Authors Thought:
Hello again dear readers, sorry for the wait with this chapter. I been going back and forth with this part which is why its taking long to finish it, so i decided to upload this crucial part as its own chapter then finish this next chapter.
Once again, sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoy this read and thank you very much for coming by and support. Will be bakc soon I promise.
Till the next Authors Thought.
An ice-cold chill could be felt in the air of the Chi-Ha-Tan tank commanders room. It almost seem like time itself had stopped, as every girl was looking at the new guest and it did not please any of them at the least. Though each group had their own hatred gear towards each one for different reasons, with the first years lock in on Fukushu as they had all seen the punch she threw at Miho, whether during the match replays or afterward, which anger them like no other.
While the 2nd years eyes were drawn to Linda, as they all knew she was the very one who had orchestrated the humiliating defeat of their upperclassmen the year before. Sitting in the stands they had to watch with horror as their team was dismantled piece by piece, like it was all a joke for Saunders. Though the 2nd years were equally angry with Fukushu for the punch, their core anger was for Linda who had been the one to almost causing their club to collapse, if not for the Nishi and then Miho guiding them back to the light.
"Well, well, well, this unexpected," Mizuko said from her spot at the commanders podium, with her smile turning devious. "But not unwelcome."
Suzuko, Hedimichi's secretary, simply shook her head, seeing that Mizuko was asserting her authority over the team, but could not intervene on her headmaster's orders, as he explain that this was something they as a team had to figure out.
Taking a deep breath, Suzuko turn to the guest. "Alright, this is where I leave you girls, the rest is up to you."
Linda nodded. "Got it, will handle this."
Then Suzuko turns back to the room. "Again ladies! I must make it clear that Hedimichi requests that you hear these two out! Is that understood?!"
However, there was no instant reply to this reminder for the team. Each set of eyes was focused on the pair of girls who had each hurt their team, each had caused them suffering, and each was now in reach for getting their just deserves. The teachings of Miho to respect their opponent at all times were at the moment forgotten, only their fury was left in place.
Something their warrior code of old still held in their hearts.
The silence made Suzuko beyond annoyed and somewhat scared thinking this was a bad idea, but remain firm in her headmaster's belief that this was what was best, as she spoke. "Ladies! I did not hear a reply!"
Regaining their senses, the tank commanders reply as one. "Ma'am!"
"Good, I'll be going," Suzuko said, then walk out of the room, closing the sliding door behind her.
Once more silence grip the room, oozing an anxious atmosphere. While the angry stares didn't cease, which only made Linda more apprehensive that she was only going to get a single chance to make things right or these tigresses might just pummel her, especially the 3rd year girls Hedimichi said were now on the team and were participants at that humiliating match.
Need to say something before I let this situation escalate before we even had a chance to speak
Linda thought, then found her composure to speak. "Hello, I'm sure you all know who I am."
"Oh, of that, we can agree, you witch," Mizuko spoke with a snarl behind her words.
"She's not a witch," Fukushu instantly shot back, defending her friend.
"Hmmm," Mizuko started, touching a finger to her cheek in thought, then spoke. "Your right, maybe we should find something more suitable to describe her for what she's done. How about it girls? What is your description of this girl who laugh and humiliated us last year?"
Nishi could see where her upperclassmen was going with this and tried to intervene. "Mizuko, this isn't right."
Making Mizuko turn her golden eyes to Nishi, filled with nothing but unflinching confidence. "You think the rest of the team feels that way? Take a look, sub-commander."
Turning her eyes back to the team, Nishi instantly felt her heart drop. Every girl was teeming with anger in their eyes, as they hone in on the guest. Making Nishi understand that this was the perfect situation for Mizuko to try to assert her will on the team because no one could argue against the damage done by Linda or Fukushu.
Everything is spinning out of control and I can't stop it…only Miho can…if she were here…
Nishi thought, feeling her fist curl up at her sides, hating herself for not being able to find her courage. Once more making her believe she hadn't grown at all in this new era of Sensha-do for their club, that she still could not come to face her past against Mizuko, only be a bystander to it. With only empty words to try to make up for this weakness in her.
Seeing that Nishi was completely sidelined, Mizuko turn back on their guest as she spoke. "Well, you two certainly have some gall to show your faces to us."
"We came to apologize," Linda shot back.
For a moment, Mizuko just stares at the pair, completely dumbfounded by the answer.
Which prompted Tamada, who rose from her seat, with lips curled in displeasure as she spoke. "Apologize? That's what you came here to do….after all this time, after all you've done, you think you have the right to that?"
