Chapitre 26: That Day Pt.1
<<Eren POV>>
"Karl!!! Die For Me!!!" I screamed, unable to handle the weight of the wood on my back. Still, I persevered until I reached my home. The very next instant, I dropped the wood sack right next to another one, which was brought by me as well.
"Damn you Karl!!!" I cursed under my breath, only to be unlucky enough to be caught by someone infinitely more scary…
"Eren! What did I say about language?!" Mom shouted as she rushed out of the house, lunging straight for my innocent ears.
"B-but Mom! Karl ditched me after he handed all the dry wood to me!" I protested, only to have my ears pulled even harder. After a few minutes of scolding, she finally picked up a bundle of wood.
"Don't even think of any more excuses, young man! Now go find your brother and bring him to me!" She said, entering the house with both the bundles in hand. In return, all I was left with was a reddened ear and an unwanted chore!
'Sooner or later, I'd get that damned brat!' I promised myself, trying to soothe the pain in my ear. Feeling better after a minute, I set off on my quest, for I had a brat to catch.
Even though it was much against my will, I was still determined to find him, because the last, the thing I want is to be spanked. Unlike a certain idiot…
'Now, where is he…?' I thought, trying to think of any place he would frequent, only to be confused myself! Damnit why does he have to be so random?!
Well, if I can't find him, let's find someone who can! Luckily, I knew just the person who was adept at that. And so, I started for my destination, with a renewed goal!
Walking through the crowded market roads, I finally made it to the docks, only to be greeted by a familiar person. He had shoulder length blond hair coupled with hazel brown eyes, making him look quite feminine.
Although he was quite short in the past, he was now almost as tall as me, all thanks to the training we've been put through…
"Hey! Armin!" I called to the kid who smiled and waved in return.
"Have you seen Karl?"
"No, but did you ask Mikasa?"
"I was getting there. Wanna come along?" I asked, to which he nodded. And so, I was accompanied by a companion as we progressed to the first objective of my quest. Finding Mikasa!
Even though it was really odd, Mikasa had this uncanny sense to locate Karl. Like, whenever he'd run away or we'd play hide and seek, Mikasa always found Karl first, unless one of us was dumb enough to hide in plain sight…
Also, when he bought a few Candy Rocks for himself and seemingly vanished, it was Mikasa who found him and made him share. Mikasa really is the best!
Karl usually argued that it was because he told Mikasa stories of his own 'adventures' in the district, when he visited her in the past and that it was the reason why she could find him with ease. Well, that's his fault anyway.
Soon enough, we reached our destination, seeing a small child very much similar to Mikasa seated on the ramp. But, just as our eyes met, he dashed into the house, making Armin and I chuckle a little.
"Hello, Mrs. Ackerman! Is Mikasa here?" We knocked on the open door, as a familiar lady with long black hair greeted us with a smile.
"I think she left to find you guys a little while ago. You didn't come across her?" Mrs. Ackerman, who was seated on the dining table, asked in return. Of course, the child hiding behind her also snuck a few glances over.
"She must be with Karl then…" Armin said, as I agreed. We might have been a bit late, but that's not a problem. All we need to do is catch Mikasa's trail and we'll get that brat as well!
"Be careful while you play!" Mrs. Ackerman said as we left her with a greeting. With a new objective, I dashed to the streets with Armin in tow.
"The docks are closer, so let's check there first!" Armin said as I nodded in agreement. Once we arrived, we scoured the riverbank, looking for the two of them… But, we couldn't find them.
#Maybe the empty lot behind that house…?" I suggested as we checked over there too. Still, no sign of the brat.
"Then…" And so, for the next half an hour, we checked everywhere possible within the district and we still couldn't find him. Just where does he go everyday?!
Finally, we left for the one last place on our list. Outside the district, where we played in the plains of a particularly large tree.
"We should have come here earlier." Armin said, shooting me a well deserved glare. Well, to my defense, it was just my bad luck. Walking up to the always sleepy local vendor, I rang the bell at his desk, rendering him awake enough to talk.
"Hmm? Oh, hey kids! Sorry to say but the grape flavored candy is due tomorrow." Uncle Mark said, opening one droopy eye.
"Not that, Uncle Mark. Did Karl go there again?" I asked as he finally opened both his eyes. Thinking for a while, he finally replied after a full minute.
"Karl…? Yes, he did. It's been a while though…" He said, already dozing off a bit.
"Thanks Uncle! See you!" Armin greeted, running through the gates. I followed after him, catching up only after quite a while. When did he get so fast?!
Even from the distance, I could see a small black dot, which looked more human as we got closer. Of course, it couldn't be the final objective of my quest, right.
