"Shinji?"

Shinji muttered softly and moved his pillow over his head. "Can't they tell I'm sleeping here?'

"Shinji." The voice repeated.

'Oh why don't they leave me alone.'

"SHINJI WAKE UP!"

"GAH!" Shinji screamed as he was roughly shaken out of bed.

"MEIN GOTT! I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET THAT UP!"

Shinji quickly covered himself with his sheets.

"It's morning wood alright!" He then squinted in the morning light at the person who woke him up. "What do you want Asuka?"

Asuka placed her hands on her hips.

"What do I want?" she repeated, "Is that the kind of thing to say to your best friend of how many years!"

"Yes, you're right." Shinji replied with a yawn, "I'm sorry. Now lemme get back to sleep." He set his head back on his pillow and pulled the sheets over his head.

Asuka stared stunned for a second. Then she clenched her fists and started shaking with rage.

Chapter 18

Instrumentality / The world renewed.

"I TOLD YOU TO WAKE UP!" came Asuka's voice from down the hall. "DO YOU WANT TO MAKE US LATE FOR SCHOOL!" The shout was followed by a loud crash.

"OW!" came Shinji's voice, "ALRIGHT I'M AWAKE! OW! LET GO!"

"Isn't it nice how Asuka always comes over to wake Shinji up?" Yui Ikari asked her husband as she moved around the kitchen.

Gendo Ikari was sitting at the table, reading his paper as he sipped his coffee.

"Mmmm." was his only reply.

Several minutes later, Asuka appeared in the kitchen, dragging a sleepy looking Shinji behind her.

"Bye Mrs. Ikari!" Asuka said with a bow as Shinji pulled his shoes on. "Sorry we can't stay for breakfast but we're late!"

"Bye kids!" Yui replied, "Have a great day! Say good bye dear."

"Mmmmm."

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Asuka and Shinji raced down the street.

"Hey!" Asuka said, "I talked to Hikari and she said we're getting a new student!"

"We're getting a lot of new students lately." Shinji replied, "I wonder why?"

"Baka!" Asuka shouted, "It's because Tokyo-3 is the new capital of the UN! Lot's of new people are moving here!"

"Oh." Shinji said thoughtfully. "Maybe the new kid will be a girl."

Asuka frowned at Shinji.

Shinji was still thinking about the possibility of a new female student when he reached the corner. Suddenly his world was spinning and found himself laying face down on the sidewalk. Shinji pushed himself on his elbows and looked up to find he had a great view of a pair of cotton panties. With a yelp, the girl quickly covered herself with her skirt, allowing Shinji to see her face for the first time. The girl had short light blue hair and red eyes. Both stared at each other until Asuka broke the silence.

"Hey! Watch where you're going! You could hurt some…..HEY!" Asuka shouted as the girl leaped to her feet, grabbed her bag, and took off.

"Sorry!" the girl shouted, "I'm late!"

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"The nerve of that girl!" Asuka complained later at school. "She runs into Shinji and then leaves!"

"How is Shinji by the way?" Hikari asked.

The two girls glanced over where Shinji was sitting beside Kensuke and Touji. Shinji was apparently telling them something that had the boy's complete attention. Then Shinji raised his hand and brought his forefinger and thumb barely centimeters apart, giving Touji and Kensuke a conspiratorial expression.

Asuka let out a sigh. "I bet he's telling them how he saw that girls panties."

Hikari's eyes widened. "Those perverts!"

Then the sound of screeching tires reached the windows. Every single boy in the classroom raced to the windows.

"Oh wow!" one cried, "It's Sensei Katsuragi!"

"SENSEI!" all the boys shouted.

"SIT DOWN!' Hikari shouted, "That's no way to treat a teacher!"

"It's not like Sensei tries to discourage it." Asuka muttered.

Misato Katsuragi, the Sensei of class 3-A entered the room and slammed her bag down on the desk.

"Alright dudes and dudettes," she stated, "We got ourselves not one but TWO brand new babes for the class so I want you to make them feel welcome feel!"

Two girls entered the classroom. One had long brown hair and bright blue eyes, the other……

"HEY!" the blue haired girl shouted as she faced the class. She raised a finger and pointed at Shinji. "THAT'S THE PERVERT THAT WAS STARING AT MY PANTIES!"

Asuka was immediately on her feet.

"Well maybe if you had watched where you were going you wouldn't have flashed him!"

