A Better Future

By James Lee

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2, Evangelion, and AMS are not my property. They are the property of their respected owners.

Note: This takes place in an alternate reality Evangelion.

Part 3
Asuka sat impatiently in her entry plug. "What's taking so long!" She said as she waited to be launched.

Apparently some group called SEELE wanted to start third impact and had sent troops and EVAs to get ride of NERV. Asuka knew that Shinji was in trouble and wanted to get to the surface fast.

"O-Okay! We're Ready!" Came Maya frantic voice over the comm channel. "EVA unit 02 Launch!"

The red EVA unit shot upward towards surface. When Asuka's EVA popped up out of the ground the first thing she noticed were the nine white enemy EVA units, the EVA 05 series. They were gorging on what was left of EVA 01. "S-Shinji! NNNNNNOOOOooooo!"

"NOOOOOooo!" Asuka screamed in her bed.

"Asuka! Are you all right?" called Dr. Tofu from downstairs.

"I-I'm fine Dr. Tofu. Just a bad dream that's all."

"Oh. Okay. You better get ready, today's your first day of school."

Asuka got out of bed and went to take shower. She was now working as a nurse for Dr. Tofu until she found a place to stay. She was concerned for the fact that she didn't know much pass basic first aid. But, Dr. Tofu had assured her that his last nurse, a girl named "Shampoo", hadn't known much pass basic first aid and herbal medicine either.

*What kind of person names their kid after a hair care product?* What really knocked Asuka was when she found out that this Shampoo's supposed boyfriend was named Mouse. "What will they name their kids? Styler and conditioner."

After taking her shower Asuka started to get dressed. Dr. Tofu had lent her some money for some cloths and school supplies. She didn't buy much, only what she needed saving the rest for later. Her new school uniform looked similar to her old one. That being a white shirt and blue jumper. After getting dressed Asuka then collected her school supplies, Paper, pencils, WEAPON.

Asuka had heard that the school she was going to tended to get a little rough and had decided that it be best to arm herself. She had seen it while shopping for school supplies. It was a retractable hobby blade that sort of reminded her of her EVA's progressive knife. One of the bonuses Asuka got from piloting an EVA was learning to use various weapons including: polearms, firearms, and knives.

Asuka wasn't fooling herself though. She knew that if she was going to stop second impact she was going to need something more powerful than a wanni-be prog knife, preferably a gun. Their was a problem though in that privet ownership of firearms was illegal in Japan. Even if it weren't she doubted that they just sell one to someone her age.

Dressed and ready Asuka walked down to the kitchen. Grabbing a couple of pieces of toast, she was almost out the door when Dr. Tofu stopped her.

"Oh! Asuka wait."

"Yes Doctor?"

"This morning a woman stopped by, said she wanted to talk to you. She left a card, some motor club. I've seem to have misplaced it though." Said Dr. Tofu looking around his office.

Asuka looked at the doctor. "Motor Club? Who do you think it was?"

"This real nice young woman. She had long brown hair and funny marks on her face and her voice was just...like....Ka...Ka..."

*SHIT!* Asuka turned and bolted for the door. Although she had never meet her, Asuka had learn not to hang around Dr. Tofu when he was thinking of Kasumi Tendo. The one time Kasumi had been by when Asuka was awake was while she was buying school supplies. Asuka had come home to find Dr. Tofu braking things and talking to his skeleton "Betty".

*The girl must be a N2 sex bomb to do that to the poor guy.* Thought Asuka. "Either that or a real life Snow White and God knows those are extinct."

After she was a safe distance from the clinic she began to wondered who had stopped by to talk to her. Dr. Tofu had mentioned the funny marks on her face. *Could it had been....Skid?....Skate?...Whatshername? Oh Well I'll think about it later. I don't want to be late.*

Dr. Tofu had helped her get into school without Identification. She had to take the high school entrance exam but it was easy(her Kanji had gotten better since moving to Tokyo3). Still Asuka chose to enter the tenth grade. For one thing she didn't want to stick out. Also having met the principal, she had no desire to meet his son who was said to be in the upper grades.

*****

Nabiki Tendo was talking with her "lackeys" near the school gate when she noticed a student she hadn't seen before. Watching the girl with long auburn hair enter she thought *Oh goody! Another customer.* Walking towards the girl she said.

"Hi! you new here? I'm Nabiki. If you need help I'm the one to come to."

The girl just looked at Her then said.

"Oh. And how much will this help cost?"

*Okay. She's not stupid.* "Depends on the help."

Asuka smiled. This was just the person she was hoping to meet, greedy and probably with contacts. It would save her the time and trouble of making her own contacts. "Do you know any computer hackers?"

Nabiki smiled. *At least the girl's willing to do business.* "Of course. What do you want, test answers, grades changed,..."

"I want to know what's going on in the Antarctic."

"OK.....Er..What?"

"I want to know what's happening in the Antarctic. I especially want to know about any planned Expeditions unto the year 2000."

"Ahhh...All right. This isn't the usual request. It's going to cost you...." *She must be pulling my leg. Let's see how far she wants to take it* "3,000 yen."

