Blazepanzer here, and welcome to my rewrite of the 444 th Sensado Squadren Fanfic.
I really enjoyed writing the original version, but I'm not satisfied with it, so here's the remastered version of it. Same premise, but better, longer, and loosely more realistic! Also some other differences so to speak, some major and some minor.
Anyways, enjoy! Let me know what you think of this rewrite! Note: Blazepanzer does not own girls und panzer!
Her green eyes gazed at the small town, wishing with all her might that she could enter and just buy herself some necessities. Maybe I should just turn myself in, she mused, before shaking her head as a summer breeze ruffled her long ginger hair, her pink tennis skirt waving in the wind. Thankfully, the cool breeze was warm on her exposed legs and arms, which were only covered slightly with a white cap-sleeve tee shirt. She also donned white high thighs, white tennis shoes and a pink leather watch.
It was supposed to be her emergency wear in case something happened to her school uniform and she needed a quick change of cloths, but now it was her only pair of clothing thanks to her being on the run.
Turning away, she let out a quiet sigh as her belly rumbled. They're no safety in a fugitive like myself in any inhabited place, she added somberly as she lifted up her hands, gazing at the still smooth, reddish-white skin tone. Just the thought of being in handcuffs... she let out a small shudder before taking off.
Thankfully, food was easy enough to find, thanks to her edible herbs book and the fact that it was summer. She had snuck into an off road garage sale and found the book, about the only thing she could find that was of any use. A warmer set of clothes for the upcoming winter might be good, but everything was a bit too small for her considering she was sixteen and not eight anymore. But it wasn't something she wanted to risk again.
As she walked in the forest, she noticed some wild Yuzu and Fig trees. Fruit today? She mused hald excited and half in bewilderment as she pulled some figs from the tree, setting them on the ground while she pulled a few more, placing them in her bag for later. I suppose this is a luxury meal for us fugitives, she mused as her belly let out a small protest of hunger. She knelt down, picking up the remnants of her fruit, and carried them off a ways before sitting down to eat.
The meal was not what she was used to. Wild fruits was somewhat hard to come by and she had to be careful about how much she ate. She had a condition to where she couldn't eat too much sugar without getting badly constipated, thus she could only eat about one or two fruits per meal, and that was pushing it. Albeit she might be able to press it more, she had no idea what a grossly reduced died would affect her medical condition and this didn't want to risk it.
However, after her meal her belly rumbled. Stop that, please...you know you can't have more fruit right now! She growled back inwardly. "Seems as though I'm never gonna be satisfied with my meals again," she shuddered, before taking out her mirror and gazing at herself, a memory flooding her mind.
"Hey, Yolko, show us a sword skill!" A guy asked.
"So, you and Kinze dating or what?" Another girl teased.
Hanoashi shook her head of the memory, glaring at herself. I hate that nickname! You might look like an Irish version of this Yolko, but you're no sword-master, You could have been married right after high school, or if not that been in collage, fulfilling your dream job of becoming a high school English teacher. Instead...you..."
She let out a small sigh as the events of that tragic day flooded her mind.
Gazing out of the Lee, Hanoashi let out a small nod. "You're doing well Karina, just take things slowly, and you'll do fine."
"Is this how it was normally done at Nishmari?" Asuza asked, glancing up from the cannon.
Hanoashi shook her head. "Not even, if this was a Co-ed academy or a male academy, we wouldn't even be able to compete in a tournament for the first six months, and the nationals for the first year."
"But we'd be competing in the nationals during our second year, right?" Yukki asked.
"Nope, not unless we more than doubled our tank count. We need at least twelve crewed tanks to qualify and even if they wavered that you automatically forfeit the match if you cannot field at least eight tanks." Hanoashi explained.
"Hey, there's a tank...let's see...what was it?" Karina asked.
"I think the 38-T, right?" Asuza glanced at Hanoashi, causing the ginger haired girl to nod.
"It'd be bad form to fire on them right now, so let's just follow them and see where they are going, Hanoashi determined.
Shaking her head, the Irish girl ejected herself form the memory. No no no! Stop reliving that day! She growled, shoving the mirror into her purse before rising up, giving herself a small shake before moving on.
However, as she did so the memory flooded through her again, unbidden.
Her green eyes widened as she saw Miho leading the Panzer IV across the bridge. "What is she thinking?" Hanoashi whispered, now more engrossed with the situation her best friend was placing her self in rather than the match.
"Should we fire?" Ayumi asked.
"Of course not!" Asuza gasped.
"Exactly," Hanoashi muttered, watching as the Stug III fired on the Panzer IV as it nearly fell off of the bridge, stabilizing the tank.
"That one is lucky they didn't hit the bridge and cause it to collapses, sending the Panzer IV plummeting into the gully bellow," Hanoashi noted. "I honestly don't know what I'd have preferred more, staying in Nishmari or having a competent instructor here," she muttered.
"Why did you come to Ooarai anyways?" Aya asked.
"Scholarship," Hanoashi shrugged. "Aunt Shelia would have funded my high school and collage years in accordance with my grades and work ethic, and Father insisted I see if I can get a scholarship first. I did...and well...here I am."
"Well yeah, here you are," Hanoashi muttered as she stooped by a stream, and filled her water canteen. Built in life straw, which was handy for water purification as it was. She shuddered at what she had to do to get it. Should have insisted on a jacket too, but he had me chained in a collar and forced me to repair his house among...that...At least I'm still a virgin, but still what he did was...
She shook her head of that memory, however, the other worse memory began to flood in.
