*

Tailing behind the wagon while having the chance, the air rushes past while we sink further into the district. Knowing full well both Eren and Historia were tucked away in a separate wagon, my concerns grew higher. Jumping rooftop to rooftop, I grip my controllers tightly the further I dwelled on our plan. Both Armin and Jean were disguised, so if something slips up before we reach them, well it's not gonna fulfill our main objective.

Raising my arm quietly to come to a halt, my eyes watch the wagon nearby an old abandoned warehouse.

It was would be obvious if we didn't follow after them, which would lead them to become suspicious of our actions. Keeping my sights upon my two young soldiers, I felt terrible to allow them to be taken hostage instead. Once the door shuts with a heavy slam, that's when we all headed to the rooftop of the warehouse.

Landing lightly on the roof, my hands steadily keep myself up right while crouched down.

Signalling with a few quiet hand signs, everyone else heads to different positions all around the place and nearby the windows. After a while of waiting patiently, Mikasa appears beside me stealthily.

"How's everything going inside?" Levi asks her, while their eyes remain in opposite directions.

"They're going to see through Armin's disguised if we don't hurry," She replies. "I feel bad for him."

My gut churns the way she word her response, "Disgusting," I utter out.

"I see," Levi replies, with disgust dripping from his voice.

"How's your leg? Any better?" She asks, causing me to be surprised by her concerned question. She didn't seem rather placid with him, but then again recalling when he injured his leg was all pointed at her own fault.

He rubs his injured knee in thought, "It's moving pretty well....." he replies honestly. "...now then. Did you notice? These kidnappers are obviously rank amateurs. WHy wouldn't they use a bunch of professionals for a job like this?"

I stood up steadily while my eyes meet Levi's, while he does the same.

"Whether or not they're amateurs, they might have information regarding who we're really dealing with," I suggest, knowing it was another step. Though, in Armin's position I wouldn't consider it lucky playing the part as a woman.  "However, I feel there's something more to this than what we're seeing right now. I just........"

Trailing off, my head begins to be overwhelmed with many possibilities.

"Akira, we best be going now," Levi breaks me out of my thoughts, turning to Mikasa. "You can handle the rest on your own. We're going to make our way to Eren, just come and meet up with me when you're done taking out the trash here."

"Yessir,"

Turning to Mikasa she met my firm gaze, "Be careful, will you?"

She gives me a quiet nod, before I follow alongside Levi seeing that the kids weren't the main targets of the government. However, there was something Levi has been very quiet about. I didn't know what, but there was something he was not telling me.

"Also......there's one more thing you should know, just in case," Levi pauses in his steps. "Tell Armin and the others, too.......From now on, we'll be fighting humans too, and not just titans."

There was a silent gap between us, as she quietly repeats with a "Yessir and a yes ma'am,"

With that we both fly off the rooftop and towards where the wagon was heading, to gather with Nifa and the rest of Hanji's group. Slipping over my cloak, I cover my face to mask my identity for the time being. Levi and I didn't have time for a chit chat, til we've reached our main target to watch over.

*

Landing steadily upon the rooftop, Nifa was already on watch nearby a small stone wall beside herself. Just briefly glancing over, a large crowd was slowing down the wagon we have our sights upon. Kneeling lower to the rooftop, my hands rest against the tiles for support. Nifa soon notices our arrival, almost thinking we were someone else.

"Corporal......Captain..."

Levi lifts his steel eyes, "Well?"

"The road's crowded, but I've seen nothing unusual," She informs us. "It's not far to Commander Pyxis' from here, so I think we're good, but how's the body double mission?"

Lifting my eyes steadily watching the wagon, "A success," I simply put it, but Nifa didn't sound rather convinced by my tone.

"You don't seem very pleased about that," She points out, while I'm troubled about it all as well as Levi. Our minds seem to sync with anything off putting, or we can sense something out of the ordinary.

"Well..........truth is, I'm not," chewing the inside of my cheek, trying to understand from before why they used a bunch of amateurs.

"Captain?" Nifa questions, while he sighs.

