Drive cleaning again, y'all. This was actually a personal project because wow, I hate my old writing. Oml. Anyway, thanks guys :) The intention is the basic plot will stay the same but the... internal storyline will change. A lot. But we'll see that in the future hopefully.

"The crystal is opening! The crystal is opening!"

The desperate cry of a man hit Mikasa's ears and she whipped around to see him stumble out of the building. His face was flushed, eyes wide and terrified. His blades were drawn, glinting in his hands as he threatened to stumble.

"What's going on…" Hitch murmured from her station beside her, a hand shifting to her own blades.

The ordinary people milling outside were starting to freak out; he was scaring them. A kid burst into tears and Mikasa knew she had to do something.

"Sir, please," she said as she approached, shielding him from the outside with her back. "Speak slowly. I don't-"

The man lurched forward, grabbing the front of her arm. "The crystal is opening!" There was a mad fear in his eyes, some deep terror that was threatening to break him.

"Sir, I don't understand. What-"

"The Female Titan!"

The whole street went quiet save the throaty breaths of the soldier. The townspeople stopped walking and looked towards them. Mikasa could feel all their eyes on her back and the rising tension. The nervousness was growing.

"Hitch. A little help please," she said sharply.

The other woman let out a small "oh" and together they were able to bring him inside without much of a scene. He was panicking though. Mikasa put the blades out of his reach and tried again.

"Please tell us what's wrong, sir. Slowly and calmly."

He lurched forward, grabbing her by the collar of her shirt. Hitch snapped out a warning but Mikasa gazed up him, unfazed.

"How can you be calm?! Don't you understand?! She's coming back! She's out! She's going to kill us!"

Mikasa gripped his wrists and forcefully made him let go. "Who?"

"Anne! I don't know, I don't know, that Titan girl! Leon- Leon something! The Female Titan! We need to tell Erwin, oh god! We're doomed! Let me out-!"

Annie. Annie Leonhardt.

Mikasa felt the world dim slightly. It'd been so long since she'd heard that name. Several years now. The city never forgot but they moved on like humans always did. They moved on to survive.

But if Annie was out again… if she was coming back… Mikasa didn't know how she felt.

"Hitch, take care of him. I'm going to inform Erwin."

Hitch started to argue but Mikasa was already running. The door snapped shut behind her as Hitch yelled angrily.

The street outside was quieter than it had been but it was back to milling people. Children ran around, people shouted and horses clopped by. Good. Because if what he said was true, things weren't going to be like this much longer.

Mikasa ran and leapt into the air, her hips jerking forward as she activated her gear. She flew through the air, feeling the wind whip against her cheeks.

Annie. Annie damn Leonhardt. She was coming back.

It took only one second but Mikasa knew she screwed up. Her bolt missed its mark, striking the wall uselessly. She fell through the air. Mikasa hit the tiled roof, rolled before coming to halt just at the edge.

Her chest rose and fell as she stared up at the blue sky, mind conflicted. Annie… was coming back. It was years since she'd last seen her. And for good reason.

She'd never be able to explain the betrayed hurt in her chest when Annie transformed in her Titan. Mikasa had refused to believe, held that tiny hope within her even though she outwardly agreed with Armin. But she still clung to her trust that Annie would never do that.

She remembered staring down into the giant eyes of the Female Titan, her tears flowing silently. Annie saw her moving on her hand.

She could have tried something, tried to swat her away or just anything to save herself. But Annie hadn't. Instead those crystal blue eyes stared at her one last time before Mikasa cut her down. Annie fell and Eren tore into her without mercy.

It had broken her heart to send her falling down that wall. She'd thought she'd never see her again but if the crystal was really opening… it wasn't her Annie that would come out. No. It was the Female Titan.

She would feel nothing. No mercy for the monster that wore her friend's face. Friend. Friend…

Mikasa closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. No. No. No. Her hand clenched into a fist, fingernails digging into her palm but it did nothing to still her aching heart and worried mind.

She'd had a crush on Annie when they'd been cadets. A small one but still there. She and Annie had been at each other's' throats yet Mikasa couldn't help but gaze into her blue eyes and feel a tug on her heartstrings. It was stupid—a child's love.

But it had lasted a long time.

Mikasa rolled over, exhaling deeply. Enough, she snapped at herself. Get up and go find Erwin.