"Tamada, please calm down," Nishi quickly said, coming over to stop her friend from losing herself. "This isn't right, this isn't what Miho would want."
Hearing her lover's name only added fuel to Tamada's rage, turning to Nishi with her piercing red eyes boring into her friend as she spoke. "I know that…but they're the reason we all suffered… they are the reason Miho isn't even here."
Hearing the anger behind the words made Fukushu flinch, knowing that she was the main reason for her sister not being here. While hearing the passion in the girl's voice for Miho only added to the young Nishizumi's guilt, reminding her that she had hurt not just her half-sister by her actions, but others that cared for Miho as well.
"I understand Tamada, but we nee-," Nishi try to explain.
"Enough of that," Mizuko interjected with a shake of the head. "Can't you see this is what your team needs, Nishi? Not to mention me, who had to be subjected to that humiliation myself that day."
Nishi turn to Mizuko, her breath becoming short as the situation was spiraling out of control. "Yet this isn't the path, this anger and hatred aren't what is going to fix this, it only makes things worse."
Having enough of the fight back, Mizuko steps down from the podium to Nishi, standing toe to toe with her. "So, we should lay down and accept this? Become friends with these two? Forget the girls they hurt?"
"Well…well…I…think," Nishi mumble out, while her eyes averted to the ground, unable to take the piercing look of her upperclassmen.
Gently Mizuko reach out her hand to hook a finger under Nishi's chin, bringing her eyes back up as Mizuko spoke in a soft tone, so only Nishi could hear. "The best thing you can do is to step aside and let us who remember our roots take charge. You can't do this, you're still the scared little girl like last year who can't lend upon her own strength, only hoping others bring you up."
The statement was like a jolt of lighting for Nishi, shocking and hurtful, but for some reason, Nishi found the truth in them. Seeing her teammates still holding onto the old grudge of what happened last year even now, was because they cared about what happened to their former upperclassmen, while Nishi had all but forgotten them, wanting the new era of Chi-Ha-Tan to take hold.
Yet.
Yet, the truth was it wasn't by Nishi's strength she had founded the new era, she had only achieved that by Miho's ideals. If not for fate putting them together, Nishi would still have done the same thing their team had done since their founding, to which the practice match against Kola Forrest was a constant reminder for her about her own inability to find another way had things work out differently.
With this morbid reminder of her own weakness running through her head, Nishi backed down for good, knowing she had no power here anymore.
"Good girl," Mizuko cooed out, patting Nishi's head then walk over to Linda as she spoke. "As you can see, you have some very angry tigresses in this room."
"I'm not blind to that," Linda replied with indifference to the hostile looks.
Mizuko now came toe to toe with Linda. "Oh, if that is the case, then you best just turn around and leave the room. Go back to your own lives."
"I would, but I don't have my instructor job back at Wolverton anymore and besides, I got some errors that need make up for," Linda stated, showing her resolve that she wasn't leaving this room no matter what.
"Huh," Mizuko started, with a hand on her hip, her face becoming mischievous. "Do you hear that ladies!? While you were here struggling to get your club in order, this one was training the very girls who meant to end your dreams, while I guess this little one here was your prime student, seeing as she sucker punched commander Nishizumi."
"I didn't mean to!" Fukushu spoke up now.
"Oh, is that your excuse? She saves you from drowning in the river and you repay her with a punch, sounds like the teacher train her student well," Mizuko stated to the room, making Linda growl as she could see the manipulation of the situation as clear as day.
She's trying to get the whole room against us and we haven't even gotten in a word
Linda thought, squeezing her hands at her sides, yet calming herself quickly to speak. "That is true, Fukushu is my protégé, she made a horrendous mistake by throwing that punch. She knows it and it will follow her for a long time."
Fukushu winced, hearing how cold the words were from her teacher.
"Yet," Linda started, her eyes turning to the team in their seats. "If Fukushu didn't care to make amends, she would have continued as if nothing happen. Hell, maybe she goes join Saunders or maybe another American Sensha-do school, hoping for another chance to beat you all and bring down your commander."
Now Fukushu brought her eyes up to Linda, seeing how fierce her friend's eyes were and how passionate her words were.
"Yet she didn't, right now she is here, wanting to make amends. Fukushu knows everyone in this room has the right to pummel, berate her, or anything thing else that might come to mind. However, just like the kindness your commander extended to her, Fukushu believes you all will find it in your hearts to forgive, or at the least hear her out," Linda announce to the whole room.
