Standard Disclaimer

Well here I am with the first of the two epilogues. Just to let you know that they are separate from each other. If you didn't realize that already, I just wanted to be sure that you weren't confused.

Hope you like it.

-Section Divider-

Out of Disaster

Epilogue – Full Circle

Stepping off of the plane and back into Japan had filled Asuka with trepidation. 'I can't believe I've been gone for four years, it looks the same.' Having returned to Germany to gain her Doctoral degree in psychology, Asuka had hoped for a better homecoming. "Guess I should have told somebody," she said off handedly as nobody was there to greet her.

It had been a long four years for Asuka, being separated from her new family and all. But she kept in touch with Shinji via letters and email so it wasn't that bad for the two semi-siblings. Calling a cab, Asuka smiled as she pictured his face when she walked up the steps of Hinata Inn. "How much for a trip to the Inn at Hinata?"

The cab driver looked at Asuka, his eyes bulged out and he stammered. "M…Miss are…are you?"

'It's a shame being so popular,' Asuka thought as she brushed her now shoulder length hair to the side. 'All that publicity Misato insured we got for all of our work at Nerv really makes it hard for public appearances.' With a nod, Asuka said, "I am."

"Wow!" The drive said with a whistle before sliding a piece of paper under the glass divider to the back seats, "To think a model in my cab! You can go any place for free if you give me your autograph!"

Flinching in irritation, Asuka held back on her return comment, 'Stupid bastard doesn't know who I am! Well at least I get a free ride out of it.' Signing her name on the small sheet of paper, she received the new look of shock from the driver.

Reading the name, the drive shouted, "You can't be her! She left the country!" Doing a double take from Asuka's face to the signed name the man's eyes lit up like stars. "It really is you! I'm the luckiest driver in Japan! Hinata Inn right away!" Turning off the on duty light, the man hit the road at what even Asuka thought were unsafe speeds reminiscent of her former guardian.

Clutching her bag for dear life, Asuka had second thoughts about the driver, 'He's not stupid he's insane!' She got to her destination in record time.

-Section Divider-

Standing at the base of the large staircase leading up to her home for four years, Asuka forgot how much of a pain climbing to the top was. 'Couldn't they have gotten a escalator by now?' she thought bitterly as she started dragging her bag up the stairs. The feeling of anticipation and anxiety in her grew with every step. 'I wonder what they'll think of my new look. Wonder if they set a date yet or even announced it yet.' So many questions wafted across Asuka's mind that she was looking at the door before she realized it.

Sliding the door open and walking back into Hinata Inn filled Asuka with memories. She remembered the odd first day that Shinji and she had upon arriving. 'I couldn't believe they just took all three of us in. We were strangers but they welcomed us.' Sure Misato only stayed for about a month before Kaji and she got back together and moved into their own place.

"I'm sorry miss but this Inn is only for planned guests," a deadpan voice called out from the living room as Asuka made her way deeper into the inn. Getting off the couch and heading to tell the intruder to leave, Kanako almost dropped the remote on the ground, "Asuka?"

Putting her bag on the ground, Asuka smiled and turned to Kanako, "Am I not a planned guest anymore?" Within moments the two girls hugged lightly and shared a good laugh. "You look just about the same Kanako, stop growing?"

"We can't all be foreign beasts like you," Kanako said with sneer. Kanako wasn't too happy with her lack of height, but she couldn't help it. "What brings you back? I thought your graduation wasn't until next month."

Following the raven-haired girl, and the cat that followed her everywhere, Asuka took a seat on the couch in the common room. Letting Kuro jump into her lap, Asuka pet the soft black fur as she reminisced. 'I really missed this place, it's so peaceful.' Seeing how Kanako was starting to get the look of impatience, "I skipped it, I'm having them send my diploma here."

Nodding to Asuka, as Kanako knew Asuka wasn't that big on ceremony she let it slide. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming? We could have had a party set up for you." Kanako was a little angry at Asuka for not telling her about her trip. After the duo's arrival at Hinata, Asuka and Kanako hit it off and became friends very fast. While nobody said anything about it the speculation was they were both 'brother lovers.'

"I wanted to see the look on Baka's face when he saw me," Asuka said as she stuck her tongue out jokingly. Lounging in the chair Asuka realized something that was odd about Hinata, "It's really quiet here no new sky lights… and I don't see any holes in the walls."

"About that," Kanako started to say before a large scream erupted from the doorway. A large blue blur followed and then Asuka was enveloped in a large bear hug. "I'll tell you later," Kanako finished.

'Who the hell is this?' Asuka thought as she tried to push the babbling girl away from her. Finally able to disengage from the girl, Asuka did a visual assessment on her. 'Long dark blue hair, about my height, and a very happy demeanor…no idea.' Trying to hide her embarrassment for her ignorance Asuka looked to Kanako.

