Chasing Ghosts [Attack on Titan](Wattys 2014 Winner)

Chapter twenty four- Talking to the Stars

Chapter twenty four

“Well, At least I know I won’t be going to jail.” I teased. Tamaki looked up at me, his eyes cold. “We may be friends, but it doesn't mean I'm going to take my job any less seriously.” He said his voice calm and emotionless. “Military corp… Hmph. Your useless.” Levi spat. Tamaki spun on him “I'm not useless, maybe the rest of my Corp is. I try my best.” He said. Erwin moved his horse in-between the two. “Get along. I'm not about to babysit you to brats.” The commander said. I snickered quietly, I found myself in a better mood then I normally was in. I guess some part of me enjoyed seeing Lina getting shown up by the judge. It was sundown when we got back to head-quarters.

I dismounted my horse and removed her saddle. Tamaki followed, he clearly wasn't happy about this. “I miss the capital already.” He moaned quietly. Levi stood on my other side “Stop being such a child, its your fault for joining that stupid corp.” He said gruffly, I sighed “Stop it you to.” I commanded them “If you don’t stop it, I'll smack you both upside the head.” I said, lifting my head to try and seem more threatening even if I was considerably shorter then both of them. Tamaki ruffled my hair with a laugh “You’re not threatening, you’re too cute to be scary.” He laughed. I smacked his hand off my head “What!?” I growled at him. Tamaki grinned at me “Exactly what I said.” He strode off towards the door waiting for us. “He is still stupid.” Levi said passing me and forcefully pushing past the brown haired captain at the door.

I went up to Tamaki “I think there is a room next mine for you.” I said, not really sure. I went inside and up the steps towards the rooms, I opened a door next to mine. Inside the room was dust covered and cob-webs hung from the walls. I coughed and hacked brushing as much dust away from my face as possible the sunlight tried to get though the dirty window. “Well.” I muttered not sure how to react to this ancient room. Tamaki stifled a laugh “Mhm.” He agreed “We'll just have to clean it.” I nodded wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. I opened the window, hoping to get some fresh air in there. As I opened it, a plume of dust flew into my face and I coughed running from the room as fast as possible. “Ew.” I grumbled, going down the steps towards the kitchen to find some cleaning stuff.

The others were down in the mess hall, Petra looked up as I entered “Ah, your back.” She smiled at me. Levi was sitting at the table with them, sipping a cup of coffee or some other beverage. He frowned as he saw me “Your covered in dirt.” He stated. I put two fingers on my cheek and then looked at them, sure enough they were covered in dust. I shrugged “Eh.” He narrowed his eyes slightly “That’s gross Alya.” I opened my mouth to say something and some dust fell onto my tongue. I spat and coughed. Petra giggled uncontrollably, Levi only turned up his right lip in disgust. “Please, take a bath your look horrible.” He said turning back to his mug of coffee. I fetched the cleaning supply’s then went upstairs ignoring Ackermans comment. Tamaki was waiting, I handed him a little white bind to put over his mouth and nose so he wouldn't breath in the dust like I had. I put one on as well, getting a broom. I swept up as much dust as I could, getting the cobwebs out of the corners.

Tamaki used a cloth to clean off the desk-tops and other surfaces like that. We finished up when the moon was high in the sky, I grumbled still dust caked. “I'm taking a bath.” I said leaving the cleaning stuff in Tamakis now spotless room. I went to the washrooms and started a bath for myself, warming up the water  and stripping down. I stepped into the near boiling water, ow. Much to hot but I sat down anyway. I washed the dust out of my hair and face as best as possible, I got out soon after that because the water was turning gray and brown. I dried myself off and pulled on my sleeping clothes, putting my hair up in a towel. That was nice, I sighed the bathroom was fogged up so I couldn't see myself in the mirror. I drained the bath water then went to my room, by then everyone as asleep. Someone had brought my dinner to my room, I guessed Tamaki or Petra. I munched on a piece of celery as I brushed my hair out. My scarlet hair was naturally curly and if I didn't brush it, it would get really short and super curly so my hair would appear that it was only ear length when in reality it was down to my lower shoulders.

I flopped backward into the pillow as I finished up with my hair. I looked out my open window as the soft breeze brushed the curtains. Making them do little circle like motions, flowing up and down. I exhaled quietly reaching for my desk and pulling out another one of my mother’s diary’s. I'd read all of them before, but I never got bored of it. It was like they were a good book that I would never get tired of. I read an entry

“June twentieth

Today albert and I went to the gate, I told him I wanted to see it. So  he agreed to take me, after a small fuss of course. I was carrying his child. Albert has a lot of love to give, and I know he will be a wonderful father of our little girl [or boy] we went to the gate, today the Recon core was coming back from another mission. Sadly the group came back with less then half of there soldiers. I always wondered why bother, the life inside the walls was fine and we have enough food and space so why try and change it? I hope our baby doesn't grow up and join the Survey corp. I would be so upset, I wonder what its like to worry over someone so much it hurts. Hmm, anyway. That’s enough for today.

-Lyana Rivian “

I sighed shutting the book, I wondered if she should see me from heaven and if she worried for me. I looked up at my roof tracing the various cracks with my eyes I put the diary back into the shelves on the desk and laid down, flicking off the lamp. I laid in the darkness for a while, unmoving. I was thinking about my family, and when I thought about my family I couldn't get to sleep. I rolled over again and sighed my face to the wall. I frowned, tossing and turning for who knows how long. I couldn't get to sleep, I was to flustered. I got up and pulled on my shoes, sneaking outside. I stood outside in the moonlight folding my arms and listening to the night, I gaze up at the stars. “What’s it like up there mother…?” I asked the silence of night “I hope it’s nice, I want to join you one day.” I lifted my hand up and made a heart with my fingers centering it around the brightest star. “I'll see you one day mom…” I whispered.

“One day…”