Chapter Text
Even after so long, Mikasa still questions.
How did it come to this?
The plan was to join the survey corps, try not to die, see the world together, retire at the right time, and continue living life peacefully. In none of those plans were the words Kill Eren written.
Yet here she is, 60 years after the war, being surrounded on her very own death bed, with no more use, no more need for living. It felt weird. Being greeted off to the afterlife with her family by her side. Mikasa couldn’t bear it. Not when she herself has the blood of countless others on her hands. One of those being her one true love. If you can call it that.
Mikasa opened her eyes. Instantly meeting multiple eyes on her, some of those filled with fresh tears. Her hands suddenly felt heavy, her heart hammering as she grabbed all the energy she had left and looked to her side.
Indeed there was a young maiden on her right, clinging onto her arm like there was no tomorrow. Mikasa manages to recall that the brunette was her own grandchild, the daughter of her daughter who passed away long before her. In fact most of the elder family members she had passed away quicker than she thought they would.
Although the Power of Titans were relinquished from the world, Armin’s death was sooner than expected. Dying specifically 11 years after the war, oh if you could’ve seen many- including her- weep upon his dead body. Till now they still don’t know how he died.
Her husband, Jean Kirstein, passed away exactly 50 years into their marriage from a heart attack. She vaguely remembered trying to calm down Connie for that. But not long after, Connie died too. Thankfully he died peacefully in his sleep, a proper death if she may say.
Gabi and Falco managed to keep Levi alive till he reached his early 90’s, where he too died after taking an evening stroll with the two and died of a heart attack. So now she was left with her grandchildren, Falco and Gabi, and her children's friends. Quite sad.
Mikasa focused back on her grandchild, who was sobbing her eyes out at the thought of her beloved grandmother dying. Her own memory of holding Eren’s head in her arms was brought back to her mind.
Muffled screams and words could be heard as her mind began to distance. Sudden flashes of her life could be seen.
Is this what they say when your life flashes before you when you die? Is this the end?
Of course it’s the end. Mikasa could basically feel her soul being pulled away by some God or Reaper beside her. No use for fighting anymore; it’s time anyways.
But Mikasa can’t help but find it ironic. Just half a decade ago, she made a promise to herself to always keep fighting. To never stop fighting and always escaping death ever since. But now she’s lying hopelessly, welcoming the wonderful scent of death with her arms wide open.
She could tell that her family also realised she was fading away. And soon their sights were blurred with tears as Mikasa’s eyes began to flutter.
Children’s cries could be heard, and silent prayers were whispered. Don’t get her wrong, Mikasa loved her family. But she just wished for a last, quiet and peaceful time in her last moments while living.
Her grave was already set, at least the place was. She and her husband decided before Jean died, they decided to make a small grave where they would be buried when they died. Near the tree Eren was buried under.
This was it. She thought as her eyes began to close. She felt tired. So tired. Tired of fighting and surviving. It felt like the proper time to rest.
Mikasa had no regrets. Even after killing Eren, she lived her life to the fullest. Hopefully that would be enough for whatever is waiting up there to send her to another life where she can live together with her loved one.
Without knowing it, her silent prayers have been answered. Just as she closed her eyes, she could feel them opening again in a brand new youthful body- no, infant body. Loving eyes met hers. And although no memories of her past life, Marie Arakawa unknowingly starts the beginning after her end.