This, ladies and (probably mostly) gentleman, will be the final chapter in "A Boy, A Doll, and the End of the World". This final chapter will not only hopefully explain all your questions, but also give away to a more in-depth follow up story entitled "I Live, I Breathe, I Sync, and I Die.". This story, unfortunately, will not be released for a number of weeks. I plan on taking all of your comments and flames and putting them together to create a more 'realistic' story. Those of you who complained about grammar and spelling will be happy to know that a professional literature editor will be proofreading every chapter before it goes out. To those of you who said there were sections seemingly cliché, a new, fresh, and more engrossing story will unfold before your eyes, and I will also be rereading each chapter to delete any annoying cliché 'I love you' scenes. Finally, for the gentleman who commented on my spelling of Kaworu…REJOICE! I was using the spelling from a website and a number of fan-subbed episodes, I double checked the spelling on other websites and I was mistaken, the true spelling is Kaworu, although many people believe that pronunciation and correct spelling is up to interpretation. Nonetheless, this will be corrected. I thank you all,

Kristopher

God's Will

Maya Ibuki's heart froze. An alarm echoed throughout the seemingly empty control center that was NERV, as many of the returners glanced up hopefully, believing that this was the alarm the meant more survivors had been found.

It was not.

Seconds later, a very bored looking Asuka glanced up from one of the fashion magazines she had 'purchased' from a local newsstand. It was outdated and tasteless, but really…what else was there to do. Ignoring the alarm, she returned to her reading. Asuka had positioned herself just outside of Rei's room, few doors down not to be entirely obvious. The young redhead glared at her magazine, Asuka didn't know if she had chose to stay by Rei because she hoped the blue haired girl would die, or because a part of her, a very small part, wanted her to wake up. Ignoring both of these reasons, the Second Child had simply justified herself by saying it was the most comfortable couch in all of NERV. Hearing the screams drowning out the very unusual sounding alarm, Asuka saw Maya and Misato screaming commands and questions back and forth at each other as they ran down the hall.

"What the hell does that alarm mean?" Misato yelled, subconsciously looking for her 9mm that used to rest at her hip.

"I…set up an alarm next to…Rei's bed…" Maya was obviously out of shape as she continued to try and lead the way.

"Would you mind telling me what it means!" Asuka flinched as Misato had screamed the question angrily, using a tone that the fiery redhead hated.

The two women reached the door and threw it open, for a moment there was a silence, Misato's question had been answer and Asuka felt as though her heart had been flipped inside out. The alarm ceased it's blaring warning the moment the door opened. A too-stunned-to-speak Maya and Misato stood at the door, and that's when Asuka heard it.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee….

Rei's heart monitor, it was screaming that the young girl was dead.

Shinji was gasping for air as he reached the third block. Kaworu was keeping up a little too easily, and carrying on a conversation as well.

"So, this is how you will keep it Shinji? Just the way it was supposed to be?"

Shinji glanced over with a questioning look, then grimaced as he felt a shot of pain in his side, for a pilot in love he sure was out of shape. Kaworu smiled as he breathed normally, the Lilan were such weak creatures.

"Third Impact occurred in a way no one ever dreamed of. Seele's plan to evolve man failed, you father's attempts to reunite himself with Yui only came true in a false Heaven, NERVs dreams to destroy all the Angels was impossible because the Lilan were in fact Angels themselves."

Kaworu followed with a inhuman-like nimbleness as the two turned a corner and continued,

"You were made into a God Shinji, and therefore you decided man's fate. Doing this you threw everyone into a Heaven that, if deemed undesirable, they could reject, and return to a place of pain and sadness…Earth. Now as people are coming to this understanding they are beginning to return, and they will suffer. Because that's what life has planned out for them…but they will also be happy. I am most pleased that you have chosen to let destiny sort itself out. You have truly become a man Shinji Ikari."

Slowing slightly, Shinji looked in disbelief at Kaworu. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head, knowing that he was not a man, not even close. He knew he would never be anything more than a failure, Asuka, Rei, even Kaworu were proof of that. The silver haired friend responded to this doubting thought with a quick interjection, and a deep sigh.

