Rei and Kaji are back on his car, Rei holds onto her bag firmly; she surprised herself by accepting his invitation of living together, even if he clarified that it was to be temporal and that Rei can change her mind at any point. The logical argument on her head was the fact that she'd been throught this once before, she can do it again. The childish part of her heart cried that she does not want to be alone.
''Well, I think it's time for us to make a quick stop and get some ingredients for dinner, do you cook Rei-chan?''
Rei perked up, if there was something she was proud of was her skills in the cello and the kitchen ''I do'' she answered quietly, but Kaji was able to see the bit of the good mood her eyes got ''Do you, Kaji-san?''
''The basics to be honest, being a barchelor teaches you skills to survive here and there.'' Kaji parked the car on a small, hole in the wall type of produce store.
Rei nodded along, unbuckling the seat belt and pulling out her wallet. Kaji noticed but did not say anything as they both got down and entered the store.
''You can pick up the ingredients, I'm not picky, choose what we can get for dinner, my treat; I need to talk to the owner'' Kaji went to pat Rei's head, he stopped once she flinched and left to do what he said.
Between the aisles, Rei collected enough food for dumplings, the filling can be made from scratch, and the dough is premade. Rei also grabbed a few snacks to pay herself since it's not dinner.
''Are you also moving away?'' Rei heard from the next aisle. Stopping a little on her steps.
''I'd never seriously thought that this city would really become a battlefield.''
''My husband told me that our children and I should move for safety at least.'' Rei's chest felt hollow, her good mood dwindiling. She kept walking.
''Moving for safety. Even if this is a fortress city, we can't rely on anything at all.''
''Yesterday's incident. Just remembering makes me shudder.''
Kaji straightened up when she got closer, the groceries went straight to the conveyer belt.
''That too Rei-chan'' Kaji pointed to her snacks with his chin ''I said it was my treat, didn't I?'' He smiled warmly.
Rei doen't know how to react, so she shyly added the stuff too. The teller offhandedly gave them the total and Kaji paid. No conversations were heard on their way out.
''Rei-chan'' Rei lifted her head from where she was looking sitting on the car ''Piloting the Evas is not easy, and most people will think it was; no one expects to thank you, so you shouldn't expect one from them. But,'' he paused ''you can expect one from me.'' he quickly made eye contact, minding the fact that he was still driving ''Thank you, Rei-chan.''
Neither of them commented on the stray tear that came out of her eye, nor the stiffled sob that followed.
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Kaji's place turned out to be a three bedroom, one bathroom situation. He gave her a small tour, as none of the rooms were big. One of the rooms was styled to be a home office and the other one was his room. The one for her simply had an american style bed, a desk, and a few drawers. There wasn't any open space to play her cello inside it seemed. Untill he showed her a small terrace, barely big enough for her to fit comftably, a couple of chairs with a table in their middle. She liked it how private it felt, with the city's horizon and the buildings surrounding them.
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Dinner was an akward affair. Rei was not able to fully enjoy the dumplings she made, but Kaji even complimented them. The day is weighting heavy on her.
''Well, because this is now your house, you can really feel at home here Rei-chan, I promise that this is going to be as safe as it can be.''
''Thank, thank you, Kaji-san'' It is so nice of him to say.
No one said anything for a couple of minutes ''I see you're tired, it's okay. Take a bath and wash all the ugly things away. A friend says that it is the washing machine of life!''
Rei snorted, what a ridiculous ideology, but her reaction made Kaji's smile wider. So Rei just went to her room and took a pijama outfit out of her boxes, deciding to organize everything tomorrow.
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''He's not a bad person'' She thought, but for a moment with that joke she forgot that her worst thoughts came when she was on the bath, she hasn't have a calm bath in so long, so she rather finish this quickly. A picture of her father and that Shiji boy came to the forefront of her mind. Vermillion eyes the last thought before she hurried out of there.
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''How was your daughter? You went to the hospital this afternoon, didn't you? Did you see Shiji instead?'' Asked Ritsuko.
''He'll be able to move in 20 days.'' Gendo completely ignored the mention of Rei ''Meanwhile, I'll get the committee's agreement for Unit 00's restart.''
''What a painful future they have.''
''There's no one else who can use Eva but the kids. As long as they live, I'll order them to do it.''
''No matter what the children feel?'' Ritsuko thought, but knew the answer already.
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A soft double knock was heard on Rei's paper door ''Rei-chan, I have to go back to NERV for a bit ok?'' No answer. Rei only focused on the ceiling above and the classical music of the walkman.
Kaji walked off and out of the appartment. Closing all the locks and checking the security feed on the main entrance, he promised Rei that she'd be safe so he was going to make it so for her. He already gave her keys and his phone number on her mobile. Now he just needs to go to get a few things back to that store from before and the back to NERV.
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''She had such a bad experience. I wonder if she'll pilot again'' Two smokers in the room passed the lighter between them, Kaji inhaled his cigarette first.
''Isn't taking care of her your job now?'' Teased Ritsuko.
''I'm afraid I don't know how to get along with girls.''
''Grumbling already? You declared theatrically that you'd take charge of her, didn't you?''
''Yeah, I felt bad that she would have to leave alone, close to Shinji too.''
''Everyone thought of her as a tool at that time. I'm the same as Ritsuko. Although we defeated the Angel, it felt like an empty win.'' Kaji reflected.
YOU ARE READING
Rei Ikari
Fanfiction"Rei, if it was a girl and Shinji, if it was a boy." Yui's baby ended up being a girl. Gendo was ecstatic for a while.
