Only Human Chapter 10

Coming Back Around
The following day and spring became official with an eruption of cherry blossoms all over the Soul Society. The songbirds sang their songs and danced along the tree branches, shaking loose some of the pink blossoms. A single blossom fluttered down through an open window at Squad 4 and gently tickled the nose of the sleeping occupant inside as it landed. He wiggled his nose before Levi sneezed, waking himself up in the process. The soldier sat up and gently shook his head as he blinked a few times to wake himself up further. A soft chuckle to his left alerted the soldier of the young captain sitting next to him. The soldier couldn’t help but smirk.
Levi: “... Why is it that whenever I wake up after I’ve been in some sort of trouble you’re always the first bastard I see, Toushiro?”
Toushiro knew that the bastard line was a joke.
Toushiro: “Because I’m the lucky ‘bastard’ who’s always with you when you get into trouble.”
The soldier chuckled along with Toushiro.
Levi: “(Chuckles) Fair enough. ... How’s you’re foot?”
Toushiro: “Much better. Unohana took care of my sprain easily. You, on the other hand, are a different story. A mild concussion. Sorry but you’re gonna need to take a few days off... Again.”
Levi: “Heh... I don’t mind this time. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
Toushiro: “Thanks to you. And it’s not just me... Everyone owes you their lives. The Hunters have all been caught and/or killed thanks to you. The crisis is over, we made it.”
Levi fell back against his pillow as he sighed in relief.
Levi: “... Thank... god...”
Toushiro huffed a laugh. A brief moment of silence went by.
Toushiro: “... Ya know... Everyone’s been kinda eager to see you.”
The soldier sat up and looked at the youth.
Toushiro: “If you think you have the strength, that is.”
Levi thought about it for a moment before sitting up again. With Toushiro’s help, the soldier was able to leave. No sooner did they leave the recovery wing did they find Eren already on his way to check on his captain.
Eren: “Captain Levi! Are you sure you should be up and walking so soon?”
Levi: “I’m fine, Eren. I just have to take it easy.”
Eren: “*Sigh* That’s good to hear. That was a nasty fall, many say it should’ve killed you.”
Toushiro: “Uh, Eren. Isn’t there something you should be doing? Ya know, like we talked about?”
Eren: “Oh, yeah, uh... excuse me, sir. There’s uh... something I need to take care of.”
And Eren hurried off to fulfill what he and Toushiro had ‘talked’ about. The moment Eren’s back was turned, Levi leaned down to the young captain and whispered.
Levi: “You, uh... haven’t told any of them what happened to me after they left, did you?”
Toushiro: “Oh that reminds me, everyone who was here during that time, including you, are under strict orders not to say a word to protect that captain’s dignity.”
It took Levi a few seconds to understand what Toushiro was saying. When he did, he was relieved.
Levi: (Relieved) “Oh thank god.”
Toushiro: “By the way, Levi. I have something to show you.”
Levi: “What is it?”
Toushiro: “Heh-heh... You’ll see... C’mon.”
Levi: “Where are we going?”
Toushiro: “To the world of the living.”
A few moments later and a Senkaimon opened somewhere in the living world. Toushiro and Levi stepped out into a place somewhere in the east, right in a lush beautiful forest. The sunlight lit up the tree tops above, making everything shine a brilliant array of shades of green and gold.
Levi: “Wow... This place is beautiful.”
Toushiro: “Isn’t it?... The amazing thing is... It was once a city.”
Levi: “What?... A city, really?”
Toushiro: “Yep.”
Levi: “But... How?...”
Toushiro: “Look over there and you’ll find out.”
Toushiro pointed to some bushes just in front of them. When Levi brushed through them, he found another clearing filled with a warm golden light... And Vegeta standing there waiting for him.
Levi: “V-Vegeta?...”
Vegeta turned away from the canopy and stared at Levi. The soldier remembered yesterday, how this same saiyan who had been angry at him earlier was there comforting him at his lowest point.
Levi: “W... What are you doing here?”
Vegeta: “Reminiscing...”
Levi slowly approached the saiyan prince with Toushiro hanging back for a moment. When the soldier stood next to him, Vegeta gazed back up at the sky. Levi gazed up too and saw the most beautiful golden light shinning through a hole in the trees.
Vegeta: “This place was once the heart of a busy populated city.”
Levi: “I heard... What happened?”
Vegeta: “Something terrible... A terrible mistake...”
Levi: “... What?...”
Vegeta: “... I let the city get destroyed.”
Levi was a little shocked.
Levi: “... You... made the mistake?...”
Vegeta: “Yes... This was the very spot that Nappa and I landed at when we first came to earth. Nappa destroying this city has haunted me for years. ... An ugly mistake that I couldn’t erase...”
Levi just waited as the great saiyan paused.
Vegeta: “But... Looking at this place now... Seeing it lush with green and full of life... I realize that my mistake wasn’t all that bad. Where once an over populated graffiti decorated city once stood, a beautiful lush forest now stands- providing yet another source of beauty to this planet. It goes to show that sometimes even the worst mistakes can have positive outcomes.”
Levi just stared at the great saiyan as the prince looked at him with warmer eyes.
Vegeta: “I guess what I’m trying to say is: I’m sorry, Levi. I’m sorry I got as angry as I did. You just scared me, that’s all... And it was mine to begin with. I’ve made more than my fair share of stupid mistakes that ended up costing me dearly. ... ... I just don’t wanna see you, or anyone else, get hurt. ... I hope you can forgive me.”
As the saiyan waited, Toushiro came up and stood beside Levi. The soldier looked at his young friend who smiled back at him.
Levi: “... I can... If you stop being such a momma bear around me all the time.”
Although smiling, Vegeta raised an annoyed eyebrow at Toushiro who started snickering again. The prince just turned back to the man.
Levi: “After all... I’m only human.”
The saiyan took a deep breath and chuckled.
Vegeta: “(Chuckles)... Deal.”
Vegeta then quietly acknowledged the others as every one of their friends joined them in the heart of the majestic forest, of which is also the very spot the Vegeta took his first step on earth many years ago. Surrounded by all of his friends, Levi felt content and no longer cared that he didn’t have any special powers or abilities. As long as he had friends like Toushiro, Vegeta, and the others... It really didn’t matter. All that was left to do now was to welcome springs return.
Val: ♪For it’s out of the darkness that we learn to see!♪
Toushiro, Vegeta, and Val: ♪And out of the silence that songs come to be!♪
Everyone: ♪And all that we dream of awaits patiently!...♪
♪There is liiiife!... ♪
♪There is...♪
Val: ♪Theerre iiis liiiiiife... Ohohoohooo... ♪
The End