Author Thought:

Back with another interlude like the last volume, as we take a leap back in time from our story. Again, I really enjoy writing theses to get a sense of life was like before the story, that was plague by its own trials that got us to the present.

This will mostly likely be the last one, since after this it well basically follow canon till the infamous day Miho had to save Koume where our story originally began. So let's take one last look back to our happy girls before their lives were upended.

Thanks for taking some time out of your day to read, and enjoy the rest of your day.

Till the next Author Thought.

10 years ago

The room was cast mostly in shadows, except for the one lone ray of light shining through a small break in the drapes. This single source of light had work its way as time passed, to now be touching the face of a young women resting in her bed, who wanted nothing more for this irritant light to go away. Soft and inviting silk sheets envelope this supple women, that was the product of the long years of intense conditioning she had to undergo that Sensha-do require of its ladies to be able to operate tanks.

Shiho Nishizumi, wanting nothing more than to lay here all day, wrap in these soft sheets that would melt her soreness away. It wasn't her body that was sore, more like her mind was. Long hours into the night she spent studying Kuromorimine Girls Academies recent National tournament run that had ended with a close loss to BC Freedom Academy in the Semi-final, though the French base school was to lose to Saunders in the final this year, marking the 5th time the school had raise the Victory Flag over their school carrier in their history.

Even with the disappointment, Shiho was proud of her team she instructed. It had been a long time of rebuilding their fighting spirit back to prominence that had taken a dive in the years since she graduated from the school, while also trying to bring in more talented recruits to the team. The upgrade of the tank force had been a tough task, but with the Panzer 38 t and the Panzer 2 all now replace with Panzer 3's with their leading two Tiger 1's, the team was slowly becoming a powerhouse. At the same time, more advance German tanks were becoming readily available to them for the upcoming year.

However more work was to be done. Even with her summer free for now from instructing duties, Shiho knew there was no rest for the weary. Fundraisers were already being started to help get a bigger budget for next year, while she had directed her network of scouts to find talented members in the junior high ranks to bring to the academy. There was also a roster change to be look at, as the talented 3rd years were graduating, and now she had to find out who should be made commander for next year from the 2nd years. Yet with all this pressure, Shiho was happy to face the challenges head on, because she was free to see how to solve them.

Shiho shifted under the sheets to get away from the small light source, which made her turn over and by instinct reach over and felt an empty space on her very large bed. What should have occupy that space was her husband Tsuneo Nishizumi. The very man who had made her smile and laugh for the first time in her life in her college days, the very man to give her the two most precious treasures in the world, and the very man who she love with all her heart.

Yet that very man was not here now, as it had been for some weeks. Tsueno had started a job as a car mechanic in the small town away from the estate, for which Shiho argue with why he needed a job when their family wealth pay for everything. He just said he needed to do something to calm his mind after the fighting they had been doing lately, which practically told her he wanted space from her.

Fighting in a marriage was just something that was going to happen, Shiho understood that, yet when the subject for the fighting was always over their daughter's participating in Sensha-do, it was obviously not something normal. It wasn't like she had done anything to push them, she had made a promise to Tsueno when her mother Nayoko pass, that she wouldn't force her daughters into the sport. Yet Miho and Maho on their own wanted to be part of the sport.

Shiho could say she had a bit of a hand in it, though it was more of an accident than anything. When her daughters one day, found an old album of her in her high school day's fighting for Kuromorimine. They show her the album, but ask why she never smile in these pictures, when she now always smiled. Shiho just joke to them that she was grouchy back then, so to hide the emotionless and heartless side of the true Nishizumi style her family follows, that she plan to modify so her daughters wouldn't become like her in the old days.

Yet, when the two girls told their father they were going to do Sensha-do just like their mother, Tsueno came to Shiho and accuse her of manipulating them into it. From then on, the two for the next couple of years had been constantly at each other's throats over the issue. Tsueno would plead for them to leave this life behind, that he didn't want his daughters to turn into Nayoko if they started to follow the Sensha-do style. Yet no matter how much Shiho explain that wouldn't be the case, he never believe her.

Nayoko, even resting in her grave, still haunted her unwanted son in laws mind.

Now Tsueno was gone from the estate, and when he return, it would only be for a little while. Then he leave again for his job, staying at his friend's house away from his family. Shiho though, never gave up on him, part of her wonder if it was just a clingy nature she had gain from loving the first man in her life and she didn't want to let go ever. Her mentor and father figure Kota Hidemichi, was a constant shoulder for her to lean on and convince her to keep fighting for their marriage.

