Chapter 11: Ai and Her Family are Attacked

Ai was terrified as the hooded man entered into her home and held a knife to her struggling sons throat. Her voice died in her throat as she saw the man show obvious intent to harm her child.

Ruby whimpered as Ai shifted her daughter behind her, hoping to use her own body as a shield if need be. She didn't understand why the man was showing such a threatening display towards her and was terrified, worried something might happen to Aqua.

Aqua struggled to breath as the man kept a firm grip on his neck. He tried to struggle out of his grasp, even with the knife near his throat, but not only was he too weak, but with all the weight on his neck he needed both hands to grip the man's wrist and hold himself up.

He could tell this was the same man that killed him four years ago. It filled him with anger at how he returned to try and finish the job. He had no idea how he found them, but he did and now he was a threat to his new mother and sister.

Aqua didn't want to die again. However, he also needed to find some way to save Ai. If he had to die in order to protect her again, he knew he would. Ai would be devastated, after all, as a mother she felt compelled to protect her children. However, Aqua felt he was the one responsible to protect her since he made that promise when he was still an adult.

"I finally found you." He said in a crazed voice. "I'll make you pay for what you did."

Ai was now sure of what was going on. This man was a fan, though unlike some fans that would just be happy to see her, this one was an obsessed fan. He knew that she had children, and she could tell that he felt betrayed by that.

"Please-" Ai was cut off.

"Don't you dare try to say anything!" He yelled at her. "You lied to us! To all of us!" He accused.

"I-" Ai tried again.

"You always pretend to love us! To love your fans!" He monologued. "But you go and get pregnant! Even when you would claim that you loved us!"

So that's it. He was hurt by her having children.

Normally, a person would feel that this was unfair. That it was unfair to expect a person to remain celibate and childless in order to appease her fans. That her fans should try to accept her decision to have a family because it brought her happiness.

However, Ai felt bad for the man. He seemed like he loved her, if in a twisted way. Ai had no idea what love was, maybe this is what it was. They always say in movies and books that people do terrible things for love. So maybe this is what this was. She felt terrible and hurt at the thought.

However, Ai also knew that her children were in danger right now. Aqua still had a knife to his throat, just centimeters away from ending his life. Every fiber of Ai's being was screaming at her that this was unacceptable. That that knife should be at her throat and not her child's throat.

She trembled as she saw her son struggle. He looked so tiny and vulnerable in the man's grasp. His cute little face, which normally showed stoicism and even strength, was now scrunched up in pain and fear as he struggled to breathe.

"And you're scared!" The man screamed. "Scared about what happens to this worthless kid! Scared about his safety! Not giving a damn about your fans!"

"Yes, I'm scared." Ai said, hoping that if she can calm him down, she can turn his attention on her and not Aqua.

Aqua tried to speak. Tried so desperately to say something, anything. But all he could do was take another breath as the man tightened around his neck. If this continued, he'd probably pass out. He had to fight back. He had to do something to save Ai. Anything. Even if it was just a window to run and get help.

"I loved you!" He said. "I loved you so much and you go and betray me! You never loved any of us!"

"You're right." Ai said, taking the man by surprise.

Ai got down on her knees, tried to make herself as low and docile as possible, hoping to beg and throw away any dignity she had if it meant turning his anger on her and giving her kids a chance to escape.

"What?" The man questioned, letting his grip relax a bit which caused his grip to loosen a bit.

"I lied to you. I lied to everyone." She said, which she could also feel was the truth. "The truth is, I never knew what it was like to feel loved, or even be loved in return."

"So, you just lied to us?" He asked, voice still full of anger.

"Yes." She said honestly. "I did lie. I lied about loving you because I never knew what it was like to love."

"That makes no sense!" He denied.

Aqua couldn't help but think the man is a complete Hippocrates. Makes no sense? He's the one holding a four-year-old hostage because he apparently can't get a girlfriend and is accusing Ai of lying to her fans when it is all a damn act. At least his confusion relaxed his grip a bit so Aqua wouldn't pass out.

"I told myself, that if I lied about loving others then eventually, I would believe that lie." Ai said. "I could understand how it feels to love and be loved. I could finally understand what that would mean."

