A/N: The third segment is based on the doujin Eve and Eve by Nagashiro Rouge. This segment is also the longest in the anthology thus far.

P.S.: May feature a few surprise cameos.

For All Eternity

Portrait of two women in transit: Rei and Misato. Relationship status: girlfriends. Up until now, their promise of eternal love in their lives has been one of unrelenting normality, waiting for something different to happen. Rei and Misato both don't know it yet, but their waiting has just ended.

"Place your stamps here, and we'll be done.", said congressman Ryoji Kaji as he pushes a confirmation paper over to Rei and Misato while he was present with his other congress members Gendo Ikari, Makoto Hyuga and Kouzou Fuyutsuki; "Are you truly okay with this?"

Rei and Misato look at each other to make sure if they're going with this decision.

Using a stamp pad to place their fingerprints on the confirmation paper, they both replied, "Yes."

"To the both of you," Ryoji told as he was handed back the paper, "Congratulations."

Rei happily said as she and Misato exchange looks to each other, "And with that... We'll be together forever!", cheerfully as they both held hands happily.

The next morning...

"Good morning.", Rei greeted back in her and Misato's home as she meets her lover in the kitchen, after waking up from her slumber.

Misato replied, "Morning, sleepyhead."

"It's finally the big day, huh?", the blue-haired girl said.

The purple-haired girlfriend replied, "Yeah.", as she turned on the radio.

Good morning. Now, today's news. A collaborative international project will finally commence.

"Are you nervous, love?", cautiously said Misato.

Rei replies, "Well, I sure am. I keep wondering if anything will change between us."

"We've been living together for so long anyway. This won't be anything new.", the purple-haired girl says, "But don't worry. Nothing's going to change."

Humanity's newfound potential will be challenged.

Misato then came over to Rei as she wrapped her arms around the latter's neck, reassuring, "Because I love you, Rei. I always have. I always will."

"I love you too, Misato...", the blue-haired girl replied as she comes close to Misato, "...forever and ever.", before they shared their kiss.

Later on that day, the inevitable was about to happen when the two prepare for the project they have signed up for, as Misato was wearing a tuxedo while Rei wore a wedding dress.

The purple-haired girl said, "Hey, don't cry..."

"It's just...think about how I get to be with you forever... It makes me so happy...", Rei tearfully imagined as her lover smiled at her.

Misato held out her hand, "Come on, let's go."

"Yeah," her lover gladly took her hand.

Soon, the event was about to commence, as Rei and Misato do not let go of their holding hands.

For the two of them, this may be a mere waypoint, but they can't stop trembling.

"Do you swear to love, comfort, honor, and keep this woman, being faithful only to her...", the priest spoke, "...till death do you part?"

This wedding wasn't taken place in the church.

It was an experiment, where Rei and Misato were about to be prepared for something scientific, though the priest was still present and the girls' formal outfits were still worn.

Misato asked, "Hey, are you scared?", making sure her lover is alright for the procedure.

"No. Not a bit.", gladly responds Rei, happy towards her lover.

Death and parting will have nothing to do with their lives.

After all...

...they will become eternity itself.

Good morning. Now, today's news. The satellites Eternity 1 and Eternity 2 have been launched.

Eternity 1 and 2 are equipped with computers, each powered by a human brain, and will serve to document each and every event occuring around the world.

In a sense, they will function as artificial akashic records. Let's wish them well on their voyage.

Now, our next story...

Space.

Two satellites are seen drifting together over the atmosphere of planet Earth.

Rei awakens.

Her hair wasn't blue anymore, but rather with white hair yet was still in its short length as before.

The cyberspace environment she was in was particular virtual, while it appears that she had several wires stuck into her body and especially her ears, and was nude.

But she wasn't Rei anymore.

"Good morning, No. 1."

She turns over to see another white-haired girl, whom No. 1 (Rei) recognized was Misato, her purple hair now white

"No. 2!", No. 1 (Rei) surprised as she looks around at the new virtual cyberspace they're now in, commenting, "Incredible!"

Just then, the two of them look up as streams of data appeared.

In the cyberspace, the lilac-haired valkyrie Goll watches the two artificial intelligences analyze the data.

"Earth has been busy today...", No. 2 (Misato) says.

No. 1 (Rei) answered, "I never get tired of it...", as they look into each other's eyes, "No. 2, I'm so happy..."

"I'm so happy too, No. 1...", affectionately told No. 2 (Misato), as they tried to reach each other but they couldn't due to the wires attached to them.

