alone with Yui, and he wasn't afraid to admit 
that he found her... interesting.  "What would you like on the 
pizza?"
	Already looking back at her notes and frowning, Yui waved 
her hand.  "Anything is fine.  Just as long as it doesn't 
resemble a vegetable."
	"No vegetables.  I can do that."

	So maybe it had been one beer too many, but Yui had just 
continued drinking.  He had matched her, and as the night wore 
on, less and less studying was accomplished.
	Instead, stories were exchanged about classes, families, 
friends, jobs...
	"Oh yeah.  The old man looks at me and I can tell he's 
undressing me in his head," Yui said, chomping noisily on 
another piece of pizza.
	"You're surprised?  He's a professor.  They're supposed to 
do that."
	Yui stared at Gendo.  "You're going into teaching, aren't 
you?"
	Laughing, he shook his head.  "No way.  I hate kids.  I'd 
avoid teaching as much for them as myself."
	Yui nodded then let out a sigh.  "I want to have kids 
someday.  I can feel my biological clock ticking..."  She looked 
at Gendo, the look he was giving her, and frowned.  "It's not a 
joke!  There really is a biological clock!"
	Gendo looked at her for a moment, then drained his beer.  
"So," he began, "what time does yours say it is?"
	There was something in his voice, his eyes, the way he was 
seated, that told Yui what was about to happen.  She found she 
didn't really feel like stopping him.
	In fact, when he leaned forward and kissed her, she 
started to kiss him back.  Nothing hot and heavy, but enough to 
go to the next step if they wanted.  But only if they wanted.
	Gendo would never, never ever, force her into something 
she didn't want to do.  He was more considerate, more thoughtful 
than the usual college rabble.  Of course, he was also older 
than the other students...  Older than herself, but that didn't 
matter to her.
	The hesitant touch of his hand on her shoulder reminded 
Yui that they were in awkward positions to be continuing what 
they were doing.
	Yui pulled away.  "You smell like beer, Gendo."
	"So do you."  He smiled, but it wasn't a lecherous or 
greasy smile; it was small, and maybe a little shy.
	When she stood, it was not with the expectation that they 
would move on to the next step, but to simply... maintain the 
status quo.  Now sitting on the simple bed in his room, she 
patted the spot next to her.  "I don't think we got much 
studying done tonight," she said as he stood and walked toward 
her.
	"I think physics, especially of light and heat, is 
something," Gendo said as he sat next to her, "we can study 
without any books."
	Yui watched him, his unusually slim body moving with 
purpose even while he was just sitting.  "Light," she said 
quietly, reaching over to turn the lamp off.
	The room was plunged into darkness except for the safety 
lights outside shining through the window shade, casting shadows 
across them.
	"Heat?" Gendo asked.
	"You still smell like beer."