Feeling the empty spot on the bed, with the sorrow of loneliness gripping her heart, she never thought about giving up on him. Some time ago that seem more of a dream than reality, they were nothing but a happy little family, every day was fill with love and laughing. Tsueno would chase his daughters who scream in delight, while Shiho would watch on, then at some point join in the chase for her elusive daughters. Those days she thought her smile was basically plaster on her face, now there were frowns some days as she didn't know how to fix her marriage, unlike fixing a Sensha-do team which seem a lot easier by comparison for her.

"Well, I think I'll do something special for him when he comes back. Maybe make that special Katsu dish he likes so much," Shiho said quietly to herself, laying on her stomach now, letting the soft feather pillow take her back to dreamland.

Though a little ball of joy wasn't going to let her off to dreamland.

The door to her room open, though the little one opening it was trying to be as quiet as possible not to wake her mother. Though Shiho was awake, she pretended to be asleep for the moment, since she plan to counterattack this threat to her flank. The head member of the Nishizumi family hone into the soft pattering of feet coming to her bed. She felt the weight on the bed dip a bit as the little one had climb up and was standing on the bed ready to pounce.

"Alright, let her think she has me and….now!" Shiho thought, then flip her body over with her arms stretch out.

"Good mor-," a little 6 year old Miho dress in a light pink tank top and blue jean shorts, started to say as she had just launch herself in the air to pounce on what she thought was her sleeping mother that had been playing possum and now had Miho in her arms tickling her.

"No...hahaha…no….hahaha…fair," little Miho cry in delight as her mother was merciless.

"Hm? I'm sorry, you're the one who try to pounce on me remember," Shiho said with a smile as she kept up the pressure.

"hahaha…you win….you…hahaha…you win," Miho pleaded between giggles, trying to make her mother stop.

"Good," Shiho said, then release her captive gently onto the bed beside her and turn back over onto her stomach leaning on one of her arms to look at her precious treasure.

Miho was on her back outstretch, looking at her mom with a heartwarming smile she always love, "you're taking us out today right?"

"Hm, I don't remember saying that," Shiho said, feigning ignorance.

Now Miho got to her knees frantically, "hey you promise last night when you put me to bed."

"Sorry, not ringing any bells," Shiho said, loving to tease her daughter.

"Eh! You promise mom and you don't break promises," Miho whine back.

Shiho just shook her head with a smile, knowing there was no fighting back now, "ok, ok, you never want to let mommy rest, huh?"

"Nope, you don't have to work anymore. I was a good girl waiting for you too," Miho said happily, while bouncing on the bed with unbridle excitement for the coming day.

"Yes, yes, the most patient little girl a mom like me can ask for," Shiho said back, making her daughter grin wide at her.

"Oh, where is your sister?" Shiho ask, she had been lucky it was just Miho that try to pounce her, when it was the two of them together, it was impossible to stop them sometimes.

"She's making you breakfast that we cook together," Miho said happily.

Shiho gave a knowing smirk to her daughter, "you sure she didn't make it by herself, while you got bored, and you were sent to get me because of that."

"No! I help!" Miho fought back, making Shiho laugh.

"I know, I know, come on lets go eat," Shiho said as she got up, with Miho urging her on to hurry up by the door.

As they were leaving the room, Shiho bent down to pick Miho up to carry her, which made her youngest whine at her mom, "I can walk myself, you don't need to carry me," though Miho wouldn't openly admit she like to be carried, even though she knew she was getting to old for that sort of thing.

"Let mommy enjoy this, since your soon going to be blossoming into a beautiful young lady, so I want to enjoy carrying you for a just a bit more," Shiho explain to her daughter as they continue down the hall.

"You think I will be as beautiful as you?" Miho ask, while clingy to her mother and look up at her.

"Oh no, you will be more beautiful than me when you reach womanhood, with your sister as well," Shiho said smiling down at her daughter who lit up hearing her say that.

Soon the two reach the secondary dining room, which was smaller compare to the main one which was made to host a large number of guest, most of the time them being high members of the Sensha-do federation who Shiho hosted parties for. This secondary dining room was made for the small family to enjoy a meal together closely, with a single table with four chairs, with large bouquet of flowers adorning the middle of the table.

