Chapter 4: Under The Microscope

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I gotta say, I love all of your reviews so much! I think I'm gonna continue writing it as more of a plot story instead of just fluff. Though I make no promises.

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Also, Star you are definitely right lol. Kagome could have gotten taller since 15. I'll tell you what, I won't write any descriptions that focus on Levi overtly being taller (ie. Like how with Inuyasha, kagome would reach his chest) unless it's absolutely vital. Which I don't really see it as being vital but you never know ;)

I don't really have a problem with him being as short as he is. I'm just super short (barely over 5'0) so I still always imagine him as being taller since he'd still be taller than me lol

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Everyone ready?

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Just as Captain Levi had said, Mikasa, Armin and Kagome were summoned to Eren's trial the following day, along with a few others from Trost. Tension filled the air as if it had replaced the oxygen and, despite keeping on their bravest faces, the three of them were fearful for what was to come. They needed a trump card, something to use in this trial that would definitely convince Premier Zachary to let Eren join the scouts. However, after a day of thinking, none of them could figure anything out besides giving a good testimony if asked. Much to their dismay, it appeared as though it relied heavily on Commander Erwin to plead his case. And he was a man who did not know Eren, nor had he seen him in action.

Stay calm, Kagome. You're prepared to give it your all. Kagome stood in the front, next to her two comrades. They were all waiting for Eren to arrive. Premier Zachary was already at his place on the podium, patiently waiting to begin. He was an older man with glasses and an expression that was almost unreadable and analytic.

She peered at him for a moment, then looked around, spotting a pastor from the Church of the Walls with the Military Police on the opposite end of the courtroom. One of MPs, who she deduced as being Nile Dawk, the Military Police commander, seemed to be eyeing something on her side of the courtroom with much dismay. It was a look that held not only disappointment, but a hint of disgust and bitterness.

I wonder what Commander Nile is looking at. She pondered, leaning forward and turning her head to follow where his gaze was. As she took her peek, she spotted Commander Erwin standing several feet away, with a buffer of people between her and him. He didn't seem to look back at Nile, though. Rather, he held his head high and just stared off into nothing pensively. Levi stood next to him, with an unsurprising look of discontent. Like he was constantly unimpressed with everyone around him.

As Kagome continued to take in her surroundings, the door burst open and a group of guards marched in, Eren standing in the middle. His hands were handcuffed behind his back and he bore a look of worry on his face as he frantically looked around the room, stopping when he spotted Mikasa, Armin and Kagome. His eyes widened as if to ask what this was about, but none of them could say anything, their lips pursing together like they were zipped shut. The guards proceeded to push Eren down to his knees and lock his cuffs in a metal stake in the ground to stop him from moving. And there the brunette stayed, already the image of conviction.

"Eren Jaeger." The premier began, "This is an exceptional case, as I'm sure you're aware. It is outside the bounds of common law, therefore we must convene a special court-martial. The final decision will be handed down by me, Dhalis Zachary. We will deliberate upon whether you live or die as well."

Kagome, Armin, and Mikasa all looked at each other as those final words were spoken, a quiet understanding being exchanged on just how serious this was.

"Do you have any objections?" The older man asked.

"None, sir." Eren responded calmly.

Nodding his head in contentment, the premier continued, "Glad you are cooperative... Now, let me say this clearly." He looked around the room as if to address everyone, "Concealing your existence has proven impossible. Unless we publicize your existence in some way, we will have to face another threat besides the Titans, an internal conflict. This court is tasked with deciding which force will take custody of you, the Military Police or the Scout Regiment."

He paused, letting the room process his statement as he adjusted his glasses. He surveyed the room one last time before clearing his throat, "Alright. We will be hearing from Nile Dawk, Commander of the Military Police. Please, tell us your proposal."

All eyes shifted to the man across the room, as he quickly straightened himself out and inhaled deeply, "I am Nile Dawk, Chief of the Military Police. This is our proposition." He momentarily glanced sourly at Edwin once more before continuing, "We will examine Eren's body thoroughly, then dispose of him as soon as possible. While his Titan power repelled the last attack, his character induces disturbances that may even lead to a rebellion. Therefore he shall provide us with as much intelligence as possible, then become a martyr for mankind."

There were quiet gasps that bounced off of the walls, and all of the muscles in Kagome's body tensed up at the thought of Eren being forced into martyrdom. They're... They're treating him like he's not still a person...