---

Page 2


	Morning was something Gendo officially hated.  The process 
of waking up when the body was still tired was akin to reverse 
murder.
	This morning was no different... except for one thing.  
Squeezed against him in his small bed was Yui.  They were both 
still fully clothed, though whether that was a good thing or not 
he wasn't sure.
	He remembered, quite clearly, kissing her, and her kissing 
back.  Then they had moved to the bed and continued things.  And 
then... they must have simply fallen asleep.  What a waste of a 
bed and bodily contact.
	"Yui," he whispered, leaving his arms around her.  "It's 
morning."
	Groaning, Yui opened her eyes slowly.  "What happened?" 
she asked, seemingly unfazed by the fact she was in Gendo's bed 
and he had his arms around her.
	"You fell asleep.  Guess I did too."
	"Sleep?  That's all?"
	"Of course.  I wouldn't do anything like that to you."  He 
quickly removed his arms, realizing they weren't exactly helping 
his claim of.  "I think all that studying tired us out."
	Yui looked back at his somewhat sickly smile.  "You... 
didn't have to do that."
	"Do what?"
	Taking one of his hands, Yui placed it so that it rested 
on her stomach.  "I believe you.  I trust you."  She started to 
tilt her head back.
	He started to lean forward.
	The two quickly pulled apart, grimacing.  Morning beer 
breath.
	"That reminds me," Yui said, sitting up.  "I have a class 
I need to get to."  She gave him a charmingly harsh glare.  "And 
so do you, if I'm not mistaken."
	Gendo leaned back and groaned while rubbing his eyes.  At 
least he had possessed enough common sense to remove his glasses 
the previous night.  "I hate that professor.  I didn't think it 
was possible to drone on for that long and not say anything 
useful."
	"France during the industrial revolution isn't completely 
useless, is it?"
	He looked at her evenly.  "Yes."
	Silence hung between them until Gendo finally said, "I 
really want to kiss you now."
	"It wasn't the beer last night?"
	"No.  I've had more than that before exams.  I knew 
exactly what I was doing," he answered cockily.  Then a thought 
struck him.  "What about you?"
	Yui didn't answer right away, instead licking her lips.  
"I... don't think that would be a problem."
	Rejoicing inside, Gendo sat up and put his arm around her 
shoulder.  The morning beer breath didn't deter them this time 
as they kissed again.
	Whatever love was, whatever form it took in each one of 
them, and whatever drew two people together, Gendo found he 
didn't particularly care as long as it meant he was with Yui.  
Stubborn, overconfident, nagging, beautiful Yui.
	The things he should have hated about her he found 
endearing, and it had nothing to do with her looks.  It was 
everything about her as a person.  He had to have her.
	"Gendo," she said when they parted, "we're going to be 
late for class."
	"I know," he replied and kissed her again.
	No other man would live up to it.  It didn't matter how 
old they were, how smart, how much money they had...  When she 
was with Gendo, every moment for Yui was like something waiting 
to happen.  She liked that, was used to it from being around him 
so much.
	She really hoped something happened... soon.

---

Page 3


	"I still need to get ready.  I can't go to class in these 
clothes."
	"They're perfectly fine.  You don't need to go to class 
anyway," Gendo asserted.  "Breakfast would be better than 
sitting in that lecture hall any day."
	Pushing his hands away, Yui stood.  "I probably look 
terrible.  This shirt..."  She looked down at herself and made a 
disgusted sound.  "It's all wrinkled."  Then she began to gather 
her things.  "And all my stuff...  I'm going to end up sitting 
in the front."
	Shaking his head, Gendo stood and grabbed Yui from behind.  
"Relax.  One day won't kill you, will it?  Come on.  Just one 
day."  He turned her around.  "Just one day."
	Her eyes studied his face.  "Just this once.  Since you 
bought the pizza and beer," she said, giving in.
	"Now that you've realized what a waste class is, I'm going 
to skip the breakfast suggestion."  Slipping his arms around 
her, he smiled and tried to kiss her.
	"None of that, Rokubungi.  I am not going to waste my 
entire day acting like some crazed animal," Yui snapped, though 
did nothing to remove his arms.  "I can catch up on the studying 
I should have been doing last night."
	Leaning down, Gendo nuzzled her neck.  "How about I bring 
back breakfast, and then we can study?  No funny business."
	Yui reciprocated his actions, closing her eyes and 
smiling.  After softly kissing his neck, she nodded.  "Okay.  No 
funny business; just studying."
	"As you wish."  He pulled back, their cheeks rubbing 
against each other.  "I'll be back in a little bit then."  
Giving Yui a quick kiss on the lips, he grabbed his glasses from 
the table and left.
	"Why I put up with him..." she muttered to herself.

