{Levi's P.O.V}
Three years ago those brats joined and now...they were still brats. Although the four of them have gotten most of their shit together, two of them seem to have left some behind. Bozado still copies the way I act, speak, dress, attack and most recently walk. Ral gets too close for comfort and it pissed Kerai off even though she won't say anything. In a way I was kind of glad she didn't whine about it though there are times where I wish she would open up to me. You'd think after nine years of knowing each other and eight of being married she's tell me when something was bothering her. I've talked to Eyebrows about it, he thinks it's just the way she was raised.
I turned my head to my right and came face to sleeping face with her. Kerai was deep in sleep even though it's now seven thirty in the morning. I wasn't going to wake her, I learned that the hard way several years ago. She nearly broke my neck, that's when I learned to never wake her up or to at least send the brats in to wake her. My left arm was numb but there wasn't anything that I could do, it was being used as her pillow. About forty minutes she finally stirred awake.
"Morning sleeping beauty."
"Ugh, it's too early. Five more minutes." She rolled over to her left side, curled into a ball and my arm was free.
"If you sleep any later, you'll be a pain in the ass later." I chuckled and placed a kiss to her forehead.
She groaned but eventually sat up. I went over and slipped on my clean uniform and went over to the mirror to finish up my cravat. Once that was in place I left to let Kerai get dressed and what not. Down stairs the brats were already done eating and ready to for training. I grabbed my coffee and started to brew Kerai's tea, though I honestly have no idea how she wants it. I finished brewing her tea and brought it to the table where she had appeared. She corcked an eyebrow but took the cup with a smile.
"You brewed Earl Grey Tea?" She asked and sipped her cup.
"More or less tried." I drank my coffee.
"Well for more or less trying, it's perfect. Thank you." She kissed my cheek and continued her drink.
"Yuck, can you two be anymore lovey dovey?" Sniffer asked sarcastically.
"Of course." I grabbed Kerai and crushed my lips to hers.
She was stunned at first but kissed back. Sniffer and Eyebrows groaned with disgust Shit-glasses was squealing as if it was the cutest thing ever. I pulled away after I felt Sniffer was fully disgusted and chuckled. Kerai was blushing like mad and playfully smacked my arm.
"B-baka. Min'na no mae de sore o shinaide kudasai." She sounded like she was embarrassed.
"Still have no damn idea what you say when you talk like that." Granted I was learning some Japanese for her, but I was still far behind her.
She glared at me and I rolled my eyes. She was easy to embarrass and her reactions where the best. Probably the most emotion you get out of her is embarrassment if you only kind of know her. Kerai finished her drink and went to the kitchen to put away the glass. I followed a few minutes behind her. Once everything was spotless she went off to her office to finish up some paper work before she was to leave for wall Sina. Her grandfather had recently fallen ill and needed her for a few days. Eyebrows and I were going to stay behind this time to give her some time alone with him. She was going to be up there for five days, which meant I had five days of worrying if she was going to be safe or not. Even when I went to Sina with her I still worried. Eyebrows doesn't seem to be worried, then again half the time you can't even tell he has emotions.
As much as I would love to stay by her side till she left, I still had to train the brats. Over these past three years they've gotten better, Olou still bites his tongue every time he speaks, Gunther was more outspoken, Eld was a perfect fit for second in command. Then there was Ral, she was still as clingy and annoying as day one. She seems to be less annoying when Kerai was around, which was another downside to having her gone. It's just five days, everything will be fine.
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{Kerai's P.O.V}
The remaining paperwork I had took an hour and forty minutes to complete, honestly that was too short. Secretly I was dreading going back to Sina for many reasons. One grandfather may die while I'm there, two Levi won't be with me and the reason that gnawed at me the most was three. Petra would still be here with Levi. Of course I know Levi is mine and I his, but ever since I found out she liked him I couldn't rest easy leaving the two of them alone. It wasn't that I didn't trust Levi, it was her I didn't trust. I bit my inner lip and tried to think of something I could do to take longer to leave. But then I was faced with the problem that grandfather and Kohaku said it was urgent that I get to Matris as soon as possible. I took one last quick look around my office and decided that I should go.
I went back upstairs to mine and Levi's room, grabbed my bag and headed back downstairs. Once outside I headed to the stables and got Tsubaki ready for the trip. She seemed to be excited to head back to Sina, then again she was always excited to travel. I made sure my bags were secured to her before I went to find Levi. He was in the forested area practicing his titan killing. I waited patiently for him to finish up then flagged him down.
"You sure you want to go alone?" He asked.
"Yeah, it'll be quicker that way. It won't be a long trip, the days will go by quick." I smiled and he took my hands in his.