Slowly the tank commanders began to look at one another, speaking in soft tones about what they had just heard. The hearts that were heavy with anger, now dither some, giving the small speech some consideration, almost as if this were a trial and they were the jury.
Feeling she needed to say something as well, Fukushu spoke up now, coming from around Linda to stand in front of the team. "My hatred for my sister before…was nothing but ignorance on my part. I once wanted to become part of the Nishizumi family, to be like my older half-sisters whose fame even reach the shores of America. Yet, I learn things that weren't so pleasant about their family's past and fueled me to walk this path of revenge for crimes they weren't responsible for, but I still held them responsible all the same."
"Makes sense," Hamada spoke up, though her tone was still displeased. "If I'm not mistaken, your name means vengeance. To which you took out your vengeance on our commander who had nothing to do with whatever happen."
"Even after she risk her life for you, even though it put her life in danger," Nagura added with a seething tone.
"Not mention revied you after nearly drowning and what was her reward?" Ikeda added.
"A sucker punch that drew blood," Hosomi finished.
With Tamada honing in on the freighted Fukushu, her words clipped and fill with animosity. "You can try to honey your words as best you can, but nothing will ever make us forgive you for what happened that day. Me especially, because I had to hold her when she wouldn't wake up when we got home, I had to fear that she might have suffered something worse because of that punch."
Fukushu gasped hearing that, while her guilt was only heightened in her mind.
While Mizuko let a devious smirk cross her lips, then spoke. "You see, this is the fruit of your labor. This need for revenge has garnered all the hate you can want and these girls aren't simply going to forgive that. You may be here to right your wrongs, but it's too late for that, best get go back to your nice beach under the California sun and stay there."
Linda growled as she could see the situation was being worked against Fukushu, making their case all but mute to the room.
Yet, even as the trial seem to be going against the pair, there was some hope, in the form of the smallest girl in the group.
Fukuda, who was squirming in her seat with obvious discomfort with this situation, stood up from her seat to speak, finding her courage. "Miho…since the day she has come here, has done nothing but help guide our hand. Her kindness is what help us overcome Saunders in the end, but not just on the match field, but off the field as well, and also helping us overcome ourselves."
Mizuko's face took on disgust, as the first year continue to speak.
"Our commander can't find it in her to hate anyone, even if it's for the right reasons. She wants to understand why before she ever says anything. That's what makes Miho someone I'll follow without question, not because of wins, but because of who she helps us to be," Fukuda said, looking around the room, hoping she got through to someone, as the young cub of the Tigress Corps was growing into her own.
With her little speech seemed to take with the team, as they began to look to one another, speaking in low tones once more about what their fierce little tankery sister had to say. Making Mizuko grunt to see them all sway so easily by some small speech, but remain calm as she hadn't pressed hard enough just yet.
Clearing her throat, Mizuko spoke up now. "Well, that's good and all, but can you dispute the fact that when your commander put her life on the line, for someone who wanted more than to just defeat, they wanted to tear her family name down. Which, by the looks of things, has achieved her goal."
Fukushu clench her hands tight, knowing that was the truth of the matter. Maho's bribery accusation was a part of the issue, along with Shiho's own legal troubles, but it was Fukushu's actions that were the most damning.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Fukushu spoke up. "I won't deny that, I wanted to tear Miho and her family down, that was my goal, that was my ambition, and that is my shame."
Linda nodded at this. "Which makes me even more guilty, because I knew what she wanted and train her all the same. Which is why we want to make things right."
"Make things right, what a joke. We're not in some cliché drama that everyone kisses and makes up," Mizuko started, her face disgusted by the pairs words, then turn the team to speak. "There you have it! They just want forgiveness, then they can go back home and feel quite good about themselves, feeling all their guilty weight has been lifted."
The words from the fiery girl, once more stir the room including the first years now.
"Yet, is that something you can stomach? These two returning to enjoy the California sun, and maybe meet some cute boys that become their lovers, then they marry, build loving families and live happily ever after. All the while, their memory of you will fade, of the pain they inflicted, fading to dust….that's what you'll be to them in the end, just fading memory in their life," Mizuko stated, her tone seething once more with every word, bringing her eyes back to the pair with noting by contempt.
"That's not true! We came here to amend and if we are able, help this team in any way possible, that's what we wish to do!" Fukushu cried out.
Yet this statement was met by silence, till Tamada spoke up in a low tone. "What makes you think we want help from someone who put our commander in a hospital?"