	"Right again.  I'd almost think you knew what you were 
talking about."  Yui smirked at Gendo.
	"Do I get a reward for being right so often?"
	"What do you think?"
	"Yes."  Gendo smiled suddenly.  "Hey, I'm right again.  
This really deserves a reward then."  Without waiting, he leaned 
over and kissed Yui.
	"No funny business!"  Yui sighed and tossed her pen on the 
table.  "Even if you don't take this seriously, I do.  I'm 
trying to get a degree here."  Looking at the books and papers 
stacked on the table, she frowned.
	"I like you, Gendo, but..."
	"But?"  His smile had fallen at the hesitancy in her 
voice.  "But what?"
	"I need to concentrate on school.  I can't play these 
games."  She looked at him then, still frowning.  "I know you're 
smart.  If you'd just apply yourself..."
	"Why?" he asked angrily.  "So I can get all A's?  All 
perfect test scores?  For what?  So I can sit at some desk and 
tell the other guys I work with how well I did in school?  It's 
not worth it, Yui."
	He smiled, but it was sad.  "I like you.  Maybe more than 
that, but this place...  Before I met you, I was ready to drop 
out.  Except for you."
	"I really think that's sweet, and I like you.  You're even 
a good study partner sometimes, but school is important to me."  
She smiled almost condescendingly at him.  "I'm not against... 
having fun, but classes are my number one priority."
	Didn't she know she was stepping all over him?  Didn't she 
understand?  "I... don't know what to say."
	"You don't need to say anything.  I'm just explaining 
things from my perspective.  School is top priority."
	"And... me?"
	"I'd say you're number two.  Just not for serious 
studying."
	That didn't help at all really.  Rejection hurt no matter 
how politely it was phrased.  "Fine.  If that's the way you want 
it, that's... okay by me."
	"No, that's not what I'm saying," Yui corrected.  "You 
just have to realize there's a time for work... and a time for 
play."

---

Page 4


	The bar.  One place Gendo knew better than his own room.  
Also a place where he didn't have to worry about anything except 
how much money he had left in his pocket.
	No homework, no studying, no...  Swallowing the last of 
his beer, he slammed his glass down on the bar.  Money or not, 
he was done for the night.
	He spun around on the stool and stood, ending up right in 
the chest of a guy carrying his own beer.  The beer was 
summarily spilled all over the two, and neither one was all that 
happy with the situation.
	"Why don't you watch where yer goin', pipsqueak!"
	Gendo shoved the other man.  "Next time walk someplace 
where people won't be standing up, idiot!"
	"Look, four eyes, maybe if you buy me and my friends 
another round, I'll forget you dumped my beer and insulted me."  
He cracked his knuckles.
	Gendo snorted.  "I don't think so.  I'm leaving."  He 
tried to walk around the irate student, but didn't quite make 
it.
	"How about," the larger man said, pushing Gendo, "you do 
it or we'll make you do it?"  Behind him, three more beefy 
students stood, all with snarls on their faces.
	"I don't think so."  Again, Gendo tried to walk by, but 
this time, he was struck across the jaw and sent reeling, his 
glasses flying from his face.  There was suddenly a flurry of 
fists flying at him from all directions.  Before he could even 
try to fight back, the bar's bouncers were separating all 
parties.
	"Yeah!  How do ya like that?  Go ahead and call me an 
idiot again!" the big man taunted while being held back by an 
especially husky bouncer.
	Gendo was being restrained as well, but it was more like 
he was using the bouncer to lean on.  Licking off the blood that 
was running from his nose, he spit it right in the chest of the 
one who had taken the first swing.  "Yeah, and it still took all 
your friends and a cheap shot, you stupid jock."
	In a few minutes, the police were there, and the taunting 
of the guys who had jumped Gendo died out.
	He just gave them a lopsided grin and waved as the police 
began questioning them.  For once, luck was on his side.  
Several other patrons backed up his story that the others had 
started the fight, and he was allowed to leave.
Staggering back to his room at roughly two in the morning, 
far later than he had intended to stay out, Gendo knew he hadn't 
seen the last of those guys, and he'd have to be on from then 
on.
	Snorting, he hawked up some bloody phlegm and spat it on 
the sidewalk.  Yui would have a heart attack when she saw him in 
class.  If she even cared.
	He wasn't sure anymore.  She was friendly, but not as 
friendly as before.  If that meant she didn't like him, he 
needed to know so he wouldn't keep thinking about her every 
minute, every day, awake or asleep...
	But if she did, then he didn't know what she was trying to 
accomplish by keeping her distance.  Not that with the black 
eye, swollen lip, and bleeding nose she'd want him to get any 
closer than necessary.
	Another bloody wad was spit upon the ground before he 
unlocked the door to the building and entered.  He trudged up to 
the third floor, to his room, and sighed before unlocking that 
door.  He had really planned on going to class the next day, but 
after the fight...
	"Damn punks," he muttered, grabbing a tissue as he closed 
the door, turning the room pitch black.  Odd.  Hadn't he left 
the shade open before he had left?
	"Gendo?" a soft, female voice asked.
	Gendo froze.  The voice...  Yui's?  From the... bed?  
"Yui?"
	"It's me.  Come to bed."

