ASUKA, WILL YOU DANCE WITH ME?

Written by Axel Terizaki (aterizak@free.fr, axelt@fanfiction.net)
ICQ# 34301980; IRC: #teri-chan
ASUKA's Notebook: http://asuka.notebook.eu.org/
Retooled by Dave Watson, 1999 8 18-21.
Basic HTML by Watson, 1999 8 21 & 27 and 9 30-10 02.
Extra retooling by Terizaki and Watson, 1999 9 01.
HTML Version 1.1.

Okay, I told everyone that A Tale That Wasn't Right would be my last fic for a while. Seems I was wrong! :-) This isn't a darkfic like the last one, don't worry...but it's a one-shot again. I hope you enjoy it.

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
Asuka, Will You Dance With Me?


Shinji and Asuka are in a corridor of their school, probably near their classroom. Shinji seems very uneasy as he clenches and unclenches his fist.

Shinji: "Errr...Asuka..."

Asuka (sighing): "Come on, Shinji, I don't have all day!"

Shinji: "Errr...you know...tomorrow..."

Asuka (annoyed now): "I don't have much TIME, you idiot! What do you want now!?"

Shinji (almost sweating): "T-the school dance...you know...I wanted to ask you..." (to himself:) "Damn, she doesn't seem to be in a very good mood..."

Asuka: "Listen, if you're just going to ask me something stupid and useless again, don't bother. And it must be something stupid and useless again. So, I don't want to see you, Shinji. Understood?! Just because your synchro rate is higher than mine for now, I don't see why I should talk to you or listen to your stupid question! Now, get out of my sight! I don't want to see your stupid face today. Got that!?"

Shinji looks down and slowly turns back before running out of Asuka's sight, exactly as she wished. She then turns back, too, before walking off in the opposite direction.

Asuka (smiling triumphantly, to herself): "That baka is so dumb! I bet he..."

Her thoughts are interrupted as she hears a distant but very audible thud. She turns around and tries to force her way through the crowd at the top of the stairs.

Asuka: "Come on, you idiots, what's going o--"

She sees the bottom of the stairs, and is suddenly lost for words. Shinji is there, lying on the floor, obviously in great pain.


A few hours later, NERV Medical Section. Shinji is sitting on a bed, looking down. Ritsuko, Misato, and Asuka are here as well.

Ritsuko (ironically): "Good job, Shinji-kun. You've succeeded in fracturing both of your legs at the same time."

Shinji just sits there, frowning, both of his legs in plaster casts.

Misato (calmly): "Shinji-kun...how did this happen?"

Shinji (still looking down): "I stumbled. That's all."

Misato: "Really? How unlucky..."

Misato is obviously not convinced by Shinji's words.

Ritsuko: "Well, it could have been worse. You'll be able to walk again in no less than three weeks. You'll have to undergo physiotherapy after that, though."

Shinji seems really depressed. Asuka has her arms crossed, and hasn't said a single word since she came here. Which is odd, since she was the one who called Misato and even helped carry poor Shinji on a stretcher...but she finally decides to open her mouth...

Asuka: "Hmph, serves him right!"

And with that last, hateful comment, she disappears into the hallway next to the room, closing the door behind her.

Misato (frowning, to herself): "Seems those two argued..."

Ritsuko: "Shinji-kun, we have a wheelchair for you to get around in. I'll show you exactly how it works, okay?"

Shinji (reluctantly): "Okay..."


Arriving at the apartment building, Misato pushes Shinji's wheelchair towards the elevator and enters it a few moments later. Asuka isn't here, though. She mumbled something about Hikari and the mall before leaving them behind. Inside the elevator, and in the hallway to the apartment, Misato and Shinji were silent. But Misato hates silence, so she speaks up.

Misato: "Shinji-kun...I'm sure you're not telling me everything...tell me what's wrong. What made you fall down the stairs at school?"