"This is not what Rei wanted you to be!"

The two boys slowed to stop and stood in silence for a moment, simply staring each other down, Shinji was too stunned by Kaworu's outburst to say anything, and Kaworu calmed himself, noting this new feeling of 'anger' and continued.

"You need to understand that at every difficult situation you just cannot always run back to what you used to be and hide. That is a mind of a child. You are a man now Shinji Ikari…and…"

Looking away sadly for a moment choosing his words carefully.

"And it's at this pinnacle point of your life at which I must leave you…"

"What!" Shinji burst out, his eyes tearing up as he grabbed a hold of his best friend, he could not stand lose another loved one.

"It is not by choice I promise you."

"W-will I ever see you again?" Shinji asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"I do not know. Shinji Ikari, this world was yours, and you made it into an amazing place, and for that, I am glad that you and I are close. I love you, Shinji."

To stunned to speak, the young brunette stood with his mouth agape as his only true friend began to leave. Shinji watched Kaworu's eyes twinkle with a twinge of sadness as he turned and started away from the Third Pilot. The Angel walked with a knowing smile on his face and his hands buried deep within his pockets, his blue-steel silver hair danced in the wind as Shinji half expected to see him slowly disappear, but he did not, he simply continued to walk and Shinji watched him, until he was nothing more than a spot in the distance, then…nothing at all

Her heart was still not beating. Maya knew enough about medicine to acknowledge the fact that if it did not start up again soon Rei would suffer brain damage…at the very least. Misato ripped the defibulator off the wall and rubbed the to paddles together with a clear balm. Asuka stood with wide eyes at the door, as her mind fought with itself.

Good, that little bitch is finally going to be out of my life.

No…she can't die…not like mother.

In the midst of a war being waged inside her mind, the fiery redhead spun on one of her new high class red heels and tore off down the hall, nearly knocking down the two men who raced toward Rei's room. Her eyes blinded by tears. She did not want her to die…

Back in the emergency room, Maya screamed commands and Rei's tiny body jumped up and down as it was filled with electrical currents.

"Higher!" Maya screamed and Misato turned it up just one more notch, worried that any more would sear her bare chest.

Thud. Rei's body once again jumped as she leapt up, then fell helplessly back onto her bed, the smell of burning balm and singed skin filled the air.

"HIGHER MISATO!" Maya screamed, started for a split second at the amount of anger in her voice.

"Any more will kill her!" Misato lashed back with her husky voice.

"What do you think's going to happen to her if you don't?" Asked the younger man, looking nervously around the room, not entirely sure if he should have spoken.

Misato looked questioningly at Maya, who in turn looked at Rei with a worry stricken face, then turning back to the purple haired woman, Maya said weakly, "Do it."

The moment the paddles grazed Rei's white skin, the albino screamed in pain. It felt as if she was having a lazy Sunday afternoon dream and someone had decided to stab her in the chest with two red hot pokers. As she wailed out, everyone leapt back as their hearts jumped into their throats and Rei gasped for air. Her hands shook as her blurry vision came back into view, looking down at her bare chest she didn't even try to cover herself up, but instead only stared at the twin red squares that seemed to have been burned into her chest right above her breasts. Her head felt as though it had been split in half and pounded continuously, her chest burned to the point of bringing tears to her face, both her legs felt as if they have been run over by a truck, her left arm hurt from the thick needle that continuously pumped blood into her veins and her entire body felt weak and sick…she wanted to throw up, but didn't have the strength, or sustenance in her system to do so. She was in more pain that she had ever believed possible…but she was alive.

Shinji tore down the streets with all the energy he had left. After his conversation with Kaworu, the great decision he had to make over his, and the rest of the world's lives, and the loss of his god-like powers, he felt weak, every step felt like it could be his last. He could hear his heart thumping with every be shattering his ear drums and he knew it was calling out for Rei. Trying to sum up his emotions, quickly daydream of what he would be the first thing he said to Rei would be, and what would happen after she left the hospital all felt cliché, nothing original, nothing new, just a rerun of history, a story of another boy and girl, but Shinji smiled when he realized that his story was new, it was fresh, and real, for no one else had the story of a boy, a doll and the end of the world.

