Disclaimer: See Page One

Final War Evangelion

By: B.C. Sealey

Chapter Three: So You Later

Osaka 2. The upstairs apartment of the Seito house

Shinji let out a groan as he heard somebody pound at his door. He tried to ignore it; his sleep was calling him to pick up where he had left off. The door pounded again and he took a glance at his clock. It was 10:30 in the mourning. He had slept in late.

It was then when thoughts came back from last night. The mysterious green haired woman, Sacheil and her cryptic warnings. The arrival of the first messenger of Lucifer was to take place according to her in less then twelve hours. It would destroy the entire city and everyone in it unless he returned and piloted Evangelion Unit 01 against it.

The door pounded again and this time so did his head. He grasped his temple in agony as he finally remembered what happened last night. He had trying to convince himself that what had happened was an illusion and he did it over a few beers from the 12 pack that Yuki had given him as a present.

In other words, he had got plastered and thus passed out on his couch.

He didn't remember much after number four, no, wait a second. It was number five or six wasn't it? He really didn't know. He had never been drunk before in his life and now that he had finally reached the goal, he was now trying to comprehend why exactly people got drunk.

Was it to escape reality? A temporary leave of absence from one's stressful and otherwise troublesome regular life? Shinji really didn't know and the more he thought about it, the more his skull felt like it was being smashed in with a jackhammer.

The pounding came again and this time he pulled himself off the couch, sending him crashing to the ground. He looked around and saw the clutter of beer cans around him and one thing was self evident. He defiantly had more then six. Try maybe double the amount and an entire bottle of Sake that his co worker had also given him.

Just how drunk did he get last night?

The door pounded again and he jumped up, nearly meeting the wall in an embrace. "I'm coming! I'm coming!"

He stumbled through his apartment, trying hard to avoid running into furniture. His head was gripped with pain. He really needed a shower. He got to the door reached to unlock it and...

He paused. What if last night wasn't a dream? If so, then he could be opening his door to see a familiar green haired Angel who expected his decision. What if last night wasn't a dream? What if the world was coming to an end today?

It pounded again and this time Shinji felt like his skull was being trampled on by a herd of elephants. He grasped his skull in agony before reaching and unlocking the latch. He then opened the door almost expecting to see green hair and blood red eyes staring at him...

Only to be gratefully disappointed. It was only Yuki with her long black hair in a pony tail, wearing her usual casual attire of jeans and a shirt.

"Hi Akito. What took you so long to- My god! What the hell happened to you?"

He cringed as her voice sounded like it had been amplified EVA sized. "Easy, not so loud..."

She took a second to study him before moving her nose over and taking a sniff. She brought her head back in disgust. "God, you smell like you've been at one of those all night college drinking parties."

He sniffed himself. Maybe it would be best if he took a shower. He grasped his head again and let out another moan of agony. She looked at him with a strange look.

"You've been drinking, haven't you?"

"Yeah, how did you guess?" he replied sarcastically.

She sighed. "Never mind. I probably don't want to know just yet."

"Why are you here?" he asked letting her in and following her into the living room where he had slept.

She kneeled to examine the remains from his little party. "Mr. Seito and Mrs. Seito were worried when you didn't call last night, but they couldn't leave the restaurant. Some big time board members from Kyoto decided to choose our little restaurant for their lunch. So they're both pretty busy."

She held up the bottle of empty Sake. "The entire 12 pack and the bottle I gave you? What the fuck were you thinking? Were you trying to kill yourself over!"

Shinji cringed again in pain. God, he was never going to get drunk again. "Do you mind lowering your voice a little?"

She shook her head. "Never mind. I'll clean up and make some tea. It may not help too much, but it'll relax you a little. You go take a shower."

"Will that help too?"

She laughed slightly. "No, not really. It's for the smell."

He glared at her as she giggled. "Well that's a good sign. You're acting like your normal self."

"Whatever. It's good to know I have a friend like you." he said once again with sarcasm.

"I know, but still. I wasn't kidding about the shower."

He lowered his head defeated. "Okay. Okay. I'm going."

After going to his room and getting a spare change of clothes, Shinji was in the shower. The cold water ran down his body, causing him to shiver at first, but relax after a few minutes. He glanced up at the shower head as it continued to rain down on him.

However the thoughts that he had been thinking hadn't gone away. 'It had to be a dream... right?

If Yuki wasn't worried, then that would be considered a lie. As the twenty year old picked up the pieces to her younger friend's fun evening, she couldn't help. She began to wonder the party was for. That is if she could consider it a party.

Judging from how he looked, he seemed more depressed then usual. Almost as if the dark rainy cloud that followed him jumped up and became a tsunami of full angst. It was indeed a pathetic site to behold and she couldn't help, but feel sorry for him even more. She really wanted to reach to him, to help him, but she didn't know how or if she could.

After she finished picking up the twelve cans and the bottle of Sake, she dispatched her loot to the garbage can. She then prepared the tea and got out some cups. She could hear him turn off the shower.

It was then she heard somebody knock at the door. She looked up at the door in wonder of who it could be. She didn't know or think that Akito was expecting anybody. He had other friends, but other then herself and the Seitos, none of them hardly ever came over to visit.

She shrugged and walked over to the door, unlocking it and opening it. Why did it matter anyway? Maybe it was his secret girlfriend that her friends use to think he had.

