Chapter 2: The Protected City

The wind blew at them, in huge whining gusts kicking up sand into their faces, they looked away from the wind to protect their eyes. Everything was telling them they shouldn't be here, even nature itself was conspiring to make them turn back, they had spent a month in the now wastelands outside Tokyo living off what ever they could find, funnily enough Shinji found that Rat tasted good when cooked. After some coaxing even Asuka had come to love it, if only because it let her survive.

They both looked forward to some real food when they got into the city even if it was awful and something they would never eat under previous circumstances but anything was better than the Rat they had both come to love.

Shinji and Asuka walked through the deserted streets, the old style Japanese wooden windows knocked against their frames as the wind blew them open. It was ere, hell on earth best described it.

As they got deeper into the city, they came across several bodies'. All of which had been mutilated beyond recognition and had several limbs missing, like they had been eaten.

Asuka knelt beside one of the fallen men and searched his corpse for anything useful. Shinji simply gave her a look of disgust unable to believe that even SHE would rob the dead. Asuka removed the man's weapon and Jacket and took it as her own. She searched through its pockets finding his wallet she looked at the man's ID, Takashi, Roanji. She looked at the man's picture, he looked so happy in it little did he know the fate that would befall him. She removed any Cash from the wallet and pocketed it, she then threw the wallet back onto the corpse and she Checked the 9mm handgun was loaded, then placed it in the other pocket.

Asuka returned to Shinji's side. The studded black leather jacket not really matching her Red Plug suit. "We should get some clothes", Shinji said as he pointed to an abandoned Shop across the street.

The windows had been smashed and all valuable items had been taken, but there were still some clothes on the racks. The smashed Glass made a crushing sound under there feet as they 'browsed" what remained.

Asuka Finally decided on a pair of blue denim Jeans and a white T-shirt, She ducked behind the counter as she removed her plug suit and pulled on her new jeans warning Shinji not to look under pain of death.

Suddenly Shinji ducked behind the counter Asuka was going to scream some obscenity at him for breaking his promise not to look but the serious look on his face stopped her as he silently pointed to the doorway.

However much Asuka valued her modesty it wasn't worth her life as she crept to the side of the counter she peaked her head around just as one very large leather clad man and a shorter leather clad woman wearing an eye patch entered.

"You know what I love about shopping these days", the Woman spoke her voice was raspy.

"No" said the Man, his voice was deep.

"Every Thing You see is Free", the Woman replied with laughter as she rubbed her hands up and down the mans inner thigh,

"Awe come on Screech, not right now", the Man protested but was cut off with a deep passionate kiss.

Asuka almost hurled at this and would have yelled out exactly what kind of perverts she thought they were had it not been for the fact that they were very well armed perverts.

A third person entered the shop, he was a tall skinny man with thick rimmed glasses. "Hey you two love birds, if your finished we need to get back to the Bar as much as I love you two I love my beer more", he spoke.

The two laughed then made there way to the exit, a moment later there was the sound of revving motorcycle engines and then silence once again returned.

Asuka breathed a sigh of relief that pulled on her T-shirt and jacket. Shinji started to undress and picked out a Pair of Jogging pants and a blue T-shirt. Asuka watched the young man's every move. After all it was only fair, at least that's how she thought about it. Once Shinji was dressed they returned to the Streets of Tokyo 3.

They came to a brightly lit place with a large neon sign above the Entrance flashing "Otto's" it was quite properly the most lively place in all of Tokyo now. They could hear the loud music as they approached and several motorcycles were parked outside.

A Large Man stood on the door, he was wearing a leather waistcoat with white undershirt and leather pants. He was quite stocky, with a long beard that almost touched his chest. As they went to enter the bar the man stood in their way Asuka glared at the man but he didn't seem the slightest bit intimidated. She considered letting Shinji try since his father was possibly one of the most intimidating men in all of Japan then thought better of it.

"ID", The large Doorman said simply. "ID?" they both asked in unison.

"No ID no Entry", the Doorman was obviously a man of few words. "Well where do I get an ID?" Shinji asked Stupidly. Asuka for a moment thought Shinji must be the dumbest person on the entire planet. She then looked at the doorman, and corrected herself - second dumbest.

However Shinji's blatant question did offer a surprising reward when the doorman spoke again. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone this" he whispered looking about; "but theirs a guy in the Maju district that can make you an ID", the Man handed them a Tiny piece of paper with a address scribbled on it.

Asuka smiled at the man, maybe he wasn't as dumb as he looked after all and then the man farted loudly and scratched his ass. Asuka reconsidered.

As they walked away from Otto's bar. They saw the Funujo Monorail train. Pass overhead, Asuka was surprised it was still running, even after Third impact. Then Shinji explained that it was automated so there was no Driver to be called to Lilith, he then assumed that since it hasn't stopped there was no longer anyone around that could, or knew how.

The monorail station was deserted, apart from a few people sleeping on the floors and benches. It made Asuka think about where she was going to sleep tonight. Sleeping out in the Wilderness didn't bother her, all she had to worry about there was wild animals, but here it was a totally different wild animal she had to worry about,

She looked over at Shinji who seemed almost carefree about the affair, like no matter how bad things were it didn't bother him in the slightest. Had he accepted life like this so easily?

As the Train pulled into the plat form, Asuka and Shinji boarded it, they Knew that the train went all around Tokyo 3 so all they had to do was stay on it until there stop. The Maju district, what would they find there?

Asuka simply wondered, would her world ever be the same again.

Authors Notes:

As Asuka and Shinji head towards the Maju district, what will they find there? And who is this mysterious person that can create ID's? Find out in the next episode.

Thanks you so much for you kind Comments Kitana ^_^ also pre-read on this chapter was done by Buzz69