4

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Paradis,

Her grip on her sword tightens as she kept her guard up, looking out for the other military police that was after them.  Their priority was to keep Eren and Historia safe, but things took a difficult turn. Shizue launched herself in the air trying to secure the wagon while Levi dealt with Kenny. A military police appeared from behind that managed to meddle with her balance.

Jean's eyes widened in disbelief. "Vice-captain!"

Shizue clenched her teeth as shot her odm in the nearest wall and kicked the man's neck before finishing him off with her blade. "Go! I'll be right behind you!"

The number of the officers rapidly increased, they were starting to overpower them. Her eyes caught sight of Jean and Armin who stood in the wagon with mp's guns pointed at them. Shizue managed to take down a female military and yanked her weapons away, letting herself fall and lands on the wagon.

Without thinking twice, she shot the police that was holding them hostage including the other man in the air that was about to attack from behind.

It's been a few days since the soldiers lived with Shizue, and her life has gone through a drastic change since then. She didn't know how Hanji knew the others, but somehow them and Levi had joined forces into bettering her way of living. They also took them out from time to time and explored the foreign land.

The strawberry-blonde lights her cigarette as she went to the veranda and was startled to see Levi sitting there before her. He had his legs crossed while leaning to his chair and, holding his tea in a very peculiar way.

Levi's gaze were grim the moment he saw Shizue's breakfast cigarette, that's what she liked to call it. "Didn't I tell you to eat first at least?"

Shizue tries coming up with excuses. "We ran out of food."

Levi pulls a plate in front of him and removes the plate that was covering it. She didn't notice that there was also a cup of coffee prepared on the small table that she only used to put ash tray on.

"Nice try. Eat." He ordered.

It didn't take him that long to figure out how Shizue's day always goes. Every morning at exact seven she'll grab a cup of coffee and her cigarettes and head to the veranda. At lunch she eats a slice of cake, and goes to bed at ten. Then at two in the morning, goes out, and have another cigarette.

"Fine." She scowled, handing Levi her cigarette in hopes to keep it safe until she finish eating but he only puts it out, and threw it in the trash.

"Don't waste it!"

"Do you by any chance have a death wish or something?" He questions while Shizue continued to hurry to finish her breakfast. She took a gulp of coffee then answered.

"Maybe,"

Levi shook his head in defeat. "You're so stubborn."

"Why do you even care Levi?" She mumbles before taking another bite. He shot his eyes at her, that question really caught him off-guard. It didn't seem like Shizue was trying to be rude or anything, she was just  really curious.

"You berate me into eating meals, limit my smoking, and yesterday you forced me to take a bath."

"That's because you stink."

Shizue puts her fork down. "Insults aside, what is it really?"

Levi could only sigh, he tried to suppress his feelings before, he lied constantly. But he did promise himself that no matter what happened in this world, there's no way he's repeating the same mistake again.

He gazed at her somberly. "I care about you. Is that enough?"

Shizue didn't expect to hear those words from him, she could also understand why her heart was beating rapidly.

Levi stood up and pats her head softly. "So, just allow me take care of you, alright?"

"I'm gonna go check on the others to make sure they don't burn the room down." He said before taking his leave.

It took a long while before Shizue's heart calmed down.

___

Reiner and the others got their guard up when their apartment door suddenly opened, it then subsided when they realized it was only Shizue who was holding a cigarette between her lips.

"Sorry, I should've knocked first." Her voice was solemn as she apologized.

Annie shook her head. "You shouldn't apologize, this is your house." she watched as Shizue looks around the apartment before struggling to light her cigarette.

"What's up with you?"

"Levi keeps taking my cigarettes." she spoke after puffing a smoke. "How're the books? Was it helpful?"

Shizue saw almost the everyone in the room was reading while a whole stack of books covered the coffee table, and Reiner just served everyone drinks. The atmosphere in here was very different compared to theirs, which was chaotic.