"Same here,"

He then falls quiet while in deep thought, judging by focused his eyes were on the wagon ahead. Subtly glancing around, I could see Hanji's squad spread out all around along with Lena doing the same on a seperate rooftop nearby. However, it's no coincidence that the wagon has been stalled for only a moment. Then again, it could be something else.

"Captain, wagon's almost on the move again," Nifa informs him, knowing he wasn't entirely looking at the wagon completely. My eyes angle worriedly in my boyfriend's direction, noticing the slightest concern that surfaces his usual stoic expression.

"Nifa....Akira, you've heard of Kenny the Ripper?" He asks calmly, causing me to be stunned in surprise. Why is he bringing up such a man now? He hasn't been around for about a decade or so.

"The mass-murderer in the Capital?" Nifa asks, assuming that's the person he was referring too. "The one that slit the throats of over hundred Mp's? Of course, but I always thought he was just an urban legend."

Shifting my eyes from Nifa, I return back to see Levi leaning up against the stone walls beside him. The cloak darkens his face, not seeing the emotion that was in his focused gaze.

"The stories are all true," He confirms, nonchalantly. "He's no legend........I lived with him. Back when I was a kid."

Nifa glances at him like he was crazy, while chuckling nervously in response.

"Yeah, very funny sir," She scoffs, before turning back to the wagon. "This isn't really the time to be making jokes."

I sent her a scowling look, while trying to maintain my composure.

This was the first time he's even spoken about this man to me, even though I've known about the stories before. However, I know Levi never jokes about such a thing, but that being said I wonder why he's bringing up the man now?

A sudden electrifying jolt ran up my spine, when I hear someone crawling up behind us.

A gasp leaves Levi, "Nifa!" we both shout in unison, when Levi's hand pushes the back of my neck down protectively, with him barely missing the bullet above. It hits the walls beside us, as dust flows around trying to stifle a cough. Levi takes his hand off the base of my neck, as my head whip around to see Nifa.

My eyes slowly widen in horror, seeing the young soldier sprawled backwards with her face blown off. Blood sprays from the attack, that it paints the cement walls red. Shit, what the hell?! In instinct I slid down the tiles, before clinging onto the safe side of the rooftop. Levi's eyes meet my for only a split second, seeing a mixture of fear and shock in him for the first time in a while.

Why? Who is this man, that can bring fear to Levi?

My heart was beating heavily while I draw my blades, hearing the heavy footsteps against the tiles coming towards us. Soon multiple gunshots rung in the distance, as my head snaps in the direction causing my worry for Hanji's soldiers.

"Long time, Levi!" A rough western voice calls, addressing Levi as if he knew him. "Still a runt, or have you grown some?"

Heavy sounds of metal clank on the rooftop, while he kept stomping towards us both at a slow confident pace.

Within seconds I hear multiple ODM gears sounds, flying in every direction around us both. Soon the man who was nearby us, flew high up pointing at only both of us. I couldn't even blink, there were so many surrounding us. Hearing the man cheering out loud, he finally flies high above us both with both guns pointed at us both.

"Nope, don't look like you've changed much at all, boy!" He comments, when I hear Levi sheath his blades with aggressiveness and force.

"KENNY!!!!!!!!"

With a strong throw he sends a blade right at the man, making me soon realise this was the very Kenny the Ripper from decades ago. Intimidating as he was, Levi's anger was through the roof right now. Kenny blocks the attack, before firing at us both. Throwing off my cloak at the same as Levi, I send him a quick nod.

"Split!"

The gunshot ran through tearing at the seams right into the wall, taking a chunk off before Levi and I ran down the rooftop in different directions. At the same time I broke the tiles into pieces as I burst down towards the alleyways, lowering my body. My adrenaline has spiked with the sudden instinct of survival, being surrounded by a large gang of high classed fighters.

I could hear a few charging in my direction, while I side glance for a brief moment.

I need to shake them off, but there's so many.

Levi should be at least heading towards the wagon first, but for me I need to at least drive them away from the kids. How did they know?! Flying down at rapid speed a few men appeared in front of me, causing my eyes to narrow in anger. Drawing my blades, I drew a shaky breath of air knowing blood with stain my hands.

Sheathing them sharply, I ran the blades, cutting the two in half with their blood spraying cleanly with one swift attack.

