TEN STEPS, The Kenny Ackerman Story BOOK THREE ~MAYBES by Melly O' Hara

SASAGEYO

CHAPTER 15 SASAGEYO

Roused from my reverie by the sounds of people filling the small tea shop, so recently built in
the seaport town of Marley, not far from the docks; I looked up from my teacup and realised that the morning had drifted into midday and that the others may be arriving soon. After three years would they still come?

From my position seated in the rear booth of the shop; I could see the rectangular, gleaming pine tables slowly filling as patrons sat themselves down into the plush, red chairs that wound their way around the tables. The low-slung delicate wrought-iron chandelier lamps, now lit, cast their comforting glow over each table.
The long pine countertop, lined with individual chairs, which covered most of one side of the wall from the entrance right through to the back of the shop, was slowly filling  up with customers, needing refreshments after their morning's labours. And the sounds of dishes clattering and food cooking in the concealed kitchen; from behind the three-quarter wooden, double-swing doors that lay to my right, at the end of the counter, testimony to the burgeoning lunch rush. The bustling activity, pulling me back from my musings and into the present.
Behind the countertop; shelves were neatly stacked with shining, colourful canisters containing various blends of teas, coffee and even ground chocolate. The sparkling white dishes and cutlery that occupied the lower shelf, invited use, as the customers ordered their luncheons.

His shadow filled the doorway, blocking out the afternoon sun. His tall, lean, muscular frame; imposing and splendid as his black coat billowed out behind him. His black cowboy boots echoing on the polished, wooden floorboards as he made his way across the floor, to my booth. His face half hidden in shadow; by the forward tilt of his battered, black cowboy hat and the gentle scruff of his beard. His hair, softly brushing his shoulders in silky, black tendrils.
He still took my breath away, even after all these years.
And from across the room, he looked exactly like the man I'd first met, all those years ago; young, rugged, fearless. Making it easy to make believe that he didn't bare the scars of the past years. Easy to fool myself into believing that our future was full of innocence. That this new world didn't exist.

Tilting his head and smiling his half-smile, his calm grey eyes met mine, as he slid into the booth beside me; passing the gurgling raven-haired, little girl into my arms.

"Kuchel missed her ma, I think ", he smiled, as the toddler curled her chubby, pale fingers around my hair; her grey eyes, Kenny's eyes, gazing trustingly into my own.

He stretched his arm around my shoulder.
"Love ya Owl", he whispered as he embraced us both; offering his love and support, as we waited.

One by one they came in, making their way to the large rear table that faced the entrance. Battle weary, with the tale of loss in their eyes; they smiled knowingly, sadly, as we greeted each other. Mikasa, her long black Ackerman hair, tied back simply from her pale face; her deep grey eyes tender as she looked at her husband; Jean. Standing tall and proud, his long shaggy fair hair brushed into submission, his brown eyes shining with love as he embraced his wife and baby son; little  Eren.
Our Queen, Historia, still as small and delicate as a child, though her cherubic face now held a regalness about it. Her wide blue eyes were clear and focused as she leant into the crook of her husband's shoulder. He too, still looked like a farmer. Of slim build and medium height, it was obvious that he felt himself to be blessed with his wife and child, as he cradled the blonde toddler, the heir to the throne; baby Sasha, in his arms.
And the newly-weds: Armin and Annie. Looking as if they were two halves seperated at birth. Their blonde hair, blue eyes and pale faces, no longer panicked and determined. Just older. Wiser.
And finally Connie, tall and strong, his jaw set in in quiet determination as he embraced the slight fair older woman, whose round face and adoring brown eyes, bespoke the fact that she could only be his mother.
Haunted by the absence of those that should also have been here, their lack keenly felt by us all, we remembered; each in our own private revery.

There must have been at least a dozen,no a hundred different ways, that this could have turned out differently....
If Eren had chosen another option.
If King Fritz hadn't tortured the peasant girl, Ymir, and instead had returned her love and devotion.
If the boat-plane hadn't been damaged and Hange had boarded in time.
If Sasha were standing a few centimetres either side of her spot, when Gabbi had fired her gun.
If the damaged Marleyan children had been told the truth of their heritage, instead of being shamed and brainwashed; full of self loathing and hate.
If we hadn't been so complacent, so unprepared for the attack on our Walls.
If we'd been allowed the freedom to remember, to choose, before it was all too late.

And so it went on...
If, if, if...
But there were no more choices left, except the choice to live with the consequences, and dedicate our lives, our hearts, to making this world a world of peace.
Hoping that the future we created did justice to their sacrifices.
Knowing that, one day, we would be together.
Each of us together, yet separate, joined by our bonds of loss and gratitude; sat, silently acknowledging our shared experiences.
No words were necessary as we anticipated the arrival of the last amongst us.

Our hero. Our saviour. Our kin, emerged from his kitchen; his white chef hat still on his head, the spotless white apron still draped over his dark suit and open-necked grey shirt. His loyal, ever-present, companions, Falco and Gabbi; bearing the trays that held our tea. His wife, Arabella, a step behind him; a diminutive, slip of a girl, strong, yet delicate. Her strawberry-blond hair hung in gentle waves as it reached her shoulders, her bangs framing her sweet, pale face. Her hazel-green eyes devotedly resting on her husband as she protectively cradled her stomach, hugging her unborn child. It was rumoured that she was carrying twins and names had already been assigned.
Hange and Erwin.
As his companions passed out our refreshments, we held our cups and paused.

Leaning on the glossy walnut cane that supported his still healing body, Levi held the chair back, allowing his wife to seat herself first, before taking vacant seat left for him beside his uncle at the table. Removing his pristine chef hat and raising his cup in his typical claw-like grip; Levi whispered,

"To those who live on. Always. Shinzou wo Sasageyo."