Chapter 34: The Day Before the Rescue
"Time for school!" Ruby yelled as she jumped out of Ai's arms and ran over to her dresser.
"Ruby-Chan~" Ai groaned, reaching out with her arms to find her now missing daughter, still half asleep.
"Come on mama, time for school!" Ruby said.
Ai opened her eyes and saw that Ruby was already dressed in her school uniform, changing quickly from the excitement. She ran into the bathroom in order to brush and smooth out her hair into her favorite side ponytail style.
"Ruby-Chan, slow down. You'll tire yourself out." Ai said, though she knew that Ruby would not get tired.
Children never ran out of energy. Ai read somewhere that kids have such a high metabolism that they actually gain stamina faster than they can lose it, meaning that she can just run and not stop till she goes to sleep.
"Wait, where's your brother?" Ai got worried, mostly from the previous times he's gone missing.
"I'm in here Ai!" He called from the main room.
Aqua was already dressed in his school uniform and finishing packing his book bag. He was busy taking everything out so that he could double check that he had everything. He was always so meticulous.
"Are you excited Aqua-Chan?" Ai smiled as she kneeled down next to him.
"Yes." He said, though without any enthusiasm.
He actually was a little excited. He honestly missed going to school and sort of look forward to it. It would be much easier this time around since he was already an adult. The basic two plus two questions would be literal child's play.
He knew he'd need to look up more advanced subjects, since he hasn't done calculus or trigonometry since his early college years nearly a decade ago, but he had a few years before he needed to worry about that. For now, he can just have fun and ace everything.
He feels like his best subject will be health class and biology through. He was a doctor after all.
"Ehhh?" Ai drew out, poking him on the cheek.
"I really am." He said.
He really hated having to act enthusiastic about everything like a kid. You can only overexaggerate so many times before it gets tiring. Plus, it's embarrassing to act like a four-year-old, even if he technically was.
"Just make sure you avoid pretty girls Aqua-Chan." Ai said.
Avoid prett- he was four. Did she think he was going to try dating?
"Sure Ai." No problem there.
"Almost ready?" Ruby ran up to him and smiled.
"Yes." Aqua said.
Suddenly, both children were brought closer by a hug from their mother, who squeezed them tightly to her chest and kissed them both on the top of the head. Ai felt tears beginning to leak out of her eyes but managed to hold it back.
"My babies are growing up." She said sadly. "Stop growing up, stay babies forever."
"I'll find a way mama." Ruby said absentmindedly.
"Sure Ai." Aqua shrugged, knowing that this was an emotional moment for a mother.
He had many women come through that he would talk to as a doctor. They would talk about their families while getting checked during routine health exams and he knew that many of them would get emotional when their children either left home or showed that they were growing.
Especially some of the women he helped them to deliver would come back for a check and cry at how much older their kids got. Ai was no different.
"Now, let's get a picture!" All sadness went from her voice as she took out her phone.
Ai shifted so she was on her knees behind them and held her phone out so she could get a picture of the three of them. Ai put her hand over Aqua's shoulder and smiled. Ruby tilted her head and gave a subtle smile but held up a peace sign. Aqua gave a little smirk, feeling happy that Ai could have this moment.
After they finished with a few more pictures, Ai helped them finish getting ready and made breakfast. Eren was at work so he couldn't join, but she did pack a bento box for him last night, which he took with him. She made it full of vegetables, meat, and other nutrients so he can have a healthy lunch.
Ai pushed both kids towards the door and helped them to get their shoes on. She always loved helping them get ready since it made her feel needed as a mother, though she knew she'd eventually have to let them get ready on their own. Just not yet.
However, Aqua was still hurt and in his sling, so it gave her a perfect excuse to dote on him all the time. Even if she wished it never happened, she was glad she was there to care for him and make the recovery process easier.
Thankfully, he was diligent with his physical therapy. She never had to remind him to do his exercises and he knew exactly when too much was too much. At first, he had trouble meeting the goals that were set because of the pain, but now he was able to complete each set easily, so it was showing that he was healing.
"Now listen Aqua-Chan, if anyone tries to bully you, you go straight to a Sensei." Ai said.
"I know." Aqua said.
"I don't want anyone pushing you or playing rough while recovering." She lectured. "So, stay away from playgrounds for now and make sure you don't exert yourself until after your arm heals. Understand?"
