Disclaimer:

I do not own any characters in this fic except for Ryugi Kazamaru and his Eva, Unit-0X (If I did own Evangelion, Shinji would have gotten Rei, but he had to choose Asuka… At least as far as the original series! Much love for Rebuild 2.0!). Evangelion and all related articles are property of GAINAX.

'This stands for a thought'

"This for said dialog"

This for written or typed text

\\ This equals a flashback/

Italics are for radio dialogue or other such disembodied voices

(And this for sound effects, author's comments, or physical noises or actions)

Chapter 8 got so big I decided to split it into two chapters rather than cram it all into one. Thus, I present Chapter 9 of Destiny's Power, Strength of the Heart - My Life, My Heart. Please take a few minutes to review! It really means the world to me. Also, due to me being disgusted with how bad the first few chapters are, after this chapter, I'll be taking a break to rewrite them to be more up to speed with the rest of my work. So, please enjoy this chapter and review, as it may be the last "new" one for some time.

- Pilot Ikari-Kun

Chapter 9: My Life, My Heart

"What… What is the status of Unit 02's pilot?" Misato asked, her voice choked, and her fists clenched at her sides.

"The system lost contact with the Entry Plug after she was hit by the beam, Major… I'm sorry." Makoto Hyuga answered, his voice uneasy. Maya simply wept at her station, bent over, as Aoba placed a hand on her back to try and console the young woman.

"Major…" The voice of Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki sounded over the weeping sounds of Maya and the humming of computers. "I know Commander Ikari would not approve, but I am giving you clearance to launch Unit 0X. I will take full responsibility for any backlash those actions create."

"Sir…" Misato looked to her commanding officer, swallowed, and replied. "Thank you, Sir."

XxXxXxX

Glistening crystal stained with blood began to seal itself, cracks being repaired. But Shinji Ikari did not care. He did not move. All his attention was focused on the small white cylinder cradled in his hand. The Angel seemed completely keen on repairing the damage done to it while Shinji fought against the deepest, darkest wave of sadness he had ever felt in his entire life. Every fiber of him wanted to eject his entry plug and run down there to see if she was really gone, but if he did that with a very active Angel only a short distance away from him, it was likely that he would die anyway. But what was the point of living if he could not be with Asuka. It was his fault. He'd allowed her pride to get the better of her, and now, Unit 02 was in pieces, and Asuka… Asuka… Asuka had tried to fight it herself, tasked him with getting away and protecting Rei. But then, he stopped as something switched over in his mind.

It wasn't his fault… No. It wasn't his fault at all…

XxXxXxX

"Major, we're getting some strange readings from Unit 01. The psychograph readings are getting more and more erratic, heart rate and breathing is elevated… Sync rate increasing! Plug Depth increasing! Pilot brainwave tolerance is at its maximum safe limits! Ego borders are being eroded. The pilot is losing himself!" Hyuga reported as he brought the graphs of the data up onscreen.

"Oh no… Shinji!" Misato looked on as the royal purple Eva turned towards the crystalline Angel and began to walk towards it, its eyes starting to glow red, and the green bands of color shifting to red as well.

"We have another problem, Major!"

"What's happening now…?" Misato watched as the screen shifted to focus in on the Angel, the glow around its body shifting hues…

XxXxXxX

The Angel retracted the crystal skewers it had used to eliminate Unit 02, the impaled arms and legs being dragged into the Angel's body. Slowly, the body of the Angel began to change shape. Crystal facets formed up around it, the crystal shimmering even as the color changed from silvery to the darkest black, making the entire body appear as if it was made out of obsidian glass. The cracks that were apparent along the entirety of the Angel's body suddenly sealed themselves, repairing themselves using the salvaged tissue from Unit 02 as a catalyst.

Unit 01 stared on, its eyes speaking of its desire for blood as the crystal shape suddenly began to crack, angry red lines spreading across the whole of the single crystal shard, red energy flaring away as a massive explosion rocked the city, black shards flying in every direction, impacting Unit 01's AT Field harmlessly.

XxXxXxX

"What the hell is going on out there!" Misato looked on in worry. All eyes scanned the screens as various camera angels snapped into view, each of them showing smoke and debris from the explosion, none of them showing anything but more smoke and Unit 01 continuing to stand there, shielding itself with its arms.

"We're getting a reading from the target… It's still active and its energy signature is even stronger than anything we've ever seen before." Maya looked at the screen in horror, her eyes still red with tears as Aoba reported the new information, still comforting the female technician.

"I don't understand…" Ritsuko looked back and forth between her screen and the data she was receiving. This made no sense. Anything they'd ever detected had always been either a waveform pattern of blue or orange, or had shifted between the two in some cases when the form was temporary or capable of change. What she saw here was something different all together. The data she seemed to get back reported that the Angel was not simply pattern blue or pattern orange. It had been blue before, but now, the two patterns were merging, spiraling together into something that was not one or the other, but both: a pattern green. "This isn't good…"

"Explain yourself, Doctor." Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki had left the commander's box and joined the rest of his staff down below, looking over the woman's shoulder as Misato joined him, both now seeing the data that had Ritsuko visibly disturbed.

"A pattern green?"

"Yes. I can't explain it, but I have a theory."

Ritsuko typed a few commands into her console and a diagram of colors from red to violet came up.

"This is the electromagnetic spectrum, but you both know that. Angels are made from Particle-Wave Matter. They exhibit properties of both particles and waves simultaneously. This gives them enormous flexibility in what forms they might take. Usually, an angel will have a pattern along the spectrum of either blur or orange as far as visible light. Certain foes we've encountered, ones with dynamic shapes, have shifted periodically between both patterns. However…"

She pointed between the two areas on the graph, and between blue and orange sat green.

"This Angel is both simultaneously. And while I can't say for certain, I can only surmise that this gives it incalculable strength and tactics using its body to defeat an enemy. If Angels have an evolutionary tree…I'd say that this is an offshoot spawned from the merging of the blue and orange patterns of the Angel and Unit 02. A mutation that may have crossed the line of everything we've seen before."

"…How soon until Unit 0X can launch?" The Sub-Commander asked as he turned to view the screens flickering about with the data.

"We're having some problems with the pilot, Sir…" Hyuga spoke up. "The Entry Plug has been inserted, but the Sync Rating is at an all-time low. The Eva will be able to move, but very little else would be possible at this rate… It's as if he's completely withdrawn into himself."

"What in the hell is that?" All eyes turned to Aoba as he stood, pointing at the screen.

