By Florencio

A barren sea, full of emptiness.  That's what Shinji saw as he sat on the
beach with Asuka.  He still thinks he's dreaming, but his cheeks were still
sore.  Asuka slapped him silly a while ago after telling her that they were
the two left on Earth.  He looked over to her, she sat motionless like him.
She finally swallowed the truth that he too found hard to take.

"Shinji?"  Asuka stared into his eyes looking for answers, her tears had
stopped flowing hours ago, but her heart hasn't stopped weeping.  "I can't
believe it.  This is too much for someone like me to take."

"I know."  Shinji ducked his head like a hedgehog that he is.  "I wish
Misato was here.  She'd know what to do."

Asuka's temper flared momentarily, for some reason she can't explain.  Here
they were, all alone in the world, and he...of all people, she thought,
didn't like her company.  "Shinji you fool!"  She jumped up and ran away
crying.

"Asuka!"  Shinji ran after her.

"Baka!  You and I are the only ones left, and still you reject me.  How
could you be so cruel?!"  Asuka stammered as she ran up the sandy seashore.
Shinji was not far behind.  Then she hit something, something soft, and she
fell down hard.  "Oww!"

"Asuka."  Shinji help her to her feet.

"Good Evening, I'm sorry if I blocked your path." A woman said to them, she
was in front of them, her long brown hair waving briskly with the dry dead
wind, her face was angelic, her smile immaculate.  Well, she was a goddess
after all.

"Um..Hey, you're alive as well."  Asuka was so elated seeing another human
being other than Shinji had survived the third impact.  "I'm so glad to meet
you."  Shinji could only stare in disbelief, his eyes must be playing tricks
now, coz, not only was another person there before them.  The first one in
hours, but she was also levitating a few inches of the ground as well.

"How nice to finally find someone as well.  I've been looking for someone.
And this place seems so strange."  The woman settle down on the sand.  "I'm
Belldandy, and a while ago everything turned crimson read.  I just can't
explain it."

Shinji and Asuka just turned to each other.

"Anyway, I was looking for my Keiichi.  Have you seen my Keiichi?"

* * * * *
The End