Tears silently trickled down your cheeks without any hint of stopping. Your eyes, which had once been bright and blue like the sky, now seemed almost grey and devoid of emotions...or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it was filled to the brims with so much emotions that they were overflowing in the form of your tears...Apparently this is what losing a loved one can do to someone...when they leave, they take your heart with them and leave you as an empty husk. You haven't smiled, talked or even ate anything since the last expedition. A painful whimper escaped your lips as you clutched your head. Ah...the last expedition...that was where he...died...

Every time you closed your eyes, his face would appear in your mind, so clearly it was as if he was right in front of you, but you could never reach him...not anymore...You still remembered his charcoal coloured eyes, his sharp gaze that softened slightly every time they landed on you. His surprisingly soft lips that whispered words of comfort and peppered you with affection in the privacy of your own room. His slightly calloused hand that gently strokes your back and arms that embraced you when you had nightmares and flashbacks...

But now...who can comfort you now that he was gone...when pillar that you leaned again and depended on suddenly disappeared...the entire world crumbled around you. They've won...they took him from you and broke your spirit.

~Flashback~

"It will be alright Levi, you won't die. I promise. We won't let you die, I won't let you die so please hold on. Don't close your eyes Levi, stay with me, please!" you pleaded while sobbing, tears flowing freely down your cheeks and onto your bloody hands that tried desperately to stop more blood from leaving his body. Despite your efforts and denial, both of you knew deep down that he will not be able to survive.

Levi lay on the ground in front of you, the blood gushing from his severed limbs slowly formed a crimson pool around his body. He just laid there...looking at the sky, not having the strength to move anymore. Eventually, he slowly turned his head to look at you and was immediately filled with regret as a sharp pain pierced his chest. Your crying face full of sorrow and grief was the last thing he wanted to see before he left.

For the first time, he disregarded the people around them, you were his priority, his world, his mind, disoriented from the severe blood loss had just one last goal in mind. To make you smile and stop your tears..

"Stop crying. You and I both know that I won't be able to make it"

You would have laughed at how commanding he sounded if it weren't for the grave situation but before you could protest, you saw his hand slowly reaching up before latching onto your collar and tugging weakly. You could see that he all that remained of his strength to do this and so you leaned down and gently placed your lips upon his. You could taste the blood that was on his lips but that did not stop him from trying his best to pour out all his feelings into that kiss. His love for you, his appreciation for you and lastly...his farewell.

"I love you," he said when you finally parted. It took a minute for your mind to register that this will be the last time you will ever be able to hear him utter those words, the thought itself brought an entire new wave of tears, but you held on, holding back those tears as your nails dug harshly into the palms of your hand. Wiping your tears, you forced a smile onto your face.

"I love you too Levi, so very much."

He hummed softly, contented that his had achieved his final goal and that the last thing he will see before he leaves was your beautiful smiling face telling him that you loved him. Slowly, his eyes drifted close as he fell into a deep slumber...except this time...he won't be waking up.

~Flashback End~

You fell to your knees, back hunched, holding your head in your arms. "Why...why did you leave me...? Didn't you promise to always be there to protect me? Why did they have to take you from me? Why...I...I love you...Levi..." were your last thoughts before everything went black.