"All of you did well considering it was your first time, including you A team, good job."
At this point her blood was boiling. Did good? They nearly got themselves killed! She raged inward. Maybe I should just quit quietly...no, if they...her thought paused as a rather harsh expression filled her face. "No...we didn't," she growled.
"I bed your pardon?" Ami asked, glaring at her.
"We did not do good today," Hanoashi hissed. "Miho nearly got her team killed, and placed the Stug III crew in a tenuous position..."
"Rudeness will not be tolerated," Ami screeched.
Why dose Ami look so desperate? Hanoashi thought, as her eyes widened in shock. The anger I can get, but the desperation in her voice and gaze...
"So you think you can be rude to your teammates, is that it?" Ami hissed, regaining some of her composure.
"Look, I just think that we should work on learning the safety rules and..." Hanoashi began, but Ami raised up her hand to stop her.
"What's your name?" Ami asked coldly, giving her the death glare.
"Hanoashi Katoni," she responded.
"Well miss Katoni, consider yourself barred form the team. You may grab your belongings, and then you must go and never come back," Ami informed her coldly.
Hanoashi froze, stunned. How is my bringing up a safety concern considered rude? She pondered, before nodding, gazing her head down in submission as she entered the hanger, grabbing her book bag and purse before heading on out. Pausing at her former crew, she nodded to Asuza, hoping that her team would get the message.
They nodded, their attention turning toward their new commander, and Hanoashi let out a quiet smile before leaving, rejection flooding though her. Why? She cried silently.
Arriving in her house about a half hour later, she was about to place her bag up when she was knocked to the ground. Am I going go be... she thought, managing to break his grasp and quickly ran out the door, with nothing but her purse and the clothes on her back.
I had no idea that I was being arrested...Hanoashi sobbed silently as she returned to the present briefly, beginning to feel the tears begin to flow. She hunched down, letting her ginger hair cover her face as her silent sobs turned into real sobs, the memory of how she found out what had happened continue to flow.
"We've got to find this Hanoashi chick," one of the officers spoke up.
Hanoashi paused from her position behind the tree, ducking back when she heard what the other officer said.
"Yeah, she assaulted instructor Chono and officer Brewster," the other officer hissed, her amber eyes blazing with vengeance.
Assaulted Ami? Hanoashi stood there in bewilderment, before turning and making a run for it. I...wait...was I being arrested back there!? She realized as she ran. That no good Maus forsaken snake! Hanoashi hissed, her green eyes blazing with anger.
"Hanoashi wouldn't do that, she was the summer co-ed national Sensado championship team commander," Another officer wondered, clearly bewildered.
Hanoashi ducked below the bushes, breathlessly wondering if they saw her.
"Records also show that she assaulted an Erika Itsumi before," the other male officer noted.
"Erika had her held up against a tank and was railing on her for having a boyfriend," the first officer defended her.
"So what, we just let her walk away?" The second officer scoffed.
"No, I say we bring her in gently and let her tell her side of the story first! Then we decide what to do..."
Would they actually give me a chance? Hanoashi wondered, before shaking her head. No, the way they were talking they believe I assaulted an army veteran and an officer. They're no way they'd give me a fair trial...
Rising from the bushes, she headed toward a certain underground entrance that her Sempai had warned her about...the secret hideout of the delinquents as she had been told. Maybe I could stay there until things calm down a bit...give myself a bit of time to decompress and think about my next move.
Rising up, Hanoashi dried the tears from her eyes, and walked over to a sheltered enclave of trees. Letting out a small sigh she curled up, falling asleep.
It was night time by the time she woke up. Letting out a small yawn, she gazed around, smiling as nothing seemed to have ran up on her. Or at the very least she was glad that she didn't wake up chained in some reprobates garage. I really got off lucky that day, she realized. He could have just kept me, turn me in for a rich reward, or just had his way with me and dumped my dead body in a river or something...
Frowning as her belly rumbled, she took a fig from her purse and munched down on it. "I ought to pick a few more," she muttered, rising off, shaking the dust and grime off of her skirt and shirt, before making her way over to the enclose. As she did so she noted another girl picking fruits, dressed in overalls and a blue long sleeved shirt, her waist length blond hair appearing somewhat silver in the night light.
"Hanoashi...what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I could ask you the same thing Kelly," Hanoashi gaped.
"You homeless?" Kelly guessed.
"On the ru...please don't turn me in," Hanoashi whispered, shivering.
"Same...kinda...running from my abusive grandfather," Kelly sighed, tossing Hanoashi a Fig.
Hanoashi took a bite and sat down, patting the ground for Kelly to do so. Her blond haired friend obliged, her amber eyes growing curious as she hugged her knees and gazed at her friend. "So...what exactly happened to you?"
Hanoashi let out a quiet sigh. "What do you know about Ooarai girl's academy...the ship I mean...?" she asked quietly.
"All I know is that it's an old academy with nothing of worth," Kelly shrugged.
"Well, I got a scholarship there and they suddenly announced that the Sensado team would be restarted," She began, but sighed ruefully. "Unfortunately...Miho was there, with her little bitch fairy god mother Ami Chono."
"But wasn't Miho you're friend?" Kelly gasped, clearly shocked to see her cussing like that.
Hanoashi shook her head. "Apparently not. See, during our first match Miho had the ever bright idea that she should guide a team of rookies across a wire-rope bridge that in no way was capable of holding up a Panzer IV D. If that Stug..."