"That is unnecessary!" The pastor beside Nile interrupted, "This monster infiltrated the sacred walls of God! He must be executed immediately! He is a demon to this world and should not exist." The former priestess snorted when he said those words, He should see a real demon, then.

"Pastor Nick, settle down." Dhalis Zachary ordered, "Now, let us hear the proposal from the Scout Regiment." He motioned for Erwin to begin.

"I am Commander Erwin Smith, head of the Thirteenth Battalion of the Scout Regiment. This is our proposition." Erwin remained the personification of a disciplined and dignified leader as he spoke smoothly, his tone firm, "We will accept Eren as a formal member of the Scouts Regiment, and recapture Wall Maria by using his Titan power. I believe the priorities are clear."

"I see." The premier scratched his head, "And from where do you intend to start that operation? From my understanding, Trost's gate is closed permanently by the boulder."

"Yes. That gate will most likely never be open." The scout commander confirmed, "However, we plan on departing from the east and reaching Shiganshina from there. Once at that destination, we will utilize the same plan as in Trost, and Eren will plug up the hole in Wall Maria."

It was then that an outburst from another man across the room grabbed everyone's attention, "Shouldn't we be spending time fortifying all the walls now?! Instead of wasting resources on this risky plan?!"

He's from the merchant's guild... Kagome realized, biting her lip as she came to the understanding that most of the people in the room were against Commander Erwin's proposition. This isn't looking too good.

The merchant continued to plead his case for safety, raving about the necessary security like a mad man while sharing his disapproval for the Wall Maria mission.

However, he was suddenly stopped.

"You talk a lot, pig." It was Captain Levi who jumped in, his intimidating presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room as he narrowed his gaze on the merchant, "Who says the Titans will wait until you can lock up all the gates? Are you and your friends too busy getting fat to notice that people are starving because there is not enough land?"

"I-I'm just suggesting that-" The stuttering merchant was immediately cut off though.

"Be silent. We are moving on." Zachary declared, "It has been stated that, while in Titan form, Jaeger tried attack a Mikasa Ackerman not once, but two times. Is Miss Ackerman present?"

This is it, Mikasa. Kagome thought to herself, mentally cheering her on.

"Yes, sir." She responded, quickly glancing in Kagome's direction.

"Can you confirm this? Speak only the truth." The premier requested.

Hesitantly, she nodded her head, "Yes, sir. He did attack me." Immediately, murmurs about Eren's monstrous ability exploded in the room, and the short haired woman felt herself slipping on the edge. But as she looked at Eren, knowing his life was on the line, she quickly composed herself, "But he also saved my life and the life of many others. When he first transformed after the initial aftermath in Trost, many soldiers were in dire need of supplies, but Titans had swarmed the headquarters. Eren defeated countless Titans in our way so we could replenish our gear and make it out alive." She took a breath before continuing her passionate speech, "He saved my life when I was about to get eaten. And by closing up the hole in Wall Ross, he's saved the lives of countless who may have starved. Let that be on the record."

Everyone looked around, unsure of what to think at the moment. Just as Kagome advised, Mikasa had given an accurate retelling of the situation, and it seemed everyone was stumped at her points. The former priestess cheered mentally, giving Mikasa's hand a light squeeze to show her support.

Of course, that wasn't the end of this. Just as silence had appeared to be the last response, Nile Dawks opened his mouth to cut through the fabric of their success, his beady eyes passing over the short-haired woman before speaking.

"Her testimony cannot be taken seriously. She is just as suspicious as the boy." He sneered, "Premier Zachary, if I may, the Military Police has done some digging and found out that, at the age of 9, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman gruesomely murdered three adult males who had broken into the Ackerman household. Even if self-defense, these actions speak loudly about their eerie capabilities from such a young age."

Kagome's mouth fell in shock, and she turned her head to look at her comrade. Is... Is that why she's so close to Eren? I knew the Jaeger's took her in after her parents died, but I didn't know she and Eren had killed anyone... Kagome watched as Mikasa winced. Mentioning her past had been like forcing the memory to the surface and making her relive it again. What a cruel and petty thing to bring up. There's no way Commander Nile really thinks it's a good defense. He's just trying to rally everyone else against her and Eren. The former priestess felt her own anger building up inside of her, her fists now clenched at her sides.

