Chapter 19: Unwanted

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I hope you like this chapter!

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Kagome had washed up, damp hair put up in a high ponytail, and was dressed in the usual white button up and tan pants. She knew that this was as ready as she was going to feel, and pushed herself to leave towards the strategy room. Her mind was numb by this point. So much time was spent trying to make sense of everything, and the only bit of solace she could find was in Captain Levi's words. It was a strange comfort, like finding a fire in freezing weather. It wasn't enough to fend off the cold completely, but it did fend off frostbite. And that would have to be enough for now.

So, she pushed on, feet dragging through the halls.

"Hey! Kagome!"

That voice was all too familiar. Not very deep, but boyish all the same.

"E-Eren..." She paused and watched him approach her from behind. And there's a sudden nervousness wracking through her bones. Sure, the captain claimed to have warned the boy not to speak a word of her powers, but if he did mention it, what could she possibly say?

"You're heading off to the meeting, right?" He asked, and when she nodded her head, he continued with a slight grin, "I'm happy that you've recovered so well. I was worried that you had been badly hurt. Honestly, when I saw you get hit by the Female Titan, I thought you had died for sure."

"Luck seemed to have been on my side." She murmured in response, returning his beam. A fabricated smile.

He hummed in response, joining beside her as they both started walking together to the meeting. Falling into step with each other. Eren stayed quiet for a few minutes, something Kagome was grateful for as she gathered hope that perhaps Levi's threat was enough to silence him. If Eren was wondering about Kagome's powers, what they were and what she really was, he didn't show it.

"Can I confess something?" He piped up suddenly, interrupting the quietude of their stroll.

"What is it?" Kagome raised her brow as she turned to face him, watching the way his gaze flickered down towards his feet nervously. As if he wasn't sure if speaking his mind really was a good idea.

"Well... Everything from that day is such a blur, including when you all went up against the Female Titan..." He was trailing off, apprehensive about each word that flowed out of his mouth. "So much so, that I thought I saw you glow or something before you passed out. A light that sort of came from your hand... I even mentioned it to Captain Levi. He told me it was the dumbest thing he's heard in a while, and I know he's right. But, for whatever reason, it's been making me think about how precious life is..."

So, Levi convinced him that my powers aren't real? That he imagined it?

But Eren continued before she could react to any of it, "D-Don't tell Captain Levi that I said anything to you! He'd probably skin me alive if he found out. Said that, since everyone's found out that people can become Titans, they're on edge about every myth and superstition and that me saying I saw you glow or whatever may actually get you in trouble. I don't wanna endanger you over some hallucination, anyways."

Hearing that Eren himself didn't actually think it was real was a relief. She was still the same in his eyes, just a normal soldier. His comrade. That means that the only other person who really knew about her powers at this point was just Levi. He had meant that he was on her side, even more than she initially realized.

That sly captain.

"Don't worry. I won't mention it." Kagome assured him gently, "Besides, we have more important things to deal with than you disobeying our superior."

"Thanks." He chuckled, hand rising to scratch the back of his head.

They arrived at the mess hall, now emptied of any straggling young scouts. Erwin was meant to come retrieve everyone when he was ready. The only person in there at that moment was Levi himself, sitting with a cup of tea as his food rested upon the chair next to him. He sipped with a blank glare targeted at nothing in particular. Pensive and unreadable, as he usually was.

That's right. I remember hearing that Levi hurt his ankle by one of the doctors. Nothing severe, but I forgot to ask how he was feeling... She frowned a that, suddenly feeling a bit selfish. Though, it appeared that she wasn't the only one out of commission for now. There was no way he would be useful with his ankle twisted like that, at least not for a little while. He may be Humanity's Strongest, but he was still human.

Even if everyone tended to forget that fact.

Eren and Kagome took their seats at the other end of the table, her mostly following his lead. And Levi acknowledged them with a fleeting glance and nothing more as he sipped away. The glow of the torches cast a certain warmth on his face that almost seemed to melt his icy exterior a bit. But not enough for the titan-shifter to want to sit any closer to him.