"Why are you defending him!" the blue hair girl asked, "Are you riding his baloney pony?"

"Why would I want that twig!" Asuka shouted, "I……" Suddenly she realized what she had just said. Her face turned deep red.

"ALRIGHT SHINJI!" Touji shouted.

"Look we're just very close friends." Asuka said.

"Right." The blue haired, "You're doing him and you know it."

"Come on!" Hikari shouted, "This isn't a proper discussion for school!"

Misato waved her off. "Actually this is much more interesting then I had planned. Let them go at it."

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"How come you never told us you were banging the Demon?"

Shinji let out a sigh. Touji and Kensuke had never let up at all since Asuka's comment in the morning. He had hoped that they would at least give him some peace during lunch.

Apparently he had been mistaken.

"For the last time." Shinji said, "Asuka and I are just friends."

"Sure you are." Kensuke said with a smile.

"That's how it begins." Touji said.

Shinji glared at Touji. "What about you and the Class Rep hmm?"

"Hikari!" Touji practically squeaked.

"Oooo." Kensuke muttered, "Ikari strikes back and hits hard."

"Ikari."

The three boys turned around to see the new girl with long brown hair.

"Yes….uhh….?" Shinji started, apparently forgetting the new girl's name.

"Morisato." The girl replied, "Can I speak with you?"

"Uhhh." Shinji looked at his friends who shrugged. "Sure."

Shinji got up and followed Morisato away. Kensuke waited till they were out of hearing, then turned to Touji.

"Man, why does Shinji get all the babes? First the Red Demon, then that new girl, what was her name?"

"Ayanami." Touji replied, "Rei Ayanami."

"Yeah, Ayanami. Now Morisato." Kensuke sighed, "When will I get lucky?"

"It would take an act of heaven before you got laid." Touji said with a smirk.

Kensuke glared at Touji.

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"What is it Morisato?" Shinji asked.

The girl waited a moment before turning and facing Shinji.

"Doesn't this all seem odd to you?" she asked.

Shinji frowned. "I haven't any idea what you mean."

Morisato frowned. "Come on Ikari. Mrs. Katsuragi is hardly what I would call a decent teacher. How she's survived so far I'll never know……."

"You leave Misato out of this." Shinji replied.

Morisato raised an eyebrow.

"Misato now is it? Since when have you been so informal with our teacher hmm?"

Shinji paled slightly. "It's none of your business."

"I'm making it my business."

"Dammit Sayoko!" Shinji finally cried out, "Just let it go!"

"Since when do you know my first name?"

Shinji now went white. Sayoko moved closer to him, her eyes narrowing.

"Misato never mentioned my name at all." Sayoko said softly, "She was too busy watching Rei and Asuka argue. The only reason you would know Rei's name is because Misato called on her in class." Sayoko moved even closer to Shinji. "You still remember."

Shinji appeared ready to respond with a retort, but he then sagged. When he looked back up, his face appeared depressed.

"I thought I was the only one that remembered," Shinji said softly, "because I was in Unit-01."

"I was a Goddess Shinji." Sayoko replied.

"Yeah….wait….what?" Shinji looked at Sayoko confused. "What do you mean you were a Goddess?"

Sayoko pointed her hand at her face.

"Look closely and tell me what's missing."

Shinji frowned for a moment. Then his eyes widened as realized what it was.

"Your markings are gone."

"….and with them my powers." Sayoko said.

"What about your Aunt Skuld?" Shinji asked, "Doesn't she…?"

"She's not here Shinji."

"What!"

Sayoko walked over and sat down on a bench. Shinji followed.

"My Aunt Skuld never appeared here." Sayoko said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I've even tried calling Heaven. I haven't gotten a response."

"What about your parents?" Shinji asked.

Sayoko gave a weak laugh.

"Yeah that was a shocker." She said, "I woke up and found my father making breakfast. According to him, I was adopted by him." Tears rolled down Sayoko's face. "He has no memory of my mother." She looked away. "He's my father, yet he's not him."

"I'm sorry Sayoko." Shinji said, placing his hand on hers. She immediately pulled hers away.

"No you're not." She said angrily. She was on her feet, her eyes practically on fire. She stabbed her finger hard into Shinji's chest, causing him to yelp in pain.