XxXxXxX

The smoke had cleared from the initial explosion, revealing something completely different from the silvery crystalline form. The shape was as black as night, glinting with black armor. Upon its head two devilish and bladelike horns sprouted from above two slanted and glowing red eyes. The chin was pointed, eerily similar to the face of Unit 02 and all the other Eva Units. The body was humanoid, bipedal, and covered from head to toe in black armor with red lines pulsing between the plates. Extending away from the shoulders were large silvery crystalline spikes, and across its chest was the eerie angelic skull, twisted and deformed with red and angry slanted eyes, a mouth of sharp teeth gripping the blood red core at its stomach. The black being looked to Unit 01, and for a moment, the two forms regarded one another.

"You might look different, but you're the same son of a bitch…" Shinji grit his teeth and seethed, Unit 01 responding by letting out a challenging roar before it bolted directly towards the newly changed Angel, tearing the ground as it went, tears forming in Shinji's enraged eyes. "I'm going to make you pay for taking Asuka from me!" Unit 01 shot ahead as the figure stood completely still, watching with no reaction as the rampaging Eva slammed into a red AT Field.

"That won't save you!" Shinji roared as Unit 01 jerked its right arm back, the fingers aligning themselves straight out as it shot it forward, the red field denting inward before the shot tore through it and Unit 01 threw it aside. Instantly the being lifted its left arm, separating its fingers out as lances of silvery crystal extended from the arm, heading for Unit 01 as it tore through the remains of the field.

"I'll kill you!" Unit 01's left arm swiped between the two battling beings, its own AT Field stopping the crystalline spikes from impaling it. "Rrraaaahhh!" And just as quickly Shinji brought the controls jerking back, Unit 01's arm swiping back across, the AT Field shimmering as a flash of blood sprayed from the right arm of the black Angel and the limb fell to the ground at its side, severed across the forearm. "NOW DIE!"

Unit 01 roared and its eyes pulsed with pure rage and a flash as the AT Field of Unit 01 rippled and expanded outward like a wall, slamming into the black Angel and sending it away. Immediately following, a lancing beam of energy shot out from the Unit's red eyes, striking the black Angel full force, as an enormous cross-shaped explosion ripped through the city. Shinji stared ahead, furious eyes scanning the viewscreen for any sight of his target as flames rolled and ashes flew by. And then, he saw something. Out of the flames came the black Angel.

Hardly a scratch at all was visible, except for a large line of damage across its body and core, which pulsed with red fiery energy and suddenly repaired itself. Its stump of an arm extended to its side as the Angel marched back towards Unit 01 from across the city, the same red energy boiling around the stump as another arm materialized itself into place. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the skull-like formation across its chest and stomach burned with red, and the teeth that had held the core extended to surround it completely, blocking it from direct assault.

XxXxXxX

"Its…its regenerative abilities are beyond anything we've seen before… The energy that it produces from its core rapidly converts to matter and instantly heals any battle damage received…" Ritsuko reported her observations as the rest of the bridge crew looked horrified.

"How can we defeat something that simply regenerates all damage done to it like that?" Misato looked on as the being raised its right arm and pointed it towards Unit 01.

"We've always known that an S2 Organ produces unlimited energy…" Ritsuko said, her eyes glued to the scene unfolding on the screen above. "But we never imagined it could or would be used like this…"

XxXxXxX

The black Angel's arm burned with red energy as silvery crystals appeared, extending so they spun along the entirely length of the Angel's arm as the palm glowed red, energy building and flashing, a whine sounding as a pulse of energy shot from it, a beam just as before launching towards Unit 01.

"You bastard!" Unit 01's arms shot up in front, its AT Field flaring as the energy made contact with it, the beam spraying off as it had against the shield before it. The powerful AT Field of Unit 01 shimmered and flared as Shinji pushed it to maximum power, concentrating it all directly in front of him against the onslaught of the Angel's beam, staving it off. But more crystals formed up along the arm of the Angel, firing an even stronger blast into the AT Field.

"Damn you!" Shinji gritted his teeth as his hands began to burn from boiling LCL as the AT Field started to falter under the power of the beam in front of him.

XxXxXxX

"The beam is eroding Unit 01's AT Field! He can't stay like that much longer!" Ritsuko stood as she spoke, punctuating the tension with a slamming of her fist into the console. "Damn…"

"Damn it! Open a link to Unit 0X, I want to talk to that pilot right now!" Misato fumed as the techs nodded and did as they were told.

"Link established, Ma'am. He can hear you…"

XxXxXxX

Their eyes, their faces, their bodies… Crushing sadness, loneliness, helplessness… Blood. Everywhere there was the scent of blood, blood red spilling from their flesh, throats gasping for air and choking on their own lifeblood. Go away. Make it stop. No more. Please don't leave me alone. Don't leave me…

"Ryugi Arlian Kazamaru!"

Ryugi's green eyes snapped open, even as his body continued to curl into a fetal position. A voice. He recognized that voice, a voice of strength, and the voice of a friend. Someone who was nice to him, someone who cared for him. Misato Katsuragi.

"Mi-Misato?"

"Ryugi! Pull yourself together for god's sake!" She was angry with him. Displeased with him. He knew why. He couldn't save them. He didn't save them. They died. They all died because of him, and she was angry. She was angry because he was a coward. He let them die while he watched. He watched their blood flow out of them, their life flow out of them, even while they cried for him.

"Everything is down to Shinji out there, Ryugi! They need you!"

"No…" His voice was eerily calm. "They're already dead. I let them die."

"Damn it, Ryugi!"

"I watched them. They died because I was afraid. Are you mad at me because I let them die, Misato?"

XxXxXxX

"It's no use talking to him like that, Major. He's completely regressed into himself." Ritsuko sighed and shook her head.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Misato glared at her friend.

"His entire family was killed when he was still a child. They were murdered in front of him while he hid, too terrified to act. It's all in his psych profile. The officers that found him said he was holding the dead body of his sister, crying, completely covered in blood. He was so traumatized by the incident that he fell into a catatonic state for weeks afterward. All he would do was talk about how he was responsible for their deaths."

Ritsuko sighed and looked at the image of him, curled into a ball, his eyes wide and listless, unfocussed.

"It's possible that witnessing the trauma of the other pilots and being unable to act broke down the mental barriers he'd built and has forced him to relive that painful event."

Misato visibly cringed and then began to walk out of the control room, quickly making her way for the elevator.

