Chapter 26
HOPE YOU ENJOY
PLEASE VOTE
***************************************
"I never said ent- You, I'm going to kill those three for being so smug over knowing. They'll be laughing at me for days" Erwin started to snap before his eyes fell to the person who entered his office, changing his attitude since he knew she would give it straight back.
"I want to join the Survey Corps but I can't sign that form, I stole one on Monday and read it over to understand what I'll be agreeing with but there's one part I can't just give" Mikasa spoke, ignoring Erwin displeasure as she closed the door behind her.
"The form, it has my name down as the one you'll promise to serve under. You won't give me your full loyalty as the form demands" Erwin sighed as he leaned back on his chair while Mikasa walked towards him.
"I can accept you as my commander, I'll follow the orders you give but I won't be enslaved by you like every other soldier will be. I've copied the from, retrying it with Hanji type writer when she wasn't around. I've changed one detail and added that you'll be my commander, meaning I will serve under you but I won't give my heart to you like everyone else will later" Mikasa calmly spoke, coming to a stop by his desk and holding the form out.
They only had a single hour before the other's would come to his office, knocking on the door and enter as he allows them. All of them standing in line, listening to his speech before finally signing their forms and becoming full fledge survey corps soldiers. She had a single hour left to either stay or ask for a transform and her fate rested in Erwin decision.
"It doesn't have my stamp or the Survey stamp added in the corners yet, you clearly have enough respect for me to not stamp them behind my back" Erwin commented as he looked to the left corner where the regiment stamp would be placed on the form to show what company it belonged to and then the commander at the time stamp to show who they'll follow after till their deaths, of course if a new commander takes over they follow after them without having to add a new stamp since it had the Survey Crops stamp on it. The right corner needed his personal signature just like ever other form already had on. He would stamp it on and keep already done forms in his room to just pass out to new recruits when they joined up.
"Three years ago, we talked in this room and I learnt something over you. I also gave you an option and couldn't help but respect you over the answers you gave me. In truth, I still hold the respect from that day and I know what will happen if I don't agree to your version of this form. But tell me, will he learn over this .. will he learn over what you're suggesting?" Erwin replied, lifting a curious eyebrow as he looked to her. She had grown in the three years but she stood a little prouder as well, knowing where she stands to the world and to herself. She was a soldier he needed but he knew the cost for having her.
"You told me to chose and I have, I don't regret this. So, please, either reject this form or accept it. I won't sign any other form apart from that one" Mikasa calmly spoke, meeting with Erwin eyes and showing her serious she was over this. She was willing to risk her own selfish future with that single big of paper and yet she won't regret using it.
"I accept, I feared for when this day would come because you'll be doing something never done before. But in truth, I'm rather glad to be one who helps change the rules a little. I agree and I won't allow you to join unless you sign this form alone" Erwin smiled, grabbing the survey stamp, placing it in the red ink before slamming the stamper down on the corner. Grabbing his personal stamp, placing it in green ink before stamping it beside the other one.
Mikasa stood in shock as she watched the commander pick up a black ink pen next instead of stamping his signature on where he needed his name. He wrote his signature personally, he was giving his personal blessing over this single bit of form and sealing both their fates in changing the playing filed around them.
Erwin just smiled as he lifted the bit of paper to her, watching as she slowly took it from him and stared at his hand written signature.
"Thank you, sir" Mikasa whispered, her voice soft and small as she was trying her best not to let her emotions overwhelmed her and let the joyful tears run down her face.
"You're welcome, now you see that brown file over there. Place your own needed signature on the form and than place it inside. Keep your form safe in my office and just stand still when you line up with your classmates later. They'll be placing their forms inside the file as well once they give their own signature over their forms" Erwin advised and Mikasa nodding before she glanced around for a pen, stopping as Erwin held his own out and she gave a small sweet smile shocking him before giving her own signature on the form.
"Truly sir, I am grateful for this" Mikasa admitted as she bowed her head in thanks before passing his pen back and walking over to place her form in the file.
"Mikasa, you're one of us now" Erwin commented as Mikasa started at him wide eye before standing proud, giving a prideful nod and smirk.
"It's an honour to serve under you sir" Mikasa spoke, giving a respectful salute to him as she looked him right in the eye watching the surprise fill his face before she left without another word.
Mike walked in moments later, freezing in the doorway as he noticed Erwin expression and wondered what Mikasa did to him or if Mikasa was in danger of Erwin evil side. Erwin just chuckled before nodding to the brown file left open as the ink on the form dried.
Mike carefully walked over, feeling like it was an awful trap and his life might be in danger. But than his eyes landed on Mikasa full name, noticing Erwin personal signature done in pen and he started reading over the form. His eyes growing wide before he snapped his head towards Erwin for answers.
"It's all true, I agreed with everything on that form with my free will. I'm looking forward to what the future may bring, She's going to change this world if we like it or not. Maybe I was wrong to only search for Levi when she stood with him all along, a perfect duo and they'll fight for us. Truly a dream that almost seemed impossible" Erwin grinned, turning in his chair as he looked out of the window beside him and watching Mikasa walk away in the distance.
"Mikasa, she's truly one of a goddess of war and that form proves she'll be on the winning side till the end" Erwin smirked, holding his hands together as Mike took in the information, his brain trying to catch up with it all.