Setting the table with utensils and plates, was the head maid of the Nishizumi household and also a good friend of the family in Kikuyo Idegami, she was a tall striking women, with long black hair with dark brown eyes. She wore a very elegant white and blue stripe kimono as did the other maids of the household wear as well. Kikuyo was once a crew member at Kuromorimine for Shiho as the two fought together in the schools Tiger 1.

After high school Kikuyo didn't participate in Sensha-do at the college level, instead went to college as just a normal girl, though she kept in contact with Shiho. Kikuyo later in life became a happily married women, but unfortunately found out she couldn't bear children which devastated her, leading to depression that cause her marriage to fall apart. Kikuyo's mother reach out to Shiho to tell her about her daughters deteriorating state, desperate to save her daughter before something bad happen.

Shiho immediately took Kikuyo into her house with a role as a maid, however Shiho did this with a thought to let Miho and Maho be the children Kikuyo could look after to help bring her back up. The depress women in a short time transform into caring maid who always look after Shiho's children as if they were her own. Shiho was grateful for her in her life, since whenever there was a possible spat with Tsueno, Kikuyo would guide her daughters away quietly.

"Good morning, Lady Shiho and Lady Miho," Kikuyo said with a warm smile, even though Shiho had given her permission to just call them by first names, the head maid always remain professional with them.

"Good morning Kikuyo, were going out to play today, you want to come with us?" Miho said excitedly, still in her mother's arms.

Kikuyo smile at the little ball of joy, "sorry my lady, I have duties today. Though tomorrow we shall go out, how does that sound?"

"Yes please!" Miho said, already looking forward to it.

"Kikuyo, where is Maho?" Shiho ask.

"She was just about to set the food on the plates, though I made sure to watch her so she didn't hurt herself. Though Miho became too bored so she sent her to wake you up," Kikuyo said, knowing she had ratted out her lady.

"Ah! I knew it," Shiho said, now smirking at her daughter in her arms.

"Traitor!" Miho gripe at Kikuyo.

Before the head maid could reply back, 7 year old Maho came running into the room from the kitchen, wearing a single button orange shirt with tan pants, "morning mom, I cook lots of yummy food for us today."

"Did you? Good job," Shiho praise her oldest.

Maho look satisfy with herself, then look at Miho in her mother's arms, "I thought we said we were big girls now. So that means no more getting carried."

"She pick me up before I could argue," Miho shot back.

"Well no-," Maho try to further argue.

Yet Shiho stop the arguing by using her other arm to pick Maho up who yelp in surprise, as Shiho spoke, "well now you're both being carried, and there will be no more arguments."

"Ha! You're being carried now!" Miho pointed and laugh at her sister.

"Well you got carried first, so I win!" Maho argue back.

"Well if you both keep fighting I won't take you out today," Shiho said in a playful warning that shut both girls down for good now.

Shiho satisfy with her role in stopping the bickering, spoke now, "that's better, now let's eat. Kikuyo you join us today."

The head maid became fluster at the request, "oh, no my lady, I can't poss-."

"When mom hands out orders, there's no argument," Maho said happily.

"That's why she is the greatest tank commander ever!" Miho said too.

"Guess I can't rightly argue with those two adorable faces, alright thank you for allowing me to join," Kikuyo said happily.

They were all soon seated at the table, eating the delicious breakfast as a family. Even if Kikuyo wasn't related by blood to them, the three Nishizumi girls saw her as family and treated her like so. Miho and Maho share food with one another, a bond the Shiho was glad for, since the two together would rule the family when Shiho step down, she just had to make sure the name Nishizumi was upheld with honor till then, and hopefully Tsueno would return to make them all whole as a family.

XxxxxX

After breakfast was over, Shiho shower and dress herself into a white short sleeve shirt, blue pants, and some comfortable running shows. She had wanted to wear a nice sundress today, yet she knew that today was going to be a day for chasing and playing, so she decided to wear something comfortable for it, while tying her long black hair back in a loose ponytail.

Once she felt set, she made her way down to the garage that house the families Panzer 2, that had been in family since its founding along with Sensha-do. It took quite a lot money to keep it running, though Tsueno had work his magic on it to keep it in pristine condition, even if he hated that his daughters were doing Sensha-do mostly because of Nayoko, he still found a love to work on tanks from a mechanics perspective, though he hadn't touch it since he left the estate to his car mechanic job.

