*

NEXT DAY - IN TROST (RONIN's POV)

Soldiers were lining up one by one, hands in cuffs and tied along in a chained position towards the wagons down below. My eyes narrow, seeing how pathetic the Scouts look. This man, Kenny Ackerman, seems to know what he's doing around here. Since infiltrating the walls after those two titan brats failed in capturing both Eren and Akira, my patience was wearing down.

"Maybe this'll satisfy the fat cats," Kenny smirks, hands shoved in his pockets. "Reeves ended up being just as useful against us as with us."

"But we still don't have any leads on Akira and Levi," Caven states.

That old man just murdered Dimo Reeves, whoever he was. It didn't matter to me, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Seriously, seeing a fat merchant brought disgust to me that they get to live an easy life. Cowards.

"Like I told you, the runt's not gonna hide forever," He assures her. "When he shows, we kill him and you...." he turns to me. ".....you'll finish your mission."

Rolling my eyes with his deplorable assurance, my head raises slightly not breaking away from the commotion down below.

"You look impatient," Kenny remarks, causing me to scoff dryly. "Sorry you couldn't get her like you planned, seems you underestimated her.......but boy, she's quite the fighter.....dontcha agree?"

Rolling my eyes they drift back down to the wagons, with the Scouts piling in carefully being watched by the Mp's, rifles in hand.

He seethes through his teeth, "You know, I don't understand why you want her so badly," the old man shrugs his shoulders, stepping closer to me. "Wanna tell me why you wanna either take her back, or even......why eliminate her?"

The anger slowly rushes to the surface, while my jaw locks sharply.

"No,"

An arm slung over my shoulder, "Come on, a little heart to heart....hmmm? Be thankful I haven't reported that someone infiltrated from an unknown land," he patronises me, slyly. "Seriously, I don't give a damn where ya from.....I want to know where ya stand."

Shoving my hands into the pockets of my cloak, my eyes slice to his while breathing heavily through my nose.

"Her death........will bring me peace," I reply, venomously. "She may be strong, but it makes her more of a threat to me...........once she's out of the picture, I'll be the only remaining member of our clan."

"What are you to her?"

Closing my eyes, I could still remember that night her mother fled. It brought more pain, and infliction upon me, I had to weigh the problems from her hasty actions when she went against protocol. 

"Just an Uncle," I simply reply, darkness clouding over my eyes. 

*

~ YEAR 823 ~ (3rd POV)

"Congratulations Katsumi.....it's a healthy baby girl," 

One of the maids exclaimed with warmth, while holding the small bundle in her arms delicately afraid to hurt the child. The mother panted heavily, sweat aligning her temple while trying to focus on something. A few moments she calms down, she was given her little daughter being placed in her care. Resting her newborn against her bare chest, warm tears welled in the woman's eyes.

"She's beautiful," She cooed softly, eyes gazing lovingly to her first newborn.

However she knew that punishments will come later, for not conceiving a boy. It was a family tradition to have a male first born, and she broke the families tradition. No matter how much backlash she will receive, the love she held  for her daughter was beyond immeasurable. 

She had enough motherly love, to protect her daughter.

"What are we gonna name her?" The maid asked, while finishing up cleaning around the area to bring ease. She folded a few blankets on the side, while another hastily runs around to prepare a bath for their lady. 

Katsumi gazes down, "Hmm.....how about Akira?"

"Akira?"

She nods, "It means morning sun, clear.......something simple but also powerful," She mused softly, hazily gazing upon her crying child.

Suddenly heavy stomps and strides were thundering down the hallway outside the fusuma doors, before seeing a shadow behind the paper walls. Her weak form flinched slightly, while her arm slightly holds her child closer, while mentally preparing herself. She knew, but she ignored her father and even her husband. 

"I demand to see her!" Her father's voice commanded.

"No, please not yet!"

"Wait, my lord! She's still recovering from her labo--" Another maid cried out, when a sharp sound of flesh echoes. Soon a thump hits the floor outside, as the doors slide open with force and aggression. This causes both the two women in the room to be startled, when the tension fills the room.

"What is the gender?" he demanded, striding towards his daughter. 

