Hi folks, it's been a while huh? I'm back to publishing on again since the stats are fixed...or truly being in the process of being fixed. I've really missed publishing to this site, and I couldn't be happier to be back!
However, there is a small thing I need to mention first. I'm still publishing on AO3 and my new stories and chapters will be coming out on that site first. No need to panic though, they'll be on FF within a few hours or a day if I'm tired or busy that day. There is a reason for that though. You see, whenever I write a story, I always include the italicization of the internal thoughts as well as the proper spacing in the word document. I can copy that onto AO3 with no issue, however that has sometimes caused issues on FF, and thus I have to copy the text to FF without formatting and then manually add any formatting, and thus it takes longer. Plus one of them has to be first. That's why I sometimes accidentally miss Italicizing internal thoughts as well...speaking of which...
There is a lot of mistakes in this fanfic and some others that I need to correct. My deepest apologies for that, and they will be corrected, and soon! However that might take some time. In addition I've begun three new fics over on AO3 that need to be ported over to FF, which is what I'm going to focus on first. I'm also close to having some new chapters done, including chapter nine of the 444th rewrite, but that will come after the corrections and new story publications.
So to recap, I'm back, and I'm going to, in order, catch up from the progress made on AO3, fix mistakes on older fics, and then finish up and upload the new chapters. I'm hoping to have it all done by the end of the month, so it's going to be busy.
With that being said, enjoy the new chapter! Note: Blazepanzer does not own Girls und Panzer.
The sun blasted on her exposed skin as Taeko stepped out of the transport, followed by a plethora of other girls. Of course she was in chains, as were the other girls, along with a tracking anklet which she and the others were supposed to wear.
Stifling a small sigh, she did her best to ignore the clank of the chains as she was lead into a warehouse frightened by the implications, until she saw numerous mechanics moving to the sides, allowing the girls to be undone and head on over to their respective tanks.
Gazing up at the T-26, she couldn't help but feel that this tank was as big as the Maus in a way. It was a similar feeling to the Type 89 she and the other duck team members had found, back on their first day of Sensado class. To them it was the biggest thing they had ever seen, let along operated. And although that feeling had dissipated quickly, they still fell in love with the Japanese beast.
But now things were different. Taeko let out a small shudder. I'm supposed to command this thing! Never the less, she did her best to place down her feelings about it as she followed her crewmates into the tank.
Gazing around, she began to recognize some of the tanks. A BT-5 commanded by Nakajima, A CV-35 commanded by a Miho lookalike whom she vaguely remembered seeing at the finals, And the Lee commanded by Hanoashi. That's kinda cruel, the tank she commanded when she was arrested now being the same tank she has to command in prison! Taeko fumed.
Gazing over at her friend, Taeko realized that the Irish-Dutch girl didn't seem too fazed by the prospect though. Is she happy, doing a better job with her nerves, or...maybe all that time at Nishmari made it so this doesn't feel so daunting.
"This is your Tank Warden System Control Operator, or TWSCO," a feminine voice echoed over the radio. "For you new girls, remember that you are in prison and our prisoners. For whatever reason, you have been seen fit to serve time here, and you will perform your Sensado duties faithfully and dutiful."
Taeko just stared at the radio, a bit confused as to what was going on.
"It is my job to control whether or not your tanks can drive, turrets can spin, cannons can shoot, and that sort of thing. Prisoners should not even get use of a pencil without supervision and it is the same with these tanks! If you try something, rest assured that your tanks will be dead before you can say Maus, and then you'll be off to spend decades behind bars regardless of what you were arrested for."
"U...understood," Taeko stammered.
"Good. For today you'll be thrown into a practice match against the main team. You are not expected to win. You are, however, expected to do your best. Deliberately slacking off is a violation of rules and such violations can and will be dwelt with severely! I'm going to unlock the engines, but do bear in mind that we will be watching you!"
Stifling a small sigh, Taeko let out a small nod of determination. "Alright crew, let's move out, slowly," she ordered.
Asuga simply nodded in response, expertly switching on the beast and guiding it out of the hanger. "Tankathon," she shrugged. "Only got my first year in, but still it's something."
"Same, though mine was regular Sensado and I only served as a radio operator." Taeko sighed.
"You look kind of nervous commander," Fusae noted.
"I'm not too sure I'm built for the commander position, but it is what it is I guess," Taeko sighed.
"You'll do fine ," Asuga smiled as she focused on her driving.
"I hope so," Taeko sighed.
"Oh, right, the command, let's see...Hanoashi, you'll have the first go at team commander," The TWSCO noted.
"Understood, I'll do my best," Hanoashi affirmed over the radio.
"Bear in mind that it's just for today. We'll be cycling though each of you until we get a good idea of who does it best, and whatever El ultimately decides goes, alright? TWSCO out!"
"I cannot be team leader," Taeko muttered.
"You will if we say you will," The TWSCO growled over the radio.
"How did..." Taeko stared at the radio, stunned that the TWSCO heard her.
"These tanks have cams and ultra sensitive mics in them, they're not regular tanks if you will," The TWSCO cautioned. "And don't even think of trying to hide conversation behind the blast of the gun or roar of the engines, our mics can differentiate conversations about as good as one can differentiate strawberries from rotten eggs!"
"Nice analogy," Taeko muttered, making a face.
"You're a cute one, I'll give you that Taeko," the TWSCO chuckled.
"How'd you know my name?" Taeko squeaked.
"It's my job to know each prisoner by face and ideally by voice," the TWSCO affirmed.
"May I know your name?" Taeko asked politely.
