Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan or it's characters, that right belongs to Hajime Isayama. Nor do I own Inuyasha or it's characters, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Levi strode down the hall, his feet not making a single sound as he glared at those in his way. He was on a mission. One that he had given Jaeger and his two friends. One that should have been done already, since it was so simple. Retrieving their acquisition from the forest foray from the dungeon. But apparently, it was not as easy as it seemed for the trio. Then again, the boy had proven to rather difficult while being highly intelligent.
The proof came from the two-day ride back to Wall Rose. Of which there were questions he wanted to be answered. Ones that he would get with Commander Erwin's help. The damned boy was stubborn, resourceful, and had a very sharp wit. They had stopped, of course, after nightfall when the Titans were sapped of their strength he had called for camp for a few hours. Of course, that was where the boy had got mouthy and proved to be a pain. By first refusing to eat. Than sassing him with an apparent show of disrespect when he refused Levi's guard.
No, instead, the boy decided to dislocate his shoulder and maneuvered his legs until his arms were in front of him before shoving the dislocated shoulder back into place. There had been no mistaking the pain and defiance in those blue eyes. Only to have the boy states that he didn't want an old jerk who'd instead use underhanded tactics to take him to relieve himself. Instead, volunteering Armin and Mikasa for the job and giving their reasoning, which was oddly sound, for choosing them. Hell, the boy had refused and fought against having the face mask being removed to show their face. In fact, Levi was sure Reiner had a double foot bruise on his stomach still.
Sighing as he pulled himself from his thoughts to see Jaeger and Armin standing on either side of the door to the showers. Coming to stand before them, seeing the surprise on both their faces, as well as a bit of sheepishness from Armin, Levi reached between them and grabbed the door handle and turned it pushing the door inwards, as the brat made to move to stop him.
"Uh...Captain... Higurashi refused to meet the Commander...while covered in...filth..." Eren said, his face turning a faint shade of pink.
Glancing at Armin, Levi saw the two were turning pink. Not caring at all, he strode into the room to see a shocked Mikasa who just stayed where she stood as he heard the water in the showers turn off. Not slowing, he jerked the door to the showers open, stepped in, and stopped entirely as his eyes met blue eyes that blinked once before going the size of a saucer before an ear-splitting scream was heard. Making him flinch as his ears started to ring.
Narrowing his eyes, Levi was glad for his reflexes as he brought his hands up to catch the wooden container that was suddenly tossed at his head. His eyes not leaving the frantic blue eyes as their owner darted forward the second the container left their hands, face a brilliant shade of scarlet. Next thing he knew, there was pain flaring between his legs, followed by two distinctive male groans as Mikasa yelled Armin's and Eren's name and to leave the shower room as he sunk to his knees.
All she had wanted was to get clean before having to meet this group's leader, Commander Erwin Smith. She had enough intelligence that she shouldn't appear before them covered in five days worth of filth. And a shower would fix that. So, after giving quick reasoning, she got the trio, thanks to Eren, to allow her a quick one. Ten Minutes was all she needed, and apparently, that was all the time allotted since the showers had turned off after roughly that time limit.
What she had not even figured it was that arrogant Captain bursting in just as she had finished. Of course, she had done what any self-respecting woman would do. Threw the nearest object, screaming. And since this was something she was familiar with, due to a perverted Hoshi, she attacked. She was delivering a swift kick. One she hadn't figured would work at all, but the shock that was in the man's gray eyes gave her that advantage.
Covering herself the best she could, she felt the tears burning in her eyes as Kagome kept them pinned on the man who was now on his knees just as she felt anger start to bubble up in her chest.
"Hentai! Ecchi! Baka!" she screamed at him in her native tongue. (Pervert! Big Pervert! Idiot!)
"Higurashi, please calm down. Here let's put this on you," she heard Mikasa say to her.
Looking away from Levi for the first time since she had turned to the sound of the door opening, she saw the worry, horror, and anger flashing in her dark gray eyes. Eyes that were similar to the man that was now behind her as she let Mikasa lead her out of there, cloak wrapped around her still damp body.
"Hey... are you okay, Higurashi?" Armin asked, his voice soft.
