As promised by the Captain, the Scouts were roused before sunup. It was raining-- a dreary, sloppy, muddy rain. Donning their uniforms and their new green cloaks with weighted packs on their shoulders, they were sent on a five mile run to start the day.

Kuro actually enjoyed the runs they went on. He felt free. It was easy to distract himself when running. Kuro kept up with the recruit group easily.

Once the run was over, chores were to be completed before they could have breakfast. Kuro was sent to the stables to feed and water the horses. The stable wasn't empty. A soft brushing sound could be heard from one of the stalls. He walked in and went to find some shovels. He wasn't sure who would already be here, but there were plenty of other soldiers he hadn't met so it could be easily one of them.

As Kuro passed by the stall in question, he saw that it was the Captain who shared the space with him. Levi's steely eyes glanced over briefly, but he just continued stroking the dark mare with the brush he had strapped to one hand.

Kuro saluted the Captain before carrying on with his work. He had no reason to disturb him, so he would just carry on with his tasks silently while making sure that everything was done correctly. He grabbed a shovel and began scooping the feed into buckets.

Captain Levi gave a nod in response to the salute. He respected his soldiers, and he never carried an air of self-righteousness. His attention turned back to his horse, and the strong mare bobbed her head and snorted contentedly. Her muscular neck turned, and she nudged Levi's hip. He rewarded her by scratching her snout and then brushing his fingers through the hair that fell between her ears and eyes. Horses always made him think about Isabel... any animal did, really.

Carrying the buckets, Kuro began to distribute the food and water, working his way systematically. While a horse was eating, he'd work quickly to change the hay net. This carried on as he made his way round the stables. He wasn't sure if the Captain had already sorted his horse out but when he got to that point, he brought the buckets up anyway. Placing them on the floor, he stood to attention. "Captain, has food and water been already sorted for your horse? If not, then I have it prepared sir."

"No, not yet.," Levi replied, looking down at his upturned palm as the mare checked it for a treat. She was a beautiful beast, her coloring dark and rich as coffee beans. Her eyes blinked as she turned her head to look at Kuro, his hyperbolic reflection glinting in her nearly black orbs beneath long, delicate lashes. She snorted again and shook her head a little, and Levi gave her a couple strong pats on her neck before sliding his hand down to her shoulder and then letting it fall to his side. The way he looked at her had a genuine fondness to it.

Kuro worked quickly and quietly so as to not disturb the Captain anymore than necessary. He made sure the horse was eating as he filled her water and changed the hay nets over. Once he was sure everything was in order, he saluted the Captain again before carrying on with the rest of the horses.

The Scouts had a large collection of impressive horses, so the job of making sure they were fed and watered wasn't a small one. It was still one of the more pleasant jobs though. Before joining up, Kuro had never had much interaction with horses other than seeing them lined up in the streets of Shiganshina as the Scouts prepared to head out.

Levi left his horse's stall partway through, and he nodded again as he passed by Kuro. He noticed how meticulously and neatly he did his job, and he appreciated that. "Good work, soldier," he remarked as he passed.

"Thank you, Captain." Kuro gave him a final salute as he left. Was he saluting too much? Oh well... it was better to salute too much than face the Captain's wrath.

Once he had finished, he collected the buckets together and washed them out so there was nothing left over in them. He put everything away neatly and doubled checked that all the stable were shut properly before going to report that he'd finished.

The Scouts were given a quick breakfast of porridge, this time without the presence of the officers. The training for the day then began. Eren went with the Captain and Hange and Levi Squad to run experiments on his titan powers. The others ran customary drills. The morning and early afternoon passed quickly, but suddenly, a powerful bolt of lightening cracked down from the sky.

"Eren!" Mikasa gasped immediately.

Kuro looked up. That was either good or bad depending on what outcome they had been trying to achieve. But it wasn't like Eren was on his own like last time. Hopefully it was good but... if it was bad... at least there was Levi Squad to sort it out.

