In the following days, Kaito was a source of support and comfort for Carla, offering her a shoulder to lean on and a listening ear whenever she needed it. He ensured she had the space and support she needed to heal.
As Carla, disguised as Irene, continued her visits to Eren and kept up the pretense of being Carla's cousin, she couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and sadness. She was relieved that Eren had no memory of the night Grisha had turned him into a Titan.
Her heart ached at the thought of sparing the young boy the terrible memory of that horrifying transformation. She knew it was a heavy burden to bear, and she couldn't bring herself to reveal the truth.
Days turned into weeks, and Carla's visits to Eren and his friends became a semblance of normalcy in their lives. However, Kaito was cautious, limiting the frequency of her visits to avoid raising suspicion or disrupting the timeline.
The retaliation for saving her and what he had done in the basement hasn't come. But Kaito knew causality was bitch that doesn't forgive, doesn't forget. Something bad is coming in the future; he could feel it.
Surprisingly, Eren's mental state seemed more stable with Carla's presence as Irene. His hatred for Titans remained as strong as ever, which puzzled Kaito. After all, the Titans hadn't been responsible for his mother's death. Instead, a man had kidnapped her, and he had gestured that he would kill her.
In Kaito's mind, it was only logical for Eren to hate that man more than the Titans. But it almost seemed like Eren's intense hatred for Titans was deeply ingrained, akin to the canon Eren. He was getting a nagging feeling that something else was at play here…
In one of those days, he was brought to an interrogation chamber by military police.
As a particularly arrogant and nosy investigator was questioning him, Kaito decided to have a little fun.
The investigator sat across from Kaito, his chest puffed out with an air of self-importance. He leaned forward and pointed his finger at Kaito. "You're hiding something, and I intend to find out what it is. Grisha Yeager's disappearance was suspicious, and we won't rest until we get to the truth."
Kaito raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm hiding something, am I? What could that be?" He paused, his eyes briefly shifting to a hypnotic shade of red.
The lamps flickered for a moment. The investigator's bravado quickly evaporated.
"W-well, we have reasons to believe you might be connected to some unauthorized activities," the investigator stammered.
Kaito couldn't resist a sly grin. "Unauthorized activities? My dear friend, I assure you, I am as innocent as a newborn lamb."
The room grew colder as Kaito's gaze darkened, and his demeanor shifted. He leaned in even closer, and a sinister grin crept across his face. "Let me show you something."
As he finished speaking, he made his fingers elongate further, and the room was filled with the sound of claws scraping against the table.
He slowly retracted his lips to reveal his unnaturally sharp fangs and allowed his eyes to glow crimson.
The officer's face turned pale, and he couldn't hold it any longer.
In a fit of fear, he stood up, but his legs gave way, and he fell back into his chair, leaving a wet spot on the seat. Kaito reveled in his dramatic performance, ensuring they would never cross him again.
The investigator, now trembling with fear, quickly stood up. "I think we're done here! No need to trouble you further, sir!"
"Very wise, now scram"
As the investigator practically sprinted out of the room, Kaito couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
It was remarkable how a little dramatic flair and a touch of the unknown could make even the bravest individuals question their resolve.
____
Kaito and Carla's relationship continued to evolve, marked by Kaito's relentless teasing and Carla's growing acceptance of his affections. Hugs were now a common occurrence, and Carla had resigned herself to Kaito's playful antics. His kisses still left her flustered, much to Kaito's delight. He couldn't help but savor the way her cheeks flushed, finding it endearing.
Sometimes, Kaito would sneak into Carla's room at night, slipping under the covers and cuddling with her. Their nights together offered a sense of warmth and comfort that Carla had never expected. Despite the unusual circumstances that had brought them together, she was starting to cherish these moments.
Carla's greatest source of distress was Eren's unwavering determination to join the Survey Corps. Mikasa and Armin stood by him, supporting his decision. Carla had been powerless to stop him even when she was his mother, and now her attempts to dissuade him from his dangerous path had only led to heated arguments and strained silence.
"You couldn't stop him when you were his mom. Do you think you can now?" Kaito remarked, offering a perspective that stung with the truth.
Carla had reluctantly accepted that she could no longer change Eren's mind, fearing that further insistence would only damage their relationship. She knew that the future she once knew was slipping further from her grasp, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness and frustration.
—----
The training corps joining date was approaching, with just a week left before entry started.
Like every day, Carla was cleaning the house like a diligent housewife. Then suddenly, Kaito pulled her, leading to both of them falling on the long cushioned chair that Kaito called a 'Couch'
She was now sitting on his lap as he continued to tickle her, laughter filling the room.
Then, with a dramatic declaration, Kaito shared his own surprising news.
"Carla, I will be joining the Training Corps with Eren."
Carla gave him a look that seemed to say, "Are you serious?" It was clear that she thought he was being rather ridiculous. Trying not to hurt Kaito's feelings, she responded with a soothing tone, "I know you might have a passion for that, but aren't you a bit too old for it?"
"Fuck…"
Carla thought he was cursing because she had burst his dream bubble, but she didn't know it was for an entirely different reason.
Kaito had just realized that he never deactivated the illusory magic that had changed his appearance since he had met Carla. Carla really thinks he is older than 20 years...He was getting quite scared now.
Panic set in as he stuttered, "H-hey, Carla, can you close your eyes for a sec?"
A bit puzzled, Carla complied with his small request. Her body felt a slight shift, and Kaito finally said, "Open your eyes..."
When she did, Kaito swore he had never heard such a loud shriek in his life, both present and last one counting.
"What!? You, you, Kaito?! Where…"
Her brain utterly glitched. She couldn't believe her own eyes and desperately wanted to deny the obvious truth. The boy she now saw in front of her had a striking resemblance to Kaito, except he looked about fourteen years old.
Just moments ago, she had been comfortably seated on Kaito's lap, and now it was this boy's lap she was on.
As if to further challenge her sense of reality, the boy, who sounded exactly like Kaito, spoke up with a nervous stutter, "S-so, l-like wh-what you see?"