Laughter. That is the first thing she heard after regaining consciousness. It sounded very festive, almost like a celebration. One voice, she recognized as being Kenken, having spent the last fourteen years living with him she could recognize it anywhere. The second one belonged to Hikari's stray dog, Touji Suzuhara. The second member of the remaining Two Stooges. The third one was familiar but she could not pinpoint it. 'It's probably a friend of theirs that came back… I should get some food but, I don't want to deal with someone new right now…'

She had slept most of the past three days, only waking up to eat. Fourteen years' worth of sleep in a few days. Kenken was out to work both times had woken up. Her first meal, right after crash landing next to his house, was a ration pack. Despite having been designed for two days' worth of calories, she had eaten it in a single sitting. Her appetite satiated; she had then spent thirty minutes looking at herself in the mirror. Her body had caught up with time in an instant, the features looking back at her looked alien, yet familiar, akin to an older sister. She knew it she was looking at herself but, for fourteen years she had looked at an unchanging face. It would take some time to get used to this new face. Her left eye had been cleared of angel contamination and the scars over her body had also been cleared.
'I guess I should thank that brat for the new body.'

Sadly, she realized that this moment would never come. They had said goodbye on that beach. A beach her previous self, the first one, had known very well. The brat had done it again and surpassed her at the decisive moment. He had grown up, become God and fixed the world. Kensuke had told her during her meal that the rest of the world had been cleared of core. People lost during the previous impacts coming back to life. The village having already received more than a hundred of former residents with many more expected over the next few days.

'I guess in the end, he took responsibility. I hope he's happy wherever he is…I wonder if Four Eyes is there with him. She's probably trying to grope him all the way to the moon…'

Sleep beckoned to her right after, spending another twenty-three hours sleeping before waking up once again for food. This time, a plate with proper food, miso soup, rice and 2 fishes had cleanly been set up for her, a note indicating how long to heat it up. It had been delicious. The last time she had eaten proper food was fourteen years ago, before her incident with Unit-03.

Before she could continue with her train of thoughts, the mysterious voice continued with a story the other two seemed to be enjoying very much.

"So, that coworker; she'd just turned 27 and she was getting desperate to get married. So, at a work nomikai she started putting the moves on me… somehow, after turning her down her, she followed me home thinking that in private, I'd be down to sleep with her…

'Great, another pervert.' She frowned. 'I'm definitely not leaving this room.' She thought bitterly.

"Only for her to be faced with Makinami. Ah man, she was so freaked out. She avoided me at work for a good two weeks afterwards. She got transferred to Tokyo not long after that."

'Makinami?! That guy knows Four Eyes? Who the hell is that guy?' Her curiosity was picked. The man's voice had a familiar quality, and he knew her old teammate. Something was off but before she could find more, she was interrupted by Suzuhara's obnoxiously loud voice.

"Oh man, Sensei, I never thought we'd be able to have a drinking party like that all three of us."

It could not have been one of their teachers. They were a good 200 kilometres from where former Tokyo-3 stood. Racking her memory, she remembered someone the village's doctor used to call like that. It could not have been him though, he was gone.

'Sensei?!...Baka Shinji?! No, Shinji's still a brat and he's gone. No. No, it's not possible.'

Her curiosity got the better of her, she had to see for herself. Silently, she got up from her futon, walking as silently as possible, she put her hand against the door, sliding it ajar very slowly as to not make any sound.

Unfortunately, sitting at the table, looking directly at her was Kenken. The mysterious guess facing away from her.
"Oh, Shikinami. You're finally up. How do you feel?"

Quickly she closed the door. The man she'd seen was clearly not the brat. He was tall, fairly broad shouldered, a far cry from the lanky kid she knew. She couldn't see his face but clearly it couldn't be him. Leaning against the wall, she let out a sigh. She'd almost been caught having to entertain this mysterious guest, that was the last thing she wanted.

Just as she thought that, the door slid open and the stranger

"Asuka. It's good to see you…You've certainly grown more beautiful with age"

The fact that this stranger invaded her privacy, her room, enraged her and without any hesitation she slapped him.

"How dare you talk to me like…wait, a while? I don't know you…"

"I'll give you a hint, master chef extraordinaire, broke the world a few times."

