Interlude 01: Awoke to a broken world

Authors notes: I noticed I was getting to caught up in the whole Shinji soldier boy thing, so next chapter will finish that Arc of the story and take Shinji back to his self Berating best, with a little help from Asuka of course. So while that chapter is being written (which I assure you it is) here is a little short interlude story about how Hikari got her Waitress job in Otto's Bar and a little look into her instrumentality. - Enjoy

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Hikari broke the surface of the LCL Lake, fresh air pushing into her lungs like that of a child who had just been born. She breathed deeply her matted hair falling to her shoulders; she opened her eyes as the LCL drained from her face returning to its lake in short droplets. She looked around the green crosses of light were still raising to the sky all around her.

An intense feeling of loss overcame all her senses, essence and very being "TOUJI" she cried out as loud as she could manage before breaking down to tears. He was alive, he was with her, touching her, kissing her and rubbing his hands across her smooth skin just moments ago, wasn't he...wasn't it?

She could still feel the touch of his rough hands on her cheek like it was there but minutes ago. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, she had been given a chance to be with Touji she didn't completely understand what was happening though the words "Calling of all souls" seemed fresh in her mind when she looked at that endless orange lake.

She waded to the shoreline the yellow sand beach that she was sure was not always there welcomed her, she lay on her back naked and confused. Staring up at the blood red sky as pink clouds danced around in the light breeze.

"How odd" was all she said; "A red sky"

2 Weeks later
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Hikari had found food, clothing shelter, the best she could expect really, eventually she would make her way from this wasteland to Tokyo 2, though she suspected this was no localised to this area.

She didn't have to pay rent at least though she would need to find work for food. She laughed at herself bitterly, three years as Class Rep and perfect scores, she was supposed to go to graduate top of her class, supposed to go to collage and she was SUPPOSED to marry Touji.

There were a lot of things she was supposed to do with her life that now just seemed like a distant dream as much as she wished for that life, she had to live this one. Which brought her here, to Otto's bar, she could never remember this bar being here before but, like her apartment it was probably claimed and rent-free. People didn't really have much use for money anymore other than for food and water, these simple commodities were sold at extortionate prices. She approached the barman, he seemed nice enough a large man, with a moustache, a few people called him Sam, so she assumed that was his name.

"I'm here to see, Otto about the job for a cook", Hikari spoke quite timidly. This was such a sleazy place she didn't know if she could work here.

The barman looked her up and down examining her every curve, PERVERT! Her mind screamed at the man but she remained silent;

"Otto's in the back, go on through, first door on the left", the barman finally replied.

Hikari simply nodded in response and went through to the back, knocking on the door; "Yeah, yeah, it's open" Otto yelled over the noise of some kind of sporting event; Hikari opened the door and walked through.

Otto was a relatively short greasy cigar wielding man with a short beard. His office was decorated with various firearms, ranging from small handguns to assault rifles and the sound of some sporting event piping out a small radio.

Otto took a puff on his cigar; "So little lady, what can I do for you?"

"I want to apply for the cooks job", Hikari spoke, a bit more sure of herself now.

"Cook huh?" Otto said scanning a list in front of him; "That position has already been filled" Otto said briefly looking up from his list, he saw Hikari's face fall. Otto wasn't a hard man despite his image.

"However, I do have a job open for waitress and if you do well maybe if the Cook position opens up, you get first crack" Otto spoke.

Hikari smiled and nodded. Now it may have seemed like Otto was giving her a break or to get the job was easy but quite frankly he was desperate, plus she'd be working 9am-10pm every day, it was long hard hours but it paid well plus Sam watched out for you.

Otto didn't really care where his customers come from or what they wanted as long as they left there troubles outside, by that same note, no body messed with his employee's

"You start right away", Otto said, taking out a small apron from his desk draw and handing it to her, "Shift finishes 10pm, Sam will walk you home, if you need it", Otto spoke.

Hikari left the office to head back out to the main bar to begin her work for the evening. Leaving Otto to curse out the radio after she assumed his team lost.