'I'll bet she's ether seriously ugly, bald or overweight.' she thought mischievously.

"May I help..."

She took a second to look at the site before her wondering what the heck was going on. She knew that her friends sometimes teased about the fact that he had a secret girlfriend, but she never suspected that it may possibly be true.

However, that wasn't what was wrong. The fact that the girl before her had green hair, freaky pale white skin and crimson red eyes that reminded her of blood. She was cloaked in white robes. It was a freakish site all together, so much that she couldn't help, but stare.

The girl didn't seem to be bothered by this. "I am here to speak with Shinji Ikari."

Tokyo 3. Commander Katsargi's office.

"Are these reports accurate?" Misato asked

Her sub commander, Lt Colonel Hyuga nodded. "Yes, last night around 1800 hours, the entire U.N. fleet was completely destroyed." he explained.

She shook her head as she looked over the reports. She took a look at one photo, the one of the super carrier and more importantly, the bladed creature that destroyed it.

"The media is probably having a field day over this one."

"Yeah, but the good news is that we have done a pretty good job of not giving them too much information. They seem to think that SOG and Al Quida were behind this attack somehow. A good cover up, but I doubt the public will believe it for long. They are not as ignorant as they use to be."

Misato nodded. "The last thing we need is for the world to thrown into panic. That would really complicate matters, but it seems inevitable."

"But... do you really think that they have returned? I thought the fifth was the seventeenth and final one."

She sighed and as she took a sip from her coffee. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if it could be called an Angel."

He looked at her with a perplexed look. "What do you mean? It had a wavelength pattern and it was using an AT field. What else could it be?"

She got up and "Well we did get a wavelength pattern, but the Magi declared it was of unknown origin. Maya ran the pattern with a match up of the other Angels patterns. It came back as a negative match showing no resemblance to any of the targets from three years ago. It's something that we haven't even seen before."

"So what does this mean? Is it a new breed of Angel?"

She got up and walked over to her window; she looked out her window and stared out taking in the view of the Geofront. Reconstruction had taken two long years, but once again it was the mighty fortress of mankind. She still thought to this day that with its beautiful trees and lakes it was one of the most beautiful places on this earth that could be called beautiful.

"More then likely, it very well could. However, this is different. The Angels were never this hostile. They never attacked unless it was for a reason. This attack, it doesn't make sense."

Hyuga sighed. "So we can assume its coming here. Where is it now?"

"The last of our reports indicated that the target was 200 miles off shore from here. We can't track it and worst we don't even know how fast it is. It's untraceable even with our most advance technology. It also posses an AT field that rivals the power of the 17th Angel. "

He looked up in shock. "You mean it's using its field to cloak it's self from everything including light and any type of subatomic particles?"

The commander turned to face him, a stern look on her face. "Give my orders to the maintenance crews to keep all units on standby. If they ask, just say that it's because we are getting ready to run extra drills. We don't know what that thing is, where it's going or what its intentions are, but at least we won't be caught with our pants down unprepared. Also, I want the pilots debriefed on the situation just to keep them aware. I don't want to cause a panic just yet, but we need to be on the safe side."

"And what of the UN? They haven't given us orders to mobilize yet."

Misato gave him a sarcastic smile. "And when has the UN ever done anything, but cower in fear or leave us to deal with their problems. Personally, if they have a problem with it, they can get over it."

Hyuga chuckled as he saluted and left the room. After he left the room, she let her expression fall. The situation was far more grim then what she had just said. As a matter of fact, it continued to go from bad to worst to even more chaotic as the day rolled by.

She had already given her request to have all Tokyo 3 civilians evacuate and the city go to level 1 battle alert. However, the UN denied her request stating that there was no way of knowing if the target was coming to them.

"We see no reason top plunge the entire world into total chaos and mass panic. Besides, there's no proof that this creature is even going to Tokyo. For now, you are to await orders from the council and keep your pilots trained."

Her hands shook as she clutched them. Goddamn politicians! They were only concerned about protecting their own "assets". They hated having to actually getting their hands dirty, so much so that they would do anything to keep it from coming to that- even if it meant losing the lives of innocent civilians in harms way.

She sighed. It was more complicated then that. This was also a major political issue. The Evangelions hadn't been sortied in over three years. Bringing them out into live combat would more then likely cause a media uproar of displeasure and the probability of terrorist attacks would once more be on the incline.

Still, Misato wouldn't let this city fall. Not after she had lost Shinji and Asuka. It was her job to ensure mankind's survival, even if they were too ignorant to realize the truth. And she would be damned if she failed.

Prinbrow box

"Okay guys, the test is done. Get dressed and come to debriefing." Dr. Maya Ibuki, announced over the Communication channel to the four pilots.

"Yes ma'am." the four pilots said as the testing plugs were unlocked so they could get out.

Maya viewed them on surveillance as they all went to their separate areas to get dress. She was glad to see that they had a decent mental base and for the most part, they were in good shape. The more clear and calm the pilot's mind was, the better he or she could synchronize with the EVA.

'Can't say the same for me.' she thought.

Maya sat down for a second and yawned. She had received the position of Head of Project E shortly after Misato received the rank of Colonel for her services and exploits a year and a half ago. Before that, she officially became Dr. Ibuki when she was granted leave to finish up her last year for her doctorate in Bio Technology. The former chairperson, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, was currently in a clinic for the insane. The trauma of years of being used mentally and physically by the former commander drove her mad, almost to the point of suicide.

