August 9th, 5:52 PM

Quarantine Zone

The evening was quiet in the hospital, Mikasa was asleep in bed, Sebastian asleep beside her. Eren had just woken up from a long nap himself..and he was relieved and shocked to feel, his fever had gone down.

It wasn't completely gone, but it was a lot better. And judging by what he was seeing, it was the same for everyone. The vomiting stopped, and any patients who were entering the final stage, were also shoving huge improvements.

In the bed across the room, Historia was waking up. "Historia..! Sweetie, can you see me?", Ymir cried fearfully, she hadn't left her girlfriend's side this entire time.

Especially since Historia was just entering the third and final stage of the illness. She had started to go blind, and have seizures.

Historia sat up weakly, holding a hand to her forehead. She blinked several times, her eyes glassy. "I..I can see you but..the edges are fuzzy..", she admitted.

"Her eyesight might be forever damaged..", Dr. Akira shined a bright light in Historia's eyes, as Ymir wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"But..that's to be expected. Other than needing some extra guidance in walking, she should be okay...although its too early to promise anything", the doctor admitted worriedly.

Historia continued to blink, and rub her eyes, but the edges of her vision remained terribly blurry. The only part that was clear, was straight ahead.

But to the left, right, up and down, it was like a thick mist. "I'll help you Historia, I promise", Ymir assured her, hugging her close.

Sebastian's vomiting had stopped completely, and he was finally getting some legit sleep. Armin's nausea also ended, and he too had gotten some decent sleep.

Eren gently felt Mikasa's forehead...and sure enough, her fever had gone down. It was still a fever, but it now felt more like a cold, rather than something dangerous.

He exhaled shakily in relief, leaning back in his chair. Mikasa stirred weakly, lifting her eyelids open slowly. Her breathing was still labored from her injury, but she was slowly healing.

"E-Eren...?", she asked. "Hey..", Eren spoke softly. Mikasa blinked weakly, she turned, to see Sebastian fast asleep beside her.

She gave a shaky sigh of relief. "Thank God...", she breathed, relaxing. "It seems the vaccine is working...Armin stopped vomiting, and Krista's awake...Sasha and Jean are doing better as well, so is Connie...", Eren explained.

"But..we still have the radiation...", Mikasa said weakly. "Just until they produce a cure...at least we're safe from death for now..", Eren pointed out.

Mikasa winced softly then, placing a hand over her chest. "Mikasa? Are you in pain?", asked Eren worriedly.

"Y-Yeah...", Mikasa admitted, nodding weakly. "Get some rest...you should be able to focus more on recovering your injury, now that your fever's down...", Eren tucked her in, as Mikasa turned onto her side, breathing shakily.

Just as Mikasa drifted off to sleep, Armin came over. "Looks like it's working...", he said, sitting next to Eren.

"You're looking a lot better..", Eren looked relieved as he said this.

"I know..I feel almost well...you?", Armin asked. "Same..I still have a fever but its..not that noticeable now", Eren admitted, placing a hand over his own forehead.

"How's Mikasa holding up?", asked Armin concerned. "As well as she can...I mean her fever's down but..her injury is still healing", Eren replied, worried.

Armin bit his lip. "Have you...heard from Annie?", he asked then. Eren went silent for a few seconds, not looking at Armin.

"...No. It's good she's away from all this...", he answered. Before Armin could press the topic, Eren spoke again.

"Mikasa's...breathing is still pretty bad. I should make sure they have her oxygen up enough...", he said then, standing up.

Armin's eyes softened, as Eren walked off. He knew from what Eren told him originally, Eren and Annie were dating.

But...with all this happening...Eren didn't seem to be that worried about Annie. His attention seemed to mainly be on Mikasa.

He did save her life but...Armin wondered, if...perhaps, deeper feelings could be developing.

Three Days Later...

Quarantine Zone, 1:00 PM

A grand total of 5000 people were in this specific hospital, all infected with Zetsumetsu, but treated with Anti X, but there were other hospitals in Tokyo, all turned into Quarantine Zones, held even more patients.

And it was about to reveal how large of a scale this radiation was. Because there were so many patients, Dr. Akira set up a live report to air on the news, on TV.

That way, all the patients could watch it. No matter if they were in their room, or the waiting room. Even the cafeteria.

And it would be also seen in all the hospitals in Tokyo. Now that everyone was treated, they could be given their own rooms, instead of being in a crowded corridor.

Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Sebastian were in Mikasa's room, since she was still too injured to move out of bed, Sasha, and Connie were in the cafeteria, while Ymir and Historia were in Historia's room. Jean was in his own room.

Because everyone was infected, they were allowed to walk throughout the hospital, but they were not allowed to leave the property.

The news turned on, and everyone watched, holding their breath as Dr. Akira began speaking.

"Good afternoon...my name is Dr. Akira, and I've been treating the Zetstumestu patients in Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, or its current dubbed name, Quarantine Zone #2...", Dr. Akira began.

"There are a total 20 Hospitals in Tokyo...and each of these 20 hospitals, have been turned into Quarantine Zones for Zetsumetsu patients. At my hospital, there's a total of 5000 patients infected with the Mutated Radiation..", he cleared his throat.

"A grand total...of 28 Million are infected..in other words, 90% of Tokyo's population...", Dr. Akira revealed.

Everyone went dead quiet, horrified. "The other 10% percent are dead from the Radiation...all 28 Million of these people are being held at all the hospitals...however due to lack of room, many have been transported to hospitals outside of Tokyo, by the army...", Dr. Akira went on.

"Currently, all of the patients have been treated with Anti X, a vaccine that prevents death, and lessens the symptoms. However, it does nothing more than pause the illness. Until an actual cure can be found...patients are not allowed to leave the hospitals, or Tokyo for that matter, to prevent the disease from spreading to the rest of Japan, and the world", Dr. Akira explained.

"Until a cure can be found, everyone infected must stay at the hospitals, and not leave the property...and they especially cannot leave the city. The Zetsumetsu patients are highly contagious. No one is allowed in or out of Tokyo except the army...", he continued.

"In addition, several tourists from America, Europe, and even Russian were infected, and cannot return to their homes, and many of those tourists have died...", he added.

"There is still no information on the terrorist group behind this... but we do know..they successfully infected the entire population of Tokyo, and managed to end the lives of 10% of that population...", Dr. Akira said.

"How can there still be no information?!", Connie growled, as Sasha shook her head.

"So..we're supposed to just live here? For how long?", Ymir asked, frustrated. "For as long as it takes...", Krista looked down grimly.

Jean was silent in his room..still haunted by his memory of Marco's death. Dr. Akira continued on the TV.

"As of now, we stand at simply keeping the disease contained in Tokyo, and working on a cure, as well as trying to uncover the terrorists who did this", Dr. Akira finished.

"So that's it...we're trapped here", Eren growled. "It could be a lot worse...", Armin pointed out, as Mikasa remained quiet, her oxygen on.

"So..what can we do?", asked Sebastian anxiously. "We just wait..its all we can do for now...", Mikasa replied, as she breathed deeply.

September 23rd

11: 34 AM

Quarantine Zone

Six full weeks had went by, and Mikasa was finally almost fully healed physically from her injury. Her broken ribs were fully healed, and her collapsed lung was nearly better.

She was able to finally get out of bed, and walk around. She also needed less oxygen each day. It was close to lunch, and she and Eren were walking to the cafeteria.

A very bored Sebastian was playing Pin Pong with Connie and Sasha in a break room, while Armin was reading in the hospital's library.

Ymir was helping Historia around the corridors with her cane, while Jean was sitting in the waiting room, watching the TV.

Because they couldn't leave, all the patients could do was live some type of life in quarantine, until a breakthrough was heard about.

It was becoming very containing...they were allowed to go outside, but there wasn't much to do. It was starting to feel like a cage to them.

However, they didn't complain. They were lucky to be alive, plus it wasn't like an asylum. They had access to TV, they could walk around the hospital, go outside in the fence, eat where ever they wanted, along with a library.

As Eren and Mikasa walked down the corridor, they noticed a TV on in one of them. It was on the news, simply covering everything known so far about the attack.

Mikasa stopped in her tracks, her eyes darkened and she froze...seeing footage of her old home. The two destroyed apartments were being bulldozed completely for the time being.

Eren stopped as well, his eyes softened. Mikasa starred at the TV, her heart beating fast. Her home...her parents...it was all gone.

She realized it already but...seeing it again...it was too much for her. She placed a hand to her forehead, wincing, getting a severe migraine.

She had been getting them often..it was from both the sickness...and the PTSD from all of this.

