The Tigers of Chi-Ha-Tan ReRise Volume 4: The Scars of a Warriors Past

by Nazz11

With Miho leading the charge, the Tigress Corps have shown how deadly their fangs and claws are, as their roars of defiance echo across the land. Yet, while they rise, the Nishizumi family falls into disgrace, leaving Miho with a difficult choice. While a group of forgotten warriors returns to exact their revenge, and their target is the Tigress herself no matter what the cost.

14. A Tigresses Homecoming Part 2

Authors Thought:

Hello dear readers, I honestly was trying to get this chapter uploaded before mothers day, but just ran out if time, at the same time it kind of works out that today I upload as certain mom is getting some redemption. Also, I'm adding proper line breaks in my story from now on.

Credit goes to Dark-Silver96 for the second scene in this chapter as he gave me a pretty cool idea I'm sure he will recognize, cheers to you buddy.

That's it from me, thanks for stopping by again to read, it's been a long journey but we're heading into the final parts soon and the battle just on the horizon.

Happy Mother's Day.

So, till next time be well and safe.

---

An early morning fog was draping over the open seas, blanketing the Akagi Carrier that had slowed down its rudders by the captain's orders, as they were on course to their destination in the port at Shichigahama in Miyagi District, as was planned beforehand for a little rest and relaxation for the residents aboard, who always welcome a chance to enjoy one of the great luxuries of being of a carrier, was that they visited all of Japan's ports, allowing them to enjoy every part of their nation. With some residents having friends in every port, making for an endless stream of reunions and catching up to be done, though with how foggy things had become might delay the trip for a couple more days.

The same liking for their visits to many ports was felt by the students aboard, who were given passes to go out and enjoy themselves, within reason of course. Yet, for the Chi-Ha-Tan Sensha-do team, they were still asked to stay onboard, due to media outlets wanting to interview them about their commander, Miho Nishizumi, and more importantly get answers from the youngest Nishizumi about the recent events. Leaving Hidemichi no choice, but to keep them onboard, much to the dismay of the team who were dying to go explore a new port.

This was understandable, due to the sudden shift in mood for the team. As their newest members, coming from the third year group who had left the team last year, but were on the team due to Nishi keeping their names on the roster sheet handed in before the season to the Federation, who were making things tense. In only a day of training, they were asserting their authority over the team, and as upperclassmen, it was their right as any team around the league would tell you. The second years who had trained under these very girls, were the most complement and obedient, save for some who weren't going to be cowed so easily.

The same couldn't be said for their proud sub commander in Nishi, who look completely defeated, and made no attempt to stop the influence. Though, the first year cubs, who hadn't been indoctrinated by the Warrior Code the team follow last year were most resilient, a product of Miho's tutelage and the match against Oarai where they proved themselves with their Tigresses Sensha-do style, but even with is resistance that was being led by their unquestioned leader of the first year in Miya of Miho's own Ghost company, they had to swallow the fact that their second years were not showing the same resistance to this intrusion on their team.

As most of the second-year members they look up to, now were simply bowing to the third years having their way. A shocking sight to see, as this very group had gone into matches with a zeal that no other team around the league could match, even out gun and sometimes outnumber, they met the foe as Tigresses should. Now they seem nothing but blindly obedient, causing a rift to start with the first years who were having to look out for each other.

One such second year, understood that she needed to do something, before her team self-imploded with the Semi-final on the horizon.

As Tamada was waiting at a secluded spot in the forest behind the academy that led to the lunch area around a large river, a popular spot for the student body. Dress in her school uniform, with her hair a little damp since she had showered quite early, then snuck out of the dorm before anyone notice her, so she could come to this very spot for a little meeting to hopefully stop this bleeding of her tankery families sudden open wound of the past.

It was here Tamada was waiting for Mizuko, her former sub commander last year for the team to join her, having texted her the previous day to come meet. It was a nerve-wracking affair for Tamada, as her former mentor in Sensha-do had returned, but so far hadn't said a word to Tamada, or anybody else, though they did have a run in with Hosomi who try to protect some first years Mizuko had tried to discipline about the old code.

Besides that, Mizuko and her other upperclassmen had all been tame, to say the least, but weren't going along with drills properly, questioning the need for their team's current tactics at every step. Yet that was the extent so far, but it was causing things to become edgy, as Nishi was becoming withdrawn and having Tamada and Hosomi make sure drills were progressing as smoothly as possible. Not a good sign with a strong opponent waiting for them.

A part of Tamada understood why Nishi was so reserved, since she had been the very one to allow their old teammates to come back was making her feel extremely guilty. Which didn't help that Tamada didn't know how to comfort her troubled friend, as simple words of comfort were not enough. Nishi had so much place on her when she originally took command, bearing it all alone, while Tamada and the rest just went about things as normal, mostly helping with the recruitment.

When it came to tanks, club funding, and practice schedules, Nishi took it on. Working late into the hours for tankery sisters, with no complaints or admonishing them for not offering more. To which now Tamada understood was a terrible way to go about things back then, making her understand now of all times of Nishi's selfless act before the season started that had laid the foundations for their success, while also offering her upperclassmen to come back to help and participate in Sensha-do once more in a hope to regain their lost honor even if they had no right to it.

Now I need to do all I can to help Nishi, instead of just standing off to the side

Tamada thought, while leaning her back against a tree with her arms crossed. She then heard footsteps in the distance, causing her to step off the tree to the source of the sound. The fog hung over the forest too, making it hard for Tamada to spot the person until they were only a couple of steps away.

The figure in the mist came towards Tamada, revealing herself to be Mizuko herself, also wearing their schools uniform, her long flowing black hair neatly brush with her bangs just hanging at the tip of her eyes. Mizuko walk proudly up to Tamada with a sly smile adoring her face, seeming to be quite pleased to see her former protégé waiting for her.

"Well good morning, looking good Tamada, miss me?" Mizuko said with a coy smile.

Tamada didn't reply at first, staring Mizuko down with her red eyes, which didn't please the senior student, who drop her smile with a look of annoyance taking its place at the defiant eyes burning into her.

"That's no way to greet someone in the morning, how about we try this again? Good morning," Mizuko said with her tone rising a bit in a challenge.

Even with her need to settle a score, Tamada realize she was being rude, then spoke. "Good morning."

"That's better," Mizuko said returning to a happy state. "Now, this place takes me back. Me, you, Hosomi, and Ikeda use to come here to talk when you first join the team last year."

"That's why I pick this spot, I knew you could find it, even in this fog," Tamada replied, her mind replaying the images of those days.

Mizuko nodded. "Yep, we can't forget our past…then again it seems something you like to do nowadays, forget the past for nothing more than a perceived better future."

The undertone of an accusation made Tamada clench her fist at her side. "I never move on from the past."

"Oh, yes you have. When's the last time we talked? Truly talked," Mizuko ask, crossing her arms.

A feeling of unease pass through Tamada now, thinking back to the last time they converse. It had been just before the school year started, when Mizuko had called on her to meet up. Mizuko had wanted Tamada to take control of the team in her absence due the suspicion from the club, with the goal of challenging Nishi to the right of command, knowing Nishi didn't have a full grasp of the team as many members still believe in the warrior code of old.

"You know that was too much to ask of me," Tamada shot back.

"Too much?" Mizuko said with a shake of the head. "It was damn well what is expected of you. Out of anyone of the second years, I trusted you the most to step up a make sure that damn pamper girl didn't ruin our club's tradition."

"She's not a pamper girl," Tamada instantly cut in, making Mizuko surprised as Tamada kept talking. "She's the only reason we are where we are. Remember you left us, even if you weren't allowed in the club because of your suspension, you could have still offered advice, but you cut all ties with us till it was convenient for you to step back in just to make me do what you wanted."

"That's just because I was angry, how the hell would you feel about being suspended for the first round? Knowing you can't fight alongside your tankery sisters?" Mizuko argued.

Which caused Tamada to wave her hands in protest. "How do you think I felt? I look up to you always, but then I saw you punch Ako when she was defenseless, tell me how I can look up to someone like that?"

"She's was a coward, remember? Her tampering with our code got us embarrassed, when we should have faced the enemy like the warriors we were and still are, she wanted to hide like rats, that isn't the Chi-Ha-Tan way," Mizuko angrily said.

Tamada grew quiet, knowing she was about to speak on a touchy sensitive topic. "Either way, we would have not won that match even if we charged, our tactics and team philosophy is outdated."

Those words cause Mizuko to feel like she had been gut punched, with her body becoming heavy. As the very girl, she had trained since the day they met with the warrior code, had also rebelled against it. Mizuko had thought there might be some resistance, but the open-handed statement that everything she had taught Tamada had been wiped out, was a bit too heavy for the traditionalist to handle.

Reaching a hand out, Mizuko steady herself against a tree, as the letdown feeling was washing over her. "Oh…it's worse than I thought it was, you really have turned your back on me."

"I haven't, I just don't see the old w-," Tamada tried to explain herself.

"The old way is the way!" Mizuko shouted, causing Tamada to clamp up.

