Evangelion: Third Genesis: Chapter 33
  Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion
  Genre(s): Adventure / Sci-fi | Type: Continuation
  Author: shanejayell 
  Uploaded On: September 28, 2006 16:26 CDT
  Pages: 2 | Words: 1129 | Size: 7 KB | Visits: 80 | Status: Completed 

  

                                                                              
   Chapter 32
                                                             


 Evangelion Third Genesis: Part Thirty-two

 �gShinji?�h

 The shocked sounding familiar voice came from behind them and Asuka cursed softly. Turning from their walk back to
 Misato�fs apartment Asuka saw three friends, all gazing in disbelief even as Yui looked on with wide eyes.

 �gYou�fre all right!�h Toji rushed forward as much as his cane would allow, the taller dark haired boy thumping the
 shaken Shinji�fs shoulders.

 �gWhy are you wearing a labcoat over a NERV uniform?�h Aida asked, the blonde haired boy�fs glasses gleaming as he
 studied Shinji curiously.

 �gGive him some room,�h Hikari looked at Shinji with some concern, the brown haired girl looking at Shinji�fs pale
 face with concern.

 �gHelp,�h Yui mouthed silently as she gave Asuka a desperate look, brown hair falling into her eyes.

 �gSorry to surprise you all,�h Asuka said quickly, the orange haired pilot helping ease the three of them back. She
 looked at Rei, �gCould you get him some water?�h

 �gOf course,�h Rei said gently as the dark blue haired girl took Shinji by the arm and walked Yui away.

 �gWho are they?�h Yui asked softly once they were out of listening range.

 �gShinji�fs classmates and friends,�h Rei answered.

 �gNice to know he has friends,�h Yui sighed.

 �gWhat�fs going on with Shinji?�h Toji answered with a fierce frown, his expression showing honest concern.

 Asuka sighed, �gHe�fs been in a coma for months, guys, and he had a nervous breakdown besides. He�fs pretty fragile
 right now.�h

 �gSorry,�h Aida looked a bit sheepish, looking over to where Rei was standing beside Shinji at a drinking fountain.
 �gHe even looks.. odd,�h he said, �gif I didn�ft know better, I�fd almost say he was a different person.�h
 �gI guess I hadn�ft thought of that,�h Toji conceded a bit sheepishly.

 �gHas he been awake for very long?�h Hikari asked, studying Asuka with her unusually perceptive eyes.

 Choosing her words carefully Asuka answered, �gFor a bit. We�fre all keeping a close eye on him, until he 
 recovers.�h

 �gHow long do we have to pretend to drink water?�h Yui asked wryly as she bent over to get another drink.

 �gUntil Asuka convinces them of a cover story for you,�h Rei sounded proud as Asuka talked to their friends.

 �gLovely,�h Yui sighed.

 �gAre you all right?�h Rei asked with gentle concern.

 �gI forget for hours at a time I�fm in Shinji�fs body,�h Yui said, �gand I�fm feeling guilty about it now that I
 know he has such good friends waiting for him.�h

 �gIt�fs not your fault,�h Rei pointed out reasonably.

 �gMaybe not,�h Yui answered firmly, �gbut I am responsible.�h

 Asuka waved them over and Yui and Rei returned. �gI was just explaining that you were recovering from your nervous
 breakdown,�h Asuka said as they neared.

 �eTerrific, now I�fve had a nervous breakdown,�f Yui thought with amusement. Bowing slightly to them she said, �gI�f
 m sorry, I�fm still trying to come to grips with everything that�fs happened lately.�h

 �gHell, I know how you feel,�h Toji said with a surprising degree of gentleness, �gtake the time you need to
 recover.�h

 �gWe�fll even keep your seat open in class,�h Aida chimed in brightly, �gmaybe I�fll take you camping again.�h

 �gI�fd like that,�h Yui managed.

 �gGet better soon,�h Hikari gently hugged him. Softly she added so that Asuka could only hear, �gI expect you to
 tell me what�fs really going on eventually.�h

 �gRight,�h Asuka agreed, noting once again that Hikari was much more perceptive than the two boys were.
 �gThank you for the rescue,�h Yui said once the three of them were gone.

 �gNo problem,�h Asuka smiled wryly. �gSorry about saying you had a nervous breakdown, but we already used the
 amnesia story for Rei,�h she explained.

 �gHikari didn�ft really buy that story for me, either,�h Rei noted with a slight smile.

 They continued on and Yui smiled to herself slightly as she saw Rei and Asuka holding hands once again. The two
 women seemed largely unaware of the small gestures they made to each other, touching, stroking a arm or holding
 hands like this. It was kind of cute to see.

 �gWe�fre home,�h Asuka called as they went into the cluttered apartment. She saw Misato�fs shoes by the door, as
 well as a set that she didn�ft instantly recognize. �eWonder if someone from NERV is here?�f she thought.

 �gAbout time,�h Misato called back, �gwe�fve got company.�h

 �gWonder who?�h Rei looked curious as they headed to the kitchen.

 �gProbably someone we know...,�h Asuka started then froze as she recognized their new unarmed combat instructor
 sitting beside Misato.

 Aoba Kinushima looked more amused than anything else as the brown haired woman shared a beer with Misato. She had
 been working at NERV for awhile but had only recently started as the unarmed combat instructor for Asuka and Rei,
 part of a program to improve both of their combat skills in Evangelion.

 �gWe were just talking about getting takeout,�h Misato informed them.

 �gWelcome, Kinushima-sensei,�h Rei bowed formally.

 Aoba laughed, �gNo need to be so formal, Rei. Hello Asuka.�h

 �gMa�fam,�h Asuka�fs voice was flat with annoyance. Aoba had quite effectively wiped the floor with her in the last
 training session, and it had rather annoyed her.

 �gNice to see you again,�h Yui said. She nodded to Misato, �gIf you could excuse me?�h

 �gSee you later,�h Misato nodded.

 �gShe looks rather stressed,�h Aoba frowned, �gis it because I...?�h

 Asuka�fs sense of fairness won out over her irritation and she explained Yui�fs shyness, �gI think running into
 Shinji�fs friends may have been a bit much for her to take.�h

 �gShould have phoned a warning they were here earlier,�h Misato scowled.

 �gNot your fault,�h Aoba said as she reached over to squeeze her arm comfortingly.

 Asuka and Rei exchanged surprised glances. �gWell isn�ft that interesting,�h Asuka murmured.

 �gI think they look cute,�h Rei whispered back.

 �gAnd what are you two whispering about?�h Misato asked suspiciously.

 �gNothing,�h Asuka did her best to look innocent.

 To be continued...