"She's probably a Titan as well!" One man shouted.

"Killing three grown men as children? There's no way she doesn't have some Titan power!" Another jeered.

Kagome instinctively took a step so she was half in front of Mikasa, as if to shield her from the accusations. Like I'd stand by and let any of these jerks threaten her for defending herself from criminals. She's probably traumatized enough... The long haired woman felt a piece of her heart lurch, realizing that it was the part of her that had developed a soft spot for Mikasa and their friendship. Maybe it's because Mikasa reminds me so much of Sango... Protectively, she eyed every person who was instigating the situation, lingering when she reached the the MP commander. Her cold stare had quieted a few of the taunts, though it was clear Nile Dawks did not appreciate the backup.

"And Kagome Higurashi. Another friend of Eren's with a suspicious past." The commander continued, grabbing the attention once more.

What could he be planning... Kagome wondered, maintaining eye contact and showing no semblance of fear, My military paperwork states that I'm originally from a forest community in the east before becoming a doctor's assistant in Shiganshina. That's all. No crime record and delinquencies.

"After much digging, we found that she had no legitimate record of her existence prior to moving to Shiganshina at age 18." He continued, "Her paperwork claims she lived in a village in an Eastern forest, but beyond that, there is no proof. She was never officially documented until Shiganshina. And only weeks before the initial Titan attack. How ironic that she worked for Jaeger's father, too."

Once again, the all that could be heard were the rumors and conspiracies about Kagome's own heritage. I thought my documents would work. The cadet corps never questioned it... This can't look good. And it's not like I can tell them the truth about where I'm from. Anxiety began to flow inside her, sneaking into her veins and numbing every limb. Her timing in Shiganshina was very suspicious if one didn't know about the well.

"It's not like that!" Eren quelled the whispers and jeering, gritting his teeth, "Neither of them have anything to do with this! You can call me a monster, but leave them alone!" He was breathing heavy, and he was shaking in his chains, "You're all cowards! We need strength to fight the Titans. If you're all too scared, don't stop me. Just shut up and let me fight for humanity!"

As Eren made his passionate speech, the crowd, still silent, watched as Captain Levi walked onto the floor, besides where Eren was. The brunette was too busy ranting to notice, eyes shutting as he rambled on. Levi, on the other hand, lifted his foot and swiftly kicked Eren in the face, his expression unchanged. A tooth was knocked out in the process, and the chained boy was silenced.

"In my experience, I find pain to be the best tool for discipline." The scout captain stated, now kneeing Eren's nose and promptly pushing his bloody face to the ground with his foot, "There's no need for words, just training." The man lifted his foot off Eren's head and kicked him once more, this time in the chest. The pain was visible over Eren's features, his jaw clenched and his eyes shut tight. His whole face had distorted, tensing up in some attempt to handle everything.

Mikasa moved forward at the display, a soft growl emitting from her throat as she readied herself to halt Levi in his actions, and perhaps knock him around, too. Of course, Armin placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. And Kagome remained partially in her way, knowing that it would be her instinct to protect Eren. But even though the long haired woman knew it wouldn't end well if any of them interfered right now, she still couldn't comprehend why Levi was giving such a beating.

I'm assuming he's trying to make a point but... Does he have to be so harsh? Kagome shook her head, averting her eyes as the boy's blood continued to flow out onto the floor. Is Levi a sadist or something? His face is so expressionless that I can't tell if he's enjoying this.

Levi continued to kick him until Eren's eyes were swollen and his face black and blue. His coughing and gasps for air echoed through the courtroom.

"Captain Levi! That's dangerous! What if he turns into a Titan?" One of the Military Police shouted out in horror.

"Did you all not want to dissect him. Tch. If you're so afraid, how would that work?" Levi rolled his eyes, "As I heard, Jaeger killed at least twenty Titans in his Titan form before passing out from exhaustion. That's impressive. But my record speaks for itself. If anyone would be able to kill the brat if he transformed, it would be me. All of you who want to execute him wouldn't stand a chance if he fought back. Pathetic."

"Premier Zachary, I have a new proposal." Erwin announced, "I propose that Eren Jaeger be put under the control of Captain Levi, departing with the Special Operations Squad to Shiganshina."

"Hm. Can you hand it, Levi?" Dhalis Zachary asked.

Kicking Eren once more, Levi responded, "Of course."