Nabiki was surprised when the girl reached into her bag and pulled some money out. Handing it to Nabiki she said.

"Deal! Oh, I want this to be kept quit."

"Of Course........HEY! Wait a minute! This is only 1,000 yen!"

"That's right. You'll get the rest on delivery, no sooner. Oh, and something else, I expect prompt delivery."

Nabiki fumed at that. *This girl's a sharp one! I better do a check on her.* Not showing her anger Nabiki said.

"What? You think the world's gonna end."

It took all Asuka's will not to flinch at that. Instead she turn and walked away.

Nabiki watched the new girl walk away. She was a force to be reckon with and Nabiki had to respect that. However Nabiki had always considered herself good at reading people and something about that new girl bothered her.

Thinking back, it was the girl's eyes. One eye didn't move at all and seemed to have no life in it. It really creeped Nabiki out. But it was the eye with life in it that scared her. The girl had the look of someone who had been to hell and back again. Nabiki suspected that if she removed that girls cool calm exterior she'd find a depression and anger that would make Ryoga look like he was on Kasumi brand happy drugs.

*****

As Asuka entered the school she bumped into someone else. It was a boy in a red shirt and black pants. She recognized him as one of Dr. Tofu's regulars, Ranma. Turning to her he said.

"Ah, sorry......Oh! It's you. How are you feeling?"

"Do I Know you?" Asked Asuka as coldly as she could.

"Ah...No. I guess you don't remember....OH-OH! Trouble."

With that Ranma turned and ran. Turning around to see were Ranma was looking Asuka couldn't see what spooked him. She didn't care either. Sure the boy had seemed nice. He had even been good looking. But she was on a mission and was not here to make friends. She had already made that mistake once, NEVER AGAIN! Still she was puzzled. Why would he remember her? The one time she'd seen him he was out cold.

*****

Asuka stood nervously looking DOWN at her "teacher". *That girl must be eight years old!* Thought Asuka.

"Class this is Asuka Soryu." Started Miss Hinako. "She's just recovered from a stay at the hospital. I expect you to treat her like one of our own. Now were to sit you?....There. In front of Miss Tendo."

Asuka moved to the seat she was pointed to. It was in of a girl with short black hair. The girl tried to be friendly, but Asuka ignored her. She could hear the girl mumbling something along the lines of cold little bitch which was fine by her. She noted there was another red head in the class who looked a lot like Ranma. The girl was even wearing the same type of cloths. *Must be his sister.*

After having situated the new girl Miss Hinako began her class. To Asuka's surprise, she found herself having trouble keeping up with the teacher. Having always been use to a desk computer or laptop, Asuka wasn't use to notetaking with pencil. *Jeez. How they ever learn anything this way?*

*****

When lunch time finally came, Asuka found the most remote part of the school yard to go eat lunch. She was about to open her bento when she heard a voice behind her.

"What vision is this that grace the fair grounds of our school?"

*OH wonderful.* turning to the boy Asuka said. "listen who ever you are. I not inter..."

The boy not listening cut her off. "But is it not impolite not to introduce oneself first."

"I am the rising star of the kendo world. The scorn of sorcerers and demons. The defender of Akane and the Pig tailed girl. My enemies call me Blue Thunder. I am upperclassman Tatewaki Kuno." Lightning struck behind him as he finished.

Asuka was not impressed. In fact she was getting quite annoyed and her temper was beginning to show. She didn't notice she was subconsciously easing her hand into her school bag.

"Well that's nice. Now I just want to eat my lunch. Why don't you turn around and LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE?!"

Kuno of course didn't get the message. "Ah...She has a fiery tongue. Very well I CHALLENGE YOU!"

"Er...WHAT?!"

"If you defeat me I shall date with thy!" Said Kuno charging with his bokken.

That was it, Asuka saw red. In an instant her hand was taking out her "prog" knife. If This Kuno wanted fight she was going to give it to him.

Kuno was elated when the girl got up and charged with her own weapon, obviously she was in love with him. Of course her being of the weaker sex he decided to lessen his blow. He succeeded in hitting her in the side, but to his surprise however she kept coming!

Asuka took the blow to her side. It hurt, but she had felt worst. Having at once been neurologicaly connected to an EVA and feeling the equivalent of having her arms cut off had given Asuka a good tolerance of pain. Using Kuno's surprise to her advantage she quickly close the distance between them. In a wide swing she cut Kuno's arm from the elbow to the wrist. She then pushed the boy up against the nearest wall.

Placing the blade to his jugular, Asuka said with a voice of pure ice. "If you ever come on to me with your Neanderthal ideals again I will CUT YOUR FUCKIN THROAT!"

Suddenly Asuka felt her body loose energy as if it was being drained. She was almost on her knees when she turn around to find herself face to face with a teacher. The teacher looked just like Miss Hinako, except this one was twenty-six years old.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING MISS SORYU!? HAND ME THAT KNIFE THIS INSTANT!!!"

"B-But..."

"NOW!!"

Retracting the blade, Asuka handed the knife to the teacher. She then look down at bleeding Thunder and then at her now bloody uniform. *Great! Now I've done it.* Thought Asuka as she was dragged to the office.

To be continued