Finding her feet, Mizuko drew closer to Tamada, her face straining with unbridled rage. "I raise you in the code! It's not the damn tactics that make it what it is! It's what it builds in us!"

Though she had every right to argue, Tamada felt herself snap to attention, as the old effect of discipline took over. The built-in manners on how to address a senior officer in their club were taking hold, as Tamada snap her feet together, staring forward but never meeting Mizuko's bright yellow eyes that were completely focused on the underclassmen ready for another round of berating was about to take place.

"Think of who you were before you came to us! An orphan with a goddamn attitude problem and don't say you were otherwise. You had it rough, having to survive your surroundings against other misfortunate souls that made you tough, but with no direction! Am I right?!" Mizuko yelled while starting to circle Tamada like a predator.

"It is, but I've changed," Tamada said, but the conviction in her voice wasn't there.

"Oh, you've changed have you? Have you lost that warrior's resolve?! Did you or the others fear the challenge of Saunders when it came!?" Mizuko question.

"No," was all Tamada could muster to say, knowing Mizuko was making a point.

Mizuko smiled now, seeing she was getting through, as she stop in front of Tamada to speak again. "That's damn right, because of our warrior code that makes you cheer to face a giant with not a hint of defeatism. You can dress up your new Sensha-do style as your savior all you damn want, but it's this code that has made you what you are!"

Stopping her little speech, Mizuko thump her fist over her chest, while speaking again. "This burning desire to fight you have, that's what you've always had, but this code has given you sisters to stand by you. Yet when I needed, where were you, huh?"

That made Tamada growl back at her mentor. "You wanted me to defeat Nishi in a duel for the commander's position! She's my friend and my tankery sister, sure we might have had different opinions on how to run the team, but she's earned my respect and trust, and the golden rule you always taught me to follow was don't turn your back on your tankery family or am I wrong about that?"

"Nishi didn't have the strength you do Tamada, I ask for the better of our tankery family for you to do that," Mizuko shot back.

Making Tamada shake her head. "That shouldn't be the way…before this year, every team outside this academy thought of us as a joke, an easy win. Sure, I would face Kuromorimine's whole panzer force by myself, but I will never do any harm to my own sisters if only to keep in line with tradition."

"You're not harming," Mizuko said, taking a softer tone now. "You're doing what needs to be done to save our club before you completely wash away all that we are, just for that commander of yours."

"Miho?" Tamada question.

"Yea her, have to say, I'm surprised you can switch teams so quickly," Mizuko taunted.

Making Tamada blush, knowing exactly what she meant. "Well, I…It just sor-."

Mizuko interjected with amusement in her tone. "You know, I saw you that day you chase her into these very woods."

Tamada's blush grew redder, as Mizuko continue to speak.

"I was actually coming to talk to you again and hope you understand I wanted the best of the team with you taking over. Yet lo and behold, I find you pinning the poor girl to a tree, thought you were bullying her," Mizuko with a chuckle.

"You were watching?" Tamada ask.

Nodding her head, Mizuko then spoke. "I believe the words you said that day was… we don't force anyone into Sensha-do. That doesn't mean we don't try to be friends with everyone in school, Sensha-do or not, we're a school that values everyone, kind of hypocritical on your part when you didn't value me anymore after all I did for you."

As soon as she was done speaking, Mizuko grinned like a fool, while Tamada went pale, as those were the very words she told Miho when they first met, as she tried to calm her down.

Mizuko spoke once again with a hand on her hip and a smug face. "Was it her timid little state you found cute or something? A lot easier to make yours?"

"We…I…She's special to me, alright?" Tamada said defensively.

"Special…so was Tohaku, am I right? To think you leave him behind so easily, then again, when you made such a dramatic choice before I guess there was no way you could ever face him again," Mizuko said, knowing she was touching a sore point.

Causing a sigh to escape Tamada's mouth, as the past was being brought up once more. As besides Ikeda and Hosomi being the only ones who knew about her past lover, Mizuko also knew of this as Tamada was very open to Mizuko last year. Mizuko had even approved of the relationship, wanting nothing but happiness for Tamada, though not forget her duties to the team.

Till that day.

A day Tamada wanted to forget.

"Tohaku…I made choice…a terrible awful choice, something I can't take back," Tamada said, her emotions boiling to the surface.

"And remember, I help with that because I'm your tankery sister too, because I was the only one you could trust to help you through that traumatic event," Mizuko said, reaching a hand out to Tamada's shoulder.

"You did, I'm grateful, but I'm sickened at the same time," Tamada said, her face lowering in shame.

Making Mizuko sigh. "I know, I know, it wasn't easy a decision to make. I know that it kill you to make it, but who knows what would have happened to you if you didn't. It definitely would have left no chance of this little romance with your commander had you stayed the course."

Suddenly Tamada shook her head. "This isn't what I call you out here to talk about!"

"No, you wanted to talk to me about messing up your team dynamic. That I messing with your precious first-years, that I have no right to be in the team, or something along those lines right?" Mizuko ask.

"You have a right to be here," Tamada said at first, surprising Mizuko a bit. "You are the reason I truly came to love Sensha-do. Yet at the same time, we are at this point because of Miho and not as her lover, but as her subordinate, I'm telling you now that you will follow her orders in battle."

"Tch, so easily cowed, yet you have mistaken my intentions. I'm here to show your commander what it means to be a true Chi-Ha-Tan tanker, since you are wrapped around her little fingers…or should I say has her legs wrapped around you," Mizuko taunted.

Tamada's face grew serious. "I won't let you do any harm to her, I may respect you, but my loyalty is to Miho."

"Oh, that loyalty should be mine Tamada," Mizuko said calmly. "Do you think if your dear Miho knew about what happened last year, she still look at you the same way?"

"Are blackmailing me?" Tamada replied in an angry tone.

"I'm just asking," Mizuko said, holding her arms up in surrender. "People are fickle, we should know better than most. One day they have your back against all odds, the next their tossing you aside if just for the one slip up or something along those lines."

"Your point?" Tamada ask.

A wide devilish smirk spread on Mizuko's face. "If your lover and friends knew their stalwart warrior had taken a life, would they still look at you in the same positive light?"

Silence hung over the air, with a heavy tension taking hold as the two girls stare at one another for a long while. Then without warning, Tamada threw a punch at Mizuko, but the older girl had anticipated this reaction, stepping back just out the reach. Not deterred by the miss Tamada continue her assault with left and right jabs, trying desperately to get any connection with her fist, but Mizuko prove to be quick with her head slips.

"Damn you! I didn't want to do it!" Tamada yell, but with her anger all over her face, there were tears raining down her cheeks.

"I know you didn't," Mizuko said calmly, dodging another punch, and could see Tamada was just swinging wildly now.

"I didn't want to do it," Tamada said, her voice becoming soft, as threw another punch that had no conviction behind it.

Mizuko sidestep the lazy punch, then let Tamada fall forward with her momentum tripping her over a tree root in the ground. Tamada tumble down onto the ground face first, but didn't get up, as she curl herself up on the forest ground, wrapping her arms around herself as her body trembled.

"I know Tamada, I know, you made a choice that can't be taken back. Yet this is the path you took, just as it is mine to make sure Chi-Ha-Tan's Sensha-do team doesn't forget who we are in the end," Mizuko said, kneeling down to her distressed junior.

"Just…just don't tell anyone, please, that includes Miho. I couldn't handle it if she never talk to me again," Tamada said between sniffles.

"Of course, it comes at a price though," Mizuko said, her voice sounding please to be at the point.

Tamada sat up a little now, wiping her tears away, and then look to Mizuko. "As long as it doesn't hurt Miho or the team in any way."

"Oh, nothing so petty. Just a simple task, for when I call upon you to stand by me, I expect to have your loyalty when I do," Mizuko said causally.

"That still makes it sound like you mean to turn on our tankery sisters," Tamada challenge.

"It may or may not, but I need this team to remember who we are, don't think you're the only one I will call upon. There are still loyalists in your ranks, though they might have strayed from the path, a warrior is a warrior at the end of the day," Mizuko said.

Making Tamada go wide eye. "You don't mean to cause a rebellion?"

Mizuko just shook her head. "No, I mean to show your commander, that traditions never die quietly."

---

A sudden serenade of laughter filled the air, its melody pleasing to the ear. A melody the sleeping figure in her comfy bed knew well. A melody that was something she was once used to on a daily basis, but had left one fateful day.

A melody Shiho knew all too well, as she shifted in her sheets, as her eyes slowly opened to take in the sight of her room. Everything was neat and clean, and her desk fill reports about Kuromorimine's status, along with other Sensha-do related things. A small low table that had an arrangement of Tiger Lily flowers resting in a black porcelain jar, the preferred flower of the Nishizumi family.

Another round of laughter could be heard just outside the shoji sliding door which caught Shiho's attention again. It was the laughter of her daughters, her cubs, and the most precious treasures in this life. Making Shiho smile, as just their laughter was enough to warm her heart, while nothing was sweeter to listen to when she first woke up from a long day of work.

Outside the door, these very voices call to her.

"Mom, wake up, wake up!"

"You promise to teach us about tanks today!"

