DISCLAIMER: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin or any of it's characters, plot, etc. They belong to Hajime Isayama. Inari Magnolia and Shepp belong to me, though, as well as my own creations and adaptions in this story. Hope you enjoy my story!

Chapter 1

Sunshine. Beautiful sunshine. I reach my hands sky-ward, welcoming the warm rays of light to fill my body with joy and nourishment. How I wish to fly like a bird in its brilliance all day, and lie in the soft grass under its endless stars at night. My sister flies high all the time, yet under a cavernous, granite ceiling. But she can still feel the freedom of not being tied to this earth. I gaze at the clouds and wish… only a wish… one to never come true because this can only be a dream.

…

I hear a large crash outside my door, awakening me from my pleasant dream. That's right, only a dream. I've never seen the sky, the sun, nor the stars and moon. And I never will. That is the fate of one born to the filthy Underground. A life of dust, dirt, grime, and misery.

I hear someone curse and I rise from my makeshift cot to see what had caused the ruckus and who had the foul mouth. No surprise, it was my sister, Isabel. Well, half-sister; we had the same mother, but different fathers. That kind of thing happened down here. When newborn Isabel had gotten sick, our mother had sold her body for a night, in order to pay for the medicine, only to become pregnant with me. Even so, we look quite similar, however I choose to keep my red hair long, unlike her short hair. Though, where she has blue/green eyes, I have hazel. Our mother had long since passed on, but it still hurt, knowing that her warm smile wouldn't lighten up the room. Isabel is only older than I by a year, making her 16, yet that doesn't stop her from acting childish. I swipe the tattered curtain aside from the doorway and spy her in front of the sink, scrubbing away. I walk to her quietly and see her wiping the blood and grime from her hands, shirt, and face. I shake my head. Typical.

Isabel had joined a gang of thugs a few months ago. I had tried to stop her, but her love of a good thrill and flying has proved my argument pointless. She comes home with a share of the bounty, and tales of heroism. She puts their leader, Levi, on a pedestal, looking up to him like an older brother, though he was only 18 or so. Still, he was her superior. Since her initiation into the criminal world, Isabel has become protective of me and keeps me hidden. She fears that if anyone knew I was associated to her, they'd harm me, bounty me off, or worse kill me to get to her. Many of the victims her and her comrades prey upon already have prices on their heads, yet they dare not to touch them, in fear of the wrath of Levi. It's said that if anyone lays a hand on him, he slices it off, hating their filth touching him. Isabel said that he once stopped a noble's men from taking her away by slicing the man's hand, because he touched him. That scared them away, and thus her involvement started. All for a bird.

"You're not going to get the blood out like that," I say, seeming to catch her off guard because she squeals and jumps backwards into a fighting stance. I chuckle and grab the wet rag from her palm. I take it to the sink, rinse it, grab a lemon wedge from inside the cupboard, squeeze some lemon juice onto the wet rag, and hand it back to her.

"Holy hell, Inari! How do you do that?" she gawks.

"Do what?" I inquire.

"Sneak up on people? You scared the shit out of me!"

"Well don't defecate on the floor, I just scrubbed it," I say, turning to leave.

"Geez Inari. Someone's got 'tude today. Want to talk about it?" She says, rolling her eyes, continuing to scrub away the evidence of her crimes.

"No. Nothing particular happened today, since I'm not allowed to leave on my own," I retort, stopping, turning back to face her.

"We've been over this! It's for your safety! Not even my comrades know about you! Besides, you've got Shepp to accompany you if you do leave," she quips, putting the rag back in the sink and walks to me. She places her hands on my shoulders, trying to console me, but I've heard this speech too many times for it to scratch a dent in my resolve. But what comes out of her mouth next catches my attention.

"We got this big job today and if we succeed, the employer will give us money and citizenship above!"

Citizenship. The one thing everyone here longed for. This can't be real.

"Citizenship? To us?" I question suspiciously. I don't want to get my hopes up.

"Well, to Levi, Farlan, and I, but once I get it, I can use my share of the money to buy yours!" She says, a broad smile on her face. Freedom. It is really within reach. I feel a tear grace my cheek, only to be brushed away by Isabel's tender touch.

"You mean, we can see the sky?" I ask, a quiver in my voice and hope in my heart.

"Better. We can see it every day and night for the rest of our lives," she whispers, holding back her oncoming tears.

I hug her tight and we both break down into tears of happiness. We hold each other for a while before she pulls away to look at me.

"I have to go now. Levi is expecting me at base soon. I'll be back tonight with our freedom. Today is the day of our freedom. Besides, Shepp will be here soon to take you shopping for food," she says, handing me some money and coins, "Maybe buy yourself something nice to wear. You should look your best when you step out into the sunshine."

I simply nod and watch her as she leaves our small shamble of a home. Tonight, we will be free. I send my blessings to you today, sister. May you fly high and swift into the wings of freedom… and may I follow as well.