"Baka Shinji!?"

"And we have a winner. It's good to see you too, Asuka. Your temper is definitely as hot as I remembered it."

"How…why…you were a brat only a few days ago…you're…"

It didn't make sense, they had said goodbye, him as fourteen years old, only three days ago. Yet, in front of her stood Shinji.

"It's a long story. Let's just say I went on a very long journey. I'll tell you more tomorrow, if that's what you want to know. It's pretty boring, really. Right now, how about you join us to celebrate with some of Yamaguchi's finest..."

Slap

Shinji, smiled painfully at her.

"I'm guessing this one is for that goodbye."

'The nerves, how dare he just stands here like that.' He was supposed to be gone. They'd said goodbye on that beach where he selfishly confessed to her before running away like the damn brat he is. How dare he just show up here as an adult and act like that.

"How dare you. You think you can just show up here after pulling that kind of stunt?" She yelled at him.

The target of her anger looked at her sheepishly, obviously under the influence of the many beverages lining Kensuke's dining table. He was rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Sorry…"

That's it. That's the only thing this brat could muster after pulling a stunt like that.

"I really thought you were gone…you're a brat. No, just a plain old asshole."

She started pounding at his chest, years of emotions flowing without her even noticing. Shinji just stood her, taking it without a word. She kept pounding until her arms couldn't muster the strength, falling on her knees sniffling, desperately trying not to cry. Seeing this, he knelt down and started rubbing her back while she buried her head in his chest in a desperate attempt to hide her tears from everyone. They stood like that for a good ten minutes, the other occupants of the room going back to their discussion, not wanting to disrupt the reunion.

"Are you feeling better now? Sorry for worrying you but, I had to."

Slowly, he helped her stand up.

"I'm…fine… I wasn't worried, I just…"

She was starring at the floor, not able to look at him.
'…thought you were gone.' No. She couldn't say that. With some hesitation she looked up at him. He was smiling, his face somewhat red from the alcohol.

Not knowing what to say, she said the first thing on her mind.

"I just want some food…"

At this moment, another voice came from the hallway, a voice she had also thought she wouldn't ever hear after that moment on the beach.

"One Puppy Special Yakisoba for the princess. It's a bit cold so you might want to heat it up." That voice,

"Four Eyes?!"

Here in front of her stood one Makinami Mari Illustrious. Her roommate and copilot of fourteen years, much like Shinji, having caught up to her in physical age.

"Let's leave the boys to their drinking and catch up, Princess. You can drool over Puppy later. Although I'll accept thanks for my fine work on fixing him for you at any time."

"What do you mean… He said you went on a long journey but, you were gone for three days…what happened?"

"That's a story for Puppy to tell but, the very short version is that we lived in another world for fourteen years. Now, let's go get some grubs." Leading her out to another room where several plates of food were laying.

She woke up the next morning, last night's memories still . It was already half past seven by the time she came to. Kensuke was getting ready to leave for work.
"Shikinami, how are you feeling? Finally caught up on sleep?"

"I think so? I haven't felt this refreshed for a long time. Are you leaving right now?"

"Yeah, we're getting swamped finding with the new residents and we need to find places for them to live. I also promised Ikari and Makinami to find places for them to live soon."

"Speaking of them, where are they?"

"Makinami is gone somewhere, she said she had some things to tend to and wouldn't be back for a few days. Ikari is at the reservoir. He asked for some tools and wood so I'm guessing he's building something there. He borrowed the car so, if you want to go there you'll need to use the bike."

"Aren't you guys hungover from last night? You drank a lot it seems."

"Me and Ikari were fine. He really can drink, it surprised me. Touji will probably have it rough today, as usual. Anyway, I have to go. They're probably swamped already."

With that, her bespectacled friend left, leaving her to wonder on her next move. After a small ration meal, she decided to take Kenken's motorcycle and head for the reservoir. She had much to discuss with her newly returned copilot.

The ride to the reservoir was uneasy for her. Gone was the scenery she had seen for the past fourteen years, gone the red walls created by the anti-LCL pilons, marking their village as one of mankind's last outpost. Life on the other side, once impossible had returned as if nothing had happened. Far away, she thought she had seen a deer on the road, something she had considered extinct with third impact. During the past fourteen years, she had never considered the possibility of life returning to the rest of the world, at least not without the terraforming the rest of the world and yet, here it was, back from the dead. Brought back by the person she was on her way to visit. The thought of meeting him again made her feel uneasy. She knew that it was Shinji but, at the same time it did not feel like the timid boy she had known.