"But you-" Now the stalker was cut off.

"But because of that, I hurt the fans who have done so much for me." She said. "Maybe I am just a terrible woman."

"You don't give a damn about any of us!" He screamed. "You probably can't even remember me, why would you care!?"

How the hell was Ai supposed to remember nearly a million fans you psycho!? Aqua screamed in his head since all that came out of his mouth was a gasp from the chocking.

"I think I do remember you." She said as she looked at his face. "Ryosuke, right?"

Even Aqua was surprised she remembered, and he could tell that this "Ryosuke" was surprised as well given how relaxed his grip got.

"You... remember?" He asked, his breathing now getting faster.

"Yes. You gave me a gift. I remember how shy and timid you were." She smiled at him. "I still have it displayed." She pointed to the wall, showing the gift that he gave her.

"You-" Ryosuke tried to speak.

"I'm sorry I couldn't love you for real." Ai said. "I'm a terrible human. I lied to all of you and it's all my fault you are this way."

Aqua wondered if she was saying all this just to try and calm him down. He'll admit, even he was surprised she remembered his name. But he also felt that this was more than a lie to protect him. He wondered if Ai really believed any of this nonsense.

"Ah!" Ryosuke screamed as Aqua bit him in the hand.

His grip got loose enough to where Aqua could bite and hopefully get the man to release him. In the struggle, Ryosuke threw him forward towards Ai. Aqua landed on his side, feeling pain but luckily, he could tell there was no damage since he was still four and likely still had a lot of cartilage in his body. He could probably fall from the second story and only get slightly hurt at this age.

Aqua stood up and quickly scanned the room. Looking for anything he could use to fight back. He had to protect Ai and Ruby. If he was dying again, he'll make sure Ai is safe.

However, he was prevented from acting as Ai reached out and grabbed him. She pulled him into her body protectively so that his back was pressed into her torso. Her arms wrapped around him, and her chin rested on his head, adopting a pose to protect as much of his body as possible from an attack.

"Ai, let go!" He tried to say.

"Please Ryosuke." She pleaded. "The person who caused you this pain is me. It's only me. Please punish me and not my children. They're innocent. They never hurt you."

Ryosuke looked conflicted and confused. Unsure of what he should do.

"Please, just let them go. Let them go outside and you can do what you want with me. If you need to hurt me to feel better, I'll understand." Tears began to leak from her eyes. "But please don't punish them. They did nothing. I was the one to give birth to them. I raised them, and I chose to have them. It's all my fault. So please punish me. Please."

Aquas hearts filled with rage at how Ai begged the man to spare her children. Just like a good mother, she threw away her dignity and her pride in order to ensure the best chance to reason with the man and save her children. Even if it cost her life.

Ai glanced towards the door as she saw movement. This caused Ryosuke to look behind him and saw a man wearing a pair of jeans and a grey T-shirt. His hair was long and undone, partially obscuring his face.

Suddenly, his face contorted with rage again.

"You say all that, but I saw you with this man!" He accused. "What is he to you? Is he your lover? Is he their father!?"

"No!" Ai tried to reason, terrified if something were to happen with Eren. "He's only my neighbor. We met last week. He's no one to me."

Something about the way she denied that sounded different to aqua compared to what she said earlier. As if she was lying now, whereas everything beforehand was the truth.

"Please, he doesn't even know Japanese. Please just let my kids leave with him. Please." She pleaded again. "Punish me, not them. Please."

Ryosuke relented a bit. He didn't know what he was going to do. His thoughts and feelings were a mess that he didn't know why he was so conflicted. He came here to take revenge and now he felt off.

Ai hoped that his indecision was a cue that he would let them go. She didn't want Eren to get hurt, after all, the man had a knife. If Eren tried to fight, she had no doubt that he would get hurt. He had nothing to do with them and didn't deserve to be hurt or killed over someone as terrible as her.

"Eren." She called out in English. "Please take my children and get out of here." She pleaded, hoping that he would listen to her and avoid dying.

"Ai!" Aqua said, forgetting that he's not supposed to know what she said. "I'm not leaving you to him! Just let me go!" He tried to convince her so he could at the very least do something other than cower.

"It's ok Aqua-Chan." Ai said gently. "I'll be ok."