With Mikasa..
"You seem in a good mood" Levi spoke out from where he leaned under a tree by the path that lead to the barracks, Mikasa turning her head towards him before walking towards him.
"Do I?" Mikasa asked, acting innocent but the smirk on her lips told it all.
"Yes, you do. Can I ask or am I going to have to fill in a report time morning comes?" Levi replied, his arms crossed, his left ankle over his right and he raised a playful eyebrow. He still remembered some of Mikasa old pranks in the camp and now he'll most likely have to write a report about it while pretending to never catch the trouble maker.
"I'm a Survey Corps soldier, I signed my form early" Mikasa answered with a shrug, acting cool over the fact she just sealed her future into fighting Titans until one killed her, badly injured her or she reached retirement.
"Congrats" Levi answered, giving her a slight head bow making her giggle a little.
"Not disappointed I followed you here?" Mikasa asked with a raised eyebrow, placing a hand on her hip.
"Of course not, I had a feeling that you belonged outside those walls long before I ever got forced In joining up. But, It took me some time to accept that fact" Levi admitted as he let his hands drop to his side, pushing his body from the tree.
"I won't lie, it was a thought in the past .. to join up and fly free" Mikasa whispered softly as Levi only stood a couple of inches away.
"Now you have your wings, make sure to fly high with them. I'm sure they'll suit you perfectly" Levi whispered gently, meeting her gaze and showing he meant every word he spoke.
"Levi" Mikasa muttered with a frown, her eyes darting away as she knew she needed to speak otherwise she'll only ever feel something dark inside when she wanted him to be nothing more than happy.
"Shh, let's go celebrate" Levi quickly said, taking her hand in his and pulling her along towards the training woods path.
"W-Where are we going?" Mikasa asked as Levi started to speed up, pulling her along behind him.
"I think it's time I keep at least one promise, don't you" Levi answered, starting to run and making Mikasa run with him.
Mikasa couldn't help the giggle leaving her lips as Levi chuckled ahead, pulling her along like they were both in the underground once more and sneaking around in the alleys to rush back home before Furlan returns from the shopping and finds out they went out to see a fight. Both laughing, knowing only the other could hear them why they ran.
Speeding up as she ran beside him, catching one of his rare smiles as he turned to her before he started running quicker, almost making her trip as he pulled her along.
Neither stopping as they reached the edge of the woods, Mikasa glanced up and taking notice of a couple stars starting to pop out, seeing them through gaps in the branches before she figured out where Levi was taking her.
She had only been to the place once, saying her farewell and walking away to leave those she loves in peace once more. She couldn't do it for her parents but she could for Furlan and Isabel, they deserved a place to rest.
Both of them coming to a stop, slowing down and staying hand in hand why they walked towards a single tree standing on its own away from the training woods. It was only a five minute walk from the woods but it was peaceful over how it sat alone, the view of the sky, the stars, the moon and the sun .. to be in reach of them all.
Mikasa lips parted as she looked to two gravestones placed where she placed two wooden crosses. The strawberry bush still growing between them, fresh strawberries waiting to be picked by someone.
"I wondered why you were so muddy that morning and what would make you gain blisters in your hands within a single hour. I thought about it as you slept and went searching, you made them graves, in a peaceful place where they could reach the sky and fly away like they always dreamed. I never told you I found this place because I planned to buy them both a grave stone once I earned enough wages. Both engraved with their own names, just their names to stop them from ever being dragged back down to the underground to rot. After some months, I took notice of something growing between the wooden crosses and learnt it was a strawberry plant .. did you plant it?" Levi spoke, slowing them both down before they stood before the two graves. His grip tightening on her shaking hand as she took in the new sights.
On the left laid Furlan Church grave stone, buried under was his set of favourite normal clothes, his handkerchief with the waves sewn on and a personal locket that belonged to his mother.
On the right laid Isabel Magnolia grave stone, buried under was her set favourite normal clothes with the waste coat that held the feather sew in and the feather she kept from the bird she saved.
"We promised to taste a strawberry together, I gave them their own strawberry plant but I didn't think it would grow, I left it up to them to grow it or not since I knew I wouldn't be brave enough to return here for a while" Mikasa finally spoke, leaning her head on Levi shoulder as she looked to the two graves.
"I helped the strawberry plant as much as I could, researching wasn't easy and I only did the basics but it survived. It survived all this time, I think they were waiting for us to keep that promise. It might not be on your family farm but it was grown by us both, you planted the seed, I looked after it and those two kept it alive for us" Levi spoke in a soft voice, resting his head upon hers and looking to the strawberry plant.
"I think they waited long enough to finally taste one" Mikasa commented with a sweet smile, giving Levi hand a squeeze.
"I think so as well, let's finally keep one of our promises" Levi agreed with a small smile, both of them lifting their heads before kneeling down.
Mikasa and Levi reached out with their free hands, keeping their already laced hands as they were why they picked out a strawberry each. Levi laying his over Furlan grave as Mikasa laid hers on Isabel grave, the two graves already having grass grown over it again and a couple daisy's popping out.
Both sharing a smile before nodding once more and picking another strawberry each, tapping them together like they were mugs of beers before taking a bite.
One promised was kept between all four of them, they finally got to taste a freshly grown strawberry and it was as sweet as Mikasa once promised.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top