"You were so concerned for yourself! Poor little Shinji! So your Mother died when you were young. So did mine! So did Asuka's! So your father abandoned you. So did Asuka's! You kept saying you were a nobody. You were my friend! You were Touji and Kensuke's friend. You were Rei's brother!" Sayoko glared at Shinji. "You were always saying that you mustn't run away. Well guess what Shinji? YOU RAN AWAY!"

"I wasn't happy there." Shinji said, "Here I am."

"This isn't reality!" Sayoko cried out.

"It is to me!" Shinji shouted back, "Here I have my parents! My friends are all alive!"

"This is a fantasy world Shinji." Sayoko said softly, "A dream. Your dream. And all dreams end."

Sayoko then turned and walked away.

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"I saw you with Morisato." Asuka said as she and Shinji walked home from school. "What did she want?"

Shinji hesitated slightly before replying.

"She's new to town." He replied, "She wanted to know what the hang out places were."

"Well she could have asked me." Asuka said, "After all, I am a girl. I know all the good places to shop."

"Maybe she doesn't like to shop." Shinji suggested.

"Doesn't like to shop! What kind of girl doesn't like to shop!"

"Morisato apparently." Shinji replied.

They continued walking in silence. Shinji kept thinking over what Sayoko had told him. So was concentrating so deeply on it, he didn't realize Asuka was no longer beside him till she called out.

"What? You don't want to walk me to my apartment anymore?"

Shinji cringed. "Sorry Asuka."

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That night Shinji lay in bed, still thinking about what Sayoko had said.

'This reality isn't as bad as she says.' Shinji thought, 'I have my parents. Asuka has hers. Everyone is alive and happy. Well' Shinji conceded, 'everyone but Sayoko.'

Suddenly the ceiling phased. One moment, Shinji was staring at a white ceiling, the next, he was staring at a red sky.

"What?" Shinji sat up in his bed. Only he was no longer in his bed. He was now sitting on the ground, overlooking a red tinted ocean. The sky above was also tinted red. The just as suddenly, he was back in his room.

'What was that?' Shinji wondered.

He climbed out of bed and went silently around the apartment. His parents were both asleep, and nothing seemed out of place. Shinji walked out on the balcony and looked out over the city. Everything seemed fine out there too, but then what was it he had just seen?

He knew of only one person who would know.

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It hadn't been that hard for Shinji to find where Sayoko lived, there was only one Morisato in the computer listing. That and a call to a very sleepy Kensuke, and a quick hack job confirmed the location.

He quickly moved up the stairs and found the Morisato apartment quickly. He then hesitated. It was almost midnight. Knocking on the door and waking her father was probably not in his best interest. But he still needed to talk to the young former goddess. Finally, he gave in. He needed to know what was going on. His knuckles had only hit the door once when it slid open to reveal Sayoko. Startled, Shinji took a step back. Sayoko took that moment to step out of the apartment, letting the door close behind her.

"I knew you would come." Sayoko said softly.

It took Shinji a moment to respond. He found himself distracted by Sayoko's outfit, which consisted of a loose nightgown that reached her knees. She was also barefoot.

"H…h…how did you know I'd be here?" Shinji asked.

Sayoko walked to the railing and looked out over the city. Her hair was tossed about slightly by the nighttime breeze.

"You saw it." Sayoko said, not looking at Shinji.

"You mean the red sky and the ocean?" Shinji asked, "What was that?"

"Reality." Sayoko replied, still not looking at the boy.

"Reality?" Shinji repeated, "You mean……?"

Sayoko turned around. "You saw the world we left behind. The REAL world Shinji. Not this dream."

"But this is real to me." Shinji repeated, "All my family is here and my friends………."

"No Shinji. They're not."

"What do you mean?"

"They are not real Shinji." Sayoko said, "They exist only here." She pointed at his head.

"That's nonsense!" Shinji said, getting angry.

"Shinji, they are only shadows. They are not real." Sayoko sighed, "The real Asuka is in her own world, as is the real Misato."

"You're talking crazy." Shinji said, "If that's so, how do you know? Why aren't you a shadow?"

Sayoko looked back out over the city.

"Because I was a Goddess." Sayoko said, "A part of me is in everyone's world, even those I do not know." Sayoko looked back at Shinji. "Each person here is part of your dream."

"Why did I see the real world then?" Shinji asked, "If you are to be believed."

"Dreams end Shinji." Sayoko replied, "And if it's what I think it was, this dream, and all the other's will end soon."