"Wait...she did what?! Kelly hissed. "Blaze, you know I'm not a Sensado practitioner and yet even I know how incredibly stupid that is! I've followed your progress in the co-ed leagues to know that you do not do that!"
Hanoashi let out a small sigh. "That's what she did. Almost fell off, but our Stug III fired a shot, knocking the IV more firmly on the bridge, which considering they were also crewed by rookies, it's just dumb luck they didn't hit the bridge instead, or miss."
"Shouldn't your instructor have stopped the match?" Kelly gasped.
Hanoashi shook her head. "You'd think, but our instructor just so happened to be the one and only Ami do nothing Chono. In the end all she did was allow Miho to finish the match and then praise her and her crew. At that point I couldn't take it anymore and refuted her, tried to explain that we really needed to work on safety issues, and she told me to get my stuff and leave."
"But that doesn't explain why you're on the run?" Kelly tipped her head, biting into a fig of her own.
"And you know what I got for heading straight home?" Hanoashi hissed. "Tackled to the ground, that's what! Some dumb ass officer, instead of announcing that he was a police officer and informing me that I was under arrest, decided to tackle me like I was some Maus Damned football player. Freaked me out so much that I resisted and barely managed to escape. It was only when I overheard some patrols talking about how I assault Ami, an officer Brewster and resisted arrest that I realized what had happened."
"I'm sorry Blaze..." Kelly sighed. "My story was...well...my parents died three months back...and I went to live with my grandpa. Unfortunately he...you know..." she let out a quiet sigh.
"Kelly..." Hanoashi whispered. And you think you got off lucky when that guy chained you up and let you go without stealing your virginity!? she chided herself sharply.
"Yeah...anyways you know how they always say that if you need help go and seek it?" Kelly prompted.
Hanoashi nodded tensely, realizing where this was going. Her cousin Rikona had told her many a similar tale as to what her friend was going to say. Folks being abused, heeding the age old adage of seeking help, only to find themselves betrayed by the very ones meant to help them. It was especially troublesome in America as of late.
"Well, when I did, they just assumed I was lying and diagnosed me with schizophrenia. Gave me pills that actually made me crazy, and he kept doing it. I managed to learn how to fake taking the pills long enough to get away from him, but unfortunately...I'm on my own."
"I'm sorry Kelly, " Hanoashi whispered. "I've heard from Rikona about these cases, but...to have a friend who it actually happened too..."
"It's alright Blaze," Kelly whispered.
"Want to travel together?" Hanoashi asked suddenly.
Kelly smiled. "Sure! We could even become sisters if you'd like!"
Hanoashi simply hugged her in response.
"So, know any good sleeping places?" Kelly asked.
Hanoashi shrugged. "Not really, it'd be good if we could find a cave or old hut, but it seems like there isn't one."
"I would say it'd be nice if we could stay here, but...the figs aren't going to stay ripe much longer." Kelly mentioned.
Gazing at the trees, Hanoashi realized that her friend was right. "The Yuzu can still ripen, but the figs are going out of season."
"We can't just live off of the Yuzu either," Kelly noted. "So...what, can we dry out the Figs?"
Hanoashi nodded. "We can, if we can find an air tight container. Thing is...we don't have one and besides we'd need something to carry stuff in," she noted.
"I did spot a yard sale nearby, think we should try it in the morning?" Kelly asked.
"Worth a shot, we need a back pack and some airtight containers," Hanoashi admitted. "Oh, and a tray if you can find a small one."
"Right..." Kelly yawned, curling up and laying her head down on Hanoashi's thigh. "Gonna nap sis, been up all night."
"I'll keep watch then," Hanoashi smiled indulgently. "Got some sleep earlier, so I'm good."
"Your thigh makes a comfy pillow," Kelly smirked.
"Next time it's gonna be me sleeping on your thigh," Hanoashi growled jokingly.
"Sure," Kelly smiled.
Hanoashi let out a quiet sigh, petting her friend on the head briefly as she gazed up at the stars. Thank you for bringing her over to me...I promise to do all that I can to protect and provide for her as long as I can, she prayed silently.
The sun rose, casting dew on the ground. "Kelly, wake up, we need to move, now!" Hanoashi shook her friend.
"Huh...why?" Kelly mummered.
"Someone's approaching!" Hanoashi hissed.
Kelly sprang into action, but before they could manage to actually move, the man was upon them. Worse still, he was an officer of the law.
"Hm..." he mused, gazing at the two girls. "So you're both still alive, good," he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Um..." Hanoashi sighed, resigning herself to being turned in, but to her surprise he sat down, motioning for the two girls to do likewise.
"My name is Kensen, I'm an officer of the Hokkaido central district and a member of the Free Jagdtigers if you will," he began. "I'm not here to turn you in, though, so you girls can relax."
"But...isn't it your job to turn fugitives like us in?" Kelly asked, nervously playing with a leaf.
"You're not a fugitive Kelly, you're a runaway," Kensen noted.
"So...what exactly do you want with us?" Hanoashi asked, eyeing the officer with suspicion.
"Well, the Free Jagdtigers are willing to adopt Kelly into our ranks if she so wishes, so...what do you say Kelly?" Kensen offered.
"Can Hanoashi join?" Kelly asked.
Kensen sighed. "Sadly, no. I already asked, but someone who's on the run for two accounts of assault isn't someone we can take in. Shame too, we could certainly use an experienced Sensado commander such as herself, and one who's such a hard worker at that."
"Then I must decline your offer," Kelly shook her head. "Hanoashi is like a sister to me, I can't just let her fend for herself like that."