The premier nodded his head, looking out at the Scout Regiment and then to Eren, "Then I've made my decision."

The scout regiment had succeeded.

"Kagome Higurashi. Do you know why I've asked to meet with you?" Commander Erwin sat behind his desk, with Levi standing next to him. They both peered down at Kagome, who was seated before them. It had been a few hours since the successful trial, and she had been excited to meet with the leader of the scouts.

"Yes. Captain Levi approached me and said you wished to set up a training session to gauge my skills." She responded, though she couldn't help but now feel as though she was being dissected like a frog by their glares. They were both narrowing in on her, scanning her as if looking for something.

"Yes. That was my original intent." The commander kept his stern disposition and suddenly the woman felt like she was in trouble for something.

"Tell us where you're from, brat." Levi demanded, his dark tone sending chills down her spine, "And if you lie, I might have to let you taste my blades."

"We cannot afford to take risks right now." Erwin added, "Not now that we know people can shift into Titans."

Oh no... This is bad. They really think I might be a Titan? She felt herself begin to panic, wondering why it had come to this. It wasn't her fault that she was brought here. And it's not like she could tell them where she was really from. They'd either execute her for lying or put her in some crazy house.

"Well... Like my paperwork says. I'm from a forest village in the east within Wall Rose. It was a small community." She looked at them both, remembering how rare Asian people were in this time, "One that remained more isolated from society due to our heritage. I don't think we had much contact with more recognized districts."

"Why did you leave to Shiganshina?" Erwin questioned.

"I had no choice. I... I lost everything and needed a fresh start." She wasn't lying at that part. She really hadn't had a choice.

"What happened to your family?" Levi leaned in as he questioned her, with a ruthless glint in his eyes.

But suddenly, she felt a tinge of pain in her chest, like someone was pinching her insides, "I... don't know." She bit her lip as pressure began to build up behind her eyes, now realizing just how much she missed everyone from her past, the people she may never see again, "Like I said, I lost everything. I don't know what happened to my friends or my family. They just disappeared one day. And I was all alone. Who knows, maybe they're dead or maybe they're somewhere out there. But I'll probably never get to find out." She shut her eyes, swearing to herself that she wouldn't cry in front of them, "But I swear, I'm not a Titan. I'm just a girl who wants to fight."

There was silence, and after a few moments, she opened her eyes to see that the two men were clearly contemplating what she had just said, Levi with his brow cocked and Erwin with his pensive expression as he stared off into the distance. She wondered if maybe they believed her, or if perhaps she had sounded too emotional and they were deciding if she would even make a good soldier. She couldn't tell. And her muscles all stiffened up as she waited for someone to say anything and save her from the agonizing silence.

"Miss Higurashi, please leave us for a moment." The commander said finally, "Stay in the building. We will come and retrieve you when we've made a decision."

She nodded and got up from her seat, leaving the room with an uncertainty that ached heavily in her bones. As the door shut behind her, she paced a bit in front, going back and forth every few steps. I... I can't believe I said they might be dead... She started to pace a little quicker as she thought about everyone, I guess that's true. Maybe they are dead. If this is the past, my family sure isn't alive. Though it seems more like some dystopian future. I wish I knew what became of everyone. Did Miroku marry Sango? Did Sota get into any sports teams at school? Did Mama ever get to travel like she wanted?... Did Inuyasha find love again? She found tears forming in her eyes as she realized she wasn't only just sad that she would never know, she was sad because she did know one way or another that the people from her past kept moving forward without her. Even if one day, she saw them all again, she would have missed so much. She wondered if she would ever have a place among them all these years later.

"I should go somewhere. He didn't say I needed to wait outside the door, just in the building. Last thing I need is the commander catching me crying." She shook her head as a few tears fell down her cheek, "I need him to see me as strong."

She began making her way down the hall, wiping any tears in case someone were to walk by. But the floor seemed empty of any others, perhaps because of the trial. It wasn't long before she came upon an empty classroom with the door open. It seemed to be the perfect place to let out any of her emotions before facing those men again. It was a standard classroom, small, single-seat desks for students and a large wooden desk for an instructor that rested in front of a green chalkboard. The dark haired woman took a seat at one of the student desks, envisioning her old school friends sitting next to her. Eri, Yuka, Ayumi... Their illusions all laughed about something Yuka said, each girl clad in that same school uniform Kagome used to wear.