"Major! Where are you going?" Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki questioned her as she left and entered the elevator. She punched a few numbers into the keypad and looked back to the control room.

"Eva Cage Number Seven." And the doors closed in front of her.

XxXxXxX

Unit 01's AT Field continued to weaken and Shinji fought against it, trying to boost it as high as he could, but it was no use. The power that the Angel had was simply too great. Try as he might, it was overpowering everything he had. He wasn't going to take that sitting down, though.

"I'm not through with you yet!" In a last ditch attempt, Shinji leapt to the side, the AT Field breaching and the beam slamming into Unit 01's left arm, LCL and the Eva's armor boiling away to reveal the charred remains of flesh beneath, its left shoulder pylon shorn away at the top, the normally sharp edges melted and indistinct. Shinji's left arm burned, but it could have been much much worse.

The black Angel's beam ceased after it had struck unit 01, and the crystals that had been circling the arm of the being burned in red as it held its hand out to the side, the energy forming up within the palm and elongating, beginning to form a more definite shape…

"That's… That's impossible, isn't it?" Shinji looked on as the red energy formed into a long weapon, the handle spiraled around itself in a helix shape, with two long red prongs extending menacingly out from the upper half of the weapon. It was the Lance of Loginus, or at least a copy of it, and as Shinji watched in horror, the black Angel hefted the weapon into a throwing position…

XxXxXxX

"She's left me now too…"

The inside of Unit 0X's entry plug was absolutely silent and dark, faint blue lighting coming only from emergency electronics powered up in case the plug was somehow severed from the Eva's power supply. It was strangely relaxing in the plug. Surrounded by LCL that had yet to be energized, it felt as if he was swimming in a warm bath that surrounded him completely. It made him feel safe, secure, but totally alone. That was okay, though. He didn't deserve other people when he simply allowed their lives to end.

But then, the world around him jolted, his body was thrown around and he winced as blinding white light poured into the plug. There he saw a figure, outlined by white light. It appeared black because he could not focus on it clearly. The figure extended a hand towards him. Someone coming to pull him out of the dark place he'd been in?

"SNAP OUT OF IT RYUGI!"

A sharp pain slammed across Ryugi's face and his cheek burned, his head being jolted to the side by the stinging slap of Misato Katsuragi. Pain. It hurt, it stung. His faded gaze turned to look at the woman who stared back at him, tears blurring his vision.

"Misato…? Why?"

"Because you're being an idiot." Her face was pained as she rubbed her hand. "Being a survivor is hard to live with, but that doesn't mean you give up and fall into your own pit of despair… Sometimes people wish that they'd have died along with the others because they wouldn't have to live with the burden of remembering everything that happened." She looked down and a tear fell, landing on her cross necklace as she continued. "But those people that died wouldn't want you to go on living your life full of regrets. They'd want you to live, and be happy. They'd want you to be strong to face the troubles that exist in this life. Because as long as you're alive, you can work towards a future of happiness…" Misato looked up and smiled at the young man. "You survived for a reason, Ryugi. And whatever that reason is you have to find it within your heart, and for yourself."

Major Misato Katsuragi stood and wiped her eyes, glancing at her necklace before climbing down off the Entry Plug.

"Right now, there's a young man out there fighting with every ounce of himself that he can muster because the girl he loves more than anything else in this world was taken from him… He doesn't know if he'll win, but he's fighting tooth and nail for her sake."

Ryugi looked down into the depths of the Entry Plug, his eyes glancing around as his hands balled into fists. "Ayanami…"

"You already know what you're fighting for, Ryugi. So go on. Get out there and fight, for her sake, and for the sake of your family who loved you. Because even if you can't hear it, they're cheering for you, and they always will…" A soft silence followed as Misato finished, but Ryugi looked back to her, a smile on his face as he nodded.

"Thank you…Misato…" The hatch of the Entry Plug whizzed shut, and Ryugi gripped the control yokes, glancing at the screens as the plug came alive around him. "…I'll fight on, then." The plug lurched as it spun into the back of the White Eva, the protective covering moving into position as the mecha's eyes came alive with glowing white light. "Not just for her sake, but for all of them…" Docking clamps unhinged and lights flashed as Unit 0X started up the lift to the launch tubes. "For everyone I've ever loved, for everyone who's loved me…" With a flash, the lift released and shot the White Eva towards the surface. "For everyone whose ever believed in me and cheered me on…" Vibrations shook the entire cockpit as Unit 0X neared the surface, a bright white light showing the exit of the tunnel ahead. "This battle is for all of them!" The White Eva shot into the sky as its S2 Booster Engines powered to full burn and sped towards the battlefield.

XxXxXxX

"Damn it to hell…" Shinji watched, half scared, half furious, as the black Angel pulled back and hurled the lance at him. The air around the lance pulled away from it from the speed, the red form glowing red and forming into a spiraling bolt of pure energy. The rate of speed was too much. He could try and block, but it would pierce any AT Field that stood in its path. And at that rate of speed, he knew simply trying to avoid it was pointless. All he could do after all the fighting was try and not be utterly annihilated by the sheer force of impact, but damn it if he wasn't going to try anyway. Asuka wouldn't have given up… Neither would he.

Unit 01's arms shot out ahead as its AT Field condensed, stacking on top of itself again and again, and forming a layered wall of pure defensive energy as the lance slammed into the AT Field with terrible force, streamers of energy crackling away as the angry red force tried desperately to break through. After mere moments the first barrier shattered and the lance tore through, speeding to the second. He was still alive… And if he was still alive, then the lance was a pale representation of the real object, which meant that it could be overcome!

"A fake lance won't stop me you bastard!" Shinji roared and Unit 01 reacted in kind, surging ahead as the lance tore through a second layer, but Shinji was ready. The hands of Unit 01 gripped the glowing energy representation directly as it quaked near its chest. The hands of Unit 01 burned, the armor melting, Shinji's own hands boiling with LCL. With another tremendous cry, Unit 01 spun the still-glowing lance around and hurled it back towards the black Angel. "Take it back!"

In a blink, the stolen lance struck home, the red AT Field shimmering as the black Angel's breastplate was impaled and run through, the blast of air from the lance's speed blasting the Angel backwards into one of Tokyo-III's skyscrapers, blood spraying forth from the wound. But the strike was short-lived. The Angel pulled itself out of the building as its eyes flared, and an explosion of energy rocked the spot where Unit 01 was still standing, even as the wound burned with red energy, closing itself once again.