Lowering my body I activating the hooks again, before bouncing back to make their straight attacks falter for a moment. Moving backwards, they all shot forward not expecting my move so quickly. Sharply I hoist my body doing a somersault, before activating my hooks going around a corner sharply with intense speed.

Gritting my teeth, multiple men surrounds me yet again not giving me a chance.

Well shit.

My eyes widen before I change my direction hoisting my body high in the air above, before I do the same move I did to the female. Spiraling down, accelerating the momentum before slicing the few that were in the way. Gurgling cries sounded with a shower of blood, before I drift lowly across the streets in the open.

Gunshots sounded, as they chipped the stone paths beneath us, while I managed to dodge every one of their attacks.

"Shit," cursing my breath, turning to see a blonde woman not far from me.

Turning the corner into another tight alleyway, I ran alongside the walls before raising my body higher to gain more leverage. Levi was my main concern by the way he acted: I've never seen him this way before. It scared me, that I grew concerned, not knowing where else he could be right now. Shaking my head, more men blocked my path.

Lining my shot, I drop my blades to my usual grip and sliced across their necks, leaving a bloody trail up the white, brown brick walls. Without wasting a second I continued escaping their attack, when suddenly an electrifying jolt sent throughout my body again.

My hand automatically grasped my chest, as if it was a heart attack finding it more intense than before. Panting heavily I tried finding a way out, when I found another old warehouse nearby. Taking my opportunity I went to take cover, when something heavy slammed into me. Seeing the ground shortly below, I managed to land on my feet.

A whistle so high was in tune it gave me chills, while hearing the chimed metal clank together.

"Found ya," He clicks his teeth, before singing that bone-chilling whistle again.

My eyes found it hard to find the man's eyes, gathering from his cloaked broad, tall figure that towered over me. Without hesitation I ran towards him, raising my blades and went to take him out. Hearing more ODM coming all at different directions, I needed to escape quickly. My hair whips around, while looking for an opening once I take this man down.

Slamming my blades against him, he shield his face by blocking the attack with his guns with a ringing chime.

Sharply attacking him again he went to kick me in the middle, but I swiftly change the direction before slicing him again. He blocks it with his guns again, while I grunt under his heavy strength that he forces against me. My face was at least close enough to get a better glimpse of his face, when a sudden jolt occurs in my chest again.

Gritting through my teeth, I try to ignore the throbbing pain within my chest.

"You feel it, don't ya?" He grins, with a calm and amused expression. "You're definitely her child, you look just like her with that fire in your eyes."

My face contorts with confusion, before pushing off taking a step back putting distance.

"Get her now!!!!!"

Multiple gunshots ring, while I ran to the side towards the wall nearby. Missed attacks breaks the stone ground, and buildings that shielded me.

"Enough!" The man shouts, with demand. "Grab her!!!!!! Wound her if ya 'hafta!!!!!!!"

Bursting into full speed I head to the open of the streets, hoping to find Levi or anyone. Taking my chance, I activate my ODM before heading in the direction hoping would be my getaway.

A gunshot rings, while managing to dodge it again, another rang unexpectedly. Pain courses through my left arm, as my ears began to ring uncontrollably.

Slowly registering the pain, I continued to fly ahead to give myself distance only find my vision grow blurry for a moment.

Grinding my teeth together, I grimace in pain.

"You're a tough one!!!!" The man shouts, his voice thick with some kind of accent. "A wounded prey, is so fun ta hunt!!!!!!"

Having the urge to grip my arm, I just couldn't, not wanting to let the small bullet wound to falter my actions. Eren and Historia are now in danger, so I must keep moving forward.

Another gunshot rang out, almost catching me off guard again.

"Shit, shit........" muttering under my breath, soon finding myself nearby a few citizens. Lowering myself I ran along the wall still fighting my way through, as the citizens cry out with sudden surprise.

However a shadow looms over me, before my body was soon slammed to the ground.

With the brunt of the force against my wounded arm, I twist my body sharply to use my other arm to brace the fall. Smoothly backflipping, I land carefully on my two feet, immediately pushing towards the towering man that kept targeting me. I throw a sharp jab to his jaw, but he blocks it. Swiftly I bend down taking his legs out, with a heavy thud.

