Chapter 07

After some time walking, the group had finally entered the Shiganshina district. The weather was cloudy, threatening rain, and apparently close to dusk, as if the heavens were also mourning along with the Ackermans and the Yeagers.

Both families had become long-time friends, from when Zirken and his father contracted a disease that only Grisha Yeager knew how to cure effectively and at an affordable price for the family's expenses.

After a few more minutes walking through the streets of Shiganshina, they finally arrived at the Yeager home. However, everyone in the Ackerman family was anxious, especially the Asian-looking woman.

Mikasa was not as anxious as her mother, but was holding her brother's arm quite tightly. Meanwhile, Zirken seemed the calmest of the three, as if he was already very sure of something.

Grisha Yeager soon opened the door and found himself facing his wife, Carla Yeager, cooking dinner.

"Honey, I'm home..." - Grisha.

"Welcome back queri- " - Carla suddenly stopped talking when the Ackerman mother with a headband on her head and her two children a little bruised as well.

"What happened?!" - Carla.

"It's a long story..." - Grisha.

After this short exchange, Grisha told all the recent tragic events at the Ackerman home to his wife. It took a few minutes to explain everything, but she was listening intently to every word as Mikasa and her mother waited sitting in one of the wooden chairs while Zirken remained seated beside her on the floor with Eren along.

"And that is what occurred." - Grisha.

It was at this very instant that Mother Ackerman rose from her chair and moved toward Carla Yeager.

"Please, I beg of Mrs. Yeager, at least take care of my two children until we can get our act together, I beg of you!" - Mother Ackerman kneeling on the ground and making a dogeza.

"You don't have to beg Sukasa, I am sure you would help us if we were in a similar situation. Besides, it's weird that you call me Mrs. Yeager." - Carla.

Upon hearing this, a few tears began to stream down the face of Mrs. Ackerman, who had just had her name revealed to the readers. It was as if those words removed a huge amount of the great weight she had on her back.

"Thank you so much." - Sukasa is still shedding tears.

At the same moment, Mikasa and Zirken stood up and bowed to the couple and owners of the house they were in.

"Thank you very much Mr. and Mrs. Yeager." - Mikasa and Zirken.

After that Carla began to prepare another serving of food for her newly arrived guests. Everyone began to eat while trying to lessen the impacts that the recent events had inflicted on them.

Mikasa and her mother were still talking normally with everyone present in the house, but Zirken still remained strangely quiet and thoughtful. However, his sister continued to remain at his side from the moment they arrived.

She said nothing, for she knew exactly how much pain he must be feeling at the moment. Moreover, the girl had no idea what to say to comfort him.

After finishing their meals, Grisha and Carla went to sleep in their room together with Eren, while Sukasa and her children went to the room where Eren had previously slept.

A few hours later, all the residents of the residence were asleep, especially the two girls from the Ackerman family because they were completely exhausted, both physically and mentally. However, young Zirken remained fully awake.

Before long, the young man turned away from his sister, who was practically glued to him, and headed for the door. As he opened it, he was about to leave, when he turned his head and took one last look at the two most important women in his life sleeping without any worries.

'I promise that one day I will come back to you again...' - Zirken.

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Dawn finally arrived, the sun's rays penetrate the windows of the Yeager house and the sound of roosters crowing could be heard throughout the residences of Shiganshina.

The young Mikasa slowly opened her eyes and tried to snuggle even closer to her brother, wanting to use him as her pillow. However, no matter how hard she tried to touch him, she could not find him and could not feel anything.

The girl opened her eyes fully, only to notice that her beloved brother was no longer present at her side. Mikasa started to turn her head to look around, but all she could see was her mother about to wake up next to her.

"Mom! Mom!" - Mikasa.

"What is it Mikasa?" - Sukasa.

"Where did brother Zirken go?" - Mikasa.

"He is not here? Your brother must have woken up before we did..." - Sukasa is still sleepy.

"I'll go over there then." - Mikasa.

The girl got up from the bed where she was sleeping and headed for the living room, leaving behind her mother who was also getting up.

When she arrived in the living room, she found the place completely empty. There was no sign that anyone was there, except for a piece of paper left on the table where they had eaten dinner earlier.

'Where is he?' - Mikasa.

The girl started walking to reach the letter placed there, and as she got closer, her heart started beating faster and faster. As she reached it, her hands were already trembling, as if she already knew that something had happened.

After reading its contents in a matter of seconds, her legs lost strength and she was on her knees on the floor as tears began to fall from her eyes.

Immediately the next second, her mother appeared in the living room along with the Yeagers. Seeing the little girl crying on the floor and still trembling while holding a piece of paper in hand, Sukasa quickly rushed to her.

"What happened dear? Where is your brother?" - Sukasa at the same time crouched down to talk to her daughter.

Mikasa then handed the letter to her mother, and on it was written:

"This is not the best way to say goodbye, but still I hope you understand. I don't want to bring trouble to the Yeager family, nor to my mother and sister, so I will leave before my mother decides to do the same. By the time you are reading this letter, I will be long gone, so don't try to come after me and don't worry about me. I promise I will come back in the future and reward you all for your concern.

- Zirken."

"Huh?! W-what?!" - Sukasa as her hands began to shake as well.

"What happened?" - Grisha.

Sukasa could no longer say anything, so he simply handed the man the letter. After reading its contents he quickly grabbed his clothes and headed for the door.

"I will go activate the military, he must still be on the wall mary!" - Grisha rushing out of the house.

After that Carla and Eren immediately understood what had happened. Carla quickly went to console the mother and daughter duo, while Eren ran out of the house to go together with his father to try to find some trace of the missing Zirken.