Author's note:  This is my first NGE fic and I had hardly watched any episodes of it, and never even seen the ones with Kaworu, so cut me some slack if I got some parts wrong.  It's a sad, kinda dark fic, but it works.  I know what it's like to have to leave friends (c'mon, I'm a military child here, 'course I should know) but I've never lost any.  I felt that it must be like moving from a friend, only a hundred fold worse.  I'm using the romanized Japanese names I got off of a Japanese book of mine (Adam, Soldier at the 2015 A.D.) so these _are_ how they're spelled.  Also, any flames C&C and such are to be sent to LadyVirgo@hotmail.com.  Thank you and here it goese:

Lady Virgo Presents:

A Neon Genisis Evangelion Fic:

Forever Friends






	The sun began to set a pale crimson over the five silohuettes over looking a single, lonely cross.  Shinji lifted his face up to let the burning sun casts it's healing rays over him, in hopes of mending the painful scares forever welded in his heart.  He turned to his four friends and assosiates.  Rei's periwinkeled hair shimmered a lavender in contrast to her pale pale pink skin.  Her eyes shone with what could have been mistaken for sorrow.  Tohji, his tanned skin highlighted and his shortly cropped black hair swayed in the silent wind.  Asuka stood, trying to remain the frosty shell she always was, but her eyes filled with tears she tried to blink back.  Kensuke, was a complete opposite from his usual happy-go-lucky self, his glasses flashing the amber sky, reflecting off his eyes.  Shinji looked back at the wooden cross sticking up from the ground, the words 'Nagisa Kaworu' crudely etched into it and young Ikari silently choked back his tears.
	When NERV found out Kaworu's little 'secret' and killed him, noone wanted to give the 17th angel a proper barrial, except for Shinji.  Tohji and Kensuke went along with it, they hardly disagreed with anything Shinji wanted to do.  Rei... she found out and asked if she could come.  She seemed impassive as always, until the body was barried and the cross in place, then she seemed remorsful and her eyes almost seemed... teary.  Asuka took some persuasion to get past, but she came along 'To make sure you bozos get it right' so she said.  And now, she looked as greiving as the rest of them.  <Time to get started.> Shiji thought.
	He cleared his throat and stepped infront of the grave.  "I just want to say, that Nagisa Kaworu, an angel he might have been, had touched us all in a way we could never forget."  He went with his eulogy, reflecting on how Kaworu entered their lives, how much he changed them, and how he found a way into each of their hearts, welcomed or not.  But most of all, how much he meant to each and every one of them.
	"He cheered us up, made us laugh, and cry.  But most of all, he was our friend when we needed one most, and he would always pick us up when we were down.  there were times, I thought he could do anything, and her proved me wrong.  Kaworu was the type that can do everything, and he did.  No matter what, I'll never forget him.  Though sometimes it may hurt, I'll always remember his smile, his warm eyes and friendly personality, the happy, infectious feeling that just radiates off of him.  All the good times we had and the views he brought to life, that's what will make the pain go away, the fact that I remeber him.  And he won't ever be truely gone, as long as he is in our hearts, minds, souls, and memories."
	He then bent his head in prayer, as did the others, all wishing him peace and happiness wherever he may be.  Slowly, almost reluctantly, everyone began to leave.  Rei hung a wreath of flowers on the cross before she turned and walked away.
	"Hey, man," Tohji began, "that was beauti-  Ikari?" As he turned, he realized Shinji was still at the grave.  "Hey, Shinji!"
	"Tohji."  A gentle hand resting on the young Suzuhara's shoulder stopped him.  He turned to see Asuka, with slivers of tears running down her cheeks.  "Let him say good bye."
	Shinji stood silent for a while, then spoke to the grave in a strained voice.  "You know, I never met anyone like you before, Kaworu.  I never really had a friend.  Sure, I had Tohji and Kensuke, but they were more like schoolyard buddies.  I never really thought I needed a friend.  Then you came, and it hurt when I thought about how lonely I was.  When you were around, you made that hurt go away.  The only way to make it go away now, is when I think of all the good times and it leaves.  But... what should happen if I forget you?  If, one day, when I think of you, the pain won't leave?  I don't know what to do... I'm lost with out you..."  A tear slipped down his cheek, followed by another, and another.  He shut his eyes tightly and remembered his friend's death clearly.  "What if all I remeber of you, is the day I killed you?  I know you told me to kill you, that it wasn't my fault... but it was.  We could have found some way were you and the other angels could live in peace with us.  You were a prime example that they could.  Each time I killed and Angel, I thought I was just destroying a bunch of machinery, not a person, a living being like you.  Now I can't ever forgive myself... for your death.... I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry..." The ground at his feet grew damp as tear after tear moistened the earth.  Wipping away his tears and holding back the next wave of tears, he dug into his knapsack.  "I-I know you always enjoyed looking at this, and... I thought you might like it, you know... as kinda reminder of me..."  He set down a statue of the EVA-01 running. "I remember how you said it looked so swift, and graceful, yet dangerous and cunning.  Like a predatory animal, stalking it's prey.  Fearless and brave, but holding a pure and innocent heart...  Just like you.  I'll always miss you, Kaworu, my friend."  Looking up to the sky as night gradually crept up and stars glittered the eastern horizen, Shinji smiled as a warm wind touched his face with a reassuring stroke.  "Nagisa Kaworu or Tabris, human or Angel, it doesn't matter.  Because you will always be my friend."
	And as he turned to walk back to the others, the wind carried the melody of 'Ode to Joy' and whispered in a soft, warm voice, "And you will always be mine."