"Just be safe." He pressed his warm lips to mine and smiled.
"Promise, keep the cadets in line while I'm gone. Kay?"
"Alright." He walked me over to Tsubaki and I rode off to Sina.
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On horseback, the trip lasted about five hours and as per usual it was long and boring. I slid off of Tsubaki and walked up to the familiar pathway to the old house. In the lawn i could see Kohaku and Milaya standing behind grandfather in his wheelchair looking into the sky mindlessly. The three of them didn't seem to notice my presence but from behind Laya's legs came a little running and stumbling menace. My little nephew, Nikku, had spotted me and got giggly. His wavy light brown hair bounced and his bright blue eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Auntie, Auntie." He said when he was a few feet from me.
"Hey there trouble." I scooped him up in my arms and rested him on my right hip.
Not knowing how to fully talk he just giggled and somewhat gurgled. Laya and Kohaku noticed I was here and walked over. The two of them seemed to be happier each time I see them. Before I thought they were just crazy, but now I understood why. Nikku started to reach out for Laya when she got closer.
"I think this menace is your's." I smiled and handed him over to Laya.
"Maybe. How are you Kerai?" She smiled.
"Eh, same as always you?"
"Horrible." She said sarcastically, I swear she only knows how to be happy.
"Hey Kei-san." Kohaku pulled me into a hug.
"Hey stranger." I returned the hug. "So, how's grandfather doing?"
"Physically, okay. Mentally, he's starting to lose it." He looked over at him with a sad expression. "They say he'll go at the end of the week."
"I see."
"Why don't you go talk with him, I'll put Tsubaki away." Kohaku took her reins and started to walk her to the stables.
Grandfather was looking to the clouds, probably finding different shapes with in them. I walked up next to him but stayed quiet. I followed his gaze and tried to find some shapes within the clouds. I couldn't find any though, my eyes seemed to focus on the darker clouds rolling in. It gave me an odd feeling, as if something wasn't right.
"A storm is coming." He said after a few minutes.
"I see. How are you doing?" I looked down at him and placed my left hand on his right shoulder.
"I'm fine, sweet." He placed his hand on mine and continued to look at the sky. "Have you gotten things settled with that cadet?"
"Eh, for the most part. She still tries to be close to him when I'm not around."
"Are you worried?"
"In a way." I admitted.
He squeezed my hand. "Don't be. If he was smart enough to get you, I doubt he would be dumb enough to let you go."
I let out a nervous laugh and looked back at the sky. "It's going to rain soon, let's get you inside."
"Alright." With his approval I wheeled him back inside.
The evening passed by slowly, for the most part I just listened to grandfather tell stories from years before. They were the same stories he told me as a child, but I still loved hearing them. Most were from his time in the Scouting Legion, the same stories that inspired Kanako to join. At some point, he dozed off midstory and Jun came and took him to his room. I stayed in the study and read a random book till dawn. Admittedly I wanted to sleep and probably should have, but my insomnia kept me up. When the first morning rays came pouring into the study, a knot feeling formed in my core. It was similar to the feeling I got eight years ago when Levi was nearly crushed by that abnormal. Something bad was going to happen, or something bad was happening back at H.Q. I put the book down and pulled my legs to my chest, Maybe it's just my imagination from lack of sleep. That has to be it.
Throughout the day I kept an eye out for anything that seemed wrong, but nothing stood out. The rain clouds from last night were still hanging around and every now and then a light mist would start. Almost every other two hours a small tremor went off, the first thought that came to mind every time was 'titan'. But that thought was quickly followed by Titan's couldn't get in wall Sina, let alone Mitras. A little later into the evening I got bored and decided to practice my calligraphy. The old grandfather clock struck seven and as if that was some cue and huge earthquake hit. It lurched me into the desk and from off towards the old building I heard the sound of something crashing to the floor and a loud female scream, Laya. Even with the trembling still going on, I rushed out into the hallway and down towards the old building. About half way there the shaking stopped, which meant I could run normally. It took me a few more seconds to reach the old building and when I did, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
There before me was a giant hole in the wall and the section that created that hole had landed on Kohaku. Laya, Nikku and grandfather were all staring in horror. I rushed over to Kohaku and kneeled down to pry off the section of wall. It was times like this I was glad that I had titan strength. Once the wall was off of him, he let out a moan of pain and I could see why. A rib had poked through his chest and most likely every bone in his body was crushed, he was bleeding and bleeding fast. Fear had now sunken in, I feel to my knees and visibly shook. I carefully moved his head so that it was in my lap, he winced but seemed happy how he was now.
"Ko-kohaku." My voice trembled even with it just being above a whisper.