With a knowing smile, Kanako couldn't help but find the situation humorous. "Our little Shinobu has had quite the growth spurt hasn't she?" Said growth spurt was something that Kanako was more than a little envious about.

"This can't be Shinobu, unless she had breast surgery and a few thousand sessions on the rack!" Asuka said pointed at her attackers chest. "The Shinobu I knew was flat as a washboard and was meek as a kitten!"

Balling her fist to her mouth, Shinobu's eyes started to gather tears, "Asuka-san that's so cruel!" She didn't ask for her body to grow like it had, or for her personality to blossom into what it had, but old habits die-hard.

Leaning over and gazing into Shinobu's eyes, Asuka's smile widened, "Oh my Kami-sama it is you! I'd recognize that cry anywhere!" Hugging the girl honestly, Asuka was amazed at the transformation her timid friend had undergone, "You look so mature now Shinobu!"

As the two women commented on the changes in the others features, Kanako interrupted with the question of the moment. "Shinobu shouldn't you be at your café right now? Opening week often is very busy." Kanako couldn't help but ask as the last few weeks had been hectic as most of the lodgers at Hinata had been busy assisting in the creation of said café.

Realization and remembrance hit Shinobu hard and she blushed furiously. "Sempai came in for lunch and accidentally spilled maple syrup all over me," taking a look at Asuka who was also now smeared with maple syrup, "I'm sorry." Covering her head with her arms, Shinobu waited to eventual light blow, that didn't come.

Where Asuka would have once gotten angry she only smiled. "Just like old times. Well I guess that means I get my first visit to the onsen doesn't it. We can catch up on things." Things surely had changed since she was gone.

-Section Divider-

Sliding into the hot waters of the outdoor bath, Asuka could feel the strain of her traveling floating away. With a relaxed sigh, "The only thing I didn't like about my time in Germany was the complete lack of bath houses." Pulling her towel up and tighter around her chest Asuka couldn't believe she lived four years without a dip like she was having.

Sporting a pout, "Gee Asuka glad you didn't miss us at all while you were away." Shinobu ended by splashing water at Asuka joyfully. 'Shinji was right, she just can't admit her feelings that well.' Covering the smile on her face, Shinobu remembered the awkward silence, the slap, the tears, and the hug that came with Asuka's boarding of her airplane.

Shinji's words reverberated in her mind as she looked at the rippling water. 'Asuka can't let people know what she's feeling. I know she'll miss us, just like we'll miss her.' Looking at the red head, Shinobu had no doubt about it. "So did you leave a heart broken man behind when you decided on this little trip?"

Cleaning her eyes of the extra water Shinobu splashed in them, "I've dated a few guys over the past few years yes. But nobody I'd want to start a family with." The last few words contained a source of regret for Asuka. She had fun with her temporary boyfriends but nothing seemed to click. "How about you, have you two started sharing a room yet?"

The smile on Asuka's face drained the same time that Shinobu lost hers. "Shinji doesn't live at Hinata anymore." Rebuilding her smile as she saw the shock echoed on Asuka's face. "I take it you want more details?"

Nodding dumbly, Asuka could only speculate why Shinji wasn't at Hinata anymore. "Naru didn't kick him out did she?" While Asuka and Naru shared many of the same beliefs on men, Asuka couldn't believe Naru would force Shinji out.

Shinobu dropped another bombshell on the traveling German. "Naru's been gone for about a year, didn't you remember us telling you that in the letters?" Shinobu wasn't as sad about Naru moving out as the girl still visited frequently. Again seeing a look of clueless ness on Asuka's face Shinobu took it upon herself to remind her.

"Sempai and Naru-sempai got a divorce. They loved each other, that was never debated but their personalities were just to different." Both Asuka and Shinobu let out a small breath, they had known that for a long time but it still didn't make it easy to bear. Naru wanted Keitaro to love her and only her, when that was against Keitaro's nature. So after many fights, arguments and holes in the wall, Naru asked for an end and the two separated.

Still saddened by the news, Asuka fidgeted in the water, "So what's 'sempai' doing?" Asuka loved to irk Shinobu over the whole 'sempai' issue. Claiming it was silly to have a crush on a man just because he was older. She'd often ask Shinobu if Shinji minded her calling Keitaro 'sempai' or if he ever asked her to call him that.

Smiling again, Shinobu splashed Asuka again. "He and Mutsumi have started dating a few weeks ago. She waited for him to get over Naru, and get this Naru even blessed their relationship." That was something the whole of Hinata thought was a small miracle, but chalked it up to the fact that the two one-time study buddies did truly love one another. 'Naru loved, loves, sempai so much she just wants him happy.'