As she enter the garage, she saw her two daughters looking it over. It made her smile to see them so enthusiastic about just checking the tank over for problems, though there was difference where Shiho remember her mother making her check the tank over in precise steps, Shiho's daughter did it with unbridle happiness looking it over. Shiho as well wasn't going to make them do that, since she was trying to find a different way to bring them into the Nishizumi style, so to appease Tsueno hopefully.

"Everything check out girls?" Shiho ask.

Miho and Maho came over and surprise Shiho, as they took a military stance at attention and snap salutes off to her, while Maho spoke first, "yes ma'am, the tank's fuel is at max and the fishing rods are stow away."

"Engine and tracks are in good condition and the bait is ready," Miho said as well, though her salute wasn't as precise as her sister.

"Good work girls, get on top and I will drive us off to Mister Tamotsu shop to get some ice cream before we head to the pond," Shiho said.

"Uh, mom is it okay if I drive today?" Maho ask shyly.

Shiho gave it some thought, as Maho had been learning at an accelerated rate when it came to tankery. She understood things that at her age she shouldn't. She knew the ins and outs of the Panzer 2 and its driving capabilities, while she was just tall enough where it wouldn't be a problem to see through the driver's port.

"Please mom," Miho said, "Maho drives really well, you should have seen it when we took it out yeste-."

Suddenly Maho cover her sister's mouth, trying to hide the fact that they taken the tank out without their mom's permission when she was gone yesterday for a meeting.

"So you two took the Panzer 2 out without supervision?" Shiho said, now taking a hard stance, as the safety of her daughters was paramount.

Maho spoke up, knowing the gig was up, "sorry, Miho told me not to do it too. Yet I just wanted to surprise you by showing you how good I am when we went out today."

Seeing her daughter look so cute in defeat took all the disappointment out of Shiho, "we'll talk about this later. For now show me how well you think you can drive."

Maho got a big smile on her face, then climb up the tank and then took her position inside to take the driving sticks and roar the engine up. Shiho smile at how efficient she was, while Miho leap for joy. Shiho got on the back of the tank, even while sitting down on the tanks cold hard metal, she felt at home. Miho stood next to her with her hands on top of the tanks turret, bouncing with anticipation for the coming day.

With one push on the sticks from Maho, the tank push forward out of the garage and into the grounds of the estate, with the warm sun shining on them. Shiho kept one hand on Miho, so she wouldn't fall off as they drove to the outer gates. Along the way, they were greeted by the gardeners who look after the estates flowers and trees, they all wave at the passing girls, happy to see them together and about to enjoy the warm beautiful day.

Soon the trio were on the private road leaving the estate behind. They were well away from any traffic, so no one had a problem with a tank driving along the dirt road. On either side of them, there were vast fields of greenery, with hills in the far distance. It was serene and beautiful, exactly what Shiho needed after such long hours of instructing her Sensha-do team and even longer hours of reviewing the team's matches to learn for next year's tournament.

"Mom! Mom! Look it's a flock of swans!" Miho yell in excitement, while jumping up and down.

Shiho turn to see the flock flying some ways from them, but were angle in their flight path to pass by their tank. They were easily distinguish by their bright black and yellow beaks. Their large white wings flap up and down some more, before they glided over them one after the other. It was quite the sight as they were giving the trio their own personal fly over, which made Shiho once again glad she came out today.

"Bye, bye swans, have a good day!" Miho yell and wave at the passing flock now flying into the distance, making Shiho smile at her youngest, and secretly wishing she could stay this small for the rest of her days. It also reminded her she was never like this as a kid, as she was always just stoic and never play with any kids her own age.

She never laugh and did things like this with her own mother. Being an only child too at the time, only made things worse, since she had no one to play with in the large estate, not that there would've been time for that, since she needed to study the Nishizumi style of Sensha-do every day or suffer her mother's wrath.

Now Shiho was doing something as simply taking her daughters out on a lovely day like this to play and fish, there was no hounding her daughters into following their families style, she wasn't forcing them into it either. Shiho could see they would take to it on their own and would do what she could to modify the training so they didn't have to be so merciless like she was brought up to be.

You show mercy!

You show compassion!

Do away with these ignorant child of mine!

Or must I show you the punishment for having these thoughts for an opponent!

We are Nishzumi's! Victory is all that matters! You must understand this! Nothing else matters!