"I….," Fukushu try to argue.
"Miho might have forgiven you, but the image of blood on her face…I can never feel anything but rage for you because she put her life on the line for you and that's how you treat her. Not to mention you both share the same blood, which only adds to your guilt," Nishihara added.
"But, I'm just trying to make things right, I know what I did was beyond wrong and I should pay for it. If you just give me a chan-," Fukushu try to plea.
Which was cut off by Mizuko was began to chuckle.
"Something funny?" Linda growled at the girl.
Quickly calming herself, Mizuko dismissively waves her hand. "Sorry, sorry, it's just hilarious that you're still trying. Can't you see you are not welcome here, so how about you see yourself out?"
Yet, Linda didn't back down. "We're not going anywhere. Your headmaster allow us to be here, after grilling us to make sure we wanted this. I'm not about to leave just cause your manipulating these girls."
Mizuko's face drop into annoyance, staring hard at Linda now as she spoke. "Manipulating? You can't be serious, that's your angle now. What a joke you are, and here I thought you be a little bit of trouble for me."
"You really like to run your mouth, don't you?" Linda snap back, even as Fukushu grabs her arm to try to calm her down.
"I speak truths and the truth is, no matter what you say at this moment, you aren't going to convince anyone here. Hedimichi is a man who I respect deeply, but he must have known there was no way you were going to succeed with us with your little case for redemption," Mizuko taunted with a coy smile.
"If my sister was here, it be a different story," Fukushu stated.
Mizuko's coy smile left her face. "You think so…that's cute. Take a good look around this room, even if you have been allow to say your apologies without a retort, there are many who still hate you here. They might play nice, but your very presence around them would be something they could barely stomach."
"So you say, but to me there is a chance. Your just stirring the pot is all, not even giving us a chance to speak," Linda said.
"Hmph," Mizuko huff in annoyance. "Listen here, I'm only doing what is right. I was driven from this team because of that damn match, because of what you did and you can't say otherwise."
Linda chuckle at that. "That is true, but then again, why have you only just return to this team?"
"Excuse me?" Mizuko replied with a heated tone.
"From what I gather from the talk with your Headmaster, its seems like only now you have come back. Why not during their qualifier or even before that? Why are you here now when their on the rise?" Linda question.
"You're a real piece of work," was the instant reply from Mizuko. "All this time you've been enjoying yourself out on the beach, enjoying your new life and academy and want to question what I've been doing."
"Sounds like you feel a little uncomfortable with the question," Linda said, feeling she was gaining some momentum.
"No, just annoyed someone like you, whose got no right to judge others when your actions are the most damning," Mizuko started, then began to walk closer to the pair, making Linda hold out a arm to push Fukushu behind her.
"I had reasons I fell into being such a terrible person, I'm not going to run from it, but I at least will be honest with everyone," Linda replied, every fiber in her body going defensive at Mizuko's approach.
Now standing toe to toe with her adversary, Mizuko bore her bright yellow eyes into Linda, her lips cocked into a disappointed smile as she spoke. "Reasons, you say? Why should we care about them?"
"Your Headmaster did, wanted to know my story. Mister Hedimichi had every right to chastise me, but he gave me the benefit of at least telling my side, you can't do the same?" Linda challenged.
"Oh, what are you going to tell us? Your life was hard and made you bitter and resentful. Like that is going to sway us, the same goes for your little friend here," Mizuko snap back.
The response caused Linda to go wide eye, with Fukushu along with her.
"Don't act surprised, take a good look around this room once more," Mizuko started, gesturing with her arm to the entire room. "Every girl in this room, every girl who crews their tanks, and heck even some of the mechanics have gone through tough moments in their lives."
"What do you mean?" Fukushu ask with trepidation.
"Most girls here are orphans, either abandoned at birth or were taken from abusive homes. Some are girls who were bullied terribly, and others just wanted a place to belong to, so you see, if you want to make a plea to us that life was hard for you and that is why you let yourself fall into being such a monster, it's just going to fall on deaf ears," Mizuko explain.
Linda felt the breath leave her lungs, as she try to understand what she had been told. "I…I…I never…knew."
"It's not something that is advertised, nor do we wish it to be. This is our culture, we rise above our past and our warrior's code lets us be stronger than we ever thought. Now you see why will never accept any excuse from you two, we rise above our misfortune, while you fell into yours and stay there," Mizuko passionately said, her words carrying too many in the team who owed much to the club and school for bettering their lives.