"Wait...don't I get a say in this?" Hanoashi protested. I know I'm going to hate doing this...but... "If I were to turn myself in, could Kelly still join the Free Jagdtigers?"
"You can't be serious!" Kelly hissed.
"If it means you'll be safe, then I'm willing to do it, just promise me that you'll visit, okay?"
"But Blaze!" Kelly protested hotly.
"Miss Katoni...this may shock you, but I must urge...no...strongly beg you not to turn yourself in at this time," Kensen urged sternly.
"Wha...why not?" Hanoashi gasped, her eyes widening in shock. An officer begging a fugitive not to turn herself in? Now I've seen everything!
"Because, they have you down for resisting arrest, striking an officer, and assaulting a Sensado instructor," Kensen reminded her. "There's a number of officers who would like to do nothing more than bash your head into a wall, and some who might use you as jail bait. A fair few who'd do both if they thought they could get away with it."
Hanoashi shuddered at the thought. So even if I do the right thing...I'm still worse off then if I stay on the run huh?
"That settles it then," Kelly noted sternly. "Hanoashi is...well she's my best friend and like a sister to me, I can't just leave her here to fend for herself alone."
"Kelly...you sure you want to give up this opportunity?" Hanoashi asked.
"You'd do the same if you were in my shoes Hanoashi," Kelly noted.
Yes...I would. Hanoashi realized. "Is there any way the Free Jagdtigers could place me in a prison under their guard?" she asked, knowing how frivolous it would be to try, but she had to have some hope of convincing Kelly to join the Free Jagdtigers, even if she'd rather stay with her friend.
"No, sadly even though the Free Jagdtigers are working with the police on various projects and cases, we're fairly distrustful of each other most of the time and we certainly aren't trusted enough to house a prison of our own."
"What if I were to agree to house arrest until a suitable prison could be found to house me in?" Hanoashi knew that this was really a crap-shoot idea as soon as the words exited from her mouth.
"Hah! A felon on the run like yourself, given house arrest?" Kensen laughed before sighing. "Give it up Hanoashi, you're either gonna have to stay on the run for a while until things calm down, or risk losing your life in more ways than one."
"Hanoashi...stop it..." Kelly gazed at her, her amber eyes pleading with hers. "I know you're trying to get me to join the Free Jagdtigers, and I am thankful for the offer, but...I cannot allow my beloved sister to fend for herself while I get off scoot free." She turned to officer Kensen. "I'm sorry, but I must firmly reject your offer."
"Offered and rejected in all fairness, I see," Kensen rose. "Well then, I'll just pretend I didn't see you," he nodded, and began to take off.
"A...a moment sir," Hanoashi began, causing him to stop.
"Hanoashi, I thought I told you to stop trying!" Kelly hissed, glaring at her.
"This isn't about that," Hanoashi promised gently, taking her hand before turning to Kensen. "May I ask a few questions of my own?"
"Make them quick," Kensen allowed.
"First off, why are you letting me just go like this?" Hanoashi asked. "As an officer you could just point your gun at us, cuff us and drag us to the local police station. So why pretend that you didn't see us?"
"Because your mother died saving my life," Kensen sighed, turning around and giving a small sigh. "Therefore I owe it to her, keeping you safe. Believe me, if I could, I'd bring both of you to the Free Jagdtigers base or you to jail if you could be kept safe and given a fair trial, but...that's not possible.
"I don't suppose you could let my father know that I'm safe, then," Hanoashi asked hopefully.
"Then I'd have to admit that I've seen you," Kensen sighed. "But Drake is looking for you, if that means anything. Maus knows why considering if he finds you he'd have to convince you to turn yourself and that'd lead to...you know...that."
"What about Rikona and Shelia?" Hanoashi asked. Isn't she looking for me...too? She asked herself feeling a tad rejected.
"I have no idea...look, I really need to get going," Kensen urged.
"Last question, what about Ooarai? The team I mean..." Hanoashi begged. "Are...they safe?"
"They're doing fine for the most part. Currently they are facing Pravda in two weeks, although with only five tanks it's not likely they'll win. Not unless Kaytusha decides to match them in tank numbers."
"She's not like that, at least from what little I've seen of her," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Strictly speaking, between you and me, do you know a Hana Isuzu?" Kensen asked.
"Name doesn't sound familiar," Hanoashi shrugged. "Can you describe her for me?"
Japanese, waist length black hair, blue eyes, fair skin,"
"Miho's driver?" Hanoashi guessed.
"Former driver, she switched to gunnery, one hell of a shooter from what I've heard," Kensen shrugged. "Anyways, her mother apparently disowned her for partaking in Sensado, us Free Jagdtigers have been loaning her money to support herself...it's kinda what we do you know?"
"I've heard as much," Hanoashi shrugged. "Apparently you handle situations involving the Sensado students, right?"
"Mostly helping out with loans and hunting down Sensa-girl traffickers as we call them, you know, the scumbags who try and kidnap Sensado girls..." Kelly added.
"And the schools who's backers force their losing commanders to perform actions of ill refute," Kensen sighed. "We've got four minor schools shut down for that, as well as severely crippling Kuromorimine for it a few years back, albeit that school apparently doesn't like us that much. Not that we like them in return anyways, so feelings very mutual so to speak."
"Why?" Hanoashi asked.
"It's where our name came from, The Free Jadgtigers. You see our founders were expelled form Kuromorimine for either losing a match or causing a match to be lost. Their future careers destroyed just for losing a match, it's just so stupid! So our founding members gathered around each other and swore to put an end to that atrocity, or at least help those students going through hard times."