Maya sighed as she reached for a bottle of water near her. Ritsuko was a hard subject for most of the staff, especially her. She had been more then just a mentor to her. She was more like an older sister or a mother, maybe even something more. Plus having the follow behind a great scientist such as her often made it hard, even though her friends said she was doing fine.

Maya finished drinking her water and threw the bottle away in a small wastebasket as she walked out of the Prinbrow box to the debriefing room. She thought about the orders and the possible coming battle. It would be the first in over three years and it was her first as Head Of Project E. To tell the truth, she was feeling more then just a little nervous.

'Sempai. I wish you were here, I don't know if I can do this by myself.'

Rei, still clad in her skin tight white plug suit, quietly walked towards the locker room after another day of testing and simulations. Being the only pilot left with combat experience required her to be in top form constantly. However, ever since she was free from Gendo Ikari, Rei found her self able to clear her mind more, thus enabling her to be a much more effective pilot.

The blue haired girl stopped and glanced towards a window opposite of her in the hall. She didn't need to go any closer to see the contents, but she did anyway. After a few moments, she walked towards a door adjacent to them and called up an access elevator, which she rode to the top. After a few moments, she opened the caged door and walked out, looking at what she had come to see.

There they stood. The great weapons of mankind, the biomechanical machines called the Evangelions. Five currently stood in there separate cages, submerged in a pinkish red cooling fluid. Unit 02 had once stood here too, before it was transferred to the Berlin branch in Germany along with Asuka. Truth be told, Rei didn't miss the Second Child. That girl had hurt her brother and Misato and it was doubtful that Rei would ever forgive Asuka for that.

Rei could see that the cages were still being prepped for the three they would soon receive. She walked closer to the window to see them. Of the five, four were currently in active use. She could see her one eyed Unit 00 on the far right of the cage area. Although it was still blue and white and looked exactly like the original before it's destruction during the assault of the sixteenth Angel, it had received various upgrades including an S2 engine and an equipped progressive spear located in the lower back for easy retrieval that was able to fold and extend it's self for use.

Right in front of her Unit was Touji's Unit 03. It was almost the exact same model from three years ago, before it became the thirteenth Angel. It was still black and white with the same demonic face that could scare away all small children. It, however, featured new upgrades to the cockpit that allowed Touji to synchronize with it, even if he had his artificial limbs on. It didn't have any extra weapons other then the usual type one Progressive knife stored in the right fin. However, Touji had become quite a capable marksman, his skills rivaling her own, so he didn't really require any close range weaponry like her.

Right beside Unit 03 was the first of the two new A.P. models, Unit 05. It just arrived last month with Unit 06, so there were still technicians running about to see if everything was working properly. While she didn't know much about them, she had heard that these two models were only the prototype for the even newer models coming from England, Australia and Beijing.

Unit 05 reminded Rei a lot of Unit 02. They looked almost identical in a lot of ways as they both had four eyes, two on each side of its head. Unit 05 still had it's difference's though. Not only were its eyes red, but in the center of the forehead was a fifth eye that reminded her of Unit 00's one massive eye, only smaller. Its armor was a dark green with black and shades of white.

Finally, there was the yellow and black Unit 06, the one right beside her own Mecha. Unit 06 reminded her of Unit 01 and Unit 03 because it seem to combine facial features from both EVA's, mainly Unit 01's jaw and Unit 03's upper face.

However, what made Unit 06 unique were the massive triangular flaps on its back. Rei knew these were the newly developed flight wings were stored. They, in theory, worked like those the belonged to a bird, but she hadn't seen them in action and she knew that the pilot had only a few practice runs in the sky.

However, standing right next to Unit 06 was another EVA, a purple and green looking demon with a single horn on its head and pale white eyes that would send shivers up ones spine, if they weren't accustomed to it. It was the Evangelion that defeated the most Angels, the most legendary one of them all. A full throttled engine of destruction.

The bio-mechanical synthetic organism test type model known as Evangelion Unit 01.

Rei found herself visiting here everyday, as she tried to keep the memory of her brother alive in her heart. To ensure the hope within her heart that he would return home to be with his friends. His family.

Rei felt a tear run down her cheek, like it did every time she stared at it. She was now well accustomed to the human reaction known as crying as she now did it a lot. Misato once told her that tears had many different meanings depending on the situation. Right now, she knew she felt tears of sadness.

"I should have known I'd find you here Ayanami."

She turned to see a handsome young Japanese guy with black hair and brown eyes wearing a jet black plug suit with shades of white. His right arm and right leg were free of the suit, showing the black synthetic metal and plastic of his artificial limbs.

"Hello Touji. I take it you know what day it is." she asked.

He said nothing, instead walk forth and drawing her into a comforting embrace. He could feel her sniffling on his shoulder as she used him as a support for her emotions. Although they were not as close as boyfriend and girlfriend, he had come to accept Rei as one of his close friends, much like he did with his own little sister Mari.

"It's okay. We all miss him."

"No...it's not that. I'm fearful, more so then ever."

Touji sighed as he closed his eyes. She wasn't the only one. The others, he included, were starting to lose it, as well. He also knew that most of the students at Hikari's school longed believed that Shinji was long gone. Some, considering Gendo Ikari's suspected role in orchestrating the Second Impact, found it to be a blessing.