"Come on! Come on!"

Shiho, still enjoying the comfort of her bed just shook her head a little, as the energy of her daughters was at times unstoppable. While also motivating her to get out of bed, only for the sole reason she knew Miho and Maho would get impatient soon enough and would charge into the room to pounce on their mother to force her out of bed, a common occurrence whenever Shiho was home, yet another thing she look forward too.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming," Shiho said, climbing out of bed now, dress in her pajamas.

With quick steps, Shiho came over to the door and slid it open, with an eager smile plaster on her face to see her daughters. However, what she was greeted with was an empty hallway, causing confusion to settle in. Shiho instantly look left to right down the seemingly endless hallways searching for her missing daughters but found nothing. A little panic took over Shiho as she step into the hallway, wondering how the girls had run so fast from her.

"Come on mom!"

"We can't learn about Sensha-do without you!"

The voices of Miho and Maho both echo throughout the hallway, making Shiho's panic rise more, not knowing which direction the voices were coming from.

"Where are you!?" Shiho call to them, but receive no reply.

Without wasting another second, Shiho chose to go to her left. Her pace was a brisk jog, looking frantically for her daughters. No sliding doors adorn the walls on either side, no rooms for Shiho to check for her missing daughters. Only the long ominous hallway lay before her, prompting her to pick up the pace as the voices came back.

"Mom, you're going to teach us the Nishizumi way, right?"

"Were going to carry the tradition on?"

"Are we going to make you proud?"

"Will you love us if we fail?"

Shiho's heart began to pound in her chest, the questions became too much for her to bear from her daughters that seem to echo all around her now.

"I will always be proud of you! No matter what!" Shiho yell into the void of the hallway as she continue to pick up her pace, becoming a full sprint now.

Yet this response was met by a low whisper, as Miho and Maho both spoke a single word that struck their mother's heart. "Liar."

Hearing that made Shiho's heart drop, to hear the accusation in their voices. The pain in their voices. The fear in their voices. All of this because Shiho knew she put the traditions over their well-being. It was her fault, no one else's, just her shame of not being the mother she should have been for them, the mother she had wished to be for them.

"I'm sorry! Forgive me, I never wanted to hurt you!" Shiho scream into the hallway, running frantically to find her missing daughters.

"Liar," the voices repeated.

"Please! Don't abandon me!" Shiho yelled.

This time the voices of her daughters didn't call back to her, instead, they just remain silent only adding to Shiho's terror. Her near sprint, now came down to a slow walk, seeing that she was making no progress down this endless hallway. The beads of sweat coming down her face now, her deep gasp for breath echoing in the void, and the strain on her mind taxing.

There was still no reply to Shiho's plead, making her trepidation take hold, as she didn't want to veer from the path once more. For she had asked for them to not abandon her, but that was a selfish want when she had abandoned them first.

"I won't leave you behind again or ever," Shiho said to herself, standing tall, caring not for her fatigue, only that innate instinct a mother had to protect her children.

With one deep breath for courage, Shiho ran down the hall endless hallway again, her mind telling her this was the way, which she couldn't stop now when the voices became quiet. That was when she had to push harder to find those voices that warm her heart and kept the dark thoughts away.

While Shiho continue to run across the polished wood floor her eyes were drawn to paintings on the wall that were passing in a blur with every step she took. The paintings were kanji symbols in black on a white background, each them having a single word that Shiho read as she passed each one, that only made the hairs on the back of her neck rise as she understood them.

Strength…

Family...

Duty…

Honor…

Loyalty…

Shiho knew these words well, ingrain in her since the day she could walk on her own. Her mother repeated these very words to her day in and day out, never ceasing in her duty to indoctrinate Shiho to become a Nishizumi that would bring honor to the family, while building Shiho's loyalty to the family's Sensha-do style that was to dominate the rest of her life. Only by finding her own strength did Shiho survive this crucible of demands on her, not caring for how young she was, how scared she was, or how many would be grinded under Shiho's panzer to make her name famous.

"I bowed to this old way…I gave everything to it not out of keeping the traditions, but because I was scared of how to proceed without it," Shiho said to herself, continuing her sprint down the hallway.

More paintings with Kanji symbols adorn either wall, this time they were formed into sentences now, making Shiho slow down to a walk. As she read each one as she passed, as once more the words spoke to her and who she had become.

No matter what befalls us, we advance…

Our laws are iron and our hearts are steel...

For we follow the Nishizumi style, for our goals our undeniable, for our team that is unwavering, for victory that is never far from our reach…

Phrases Shiho knew well, that had dominated her life. Made her who she was, but at the same time had dragged her from the path she had tried to travel from this enslavement to tradition. Prompting her when she broke from the chains of her family, Shiho try to forge an unknown path for the very lives that she brought into this world, so that they not be made into slaves as well to old ways that had no relevancy in their new era.

An era Shiho had failed to bring forth.

Making Shiho grimace at her failure, as she continue to walk, with more Kanji paintings adorning the walls, but this time their words and phrases were not words their family live by. Instead, they were like the anger and pain that came from being a Nishizumi truly.

For you are a Nishizumi, victory is all that matters…

Your wants and desires are mute against the family prestige…

Your emotions must be thrown away, only the burning in your heart for victory should be felt…

Your suffering must be done in silence…

Your scars are hidden beneath the surface…

Never are you to waver, only stand tall even when you are bruised and broken…

These are the absolute Ironclad rules you must live by…

These were the rules Shiho had lived by. Her suffering and pain were held in check by her emotionless state, as every member of her family had done before her. Never could she waver on her path to glory, as the need to maintain her family's prestige was all that mattered. This was what had forged Shiho Nishizumi into the woman she was, ironclad rules to live by no matter the cost to herself.

Shiho felt disgusted as she continue down the hall, as she once more spoke to herself. "I will no longer let this creed enslave me, to bind me, or to control me. My path is my own, I will be the woman I always wanted to be, not for others' approval, but for the sake of those I hold close."

Her determined voice was met with a reply, a whisper that echo through the hall, sounding almost familiar to Shiho.

"Liar…"

Stopping in place suddenly, Shiho look around for the source of the voice, while speaking. "I am no liar!"

"You are, just another lie you tell yourself, another lie to convince yourself that you can change, that will only lead you astray once more. Making you cling to the only way you know, just like before."

"This is my path to take, my choice on how to live my life!" Shiho scream at the voice.

"Your path cannot be averted…You can no longer live these separate lives…one of duty…one of warmth…you are imbalanced and unsure even now…"

The challenge against her want to be her own woman made Shiho seethe. "Who are you to tell me I can't!?"

"Because you must face your past before you can have your future and when that happens, will you cower and bawl? Or will you rise above these scars that hold you down?" The whispering voice challenged.

"I will not back down now," Shiho fought back.

"Yet you still feel unworthy of your daughter's love? After all, you've put them through? You still doubt you belong at their side?" Another challenge.

Shiho clench her hands at her side, as a look of a scowl crossed her face. For that was the truth even with all her boasting earlier. A deep feeling of shame that she still had no right to be the mother to her daughters after everything, even if she wanted to change. A decade of distance was put between them for the sake of regaining their family's prestige, leaving a torrent of burning questions hanging now.

How does one regain the love of their children after such walls had been placed between them?

Was it as simple as the saying forgive and forget?

The answer Shiho found was that was a simple no. There would still be resentment lingering, a quiet distrust that would not leave because Shiho would change, that was not how reality worked. Shiho had just hoped to hug her daughters and tell them she love them, as if that would break down the years of mental abuse she had put them through. For nothing was that simple in life.

Finding her voice, Shiho spoke calmly now. "I do feel unworthy to be by their side, that they are better off without me. I haven't even faced my own demons yet."

The challenging voice was quiet for a moment, then spoke in a pleasing tone. "Good…good…then let us take the first step."

"How?" Shiho ask frantically.

"Face your past and you shall gain your future," the voice echoed in the hall, fading into the void.

There was a need to meet this challenge, as Shiho could understand what she needed to do. Taking another breath for courage, Shiho began to walk down the long hallway once more, her bare feet stepping across the floor slowly. It wasn't long till the end of the walk came, as Shiho found the hall lead to a sliding door, yet something about this door seem familiar to her. Its paper worn and tearing from poor upkeep, just as Shiho remember she had ordered it to be.

A room that held such dark memories, as the first step in becoming a true Nishizumi. The very room where she learn the price of mercy, the price of almost failing to uphold the family name. A painful lesson that she would never forget in her life, making her order the room to never be used again, leaving it as a reminder to her of what she never wanted to resort to ever as she became a mom herself.

"I must face my past," Shiho said silently to herself, reaching out with a shaky hand to touch the handle of the door.

The door creak loudly as Shiho pull it open. Inside the room was bare save for the tatami mat covering the floor, with a single window that was letting in some light as if was a floodlight focusing on the single spot on the room floor. That spot Shiho turn her eyes to, making her breath leave her body, as she saw a child curl up on the floor as if they were trying to make themselves as small as possible, while small sniffles could be heard from them.

