CONCERT Chapter 2

by Gunman

Disclaimer: same as last chapter.

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36 minutes later...

Hikari knocked hard on the door. She had run all the way and was more than a little winded.

I hope he's alright. Please, please, please, please...

A little more than a half hour ago, she had called over to Asuka's apartment to talk to her about their assignment that was due Monday. What she got was Shinji answering the phone, and a shocking story about Asuka going to a concert and apparently taking her with her. The somber and depressed tone of Shinji's voice had caused Hikari to worry and sent her running off into the night. Worried that he might do something...rash...she had tried to get there ASAP.

The door opened up to reveal Shinji Ikari, which was to Hikari's relief. However, when she saw him in the doorway, slumped against the wall, she got worried. He wasn't bleeding, so he hadn't tried to kill, or cut, himself. She didn't smell cigarette smoke or anything suspicious. But there was definitely something wrong.

"Shinji, are you alright?" she asked gently.

"I'm...GRRRRRRRATE!" he roared.

Hikari covered her nose as the overwhelming smell of beer on his breath nearly knocked her over.

Wonderful! He gets depressed, he drinks. Hikari mentally groaned as she moved inside to help steady the boy as he tried to stand up and nearly fell over.

"Let's get you inside, Shinji." she said as she draped his arm over her shoulder, supporting him as he continued on his wobbly legs. Least you didn't try to kill yourself.

As she moved inside, she noticed there were nearly a half-dozen beer cans on the kitchen table. Open and drained.

Maybe I spoke too soon. She mused as she moved him to the couch. "Are you alright? What happened?" she asked. Or should I guess?

"Asuka used me. I got upset, and decided to wash away my sorrows!" he said.

"No kidding. That can't be healthy." she replied, amazed that he could speak so eloquently after gulping down six beers in a half-hour. Damn it, Asuka, he must have been really depressed to go that fast.

"Nah. Misato does it all the time." he said off-handedly.

She does? She wondered as her eyes went wide in shock. And this is the woman Toji and Kensuke admire? Sure she's gorgeous, but how...

"Hikari-chan? Why are you here?" he asked, cutting off her thought train.

"Huh? Oh...I was...well, after you called me, I got worried that you might be...upset..and I just came over to make sure you were alright."

He gave her a strange look, like he wasn't sure he believed her. "You did? Really?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why...do you care? Asuka doesn't." he said sadly. "I just...I just wanted to spend some time with her. Have some fun, like she always said I should. But she doesn't care about me." he said weakly. "You're her friend, Hikari. If she doesn't care, why should you?"

Hikari had a hurt look on her face. Was he saying that she and Asuka were the same kind of people? They were best friends after all, and had stuck up for each other on numerous occasions. She chose her next words carefully.

"I'm not like Asuka, Shinji. I wouldn't use you and lie to you like that. I'm...not that kind of person."

Shinji looked at her and gave a lite smile.

"Asuka's lucky to have you for a friend." he said as he tried to stand up.

"Shinji, where are you going?"

"To bed. I feel terrible." he said as he tried to stand up, and started descending to the floor rapidly.

"Here. I'll help you." she said, catching him before he fell.

"Thanks." he whispered as their faces were mere inches from each other. "You're very pretty."

Hikari blushed at that comment, but she turned bright full-faced crimson when Shinji pressed his lips against hers. At once her mind went into overdrive.

He's kissing me! He's...Kissing...Me! Wait. Get a grip Hikari. He's had six beers, he's not thinking or acting rationally. His lips are really soft. Damn it! Snap out of it Hikari! He may be cute, but he's in a lot of pain right now. So Stop Kissing Him!

Hikari broke the kiss, part of her fairly disappointed. She then noticed he was turning green.

"Shinji?"

"Beer...coming up..." he said as he dashed away from her and into the bathroom.

Gets used. Gets depressed. Drinks beer. Kisses girl. Throws up. Oh, yeah, real encouraging. She thought as she heard him throw up for a good ten minutes. After she was sure he had emptied his stomach, she went into the bathroom and found him just sitting on the floor, his head against the toilet. She sighed and gathered him up. She was lucky he wasn't a big guy as she helped him off the floor and into his room.

Not a bad kisser, though I would have enjoyed that a lot better if he didn't taste like beer. She thought as she helped him to his bed.

He flopped down face first, turning his head towards her. "Hikari?" he said weakly as he tried to look up at the girl.

"Yes, Shinji?"

"Thank you...for being here."

With those grateful words, Shinji passed out, leaving Hikari to smile as she pulled the blanket over him. She exited the room, stopped suddenly by a female voice.

"Well, well, well! Looks like Shinji's got an visitor."

Hikari looked to the voice and saw two women. One was Shinji's guardian and the source of Toji and Kensuke's lust, Misato Katsuragi. Next to her stood a blond hair woman she didn't know.

"Hikari Horaki, right?" Misato asked.

"Uh, yes, Ms Katsuragi."

"Misato, please. The 'Ms' makes me sound old." she turned to the woman next to her. "This is Dr Ritsuko Akagi, she works with me and Shinji."

"Please to meet you." Hikari said with a bow. "I'm Hikari Horaki. I'm in Shinji and Asuka's class."

"I know who you are."

Hikari's eyebrows raised.

"We're NERV. We know everything." she grinned ferally.

Hikari seemed a little tense now.

"She's kidding, Hikari." Misato smiled, trying to ease her mind. "So, what are you doing here, and coming out of Shinji's room no less?"

"I was making sure he was alright."

Misato got a catty smile on her face. "Were you tucking him in, or just getting out to get drink of water?"

Hikari blushed at that.

"So what happened? Concert wore him out so fast he came home early?" the purple-haired woman asked.

She doesn't know?

Misato noticed Hikari's lost expression. "Hikari, what is it?" she asked as her voice turned serious.

"Uh, Misato, I think there's something you should know."

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Author's Notes:

Hope you liked the second chapter. I'm hoping to have chapter 3 done by the end of the week, if I don't get distracted by my other projects.

This is my second Shinji/Hikari story and I hope you like that I tried to get Shinji drunk instead of him committing suicide due to a broken heart. That sounds so like him, doesn't it? Of course, if I did, I'd have to change the rating on this story to M.

I'm unsure whether or not to have Hikari and Asuka at odds with each other, but I'm hoping to get that sorted by the next chapter. I'm also unsure how many chapters this will be. Also, in case you haven't noticed, the title has little to do with the actual story. More like it's the catalyst for the story.

Anyway, hope you like it, and please review.