The sight of Kenken's SUV brought her out of her musing. There was nobody around, but she could see some fresh footsteps along a trail heading into the forest. This used to be one of her roommate's trail to the edge of the LCL barrier.
'What is he doing there. There's nothing to check anymore.'

She decided to follow the footsteps. It did not take long for her to see him writing something on 2 planks of wood stuck upright into the ground. He then stood up, bowed twice and clapped his hands.

'Graves? For whom?' She guessed one of them could have been Misato's, from what she had gathered, she had sacrificed herself during the final battle, using the Wunder to deliver a new lance to Shinji in the U-Space. But who would be the second one? Before she could dwell on it further, he started talking.

"Sorry I couldn't make you a better spot for your graves. Most people probably wouldn't want you two to be remembered in any official capacities. You've caused too much suffering in this world."

'Oh, it's for his parents…' she thought somberly. Why would he make a grave for the people responsible for their lives being ruined?

"But, I forgive you. I think I could have turned out the same way, in a way I did when I caused the Near Third Impact to save Ayanami. I guess in the end you understood too, father. We were very similar, you and me. Your God-killing worked it seems. They told me everyone started coming back. The effects of the previous impacts, even the second one were fixed. It'll take some time but, civilization will recover."

His words surprised her. She expected some bitterness or at least some anger from him, considering his father had discarded him until he was needed, to make him into what was basically a child-soldier, like her.

"Mother, thank you for everything. I wished we could have spent more time together but, I know you were always there for me in Unit-01. You can rest now; you deserve your break. You know, I'm finally happy. Things aren't perfect, there's still a lot of I want to do and a lot of it scares me but, I'm not alone. Father, that's where you were wrong. I was afraid of getting hurt by others too but, they're also the ones giving you strength to move forward."

His words made her feel uneasy. For most of her life she had pushed away others. She was a clone after all. She had briefly met her original during the Additional Impact. The one who stood at the end of the world with a previous Shinji. She had stopped her from killing herself using the DSS Chocker before being absorbed in Unit-02.

"You know, I graduated from Kyoto University as well. Microbiology and Environmental Studies. Even made the honour roll. I guess it runs in the family eh. I want to use that to help the world recover. I spoke with Misato and Ritsuko yesterday, they're ready to employ me with Kredit to help in the recovery efforts."

His mention of her former guardian turned captain surprised her. 'Misato?! Wasn't she dead? How could he have talked to her?'

"It'll take some time for me to amend for our family's sins but, I'll do as much as I can, so you two rest. I guess I should be going now. I promised Asuka some explanations about what the past fourteen years and she's waiting a few metres away. I'll visit again. I love you."

Finally, he bowed at the graves once more before turning back towards her, his face showing a very familiar expression, sadness. He smiled a little before walking towards her.

"Seems like you've finally grown up, Bra…Shinji. I don't understand why in hell you'd want to commemorate a monster like Gendou Ikari, though."

The comment had clearly made him uncomfortable. Hesitantly he looked at her, taking a few seconds to gather his thought before

"He's my father. We talked, you know, in the U-Space. I got to understand him a little better. Not that I condone him but, he did everything out of love for my mother. A twisted, corrupted form of love but love, nonetheless."

"Hmph. Well, don't expect me to forgive him. I still hate him."

"I haven't forgiven him. Nor do I expect anyone to. But, I understand him. I got to see many things during the Additional Impact and it made me understand that we're not that different. He's gone now anyway. He can rest with my mother. "

"Alright, enough about him. I didn't come here to talk about the bastard.

He was unhappy with her reply and was trying to find something to reply to her but she changed the subject before he got to.

"I thought you'd be hungover from last night. You three were really drunk last night."

The mood suddenly shifted and Shinji let out a chuckle.

"It's not my first time drinking you know. I went to too many university and work parties in the past eight years to count."

Right, he was gone for fourteen years. It was still difficult to process the fact that he had spent what was basically half a lifetime in the span of two days. Yet, it was undeniable, the result of those years standing in front of her.

