27 57th Expedition(5)

(Eren POV)

"That's the signal to retreat," Mikasa said."Let's head back."

Eren glanced up at the multiple blue flares , twisting and curling, they littered the flint grey skies . A weight lifted off his chest . It seemed that Erwin's plan had succeeded.

"Yeah, we can finally find out who's been hiding inside that thing.''Eren brushed off the twigs stuck to his uniform as he stood up.

He had moved on further ahead to take a much-needed break under the shade of a tree. If it weren't for the fact they were in the middle of an expedition, he would have taken a nap there too, it was something he loved. There was a spot near his hometown where he used to always doze off at. The nerve-wracking chase by the Female Titan earlier was simply too close to call. But they had won.

Eren fired a round as well, and flew off with Mikasa together in the direction of the flares. He wove a path between the great oaks and branches that made canopy. Heading right through the thick of the woods, leaves brushed and swayed against each other, rustling from the occasional wind that blew.

"We're quite lucky, the skies looked like they were just about to start raining. Our signals would have been useless if that happened." He eyed the smoke rounds that were fading away.

"Was what you told me earlier true, about how Commander Erwin used you as bait?" Mikasa asked.

"It was all for the sake of defeating the titans, I had my concerns about it too at first," Eren said."Erwin is someone we can trust."

"But, the idea of putting you in danger ..." She said softly, caressing her scarf.

"For me, killing all the titans is more important. To avenge mom, to break free of this livestock living within the walls."

"That's why you need to stay alive! And stop being so reckless..."Her voice was full of concern, something Eren had been used to for a long time.

However, he wasn't going to yell at Mikasa or headbutt her for being so protective of him anymore. He had long decided to start treating her better and try to make her happy, ever since the system incident years ago.

"I won't die. There's no way I will. Not until I've killed every last one of those damned monsters." He gritted his teeth. A memory of his mom being eaten surfaced again, clenching at his heart.

"Let's hurry, Eren." Mikasa seemed to have finally given in to him, no longer protesting any further."It's starting to rain."

Cold wind battered against Eren's face as the skies opened. Rain began to fall in binding sheets, drumming against the hood of his cloak. Amidst the incessant downpour, he could now barely make out the outline of the trees further away.

"Eren!"

Before he could even answer, an arm tugged right around his chest, squeezing him against a warmth as the bone-jarring clang of steel sounded.

"Who are you? Why are you trying to harm Eren?"Mikasa growled as she parried a strike away. A hooded figure that attacked disappeared as quickly as it came, fading amongst the woods and rain.

"T-Thanks," Eren said. His eyes now keenly scanned the surroundings around him, looking for any signs of movement. The attack earlier, camouflaged by the cover of rain made it extremely difficult for him to spot. If Mikasa didn't react in time just now...

"We have to join up with the rest!" she said in a shaky voice."Stay close to my side, Eren."

"Okay."He clenched his grips tightly. "I can't believe it, don't tell me we've failed. Not after all those sacrifices!"

"Ere-"

A thunderclap shattered any doubt Eren had and drew his gaze behind. Right beneath where it struck, a huge titan had emerged amidst the cloud of smoke, charging at them through the torrential rain.

"The Female Titan!" Mikasa moved to his rear."Eren, you go on ahead, I'll kill her for sure this time ."

"No." He slid his blades out as wet branches whipped past him. "We'll stop her together. Here and now."

"It's too risky!"

"Mikasa. I'm not that weak boy from before. You know it too. "

The harsh thumping sounds of the footsteps and the pitter-patter of the downpour was deafening in the following silence. Mikasa's teeth were biting at her bottom lip, it seemed like she was hesitant.

"We'll make her pay for all the people she killed."Eren pressed for an answer."I must do it."

"F-Fine."Mikasa agreed. Their eyes held each other.

"Immobilize her vital parts first. And go for the nape last. The same as we've done in training." Eren spun his right blade backwards and held it across him, rain battering against the steel."Begin on my signal."

A nod came in reply as his body tensed up. The thought of what the Female Titan had done made fury churn inside his guts. But Erwin's words rang in his mind - Don't let your emotions rule you.

Eren took a deep breath. He shuddered and shivered from the cold water that had soaked his uniform. This titan wasn't ordinary, but he wasn't afraid of her. The first move was the most difficult, and most important. His coordination with Mikasa would need to be perfect.

"Now, Mikasa!"

With a turn and click, he fired his hooks.

[Blade Fury]

His body spun, and tore the eye of the Female Titan as he flew past her while Mikasa disabled the other one.

