Chapters 4 – Time is no healer
Besides the chaotic start to her day, things were finally running smoothly for Sasha. She had managed to go a full 3 hours without attracting any more attention to herself, but the day was still young, and there were to be many more opportunities in which she could collect after school hours and or break everyone's weird radar.
"oooohh how much longer?" Sasha grumbled to her blonde companion who she was sharing a textbook with.
"I know right? An elite school and we have to share textbooks!?" Krista replied in sarcastic tone.
"Huh? What, no… I wanna go for lunch, my gut is killing me." Sasha slowly lowered her head to the desk banging it continually until playing dead when to pain got to be too much.
"You really like your food, huh? I'm guessing you work out cos your ass is mmmfine-"
|Rinnnng Rinnnng|
"Finally!" the brunette beamed up and started to get her things together.
"One track mind, eh?" the blonde giggled.
The two girls collected their stuff and walked over to Armin's desk.
"Oh hey guys! I'd like to introduce you to Reiner Braun." He gestured towards a mature looking boy with blonde hair, amber eyes and a chiseled face.
"Oh hey?! You're the guy that sits behind me in homeroom!" she didn't realize she was pointing at the boy making him laugh when she retracted her hand.
"So you were fully sane during that moment in time, hey Tayto?" Sasha giggled nervously and scratched the back of her head.
"She really stole the show there, huh? My name's Krista Lenz, It's a pleasure." She offered a small bow "We're all heading to lunch if you care to join?"
"Most kind of you, but I have to decline. You see, I promised my childhood friend that I'd meet with him during lunch, so I really should get going." He picked up his bag and gave a small wave. "I'll see you guys around." And then he was gone from sight.
Just as soon as a presence left the room, a new one rejoined. The blood red scarf caught Sasha's peripheral view so she turned for a better inspection. Mikasa stood in the doorway, her hair was draped over her face but it was obvious something was wrong from her body language. She had propped herself up on the side of the door, shaking intensely.
"Mikasa? Are you alright…?" Mikasa began to slowly walk towards the brunette; the others turned to look on with worry and confusion in their eyes.
"Erm Mika-ah! Wa-wa-what are you doin-?" the brunette whelp in the sudden movement as the girl held her in her arms, pulled in close for a hug. Sasha stood paralyzed as the girl leaned in closer. Her breath hit her ear and Sasha's mind went blank, she could feel her legs becoming weak and her body hot.
"I need you to accept me Sasha… I need you to remember, and forgive me." Remember? Forgive? Accept…!? What… do you mean…? Her eyes started to feel heavy, she could feel herself falling.
Sasha had blacked out; she fell into what seemed like a dark hole which had all too much familiarity to it. This feels so real… she wandered for what seemed like an eternity, she was on the verge of giving up, but then she heard what could only be determined as the small cries of a young child.
Hello? Is someone there? Where are you?
There was no reply; the cries got louder, stronger, with more urgency within them. Sasha started running towards what seem like the direction, but every time she got close they would start coming from behind again.
Where are you! I want to help!
What seemed like a spotlight shined down so intensely that it blinded Sasha for a moment. She rubbed her eyes trying to adjust to the light, finally regaining her sight. She peered into the spotlight, there was a young girl crouched over, crying into her hands.
Sasha walked over to her side and crouched down.
Hey, are you okay? The girl didn't seem to hear her.
Sasha extended her hand out, hey! Are you… Her hand went though the girl's body, she was totally transparent. Sasha jolted her hand back in shock, falling back a little and landing on her butt, she stared intensely at the girl, they were like this for what seemed to be excessively long amount of time, and then girl rubbed her eyes and removed her hands… W-what the fuck!?
The girl's face was covered in deep cuts and bruises, some old and some new. Sasha cupped her mouth; she could feel her eyes watering up.
Light fast-paced footsteps came from the darkness and a dark haired girl wearing a red scarf emerged, she halted upon seeing the girl, then ran up and hugged her from behind holding her close. "Hey, Sash… it's gonna be okay…"
"It hurts Mika… It really hurts…" The dark haired girl gently lifted the smaller girl's top, Sasha's eyes widened and her watered eyes ran upon seeing a black tattoo like brand on her back which glowed like molten lava, shaped to what seemed like wings, one side burned as bright as day while the other was darker than black.
"Don'tworry, Sash" the girl choked back her tears, "Levi's going to fix things"
"Big brother?"
"Yep… He'llnever let you down, neither will I for that matter… even if you grow to hate me."
"What are you talking about Mika? I could never hate you… We'relike the three musketeers! We'llbe friends… forever and ever!"
Immediately at that moment the darkness reclaimed the light and the girls were gone. Sasha stumbled back to her feet, the pressure seemed to be suffocating her and a sense of panic ran through her body when she couldn't move.
She could hear a sinister chuckle coming from all directions, taunting her making her shiver. Then it emerged and it all made sense, why Sasha was struggling to breath, why she couldn't move. The creature had her grappled by the neck and she dare not look it in the eyes.
"You are a weapon, A mere tool to be used by the Children of Ackerman, Remember your place girl!" She was tossed with a relative amount of force and harshly impacted with the ground.
She was numb, her head whorled, images flashed back and forth followed by voices. Her body was slowly being swallowed into the darkness, "Don't worry Sash, Levi's going to fix things." it clawed at her back, "even if you grow to hate me…" burning and etching its way in. "We'llbe friends… forever and ever." The pain was unimaginable; she would scream and yell to the point where her throat would bleed. "You are a weapon, a mere tool…" Please… I can't… take this any longer… Mika, Big Brother… Please someone save me!
