It was sunset, and most of the school had cleared out at this point. Eren, Mikasa, Armin and Rubi were in the music room.
The sunset gave a warm, beautiful glow in the room. Rubi sat on the desk, Armin standing next to her. Eren smiled, nodding to Mikasa.
It was the first time Armin and Rubi were going to hear her sing.
Mikasa took a breath, as she began to sing. "Nidome ni mezameta...Sono shunkan anata mitsuketa ….Ano hi kowai yume kara", Rubi and Armin both starred.
"I don't believe it...I never knew Mikasa could sing so well..", Armin whispered, amazed. When Mikasa finished, Rubi beamed.
"Miki!", she hurried over, hugging Mikasa. "Why the bloody hell didn't you say you had such a beautiful voice?!", Rubi cried, laughing, completely amazed by her best friend.
"I...just didn't think I did", Mikasa admitted, as Rubi let go of her, still grinning. Mikasa smiled back, looking down.
"Rubi, wait...can you sing?", asked Mikasa softly. "Not as good as you, I mean I guess I got some talent in it, but I prefer to play the piano", Rubi admitted.
"Whoa, really?!", Eren asked excitedly. "Maybe you two could perform together!", Armin realized.
Mikasa and Rubi exchanged looked, surprised. "We could give it a try", Mikasa said.
Rubi sat at the piano. Mikasa gave her the notes of her song. Eren and Armin watched, excited.
Mikasa took a deep breath, as Rubi began to play.
"Nidome ni mezameta...Sono shunkan anata mitsuketa", Mikasa began to sing. Armin blinked, as he watched Rubi. She played the piano flawlessly, and even though it was her first time playing Mikasa's song, she was so good at it.
"Ano hi kowai yume kara...Nigashite kureta nukumori", Mikasa continued to sing. Eren smiled softly...those lyrics. The basic lyrics of Mikasa's song, was about the night Eren saved her, when her parents were killed.
And how she always wants to be at Eren's side.
"Zutto oikakete iru...Sono senaka wo marude inoru you...Furi muki mo sezu", she continued to sing,
Rubi continued playing the piano.
"Doushite ikiisogu no", Mikasa's voice grew higher than, as she sang with more passion.
"Douka ikanaide Soba ni ite mo obiete iru...Ah kienaide!", Mikasa hit the higher note perfectly, as Rubi also played it flawlessly.
"Watashi nitotte kaeru beki basho...No Matter where you are...", Mikasa finished then, as she exhaled, and Rubi stopped.
Armin and Eren both began clapping, both grinning. "You two were awesome!", Eren grinned. Rubi and Mikasa both blushed.
"Rubi, we had no idea you could play the piano so well!", Armin said, as he came over, sitting by Rubi. Rubi blushed a bit at his sudden closeness.
"Well I...I'm glad you like it", she said a bit nervously. Mikasa blinked, noticing Rubi and Armin.
"Mika, that sounded amazing", Eren grinned, as he walked up to her. Mikasa smiled, looking down. "I just didn't think I could sing this good...", she admitted.
"Mikasa, of course you can! With that kind of voice, you have a whole future ahead of you!", Eren said.
"Yeah Mikasa, you should take Drama in college! You could be a famous singer some day with that voice!", Rubi added.
Mikasa looked down. "Actually...I don't want to have a singing career", Mikasa confessed. "WHAT?!", Eren, Armin and Rubi starred at her.
"But Miki...!", Rubi protested. "You're so talented!", Armin said. Mikasa looked down. Eren watched her worriedly.
Rubi blinked. "Wait...guys, give her space. This has got to be overwhelming for her...", Rubi realized worriedly.
"It's fine...I just...", Mikasa admitted, they then heard the last bell ring.
After parting ways with Rubi and Armin, Eren and Mikasa continued to walk home from school, holding hands.
"Mikasa...listen, I won't go on about it but you really have talent. You could be a famous singer...", Eren pressed.
He wanted her to have a happy and successful future. And a beautiful singing voice was a great start. People would travel from all over the country, maybe even the world just to hear her voice.
"I know, but...I don't want to constantly be on the road, traveling. I don't...want to be away from you Eren", Mikasa exhaled then.
Eren blinked. "I'd be there with you!", he told her. "Yeah, but...what kind of relationship would we have? I'd constantly be busy...we'd still barely get to see each other. I...I don't want that", Mikasa stopped walking then.
Eren blinked worriedly, watching her.