Yesterday Levi tried to cook for Shizue but the others didn't know that and they end up eating everything, then the chaos began. She didn't bother remembering all the colorful  words that came out Levi's mouth.

Pieck sighed as she closes her book. "Still nothing,"

"Damn, no offense but I guess you're stuck here u--" Her words were cut off when her phone suddenly rang. Shizue saw the caller I.d. and answered without thinking twice.

"Excuse me," Shizue went to the veranda for privacy. "Hello-"

"Sensei the special grade cursed object, its gone! I swear I went to the right place but I couldn-"

"Calm down, Megumi. Did you call Satoru?" Mikasa couldn't help butt overhead Shizue's tone, it was exactly like it was back then whenever they ventured out the walls. It was very commanding and grim..

"I did. He said maybe it went to play hide and seek."

Shizue irked. That punk.

"Send me your location. I'm on my way," Shizue threw the cigarette butt on the ground. Mikasa saw the pink haired run out of the room while dialing Ijichi on her phone and left, but not without saying anything.

"I'm off to work I'll see you later!"

Mikasa and Reiner looks at each other after the girl left. "You think a part of her still remembers him?"

The blonde shrugged, "Did you notice how terrifying she became? And she still let Levi take her cigarettes." That made Mikasa agree with him. Maybe at some point, her feelings were still there.

Pieck became even more intrigued and scooted closer to the ravenette. "Oh come on don't leave me in the dark. What's their deal? Tell me everything."

Shizue Yamada wasn't the most enthusiastic when it comes to dealing with curses. She didn't have any noble reason in being a sorcerer but only does it for one thing only, money. However, even if that's the case, her code was to never let any student be in danger.

The pink haired arrived at Fushiguro's location and saw what was left of the abandoned psych ward the curse was responsible for. Itadori was surprised on how she managed to get here so fast.

"Sensei!"

"Get behind me, both of you." Shizue ordered, he was reluctant, but he was no in good condition to fight. Fushiguro knew if there's anyone who can handle this situation, it'll be his teacher. Just then, the cursed womb let out a loud screech that made them cover their ears. It was about to burst.

The pink haired male frowned, afraid  to think that they are being a bunch of dead weight. "But Sensei! We can fight it together!"

Shizue brought her thumb between her lips and bit it until it bled. The blood drips against her fair skin, as it slowly solidified into a dark red sword.

"Be quiet." She said sternly. Her eyes scanned the situation and formed a strategy in her mind.

"Where is Nobara?"

Fushiguro wipes the blood off his jaw, Itadori helped him to stand before he could even lose his balance. "There were hostages, she took them to safet--" He didn't manage to finish his words when a number of gigantic worm-like creature attacked them from above that it sent a devastating blow.

The students coughed as they fanned their hands to clear out the smoke that blocked their vision. Itadori's eyes widened when he saw four giant worms impaled against Shizue's massive blood sword as if they were skewers.

"Impossible..." Fushiguro uttered in disbelief, the girl on the other hand didn't even had a change of expression. He couldn't believe how its even possible, how she created that huge weapon in just short time.

Shizue opens her mouth to speak when a gush of wind erupted and-

"What's the situation here?" A familiar white haired man appeared before them with a carefree smile.

"How nice of you to show up." It quickly disappears when he saw her dark glare. Right, he might've just put the students' life in danger....and Shizue found out.

___

Gojo walked along side Shizue inside the Apollo tower, right after making sure Megumi's injuries were treated. "So what are your plans about it?"

The white haired man let out a confident smile. "Ah you know, give the cursed object to the higher ups, what else?"

"Not that idiot. The soldiers in my building." Shizue scoffed.

"Oh, so you got to know them?" He spoke teasingly.

"Of course I did." Shizue replied, refusing to say her honest thoughts. "They could be assassins sent to hunt down sorcerers or something."

Gojo chuckled at her lies. He knew something was odd the moment Sasha and Connie leaped towards her that day, but he didn't press on that topic any further. "If that's the case, I'm sure you can handle it yourself."

Shizue remained silent, which made the white-haired male glance at her. "Something bothering you?"

