Chapter 11: Disruptions

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Sorry for the wait! I hope you all haven't dropped off from this fic yet!

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Youre all my favs! :)

It had been a whole week since Kagome had started bringing tea to Levi's room like a relaxing before bed routine. They would sit on those same leather chairs feeling the steam rise from their teacups. They would take small sips while Kagome asked about his day and Levi would brush off her questions with blunt and forthright answers or cynical sarcasm. Though, she never took offense and always went back with a smile on her face and her own witty remarks to hit him with.

It had been pleasant.

Tch. That brat seems to have a knack for tea making. The captain mentally noted as he glanced over at her conversing with the rest of the squad during their lunch break. The sun was shining down on their little wooden picnic table, while Levi stood by himself a small distance away. The first experiment on Eren's Titan form had just been attempted.

But with Levi's own luck, the boy had failed to transform, even after biting at his hand until blood waterfalled out.

"This just means you're more human than we thought." The captain heard Eld tell Eren, smiles gracing everyone's faces as they all tried to comfort the boy.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out." Kagome joined in.

Levi turned from watching the group, now facing the forest that surrounded the former headquarters as he sighed and letting out all of stress from his lungs. There wasn't a point in getting irritated over the boy's current inability to transform, especially since this was only the first try. One way or another, the captain knew he would get Eren to do his job. He had to.

It was sometime in between his calm and steady breaths that the sound of a large explosion infiltrated his eardrums and, with lightening speed, the captain spun his head around to see a large cloud of smoke where the picnic table had just been. His hands found his blades as he quickly made his way to the scene. As the smoke cleared, the rest of the Levi squad came into view, and they stood ready to attack with strain visible on their faces.

Except for Kagome, of course. She had her hands up to stop them from striking with their vicious brutality, her lips slightly parted while she breathed heavily. And it didn't take long for Levi to spot the cause for concern as it rested a few feet behind the woman. It was Eren sitting atop a poorly formed Titan torso with an arm attached and sticking out. Eren's own human hand was connected to the arm, but it didn't look as though he was attached at any other place, oddly enough.

"Eren! Explain yourself now or we'll be forced to cut you down!" Eld warned, "Tell us why you transformed without permission!"

"I'm sure there's a reason for this, alright?" Kagome pleaded in response, "Can't we just give him a second?"

Now, Oluo jumped in, "Kagome, you better not get in our way with that stupid, blind faith. Eren has to prove he's no enemy!"

Everyone bickered back and forth as Eren struggled to get a few words out in between, his own fear evident on his face. The captain took the moment to take a place beside the dark-haired woman, his own expression stoic, features both relaxed and harsh at the same time like an immovable stone. He eyed the offensive members of his team, though, they kept their own focus on the incomplete Titan in front of them. A breeze ran between them all, dancing around the threatening glares of the opposing forces.

"Calm down." He directed sternly.

But no one listened. They all kept shouting at Eren with ferocity, jaws clenched and eyes narrowed in. Tsk. But that is why I selected them, to remain vigilant and suspicious of Jaeger... And while the team wasn't exactly calm as he had asked, they weren't attacking Eren, which was enough for now.

"Captain Levi..." Kagome murmured, "...I don't think Eren is going to hurt us."

Without moving his head, he stole a quick glance at her troubled expression as she chewed on her bottom lip before locking his stare back on his squad, "That will be determined. We shouldn't do anything stupid or rash." But he could still sense her tense concern and looked back once more, "Don't worry, brat."

Of course, not everyone got the memo about not acting rash, and an excited Hange appeared from a path in the forest, running eagerly towards them.

"Eren! Can I touch the arm!?" She asked as she approached everyone, "Please, please! Let me touch it!"

Eren mumbled uncertainly, but there was nothing that could stop the brown haired woman from reached her hands out to touch the steaming exterior of the partially formed Titan, drool dripping from her lips. As the tips of her fingers grazed it, Hange's eyes widened and face reddened before she pulled back aggressively.

