6: Attack mode

Screams filled my ears. My lungs hurt. In fact my entire body hurts, like the life is being squashed out of me. I opened my eyes and silently I wished I hadn't. A face the size of a mountain stared straight at me. It opened its mouth and slowly pulled me closer. I could have sworn that I'm trapped within a slow motion picture or something. "HELP….!" I bellowed at an ear deafening tone. A scream that cuts through bone and marrow. An extremely attractive man jumped up and slayed the beast. Its tight grip opened up and released me. Downwards I tumbled like a leaf out of season. Two strong arms caught me and pulled me to safety. "Are you trying to kill yourself? These parts are supposed to be off limits. What are you even doing here?" He scolded, like I'm an utter idiot. "Are you from around here?" I looked at him at a loss for words. "Tsh, it doesn't matter. Follow me and try to keep up, will you?" The dark haired man ordered me like I'm one of his troops. I'm not about to bitch about it. For starters I feel safe around him. It's weird, isn't it? Couldn't that damn Mewtwo have teleported me into a sane situation? But no, I just had to find myself in the mountain-like claws of a monstrous being. "Thanks for your help," I thanked him shyly. "Yeah sure, whatever! Don't think of it as special treatment, I'm just doing my job," he replied blank and monotony. He doesn't seem to be the talkative type. "W- what was that thing?" I try again, my tone even more innocent then before. "Were you raised under a rock? (Sigh) That my dear is what we call Titans, and it's my obligation to slay those fowl creatures and safe humanity," he said annoyingly in a stoic manner. Oh, we're going to have so much fun together, Mr. serious pants, I thought as I follow in his steps. I should just portrait myself as your everyday girl, because for some reason I don't think that showing off my true colours would go off well in this world. This place struck me as a destroy-all-witches era. I would rather my head stay upon my shoulders, where it's supposed to be. My goal is to return to my realm in one piece, after all. The dark head walked over towards a blonde haired guy and they fall into conversation. I couldn't hear a word from where I'm standing. After a while he nodded and come my way. "I'm Commander Erwin Smith from the Survey Corps. Who might you be? It's fine if you don't remember," he started off by introducing himself. I might just as well go with the flow and play the role of the damsel in distress, and act like I can't remember a thing. I shook my head, discourage painted my face in a sea of colours. "No worries," he said with a broad smile before concluding. "We'll help you however we can." He turned his attention away from me and bellowed: "Cadets!" "Yes, sir," the response came as a choir. "I need you to pledge your assistance. This young lady was rescued by Capt. Levi Ackerman, before nearly becoming a Titan's dinner. Apparently she's got no recollection of who she is or how she came to be here. Your task is simple, help her remember. Am I making myself perfectly clear?" He ended just as strong as when he began. "Sir, yes; Sir! Perfectly clear, Sir!" The choir answered again. From now on out I'm in the hands of well-behaved cadets. At least now I know the credentials of my hero.

A small team of three, walked on over. Two of them had dark shaded hair, one of each gender, and the third has blonde hair. He looks to young to be a cadet, in a sense he reminds me of Nagisa. His face gives off that feeling. The more I look at his the more the feeling stick; he really doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd be able to slay beasts for a living. "Please make her feel right at home?" Erwin asked with a kind smile. "We will Sir," the guy with the dark hair assured him. We watched how the Commander walked away, before turning their attention towards me. A chill crept up my spine, like somebody's staring straight at me. I stare from over my shoulder and noticed a set of eyes fixated on me. Our eyes met for a brief moment. He nodded at me before disappearing from the scene. "This is a rare happening, seeing how someone as average as you caught Capt. Levi's attention," the girl stated ill-mannered. "Mikasa, that wasn't very polite," the blonde headed boy said as he rubbed the back of his neck. She just shrugged like she doesn't see the problem. Still she turned around and left us behind. "Don't mind her; she really isn't as stuck up once you get to know. I'm Eren Yeager and she's Mikasa Ackerman," the dark head apologized on her behalf and ended by introducing the both of them. "I'm Armin Arlent, nice to meet you. Eren what are we going to call her, or at least just until she remembers?" His question caught us both off guard for a few seconds. Eren looked at me deep in thought. In the meantime, two other men, older then the two that I'm already acquainted to joined my side. "What about Sakura?" One of the new guys offered. "Sakura?" Armin questioned as he tilted his head to the side. "It's quite simple, really, because her hair reminds me of Sakura blossoms," he stated. "Then Sakura it is. Hope you don't mind," Eren asked nonchalantly. "Nope, not at all," I assured him with a broad smile. "How rude of me for not introducing myself, I'm Connie Springer," the one who proposed the name said. "Jean Kirstein is the name," the other one introduced in a flirty tone. He's not hard on the eyes either, neither of them are. His light ash-blonde hair and warm brown eyes accompanied each other gracefully. While the other's much shorter in height with grey eyes and brown distinctively shaved hair. They might be attractive, there really isn't a way around that, but my mind keeps turning in Capt. Levi's direction. Something about his calm demeanour pulls me in. There might be intimidation in his dull grey eyes, but somehow something deeper lies hidden behind his deceptively youthful face. Some kind of sorrow; an emotion that the others clearly can't read. He might be shorter then the average man, however his well-developed physique and musculature makes it all worth while. "Are you remembering something or have someone captured your attention?" A young woman with thick, square rimmed glasses asked. Her hair up in a high ponytail, bangs parted down the middle. Light brown eyes looked curiously at me. I look straight at her. Is it possible that she caught wind? Could she be that observant? I just shook my head in reply. "I'm Hange Zoë, the squad leader. Please follow me and we will get you cleaned up," she said energetically. I greeted the guys and followed behind her.