Asuka could never figure the Okinawan out. 'She loved him from the start but didn't do anything. So why now?' Letting Keitaro's love life fade into the recesses of her mind, Asuka turned her attention back to Shinobu. "So why isn't Shinji living here then? Don't tell me you two split up."

"We did," Shinobu had to stop talking as Asuka slide under the water to keep from screaming to loud. After the drenched red headed resurfaced, "Can I continue?" Shinobu asked with a smile.

"Wait! What do you mean you two split up! I thought you were going to start a café and…and…" Asuka stammered. She loved the idea of Shinobu and Shinji together. 'They just seem to be made for one another.'

Waving a finger Shinobu continued. "I said we did, I didn't say we stayed that way." They had their own share of problems like any couple, but one series of events lead to one of the greatest regrets in Shinobu's life. "It happened during our third year at Tokyo-U."

"He didn't cheat on you or anything did he?" Asuka asked mortified. Momentarily debating on how hard she should hit him when she saw him next, Asuka was about to storm off without getting her answers.

"I broke it off with him at the time," Shinobu said to calm her friend. Noticing the 'explain' look fall into place on Asuka's features, Shinobu hoped Asuka wouldn't make to big a deal of it. "Well a lot of girls were always flirting with him. The whole being a pilot issue, and lets face it he is really cute too."

Not wanting to admit she liked Shinji's facial features, Asuka just nodded. "How does that result in you wanting to break up with him?" Sparks of her old temper started smoldering.

"At the time I was still like my old self. I saw all these more attractive, intelligent, and more popular girls trying to get his attention. I thought it was just a matter of time before he left me for them. I thought I was holding him back." Shinobu reminisced with a giggle, had she known then what she did now she'd have never doubted Shinji for a moment.

Wagging her head, Asuka glared at Shinobu, "If I didn't love you I'd smack you right now." But seeing the new open nature Shinobu had, Asuka had to wonder what happened to change her. 'The old Shinobu would never be this candid about her feelings.' Telling the girl to continue, Asuka waited for her answer.

"He took it hard, and that was when he moved out of Hinata," Shinobu felt bad that it was her fault Shinji had to move, but at the time it was too painful to see him. "He moved into Mutsumi's apartment complex. And this is the oddest part, I'd told him I was seeing somebody else."

Slamming her fists into the water, "That baka didn't tell me anything about this! When I see him next I'll kill him!" How could he not tell her that he was rejected or that Shinobu did that to him, 'He didn't want me to worry while I had my schoolwork. That idiot.' Calming down, "So did you eventually? How did you get back together?"

Now Shinobu's demeanor dropped to a greater sadness. "The answer to one question leads to the other," she answered cryptically. "I started seeing a boy after being alone for a month. He was Political Science major and charming as hell." Asuka could tell Shinobu was on the verge of tears as her voice broke.

Trying to break Shinobu out of her dialogue Asuka found Shinobu looking fiercely at the water and stopped her attempt. "The bastard only wanted to date me because of Shinji. He wanted to rub Shinji's face in it. I don't know why he hated Shinji, but I learned about it to late."

"He didn't…did he?" Asuka couldn't fully ask the question, but from the words she was hearing she didn't think it an unlikely question. For a moment Asuka felt sorry for whatever punishment the Hinata residence gave, but then thought better of it.

"No not really," Shinobu answered honestly. "He took me out to a bar, I had a few to many and one thing led to another and…" Shinobu stopped talking for a few moments to recollect herself. "Next morning he gives me a letter saying he didn't care to see me anymore." Now the tears did fall down her face but she was smiling all the same. "I ran to Shinji's apartment crying my eyes out because I regretted my actions."

Moving over to Shinobu, Asuka put her arm around her shoulder. 'I guess we all make mistakes,' she didn't like what had happened, and the guy was still a jerk, but it wasn't all his fault. "What happened then?"

The tears drying instantly in the shadow of the joyous memory, Shinobu couldn't keep her face from smiling. "He did the typical thing. He hugged me, said I did nothing wrong, and let me sleep at his place for the next few days."

"And that was that? You just got together after that?" Asuka could see Shinji just forgiving and forgetting everything. 'But that's a bit much to take in.' Looking down again, "So what happened to the guy?"

Laughing softly, "Shinji and Touji-san paid him a visit. Shinji decided to show him some of the special training he received from Motoko-sempai. He's gotten a lot better let me add." The two bathing girls could only wonder what that was, but they smiled all the same. "Afterwards we didn't get right back together. We hung out a lot, did our cooking homework together and became like we were back in Junior High."

"Love struck but to stupid to say anything?" Asuka heard herself saying without realizing it. She had known the two cared long before they admitted it, but she didn't say anything then either.