With slow steps, Shiho enter the room, her goal to comfort this child whoever they were, thinking at first it was Miho or Maho. It was only when Shiho was standing directly above the distressed child that she realized who it was.

"Is that…me?" Shiho barely voice out.

It was 14 year Shiho, dressed in a white long sleeve blouse, a long black skirt with black tights underneath, and black shoes. Looking down, Shiho was baffled to see her younger self, with the still the long hair style that she always had, while the younger Shiho was covering her face with her hands, sniffling from her recent crying.

"What is this?" Shiho ask, her body beginning to tremble.

Then there was a mutter from the young Shiho, so soft the older Shiho had to strain to hear what was being said.

"N…mer….no…com…on…stre…," was all that could be heard.

Making Shiho bend down and take a knee beside her battered younger self as she spoke. "What?"

Closer now, Shiho could hear the words being spoken, words she knew all too well from her past. Words that were said so she would understand the price of defiance to the Nishizumi name. They would be the first steps to becoming who her mother demanded her to be for the betterment of the family and their long cherished history in a martial art that Shiho would come to silently hate as she grew up.

"No mercy, no compassion, only strength. No mercy, no compassion, only strength, I must understand this, I must understand this. No mercy, no compassion, only strength," the young Shiho repeated like a mantra.

Shiho hearing suddenly found her breath unable to come to her, remembering this moment truly. It was after her first Panzer Kettō, having beaten her fellow cousin Yori, but at the end of the duel between their Panzer 3's, Shiho decided to show her mercy by asking for her to surrender. It was then Shiho understood how ruthless their duel was to be, as Yori took the moment of respite to order her gunner to fire at Shiho who was now caught out.

It was only by what Shiho could admit was pure luck as the shell missed but barely, almost hitting Shiho in her cupola as the gunner had fired in haste. While a surprised Shiho, gain her senses and put her cousin down. Even with the victory, what was to follow would be next to nothing of the stress of upholding the Nishizumi name.

As Shiho's mother, Nayoko Nishizumi offer no praise to Shiho for her victory. Then when they got home and without warning, Nayoko grab Shiho by the hair and drag her into this very room. It was then the beating started, each time Nayoko brought down her hand, she yell the iron rules of their family, each hit was to be a like a hot branding iron burning into her skin. There was no to stop Nayoko and Shiho's pleas for mercy were left to be unheard. The beating only stop when Shiho lost consciousness and when she woke up all she did was curl on the floor saying these very words as she cried to remind herself that this was the way and never again would she show compassion for fear of another beating.

"This is facing my past, this is the moment it set me on my path. I could never move forward because I never truly face what happened that day, just push it to the back of my mind like it would have simply go away in the end," Shiho sadly said, having only realized now, after everything in her life, that this was a moment that she still clung too.

Fear.

Pain.

Loneliness.

Anger.

Regret.

Resignation.

All these emotions pack into a 14 year old girl who didn't know how to come to terms with them. Only was there a simple thought of making sure to never again incur her mother's wrath. Any love for Sensha-do she had during that time, was all but wiped. It was now to be a chore, simply made for her to complete, then do it all over again, like a machine. It didn't matter who was crushed under the tracks of her Tiger, who was blasted to pieces when her cannon's roar, or who was in her way of victory foe…or friend.

Shiho Nishizumi advanced, while holding this part at bay. Most probably thought she was nothing but a power-hungry woman who care little for else, including her daughters. A part that was true, but a bigger part of that was wrong. As Shiho had lived the dream of being a mother who cherished the lives of her cubs, but also made her strict with them and to make sure they could hunt when they were older, just as well as their mother.

"No more…no more will I be a slave…I cannot hide from the past, I might not be worthy to be the mother to my daughters, but I will not hide behind this wall of hate and fear…I will change no matter how long it takes," Shiho said to herself, then began to reach out a hand to her younger self in an effort to remedy this suffering.

Though her hand never reach herself, a low threatening growl fill the room.

The hairs on the back of Shiho's neck stood up, her body shook with trepidation, and everything was frozen in place. All Shiho could do was look over her shoulder to find the source of this challenging growl that came from the entrance to the room and what stood there was terrifying indeed.

A single large paw enter the room, its long claws were protracted scratching up the tatami floor. Then another paw, then the whole body crept into the room slowly as if it was hunting. Shiho, with irregular breaths, stare at the apex predator that her family was always associated with staring at her now. Its large black orbs bore at Shiho with deadly intent, its mouth open, revealing sharp fangs with another low growl that echo in the room.

The bold tiger crept into the room, though its fur was of an odd color compared to the usual one it was known for. A mix of black and white stripes cover the beast, though they seem worn, like it was tell tell sigh that the tiger was aged, but still held its menacing aura. Its whiskers on its face flick each time the beast open its mouth wider to let out challenging low growls to Shiho still staring at it.

Slowly, Shiho found her feet turning to fully face the tiger head on, as there was nowhere to run anyway. While the growls from the Tiger became louder, in turn making the young Shiho curl up on the floor begin to cry again, as she once more try to make herself as small as possible. While again repeating her words earlier as if she were trying to appease the tiger.

"No mercy! No compassion! Only strength! No mercy! No compassion! Only strength! I must understand this! I must understand this! No mercy! No compassion! Only strength! I won't fail you again! I won't fail you again!" The repeated words flooded out of the young Shiho frantically.

Shiho look over her shoulder to her younger self repeating the words in a mad state with deep concern, but could offer no comfort as the tiger didn't seem to like the sudden pleas as it bare its fangs again, while letting out a loud roar that reverberated around the room. Instantly Shiho felt paralyzed by the roar, as if it command her to not move and she obey without question.

Yet the young Shiho didn't abide this command, still in a mad state as the words came again. "No mercy! No compassion! Only strength! No mercy! No compassion! Only strength! I must understand this! I must understand this! No mercy! No compassion! Only strength! I won't fail you again! I won't fail you again!"

The tiger became agitated by the words once more, as it crept forward towards Shiho who was still in a state of shock, looking at the beast wondering if it would end her quickly.

This would not be the case, as it ignore the older woman for the child, starting to veer to the side to get around her, its fangs only showing more at the sight of its prey that had no chance of getting away from the coming pounce.

Shiho's fear soon left her seeing the beast was no longer going for her, but for her younger self. Watching this, Shiho didn't move a muscle still, as the wanting of self-preservation took root in her mind, but also shame seeing she was making no attempt to save herself from the tiger who crept closer for the kill. Even if she wanted to move, there was nothing Shiho could do to stop a predator that was a natural born hunter and tear her to shreds before she could even blink, even lions felt fear at a tiger's approach.

"Yet, it wants my younger self…why?" Shiho ask herself quietly, then something hit her. "Is this the test? To face my past…to move on…is to face the very one who subjected me to her will. If I want to be worthy of the love of my daughters, I need to face down my own tigress."

With whatever courage was left in her body, Shiho took a step, then another, and another. Till she took a few long strides to place herself in front of the approaching predator, holding her arms out to let know she was not about to let this tiger have its meal.

"You won't touch her," Shiho tremble out.

For the first time since entering the room, the tiger turn its large orbs to Shiho truly. The challenge to its right to feast was quickly understood, as the tiger bear its fangs with a large growl that once more shocked Shiho, but she stood her ground, even if she felt like her legs would fold under the pressure of those growls and eyes.

Seeing the woman was not about to move, the tiger took menacing steps toward Shiho. Its growls came out in small shouts as if the tiger was telling her to move. Yet Shiho kept her eyes locked with the predator, never breaking and never wavering, for it was all she could to hold back this beast. If she were to sacrifice herself to save herself, as odd as that was, the mistress of the Nishizumi family, entrusted with its care, would do just that.

"I won't move! I am Shiho Nishizumi! I will not let you hurt me ever again! Do you hear me?! Do you hear me, mother!?" Shiho shouted at the tiger.

Suddenly the tiger stop moving, as it stare at Shiho for a long while. Then it lower its body, a sigh of its ready for the kill, its pupils shrinking as it hone in, its back arching some for the pounce. All went silent in the room, as both tigresses stare the other down, never moving, never blinking, only their breaths were to be heard.

What was to follow happened almost in a blink of an eye.

The tiger came forward, its body at full stretch, taunt muscle propelling this hunting machine, covering the distance in two leaps, Shiho never broke her gaze away. Yet just as the tiger reach Shiho it stop, raising its head up to her and roaring loudly. The thundering of its challenge seem to shake the very room, its fangs bear in challenge wanting to break the nerve of its prey.

However, that would not be the case, as Shiho stood her ground, staring back at the ageing tiger with pure conviction to not waver.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore mother, the time for me being stuck in the past is over. You can strike me as you did before, but I'm no longer that scared cub you remember, I'm my own tigress now and I have cubs that need me," Shiho challenged.

The large black orbs of the tiger seem to understand this, as it close its mouth to no longer bear its fangs. For another long moment, the tiger just stare deeply at Shiho, as if it was judging her. Then the tiger let out a low growl as it began to turn and walk away. Its head was lower as if in resignation of its yielding of defeat, but as it reach the door, the aged tiger turn its head to look back at Shiho.

