Chapter 3: Homecoming and the Heads.

The anglerfish team stood just outside the conning tower of their large school ship carrier waiting for the helicopter that was due to arrive any minute. The night prior saw a mass text being sent out from Yukari telling Hana, Saori, and Mako that they would be leaving early in the morning and most likely would not be returning till after classes had resumed that Monday. It wasn't ideal that was sure, having already lagged behind a few weeks due to the mess that was re-opening a closed school carrier but in the grand scheme of things one more day wouldn't hurt. After all, when the head of such an important family summonses one of its members home for a visit, the schools often overlook such absenteeism.

This made sense for Miho at least, and while the others didn't question it, figuring it was just for support, the curiosity as to why Yukari was joining Miho wasn't too far from any of their minds.

"Miss… Miho! Wha. What are you going to do?!"

"I… Have to go. Say's here that a transport helicopter is being sent for me tomorrow morning. This isn't a request from my mother, but rather from the Nishizumi head, which means its official, and not personal. It also means that it's Sensha-do related. I can't ignore it. That would be problematic."

"Oh… How long will you be gone for then?"

Sensing the sadness in her voice Miho decided to tease Yukari a little bit, even though she was a ball of nerves herself. "It says here we are to be returned to the school carrier, following the meeting, sometime Monday evening."

"So I won't get to see you till Tuesday at the earliest." Yukari, now even more dejected began to lose focus. Miho could only smile and try one more time at being coy.

"Why wouldn't we see each other till Tuesday, if we are returning to the ship Monday evening together?"

The faces Yukari was making as she puzzled through what Miho had just stated were amusing. They went from void to confusion, to void, to understanding, and suddenly

"You… You mean! I… Get to go with you!?"

"Exactly, Mother specifically states here that I am allowed to bring one…"

Whatever else was going to be said was lost as Yukari deeply kissed Miho in a fit of passion.

The helicopter arrived without much fanfare, although the contrast between this AgustaWestland AW101 and the "Drache" they had previously seen from Kuromorimine was startling. Being a private flight, Miho and Yukari were the only ones to be boarding, and with only a duffle bag each the helicopter kept its rotors spinning waiting for its chargers.

"Well, I guess this is it. We'll see you guys in a few days. Hana, if you would be so kind as to take charge and watch after the team while I'm away I'd appreciate it!" Miho loudly asked bowing to her friends.

Returning the gesture, Hana smiled and with a "Not a problem" the two started towards the helicopter.

Miho with help from Yukari climbed into the bird and with Miho likewise helping Yukari in it was only a matter of moments before the doors were closed and the rotors started spinning up again.

With the helicopter fading fast into the rising sun the remainder of the Anglerfish team stood for a few more seconds before Hana and Saori turned to walk away. Noticing that Mako had yet to join them Hana stopped and turned to see Mako still looking off into the sky.

"Something wrong Miss Reizei?"

"Somethings different." She let out cryptically, turning to join her friends in walking towards the tank sheds.

"Hmm… Different how?"

"They'll tell us when they're ready." She spoke walking past her friends.

Saori with a confused look on her face and Hana with her small, polite grin once more looked towards the sky where they last saw the helicopter "I see."

The AW101 circled above a massive estate twice before beginning its final descent. Yukari was glued to the window the whole time, knowing she was finally at the home of the Nishizumi style, she wanted to soak in as many of the details in as possible. Miho, however, already knowing the estate like the back of her hand sat staring at the childlike wonder that her new girlfriend was exhibiting. While still apprehensive about the visit Miho at least had the relief of having Yukari there. While the entirety of the Anglerfish team would have been nice, knowing that she can face any situation head-on with her friends, having her loader, biggest supporter, and now girlfriend next to her was more than enough. Having finally touched ground Miho finally noticed where they had landed, towards the edge of the Nishizumi personal training grounds. The door on the large helicopter was opened by one of its crew members, and before they knew it, they were both on solid ground again, watching as the AW101 once more took

off into the sky. Sighing, and knowing that they were now a bit of a walk away from the main residence Miho picked up her bag and began walking. Sensing that Yukari hadn't joined her she spun around to send a lighthearted jab that "she could look later" when she saw the concerned look on Yukari's face.

All joking aside now Miho probed "Yukarin, are you okay."

"Me?! I'm more than okay Miho; it's you I'm worried about. Have you… Forgive me if I'm overstepping, but have you even spoken to your mother since the finals?"

Seeing Miho's downtrodden face, Yukari pressed "Have either of you even tried to talk to her?"

Seeing Miho look even guiltier now, Yukari softened her tone up. "Oh…"

"She's sent letters and has tried calling a few times. I've… I just haven't felt ready to talk to her yet."