Shinji (looking down): "I told you, Misato-san. I just stumbled, and--"

Misato (interrupting him): "Is it because of Asuka?"

Shinji (suddenly flustered): "No! No, it isn't because of her...I just..."

Misato (smiling): "So, that's why..."

Shinji: "Oh...I just ran too fast and I didn't see the stairs, that's all!"

Misato: "What were you running away from this time, Shinji-kun?"

Shinji (hesitating): "F-from nothing! I was just...running, that's it."

Misato (opening the apartment door): "You're not a very good liar, you know..."

Shinji (looking down again): "Well..."

Misato (pushing Shinji in): "Listen. I promise I won't tell anyone else. Just tell me exactly what happened. I am your guardian, after all. I need to know..."

Shinji: "Isn't it just curiosity?"

Misato (narrowing her eyes): "No...just tell me, okay?"

Shinji: "Well..."

He takes a deep breath before beginning to relate his story.

Shinji (sadly): "You know, tomorrow...there's a school dance, to celebrate the end of the year...and I didn't know if I should go to it or not...b-but...when I heard that Asuka had decided to go with one of the other guys in the class...I was so mad, Misato-san...like I've never been before! I...I just wanted her...to not go with that guy! And I wanted to ask her...if she would go to the dance with me..."

Misato: "And what did she say?" (to herself:) "I'm sure I can already guess the answer..."

Shinji frowns and seems very angry all of a sudden. Misato is really not used to seeing her roommate like this. She had seen him depressed before, but not like this.

Shinji: "She said she had better things to do! She scorned me again! That full-of-herself little bitch!"

Misato kneels down in front of him. She has a concerned look on her face...

Misato: "Shinji-kun...you must be really tired by now...you should get some rest..."

Misato gets up and begins to push Shinji's wheelchair towards his room.

Shinji (angry): "I don't need your help, Misato-san! Please leave me alone! Please...!"

Misato: "I will after I get you to your room. But you should get some rest, you know...if you need something, I'll be in the kitchen, okay?"

She slides his door shut and goes to the kitchen. She then violently grabs a beer from the fridge and rips it open, as if she's trying to release all her anger on a certain female Eva pilot.

Misato (frowning, to herself): "Dammit, Asuka! Why are you so blind!?"


Meanfwhile...[Author's note: The spelling mistake is intentional. Private joke to Mygard! :-) ]...Hikari and Asuka are sitting on a bench in a park near the apartment.

Hikari: "And both of Ikari's legs are in casts? He won't be able to come to the school dance tomorrow, then?"

Asuka: "What's the problem with that? He has no one to go with!"

Hikari: "He may have asked Ayanami."

Asuka: "Wondergirl? No way! She has better things to do! How could she, the Wondergirl, come to a stupid school dance and have fun with her friends, like any other girl would normally do?"

Hikari: "...I don't know..."

Pause.

Hikari: "Maybe he wanted to ask you?"

Asuka (stunned): "Me!? ME!? He couldn't! He doesn't have enough guts for that, Hikari! And besides, I allowed Saneda to take me to the dance tomorrow."

Hikari: "Saneda-kun? You mean...Koichi Saneda? He's kind of...cute."

[Author's note: Try to guess which game Koichi Saneda comes from... :-)]

Asuka: "Yeah, whatever...I can't bring Kaji-san there tomorrow, so...I had to find someone...reasonably cute."

Hikari: "I see...but, you know, I feel sorry for Ikari-kun. I'm sure he would have liked to take you to the dance tomorrow evening."

Asuka: "I don't see why I should go with that idiot...and, besides, he can't dance now!"

She smiles, almost as if she's glad about this fact.

Hikari: "You're not being very fair to him..."

Asuka (surprised): "What do you mean?"

Hikari: "I mean, you could have...asked him."

Asuka: "No way! Don't say such silly things, Hikari!"

Asuka tries to hide her face from her friend...

Hikari (giggling, to herself): "She's hiding something from me..."


