Shinji fell backwards out into the corridor of Misato's apartment. Asuka had launched herself at him the moment he entered, and was now on top of him, sharing a heated kiss. Shinji smiled a grateful smile when she finally released him. They entered the apartment together, Asuka extremely happy at the return of Shinji, who was gloomy. They sat down opposite each other, Asuka handing him a cup of warm tea she had made earlier.

  Shinji didn't know what to tell her, but she wasn't persistent. He finally gave her a synopsis of what happened in his father's office. Asuka was silent for a while.

"So you're leaving?" she asked finally.

"Yes… I have to… I cannot stand this place…" Shinji replied, holding back his anger through clenched teeth. "I hate this place… I hate this place so much!"

  Asuka bit her lower lip. She longed to question Shinji about where their relationship would lie after he leaves, but she couldn't bear to hear the answer. Not now.

  They sat silently for a few minutes, Shinji trying hard to regain his composure. Finally he spoke, answering her unasked question.

"I don't wanna lose you, Asuka-chan." He said, staring at the soggy dregs in his cup, but not really looking. "Come with me… follow me… we'll start a new life together."

  Asuka bit harder into her lip. She was torn between the two things that meant the most to her in her life, and her mind was confused. She had to decide…

  Shinji got up and entered his and Asuka's room, piling his belongings into a large briefcase. Asuka could only stare at her cup of tea the whole time. The pressure was too much. She loved Shinji, but piloting the Evangelion was her life. It was her reason for existence. But so was Shinji. These thoughts wrestled with each other within her mind.

Asuka dissolved into tears.

  Shinji dropped his bag outside their room door, and knelt beside Asuka, hugging her from behind. Warm tears streamed down her face and dripped off her chin onto his arms. They hugged like that for a long time. Asuka finally stopped crying and was silent, hugging his arms in front of her. She looked over her shoulder to Shinji, and shook her head. She was going to stay. She could not leave.

  Shinji got up and picked up his briefcase. He silently walked towards the front door of the Katsuragi residence. Asuka followed him, but stopped at the corridor leading to the exit. Shinji turned around.

"I love you, Asuka-chan…"

  He left.

-----------------------

  Now alone in the apartment, Asuka leaned forward into the wall, tears streaming down her face. Things were terrible. Her sync ratios were dropping dramatically since Shinji's hospitalization. Her awful period cramps were not improving the situation. And Shinji left. Shinji left. Baka-Shinji left her. She was all alone now. All alone.

"Baka…. Baka… BAKA!"

  She sank to her knees and broke down crying again. She cried as the white hot pain in her stomach grew. She cried through the pain for a long time, before finally passing out on the hard, cold, wooden floor.

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  Shinji stood in front of the tracks, waiting for his train. Misato had dropped him off, but not before giving him some well-chosen words.

  The train arrived and stopped. A female voice announced something that Shinji was not paying attention to. He mechanically boarded the empty train.

  The doors closed behind him, and the plastic handles hanging from the bars on the roof begin to sway. The train left the station and began to gain speed, heading towards the outside world.

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Author's note: Bah I'm screwing up everyone's favorite anime… I know I'm going to hell for this… I just know it… x.x