Needless to say, the Evangelion pilots and for the most part all of NERV, were not the most respected people on Earth. No surprise considering the public held ERV responsible for nearly bringing about the end of the world not once, but twice. It was harder on the pilots like Touji and Rei who were threatened and harassed in public on a daily bases. A trip to the mall or a nice dinner with a girlfriend…it was never the same again. Not when everyone, from the families with their children outside a department store to the waiter taking their order, always looked at them with the same eyes. The same angry, uncompromising, narrow minded and accusing eyes all the time.

In particular, school had changed for the two pilots. Touji and Rei had been harassed on a daily basis by their fellow students and the teachers. Touji had gotten in to fights on more then one occasion and even Rei herself, as quiet and calm as she was, lost her temper when a boy made the mistake of trying to get to Rei by insulting Shinji. That same boy ended up in the hospital with a broken arm, a minor concussion and various bruises all over his body. The boy's father sued NERV for damages and one a large sum that the UN had to pick up- something that they were not happy about.

To remedy this, Misato took care of their education. Misato took both pilots out of their local high school and had them schooled at NERV HQ. She hired teachers to help them finish up with their high school education. It was for their own good, despite the fact that Touji had a girlfriend, Hikari Horaki, as well as a best friend, Kensuke Aida, at school. The rest of the world was far too dangerous to the young pilots.

Touji was brought back to reality when Rei spoke. "Do you still think he will ever come back?"

Touji was silent for a moment, pondering his answer. Even though he wanted to believe his old friend was still alive, part of him had a firm belief that he was long gone. In that respect, he didn't want to put ideas of a false hope into her. That was wrong and it would only hurt her in the end.

However...

"He will. You just gotta keep believing. It may be today, tomorrow or years from now, but he will come back. I know it."

Rei smiled slightly as she dried her tears. "We better be getting to debriefing, otherwise we won't hear the end of this from the Commander."

Touji nodded as they exited the room. He thought about if he it was wrong to say what he just said. He didn't want to see Rei get hurt, but instead of worrying about it, he just shook it off.

Because sometimes hope, even when it seems false, is what kept people alive.

Back at Shinji's apartment

Shinji finished drying his long brown hair off. After the shower he felt better, much more refreshed. He could still feel the after effects of hangover, but it had dulled down some. Nothing a little aspirin and good sleep couldn't help cure.

Shinji had also managed to convince himself that everything that had happened last night was a figment of his imagination, a dream that he had after having one to many drinks. There were no more Angels, especially none in human form. There was not a God or a Lucifer or angry demons called Scourge named after the seven sins to cause misery. There was no reason for him to go back to Tokyo 3. And more importantly, the world was not in peril.

Shinji finished dressing himself and went to open the door, when he heard Yuki arguing with someone. That was strange, he thought that the Seito were at work. It could have been somebody else, but to tell the truth he wasn't expecting anybody else. Curious, he propped his head at the door to listen in.

"Listen, I'm telling you for the last time! Shinji Ikari doesn't live here, you crazy green haired freak!"

Shinji felt himself let out a gasp and stumbled away from the door, resting himself against the counter top. Yuki was talking to somebody who was searching for him. More importantly, that person supposedly had green hair. And from how his co worker was talking, they weren't going to leave.

Did this mean that he wasn't dreaming last night? Why did this keep happening to him?

Shinji glanced around the bathroom. There was no way out except for a small window that was way too small for him to squeeze through. He was trapped like a rat in a maze and the only way out was to leave the way he came in.

Shinji's thought about the Angel from last night and her cryptic warning. After all, she did say that she would be here the following morning for his answer. He shook his head. He would not believe that loud of crap not after he went through all the trouble of forgetting it all.

He gazed at his expression in the bathroom mirror, which was filled with panic. "God dammit all. All I want to do is live my life in peace! Can't it be that simple?" he said to himself.

"It never is that simple."

"Well, it should be!"

Shinji froze as the blood in his veins grew frigid. Slowly, almost with the efficiency of rusty machine, he turned around from the counter and looked behind him. There, sitting on his toilet was a little girl, no older then eight or nine, dressed in white robes. She had orange hair that reminded him of Unit 00's original color and more importantly, the same crimson red eyes that Sachiel and Rei both.

She smiled at him as she clutched a small stuff animal she had, a pink rabbit, to her chest. "Hi." she said in a happy child voice.

Shinji blinked. This was starting to get a little weird. After all, here he was, trying to convince himself that the weird things that he had experience the past twenty four hours hadn't happened. Now, he was standing in his bathroom with a little girl, who was sitting on his toilet and he had not a damn clue in the world how she got there or where she came from?

'Please tell me this is some fucked up dream I'm having. Or at least that I'm still drunk and hallucinating.'

"I'm afraid my friend, this is no dream and that you are quiet sober. This is far too real." the little girl replied to him.

He looked confused causing the girl to laugh like a child. "I'm sorry, you didn't know? We Celestials can read thoughts. By the way, my name is Sandalafon. I was the one you Lilluim called the 8th Angel. You know the one that was in the volcano?"

Shinji said nothing. He felt lost between fear and confusion, causing him to feel as if he had finally crossed the very thing line of sanity and insanity. Something that he was very convinced was so.

"Excuse me, but did you just say you were an Angel?"

The girl nodded cheerfully, sending his mind into over the limit and face faulting to the floor. Sure, enough he was going crazy. He had been stricken with some type of illness that brought about insanity and mental disillusion. He could see the headlines in the newspaper.

