Feel The World

The next day Levi was feeling pretty good. It seemed that getting chased by Bonnie and jumping over a ravine that not a lot of people have been able to was exactly what he needed. He had some confidence in himself again, but he was still pretty timid. He was looking for Toushiro when he spotted the young captain beyond the trees just outside the rukon district. Eager to join his young friend, the soldier started walking towards him...

Levi: "Hey, Toushiro!- *Gasp!*"

Until he realized that Vegeta was there as well. He started turning around when he heard his name called out.

Toushiro: "Hey, Levi! Come on over!"

Vegeta looked up towards Levi, still with a slightly angry scowl.

Toushiro: "Don't be shy!"

The soldier was a bit unsure. The saiyan was still upset with him over the incident. But Toushiro didn't seem to care about Vegeta feelings with Levi right now.

Toushiro: "Haven't you been scowling at him long enough? Relax already! I doubt he'll ever do it again."

Vegeta huffed sharply and continued to stare at Levi as the soldier finally plucked up the courage to come over. But in order to get to Toushiro, he had to pass by Vegeta. The soldier watched the prince nervously as he walked by, feeling small and fragile compared to the larger and more robust man. Vegeta only watched him as Levi joined Toushiro's side, standing in such a way that emphasized his pride and strength. Again, Toushiro didn't seem to care not in the least.

Toushiro: "Hey, Levi. Lovely morning, huh?"

Levi: "Y-Yeah."

Toushiro quickly glanced at Vegeta and gave him a fierce glare. The saiyan huffed again and went over to the top of a hill to survey the area. The young captain just shook his head.

Toushiro: "This is now beyond old."

Levi: "What are you doing?"

Toushiro: "Oh just strengthening my sensing ability. I used to suck ass but now I'm getting better."

Levi: "What do you mean by 'sensing'?"

Toushiro: "Sensing, ya know... The ability to sense one's presence even if you can't see them. There are two types here in the Soul Society. A soul reaper's traditional way, and now, the new way- although I'm the only one who's shown any interest. The new way is the way Vegeta, Val, Goku and the others sense things. Theirs is much better as they can sense the life force every organic thing gives off."

Levi: "Oh yeah, Goku and the others have been meaning to teach me, but they keep forgetting on account that something always seems to pop up just when they're about to. ... Krillin, Yamcha and Tien can do it, right?"

Toushiro: "Yep."

Levi: "And... they're humans too... right?"

Toushiro: "Ahhh... I see what you're getting at, Levi. You wanna learn how to sense energy too, right?"

Levi: "... If it's possible..."

Toushiro: "Of course it's possible! Hell if old man Roshi could learn, so can you- and Roshi's about as human as you can get before downgrading to Hercule!"

Levi: "... Sometimes I think he's a little too human."

Toushiro: (Laughing) "BA! HAH-HA-HA! I could add to that comment, but I'm not going to cuz it's something I regret knowing- ha-ha-ha!"

Levi coughed a laugh, already knowing much about the old man's 'interests'. Regrettably.

Toushiro: "Ahhhh... It's not hard once you've got it. If you wanna learn, now's as good a time as any."

As he said that, Toushiro pointed up the hill. There stood Vegeta still surveying the area. Levi looked back at Toushiro with a face that asked if he was nuts!

Toushiro: "I'm not joking. Just go up and ask him! I'll be right behind you."

Levi hesitated. He wasn't sure. But Toushiro wasn't going to give him a chance to say no. He started shoving Levi up the hill to meet Vegeta.

Levi: "Hey-hey!"

Toushiro: "Ask him!"

Levi bit his lip before looking up at the prince. Vegeta continued to stand there but had his eyes on the soldier.

Levi: "Um... What're you doing?"

Vegeta: "Observing."

Levi: "Oh... Observing..."

The soldier looked around. What was he observing?

Levi: "What're you observing?"

Vegeta: "Everything."

Levi: "... ... How?"

That got something different.

Vegeta: "I'm sensing everything around me. Looking for the tiniest hint of something new or different."

Levi: "How do you 'sense' things?"

Vegeta: "It's more than looking, listening, or smelling... You have to tap into deeper senses, feel the energy that resides deep within all life."

Levi: "How?"

Vegeta: "By concentration, of course. Concentrate on the energy of something and soon you will be able to feel it intimately."

Levi remained silent as he took it all in.

Vegeta: "Well... It's time to go on patrol."

Levi watched the saiyan as he began to walk down the hill with Toushiro following him. The soldier wanted to come, but he was unsure if he was welcome. He started to turn around.

Vegeta: "Aren't you coming?"

Levi: "Oh, uh, sure!"

And Levi happily joined the two of them as they went on patrol. Even while walking, Levi tried to 'feel' his surroundings with his eyes closed. Not a good idea.

Levi: "Concentrate on the energy... on the energy... on the-"

Vegeta glanced back just in time to shout out-

Vegeta: "Levi!-"

Before Levi walked right into a tree. The soldier was a little stunned at first as he rubbed his temporarily sore nose.

Levi: "Heh heh... felt it."

Vegeta shook his head while rolling his eyes and went back to walking as he sighed. Toushiro, on the other hand, was amused.

Toushiro: "Ha, you walked right into a tree-hee-hee-ha-ha-ha!"

Levi: "At least it amused someone."

And Toushiro just started bellowing out his laughter. They started their patrol and the first thing they came to... was the steep cliff he couldn't climb earlier. Levi sighed, remembering how hard of a time he had just trying to get up the one boulder. But the human soldier was persistent. He tried again. His first attempt and he slid down. He tried again by literally crawling on the rocks, but he lost his grip and started to slide again. But this time, Toushiro stopped him and helped him up the cliffs. After checking that village, they went to another, crossing paths with the giant log that Levi had to crawl under during winter. Once again Vegeta jumped over it like it were a stick. Toushiro jumped on top of the log and sat there, waiting for Levi. The soldier still wasn't sure he'd make the jump, but unlike before, he was willing to try and see. He backed up a little to get a running start before dashing forward! Up and over he went, pushing off the log with his hand to give himself that little extra boost! Levi looked back at the log, surprised that he had made it! But he also felt good about it and Toushiro just whooped at his success.

Toushiro: "Wahoo!"

The human chuckled at his young friend. Although Vegeta was still upset, at least things were starting to mend a little. Levi was slowly regaining his confidence again, with some persistence on the part of Toushiro pushing him along. The young captain kept giving him tips and hints about sensing energy. But all the while Levi was growing more confident with himself again, so too were the culprits behind the disappearances. Now at least two people went missing every week. But this was also a blessing. The increase in attacks meant there was more information. Slowly a pattern began to emerge, but it was still too soon to get an idea on where to look. And even then they still had no idea as to what it was that was doing it. The people of the rukon district were getting anxious. Yamamoto and Central 46 put out a curfew for everyone to be home and remain inside after seven p.m and not leave their homes until six in the morning. This was the time slot when nearly all of these attacks happened. For a while, it worked. No one has disappeared for a week. But that was about to change. And little did anyone know who the next victim was going to be.