Shinji screamed in the cockpit as he took more damage. Unit 01 landed backwards on its back after the blast, the entire form of the Eva smoking, armor boiled away near its chest, revealing its core. Shinji gritted his teeth, wincing in severe pain as he spat blood into the LCL around him. His whole body cried out for him to stop. Everything hurt. Unit 01 had taken a beating, his AT Field was heavily damaged after the last stunt he pulled, most of the armor was burnt and failing, the Eva's flesh was even burned in multiple places, and as he forced himself to raise the Eva's head and look downrange, he could even see the black Angel walking towards him, still perfectly fine, not a scratch on its body.

"This is fucked up…"

"Damn right it is…"

Twin white boots landed next to Unit 01's head and a shadow was cast over the fallen purple Evangelion. Shinji looked up, spying the face of the White Eva looking down at him, and offering him a hand. Shinji grinned a wide grin and reached Unit 01's hand to grasp the hand of Unit 0X. With a powerful jolt, the two Evas were on their feet and staring down the black monster of an Angel as it walked towards them.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get here at all…"

"I couldn't let you have all the fun, Shinji." As Ryugi spoke, Shinji's face became downcast. Ryugi sighed and spoke once more. "…Don't worry about her right now, Shinji. Believe in the hope that she's just unconscious in that plug over there, cheering you on with all her heart in her dreams… And if it turns out that she isn't…she's cheering you on wherever she is. Know that, and take comfort in it. Let her face, your thoughts of her give you the strength to overcome what's put in your way… Asuka wouldn't give up or quit, and neither should you."

"You're right… That bastard over there keeps getting up, and I'm getting sick of it…" The black Angel continued to walk closer, red flames moving up and down its arms.

"Well then, let's do something about it!" With that, Unit 0X burned its boosters and shot across the ground, its arm snatching the fallen Prog. Lance as it went. "I've stood by long enough! It's time to show this son of a bitch what happens when you mess with NERV."

XxXxXxX

"Incredible…" Ritsuko looked on as Units 01 and 0X charged back into battle against the black Angel. As she watched, Misato arrived from her trip to the Eva Cages and took up a position next to her friend and colleague. "I don't know what you said to him down there, Misato, but his sync ratings are back around normal, if not a tick or two higher."

"Indeed… Good work, Major." Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki stood on the other side of Misato and spoke his praises as he, too, watched the battle beginning to unfold anew.

"Thank you, Sir. But congratulations can wait until the battle is over. We've still got a hell of a fight to win."

"Agreed… Well then, let's get to work, shall we? Monitor that Angel continuously. Look for any pattern of actions that could provide clues into a way to defeat it."

The techs jumped to their tasks with an affirmative, even Maya, who seemed to have composed herself for the moment, was back up and working at her station. The NERV Crew set to work with new determination as Unit 0X approached the target for the first time…

XxXxXxX

"Rrrraaaahhhh!" Unit 0X shot ahead, approaching the Angel at full burn, lance in hand. The Angel stared ahead and its eyes flashed with light, a thunderous explosion rocking the position of Unit 0X, but the White Eva tore through the explosion, AT Field flaring as he sped ahead, right arm out and arm mounted scythes activating as he swiped, slashing through the red AT Field and colliding with the black Angel full force. Together the both of them shot into a hillside, chunks of earth flying into the air and away from the two bodies as the arms of the black Angel sat pinned in the grasp on Unit 0X. The Eva and the Angel stared face to face with one another as the Angel's eyes once again sparked with light, striking Unit 0X's AT Field, the field scattering the beam harmlessly. "Nice beam…let me show you mine…"

The Shoulder pylons of Unit 0X shot up and pulled back, twin lights of blue shining bright before discharging a blast from the Unit's onboard Positron Canons directly into the black Angel at point-blank range. A massive blue dome-shaped explosion ripped through the hillside, completely obliterating it, and sending Unit 0X flying backwards through the air, armor smoking and blackened. The White Eva landed on all fours and inched its way into a standing position. That had hurt…

"Nice shot, but don't let up, it can almost instantly regenerate!" Shinji charged passed Ryugi in the damaged Unit 01, as the debris from the explosion faded, showing a molten, smoking crater where the mountain had just been, with the Black Angel standing in the center, black armor smoking and visibly charred. The body glowed with red energy as Shinji approached, Prog. Blade activating. "Not this time!"

With a vicious slash, the Prog. Blade sliced across the torso of the black Angel, the teeth that contained the core taking a direct shot, several of them cracking and falling away.

"Shinji! Ryugi! That's it! It may be able to regenerate quickly, but it isn't instantaneous. Don't let up, keep attacking it and don't give it time to breathe!"

"Roger that, Misato! Shinji! Catch!" The White Eva hurled the Prog. Lance to Shinji as the Angel stumbled backwards, gripping its torso. Lance in hand, Shinji went to work, slashing wildly. Crystalline spires formed up as the Angel moved its arms into blocking positions, the crystals shattering, but they succeeded in blocking the multitude of strikes without any additional damage being done, however the Angel continued to retain its damage without regenerating.

"Misato, I need a weapon!" Ryugi called out into the comm. channel as Shinji continued to slash away at the retreating and defending Angel, striking it hard and sending it stumbling backwards and away from his onslaught. No sooner did Ryugi finish speaking than a weapon port next to him shot up and opened, revealing the single nastiest weapon Ryugi had ever laid eyes on. It was huge. It looked like a mini-gun, an axe, and a rocket launcher all combined to form the most evil weapon Ryugi had ever seen. Printed in black letters across the side of the weapon were the letters "A.W. MASTEMA" and the two rockets sitting in the middle of the weapon clearly stated they were outfitted with N2 warheads. "Misato?"

"It's still in the testing stages, so be careful with it. But if it's going to be used, now is as good a time as any. Watch it though, I'm told it has quite a kick."

Ryugi nodded and hefted the weapon, tactical and instructional displays flashing across his screen as Misato fed data into the White Eva's cockpit. Aiming the weapon at the Angel, Ryugi pulled the trigger for the rotary cannon. White-hot bolts of metal lurched from the weapon, tearing straight through the Angel's weakened AT Field and blasting bullet holes into its black armor, red light shining between the cracks as it fell back once more, blood dripping down its form. But the weapon continued firing, pulling the gun barrel up as Ryugi fell backward, the weapon landing on top of him, causing the fire to cease.

"Watch it Ryugi! You nearly took my leg off!"