Aqua heard Ruby whimper behind him, still paralyzed by the fear of only having her mother stand between her and the psycho. But even if she couldn't say anything, she gripped harder onto the clothes on Ai's back, wordlessly saying she didn't want to leave.

"You're ok Ruby-Chan." Ai soothed. "Mama will be alright. I promise."

Ever the liar she was. Ai couldn't even tell the truth to her own children. She truly was a terrible person.

But at least they'll be ok. They'll grow up happy and healthy. She imagined Ruby dressed in a cute little school outfit as she would talk about her first day in school. Or how Aqua might come home one day with a girl he asked out on a date. She imagined Ruby crying from her first broken heart and Aqua maybe coming home after a fight with another boy. All the mischief and wonderful things they would do.

Her heart broke as she realized she would probably never see any of it. She would sacrifice herself here so that her children will live. After all, she was a terrible mother.

She never said she loved her children. Not once did she ever say those words. She was always such a coward. She wasn't going to die here without letting them hear the words. Even if it did turn out to be a lie, at least they can live after hearing those words.

However, her voice died in her throat as she looked over to Eren. Ryosuke's focus was on the man for the past few moments, and she could see why.

Eren's face, normally so calm and neutral, was replaced with a look of complete rage.

"MOOOM!" Eren screamed as he ran up the hill towards his house. "MOOOOM!"

His house, the same outline he saw every single day coming home was no longer there. Instead, a massive rock fell on the house, completely destroying it. He was terrified at the thought of something happening to his mother.

Eren got to the house and noticed his mother partially sticking out of the debris. Only her upper half was exposed, meaning she was still alive. Eren felt a bit of relief when she moved and moaned his name, but he knew he had to act fast before the Titans come for them.

"Mikasa, grab that end and hoist with everything you got." He said to Mikasa as he kneeled down to lift the massive weight.

Eren tried to lift with all his strength, but it wasn't working. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move the weight from his mother.

Suddenly, he felt the ground shake as he looked up in horror at what he saw. The Titans were getting closer, he knew he would have no time to save his mother.

"Hurry up damn it!" He yelled at Mikasa.

"I'm trying!" She cried out.

"It's them..." his mother said in realization. "You've got to get out of here." She ordered. "Eren, just take Mikasa and run, now!" She yelled.

"I want to more than anything!" Eren said. "But first I need you on your feet!"

"Sweety listen to me, my legs have been crushed." His mother said in horror. "Even if you can get me out of here I can't run. There's no time."

"Whatever I can carry you!" Eren countered as the beam slipped a bit out of his grasp.

"Will you just shut up and listen to me for once in your life!" She yelled, trying to do anything to make him run away. "One thing I'm asking you! One thing!" She tried to reason with him. "Mikasa make him." She pleaded to her adopted daughter.

"I can't." Mikasa whimpered as she continued to try to lift the beam pinning her legs.

"You want all three of us to die?" She asked, hoping to at least guilt her son into running away.

Suddenly, the sound of cables and gas sounded above her. Hannes, a friend of the families, came down on his ODM and rushed over to the scene.

"Hannes." His mother gasped in surprise. "Take the children and get them out of here." She pleaded.

"Come on Carla, that's not our only option." Hannes smiled. "Hey, I'm a trained Soldier. My skillset is killing Titans and saving lives!" He said in determination as he drew a blade and charged at the nearest titan.

"No wait!" Carla begged. "Don't do this, please!"

Eren could barely hear what was going on around him. He was so fixated on lifting the house. So fixated on removing this one beam so his mother could crawl to safety. He couldn't let her die. He couldn't. He refused to watch him mother die today.

But she did die. She did her job as a mother and that was sacrifice herself for her children. He watched as Hannes came back and dragged him and Mikasa away. Watched as his mother was lifted from the rubble before having her back snapped in half. Watched her lifeless body get consumed by the monster, that smiling monster.

"There's nothing you could have done." He remembered Hannes say to him after it happened. "You're a kid, you're weak."

No, Eren refused to accept that. He was a fighter. He was ready to do what he had to do. He'd make Hannes pay for taking him away. He knew he could have saved her.