When she looked out the window, she could see Inuyasha crouched outside, just like he had been when he followed her scent to school. He lifted his foot to scratch behind his ear like a dog and Kagome couldnt help but smile.

"Kagome!" Ayumi called out to her, and Kagome turned to see the illusion pointing down to a paper that had a big 'A' written on it in red that had appeared on her desk, "Your grades have improved so much since you're not sick all the time. I bet your mom's proud."

"My mom...?" And just like that, everyone disappeared and she was alone again. All alone. She wondered if she'd ever feel like she wasn't by herself. No matter who she got close to here, she could never be truthful about her life. She could never share stories about her childhood and Feudal Era adventures. She could never talk about her favorite movie or what it felt like to soar through the sky on Kirara. And that made everything feel like there was a wall. A glass wall where she could see everyone and they could see her, but she couldn't reach out and touch them.

God, she wanted to.

"Hey, brat." She practically jumped out of her seat when she heard Levi's familiar voice behind her. She hadn't been sure how long she'd been in the classroom, but she knew she had to wipe her eyes quickly before turning around to greet him.

"Oh, hi Captain Levi. I hope you didn't have to look too long for me." Kagome got up and faced him, feigning a smile.

He scanned her, noticing how puffy her eyes had become and it didn't take much for him to deduce that she had been crying. Hn. Either this girl is hell of a liar, or she really has been through hell losing everyone.

Naturally, he averted his eyes to save her from any possible embarrassment she might feel from getting caught bawling her eyes out. He knew she must have come to this room for some privacy, "You're approved for the session. Get yourself ready and meet me in the training area in 20 minutes."

"You're gonna be doing it?" She felt a wave of relief that she was believed combined with the anxiousness of working with him.

"Got a problem with that, cadet?" He huffed, placing a hand on his hip.

"I- No. Thank you so much." She quickly managed to say.

"Didn't I tell you to get your head out of my ass?" He turned to leave, "We're gonna see if your skills match that big ego you have."

Just as he was going to walk out that door, she shook her head, "I've never been that confident." She didn't know why she said that, or why she felt the need to justify herself to him. But he stopped in his tracks, not having expected her to say that.

But it was too late to take it back, and he just stood there in the doorway unmoving and quiet.

"I mean... I'm not like a narcissist or whatever you think I am. And I didn't race to kill that Titan just for the sake of showing off." She bit her lip, wondering if this would mean anything to him, "When I saw how fast you went, I just wanted to see if I could be that good. You... kinda motivated me to push myself."

Once again he didn't say anything. But he did turn his head slightly to look at her. He couldn't shake the look of vulnerability she gave him. It forced him to take a second to really absorb her person. And he hated to admit it, but she wasn't at all what he thought she had been. And for a split second, he was out of words to say.

"And I'm sorry if I joke around and piss you off. Or if I seem like a jerk or if you plain don't like me." She continued, placing a hand on her heart, "But being a soldier is all I have left. And I really want to be a good one."

Levi widened his eyes in shock before collecting himself and turned away, "I don't know where you got the idea that I can't take a joke. Or that I gave a shit enough to not like you." He snorted, "But save those theatrics. You don't owe anyone an explanation for why you are the way you are. Remember that."

With that, he left her. And for some reason, she cracked a small smile. She couldn't even explain why considering he hadn't exactly said anything nice. And yet, she felt like she had respect from him. Even if it were a miniscule amount.

I don't owe anyone an explanation, huh? She thought to herself, ... Thanks, Levi.

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Alright well I hope you liked it!

Kagome's already got a target on her back from the Military Police.

I tried to stick to the general script for the trial (there's obviously mad translations that may slightly differ) but the same message is there.

I kind of like the idea of Kagome becoming protective of Mikasa. I just feel like Mikasa doesn't connect to many people and she's a skilled and clearly good hearted person. And I could see her reminding Kagome of Sango. (Though I'm refraining from comparing Levi to Inuyasha since I think that'd be unfair to Levi).

Ready for training?

Also, I like the idea of having little discussion points in this post-chapter authors notes. So, I'm really interested in knowing how you all would feel about adding another Inuyasha character to the mix. (It is a crossover so maybe we should have more Inu characters!)

Let me know what character (excluding Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku or Shippo just because I feel like I'd only add them if I felt the plot called for it) you'd be interested in seeing!