The next day. While Shinji stays at home, Misato drives Asuka to school. They are in her car.

Misato: "You seem to have something on your mind, Asuka."

Asuka (pulled out of her thoughts): "Huh? Yeah...maybe I do."

Misato: "Hey, Asuka..."

Asuka: "What?"

Misato: "What do you think of Shinji?"

The answer comes almost immediately. As if it's obvious...to its owner, at least.

Asuka (flatly): "Shinji? What do I think of him? He's a jerk, a spineless wimp. That's all."

Misato: "That's all? Really?"

Asuka: "Really."

Misato: "A spineless wimp, huh? Do I have to remind you of what he did when you were sinking in that volcano?"

Asuka: "He just saved me, that's all! It's his duty, right? I bet you just couldn't afford to lose an Eva and its pilot."

Pause.

Misato: "Did you ever thank him for that?"

Asuka (looking down a bit): "No. I haven't." (regaining her usual disdain:) "Why should I!?"

Misato: "Well, he saved your life."

Asuka: "And? It's natural, between pilots. I would have done the same."

Misato (stopping the car): "We're here. Have a good day, Asuka."

Asuka (leaving the car): "Yeah, yeah..."

She walks around the car to get to the school entrance, but is surprised to hear Misato's voice again.

Misato (softly): "Asuka?"

Asuka turns on her heels and looks down at Misato, who rolls down her window further.

Asuka: "Yeah, what now?"

Misato (with a sad look on her face): "Maybe you'll hate me when I tell you this, but...in that volcano...Shinji acted against my orders. He had been ordered to not jump in and save you. Now, have a good day, Asuka. And think about that."

With those last words, she starts the car again and heads quickly towards the Geofront. Asuka stands still on the sidewalk for a few minutes before she finally turns around and heads for school, her mind full of thoughts about what Misato just told her...


Later that day. Misato is at Shinji's doorway.

Misato: "Shinji-kun...you sure you don't want me to..."

Shinji is lying on his side on his bed, his wheelchair next to it.

Shinji: "No, thanks, Misato-san..."

Misato: "I'm sorry I have to work tonight, otherwise I'd stay here with you..."

Shinji: "It's okay."

Misato: "Damn, are you sure there isn't anyone who can be here with you?"

From the other end of the apartment, they can hear Asuka.

Asuka: "I'm leaving now!"

This said, the sound of the door sliding closed can be heard. Shinji seems to grab his bed sheets harder, his hands turning into fists. Misato looks down.

Misato: "Rei's with Commander Ikari, and your friends are all at that school dance...are you sure it's gonna be okay with only you here? There's still Pen-pe--"

Shinji (annoyed and angry): "I SAID it was okay!!"

Surprised by such an outburst, Misato simply slides the door of his room closed, and heads towards the front door of the apartment, ready to leave.

Misato (to herself): "Poor Shinji-kun..."

Back in Shinji's room, we can see that he's frowning deeply...

Shinji: "Asuka...why are you so mean to me?"

Pause.

Shinji: "Why?"

He hits the headboard of his bed hard with his left fist.

Shinji: "WHY!!? WHY!!!!? I'm trying to...and you push me away..."

Pause. Shinji is obviously upset that Asuka is going out...with someone else...

Shinji (frowning): "You bitch..."


Later that evening. Asuka is wearing a dress, all green except for a white collar, where a yellow bow is fixed. Over her arms and shoulders, there is what looks like a small, light jacket, matched to the dress. She is at the entrance of the school, waiting for her 'date.'

Asuka (to herself): "The volcano...he jumped in without any protection...that idiot...idiot...why am I calling him an idiot? I'm the idiot in all this..."

Hikari: "Hey, it's Asuka!"

Toji: "God, the redheaded devil..."

The two interrupt Asuka's thoughts.

Asuka: "Well, well, well, if it isn't the class representative and the dumb stooge."

Hikari: "Hey, Asuka, Toji's not that bad!"