"Eren...I love you. I want...a future with you. I want a peaceful future. Where we can be together almost every day...maybe even get married and have children...", Mikasa admitted.
Eren turned red, as he starred at her. "Um...are you proposing to me?", he asked nervously. Mikasa gave a small smile.
"Consider it engaged to be engaged...one day", she replied. Eren blinked, he then smiled.
"Hey...", he gently cupped her face then. Mikasa blushed, looking into his eyes. "Listen to me, Mikasa. No matter what future goals you choose, I'm always going to be there. Right at your side. I love you...so much", Eren said softly.
"I know Eren...", Mikasa said softly. Eren gently kissed her forehead, and then he kissed her on the lips. Mikasa wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss.
On the other street, Armin and Rubi were still walking together.
"Hey, was there ever anymore word about Annie's father? Miki really did fuck Annie up...", Rubi asked.
"Not anything to worry about. Sure he went nuts on the school, but because witnesses, and cameras showed Annie started it, by attacking Eren, and since they know about Mikasa's past trauma, they only gave Mikasa detention for 2 weeks", Armin explained.
"I'm sure he didn't like that", Rubi said worriedly. "He stormed out of the school from what I hear, making threats to avenge his daughter", Armin admitted.
Rubi frowned. "Avenged? She isn't dead! Hell, she's back in school already!", Rubi said. This was true, only about a week passed since the fight, but Annie was back in school.
But to their relief, she kept her mouth shut most of the time.
Of course she gave no apology either. And judging by her cynical glares, she didn't feel the least bit of remorse.
"Rumors say he was drunk. Sasha, Connie and some other students saw it", Armin replied.
The sun was still setting, but it would be dark soon.
"I live here", Armin said, as he stopped in front of his house. He lived a few streets down from Eren and Mikasa, but still walking distance.
"My house is five down", Rubi said. "Hey...you play the piano really well Rubi", Armin smiled then.
Rubi blushed again. "T-Thanks..hey maybe you could show me some writings you do? You did say you want to write a novel, have you...written anything?", she asked.
"Oh...I actually have! Tomorrow's Saturday, you could stop by", Armin offered. "Okay...I'll do that...um..where do you liv-oh, right here...um...okay!", Rubi looked very nervous, blushing, as she even staggered a bit.
"I'll see you tomorrow", Armin smiled. "Yeah...tomorrow!", Rubi waved back, as she then began to run to her house.
She was very red, breathing heavily, her heart racing. Armin watched her go. He was blushing too.
It was obvious at this point the two had feelings for each other, but were much too shy to say anything.
Eren and Mikasa had to cross one more street to get home. They were still in town, but it was pretty quiet.
There weren't any cars out, and only a few people were out walking their dogs, or window shopping.
The Gamestop was on this street, along with a small grocery market and the pet store, along with the Movie cinema.
Eren and Mikasa's street was only about 5 blocks up once they turned onto it. In full, the school was a good 15 blocks away from their house.
The light was green, for cars to go so Eren and Mikasa waited.
Mikasa blinked then, hearing something across the street. The bushes were rustling. "Eren...do you hear that?", she said worriedly.
"Hm? Hear what?", Eren followed her gaze. Across the street, a black cat fell out of the bush. The cat's leg was tied to something.
"A cat? Is...is it tied?", Eren looked worried. The black cat meowed, pulling its leg, trying to get free. It looked like someone had just tied the poor thing to the bush.
"What kind of heartless bastard...MIKASA!", Eren yelled worriedly then, seeing Mikasa had bolted across the street, despite the light being green.
"Jesus christ, Mikasa! Cars!", Eren warned her. "There isn't any, Eren!", Mikasa yelled back, which was true.
Mikasa made it across the street. She knelt down, and began to move the wire from the cat's back leg.
Eren sighed in relief. "Mika, you almost gave me a heart attack!", he yelled. "Don't worry, Eren! I'm fine", Mikasa assured him.
The cat meowed, struggling a bit, until Mikasa was able to finally get it off. The wire was removed. The cat blinked, looking surprised he was free.
"You okay, kitty?", Mikasa asked in a soft voice. The cat rubbed against her softly, in a grateful way, and then hurried off into the park, where he was safe.
Eren sighed in relief. Mikasa stood up, and saw the light turned red, and the Walk light turn green. She stepped into the road.
Mikasa was halfway across the street, when suddenly both she and Eren heard the sound of tires screeching.
They both looked over, to see a black pickup truck speeding towards them, it was only a few feet from Mikasa, and only going faster. Mikasa's heart sunk, at first frozen.