"What do you mean?"

Sayoko looked back to the city.

"For Third Impact to be successful, Yggdrasil had to fail. That has happened. When you saw the real world, that was Heaven trying to restart Yggdrasil."

"So if they get Yggdrasil restarted, this reality ends and everyone gets returned to the real world." Shinji said, "So what happens if they can't restart Yggdrasil? Won't they just give up?"

"I hope not." Sayoko replied, looking back at Shinji. "Think of it like this: You are writing a report on a computer. In the middle of writing it, your word processor program locks up, then partially crashes. Now your computer still has the report in it's memory, and all you need to do to restore it is to restart the word processor."

"Ok." Shinji said, "So right now the world is like the report, it's in Yggdrasil, but it can't be accessed."

"Yes," Sayoko replied, "Now there are two options. You can try to restart the word processor program, thus recovering your report."

"What's the second option?"

Sayoko's face took on a chilling look. "If you can't get the word processor to work, then you have to restart the computer. That wipes the report from the computer's memory, forcing you to start over."

Shinji's eyes widened.

"But that means……."

"Everyone would simply cease to exist." Sayoko said, "Including myself."

Shinji stared at Sayoko in horror.

"But …..I never wanted to hurt anyone."

"'Everyone just die' did I hear you incorrectly?" Sayoko asked.

Shinji backed away holding his head.

"No…." Shinji said, "I never….."

"You did." Sayoko said, "You can't run away from this. You are responsible."

Shinji cried out and ran from the former Goddess. He stumbled, and his world plunged into darkness.

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Shinji opened his eyes and found himself standing on an ocean of LCL. The LCL reached to all horizons around him.

"Where am I?" Shinji called out.

"This is the sea of LCL." came a voice that Shinji recognized, "The primordial soup of life."

"Rei?"

Rei appeared before Shinji in her school uniform. She indicated the sea.

"This is a world without AT Fields... without your own shape." She said, "An ambiguous world where it is impossible to tell where you end and other people start. A fragile world where you exist everywhere, and thus exist nowhere."

"Does that mean I'm dead?" Shinji asked.

"No." came a new but still familiar voice.

Shinji turned to see Sayoko now standing on the sea of LCL. Unlike Rei, she was wearing the blue and white robes of a goddess.

"Everyone has been joined into one." Sayoko explained, "This, is your world."

"But this isn't right." Shinji said as he looked out over the LCL, "At least I don't think it's right."

"And you wonder why Asuka calls you an idiot." Sayoko said with a small smile.

"If you wish once more for the existence of others," Rei said, "the barriers of the heart will separate everyone once more... And the fear of other people will begin again."

Shinji took a deep breath. Then nodded.

"Alright."

Sayoko looked at Shinji curiously.

"Is it okay for AT Fields to hurt you and others once more?" she asked.

"I don't mind." Shinji said, "But, what are you two within my heart?"

Rei and Sayoko glanced at each other.

"Hope." Sayoko finally said, "The hope that people might be able to understand one another."

Shinji looked away.

"I know one day, I'll be betrayed, and they'll leave me." Shinji then turned and looked back at the two girls. "But I would like to see them again."

"Anyone can return to human form as long as they can imagine themselves in their own heart." Rei said.

The world seemed to twist slightly. All three teens looked up at the sky. The sky continued to twist.

"Yggdrasil has restarted." Sayoko said softly. She then looked at Shinji. "See you on the flip side Shinji."

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"YGGDRASIL IS COMING BACK UP!" shouted Erie.

Everyone turned and looked at her. Chronos looked at her display.

"Confirmed! Main Program has stabilized!"

Peorth and Urd looked at each other. "What did you do?" they asked each other at once.

"I didn't do anything." Peorth said.

"Neither did I." Urd replied. She then looked at the SysOp terminal. "It's like it restarted on it's own."

Kami-sama then re-entered the control room.

He looked to Peorth. "Status."

"Yggdrasil is coming back up to full strength." She reported, "It seems to be running better then it has since 2nd Impact."

"Very well." Kami-sama replied, "Signal Commander Mist. Inform her that Armageddon has been…..put off. Inform Skuld that Sayoko should be…….reappearing soon." He then glanced down at the puddles of LCL. " Peorth, return these two to the surface. Then I have another project for you and Urd." Kami-sama started to walk away. "Oh Urd…. You forgot about someone when you brought back the…object.

