-Chapter 11-

Mikasa was lying on her bed. Tears were slightly streaming down her face; her heart ached with a strange pain. Mikasa had shut herself in the room after throwing Kyo out 4 days ago. She hadn't left her room ever since, not even to train. Those four days melted together and her depression closed in on her. She had been away from Eren for two weeks now but truly it seemed like it was an eternity. She sighed as she closed her eyes and was engulfed by his memory. She remembered that soft smile that he wore so well but she also remembered how feisty those soft lips could be. She remembered his tender look that also wore hatred for titans; his soft voice that would constantly reprimand Jean. Mikasa cried and didn't leave the room for what seemed an eternity.

"I wonder if you would get lonely without seeing your ugly girl for a month. We are having such a lovely time here. Oh but unfortunately I got sick, you see, so I couldn't make it to the mountains for the two weeks. 'No matter,' I thought to myself, 'after all, the party starts when I get there!' Haha! So I am writing this from the mountains.

But you know what? I am being very thoughtful towards you, cat. I am preparing you for the rest of your life! Loneliness is something you should have embraced by now! I told the Sohmas to spend two more weeks with me up at the mountains. Oh I hope you don't mind! I just love having everyone with me! Tohru seems to be getting along rather well with Yuki, you know. They spend every second they can together. You know what I think it is? Oh let me think…ah! Love. Yes, they are in love! But you've never felt it or heard of it, have you cat? Well no matter! I won't allow that stupid girl to ruin our happiness! I can just imagine her stupid expression when I separate Yuki from her after being so close with him.

Oh and just a quick question, Kyo. Do you think you can beat Yuki in two months? I mean, you started to fight before him and he still outranks you! Just give up and accept the fact of your future~!

Have fun thinking about how you're going to spend the rest of your miserable life.

-Akito"

Mikasa held the crumped letter in her hand. She had found it in the middle of the kitchen floor. She looked around and realized that she had not left that room for a long time. An odd feeling went through her stomach, was it guilt? She sighed as she put the letter on the counter. She realized that there was nothing she could do. She had done it all. All she could do was to give up. She saw a butterfly outside the window that was lightly fluttering from flower to flower. It was so free and careless.

She had to live on for him. Wasn't his dream to see the outside world?

…she was in the outside world.

Something inside of Mikasa clicked and turned.

"So. You're alive after all."

Mikasa looked down and took a deep breath. She turned to look at Kyo and slightly bowed,

"I apologize for my way of acting. You were gracious enough to let me borrow a room and I completely shut myself away."

"Oh, uh its fine. You don't have to bow!"

Mikasa lightly nodded and she looked at him with a sincere look in her eye,

"Can we start all over again?"

"S-sure. There's no need to…I understand you were going through a tough time. Sorry I couldn't be much of a help. What is that letter doing on the counter?"

Mikasa looked at him quietly, with a look Kyo figured out that she had read it. Mikasa was not sure whether he was upset or not.

"Kyo, who's Yuki? And Akito? …If I may ask?"

Kyo looked at her,

"I guess you can say that they're my family. It's a long story, really. And it's really annoying."

"Well, I'm not leaving any time soon. And…well you're not alone either. I can support you with whatever it is that you need." Mikasa felt as if he was a fellow soldier, she felt like it was her duty to be there for him. Kyo's eyes widened,

"Tch. You're crazy. No one wants to ever be with me, I'm going upstairs."

"Just because you're too scared to see it and accept it doesn't mean that it is not true." Mikasa called out to him.

"What do you know?" Kyo quietly said and went up the stairs.

Mikasa slightly shrugged; he definitely reminded her of Eren…but Kyo was his own person. Something inside of her wanted to get to know this strange person.

She began to make some soup; something fast and useful that she had learned during the soldier's camp. Mikasa brought the plates upstairs and after seeing that he wasn't in his room, she tried the roof.

"There you are." She easily went up without using her hands. A very surprised Kyo stood with his mouth hanging open,

"Oy! If you need help just say so!" He took a bowl from her and with an awkward 'thank you' he sat down.

"I didn't need help."

"…you might be good at physical labor…but your cooking sucks."

Mikasa went to sit next to him,

"We eat to survive, do we not? As long as you make it through the end of the day-"

"There can be another adventure the next day!" Kyo finished looking excited.

Mikasa nodded quietly,

"Just be safe."

"I can take care of-"

"Yes, I am aware you can take care of yourself. You remind me a lot of someone back at home." Mikasa felt a small stab in her heart.

An awkward silence filled the air; it was something Mikasa was used to though. Especially when she was with Jean and Eren.

"So, fill me in. I know nothing of this world and of your family."

"Yeah, well you chose the wrong family 'cause we're anything but normal in this world."

"Try me." Mikasa pressed on, her gaze melting onto his.

"Tch, fine. I guess it's a bit more…normal than huge titans eating everyone. So…well it all begins with a story. God was going to throw a party so he told the damn rat…"

And with that small story, Mikasa was introduced to a whole different world.