It once more open its mouth and words came out.

"I'm…proud of you Shiho. You never truly became the monster I was because of our tradition, because of our demands," the tiger said.

"Mother…I…," Shiho try to speak, but fumbled what else to say, as she was actually hearing her mother speak.

"You have face your past, it is time to take hold of your future that is yours and yours alone," the tiger voiced out.

Shiho felt small tears form in her eyes, as she had so much to say. A mix of wanting to hear her mother's voice talking in a softer light, while another want to tell her off. So much time wasted between them for their Sensha-do family, making Shiho wonder what life could have been like for them in the end.

Would Nayoko have smiled and held Shiho close?

Would Shiho feel great pride to have her mother hold her children?

Could Nayoko have died in her bed surrounded by the warmth of her family, instead of alone?

Question upon questions, which would never have an answer. For like their family always ask of its ladies of iron, was to advance whatever befell them. That is what Shiho would do, advance for the future of her family that would not hold its daughters in contempt for failure, especially when they put their lives before others.

"I will bring this family back up, in our own way. The Nishizumi name will not fade, it will be reborn," Shiho said calmly.

The tiger bobbed its head as it was nodding to her, then spoke again. "Very good, do not waver on this unknown path, for it will have its trials as any would. Yet you are not alone like you were before, regain the love of your cubs and this path will never fail you."

"I will….I wish things could be different between us…mother," Shiho said softly.

The tiger lower its head, seeming to understand the hurt of its daughter's voice. "I do as well, but let us not fret over that. The time to go back is here."

Then the tiger once more began to leave the room, causing Shiho to hold a hand out. "Wait!"

"Do not worry, we will speak one last time my daughter, at the end before I leave this existence for my final rest," the tiger said, walking further and further till it disappear into the hall for good.

Shiho held her hands to her chest, taking a deep breath and feeling great disappointment that she could not speak to her mother more. However, there was a curiosity about what she meant at speaking once more at the end, leaving an uneasy feeling in Shiho. Pushing that to the back of her mind, Shiho turn around, to look at her younger self still curl up on the ground and walk over once more to kneel beside the crying girl.

"It's okay, she's gone now. You're safe, it's ok," Shiho said soothingly.

The young child Shiho brought her hands down to look up at her savior. Shiho grimaced looking at her younger self's face. Deep bruises were smatter across her face, purple and angry looking. A testament to how hard Nayoko had hit during this lesson in never showing mercy again, making Shiho almost feel the bruises herself that had always stay with her even after they faded.

"Is…is she gone?" Young Shiho ask, her eyes frantically searching for the predator.

"She is, you're ok. I'm here to protect you now," Shiho said, then reach out to pull her younger self into her chest.

"Why…why do things have to be this way," young Shiho cried, burying herself into Shiho's chest.

"It won't always be like this, one day things will change, one day things will be nothing warmth and love, I promise you," Shiho said, stroking her younger self's hair.

"You're a liar, nothing but this hell awaits me!" Young Shiho argue, tears streaming down her face.

Making Shiho nod, because this was how she felt so long ago. That this hell her family would put her through would never stop. It would be an endless cycle of pain and agony that was to be kept quiet till Shiho die. No one would care, no one would stop it, and it just be something Shiho had to endure till the end.

Though, it was not meant to be, for Shiho did have people close to her that could make this cycle stop. End the need for the traditions to enslave her.

Taking her hand, Shiho cup her younger self's face, making it look up at her, as Shiho smiled. "You will have something that will make this hell seem like nothing but a bad memory."

"What is it?" Young Shiho ask desperately.

"The two most precious treasures in this world, who will never leave your side, even at your worst," Shiho spoke in a gentle tone, her face forming into a lovely smile, as her mind pulled the images of these precious treasures who she never leave again.

As light began to form in the distance, the call for back to reality was here.

---

Shiho's eyes flutter open, taking in the site of the ceiling above. The ceiling of her room she instantly recognize, she then realize she was in her bed. Soft silk sheets cover her body, while a small bit of light was peeking through the lone window in the room. Shiho pull the sheets up a little, to see she was dressed in a white tank top and blue pajama pants, most likely having been dressed after she collapse after the back and forth with her daughter.

Images of the argument instantly began to flood Shiho's mind. Remembering how heated it became as mother and daughter didn't back down. Though Shiho lost her composure, which she blamed on the too much wine she had consumed for most of the day, and much to regret starting in the morning as well.

"Ugh!" Shiho exclaimed, bringing a hand to touch her head.

It was as if by thinking of her over drinking, made her body remind her in protest. As a sharp pain like someone was driving a sharp needle into her head was throbbing. It was a hangover, pure and simple, something Shiho hadn't had in a long time, probably her last excessive drinking binge had been when her mother had passed away.

Pushing past her pain, Shiho sat up. Still keeping a hand to her head, she began to rub her temple in some attempt to bring this migraine's effect down some, but was little help. Her mouth felt dry as well, while nausea was taking place, feeling that she might hurl up whatever was left in her stomach at any moment.

"This is my punishment isn't it?" Shiho quietly spoke through clenched teeth, trying to breathe slowly to regain herself.

Suddenly a knock came on the door, with the voice of Kikuyo speaking behind the door leading to Shiho's room. "My lady, are you alright? May I enter?"

Hearing the deep distress in her maid's voice, Shiho spoke back. "You may."

The door slid open, with Kikuyo entering the room, wearing her usual attire of a kimono of black and white stripes. Quickly the maid shuffle over to the bed carrying a tray of water and pain medicine on it. Kneeling down beside the bed, Kikuyo offer the water to Shiho who nodded in gratitude taking the medicine and drinking it down with the water.

It was only a mild relief, but for Shiho, it was a godsend for even a little of the hangover to go away. Then she turn to see Kikuyo with her eyes downcast, waiting for her mistress to speak. Instant regret began to run through Shiho, knowing for the last couple of days she had been next to impossible to deal with and Kikuyo had been the target of her anger. Snapping at her for even the smallest offense, was not something anyone deserve, especially someone who had been loyal to Shiho since the start.

Knowing this was the first person that Shiho needed to earn back their respect, she spoke. "Kikuyo, raise your head."

The maid obey, raising her eyes to meet those dark brown eyes that always captivated her ever since the day fate put them together as gunner and commander.

"I must first say something and I want you to let me finish, is that understood?" Shiho order.

"Yes, my lady," Kikuyo answered.

Then Shiho took a breath, then spoke in a gentle tone that surprised Kikuyo who listen intently. "I must apologize for my recent behavior, not because it is not how the head of the family should act, but because that was no way to treat someone who has been by my side, even at my worst."

Kikuyo's eyes widen at the apology, but obey her lady to not interrupt as she kept talking.

"You have been not just simple maid of this house," Shiho started. "You are part of this family, which I took for granted. For when I needed to lean on someone, I chose to push you aside, not what someone does to family. That is why I beg for forgiveness for the mistreatment I laid on you. I let myself become lost in my rage and misery that my only outlet was to take it out on you and the other maids that I fired."

Kikuyo was quiet as Shiho finish her plea for forgiveness, then she spoke. "My lady, is that the reason you fire the other maids?"

The question stung, but Shiho held her nerve. "No, and yes, I had wanted to speak to you about this before I had my mental breakdown. Apparently, Chiyo had someone spying within our ranks, to what end I do not know."

"How did you come by this information?" Kikuyo ask.

"She told me herself before the match with Chi-Ha-Tan and Oarai, but that doesn't matter now. I've made my choice and I will live with it," Shiho said, knowing they were getting off topic.

Kikuyo nodded, then took a breath for courage. "I will not lie and say I do not feel resentment towards what happened the last couple of days."

The statement made Shiho grip the sheets in her hands in resignation of this truth.

"However, I've never wavered in my belief that you would come back. Though unfortunately, I fail in my attempts to be the one to bring you back, even after all the years we have been together, I wish I could have done more," Kikuyo said sadly.

Causing Shiho to raise her head and speak frantically. "You don't need to apologize, I was the one in the wrong. You never desev-."

Kikuyo never let her finish. "My loyalty will be to you Shiho, no matter where you go. You save my life when it had no meaning for me. You did it not for anything more than looking out for a friend, giving me purpose and two girls I cherish as if they were my own. If not for you, I might not be alive at this very moment. That means no matter the trials you face or the scorn others might have for you, I will be by your side."

"Kikuyo," Shiho whispered in astonishment.

Reaching her hands up to touch Shiho's hand, Kikuyo smiled warmly at the woman she care for deeply. "Please know, you can lean on me whenever, as I lean on you. Please never go down this dark path, when you have so much light around you, I beg of you. Seeing you suffer alone anymore after all these years is too much when I know you want to be happy."

Placing a hand over Kikuyo's, Shiho let out a small smile. "I will. It was foolish of me to believe to have pushed you aside, when I should have embraced you. Do not worry, I will remember that for the future."

"My lady," Kikuyo spoke softly, then without warning, the maid leap up and hug Shiho.