' The famous EVA pilot known as Shinji Ikari was not only found today, but was committed instantly to a hospital for the insane. The authorities report that he was raving hysterically about seeing Angels, which were apparently in human form. These angels included young women with green hair and a little girl who he met in the bathroom of his apartment. See more on page eight.'

Sandalafon shook her head. "You Lilluim are strange, strange beings. Is it so hard to believe that we actually do exist?"

It took him less then a second to ponder his answer. "Yes."

The young angel seemed to ignore him. "Although you are not as I expected, I must say that it is an honor to meet you at last. You've become quite the legend from where I come from."

"O...kay." Shinji said. Some how the idea of him being famous in heaven or where ever Angels came from was not very believable. After all, he was responsible for the destruction of 15 of them.

"However, I did not come to speak to you about how famous you are; instead I came to speak about something else." Sandolfon continued. "Do you know why I have come to speak to you?"

It was then when Shinji's mind returned back from insanity as the reality of the situation settled in. "You want me...to fight, don't you?"

She nodded causing him to sigh. "So, I guess then it wasn't a dream."

"No, I'm afraid not. As I said before, this is far too real. And the choice you are going to have to make right now will seriously affect the future."

Shinji looked away from her and turned back to the mirror in front of him. His expression still held panic, but had become underlined with the deeper sorrow he was feeling. That, along with the fear he knew all to well caused him to look like a middle aged man in his early forties then an 18 year old.

Shinji continued looking at the mirror. "Why does it have to be me though? I'm not all that great and powerful like you make me out to be. There has to be someone better then me."

"I can't answer that question."

His eyebrow twitched slightly in the reflection as he turned his head around to face her. "And why the hell not?"

"Because that is the question shouldn't be asking. Instead, why don't you ask why you shouldn't go back?"

He threw his arms up in frustration. "This is just wonderful! And you call yourself a servant of God."

"I am."

Shinji threw his arms down in frustration at the Angel's child like behavior and obvious statements. "Okay, then tell me this. Why should I go back? Better yet, tell me why I should even care or want to do such a thing."

"Why don't you try and tell me why you shouldn't?"

Shinji turned away with a sarcastic grunt. "Okay, then here. After everything I went through back then, what makes you think I want to do it again? Do you honestly think I would go back to those people, so they could use me again! I'm nothing to them! They never even cared!"

Shinji felt himself shake in anger as he closed and opened his hand subconsciously like he always did when he was mad. "I was never good enough for any of them, not one. They always picked at me faults, ignored me or called me a wimp. I bet they don't even miss me!

"Now, I finally have a home. A place where people at least like me. I have a life and a family, which was far better then anything they could ever give me. And now you're asking me to trade everything I care about for nothing, but the pain I've been trying to forget?

Shinji wiped his eyes angrily. "So, you can tell your kind to fuck off and leave me alone! I want nothing to do with your war or NERV or EVA for that matter! I paid my dues. I saved this goddamn world once and I refuse to do it again. I'm happy with my life now and I'm not going to throw it away for them. The world can kiss my ass for all I care."

"Are you done?" Sandalafon asked, no longer sounding childish, but impassive like all Angel's Shinji had known. The voice sent chills up Shinji's spine, but he held his ground.

Shinji felt his anger prickling. "Yes I am done! Now I want you to get the hell out of my house!"

Instead of showing any sign of angelic anger, the small Angel was still stoic. "If what you say is true, then you don't care about anyone at all, do you?"

"No I don't! I mean, yes, I-"

"So you want them, those you claim to care about, to die?"

Shinji opened his mouth to respond...and nothing came out. He couldn't think of a comeback, his mind standing still from that question.

"All you have to do is say yes...and I'll leave. We will no longer try to take you back there. However, in doing so, you will condemn everything you hold there to death. And you will have no choice, but to watch the world burn."

His mind screamed "Yes!", but still his mouth said nothing.

"I'm waiting." Sandalafon said.

Images flashed through his mind. Osaka. Yuki. The Seitos. People he knew from working at the restaurant or that he hung out with Yuki. All things he had come to hold dear in his life. .

Shinji then saw another image in his mind. It was Osaka, but it was not the Osaka he knew. There was nothing, except for flames and wrecked homes, with heavy smoke settling into the sun. He could hear the screams of people, his friends calling his name. They were dying, burning alive in the wreckage.

And in the background he could see a shadow like beings...demons. They were of different size and origin, made of shadow and sinew. The dark creatures… were murdering people. Men, women children, some of which he knew well or saw passing in the streets.

Shinji could hear their voices, screaming for help. The Seitos and Yuki were some of those voices.

Was this going to really happen? If he didn't go back... would they all die? Would this be the end? Even if he somehow survived all this coming chaos, could he wake up every day for the rest of his life and know that they were gone? That he could have done something to save them?

He looked at Sandalafon, who now had a grim expression that no normal child should ever have to show. "What I have shown you may come to pass or it may not, depending on the choice you make. It may not happen today, tomorrow ten years from now or perhaps never at all. However, this horror, the horror you have seen is what waits if you, the Lilluim race, fail. And if you fail, then your kind will be lost to all time and existence"

He closed his eyes and squeezed his hands again. His old mantra, something that he had forgotten so long ago, returning and echoing through his mind.