"Yes Ai." Not that he intended to do any of that. He packed a few books to read while everyone was playing during recess.
"Good boy." Ai smiled, giving him another kiss on the head. "Miyako-San is here, so be safe. I love you."
"I love you too Ai." He replied.
"I love you too Ruby-Chan." Ai kissed Ruby on the top of the head.
Both kids got into Miyako's car since she was going to be the one dropping them off. Ai waved good bye and blew a few more kisses as they left. She felt like crying as her baby boy and girl were now getting older.
Eren walked up to Miyuki's home, which was a small apartment situated on the second floor. Sergei was running an errand, so Eren decided to take the long walk to Miyuki's house and go over what happened during the attack and their upcoming plan.
Eren dressed up in his suit, minus the fedora, glasses, and jacket. His turtleneck sweater was untucked so he could hide his gun in the back of his waistband.
Eren walked up to the door and knocked three times, hard enough to get his attention but soft enough to not be too loud. He heard movement behind the door and knew that someone was home.
The door opened, showing a young girl, maybe fourteen or fifteen, with very light-colored hair and dressed in a simple shirt and short shorts. Eren remembered that she was the girl that Sergei showed Miyuki, his little sister, Rei or Kei or something like that.
"Can I help you?" She asked in Japanese.
"Is Miyuki home?" Eren asked, hoping she understood English.
"Oh, English?" She asked, her accent heavy but understandable. "My brother isn't home yet, he's finishing up some stuff. Who are you?"
"I work with him." Eren said.
"At his after-school job, right?" She asked, giving Eren a perfect cover.
"Yes, we work together, and I need to talk about some things with him." Eren said.
"Well, he texted that he was on his way home. You're welcome to come is and wait for him." The girl said, opening the door and inviting him in.
"Are you parents' home?" Eren asked.
"My dad's at work, so just me right now." She said while Eren took off his dress shoes.
"So, you just let random strangers into your home while you're alone?" He asked, pointing out her complete lack of safety considerations.
"We have a camera right outside, so if you try anything then the police would get you." She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Besides, you can't be bad if you work for my brother. So that at least makes you somewhat trustworthy."
Eren had to face palm at how gullible this family was. How did she know he wasn't lying? What if he didn't care about getting caught and only wanted to hurt her. Thank goodness Sergei has at least a small number of morals, otherwise she would be easy to kidnap.
Come to think of it, everyone in the world was completely relaxed around strangers. Japan was much safer than Paradis, where everyone took precautions since the concept of cameras and phones were non-existent. She probably felt that the camera and her own phone gave her enough security to trust a stranger.
"If you think so." Eren said.
"So, what are you and my brother discussing. No one ever comes by to see him about work." She asked as she sat down on her knees at the dinner table, taking out her phone and browsing through it.
"I was passing by and wanted to go over a job coming up." Eren said with some truth. "Just moving some stuff and it'll take a bit of planning."
"Sounds boring." She said. "What's your name by the way, I didn't catch it?"
"Eren Yeager." He said.
"Oh, are you German?" She asked.
"No, I'm Ukrainian." He said.
"That's cool, I never met a Ukrainian." She said. "I'm Shirogane Kei, Kei being my-"
"Given name, I know." Eren said. "A lot of people here introduce themselves that way."
"That's fair." Kei gave a light giggle. "I guess for a foreigner, it can get annoying."
"Sometimes." Eren said seriously.
Kei felt a little uncomfortable by how he acted. He was polite but overly serious. It reminded her of her brother, but without any of the awkward humor. Eren just seemed to be completely in business mode and making small talk for the sake of small talk.
"Hey Kei, I'm ho-" Miyuki walked through the door before stopping when he saw Eren.
"Miyuki." Eren nodded at him.
Miyuki was frozen on the spot and Kei was wondering why he seemed worried. He looked like he was terrified by something, but he never really got scared. She wondered if he was in trouble at work since he has never once gotten in trouble for anything before.
"H-hey Eren-San." He stuttered nervously. "H-how are you doing? Everything going good with Ai?"
"We're dating now." He shrugged.
"Who's Ai?" Kei asked.
"You know how we met Ai a little while ago?" Miyuki said. "From B-Komachi."
"You're Dating Ai from B-Komachi?!" Kei screamed at Eren.
