Disclaimer: No. I don't own anything of this, except for the concept of this storyline, and also the writing. Any rights go to Gainax, and if they desire, I'll remove this work of literature.

Author's Notes: This was written quickly. Enjoy, Folks! Yes. It is Shinji x Asuka.

Is This Goodbye?

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"So you're finally… gone…" Shinji's head was bowed reverently in front of the gravestone. The desolation of sand was stiflingly hot as the young man slowly sat down in front of the slender marble tower with a name inscribed upon it.

"Hmm… I never got so say anything. I was always so worried about the ways that I wouldn't fit in, that I…" The sentence was choked short in his throat as some tears began to fall from Shinji's eyes. He furiously rubbed at his tears, wiping them away as new ones began to form.

When his thoughts finally coalesced, he finished his sentence, although it was not vocalized. '-love you, Asuka.'

A sheepish and remorseful smile hung on his face like a dismal phantom. "I don't really know when it started… It sorta… hit me like a brick."

"I guess I've said what I needed to… Thank you for listening to me…" He stood up and caressed the top of the gravestone, before he began to walk away.

"I tried… I tried as hard as I could not to lose you, but… I guess it all depended on you… You just had to go and…"

He shook his head as he remembered what happened on that fateful night. It was especially important, because Shinji had finally gotten up the nerve to ask Asuka on a date. Then, his whole plan was shattered as Asuka smiled apologetically and walked away.

A soft hand tapped his shoulder, and roughly spun him around on his heels. "Whatcha doin'?"

A flash of red shone before his eyes as Shinji gazed at the person who had stopped him. "A-A-Asuka?" he stuttered. "I… I thought you were gone!"

The girl rolled her eyes, "Hardly." She looked around and cocked her head, "So what were you doing in a run down place like this?"

Still reeling from the fact that Asuka was here, he replied, "Uh, I was visiting my mother's grave… I had to say a few things."

With a sly grin, she pressed herself against him, "What sort of things?"

Blushing heavily, he took a miniscule step back, allowing for a centimeter or two between them. "It was… just… Weren't you going home?"

The girl smiled genuinely and nodded, "I already am."

"Wait, what? We're in Japan, not Germany…" Shinji said as confusion set in.

She slapped her palm to her forehead at how stupid the boy could be. "I know that, you idiot!"

Cringing slightly, Shinji asked another question, maintaining his cautious voice. "Then why did you say that you were home? You were supposed to go back to Germany."

She sharply stepped back a few steps and folded her arms in a huff. "You don't even want me here, do you!"

The Third Child took a step forward and extended an arm to halt Asuka, and spoke up, "No wait… Asuka, I want you to stay… It's just… I didn't think you'd want to stay here in Japan."

"And why's that?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow. She had unfolded her arms, and was looking much calmer.

Letting out a sigh of indecision, Shinji slowly continued speaking, "Well… I… I just figured that you wouldn't want to have to deal with a person like me all the time."

Asuka stepped forward and placed her hand on Shinji's shoulder, "Shinji, Japan is my new home. I know you don't think much of yourself, but you should do yourself a little more justice. After all, you are a friend of mine."

"Friend? I didn't think you could even tolerate me, more or less consider me as a friend," Shinji said as he smiled faintly, finally allowing himself to get a taste of the emotion known as happiness.

Asuka was in a playful mood, although not enough to go prancing in a field or something. "Shinji, you know more about me than all of my other friends. I mean, you even do my laundry," she said with a wink.

Blushing and startled, he replied, "Th-That doesn't mean I know everything about you, Asuka."

"I know, Shinji," she replied, as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "There's still plenty to learn."

"I guess we really are friends. Thank you, Asuka, for being a friend to a person like me." Shinji allowed a gracious smile, and thought, 'One day… One day, I'll finally tell you how I feel, Asuka.'

He beckoned to the German girl and started walking along the pathway leading home. After hesitating for a few seconds, the girl ran, and caught up with him.

'I can live with friends… for now…' Asuka thought as a sly and devious grin crept up and rested upon her lips as she slid her hand into Shinji's.

More Author's Notes: Hope you enjoyed it. It took only an hour or so to write this, so it could be shoddily written. Did you catch the curveball I threw you? Please hit the review button.