DISCLAIMER- see page 1

All suited up and ready to go, Shinji has an extreme sense of paranoia. Not only did he almost loose Asuka, but he had a strange feeling about Rei. I hope I can protect them this time..

"Unit 01 will stay in cryo stasis, Unit 02 will stay on stand by and Unit 00 will engage the enemy." Calmly stated by the prick that is Commander Ikari.

Damn, I can't help them.... Shinji, very nervous and afraid of loosing them felt slightly safe knowing Asuka isn't out there, but equally afraid of loosing Rei. I feel so useless......

"Eva Unit 00 Launch." Misato screamed over the comm. link to the blue haired enigma.

As soon as Rei left to intercept the halo looking angel, it uncoiled, taking on a snake/worm like form and shoved its body into the stomach of Unit 00. Inside the cockpit, the beautiful albino was in a lot of pain as veins coarse through her body.

Oh my god No!!! Shinji screamed in his head. "Father! Let me help her!"

"We should not risk Unit 01, send out Unit 02." As he said that, Asuka was launched onto the battle field.

"What is she doing?" Misato screamed "Asuka GO HELP REI!!!"

"Ma'm, Asuka's sync ratio.... Its below 10%!!!"

"What?" Miasto responded full of shock. Meanwhile inside the statue like Unit 02, Asuka had her head down in shame.

"Its just won't move...it just won't move....." She said to herself.

"Asuka is nothing but a target out there, bring her back and send out Unit 01." Stated the commander, not even showing the least bit of concern for his pilots.

Am I so useless that they couldn't do that for me...... why wouldn't you help me Shinji.... Asuka asked herself on the verge of tears.

As soon as Unit 01 arose from the ground to hopefully save the contaminated Rei saw only a beam of light flying towards his face as soon as he left the base.

IKARI!!?!? Rei screamed to herself, who at the time is now crying. Is this it? Do I wish for my soul to become one with Ikari?

"SIR!!!! Rei is extending her AT feild!!"

"WHAT?!!? REI EJECT!!!" Misato screamed trying to convince to girl.

"I can not, If I were to eject, the AT feild will cease to be..." Rei said with a hint of sadness in her voice. " Good bye Ikari" She pulled the lever, and right before the Eva exploded... An image of a smiling Gendo Ikari flashed before her eyes......and she was gone.....

"REEEEIIIIII!!!!!" Both Ikaris seemed to scream, but it was too late, her time there was gone. She had sacrificed herself, to protect someone. Someone special to her, someone she felt that she loved.

Shinji was emotionally destroyed. His premonition was true, Rei was gone. She was like his little sister, he loved her, he truly did. The pain of living when you know you could have done more.

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! Shinji's mind screamed at him, WHY DID SHE DO THAT!?!?!?! I WAS THERE! I COULD HAVE HELPED HER..... his mind wandered off as he realized something..... I was there..... she didn't want me to be hurt...... Rei...... Images of there first mission together flashed in his minds eye.

"You won't die." The Rei in his memory told him. "I wont let you..."

Shinji could not take this anymore, he broke down. He had lost the only person left who seemed to truly care about him. Someone who gave his life for him. NO! NO MORE TEARS!!!....she wouldn't want that.... she gave her life for me, I will not let her die in vain by living a pathetic life. I'll live on Rei, because of you.

Though he decided not to cry anymore, the pain does not simply go away like that. He left the entry plug with a hung head and a bleeding soul. He inhaled deeply seeing as it would be his last for about 30 seconds.

"OH SHINJI I'M SO SORRY!!!!!" Misato wrapping her arms around him trying to comfort the depressed boy. "S-Shinji? Whats wrong?"

"AIR!!!!" He desperately screamed out. As soon as his facial color returned to normal he gave a half hearted smile and asked "Hows Asuka?" Knowing that she was once again defeated in a way that she couldn't even pilot.

"She's really bad off.....Shinji were are you going?" Shinji was walking away at this point looking for the German.

She's sad again...... I wont let her stay that way! He screamed in his mind looking for the second child.

He heard a few sobs and a few muttered German swears and he sighed a relief and said to himself. "Asuka...." He entered the room to be greeted by a very depressed redhead.

"GET OUT!!!!! YOU DON'T NEED TO HELP ME NOW!!!! I'M USELESS......" she choked on those last words. " I can't pilot Eva anymore..... so there's no reason for you to cheer me up since you don't need me any more." She was obviously distraught beyond compare, Eva was her life, and now her life was taken away.

I already lost one person that I care about.... I won't loose the other no matter what! He swallowed all his pain and anguish over Rei's demise and wrapped his arms around Asuka. She didn't fight back like last time, but she seemed more shocked that anything.

"w-why are you doing this? I have no reason to live, no purpose, I should just die right now-" She was cut off, not by a silent hush or my a word, but by Shinjis lips pressed against hers. What seemed like hours in minutes there lips parted. Asuka was at a loss for words. Before she could even think Shinji responded.

"You mean everything to me Asuka. The last thing I or anyone wants is for you to die....... I lost one person I loved today, I don't want to lose the other."

"So am I just a replacement of wondergirl?" She asked in a extremely depressed tone.

"Rei was like a little sister to me. I loved her like I love Misato, but your different. You mean everything to me, please, please." At this point he was crying. "Don't leave me like everyone else."

Asuka slowly put her arms around Shinji and the silently wept together, knowing that there not alone in the world, and that they both found someone who was just as afraid as the other to open up. Now that they found each other, nothing will be the same again.......