Chapter 9-Just Like When We Were Little (This chapter is dedicated to Keith Shadis and my brother, whom I love very much. He is my first best friend.)

5 A.M.

I didn't really sleep since last night. Keith coughed up blood and collapsed on his bedroom floor. John and I aided him until the doctor and four nurses took him into a carriage to the hospital. John and Peter left soon after, not wanting to become a burden in my sorrow. Levi consoled me until he fell asleep. I put him to bed at around midnight but could not find any rest for myself. I tried closing my eyes, counting sheep, and working out my muscles to tire my body. The only good it did was making me sweaty and sore. I wanted to go into the carriage but the doctor said it would not do the patient any good. I stayed home all night waiting for the chance to go and visit my brother in the morning. Levi awoke as I was getting ready for a shower. He decided to make breakfast to calm his own nerves from freaking out over his best friend being sent to the hospital. After the shower, I got dressed and smelled toast from the kitchen. I quickly ate and told Levi to hurry up. He almost choked on his breakfast as I hurried out the door. You looked behind yourself to make sure he followed after me as I ran down the road. I made a skid to the left and saw the hospital building in sight.

As I got closer, Levi started yelling at me to slow down, like hell I was. I need to see my brother, I have to make sure he is okay. I do slow to a walk as I proceed inside the sanitized building but keep my rushed pace. Levi soon caught up when I reached the secretary's desk. She asks if she can help us and returns her attention to the paperwork on her desk.

"Which room is Keith Shadis in? The Squad Leader of the military! He's bald, has a small beard, baggy eyes, large forehead wrinkles from stress, he's in his early 30's. Please tell me where I can find him?" I practically beg her to tell me where my brother is. Levi pulls me back because I sprawled my arms across her desk towards her. The secretary looks up and smiles.

"He's in the third door on the left on the second floor. Room 242, I believe, the doctor was quite worried he wouldn't make it but he was really lucky." After hearing the room number, I ran up the stairs, not bothering to wait for Levi or any other kind of information. The secretary began again as soon as I left, "Please take care of her." She smiled sadly at Levi and went back to her work. Levi was caught off guard by her plea but followed after you nonetheless.

"Keith, please wake up!" I kept screaming at his face but my voice would not reach him. He was apparently in his resting period, a.k.a. a coma. I kept hoping he would wake up soon. I heard Eren went into one these once, he was lucky to haven awoken in a few hours or days. Some cases were known to go on months or even years. I felt tears starting to well up as I thought about the situation becoming drastic. I shook my head and wiped my eyes. He's not dead yet, he will live and then we can go home and I can scold him about his health. I nodded in agreement to myself as I tried to think about something else.

Levi P.O.V.

After arriving to the door, I was stopped by the doctor, I turned to see his forced smile. What I heard next, I would have never believed it had he not been a very experienced doctor. The doctor said he had a very common disease from hundreds of years ago from too much sun light exposure, skin cancer, Keratinocyte cancer. I asked if it was curable and for how much and how to stop the disease. The doctor shook his head. He told me it was not curable, the disease was already reaching its final stages and slowly eating away the victim's cells. He said he didn't know how much longer Keith had, could be months or days. I shivered at the thought that Keith could actually die within a few days. I had no idea how to relay the news to _. She was sitting beside his bed, holding his hand while I was just outside the door. I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news so I told the doctor to tell her in a gentle way. He went in while I sat in wooden bench just outside the door. I did not want to see her reaction. I don't think I could handle her crying face or her fury afterwards. I patiently waited outside while I heard her yelling inside. The doctor ran out and said he was sorry. He ran down the hall to treat another patient while she would take the time to calm down. Before I entered, a chair flew past me as I opened the door. She was breathing heavily, her teeth gritted, and her eyes filled to the brim with tears. She was very angry, that much I could tell, but I knew that somehow she would have to accept Keith's fate. Her knees drop to the floor as she begins her sobbing. I kneel in front of her and lift her chin. She looks at me with her sad eyes and a runny nose. She was always a mess when she cried her heart out. I gently pulled her close to me so she could cry on my shoulder. She tugs onto me harder and could not stop the tears from falling. Keith was resting quietly in his hospital bed, unknowing of his unfortunate news. We stayed on the floor until she could breathe properly and I soon got her a box of tissues. Before I knew it, she needed another box. I went to get more as she went back to sit next her brother. I smiled sadly at the two siblings as I walked out the door, I could only hope for some miracle. Once I found a new box, I headed back and saw a nurse trying to shoo _ away. She almost punched the nurse but I quickly intercepted, telling her to calm down and follow me out the door.

We went to grab lunch but only sat in silence. I knew it would take time for her to cope with the fate of her brother. I looked down at my tea and glared at it. I knew I couldn't blame anyone else for our problems but life just seemed to only become more cruel and never let us stand with absolutely no weight on our shoulders. After eating, _ headed back to the hospital. I decided to check up on my work at headquarters. This routine of visiting Keith daily was affecting _ as a military officer. I would have to drag her to the military base so she wouldn't fall behind on her work.

It has been a few days since that fateful night. I glance to my side to see her beauty slowly dissipating as each day passes. She hasn't left her brother's side since the morning of her first visit whenever she didn't have to work. I'm glad that I finally got her to leave the place after so long of not sleeping. I told her Keith would be okay if she left for only a few days. The trainees were coming in tomorrow and she would need to stay strong and healthy in order to discipline them into fine soldiers.

