The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-57th Exterior Scouting Mission pt.3-

We all kept going as we agreed that it was probably a lost soldier or a messenger. All of a sudden, while I weaved through the trees, next to Gunther, I spotted a hooded figure next to us. I tapped his shoulder and pointed at the figure, without a word.

"WHO ARE YOU ?!" He yelled out.

As soon as he did, the person stopped and immediately slashed his neck, killing him.

"GUNTHER SAMA !" I yelled as I stopped.

Eren arrived seconds after and stared in disbelief at his dead body, hanging from a tree. Oruo pulled him out of his daze and forced us to keep going. I reluctantly turned around and let Gunther behind. Eld ordered us to head back to HQ as him and Petra took care of the nuisance. All of a sudden, they stopped and disappeared behind a tee. Time seemed to slow as we all stared in disbelief and fear. Then, all of a sudden, a huge bolt of lightning struck. They were going to make the Titan reappear. Surely enough, the female Titan started running towards us and I felt fear course through me. Eren was about to bite his hand but Eld stopped him, saying that Petra, Oruo and him were going to take care of her. I reluctantly turned around so that I had my back to them and tapped Eren's shoulder to signal him to calm down.

I then stopped and turned back around to help them.

"YUKI WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!" Eren yelled.

"They need you...not me. Now go. I'll protect you." I said as I gave him a weak smile.

We all charged towards her and Petra and Oruo slashed her eyes as soon as Eld made a gas shield. She backed up against a tree, protecting her nape and I crystallized my hand. The hell with capturing her. Eld gave us a sign and as soon as he did, we slashed her arms over and over so that her arms would fall. Surely enough, her arms fell and we all grinned at each other. As soon as Eld went for her neck, one of her eyes opened and she bit him in half. Still shocked, Petra wasn't moving properly and the female Titan stepped on her, killing her instantly.

"YOU BITCH !" I yelled as I went for her neck.

She grabbed me and shoved me against a tree as a branch came and impaled my stomach. Blood was running down my mouth and I could see steam coming from the wound, my body was trying to heal itself but it was no use. With half closed eyes, I watched as she kicked Oruo and sent him flying through trees, his blood staining their trunks. I weakly looked up and saw Eren, looking down at the horror scene. I extended my arm as best as I could towards him and almost let out a cry of pain.

"E-Eren...don't..." I said, which made more blood run down my mouth.

The last thing I saw was Eren biting his hand, then, my arm dropped to my side and the whole world went black.

(............)

I slowly opened my eyes, the burning sun staring straight down at me.

"YUKI !" A familiar voice yelled. "YUKI YOU'RE ALIVE !" I tried sitting up but they stopped me. "Your body is taking awfully long to heal itself...don't."

I turned my head and realized that I was laying down on Reiner's chest. I slowly and silently got off and placed my hand on my bandaged stomach, letting out a small cry of pain.

"H-Hey...what are you d-" I cut him off by placing my hand on his jaw. "Y-Yuki...?"

Suddenly, memories of the armored Titan came flooding back to me and I noticed how small my hand looked compared to his jaw.

"Thank...you..." I said, my voice resembling a whisper. "It's....you...the a-" Suddenly, my eyes widened. "E-Eren...no he..." Reiner placed a finger on my lips.

He pointed at a cart and I sighed, relieved that he was alive. I looked over at Captain Levi who was hovering between bodies, probably looking for Petra's. I slowly stood up, helped by Reiner's strong arms. My legs threatened to give out but I slowly straightened myself, my hand still on my stomach. Reiner helped me walk over to Levi and I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"L-Levi-Sama...I'm sorry..." I apologized as I looked up at him.

"It's...part of the job...it's not your fault shrimp. Besides, you took quite the beating yourself." He rubbed my head before he walked away.

I looked up at Reiner, remembering what I told him earlier.

"R-Reiner...you...you're the a-" I was cut off by him cupping my cheek. "W-What ar-"

He gently placed his lips on mine and I let myself melt into the kiss. Short of breath, I soon pulled away. As I was about to open my mouth to say something, my legs gave out and I felt myself slip away. As soon as my head hit the ground, I slipped away from consciousness once more.

(.......)

The second time I woke up, I had a bandage on my head as well and I was leaning on Reiner's back. Arashi, my horse, was right next to his and I gave him a small smile, too weak to pet him. I kissed Reiner's cheek to show him I was awake and smiled, amused, as he blushed and tried to keep looking straight ahead. My smile quickly faded when I coughed and blood started leaking from my mouth again. I rested my head on his back, exhausted, my whole body throbbing. As I tried to keep breathing, I caught pieces of conversations from people watching us.

"Is it me or are there fewer than this morning ?"

"They left this morning, shouting and roaring and now they're already back ?"

"What did they even leave for ?"

"From the brooding look on their faces, I'd say they succeeded in pouring our tax money down the drain."

Despite the amount of dirty looks from people, I saw the 2 children who were watching us in aw when we left. I managed to give them a small smile as they pointed and waved at me. We all got off our horses and Reiner was about to help me stay up but I stumbled to Commander Erwin and grabbed his hand to comfort him. My legs felt like they were about to give out and my stomach was throbbing but I kept on walking. The Commander clenched my hand tightly as people called out to him and insulted him. I tried to open my mouth to defend him, I did see him as a sort of a father after all but I was too weak so I just kept quiet and kept on walking.

TO BE CONTINUED !