Hikari is in a pretty white dress, holding Toji's arm.

Toji: "Where's Shinji?"

Asuka: "Shinji? What does he have to do with this?"

Toji (sardonically): "Well, he told me he was going to ask you out to the dance. And since I saw him alive today, I thought you said yes."

Asuka: "S-Shinji...asking me!?"

Toji: "Of course! Just before he fractured both his legs, he said he was going to ask you out! Didn't you know that?"

Hikari (whispering to Toji): "Toji, stop that..."

Uncomfortable pause (especially for Asuka).

Asuka: "Well, I'm waiting for my date right now. If you would excuse me..."

Hikari: "Okay, we're going now."

Hikari drags Toji away. Both of them take occasional quick glances at Asuka.

Asuka (waiting, to herself): "I've got to be the BIGGEST idiot on earth...! Well, it's too late now...I should try to enjoy this dance...I'll have to do something back home, however..."

Koichi: "Did I keep you waiting long?"

A tall boy with short red hair walks out of the shadows, snapping Asuka out of her reverie again.

Asuka (angry): "Yes, you did! How dare you make me wait like that?"

Asuka takes his arm and walks with him to the gymnasium, where the dance is taking place.

Koichi: "I was just wondering if you would've brought that wimp with you..."

To the surprise of both of them, Asuka drops his arm, steps in front of him and immediately slaps him hard across the face. The boy doesn't move, except to rub his cheek a bit.

Asuka (shouting): "Shinji's not a wimp!" (to herself:) "Is he? No, he isn't!"

He looks down at her. His foreign origins explained the red hair and the height Japanese boys don't usually have.

Asuka: "YOU'RE the wimp, insulting him while he can't defend himself!"

With those last words, she runs out of the school.


Back in the apartment. Shinji is sitting in front of the TV, crying in his wheelchair, his head bent forward. He doesn't hear the sound of the front door sliding open, however. A panting Asuka steps in. Even with her dress on, she tried her best to walk as fast as possible back to the apartment. She enters the living room, only to see Shinji changing channels on the TV with the remote control.

Asuka (still panting a bit): "Hey...pfffiu..."

Shinji is startled to hear that voice. That voice he dreads the most now. He doesn't look up at her. He speaks, his voice dripping with hate and anger.

Shinji (coldly): "Why are you here?"

Asuka (to herself): "Shinji, angry? Incredible..." (to Shinji:) "Well, I was tired of the dance, so I came back here."

Asuka pauses.

Asuka: "You seem bored. Wanna go out for a walk?"

He didn't need to hear that word now. He looks up and sees that Asuka is just in front of him, looking down at him. He's frowning, and his eyes are like his voice...charged with anger and hate. But there is a bit of sorrow in them as well. Asuka leans forward in front of him. She has a very peaceful look on her face, as she puts a hand on Shinji's shoulder.

Asuka: "Well? Let's go out for a w...unggggg!!!"

Asuka is literally thrown as Shinji violently slaps her across the face. She looks up at him in surprise, rubbing her painful cheek.

Shinji (furiously): "STOP THAT, YOU BITCH! You know I can't 'walk'! You know that, and you make fun of me by reminding me all the time! I CAN'T WALK! Are you happy now!?"

He looks down again with extreme disdain in his eyes. Asuka had never seen Shinji like this...so much hate...and sadness.

Asuka (to herself): "Shinji...is it me who's causing you so much pain? Why couldn't I see that all this time...?"

She silently stands up and gets behind him. She then takes the handles of the wheelchair in her hands and begins to push the chair towards the front door. Shinji looks behind him, only to see Asuka looking straight ahead, still pushing his wheelchair out of the apartment, and then into the elevator. She pushes the button for the ground floor.

Shinji: "What the hell are you doing!?"

Asuka (with a slight smile): "I'm taking you out for a bit, you idiot."