In that moment, Shiho began to see flashes of the past in her mind, her mother Nayoko dragging Shiho by the hair into another room, she scream and scream for her to stop. Shiho at the age of 15, in her first Panzer Kettō, had shown mercy to one of her cousins, though it almost cost her the match and the family name. Nayoko afterword's, drag her into a room and beat her while shouting the ideals of the Nishizumi style at her till she felt Shiho had learn her lesson. Afterwards Shiho never show mercy again to any opponent and never brought up the beating with her mother, wanting best to forget it.

For you are a Nishizumi! Strength is all that matters! Victory is all that matters! You must understand this now! Now! Now! Now! Now!

Another moment of the dark past of Shiho's life, of her destroying many girls in the ancient customs of Panzer Kettō for the right of the family name.

Hi, my name is Konomi, I've always look up to you cousin, I hope we become closer, win or lose this match

Remembering those times, made Shiho wince in pain thinking of those terrible memories, to think what she had become in Sensha-do and what she had to do to so many cousins of hers to make it happen. Now all of them were gone, because she destroy them.

Worry not my daughter, she was weak and too kind, you did well to make sure she was reminded of this

For you are a Nishizumi

For you are a Nishi…

For you are a…

For you are a monster!

"Mom?"

Shiho felt herself drag away from the terrible memories by a soft hand touching hers, she turn to see Miho looking at her with concern. Her sweet little girl, the one who could always make her feel better by just looking at her.

"I'm sorry, I was lost in thought dear," Shiho said, now shaking the memories away, knowing now she didn't have to let those memories plague her, as she would raise her daughters right, away from such horrors of the families past, they would come to love Sensha-do as she should have done.

They soon arrive at Mister Tamotsu shop, it was a little candy shop located just outside of the town. It was small and always lively with the local children, though lucky today they have arrive before the rush of kids. Parking the Panzer 2 outside, the trio climb down, as the door to the shop open and standing there to greet them was Tamotsu himself.

He was an elderly man reaching his mid 60's. He was still holding on to a full head of gray hair with bright steel eyes, and even at his age he was quite well built, as he had to run the shop on his own, carrying all the deliveries

"Well if it's not the three most beautiful ladies in the world coming to my shop," the older gentlemen joke.

"You always say that Mister Tamotsu," Shiho said after a soft chuckle as her and her daughters came up to him.

"It always make you smile, so I think I'll keep using it," Tamotsu said with a warm smile, then look down to her daughters, "so you two? What it'll be today?"

"A cherry pop please!" Miho said excitedly.

"Watermelon please!" Maho said in a tone matching her sister.

"Sure, sure, let me go get them," Tamotsu said, then started to walk back into his small shop.

"Let us go with you!" Maho said.

"Me too!" Miho join in.

The two girls took each of Tamotsu hand and walk into the shop with him. Tamotsu just grin happily, he felt like a grandpa whenever the Nishizumi daughters came to his shop, sometimes staying and talking with him as he share stories of his youth. They never got bored, they were always lively, and they always kept him company. Tamotsu was thankful for the two girls, since his own family live far away and visited rarely, so these two balls of joy who were here most days were his substitute to help keep this old man's soul burning brightly.

After getting the girls their popsicles and now were enjoying them on a bench outside the shop, Tamotsu came to Shiho, "have to say, I'm real grateful for those girls of yours. Already came by yesterday in that panzer of yours too keep me company."

Shiho rub her head in a bit of frustration, "yes without supervision, will have to scold them about that later."

"Ah, don't be too rough. They got a love for tankery like you do," Tamotsu said with a grin.

"Yes they do," Shiho said, letting thoughts begin to take over her mind.

She wonder now, if she really ever love tankery? It was part of the family tradition to do it, to honor the history of strong past female members who did it in her family. Shiho had surpass them all, yet never felt there in the moment or enjoyed it really, like her life was already determine, just riding the script that was already set out for her.

However, looking down at her two daughters enjoying their popsicles, while laughing and smiling, reminded her that even for all her doubts of her own love for tankery, there was no questioning the love she bore for these treasures in her life. It was even better if they could be this happy doing Sensha-do and all the fun it could be, while unlike her own experience with it. Shiho would do all she could to make that happen for them.

"Oh, been meaning to ask, where's that husband of yours? Haven't seen him come by in some time," Tamotsu ask.

The question about her husband made Shiho grimace, but did her best to keep her composure, "he is with his friends today, wanted us to have a girls day out," Shiho lie.

"Ah, I see," Tamotsu said, though he could feel something was up, but didn't want to sour the mood by pressing on the issue, "well I hope you three enjoy this beautiful day together."