"Hot!" She shouted, beginning to hop around like a mad man as if she was delighted by the burning pain, "It's so hot when there's no skin! Ha!"

Levi rolled his eyes at the theatrics, but he couldn't say he was exactly surprised. Though he didn't expect Kagome to turn around and begin inspecting the Titan form curiously herself as if she could possibly ever carry the same dramatic interest. Still, her brows furrowed with an intense focus as she herself continued to quietly examine the specimen that resembled none of his previous transformations.

"Eren, you're only attached by your hand." She noted, "Can you pull yourself free?"

"I... Uh... I think so." The boy mumbled in response, tugging now at where his skin blended with the red, skinless Titan arm.

"Don't make any rash movements!" Oluo threatened.

But Eren continued to pull as hard as he could, a few grunts escaping from his throat until he disconnected, his body rushing backwards from the momentum and falling down to the ground in front of the captain. It was clear to Levi at this point that Jaeger wasn't a threat to humanity, or at least not a competent one with control of his abilities. And he sighed as he watched the boy rub his now throbbing head.

Kagome continued to analyze the slowly disappearing Titan arm, while Hange cried in disappointment.

"Hange, you said the skin was really hot, right?" She asked as she lifted her brow, her gaze now fixated with intent.

"Yes absolutely burning! ...Why?" The older woman responded.

"Look. His Titan is holding a spoon."

Kagome waltz down the hallway carrying the tea on a tray to Levi's room as she usually did. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun atop her head, bangs swept across her forehead with few strands dangling about. She was ready to sink into that chair and relax for the day, especially after the long chat she had with Hange a little earlier regarding Eren's earlier transformation, not that she necessarily minded the theoretical discussions. She had actually enjoyed the talks and the way Hange's skin illuminated when she spoke about Titans. And they had settled on the idea that Eren needed a motive to transform, and that getting the spoon had triggered his surprise Titan change which was why, despite the rest of the Titan body being burning hot, the spoon did not melt.

Still, she had to admit, she very much enjoyed her casual tea time with the captain.

The woman reached the end of the hallway where the captain's door was and knocked with the same tune as she usually did. That was how he knew it was her every time. And a smile crept up on her face as he responded in routine with a hint of his classic attitude that she had learned was as empty as a spilled glass.

"Get in here, shitty brat."

And she entered, carefully balancing the tray on one palm and ready to ask how he was, her skin practically radiating... Until she noticed they weren't alone in the room. Standing by Levi's desk was none other than Commander Erwin himself, looming over some paperwork as the captain stood on the other side. He looked up at her with those sky blue eyes, a pensive storm swirling within them. They must have been discussing the next expedition, that much she was certain of. The room was practically overflowing with contemplative energy, thick and stilling; the kind that demanded a pause and reflect.

"It is nice to see you, Kagome. I heard you had a very productive conversation with Hange regarding Eren's Titan." He greeted, a gentle smile covering up his serious exterior like a polite mask.

Formality tugged a her as she quickly bowed, her hands too full to do the official salute, "Good evening, Commander. Please excuse me, I didn't know you were here... Yes, we did discuss the possibility that Eren needs a specific motive to transform."

"I'm pleased to hear that my recommendation of you for this squad is proving beneficial. And don't apologize. I didn't realize how late it was. I should be leaving now anyways." Erwin took a quick look at the teapot she carried with amusement, "I hope the captain hasn't been forcing you to make his tea."

Levi just rolled his eyes, "Oi, don't be ignorant. Higurashi offered."

"Offered? Then am I to assume you both have been getting along?" The blonde chuckled as he noticed the two cups sitting side by side on her tray as opposed to just one for the captain. The entertaining image of the two of them willingly hanging out in his room, nonchalantly drinking the hot beverage and partaking in what he could only imagine was the oddest small talk filled his brain. They had appeared to be such polar opposites in personality, opposing forces that would wreak havoc if forced to collide socially.