Kensen paused before letting out a small sigh. "My wife was one of the founding members, we met in a maid cafe eight years ago where she worked part time, got hitched shortly thereafter. Very pretty, brown hair and blue eyes, gentle and kind, too. Not the kind of girl you'd expect to be in Sensado, if you will. Extremely soft spoken. Took her a while to trust me with her secret, but I support her and her group."
With that he turned around and walked off a ways. "Hanoashi, did you and the other girls receive your parental permission slips for joining Ooarai's Sensado teams?" He added, glancing back at her.
Hanoashi's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't receive mine, but...guess I assumed that it was because father had filled one out already when I first joined the Nishmari Co-ed middle school Sensado team." she admitted. "I also didn't ask my friends if they received one as well..." she trailed off, mentally kicking herself for that oversight. And you have the gall to call yourself a former team commander?!
"Hmm...that could explain why Hana has been so evasive about that question and why she might have been disowned. It's possible that no one received the permission slips, then..." Kensen nodded. "Well, I'm really off...and no more questions this time!"
Hanoashi raised her hands up in surrender. "Understood sir!"
"Thank you," Kensen nodded, before he walked off, this time for good.
Hanoashi lowered her hands and let out a gusty sigh. "That does it, we cannot stay here," she mummered. "Too risky."
"Yeah...I agree...I wonder what we can do..." Kelly mused. "I won't receive full guardianship of myself until I turn twenty, and I just turned sixteen yesterday."
"Oh...Happy...belated birthday...I guess..." Hanoashi tried to be cheerful, but it wasn't really anything cheerful about it."
"Meh...better than my ninth birthday...nearly got abducted that day!" Kelly spat!
"I did get abducted for a few days, had to wear a metal collar with a chain and help him with some home repairs, not a fun time."
Kelly stared at her. "I'm sorry...what?" she gasped, her amber eyes widening.
"What, at least he didn't steal my virginity!" Hanoashi pointed out sharply, before sighing. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "That was kinda a jerk thing for me to say...
"No no, it's fine, I had it once before Grandpa did it with me, so...and anyways I know you didn't mean it like that..." Kelly glanced away.
"You...what?" Hanoashi asked.
"Well...the guy was sterile and he payed me like seventy thousand yen, so..." Kelly glanced down. "Never did it again after that, though. Between how I felt after that and the trouble of hiding all that money from mom, not worth it," she muttered.
"Hey, at least you didn't assault a Sensado instructor," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Neither did you," Kelly noted pointedly.
"But I'm accused of it. No one's trying to arrest you for prostitution," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Meh...fair point," Kelly shrugged. "So, we were leaving?"
Hanoashi noted, glancing behind her. "We'll go that way, just in case."
"You lead, I'm just here for the company," Kelly shrugged.
"What if I make a wrong move and we get caught?" Hanoashi fretted.
"You'll probably be worse off then me," Kelly shrugged. "If the way Grandpa violated me is any indication, he'll probably get caught doing it to someone else, and then I'll just have to deal with that stupid Schizophrenic medication. Might even manage to convince them to switch it so to speak." She then let out a gusty laugh. "They ain't gonna reverse it after I ran off like that though. I tell you a fake mental illness diagnosis like that is a complete bitch!"
"All I have to do is wait until they calm down about the assault charges," Hanoashi sighed. "Depending on how hard Ami and Brewster try to press it, I could get between four and thirty years behind bars at worse, plus whatever I get for being a felon."
"Over three decades doesn't sound all that good," Kelly warned.
"Meh, I'll just play the whole chapter and verse the Christians use when questioning a strange doctrine," Hanoashi shrugged.
"So in other words, where's the proof?" Kelly nodded.
"With any luck I can get off with just a few years," Hanoashi smiled. "Still gonna suck, but it's better than three decades."
"Fair enough," Kelly nodded. "But still, that's a very big if and if it goes wrong for you...there's half your life wasted away."
"Meh...I'll take those chances," Hanoashi shrugged.
The two walked and walked, their plan to dry out figs forgotten in their desire to get away from their current position. While Hanoashi did trust Kensen, or at least as much as he stated, she had no idea if he had been paroling alone or if he would keep his word.
"Your parents must have saved a lot of people that day," Kelly mused.
Hanoashi let out a small nod. "Yeah, out of the eighty nine workers in that office, seventy nine made it out with minor to no injuries. Most of of the rest...well they had lung damage and burns, father was the worst of the survivors so to speak."
"Still...I heard about the fire on the news," Kelly noted. "From the pictures they showed...it was really bad!"
"Yes...I watched a recording of that news...it's...so hard to believe that mother and father was in that. And Yu...she...mother was..." Hanoashi let our a small shudder as she stopped walking, the nightmare playing through her head.
"Hanoashi Katoni to the office please, Hanoashi Katoni to the office."
A six year old Hanoashi gazed up at the intercom, staring at it in confusion briefly, before sighing and rising up, bowing to her teacher. "Please excuse me Sensei."
"Of course," her teacher nodded, before turning back to teaching them to count by fives.
Why can't they just tell us that we're learning multiplication? Hanoashi muttered to herself, trying to ignore the hushed whispers and glares of her classmates. This always happens when you got called to the office, didn't matter if you simply had a doctor's appointment or had bullied another student, the gossip always comes! she groaned.
She herself had joined in at first, however when she made the mistake of telling her mother about it, Yu saw fit to give her a right earful and a good washing of the mouth with soap. A couple of days later Drake had the brilliant idea to scheduled a medical check up for her, thus causing her to be called to the office.