There was A LOT of shouting coming from the clearing in the trees...

And then suddenly, a screeching figure flashed past. "PLEASE let it be what I think it is, Oh PLEASE, Oh PLEASE, OH PLEASSSEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

"Section Commander!" A Scout named Moblit dashed after Hange, running hard to keep up with her.

As soon as Section Commander Hange had appeared, Kuro relaxed. She wasn't acting like there was a problem so something must have gone right. Although, he did feel sorry for her assistant. He looked stressed.

"Please, oh please, oh please... AH!!! AH HA!!!!! YYYYEEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!" Hange's exuberant squeal pierced through the air like a firework.

Moments later, Hange and Moblit emerged from the trees, dragging a barely conscious Eren between them. His arms were slung over their shoulders, and each of them held one of his wrists with their other hands on his back.

"Eren!" Mikasa ran over immediately.

"He's alright," Hange assured, a wild spark in her eyes. "We may have learned something today... I just need to get back to my office. Why don't you and another Scout take him to the basement to rest?"

Kuro jogged over to them. "Section Commander, I can help Mikasa take Eren." Despite the Section Commander's expression, Eren didn't seem to be in a good shape. Whatever had happened had taken its toll on him.

"Right then." Hange and Moblit transferred Eren to Mikasa and Kuro. "And see that the door locks... Captain's orders." Hange nodded before turning to practically sprint toward the castle, Moblit darting off close behind her.

Mikasa's slender eyes were on Eren, her brow furrowed with concern. Both his hands were covered in bloody bite marks, and softly hissing steam rose from them.

"He'll be alright Mikasa. Let's just get him to bed. This whole titan thing must really tire him out." Kuro made sure that Eren was supported between the two of them before beginning to walk. "You know what he's like. Not even getting eaten can stop him."

Mikasa didn't reply. She only gave a nod, glancing to Eren often as she walked. It terrified her sometimes, how much she cared for him... she'd already experienced losing him once, and it had made her feel an emptiness she never knew existed. She tightened her hold on his wrist, even brushing her thumb back and forth a little.

"Oh Eren," she thought. "What is this doing to you..."

Kuro felt like he should have given them some alone time but he couldn't really since he was helping hold up Eren. He knew that they were close. Those two and Armin were as thick as thieves. "Just you wait, he'll be shouting about killing every titan again soon. He doesn't stay down for long... even if he needs to."

Mikasa glanced at him. She gave another nod, not being one to talk much. And she knew all that was true. But seeing him like this... it hurt her.

They carried him down to the basement and sat him down on the bed. Mikasa turned and adjusted the pillow as his head flopped onto it, turning away from her. Some hair stuck to his sweat-dampened forehead, and she reached out to brush it away as Kuro hoisted Eren's legs onto the cot.

Once Eren was on the bed, Kuro pulled the blanket over him. "Come on Mikasa... we should probably head off. We don't want to get told off for slacking on training." He looked around. "Also, how do we lock the door? Is there a key or do we just pull it?"

Mikasa put her hand over Eren's. The bite marks were almost healed already. "Right..." she said, reluctant to leave him. She stood up, and her fingers moved to the red scarf she wore around her neck as she looked down at Eren. This knot in her stomach........ it was said that love hurt sometimes. Is that what this was?

It didn't matter. Not now anyway.

She turned to leave. "It'll lock," she said curtly.

"Okay." He allowed Mikasa to leave first.

When outside, he allowed the door to lock and quickly looked over the cell again. "I wonder... is the cell there to protect us... or to protect him?" he mused.

Mikasa's brow lowered, and she ran her fingertips along the scarf again. Her new scar on her face was fairly prominent. "Both, I suppose," she said quietly as they climbed the stairs.

Kuro followed quietly behind her. For some reason, he wondered if any of this scared Eren. Becoming the thing he hated the most... not understanding it... not remembering it... not controlling it... Kuro knew that it would terrify him. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. Eren was definitely one of the strongest people he knew.