Urd's eyes widened. "Opps. I forgot she was in it."

"Don't worry, I'll handle it. And tell Mara she can have them when they appear."

"Where will you be sir?"

"Fulfilling a promise."

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SEELE 05: We were so close! What went wrong!

SEELE 07: The data can be reviewed, perhaps we still might achieve Instrumentality

SEELE 01: Ikari failed us. He will suffer for this, as will his son.

"I seriously doubt that."

A figure appeared amongst the monoliths.

SEELE 01: Who dares to impose themselves in our affairs!

The figure looked up to reveal the face of Mara.

"Oh don't worry about little old me. You'll be seeing a lot of me for a long time."

SEELE 03: Not likely. Those who interfere in our affairs soon find themselves dead.

Mara smiled and pointed towards 03. A scream echoed throughout the chamber, and then the monolith disappeared.

"1 down, 11 to go."

SEELE 01: Who are you?

"The name is Mara. Remember it, cause I guarantee, you will be screaming it later, in pain."

Her cackle filled the room as monolith after monolith disappeared, until there were none left.

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Shinji awoke on a beach. All around him, the MP Evas were crashing into the ground or into the sea. The giant form of Rei itself continued to break up. Shinji sat up and looked about. The landscape was flattened from repeated explosions. It was then he noticed he was not alone. Laying on the ground next to him was Asuka in her plug suit.

"ASUKA!" Shinji picked her up into his arms. Her eyes fluttered open. When she realized who was holding her, she wrapped her arms around him. Noticing that she was awake, Shinji pulled her closer to himself.

"I thought you were dead." He cried softly.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." Asuka replied. "Now, if I remember, we still have something to finish."

Shinji smiled, he leaned forward and gave Asuka a long passionate kiss. As they kissed, a figure rose from the LCL sea. It stumbled to the beach, then collapsed. Asuka saw the movement and pointed the figure out to Shinji. Both got to their feet and raced to the person. The figure, a young female around their age, was drenched in LCL, and also very naked. Shinji pulled off his button up shirt and lay it over the girl before they rolled her over. Asuka gasped when she saw who it was.

"Sayoko!"

Shinji stared at Sayoko's face, trying very hard not to notice anything else as the shirt he had put on her soaked up LCL and clinged to her body. It was as he looked at her face that he realized she had her Goddess markings back.

Shinji turned away from her and looked up and down the beach. Slowly, other people were climbing out of the LCL sea.

"They're coming back." He whispered softly to Asuka. Asuka looked around and watched.

"They are the strong ones." A weak voice said.

Asuka and Shinji looked down at Sayoko. Her eyes were barely open.

"They are strong." Sayoko repeated, "Just like you two."

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Kami-sama stood waiting in the darkness. Finally, a figure appeared before him.

"Hello Lilith," Kami-sama said quietly, "It's been awhile."

"Yes, It has. But I am no longer Lilith, I am Rei."

Kami-sama smiled, "Of course. But you still remember the promise I made all those years ago?"

Rei nodded. "I do."

"I still stand by it. If you wish, I can return you to them."

Rei was quiet for a second, "I wish it."

"I thought you would. I have made….arrangements."

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Night had arrived to the beach and the survivors of Third Impact.

Fires now burned brightly up and down the beach, marking spots where the survivors had gathered. Around one such fire sat Shinji, Asuka, and Sayoko. Sayoko was now dressed in a pair of baggy pants as well as a t-shirt that Shinji had found in a destroyed building when he had gone scavenging for food.

Sayoko had very little power. Most of her energy was going into just trying to stay awake. So far, she had no luck in trying to contact her Aunts or any other God or Goddess telepathically.

"I hate camping." Asuka muttered, "Why can't we go back to the apartment?"

"We can't find it in the dark." Sayoko replied softly, staring at the flames. "Even then it's too dangerous. Every building has received some kind of damage. We could get killed in a collapsing building."

"And you don't have any powers to shield us from that." Shinji said.

"Yeah." Sayoko whispered.

"You think your Aunts will find us?" Asuka asked.

"I don't know." Sayoko said, "My power is so low right now, I might not even show up."

They were silent for awhile.

"You think Misato will come back?" Shinji asked.

"I'd like to think so." Sayoko replied, "Just like I hope my Aunt Megumi comes back."

"I'm hoping for Hikari." Asuka said.