Looking at him, she saw that he was politely looking at the ground. Shifting her gaze to Eren, she saw that he too was not looking at her, though his face was cherry-red, telling her he had seen her naked body.
"I will be fine. But I want to go back to the cell. I want to feel safe and not be anywhere near that arrogant pig. So, if your Commander wants to meet me, he can do it where I feel safe and cannot attack that kidnapping theme," she bit out.
Feeling Mikasa turn her body to head back the way they'd initially been brought her from, Kagome realized that more people were standing around in the halls. Several she realized were familiar. As in, they'd been the group that had abducted her from her home. A cold chill ran down her spine as her bare feet slapped on the floor as she finally gave up, putting on a brave face. Kagome started to cry in humiliation at all these people, mostly males, seeing her in nothing but a short cloak that barely came to her mid-thigh.
With a sob as she pressed against Mikasa to try and hid her face, that was no doubt practically glowing red she moaned aloud in her native tongue, "Naze kami wa watashi o nikumu no?" (Why do the gods hate me?)
He was shocked and highly amused as he walked down the stairs that would lead them to the dungeon. And he did his best to keep from showing his emotions on his face as he finished listening to the animated report from Hange Zoe, while Levi just seemed to radiate anger in palpable waves. Aware of the reason for it, which was evident even now in the slight limp to his gait.
Wanting to meet the small spitfire of a girl, previously a smart mouth boy, that had done this to his Captain, Erwin raised a hand to silence Hange. Stopping at the door to the cells were opened, he stepped through, quickly making his way with the other two in tow to the last cell on the right, directly across from Eren's cell and seeing said boy, along with his constant two companions, standing outside the girl's cell, talking to her softly. Only to blink when a sweet-sounding laugh came from inside it. Giving a soft cough to announce himself, Erwin watched as the youngsters spun and went stiff, giving him a salute.
"At ease," he muttered to them, "I am here to talk with our new guest."
"You mean forcibly acquired from their home prisoner, Sir?"
Turning his head to look at the girl, Erwin saw a mix of anger and humor in her dark blue eyes. The shade of blue was odd to him in the dim torchlight. It looked almost black, but yet it was bright like the sky at the same time. And there was no mistaking the intelligence and wisdom in their depth. It told him that this girl was a survivor and had seen a lot of death. Though from her appearance, she looked to be no more than sixteen years of age.
"You three are dismissed," He said, giving the trio a glance and a nod of his head.
"No offense, Commander. But I would feel safer if they stayed," the girl said, her voice low, hard and slightly pleading. "I know that I have no right to ask for that, but I do mean I would feel safer if they were to stay here. Besides, anything I chose to tell you, they can hear."
The sound of shifting from behind him let Erwin know that Levi was not amused and against what she had just said. Oddly he couldn't get a feel for Hange, though if he knew the woman, she was eager to get her hands on the girl and examine her. It was often funny and outright scary to see her change at the chance to acquire new information. But being aware of the fact that since the girl had arrived, the trio had been friendly enough with her. And after this afternoon's display, he could understand her need to have people that she could feel safe with around her. Even if she was behind bars, both Levi, Hange, and himself had keys and could enter the cell at will.
"Fine," he stated as he saw the relief wash over the girl. "So, shall you answer some of our questions?"
The smile she flashed him was genuine, warm, and bright. It gave him the answer he wanted though the quiet snort from behind him had the girl narrowing her eyes just a little.
"Good. What's your name?" He asked her.
The way her smile became a polite, thin line as she looked at him, not flinching or faltering.
"I would say it is rude not to introduce yourself first when asking for someone's name, but as I already know who you are, it's fair," She said, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "It is Higurashi, Kagome."
Raising his eyebrows as he stared down at the girl. Pretty sure that she was being impudent for the hell of it. And to try and get a rise though Erwin was not sure if it was himself or the two, or rather Levi, behind him.
"That sounds foreign," He stated, earning a slight nodded. "How long have you lived in the forest, Ms. Higurashi?"
The face the girl pulled at being called Mrs. Higurashi had him fighting not to smile. Though the way her eyes darkened as she looked back at him through the bars, it was almost predator-like. Then in the next instance, she had her hands up, curling fingers as she counted silently to herself.
