Tale of Two Tails

Chapter 25

The emperor was able to get one more thing out to his son and daughter, separately. To Mikasa, he told what really happened when he was attacked. To Levi, he told him to run the land and to raise his children alongside his wife. He also made a last decree, that Eren would raise her children and that will not change unless she passed. And with that, the emperor passed in the late hours of the night, due to poisoning.

"My Lord." Armin said once the emperor's body was moved to prepare for burial. "I ask that I see the weapon used on the late emperor. I will hopefully be able to find the man that assassinated your father." Mikasa had told Armin what her father had told her, and both decided not to mention to Levi or Eren that it was Eren's life that was meant to be taken.

"So be it." Levi said, teeth clenched as he glared at the floor. This room would remain empty until Levi and Eren decided to move into it, if they ever did, but that wouldn't be able to happen until after Levi's coronation. The coronation wouldn't be for a week or so, considering that no one had expected the emperor to die before the heir was born.

Armin bowed before taking the weapon and asking Mikasa to analyze it with him. Eren stood behind Levi, watching her husband stand still in the room her father-in-law once was.

"Levi?" Eren asked carefully, stepping forward and placing a hand gently on Levi's shoulder. Levi let out a deep sigh, rubbing his face with his hand.

"I'll be fine. Just give me some time. Things are going to be a lot different from now on." Levi said. Eren nodded.

"Then I will leave you. I will be in our wing." Before she left, she gave Levi a soft kiss to his cheek. She didn't know it, but that's exactly what Levi needed.

The next week was crazy. Eren was getting double lessons on mothering and how to be an empress. Levi's lessons changed to be more political than before. He met with many people, and the guards were on high alert and working harder than usual. Mikasa and Armin were also fairly sure that they could find the person that had killed the emperor, though they said nothing.

"If my calculations are right." Armin had said to Mikasa. "Whoever is trying to kill Eren is hired for their services. And since they didn't succeed, they may try again. But not yet."

"Because everyone is on high alert, right?" Mikasa asked, looking at the throwing star that had been dripping with poison earlier.

"Correct." Armin said, sighing. "Eren should have watched her mouth while here. She could have made a number of enemies at the formal gatherings since she got here."

"She was defending you." Mikasa said, and Armin nodded.

"I know, and as a demon, that didn't work in her favor. She also didn't show respect when she was defending her beliefs, and may have ruffled a few feathers too many. Anyone with enough money to hire an assassin could have if she rubbed them the wrong way."

"So what do we do?" Mikasa asked. Armin sighed.

"We keep your demon senses sharp. We know what the poison smells like, and faintly what the attacker smells like. If we smell them at all, we need to act." Armin explained. "Besides that, there isn't much we can do. I'll sneak out and sniff around the village, see if I hear anything while I'm at it. You need to continue as if you don't know someone is after Eren's life."

"How can I just do nothing?" Mikasa hissed. "I have to protect my family. And someone is still after them."

"And no one knows you are a demon yet!" Armin snapped back. "If you want to do something." The Kitsune said, tails flowing side to side as he thought. "See if you can take up Tessenjutsu. You are already learning Kyomai, so you are used to handling fans. I am sure you can ask Erwin if he has anyone who specializes in Tessenjutsu." Mikasa pursed her lips, but nodded anyways.

"Alright then." She said. "I'll learn Tessenjutsu." Armin gave a single nod.

"I will report to you with anything I hear or scents I pick up." Armin said, before changing into a yellow, three tailed fox and leaving for town while Mikasa went and found Erwin, not really asking as demanding to learn to use tessen.

"Lady Mikasa, why do you want to learn to fight? A woman of your ranking-" Erwin began, before Mikasa interrupted him.

"I want to be able to protect my family." Mikasa said. "I want to be able to defend myself in case someone attacks me. My brother is fighting with you and the hunters, and it is not his place to do so, especially now that he is about to take the thrown, and is married with a child on the way. If I am able to defend myself, the chances of a suitor wanting me may increase, knowing that they do not alway have to worry about my safety. So, Commander, I demand to learn Tessenjutsu." Erwin sighed as he turned to his recruits.

"Jean!" Erwin yelled, the long faced male coming over. "He may be one of our newer hunters, but he is very skilled when using tessen. He shall be your teacher. But I will tell you now, no one will treat you like royalty. You will be treated as a brand new recruit, as we did with your brother when he first started training with us. You will train when he trains, and will have to keep up with your lessons and other responsibilities. If you begin to slack, I am afraid that you will no longer be learning to use tessen." Mikasa nodded as Erwin walked away, only to return with two tessen.

"Jean, you will now teach Lady Mikasa the basics. Do not treat her any differently than you would any other male recruit." And with that, Erwin returned to training, and Mikasa began to learn to fight.