Disclaimer: Do I even have to? Really?

Chap. 9

The Terminal Dogma was destroyed, along with Eva 01, Lilith, Adam/Gendo and possibly Shinji as well. Recovery crews who were in area found Misato and Rei, both seriously injured, but alive. It took them a week to awaken from the hospital. Suffice to say, they weren't exactly in good spirits...

Misato was stunned, "Shinji… He really did it. I don't believe it."

Rei remained her normal silent self; however her fingers seemed to twitch slightly on the bed covers.

Misato looked up at the ceiling, "I...never would have...was this unavoidable?"

Ritsuko looked at her friend, "Who could have imagined that one boy would actually fix all the mistakes we made."

Misato looked at her as Ritsuko continued, "Shinji did it all. Stop the Angels, prevent Third Impact, even stood up to a man we all feared. And even in his..." She stopped, not wanting to hurt Misato, "...Even when 01 self-destructed, he stopped it for good. Without Lillith or Adam, there can be no Third Impact. He...saved us all."

Rei's fingers twitched even more and eventually turned into a slight fist.

Misato blinked at her friend, "You really do care."

"Of course."

Ritsuko sighed before going to check on Rei. But Rei had disappeared.

"Rei?"

Misato looked in the same direction, "Huh? Wasn't she there a minute ago?"

"She was. I guess she's got it the hardest. Both the Command…Gendo and Shinji are gone. She has no one now."

Misato then thought, "Speaking of which, how is Asuka handling it?"

"The way you expect it."

"That bad, huh?"

In Misato's apartment, Asuka's room was totally destroyed. Her things were tossed around in the room as though a tornado had swept through it. In the corner, curled up in a ball, was Asuka. Her entire body was trembling and tears streamed her face.

Baka...baka...Damn you, baka! Why...did you...have to be so...brave?

______________________

Light. I never expected light.

I knew you could do it.

Who…are you?

You know who I am, Shinji-kun.

Karowu? But…you're…

Dead? More or less. But I am an angel after all.

What's going on?

You did it. You defied humanity's fate.

I don't understand.

Humans tried to control Adam, the first angel. But in doing so, set their own fate toward destruction. But in order to test whether or not lillium deserved to live, the Angels came. Lillium were given a chance to fight back. However, only one could truly save you. The messiah.

Messiah?

It was said that one pure of heart would be the only one that can save humanity from the extinction they where heading toward. That is the messiah. That is you.

Me?

Yes. Since I met you, you have had a way of doing things. You were always sad, but your heart remained open. You said once that you fight to be recognized. But that is not true, is it?

I…don't know anymore.

Why did you fight to begin with?

They needed someone to fight. Rei was hurt. What else was I supposed to do?

So you did it to help her.

Yes…no…I…father…

Heh, you think way too much. What was your first impulse?

To help Rei.

So then that's it. Nothing else. The first impulse is usually the best one.

…………

Haven't you ever wondered why it is that you attract the weirdest attention from people?

What do you mean?

Rei for one. She's not exactly the most normal of people. The same with Asuka.

The same could be said of you.

My point exactly. Despite this, you always have a way of reaching people. You've done it with Rei as well as Asuka.

Huh?

They care a great deal for you, right?

Yes…no…well I'm not sure about Rei, but Asuka hates me.

You know that isn't true. You understand her and even though she doesn't express it, she does care for you. And you already know Rei's feelings. Otherwise you wouldn't have given her that pendant.

……….

It's strange how those two are. They are completely different, yet they have one thing in common. And that's you. Your open heart broke through their barriers. The wall of ice and the wall of fire.

…………

And that's not all. Misato, Ritsuko, Touji, Kensuke, and many others have changed because of their contact with you. Even your father as well as me. And I'm an angel. A great deal of people, don't you agree?

…Yes.

Now do you understand? Only you could have avoided mankind's fate. The purest of the lillium.

So…what happens now?

Now you have to go. I just wanted to say goodbye this last time.

Can't you come with me?

Nope. But that's okay. Oh and on your way back, someone else wants to speak to you.

Someone else?

Goodbye Shinji. You're always in my heart, my friend.

Karowu…

____________

One week later…

Without Lilith or Adam, SEELE could no longer implement its Instrumentality Project especially after the destruction of their prototype Evas. Decades of planning had gone up in smoke and SEELE had no choice, but to disband. As the now-commander, Fusyusyi used NERV to start repairs. It was then....

"Sir, we're getting an encoded transmission. Origin unknown."

"What does it say?"

"Nothing yet...wait. There are a set of co-ordinates. They are in the vicinity of the Terminal Dogma. And there's an image coming through."

"Hey, that's the 01 entry plug!"

"Contact the emergency crews. Get them to that location ASAP!"

"Roger. Sir, the transmission. It's gone."

"We'll figure that out later. Inform Colonel Katsuragi. Tell her what we found."

Unknown...

A familiar figure punches a few buttons on his keyboard and then shuts it off.

Heh. Sometimes being dead has its advantages. But enough of the spy game now.

Katsuragi residence...

"What?! I'm on my way!"

Misato grabbed her jacket. Asuka and Rei came out of their rooms after hearing her yell.

"What's going on, Misato?"

"They found the 01 entry pod!"

________________________

Where am I now?

Is this it? Is this the end?

No, Shinji.

What?

For you, it is the beginning.

Mother?

You did it. You finally realize your true self.

My...true self?

The inner strength that was always buried deep within you.

What strength? I don't understand.

Yes, you do. It was that strength that led you to do what you have done. I'm very proud of you, Shinji. I must go now.

No, please don't leave me.

I will always be with you. But you no longer need me.

I do. I do need you.

Shinji. You are growing up now. Trust yourself and you'll never be alone. Do you understand?

......Yes.

Live Shinji. Live and be well, my son. Goodbye.

Shinji's eyes slowly fluttered opened as he looked at the ceiling. A familiar ceiling for a change.

"Ikari-kun."