"Mikasa..?", Eren started worriedly, when Mikasa felt her stomach heave. She covered her mouth, and saw a nearby tall trashcan. She bolted for it, and threw up violently.

"Mikasa!", Eren sprinted to her side, rubbing her back, and holding her long hair out of the way. Mikasa coughed, whimpering as she exhaled, finishing.

"Are you all right..?", Eren asked her fearfully, as Mikasa caught her breath. She gave a shaky nod, facing him.

"I think so...", she replied, looking down. Eren studied her...and he suddenly felt panic strike him. What if...the vaccine was wearing off?

He quickly felt her forehead, surprising her. "E-Eren..!", Mikasa blinked, feeling her cheeks turn red. "You don't have a fever...maybe Dr. Akira should check you...to be safe", Eren insisted, fearfully.

Mikasa understood then. "No..I think I'm okay Eren. It was just..the shock of seeing..my home like that still...I feel okay aside from my migraine...", she assured him.

"Are you sure?", pressed Eren worriedly. Mikasa felt herself grow redder by his worry. She gave him a small smile.

"I promise..besides, I don't want to send needless paranoia. They might isolate me from you all..and my brother needs me near him", she explained.

Eren nodded, understanding. "Just...please let me know if you start feeling real sick, okay?", he asked her. "I will..", Mikasa replied.

They fell quiet for a few seconds, just hearing the news on the TV.

"Do you..have any other family or friends?", asked Mikasa softly then. "Oh...well..there's Annie..she's a childhood friend. But she's not in Tokyo..so..I'm sure she's safe", Eren answered, biting his lip.

"I see...it was just...our parents, me and Sebastian..so..", Mikasa looked down. "I guess in a way..right now, we're a new family. We only have each other in this isolation...", Eren pointed out.

Mikasa looked at him, she remained quiet. She then stepped closer to him. "Eren...I don't know..if I've ever thanked you...for saving my life...my brother's life...", she said then.

Eren averted his gaze from her. "Like I said before...it was really your brother...", he said. "I know but...you pulled me out of that wreckage, you gave me CPR...my little brother would have never been able to lift that wreckage, and he doesn't even know CPR...I would have died if it wasn't for you...", Mikasa pointed out.

Eren remained quiet. "So...thank you...so much. Not just for saving my life...you wrapped this scarf around me...and you took care of me, even when you were sick yourself. You watched over me all night...almost every night...", Mikasa continued.

Eren blinked then. "You're...still wearing it", he just realized. Mikasa gently placed her hand over the red scarf.

"It kept me warm..", she whispered. "I'm glad...", Eren smiled softly. Mikasa smiled gently, as she gazed up into Eren's eyes for a moment.

They made eye contact, and both turned red a bit. They also realized how close they were standing to each other. "Let me just..make sure you don't have a fever for sure, okay?", Eren gently went to feel her forehead again.

"Eren, really, I'm okay!", Mikasa insisted, she went to take a step back, and Eren accidentally tripped, as they both fell.

Mikasa released a cry of surprise, as she hit the floor, Eren on top of her. When Eren opened his eyes, he froze up, turning bright red, his hand had accidentally landed on her left breast.

Mikasa was starring at him, extremely red herself, both of them holding their breath. When suddenly, Eren felt something hard hit his back.

"OW!", he flinched. "GET OFF MY SISTER YOU PERVERT!", Sebastian had hit him with a broom, as Eren managed to get off of Mikasa.

"S-Sorry!", Eren apologized, flushed. Mikasa sat up, hugging herself, still very red and in shock herself.

"Sis! Are you hurt?! Did he do anything else? I can find you a rape whistle!", Sebastian fussed then, he had become freakishly protective of his older sister since what happened.

"No..no, Sebastian, it's okay...it was an accident", Mikasa assured him, she blushed at Eren, who tried to avoid eye contact both of them embarrassed.

"Are you sure?", insisted Sebastian. "Yes Sebastian", Mikasa stood up, as Eren remained red. "Let's..go get some lunch", he said.

Mikasa nodded, as they started walking with Sebastian. Sebastian glared at Eren, and pointed his two fingers to his own eyes, then at Eren, as in saying "I'm keeping my eye on you"

September 28th, 2: 07 AM

Quarantine Zone

It was late at night, everyone one asleep. Mikasa slept soundly in bed, wearing her red scarf. Sebastian had his own bed in the room with her.

