Author Notes: So guys, this is my First Fanfic, so I hope I don't screw this thing up. I most likely won't be updating this regularly (just when I feel like it, and when my Parents aren't around; I'm supposed to be grounded from my Computer and stuff unless it's for my schooling!) and hopefully the quality of my Fanfic writing improves as I go along in time. Characters may also be OOC, I'll try to keep them as In-Character as I can, but my plan with Shinji and Asuka requires them to be OOC for this to work – there, you've been warned. It's likely that this will end up being a Shinji x Asuka pairing, so now there won't be any unpleasant surprises for any Shinji x Rei fans or other pairings etc. It's not that I dislike these pairings, I respect that anyone can ship whatever they want, but I prefer Shinji x Asuka so as a word of warning, this will be the most likely pairing that will be in this story. I apologise if you find it bad now, and constructive criticism is appreciated, but please no Flaming! Thanks and I hope you enjoy! R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion, nor anything relating to it. But I so wish I did!

Hopeless.

I felt utterly hopeless as I lay there on the sand beside Asuka after having narrowly prevented the potential annihilation of the remainder of the Human Race in the Third Impact.

For all we knew, Asuka and I were the last people who weren't LCL Gloop on the entire Planet.

Things looked Hopeless, there wasn't any other way to look at our current predicament.

I was to spend the remainder of my days, whether they be long or short, trying to survive on scraps left behind and eventually attempt to restart the Human Race with... my German Fiery Red-headed companion.

Well, admittedly, that last part wasn't such a bad thing in my eyes, but I'm more confident that Asuka herself wouldn't be as fond of the idea as I was, so I was going to try and put off the issue for as long as possible until she herself brought it up.

I was also beginning to wonder why I was stuck on a beach after Third Impact with Asuka of all people.

I could understand if it was Misato, I looked up to her like an older sister.

If it was Toji or Kensuke, or even both, then I'd think it was because they were my friends, here to support me.

I could understand if anyone else was here with me on this beach, but of all the people, I just couldn't explain why some Omnipotent force had placed me with the Great Asuka Langley Soryu – who I had just tried to strangle.

I'm still unsure as to what came over me when I subconsciously climbed onto Asuka and proceeded to choke her to death, until she cupped my cheek almost... intimately. This shock caused me to snap back to my senses and release my grip.

As I sobbed over all that I had done, the only reaction I received from Asuka was a muttered "How Disgusting". In all honesty, I agreed.

I was disgusted over my role in the Third Impact; disgusted over my own failure to help Asuka in her time of need; disgusted I didn't use my own initiative and get off my damn ass to help everyone against the JSSDF invasion; disgusted that it took a dying Misato to rouse me out of my sulking to try to reach Unit 01; but most of all, I was disgusted with myself.

I don't know how much time had passed since I rolled off of Asuka and pulled myself into a pathetic, whimpering ball of sobs, spending too much time just thinking about what went wrong, what I could have done to prevent it, and how things wouldn't have gotten so fucked up if I had done it.

But Instrumentality, despite everything it has done to fuck up my life and others, how it has influenced the delusional but powerful members of SEELE and my own Father at NERV to act and what it has now caused, it was a great learning experience for me. It's funny how it took the near-literal ending of the World to cause a meek, cowardly teenage boy to realise the error of his ways.

After a long time of running away and sobbing I finally decided, there and then, to pull myself out of the metaphorical gutter I had made my home in and face reality head on forthwith. No more running away, no more cowering behind others. From now onwards, I Shinji Ikari am going to stand my ground and be myself.

And it was with this new-found state of mind that I picked myself off the sand and finally took a good look of the World. It looked like shit.

First of all, I was faced with half a head of my late albino friend, Rei Ayanami. It took me a few minutes for my mind to get over the shock and disgust I felt when I saw this.

Secondly, I looked out to a sea of LCL which looked blood red, reflecting the light of the sky – also blood red. Everything around me had at least a slight tint of red, including the red-head who I found, to my surprise, was still lying on the ground, but now staring up at me with her ocean-blue eye.

I became lost as I continued to stare in the one thing I found in my surroundings that wasn't tinted red. Until I realised that Asuka had now got up herself and was slowly striding towards me.