"My my, I didn't take you as the drinking type. I guess that year with Misato left its impression. I didn't expect you to be the social type."

Both stood silent, neither wanting to take the step to go into what she expected to be a weird conversation. Unlike so many times in the past, he was the one who took the lead. Letting out a slight chuckle before starting to walk along the trail.

"So, I guess I owe you an explanation for what happened in the past fourteen years, huh."

Without a word, she followed him. His reaction clearly better than hers in their previous fourteen years reunion. Not that he hadn't deserved it after annihilating most of humanity in his selfish quest to save the Commander's puppet.

"I met you over there, you know. Or rather that universe's version of your original. Sohryu Asuka Langley."

Her pace slowed slightly. She was now aware that unlike the doll, she was the clone of an existing person, not a pure fabrication, but it still made her uncomfortable. Throwing a small smile at her, he continued.

"We became friends in High School. Kensuke, Toji and Hikari were there too. Myojo Academy, in Tokyo. I'd decided to study there to get away from my foster parents' place. In Sohryu's case, she wanted to get away from her parents since she hated her stepmother."

How surprising. Even in what she assumed to be the good universe, both of them ended up losing their mothers. Some things just cannot be changed.

"Sohryu, Mari and me went to Kyoto University together. Microbiology, like our parents. Or rather for Mari, for a second time. Toji and Hikari still ended up getting married. Toji is also studying to become a doctor, although they already had three kids when I left, poor guy looks like he hasn't slept in years."

He laughed.

"In that universe, you, huh, Sohryu, also liked me. Still does most likely. It's quite ironic really, no matter the universe we still end up like that. I wonder if that universe's original me will end up responding to her feelings."

"Hmph, I'm sure she probably wasn't as good as me. Yet I imagine you took advantage of the poor girl, wooing her before leaving her hanging."

"No. She was a good friend but, she wasn't you. Still had the same…fiery character though."

"Are you calling me a bitch, Ikari?"

"No, I wouldn't like you any other way. Anyway, back to the story. After university Mari and I got hired by a pharmaceutical research company in Ube, Yamaguchi, I figured it'd be good to get some experience before coming over here. Having book knowledge is one thing but, I wanted practical experience. I did that a few years. Then, two days ago, we crossed over. Misato was stuck in some sort of Limbo due to dying in the U-Space. We crashed near Kaji, Misato's son's research field. It was beautiful you know, mother and son reuniting after so many years."

The memory brought a genuine smile to his face.

"Anyways, that's the gist of it. It would take forever to go into every single details but, if you have any questions I'll answer them."

Finally, she turned towards him. Her face crisped in anger. She wanted to lash out at him for how carefree he was with the whole thing. With the fact that he got to live a carefree life while she had her best years, no, her whole life stolen from her. With the fact that another version of herself got to live her life to the fullest while she was stuck for fourteen years unable to sleep, eat or enjoy life. With the fact that he enjoyed his time with those…impostors while they had to suffer.

"I really want to hate you, you know. You got to live the past fourteen years as a normal person. You got to experience all of this while we spent those fourteen years fighting for our very survival." She shouted.

She expected him to back away or at the very least, flinch at her outburst. Yet, he stood there, a sad smile on his face, looking at her gently.

"I'm sor…You know, there's nothing I can say. I chose a universe without Eva, without impacts or angels, it was both for myself, to be free of that curse, but also, I didn't want to create another world of misery. I think I've created enough for a few generations of Ikaris."

He was being genuine with her. If he'd created another universe like this one just to punish himself, billions of people would also have to suffer. Still, it was not fair. He got to spend fourteen carefree years while she had suffered. That, she couldn't forgive him for.

"I…understand. I can't forgive you, but I can understand. I…I wasn't expecting that answer... You used to be so self-centered…"

He chuckled. She had expected to apologize relentlessly but all he did was chuckle. Maybe she was the one who still had to grow up after all. His gaze made her uncomfortable. He just stood there, looking at her thinking of what to say next.

"I still am. In the same way most people are. I just try to be conscious of it and how it affects others."

'What kind of answer was that?!' She thought bitterly. Here he was being philosophical with her while most of their time together he'd spent acting impulsively, selfishly without any regards to the consequences. Only to wallow in self-pity upon seeing the result of his actions.

