Last chapter in this Volume folks and a Author's note at the bottom.

Chapter Forty-One

Confusing feelings

Asuka was having a good night. First Shinji had driven her to dinner which had been all delicious and then, he had taken her to the Festival that had been taken place in Tokyo-3. She had heard of people talk of the Festival in school, thought she had never bothered to go before.

Now as she sat underneath the hundred of twinkling stars watching the fireworks lit the sky into numerous colors, she had started to regret never coming.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Shinji asked.

Asuka turned her eyes toward him as light smile working on her lips, before turning back to watch the fireworks show.

"Yeah, they are."

"Now are you glad that I took you to see them?" Shinji told her.

Asuka laughed a little.

"It's definitely a surprise…that's for sure."

"I'm glad it is," Shinji smiled at her.

Asuka returned it.

Then Shinji started to lean forward and Asuka did the same, wanting to seal this beautiful moment with a kiss. Then just when they were about to kiss, a flash of blue was caught in the corner of the redhead eyes. Turning her head toward it, her eyes searched for what…who she had thought she'd seen.

Then she was it…making her heart jump in her chest.

Standing there, on top of the hill that overlooked the entire place, her blue hair dancing in the cool night wind was Rei Ayanami. In that single second, their eyes met.

That single glance was all that Asuka could ask for, seeing the vampire again. Everything seems to melt away as the two stared at each other…and Asuka couldn't understand why simply seeing the vampire again…could be so…filling. Why that empty feeling that she had in her chest all week seems to just…disappear.

Then the second was gone, and Rei had disappeared.

Asuka stared at the spot she had seen her, wondering why she was so suddenly afraid…

Don't go…come back, she thought desperately.

"Asuka," Shinji asked, breaking the girl out of whatever trance she was in.

Asuka turned her gaze toward Shinji whose face showed nothing but surprise and worry.

"I…I'm sorry but I have to go…"

"What?" Shinji said, not keeping the shock out of his voice, "Why?"

But Asuka was already running up the hill, leaving a confused Shinji behind to look at her receding back.

Shinji stood there, as Asuka disappeared from the crowd. He couldn't understand what had gone wrong. Everything had been perfect so why did it go wrong?

"Smooth move Shin-man," a familiar voice said, "You scared her off."

Toji smirked at him with his little sister in tow, carrying a large teddy bear.

"You saw that?"

Toji nodded.

"SO you had finally took the girl to a date," he said, "Now, why didn't you tell me?"

"I've been dating Asuka for a week, you didn't notice?"

Toji stared at him.

"Really? I didn't notice," he said, "If it wasn't for Rei… I would have.."

"Rei?" Shinji interrupted, "Rei Ayanami? She was here?"

"Earlier, but she left," Toji told her, "IS that really a problem?"

Shinji glanced the way Asuka had run off.

IS it because of Rei…she had run off…

Shinji didn't like that feeling at all.

Asuka was running, panting as she glanced left and right. She was sure she had seen Rei at the Festival. Seeing the girl disappear was something that brought a kind of fear that she never known before.

"Rei," she called looking around the deserted park she had arrived at.

They weren't sign of everyone, considering it was late at night, they wouldn't be anyone here. Asuka walked off toward a direction, looking around frantically.

"Rei," she called again, feeling her heart drumming in her chest.

There was no answer, and Asuka could feel her chest tightening as a clog worked on her throat as if she was going to cry.

What if you didn't even see Rei after all, a small voice said in her head, you could have simply imagined that you saw her…

"Please don't disappear Rei," She said, putting both hands on her chest, "Don't leave me behind."

A hand fell on her shoulder, making her gasp. The hand was small and feminine. Asuka turned her head slowly, daring herself to hope…

"Rei," she whispered.

"Yes," Rei answered her, her voice soft.

It really was Rei…she was actually here.

Asuka jumped toward Rei, taking the vampire into a hug. She was so happy that Rei was here she had tears falling out of her eyes.

"Do you know how worried I have been about you?"

Rei's arm circled Asuka's body, pulling the redhead closer to her body and Asuka can hear Rei breathing in her hair.

"Rei…where have you been all week?"

The vampire stepped out of the hug, not meeting her eyes not meeting Asuka's.

"Rei…" Asuka whispered.

"Come with me," Rei told her.

She led Asuka toward one of the bench as they both seated down and in the distance they could hear the booming of the fireworks.

"Rei…"

"I went to a funeral," Rei answered her.

"A funeral?"

"Remember that Vampire Elena?" Rei asked her, "She…she used to be someone very close to me."

Asuka blinked.

"I went to the place we first met," Rei continued, "To give her a proper send off."

"I…I'm sorry."

Rei looked at her, a sad smile on her face, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Why don't you go back to your date?" Rei asked her as she stood up, "I'm sure Shinji will be worried about you."

Asuka stood up also.

"Rei, I…"

"Just go Asuka," she said, turning away from the redhead, "Before all of this caught up with you, you were just another normal girl…with no worry about anything. The only way for this to happen is for you to go back…to him."

Asuka stared at Rei as the girl walked away from her. She couldn't understand why Rei was acting like this. She felt hurt hearing this from the girl. She then felt something working its' way into her heart and then…

"DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME," she yelled.

Rei turned her head and her red eyes widen slightly. Tears were falling from Asuka's eyes as her hand trembled. The tears blinded Asuka from everything around her. The way Rei had said those words hut more than she could think.

But why does it hurt so much?

Then she heard footsteps approaching her as a hand took hold of her chin, and gently pushed her head up. She found Rei's face in front of her as the vampire's other hand was wiping the tears tracks from her face. Asuka closed her eyes savoring the pale hand that were gently touching her face.

"Why…Why do you mean so much to me Rei?"

Rei stared down at the redhead, her blue eyes had been reopened shining in the moonlight that was bathing her face in a breathtaking shine.

"Asuka...I..."

To be continued in Volume 11.

AN: I'm glad that i was able to get so far in the series but, I'm announcing that Hunter and Vampire will be on Hiatus for a while. My notebook that i had written them in is finished, so i'm going to have to buy a new one when i have the money. Sorry to leave it at such a cliffhanger but i love keeping you guys hanging...

Sorry again for the unconveniance.

Jacques0 out.

R&R.