Eren's heart sunk.
"MIKASA, RUN!", he yelled urgently, just as he was about to run out to the road towards her, and just as Mikasa began to run, the truck suddenly slammed into Mikasa.
Eren heard Mikasa release a god awful scream of pain...it was a sound he never wanted to hear again.
The truck had skidded, the driver losing control, so the truck didn't run her over, however the front of the vehicle did slam into her hard, and in a flash, Mikasa's body actually flew off the truck's hood, and hit the pavement hard.
Eren starred in complete shock, at first frozen at what he just saw. His eyes were wide, he could see blood in the street around Mikasa's motionless form, as the truck slammed into one of the stores.
Glass and blood was everywhere.
Eren snapped out of his shock. "MIKASA!", he screamed, as he ran over to her side. Mikasa opened her eyelids, she then gasped, coughing for breath.
"Mikasa...!", Eren fell to his knees, and gently lifted her up in his arms. He got a good look at her. Mikasa was very pale, and she had some cuts on her arms, along with a wound in her shoulder, where most of the blood was coming from.
She also had a deep cut on her cheek, right under her eyes.
But it was clear by her struggle to breathe, she had some type of internal injury.
"E-Eren...", she wheezed, coughing badly. She was clutching her chest tightly, as she gripped his hand.
"Easy! Don't talk, I'm calling an ambulance, just hang on Mikasa!", Eren quickly got his phone out. People began to hurry over to where the truck was.
With the ambulance on its way, Eren put his phone away, and cradled Mikasa close.
"Mikasa...baby, talk to me, where does it hurt?", he asked, tears appearing in his eyes.
"My...my chest...I think my...ribs are..brok-", Mikasa coughed, struggling to breathe, let alone talk. "...c-can't..breathe...", her voice was weak, and breathless.
"Just hang on, Mika! Hang on! The ambulance is on its way, my dad will take care of you!", Eren assured her, but his voice was panicked.
She was so weak, he could feel her dead weight in his arms.
Mikasa gave a shaky exhale, as she forced her weak eyelids over. She knew she was in trouble. She couldn't move her body in the slightest.
Too much was hurting. Her ribs was crushed, and the severe pain was sending her into shock fast.
Plus the wound in her shoulder was fairly deep. If she didn't bleed out first, she could end up going into shock from the pain.
She very weakly looked at Eren. "E-Eren...", she said shakily. "Easy, try not to talk, Mika, save your energy", Eren told her softly.
"E-Eren...listen to me. I..wanted to...tell you something", Mikasa started. Eren froze, his heart felt like it stopped.
'No...don't talk like that...please Mikasa...', he thought, fearfully.
"I...Eren, I wanted to thank you. Thank you for...wrapping this scarf around me...", she gave a tearful smile.
"Mikasa, STOP IT! Don't talk like that! You're not dying today!", Eren yelled, tears flooding his eyes.
"Maybe not...but neither of us know that. I just...am glad I'm in your arms, Eren...", Mikasa suddenly coughed violently, shaking as she struggled to breathe.
"Mikasa!", Eren gripped her hand. Mikasa panted for air. She began to feel numb from going into shock.
"I love you...Eren...", she suddenly went limp. Eren's eyes grew wide, as tears flooded down his face.
"Mikasa...?!", he stammered horrified. He pressed his ear to her chest...he didn't hear a heartbeat.
"No...NO! MIKASA!", Eren gently lay her down, and began to perform CPR.
"Mikasa! Come on! You're stronger than this!", Eren pumped on her chest, and blew air into her lungs.
"Come on, damn it! After I saved your life all those years ago...! I didn't save you just for you to die!", Eren sobbed, his tears hit her face, as he continued to perform CPR.
The people who had crowded the truck, all had called 911 themselves. "Poor kid...there's no way that girl survived...", one of them whispered worriedly.
"Mikasa! Come on! Open your eyes!", Eren begged. Mikasa remained still. Eren shook violently. Tears flooded his eyes.
Mikasa could barely hear Eren anymore. She couldn't even see. Slowly, her vision cleared.
Where was she? Where was Eren? She was in complete darkness. But she was also no longer in pain.
Up ahead...she could see a bright white light. Mikasa slowly walked towards it.
As she got closer, she froze, seeing two figures appear out of thin air.
As their figures formed, Mikasa gasped, as she froze. It felt like her heart stopped. It couldn't be...
