Days of Change

Levi was still asleep when, as can so often happen, he simply woke up. It's been about two weeks since he started joining Vegeta on patrolling the Soul Society to find any clues to the cause of the mysterious disappearances. Apparently he is now being expected to join the saiyan every day. He didn't mind, much. The prince was still very much peeved with him, but at least he wasn't yelling at him. Levi yawned and scratched his head before stretching. As his eyes started to adjust to being open, he picked up a clock to look at the time. He was suppose to meet Vegeta at 4 a.m.

It was 7:00 a.m.

Levi: "*Gasp!* Shit!"

He had overslept, again! Not a good way to start the day. Especially when you were suppose to meet a man who was expecting, or rather demanding, punctuality! The Squad 9 captain jumped out of bed, quickly washed up and got dressed before running outside! He was trying to get his jacket on when he ran into something hard just outside his door. The soldier fell back into the snow and looked up.

Vegeta: "(Clears his throat while saying "ahem".)"

It was Vegeta. And he was not in a good mood.

Levi: "(Chuckles nervously) Uh... Good morning, Vegeta-"

Vegeta: (Sharply) "You're late."

Definitely not in a good mood. Normally Levi wouldn't be fazed that much if not at all. But since the incident, Levi's self-esteem has all but completely shattered, making him timid and easily rattled. He was thankful that no one from his world was here at the moment, they were all away on a training mission with the rest of the Soul Reaper Academy. Armin, Hange, Erwin and the others were training at the Soul Reaper Academy for the same reasons all soul reaper students were. Only four were an exception. And those four, Eren, Mikasa, Farlan and Isabel, were joining the students for a half year long training excursion in the living world as chaperones with a few other lieutenants. Levi had stayed behind, not because he was a squad captain, but because he simply didn't think he'd enjoy it. Boy was he regretting that decision as it was literally the next day that all his troubles began! He was glad that none of them were around to see him in such a pitiful state, especially Eren. Levi got to his feet and brushed off the snow, all while avoiding eye contact with Vegeta.

Levi: "Um... Sorry."

Vegeta: "This is now the forth time you've been late. One more and I won't wait. Understand?"

Levi: "Yes, sir."

Vegeta: "Good. Now then, come along."

The saiyan started off and Levi followed, putting on his jacket before doing so. It was mid-winter and boy could you tell! The snow was waist deep now in some places, making it very difficult for Levi to keep up with the prince at times. Especially when Vegeta would just gravity-defyingly walk right through. There was at least one time where Levi couldn't get through one snowdrift, not on two legs anyway. He ended up having to walk on his hands and feet like the saiyan did all the time just to keep his head above the snow, a rather difficult task in it of itself. How Vegeta could do it so naturally, like he was meant to be a four-legged creature, and then just stand up like a normal person was a complete mystery. One thing is for sure, though, Levi had better pick up the pace. He was falling behind and the last time he did, Vegeta did not hesitate to go on without him. That happened on his second day following the prince and he didn't want to repeat it as it took him hours to find his way back home. He was out of the drift and shook off the snow before trying to catch up. But something was preventing him. There was a bundle of snow wrapped around his leg. He tried to shake it off once, but it held on. So he tried harder and the snow finally fell off, revealing-

Levi: "Toushiro?!"

Toushiro himself.

Toushiro: "Levi! Oh thank god, it's you! (Lets go of Levi's leg)"

Levi: "What's wrong?"

Toushiro: "I'm trying to get a little time to myself. I love my siblings, but my god, they are clingy! And now they've got not only Kosa, but Yachiru clinging to me too!"

Toboe and Malana: "Oh Big Brother!"

Toushiro: "AH! Hide me!"

The young captain quickly hid behind Levi, and not a moment too soon. Toboe and Malana came crashing threw a wall of snow with Kosa and Yachiru in toe and went up to the soldier. Apparently the kids were driving the young captain a little crazy.

Kosa: "Hello, Levi!"

Toboe: "Hello!"

Levi: "Oh, hello."

Malana: "Have you seen Big Brother around?"

Levi glanced behind him for a second before shaking his head. But Yachiru figured it out and dragged the young captain out from behind the soldier.

Malana: "Big Brother!"

Toboe: "Big Brother you said you'd play with us today!"

Toushiro: "*Groans* Can't I do that tomorrow? I really want a day to myself."

Kosa: "But you promised!"

Yachiru: "I'll tell Kenny on you."

Toushiro: "Nice try but I ain't afraid of him."

Levi was enjoying the scene. But he was quickly reminded.

Vegeta: "Levi!"

The soldier snapped his gaze quickly over to the hill above. Vegeta was standing there and he was not happy that he had to come back for him.

Levi: "Uh, coming! Sorry, Toushiro. I gotta go."

Toushiro: "No! Please don't leave me with them!"

And the four kids quickly dragged Toushiro off to go play. This was one of the less pleasurable sides to being an older brother. Levi caught up with Vegeta, who was firm on the soldier keeping up.

Vegeta: "(Clears his throat while saying "ahem".)"

They continued on, heading to a village that was much further north than they've ever been to yet. The soldier had no idea that there were so many villages scattered all over. And it was obvious that some of these villages were not easy to access. A long steep cliff of boulders stacked on top of each other was up ahead. Vegeta began climbing them with ease, jumping from rock to rock. But Levi slipped and slid down the first large boulder every time he tried to climb it. He just couldn't get a grip on the rocks, even when all of the snow had slid off. Vegeta stopped and looked back. When Levi realized he was watching him, he stopped, completely hanging over the one boulder. It was clear that he was struggling. The saiyan looked up the cliff and at how far it was. He's climbed this thing many times, he was used to it. But looking at how much Levi was struggling just to try and get up the one boulder, he knew the soldier couldn't climb them all.

