Okay, okay......sorry for the delay, I was...um.....you see.....we-that is.....um...my dog ate it!!! Enough excuses. Here it is, the ending. Cool stuff happens. Enjoy!

Synchronization Part Six: Choice.

Shinji opened his eyes slowly, the bright light above him watering his eyes. The three blurry objects that filled his vision seemed to be faces, apparently shouting at him. His focus blurred and sharpened. He passed out.

"Shinji!" Misato shook the boy some more. "Shinji! Wake up!"

Maya was right next to her. "Is he okay?" She kept saying.

The third person looked on, seemingly only mildly interested. Her red eyes piercing through his soul, searching for answers she didn't think could be answered. "Ikari."

Shinji sat upright and looked around, dazed. "Ayanami? Is...are you alright?" He looked right into her eyes.

"I am unhurt, Ikari." She stood above him, not offering him any help whatsoever. His eyes flicked to the towering red mecha that was kneeling a few yards away, then quickly back to Rei's.

"She is unhurt as well." Rei said.

Shinji started to get up, but two pair of hands held him to the ground.

"Don't move, Shinji, you could be hurt!" Misato looked around for her lab-coated friend. "Where's Ritsuko?"

"She hasn't checked in since she left for Commander Ikari's office." Maya said professionally, but Misato could detect the worry in her voice. "Maybe she took cover somewhere....."

Shinji shrugged Misato's hands off him and shakily stood, leaning on the blackened wall. "W-what happened?" He asked, looking around. It looked as if an N2 mine had gone off inside the GeoFront.

"Pilot Soryou used her A.T. Field to protect you and Major Katsuragi from the Angle's core detonation." Rei said.

Shinji nodded, confused. "Oh...." He looked around for anyone else he knew, but his eyes kept diverting themselves to the crouched Eva 02.

"The Eva's hatch is open, Ikari." Rei said, barely controlling the anguish she felt. She was certain now that Shinji would go and comfort Asuka, and that would be it. " I believe that Pilot Soryou is in shock." Rei turned and began walking to the less ruined portion of Nerv.

"Ayanami!" She looked behind her as Shinji stumbled up to her. "Ayanami.....I-....thank you." He pulled her into a hug- the first real time either of them had touched out of affection.

"Ikari. You confuse me, I assumed you would console Soryou." Rei said after Shinji had pulled back.

"I will , but-" Rei cut him off.

"Soryou is waiting, Ikari. Goodbye."

Shinji nodded as she turned and faded into the mass of technicians scrambling across the bridge. "Asuka." He whispered. He weaved past Nerv personnel busy caring for the injured and hauling medical supplies around to get to Asuka's Eva. It was surrounded by tech crews and other maintenance people. Shinji ignored their calls for him to wait, that this area was off limits, and rode a crane up to the hunched back of the red beast.

"Asuka?" Shinji peered in, but didn't see the redhead. Then he heard it, at first just a hoarse whisper, but gradually it became clearer.

"I killed them, I killed them!, I killed them!!" Asuka was hugging her knees and rocking back and forth at the bottom of the plug.

"Asuka?" Shinji asked again. Getting no response he climbed down the pilot's chair and joined her. "Asuka.....Asuka! Snap out of it!" Shinji took hold of her shoulders and shook her a little.

"Shinji? I killed them." She looked up, her eyes focused on a point far away. "I killed them all!" She started sobbing again.

Shinji held her against the wall of the entry plug. "Stop it Asuka! Get a grip!" He screamed into her face.

Asuka reeled back in shock. Her eyes focused on Shinji and she was suddenly aware of her surroundings. "W-what...Shinji?!" She looked at his hands pinning her shoulders still and his face mere inches from hers. "You pervert!" She freed a hand and slapped him. Hard. "Get away from me!"

"Asuka......" Shinji said holding his red cheek. "You saved us." He smiled slowly.

"Well of course I did, what did you expect?" She flicked her hair behind her and stood. "Now scram, I've gotta get into some normal clothes." She climbed the pilots chair and reached the hatch.

"But....." Was all Shinji could get out before she was gone. "Thanks......"

Shinji dropped from the huge Eva and stared at the throng of people around Asuka, all listening to her brag about her victory. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rei, leaning against the bulkhead, arms crossed. Asuka was wooing the crowd of technicians with her smile victory sign. She joined Misato and Kaji who were walking towards what was left of the pilot's changing rooms. Despite himself, Shinji couldn't help but watch as her graceful form glided like mercury down the corridor. He glanced back at Rei, who was turning to leave. Shinji spared another glance at Asuka, busy hugging Kaji's waist, and jogged to catch up with the girl he knew he loved.

End.

*Authors notes. Arrrrrrg!!!! Who did Shinji pick? Who?! Beats me. Decide for yourselves, I've done my part. I have to apologize for a few things now. Sorry for the wait, I was busy with other items. Gomen about it's shortness, didn't have much stuff planned for this one. My sincere regrets about the previous chapters....I know they sucked. Well, keep an eye out.....I have more ideas than Al Gore has daughters........^_^