They went their separate ways. Their war was over. Amends were made and parting words were given.
One of the two was a boy. He studied like any other boy. He made his mistakes and learned his lessons. There was happiness and there was sadness. He learned to cherish both. As time passed by the boy became a man. He walked an unsteady line, caught between the sins of his father and his childish inaction. The man walked true. One foot in front of the other. He grew to study machines, a far cry from the monsters of his youth. In a way, he did help evolve humanity, just like the old men wanted. Designing spacecraft that would take humans far beyond the bounds of the Earth. He still lived in Tokyo-3, watching the city change from a fortress to a home. He wasn't always alone. Sometimes he would meet people. Sometimes they would get together. And sometimes it didn't work out. The man laid in his bed just as he did every night and thought.
He thought of his life and his past life.
He thought of piloting.
He thought of what came after.
He thought of his job.
He thought of rent.
He thought of what he will do tomorrow.
He thought of those he used to love.
He thought of those he loves.
And he thought of her.
The other of the two was a girl. She went back home, even as she left behind another. She went to school and studied some more. The girl made amends with her father and his wife. She learned to accept others and to be accepted in return. As time went on the girl became a woman. She still studied. Not every person could say they had four degrees before twenty-five. She learned to be a healer. Unlike the previous generation, she would learn to help people, not hurt them. She helped evolve humanity, creating new techniques to fix the broken. She met people. Sometimes she would stay with them. And sometimes they didn't stay together. Boxes stacked high, the woman laid on her bed. She thought to herself, as she always did.
She thought of being a pilot.
She thought of her life after.
She thought of her job.
She thought of her next job.
She thought where will she live next.
She thought of what tomorrow will bring.
She thought of those she once loved.
She thought of those she still loves.
And she thought of him.
The man's phone buzzed, waking him from his slumber. He reached out slowly and grasped it. He saw the caller and answered it.
"Asuka," the man muttered, still trying to wake up.
"Well hello to you too Third," the woman replied, "No hello for me?"
"Hi, Asuka."
'That's better." she replied, "What you're doing right now?"
He looked at the clock, "Asuka it's 2 AM here."
"Is that a problem?"
Shinji smiled, "No, it's not."
As if she could see him, Asuka smiled too, "Good."
"How are you Asuka?"
The two talked for hours.
They talked of their lives and past lives.
They talked of their time as pilots.
They talked about their jobs.
They talked of those they used to love.
They talked of almost everyone they loved.
They shared their stories with each other. No walls, no running away, just the two of them. Sharing stories and memories. She asked if he was with anyone. He wasn't and neither was she. Before either of them knew it, sunlight passed through the man's window.
"Asuka, I got to go work."
"You sure you have to?"
"You know I do."
"Shinji, I have to tell you something."
"Okay."
"I'm moving to Japan."
"What?"
"I'm moving to Japan idiot."
"What?"
"Are you deaf Third?"
"No. I heard you the first time. Just why?"
"I got a job there."
"You got a job in Japan?"
"Idiot, I'm the Great Asuka Langely Soryu!" Asuka replied, "I can get a job anywhere I want."
"You're not wrong." Shinji said, "So where in Japan is the job?"
"Tokyo-3."
"Really, you going alone?."
"Naw, I think I got someone in mind."
"Oh, you do? You should ask them if they're okay with you living with them."
"I'll ask them right now," Asuka paused for a second, "Hey Third."
"Yeah."
"Still got that empty room?"
"Always," Shinji said, a smile forming on his face.
"Well it's not going to be empty anymore," Asuka replied, smiling.