A Better Future

By James Lee

Disclaimer: None these characters are mine. They are the property of there creators and owners. Coming after me well be pretty useless.

Part 5
Asuka was walking though the ruins of Tokyo 3. She couldn't believe she was the only one left. She had to find someone else. Asuka then heard a sound down the street. Running, she turned the corner to see....

"SHINJI!!" Asuka ran up and hugged her fellow pilot.

"Shinji! How did you escape!? I thought you were dead. I was beginning to think I was the only survivor."

"That's the problem Asuka." Said Shinji.

"What?"

"There weren't suppose to be any survivors." With that Shinji changed into the white form of a EVA 05 series EVA. The white EVA then sliced open Asuka's belly with it's sword. As the stunned Asuka fell and started to die in a pool of her own blood, the EVA came down on her. Opening it's mouth it began to feed.

Asuka woke up. Normally she would have woke up screaming at such a dream, but she had this one before. Four days ago it had been her friend Hikari and two days before that her mother. Asuka seemed to be getting used to the nightmares she had everynight. She didn't know whither to be happy or worried about that.

Getting out of bed Asuka got ready for school. After thinking about what the goddess had said, Asuka had decided she'd at least try to accomplish her mission alone first. If she failed then she might seek help, if she survived. If she didn't she had made a note to leave Dr. Tofu telling him everything. She didn't know if he would believe it all, but at least someone would know what was going to happen.

Asuka had finally come up with a plan to stop second impact. She would take out SEELE or whoever was backing the expedition. It was composed of three phases. Phase one, preparing, was already under way. Phase two, Recon, would be started today. Phase three, Strike, would be carried out after completion of Phases one and two. It was dangerous but it was the best plan Asuka could come up with at the moment. It was a one shot deal and if it didn't work, Asuka really didn't know what she was going to do next.

*Well let's not think about that now. I need to start Phase two today.* thought Asuka as she finished getting ready and left for school.

*****

Skuld went out to get some ice-cream. She wasn't out of the door when she ran into Keiichi and Megumi. Skuld was shocked to see that they were almost skeletons. "W-What's wrong with you two!?"

"We're starving! There's no food!" Skuld turned to get something for them, only to be confronted with a thousand more skeletal figures.

"Fooood! We need Food!"

"B-but I don't have any!" Shouted Skuld. The thousand became a million smothering her. "We're hungry! Give us foood!"

"I-I don't have any food! Please NNNOOOoooo!"

"NOOooo!" Skuld woke up from her own nightmare. "Hey you okay Skuld?"

Skuld looked up at her new 'boss'. "I'm fine Ukyo just a bad dream that's all."

"Oh. Well you better get out of bed and get ready. We have the morning rush to take care of before school."

Skuld nodded and got out of the cot that Ukyo had loan her. As she got ready for 'work' Skuld thought about how she got into this mess.

Skuld had just teleported to Nerima and was rather hungry. Not seeing any near by ice-cream stores, she decided to go into a okonomiyaki restaurant. She was half-way in the door when she was suddenly attacked from behind by a MAILBOX!(1) Skuld quickly produced a bomb and sent the offending mailbox into orbit. Unfortunately she also destroyed a good part of the front entrance. However, although the owner Ms Kuonji was upset about her doorway, she did thank Skuld for getting rid of a 'pest' and said that Skuld could work as payment for the damages. Skuld, a goddess second class, was now working as a waitress at the Ucchan. *How degrading!* Skuld did find Ukyo to be a nice person. Upon noticing Skuld's bag, Ukyo offered Skuld a place to stay in the restaurant and even let her barrow a Furinkan girl's uniform. Apparently Ukyo preferred the boys uniform. The girl's uniform was a bit big on Skuld but that was okay. She wasn't planning on staying there long.

After she finished getting ready Skuld went into dining area to wait tables. *I wonder what else could go wrong.*

*****

Nabiki was sitting at her desk taking care of her various businesses. There was a good half hour before classes started and Nabiki planned to make good use of it. Suddenly what few people that were in the class room became very quiet. Looking up Nabiki could see why it gotten so quiet. "Hello Asuka. What can I do for you?"