Over the passed week...romantic tension remained between Mikasa and Eren. Given the circumstances, nothing had happened between them yet, but their feelings became more and more obvious each day.

They also..needed each other in order to emotionally heal. Mikasa found herself spacing off, thinking about Eren often, and Eren was going through the same thing.

Armin especially noticed their closeness. As well as Sebastian.

Mikasa was actually dreaming of herself and Eren...it was such a silly and random dream to be having...but it wasn't like she could help it.

In the dream, things were normal..there was no attack, her parents were still alive...and she and Eren were going on a date.

With her parents approval, along with Sebastian's...they simply went out for milkshakes, and then to see a movie.

But her peaceful, nice dream was interrupted when she felt Sebastian shaking her. "Sis! Sis, wake up!", Sebastian said urgently, shaking her shoulder.

Mikasa groaned a bit, glancing up at him. "What is it Sebastian...?", she asked sleepily. "Something's happening!", Sebastian answered, he sounded scared.

Mikasa froze then, hearing what sounded like a loud siren...she sat up quickly. Were they being attacked again?

"Sebastian, stay close to me! Don't let go of my hand!", she insisted urgently, as she threw her long nightgown on, having just been in loose shirt and underwear, since it was still very hot out.

Sebastian nodded, gripping onto her hand, as Mikasa exited her room. She saw other patients exiting as well.

"Eren!", she spotted him and Armin. "Mikasa!", Eren hurried up to her. "What's going on? Another attack?", asked Mikasa urgently.

"We don't know, no doctors told us to evacuate our rooms, but there's a siren going off, Jean and the rest are going to see what it is", Armin answered.

"Let's follow them", Eren took Mikasa's free hand...it made her blush ever so slightly, but the idea of another terrorist bombing..she was too scared to feel much of anything else right now but fear.

The group followed the other patients, and they noticed bright lights coming from outside, behind the hospital.

Everyone hurried over there, and could see the staff, along with the MP in the back yard of the hospital.

Climbing the tall fence were two young men. "What's happening?!", Eren asked a nurse. "Two patients are trying to escape..but if they do, they could spread this disease further...come on now, everyone back to their rooms!", the nurses tried to get the patients to get back inside, but it was to no avail, everyone wanting to know what was happening.

"Sasuke Misaki and Akio Tomoe, come down from the fence now!", ordered an MP member. "You'll only spread the disease further!", Dr. Akira added.

"No way! We're not gonna live like prisoners! This is a bird cage!", Sasuke yelled, as he continued to climb.

"We're going CRAZY in this hospital!", Akio added. "This is a hospital to help you get better! What are you so afraid of?!", Dr. Akira pressed.

"We know what's going to happen! This isn't going to stay a hospital for long! We're all going to become test subjects! The government's going to take this place over! We're all going to DIE!", Sasuke yelled then.

The patients all murmured, and some began to panic. "Test subjects..?", Armin froze up, while Eren's eyes widened.

"Sis..what does he mean?", Sebastian asked. "I don't know...", Mikasa admitted, holding her brother close.

"What do you know?!", Eren demanded then. "Eren, get back!", Dr. Akira ordered. "Is he telling the truth?!", Sasha asked.

"No, they're just crazy from cabin fever!", a nurse snapped, frustrated. "We're all pawns! This is part of something bigger!", Akio said then.

Eren froze, he glared then. "WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?! TELL ME!", he ordered, surprising Mikasa and Armin.

Akio and Sasuke glared, and began climbing the fence. "STOP THEM!", ordered Dr. Akira. The two guys climbed over. Sasuke got over successfully, and dropped down on the other side, but Akio flinched, yelling out in pain, his leg stabbed by barb wire.

"Akio!", Sasuke froze. "GO! RUN SASUKE!", Akio yelled, his leg bleeding nonstop. Sasuke gritted his teeth hesitating, but then made a sprint, as soldiers ran to recover Akio.

"We can't let him escape!", Dr. Akira yelled, as Sasuke ran fast. Suddenly, without any warning at all, a gunshot was heard, causing everyone to scream and duck down in terror.

Mikasa held onto her brother, as Eren held onto Mikasa. Mikasa opened her eyes, and saw Sasuke, who had made it several feet from the fence..was shot dead. She looked up shakily, seeing a sniper in a hospital window, from the MP.