"Do you think she addressed the summons as the Nishizumi head to get to talk to you then?"

"It's possible considering she also included a plus one, but… no, I'm certain this is Sensha-do related, she would never misuse the family title."

"Well whatever this reason, this is a good opportunity for you to talk to her! I'll be here for you the whole time."

Loosing each other in a much-needed hug the two almost missed the sound of a tank pulling up to their location. It wasn't until it was practically right on top of them that the two sprang apart. Looking up they saw a very familiar tank, The Panzer IV, although this one didn't have the longer gun or the schurzen that theirs did, it was almost exactly like the tank they first found all those months ago, However, Miho did recognize if even after a moment, it was the first tank she ever commanded.

The engine idled for a few seconds before it came to a halt. The drivers hatch popped open to reveal a smiling Kikuyo Idegami.

"Welcome home Miss Nishizumi, and welcome, Miss Akiyama to the Nishizumi residence." Receiving only a bow in reply she continued "Miss Nishizumi, the madam is awaiting you in her study, if you would be so kind as to get in, I will deliver you to the residence where you should change into your Sensha-do uniform for the meeting right away."

Yukari and Miho stood in her old bedroom of the manor. Surrounded by the Boko dolls that were typical of a room Miho would occupy. They had quickly donned their Sensha-do jackets upon entering and were now waiting for Kikuyo to summon them to the matriarch's office for the meeting. The atmosphere was thick, Miho though she would have at least a little bit more time to get settled in before the confrontation, but in her mother's typical fashion, time was rarely wasted on such things and all too soon her door slid open to reveal a once more smiling Kikuyo.

"Miss, if you would follow me please."

The pair, taking a few steps towards Kikuyo and noticing she hadn't moved paused.

"I'm sorry Miss Akiyama, but this is to be a private meeting. If you would be so kind as to wait here, I shall return to show you to your room once I present the Miss. You shall all be dining together tonight, however."

Yukari wanted to object, but seeing Miho turn and nod with a somewhat scared smile, relented and backed off bowing, feeling that it wasn't enough, however, given the circumstance, she made the last second decision to leap forward and embraced Miho one more time for good luck.

After a few seconds, the embrace ended and Kikuyo was smiling even bigger this time, lead a much more relaxed Miho from the room.

Miho sat quietly in her mother's study. The room, aside from the desk, some papers, and a few tank related trophies, and wall hangings were, as usual, vacant. It was, however, the first time all three Nishizumi women were in the same room together since that day when she was all but kicked out of her family and home, for daring to save the lives of fellow students and friends. Lost in her thoughts, it was a gentle, although startling considering who it came from, "Miho." That brought her back to the present. Looking up she saw her mother with a restrained smile.

"Miho. First, I must apologize."

This shocked Miho more than the most fierce barrage of shells hitting her tank. Her mother NEVER apologized. It ran counter to the Nishizumi style after all.

Shiho without missing a beat however continued. "I was wrong to judge you so harshly considering your actions in the Pravada match. While I'm still disappointed in the loss, it has been brought to my attention that the potential loss of life had you not intervened would have been devastating for Sensha-do. At the time I was only concerned with how the loss affected the family name and failed to take into consideration the other potential outcomes. But that's only part of the reason we're gathered here today."

Miho finally got what she had wanted all along. Validation from her mother, that she wasn't a failure, that she didn't forsake the name of the Nishizumi haphazardly. But the hits wouldn't stop there, and she wasn't sure it would be enough to save her from her fate.

"As you know, Maho" Miho looking up seeing her usually stoic sister sporting a small smile, "Is set to inherit the Nishizumi style being the eldest daughter. This is no small feat, as earning a mastery in the Nishizumi style takes years of hard work and dedication. Your sister is nearing completion in that work and at a remarkably young age."

Here it was, bowing her head again, Miho knew she was done, with an heir to the Nishizumi style officially chosen and almost complete in their training, a second would no longer be necessary. Miho was about to be castigated as, at best a practitioner, at worst barred from the usage of the family name altogether. Her time in Sensha-do would be limited to her time at Ooarai, where the style she was developing would more than likely quietly die.

"However, your sister's accomplishments, while no small feat, do not dwarf your own."

Shocked by the positive inflection in her mother's voice she looked up once more to a smiling pair.

"Miho… Am I correct in assuming you have been working on your own style? If you would, a new branch of the Nishizumi style?"

Miho could only manage a simple "Yes."

"And, am I correct in assuming that you have been recording this particular style, so that others may learn from it?"

Once again, "Yes."

"Do have the basic tenants of it down? The begging forms? The preferred tanks, and crew types?"