READER POV

"Today is monday, the best day of the week." I exclaimed, sarcastically. I wasn't pleased with my job and had to stop visiting my brother so often. Today was the day for the new trainees to start in the military. I wasn't mad at the trainees, no, I'm mad at my boss for not giving me some time off. I glance over to my right to see John and Peter giving their speech to their own group. They seem excited to be in charge of their own group. I just hope the power of authority doesn't get to their heads. To my left, I see Armin, all grown up and much taller than I last remember him. His hair also got a little longer. He styled it into a cute half-ponytail. He looks toward me and smiles. I smirk back and face toward my new regiment. I give them a basic speech and get straight to training them and seeing them get pushed to their limits. Levi was inside doing survey corps paperwork. Sucks to be him on a nice day like this. Of course, I'm being sarcastic again because it is raining cats and dogs. I pity my soldiers for having their first day running in the rain. Then again, running in the rain is nice sometimes. I joined them in the exercise after seeing they needed some encouragement. A few of my trainees started to keep up with my pace but some still exaggerated their breathing as if they were dying. After 20 laps in the rain, I told everyone to head inside for lunch. I sit next to Armin as the trainees line up for their meal. I packed my own sandwich earlier that day and began to eat it. Armin started up a conversation about how he and Hanji have teamed up and discovered many new things about titans. I was fairly interested in the subject but lost focus on his words when I saw Levi enter the cafeteria. I waved him over to the table we were sitting at but suddenly Armin lost his smile. John and Peter soon joined us at the table of squad leaders and commenced a new topic about how their trainees were either amazing or rude or awesome. I didn't see anything extraordinary about my team but today was only the beginning.

3 months later

Keith's health only got worse as each week passed. I visited him daily and paid the doctor most of my salary to help him stay alive for as long as he could. The doctor refused it each time, saying they wouldn't have anything that would aid his recovery or his fated time of death. I still had to train my squad during most of the day but I would still make time for Keith and brought him his favorite tea. I wanted to him to be happy with what remaining time he has left. I gave him massages whenever his back aches or his feet hurt. I fed him his proportioned when he was too tired. I did whatever I could to help him and make him smile. Levi comes by every other day to visit but always came by at night to take me home and made sure I get enough sleep. John and Peter visit sometimes but after a while they got too busy with paperwork. I tried asking Erwin for some time off but he said every squad will need as much training as possible to prepare for a mission to take back Wall Maria again. It's not like I don't have faith in humanity to take down the titans but I just hate the sacrifices we all have to make in order to have a chance at a good future. I continued to train everyone but after a week, Levi came running towards me and told me to head to the hospital. My stomach drops as my heart starts to fade. I dash to the hospital in record time and slam open the door to my brother's room. He greets me with a casual hello but I get a look from the doctor beside him telling me it can only be bad news. The doctor promptly leads me back outside of the door and tells me the recent update on his health.

"Your brother's health is drastically depleting. Today may be his last day as we know it. The cancer cells are increasing too quickly and we were surprised he's lasted this long. I already told him about his health but it seems like he has accepted his fate. I'm sorry. You may stay as long as you'd like, a nurse will be coming in to check on him later." The doctor swiftly proceeded to the next patient in need of his medicine. I was speechless. I saw Levi, Peter, John, Armin, and some of the other 104th squad members come and greet me. They all headed into the room behind me and asked me how I was. I couldn't find my voice. My mouth was open but no sound could escape. My eyes felt wet but I didn't feel the tears flowing down my cheeks. Levi hugged me as he saw me in my most vulnerable state. Everyone else had only visited for a short time and told Keith and I how we were the best captains they ever had. Levi frowned a little but kept his composure. Keith had enough energy to say hello and hug everyone but soon was becoming exhausted. Some of the girls left the hospital, crying as they soon as they got out the door. The rest of the 104th members left after an hour and each hugged me good-bye and saying their condolences . I guess news travels fast around this group. Levi and I were the only ones left in the room. Keith looked up at me and smiled. I tried to smile back but I could only try to choke down my tears. Levi sat on the other side of his bed and glanced at me. I didn't know what to do or what to say. I did the first thing that came to my mind and hugged him while he was lying there. I repeated that I loved him over and over. I told him I wished he didn't have this stupid disease. I tried to make my words clear but my voice stuttered while I was crying all over again. Keith placed his hand on my back and patted it gently before setting it at his side again. I sat back in my seat and held his hand. He coughed a few times before he spoke.

"Don't worry about me, _. Tomorrow, you and I are going to go to the river, just like when we were little. Levi can even come along this time. We'll teach you how to fish again and have lots of fun just like we used to. I know that the second time we went to the river, I pushed you in because I was jealous of Levi's attention toward you. We were all so young back then but I remember it as if it were yesterday. This time I won't push you in, I will just sit quietly by the river on the bank. I will watch you become a fine woman as I have done so these past years. We'll go steal some lunch to go with our fish and have a feast. We will feel the adrenaline rush coursing through our veins once more and run as fast as possible for some free food. We will laugh and cry but never lose faith in humanity. So for old time's sake, live your life and have fun doing so. Levi, my dear friend, please take care of my sister and to the both of you, never forget I will always love you." As he spoke his last words and took his last breath, he slowly closed his eyes and formed a small smile on his tan face. He lived a life full of adventure, fun, and knowledge. He grew up quick but still had a kind heart. He was content with his life and had nothing to regret. Keith Shadis was a good man with a loving sister, and a best friend that helped him get through many hardships. He was good-natured, had a good sense of humor, and was an amazing, devoted officer to humanity. He gave each of his trainees his support and encouragement but most of all he showed them the path to never give up. Keith Shadis, my big brother, I swear to never give up and help humanity in any way I can.

I am currently starting Chapter 10.

I appreciate the followers and reviews I have received so far. I am not stuck on the story, I just don't know if this is good enough for some people. Hopefully, with work and chores, I will be able to finish chapter 10 by Sunday.

~animechik16