The surroundings blurred. Eren now stood atop a tree branch and gazed below at the gigantic figure. The blind titan had collapsed against the trunk below him, her hands covering the nape.

He swung his blades behind him, and sprang, and descended upon the shoulder.

"Die!" His body began to spin again, slicing and tearing flesh out continuously. The swords whirled as he used the titan's body as a pathway, moving across the chest to the thighs and towards the feet.

Eren yanked his blades out upon reaching it and aimed for the ankles. Steel danced as five murderous arcs sank into it, sending blood sputtering right at his drenched face. He raced behind to the other feet, every step sending up splashes of brown water as rivers ran down his swords.

Almost, Eren told himself. One more spot left.

Taking another step that sank into mud, he sent his blades cutting through the rain into flesh. The chunks of meat that were sent flying thudded as it landed on the crimson-stained grass.

Above him, the hands of the Female Titan fell and dangled lifelessly beside her. Mikasa had torn the muscles that held them up.

"You're mine!" Eren shot his hooks and launched himself straight at the exposed nape.

As he approached, the face of the Female Titan grew larger and larger.

Lightning flashed and Eren's muscles froze right after. An Iris with night-black perimeter and blue that darkened towards the pupil stared back at him; robbing his breath away and sending fear shivering through him sharply as a knife, for an instant.

As two rows of ghost-white teeth started to take over his vision, he bit forcefully into his hand.

The crackle of a thunder struck and Eren's world flashed to white clarity. Strength welled up inside of him and he let loose a quaking roar. Parting the clouds of smoke around him in his titan form, he sent a vicious fist right into the Female Titan's mouth that had tried to devour him.

The punch tore right through flesh and skin and blood and more flesh, deep into the mouth and out its back, tainting the raindrops that fell around it red. Putting all his strength into it, Eren swung his hand. The Female Titan's head was torn off her nape and fell into a puddle of water with a splash.

"We've … finally done it," Eren muttered to himself inside his Attack Titan.

He strode forward towards the headless body as his heart pounded. One , two and...

… the sound of raindrops never seemed so heavy, they splashed cruelly against his bloodied fist, mixing with the warm droplets that dripped from it. He looked on at the figure in the nape - her eyes closed. She seemed to be crying, or was it just the rain?

When Eren recognized the person inside, his movements stopped."A-Annie."He croaked. "T-this c-can't be …. I-it can't be real."

"Eren, Hurry!"Mikasa's voice rang beside his ears. Rays of pale-blue light had begun to emit from Annie's body, piercing through the forest ."Eren!"

"Oh no!" He cursed, reached for the source of the glow and tore it out.

A crystallised structure that Annie seemed to have encased herself in greeted him.

"H-hey, A-Annie… you c-can't just do this... COME OUT!" Eren screamed, and slammed the object in his hand against the ground, again and again, and again, causing the trees around it to collapse. Annie had to answer for her crimes, for her murders, why did she do it? Why would the girl that sparred with her in his cadet days commit such atrocity? Just… why?

Seeing that the crystal didn't break, he emerged from his titan.

"Eren! Are you hurt?" Running towards him, Mikasa dropped her blades and clasped both his hands tightly.

Eren didn't answer. He broke free of her grip, picked up the swords and detached them from the wires with a click.

"ANNIE!" Eren leapt towards the crystal on the ground and sent his blades crashing against it, unleashing forty blows that left pieces of steel flying everywhere. A tinge of weakness ran through his body when the futile onslaught ended. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

"Annie. W-why… why did you do this!" He squeezed the words out, gasping for air. Rain ran down his face, blurring the sight before him. His body sodden and trembling, crumpled, half kneeling in a puddle of water.

Thrusting one of his broken blades to the ground, he pressed against it and looked on at the unmoving figure inside the crystal. Another gust of wind blew and drove water cruelly into his eyes.

"Eren." A pair of hands wrapped themselves around his body and pulled him into an embrace. He didn't resist. Mikasa's voice was gentle and soft, even amidst the rain that beat down on him unmercifully. For some reason, it brought warm comfort and lessened the pain in his heart.

"W-Why … Mikasa…"Eren's hands hooped behind her back, pulling her even closer as his fingers pressed on her wet fabric, against the soft skin beneath it. His head sank into her shoulder. He couldn't stop his tears from flowing out. "Why… did Annie betray us?"

The only reply was the rain.

===============================

A/N: 1.8k words ish. 2nd chap of the week.

I won't be following the schedule for a while as I will be on a 1-2 week hiatus. But I promise I'll be back!