"Yes."

"Understood, and is it complete, have you finished perfecting it?"

"No…" Finding her courage, she let out "I don't know if it ever will be."

Smiling slightly, as would an individual with all the insider information would "And finally… What is this style called?"

Now Miho was embarrassed. Up until yesterday, she had never even mentioned that she was putting this style together. And even then, when Yukari found out, she didn't reveal the name she intended to give it upon its completion. But the Head of the Nishizumi style and future head were present and asking a member of the family. She couldn't lie to them or keep the information from them. The consequences of such an act would indeed be treasonous and would see her private and public life utterly destroyed. But how did they know? She kept this from everyone!

Hoping to stall from answering the question asked, she postulated her own question.

"How… How did you know about my style?"

Nodding to Maho, giving her permission to leave momentarily, Shiho indulged her daughter "As the head and master of the Nishizumi style, being one of the oldest styles in Sensha-do, I sit on many counsels and committees. Two of which, that you are aware of is, the Sensha-do Federation, as well as the Chairperson of the pro-league committee, there are others, however… ones far more important and with much longer standing traditions and history than those. Without whom Sensha-do wouldn't exist in its current state today. This one counsel, in particular, pays very close attention to all things Sensha-do related, especially its practitioners and the styles they employ."

Just then Maho walked back into the study, delicately carrying in her hands a katana in an elegant sheath. Kneeling and offering the sword to her mother, Shiho reached out and just as carefully took possession of the proffered weapon. Standing, Shiho placed the sword on her hip and tied it securely to her belt.

"Miho, by a decision that can only be reached unanimously by the head families and masters of 'The Way of The Tank,' would like to consider your style for a formal introduction. Should it pass, your style, while recognized as an offspring of the Nishizumi, would earn its place and respect alongside the styles of Nishizumi, Shimada, Kodama, and others. The questions I asked today were the final questions necessary for consideration. All of which, were answered satisfactorily. What style, then should we consider admittance into the 'The Way of the Tank."

Shocked, and not having considering any other name prior, thinking it would never amount to much anyway, Miho blurted out the name she had ascribed atop the notebook where she compiled all of her knowledge into the style that was her own.

"The Boko style."

Entering Miho's old room Kikuyo saw Miss Akiyama sitting on her charges bed, looking at a photograph of Miho and Maho when they were young children, before all the seriousness of tanks and Sensha-do got involved in the family dynamics. Those were simpler times, and while a rough patch hit the family over the last year or so, it seemingly was all for the better. Knowing what Kikuyo knew of her Mistress and the meeting that was taking place right this instance, she felt that it was going to go a long way in repairing the family bonds. However, she knew it would take more than the quick apology she was sure the mistress would offer and even more than the potential for introduction in the council. But at least the process of reconciliation had started. In no small way, it probably helped that that Kikuyo may have gathered "what-if" legal advice and had secretly mailed it to the mistress had Miho not acted the way she did during the finals with Kuromorimine and Pravda. The legal ramifications would have been disastrous, not only for the family but for the whole of Sensha-do. Wavers only cover so much after all.

Somewhat startling them both, Kikuyo cleared her throat to get Yukari's attention. "Miss Akiyama if you would follow me, I'll show you to your room."

Nodding Yukari put the photo back where she found it and grabbed her bag. Standing up she followed Kikuyo out of the room, and while Kikuyo managed to avoid Maho, Yukari nearly collided with her, almost nocking what looked to be a very ancient and important sword from her hands. Collision avoided Yukari did manage to run into the back of Kikuyo almost spilling both of them over in the hallway. Finding her center and composure first, most likely due to years of practice Kikuyo stated "Your room miss."

Yukari couldn't be happier; she was in the room directly across the hall from Miho's, Kikuyo opening the door for her she quickly stepped inside.

"Miss Akiyama, dinner shall be served in two hours. In the closet, you will find formal clothing for the occasion. However, before I go, and transitioning into a different hat so to speak, I would like to offer you this." Kikuyo pulled an envelope from her kimono sleeve. "I'm sure you are aware of the World Sensha-do Championships to be held in a few years? I am also a talent scout for the Japanese National Sensha-do Federation and am currently scouting for potential team members. You are on my short list as well as others from your school. Please read through the contents of this envelope and give me your answer at your earliest convenience." Bowing Kikuyo left a shocked Yukari behind.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this posted. It took a little bit to flush out the details, names, and story progression in my head. It is coupled with the fact that I only write when I am away from home, and with the fact that school is starting up again soon, I hope that my updates won't be too infrequent.

Any reviews are welcome, especially constructive criticism, I know my writing leaves a little bit to be desired.

Next time: Revelations and a Meal.