"Sorry!" Ryugi pulled himself to his feet and hefted the weapon again. 'Quite a kick my ass… This thing is a demon…' As the Angel pulled its body back up, Ryugi aimed the weapon at it again, and braced himself more fully this time, pulling down the trigger hard, and sending another flurry of firepower downrange as the Angel took off at a full clip straight towards Unit 0X, speeding past Unit 01 as Shinji turned to follow. Ryugi continued firing, watching the Angel duck and avoid the shots as it charged, arms behind it. Its speed was incredible… He started to backpedal as best he could, continuing to fire with everything he had, but the Angel continued to showcase unbelievable speed, avoiding every bullet.

"Damn it… Shinji! Take cover!"

The second trigger was pulled and one of the two N2 Cruise Missiles launched from the weapon and tore straight towards the Angel, striking the ground below its feet and detonating as Ryugi pushed everything he had into his AT Field, willing it to hold with all his heart. The wave of energy struck Unit 0X, its AT Field holding steady as the energy ripped and tore away the ground around him, fire and light everywhere. But then he saw it: a black spot speeding towards him through the sea of roiling flames and energy.

The Angel slammed into Ryugi's AT Field, twin spires of Crystal affixed to either side of the Angel's arm tearing through it as the force of the blast struck the White Eva, even as the Angel shot ahead again, the same arm stabbing directly into the chest. Ryugi screamed, and blood sprayed free, vaporizing in the heat from the blast wave as he was sent back from the force of impact, the Mastema dropping off to his side as the White Eva tumbled backwards again and again. After an eternity of searing pain and impacts the blast from the N2 warhead finally stopped, allowing Unit 0X to finally come to a halt, its armor completely blackened and melting away. His Positron Cannons were fried and rendered useless by the damage. He cursed and spat blood as he forced himself to stand.

But as he did a black foot slammed into his chest, knocking the wind out of him and cracking the chest plate of Unit 0X, the Angel towering over him as crystals spun around its arm, a whine starting as energy gathered.

"Fucking iro-"

Unit 0X burned in the full heat of the beam at close range. LCL boiled everywhere, red lights and warnings blazed across the cockpit. Armor melted away from the front of the Eva Unit, scorching the flesh underneath, and eating away through it until the core slowly came into view.

XxXxXxX

"Psychograph readings are erratic, plug suit life support is failing, LCL temperature reaching critical levels, pilot is losing consciousness! He can't take much more of that!" Maya cried out as the rest of the staff looked on nervously.

"Eject the Entry Plug!" Misato ordered and looked to Ritsuko for anything the blond might have to offer. She simply shook her head.

"It isn't an option. With the Eva on its back the plug can't escape… There's nothing we can do."

Misato looked back to the screen, worry in her eyes. 'Come on Ryugi…'

XxXxXxX

Ryugi was helpless. He couldn't reach the arm firing the beam; he couldn't even reach the target in front of him. All he could do was sit and bake in the light of the Angel's weapon. He felt his skin burning, and he felt the zap of the plugsuit as it gave him a heart massage, so his heart had started to fail too? That perked him up for a moment, but it had no lasting effect. He was going into shock from the pain, and he was fighting just to stay conscious a little longer. As he faded into blackness, he felt the pain die away, just as a red object burst through the Angel's torso.

The Angel pulled back from the fallen Unit 0X and grasped at its chest, the blade of the Prog. Lance sticking through as Unit 01 slammed into its form with a punch, throwing it off of Ryugi, and cracking the armor around its head.

"I'm not letting you take another friend from me!"

The Angel seethed, and for the first time let out a roar, unearthly, male, deep and dangerous. As it stared down Unit 01, red energy poured from its body, cracks sealing up as it kicked off and struck Unit 01 directly in its chest, directly in its core, sending the purple Evangelion spinning backwards, slamming into the ground once again.

Shinji tried to move, but he couldn't. His body refused. His brain screamed to move, but his body only trembled and burned in response. No matter what he tried, he was going nowhere. He'd reached a physical impasse, where his body could simply not answer his drive. Unit 01's eyes faded and the red highlights returned to green as the Unit powered down, leaving Shinji in the dark.

XxXxXxX

"Both units have gone silent, Ma'am…" Hyuga reported, his voice worried.

"Pilots have extensive injuries, Shinji the worst of them all. How they even managed to fight that hard, I don't know, but right now, we have bigger problems…" Ritsuko Akagi watched as the black Angel floated into the air and burned with red energy, its hands aiming straight down. As it did, the cracks healed, the bullet holes sealed, and the teeth that had covered the core restored themselves, all before a massive beam of energy struck the ground, boiling away the earth, and striking the first of many armored plates.

"Without the Evas, it will come here… And when it does, we will have no way to defend against it…"

"Wait! We're getting an energy reading!"

"From who! Is it Ryugi or Shinji?" Misato moved to Maya's screen as her jaw dropped in awe. Maya simply turned to face the Major, as she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Neither Ma'am… It's Unit 00."

XxXxXxX

The damaged blue Unit 00 was crawling across the battlefield towards Unit 0X. As it reached it, the Eva Unit suddenly gripped its lower chest, fingers digging into the armor plate and struggling as it tore it off, revealing its own core, before pressing it against the core of Unit 0X. Slowly, both cores began to pulse with a soft white energy…

XxXxXxX

"…Kazamaru…"

The faint voice of Rei drifted into the mind of Ryugi as his eyes slowly opened in the blackness of the Entry Plug.

"Rei? Rei! Were are you?" As he spoke, he felt a feeling of warmth all around him, the soft smell of Rei as he looked around, before seeing her, standing across from him, in a void of black with a spotlight shining down on top of her, illuminating her.

"I am in Unit 00, but my heart…desired to be with you."

"Rei…" Ryugi moved towards Rei, but she took a step back.

"No… You must not. It is too dangerous…" She looked at him and smiled softly, a blush crossing her features. The warmth intensified and Ryugi felt safe, secure. "Do you feel that, Kazamaru? It is my heart. That is the warmth you give me every moment that I am with you… I cannot explain this warmth… But I wanted to share it with you before the end…"

"The end of what! Rei?" Ryugi grew worried at her tone.

"Before this world ends, Kazamaru… With the Eva Units defeated, NERV will have no choice but to sacrifice their base of operations, and even still, that may not be enough to prevent it given the power of this being." She looked to him, her eyes peering deep into his soul as they always did. "So, before the end…I wished to have you know the feelings you have given me… Thank you, Kazamaru." A tear fell down Rei's face as she began to fade away from view. "Thank you, for everything… Goodbye."