An improper show for a head maid to do, but Shiho didn't scold her as she wrap her arms around Kikuyo relishing the warmth that she had so missed. The two women didn't let go, just enjoying a moment that was long overdue for two's whose bond went beyond commander and subordinate, it was deep and intertwine by their experiences of gains and loss, of holding on to their reason to find their own happiness even when events wanted to take them away.

It was only together that they had made it this far and only together would they rebuild what had been lost.

Finally, the two let go, with Kikuyo blushing from the improper action. "I'm sorry, my lady. I shall not be so forward next time."

Shiho let out a small laugh. "It is quite alright, we both needed that. Now, on to…ah!"

Bringing a hand up, Shiho touch her head which was now throbbing again from the hangover.

"It seems you had too much of the wine yesterday," Kikuyo joked.

"It seems you are right. How much was left?" Shiho ask.

Kikuyo made a face, then spoke in a soft tone. "There wasn't any left."

"Oh Kami give me strength. No wonder I lash out so hard on Miho yesterday…speaking of my daughter, where is she?" Shiho ask, her heart racing to see her daughter again in a sober state.

Kikuyo nodded. "She is in the dining room, eating some breakfast with her friend."

Shiho raise an eyebrow. "Friend?"

"The captain of the Chi-Ha-Tan air force. Apparently, she is the only reason Miho was able to get here," Kikuyo explain.

"Is she trustworthy?" Shiho question.

"For the most part yes, she's weird and I think she's trying to flirt with me, besides that, Miho trusts her greatly," Kikuyo said with a shrug.

"Very well, I must speak to Miho before anything else. I'll need a little help since I'm still hungover," Shiho said.

"Anything for you, my lady," Kikuyo answered immediately, as she help Shiho out of bed gently. Then the two walk out of the room, ready for the true meeting between mother and daughter.

---

"Mmmmmm!" Aozora squealed in delight, as she chomp down on the breakfast, as she and Miho were sitting at the small dining room, the pilot dressed in some burrow clothes from Kikuyo in the form of a simple blue shirt and black pants.

"Is it really that good?" Miho said with a pleasing smile on her face, dress in a long sleeve pink shirt with a blue jean skirt.

"It is! I've never had tamagoyaki omelette this good before, not to mention this soufflé pancake is so fluffy and sweet. Can't believe you eat like a queen all the time when you were here!" Aozora exclaimed, as she took another bite.

"Guess maybe I'm too used to this, it's just breakfast as usual for me," Miho said with an embarrassed chuckle.

Aozora shook her head. "Guess it comes from being practically royalty."

"I'm not a princess or anything!" Miho yelp in embarrassment.

"Are you sure?" Aozora said with a coy smile. "From my point of view you are, a tiger princess with no equal."

"Aozora! Don't say weird things!" Miho whine.

"Oh man, this great. Awesome food and good reactions from Sensha-do's greatest commander," Aozora said happily.

Knowing it was no use fighting back, Miho simply sigh, but smile at the same time. Though she had hardly touched her own food, her mind was racing with so many thoughts about what had happened yesterday with her mother. The back and forth that Miho knew was going to happen, but even still she wasn't mentally prepared to hear her mother say she hated Sensha-do. Couple with her also admitting to crushing past family members in Panzer Kettō was a lot to take in, but in the end, at least Miho knew one thing that would allow her to look past her mother's transgressions.

It was the knowledge that Shiho didn't take any pleasure in it, while a part of Miho knew her mother deeply regretted her actions.

"Hey Miho, you alright?" Aozora ask, stopping her chomping on the delicious food as she notice Miho was quiet.

"Oh," Miho said, regaining her sense. "I'm fine, just trying to think how I'll face my mother today, again no less."

Aozora nodded in agreement. "Yea, that was pretty scary to hear you raise your voice, with your mother returning in kind. Was about to come to break it up, before that maid of yours stop me, saying it was something you had to do on your own."

"Hm, it was something I needed to do. I'm just glad it's over and look forward to speaking to my mom more calmly now," Miho spoke in a soft tone.

Seeing Miho was still in a worrying state, Aozora decided to cheer her up by being eccentric. "Well anyway, been wanting ask. Is that maid of yours single?"

Hearing the question made Miho raise her head in wonderment. "Aozora, she's our maid. You only just met her too."

"I know, but something about her just captivates me," Aozora said with a wide smile.

"Ah, your impossible, please just be on your best behavior, especially in front of my mother," Miho ordered with a worried smile.

"As you command," Aozora joked with a salute, making both of them chuckle.

"I see you're just as lively as the day before," Kikuyo call out, coming into the dining room, while helping Shiho gingerly walk in.

Both Miho and Aozora drop their utensils, while quickly rising from their chairs. Each bow to the head mistress of the house, as was required as they both spoke together. "Good morning."

Keeping herself in check, Shiho nodded to Kikuyo that she could stand on her own, prompting the maid to stand off to the side with her hands clasped together. While Shiho now look to both of her guest who continue their bow to her, with part of her wanting to run over to Miho and hug her like no other, but again that small doubt if she was worthy of her daughter's love nag at her, so she remain calm till she felt the time was right.

"Good morning. I'm sorry that I was late for breakfast, I had too much wine yesterday. I like to welcome you to my home, Miss…what is your last name?" Shiho ask, turning in Aozora's direction.

The pilot rose her head, with a wide smile as she spoke. "Suzume, but Aozora is just fine."

"Have you no understanding of etiquette?" Kikuyo said with annoyance.

Which only made Aozora smile wider, turning to the maid. "I'm on a first name bases with Miho, so why not the same with her family, will all be getting close now, right?"

"Aozora," Miho quietly whisper in distress at the pilot's words.

"I see my maid was right that you are quite eccentric. How my daughter deem you worthy to get her here leaves me with questions," Shiho said, her face showing signs of mistrust.

"Well, to be honest, I did try to talk her out of it. Yet Miho here," Aozora said, jutting a thumb in said girl's direction. "Is just too cute to say no to."

"That is your…reasoning for putting your career on the line?" Shiho ask, still unsure.

"That and well…I just couldn't stand her being isolated from her family in such a state. Should have seen how determined she was, because if I hadn't taken her, she would have gone to hell and back to get to you and your other daughter, I mean that," Aozora said, losing her lighthearted nature, with her face becoming deadly serious.

Shiho look into Aozora's violet eyes, as if searching for the truth. It didn't take long to understand the pilot wasn't lying. Shiho could see that Aozora had done all this because she had a deep respect for Miho, nothing more and nothing less. Which made Shiho grateful that her daughter had someone to look out for her on this dangerous journey back home.

"Well, I am thankful for you keeping an eye on my daughter and you got here with little fuss," Shiho reply with a nod of thanks to Aozora.

Which made Aozora beam to see the legendary tanker thank her. "Ah, it was nothing. Wasn't so boring either, a nice road trip with some crazy moments I'll never forget."

"And what were these so call crazy moments?" Shiho questioned as she cross her arms.

"Oh nothing," Miho quickly reply, looking distressed as she wanted to keep things quiet.

"It was more than nothing, I mean we had some crazy reporter come after us trying to make Miho say you were abusing her and your other daughter. Then I taught your daughter to ride my motorcycle, oh man should have seen her rev that thing," Aozora explain, not knowing the mess she got herself into.

"What?" Shiho ask in a low menacing tone.

"You taught to ride a motorcycle? Are you insane? She could have been hurt on that death machine," Kikuyo spoke up.

Aozora didn't take a hint she was making things worst. "No way, my baby is safe to ride."

"Aozora, that's enough," Miho pleaded touching the woman's arm gently.

It was as she turn to Miho and took in her distressed state, that Aozora was reminded that the two had promised not to say anything about that run-in with the reporter or driving the motorcycle, knowing both events would not please her mother and would definitely incur her wrath. To which Aozora had all but spill the beans to everyone.

"Ohhhhh, yea sorry. Look if it's any consolation, that reporter got his ass kick for even trying to harm Miho and he never laid a hand on your daughter," Aozora spoke frantically knowing she was in a bad spot.

"It isn't," Shiho quickly replied, then rub her head as the hangover was coming back as her mind began to stress over her daughter being in such a hazardous position.

Miho quickly spoke up. "I'm…I'm fine mom. Aozora protected me and she didn't let me ride unless she felt confident I could do it."

"That doesn't make it right," Kikuyo said, eyeing Aozora over with contempt.

Why do I get the feeling I'm incurring the wrath of two mothers and not just one

Aozora thought, then spoke. "If you want to punish me, I'll gladly accept it. My goal was to get Miho home safely, it didn't go as smoothly as we wanted, but were here. While at the same time we can't stay long, as her absence will be noted if we don't return to the carrier soon."

"Very well," Shiho said, forgoing her right as a mother to light into the eccentric pilot. "There will be no need for punishment, you did an admirable job looking after my daughter."

"Thank you, I only wish to return her to you, Miss Nishizumi. She was very worried about you," Aozora said with a bow.

"I know, now I need to speak with my daughter alone," Shiho said, then turn in Miho's direction. "Come along Miho."

"Yes mom," Miho quickly reply.