It took all her willpower but she forced herself to stand. She sighed before jumping back into the air and zipping towards the headquarters.

She entered the building without a word to the guard on the door. He didn't try to stop or follow her, recognition lighting up his eyes. Many, many of the MPs knew her face by now. She was somewhat of a legend for taking out a Titan shifter.

She knocked on his door and waited, swallowing her nervousness. She composed her face.

"Come in."

Erwin, Hanji and Levi were gathered at his desk, a sheet spread out in front of him. They all looked up as she entered. She saluted, waiting to be addressed.

Levi straightened up to his full height; which admittedly wasn't that tall, but he gazed at her with narrowed eyes. He looked his normal grumpy self and didn't look pleased to see her. Yet he didn't snap or scoff at her.

Maybe she'd earned a small bit of respect for her skill in battle.

"Mikasa," he said calmly. "We're in the middle of an important meeting as you can clearly see. What is so important it could not wait until afterwards?"

"The crystal holding the Female Titan is opening, sir!"

Silence filled the room as they took in her statement. Erwin's expression remained the same but his eyes widened, betraying his worry. He glanced at Hanji and Levi.

Levi's face was full of disdain but his hands curled into fists. Hanji hadn't changed at all.

Mikasa feared the worst. Were they shocked? Terrified? Panicking? All three of them had seen firsthand what Annie was capable of and the destruction she would bring if free. But these were humanity's greatest hope and if they were scared, what chance did the rest of them have?

Suddenly Hanji tipped their head back and let out a triumphant cheer. As if the cheer was a breaking point the other two sprang into life.

Levi rolled his eyes and Erwin just smiled, appearing amused.

"Yes!" Hanji shrieked, throwing their hands into the air. "This is perfect! So perfect! I've been waiting so long for a chance to experiment on Titans! Oh, Eren would never let me but Annie… oh yes, Annie will be perfect!"

Mikasa's blood ran cold. She liked Hanji a lot despite their eccentric ways but this was going too far. They were a scientist, yes, but Annie wasn't just a tool. She was a powerful enemy and deserved to be respected as one.

"Oi, Four-Eyes," Levi snapped. "Stop it. That's not the problem."

Erwin leaned forward, folding his hands beneath his chin. "If she was capable of transforming we'd have seen it already," he mused. "Which means she's weakened and unable to fight back. We need to contain her before it's too late…"

Mikasa sprang at her chance. "Sir! If I may request something! The Military Police will try and take custody of the Female Titan! They will surely kill her without thinking of her usefulness!"

Erwin frowned, obviously deep in thought.

"Yes... yes they would, wouldn't they… ah… the problems I encounter…"

Levi cleared his throat. "I didn't hear a request, Ackerman."

Mikasa met his gaze full on, refusing to look away under his cold stare. She lifted her chin and pressed a fist to her heart.

"Under your orders, sir, may I stand guard over the Female Titan?"

Erwin raised his head, eyebrows furrowing in surprise. He obviously hadn't expected her to say that. Well, then again most soldiers wouldn't ask to stand guard over one of the worst enemies of humanity that could kill you with one bite. Most soldiers weren't that suicidal.

He looked towards Hanji and Levi for help. Hanji was staring at the ceiling, eyes gleaming as they imagined all the experiments they could perform. Levi was a little bit more helpful.

"Eh, she's competent enough. Last time we fought the Female Titan she had a surprising amount of talent for a whelp."

That was as close to compliment you'd get from Levi. She was touched and smiled. He didn't really smile back, more had a lazy smirk. Close enough.

Erwin sighed and took out a piece of paper. He scribbled something before handing it to her. "Knock yourself out. As if I don't have enough on my plate at the moment."

Mikasa took the paper gratefully and saluted again. "Thank you, sir!"

With a nod and quick farewell she left the house. The guard glanced at her but said nothing.

She paused once on the street, staring down at the piece of paper in her hand. Written on it, in Erwin's smooth handwriting, was a note telling them that Mikasa was the one to watch over the Female Titan. Her and her alone, unless she requested another to help her. She smiled and leapt into the air, engaging her gear and swinging towards the prison.

She was ready to face Annie. Yet, she was so nervous. No Titan had emerged from within the city so they must have contained her. No physical damage would come to her. But emotional... She shoved that thought down.

Once outside the building, she swallowed and made her way in.