"Are you surprised, Erwin? Do I come off as difficult to get along with?" The shorter man huffed as he motioned for Kagome to set the tray down in its usual spot. She obliged with a nod, making her way to the side table between the leather chairs and placing it down gently. The corners of her lips couldn't help but tug upwards as if being pulled by some mysterious source as she stifled a giggle at the captain's jesting response. His sarcasm had truly begun to grow on her like leaves on a tree's extended branches.

"Take no offense, Levi." A soft laugh escaped from between Erwin's lips once more before his intrigue was shadowed by his seriousness once more, "And please, look over the plan once more. It is imperative that we have you know exactly what to do in any circumstance." That last part was spoken in a much darker and enigmatic tone. And with that, the man took his leave exiting with a quick good-bye to the woman, who just wondered why exactly he seemed to talk in code to the captain when the formation plan was supposed to be revealed to the scouts anyways.

Erwin spoke as if he's anticipating a specific obstacle to arise during this expedition... Something outside of what scouts normally train for. She bit her lip tentatively, her eyes narrowed on nothing in particular as her brain was filled with suspicion, I wonder what he could possibly be expecting...

The silent contemplation lasted for only a moment, however, and a harsh tone yanked her from her thoughts, "Brat, are you going to sit down and drink the tea or do you plan on standing there with that dumb look on your face?"

Snapping out of it, she moved her gaze to him as he stood by the door with his brow cocked and his expression laced with faux irritation. "Probably the dumb look." She joked with a grin, but she couldn't completely shake the intuition that perhaps there was something else going on with the mission to plug up the wall.

He waltzed up to her, strands of his black hair laying against the sides of his forehead and his grey eyes dulled as usual. Though, by now, Kagome had already sensed that it was an unemotional glaze hiding something much more alive. Levi stopped right in front of her, eyeing her for a moment before he took a seat in the leather chair and poured himself some tea.

"Hey, I have a question." She asked as she followed suit, serving herself a cup.

"You always have questions, annoying little brat." He huffed in response.

Kagome took a sip, trying to get her thoughts right as she prepared to ask, "... Well, I just kind of get the feeling that maybe there's something else going on with the expedition... like some other goal or objective. And... I don't know, shouldn't we be prepared for that?"

The rim of the teacup touched his bottom lip, though it paused as if suspended in time as he processed what she had just said. The Commander had left him with a rather vague plea of preparedness, though he wasn't surprised that Kagome had seen through it. She wasn't dumb, a fact she had proven during her theories with Hange. She could read and analyze a situation with the same ease as some of the military scientists. Levi would even pose that she was as smart as many of the military elites.

Still, he wasn't exactly permitted to reveal anything, the details Erwin shared with him being classified. "Tch. The information you're giving comes from Commander Erwin. He's no idiot. If there's anything you need to know for the expedition, he'll tell you."

"Does it have anything to do with the fact that my role in this squad is currently to stay by Eren, even if the others are engaged in battle?" The dark-haired woman questioned in a soft voice, "Hange told me that my role will most likely be to only fight if no one else is able to... like I'm supposed to be protecting him from something."

"Like I said, Erwin knows what he's doing. You should trust him. Eren is a key player in this mission. We'll always need someone on him at all costs." The captain assured, "Don't overthink it. You'll give yourself a headache."

He's right... I don't think the Commander would purposefully leave out information that we needed. It's not abnormal that there are some things left confidential in the military. She thought to herself, Besides, we're already being trained to handle all known threats, anyways... I just need to trust Erwin. Still, she couldn't help but remain curious.

"Oi, Higurashi." Levi called out to her before taking a sip, "It's my turn to ask a question."

"Hn?" She looked over to him.

"You're supposed to be a good archer, correct?" Levi inquired nonchalantly.