"Oh, do I get to be left alone with the cute maid? Do come join me for this wonderful breakfast you made," Aozora said, eyeing Kikuyo with an excited face.

Which Kikuyo return an annoyed look. "Don't press your luck. Also if you try anything funny, we will have a repeat of yesterday."

Miho laugh nervously as she left the two behind, as she and her mother walk down the hallway to finally talk and for Miho, it was the last step in this journey home that was needed so she could take her rightful place at her mother's side as an heiress for good.

---

The walk was long and also silent. Miho just watch her mother's back the entire way, wondering what she should say or if she could even speak normally with her mother. It had been so long since they simply talk without the subject of tradition coming up, making normal conversation between something alien it felt like. As a decade of a void in their relationship as mother and daughter couldn't just be glued back together in an instant.

I've always wished for us to go back, but now that it's here, I don't know the words to say

Miho thought, as the two continue to walk in silence, till finally, they arrived at their destination. Shiho stop and stood in front of the large shoji sliding door with a cherry blossom design across the front. She pull the door open, revealing a courtyard that had a small pond in the middle, while small bamboo trees line up around the space as well, with lastly the floor being covered in small rock pebbles.

With a gesture of her hand, Shiho call Miho to follow her. The two enter the small courtyard taking in its serene beauty that was being illuminated by the morning sun that was angle down at it. Miho felt herself become calm just by its sight, while a sudden feeling of familiarity with this place came to her. Miho had never visited this place before as far as she could remember, making her wonder why she felt so close to it.

Whatever questions about this closeness she felt to this place for Miho had to be put on hold, as her mother walk over to the edge of the wooden walking path that was around the yard, then again Shiho gestured for her daughter to sit by her. Miho obey without question, coming over and gently lowering herself to sit on her knees with her legs folded beneath her properly like her mother, with her back straight and her eyes forward.

A small moment of quietness envelope the two, as the need to talk was at the forefront, but who was to go first was the battle they were waging.

Shiho broke, knowing she owe her daughter back for what happened the day before, so she decided to start at the beginning. "Your grandmother love this place when she was alive, whenever she was stressed she come here to relax, even as impossible as that seem at times."

"You've never talked about my grandmother before," Miho said, wanting her mother to keep talking.

"I never plan to," Shiho shot back.

Miho lower her head a little. "Was that because of your past?"

A sigh escape Shiho's lips, as she was going to have to unload her troubled life before becoming a mother and she hope Miho could not see her as a complete monster.

"Yes," Shiho started. "What has Maho told you about our past?"

"That our family name is ancient, dating back to the Sengoku era from what she told me," Miho replied.

Making Shiho nod. "It is true, our clan has survived through that bloody age, the Meiji restoration, and World War Two. Through it all, we have stuck by the principles that our clan live by to survive all these eras till now. We were once great warriors, fighting like tigers on the battlefield with no fear of how numerous our enemies were, we cut them down with our katanas. Though when peace reign, we sought other means to show our prowess in the form of martial arts."

"Yumi no Michi?" Miho ask.

"Yes, the Way of The Bow, then on came Sensha-do, where we were the first to take on this new martial art in tank warfare. However, you know all this from Maho, so what is it you really want to know?" Shiho ask turning her head to look at her daughter.

Miho turn her head to look deeply into her mother's eyes. "I want to know about you and our family history."

Shiho close her eyes as she nodded to this, then open them again to look back at Miho with determination to let all be laid bare. "First thing, we are not the main family, we gain this position as a branch family as we won our right to lead from Panzer Kettō, as your grandmother Nayoko Nishizumi won her duel against Asami Nishizumi. It was then my responsibility when I came of age, that my mother had me uphold this tradition of battling other family members for the right to lead the family."

Though she had heard this before, Miho felt herself grimace just as much as the first time she heard this. "Why did we need to do such things?"

"It was the way of our family. Even after the Sengoku era, we held duels between each other with the katana, then change it to blunt bows on horseback, then to tanks eventually," Shiho explain.

"Was it always women who fought one another?" Miho ask.

"Yes, it's been a tradition since before even your grandmother was born. To honor our first lady ever to lead the clan in Na-," Shiho was about to say.

"Nakano Nishizumi," Miho spoke.

Making Shiho raise an eyebrow. "How do you know this? I've never told you or your sister, since we were the only members left of our family and I saw little point in knowing our past."

"I've…I," Miho struggle to speak, then found her voice. "I've had dreams about Nakano, like she was speaking to me directly, I don't know how, which is why I came to see you as I thought you might have the answers."

"I don't, even my knowledge of her is vague. All I know from what I learn from my mother is she saved our clan at our darkest," Shiho explain, still shock that her daughter was having dreams of someone long past.

"I don't know why I'm dreaming of her, it seems weird it's happening now when things were going bad with our family," Miho commented, knowing now she get no answers to the Kage no hon'nō ability that had been passed down to her.

She isn't wrong, then again were diving into something that is beyond this existence…however that dream I had earlier…speaking to my mother in a form of a tiger…it felt real…like she was speaking to me…this is beyond troubling

Shiho thought, but composed herself. "Well, there isn't much I can help you with in that regard, forgive me."

"It's ok, I guess let's get back on topic with your early life," Miho said.

"Very well," Shiho started, clearing her throat, then spoke. "I will not lie to you Miho. Your grandmother was not a kind person. Our traditions demand us to be made of iron, you know this. However, during those years it was burned into our minds in more harsh methods than you will ever know. We were to never show hesitation or compassion. We young ladies were train brutally and reprimanded even more so if we didn't adhere to our families need. With so much at stake for ruling the family, it turn into a battle of survival, for if you lost, the consequences could be severe."

"Oh," Miho said sadly. "You make it sound like you were put into a battle of life and death."

"In a way it was, though I'll be honest, I didn't see it that way at first. In the first duel I participated in against one of our family members, I had them beaten so soundly, that I decided to let up and ask for their surrender. A mistake that almost cost me the family name as she fire at me when I was defenseless, I might have lost an arm as the shell was so close," Shiho stated, as she began to rub the very arm that almost been lost.

The traumatic event that Shiho had buried down for so long began to fill her mind. Thinking how close she had been to being maimed and what might have followed knowing her mother's wrath. It had caused her many sleepiness nights and was a catalyst to her silent hatred of Sensha-do. The start of doing this martial art was nothing but a chore, not something she could love.

With her thoughts becoming dark, Shiho felt something warm touch her hand rubbing her arm. She turn to see Miho looking at her with deep concern. Instantly all the bad memories seem to fade away, replaced by nothing by this light that her daughter held out to her. To think she wasted so much time in such a dark and dismal state, when all she needed was the touch of her daughter to remind her that there was good in her life.

"Thank you Miho," Shiho said, touching her daughters hand then spoke again. "Though, it was not that event that turn me into such an emotionless husk that you knew. It was what came afterward that made me close myself off, so that I never feel pain, love, or anything at all."

"What was it?" Miho ask, feeling herself become antsy to know.

"For almost losing the head of the family status because of my compassion, my mother drag me into a room and beat me. My cries fell on deaf ears, as she would not let up. Every backhand was followed up by repeating the words of our family creed, as she quite literally beat the ideals into to me till I lost consciousness," Shiho said, once more her mind pulling the horrid images that never left her mind.

"She be…beat you?" Miho ask.

Shiho nodded. "She did, it was then I realize how things were to be. My wants were secondary, only victory was what mattered in the end. Anything less and I fear my mother might cast me out of the family if she didn't deem me worthy to be the heiress."

"That's terrible," Miho said in quiet distraught. "To do such things to you, why do you never tell me or Maho?"

"I didn't want you to know. It was a dark time for me, all had was this emptiness in my heart that no amount of victory flags could fill. No amount of adoring fans or parties in my name could fill it. Many times I find myself staring at the wall for hours, pondering on what my purpose was in life or if even life was worth living at times if I was only born for the sake of tradition," Shiho explain, knowing she was spilling more than she wanted, but it been too long since she had someone she could do this with.

Miho squeeze her mother's arm tighter, as her eyes completely focused on her. "You never let these thoughts go too far right? You never try to hurt yourself?"

Turning to look into Miho's eyes, Shiho saw tears beginning to form. Making her sigh, seeing she was upsetting her daughter with this dark talk, but it was necessary. Shiho then reach a hand out to touch Miho's face gently to calm her down, as well as rub the tears from her eyes.

"No," Shiho started, smiling a little. "I never went that far, in thanks to your father of all people. I know your memory of us was mostly fighting, but when he met me, it was like a veil was lifted from my eyes. Tsuneo I think could see my suffering where others ignore it. Making him act like a fool just to make me smile for once."

"That sounds…romantic," Miho said with a chuckle.

"More like downright annoying," Shiho said with a small amuse huff, then spoke again. "In the end, he made me laugh and smile, made me forget that I was on a set path and it was ok to step off it. To take on the unknown that I had always shied away from because I fear where it might take me. Yet when I took this unknown path, became the reason I wanted children so much, because I found the courage to think I could change and in turn change our family dynamic."