She pointed me into the direction of the restrooms and gave me a bundle of fresh clothing that I'm to ware after a warm relaxing shower. She leads me towards her room, which she and I will be sharing for my visit. "When you're done and ready, we should head over to the cafeteria, dinner would be served soon," she informed me. Hange took me straight towards a table where both Erwin and Levi were already seated. "So how had the cadets been treating you?" Erwin asked as we sat down. "Very welcoming, thank you. They even rebaptized me for the time being," I ended with a sweet smile. Erwin raised an eyebrow at the woman who's sitting beside me. "They sure had, Commander. They decided amongst themselves to call her Sakura, because of her odd hair colour," she claimed. "Fair enough, it suits you well," Erwin said with an even wider smile. Throughout the entire conversation the Captain hadn't uttered a single word. A deed in my opinion speaks louder then words. He may not have said anything, but his eyes never left my face. His being obvious and most seemed to have taken notice in his weird behaviour. I don't mind, up close he's even more dashing than I've given him credit. I can actually see us being together. Is this what imprinted feels like, after you've rescued a small defenceless animal out of the beast's claws? I'm not sure what I'm to make of this entire situation, yet I know that this isn't normal behaviour when it comes to him. "Levi, are you okay?" Erwin asked modishly. "Tsh, tell the servers that I'll be taking my dinner in my room this evening," he said as he stood and left the cafeteria behind. I want to follow him out, but decided to stay put instead. "Did I say something to offend him?" I asked confused. "I'm sure that's not the case at all. He's been a little out of character after saving you," Erwin assured me. Well, thanks for the pep talk, but that sure as hell isn't making me feel any better. I feel even more at fault. I picked up quickly how the people around me pointed a finger. Saying things such as: How could their strongest soldier fall so easily (and I don't think that they mean that metaphorically). The only conclusion that I can draw from that is that Captain Levi is actually finding me to his liking. Am I indeed correct, or, am I far off course?

After dinner, I walked back to me and Hange's shared room, alone. On my way I literally walked into Levi. "Pardon me," I apologized. He shoved it off. "Captain, pardon me for asking. Had I done something to offend you in any way?" I asked him as I stared into his grey eyes. "Tsh, why would you ask me something like that?" He throws me with another question. "Sorry Captain, I got that feeling when you left the cafeteria in a hurry tonight," I told him honestly. His eyes soften somehow at my unexpected answer. "Please, call me Levi and on the contrary, I seem to be enjoying the view," he answered as the ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. I blushed slightly at his words. He brushed a stray hair away from my face, with the back of his thumb. The sensation sizzled through my body like a river of static. He felt it too. To my surprise the cool and collected Captain bowed his head and pressed his lips full and firmly against mine. We moved in sync. One thing leads to another and I found myself naked in his bed. Cuddled in his warm embrace. He bobbed his head up and stabilized it in the palm of his hand. "Come with me," he said. I looked at him confusingly. "I will hang up my attire and title. Let's move away from here," he concluded. When I first laid eyes on him, I never imagined such words to escape his lips. I nodded my head in reply. I don't know where this would lead me, but at this moment in time I'm willing to throw it all away just to share a quiet life with him. "I will give in my notice tomorrow," he said with a happy smile.

I woke to the sound of screams and the potent smell of smoke. "Levi, what's happening?" I asked bewildered as panic flushed over me. "Get dress, my love, and head to safety. I'll be with you as soon as I can. Titans had inflected our haven into a war zone," he informed me as he handed me my clothes. "I need you to go with Hange. She'll keep you safe," he added. "Come along Sakura, we need to get you to safety," she said as she made her appearance in the doorway. "Don't take your eyes off of her, Hange," Levi said in a warning tone. We made for the door. He pulled me to him and kissed me upon my lips, like he's savouring my very essence. I followed behind Hange for a mere second and suddenly the ground beneath me vanished. I'm not falling. I'm in the same potion which I've been stuck in at the start of this adventure. The only differences is, now I know what these mountain-like creatures are called, secondly; it's dark out and lastly Levi is nowhere near to come to my aid. The Titan's grip tightens around my slender form. I can feel how my bones are being crushed. I gave a wet cough; some blood spurted from my mouth. A major organ must have been punctured by the splintering bones. I let out a week cry, below hearing point. Everything hurts. Breathing, mankind's number one rule, hurts. Had I met my dismay? The Titan fell to somebody's sword and I fell along with the beast. What more could get broken at this moment in time? The last thing I recall is being hold in Levi's arms. A teardrop rolled over my cheek, which didn't belong to me.

***

Everything is white. The walls, the floors, the ceiling. Where am I? Is this heaven? "Welcome Luna Rose Dragneel. Sister of Natsu Dragneel," a voice bellowed. The voice took form and transformed into a gigantic woman. "Who are you? Where am I? Am I dead?" I bubbled. "Relax one question at a time. Yes, indeed you're dead, but because this is your first dreadful even, I will give you a second chance. I am the mysterious curtain in God form. You're currently in my realm," she answered with a smile. "Don't be afraid to inform people about your true identity and your purpose is life. People may be more understanding then you think. Learn to trust the people around you. Fall in love and make friends." A silver door appeared a few meters away. It's parading in a golden frame. "Walk through the door and your next journey awaits your arrival," she informed me. I moved closer and closer and walked right through.