She looked beautiful. That was, truly, the only way Shinji could describe it. Now standing at the doorway of her room Shinji smiled at his love. Turning slowly toward him, Rei's eyes danced with passion and the same feeling for him as he had for her, maybe even more so. For the first time since Shinji met Rei she did not look albino. The artificial light and breeze that moved the curtains by her bedside were a bright white, this in turn matched her bed sheets and gown and the only object that was not saturated in white was Rei's gorgeous smooth face, her soft blue hair, and desirable crimson eyes. For a moment neither knew what to do, then, as if she had planned it all along, Rei smiled, just like she did before, and gently reached out for Shinji, her hand shaking weakly.

As Shinji made slowly toward her, his legs feeling like jelly, Misato shushed everyone out of the room and shut the door behind her with a wink. Taking her delicate hand into his, Shinji was surprised how soft it felt, how warm and full of life it was, just like the day they first kissed.

"A-Ayanami…I-" Shinji sputtered, trying to hold back his tears.

"Shinji…" The blue haired beauty replied, not entirely sure herself of what to say.

For a few minutes they just stared at each other, each of their minds buzzing with what to say, and it took Shinji nearly ten minutes to gain the courage to do what he did next. With his stomach nearly sick with nervousness Shinji removed his hand from Rei's and gently brushed the blue strands of hair away from Rei's eyes, letting his hand cascade down her face, taking in the warm perfect skin. Then cupping her cheek in his hand and letting his fingers dive into the thick strands of her hair, Shinji pulled gently, and the beautiful woman practically collapsed into his arms. As their lips touched one another Shinji's first reaction was not that of a fourteen year old boy, but instead of that like a wine taster, deeply enjoying every sensation given to him. Her lips were cool at first touch and the gentleness of her breath through her nostrils gently blanketed his mouth. Turning his head slowly, the two engaged each other's mouths and kissed deeper, Rei's fingers intertwining into his and gripping them tightly, almost as if worried that he may disappear forever. Closing into each other quickly, their kisses quickened and Rei let out of a soft moan of passion, after a few minutes of this bliss, they both pulled away slowly, the cool breeze of room almost painful against the warmth of their kisses, their eyes opened and studied each others eyes for a few moments before saying what they both had been feeling for a very long time.

I love you.

Three Months Later

She's still at it? Shinji questioned himself as he rolled over in his bed, pulling the blanket over his head to block out the morning sunshine, brisk cold air, and the smell of breakfast. Rei had been cooking a lot lately, unfortunately, for Shinji's stomach, it had not really improved.

Rei frowned at the cooking book she had delicately propped up on the edge of the counter. How was it that her food never looked like the one in the picture? She had properly added all the correct ingredients, allotted the correct amount of time in the oven, and even stirred the product twice as many times as the directions had required. Food is an art I shall never understand. Rei poetically quoted to herself, she liked this and decided to write it in her journal later.

A groggy Shinji Ikari stumbled out of the shower and into the kitchen, seating himself almost wearily at the chair farthest from her food. He always did this when she cooked, and Rei would roll her eyes if she wasn't…well, Rei. Placing a plate in front of him, the undercooked and discolored meal stared menacingly at Shinji. Swallowing hard, Shinji began to eat the meal while a very interested Rei glanced up from her own meal every few minutes to check how it was, she was disgusted by the taste, but this was an American meal, and she wondered if Shinji approved of it's odd taste.

He did not.

Continuing to eat it with fake delight, Shinji finished and moved toward the door.

"You must go to NNERV again?" Rei asked from the kitchen like a loving housewife, her whisper-like voice still empty of any concern as per usual. But Shinji could still tell, just by her asking, that she was interested, and…slightly worried.

"Ye-yeah…Misato said she'd be here soon to pick me up." Shinji replied, sighing deeply. Rei moved toward the door to meet her love and looked at him with concern.

"The tests are still…painful?" She asked.