The vexation was boiling through his veins, while towering above her. His eyes rest upon the small infant, while Katsumi held her daughter closer. Her eyes narrowed, protectively guarding her while shifting her free shoulder to shield Akira.

"Answer me!"

"I-It's a girl, my Lord," The maid wavered, while her head bowed before him with respect.

Katsumi never broke her bitter look, hoping he would leave them in peace. Yet, it did nothing but brought displeasure to her father. While he stood above her, her eyes soon caught of someone at the door. His eyes were apathetic, with no ounce of moral or love towards his newborn Niece. He just stood there, arms crossed and an discontent expression upon his distilled face.

"You're our only hope in bringing an heir, you know that," Her father informed her, while his anger soon slowly started to fade instantly. His eyes carefully searched his daughter's eyes, noticing she was fearing her child's life. Slowly he backs away, running a hand through his hair roughly trying to remain composed.

A heavy sigh draws from his lips, before considering something else.

"I-I know....father," She whispered, noticing her child was fast asleep against her breast. She brought the blanket further up to give Akira some warmth, but soon a groan was heard at the door.

"Seriously father, why can't we burn the child?" Ronin suggested, rolling his eyes. "Aren't I to become the heir to this family, seen I'm already the first born and old enough? Seriously, do we have to wait so long for that to happen?"

His father snapped his head towards his son, who held no remorse from his words.

He couldn't take that back now.....

"How dare you suggest such a thing, we are barely getting by as it is," He snapped angrily, his eyes raging with a fire. "You want those damned Marleyan's to take over? We need this so we can take ten percent of their military services. We're already having their military watching us, day in and day out."

Ronin scoffed, "Seriously? Can't you use me instead, I'm trustworthy enough--"

"No, you're not," He rejected, his eyes boring into his own sons. "You may be a strong warrior, but you don't have good intentions to become a leader. You should know by now, after I've told you multiple times."

Ronin's blood was boiling, while frustration was surfacing quickly to his face.

Katsumi weakly gazes at her father knowing her worst outcome came to a failure, which brought relief. Except now she knew something was up, but she felt too weak to even speak further. Her strength left her slowly, while the maid beside her took Akira carefully. Tucking the young lady in her futon, she carefully bundled the child into her arms.

"Kana, please take my son away," The chief ordered, while he glowered down upon his son.

The maid behind Ronin bowed, "Yes, my Lord,"

Ronin shrugged the woman off him while storming away, when a few seconds later a woman entered the room. Her hair was neatly pinned back, while politely entering the room. She gazed upon her daughter, before meeting her husbands troubled gaze. 

"Ronin, again?" She assumed softly, while he kept quiet. Sighing deeply her eyes rested upon Katsumi who's fallen asleep. "What are we gonna do with that boy, we've endured nineteen years and still he hasn't changed.......what if--"

"Don't suggest any possibilities, it will only bring more karma upon our clan," He sternly spoke up, shifting his eyes to his beautiful wife. "We've been in Marley's clutches for thirty-three years, and our daughter can bring us hope with our granddaughter."

"We have a granddaughter?" She questioned, only earning a nod. Her eyes flickered across, when the young maid walked up to both the new grand-parents. She was surprised by the sudden change of events, but soon melted with how tranquil the child was. "She's beautiful, what's her name?"

"Akira, Lady Azami," The maid bowed, while trying her best not to allow harm to come to the child.

"Such a beautiful name, for a beautiful child," She hummed softly.

The chief scowled, "That boy is gonna be the death of us, sooner or later," he muttered, bitterly beneath his breath. "It's like he enjoys the idea......of killing, no remorse or sympathy.......and what scares me most is that our clan will be brought to extinction if I rest the fate of our clan in his hands."

Lady Azami processed his words, but focused on the infant before her.

"We will just place our trust in what's in front of us for now," She simply suggested, while softly cooing to Akira who seems to have woken up. Azure eyes flickering up with wonder, staring with interest of the world.

However Ronin heard everything not far from where they stood, jaw clenching with anger.

"Where is our son-in-law?" Lady Azami questioned, noticing the disappearance of the father not being present. "He should be here to support his wife, not completely leave her alone."