Every since then she had avoided joining in the gossip like it was a crime to do so. It was just about that time that she started to begin to realize just what kind of parents the Katoni were. Loving, caring, but strict when it came to work ethic and disciple.
As she walked though the office she came up upon Nova. He, like her, shared their father's slightly reddish skin tone and dark green eyes, but he had their mother's brown hair color and lack of freckles where as she had her father's ginger hair and freckles.
"You too?" Nova inquired.
"I would jokingly say that I just asked permission to use the bathroom but I don't want mother to wash my mouth out with soap!" Hanoashi growled good naturally.
Nova simply patted her on the head. "Come on sis, we'd better get going," he smiled at her antics.
Hanoashi simply followed. "In all seriousness though, do you know what this is all about?" she asked.
Nova shook his head. "No idea," he admitted tensely.
"You do have an idea, don't you?" Hanoashi accused softly.
Nova sighed. "Maple, sometimes you are too smart for your own good," he muttered, bringing his hand to his head in an exasperated manner.
"Oh, so today I'm Maple?" Hanoashi tipped her head, before shaking it. "Better than calling me Fuji," she sighed.
"Yeah, you're hair is red, not red and yellow," Nova laughed.
Hanoashi gagged. "What idiot uses dual colored hair dye anyways?"
"Careful, mom will wash your mouth out with soap," Nova warned.
"But it's true, it's stupid!" Hanoashi insisted, crossing her arms. "Also, why dye one's hair anyways? God gave us our natural hair color for a reason, we should show off our natural hair color with pride, not try to hide it!"
"Read up what the KJV says bout pride, please," Nova shook his head.
"You know what I mean!" Hanoashi hissed.
Arriving in the office, Hanoashi gasped as she saw her Aunt Shelia and a girl she didn't quite know next to her. Nova...what did you do to this young lady? Hanoashi growled inwardly, not realizing that her brother was wondering the same thing bout what she done to her.
"Good, Hanoashi, Nova, we need to go," Shelia responded grimly.
She tipped her head. "What's happening?" she whispered, just now realizing that this was serious.
"There was an incident at work, your father is going to be okay...but they are operating on your mother as we speak," Shelia noted. "We need to go, now, though."
Hanoashi nodded and followed, her brother and the brunet girl shuffling behind her. Please, please let mother and father be okay! She whispered fervently.
None of them spoke until they got in the car. "Hanoashi, where do you want to sit?" Shelia asked.
Noticing that her great great grandma was in the front of the car, she let out a nod. "The right side if you will," she decided.
"Can I sit in the middle?" the brunet girl asked suddenly, before glancing down. "Sorry, Nova...you want the middle?"
"No, it's okay you can take the middle..." he began but then he paused, gazing at her. "I'm sorry, who are you?"
"This is my daughter, Rikona," Shelia introduced, momentarily smiling as she placed her arm around the brunet.
"You kept a cousin from us?" Hanoashi hissed, a thousand thoughts flooding through her mind.
"Quiet Maple, I'm sure that she has her reasons," Nova hissed.
"Yes, I did," Shelia mummered, her eyes darkening briefly, before shaking her head. "Never mind that, we've got to get to the hospital now!" she urged, ushering them into the car.
Hanoashi watched as her brother and cousin got in, before sitting herself into the car, buckling up.
"Funny sis, you normally fuss about having to buckle up!" Nova teased.
"Shush you! It feels too close to bondage and you know I hate the idea of being tied up!" Hanoashi hissed.
"You've never been tied up," Shelia growled at Hanoashi, before glaring at Rikona through the mirror. "And you, you don't get any idea's young Missy!"
"What, who me?" Rikona gasped. "Mother, I'm happy with just tying my hands up with the socks!"
"Wait, you do what!?" Hanoashi and Nova gasped, gazing at Rikona wildly.
"It's fun! Not being able to move your arms much...you should try it!" Rikona beamed.
Hanoashi waved her hand dismissively. "Noooooo thank yooooou!"
"Count me out!" Nova gasped.
"Meh, you're loss," Rikona shrugged, before turning to Hanoashi. "So...your name translates to plant foot?"
"You wanna make something of it?" Hanoashi growled, remembering all the times she got made fun of for her name.
"What, no!" Rikona gasped, raising her hands up in surrender. "I just think it's unique is all," she added, her lime green eyes widening in shock.
"I'm sorry, it'd just that..." Hanoashi sighed, gazing down.
"People tend to make fun of her name is all, she's a bit sensitive about that," Nova interjected.
"Oh...I...see..." Rikona sighed. "I thinks it's a great name!" she smiled.
"I wish I had a more sensible name like yours," Hanoashi muttered. "Although I do like my name, it's quite the mouthful and everyone is trying to come up with weird nicknames for me."
"Like what?" Rikona asked, her green eyes growing curious.
"Well, according to this mouse brained brother of mine," she pointed at Nova as she paused briefly, "at one point it was Poinsettia, last week it was Fuji and today it's Maple."
"Cause of your green eyes and red hair?" Rikona guessed.
Hanoashi just let out a small sigh. "I swear someday someone's going to give me a nickname biased off my hair color and it's going to stick." Glancing at Rikona, she gave a nod. "Guess that's another thing I envy bout you, I'd do bout anything to have been born a natural brunet."
As Hanoashi, Rikona, and Nova walked into the room, she let out a gasp and ran up to one of the beds. "Mother, are you alright?" she gasped.
