Chapter 4: Sudden surprises.

They came to Otto's Bar once again, there was the large doorman waiting for them. "ID", he spoke. Both Asuka and Shinji showed him their newly acquired ID's, the Doorman smiled knowingly. He stepped aside and let them enter the bar, pinching Asuka's ass as she passed him.

Asuka narrowed her eyes but something about the way Shinji looked at her told her not to start any trouble.yet. In the bar on the right were several occupied pool tables and games machines, on the left was the actual bar and upstairs were several bowling alleys.

Asuka and Shinji made there way to the busy bar and found an empty table. A few minutes later a quiet waitress came over to their table, she was quite small, wore two ponytails in her hair and her outfit didn't leave much to the imagination.

"Can I take your order?" She said nonchalantly.

"Yeah", Asuka spoke up not even looking at the waitress, "I'll have a scotch, what about you Shinji?" Asuka asked.

Shinji looked away from the pool game he was watching and looked at Asuka then the waitress, "I'll have a coke please", he looked long and hard at the female waitress, "Hikari?" he asked

The girl nodded. It all fit now it was Shinji, the Red haired girl next to him was Asuka. The waitress started to tear up and threw her arms around Shinji hugging him tightly. Asuka still no wiser as to who this person was wondered just what the heck was going on.

"Excuse me, but if your not to busy trying to get off with your customers I'd like to be served sometime today", Asuka said angrily, all that anger passed away in an instant though as the waitress turned to face her.

It was Hikari, her only real friend in Tokyo 3 before third impact. She couldn't believe it. "Yes miss no problem", Hikari said, hurt by Asuka's comments thinking that Asuka didn't remember her went to get their order.

Suddenly chairs fell over the other side of the room and there was a large amount of noise "You cheating bastard". Everything in the bar stopped, even the loud music as the large man went for his side arm, a mammoth monster gun that should be called artillery rather then a hand gun.

But before his hand could even grip the handle, there were several gunshots and the man's chest promptly exploded with blood. Splattering the wall and table with the red substance. The man's body hit the floor with a loud thud. The cloaked stranger returned to his drink.

Just as suddenly as it stopped the busy moment and loud music of the bar started again as if nothing had happened.

"Shinji did you just see that! That guy he just killed him like that. no one even cares", Asuka spoke genuinely shaken. She had seen men die before; heck she had killed herself in self-defence but never like that, not so coldly. Shinji simply nodded also quite shocked at the brutal death, but more so by the five men now searching the man's body for useful items, like vultures praying off the dead.

Hikari returned with their order, handing Asuka her scotch, which she downed in one and ordered another. She handed Shinji his coke. Hikari went to turn and leave when Shinji stopped her.

"Hikari", Shinji spoke; "when you get off work, can we talk?"

Hikari smiled and said "Sure thing Shinji"

Asuka looked at the two and eyed them oddly, she knew that nothing was going on between them, Hikari would have told her and Shinji, well that pervert couldn't hide anything from her.

The hours past and Hikari's shift was finally finished, her hours were long and hard but they paid well and right now she needed the money. She stepped out into the Alley with Shinji, the Steam hiding them from view. They had both left Asuka in the Bar.

"Hikari", Shinji said simply "You're alive"

"Shinji, what happened to the world? When I went into the Shelters, because the JSDF were attacking us, I fell asleep, when I awoke, we came outside and the world was like this", She hugged onto Shinji and started to cry on his shoulder.

The tears soaking into his shirt, he put his arms around her waist and held her. For the first time in a Month he felt alive, truly alive. Shinji was reminded of Pandora's box, where a curious girl opened the Box of the heavens and released unspeakable evils upon the world but closed it in time to preserve hope.

Hikari rested her head upon his, her lips now only inches away from his own. He could feel her breath. They kissed. It was long and passionate; Hikari lifted her leg up and rubbed it against Shinji as she pushed him against the wall.

Asuka looked around the bar at the various people going about their business; she ordered another scotch from the new waitress. She was getting quite drunk but frankly didn't care, though she did wonder where Shinji and Hikari had disappeared to.