---

Page 5


	She dabbed gently at his face.  "The other guy looks 
worse, right?"
	Gendo shook his head.  "The other _four_ guys didn't get a 
scratch, but the police didn't look too happy."  He grinned, 
then winced as Yui put just a bit too much pressure on his 
tender eye.
	"Four men beat you up and you're making jokes?  This is 
serious!"  She wiped the dried blood away.  "You should file a 
complaint with the university."
	"No point.  They were oh so precious athletes.  Nothing 
ever happens to them."  He tested the cut on his lip with his 
tongue.  That was going to take a bit to heal.  "Try to do a 
little drinking in peace and look what happens..."
	"Really.  Why were you out on a class night at the bar?  
You should have been here," Yui scolded.
	"And why is that?  Something you had in mind?"
	Yui flushed suddenly.  "Not really.  I was just..."
	"In my bed."
	She nodded simply.  "Waiting for you."
	"Because?"
	Turning, she dipped the cloth in cold water, not 
answering.
	"Well?" Gendo prodded.
	"Do I need to explain everything I do?"
	"Yui, you were in my bed after ignoring me for a week.  
The least I deserve is an explanation."
	She turned, revealing her lips set in a thin line.  
Dabbing his face more, she seemed to be debating how to answer.  
"Because I..."  She wiped his forehead, then cheek, ignoring the 
fact that there were no injuries there.  "Because I thought 
that's what you wanted."
	"You thought... I wanted..."
	Yui nodded.
	"So you..."
	Again, she nodded.
	"Why?"
	"I didn't want you to think I wasn't interested."
	That familiar feeling was back.  "In... me?"
	Yui nodded, wiping his cheek again.  A bead of water 
rolled down his face, and her eyes were drawn to it.  It was 
easier than looking him in the eye.
	His hand went over hers.  "You didn't have to do that."
	She looked in his eyes, even though one was mostly swollen 
shut, and saw that look in them again.
	"Whether you were interested or not, I couldn't stop 
thinking about you," Gendo continued.  "I was even going to go 
to class tomorrow; I was even going to leave the bar early, but 
got a bit distracted."
	"I guess it was a good thing I showed up anyway," Yui said 
quietly, not sure how to reply.  "Otherwise, who would take care 
of you?"
	"Myself.  Just like I've always done."
	"That's too bad.  It's much better when there's someone to 
take care of all your hurts when you need it."
	Gendo nodded, and the look on his face now one of an 
animal caught in headlights.
	"I'm sorry you took what I said before the wrong way.  I 
really am interested in you, but school is important too."
	Gendo nodded.
	For a moment that seemed like an eternity, the only sound 
was their breathing in the darkness.  Then Yui started to remove 
her shirt.
	"Hey!  Wait!  Stop that!" Gendo exclaimed, panicking.  
"What are you doing?"
	"But don't you want to..."
	Sighing, Gendo shook his head.  "Only if you want to, and 
only for the right reasons.  Right now, I think we could both 
use some sleep," he said, taking her hand in his.

---

*Notes*

What is a "page"?  A piece of standard lined paper, front and 
back.  Yes, they're not always the same because my handwriting 
isn't consistent, but the concept was fun to do.

Yes, I take some liberties in this story with what "really" 
happened because the story happened to work better that way, and 
it's difficult to piece events together.

Why are the characters OOC?  Because that was my belief in the 
way they might have acted when everything was "normal".  I've 
heard conflicting ideas/thoughts/opinions on who was using who 
in the relationship and figured there was probably some mutual 
use going on, and why should that change the underlying 
relationship between them?  To me, it doesn't.

Commentary?  Don't like the characters, or the format, or my 
story?  I guess all I can say is don't read it then.  This story 
is essentially done and I'm not going to spend time re-writing 
the characters and situations to be more agreeable to someone 
else's worldview.  This is my story, my effort, my product.

It may sound like I'm asking only for positive commentary.  Far 
from it.  I'm simply asking for commentary that's not about the 
subjective factors.  I'm quite open to negative _constructive_ 
comments.

lara@emunix.emich.edu
http://www.thekeep.org/~lara/
(new address, soon to be moving from _there_  *sigh*)