"Rei!" Ryugi ran ahead, grasping for her, but it was already too late. She had already faded away. "Rei…" Ryugi fell to his knees and his body crumpled, his fist striking the ground below him. "Damn…"

"You really care for her, don't you Kazamaru-kun?"

Ryugi turned to spy a semi-familiar face staring back at him. A young man only slightly younger than himself, wearing a white school shirt and black pants, complete with white shoes, silver hair, and red eyes. Kaworu Nagisa floated down and stood next to Ryugi.

"You? But how?" Ryugi stood and looked at the young man, puzzled.

"A side effect of merging with the Other. I can contact you, but only when there is no interference from the outside. You, of course, can contact me any time you like, I just cannot respond to you. At least not directly." He looked to Ryugi with his red eyes. "So then, do you care for her, Kazamaru-kun?"

"You already know the answer to that…"

"Yes, I do, but perhaps you do not understand what I am truly asking. Do you love her, Kazamaru-kun?" Ryugi blinked and he felt his stomach flutter. "I told you before that you are special, Kazamaru-kun. If you remain as you are now, it is very possible that you will all die. This is not a decision to be making lightly."

"Nagisa, I don't understand what you're asking me. What decision?"

"If you love the First Child, totally and completely, you would do anything, give anything for her to be safe, no matter the cost to yourself, would you not?"

Ryugi thought for a moment, not following Kaworu's line of logic, but he understood the question well enough to answer. "I… Yes, I'd give anything to keep her safe, to protect her and everyone else."

"Would you do something to save her, knowing that, after doing so, you would never again be exactly the same person you were before?"

"Yes… I would." Kaworu smiled. It was a warm smile that made Ryugi slightly uncomfortable, but safe at the same time. "So then, Kazamaru, do you love the First Child? Do you love Ayanami?"

Ryugi's mind filled with images of the times they'd spent together. He remembered their first meeting, as abrupt as it was. He remembered speaking to her in the mountains at the lake, watching the stars overhead, and he remembered her sharing tea with him. And even more recently he remembered the nights where they would sleep together, holding one another until morning came, when she'd look into his eyes, smile, and greet him. He'd cared for her greatly, but only now did he realize how much she meant to him. He loved her, fully and completely. She had shared her heart with him before the end, and now, he desired for nothing more than a world where he could share his heart with her.

"Yes. I love her. I love her more than anyone and anything…"

"You humans are such strange creatures, you know? But then again, you are not all human yourself, Kazamaru-kun." Ryugi looked to Kaworu, shocked as the young man placed his hand over Ryugi's heart. "Your mother was different from your father, Kazamaru-kun. Your mother was like me."

"Like you?" Ryugi took a step back, but Kaworu's hand remained on his chest as Ryugi began to feel hot where the hand touched his black plugsuit. "You mean… My mother was—"

"Born from Adam, the first Angel. Sealed for millennia at the South Pole by the Lance of Loginus. But there was a time before that where Adam was able to flourish." Ryugi's chest began to burn more and he winced, trying to pull free, but he could not, and Kaworu continued to press against him, his hand slowly sinking into Ryugi's plugsuit. "When Lilith came smashing to Earth, most of our early brothers and sisters were destroyed in the resulting impact, which also destroyed Lilith's Lance. Your texts refer to this as First Impact. Having nothing else to do, the Lance sealed Adam away, and allowed Lilith to flourish and prosper, eventually seeding all life on the planet with you, the Lilin, humans." Ryugi watched in horror as Kaworu's hand literally sank into his stomach, and he began to feel a burning heat spread from his core to his entire body. He grit his teeth and balled his hands into fists as the pain overtook him, preventing him from even pulling away.

"Your mother took the form of a Lilin being and wandered the world for ages. Being immortal by the Fruit of Life, these times were nothing to her, until Second Impact occurred, and suddenly her world changed. She took pity on these creatures, and betrayed her brothers and sisters, attaching herself to one of them, a male scientist working for a secret organization. This male was your father, Kazamaru-kun. They preformed a forbidden union, and two children were born, a boy, and a girl: you, and your sister. Eventually, the organization found out about their union, and your parents and their children were killed, or so they believed. Somehow, Kazamaru-kun, you fell through their fingers, and lived to your current age, holding immense potential within you."

The searing pain intensified and Ryugi's vision blurred, his skull feeling as if someone had poured burning hot water straight down his spine. But despite the pain, he managed to speak, uttering a simple question. "…What are you doing…to me?" Kaworu smiled his hand still within Ryugi's body as he spoke again.

"Your Doctor Akagi would call it contamination, but what I am doing, Kazamaru-kun, is making you like me. Being birthed by Lilith and Adam, you already have the Fruit of Knowledge within you, though not the entire fruit, but you lack the ability to act as I do, as I did, independent of the goals brought forth by the others. I will give you part of the Fruit of Life within this being. You said you loved the First Child, Kazamaru-kun, that you would do anything to save her, even if it meant sacrificing part of yourself. When I am done, you will be capable of many things, the least of which will be piloting your Eva like you have never done before. But there will be costs to come as a result. You will effectively be a child of Adam, and as such, it is very possible that NERV will become your enemy and try to destroy you. But it is all for the sake of the First Child, for your love for her, and that, I believe, should be enough for you."

As he finished, Kaworu pulled his hand free of Ryugi's stomach, and he felt warmth there as the pain faded. There was a warm sensation flowing through him now, and he felt energized by it.

"That warmth you feel is the piece of the Fruit of Life you now have within you. It will energize you and give you nourishment to the point that you will no longer require food or rest, unless you choose to partake of these human habits. Your body will heal quickly from injury, fight off disease, and it grants you amazing energy. Your determination and willpower will become manifest as the light of your soul, an AT Field. Your mind will no longer be closed to the sensations of others as it was before. You are in command of your own AT Field."

Kaworu took a few steps back and smiled. "You are in control of your own destiny now, Kazamaru-kun. I shall help you when I can, but you must learn to rely on your own strength." Kaworu began to fade away as he finished speaking, but Ryugi spoke up quickly.

"Nagisa! Why…? Why are you doing all this?"