Standing there, were her parents. Herrick and Akane Ackerman had a warm glow in their bodies...no, not their bodies. Their souls.
"Mikasa...", Akane said softly, smiling. Mikasa's eyes flooded with tears, her heart felt like it stopped.
"Mom...dad...!", she suddenly ran over, and embraced them both. Akane and Herrick held their daughter close.
Mikasa sobbed heavily, crying her eyes out, as she nuzzled against her mother. "Oh Mikasa...our baby girl...", cried Akane, hugging her back.
"You've come so far, princess", Herrick said softly, stroking her hair.
"We're so proud of you...", Akane added. Mikasa sniffled, shaking. "Am...am I...dead?", she asked.
Akane and Herrick exchanged looks. Suddenly, a large pair of bright white angel wings appeared on Mikasa's back.
"That's your choice, baby. You can choose to...move on with us, or go back there with Eren", Herrick explained.
"Eren...", Mikasa looked behind her. She froze, she could see Eren holding onto her broken body in the street.
It was like she was looking into a TV.
She then looked back at her parents. "Mom...dad..I missed you both so much...I love you so much...but I can't stay. Eren is the reason I was able to live...I want to live my life with Eren. I'm not ready to die yet...", Mikasa said.
Herrick and Akane smiled softly. "We understand, sweetheart", Herrick said. Akane walked up to her daughter. They stood at the same height.
Akane gently kissed Mikasa's forehead. "I love you, Mikasa", she mused. Mikasa felt tears well up in her eyes again, as she hugged her mother.
Mikasa's angel wings shattered into feathers then. And suddenly, it was like she was being pulled away at lightening speed from the afterlife.
"Mikasa...", Eren gently lifted her limp body up, holding her close.
"I promised you...I'd continue to wrap this scarf around you. Over and over again...no matter how many times it takes...how can I...keep...doing that if you're...", Eren broke down completely, sobbing as he held her close.
He then very softly pressed his lips to Mikasa's. He kissed her, and blew one more lungful of air into her, in one final desperate attempt.
As soon as Eren broke the kiss, Mikasa suddenly gasped for air. Eren's eyes grew wide.
"Mikasa?!", he yelled urgently. Mikasa coughed hard, she was struggling like hell to breathe, but she was alive.
"E-Eren...", she cried breathlessly. "Mikasa...! Oh god...yes, that's it, Mika! Stay with me! Breathe!", Eren held her close, rubbing her back.
Mikasa coughed more, gasping as the pain in her ribs returned. "Fight, Mikasa! Fight!", Eren sobbed, holding her close.
His heart felt like it had stopped several times already...she was alive. Mikasa was alive.
The ambulance finally arrived, and in a flash of time, they were soon at the hospital.
Mikasa was on a stretcher, as the paramedics wheeled it into the ER. Eren stayed right at Mikasa's side, not letting go of her hand.
"We're going to need a chest X ray and morphine!", a paramedic told a nurse. Mikasa had an oxygen mask on, to help her breathe, along with IV fluids.
There was blood on the stretcher from her shoulder wound.
"We have a 16 year old girl, hit by a vehicle, fractured ribs, and in severe shock. Boyfriend says she was technically dead for several seconds. He used CPR to revive her", the nurse explained everything to one of the doctors, as they got Mikasa into a room.
"Mikasa...baby, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can", Eren said fearfully, holding her hand. At this point, Mikasa was in severe shock from the pain.
Her eyes were opened, but she looked extremely out of it. She managed to give Eren a very weak squeeze.
It hurt her too much to breathe on her own. Every time she tried, bullets of white hot pain went up her ribs.
"That's good..! That's my girl, just hang in there Mika", Eren soothed her.
Grisha hurried into the room. "Eren! Mikasa!", he hurried over to the bedside. "Dad...she...she...", Eren was shaking badly.
"Eren, you're going to have to wait outside. Your mom is out there", Grisha told his son, as he first addressed Mikasa's shoulder wound.
"Dad, I can't leave her!", Eren protested. "I need those chest X rays...!", Grisha yelled at a nurse, as he listened to Mikasa's heart.
"Eren, please! Mikasa's in critical condition! We need to focus on her, wait outside son, and I'll let you know of everything as soon as we get her stable", Grisha said firmly.
Eren hesitated, swallowing hard as he gave Mikasa one more worried look. Her eyes had closed at this point, she was unconscious from the shock.
He nodded then, shaking. Eren exited the room, as he saw more doctors hurry in.