"What about Rei?" Shinji asked, "You think she could come back?"

"She was an Angel Shinji." Sayoko said, "I suppose it could be possible, but I don't know."

They continued talking for another hour. Then Asuka fell asleep, leaning her head against Shinji. Sayoko was on the verge of sleep as well, when Shinji asked a question that woke her right up.

"Are you mad at me Sayoko?"

Sayoko looked at Shinji curiously.

"Why would I be mad?"

"I almost ended the world." Shinji replied, staring at the fire.

"No Shinji." Sayoko said, "I'm not mad. Disappointed, but not mad. You had it rough before I came, and it was rough right before Third Impact happened. I can't blame you for it. If anything, I blame your Father and SEELE."

"Oh."

Shinji watched as Sayoko drifted off to sleep. He felt Asuka shiver slightly and pulled her closer to him. He then glanced over to Sayoko and saw her shivering even more then Asuka had.

"Sayoko." He said softly.

The Goddess lifted her head quickly.

"Eh? Wha?"

Shinji took a deep breath.

"If you're cold, you can come over here with us."

"I wouldn't want to annoy Asuka." Sayoko said.

"I don't think she'll cause any problems." Shinji replied.

Sayoko slowly got up and moved to sit down beside Shinji, opposite of Asuka. Sayoko snuggled up against Shinji as he placed an arm around her.

"You'd better watch your hands." Sayoko mumbled as she drifted off.

Shinji listened to the waves crash against the shore while Asuka and Sayoko slept. Finally, he too felt tired. He leaned his head against Asuka's, causing her to let out a pleasant sigh. Soon he joined the two girls in sleep.

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Skuld walked along the beach in the early morning sunlight. She had spent most of the previous day trying to find a way out of the Geofront and the ruins of NERV. She couldn't use her usual medium of water to leave because all of it had been tainted by LCL. She contacted Heaven when she could find a working phone, which wasn't very often. That was how she knew that the mortals were returning from the LCL, including her niece. That is what led her to the beach.

She had spent the last few hours looking for any sign of Sayoko or the other pilots among the survivors, most of whom were still asleep. She had even gone so far as to send Noble Scarlet out to search.

Skuld paused a moment and stared out over the sea. It was still coated with LCL, and probably would be for sometime to come. Several hundred yards out, several Mass Production Evas protruded out of the sea. Even further out, the massive form of Rei continued to slowly crumble.

"That is about the sickest thing I've ever seen." Skuld muttered as one of the huge corpse's eyeballs fell out and into the sea with a splash.

A sudden fluttering distracted Skuld from the sea. Noble Scarlet few right up to Skuld waving her hands excitedly. Skuld's eyes went wide.

"You found them!"

The Angel nodded and quickly flew off. Skuld leaped into the air and flew after her. Soon they reached the smoldering remains of a campfire. Next to the remains were three figures huddled together. Skuld smiled as she recognized Shinji in the middle, with Sayoko and Asuka huddled next to him on either side. She was somewhat glad that Shinji was leaning more towards Asuka then Sayoko, but his hands were still around both girls, holding them close. Skuld stood before the slumbering children, then cleared her throat. Shinji stirred abit, while the girls continued to sleep. Skuld cleared her throat again. This time Shinji lifted his hand off Asuka to rub his eyes. He blinked in the morning sun, then realized there was someone standing over him.

"Well Mr. Ikari," Skuld said, "I suppose there is a reasonable explanation for this?"

Shinji stared wide-eyed at Skuld, then swallowed heavily.

"Well Skuld-sama, I….."

Skuld raised a finger. "No –sama. No Auntie. I just want the truth."

"It was cold last night." Shinji said, "The three of us together was warmer then each of us on their own."

"I see." Skuld said, "I suggest you wake them up. Now."

Shinji gently shook both of the girls. Asuka immediately muttered something in German and held Shinji tighter. Sayoko muttered something in Norse that caused Skuld's eyes to widen.

"SAYOKO MORISATO WHERE DID YOU HEAR SUCH LANGUAGE!"

Sayoko's eyes snapped open, as did Asuka's.

"Oh crap." Sayoko said, "What did I say?"

"First get your arms out from around Shinji and we'll talk." Skuld said.

"WHAT!" Asuka turned slightly so she could look over Shinji at Sayoko. "What are you doing with your arms around MY Shinji!"

"It was cold." Sayoko replied. She then looked at her Aunt. "It was! Really!"