"How adult of you, Oh great Shinji, God of Death and Rebirth." She quipped.

"Asuka…" He sighed.

She went to far again. 'I guess my mouth got the better of me, again.' She thought bitterly.

"I'm sorry, it'll take some time. Still… So, what are you going to do from now on?"

"As you probably heard earlier. I got a job with Kredit. I want to help with the world's rebuilding. I'm not all that great with my hands or all that strong but, I'm decently smart so, I'm going to be working on making medicine for the people returning. The coming years will be rough. Billions of people coming back to life after fourteen years will be hard. Everything has to be rebuilt from scratch. But, if I can help make sure less people die from diseases related to this, then I'll be happy."

His whole aura was different while he was explaining to her his plans. Whereas the Shinji Ikari she knew and looked afraid of everything, unsure of what to do or say, this Shinji looked confident. He looked like a man with a purpose. No self-pity or a hesitation evident.

"How selfless of you, Oh Great Invinsible Shinji."

"Some things never change,huh. But no, it's not selfless. Call it, helping to pay my and my family's debt towards the human race. We fucked up the world, voluntarily or involuntarily, so I have to…no, I want to help fix it."

There was no bitterness of self-pity evident in his voice. He genuinely wanted to help fix the damages in his own way.

"Help fix it… You know I've never thought about what I would do after everything ended…"

She felt like she was being swallowed by a black hole. From the moment she was created, her whole purpose had been Eva one way or another. First to defeat the angels, then to defeat NERV. Everything else had been pushed aside for that purpose. Other than Kenken and Four Eyes, she had barely interacted with anyone or thought about what she wanted after. After all, she was created for that unique purpose. Now, it was gone. The future looking unclear for her.

"I had fourteen years to think about it. You've had three days. Give it some time. Plus, you spent fourteen years helping defend the remnants of civilization. You deserve a break. When we landed in that other universe, I spent a good year just wandering aimlessly not knowing what to do. Makinami was helpful so, talk to people you care around you. It'll help you find your way."

She stood there, gazing at the reservoir. She had never really had the chance to stop and think about anything, it all felt foreign to her.

"Still… I guess…I'll think about it."

They stood there silently until her stomach made its discontent known. Judging by the position of the sun, it was around 13:00 and she was hungry. Shinji let out a laugh before putting a hand on her shoulder and squeezing. The touch felt foreign yet comforting.

"Let's go back to Kensuke's place. He was supposed to let me and Makinami know about where we'll be staying. I'll make lunch."

She had missed his cooking. Not that she would let him know. It was one thing to say his bento back then was good but, it was another to say she missed it. Smirking she looked at him.

"Still housebroken, huh?"

Faking outrage at her, he made a dismissive hand gesture at her.

"Don't diss me until you've had my food. Sohryu used to find any excuse possible for me to cook for her. On the Wunder, you said you loved my bento back in junior high but, I've had fourteen years of practice since then, so prepare yourself for your mind to get blown to pieces, Shikinami."

"Four eyes wasn't kidding when she said you'd developed quite a mouth. Don't think I'll let that go."

"Sohryu said the same and yet here I am."

"Hmph, clearly she was the budget version!"

"You're right, oh your highness, clearly Makinami was wrong, you're not a princess, you're the queen of Asukas in all known and unknown universe, destroyer of NERV, annihilator of tamer of Shinjis,

"You're still a brat, huh."

"Say the twenty-seven years old to the twenty-eight years old."

"Smartass. That's what I'll call you from now on."

For an instant, they both felt like they were teenagers, still living Misato, arguing over every small thing. Only this time, there was no malice or anger behind the words. Only two old friends bantering.

'Damn, he can keep up with me. Fourteen years old me would have been all over like I was over Kaji.' Realizing what just happened, she felt a sensation that she hadn't felt in years. Her face was tingling, a feeling she'd long forgotten.

'Get a grip, Asuka. You're not fourteen anymore. You can't think like that.'

"Anyway, I took the rode Kenken's bike here so I'll meet you there."
She turned on the electric bike and rode away as fast as possible.

On her ride home she found herself focusing intensely at the road, not wanting to think of anything else..