Fic Title: Until the Sun Dies
Summary: Believing her father's concerns as a black family living in the secluded mountains of Wall Maria to be simple paranoia, a young girl sets on her own to discover the world and what it truly holds. Only to find after encountering another secluded family, the Ackermans, that maybe his concerns weren't so unfounded in the terrifying yet beautiful reality they live in. Befriending their daughter, a fellow survivor in what it means to be the last of their kind, Akunna finds her path leading to the horrors of the Fall of Maria and the 103rd Cadet Corps.
Pen Name: TheQuintessentialFicWriter
Cover Art by: pngdraws on Twitter

Birthday Wishes

Year 850, Age 10

(Shinganshina District, Wall Maria)

The way Akunna could feel herself finally breathe when she saw the back of Mikasa's head was immeasurable. She had ran over what she felt like was the entirety of Shinganshina looking for her when it seemed like no one could find her. Not Armin, not Eren, not even the local bullies Akunna asked (interrogated) could give her much of an answer. Akunna didn't let any of the adults privy to her panic, not after how Mrs. Jaeger asked Akunna specifically to keep Mikasa out of the house. But finally, here Mikasa was, sitting at the pier watching people loading onto one of the larger than life boats. This girl. Akunna shook her head as she made her way to the crate Mikasa sat atop of.

"You gave me a heart attack today." Akunna crossed her arms as Mikasa jolted, looking over her shoulder in surprise. "Me, Armin, and Eren all split up looking for you, you know. Why'd you just take off like that?" Right when her back had been turned. "I thought..." Akunna trailed off, not wanting to finish what events she assumed might have taken place.

Mikasa didn't respond promptly, only looking down at her knees with hunched over shoulders. "Sorry for worrying you."

"Yeah well as long as you don't do it again." Akunna kicked a pebble, looking out at the people. Wonder where they're all going, no one here looks like a merchant. She nudged Mikasa's shoulder and when the girl scooted over ever so slightly, Akunna plopped down beside her. "Any idea where they're heading off to?" She asked, nestling their hands closer to one another.

Mikasa held Akunna's hand properly, "I think they're heading to Eppelbog." That was an old name Akunna hadn't heard in a while. Nearly a whole year.

"Why did you come here of all places?" Akunna asked finally, shooting Mikasa a curious look. Mikasa never seemed like the boating type, they hardly ever came here. There were times they went towards the much smaller late in the district, when it got too hot last year in June, the two of them had gone with Armin and Eren to play in the water splashing each other until their clothes were soaked and they nearly caught colds. But there wasn't ever much reason to go into the inner gate just to watch the boats. "I know we have to keep you out the house today, Birthday Girl, but I wasn't expecting a mystery hunt to come with it." We're finally the same age now. At least until May, then Akunna would finally be one year older.

Even from Mikasa's profile, Akunna could tell her brow was furrowing. "I miss home." Mikasa replied softly, her grip on Akunna's left hand tightening. Akunna's heart stuttered in the wrong way and she looked at the ground as her heart seemed to sink. One year it had been since that rainy day in the mountains when everything they knew changed. Now they were here in Shinganshina, far, far away from where they used to call home. "The Jaegers have been really nice since they've taken me in and I know they want to make me feel like I'm part of their family..." Mikasa murmured. "But I still miss mine. I want to go back." 'But I can't'.

Akunna shifted and twisted their hands so Mikasa's would be facing her, her pink sleeve falling ever-so-slightly to reveal the pinkish-red brand she had been given by her mother. It felt like forever ago that she would wake up, rearing to go with Mr. Ackerman to see whatever food they could find and if they didn't have to hunt, she'd help Mikasa brush the rat nest that was her hair in the mornings. Then they would collect the eggs from Bonnie, Eunice, Claudette, and Dana and watch Mrs. Ackerman cook before the rest of the chores needed to be tended to.

From there, they could play as freely as they desired.

"I miss them too." Akunna whispered, catching Mikasa's eye. "I miss Uba. I wish we could've had the chance for Uba and your parents to meet and we could still be in the mountains right now." She gave her friend a weak smile. "I wanna say 'let's just get on this boat and go back home right now and don't look back'. We could go to my old house and start all over." The house where there wouldn't be bloodstains from where Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman had been slain. But there was nothing for them back in the mountains, not anymore. "But I don't think we should."

"No, we shouldn't." Mikasa replied with a knowing whisper.

But I can still wish that we could. Akunna held back a sigh. This was getting depressing. This is Mikasa's birthday, Aku! You shouldn't be making her feel even worse. "Hey, Mika." Akunna puffed out her chest, patting it softly with a fist. "Make a wish!"

Mikasa cocked an eyebrow out her at the sudden change of tone. "Huh?"

"It's your birthday, right?" Akunna prompted. "So you get a wish and I have to make it come true today. I can't take you back to the mountains, but I can do anything else." She grinned, standing onto her feet and tugging Mikasa right along with her. "So ask me for anything, alright? Well," Akunna thought it over more carefully. "anything I can actually do." She added. If she had said this to Eren, he would have definitely asked for something ridiculous. "So what do you want?" Mikasa pursed her lip as she fell into deep thought as Akunna guided them to the marketplace, wondering if anything there would catch Mikasa's eye now that she had gathered enough allowance. "It can be anything you want. Hairclips, dolls, that spinning top toy we saw the other day." She tossed out ideas, hoping that would give the girl an idea. We should probably find Armin and Eren too so that they know she's okay.