"I know." Skuld said. Finally she couldn't restrain herself. She flung herself at the children and cried as she wrapped them in a hug. "I thought I'd lost you!"

"Auntie." Sayoko replied as she returned the hug.

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An hour later, the three pilots and Skuld were shifting through the wreckage of Misato's apartment. Using Skuld's powers, as Sayoko still didn't have hers, they were able to recover much of their belongings.

Skuld had then led them to a fire hydrant, which she broke open. The water shot out in a steady stream that soon grew weaker as the pressure decreased. Skuld then teleported through one of the resulting puddles, pulling the pilots along with her.

Within seconds they reappeared inside another apartment where all tumbled to the floor in a pile.

"Ow!" Skuld cried out from under the pile of bodies and suitcases.

"Sorry!" Sayoko called out.

"I feel dizzy." Shinji said.

"I prefer mirror." Asuka called out.

"Where are we?" Shinji asked.

"Hopefully near the hospital." Skuld replied.

"I think it's Auntie's apartment in Tokyo-2." Sayoko replied.

"Good. Then we are near the hospital."

"I think you're all being silly." came a voice.

The four on the floor looked up to see Megumi, Urd, Misato, and even Kaji standing there.

Shinji and Asuka immediately leaped to their feet and charged at Misato and Kaji. Sayoko raced over and hugged Megumi. Urd frowned.

"Don't I get a hug?" she asked.

"No." Skuld replied, still on the floor. "You get to play paramedic and help the injured goddess on the floor."

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Sometime later, Misato, Shinji, Kaji, Asuka, Megumi, and Urd sat down at the table to celebrate everyone's survival and return. With no power, they had lit candles all over. Skuld moved about the kitchen, assembling what food there was before it spoiled. Sayoko had gone off to her old room to put on clothes that actually fit her. They had been talking about the past months leading up to the day's events.

"So what happens now?" asked Asuka. "What happens to the Evas and NERV?"

"Well," Misato replied, "from what Ritsuko said, the MP Evas are not functional. We don't know if they will never work again."

"What about Unit 01?" asked Shinji.

"Disappeared. It just vanished. As it is, NERV will probably be absorbed by the UN."

Shinji was quiet for a moment.

"What about Rei?" he finally asked.

"Yes Rei." Urd said, "About that…….."

A knock at the door interrupted them. Skuld peered out of the kitchen, then went to get the door. The door opened to reveal a man in robes. Skuld's eyes widened and she quickly bowed.

"Father."

"Skuld." Kami-sama replied.

"Please enter."

Kami-sama walked in to the apartment. Urd glanced over and nearly flipped in her chair when she saw Kami-sama. She quickly leaped to her feet and bowed.

"Urd." He turned and looked at the mortals. "And you must be the pilots."

"Yeah." Asuka said, looking at Kami-sama curiously. "And you are?"

Sayoko had just left her room and entered the room. When she saw the person standing there, her eyes widened.

"GRANDPA!" Sayoko squealed as she leaped into Kami-sama's arms.

"Grandpa?" Shinji and Asuka repeated as they watched Sayoko get spun about by the man.

"Yes." Urd whispered, "It's our father."

"You mean….?" Asuka began.

"Yes." Kaji answered, "That's Kami-sama."

"Oh man."

"Would you like to join the party?" Misato asked Kami-sama once he had finally released Sayoko. Both Urd and Skuld paled slightly at the thought of Kami-sama at a Misato party.

"Sadly I must decline." Kami-sama replied. "I'm just dropping someone off." Kami-sama snapped his fingers and a teenaged girl with brown hair and blue eyes appeared beside him. The girl gave them a small but very familiar smile.

"Hello."

Shinji's eyes went wide. "REI!" The others were speechless.

Kami-sama chuckled at every one's reaction. "Well, yes. Only it's no longer Ayanami. She is officially Rei Ikari, your sister Shinji. She is also 100 human."

"What?" Everyone shouted.

Kami-sama smiled, then turned to Rei. "I always keep my promises."

Shinji walked up to Rei, as did Asuka. Rei blushed slightly under their scrutiny. Finally Shinji through his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Hello sister." He said softly.

"Hello brother." Rei replied.

Sayoko smiled and wiped away a tear. She then felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced back to see Kami-sama behind her.

"I do want to see you in heaven at your earliest convenience."

