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Now, to the story. --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------------

Ch. 28: The Digital Duel and The Chat in the Graveyard

Asuka walked the streets, bored, as always. Hikari was sick, and she couldn't even bug Shinji, because today was the anniversary of his mother's death.

She entered an arcade, trying to find a challenge.

To her luck, she found a VR (Virtual Reality) fighting game, that pit the player against another human player. No special abilities, just normal fighting moves.

She thought it would be mildly entertaining, so, she entered an open machine, and began to play under the User ID: Fire Ball.

She spent the next several minutes, creaming any one who faced her.

When he record was: 32-0-0, she received a message:

Dark Star: Care for a match? Rookie?

Fire Ball: How DARE you call me a Rookie! I'm 32-0

Dark Star: On paper, yes, but that still doesn't mean you're not a rookie.

Fire Ball: I"LL SHOW YOU!

Dark Star: So, you game?

Fire Ball: You're on!

Dark Star: Good, best out of 3.

Match start in: 3.......2.......1........FIGHT!

The digital form of who ever Dark Star was, appeared before her own.

Asuka launched into a furry of attacks, Dark Star only just barely managed to avoid each attack.

Dark Star: This all you got?

Fire Ball: Try dodging THIS!

Asuka used the most powerful combo in her arsenal. An attack, that was almost impossible to block or dodge.

(A/N: It's the dreaded 'Asuka Bitch Slap'! RUN!!! lol)

Dark Star not only dodged it, but he countered it, which caused Asuka to hit the ground, hard.

Round 1 to player: Dark Star.

Dark Star: A piece of advice little girl, don't use move's your opposite knows. It seldom will win you the battle.

Round 2, start in: 3..........2...........1......FIGHT!

Quick as a flash, Dark Star was on her. He repeatedly hammered her chest with down ward blows over, and over again. Asuka buckled under the beating.

Dark Star: Come on rookie, I know you can throw this off......

Fire Ball: Errrrrrrr..............

With all the strength she could muster, Asuka threw off the attack, that's when she realized she screwed up.

As Dark Stars right arm was being pushed back wards, his left fist came crashing into Asuka's now open jaw.

Asuka was sent flying by the powerful upper cut. She landed out side of the ring.

Match goes to player: Dark Star.

Dark Star: One last piece of advice. Don't do what your opponent wants you to do, when they want it.

Asuka stormed out of the machine, looking for Dark Star, so she could give him a piece of her mind.

Shinji stood at his mother's grave, alone. His father having just left. He turned to go, but a voice called out to him.

"You, have potential."

Shinji looked around, unable to find anyone.

"Up here."

Shinji looked up, there up in a tree, was a kid, of about his age.

"Who are you?" asked Shinji.

"My name is, unimportant. You have potential. But, zero confidence. I swear, you and that red head are like exact opposites."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"My main reason is because I have a debt to repay. But, there is something about your eyes, that intrigues me. Thank you for your time, Shinji Ikari."

The kid got up, jumped down from the tree branch, landed perfectly on his feet, and slowly walked off.

"What was that about?" Shinji thought, as he started to head home.

End of Chapter.