Attack On Titan Rebirth Chronicles: "Kenny The Ripper"

Act 3

The somber atmosphere lingered thick in the air as Kenny Ackerman, his half-brother Elijah, sister Kuchel, and the silent Asahi stood in the aftermath of tragedy. The weight of Rei's absence pressed upon them, and Kenny, normally unyielding, felt the sting of guilt for having thrust his family into the crossfire of the Military Police.

Addressing Asahi, Elijah, and Kuchel, Kenny sought words of comfort, but the heavy silence spoke louder than any assurance he could provide. Even Asahi, usually a beacon of innocence, stood mute, her eyes reflecting the sorrow and confusion that enveloped the makeshift family.

In an attempt to shield them from the continued dangers of the Underground, Kenny led the way to a small, abandoned building near a local tavern. A place he used when the weight of the world pressed too heavily on his shoulders and he needed solitude. The structure, surprisingly clean for its abandoned status, seemed like a haven despite its modest appearance.

Kenny spread out an old mat and placed worn out pillows, creating a makeshift bed for his siblings. It was a humble arrangement, but in these harsh circumstances, it carried the warmth of protection from the cold. Asahi, Elijah, and Kuchel, their exhaustion evident in their weary eyes, wordlessly settled on the mat. The fragility of their slumber mirrored the fragility of their circumstances.

Observing their silent grief, Kenny couldn't escape the guilt that gnawed at him. He knew he had to provide them with more than just a physical refuge but felt he couldn't and probably wasn't suited for that at this point. Determined to offer some semblance of comfort, he set out to find blankets, wanting to cocoon his family in warmth amidst the cold realities of their world.

As he returned to the abandoned refuge, Kenny draped the blankets over his siblings and Asahi, tucking them in with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the brutality of their recent experiences. The dim light cast shadows on his worn face, revealing the toll of the night's events.

With a final glance at his sleeping family, Kenny stepped outside. The night stretched before him, filled with uncertainties and the echoes of lost battles. He wandered through the Underground's labyrinthine alleys, grappling with the haunting aftermath of their encounter with the Military Police. The hours passed, each footstep a rhythm to the unspoken melodies of regret and determination. As the first light of dawn painted the horizon, Kenny returned to the makeshift refuge, finding solace in the quiet slumber of those he held dearest.

The morning sun cast a soft glow upon the makeshift refuge, and Asahi, roused from her troubled sleep, found herself grappling with a sense of fear and loneliness that seemed to pervade the air. Rei, her mother and source of morning comfort, was absent, leaving a void that Asahi couldn't quite come to terms with. The sound of their shared language, once woven into their daily routine, now lingered as haunting echoes of a time that felt both distant and achingly recent. She never got a chance to fully learn everything her mother taught... these remnants of their Homeland are the only thing that still binds her to her mother evident by the mark on her wrist that Rei is a part of her no matter whee she goes or what may occur as well as her ancestors.

Kuchel, still immersed in the solace of dreams, lay undisturbed by the weight of their reality. Elijah, however, began to stir, his eyes reflecting the remorse he felt for his friend's palpable sadness. Drawing closer to Asahi, he sought to bridge the gap created by her loss. Asahi's gaze met his, revealing a vulnerability that mirrored her internal struggle.

In the absence of words, Elijah extended a comforting embrace, offering solace through the simple act of being present. The remnants of Rei's morning songs for Asahi lingered, a bittersweet melody that accentuated the ache of absence. Asahi, yearning for the reassurance she once found in those songs, couldn't help but feel adrift in the vast sea of uncertainty.