Since the incident, and the return of nearly one thousand different humans to the continent of Japan, Shinji Ikari had been declared, by NNERV (New NERV), a threat to the remaining population of the world. After many weeks of delegation, his life was allowed to be spared under the condition that his mind be mapped to locate any potential possibilities that he could still be a threat. The machine that previously had previously been used to make the Rei dummy plugs, had been outfitted to chart every ounce of his mind. The treatment had been going on three times a week for nearly a whole month and each time making Shinji sick to his stomach and feeling numb and drained for the remainder of the day.

NNERV had been developed as the new form of government. The meetings, which had occurred once the two hundredth human had returned to Tokyo-3, lasted three weeks. Looting, theft, starvation, and fights had broken out not just across Tokyo-3, but many other part of Japan as well. NERV had been chosen because of it's close ties to the Japanese government and it's large, high tech facilities. Ten members had been selected to govern a specific portion of life as well as the returning populous. Food, shelter, technology, health, and six other items deemed essential to the preservation of life had their own department with their own sections of NNERV and each their own leader. No man nor woman governed over them yet, and many hoped they never would. Maya Ibuki had been named chair of technology and was currently using the MAGI as a means to bring power, heat, and life back to the other 75 percent of Japan that was still without electricity. Misato headed up the tenth "Human Necessity" as E-NERV's section continually monitored and worked with Shinji Ikari, or as many religious groups had begun calling him: The Second Child (of God).

This is currently where Shinji was heading, heading downstairs to meet a very impatient Misato who was currently yelling at her boyfriend on the phone.

"Listen to me you scruffy sonofa-Morning Shinji-bitch, if that report isn't on my table by tonight then…then…" Misato glanced sideways toward Shinji as he desperately tried to plug in his seat belt, "No you-know-what!"

There was a pause as Misato slammed on the gas, and Shinji gripped the side handle.

"What do you mean you could go without it longer than I could!"

Shinji rolled his eyes, and stared out the window.

It had been somewhat sad, to think of all that he had lost. Even though he spent most the time with his love Rei, and the rest of the time with Misato or listening quietly to his SDAT, he still couldn't forget what he had lost. Toji and Kensuke had never returned, Shinji often played with the thoughts of what their Heavens were like, Kensuke's was probably a large battlefield where he had become a EVA pilot, and Toji's…well Shinji really couldn't think of anything more than a large table full of food, with his little sister at his side. Asuka would barely even speak to him anymore, hating him for being the only one left 'Anyone really cared about' she had disappeared for a few days, claiming she couldn't take his presence anymore, but returned a few days later, staying around and sleeping at NERV headquarters. Shinji's EVA, and his mother where gone, lost in the deep recesses of space, carrying out his mother's dream of keeping a reminder that humans had once existed. The young boy had lost so much that at sometimes he actually felt guilty for being so happy.

Misato threw her phone in the back seat of her new icy blue car and smiled at Shinji as she cranked up the air conditioning.

"God, that man drives me insane!"

Shinji looked over with his usual nervous face and spoke,

"H-how is Kaji."

"Other than being an ass you mean? He's fine, not nearly as perfect as you, is he…nonono…." Shinji gave her an odd look, thinking, at first, she was talking to him, but then continued his gaze out the window at her saw that she was actually cooing to her new car.

"Mama loves you doesn't she? I can't believe I do half the work at get twice the pay at NNERV!"

There was a silence for a while as Misato crossed town at made it to the car elevator of NNERV, as the purple haired woman parked the vehicle on the machine and waited for it to take the two of them to their destination, the young woman looked at Shinji with a cool smile.

"There was…another returner last night Shinji."

Shinji continued to look out with window and nodded with disinterest.

"I'm not supposed to show you this, but…well...what the hell. It's not like I ever broke the rules before."

She turned to her overloaded briefcase and grumbled as she searched for the document, then threw it on the young boy's lap. Opening the folder slowly, Shinji eyes tripled in size as a photo of a silver haired boy stared back at him, the words 'Classified' stamped all over it in deep red ink. Shinji's one true friend had returned, and as his eyes began to water, and saturate the parchment when he thought to himself that life would never be perfect…but at least it was no longer impossible.