The chief sighed, "He's in the internment zone currently, working with the restorationists," he replied more quietly. It was a secret organisation, that held the remnants of the royal family. Her husband wasn't royal, but had a part in it. "Clearly he doesn't prioritise our main plans for our rebellion, when the time has to come."

Though it may seem not as dramatic at the time, things were worse beyond their predictions.

*

PRESENT - (AKIRA's POV)

Quietly staring off into space, I could feel the warmth of the sun peeking through the branches and leaves above us. Tucked away in the forest just outside of Stohess, we were waiting for Jean, Mikasa and Armin to return from gathering supplies. My worry for them grew, knowing that certain eyes can recognise some of us. 

We were in a tight spot, but something else was bothering me more.

"Hey.......you've been awfully quiet," Levi spoke up, nudging my shoulder while sitting upon the same boulder beside me. He subtly leans his weight against my good arm, while glancing my way.

Lifting my head, "Hmm.....I'm alright, just worried for the children," 

Technically I wasn't lying, but he shouldn't be concerned. 

"They'll be fine, besides....toughening them up will also help us rely on them," He admits, quietly while my eyes lift to see Sasha, Connie quietly sitting patiently. I couldn't help feel uneasy, even though I'm calm about it all. Things were being rushed, and we're all heading towards a corner sooner or later.

"Captain! Corporal!" A familiar voice calls, feeling relief wash over me to see the three return safely. "We bought the supplies."

Armin walks to both of us, passing us some kind of flyer.

"The Mp's were handing out these flyers," Armin informs us, as I took the flyer to skim across the amount of writing. Scowling at the lie that was written, my blood was boiling. "If this is true, the Scouts will be disbanded......"

My breath hitches in my throat, glancing up see Armin's troubled eyes.

"They say they'll be hunting for us in the mountains tonight," He adds, clarifying that we must come up with our next best strategy. Clearly, we must think ahead and be a step forward. "They're also posting guards on all the vital roads. No one can get through them without a pass. So, Captain? Corporal, what now?"

The paper consisted with both Levi and I's faces upon the warning, as they roughly sketched both of us horribly. Simply they needed work on their skills, yet, I couldn't help but to smirk lightly at how goofy we looked.

Levi politely took the paper from my hands, "We need to hurry and find Eren," Mikasa says, hastily. 

"He'll be fine," I assure her, while Levi hums in agreement. "They're taking him on a wagon, so that might give us about one day before they reach Reiss' estate."

Levi folded his arms, "Which we need every second we can get, to come up with a plan," he adds in, when both Sasha and I lift our heads hearing something from a good distance.

"Captain, Corporal.....I hear footsteps," Sasha warns us suddenly, her voice shifts to seriousness in a hush tone. "Sounds like they're approaching."

I hum, "Yeah, I hear them too,"

Connie raises his hands on either side of his ears, "How can you hear so damn well? I can't hear a thing--"

"Let's move," I stood up, throwing my cloak around me to cover up properly. "Levi, we need to figure out more info, should we take our chances and capture these soldiers?"

He nods in agreement, "It's better to know which outpost has the least, just to see if we figure out what we are after,"

With that being said, I turn to Armin sharply knowing his skills would work wonderfully. "Armin, we need you to be the decoy......a distraction," I hastily ask of him, whilst adjusting my straps. "Can you manage that, for me?"

"Yes ma'am,"

"Excellent, alright head up to the river and come up with something," I say firmly, earning a nod. Slowly after a few minutes awaiting behind the bushes, Mikasa and Levi were positioned above the trees nearby when Armin was. Not long after, we finally at both the hostages within our grasps, as I firmly make my entrance with the rest of the squad.

Armin securely took the rifles from the two, before keeping a safe distance from them.

Approaching the two tightly held back by Levi and Mikasa, their eyes widen with they noticed my presence. "Best to take off your gear and cloaks, if that's alright?" I ask rhetorically, before slowly we collected their belongings. Sasha, Connie and Jean stood on guard around us, while Armin and Mikasa were taking their gear off.

Now that we have the disguises to become Mp's, we might have a chance getting past checkpoint.

"Corporal, Captain," Jean addresses us both, passing up two slips of folded pieces of paper. 