"Thank you very much," Shiho said gratefully.

"Aw, I never win the extra prize," Miho complain after she finish the popsicle, but found the sorry try again label on the stick, meaning she couldn't get another one.

"Here take mine," Maho said happily, handing her finish popsicle stick that had the label you win!

"Thanks big sister," Miho said gratefully, then ran over to Tamotsu with her sister's winning stick, "can I have another one please? The one that Maho likes so we can share."

The candy store owner just smile down at the little one, "I'll do you one better, let's get you both a popsicle, since you two understand the need to share and look out for one another."

"Really?! thank you so much Mister Tamotsu!" Miho said happily, then took the older man's hand to drag him back into the shop to get the popsicle.

Shiho watch them go off, then turn to Maho, "you're a good older sister Maho."

"I plan to be, no one will be able to top me as the greatest older sister in the world," Maho boasted while standing with her hands on her hip.

"Please do, you and your sister will be doing Sensha-do together, so watch each other's back," Shiho said.

"You can count on it," Maho said with a bright smile.

XxxxxX

You made them do Sensha-do!

I did not, they wanted to do it on their own!

What if they become like your damn mother!

Do not curse her in my presence!

They will become like her, why can't you see that!

They will not, they will find their own style!

No you will just make them follow a path they didn't choose. All for this damn family and damn tradition, you're no better than Nayoko, a controlling mother!

Stop!

A controlling monster!

Stop!

Will you drag them by their hair into that dark room?!

Stop!

Will you beat them for showing mercy!?

"Stop!" Shiho said, rising up suddenly from her peaceful nap, in a state of panic, sweat running down her face.

"Mom, are you ok!?" Maho said, gripping one of Shiho's hand.

Shiho got a grip on herself, getting her senses back to reality after having a nightmare about her and Tsueno's fight, with some other voice plaguing her nightmare that almost sounded like her. Shiho's back was up against a tree, were she was resting after her and her daughters had fish the pond catching nothing, but they didn't care. They had had lunch and found the grassy hill with the lone tree for them to rest under to get away from the warm sun for a nap.

Shiho look down at her daughters whose faces held concern for their distress mother. Feeling terrible for making their faces like that, because of issues with their father and her past, Shiho reach out and brought them both into a hug. This was needed for her, to calm her heart that was aching to be done with the fighting with her husband and want them to be a family again. While she wish the past would leave her alone, but sometimes you just can't outrun it.

"Were you having a bad dream?" Miho ask, hugging her mother back tightly.

"Yes," Shiho admitted.

"Was it really bad?" Maho equally hugging her mother tightly on the other side.

"Yes, but your making mommy feel better," Shiho said, then pull back to look at these two precious faces, yet her daughters still show sighs of concern, making the mother feel the need to rectify this, since today was a day for fun, not terrible memories.

Feeling mischievous, Shiho kept her arms around her daughters, "say you know what will make me feel better?"

"What?" Maho ask.

"This," Shiho said, then pounce on her two daughters, starting to tickle both of them. Their laughter soon fill the air and Shiho's heart as they fought against their mother's attack.

"No…hahaha…no…hahahah…fair," Miho said, repeating the very words she had said that morning.

"hahaha…we…haahaha…got…hahaha..to escape," Maho said over her own laughter.

The two soon squirm out of their mothers pounce and took off down the hill. Shiho smile and chase after them. Just down the hill a large sunflower field that was own by the Nishizumi family was now to be use as the battlefield between mother and daughters

Miho and Maho soon disappear into the fields, just as Shiho reach it. Their smaller bodies allow them to get lost in the large flower stocks. Walking down a row in the field, Shiho scan left to right, on alert for the coming ambush. The gentle breeze play across the field now, making the sunflowers dance in the wind as the battle rage on and nothing was more serene in that moment for the happy mother.

"Now where are those two?" Shiho said quietly to herself, feeling like their eyes were watching her.

Suddenly Maho came out of the sunflowers and onto the path in front of her mother, "catch me if you can!"

Then she took off down the path, while Shiho gave chase determine not to let her oldest get away. Even at her age, Shiho had a healthy body of a high schooler, due to long years of intense physical training that was require to be in Sensha-do at times. Using this enhance physical body, Shiho caught up to Maho whose short legs couldn't outpace her mom's.