"You do know she tries to keep a low profile, right?" Eren asked.
"Kei is good with secrets." Miyuki said. "Besides, I couldn't not tell her."
"I love Ai!" She screamed. "I-I mean." Kei tried to calm herself down. "She is pretty cool."
Miyuki sighed, there goes his Tsundere of a sister again, trying not to overreact about learning about her favorite idol.
"What's she like?" She asked.
"She's like a person I guess." Eren shrugged. "Why is everyone so obsessed with her?"
"Because she's amazing and pretty." Kei said. "Don't you think so?"
"She's pretty, sure." Eren shrugged. "But we just started dating, so I'm still learning about it."
"Learning?" Kei asked.
"I actually proposed to her yesterday." Kei squealed when she heard that. "But in my culutre, that's normal. I never even heard of dating before."
"Did she say yes?" Kei asked.
"No, she wanted to date first, follow this countries culture." Eren said. "So, I'm lost."
"Well, my brother is an "expert", right bro?" Kei grinned at Miyuki, hoping to embarrass him slightly.
"I-I am- I mean, I am. Yea." He grinned to himself. "Eren, you are in luck because I have extensive knowledge on women."
Seriously? Did he forget that as far as he was concerned, Eren was a threat to his sister? Was his ego that high that he'd give romantic advice to a criminal?
"Sure, go ahead." Eren said in a deadpanned voice.
"Kei, come here." Miyuki said. "I'll need your help."
"Wait, why me?" Kei asked.
"Because I need a practice dummy and Eren is too tall." Miyuki said. "Just come over here and help, this was your idea."
"Whatever." Kei sighed, now regretting her jab at her brother's experience with women.
"What I'm going to teach you, is the tried-and-true wall slam technique." Miyuki smirked.
"Don't you dar-"
Without warning, Miyuki slammed one hand next to Kei, freaking her out from the sudden loud bang on the wall and the sudden closeness. Her heart was racing from the surprised movement.
"It's a classic that I've seen have a one hundred percent success rate." He left out that he only saw one instance of it. "It takes them by surprise and instantly shows how bold you are."
"So, completely entrap them like an attack..." Eren said in a very unsure voice.
"Baka!" Kei screamed out after getting her bearings. "That's the dumbest idea ever! Who even wall slams anymore!? That's something only preschoolers do!"
"It's effective!" Miyuki said. "It's a whole plan. See, you only use one arm so you can make her feel safer."
"That does not make a girl feel safe!" Kei yelled again. "Instead of a wall slam, you should just walk around and be gentler."
"Gentler?" Eren asked.
"You know, put your arm on the small of her back when you walk." She suggested. "Or maybe you can hold her hand or put your arm around her shoulder. When you open the door for her, push her in gently to show both dominance but gentleness."
"Dominant but gentle?" Miyuki asked. "You can get the same thing from a wall slam."
"The wall slam is not gentle!" Kei argued. "That's just complete dominance! You need a balance."
"But you said be dominant." Miyuki said.
"Dominant as in in charge and confident!" She yelled. "Not tie you up and throw you in the trunk kind of dominant!"
"Sweet innocent Kei, I think someone with my experience would know." Miyuki bragged.
"What is your experience?" Eren asked.
"W-well, y-you know. I don't want to brag." He tried to deflect without outright lying.
"Right." Eren said.
"Besides, if you don't know women Eren, then Miyuki here will teach you." He referred to himself in third person, making Kei face palm.
"I'm familiar." Eren said.
"Y-you are?" He asked, now worried that he'll be discovered that he knows nothing about women.
"I just don't know how dating works." He said. "Again, my culture doesn't have it. We marry very quick."
"Then how do you have any experience?" Kei asked.
"I've had sex before." Eren said.
"S-" Kei froze, too embarrassed to say the word out loud.
"Uh- I- Uh-" Miyuki stuttered.
Yes, when Historia was planned to be turned into the Beast Titan, Eren and her found a way to prolong it just enough to facilitate his plan and save her from being slaughtered in thirteen years. The MPs were unsure of the effects of being turned into a Titan with a pregnant woman, so they postponed it until Eren could enact his Rumbling.
Needless to say, they had to try a few times before she would conceive, so he got decent at it. It was even seen as a way for both of them to give into their baser instincts, helping to push away the trauma they felt and the immense guilt Eren felt with his plan.