"Now then," Levi stood up, before lifting his blade to his shoulder to rest against. "You're Stohess District Military Police............Private Marlo Freudenberg.........Same assignment, Private Hitch Dreyse....We'll need to dispose of you..." he trails off, while my eyes met with their's, widened with horror.

She growls, "because of what you did, Stohess was a graveyard!" Hitch accuses us. "Over a hundred people were killed!"

Levi angles his head, "Huh?"

"Hey," Marlo scolds her, warningly.

"You bastards," She continues, accusingly. "I bet you all think you're some kind of heroes of justice, but you're not! You dropped dozens of innocent families straight into hell on that mission of yours!"

"Yeah," Levi simply replies. "I know."

"Hey you!" She snaps, turning to the rest of the kids. "You're from the Southern Cadet Corps, right? So you trained with Annie Leonhardt! Were you a friend of hers?!." she looks down. ".....No....she wouldn't have made friends there, either...Way too gloomy and unapproachable for that. She was just afraid of people, like a scared little kid.....Now I'll never get the chance to learn anything about her. She's officially listed as missing--you know why?"

Already knowing what happened to Annie, all we could do was to accept it.

Her head snaps up to Levi, "It's because she was pulverised by a titan into a puddle of jelly!!!!"

"No," I say, calmly. The two turn to me, "It's because the titan we captured was Annie Leonhardt herself." The two gasp in shock, grasping that they now know the truth behind what happened that day. 

Levi grimaces, "Goddammit, it makes me sick," he glances away. "Nobody knows a thing about this world. Not us, or anyone else....except for the bastards at the center of it all." He lowers his blade, "We're letting you go, but we need to give ourselves a head start on you."

The two slowly register the sudden, and shocking news. Knowing it will effect Hitch, gathering that she was her comrade.

"Hey! Captain Levi!" Marlo says, suddenly. "Please, let me join in your cause! I believe that the Military Police are in the wrong here. If there's any way that I can fight this world's injustice, then that's what I want to do!"

Taken back by his sudden suggestion, while Levi's eyes met mine for only a moment with confusion. "Corporal Akira, please? I will do anything!"

"Easy, calm down," Levi says.

"I swear, I won't let you both down!" Marlo adds, desperately. 

I step closer placing a hand upon my hip, "You should know better about trust, and you told have enough resolve to backup your desperation for an alliance," arching an eyebrow. "Dragging you in, not a chance.......besides to become an enemy of the state? I don't think you can handle that, can you?"

My eyes angle to his, while seeing him swallow thickly holding a tough facade. His eyes were pleading quietly, while my feet felt heavy seeing that he was sincere. I just couldn't accept bringing another person into this.

Their blood will be spilled, and it will be on us.

Levi nudges me, "Let's go," placing his blades back into the canisters. "Take them deeper into the woods and tie them up, Sasha!"

"Sir!"

His hand brushes over mine for a moment, while walking side by side away from the two. However not going far enough, Jean stood by a tree before turning to us sharply.

"Hey Corporal, Captain," He says. His eyes were determined, causing me to wonder why he decided to take the plunge. "Would you let me do it instead?"

Silence falls between the two waiting for request, noticing he wanted to prove himself to us again. This time, more properly. Softly smiling, I gave him a distinct nod of approval.

"You may,"

"Knock yourself out," Levi insists, bluntly when I reach to Jean and placed a warm comforting hand.

"Kick their asses," I quietly encourage him, causing his eyes to widen in surprise flashing him a playful wink. Releasing him he soon leaves us both alone, when Levi's hand unexpectedly takes mine in his.

Shoulders bumping against each other, his hands tugs me closer to him as if he knew I was troubled. "You've.......been a little different since the ambush in Trost," He spoke, his eyes meeting mine with concern. "Did something happen back there?"

Swallowing thickly I shook my head, my eyes avert from his.

"No, I'm........I'm alright," I assure him, firmly. However he gives me a stern look, causing me to purse my lips into a thin line.

"Don't bullshit me, Akira...." he whispers, turning around to face me fully. His face softens slowly. ".......let me help you, if there is anything troubling you? Please?"

Shivers ran down my spine, recalling the