Shinji doesn't know what to do, or what to say. He had expected her to hit him back, and was prepared for a fight, even if he couldn't use his legs, which are still hurting him...but he lets it go. After all, he couldn't hurt her. He didn't want to, anyway. In fact, he's now regretting what he just did to her...


Later, in the streets of Tokyo-3. Asuka is pushing Shinji's wheelchair down the quiet streets.

Asuka (to herself): "Is it because of me...that he's like this?"

She looks down at him, but all she sees is the back of his head, bent down. Both of them were very quiet during their walk. Only the soft noises coming from the wheelchair could be heard.

Asuka (to herself): "Why is this torturing my mind so much!? This is insane! This must be--"

She's interrupted by a whisper. Even though it's a soft, one-word question, it has as much impact on her as a shout.

Shinji (whispering): "Why?"

He's still looking down, as if he's hoping his legs would answer him. Asuka takes her time to reply, and just adds one more word to Shinji's question.

Asuka: "Why what?"

Shinji: "Why are you here, with me...instead of at the dance with that guy?"

Asuka (softly): "He was a jerk. I smacked him and I came back to the apartment."

Long, uncomfortable pause.

Shinji (sadly and softly): "I see..."

Asuka: "He insulted you."

Shinji looks up a little, surprised by such words coming from Asuka.

Asuka (softly): "And I can't stand people who insult someone who's defenseless. That wasn't...fair to you."

Shinji: "W-why?"

Asuka: "Just because! Will you stop asking stupid one-word questions?"

Shinji: "Sorry..."

He bends his head down again.

Asuka: "And besides, I shouldn't have gone with him. You wanted to ask me to that dance, after all, right? And how could I leave you alone at home!?"

Shinji (to himself): "Is she reading my mind!? How does she...?"

Asuka: "I sort of betrayed you..."

Shinji: "..."

Asuka: "Shinji, why did you jump in that volcano, last time?"

Shinji: "..."

Asuka: "You told me that Misato ordered you to jump. But you went against her orders, didn't you?"

Shinji: "W-well..."

Asuka (softly): "Why?"

Shinji: "Because..."

Asuka: "Why?"

Shinji: "Because...I didn't want you to die in there..."

Asuka: "Really?"

Shinji: "Yeah...I guess it's because of that."

Long pause.

Asuka: "You're such a baka..."

Shinji: "Why do you call me a baka all the time? It's annoying...but at the same time, it's kind of...pleasant..."

Asuka: "'Pleasant'!? Are you some kind of masochist?"

Shinji: "It's pleasant...because I can hear your voice...talking to me...and it makes me happy."

Pause.

Asuka: "Tell me, Shinji..."

The reply takes some time to come.

Shinji: "Yeah...?"

Asuka: "How many people do I call 'baka' all the time?"

Shinji: "Huh?"

Asuka: "Just tell me!"

Shinji: "Errr...you don't call Toji and Kensuke baka...not Misato-san...or Kaji-san...or Ayanami...or...anyone at NERV..."

Asuka: "That's correct. I only call you a baka."

Shinji: "..."

Asuka: "Because you're special...because you mean something more to me than all those other people you've mentioned." (now with a cute little schoolgirl voice:) "Because you're my sweetie baka..."

Shinji suddenly looks back, and sees that Asuka has a very serene look on her face.

Asuka: "We're back home."

Shinji looks ahead again, and sees that the apartment building is in front of them.


Shinji's room. The door to the Third Child's room opens to reveal Asuka and him. She brings the wheelchair up to the bed. Shinji gets out of it and lies down on his bed. He isn't very used to seeing Asuka so peaceful and calm...still, it's better than hearing her shout and scream all the time. He looks at his pajamas on his bed and then at Asuka. She's staring at him, the same calm expression on her face as a few minutes ago.

Shinji: "Asuka...I need to put my pajamas on...could you..."

Asuka (turning around): "Of course. Who'd want to see you changing, anyway?"