Kaworu seemed lost in thought for a moment as he pondered, before smiling once again and speaking once more as he continued to fade. "I am Tabris, the Angel of Free Will. I have the right to choose my own path. Your mother's decision was one I initially did not understand. The first to show me that the Lilin culture was worth saving was Shinji-kun. You do not deserve to die as a people, Kazamaru-kun. I have done this as I can no longer act towards that goal of giving humanity a future of happiness and peace. It was not within my power. But I can always choose, and I have chosen you, Kazamaru-kun, to carry on for your race. I have passed my gift of choice on to you, and coupled it with the power of your knowledge and will. In my stead, you will be able to make Ikari-kun happy, and the First Child happy as well. I've stayed as long as I can, but I will always be here within the Eva." Kaworu continued to fade away as Ryugi watched, the young man saying one more thing. "Now go, Kazamaru-kun. The First Child is waiting for you, and your people need you."

XxXxXxX

"The Angel has breached the final armored plate. It has a direct line to Headquarters…" Aoba read the readouts and the room shook, debris from above crashing to the ground below.

"Order all non combat personnel to evacuate immediately. If the Angel reaches the core of this base we will self-destruct the entire complex." Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki gave the order and Maya sounded the alarm, red lights flashing across the control room and the entire base.

"Wait a minute, Sub-Commander. We're getting some very strange readings from Unit 0X. The sync rate is reading steady at a full 100%, and we're reading an energy signature… Ritsuko, you'd better take a look at this!" Misato tapped a button and the data scrolling across the screen appeared on the main viewscreen. All sync readings were perfectly in sync with the pilot. Everything was literally perfect.

"That shouldn't be possible. The only way that should happen is if the Eva and the pilot were literally the same being. Wait a minute! That energy signature, the pattern!"

As the NERV techs looked on, the pattern of Unit 0X shifted from orange to blue, to orange, and then finally shifted to green after more rapid changes.

"Energy spike from Unit 0X! It's identical to the signature detected during the last Angel battle!"

"Put it onscreen! Now!" Misato shouted as the screen snapped to one of the city's perimeter cameras. A bright light was emanating from Unit 0X as the unit lifted itself up, tenderly placing the fallen Unit 00 off to the side before turning to face the Angel across the battlefield. The eyes of the Unit burned with light as it let out a thunderous roar as a flash of light rolled across the Eva's form, all damage being repaired in a similar fashion to the Angel. As it stood, roaring its challenge, green irises appeared in the eyeholes of the head armor, and wings broke free from the back of the Eva once again, a halo forming above it.

"It's that same form as before…" Misato looked on, as did the rest of the control team.

"The Eva's true form must be that creature…" Ritsuko spoke…

"Let's hope it can take on the target before it's too late."

XxXxXxX

It was the easiest thing in the world. Ryugi could feel everything the Eva felt, he could feel its power flowing into him, and his power flowing into the Eva. They were connected, fighting with both of their power. He remembered hearing Rei say she was bonded to her Eva…is this what that felt like? He'd have to think about it later. He felt immense power at his core, different than last time. It was time to see what he could do.

He gripped the controls, but he found them sluggish. Instead, he simply thought the action, and in and instant, the Eva's body extended its arm, shining energy gathering in the palm.

"…Kazamaru-kun. Grasp the energy, shape it to your will, you are in control. Infinite power is at your command. Use it to create something that will allow you to win and overcome..."

The voice stirred in his mind, and Ryugi pulled more energy from his core, willing it into a shape. Something that could defeat any foe that stood between he and Ayanami, between him and the future where they could be together. The energy shifted to red in color, expanding and growing, twin prongs extending outward. The red Lance of Loginus began to form in his hand, but no, that wasn't what he wanted, that wasn't what he desired. He wanted a weapon that could destroy any foe, but he didn't want to hide at range. His spirit burned, he wanted to look his enemy in the eye, and bring his might down on them.

The Lance pulsed and shifted to pure energy yet again, slowly taking another shape. If the energy he felt was the light of his soul, then nothing represented Ryugi's soul like the shimmering sword that took up position in his right hand. A semi-transparent blade, shimmering as blue as the Unit's AT Field, seeming to burn with a white flame at the very edge, a sword forged from fire and passion itself. For Ryugi, there could be no more powerful weapon. He stared across the field as the Angel roared its own challenge, red energy surging along its limbs as twin crystalline spikes shot from its arms, creating twin weapons. It was time to see what he could do…

In a blink, Unit 0X shot forward, propelled by a ferocious wing beat from the translucent feathery wings that flowed away from its back. The Red AT Field shot up as Ryugi struck it dead on, but with a shout he brought the blade down, the sword sparking with power as the edge, tempered by his resolve, cut through the field with little effort, the backlash of power from the slash raging outward with such ferocity that the Angel was thrown backward, a torrent of white flame enveloping the beast, a terrible gash erupting down the middle of its body, blood gushing from the fresh wound.

The black beast surged with energy as both hands shot up, feet digging into the ground as crystals formed up around the arms and unleashed a tremendous beam of energy directly towards the form of Unit 0X. But Ryugi roared and lifted his left hand into the beam, his AT Field shimmering as the beam sprayed to the sides harmlessly. This trick was getting old. The blade in his right shot across as the AT Field dropped, the cutting force from the blade bisecting the energy blast from the Angel straight down the middle as it slammed into its arms, tearing them apart and splaying them open, flesh, bone, and blood oozing to the ground as the Angel shrieked and roared, glittering crystal shards falling all around.

Ryugi didn't waste time. The left arm of Unit 0X shot down, its AT Field flaring as twin fountains of blood burst from the Angel's removed arms, the limbs landing on the city streets below, the fleshy remnants twitching aimlessly. Another slash from the sword and the legs of the Angels were removed in the same gruesome fashion. Blood sprayed free from the torso and removed legs as Ryugi closed the distance, the red fluids coating the white armor of the White Eva as the torso of the Angel fell to the ground.

With a ferocious stomp, the Eva's white boot slammed into the teeth protecting the core of the Angel, the bony formations shattering from the force as Ryugi pinned his victim to the ground once again. The eyes of the Angel began to flare with light, but with a stomp of Unit 0X's other foot, the top of the Angel's head was splattered across the street. All that was left was the core, the Angel's body twitching as it tried to regenerate or attack in any way. But with a furious stab, the blue blade pierced deep into the Angel's very heart, blood pouring from the stab, coloring the White Eva as red as the fallen Unit 02 as the core burned with the same white fire as before, the Angel shrieking despite having no head, and its remains burned in white.

As Ryugi removed the blade and began to walk free, the flesh of the Angel bubbled and boiled, deforming before it burst into red, a rain of blood coating Unit 0X and the surrounding area of the city. The black Angel was finally defeated.