The branded wings appeared on her back, burning brightly coursing the girl to let out a bloodcurdling scream.
She lay feeble on the ground, her shirt in complete tatters from the power radiating off the rays of light. She was exposed to the darkness; it was going to win…
"Sasha! Please wake up!" Armin?
"Yeah Tayto, stop making us all worried." Reiner?
"HEY you Better wake up Now, before I start molesting you!" … Krista
"Sash… Please be strong and wake up!" … Mika!
I won't lose! I starting to feel warm again… and heavy, why do I feel heavy…?
"I'm telling you guys! Kisses wake everyone up, it's gonna work."
"Krista! I cannot permit that!"
"You broke her 'Mika' if you wanna wake her follow my lead"
Sasha opened her eyes to see crystal blue eyes dangerously close to her own, immediately making her blush.
"Oh haha, hey buddy… I'm sooo glad to see your awake" Krista had a gesture cat grin on her face. She was quickly shoved over by Armin who gave the girl a big hug.
"Sasha you had us so worried, Poor Mikasa's hasn't left your side since you blacked out, she keeps blaming herself for what happened to you."
"Who blacks out from a hug anyways? That's just too cute." Krista was up from the floor and brushing the dust from her skirt.
Sasha's eyes averted over to Mikasa's, who got up from her sit and walked over to the girl. She bowed…
"Sasha… I… I-I'm truly sorry for all the trouble I caused you and everyone here, It is unforgivable." She turned not expecting any reply from the girl, grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"Wait…" Mikasa halted but never turned to face the girl. "Mika… I think you owe me more that that…"
"Awhh! She's moving in!? That's ma gurl-ah!" Krista got a light punch from Armin as a way of telling her to behave.
Reiner who had stayed silent the entire time moved forward and hooked both Krista and Armin under his arms.
"Glad your feeling better Tayto, No more crazy stunts now though eh?" He looked at the two squirming under his arms. "Now how about you two join me for some fresh air." He started pulling the reluctant two along with him. "Later tater" he laughed on his way out clearly amused by his choice in words.
The room was silent for a while, both girls not sure how to start, but Sasha was right; Mikasa did owe her some kind of explanation, the dark hair girl sighed.
"How much do you remember?" she began walking over and pulled a chair bedside to Sasha.
"I remember you… we were younger then... and involved with the Children of Ackerman… Us three, we had a really strong friendship… but something happened and we were separated from you." Sasha's voice choked a little "I also remember why the Ackerman's wanted me… because of my brand…" she recalled the pain from her dream and her brand pulsed giving her a little reminder that it existed.
"Is it hurting you now?" Mikasa watched at her movements with sadness engulfing her eyes.
"Not as much as during my blackout…" she looked around the room, they were in the nurse's office (minus one nurse… typical!) But the room was trashed… everything about it was misplaced or broken.
Mikasa noticed the girl's attention was now on the room. "You were fighting for something, yelling my name… that's when we knew it wasn't a typical 'fangirl fainting act' as Krista so nicely put it."
"You mean… I did this...?"
She nodded "Then your mark started pulsing and you screamed the house down…" Sasha started to redden that can't have looked good for any people passing by. "It burned though you, and has returned home upon your back, I guess your memories locked away your power…" Mikasa looked up at the girl, her eyes beginning to water. "Sash… I'm so sorry to bring you pain, again-"
She was interrupted by the close heat and arms cradling her. "Mika, it's so good to have you back… I know you've been hurting too, so please don't burden yourself with such harsh words."
That was more than enough to set off the tears. However this time it was a reverse role.
Outside the room Reiner, Krista and Armin all smiled at one another, happy with how the situation planned out, Reiner gave the other two a nod and walked off.
"Lucky huh?" Krista turned to the remaining boy.
"What do you mean?" He raised an eyebrow, has he found himself 24/7 suspicious of the girl.
"A good friendship is hard to come by, and after witnessing something as beautiful as that… and being a part of it, we are lucky to have met some amazing new friends, don't cha think?"
"Wow Krista… I never thought I'd hear you say something like that, but yeah! You're completely right… I wouldn't have had today go any different."
"I know right? Shame she missed her date with Creepy Keith though, would have loved to have teased her more over it." She grinned at the idea, making Armin shiver a little.
"Welcome back Krista, I thought I lost you there." He replied in a sarcastic tone.
Krista hysterically Laughed, Mum… I think, I'vemade a bunch of friends for life.
/
Author's notes
We dug into a little bit there, with Mika and Sash's rebuilt friendship will we see it turn into Krista's wet dream… personally I have no clue, I wasn't planning on making it Yuri but I can see it becoming a possibility, I was planning for a LevixSash, however I feel a bit awkward heading that way now due to the clear 'Sibling' viewpoint they got going on, not to mention it would ruin my plans for Levi in the future.
Hopefully the next chapter won't take toooo long… just a heads up though, I'm coming to the end of my college year so assignments are kicking in, this could (Most possibly) mean a long delay or wait… but that just depends. Anyways, always happy to get helpful feedback, I'm not a great writer and this is my first fanfic so it would be appreciated, also I would love to hear your opinions on what's happened so far, and where you would like to see it go.
Well that was kinda long, sorry about that… anyways I'm out peace y'all!