After they were sure she conceived, she met an old friend of hers from her village and formed a relationship with him. She married him on the spot, and it allowed for the perfect cover story for her pregnancy.
Eren can't say he loved Historia though. She was his friend and comrade, someone he truly loved in a non-romantic way. But he never saw himself marrying her. He always imagined himself with Mikasa if he ever did have a future.
But that was the past and Eren didn't want to think about it.
"Well then, you have maybe a bit more experience than me." Miyuki tried to save face.
"I-I mean, Ai is a lovely maiden, why would she be interested in you?" Kei asked.
"I mean, Ai does have- Ow!" Miyuki stopped talking when Eren hit him in the head.
"Would you learn the concept of privacy!" Eren raised his voice.
"I-I'm going to go get food for tonight!" Kei said with a blush.
"Where?" Miyuki asked.
"I don't know, I'm going out with a friend! So, you just stay here!" She ran into her room to get changed.
After a few moments, Kei was dressed and practically ran out the door, hiding her blush at the turn of the conversation. She wanted to get away from the stupid boys and their stupid conversation about girls.
"Well, that could have gone better." Miyuki laughed awkwardly.
"Now that she's gone, we should talk business." Eren said.
"That's a crazy topic change!" Miyuki yelled out.
"Is everyone in this country a bunch of terrified children when it comes to sex, or is it just you?" Eren asked.
"It's just embarrassing." Miyuki said.
"It's just sex." Eren shrugged. "What do you think will happen if you marry Kaguya?"
"M-m-marry?" Miyuki stuttered. "S-sex with Shinomiya?"
Miyuki blushed as he pictured it in his head, imagining him and Shinomiya together in their room, her wearing a-
"Ow!" He yelled out as Eren hit him in the head.
"Would you focus!" Eren yelled, getting annoyed at the hormonal teenager.
Even when he was younger, Eren didn't get shy around women. Granted, he never gave women a single thought, but Miyuki was just taking it to another level.
"As you can guess, the Ginza attack went poorly, so Yoshida is going to keep her. Meaning we'll need to rescue her." Eren explained.
"Ok, so did you find her?" Miyuki asked.
"Sergei found where she's being kept." Eren said.
"Really?" Miyuki asked. "Where?"
"She's being moved after Ginza to a night club in southern Tokyo." Eren said. "She'll be moved into one of the underground storage rooms and be taken to an unknown location after that. Tomorrow will be the only time we'll have to get her before she disappears again."
"So, what do we do?" Miyuki asked.
"You'll sneak in, posing as a Yakuza member and free her. You'll be the one moving her, at least that's the lie we'll tell them. Sergei will communicate with you and tell you everything you need to say. Once you have her, get out of there and get onto the street. From there, make noise and attract the police. They'll take her back home."
"It's a crazy plan." Miyuki said. "It all relies on me." He said.
"If anything goes wrong, I'll break in and get you out." Eren said.
"Won't the Yakuza boss know who you are?" He asked.
"Sergei is letting me use a Special Assault Team uniform from his list of outfits. Complete with an Empee-five." Eren said.
"Really, you know how to use it?" He asked.
"Sergei has been teaching me while you were at school." Eren said. "Don't worry, we'll save Kaguya. Trust me."
"Right, we will." Miyuki said.
"We need to avoid killing people, so be careful." Eren said.
"Well, I won't be able to really fight if it comes down to it." He said.
"I don't need you to. I literally only need you because you're Japanese." Eren said.
"Great, well I got that at least." Miyuki said sarcastically.
Ruby went down the slide for the fifth time in the past few minutes. It was so much fun getting to climb around on a playground. She hasn't been able to enjoy this feeling in years, both because of her cancer and the new life as a toddler.
She just wished mama was here to see it. She would have so much fun with Ai. Eren too, who she started to see as an almost inseparable part of the family now. He was strong, brave, and kind.
Ruby honestly wondered if that is what a father should be. Someone to protect her and her mother, while also playing around with her and letting her win all the time. Of course, she knew he always let her win; she was basically an adult now, so she understood how adults worked. She's finally sixteen! a full-grown woman!
Well, mentally anyway. Not physically anymore.
"Hey, Ruby-Chan!" She heard someone call her name.