I froze when I realised she was coming my way, and had no idea what she planned to do. I remained silent as she finally stopped inches from me.

I finally resorted to closing my eyes as I was prepared to receive whatever punishment my red-headed companion decided to give me for whichever of the reasons I was aware she had.

I let out a quiet 'yelp' when I felt soft thin arms glomp me suddenly, opening my eyes to find Asuka firmly hugging my torso. To say I was surprised was a bit of an understatement right now.

I had no idea how to respond, so I did the only thing that came to mind – I hugged her back. As I released the breath I didn't know I was holding, I came to realise that this was more comfortable than I thought it was going to be.

Ever since I could remember, I'd always wanted to do something along the lines of hugging Asuka. I admired her. She was smart, brave, determined, beautiful and popular in my eyes. Despite her fiery personality, I saw her as someone I looked up to and wished to be like. I also admitted that my new-found state-of-mind was partially inspired by her.

I'd also be lying if I said I didn't have feelings for her, I mean, who doesn't develop feelings for a girl if you're forced to live with them in very close proximity for a period of time over 6 months; especially if said girl is the hottest girl around.

Of course, I convinced myself that despite her insults and commands, I wasn't in the same league as her; thus I squared away my fantasies of going on a date with her in the back of my mind. Still, it didn't exactly stop her from falsely accusing me of being a 'perverted baka' whenever she got the chance. Still, beneath it all, I didn't mind as I was able to subtly see the person underneath the intricate mask that she always donned. Beneath all the insults and teasing and commands, she was just like me; this fact being further proved after Instrumentality, where I saw most of her secrets and memories.

My deep ramblings were interrupted as Asuka released her hold on me and moved away. As she did so, I also relinquished my hold on her. When I gazed upon her features, I found them to have returned to a more familiar expression that wasn't the soulless gaze she had minutes before. I realised that Asuka was finally back to herself.

Which was why I wasn't surprised when the first thing she said was "Baka".

After everything that has happened, this small gem of normality between us caused a wave of relief to wash over me. This feeling was too overwhelming for me, so I released it by doing something I don't normally do.

It started small; just a small chuckle resonating from the back of my throat. But steadily it started to increase in volume, until it had become a normal bout of laughter; and before I knew it, I was on the floor clutching my sides and struggling to contain my amusement at Asuka's trivial statement. I also noticed that Asuka had also joined me in laughing herself silly.

Eventually, we both recovered from our amusement, but we both felt that the tension between us was now torn to shreds and we were both more relaxed around each other.

We just sat on the beach staring across the LCL sea together, until we both heard a large synchronised grumble from both of our stomachs.

"Whoops, forgot about food" I stated.

This caused a small chuckle as Asuka just rolled her eyes at me.

"Baka, we are still Human, of course we need food." Asuka replied, with a tone of amusement.

"Ok, you stay here and start a fire while I head to Tokyo-3 to collect supplies?" I spoke as I proceeded to stand up and brush sand from my clothes.

"No, I'm coming with you." Asuka quickly snapped as she leapt up and grabbed my hand.

This sudden action startled me a little, but once I recovered I gave her a quizzical look as we started walking.

Soon she noticed the look I was aiming at her and she barely whispered "I don't want to be alone."

Satisfied, I decided to lay off further questioning and give her some metaphorical space as we proceeded in silence, enjoying each other's company.

Author Notes: And there you go! My first chapter of my first Fanfic. I know not much happened but the purpose of this chapter is to set-up the change in Shinji and Asuka's characters. I plan on having Shinji just a bit more open and confident with himself like he was during the first half of the original series, those were the best parts in my opinion, before everything started spiralling down into psychological anarchy and depression. I'm also making Asuka less bitchy, mostly due to what she now knows, with her Mother's soul watching out and protecting her in Unit 02 and I'm also going to have Asuka open up more to Shinji as I'm sure she would of if Shinji was more confident in the original series and responded to her subtle advances.

So essentially this is a 'what if' with Asuka and Shinji's relationship as well.

Anyway, next chapter will be where the prologue ends and the plot actually starts after that, so look forward to that if you like my story.

Remember to leave Reviews! Until next time!

- Western-Otaku