Sayoko nodded. "Yes Grandpa."

Kami-sama then turned and vanished, leaving the people in the apartment to continue their celebration, which now included the return of Rei.

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Two weeks later. Toyko-2

Shinji, Asuka, Rei sat across the table from Hikari and Kensuke. The 5 had been trading stories back and forth since the last time they'd seen each other. It hadn't take long for Hikari and Kensuke to accept Rei as Shinji's sister, after all, they had accepted that Gods and Goddesses existed.

"I still can't believe you didn't tell me." muttered Kensuke.

"And have it broadcasted all over school?" replied Asuka. "Get real Kensuke."

"So, are the rumors true?"

"What rumors?" asked Shinji.

"About NERV."

The 3 pilots looked at each other. Then they turned back to Kensuke.

"You have been hacking again, haven't you?" asked Rei.

Kensuke just nodded. Shinji gave a sigh.

"Yes, it's true."

Hikari looked at them confused. "What's true?"

"NERV was officially dissolved. All remaining NERV assets are now part of the UN. Since the Evas don't seem to be able to work, We have been 'retired'. Misato has been transferred here as liaison to the government of Japan. Rei, Asuka and I still live with her as she is still our guardian. Everyone else has been transferred to the UN."

"Where's Sayoko?"

"We haven't seen her for the last week and a half." Asuka said, "She helped us move into the new Apartment……."

"Which made Skuld happy because she was fighting over the bathroom four other women." Shinji said.

"But," Asuka said, glaring at Shinji, "we did get a call from Megumi, which is why we are waiting here."

"Did she say why?" asked Hikari.

"No. But I assume she had a good reason."

"She did." came a new voice.

Everyone turned to see Sayoko and Skuld standing nearby.

"SAYOKO!" Sayoko was soon swarmed by her friends. After a few minutes of greetings everyone sat down.

"So why didn't Megumi tell us you'd be here?" asked Asuka.

Sayoko smiled. "I wanted it to be a surprise. But I also have some good news."

"Tell us!" said Hikari.

"Well first of all, I am no longer a 2nd Class Goddess."

"WHAT!" Everyone stared at her in shock.

"Nope, I will officially be a 1st Class Goddess next week at a ceremony. Even though it's unprecedented, You are all invited to go, as is Misato and Kaji." Sayoko then gave them a small smile, "That is if you want to."

The children all talked to each other quietly. They then sat back. Rei gave Sayoko a smile and spoke.

"Sayoko, we would be honored to attend."

Sayoko gave them a smile. "You guys are the best."

A look came over Rei's face. "Does this mean, that will be the last time we see you?"

Everyone looked at Sayoko with concern.

"No, I will be staying on the surface for now. Kami-sama is going to follow my parents wishes and allow me to finish school here."

The other children all gave a sigh of relief.

"That is wonderful Sayoko." said Rei.

"Yeah, it'll be nice to have a goddess in class." said Kensuke. "I could always use a little divine help during tests."

Everyone at the table glared at Kensuke.

"STOOGE!" shouted Asuka. Kensuke got up and ran for his life, with Asuka, and Hikari in hot pursuit. Skuld watched them do a lap of the restaurant before heading outside. She then turned back to face Sayoko, Rei and Shinji.

"I guess some things don't change." she said.

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The Heavens

Kami-sama stood quietly in a large chamber looking at the objects that had delivered, while Peorth and Urd stood behind him. Kami-sama continued to stare at the objects as he spoke.

"How long will it take?"

"Sir," said Peorth, "from the material we have read, it could take a month, it could take years. We just don't know."

Kami-sama nodded before walking over to one of the objects. He placed his hand on the smooth glass like surface.

"I want our best people on this. I want this handled quickly. We owe him much. Mortals only live for so long."

"Yes sir."

"Dismissed."

Peorth and Urd bowed and left the room quickly. Kami-sama remained among the objects.

"Soon," he said quietly, "Soon, you will finally be free of your prison. All of you."

He turned and headed towards the doorway. The doors opened revealing 30 armed Valkyries. Kami-sama turned to them.

"No one is to enter unless they have my approval. Is that understood?"

"YES SIR!"

Kami-sama turned and watched as the doors closed.

'Until I see you again,…my Belldandy.'

Inside the now darkened room, the core area from Unit 04 flickered softly, the light it gave off revealed a massive purple form, with softly glowing eyes.

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