A single leather clad man sat down next to her "Hey gorgeous", he said. "I'm Fred Flint-stone and I'll make your bed rock baby!" the Man continued. Asuka signed. What was it about her that made stupid bikers hit on her so much? Did she somehow deserve this? No She was Asuka; she had saved the world many times.

"I seriously doubt that my friend, your more like Barney Rubble, small and annoying", Asuka retorted. "Oh? Well why don't you come up to my place and I'll show you", 'Fred' persisted.

"Look Pal, I don't know what you're trying to score here but I ain't interested" she said absently rubbing her bandaged left arm; "Now if you excuse me I have to find my friends", Asuka dismissed quickly getting bored.

"You ain't going anywhere bitch", Fred vowed as he held her by her bad arm and tried to pull her to the ground.

"That was your First mistake", Asuka shouted quickly punching the man in the face and shifting her weight to throw the man to the ground.

"Ouch", he said as he hit the ground with a thud, the man sat up for more but the cold metal pressed against his temple and distinctive sound of the hammer of a 9mm handgun clicking into place stopped him in his tracks.

"And your second was thinking you could beat me, what you think because I have my arm bandaged and lost an eye I'm easy prey, so what were you going to do, rape me right here in the bar?"

The man was sweating heavily, not only because he was being held at gunpoint that happened almost everyday, but also because a woman was threatening him.

"I want you to beg" Asuka said grinning evilly.

"What?" Fred asked.

"You heard me, I want you to beg me for you pathetic little life", Asuka clarified.

"NEVER!" the Man shouted, feeling humiliated.

"Fine have it your way", Asuka said, her Finger brushing over the trigger to show him and everyone else she meant business.

"Ok, ok. Please spare my life. please I'll do anything. just don't kill me", Asuka had truly humiliated the man and what's worse she was enjoying it too in some sick twisted way it got her excited, that's one of the reasons she belittles Shinji so much.

Not because of the way he acted, or the fact that he looked at her or that she thought he was a pathetic coward, she simply did it because she could. Asuka removed the gun from the man's head and told him to get out which he did without question. He could never come back to this bar again anyway his male pride had been destroyed beyond redemption now.

Shinji and Hikari finally returned to the bar after their little encounter in the alleyway to be greeted with a very pleased Asuka; they both sat down at the table. Shinji wondered just why Asuka was so happy, he knew there weren't gone all that long so she couldn't have had that much to drink.

Asuka threw back another scotch; the way she drank it back reminded him of Misato another reason for his soul to be dammed to hell for all eternity Shinji cringed inwardly at the painful memory.

Asuka looked at the two of them, they both acted very guilty of something they knew they couldn't hide it, Shinji felt uncomfortable and went to get another drink, when Asuka ceased her opportunity and said "Why him Hikari? Why Shinji" it was a simple question but held more meaning than either of them truly knew.

"In this hell, you just need to feel human Asuka, you can't trust anyone now, but sometimes you just need to feel the warmth of another body, it reminds you that your still alive"

"I don't need anyone!" Asuka shouted, "All I need is my Job!" Asuka continued trying to convince herself she was right.

"That's so lonely Asuka", was Hikari's only response before Asuka ran away out of the bar. Shinji returned with drinks to find Asuka gone, he considered going after her but knew it would be pointless, she wanted to be alone and he respected that.

Even when there were out in the wilderness sometimes she would just up and leave not come back for days then suddenly return as strangely as she left, he wasn't worried about her, she could certainly take car of herself.

Asuka Sat on top of a piece of rubble at the edge of one of the large craters holding herself crying, "I don't", she sobbed; "I don't need anyone, I'm not lonely" for hours she simply sat there crying. Absorbed with her own problems and state of conciseness she didn't notice the men approach her.

Authors: notes: Now that Shinji and Asuka have parted ways what will happen to them, can Shinji find happiness with Hikari? What happened to Touji? And who are these mysterious men after Asuka? Find out next episode.

^_^ Hope your all enjoying the Story so far.