Though, she almost completely froze, her movements halting for a moment before she drank more of the tea and composed herself, "I-uh... Yeah. I used to be. It's been a while, now, though." She found herself mentally cursing at herself for telling him the story of the Feudal Era, her paranoia growing as she awaited his response. What did he know, if anything at all?

"I'd like to see that. It's a useless weapon here, but impressive nonetheless." The captain's words slipped out of his throat and slowly began wrapping around her neck, "I'll find you some arrows and you can use that sacred longbow."

Oh no... This is bad... She found it difficult to breathe at a steady pace, When I'm touching that longbow, I can feel the spiritual energy. If I were to shoot an arrow from it, there's no telling if my powers will come through. And if the military finds out about it, who knows if they'll hand me off to get probed by the Military Police...

"Oh, I'm sure I won't be able to impress you." Kagome shook her head and laughed with unease as she tried to shut him down as inconspicuously as possible, "Besides, that sacred longbow is a relic. I wouldn't want to taint it's great history."

"Getting a good bow would be much more annoying than grabbing some arrows." He shot back, "Humor me, Higurashi. We won't break the damn thing and you'll be able to be just like that priestess from your story. That's why you learned in the first place, wasn't it? To be like her?"

"Y-Yeah..." She bit her lip as she tried to come with another good excuse as to why she couldn't do this. Though, her throat ran dry and any possible responses turned to dust inside her mind.

"It's settled then. It may take a little bit, but I'll get my hands on some arrows." He said with satisfaction, "And we'll test your skills."

"You wouldn't want my ego to get any bigger, though. Would you?" It was a lame retort, that much she knew, but she was desperate to get out of this. She looked over at him to see if she could read his face, but his expression was bare of emotion, like a calm veil covering him. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. And she began to wonder if Levi Ackerman was going to be her downfall. Was that possible? Would he ever sell her out for her abilities? She didn't want to think so. He didn't seem to be the type. And they were friends, right? But she also didn't want to blindly trust someone.

"Tch, your ego is already as big as it can get. There's no making it bigger." He grunted, "Besides, I doubt a brat like you would be that good. Then again, I guess we'll see once I get the arrows."

"Y-Yeah, I guess..." Kagome steadied her hand as it trembled ever so slightly. She couldn't have him see her nervousness as it dulled her skin and shook her bones.

Well, he said it would take him a while to get some arrows, so that buys me some time. I just need to continue on normally with him, remain calm and casual. When the time comes and he gets the arrows, I'll just make an excuse and keep putting it off. Her breathing calmed until her chest was at a slow rise and fall once more, like the wave of reassurance flowing through her veins. Then, maybe I'll take an arrow and shoot from the longbow alone... Just to know if I can.

"There's no need to be so scared of disappointing me. I wouldn't want you shitting your pants from the fear." Levi half-joked, glancing over at her.

As she looked back, gazes colliding for a moment, she smiled. She could act at ease with him, even if he might possibly be holding her life in his hands. Through his crude and unsociable attitude, she somehow managed to find a comfortable spot in his presence. And she would handle this situation right from that spot. Even as the concern pinched at her skin.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Captain." She replied, finishing her cup of tea.

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So, yes. That was Eren's accidental transformation with the scouts. I was going to include the apology scene (where they bite themselves), but it just didn't happen. A lot of events are rushed just because they don't pertain much to this plot. And also because this time period is rushed in the anime/manga as well.

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Anyways, Levi is obviously too curious for his own good. But we love him so it's okay, even if he is making Kagome very nervous. I love their banter. Writing his crude lines are really fun.

Also, who doesn't love smart Kagome theorizing it up? Of course, I love the idea that she can hold her own intellectually with the best of the military. She's always been more than just a kind soul. She's a badass in every sense of the word!

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This one is kind of a weird question, but I'd love to know if, canonically, Kagome stayed in the Modern Era instead of making it back to Inuyasha, what career do you think she would end up in?

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Review! Almost at 100 reviews and I'm so psyched!