"I remember you always told me and Maho you wanted us to find our own style with the Nishizumi name. I was so excited then to be in Sensha-do, seeing the pictures of you looking so brave in matches, and I just wanted to emulate that. Make you proud of me when I raise a Victory Flag one day," Miho stated with a small smile.

"I did want you to find your own style, because your grandmother, as harsh as it is to say, had passed away. I felt like I could really traverse the unknown of making the Nishizumi style better, but as you know, when your father was unfaithful, it broke me. I fear what might happen to our name that was in question, while I admit I lost my grip because I love your father so much, it shatter my heart to think he leave me," Shiho admitted.

"Which is the reason you went back to what you know?" Miho ask.

Shiho nodded. "It felt like my only choice, a mistake I know. However, I had no other options. I needed to keep the family name in power for the day you and Maho took over. Making me turn cruel to the both of you, though I always remember the pain of my own beating in mind, for I would never raise a hand to either of you. Yet there is no excuse for my actions."

Miho remain silent, mulling over knowing why her mother turn to so quickly when their father left. Knowing now that her mother had gone through such horrible things to be in the position she was, if even one slip up would have sent her in a downward spiral, and even more scary was the thought that if her mother hadn't struggled so hard, both Miho and Maho might have never been born.

"So that is why I am the way I am, Miho. Even now, I cannot hide from that, but I do want to try to break from the old," Shiho said.

Making Miho look back up to her mother. "I do as well."

"Even after everything? All those years always hounding you about the ideals of this family? Scolding you for leaving your tank to save lives? Those are not the actions of someone you can simply forget or forgive," Shiho said, turning her head away.

"I will not lie, there was some bitterness that fills me. When you spoke as if we were truly fighting a war and not a simple match. I truly thought you wanted me to sacrifice Koume and her crew for victory and I hated you for it silently," Miho said, her lip quivering at speaking of holding her mother in disdain.

"It was within your right to feel that way Miho, I've abu-," Shiho tried to say.

"Don't say that!" Miho exclaimed, shocking Shiho, as Miho spoke again. "I never want to hear you say that, because that is what people think you did to us. Abuse us for power and status, but they never saw you as I have."

Shiho could not find words to say, as Miho continue to speak, gripping her mother's arm tighter.

"Even when this animosity took place, my memories would remind me of your smiling face. Playing with me and Maho from sun up to sun down, you teach us about tanks as we sat on your lap, and you cook us meals yourself just to surprise us. That smiling face that you always had was so infectious, it made me think everything was alright no matter the perils. It because of these moments, this resentment would never stay for long, because I always believe you come back," Miho explain, looking her mother in the eye.

"Miho," Shiho quietly voice out, the spoke. "I had thought that would have placed too much of a gap in our relationship. Yet here you are, still wanting to be with a mother who treated you horribly."

"Like I said yesterday, I never will leave you," Miho spoke with a reassuring smile.

With a grateful nod, Shiho spoke. "I'm thankful for that, however, there is always going to be a part of me that won't feel worthy to be your mother, the same goes for Maho. After a decade of treating you the way I have, it's not something I can simply let go of."

"But mo-," Miho try to argue again.

Shiho raise a hand to stop her, then spoke. "However, I believe one day I will feel worthy of you and your sister's love, so till then, can you wait for me?"

"Certainly, I'll always wait for you," Miho said happily, feeling her heart lift to know that in a small way, she had rekindled her relationship with her mother.

"Good," Shiho said feeling herself tired all over again from the long road down memory lane. "Now on to other business, is there something else you wanted to talk about?"

Looking to the small courtyard in front of her, Miho took a deep breath for courage, as this was the final step in her journey home. To take back her position that she had cast away the moment she left this house in her escape from her responsibilities and family demands. Now, she would run no longer, as she had gained her self-confidence back after so long, which use to take the role that she had dreamed about as a child.

Turning to her mother, Miho spoke with her determination in her eyes. "I wish to become the heiress to the Nishizumi style."

Shiho raise an eyebrow at her daughter's want. "Even with everything happening now?"

"Yes, I know Maho is banned from the Sensha-do, leaving us with no heirs to the name. We are not gone yet, so I wish to take the role you always envision for us. I will take my place as your heiress, if you deem me worthy, as the head of the family, I can only take this right by your blessing," Miho said.

Shiho went quiet for the moment, mulling this over for at the moment. On one hand, she could make good on Miho's wanting to be an heiress something Shiho had been dreaming of since the day she brought her into this world. To have both Maho and Miho leading the way would mean there would be no doubt that the Nishizumi family could be rebuilt under their combined direction, leaning on one another so the responsibility would never become too great.

Now it could only be Miho, which made Shiho uncertain if her youngest could bare this right all alone, especially with how the current state of affairs was at the present moment. However, looking into Miho's eyes, Shiho found no hesitation, no worries, only pure fortitude. It was a surprise for Shiho, who had always remembered Miho being such a carefree soul, had in such a few short months at her new academy become truly a tigress in her own right.

There is no need for hesitation, she is my blood, and she is ready for this. It might be a colossal task to bring our family up, but if anyone can do it, Miho can and I will be by her side, Maho will be by her side. Will do this as the family we always should have been that is how I will find myself worthy of my daughter's love once more

"Very well, then let us proceed with the ceremony of rights, you remember the words I taught you we had to say?" Shiho ask.

"Yes," Miho replied, with a grateful smile.

Then the two of them nodded, turning themselves till they were facing one another. Their eyes lock one another, ready for the ceremony that Shiho had gone through herself. A tradition that dated back to when Nakano herself had passed the torch of the clan to her son, when he was to be made to lead the clan, to which all the women of Nishizumi clan practice for the passing of rights to the future heiresses.

Shiho began first. "I Shiho Nishizumi, head of the family, daughter of Nayoko Nishizumi, hereby evokes the right to name the heiress to the Nishizumi style, to be the future of our name, to uphold the traditions of our iron creed, to be a woman of grace and respect. I deem her strength and character to be of no question, her fighting prowess to be akin to a tiger."

As Shiho stopped, Miho knew it was her turn to finish the ceremony. "I Miho Nishizumi, daughter of Shiho Nishizumi, hereby evokes the right to be name heiress of the Nishizumi style. My will is iron, my strength is steel. I will uphold the Nishizumi name with respect, to fight with it in a manner befitting our name. As heiress to our name, I only will advance no matter what befalls me as a tigress should."

"Then by the strength in me, I extend the torch of the Nishizumi name to my heiress," Shiho said, then nodded for Miho to finish the final part.

As both mother and daughter spoke together. "For we are Nishizumi's, for we our tigresses, we advance for not our personal glory, but for our family's honor. Never do we forget this, never do we stray, for we follow this path with iron hearts, no matter the trials, for we are Nishizumi's, till the end."

Once they were done, both of them bow to one another, and finally, the ceremony was done. Shiho and Miho raise their heads to look at one another, then both smile a little. As finally, the Nishizumi name had gained back its lost cub who had become a tigress in her own right, with now the right to lead the family when Shiho finally step down.

"Well, you're the heiress now, officially. Though it will be some time till I let you lead the family, I want you to focus on your tournament, afterward will get down to business," Shiho stated.

Miho nodded, then bow again. "I look forward to coming home again."

"Not as much as I look forward to it, with Maho too. It's been too long since we really sat down together," Shiho said with a sad smile on her face.

"You don't need to worry, Maho wishes to see you just as much as me," Miho said, wanting to bring her mother back up.

"I do too, I and her have a lot to talk about, especially af-," Shiho was about to say.

A sudden know on the door, brought attention to Kikuyo who was outside. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, my ladies, but we have a visitor."

Shiho instantly became defensive, since Miho was not supposed to be near her due to the investigation going on. "Is it the Federation investigators?"

"No, it's your lawyer, and…well…he brought some other guest. He wishes to see you and Miss Miho," Kikuyo said shyly.

Now Shiho went into full panic, coming over to open the door with Miho right beside her.

After opening the sliding door to Kikuyo, Shiho spoke. "He knows she's here?"

"Yes," Kikuyo spoke in a timid tone. "He knows and he isn't too happy. However, he has guests that want to speak to you and Miho."

Rubbing her head in frustration, knowing she was in a bad spot, yet saw little reason to try to worm herself out of this, Shiho spoke. "Very well, come along Miho, let's go talk to our guest."

Miho obey, while feeling great trepidation knowing she might be causing her mother trouble. The trio quickly traverse the hallways till Kikuyo directed them to the dining room, where the guest were waiting for them. As they enter, four people awaited them.

A man dressed in a rich business suit.

An older woman, who was holding Aozora by the ear in reprimanding way, as the pilot was begging for forgiveness.

Yet the last one was a short girl with a long twin ponytail, reddish-brown hair, and a pair of red-brown eyes. She wore a white serafuku with a green trim, a matching green skirt, and a black neckerchief, the school uniform of Oarai Girls Academy.

Instantly Miho recognize who it was, as she spoke first. "Miss Kadotani?

Anzu Kadotani, smile at hearing Miho remember who she as, speaking in a cheerful tone. "Heya Miss Tigress, we need to have a chat."