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Epilogue: The Death of Shinji Ikari
Somewhere in the fields near Tokyo-3, a hermit lives quite happily, pleased with his studies of the occult and his living off the land. As he ages, he sees many travelers, and he tells them his entire plan, his plan to be with Death, his end game that will be never-ending love. Some of his listeners look at him as though he's insane, some pretend they understand and leave before he can kill them like the psychos in the movies, and others, the very few, believe him. Most of the believers are children. Every time the hermit tells the story, it usually goes something like this:
"I'll die one day. But I figured it out, ya see. There's a Heaven and there's a Hell, and in between is Death and her realm, but no one can be there because one perceives one's self to be in Heaven or Hell. Until I was an adult, I always thought I'd deserve Hell. Afterwards, I thought I belonged in Heaven. But nowadays I know better. I deserve to be with her, and so when I go to her, she will touch my hand with hers, and I will die… but I won't go away. I'll stay there, there with the love of my life, because of my perception. She will cry tears of joy, as will I, and we'll kiss and hold each other in eternal happiness. From there on in, Death will not be so lonely, nor so unhappy inside. She will always have me and I will always have her. I read up on it, in books from the Vatican City, and it is all true. You won't know, but when I die, don't cry for me, because I'll be the happiest mortal soul of all time. Be you in Heaven, or be you in Hell, you lose love as an angel or devil… but with Death, you are yourself, and if you love her, you will know love for eternity."
One day, in 2088, when the farmlands began populating the area around the hermit's hut, the men and women who heard the story as children brought their children to hear the tale, only to discover the hermit passed away. The adults had told their children the story, and so while the adults wept at the passing of the man who inspired their lives, the man who's passing marked them even harder, the children only wanted to know if the hermit found his love. The parents nodded somberly before reporting the death and burying the body, free of charge or payment, for the hermit was a friend of the undertakers as well.
Only one boy, a doubtful soul, asked again, "Do you really think he went with Death, mommy? To be with her forever?"
The mother paused, and smiled. "Yes, honey, I bet he's holding her right now, loving her and cherishing her… forever."
Somewhere, in the realm between Heaven and Hell, Death smiles, naked in bed, cradled by the strong arms of her eternal lover. Shinji kisses the back of her neck, whispering, "I love you, my dearest Death." Death's heart still leapt when he said it, and she replied, "And I love you, my dearest Shinji." Together they remained… forever.