Once more the mood was turning against the pair.
Linda could feel it as well, as she try to reason. "That may be the truth, but if your telling us its strength that garners respect here, shouldn't we be extended that same respect? We're here, standing, I guess trial for our actions. That takes strength since we didn't tuck tail and run."
"Objection," Mizuko spoke with amusement in her tone. "You like that? Sounded like a real lawyer almost, heh, but your argument proves moot here. This strength you think you have only came about because you grew a conscious."
"l still on about that?" Linda chastise.
"We're trying to make things right!" Fukushu argued.
"And you're failing to make your case to us, unless anyone here is convinced?" Mizuko said, looking to the room for any takers.
Nothing but silence ruled the room, as the Chi-Ha-Tan girls kept their lips sealed as they mulled over everything that had been said. With Mizuko's smile growing wider, as this was all but an assurance that there was no way the guest were going to get their forgiveness. Which left Mizuko to now assert herself and maybe…just maybe gain back the team she had lost to this new era and bring back the traditions that had given her the will to stand again and the sisters she had missed dearly.
"It seems the jury has spoken," Mizuko said slyly.
"That's what you think," Linda replied.
Placing a hand on her hip, Mizuko just shook her head in amusement. "It's what I know. Think about it for a moment, if you had won that match against these girls, would you have felt this bad about your previous actions."
"Well….," Linda began, before suddenly being gripped by her own silence.
Is she right? Would we have just carried on if we won with Oaria?...No…Maybe…Fuck…
Linda thought, trying to come to terms with things she had never really thought about.
Making Mizuko pounce on the opportunity, as she got right into Linda's face. "You can't even deny my logic. Your best just remaining a cruel instructor, who loves to humiliate others for your enjoyment, that's who you are."
"No…I don't want…," Linda try to argue, but couldn't find the will to speak.
"Stop it!" Fukushu shouted, coming from behind Linda and giving Mizuko a shove, sending the girl flailing onto her back.
Suddenly every girl in the room was out of their seat in astonishment at what just happen. All eyes turn to Fukushu with outrage, even those who didn't quite like Mizuko were eyeing the young Nishizumi with revulsion, as their sisterly bond through Sensha-do meant even they would not take kindly to their own family member being accosted.
Yet Fukushu's eyes were only for Mizuko, as her blood boiled like no other. "You don't get to tell her who she is meant to be! Linda wants to change, she wants to be better! Isn't that something even you could acknowledge!"
"Heh….heh…I see your fury hasn't settled down since the match, guess you haven't changed one bit," Mizuko said, pulling herself into a sitting position, and looking up at her attacker.
Realizing what she had done, Fukushu step back a little, with her hands shaking at her sides. "I'm sorry, I didn-."
"Oh, don't try to hide it. That's who you are, just an angry little girl who can't handle truths, probably the reason you punch your sister," Mizuko taunted.
"Shut up!" Fukushu shouted.
Mizuko stood to her feet, looking at the enrage young girl with amusement. "You see ladies of Chi-Ha-Tan, this one came wanting to show she change, but still can't handle when the truth comes out, with her only resorting to violence as a means to argue. Is this someone you can forgive? Who knows when she might put one of you in the hospital for a sucker punch."
"I didn't mean to, you just speak like you know Linda…like you know me, when don't even want to hear us out," Fukushu argued.
A shrug from Mizuko followed this reply, then spoke. "I told you, we all here have suffered in some way…even our little beauty over there in Nishi."
Nishi squirm under now being put on the spot, but didn't reply as her courage had all but left her.
"Hmph," Mizuko huffed in annoyance at her junior, then turn back to Fukushu. "You've tried to make your case, but this is over. You can go back to your nice sunny beach and stay there."
"That's not what my sister would say," Fuksuhu argued.
"Oh, you believe that? How naïve, you're the one who added on the misery to the Nishizumi name with your sucker punch, made her life difficult, and now might fall into disgrace. You think she is not going to be even a little upset with you?" Mizuko shot back.
"I…damn you… you're just saying things to exploit the situation," Fuksuhu growled.
"Am I? Or maybe you probably fear that is the case?" Mizuko question.
With her emotions running wild, her vexation and sadness welling up in her, Fukushu began to tremble. Part of her, even if she wish not to, did wonder if Miho might hate her even after everything that had happened and was said, there was a nagging thought that Fukushu's actions had all but damn the Nishizumi name along with everything else. That had been her goal when she set out on her path of revenge.