Ruby turned to the edge of the playground, which had a waist high concrete wall and a fence on top, separating the kids from any potential predators or kidnappers.
"Kamiki-San?" She asked in confusion.
He was dressed in a simple coat with a ballcap and sunglasses, likely hiding just like Ai does.
"Hey, it's good to see you." He waved to her. "I saw you were going to school and wanted to say hi."
Ruby saw no reason not to run over to him and say hi. He was her actual father after all.
"Hi kamiki-San!" Ruby waved as she ran over to him.
"Not papa?" He asked in a feigned but playful hurtful tone.
"Nope, not yet." She said. "You'd have to earn if first."
"That's fair." He giggled. "Well, why don't you tell me about your day? Are you having fun?" he asked.
"Yea, it's the first time I can play on the slide." In this life, she said to herself. "Aqua is being boring." She narrowed her eyes at her brother, who had his back to her and reading his book.
"Well, I called your mama, and she said it would be ok for us to go somewhere together. Have a little father daughter time." He flashed her a charming smile.
Ruby considered it. She wasn't supposed to leave school until it was over, but if an adult was picking her up, with mama's permission, it should be fine. Right? He was her father, so he should be as nice as Ai.
"I guess that sounds fun." Ruby said. "What are you thinking?"
"Well, I was hoping to get some input from my daughter on a movie I'm writing." He said. "I figured you can come to papa's house, and we'll work on it together. I'll show you a bit about how entertainment works. You do want to be an idol, right?"
"Yea." Ruby said with a bit of excitement. He was an actor, she remembered her mama saying that once.
So, he must know a lot about it and have connections to help her when she got older.
"I'll tell the Sensei that you're picking me up." She said.
"Stop!" A loud voice called out from behind her.
Aqua was running at them full speed, his book on the ground where he was sitting, as if he was in a huge hurry.
"Get away Ruby!" He said, catching his breath from the awkward sprint.
His running was off balance due to the sling, but he looked unusually upset right now.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"Aqua-Chan, glad to see you." Kamiki smiled. "I wanted to know if you wanted to-"
"No!" He yelled, finally catching his breath. "You get out of here right now!"
"Aqua-Chan, I'm your father. Besides, your mother gave me permission-"
"Bullshit!" Aqua yelled.
"That's not a nice word Aqua-Chan." He said.
"To hell with you." Aqua growled. "I heard about what you did to Ai."
"Did?" Ruby asked, looking between Aqua and Kamiki.
"What do you mean son?" Kamiki asked.
Ruby noticed a large distaste in his mouth from what Kamiki said, as if he wanted to spit those words out from how disgusting it was. Why did her brother hate their father so much.
"You hurt Ai!" He said.
"What!?" Ruby yelled out.
"Aqua-Chan, sometimes adults-"
"What did you do!?" Now it was Ruby who was yelling.
"He grabbed her arm and tried to hurt her Ruby." Aqua said desperately, as if he was trying to convince her.
"Son, your mother is a good woman. But she's exaggerating." Kamiki said.
"Did you hurt mama?" Ruby narrowed her eyes.
"Ruby, sweety. I care for your mother. And I care for you. I just want a chance to show you the kind of person I am." He seemed so sincere.
Ruby may have died young, but she wasn't stupid. She knew Aqua was older than she was and had more life experience. He refused to tell her why he hated Kamiki so much, but she would rather trust his judgement since she lived with him for four years. She just trusted him, and she didn't fully know why.
That being said, Kamiki tried to hurt Ai. She remembered seeing some shows and anime where the heroine was abused by a former love interest, which fits in her mind. Kamiki likely abused Ai, which made sense why her mama was always so cautious around him and why Aqua hated him.
For Ruby, Kamiki did the worst possible sin. He hurt her mama.
For a second, nothing happened. Everyone was quiet, unsure of what to do. Kamiki was wondering if Ruby would believe him or not. Aqua too, was wondering what was going to happen. He would physically stop Ruby if he had to.
Ruby inhaled deeply, ready to scream.
"MOLESTER!"
Suddenly, Senseis' were running over to her, shouting at Kamiki when they saw him. Ruby smirked in satisfaction as he scowled and ran away, unable and unwilling to try and explain himself. The look he gave Aqua before he ran though, was a murderous one. Aqua smirked, daring him to try something before he took off and ran.
