Heartbroken By Jon L.     It was a cool night in the city of Tokyo-3, one of the few that ever comes ever since Second Impact changed everything. For the two Pilots that were walking through the quiet streets this late at night, they were alone. Pilot Soryu and Pilot Ikari had finished up at NERV later than normal with a synch test. As the crisp, cool breeze blew past them, Shinji was trying to decide how he felt about his roommate and fellow Eva pilot next to him. Ever since the first day they went through private training to battle the Seventh Angel he knew there was something special about her, something he was longing for now.     As they approached a park, Shinji began to sort out his feelings up until this point, 'Could she really feel the same as me?' he pondered as they make their way across. Under normal circumstances, they would have both ridden the rail line to the station close to their residence, or ridden with Misato, their other roommate and guardian who serves as their commanding officer during a battle as well. Misato had suggested a nice walk home for them since the weather had cleared up during the late evening, giving way to a full moon and thousands of stars in the sky. 'Everything about her tells me she is like me. It's almost as if she is using her flagrant and demure attitude to hide her true feelings inside.'     As they near the middle, Asuka looks off to the left and takes in the view of the night sky reflecting off the lake, "Shinji, have you ever been kissed by a girl before?" she asks. Shinji is to say the last stunned by her question and pauses mid-step as she continues on, "No. Why do you ask?" he answers, "I was wondering if you wanted to kiss me. I have never been kissed by a boy before, I thought you might want to kiss a beautiful girl too." She stops and turns to face him, "Are you nervous?" Shinji remains speechless as he thinks about what to say, 'She has never asked me to kiss her before. What is it about this moment that has given her a reason to ask?' "Nn-no," his stuttered reply comes out. "Then come over here and do it. What better place and time then it the park on a night as beautiful as me."     Gathering up all his courage, he walks up to her and stops short as he looks into her eyes. "Baka, what are you stalling for? You are being given the chance to kiss a girl for the first time, namely me. Are you scared your mother is watching you right now?" she blurts out after a few seconds, "It's not that." "Then, be prepared. Here we go." She moves in closer and prepares her lips for contact when she feels his hot breath on her skin, "Stop breathing, you're tickling me, "she says as she pinches his nose shut and presses her lips against his.     Startled by her suddenness, Shinji savors the kiss the best he can, even though he takes into account that he can't breath. As the kiss goes into its third minute he feels a wave of dizziness pass over him as he struggles to keep from passing out or pulling away. After a good five minutes go by he feels the need to breath again and quickly breaks the kiss as he gasps for breath. Asuka looks back at him and ponders his actions before running off in the direction of their apartment.     The next night, Misato had gone out for a wedding and reception, leaving the two pilots alone for the night. Asuka had gone out on a blind date earlier but returned home early. She now sits at the table with her head down. Shinji enters the room and sits down beside her, "Asuka, about last night..." he starts out but is abruptly cut off, "Don't get the wrong idea. I was bored and just wanted to see what it would be like to kiss a boy. I don't like you in that way, never will!" she blurts out before she abruptly stands up and leaves the room, leaving a stunned and heartbroken Shinji alone. ==== I know this short fic sucks, but I just felt like writing something out so I did this. It is supposed to replace the kiss that both pilots shared in the series, though I think that kiss had a stronger message. I wrote this shortly after receiving some sad news. comments can be sent to nws_isdn@yahoo.com