She giggles, and stands still there. Shinji is now facing her back. Seeing that she isn't going to leave his room, and wanting to avoid possible complications due to her usual behaviour when one refuses something to her, he quickly changes clothes.

Asuka (to herself): "Why am I acting like this?" (crossing her arms over her stomach:) "Why do I feel so warm inside all of a sudden?"

Shinji: "You can look now."

Asuka does so, and sees Shinji already under his covers.

Shinji: "Do you want to tell me something, or...? I...I'm sorry for earlier...when I slapped you...I shouldn't have. I don't know what caused me to do that..."

Asuka: "Not much harm done. In fact, I deserved it."

Shinji: "But--"

Asuka (interrupting him): "Hey, Shinji..."

She takes one step towards him and bends her head down.

Asuka: "Can you take my interface headsets out of my hair, please?"

Shinji: "W-why?"

Asuka (chuckling): "Just because!"

Shinji (reluctantly): "Oh, okay..."

He reaches his arms out and carefully takes off the interface headsets she uses to hold her hair up. Once he does so, some of her red hair falls on her shoulders.

Asuka: "Good. Now let's play a game."

Shinji: "Huh?"

Asuka: "Let's see if you can throw my headsets into that wastebasket over there."

She gestures at the small trashcan next to his closet, just in front of his bed.

Shinji: "Errr...you sure?"

Asuka: "Yeah. If you succeed, you'll get a reward."

Shinji: "And what if I don't?"

Asuka (comically faking anger): "You'll be my slave forever!"

Shinji (smiling and gulping comically): "Yes, your highness."

He takes the two red headsets in his hands, and carefully aims at the wastebasket. With a skillful throw, the headsets slowly arc, landing in the can with a clatter.

Shinji: "I guess I succeeded."

Asuka (softly, looking blankly at the wastebasket): "Yeah. You've succeeded in throwing my pride in the trash. Good job. You know, I just discovered that I couldn't fight in EVA just for honor and pride anymore. There's something else...more important than that. It's so close to me, and I didn't even notice it until just now."

Shinji: "Huh?" (to himself:) "What is she trying to tell me?"

Pause.

Asuka (smiling): "So, you like to hear my voice, huh?"

Shinji: "Errr. Yeah, I do."

Asuka: "Would you like me to sing to you, before you go to sleep?"

Shinji: "Sing...to me?"

Before he can say more, Asuka puts her left arm under his head and leans closer to him. She then begins to whisper in his ears...

Asuka (whispering):
"Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt,
Denn das ist meine Welt.
Das ist, was soll ich machen, meine Natur,
Ich kann halt lieben nur und sonst gar nichts."
["Falling in love again, I never wanted to,
What am I to do, I can't help it.
Love has always been my game, play it how I may,
I was made that way, I can't help it."]

Shinji doesn't understand the lyrics of the song, but, for some reason, they sound genuine and heartfelt to him.

Asuka (still whispering):
"Männer umschwirren mich, wie Motten um das Licht
Und wenn sie verbrennen, ja dafür kann ich nichts."
["Men cluster to me like moths around a flame,
And if their wings burn I know I'm not to blame."]

Shinji (to himself): "Yes...it's calm...and refreshing...it's Asuka's voice..."

Asuka (now softly singing):
"Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt..."
["Falling in love again, I never wanted to..."]

Shinji feels her voice slowly fading away as he closes his eyes...

Asuka (slowly making her way to his lips):
"...ich kann halt lieben nur und sonst gar nichts..."
["...what am I to do, I can't help it..."]

Her lips then gently brush his, as he opens his eyes wide. She puts her other hand on his left cheek and softly rubs it, while she continues to kiss him tenderly on the lips...after some time, however, she stops. She then gives him a wink and sits on the bed.

Shinji: "Asuka..."

Asuka (grinning): "Could you make some room for me there?"

Shinji: "Some...room?"

Asuka: "Oh, forget it, you're hopeless..."