Asuka placed one of the papers Nabiki had given her yesterday on the desk. "I want you to find out all you can about the people who are behind the Katsuragi Expedition. I want to know who's backing them financially. Where they hang out, ect. And I want it kept real quiet this time."

Nabiki looked at the paper. "It will cost you 9000 yen again."

"Fine." Said Asuka as she took out 3000 yen and handed it to Nabiki. "You know the procedure."

Nabiki sighed. "3000 now, 6000 when you get your info."

"Right! Oh and I'm serious about keeping it quiet. That's for your own good as well as mine." Said Asuka as she left the classroom.

"Ah yeah. Okay. Have a nice day." Nabiki then turned to see another student approaching her. It was Oshii of the chemistry club. "Ah Oshii! I was about to go looking for you. Do you have my money?"

"Ah no but..." Oshii nervously looked around to make sure Asuka was gone. "I heard you were looking for any information on Asuka."

"Go on." Said Nabiki.

"Well lately she's been working on something in the Chem lab after school."

"Oh? What?" Nabiki was a little interested in this.

"I don't know. She chases off anyone who tries to help her. She hit Yuuki in the head with a metal chair when he got too close to it. S-She's scary!"

"That she is." Nabiki was now very interested. "Okay I'll cut you a little slack for now. I'll cut you some more if you find out what she's working on."

"Okay! I think I can do that."

"Good! Now if you'll excuse me I have some other business to take care of." With that Nabiki left the classroom. She then went down to the first floor and entered a freshmen classroom. Nabiki walked up to a thirteen year old girl typing on a computer. The girl had short black hair and a mole under her left eye. The girl looked up from her computer.

"Nabiki?"

"Hi Ritsuko want another brake on your loan?"

Ritsuko sighed. "What do you want now?"

"MEEE?"

"You wouldn't be offering me a brake on my loan if you didn't want something."

"True. Do you remember that Antarctic info you got for me?"

"Ah yeah."

"Well my client want's more information on the Katsuragi Expedition. Who's backing it. Where they hang out. Everything you can find."

"Well I guess that isn't too hard. My mother's working for that expedition right now."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. She's making some new program's for there GPS systems. She also working on something at the museum. She won't tell much about it though."

Ritsuko went back to her typing. "I'll see what I can come up with. It may take some time. I got a LOT of important thing's to do."

"Yeah. Just keep in mind you owe me a LOT of money. Oh and one other thing. She wants it kept real confidential." Said Nabiki as she headed back to her classroom.

Ritsuko sighed. *Why couldn't I have gotten the money from Mom.*

*****

"Class this is Skuld Eisbarm. She's an exchange student from Europe. I want you to make her welcome." Said Ms. Hinako as she introduced Skuld to the classroom.

"Eh it is nice to be here." Said Skuld. Fortunately the school had accepted her somewhat false identity. Although Kamisama frowned heavily on lying, he had granted Skuld and her sisters a certain amount of leniency to conceal there divine status. Ever since that incident in which Aoshima and Sayoko had gotten a video of Belldandy coming though a mirror and almost exposed them.

Technically she wasn't lying. She and her sisters really were from Europe and the last name really was a nickname given to her by a German god. Since this was Japan, Skuld doubted many people would know what it really meant.

As Ms Hinako looked for a seat for her new student. Skuld noticed a small light on her watch was blinking. *The temporal disturbance is near by!* Pretending to check the time, Skuld looked at her 'watch'. On the watch face was not only the time, but also two other digital displays and an arrow pointing to the right. *Hmm It's 345 mils(2) to the right and ONLY THREE METERS AWAY!*

Skuld lowered her arm and looked to the right. About three meters away was a girl looking STRAIGHT at her. Skuld quickly looked away. Ms. Hinako then spoke up. "Well Ms. Eisbarm. Since you came in with Ms. Kuonji, you can sit next to her."

Skuld made her way to the desk next to Ukyo. As she walked, she could feel the eyes of the girl watching her.

Asuka watched the new girl move to her seat. *What's she doing here!? Her name is Skuld EISBARM!?(3) What is it with the twentieth century and names? Oh well. I think I better talk to her. Maybe at lunch.*

As Skuld sat down, Ukyo nudged her. "Hey Something wrong?"

"That girl over there with the thing's in her hair."