"You are out of time. Have you decided?"

He looked up at her, his face Solomon and calm. The words "I mustn't runaway" were still in his mind chanting loudly to give him the strength he would need to overcome what was soon to pass.

"I'll...do it."

"Are you sure? No one is forcing you? What made you decide against what you said earlier?"

He turned away from her and resting himself on the sink. "I guess...I just don't want to see them die, that's all."

Sandalafon stood up from the toilet and moved towards the door. "Then we must go. Gluttony soon approaches and the wraith of Lucifer shall soon rain down upon mankind."

"I wasn't finished speaking."

The little Angel glanced at him with a look of confusion. "What do you mean? You are going home, right?""

He looked at her with a venomous look. "Oh, I'll go, but I want you to agree to something first."

"And that would be?"

"After I fight this...Devil, tell your kind to find somebody else. I'm only doing this because there is no time left and as I said before, I don't want their deaths to be rested on my conscious. But the minute that this thing dies, I'm done. Understood?"

Sandalafon's face was still silent. "And what if I were to say that wasn't possible?"

"Then I'm not going anywhere. So you don't have much of a choice, do you little girl?"

Her face contorted to one of both amusement and slight anger. "I'll have you know Ikari, I am eons older then you. You should show your respect for your elders."

"Doesn't look like it to me." he replied sarcastically.

"That matters not. As for you request, I will bring it before my brethren, but I cannot say anything else. But truth be told, we cannot control your freewill. So what you do is your decision, not mine or anybody else. You may do as you wish."

"Very well. Let's go."

As this was happening, Yuki was having a terrific time with Akito's uninvited guest. Even after she told the green haired girl that no one by the name of Shinji Ikari lived here, she said that she was lying.

"I feel his presence here. Do not lie to me Lilluim."

After a while, she allowed her into the living room to wait while she called Mr. Seito. He said he would be here as soon as he could, but not to call the cops. Whys, she didn't know, but she promised and thus far complied with is request.

She had since been trying to figure out why this girl, who called herself Sacheil, would come here in search of Shinji Ikari. She knew the name and who wouldn't. It belonged to the legendary EVA pilot who defeated the most monsters during the war. He was a hero, a savior and quite the celebrity, but truth be told, no one had ever seen a picture of him. The only information about him was that he had brown hair and dark blue eyes just like Akito did and that he was MIA at the moment, rumored to have committed suicide.

She thought for a moment. Could Akito really be Shinji Ikari? Nah. That didn't make sense. The legendary war hero, the infamous slayer of Angels, a pathetic wimp hiding out in a dirty tourist town? Nah, couldn't be. There was no way Akito and Shinji were one and the same. Akito couldn't hurt a fly, much less pilot one of those giant monsters. Shinji Ikari was said to be the Anti Christ himself.

She heard a knock at the door and she got up to answer it. Mr. Seito was at the door, along with his wife Sakura Seito, an elder woman in her late forties that had the tall tail signs of gray running through her brown hair with green eyes similar to her own. They both had strangely grim expressions on their faces as if something bad was about to happen.

"Is she still here?" he asked.

She nodded and stepped aide to let her boss power walk into the room. She followed, along with his wife into the room were the mysterious freaky girl sat. She had her right crossed over her left and she seemed to be observing the situation with a hint of amusement.

"Who are you and who sent you?" her boss bellowed in a harsh tone.

Sachiel's face was stoic and calm, showing no sign of fear, as was her response. "My name is Sacheil and who sent me is not your concern."

"Oh really. And why can't you tell me?"

"As I stated before to this girl, I am will not discuss it. The only person I have come to see is Shinji Ikari. My business is with him, not you."

He slammed his hand down on the table. "Damn you! You're from NERV aren't you? You've just come back to collect your tool after you discarded it! You make me sick!"

Yuki's eyes widened in shock. 'What the hell is going on?'

Mrs. Seito stepped forward. "Why can't you monsters let Shinji be? He doesn't want to be your weapon anymore. Haven't you caused him enough pain?"

Yuki and Sacheil looked on as the older woman started to cry. "He's such a nice boy and he has a good heart, but that means nothing to you! You only care about him so that he can work for you. He told us everything you people did. Don't you have any shame? Don't you even care about his feelings?"

Mr. Seito drew his wife into an embrace as he continued to glare at the green haired visitor. "That boy has been like a son to us the past three years and although you could care less about him, we love him like he was our own. If you want him so badly, you have to go over our dead bodies to get him.

"That won't be... necessary."

They all turned to see Shinji Ikari standing outside of his bathroom. A little girl with orange hair and the same blood red eyes stood with him. While Yuki pondered how she got here, the young man approached Sacheil immediately causing her to stand up.

"So, you have decided to go." she asked.

He nodded. "Yes, but I have my conditions. Your friend here will tell you."

Sacheil looked a little angry at this. "And you think you can order a messenger of the all mighty creator around?"

He shook his head. "No, but ether way, I expect you to respect my wishes. Now, if you excuse me, I wish to speak with my friends before I go."

He turned away from her wand approached the other three humans in the room. He motioned for them to follow him which they did. After they closed the door Sandalafon turned to her and explained the situation.

Silence rang for a moment before Sacheil spoke again with a sigh. "It matters not. We have managed to get him to return to Tokyo. That is all we can ask of him for the moment."

"But...what of the prophecy?"