It was all Fukushu wanted, to bring down that name that had caused Konomi so much pain.
Ironic now that she had achieved that in a way, but there was no joy in Fukushu's heart, just more regret that she could handle to hold in at the moment.
However, Linda wasn't about to let this go on, stepping forward now to get into Mizuko's grill. "Don't analyze her, you don't have any right."
"I don't? Remember, she is your protégé. Her actions reflect on her teacher, wouldn't say?" Mizuko taunted, staring right into Linda's eyes, daring for a response.
"Your right…however that says something about you doesn't it?" Linda spoke with an amused smile on her face.
Mizuko frowned at the comment. "What's that supposed to mean?"
For a moment, Linda eyed the Chi-Ha-Tan tank commanders, who were all present on their feet looking down at the pair from their seats, then spoke. "Little ironic you say that when your girls don't reflect you at all. Yet you speak so proudly of this warrior's tradition in this club."
"You might want to think about what you might say here, because you might not like the response," Mizuko warn in a low hostile tone.
"I knew about Chi-Ha-Tan in my first year," Linda said, pressing on regardless of the threat. "Their reputation was to charge the enemy with all they had. I'll admit, it takes some guts to do that even against teams with far superior tanks, yet you still suffer defeat after defeat, but what about now?"
With Mizuko staring daggers now, yet remain quiet, waiting for the continuation along with the rest of the girls.
Linda continues. "When I look at this team here now, to see that you have achieved something that, honestly, you shouldn't be doing, with a whole new style. It still has that same bravery, but you're being smart about it, and couple that with the fiery attitude, you make for a dangerous team."
"Praise, won't buy you anything here," Mizuko quickly said.
"It's not just praise, it's an eye opener. I heard you only just return to this team, but what they've achieved was without you," Linda continue to build.
An annoyed gruff let Mizuko's lips. "What the hell is your point?"
"Are you here now, because you fear what they achieve is going to wipe the memory of your club's traditions?" Linda asks, hoping that might put this fiery girl in her place.
For a moment, Mizuko stare in bewilderment at her foe. Every muscle in her body felt like it was tightening, her throat feeling constricted, her lungs unable to find breath. For this very girl, who had humiliated her team not even less than a year ago, was speaking some truth that Mizuko feared but would never tell anyone, even among her group of third years.
Mizuko was here to keep the traditions of her club alive, because she had been forgotten. The memory of what made their sisterhood was being forgotten, all because of her club finally winning matches. It sicken her to think that the very girl who had started all this was able to pick up on this fear.
"You…you…you're the one who started all this. If you had fought us with a grain of honor, we wouldn't be at this point," Mizuko snarled at Linda.
Yet Linda wasn't convinced. "I should of, that is a fact. Yet would you have changed or would this club still be charging down their foes? Would you still be the punching bag for every team in this league? For all the pride you seem to have, I have to wonder why you let yourselves fall into such depths."
"You fucking bitch," Mizuko seethe, her breaths coming short as her rage was at an all-time high. "You think our pride is worth so little, that we abandon our ways just for some minor respect from other teams! We never cared for what others thought, only cared for the girls in this room!"
Yet Linda didn't flinch. "So you say, but if that blind way of thinking had continued, eventually it would unravel when even the smallest teams could beat you. Fewer girls wanting to join a club that only losses, your tradition slowly dying, and only your pride to hang onto in its death throes. Is that the sort of image you wish to see when you're a grown woman and look back at your club?"
"Traditions never die, they may get beaten down, but they don't die. Our club has been here since the start of Sensha-do, we follow in the footsteps of great tankers of the past, and to them, we will never abandon our code," Mizuko replied with heated breath.
"Jeez, you sound like a fanatic. No wonder this club has been losing for so long, everything eventually changes, why can't you see that?" Linda questioned.
Mizuko was about to make a retort, but a sudden thud of hands slamming on the desk caught everyone's attention. Quickly all eyes turn to the source, being Tamada who had made the sudden violent act. Her deep red eyes were focused on Linda, her mouth curled like a predator bearing its teeth at its prey, which made Linda feel uneasy as well as Fukushu.
"Don't call her a fanatic," Tamada said in a menacingly low tone.
Taking a breath to calm her nerves, Linda spoke back. "That was a little out of line on my part, but you have to agree this thinking is crazy. Especially someone who's been a part of this change in your culture from the start."
"I don't give a damn about that, she's my upperclassman and was part of this team at one time. Whatever you think is right in your mind, doesn't mean it will take with us," Tamada spoke with her tone becoming more hostile.