"I'm worse." Hannes voice broke. "When the time came I was too scared to hold my ground." He began to cry as Eren's rage was replaced with sadness and realization. "You're mother died because I'm a damn coward."

Yes, she died. Eren tried so hard to deny it. He tried so hard not to see it. But that moment, seeing the confident and strong Mr. Hannes brake down like that made him realize the truth. She died. She sent her children away to safety while she died in their place. And the one man who could have done something failed due to his own fear.

Eren was furious. For probably the first time in years, he felt that familiar rage build up inside him. He felt the tunnel vision of that rage consume him, unable to see anyone but the man who threatened a mother and her children. A man who forced that mother to plead with someone to take her children to safety while she died in their place.

But Eren wasn't Hannes, and this man wasn't a Titan.

Eren moved slowly towards the man, who recognized that he was in danger. Ai told him to run, but Eren never would run from a fight. Eren was too strong and sure in his own abilities to run from this coward. He could even tell how he held the knife that this man was a complete armature.

It would be easy.

"Please Eren!" Ai tried to beg him. "Don't fight him. Please. I don't want you getting hurt."

Hurt? She thought he'd get hurt? Did she know what he was capable of? This man wasn't even a threat to him. He could have a gun and Eren still wouldn't see him as a threat.

"Get away you bastard!" He said something in Japanese.

"Ryosuke, please don't!" Ai begged. "Please don't hurt him. Please just let him take my kids."

Eren couldn't hear them anymore. All he could hear was his own heart as the rage consumed him. That feeling, that feeling of charging into the enemy without a plan returned. After he kissed Historia's hand, he never felt his rage again after that. He felt anger and his own survival instancts. But it was never the same rage as before. It was always calculated and calm, something that he could control and maintain a tactical awareness of the battlefield with.

This rage felt familiar though. The same rage he felt when Thomas died, or when Annie betrayed them. Or when he fought Reiner for the first time.

"Get back!" He screamed, though Eren couldn't understand him.

In his fear, Ryosuke grabbed the knife in a reverse grip and ran over to stab Eren right in the collar bone.

"NO!" Ai screamed, terrified of something happening to Eren because of her own failure as an idol.

The knife stopped right at Eren's collarbone. Ryosuke was unable to go any further since Eren reached out with his hand and effortlessly grabbed his wrist and prevented Ryosuke from stabbing him. Ryosuke tried to struggle, but Eren's grip was too strong. He could barely even move Eren's arm with how strong he was.

Eren reached up with his other hand and grabbed the back of the knife, using the leverage in his hips to guide the struggling man's hands down and back, right into his chest.

Ryosuke gasped as the knife went directly into the right side of his chest. He gasped and almost screamed but Eren didn't let him.

Eren slammed him into the wall and grabbed Ryosuke's mouth, silencing him. All he could see was that damned smiling Titan, Dina Fritz, who stole his mother away from him. All logic and context to his mother's death was lost as he squeezed Ryosuke's moth. He felt the mans teeth through his cheeks as he squeezed so hard, making the man gasp in pain from behind Eren's hand.

Eren grabbed the handle of the knife, still imbedded in the man and twisted, intent on making him feel the same pain he was about to inflict on an innocent woman. The man screamed into his hand as not only was the pain increased, but Eren felt his teeth begin to break from the pressure he applied with his hand.

Eren couldn't tell what was going on right now. He was lost in his own world as he caused this man suffering. How dare this man try to steal a woman from her children. How dare he. He would make the man pay. Any man that killed a woman Infront of her children deserves the worst possible death.

Suddenly, that rage dissipated, and the man dropped down to the ground as Eren released him. Ryosuke coughed blood and teeth as his lung was pierced and his mouth was a mess. Blood leaked from his mouth and tears streamed down his face.

He saw an opportunity to run from the scare man, and Ryosuke took it. With nothing more than adrenalin and fear, he stood up and ran as fast as he could out the door, hoping to get to safety away from Eren.

Eren vaguely thought that he would die soon. With a collapsed lung, there was no medical technology in Marley that can save something like that. Maybe this world would be different, but once the adrenalin wears off, he would die from blood loss and asphyxiation.