"That doesn't matter. Personally, I doubt what Zeruel and the others say. There is no way that this poor excuse of a being could possibly fulfill the prophecy."

"Even if the Seven believe him to be the one?"

She looked away. "I'll believe it when I say it with my own two eyes."

After closing the door, Shinji sat down on his bed. Yuki drew up a chair and sat in it while the Seitos stood in front of him. They said nothing for a few minutes. Mainly because Shinji didn't know what to tell them. Mr. Seito was the first to say something.

"So...you're finally going back?"

Shinji's looked down and away from them. "Yes...I am."

Mrs. Seito chose to speak. "We knew it was coming to tell you the truth. If not today, then surly tomorrow or a few years from now. We knew that you would have to go back for some reason. We tried to tell ourselves that you wouldn't have to. And we really want to keep you here, safe from harm but..."

She sniffled a little bit and wiped her eyes. "But we won't...we won't try and stop you. You're your own man Shinji. You have to make your own choices."

The older men of the group choose to speak in an attempt to keep things from getting too emotional. "We just want you to know that you can always consider this your home and if you ever want to come back, then all you have to do is knock on our door. We'll be right here waiting."

Shinji said nothing. He knew that they cared about him, just never with the love that they had just shown him. They were willing to fight for him and protect him from harm, even if it meant at the cost of their own lives. He had finally found what he wanted: a place that he could call home.

And now, he was going to abandon it again and return to his other home. Back to the people that never cared about him or even showed it. Back to where it all began.

Shinji finally looked up and smiled at them. "Thank you. Don't worry; I'm sure that I won't be gone for long."

Mrs. Seito walked over and drew him to an embrace. "Just be careful. And remember that there are people out there that care about you Shinji."

She released him and looked over at his co worker who was watching the scene unfolding before her with a sad, yet oddly happy expression on her face. Shinji turned to the two people who had taken him from off the streets and asked the unspoken question. They nodded and walked outside the room, closing the door behind them.

As soon as they left, Yuki spoke up flashing him a weak smile. "This was an interesting turn of events."

"Yeah really."

"So... then I guess what that girl said was true. You're him, aren't you?"

Shinji looked down and said nothing, but she could see him give a slight nod.

" Wow, it's just; I never would have guessed."

He turned his head so he didn't have to look at her. "I'm really sorry Yuki. I never meant to hurt you."

"So that's your big secret, eh?"

Shinji nodded. "Now you know why I could never be with anybody. All I ever did when I was a pilot was hurt the people I cared about or myself in the process. I don't want that to ever happen again. I don't want to lose anybody else."

"Then why are you going back? If those people hurt you before, why are going back to protect them?" she said with emotion that she was holding back.

He looked away before answering her. "Because I have too. There is no other way."

"Bullshit, there is. You don't have to go. You don't have to listen to anyone. You can ignore all of this and stay here. You can stay here with...us."

Shinji looked back at her for a second. He could see that she was on the verge of crying. Tears were starting to lightly appear on her pretty face, something that made his heart feel heavy with guilt. All these years, he was trying to protect people from the truth. Now, Shinji realized that he might have been hurting those same people.

Shinji drew the weeping girl into a hug. "I'm sorry Yuki, but I have to go."

"Then tell me why? Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Shinji could only say one thing as he held her tight. "I don't know. I really don't know."

There was silence for several minutes before she chose to answer him. "To tell you the truth, the girls and I knew there was something special about you. We knew that you had something within you that made us like you."

Shinji looked away. "The girls would only like me and fall for me if I told them who I really was." he said bitterly.

"And that's were your wrong."

He saw her stand up and walk over to him. She pointed directly at his chest, directly at his beating heart. He looked at her with a mild look of confusion as she explained what she meant.

"This is what makes you special. Your heart. Regardless to how you see refuse to see it, we all know that deep inside of here there is a great person. Not just me. Mr. and Mrs. Seito also see it and everybody who you have met here have seen it too. The only person who refuses to see it is you."

"I'm not all that great. It's the truth."

She wiped her eyes, chuckling lightly. "Only you would say something like that. But, rather you refuse to believe it, you have something great in here. And I mean that. Now, its time for you to start to realize that."

She reached under her neck and unclasped a necklace, a silver one that she always wore, but kept hidden. She withdrew it and put it in the palm of his hand. Attached to this necklace was a matching cross similar to the one that his former guardian use to wear. While it wasn't nearly as big, it seemed older and had gold etched into it.

"I want you to keep this. It belonged to my older sister. I never told you about her, but she died when I was ten. She gave this to me and told me before she died, that there you can do anything as long as you believe on the power that lies within. It's kind of corny now, but I still keep it and the motto."

Shinji looked at it for a second before he tried to give it back to her. "I can't take this from you."

She smiled before pushing back to him. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. You probably could use all the luck in the world right now. Besides, if you don't take it, I'll kick your ass and force you to wear it."

Looking at the necklace one last time and then at her, he chuckled slightly. "Thanks. I won't forget it." He said as he started to draw her back into a hug.

For a moment, the two locked eyes. There was some much that both of them could see that needed to be said, that wanted to be told. However, neither could manage to say it to one another. They just stared at one another in silence until Yuki moved in closer, inching her lips towards his own.

However, before she could make contact, Shinji looked away and from Yuki. "I better get going now."

The older girl simply stood there, struck still, not able to say another word or move. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel herself start to burst with feelings she never she thought had. And she was frightened on many levels. For herself and for the man that stood before her.