"K-Kerai, don't l-look like t-that." He wheezed and weakly placed his right hand on my cheek, I held with there gently.
"J-just stay still, we'll get the nur-"
"Don't."
"What do you mean don't?" My voice raised to a higher pitch in concern.
"I mean, just let it be." He smiled. "H-hey Kei, can you do me a favor?"
I couldn't trust my voice anymore so I just nodded my head.
"Do you remember that lullaby mother used to sing to us when you were little?" He asked.
"Y-yeah."
"C-can you sing it?" I was confused by his request. "I want to listen to it one more time."
"O-of course." I forced a smile onto my face.
I closed my eyes to think about it, slowly the words came back to me. I started humming the melody before actually singing it. (Safe and Sound) As I sung, it began to rain the thunder didn't help things. The closer to the end of the song I got the thicker my throat became. I was watching his breathing carefully and it was becoming slower by the second. His hand began to slip away, he was slipping away.
"Just close your eyes, you'll be alright...Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound~" His eyes closed and his hand fell down.
My vision began to blur as I fought back the tears, I tried to focus on something anything to get the tears to not come. He died smiling, he's at peace. Kohaku is safe now. I looked over to Laya and grandfather, she was crying her eyes out and it looked like he wanted to too. I pressed my head to Kohaku's as if to say a final goodbye, I began to hiccup as if I was crying a lot but not a tear has escaped. He wouldn't want me to cry, not even at his death.
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{Grandfather( Nikolite)'s P.O.V}
I wish I was able to cry, but I haven't since I was a child. Poor Milaya and Kerai, neither of them could have expected this. After a few minutes Jun returned with some of the other helpers and began cleaning up. Milaya left to her room and Kerai went and locked herself in her study. Once again, the clouds were right. Death came and took my grandson with him.
During his funeral the next day it continued to lightly rain. Milaya cried, Nikku had no idea what was going on and Kerai watched but never let a tear escape her now cold violet eyes. The day after the funeral I wasn't able to get out of bed, my time was drawing near. If I was to delay to tomorrow then it will be painful for everyone, but if I can leave today then it would be easier on everyone.
I had Jun tell Kerai to come to my room an hour before my inevitable death. Thinking about it, most men in my position would be freaking out. I on the other hand had been preparing for my death day since I was able to comprehend the concept of death and life. A soft knock on my door let me know Kerai had arrived.
"Enter." She walked in quietly and sat down by my bed.
I placed my hand closest to her on her leg and she held it with both her hands. Never once have I seen her so devastated by death. She trained in the Survey Corps. and dealt with death on a daily basis. But now it would appear to be the first time she's ever saw someone die.
"Kerai, why didn't you cry?" I asked.
"Kohaku told me not to cry when he died and father said-"
"I understand your brothers wishes but you're still listening to your fool of a father?" I spoke in a now raspy voice.
"Y-yeah."
"Kei, do you see that journal on my dresser next to you?" She grabbed the journal. "I want to give you that journal. It has everything I've been meaning to tell you but have run out of time." Her grip on my hand tightened.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure." I gave her the closed eyed smile she loved so dearly. "One more thing before I pass. It's alright to cry, your father thought it was a sign of weakness. In reality it lets people know you've been strong for too long."
"I understand, but I'm afraid if I cry now I won't be able to stop." She said and her voice broke.
"I'm sorry to leave you in such a state, but know this. No matter what happens, no matter where you are or what you do I will always love you."
"And I love you."
I felt at peace knowing she knew that she would always be loved. I felt my body resting and my pulse slow. I closed my eyes and smiled thinking back on my life. If I had a chance to redo anything, I wouldn't changed a thing I did.
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{Kerai's P.O.V}
I watched his chest stop moving and his hand relaxed. Nikolite, my grandfather was gone. In a way I was happy he wouldn't have to deal with the pain of this world anymore. But I also wished that he hadn't left so soon after Kohaku. For the first time in my entire life I felt as if the hard exterior I had built up over the years was shattering, I was shattering. I squeezed his hand one last time and left his room, there was no reason for me to stay in Mitras any longer. If I was going to break, I was going to break with Levi near by so I'd have someone there. I ran up to my room, snatched my bag, ran back down to the stables, mounted Tsubaki and rode back to Trost.
I didn't waste any time on the way back, each galope got blurrier. I took two hours to return to base, once there I swung off of Tsubaki with my bag and sent her to the stables. A cadet walked up to me and saluted.
"Welcome back, Corporal."
"Thank you cadet. Please put this bag in my room." I handed him my bag.
"Yes ma'am." He saluted and walked off towards the main building.