Eren's thoughts turned inward, and his own hypocrisy was made bare to him. How many mothers did he kill? How many families were in that apartment building behind the stage? How many innocent mothers did he crush during the rumbling.

He remembered a moment in the paths. One of the groups of Titans cornered a bunch of people on a cliff. A woman with a baby was pushed off the cliff, but in the last minute she pushed her baby back into the crowd. The crowd did what they could to preserve the child's life for as long as possible, pushing it further and further back even as people were pushed by the mob to their deaths.

He didn't remember what happened to the baby. The rumbling stopped before the baby died. he guessed he survived. Survived without a mother. A mother who died because of some psychopath who chose an island over the entirety of humanity.

Eren covered his mouth as he felt sick.

He didn't dare look at Ai or her children. He wondered if she was terrified of him. Eren let himself lapse into his old self. The version of him that would charge headfirst into a fight and damn the consequences. Now he would be questioned by the authorities here and potentially discovered.

He didn't even know why he came here. He heard shouting from next door and decided to check it out. He honestly didn't expect the stalker to attack while he was still nearby, but he did. And Eren didn't know why, but the thought of Ai being hurt just made him angry. She was so kind and nice that the thought of her dying didn't sit well with him at all.

Not like it matters now. He let himself get too involved and now he risked his safety. He had nowhere to go. No other home besides this cheap and legally dubious apartment that Sergie recommended to him.

So Eren decided to just leave. He decided to do the job the boss gave him tonight instead of waiting for tomorrow.

"Eren!" Ai called out, though Eren was already outside by the time she did.

Ai was partially in shock after Eren left. She didn't know how to feel or what to do. She just continued to kneel on the ground with her daughter gripping at her back and her son safely in her arms. She was too frightened to even move.

"Ai, are you ok?" Aqua asked.

"Wha-" Ai tried to say as she looked down at her son.

"It's ok Ai." Aqua said in a soothing tone. "We're safe." He tried to consul her.

Why did he try to make her feel better? She's the adult and his other. She should be the one making sure he was ok. Her son was always a brave boy, but to show such little effect from what just happened was not normal.

"It's ok Aqua-Chan." Ai said instead, trying to cheer him up. He must be putting on a brave face after what happened, and Ai wanted to make sure that he would be shown care after what happened.

"M-mama-" Ruby cried from behind her.

"Ruby-Chan, come here." She said lovingly as Ruby cried behind her.

Ruby ran around Ai's body and dived into Ai's waiting embrace. She managed to turn Aqua around so that both of her children were safe and secure in her arms. She felt like crying, but now was not the time. She needed to remain strong in front of her children so that they would feel safe.

Ai didn't have time to process what happened. She needed to act now and ensure her children would remain safe tonight. She needed to make sure that they weren't attacked again tonight.

Ai got up and ran over to her phone, leaving her children for a moment. Ruby was reluctant to let go of her, but she needed to understand that Ai was getting help.

Ai debated calling the police, but there was always a chance that she could be exposed from them as well. It would result in a police report and likely get on the news. She wasn't sure if that would be good because it would expose everything and put herself and her children in danger again.

Instead, Ai got her phone and dialed for President Saitou. She heard it ring before he picked up.

"Ai..." He said in a sleepy voice. "Why are you calling this late-"

"President, please. We need help." Ai said, though she tried to keep her voice from waivering in front of her children.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"We were attacked." She said.

"What!?" The President was now up, and she heard Miyako-San stir in the background as she too woke up. "What do you mean you were attacked?" He aksed.

"We were attacked by a fan who broke in." She said.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"Yes, there's no injury." Ai said. "I don't know what to do." She said.

"You lock the door and wait for me to get there." He said. "Don't you open it for anyone. If you suspect anyone is trying to force their way in, you call the police. Secrecy be damned." He ordered.

"O-ok." Ai said in a meek voice.

Ai ran over to the door which Eren closed behind him and double checked to make sure it was locked. Luckily, Japan was unique compared to many countries in that most doors were heavy duty in order to prevent them from being forcefully opened. If Aqua didn't get the mail, it's likely Ryosuke wouldn't have been able to force his way in.

After that, Ai decided she would try to get her children away from the main room. She needed to keep them calm so that they wouldn't get upset or panic. The only thing that consumed her thoughts right now was their safety.