Ah…seems the right time to press for the loyalty of my protégé and maybe get this team back on track to see that they can't ignore the past anymore, for that is not what warriors do…
Mizuko pleasantly thought, looking at her pupil with a wicked smile. "Well Tamada, is this what is ok in this club? Getting insulted in our faces and we just lie down to take it?"
Instantly Tamada mulled over the words, her fist tightening as her fighter's spirit was being called on.
"I remember when even if the slightest disrespect was said of Chi-Ha-Tan, you be right there to defend our club's honor. Never letting any look down on us, never letting anyone poke fun at us, and never backing down from a fight," Mizuko lectured, her voice flowing with the deep passion for her club and her favorite pupil.
"I remember," Tamada replied, feeling her heart beating in her chest at the words, knowing she loved this club dearly beyond what words could describe.
"Then stand up now! Here is our tormentor, who humiliated us, yes that includes even you who watch. Are you going to let her keep running her mouth? Or show her where she can shove her empty apology?" Mizuko goaded, knowing this was the final push.
Again Tamada mulled over the words, that were stirring that warrior's passion. Though a part of her was fighting against this, because of who was the commander of this club and what she wanted of them as a team.
Her comrade, her friend, and most importantly her lover.
Miho never wanted to seek vergence, to hurt others because they had been hurt. She ask them to leave everything on the field and not bring their resentment off it. That was what she had preached to them when she took over command and it had slowly taken everyone to get accustomed to it.
However, at this moment, Tamada was breaking from everything her commander wanted of her. For all she wanted was to release this rage she had kept in her heart since that very day, that even a victory against Saunders hadn't completely quelled. She had carried on with the disgrace of never really achieving that revenge for her upperclassmen, yet right here, there was a chance to finally put to rest this nagging guilt.
I'm sorry Miho…I thought I change, become a better person because of you…but I'm still the angry little orphan girl who isn't going to let anyone step on her or what she cherished with all her heart…guess we never can hide from who we are…
Tamada thought, with her resolve now firm. "Your right, Mizuko."
A round of gasp from the other tank commanders resounded through the room, as Tamada climbed over her desk. Ikeda and Hosomi who were sitting on either side, try to stop their tankery sister because they knew that look in Tamada's eyes. Her blood was up and there was no stopping her when she was like this, prompting both girls to try their hardest to calm Tamada down, but to no avail as the fiery tank commander quickly vaunted the desk before they could stop her.
Then Tamada began to walk over to Linda and Fukushu, her steps slow and precise, her eyes never leaving the pair.
Nishi, having been a bystander for most of this, couldn't stomach the look in Tamada's eyes, as she came forward to stand in front of her. "Tamada, please, you don't need to do this. Think of Miho, think of what our family has achieved. You do this, everything can come apart for us."
"Sorry Nishi, but this is who I am. I can't hide from it, I have to defend the honor of this club, it's the place that gave me my second chance, gave me a warrior spirit that will not be called into question," Tamada said, reaching her hand out to squeeze Nishi's hand.
With nothing to counter, Nishi lowered her head as once more she was failing as a sub commander. Then Tamada walk past her, till she was standing in front of Linda, with Mizuko looking on with pleasure all over her face. The rest of the tank commanders were holding their breaths, wanting to do something, but their bodies just wouldn't respond as they were watching for what was to happen.
"So, you going to let her words sway your will, huh?" Linda challenged, not backing down.
Tamada let out a small growl, then spoke. "It's not her words that are swaying, it's your actions. Both of you wanted this club to fail, to see us fall into the depths of despair."
"Yet we're trying to right those wrongs," Fukushu pleaded.
"Doesn't matter. We all have to pay for our sins, you'll get yours someday, so you best leave now, this is over," Tamada resolutely said.
Fukushu open her mouth to plead once more, but found no words, lowering her head in regret. Yet, Linda wasn't about to back down now, after everything she had endured, the suffering she had cause not just to Chi-Ha-Tan but her own academy's reputation, and becoming this egotistical monster to try to quell her pain from the past was only fueling her need to press on.
There was no going back, there was no second chance. Linda knew if she and Fukushu left this room, there be no coming back. The moment was now, not the next day, not next week, or not even a year from now. It was the right now that would allow Linda and Fukushu to finally reach out and become better women for the future.
"I'm not leaving," Linda said, crossing her arms.
"What makes you think that is how this is going down?" Mizuko ask, her voice resonating with pure joy.