She didn't answer, but only shoves her hands in her pockets and kept walking. Gojo frowned. "Come on, how can I enjoy this gloomy aura of yours if I don't know why you're pissed?"

The pinkette rolls her eyes. "I'm not pissed,"

"Then what is it?" Shizue let out a heavy sigh, knowing full well Gojo would never drop it until she tells him. The woman stops on her tracks, making him halt too.

Shizue kept her gaze glued to the ground. "It wouldn't make sense...even if I told you,"

Gojo did not respond, instead, he awaited for her next words patiently. Shizue kept fiddling her fingers underneath her pockets. "I know that at some point of their life...they know who I am. Look you know me, Satoru. We've been friends since high school --I've never met them in my life but somehow...I think..," Shizue was terrible at expressing her feelings.

"Forget it. It's stupid."

"No, no, no, It's not." Gojo gave her back a comforting pat. But Shizue still kept her gaze on the ground.

"somehow, I feel like...I've known them for so long. I feel different around him. Oh god I sound so gross." Gojo couldn't help but laugh as Shizue gagged at her own words.

It's kind of funny seeing Shizue catch feeling, and here I thought it was impossible.

"Him?" Gojo teased. "The black haired man -- Levi am I right?" Gojo guesses excitedly.

"Could you please keep your voice down?" She scoffed. "and...yes. He is."

Shizue then shot a warning glare towards Gojo. "If you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you."

....and she's back.

Gojo waves his hand dismissively as if promising he wouldn't tell a soul. "We were expecting a cursed spirit was responsible for all this right?"

Shizue furrowed her brows at him. "What are you getting at?"

"Well I'm just saying, what if it wasn't a cursed spirit at all? We haven't ruled out the possibility of reincarnation right?" Shizue's heart stopped for a quick minute. That's true. If she were a reincarnated soul then, it is possible she could have known them in her past life. However,

"But.. it still doesn't explain how they got here." She said. Gojo only shrugged.

"Maybe they died?"

"Then they'll have to be born again first, you moron."

____

It was already midnight when Shizue arrived back home. She was in the middle of taking her shoes off when a voice rang in the dark.

"Where have you been?"

"Ah!!--Levi?!" Shizue threw her shoe but the ravenette was quick to catch it. He was sitting there alone in the couch, reading a book. His question was simple, but it did frighten her a bit.

"I may not be familiar with this world but I do know that it is late to come home at this hour," The male spoke without taking his eyes off his book.

Shizue let out a loud groan as she flops herself on the couch beside him. "I had an emergency at work."

Levi hummed in response."I didn't even know you left,"

The girl couldn't help but feel guilty, well she did left without saying anything to them. She only spoke to Annie and  the others because she happens to be there. Shizue couldn't never understand the effect Levi had on her. If someone else talked to her that way or even Satoru, she probably lost her patience right there and then. No one could ever order her like that.

"Fine. Next time, I'll tell you."

"That would be appreciated," Shizue closed her eyes and leaned back in the cushion. her left eye opens to glance at the male who was quietly reading his book.

"Why are you still up?"

Levi flipped a page as he answered. "I have a hard time sleeping," Mostly because you weren't home yet.

"Hmn, me too." She says, making Levi glance at her. Of course he could tell that just by looking at her dark eyes.

"Aren't you tired? Just try and close your eyes." Levi suggested, which Shizue gladly did.

That lasted for a good 2 minutes.

"Leviii" He sighed. "I still can't sleep." Shizue complained with her eyes closed.

He ran out of ideas. Levi is not very good at the advice when it comes to sleeping so that were the only thing he could think of.

Shizue groaned loudly as she lies her head on Levi's lap that caught him by surprise. His heart beats rapidly as she took his hand and placed it on top of her head.

One thing she learned this past few days, was that Levi gives the most comforting head pats.

____

A/N: Since school is starting once again I think I'll do a regular update every monday only until I finish writing the story and editing them. Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed this chapter!💟🖤