"I want..." Akunna stopped their procession, turning back to look at Mikasa excitedly. "I want a sleepover."

"That's it?" Akunna asked, shooting Mikasa a wild look. "I said I grant any wish and you just want a sleepover?" If Mikasa had given her the choice, Akunna definitely would've asked for some new boots. "You don't want something else? World domination? A stuffed bear? A new dress?"

Mikasa's lips curled upwards into a soft smile, "that's what I want. It's my birthday, so you have to do it."

"Well okay." Akunna shrugged, it was Mikasa's wish. Even if it's a total waste, you weirdo. "If you say so. Next time ask for something more exciting, like... I dunno, a cat or something."

"Sleepovers are exciting."

"Pff since when? Whenever we had one, your parents would just tell us to go to sleep!"

"But we always stayed up and laughed afterwards."

"Well, there was that time you wouldn't go to the bathroom by yourself and kept waking me up to take you because you were too scared after I told you- hey, don't kick me just because you're embarrassed, I thought it was cute!"

"You said it was annoying, you liar!"

"Annoying but cute, Mikasa. I can think two things at once."

Author's Note

I swear to the pagan gods of old that the week just didn't want me to write chapter 10. On Wednesday a nurse came over to check on my mother's bed sores for longer than expected, on Thursday immediately the power in our neighborhood leaving me unable to write, and since my mother's bed sores are all infected I've been staying in her room all day in order to turn her every couple of hours so they don't get worse and have to change the bandages. Normally I have more assistance, but her boyfriend hasn't been feeling well so I've been doing it all. So chapter 10 is having a bit of an unfortunate delay. Btw, how are you anime onlys feeling with the most recent episodes? I got my mom into snk since we started quarantine and she cried.

From now on, I think Saturdays will be the update day since I have classes Monday through Thursday.

Still, I didn't want to just skip last week's chapter entirely since the schedule has been pretty consistent, so I decided to instead do a special bonus chapter instead! Something short though so it wouldn't stress me out writing it. I planned on posting this on the 10th since it is Mikasa's actual birthday then, but I have a class on Wednesday so I'll be posting it today since it is the beginning of the week. I had a fun time writing this little snippet into Akunna's time back in Shinganshina and I think I might even do birthday specials for her, Armin, and Eren when their birthdays come around. Akunna's birthday, I've decided, is May 5th making her a Taurus.

(In other news... the cover art is FINALLY here TAT, and it looks so nice. It's simple but says a lot, it's somber but wistful and the scarf represents a deep bond between the characters.

Please give the artist a follow because they did such a good job and definitely let me know in the comments what you think of it, I think the cover is rather fitting. As y'all can see, it includes Mikasa's current design in the manga and anime and Akunna is, how you say, a bit shorter than she is in the present. Lol, sadly Eren and Mikasa eventually surpass Aku in height much to her dismay in the future when they meet again.)

Song(s) I Bopped To For the Chapter: Fresh Eyes by Andy Grammer, Lotus Flower Bomb by Wale ft Miguel, Until the Sun Dies by Lushlife ft Fakevinyl, Take Another Look At Love by Dynasty, Lightspeed Love by ceruleancerise

Responses

skyellebaby: I hope next chapter gave you the badass fighting you were hoping for! As to what her future holds relating to the main story... you'll just have to wait and see whether or not your theories hold true uwu. Hopefully I subvert your expectations and you're pleasantly surprised! All you will know is that she will be weaved into the main story in due time!

Titanlovvr: I'm glad you're still enjoying the story as it progresses and seeing how Akunna is going to shape up as a character! Military Police or Scouts, what will she pick. I actually started writing a bit of an important conversation Akunna and Chadwick will be having in a couple of chapters in Chapter 12 that will give a lot more insight into how Akunna views the world and her place in it that I can't wait to actually publish w that I think you will also enjoy, so definitely keep an eye out for it! As for romance between Akunna and Chadwick, only time will tell.

Sol: Yeah Akunna definitely deserved a break so there was no verbal abuse from Berrg necessary! I personally think that Akunna herself tends to forget that for all she tries to act mature, she's really not that much older than the main trio even if she pretends there's a huge gap in age between them. I'm definitely looking forward to her run ins with Erwin, Levi, and Hange as well!

SlightlyObsessed: NFDJNFDJNF Yeah Iven and Jurgen and hell technically even Dieter are all characters you can't get attached to, but I wanted to have fun with some familiar faces and give them a chance to shine even briefly in Akunna's story as they all grow closer as comrades and as friends. A nice trio for her to look fondly at as the days of training go by, and I appreciate her friendship with Maida as well. I'm glad you like Chadwick! I lowkey named him after the late Chadwick Boseman, I couldn't resist. Chadwick is such a good name, I love it. Akunna, for much as she tries, can't help but just be Akunna so the "stoic bad girl" life just isn't forher.

Nona: Oooh a new reader! Thanks for joining the UtSD family! I'm really glad you like Akunna so far and hope that like of her continues! Fellow eldest sister to another, I know the struggles myself so I'm glad you feel like you're able to connect with Akunna in that way. I appreciate your heartfelt sentiments about the story and hope to see you more in the comments! And yes, Ivan, Jurgen, and Dieter are all from the Female Titan arc, shoehorned it into the last Author's Note so if you didn't see it, don't feel bad, my ANs can get a little long winded at times fjdkfdn.