"I'll be honest, I wouldn't have thought of that." Aqua said out loud as the Senseis' ran up to them.
Ruby was questioned by the teachers, she was going to say who it was, but Aqua quickly spoke for her, cutting her off. He explained it was some weird guy who was trying to lure Ruby away.
"Why didn't you let me say who it was?" She asked Aqua.
"Because if you say that it was our biological father, then the Police won't do anything about it. Technically, he does have a right to see us and they'll assume you're lying." He said.
"I wouldn't lie." Ruby said.
"That doesn't matter." Aqua said. "If we get the police to find him, it can open up potential court cases that will have him get looked at as a potential guardian, which would bring the issues of custody battles if he wanted to pursue it. Then we'd have to go see him."
Everything Aqua said was the truth. The Police wouldn't arrest him since he was their father and Ruby could be seen as lying since she was only four. It could also put him in a position to request custody rights, which would ensure they get stuck with him and be used as bait against Ai.
Hikaru could also easily claim Ai was intentionally pitting the children against him, which could call into question her competence as a mother and potentially cost her some custody of the children. It was very unlikely, but a real possibility.
Aqua knew Hikaru wanted to avoid that, but if he was put in that situation, he would try to leverage it to his advantage.
"I don't like it." Ruby said.
"Plus, the police may have to report it and if it leaks, Ai will be found out." Again, it was the truth. "We can't let them know Hikaru was here."
"Ok." Ruby relented. "Thank you Aqua." She said.
"Sure." Aqua said. "I'm glad you're ok Ruby." Aqua said after a slight pause.
"Well, don't worry about me. I can handle myself." His tsundere of a sister said.
"Whatever you say." He said with a subtle laugh.
Ai was a mess when the kids got home. The school called Miyako, since they had her as their guardian, and in turn, Miyako called Ai. As far as anyone was concerned, a potential predator approached her children.
"Don't you ever go up to a stranger ever again!" Ai raised her voice at Ruby.
"I'm sorry mama." Ruby said, tears threatening to spill out.
Ai saw her daughter getting upset and had to calm herself. She was getting emotional right now and was lashing out. If that bastard was nearby, Ai would kill him. She would grab whoever dared to try and lay a finger on her children and strangle him.
But she realized that she was taking that pent up aggression on Ruby, who really did nothing more than talk to a stranger. She had to be calm and loving if she hoped for her daughter to be safe.
Ai hugged her daughter, squeezing her into her chest as she rested her chin on Ruby's head. She gave a couple of kisses on Ruby's head.
"Please don't ever scare mama like that again." She said softly. "I was so worried."
"I won't mama." Ruby cried, glad that her mother was calming down.
"I love you Ruby-Chan." Ai said.
"I love you too mama." She replied.
First her son gets stabbed, and her daughter nearly gets abducted. What is with the past few weeks? Not counting the fact that she almost died twice.
"Everything ok?" Eren asked, unable to follow the conversation that she had with her daughter.
"Yes." Ai lied. "I'm completely fine now."
"Good." Eren said, giving her a light pat on the shoulder.
"Head." Ruby said to Eren as she finished drying her tears.
"Head?" Eren asked.
Ruby took her hand and patted her own head, before pointing to Ai.
"Pata head papa." She said.
"Please Ruby-Chan, stop saying that." Ai blushed.
Eren raised an eyebrow and looked at his hand really quick. Ai wasn't paying attention, so he decided to try out what Ruby suggested.
He reached out and put his hand on the top of Ai's head, who immediately froze and blushed at the contact.
"So, treat your lover like a dog." Eren said with a slight laugh to his voice. "Got it."
"I'm not a dog!" Ai barked at him.
"Mama hasa head pato!" Ruby exclaimed.
"So, what is this?" Eren asked, still rubbing Ai's head.
"I-it's supposed to be a relaxing t-thing in J-Japan." She said, her head getting low from embarrassment.
"Interesting." Eren said.
Ai pushed his hand off her head before going to finish making dinner.
Eren sat down with the family and continued to joke around with them. He was able to just relax and enjoy Ai and her children's company. It got easier to just relax around them after a while.