No. 1, Rei, and No. 2, Misato, are a normal couple you'd find anywhere.

Except they were sure a normal life wouldn't be enough to experience the full extent of their love for one another.

So they became Eternity.

They never fought, never had a worry in their lives. They were satisified.

For all eternity, the two of them would be together. And out there in space, they were the world's happiest couple.

The two A.I. first observed a loving couple, Fena Houtman and Karin, who were making love and kissing to their hearts' content.

"Oh my! These two finally tied the knot! Good for them!", happily stated No. 1 (Rei) as she looked at the data in their cyberspace realm.

No. 2 (Misato) smirked, "Oh, ho... Starting to miss sex, No. 1?"

"That's not at all, No. 2! You pervert!", scolded No. 1 (Rei) before she said in a moment, "I mean...like this...it's as if we're always linked together!"

The other artificial intelligence No. 2 (Misato) wondered, "If anything, doesn't spending time together feel even richer?"

The body is something that, sooner or later, would be destroyed.

So they stopped relying on something so impermanent as a means for expressing their love.

Another observation from another stream of data showed Sakura Suzuhara looking at a gravestone for her close friend with her brother Toji Suzuhara.

"This one's girlfriend passed away...", No. 1 (Rei) noticed, "Now that death has separated them, I wonder if their love will disappear too."

No. 2 (Misato) said, "That love is still etched into the memory of the woman left behind, surely."

"And when she dies too?"

"That data won't be recorded in our memory banks, but we'll still remember it in our hearts."

"Since we'll live forever, will keeping their love in our hearts make it eternal?"

"Theoretically, yes. To die but become eternal. It almost feels unfair."

"It's...unfair?", asked No. 1 (Rei).

Why did they even think it was unfair? Were they jealous of that couple? That cannot be.

Isn't it better to live? Because their love will continue. It won't change or be cut short. But what's this haze that No. 1, who was once Rei, feel in her heart?

Everything in the world was being recorded by the two of them.

The Earth shifts at a dizzying pace, but their love never changes.

Sometimes, they begin to remember someone else's love, and that love changes.

Regardless of sex, affection and place, the limitations of time looms over it.

No. 2 (Misato) says, "No. 1... I wonder...are we truly happy?"

"There's no way we CAN'T be happy! We're TOGETHER! We always have been! Always will be! FOREVER, No. 2!", angstly remarked No. 1 (Rei).

The other A.I. No. 2 (Misato) finished, "...and ever.", before telling her, "Maybe being together isn't how we become eternal.", as No. 1 (Rei) looked at her tearfully.

They finally understood...

After all, there was so much love that had become eternal within the two.

Even now, No. 1, once Rei, wonders if there's a limit to love. Maybe having a limit is what makes to love.

"Can we become...", No. 1 (Rei) asked at one point, "...even more eternal?"

No. 2 (Misato) was surprised at this suggestion, as she answered, "Yes! Our love will once again be something to behold!"

"No. 2..."

"No. 1... Are you scared?"

"No... Not a bit."

Once they say that, the satellites then drifted into each other...

...and the A.I. programs of No. 1 Rei and No. 2 Misato have broken free from their restraints, finally embracing each other with love at last, never wanting to let go of each other.

Thus leading to the destruction of the two satellites from the collision.

The satellites Eternity 1 and Eternity 2 have stopped operating. In human years, the two were 86.

Back on Earth in Japan, Ritsuko Akagi was at her apartment watching the news, while her significant other Maya Ibuki came in after having a bath.

The Eternities, which were intended to serve as artificial akashic records, were launched in a period when space development had become popular, and were both equipped with human brains.

Currently from an ethical standpoint, a subsequent project would...

It had been many years since the two girls became artificial intelligences.

"So, those satellites from way back when didn't live any longer than a normal human," speculated Maya, "Seems they weren't eternal after all, huh?"

Ritsuko ensures, "What those two achieved will live on. Doesn't that mean they'll last for eternity?"

"You think so?"

"Carrying on with living isn't the same as being eternal. Because eternity is so much more than simply not dying."

Maya looks at the blonde, "Hey."

"What is it?", Ritsuko asked the brunette.

"I love you, Ritsuko..."

"I love you too... Maya."

Both Ritsuko and Maya then shared a romantic kiss as, like the two girls who became eternal years back, the eternal love that they've endured has affected them both, along with many other relationships in the world.

The love these two shared will surely be passed down for eternity.

While the two kissed, there was a small shooting star in the sky, signifying the possibility that both Rei and Misato's love still shine for all eternity.