"Mama?" Ruby asked.

"Listen Ruby-Chan." Ai said as she kneeled down to her kids. "You too Aqua-Chan." Her beautiful and loving smile remained plastered on her face and her voice was as soothing as ever. "I need you two to go into the bedroom and get some rest." She said.

"We're not leaving you here Mama." Ruby said.

"I know dear." Ai said. "But right now, I need you two to be strong for mama. Can you do that?" She asked.

"What about you?" Aqua asked.

"Mama is going to stay here and wait for the President. He's going to come over and protect us. Ok?" She told them.

"I want you with us Mama." Ruby cried.

"I know Ruby-Chan, but right now mama has to stay here and make sure we're safe. Ok?" She tried to reason.

"What about Eren?" Aqua asked.

"Right now, we need to focus on staying safe." Ai said, shelving her thoughts on what she just saw for the moment so she can focus on keeping him safe.

"He basically killed him Ai." Aqua said with seriousness.

How does her son understand the concept of death like that? He's only four.

"It's ok Aqua." Ai said. "That was scary, but we need to not think about it right now." She tried to say.

"He looked dangerous Ai." Aqua said.

"H-he saved our lives." Ruby chimed in.

"Yes, he did." Ai agreed. "So, we're going to not think about any of this and get some rest right now. We'll figure out what to do tomorrow."

Aqua relented and so did Ruby. Ai pushed them into the bedroom and closed the door, making sure to tell them to lock it from the inside so they could have another layer of protection in case something happened.

Ai went over to the couch to sit down. She had both the main door and the bedroom door within her sights so she could remain on guard so her children can rest. She didn't feel tired or sleepy at all. Every fiber of her being was on high alert, her fight or flight instincts in full overdrive. She would be ready to fight, run, or even beg to ensure her children remained safe.

She was going to protect them, no matter what.

Aqua was unable to sleep. The excitement and fear hit Ruby hard, and she was already asleep in the Futon, but Aqua remained fully awake.

How did that man find them? Was it Eren? No, it couldn't be. If Eren was responsible, he likely wouldn't have saved Ai. Plus, Eren and this Ryosuke didn't seem to know each other. Aqua may have distrusted Eren, but he didn't think Eren was capable of hurting Ai.

Then what? There was no way Ryosuke was able to find them a second time. Not unless he was a master of hacking or something. Even as an infant, he overheard all the conversations Ai had with the President in protecting her identity. There was just no way anyone could not only track Ai down here, but also at the hospital she stayed at.

The only one who knew who she was, was him. And he knows for a fact that he didn't accidently leak the information.

Then what? What made it so Ryosuke was able to find her twice when no one else could? He doubted Eren was even able to relay information since he had no Japanese abilities. Ryosuke didn't even seem to speak English at all. So how?

Think, there has to be something missing. Some piece of the puzzle that he's missing.

Who would know that Ai was in the hospital? There was the President and Miyako. Miyako was a prime suspect, after all she did nearly release Ai's information, however with the way she acted, that was the first time she considered it. Even then, since only Ryosuke attacked twice, it would mean someone specifically contacted him. Miyako was a gold digger, but he doubted she would be capable of being an accessory to murder. The President of course was out since he depended on Ai for the success of his business.

One of the other B-Komachi girls? It would make sense. They all took a hit to their career when Ai got pregnant, and they had to do performances without her. However, even if there were rivalries that he didn't see, losing Ai would basically be a death blow to B-Komachi and the girl's careers would be ruined anyway.

What happened recently that could have compromised Ai's location.

Ai never contacts anyone outside of her small circle of colleagues. Not once has she ever contacted anyone that wasn't in her group. So there is no way she could have revealed anything.

Wait... there was one person she contacted.

Before the concert, when Ruby joked about Eren becoming their father, Aqua knew Ai contacted their real father. She tried to hide it, but it was obvious. She contacted him, and a few days later, a psycho stalker that has been hunting her for years shows up to her doorstep.

As likely as the scenario is, a single timeline isn't enough evidence to prove anything. There has to be more to it.