Shinji turns on his left side, making Asuka face his back. Then, slowly, Asuka takes her jacket off, rolls it into a ball, sets it on the bed and lays down beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

Shinji (trembling): "Asuka..."

Asuka: "Guess what? This feels good. It's been a long time since I laid down next to someone...so close to someone..."

She cuddles closer to him. This makes Shinji realize what she wants next. He lays down on his back again, and gently puts his right arm around Asuka, softly caressing her auburn hair in the process...

Shinji (to himself): "It's so soft...and warm...is this a dream...? No way it could be happening...still...it seems so real..."

Asuka rests her head on his shoulder again and puts her right arm around Shinji's stomach, squeezing him gently closer to her. Even though she is still fully dressed, she doesn't mind. They are sharing some warmth, together.

Asuka: "Sweet dreams, baka Shinji...oh, and try not to take too much time to heal...I still owe you a dance..."

And with that, they both close their eyes, ready to fall asleep. A peaceful sleep, for once. A sleep full of nice and pleasant dreams, for both of them.

THE END

Author's notes:

Well, I decided to take some holidays, otherwise this fic would have been out earlier. Also, that's why the ASUKA's Notebook updates are so late these days...(laziness, when you're holding us tight... ^_^)

I know some of you already know, but I'd like to announce that the #teri-chan channel is operational right now! You can come and chat with people throughout IRC. The usual topics are Evangelion and fanfics. You can reach us via irc.stealth.net or irc.webbernet.net. Also, if you don't have any IRC clients, there is a web IRC applet on ASUKA's Notebook, on the main page. It'll take you directly to the IRC channel, without the need of an IRC program.

Retooler's note:

Axel originally had Asuka singing "Fly Me To the Moon" to Shinji, and he asked his pre-readers if they knew of a German song that might fit better. I remembered "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt" from, of all things, William S. Burroughs' Dead City Radio album (as a singer, he was a damn good writer dB) ). I did a bit of digging, and it turns out that it's a song that Marlene Dietrich sang in the movie The Blue Angel. When I got both the German lyrics (by Friedrich Holländer) and the adaptation for the English version ("Falling in Love Again," by Sammy Lerner; no, it's not a literal translation, but it's closer to the mark than, say, Trish Ledoux of Viz's butchery), I thought they were fitting, and so did Axel. It's probably the biggest liberty I've ever taken in retooling his fanfiction (as I write this, I'm currently doing the definitive retool of The Child of Love, complete with HTML files, so I can finally leave it alone!), but I hope it grabbed you. Thanks to Jan Hart for replying to my post on alt.music.lyrics with both sets of lyrics. Back to you, Axel.

Well, thanks to all of my pre-readers; without them, my fics wouldn't be the same! :-) :

Al-I-Bus (Imagine Normality)
Alain Gravel (and his famous The One I Love is...!)
Borderline Case (Reflections in Red)
Cedric Ranson (Co-author of A Tale That Wasn't Right)
C-mann (Unrequested Assistance)
David Templar (Child of Love 2: The End is the Beginning)
Dave Watson (Victory, and my personal fanfic retooler!)
EBJ (the greatest pre-reader I've ever known! Honestly.)
Eva_Pilot00
Godsend777 (Is Nothing Sacred?/Strangely Darkfic, The Death of One)
Greg Thomas (Webmaster of Everything Anime)
Jayson Deare (What the hell happened to NGE)
Jeff T.
DJ Lesser (Ayanami's Lesson)
Kaoru Nagisa (Evaless)
Pheaton
Readiosys Fisher (Unfamiliar Fearings, webmaster of Evangelion no Tamashii [still under construction] and co-op with me of the #eva-01 and #teri-chan IRC channels)
Sammy Sy
Shinji the 10 O'clock Assassin (lot of fics)
Sudhoya'da
Sushi Boy
Tim Lee
Yousef Al-Samshi

Special thanks to Cedric Ranson, Dave Watson, EBJ and Alain Gravel for all their invaluable help for this fic!

Axel Terizaki