Sending a kick to his face, his hand catches my boot and grips it tightly.

Gasping in response to his strength, his cloak falls from his face slowly.

A deep chuckle rumbles from his chest to his lips, with a big grin widening ear to ear. A large scar marred across his left side covering it all, down to below his right eye gave me chills. His eyes pierces into my own, but they look familiar with two different colours. One was the same as mine, while the other seemed to be caused by what happened to his scar, which was a ghostly white.

His rugged facial features was enough to realise he wasn't a joke, because I soon started to notice my intense breathing.

"What's the matter, darlin'? Recognise me now?" He sneers, while many of the assassins around me held me at gunpoint all around. My eyes soon narrow, trying to mask the fear in my face while trying my best to calmly find a small opening, opportunity to get of this.

"No, I don't even know who the hell you are!" I retort bitterly, while fighting the tough grip on my foot. Warm blood runs down my sleeve, dripping down, staining the light cobblestone.

I yank my foot from his grip and sent a massive blow to his stomach, but he doesn't react to my attack.

All he did was stand up, and aimed his two weapons at me at gunpoint. He angles them, while eyeing me up and down slowly. The intense thick tension builds more, seeing his murderous expression becomes clearer.

With a slight tilt of his head, my skin crawls while his eyes pierce into my own.

"You're coming with me, whether you like it or not," He threatens, with a smirk while licking the blood that rested on his cheek. " You're surrounded, and got nothin' to back yourself up,"

My chest heaves heavily, while my hands reach for my controllers at my side steadily.

A gasp follows with my wounded arm, with the intense throbbing pain while he laughs frivolously. "Looks like you're out of options dearie, face it.......you're just a weak and pathetic--"

Without hesitation I draw my blades and sharply sliced his abdomen, cutting him mid-sentence, before heading towards the alleyway.

He cries out with the sudden attack, while I tried creating distance between us both and the men. Soon a whistle follows after me, with a tune so high pitch and disturbing even that it left goosebumps running up my neck and arms. Multiple sounds of ODM's sounded behind me, as I activate my own.

Flying below, I tried to be invisible to the eye above.

"Come on dearie, dontcha wanna know the truth of ya family!!!!!!" He voice calls out, causing my eyes to slightly widen. My family? What does he mean by that, I don't understand that? "It's a shame, 'cus it would be entertainin' to see ya reaction darlin'!!!!!!"

"Get the fuck away from me!!!!!!" I demand, before skidding across the cobblestone. Soon my eyes reach a tavern nearby, only to see a few enemies ahead.

Shit! It's that old man again, what the hell? Did he stop following Levi, or what happened?

A gunshot fired nearby, feeling the chipped rock cut across my cheek deeply. Blood slowly rolls down, seeping through the cracked skin.

"Oh look what the cat dragged in, it's the small runts girlfriend!!!!!" The old man cheers, seeing me coming towards him. Narrowing my eyes, he aims both guns at me. Shooting multiple times in my direction, I spiral around before flying past him at top speed. Thinking I managed to escape Kenny's clutches, the man had already caught up without a sound.

My eyes widen horror, my breath grew shaky in response.

The man slams me down to the ground with force again, "You're really are pissing me off, you bitch," He growls under his breath, while his eyes grew more dark.

Lifting both my legs I kick him with a more forceful attack, before doing a handspring to my feet quickly.

"Oi, let me watch the fun too!!!!!" Kenny calls out, when I notice the same blonde woman standing beside him.

Fighting back I sent another forceful punch to his jaw, then another to his throat. The force causes the man to choke for a moment, before he recovers quickly. Not faltering for a second, I then do a quick roundhouse kick to his head. Although, his broad stature left me standing there speechless by this man's strength.

"Time to come home," His aura changes more darkly, cracking his knuckles nearing closer to me. "You're real home, beyond the walls."

Slowly I registered what he meant, recalling when Reiner and Bertholdt abducted me. Could this be the man they mentioned?

No, but.....why is he here? How did he--?

"Who......are you?" I demand, my tone grew deeper with intimidation. My eyes grew more dangerous, while keeping my guard up.

Before I could find out, I noticed a few people flying from above us. Recognising them instantly, I had to keep moving. The children