Hey everyone. this is VOLUME 10 of the series. Hope you have enjoyed it so far. this chapter start right after the end of the last chapter.

HUNTER AND VAMPIRE

VOLUME 10

Romance Dawn

Previously on Hunter and Vampire

Rei awoke into a post-apocalyptic world…one with many mysteries and Asuka is the leader of the Hunters. When the vampire Kaworu Nagisa free her from the spell, Rei was forced to make the decision of killing Elena, to silence her of Asuka's holding an Angel Tear, one she saved Asuka's life from a deadly poison. On her side, Asuka's feeling for Rei started to change wondering what they are. Rei burdened by the guilt of killing Elena, revealed to be a past lover, went back to the place where they first met to give a final goodbye…leaving a simple shrine.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Missing

Meanwhile

Rei Ayanami was missing.

Asuka first came aware of that fact when she was released from the hospital. She had expected to meet the vampire during the school day but that had been futile. Asuka had hoped Rei didn't abandon the school. What she had learned from the Hunter, Hikari was enough for her to be mad at the t girl for the entire week. She was grateful that Rei had saved her life…but she wanted to speak to the girl…

Sighing, she slumped in her seat drawing the attention from her companion.

"Something the matter?" Shinji Ikari asked.

"Rei isn't here again today," she said.

Shinji glanced toward the window seat, where the blue haired girl usually sat, finding it empty as it was all week…thought now that Asuka mentioned it…he never recalled on how Asuka knew the girl in the first place.

"How did you meet her anyway?" Shinji asked.

"Huh?"

"How did you first met Rei Ayanami?" Shinji asked her again.

Asuka thought back to that day…that day underneath the large oak tree that was on the school campus. She smiled a little remembering it. she had been hiding because of the newspaper club wouldn't leave her alone, wanting to know what she had been in the hospital…And she had hide there…but Re was already seated there, reading and they had talked to each other…till the bell rung…

"Asuka," Shinji's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You going to answer my question?" the dark-haired boy asked her.

Asuka stared at him for at least a few minutes before she remembered what he had asked.

"Oh…that, we've met during that time that those newspaper guys kept bothering me about what had happened…"

"Oh yeah," Shinji said nodding, "They were following you throughout the school for days."

"Worst week of my life I tell you," Asuka told him.

"Say…how come you were at the hospital again?" Shinji asked the girl.

"I was near the place when it blow up," Asuka told him, touching her cheek were the scar was.

"Yah, the news had been having a field day with it," Shinji said, shaking his head, "My dad's company owns these buildings. He was taking care of the destruction…mostly."

The bell rung as the two students seated up.

"Say…you want to go somewhere after school?" he asked.

Asuka looked at him raised an eyebrow.

"And why would you want to invite me anywhere?"

"You're my girlfriend aren't you?" Shinji asked, "And I want to take you on a date."

Yes, both Asuka and Shinji had started dating after that kiss on that day, and had been going steady the entire week. Thought they hadn't go on a date yet, and Shinji was planning to change that today.

"You've gotten bold," Asuka said, smiling.

"Well, when you disappeared," Shinji told her, a soft smile on his lips, "I realized how much you mean to me…and I want you show you that, Asuka-chan."

Asuka blushed slightly hearing him say this. This boy was just too sweet sometimes.

"Thank you, Shinji –kun."

Shinji kissed her softly on the lips.

"So are we on for a date tonight?" he asked.

Asuka gives him a smile.

"We are."

Asuka got home later with a smile on her face. Dropping her bag on the couch she made her way toward the kitchen, putting herself some food in her plate.

"Something happened today?"

She glanced toward the voice, finding Misato in the doorway a grin on her face.

"What do you mean?" Asuka asked, acting nonchalant.

"Considering you're positively glowing with happiness," Misato told her, "I am pretty sure something good happened."

Asuka turned toward her guardian, friend and older sister.

"Shinji asked me on a date for tonight," she announced.

"Ikari?" Misato repeated, "I wondered when he will finally does so."

Asuka blinked.

"What are you talking about?"

Misato laughed.

"I noticed that boy was in love with you a long time ago, and he had finally started to man-up and ask you out."

"It's going to be strange," Asuka said smiling a little, "me and Shinji-kun had been friends forever."

Misato approached her, putting hands on her shoulders.

"Hey, go on the date. That boy loves you, anyone can see that," she said, "Try to make your life return to normal…at least, for one night."

"Yeah…but that aside…I'm kind of worried about Rei," Asuka said, "She had disappeared for a week, and even Lilly had gone missing."

Misato shrugged her shoulders.

"I wouldn't know about that but I'm pretty sure she won't stay away for long."

Asuka frowned at this.

"What makes you say this?"

Misato remembered what Ritsuko had told her.

I think…positively sure that Rei's mate is Asuka.

"I got a feeling that's all," was the answer Asuka received.

Shinji arrived home in a good mood. The large mansion-sized home was well lit, as he put his bag on the floor beside the door.

"I'm home," he announced.

"Welcome home," a woman said.

Yui Ikari was a good looking woman in her mid-thirties. She had short browning hair with brownish eyes hugging her lovely face. She was the best mother Shinji could ever ask for, and she made some delicious pies.

"Hi mom," he greeted, "Guess what?"

"What could it be that has gotten my son in such a good mood?"

"A date probably," Shinji answered.

"With Asuka-san, I presume," Yui guessed.

"How did you know that?" Shinji asked, surprised.

"Honey, I'm your mother," Yui said, "It's my job to know these things."

Shinji shook his head.

"Is Dad home?"

"He should be…ah, here he comes," Yui said.

They could hear a car arriving unto the driveway, drawing Shinji's attention, and he can hear the door opening and closing and footsteps heading toward the door, two sets of footsteps, which confused him greatly. Who could be with his father this late at night?

The front door opened, and there Gendo Ikari stood dressed in a suit with his glasses on…but what shocked Shinji wasn't his father, but his father companion. Standing there, dressed in jeans with a jacket on, her hair slightly wet and had both hand in her pocket with a sword bag on her back was Rei Ayanami.

"Honey…what's going on?" Yui asked, thought she had underlying surprise in her tone.

Yeah, Rei's back in Japan.

Jacques0 out.

R&R.