Soon enough, we arrived at the base of the tree, finding a stray monkey dozing off at my spot! This damn little monkey really needed to be taught a lesson!!
"Oi, Karl get up!!" I shouted, venting my frustration as I kicked him in the stomach. He groaned in pain as he keeled over on his side, giving me a certain sense of satisfaction.
"Uhh… cheesecakes…" He muttered, waking up in a daze as he observed his surroundings. Oddly enough, his eyes lit up as we made contact
"Wake up!! Mom's calling!!" I said, kicking his legs, as he fully woke up from his daze. Although his next words made me regret about not kicking him enough…
"Ah! My lovely little brother! Come give me a hug!" He grinned as I backed away a fair distance. Somehow, I felt that right now, even a single touch from him would irk me to no end.
"Fine you damn tsundere…" He muttered, trying to act like he was hurt. Hah! Did he really think that I would fall for his schemes again?!!
"Where's Mikasa?" Armin chimed in as he finished chuckling, helping Karl up. Looking at Karl, he just shrugged instead, making us all wonder if something was amiss.
"Are you seriously worried about 'The Mikasa'?" Karl asked with a smug grin as Armin was unable to refute it.
It had been almost two years since 'That' incident, and she did build up quite the reputation… Well, being as adept as fighting people as she was, I'd actually even pity her opponents.
"Let's leave first. We can just search for her if need arises. Just follow the trail of bloodshed and you'll find her anyway." Karl added as he walked away with a yawn. With a sigh, Armin and I followed him, for my quest was yet to be complete.
However, once we entered the streets, a large commotion took place. The main road was being vacated at a fast pace as the sound of a bell reached my ears.
"The Survey Corps must have arrived." Armin said, looking around and was correct as usual. Nodding, I followed the bystanders as their silhouettes could be seen.
"Look the survey corps…!" I said as they arrived were close enough, with palpable excitement, which wasn't shared by either of the two. On that note, Karl actually had quite the grim expression.
Of course, I paid no heed to them as I admired my heroes. But, almost as if to mock my hopes, I was slapped by the cruel being known as reality.
Injured men with missing limbs, people groaning in pain and finally the unfortunate corpses of those died… It was a gruesome scene and also, the reality of the Survey Corps.
"There go our taxes…" An elderly man mumbled.
"Useless once again…" A housewife looked at them in disgust.
"Just what are they doing?!" Another man cursed at them. Hearing all these reactions only served to further mock my dreams, as another incident took place…
Suddenly, a mother appeared the crowd as she asked around for her son, only to get a severed hand in return…
She collapsed as she hugged those remains tightly, asking if her son was useful in their great cause amid tears… Yet, she didn't get the reply she desperately wished for…
The Commander made a scene as he cursed his own incompetence, at his inability to progress any further and that he was all but a liability to them…
Lots of tears were shed as the Commander became the public enemy in the blink of an eye, earning curses from every single bystander…
Yet, for some reason, I didn't feel anger or hate… I just stared, with a blank look on my face, unable to accept it.
Still, the Corps moved forward, as they were cursed to no end. Once they were out of sight, I returned to my senses, only to hear the whining of a damned pig...
"So all we're doing is offering ourselves to them as free lunch? What a waste…" He spat out, looking the passing soldiers with disgust…
At those words, I felt an immeasurable rage build up within me! I wanted nothing more than to break his teeth and drill his ugly mug into the ground!!
'This fat pig who was happy living like a caged animal. How dare he mock those who actually seek freedom! This shameless bastard…!!' I thought, ready to hurl a punch at him.
And yet, before I could move against him, someone else did. Surprisingly enough, it was Karl.
"Oi, you fat bastard." He called out, causing the man to glance back towards us. With his 'Signature look of Superiority', as he called it, he continued speaking.
"At least have some respect for those who died, instead of rubbing your fat ass. I bet you can't even run if you see a titan!"
The fat man looked back in anger as a few chuckles rang out. He walked up with an obvious frown and almost pulled me(?!) by the collar, not before he was suddenly flying through the air…?
Karl gave him an uppercut so quick, that everyone just gawked at the scene! Then, without waiting for a reply, he quickly dragged the both of us as he began sprinting!
"Run!!!" He screamed as we made a quick break for it, leaving a fainted man with a broken jaw in the aftermath. Hope we don't see him in the clinic though…
As the fresh air brushed past our faces, the three of us ran deep into the alleys, enjoying every moment of it! But, back then, I was still unaware... That today would be the day that changed everything in my life…
***
A/N: 2K word count...
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
King_Admiral_
King_Admiral_ Finally, I got this done...!
It was quite difficult to edit this, so I apologize for the delay...
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