02:24 – Epilogue

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or any of the characters they are the property of their respective creators. Please be aware that no profit is being made from this work of fan fiction.

As I stepped off the plane to be greeted by more familiar faces than I care to count, I can't help but look back at the events that brought us here, returning to this place once again after a decade away. It's been ten years now, ten years since the day the instrumentality project was wiped out when Eva Unit-01 self detonated along with the destruction of the geofront and the Angels inside. Shinji's father, Gendo Ikari along with his former teacher and Sub Commander, Kozo Fuyutski, were both killed in the detonation, their deaths signalling a script buried within the world's Magi, one that distributed complete details of Seele's plans to all the world governments and all across the internet.

In a single moment the truth about Second Impact was revealed to the world, along with the identities of those who were ultimately responsible for it taking place. The UN was dispatched after the Seele members, with orders to bring them in alive if possible for trial. When the soldiers found them they were already dead, they had committed suicide the moment the truth had been let out. With the ringleaders dead, the eyes of the world turned on their subordinates, the identities of those who had helped the council on their way were uncovered and put on trial. Even Shinji and I were included but quickly cleared; we had been nothing more than unwilling pawns in someone else's game.

Misato and Kaji, due to their knowledge concerning Nerv's operation were initially tried but cleared of any significant involvement, however they were still required to take part in the continuing investigation and were given nominal positions inside the UN task force operation. This involved them moving to Tokyo-2, a month after they arrived there they were married. At the time I desperately want to go but considering the amount of press coverage surrounding Shinji and I both, we decided against it. Despite being cleared of involvement the press was still fascinated by our experiences and when it was not reporters hounding us, fanatics and extremists chased us, screaming messages of hate for our murder of the so called 'messengers of god'.

Two years had passed and there had already been more than thirteen attempts on our lives, at that point Shinji finally asked me to come away with him and I agreed, wanting to leave Japan and the memories of Tokyo-3 behind. We travelled all over Asia, seeking a place where we could stay out of sight and be forgotten, to finally live normal lives. Yet, no matter where we went we were recognised and the dogs of the press followed, refusing to leave us alone. We flew to America and found no respite there either; despite the vastness pf the country people harassed us all the way. Our next port of call was Europe, Germany initially but when that too provided no reprieve we fled across land into France and then across the water into England where we finally found peace.

Even before Second Impact took place England had been quite isolated, although I had heard that it had a great influence and following in Japan. Post Second Impact a considerable part of its coastline had been submerged and the country had turned inwards trying to deal with the fear of its populace. They had recovered slowly, but still much of the nation remained relatively secluded, no longer caring about the affairs of the world. It is one such community that we found refuge, a small farming town in the middle of the country, we were able to settle there without much comment from the local community. By then Shinji's English skills had developed considerably, thanks to my tutoring and now he was slowly starting to pick up a little bit of the local accent, even while I struggled to rid myself of my German one. The best I had done so far was to be mistaken for a South African.

I found the English to be a very welcoming people, despite Shinji being Asian he was greeted openly and soon we had developed a small circle of friends amongst the people around us. We continued our studies, oddly enough we both ended up taking medical degrees and after graduating opened up a small practice in the village. In his spare time Shinji converted the garden of our house into a melon patch, something he told me he had learned from Mr Kaji. The first crop was harvested in our fourth year there, the night he asked to marry me. We had a simple wedding, in the Christian style, the entire village as our guests, joined us in a celebration that would last well into the morning.

The next three days were filled with lovemaking; years of pent up emotions released fully as we made love openly, no longer caring where it might lead. Yet, when after three months without any result we consulted others in our profession, and then came the news that we could not have children. There was no medical explanation for the condition, but for some reason we could not conceive, all our efforts in vain. In time we forgot the notion of having our own children and moved on with our lives until the day a message arrived. The return address upon it was Tokyo-3, Shinji had initially intended to throw it away when I stopped him, not wanting to run away any more.

It turned out to be an invitation; a ceremony was to be held in the ruins of the city, a memorial the victims of Seele and those who died in Second Impact. A number of honours were to be awarded, posthumously; both Shinji's parents were among those to be honoured in such a way. My own mother too was to be included in the ceremony, thus why they had gone to the trouble of locating us once again, asking us to return to that place. Those first moments had been spend in silence, considering what they had been requesting. Shinji had an unreadable look on his face, even after all this time together there were still times when I could not tell what he was feeling, it seemed he had inherited his father's eyes in that way.

It was then I noticed a second bundle of paper still in the confines of the envelope, pulling them free I found them to be letters from our friends, those who we had left behind when we fled Tokyo-3. The first was from Misato, she and Kaji were doing well and missed us terribly; their son had been born three years after we left and was now seven years old, desperately wanting to meet his Aunt Asuka and Uncle Shinji. In fact she went on to say it was Kaji who had tracked us down eventually, calling in a number of favours to do so. She expected we would at least repay them by coming to the ceremony…still Shinji's face remained impassive when I handed it over to him.