They all sat in a certain silence for a few minutes, waiting for everyone to pour in. Or at least for Erwin to invite them inside so they could begin while waiting for the others.

"Tch, Erwin knows I've been sitting in here. He's really making me wait." Levi spat out, though he didn't actually seem genuinely pissed off. "By the time he comes out, the Military Police will already be banging on our doors to take you all in."

Kagome contemplated responding to that, but the captain continued before she could utter another word.

"Maybe he's trying to take a shit, but the shit just won't come out."

Now, it was Kagome's turn to blink a bit as she processed what he just said. Because, she honestly hadn't imagined he would say something so crude. Levi glanced over at her and Eren after he said, face still blank as if he didn't just call their commander constipated. Full of his staple nonchalance, mouth a straight line that didn't once falter. Eyes almost bored as he watched the two, taking in the shock on her face and then switching his focus to see the shock on Eren's.

But Eren adjusted first, smiling slightly, "Very funny... You're quite talkative today."

"Don't be an idiot." The captain huffed, "Talkativeness is in my personality."

Though, he shifted his gaze to the woman as he said the last part, as if anticipating that she would object or tease him. Perhaps he even wanted her to, as she had done so often in his office before the tragic expedition. Her taunts were usually so childlike and naive, a refreshing innocence. Not that he would openly tell her so.

Though, she didn't say a thing.

And he was mildly disappointed at that, but just clicked his tongue. He would never rush someone's mourning process for the sake of familiar banter. Besides, he could hear footsteps coming from down the hall.

The meeting would be starting soon.

Mikasa and Armin had arrived with Jean in tow. And Hange appeared shortly after. It was Erwin who was last, much to Levi's dismay, but he got straight to business and led everyone to the strategy room. It was moderately sized with a single long table in the center, which everyone crowded around. There was a certain seriousness that took over, as though every other thought had dashed away on cue.

Though, Eren nor Kagome were prepared for what they were going to hear.

The commander explained the plan. When the Military Police came to escort Eren to the capital, Jean would take his place with a disguise, leaving Eren free to rendezvous with Mikasa and Armin. The three of them will lead the target to an underground tunnel without revealing their true intentions. The hope was to get the target somewhere they can't transform and then capture them without causing a commotion. Although, Eren would be needed to fight if the Female Titan were to transform before getting to the tunnel.

It was a fine plan and all, but Erwin had conveniently left out who the target was.

"Pardon me, but are we sure she'll be in Stohess?" Eren questioned. And it was like the commander had been waiting for him to ask.

"Yes. Our suspect is a member of the Military Police. And may also be responsible for the deaths of Hange's Titan subjects. It was actually Armin Artlert who arrived at that conclusion." He asserted, leaning in a bit before continuing, "She's a former member of the 104th, same as you all."

"The 104th...? No... it can't be." Eren's eyed widened, jaw slacking ever so slightly. Kagome's own body stiffened, as well. It seemed she was out of the loop, same as him. But there was only one person she could think of that would fit this description, someone who also had the intellect to pull off that attack back in the Forest of Giant Trees.

But she couldn't force it out of her throat.

"Our target, the one suspected of being the Female Titan, is Annie Leonhart." Erwin confirmed, his booming voice rattling around in Kagome's head.

Annie... They think she's the one who massacred everyone? I know she was a bit of loner, but that doesn't mean that she's capable of something like that... Then again, Armin wouldn't make that accusation unless he had some real reasons to. Her mind ran rampant with confusion and hints of betrayal. A complete mess of disbelief. Though, no one could tell from her expression. Unlike Eren, whose absolute incredulity was apparent over his features, she remained relatively put together, aside from her rigid posture and clenched jaw.

"Armin... How can you think that?" Eren asked rather frantically, attention turning towards his friends.

Armin gulped and looked down, "From the start, the Female Titan knew what you looked like. And when I mentioned you by your nickname, 'suicidal bastard' she visibly reacted to it. That's when I realized that it had to be someone who knew you... But the biggest reason is because I believe that Annie killed Sonny and Bean."

"How can you know?" The green-eyed boy questioned.