Yu blinked open her eyes. "Shelia...got you here in time...thank Maus," Yu whispered.
"Father," Nova whispered.
"He won't be able to talk for a few weeks, but he'll live," Yu explained, though her voice grew raspy. "Come here you three, I don't have much time left," she added as gently as she could. "Rikona...it is good to finally get to see you in person," Yu smiled as the brunet girl approached. "You were always so pretty in your pictures, but in person you are even more beautiful. Sis did well with this one," she paused, erupting into a coughing fit.
"Aunt Yu..." Hanoashi heard Rikona whisper.
"Nova...Hanoashi...I need you to be strong, okay?" Yu whispered.
Hanoashi shuddered, tears beginning to flow through her eyes. "Don't go mother...we need you!"
"And I'll always be with you, my precious daughter," Yu promised. "Even if it's just in spirit and memory, you cannot kill the human soul."
Hanoashi let out a small sob, sending Rikona gasping and embracing her in a hug. Hanoashi buried her face into Rikona's embrace.
They stayed like this for a good ten minutes, before Hanoashi pulled away, gasping as she saw Rikona's wet shirt. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" she gasped.
"It's alright, I'll always be there for you," Rikona whispered, giving her a reassuring smile. "Anytime you need a shoulder to lean on or a bosom to cry into, call me, okay?"
Hanoashi nodded, managing a small smile briefly before turning to her mother, Yu's gaze holding amusement filled with content and relief.
"Now...you're not going to like this...but..." Yu sighed deeply. "Nova...you're going to go live with your great great grandmother in America. Your father...only has the funds to raise one of you, and America is no place for a girl."
"Yo...you can't be serious mother!" Hanoashi gasped. "Brother is staying right..."
"That's enough, calm down sis," Nova hissed, before nodding to his mother. "I understand...I'll miss you, father and sis, but it must be done."
She once again let out a shudder, Rikona quickly embracing her once again. "Thanks," Hanoashi whimpered after a bit.
"Like I said before, anytime," Rikona whispered gently.
"Hanoashi...your father will make it, but he won't be able to take proper care of you for a few months. Therefore you're going to live with your Aunt Shelia until he can come home."
"I...understand mother," she whispered. "But...what if...what if father doesn't make it?"
"Your Aunt Shelia will adopt you if worse comes to worse," Yu smiled reassuringly, before turning her head, and gazing at her belly. "I'm so so sorry my little ones..." she whimpered, tears flooding down her cheeks as anguish flooded her gaze.
Gazing at Nova, she realized that her brother was just as confused by this action as she was. Glancing at Rikona, the brunet had a thoughtful yet sorrowful expression, like she knew what was going on.
But Hanoashi didn't have time to ask her about it as she turned to watch her mother lay down her head on the pillow, making a small notice. Before she could comprehend what was going on, Rikona grasped her and Nova's hand, dragging them out of the room.
It only took her a moment though to realize what Rikona had saved her from seeing, even if she didn't quite understand how badly it would have been. She hugged her, the tears and sobbing returning.
"Earth to Blaze!"
"Huh?" Hanoashi gasped, realizing that she was just standing there. "Sorry Kelly, just remembering mother..." she sighed.
"Well, look at what I found!" Kelly smirked, nodding to an old woodshed. "If we cover the top with limbs and keep guard, we can live here!" she smirked.
"Kelly, you're brilliant!" Hanoashi beamed. "And look, there's the old foundations of the farm house!"
"Surprising this old dump is in such good condition compared to what it was used for!" Kelly smiled. "Plenty of rocks to build us a fireplace as well!"
"But we'll have to be careful about where we chop down wood as well as masking the smoke," Hanoashi noted.
"If we had hair dye we might be able to trick the authorities that our parents were hiding from the Americans, not aware that the war had ended," Kelly shrugged.
"Kelly, you are a British-Dutch mix, and I am Irish, even if we mask our hair colors they're not going to buy it," Hanoashi explained pointedly.
"Well, we might stand a better chance if we dye our hair anyways," Kelly shrugged.
"And where might we find this mystical Hair dye?" Hanoashi shook her head. "I don't fancy getting fifty counts of shop lifting on my record thank you very much!"
"Just an idea," Kelly shrugged. "Anyways, we really aught to get started. We could also use some light as well," she added.
"A very very small solar panel would be less than conspicuous. Having a USB battery charger to go with it would be better though."
"We could have a few books then?" Kelly asked, her eyes gleaming at the thought of being able to read books again.
"A Game boy advance would be nice as well," Hanoashi smirked.
"Ew, video games," Kelly made a face.
"Hey, you take what you can get when in this situation," Hanoashi shrugged, before sighing. "But that's a lot of getting our hopes up, and for now we should just enjoy each other and our freedom."
"Ohh! You propositioning?" Kelly smirked.
"Not on your Maus Damned life!" Hanoashi glared at her.
"Just kidding," Kelly rose her hands up. "Anyways, let's get to work."
Turns out there was a lot to the workload. Thankfully, the woodshed had been empties of all logs and such, but still, it needed to be swept out carefully. Spiders and snakes were a concern, and chasing off the paper wasp was a bit of a haste. Then came covering the roof with reeds and branches to hopefully hied it from satellites.
However, by sundown they had both collapsed on each other in exhaustion, eyes closed peacefully in their new shelter. It may have not been much, but they could call it home at least.
Sunlight filled the room as the two girls blinked open their eyes, admiring their work. "It's...really starting to feel like home," Kelly smiled.