Vegeta: "... (Turns around and heads back to Levi) Why don't you take the day off, Levi."

Levi: "... But I wanna stay with you."

Vegeta: "Yes, well... The village I'm heading to is very far. You take the day off and rest for tomorrow."

Levi: "Oh... Ok. See ya then."

And Vegeta headed off, leaving Levi behind. The man slid back down and sighed. He really did want to stay with Vegeta, but there was no way he would be able to climb this cliff. He decided to head back and see if he can catch up with Toushiro. But along the way, he got turned around. Levi was still unfamiliar with the woods outside of the rukon district. He ended up at a village, the worst one he could have entered. Kusajishi: The most dangerous part of the rukon district. The place was full of thugs and gangs that lived almost completely by their own rules. And Levi had just stumbled across it. Before he had time to turn around, he was spotted.

Random Thug: "Well, well! Look, boys! We've got a lost one here!"

The thugs all around just started laughing. The human soldier was uncomfortable. Levi was once a thug himself, but it's been a long time and where he was from they all knew who he was. Here he was nothing more than a lost man. Out of the crowd, the leader of the gang emerged. He had a scar across his entire face and wore the ugliest cape he's ever seen. It was made out of porcupine, those quills being the most obvious.

Head Thug: "Well now... Who might you be?"

Levi: "Uh... Listen I just got turned around, I don't want any trouble."

Head Thug: "Aw... Well that's a problem cuz we want trouble!"

Levi: "Look... I just got lost, if you'd direct me to the Seireitei, I'll leave and never bother you again."

Random Thug: "Seireitei? What you lookin' for someone there?"

Levi: "Nnno, I'm... The Squad 9 captain."

Head Thug: "Oohh! Hear that, boys?! We got a captain here!"

Random Thug: "Oh-ho-oh! You picked a bad place to get lost at, buddy!"

Random Thug: "Yeah! Folks around these parts aren't particularly fond of soul reapers."

Levi: "Uh well, the thing is, I'm not a soul reaper. I'm a human."

Random Thug: "Don't matter. You work with them, so you're one of them."

The thugs all started closing in on Levi. He had the strength to beat them up, but he didn't have the confidence to do so.

Head Thug: "Time for some fun."

Levi tried to run, but a loose board came up and smacked the back of his head when he stepped on the edge! The soldier was knocked out cold and collapsed. He eventually woke up, and found himself tied up by the thugs of Kusajishi.

Head Thug: "Looky here, men! Our guest is finally awake."

Random Thug: "About time! He's been out for hours, we're gettin' bored here!"

Levi was in a chair with his arms tied behind him. He tried to get free, but he couldn't.

Levi: "Please, don't do this!"

Head Thug: "Sorry, fella. Shouldn't have come to these parts."

The leader made the first punch into the soldier's gut! Levi gasped and coughed, pain shooting everywhere. Another thug punch him across the face, and then another. After many beatings, the thugs stopped for a moment. They savored the sight of a bruised and bloody Levi.

Head Thug: "Ha-hah! Don't die yet, man! We've only just started!"

Guard Thug: "Boss!"

The leader and his men all turned to the guard at the door. He was in a panic!

Head Thug: "What is it?"

Guard Thug: "It's him! He's back!"

Head Thug: "Who?"

Guard Thug: "VEGETA!"

At the very mention of that name, the entire gang panicked. Vegeta was well known to them, as it was he who gave their leader that scar with just a flick of a finger.

Head Thug: "Crap! We gotta move! That monster could destroy us!"

Random Thug: "GO! Move it! Vegeta's coming!"

Head Thug: "Take cover!"

The thugs all scattered and left, leaving Levi alone. A moment later and Vegeta entered the house with Toushiro in toe. When the soldier did not return, Toushiro knew that something was wrong. He ran into Vegeta and confirmed that Levi was missing. Luckily, he was found.

Toushiro: "Levi!"

Toushiro ran over and began untying the beat up soldier.

Toushiro: "Are you alright?"

Levi: "Yeah... I think so."

Vegeta came up just then and the soldier looked up at him while rubbing his sore wrists. Disappointment displayed heavily across the great saiyan's face.

Levi: "Vegeta..."

Vegeta: "You were able to beat the shit out of General Tao alone with your own two hands and even hit me hard enough to make me feel it. And yet here you are getting your ass handed to you by a bunch of low-life cowardly thugs."

Levi and Toushiro both just stared at the saiyan.

Vegeta: (As he's leaving) "How disappointing."

Toushiro: (Just as Vegeta walks out the door) "Vegeta! That was uncalled for!"

But the saiyan ignored him. Toushiro just shook his head and returned to untying the soldier's legs. Levi, however, was in shock by the saiyan's words. He was right. Levi had the strength to do all that... and yet here he was bruised and bloodied after getting beaten up by a gang of simple thugs. The soldier looked down in sorrow. When he was finally free, Toushiro gently patted him on the back.

Toushiro: "Come on... Let's go home."

And Toushiro escorted Levi out where they followed Vegeta into the gloomy grey mist, heading for home as thunder echoed in the distance.

Winter was coming to an end.