Linda just smirked, then look at Tamada. "Because I know this isn't what your commander would want."
"What the hell do you know?" Tamada shot back.
"I know you're smarter than this," Linda said, gesturing to Mizuko who frown at the statement.
"Don't act as if you know me, now get out of here before I make you," Tamada said, her fist tightening at her sides.
Looking deeply into those red angry eyes, Linda nodded as if she understood something about this fiery girl. "Your angry and you won't take less than an apology. Well, do what you think is best, because I'm not leaving and neither is Fukushu. Let you fanatical leader over here ke-."
The sound of a fist connecting with flesh vibrated throughout the room. Follow by a heavy thud and an agonizing groan, as Linda fell onto her back. Her left cheek had an angry bruise, a result of the punch Tamada had thrown with such force and percsion.
"What the hell?!" Fukushu cried out stunned by what had just happened.
"You see, this is what our club is. We don't take things lying down and we don't accept apologies from those who meant to tear us down, we are warriors," Mizuko said, placing a hand on Tamada's shoulder, proud of her protégé's actions.
Leaning down, Fukushu help Linda sit up some, then look over her face. "Are you alright?"
"Ugh…that was a wicked punch," Linda said, bringing a hand up to touch the spot.
"No," Fukushu said, stopping Linda with her own hand. "You'll just make it worse."
"Nah, you hit harder," Linda joke.
Yet it only cause Fukushu to tear up at her injured friend. "Don't say that, I don't want you getting hurt."
"Sorry," Linda said, reaching a hand out to pat her friends head. "See, I'm still not good with jokes."
"You never were, to begin with," Fukushu reply with a tearful chuckle, making Linda laugh as well.
"Hey, hey," Mizuko interjected. "This is cute and all, but we got a practice to run. See yourself out and don't let the door hit you on the way out as well."
Linda look to make a retort, but Fukushu stood up. "Then hit me too."
"No, what the hell are yo-," Linda began to say.
"Linda may have humiliated you, but I hit Miho. I put her in a hospital, I'm the worse here," Fukushu said, her silver eyes boring into Tamada.
"That is true, what do you say, Tamada?" Mizuko ask.
Tamada eyed the young Nishizumi up, her mind beginning to play images of seeing the very moment of the punch during the match. Remembering the heartbreak and then rage that all came in that instance, as she saw Miho sprawled out on the ground, not moving, and bleeding from a cut under her eye. Tamada prided herself on being Miho's protector, keeping her safe, and being there whenever she needed help.
Yet she had failed then and her lover had suffered.
Which sent her to the hospital in a deep sleep.
Then Miho had to wake up to find her family in shambles and have to leave to do whatever she could to help them.
Leaving Tamada behind, unable to be at Miho's side.
Feeling as if she found her answer, Tamada spoke. "Your right…your just as terrible after Miho did all she could to save your life."
"Tamada stop, you're taking this too far!" Hosomi shouted, climbing over her desk to stop this before her friend committed an unredeemable act.
"This is what I want!" Tamada yelled, pulling her arm back to line up her punch, as she was going to put as much force as she could into it.
There was nothing to stop Tamada, all eyes watch as she was about to deliver her judgment with her furious fist, she was going against what Miho's ideals were, but at the moment she needed to do this. For Tamada had her own demon's coming back to eat at her mind, to take away her reasoning, to send her back to that fateful day when she did such a horrid thing.
Becoming the biggest hypocrite.
Taking a life.
And damning her soul.
"Haru!"
Suddenly, the anger in Tamada's mind vanished. For she had heard that sweet voice that had captivated her since the day they met, call out her first name. That voice that could heal her soul just being near it, to hold it, and cherishing it. The very voice that made her forget about her demons that lie in wait for her.
As Tamada, as well as the rest of the room all turn their eyes to the doorway that had opened without anyone noticing.
And standing there, was the Tigress herself, Miho who was breathing hard, sweat dripping down her face, and her eyes focus on her lover.
"Haru…why?" Miho questioned, her voice strained, filled with hurt.
We all have to pay for our sins….
"No….," was all Tamada could muster to say.
As the Tigress had finally come home, but not to the homecoming she wanted, not to the same tankery family she love so dearly.
For the Tigers of Chi-Ha-Tan were in a fight with the warriors of the past, who weren't about to be left in the dust to be forgotten.
And they finally had the very one who started this new era, this unwanted era in their sights and would do all they could to make sure she remember that traditions never died.
Even in their twilight.