Leaning down she scoop up Maho, who scream in delight as she fought to get out of her mom's grip, but to no avail against the stronger women. Now on her knees with Maho in her arms, Shiho grin at her daughter knowing she had won.

"Now where's your sister? Tell me or I might have to torture you for the information," Shiho said in a playful warning.

"Now Miho!" Maho yell, looking at her mom with a satisfy grin.

Surprise Shiho turn a bit to see Miho come running out of her hiding place in the sunflowers right behind her. Not giving giving her mom a chance to retaliate, Miho jump up onto Shiho's back, putting her hands around her mother's eyes to blind her.

"Hey!" Shiho complain as she couldn't see anything.

With her grip loosen on Maho now, the oldest Nishizumi daughter press her attack. Knowing the first phase of the operation was complete, Maho push forward with what strength she could as she lean into her mom's stomach. Now completely off balance, Shiho fell over with her daughters now on top of her, as they had conquer the legendary tank commander.

"Yay! We beat her!" Miho said in excitement.

"We beat the greatest tank commander in Sensha-do," Maho yell with excitement as well.

Shiho now brought herself up to a sitting position, and then began to rub her daughter's heads, "yes you did, even though I was stronger than both of you, you use sound teamwork to topple me."

After the head patting was over, Maho spoke, "do you think will make good tank commanders, as you were mom?"

"Yes, you both have a skill for the sport, though will need to start training you properly someday," Shiho said.

"Do you think we can master the Nishizumi style like you did?" Miho ask bouncing up and down with eagerness.

For you are a Nishizumi! Strength is all that matters! Victory is all that matters! You must understand this now!

Again the words of the past plague Shiho's mind, yet looking at her daughters sweet smiling faces, how could she really want to turn them into emotionless girls? All the honor of her family name that at this point in Shiho's life didn't seem as important. She wanted them to smile and love the sport, not be emotionless husk, so she would find a way to change the Nishizumi style to meet her daughter's need, while not taking anything from them.

"Yes, but I will be modifying your training, we will make the style our own," Shiho said.

"Yay!" Miho said happily, then leapt to hug her mom, "I'm going to make you so proud, and become the best tank commander in Japan!"

Maho not wanting to be outdone by her younger sister, jump in as well, "No I will be the best tank commander in Japan!"

"No me!"

"No me!"

"Alright the both of you," Shiho cut in to their competitive nature they both had, "one day we will find out who is the best, but remember you're stronger together. You will both be attending Kuromorimine one day, and together you two can conquer the world of Sensha-do."

"Together," Maho said quietly.

"Can we both command our schools Tiger 1's?" Miho ask.

"Yes, the Iron Tiger Sisters has a nice ring to it," Shiho said happily to both of them.

"Yea! The Iron Tiger Sisters Conquer Japan! I can see the headlines in the report already," Maho said now running down the path at full speed in excitement.

"Don't forget me! We need to conquer the world together!" Miho yell while chasing her older sister, who waited for her and took her hand, so they could run together.

Watching them run off together holding hands made Shiho's heart feel light. All the past horrible memories seem to leave her now, as she watch the two girls run through the sunflower field laughing in delight, under the warm sun that seem to glow down on these two prodigy children, as if it was saying their future was going to be bright.

"Mom, come on! We can't learn without the mother tiger!" Maho yell back to Shiho.

Honoring the request to hurry up, Shiho rose to her feet and jog over to her two children, who waited patiently for her all the while.

When Shiho caught up, her daughters broke apart to take each of their mothers hand on either side of her, then the trio began to walk slowly down the dirt path through the sunflower field. For now there was no Nishizumi style, no pressure to bring the family name honor, or needing them to win no matter what. For now they were just a happy mother with her darling daughters walking down a dirt path on a warm sunny day, which they thought would last forever, though fate is sometimes a cruel mistress.

As that very night the change came to be.

There would be no more laughing.

There would be no more smiling.

There be only the Nishizumi style.

There would only be victory and nothing else.

There would be no more mother and daughters.

There would only be master and pupil.

And the very Sensha-do style that was supposed to be made into their own, was now back to its true style.

Emotionless.

Unwavering.

Unrelenting.

Merciless.

This style would dominate these two girls' lives for the next ten years.

One taking to it with an iron determination to protect the one she love.

One shying from its brutal nature, wanting her families happier days back.

With the words that would be constantly heard as their family rose to the top of the mountain.

For you are a Nishizumi, Victory is all that matters.

At whatever cost…..