"Because... it would take a lot of skill to sneak in and kill Hange's Titans. Someone would need to use their own gear because that's what they're accustomed to." Armin raised his gaze to meet Eren's, "But when we had our gear inspected, she brought Marco's, instead. I had trained with Marco, so I recognized some of the dents and scratches." Jean shifted a bit at the mention of his late friend.

"Is that it? That's the only proof you have to accuse her? What if you're wrong?" Eren challenged, standing from his seat.

"Then, she will be cleared of suspicion." Armin sighed heavily, "But she's the only lead any of us have. And if we don't try something, you'll be handed off to be sacrificed at the capital."

"Eren, doesn't this ring any bells?" Mikasa piped up, "When you think of the Female Titan, can't you see any familiarites? The way she looked, the way she fought... Annie did have a distinct fighting style."

Eren paused.

"What about you, Kagome?" Mikasa turned to her, "You faced her, too."

I did. The Female Titan was smart and quick. As if she already knew how our ODM gear worked... Kagome blinked, And those eyes. Those icy blue eyes. Could it really be Annie?

She quickly gathered her thoughts, exhaling softly, "I can't say for sure. But, if she really did give Marco's gear for inspection, then she can't be ruled out. If we have no other suspects, then we need to act on it before we lose Eren."

"Precisely my thoughts." Erwin cleared his throat, "Levi is injured, so he will be with me during the mission. We'll deal with any obstructions with the Military Police should they see through Jean's disguise. But Kagome, are you fully recovered? You're now one of our most skilled, so I wouldn't want to waste you unnecessarily if you're still injured."

In truth, she was still rather sore. But she didn't plan on sitting out.

Though, as she opened her mouth to declare herself able, Captain Levi himself interrupted her, "She's still weak. Practically toppled over yesterday and she's still being kept in the medical wing. She won't be much help here if Leonhart decided to turn into her shitty Titan form."

Stunned, Kagome turned to face him, "Captain! I want to fight."

"Tch. You'll get in the way. We don't need more needless casualties." His tone was firm, chin dipped low as he glared at her as though to warn against arguing with him.

Why is he being so protective? Doesn't he know how important it is to have every able bodied person present if there is a Titan fight in the middle of a crowded city? Doesn't he know that she may be the one who killed our comrades? She huffed inwardly, annoyed but not sure how she could overrule her very stern captain. Through his steely gaze, she could see his resolve.

"Alright then. Kagome, you will not be involved in any battle. Though, we could use you for another task." Commander Erwin captured her attention, "You will observe Armin and the others as they guide Annie to the tunnel. If, at any point, you believe that Annie will refuse to comply, you will immediately report back to me so we can plan on evacuating. This leaves you out of any fight, but it'll still save lives."

So, I'm just suppose to watch them lead Annie? And just run back to Erwin if I suspect anything? She thought with a sight. In truth, she wanted to be there to face the Female Titan once more if it came down to it. Help take her down for the sake of her fallen friends. That's what it meant to bring meaning to their deaths, right? But even so, it didn't seem like Erwin or Levi were going to budge on this. And if she can save a few lives by starting the evacuation as early as possible, then perhaps it wasn't the worst thing in the world.

"Yes, sir." She nodded her head, though peered back at the inky-haired captain, who seemed to have gone back to his more nonchalant expression.

"Hopefully, it doesn't lead to that. But it's better to be prepared for the worst." Erwin maintained, "Speaking of that, we will have Hange and her team manning a few barrel attacks. Isn't that correct?"

Hange confirmed and began explaining her role in the potential battle, using the same method as they did during the expedition. Barrels filled with harpoons. Kagome listened, though her chest felt heavy.

Would Annie really prove to be the enemy?

The late members of the Special Operations Squad flashed through her mind.

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Honestly, I can't say I love this chapter. It's kind of bland. Though, we did get the famous constipation joke from our dear Levi, who is revealed to very much have a soft spot for Kagome's little banter. As well as that little protective moment with him refusing to let her go into battle.

And our little Kagome got assigned to recon duty, though she's not super thrilled about it. I think next chapter will get a lot more interesting, though.

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