" Kagome, please. My mother is Mrs. Higurashi. If I had been left there, in a week would have made ten years, Sir," she said, her voice dropping a few octaves showing her apparent displeasure at being upheaved.
"Don't lie. You are no older than Jaeger," Levi spat out.
Saying nothing, Erwin watched the girl narrow her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. Body language practically screaming; she was on the defensive and getting angrier by the second.
"Oh, really! I don't know what makes a baka-hentai like you know every little detail about me? I give you and your squadron aide, albeit I had to knock your sorry butt out, and you attack me, knocking me out and kidnapping me from my home," she snapped. The low growl she had in her voice was impressive. "So, I suggest Sukebe (You creep) keeping your mouth shut. Or I will not answer any more questions."
Hearing the finality in her word, Erwin lifted his hand and waved it at Levi. The girl definitely had some guts, though he wondered what she had called him. The mix of the unknown words in their language, which he could tell, was still accented.
"Please, you two," Erwin said, his voice hardening for when he had to chastise the troops. "Kagome, how did you stay safe from the Titans?"
The instant reaction she gave to his question had him pinning her where she stood with a look. Her eyes widening before narrowing to mere blue slits, that flashed brightly beneath her dark lashes.
"That I am not ready to divulge to you, Commander Smith," she said, her voice monotone. "Though I can tell you it is the same way that I know that boy Eren over there, is special."
The soft intake of breath from the trio, while Hange gave a soft squeal and Levi hissed under his breath. Erwin straightened up and leveled her with his hardest glare. He was making the girl smile at him as if he was acting amusing. He wanted to know what she knew.
"Look, I am not a stupid person. And you, nor that midget gaki(brat) back there, intimidate me in the least. I knew... a person who'd soon as kill you than even breathe the same air as you. Hell, he tried to kill me more than once. And as for those giants and how I survived all on my own, as a poor, weak, defenseless female and all. Let's say this when my trust is earned, you nor anyone else will get a darn thing from me," She bit out, her head tilting up.
He could see it in her eyes; she was not lying to him. Making him wonder just what she had lived through. If possible, like Levi had lived in the underground, as that was the only place he could recall Oriental's still existing.
"Then how about a deal, because trust and respect go hand in hand. And are not just given out on silver platers, Kagome," he said.
The barely perceptible movement of her head told him she was listening. She was acknowledging what he had said.
"I earn yours, and you earn mine, an exchange if you will," he smiled at her.
"Oh?! That is something I can do," she said, lifting an eyebrow. "Name your terms, Rīdā." (Leader)
A bit confused by what she said, though he could tell it was not an insult like she had thrown at Levi, Erwin gave a brief nod of his head — already thinking of ways that this could be beneficial — and getting to alleviate some boredom.
"You will do chores around the barracks, under the supervision of Levi, since he brought you here against your will, it will be his responsibility, of course. But you will be given freedom enough to talk, interact with others here. I won't push you on questions that you don't want to answer yet, but I do expect you to answer a few each night," he said.
The assessing look she gave him as she thought it over. It was clear that she didn't like being supervised, let alone by Levi. And the overbearing silence from behind him said that Levi was not amused by it either. The moment a broad smile of innocence broke across the girls' face, though it was at odds with the predatory gleam in her dark blue eyes, Erwin knew he had her.
"Fine, I accept the deal. But I want to stay here in this cell. Just maybe have some supplies to clean it and make it a bit more... livable. I feel safer here and underground. And if your dear Yowamushi (coward) Hentai there decides to provoke me, I can come here for his safety," she said. "Besides, I like my roommate over there, and he is fun to listen too, even when I meditate to recenter myself."
It was a bit of an odd request, though he had no intention of letting her, an unknown roam around freely on the grounds. Erwin just nodded his head, giving the girl a polite good night and receiving a bow at the waist, as she returned the good night. He spun and left, knowing that Hange and Levi would fall in behind him. Dinner had come and gone while Erwin was down there, and he could use some food even though he had a feeling that he had been manipulated, even a little bit by the girl, who was very strange indeed.
TBC!