Without the looming threat of human extinction or genocide, Eren felt that he could just relax. Sure, there was the Yakuza that was an issue, but to be honest, that was small time compared to what he's dealt with before. It was still a threat since he didn't have his powers anymore, but he felt like he could relax still.
Ruby was finally starting to get English down. She could just about have full conversations with Eren and was mostly understandable. Her progress was amazing, mostly because Ai was the best Sensei in Japan.
Plus, Eren was fun to talk to. He was serious a lot, which actually reminded her of Doctor Goro, but he was able to relax and even joke around with her and Ai.
Aqua and Eren didn't really interact much, which was weird since Ruby noted that they were so similar in a lot of ways. Almost like Eren was an older version of Aqua. Still, he was able to have a good time with the family and Ruby felt herself caring more and more about Eren.
She could tell Ai was still upset about earlier, but she was able to calm down. Ruby wished she could tell her the truth, but Aqua was right in that it would involve the Police and likely be leaked. Plus, the Police wouldn't do anything since he was their father, and they'd think Ruby would overreact.
So, she let Ai and the school believe it was a random guy.
Still, Ai was a bit on edge, so Ruby had to think of a way to calm her down.
"Mama, dance!" She said as she finished dinner.
"Dance, now?" Ai asked.
"Bring Eren-San, you can teach us to dance." Ruby said, running over to the main room.
"What did she say?" Eren asked.
"She wants to do some dancing practice. What do you say Eren?" Ai asked.
"Sure." Eren said.
They moved over to the main room and Ai and Ruby got in the center. Ai put on a rerun of her Star T Rain song and started to show Ruby how to dance.
"Mama, you were a little higher with your arm." Ruby said.
"Was I?" Ai asked.
"Yea, like thi-" Ruby was cut off as she fell.
Ai walked over to her and kneeled down, picking her up.
"You need to focus on balance Ruby-Chan." Ai said. "If you are bracing to fall, then you'll never keep your balance."
"Hey Ai, do you have those glow sticks?" Eren asked.
"Yea, they're in the box over there." She said.
"Red is your color, right?" He asked.
"Yes, why?" She asked.
Eren walked over to the box and got some out. He took three glow sticks out and walked over to the couch. He handed one to Aqua after cracking it, then took his own glow sticks and cracked those.
Ai started to laugh as Eren sat on the couch, one glow stick in each hand, and with a deadpanned serious face, started to flick the glowsticks in line with the rythm of the song. Aqua followed suit, his face more bored than serious.
"Ahahahahaha!" Ai laughed.
"Would you stop laughing and just dance." Eren at least had the courtesy to blush. "I'm cheering you two on."
"I'm sorry, I just didn't expect that." She said, wiping some tears away. "Come on Ruby-Chan, we have two Otaku fans to cheer us on!" Ai posed for Eren and Aqua.
"Ok!" Ruby said, her worry was now gone.
She fell a few more times, but she started to get used to it. It was so easy to practice in this environment. Failing here was met with cheers, laughter, and encouragement to improve. She saw how uncomfortable Eren was with dancing with the glowsticks, but he did so anyway to make sure Ruby stayed happy.
She was happy to have a papa like Eren. He was so much better than Kamiki, since now she learned he abused her mama. Eren was kind and protective of them.
They danced for a few hours before Eren said he needed to go to sleep. He said he had an important day at work tomorrow, so he needed to sleep early and would be out late.
"I'll have a bento packed for you tomorrow." Ai smiled.
"Thanks." Eren said. "Good job tonight Ruby." Eren said to her.
"Tank yew papa." Ruby said.
Ruby grabbed his hand and put it on the top of her head, mimicking the same motion that Eren did earlier to Ai. Eren was still a bit confused, but figured it really was just a Japanese thing. Ruby let go of his hand as he rubbed her head by himself.
"He's not your papa yet." Ai blushed, finding it cute what Eren was doing for Ruby.
"Goodnight." Eren said as he left their apartment.
"Yes, he is." Ruby said after the door closed, intent on having the last word.
Here was an experiment, tonal shifts in a chapter lol. Hopefully the tone didn't shift too much or was jarring. I wanted to experiment with that, so please let me know if it was a good shift from suspenseful to wholesome. Criticism is welcome lol.
That being said, next chapter will finally be the Kaguya rescue. Set up 12 chapters ago lol. What a long set up. Now the pressure is on to make it meet expectations lol.