XxXxXxX

The control room erupted into cheers, some more quietly toned down than others. Ritsuko sipped her coffee as she recorded data from the incident. Maya hugged Aoba, who sheepishly hugged her back, and Hyuga spoke to the both of them. Meanwhile, Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki simply stared quietly at the screen as Misato moved next to him and spoke up.

"I guess that means we've won."

"Indeed it does, Major. For the moment at least we can celebrate. But as soon as possible, I want Unit 0X back in lockdown and under quarantine."

"Is something troubling you, Sir?" Misato watched as the elderly commander adjusted his uniform, pulling it down to remove the creases that had formed as he sighed, looking back to the main screen as the wings of the unit faded along with the halo, and fell to one knee, the Entry Plug ejecting and the pilot jumping out and beginning the long climb down towards the fallen Unit 00.

"Perhaps…" The Sub-Commander turned and faced away from the quizzical major. "When possible, Major, I would like you to do me a favor."

"A favor, Sub-Commander?"

"Yes. I would like you to send the Pilot of Unit 0X to my home. I wish to discuss something with him." Misato looked astonished and answered.

"Of course, Sir, but, if I may be so bold… Wouldn't it be easier to simply see him in your office here?" The Sub-Commander finished fixing his uniform and started to head out of the control room.

"Indeed it would, Major." The Sub-Commander didn't give Misato any more of an answer than that, and promptly left the control room.

With her commanding officers, both of them, out of the picture, Misato simply continued to go on about her duties. She had pilots to recover, after all.

XxXxXxX

Shinji Ikari awoke sometime later in the hospital, staring up at the same familiar ceiling he'd seen many times before. The only difference this time is that he wanted to get out of bed as soon as possible. He blinked and raised an arm, seeing a multitude of bandages. He flexed his hand and it was quite sore, especially his palm, but the rest of him felt all right. He was a little dizzy and became aware of a bandage across his forehead as well as his other hand. He'd been pretty well beat up it would seem. He sighed and flopped back down into the hospital bed, feeling achy.

He glanced around, for once noticing that there was a curtain drawn around his bed and the lights had been turned down low. How long had be been out? He listened and heard voices coming from outside, the usual din of nurses, doctors, patients and other employees moving around and going about their business as usual, albeit hushed. It was then that he heard a soft voice in the dim light beyond the curtain.

"…Shinji?"

Shinji's voice faltered in his throat, and instantly, his eyes began to tear up. He continued to whimper and sniff as the curtain was pulled aside, revealing a sight that made him bury his face in his arms, crying hysterically. It was Asuka. It was Asuka, and she was alive, dressed in a set of blue hospital robes with bandages around her head, her right arm wrapped with a splint and secured with even more bandages and white tape. The redhead looked at him and smiled softly, feeling her eyes get misty as well, and gently placed a hand on his back, a sniffle coming from her as she spoke.

"…You dummy."

XxXxXxX

Night had fallen over the Geofront as Rei Ayanami looked out at the expansive base, eyeing the hole where the now destroyed Angel had managed to penetrate all the armored plates. Repair crews were already on scene, the bottom being capped off so that solid concrete and steel supports could be lowered into place to plug the hole, and new sections of armored plate could be set to repair the damage. This spot was one of her favorite places. It was the hospital's garden area, an oversized balcony that overlooked the Geofront with rows of trees along the sides, flowering plants, benches, and a fountain in the center for the calming sound of running water. The smells and sounds of the place always allowed her to calm herself and think on a multitude of subjects. Right now, however, she simply stood near the railing, hospital clothing on, arms and hands wrapped in bandages as the night air tussled her blue hair.

"I thought I might find you here, Rei…"

She jumped a little at his voice, but settled as his arms wrapped around her shoulders from the back, and Ryugi pulled her into a warm hug. She blushed and lifted her hands up to wrap them around his arms, closing her eyes and taking in his scent. It was comforting, light, even if it seemed somehow different than it had been before. For a while, the two of them simply stood there on the balcony overlooking the base, nothing on their minds except the other person beside them.

"…Rei? Can I ask you something?" Rei opened her eyes and pulled his arms tighter around her body as she nodded.

"I believe you already have, Kazamaru…" Ryugi chuckled.

"Not that. Something different…" Rei nodded softly and Ryugi continued. "Would you still accept me…even if I was different from everyone else?" Rei was silent for a moment. She did not fully understand, but Kazamaru had always been there for her. What he was asking did not make any sense.

"You are already different from everyone else, Kazamaru… You are you, no matter how different you may be. You will never not be you…" Rei pulled herself free from Ryugi's embrace slowly, and Ryugi let her go as she turned to face him, her eyes soft. "It was you who helped me to understand every person is different. We are not all the same, and each of us has a purpose." She lowered her head slightly as a blush crossed her features. "You will always be you…to me, Kazamaru…"

Ryugi smiled and moved close, once more embracing the blue haired girl with a warm hug. After a moment, Rei closed her eyes and returned the embrace pulling him tightly to her. The more time she spent with him, the less she wanted to leave him each time. But as she hugged him, she felt his heartbeat against her chest, and soft warmth began to flow across her body. It made her feel nervous, but safe and secure at the same time. It made her want to never leave his side. This warmth…this warmth was not her own.

"…Kazamaru?"

"You shared your heart with me… I felt your warmth flowing around inside me. I felt your fears of me leaving your side, of leaving you alone. I felt the strength of your desire to be with me and only me…"

Rei's heart beat faster and faster as the warmth continued to flow through her body. She clung to him and buried her face in his shoulder, softly nuzzling the side of his head.

"Rei…" She pulled her head away from his shoulder, blinking, and looked into his eyes. And as she did, the next words that left his mouth made her eyes fill with tears as she smiled.

"I… I love you, Rei."

The first time they had kissed, it had been soft and tender, a warm but awkward feeling. But the second time they kissed, Rei felt them meet together and wanted nothing more than to feel him against her. Her cheeks felt damp and cool as the breeze dried her tears, but warm as her cheeks flushed in a blush. Her chest felt hot and tingly all at once, and her whole body felt warm all over. Ryugi didn't have to hear her say it. For the first time in his life, he could feel it. He could actually feel her love for him washing over him like a wave, emanating from her heart and chest, which was still pressed against his in a loving embrace. This was what it was like for people when their AT Fields did not block them off from the feelings or thoughts of others, he thought… And in that brief, brief moment on the balcony, Ryugi Kazamaru and Rei Ayanami knew what it felt like to truly be one with one another, with no secrets, no shame, nothing but pure honesty and passion filling their bodies with warmth, and light.

XxXxXxX