The second letter was from Hikari, much to my horror but little surprise I found she had married that idiot, although I still couldn't tell you what she saw in him. Apparently he had recovered nicely and had taken up a job teaching, I couldn't help but chuckle remembering our own sensei but according to Hikari his students were very fond of him. She also pleaded with us to return, if only briefly, they both missed us terribly. Suzahara chimed in briefly, saying that Mari had wanted to thank Shinji; she had fully recovered from her injuries and had been pestering him to meet the boy who had saved her life that day. When Shinji read that his mask cracked slightly and I could plainly see his worry, I reassured him gently as we put the letters away and retired to the bedroom.

The next morning we woke early, Shinji had made up his mind. We informed the village that we would be away for a time, but were carefully not to say why although I suspect many people already knew. News concerning the memorial celebration had been shown on the local TV and I am sure it wasn't hard for people to make the connection. Still, no one mentioned it and told us to enjoy our time away. When we arrived it was to a welcome we could have never expected, most of the people who had lived and worked in Tokyo-3 were there to greet us, bowing as we got off the plane. We walked to the head of the group where Misato and Kaji were waiting for us, greeted us warmly as they led us out to the ruins of Tokyo-3.

Where the city once stood there was now a great lake, formed when the Geofront had detonated most likely. At the shores of the lake there were still the wreckages of many buildings, ones that had been on the edge of the city and had only been partially destroyed by the geofront's detonation. A large platform had been erected at the lakeshore, already various people were waiting there while hundreds of other had gathered at its front. We were led up onto the platform and offered seats near the middle, next to Misato and Kaji. The assorted dignitaries gave various speeches until finally the time came for the awards to be given and our parents' names were called out aloud.

"Drs. Gendo and Yui Ikari and Dr. Kyoko Zeppelin Sohryu."

We stood up, going to the pedestal to accept the honours on behalf of our parents. As we shook hands with the Secretary General a man approached holding a large wooden case, the Secretary General motioned for us to wait and turned to the man before lifting open the case, revealing five platinum medals within.

"In recognition of their service to humanity in fighting against those who would seek to do us harm, and to express our gratitude of their sacrifice for all of us and our children I present the highest award that we can give, the Saint's cross to the children who once saved the world. Ikari Shinji, Asuka Langley Sohryu, Rei Ayanami, Toji Suzahara and Kaworu Nagisa. There is no greater praise we can offer to them, even though two of their numbers have already departed this world, we hope this small token of our thanks will go some way towards showing them our gratitude."

Without further comment he removed the medals from the case, placing one over both Shinji's and my head before a third was placed over the head of the other stooge who had moved up beside us. He winked at me out of the corner of his eyes while mouthing 'Devil Girl'. I glared at him, silently telling him that I would get him back for it later to which he just laughed. Now only two medals remained, there was a pause as the Secretary General lifted one of the medals out of the case.

"It was the decision of the UN that the medal for Rei Ayanami be given to her closest living relative, Shinji Ikari. Please Dr Ikari, would you hold onto this for your sister that she might know a part of our thanks."

Shinji nodded and stepped forwards, grasping the small platinum medallion tightly in one hand. As he stepped back into place his free hand found mine and gripped it tightly. The speeches continued but we were no longer hearing the words, as time seemed to slow all around us, eventually coming to a halt. Before us a group of figures began to take form, I inhaled sharply as I recognised my mother and Shinji's father, the other woman must have been Shinji's mother. The three adults were smiling at us, giving silent praise, obviously proud of our accomplishments. Beside them two other stood, a man with grey hair and a woman with blue, their hands entwined. They too smiled at us, nodding in thanks, I felt glad that even in death they had found one another.

As they began to fade Shinji cried out, desperately trying to reach out to them but his hand simply passed through them as if they were made out of smoke. Even as they were about to disappear entirely a voice spoke out, speaking to us both inside our heads.

For all that you have done we bring you a gift, a new life for those that were given.

With that they were gone and we returned to the present, the speech continuing where it had left off. When it finally ended we were transported to a hotel in one of the near by cities, there the celebrations continued until dawn. Shinji and I slept peacefully for hours after, until I woke in the morning with a strong desire to vomit. Shinji held back my hair as I brought up the contents of my stomach. Looking down into the porcelain bowl the realisation struck me and I finally understood their words. I looked up at Shinji, only to find tears in his eyes already, he too had understood what they had done. Eight months later the twins were born, one boy and one girl. Lying in the hospital bed, cradling them in my arms the nurse had asked us for their names I paused for a moment, looking up into Shinji's eyes for a moment before replying.

"Adam and Lilith."

AN: And so with that 02 concludes, thank you to everyone who has read this and reviewed.

The bit about being mistaken for a South African happened to a German friend of mine, he actually found it rather funny.

And before I sign off on this one a huge debt of gratitude is owed to my prereader, That Other Guy. He has helped fix up my typos; my spelling and grammar so many times…go and read his stories! Now! I'm serious; I owe him at least that much for all he has done for me.

Hououza

Chapter preread by That Other Guy