Finally, Yuki nodded slowly before following Shinji out into the living room.

The Seitos and the two angels were waiting for him, when Shinji emerged from his room. He walked over with Yuki to the Seitos to say goodbye to the people he considered family. The older woman was the first to embrace him once more.

"Be safe." she whispered as she tried to keep herself from crying again.

Shinji moved away from her. "I will."

Mr. Seito was next as he moved over to give him a handshake and a hug. "Don't let them intimate you Shinji. Be strong."

Shinji nodded slowly before walking over and hugging Yuki. "Remember what I said."

"I know. I won't forgot." he said, now trying hard not to cry again.

As hard as Shinji wanted to believe that he would see them again, he knew that he probably would not. Something was telling him inside of his heart that this was the last time he would see them. A creeping paranoia that stung at him, that this parting was permanent and once back in his former life, he would not be able to return to this one again.

Still, he shook it off and managed to will himself to walk away. He looked one last time at them and thought about saying goodbye. No. Goodbye sounded too permanent. So, he decided on something that would show he would be coming back.

"I'll see you later."

With that, he turned away letting the tears drain slowly on to his face as he approached the two Angels. "I'm ready."

Sacheil nodded as she placed her hand on his right should. Sandalafon reached over and gripped his adult hand with her little hand. Once ready, Sacheil addressed the three humans.

"You may want to close your eyes. This may get a little bright."

The three looked on confusion, still wondering what was going on. More importantly, they wondered how Shinji was getting out of here. Though they mentioned something several times, about serving a high power or being messengers from some creator, they still assumed they were from NERV.

It wasn't until the three departing beings started flashed in a huge light, that they got the hint. The looked a way as it grew bigger and brighter. The bright light continued for a few moments before it stopped. They turned to look at where Shinji and the two visitors once stood.

They were gone. It couldn't be put anymore simple then that. They all exchanged even more looks of confusion as to what was going on. None of them could comprehend what had just happened here.

A few minutes later, Yuki held her hand over her heart and closed her eyes. She prayed to God and hoped that Akito Harkawa, also known as Shinji Ikari, would be safe and that he would have the strength to face what was coming.

She felt a tear drain down her cheek. Even though he wouldn't admit it, she felt as though she would never see him again. Something in her heart told her this and from looking at the looks on the Seitos faces, she was right.

After a few moments, Mr. Seito, who wiped a tear from his eye. "Let's go back to the restaurant now."

They nodded and went to leave, when suddenly they heard a footstep in the small kitchen. Looking at each other, they slowly turned around and looked to the source of the sound.

"Who's there? Shinji?"

The footsteps continued as a mysterious figure cloaked in black came forth. He was cloaked from head to toe, with no sign of flesh evident. It was like he was a shadow of some type, a shapeless being in human form.

The being spoke with gleaming malice. "Hello. Can Shinji Ikari come out to play?"

When it felt as if the little trick that Sacheil had used had expired, Shinji opened his eyes and looked around at his surroundings. It was a road or highway of some sort. He had no idea where he was until he caught sight of a sign on.

Tokyo 3: 5 miles

He turned to look at Sacheil with a look of confusion. "Why are we outside of the city?"

Sacheil looked at him with a stoic expression. "We can take you no further. Normally, we can transport ourselves without being detected, but when we transport someone else, it requires more energy. We will be detected by your Lilluim science and our mission will be compromised

"And... what... does that... mean?" he stammered.

"You will have to walk from here." she replied.

Shinji nearly face faulted. "What? You mean that I have to walk five miles!"

Sandalafon gave him a sympathetic look. "We are truly sorry for this inconvenience. We hope you can forgive us."

"You could have let me catch a bus or something!" he exclaimed

"Enough. You must hurry. It is noon and Gluttony will be here by night fall." Sacheil replied

"Easy for you to say. You don't have to walk in this heat." he muttered.

The two Angels flashed a bright white, forcing Shinji to turn away. Once they were gone, he let out a frustrated sigh. "What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to this."

Turning around he started to head towards the city, which he could see in the distance. And with this, Shinji was able to come to one conclusion

Today was going to be a very long day.

Meanwhile, underneath the ocean, the first messenger of Lucifer, the Sin Gluttony swam towards the unsuspecting city. Ocean life of every kind swam out of the way in fright at the size of such a beast in seer fear of being eaten.

Gluttony grinned. Even the small stupid creatures of this world knew better then to stand in its way. Although Gluttony felt the urge to open it's great mouth and feast upon them, though it would do little to satisfy it's deep hunger. It needed something...bigger.

Its thoughts wondered to the city where the mother lie buried. Surely there was something there it could feast upon. Even though it was on a strict mission to destroy the gate and let loose it's master, that didn't mean it couldn't have fun now, could it?

It felt its soul burn in delight at all the entertaining stuff it would do. All of the screams of its victims. The carnage. The mayhem. The destruction. It made it giddy or excited as the puny mortals that inhabited this world would call it.

Encouraged and influenced to reach its goal, Gluttony sped up and moved faster towards the city. Soon it thought. Soon this world would lie in ruin and then there would be nothing standing the in the way of clamming the throne of the creator. The humans days were finally at an end and soon they, the true children of Lillith would be free. Soon a new age would arise where no weak creatures would thrive, where only darkness existed. Soon.