Smiling and nodding, Shinobu headed out of the onsen and started drying off. "Then on White day Shinji cooked the biggest white chocolate cake I've ever seen and left it on the doormat. I ran to his place and well…that's when we became a couple again."

Pulling her shirt on, Asuka couldn't believe what she was hearing from Shinobu. "No other scares for me I hope? I can't believe YOU of all people are saying that you and Shinji had…on white day."

"Had what?" Shinobu asked confused. She and Shinji had a simply shared the cake, re-confessed there feelings for one another. Shinji even going as far as to tell Shinobu that he hardly noticed the other girls flaunting themselves.

Blushing at the boldness of the question, "you two made love on white day to make up for splitting up." Asuka's voice was totally weak and lacking any of its usual strength and power.

Blushing from head to toe, and for the first time in many years, going into hysterics, "Asuka-san! We couldn't…we didn't…what is with you and sex!" Shinobu asked as she finished drying her hair.

Watching Shinobu recover, Asuka blush increased, "You mean you didn't?"

-Section Divider-

Finding herself standing outside of a rather cozy looking café, Asuka nodded in approval. "Not bad at all. So this is your café."

Opening the door and letting another couple walk out, "It's our café. My parents used to run it but things changed. We bought it not long after graduation and started renovating it. Shinji's lives here right now." Shinobu informed Asuka as they made they way further into the café.

Over the crowd of people, Asuka saw one thing she couldn't believe. On the back wall of the café was a beautifully painted mural. 'That big idiot,' was all Asuka could think as she soaked the image in. On the wall, painted by Keitaro, was a full sized version of Ayanami Rei. Clad in a white flowing gown and adorn with real angel wings. "What the hell is that? And why the hell is she smiling?"

"Sempai painted it for us. It was the only thing Shinji insisted on, well that and the detailing of the smile. She gave her life for us Asuka, for all of us." Shinobu didn't mind the mural she liked it in fact. "She loved him more than I could ever compare. She gave her life twice for him. In honor of her, I'm glad we have that on our wall."

Having heard from Ritsuko about Rei's choice as Shinji and she battled the MP Evangelions so many years ago, Asuka was tempted to agree with Shinobu. "I think he's just too big of a softy."

"Whose too big of a softy?" Shinji asked as he set two plates of food down at a table. The two girls sitting there blushed, smiled, and giggled to one another as Shinji left the table. "Who you talking…to…" Shinji's voice was lost in Asuka's hug.

Crushing the boy who was still shorter than her as he took more from his mother than father in the crafting of his body. Asuka couldn't hold back her joy any longer. 'That idiot! Stupid stupid stupid boy!' Holding him tighter, "I missed you."

Freeing himself from Asuka, Shinji just looked at her. "I missed you too Asuka, glad to have you back." Standing behind them, Shinobu was touched by the scene, had it been any other girl she'd have been jealous, but with Asuka Shinobu knew better.

"So when are you going to make her Shinobu Ikari?" Asuka asked as she calmed down and removed her hands from around Shinji's body.

Turning from the counter, Misato answered for him. "I keep telling them it should be Shinji Maehara but they won't listen." Asuka's eyes widened at seeing Misato, then she saw Kaji at her side. Hikari walked up to her and hugged her.

Seeing all of her old friends revealing themselves from their hiding places Asuka was overwhelmed. "Everyone…how? How did you know?"

Handing Asuka a small cup of sake, Kitsune smirked. "A good magician never reveals her secrets. Pull up a seat and lets get this party started."

As the other girls drug Asuka off to start the welcome home celebration, Shinobu walked over to Shinji and hugged him lightly. "Its good to have her back isn't it?" Laying her head against Shinji's chest, Shinobu felt at peace.

"We're all home again," Shinji said as her lifted Shinobu's chin with his finger. Kissing her softly, "and that's the best thing we could ever ask for."

Smiling wickedly at Shinji, "You weren't hoping she'd kiss you were you? I wasn't some second prize right?" As Shinji started to panic and wonder where that question came from, Shinobu smothered Shinji's lips with her own. Relaxing into the embrace, Shinji responded as the festivities increased around them. 'I love you, for forever and a day,' they thought as they started to gather a crowd around them.

But they didn't care, they were family and family doesn't judge.

-end-

Author notes

Well that was the first of the two epilogues. Hope you liked it.

For those who don't know in Japan Valentines day is when girls give boys chocolate and White Day is the time for men to give girls chocolate.

Hope you liked it and for those who say 'why have the break up' part…all couples go through troubles, it's more believable to have trouble than think everything always works out perfectly.

Special thanks go to Golden Kitsune and Dennisdud for prereading this for me.

Ja Mata

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