I walked into the mess hall and started looking for Levi. My hands and arms started to shake so I held my sides to contain it. My eyes landed on Olou so I decided it would be a wise idea to ask him about Levi's whereabouts.
"Olou, do you know where Levi is?" I asked.
"Who the-Oh, captain, you're back. Welcome, Levi is in his office but I wouldn't bother him if I were you." He greeted, answered and cautioned.
"Thank you, but this wouldn't be the first time I've interrupted him." I walked over to his office.
"Ma'am with all do respect, I really wouldn't disturb him at this time." He stepped in front of me just as we reached his door.
"Bozado, this is something I have to discuss with Levi right now. Please move out of my way." My voice softened towards the end.
He made no move to get out of my way, so I stepped around him and turned the knob to open his door. I opened the door just enough to put my foot through.
"Levi, I-" I stopped mid sentence.
There, standing in the middle of Levi's office was Levi and Petra...full fledged making out. My heart sank, the shaking got worse and I lost my voice. I looked away and quietly closed the door. I stood in front of his door for a minute before turning around, avoiding eye contact with Olou and headed towards my office. Once in there, I locked the door and sat down on the couch. I pulled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. My breathing became ragged and cold beads of water began to cascade down my cheeks from my eyes. I let out a quiet wail and buried my face into my knees and cried as if I was a five year old. This week was the worst thing ever, first I loose my family and now my husband. I had nothing left, and the more I thought about it the harder I cried.
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{Erwin's P.O.V}
It had been quiet for a while, when all the sudden I began to hear what sounded like someone crying. I left my office and just a few doors down the origin of the sound became louder, it was coming from Kerai's office. I knocked on the door, no response only the sound of crying.
"Kerai?" I asked and knocked again.
"G-go...a-away." She muttered in between sobs.
With that I pulled out my keys and unlocked her door. Inside was a sight I never thought I'd live to see, Kerai was balling her eyes out. I closed the door and walked over to her. She had balled herself up on the couch and was hiccuping from crying so hard. I kneeled down in front of her and placed my hands on her shoulders. She shot straight up and looked terrified.
"E-erwin?" She asked in a broken quiet voice.
"Kerai, what in the hell happened to you?" My voice flooded with concern.
Her eyes watered up again and she started to cry again. In between sobs she told me what had happened in Mitras and what had happened in Levi's office. Anger rose up inside me, not at what happened in Mitras but how Levi had hurt my little sister, blood or not. I called for cadet Jinn to stay with her while I went to have a talk with Corporal Levi. I found him walking around the mess hall with a bored expression on his face. I marched up to him, picked him up by his collar and slammed him into the wall.
"The fuck do you think you're doing Eyebrows?" He growled.
"Shut it Ackerman. How in the hell do you go and stab Kerai in the back like that you little bastard?" I seethed, pure rage filling my eyes.
"What the fuck are you talking about? I haven't stabbed Kerai in the back." He tried to get out of my grasp which tightened.
I slammed him into the wall again. "Don't play dumb you moron. She saw you kissing cadet Ral." I barked.
By now everyone had gathered in the hall, including the cadet which I would have to punish later as well. A light went off in Levi's head and it was obvious. I dropped him on the ground and took a step back.
"That wasn't what it looked like." He defended.
"Try telling that to Kerai. Because of you she's balling her eyes out." I snapped and walked over cadet Ral. "As for you, you are on restrictions and you'll be moved to a temporary squad until further notice." I went back to my office to draw up the paperwork.
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{Levi's P.O.V}
I watched Eyebrows walk to his office, this was the first time I'd ever seen him pissed. I glared daggers towards that bitch who's screwed everything up. She looked confused but I really couldn't fucking care less. I turned my glare to everyone else, who quickly dispersed. I went over to Kerai's office, the door was standing open. Kerai was on the couch crying while cadet Jinn was trying to calm her. I carefully walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't move but her sobbs eased some.
"Kerai?" I said in a soft voice.
"Go away." She mumbled.
"Kerai, I won't-"
"Go away." She barked.
"No, not until I know you are-"
"Just go away you bastard." She jerked upright and slapped my hand away.
The look on her face kind of startled me. Her violet eyes were now red and puffy, they were cold and lifeless. Her brows were knitted together and anger emanated from every part of her. I didn't know what to do, I'd never dealt with someone in this state of being. I wanted to comfort her but the more I tried the angrier she became.
"Captain, with all do respect. I think it's be best if you leave her alone for a while." Cadet Jinn was right.
I knew there was no arguing and nothing I could say. Reluctantly I turned and left her office. As soon as I was out of her office, I heard her cry harder than she had been when I had walked in. I felt a pain in my chest, to think everything we had built up over the years was shattered in the matter of minutes.