However, this ex of hers was their biological father. Meaning, there was a good chance he was informed of where she would be treated and even what room she would be in. He's the only other person Ai would contact. He now knew that Ai had no family, or at least no family she kept in contact with. It would be incredibally easy for her ex to leak her information.

But if he leaked her information to one person and not to the media, it meant he specifically chose Ryosuke as his contact. He specifically chose a man who would kill Ai as the one to know where she was. Not only that, if Aqua was correct, it would mean that he did it a second time now.

His biological father, the ex-boyfriend that Aqua knew abused Ai, wanted her dead. He was trying to kill her. Once four years ago when she was pregnant, and now again after learning of Ai's location.

But why, why would he try to kill his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his children? Ruby guessed he may also have been an actor. It was just as possible he was a producer who was in an authoritative position over her. If that was the case, Ai being discovered to be the mother of his children could end his career. Especially if any information of abuse was brought to light.

However, that still didn't fit because why take the risk in creating a trail to have someone murdered. If he was discovered, he would be charged with murder and his life would be worse than a simple pregnancy controversy.

Ai didn't know who his father was or why he decided to have Ai killed. But Aqua was very sure that the one who leaked Ai's information was his father. There could be no one else. No one else could have known where Ai was four years ago, and they were only attacked days after she contacted him. It had to be him.

If he tried once to have her killed, he would try again. Ai was in danger from someone she may or may not entirely trust.

Ai needed to protect her. He needed to ensure Ai remained safe above all else. Not only Ai, but Ruby as well. If their father was capable of killing Ai, it was entirely possible they could die as well. Aqua could accept his own death, he's living a life he shouldn't have had anyway. But Ruby, she didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve to die young again.

He would find a way to protect Ai, even if that means killing his own father. Ai had no relationship with the man. He didn't even think of the faceless man as his father. But he swore that no matter what, he would keep Ai safe and find a way to stop him.

But how? It's not like he had years to prepare and learn the truth. He would likely try again soon. Which means Aqua would be forced to defend his mother as a four-year-old child. Even if he could do anything, Ai would shield him and sacrifice herself again like she did tonight. There was no way Ai would ever let him protect her since he was her son. She would gladly die to protect him. That's something Aqua couldn't accept.

But there was one person who showed an ability to protect Ai. Eren Yeager, the foreigner next door. Not only did he protect Ai and Ruby, but Eren showed he was extremely good at fighting and didn't shy away from potentially killing a man. While Aqua would normally be suspicious of this and even considered using his childish act to sabotage any kind of relationship they could have after getting to know him, Aqua couldn't deny that Eren was very skilled.

Damn, he was considering playing match maker and finding a way to ensure Ai and Eren got close. He didn't need them to be romantically involved, but if he could at least ensure a strong friendship between them, it could be a way to protect Ai. Aqua was useless in a fight. Even as Goro he was useless. He took some martial arts classes when he was in school, but he was nowhere near good enough to actually fight. Even then, he's four. No amount of training is going to allow him to beat a full-grown man.

So that's the plan. Find a way to kill his father and get Eren and Ai together in order to ensure she had someone who could protect her. As much as he was worried about Eren's past and how it could be dangerous to Ai, there were bigger threats than that.

"That's what I'll do." He said out loud, confident in his abilities to protect Ai. He had to protect her, no matter what.

And there we go. I know a lot of people want Ryosuke to suffer a bit more, but I felt like this would be appropriate for Eren's growth.

I don't think it's spoilers to say since I'll mention it in the next chapter, but Ryosuke is dead. A knife to the lung can be pretty fatal in a lot of situations, especially if you don't get immediate help. Even if you don't pull the knife out, the expansion of air into the chest cavity can cause the other lung to be unable to inflate, functionally causing death by suffocation.

As for Aqua, I felt it adds an interesting problem for him. He now knows what he did in the Anime, however he is completely unable to do anything since he's four. He also doesn't have the benefit of waiting till he's a teenager since Ai survived and will be in danger again. So, Aqua has to find a way to learn the truth and defend Ai as a four-year-old. Which brings its own unique challenges to overcome.

Plus, it also makes sense for him to play match maker with Eren and Ai. Even if he doesn't really trust Eren, it's realistically his best bet.

So, I hope this chapter met expectations and sets up the next bit of content for you guys.