"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Asuka Langley Soryu's maniacal laughter filled her entry plug, her mother's presence giving her unknown strength. "Die! DIE! DIE!" The other Eva units fell one by one; no one could challenge her, no one could stand against her. The final Eva was being torn apart, the final hurdle that stood in Asuka's way.

"STUPID EVA! NO ONE CAN BEAT ME!"

After screaming at the other unit, Asuka suddenly lost all control of her own Eva. Everything went dark and she couldn't confirm her kill. Verdammt, I can't-

Pain.

Pain.

PAIN.

Void.

Emptiness.

Darkness.

Fog.

Light.

Asuka regained feeling enough to register that someone was choking her. Hands were shakily, yet steadily, strangling her. Vision returned and the image of a brown-haired boy came into focus.

The same weakling that had allowed her to get killed. This boy who caused so much anguish and pain in her life. The wimp that blindly obeyed everyone and didn't even think for himself. The coward who pleased himself over her comatose body; who wouldn't even try to defend her in her last moments.

"It's not like you understand me at all. Don't come near me. You think you understand me? You think you can help me? Now that's really arrogant! You couldn't possibly understand me."

"The sight of you makes me so irritated!"

"Stay away from me, because all you do is hurt me."

Good, let him kill me. It serves him right.

More memories flashed through Asuka's mind: The boy who dove headfirst into a volcano to save her; the same she had tried to kiss. The meek child that always cooked for her and put up with her abuse.

"There's no way I could understand you. Because you don't say anything, Asuka. You never say anything, and you expect me to understand you, when you don't even talk at all? That's impossible!"

"It's because we are similar."

Are we really similar? That can't be! That idiot and I aren't… we… we…

"If you cannot be mine and mine only, I don't even want you."

Shinji.

Her hand shot up and caressed the boy's face, causing him to stop. He stared down at her then she felt tears fall onto her face, his hands now applying no pressure.

Asuka felt ashamed that a part of her had wanted him to kill her; that she would want to experience… that again. "Disgusting." Shinji flinched and quickly got off of Asuka, looking mortified at what he had almost done.

Well, at least he doesn't seem to have wanted to kill me. Even after everything, he doesn't want to hurt me. And…

"Shinji." He looked towards her, then looked at the ground. "Shinji," she moved closer to the boy, "are you okay?"

Wide eyes met her gaze and the shocked teen moved his mouth to speak a few times. "I-I'm fine. But, look at you. Look what I did… because I didn't even try-"

Once again, her hand stopped his actions; this time it was a slap. The sound echoed across the empty beach.

"What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Do." The rage in Asuka's voice and eyes must have terrified Shinji even more, as he scrambled away from the redheaded girl.

"I-I… I… I didn't want to! I just saw your dead body and… then we were in… there."

"IDIOT! I was unconscious!"

"What?"

"You masturbated to my comatose body! Or have you already forgotten about that little thing!" Asuka pointed towards the boy's pants, causing him to look at the ocean.

"A-Asuka, I…" Shinji took a deep breath. "I was trying to get help from you. You were—are–the only one who can help me."

He's begging. Pathetic.

"Pathetic," she spat at him, with as much venom as she could muster. "You're still looking for others to validate your existence? Did you learn nothing!?"

Shinji was crying again and refused to meet the seething redhead's eyes. "I learned that you hate yourself." The boy raised his head and held Asuka's gaze; a steeled resolve shown in his blue eyes.

There was no audible slap this time, but the effect was the same. Asuka stared holes through Shinji, certain there was enough fire in her eyes to burn through him. But the boy showed a surprising amount of strength in challenging her.

"I learned that relying on others is just as important as relying on yourself. Something you never could admit. I learned loving yourself is only part of the equation; you have to learn to love others." The steel softened and compassion shown in the boys eyes. "I-"

"Fuck off, you don't mean it!" Asuka was on her feet and walking away from the beach before Shinji could even register what had happened. The sound of steps behind her barely registered.

Exhaustion made itself known soon after the pair had left the beach. Knowing that trying to push herself too hard would only make things worse, Asuka found a suitable spot for a campsite. To her dismay and pleasure, Shinji followed silently behind her.

"Are you going to stand there or help?" She turned to address the boy, now staring at her curiously. "What?"

"I followed you all day and you never once wanted me to go away." Shinji seemed… pleased by this.

"Yeah, so? Is that supposed to matter? We're apparently the only two people left in this desolate world."

Shinji pondered for a moment. "I guess we are, aren't we?" He chuckled. "If that's really the case, then I'm glad I'm here with you."

What?

The redheaded German closed the distance between them. "And just what would you say if it was Wondergirl or Misato who returned?" Come on, answer correctly Idiot.

"I would ask them about you."

Verdammt, he's actually trying. About time, Third. Asuka rolled her eyes and turned away from the newly confident boy. "Just help me to set up a camp, Idiot."

Whatever counted as night fell upon the two quickly and the cold it brought with it put Asuka in a sour mood. I should have looked for blankets in these stupid ruins first. Dummkopf. Movement on her right caught her attention as Shinji rustled around in a pack she hadn't noticed before. Two blankets were produced soon thereafter and the proud owner gave one to the broken girl beside him.

"Thanks," she muttered. Maybe it's not so bad that it's just the two of us. She looked at him; he looked tired, nervous, but there was an underlying, and growing, confidence. He seemed to be shaken but still standing. It disgusted, enraged, and impressed her. Why couldn't she be like that? Should she be like that? Why would she ever want to be like that?

Asuka moved away from Shinji, drawing his gaze to her. "It's more comfortable in this spot." He simply nodded.

"It will take some time to be comfortable in this world again, Asuka. I hope others return soon." He seems to know a little about the situation we were in.

She turned to face him. He was sitting, knees against his chest, staring off into the ocean. "Can other people return?"

He didn't move. "I hope so."

Great, maybe he doesn't know anything after all. "Hmph."

"I think they'll all return, in their time." His voice sounded hopeful but confident. It reassured the German redhead enough for her to fall asleep.