"Oh that's Asuka. I can see why your bothered. She is creepy." Said Ukyo. "She doesn't seem to like anyone. She doesn't talk to anyone. Doesn't seem to go out much. She eats her lunch alone away from everybody else..."

"I see." *Away from everybody else huh. Convenient.* Skuld thought. If the disturbance tended to stay away from people, then it would be easier to neutralize without many people noticing.

Ukyo looked at Skuld concerned. "You might want to steer clear of her Skuld. She's got a real psycho temper."

"Umm." Skuld nodded. *Humph! I can take her!* The class then started.

*****

It was now lunch time. Asuka had taken her usual place away from everyone else. She decided she'd first eat lunch then go look for Ms EISBARM. As she began to eat, she notice said goddess coming towards her. Asuka was about to say something when the girl threw a small object at her. Some danger sense went off in Asuka's head and she quickly dodged. The object exploded, throwing Asuka off her feet! "What the hell!"

Asuka got up to see Skuld throw another bomb at her. Asuka made a run for it. She looked behind her. Skuld was following throwing bombs all the way. Asuka then notice she was entering a part of the school that was under repair. *Well I can't run forever.* As Skuld throw another bomb, Asuka stopped and picked up a 2x4. Preying that the grenade didn't have a impact fuse, Asuka struck the bomb like a baseball.

Skuld eyes widen as her own bomb came flying back at her and exploded in mid-air. Coughing and sweeping away the smoke, Skuld became very mad. *ALL RIGHT NO MORE MS. NICE GODDESS!* Asuka for her part seem to notice something, as she quickly dropped her 'bat' and ran into a near by crowd of students. *Great! Now I can't use my bombs! Well there's more than one way to deal with a Rat!* Skuld reached into her bag and pulled out a small rod. Pushing a button on the side extended the rod into a full size mallet. *I'll get you yet!* Skuld was about to renew her attack when she heard a voice behind her.

"Sooo Ms Eisbarm your a delinquent huh!"

"Wahh!?" Skuld turned to find herself facing Ms Hinako. "B-But she's..."

"HIPPO FIVE YEN DRAIN!!!"

Asuka slowed down when as she heard Ms Hinako give Skuld the vampire treatment(as she called it). *Humph! Serves her right!* Asuka had seen Ms Hinako approaching after the bomb went off and made a hasty retreat. She had no desire to be on the receiving end of whatever that woman did. The girl, woman, whatever also made Asuka uneasy. Ms Hinako had strange powers and in Asuka's book that often equaled Angle. *Well as long as she leaves me alone.*

Clearing her mind of Ms Hinako, Asuka began to think about what just happen. Things had suddenly become complicated. *Why did the goddess attack me? I mean, she's the one who sent me here.* Asuka then remembered that the Skuld that gave her the wish was much older. The Skuld that just attacked her was about her age, if not younger. *She hasn't meet me yet so I guess she doesn't remember me. Still. That doesn't explain her attacking me.* Asuka came to the conclusion that she now couldn't trust any goddesses anymore. With that Asuka started to return to class. *I hope Nabiki's fast. The sooner this is over the better!*

*****

Later in the day, Ukyo was on her way home when she felt something grab her ankle. Looking down she saw a drained Skuld.

"I-Ice-Ice-cream. Need ice-cream."

"I see you've run into Ms Hinako's bad side." Sighed Ukyo as she picked her new employee up off the ground. "Come on. let's get home."

With that Ukyo and Skuld made there way back to the Ucchan.

To be continued

Notes
(1) Actually it was Tsubasa just trying to get into the Ucchan. Skuld just
happen to be in his way.

(2) Mils: Mils are a metric means of telling direction. It's used by modern
U.S. Artillery units. Using mils are a lot more accurate than degrees.
There are 6400 mils in a circle with a little over 17.7 mils per degree.

(3) Eisbarm: German for ice-cream gut.

And finally a question.
Who in Ranma 1/2 do you think would make the best team up
with Asuka? Currently it's a tie for the following (of which I both got parts
thought up for).

Asuka/Shampoo

Asuka/Ranma

Are there any others? If so, please give reason.

I like to thank the people who gave idea's in the last C&Cs that aloud
me to keep this going. Please keep the idea's coming. PLEASE....

Thanks

James