"A roof over our heads, such luxury!" Hanoashi nodded gleefully. "Still, we've got a lot to do,"
"Right!" Kelly nodded. "Let's get to work sis!"
"Hey! A tool shed!" Hanoashi gasped.
"It's collapsed though," Kelly sighed.
Hanoashi took a long stick, practically a log, and lifted up the tin slowly. She could smell the stench of long spilled antifreeze, but to her relief, nothing seemed to move.
"Hey, I can see tools!" Kelly shouted excitedly.
"Careful," Hanoashi hissed. "We don't want anyone to hear us!"
"Opps, I'm sorry!" Kelly gasped, covering her mouth.
"And don't cover your mouth with your hands dirty, one lick of that soil could disease you," Hanoashi chided, slowly walking over to the tool shed, taking the log once more and heaving the rotting roof clean off.
"You're quite strong Blaze," Kelly whispered.
"You don't have to be that quiet," Hanoashi sighed. "Unless...it's at night or we suspect someone might be around."
"Oh...okay then," Kelly breathed a sigh of relief. "So, what do we have?"
"Hm...let's see here...meh, I'm bored, let's get hammer and nail together and go bowling!" Hanoashi joked.
"Blaze...we need to be serious, now!" Kelly shook her head.
"We need to have our fun as well, but you're right," Hanoashi mused. "Let's see here...pliers, a hammer, and...huh..." she paused, picking up a small box. "Hm...a wind up radio...it's from the 80's!"
"No! Really?!" Kelly gasped. "Does...this old thing even work?" she asked.
The Irish girl attempted to turn the crank, frowning as it didn't work. She shook her head sadly. "I was looking forward to a bit of music as well," she sighed.
"You said we have a screw driver, right?" Kelly asked.
Hanoashi nodded. "A whole set, small ones...oh, right, you wanted to go into the PC repair and building carrier track, huh?"
Kelly nodded. "Weird I know considering I don't like video games and I'd mostly be building gaming computers, but...well...you know I love electronics huh?"
"I don't think that's weird at all," Hanoashi shook her head. "Still, how many video games did you try?"
"Hanoooaaashi..." Kelly moaned, dragging her name out in a long protest. "You know the guys asked me that every time, and my answer is yes...I tried the Katamari Damacy, yes I tried Harvest moon, yes I tried Ace combat and Gran Trusimo 4, nothing peaked my interest!"
"Sorry, I just love how you moan bout that," Hanoashi chuckled.
"Bl-aze!" Kelly pouted, crossing her arms dramatically.
"You're not helping your cuteness here," Hanoashi chuckled.
"Ha, so you are courting me!" Kelly smirked.
Hanoashi shook her head. "Aren't we sisters?" she reminded her.
Kelly nearly put her hands on her mouth again. "Oh, right, I forgot!"
"Let's head to the stream and wash, and get a bite to eat. I still have some figs from yesterday," Hanoashi nodded as her belly growled.
The two girls sat down, Hanoashi handing Kelly three of the figs while she took the two remaining ones for herself.
"Shouldn't we split them?" Kelly asked.
Hanoashi shook her head. "Naw, besides, you can eat more fruit than me, remember?"
"Why?" Kelly asked.
Hanoashi didn't answer as she began eating her first fig, trying not to think about having dung sucked from her ass, which is what she'd have to do if she ate too much sugar.
Kelly glanced down sadly after a bit. "Oh...sorry, it's been a bit so I forgot."
"It's fine, try not to think about it and eat your figs," Hanoashi prompted her gently.
Kelly nodded, beginning to much down on one. "Think we can get some fish?" she asked.
"I can get some fish, you've never done that before," Hanoashi reminded her pointedly.
"Aw...why just you? I wanna learn too!" Kelly pouted.
"Because you'll get a hook stuck in your finger if you're not careful and I for one don't have the medical equipment, know-how, or ability to treat such a wound," Hanoashi grunted.
"I guess you really have to think bout that stuff when on the run," Kelly rose up. "Maybe I ought to..."
Hanoashi rose up quickly, grasping her hand. "Please...stay sis," she begged.
"But I'm putting you at risk," Kelly gasped, her blue eyes gazing at her worriedly.
"Honestly I'd prefer your company than less risk," Hanoashi promised firmly. "Though part of me wished you'd have accepted Kensen's offer to join the Free Jagdtigers," she added softly.
Kelly shook her head. "Not a chance Blaze! Besides, too late now, Kensen is long gone, so..."
"Or, some of the Free Jagdtigers might be watching us," Hanoashi sighed, slumping down. "Either way, as long as they don't turn us in, I'll be happy. Or...at least they keep their offer of letting you join if they turn me in, I'll be happy enough."
"Hm..." Kelly noted. "We'll also need to find some way to produce salt...and I don't feel like risking a trek to the ocean."
"If they're a small town nearby we might need to use our limited cash for salt, if our goal is to use it for preservation. If just for our dietary needs, we can find some plants that can be processed for salt."
"Why not use the plants for salting meat?" Kelly asked.
"Namely because the salt substitute they produce tends to rot, some in as little as a few days," Hanoashi noted. "Alternatively, if we can dehydrate the meat and store it in an airtight container with an oxygen absorbed, we won't even need salt for preservation."
"We might aught to think about the near term future though," Kelly noted. "We've just ate the last of our fruit after all, and it would be foolish to head back and try to get more from the old spot unless we absolutely need to."
Hanoashi let out a small nod. "Agreed, we should head on out now and try to find some food for this evening."
With that the two girls took off in search of food