"Negative, TWSCO's never share names. Anyways, focus on your command, not me. TWSCO out!"
Staring head, Taeko observed the surroundings. It's hard not to admire her, even of she's just a nameless, faceless voice to us, she mused. Still she could be a bit nicer I suppose...
"We're at the starting location," Hanoashi mused, causing her tanks to pause. Rising up out of the tank, she gave a small glance at the forested enclave. "Maho, when we start, can you take your CV-35 on a scouting mission?"
"Sure," Maho remarked numbly.
"Right," Hanoashi pressed her hand to her chin in deep thought. "Taeko, Saori, you'll be forming up on me as the main element. Everyone else is to split up into pairs of two and take out what you can. Mika, can you give me a run-down of enemy tanks?"
"Blue Division proper has three Panzer III's, three Stugs, Three panzer IV's, a Tiger, and two T-50 light tanks," Mika admitted. "Recent upgrade, as in very recent."
"Great, so we're outnumbered one point five to one, and outgunned tenfold," Hanoashi muttered.
"To be fair the T-50's don't have any operatives yet," Mika added.
"Doesn't exactly make me feel any better," Hanoashi muttered. "Anyways..."
"Time's started, move at will. Cannons and turrets are unlocked. TWSCO out!"
"Right," Hanoashi noted. "Taeko, Saori, follow me," she added.
Keeping a close watch through the view-ports, Hanoashi let out a small quiet smile as she gazed at her crew. "Never thought I'd be doing Sensado again," she admitted.
"Yeah, but don't forget that we're also in prison," Rikona reminded her.
"Honestly, as much as I hate that part of the situation, I think I'm getting used to things a bit," Hanoashi sighed, before returning to her quiet smile. "Still, getting to do Sensado while serving the jail time makes things a lot easier," she added.
"I miss swimming," Kelly sighed. "I guess riding in a tank is fun and all that, but is there ever going to be more action?" she asked.
"Sorry Kelly, but Sensado is about eighty percent boredom and twenty percent action," Hanoashi sighed. "And that's on a good day."
"I guess so, not that this is boring yet, but still," Kelly sighed.
"Commander, I've spotted the Tiger and a contingent of Panzer III's, all with shirts and skirts," Maho remarked.
"Understood, thank you Maho," Hanoashi noted. "Keep an eye on them," she added.
"Will do, what about the other tanks?" Maho asked.
"There's not a whole lot you can do with them now, your machine guns will only be marginally effective on the threes and fours from the rear," Hanoashi sighed.
"Right, I guess so," Maho yawned. "This is totally going to suck isn't it," she added.
"We'll get better utilization in the tournaments, probably," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Hopefully, while I don't expect Kuromorimine level tanks in a prison outfit, something a bit better than machine guns would be appreciated," Maho affirmed.
"Are you handling prison well enough Maho?" Hanoashi asked gently, growing concerned for her. While she wasn't exactly friends with her, she was concerned for the former Kuromorimine High Heiress.
"I guess it's tolerable," Maho admired. "The glares and stares from the others is bout the worst though." she added. "How about you?"
"It's certainty not where I want to be, but I'll make it," Hanoashi admitted. "Daycelling with my cousin helps."
"Mandate?" Maho asked softly.
"Rikona has one, and a five year sentence. I have a two month third strike and then the remaining four years and ten months starting as a second strike, no mandate."
"You'll be moving up to a one strike before this is all over," Maho suspected.
"I just want to serve my sentence and be done with this prison business," Hanoashi let out a gusty sigh.
"Same," Maho sympathized. "It seems as though they're heading down a road at A-170."
"Hm...keep me posted," Hanoashi noted. "Alright girls, here's the plan. Taeko, Saori, your task will be to get behind the Panzer III's. Meanwhile, I'm going to try and ambush the Tiger. It'll be a hard task given I'll have to use the seventy-five mm, but it'll have to do. Your job is simply to fire a smoke shell into the enemy takes and retreat north to section A-120. I'll catch up with you if I make it out, if you don't hear from me in a short manner of time, then Taeko is to be in charge of the team effort."
"But wait, I can't..." Taeko whinnied began to whine over the radio.
"Sorry sis," Hanoashi interrupted. "Back at Ooarai you could back out of these kinds of positions. But not here in the 444th."
"U..understood sis," Taeko breathed shakily.
"You'll be having a chance at commanding the team and given that you tried to warn your crew and are only here on a technicality, there's a good chance you might be chosen as the permanent team commander, You'll just have to get used to things, alright?"
"No...no pressure," Taeko breathed.
"Just try to keep calm, and do whatever it is that I would do and not what Miho would do," Hanoashi deadpanned. "Alright team, move out!"
"Here's hoping she doesn't do what my sister did, as much as I love her she's caused way too much trouble," Maho muttered.
"May I ask why you're even serving time here?" Hanoashi asked.
Maho sighed. "Lunged at the judge when he gave Miho the choice of life after serving five years in the 444th or the death penalty. Got fives years because of it, third strike, mandate."
"I understand why you'd be upset, but it really wasn't a good reason to try and assault the judge, not that I'm one to talk," Hanoashi sighed.
"From the way I heard about it you didn't realize that you were arrested, right? If that's the case why not fight it?" Maho asked gently.
"Honestly, my duty as the second most experienced Sensado practitioner in our class was to protect these students, and I failed in that. My warning failed, and now nine students died because I couldn't convince the team that I was right about them being too reckless. As such I need to take responsibility." Hanoashi affirmed. "That, and my family really couldn't afford all the lawyer fees and such," she added.
"Mother tried to help, but the authorities told her that you had stated that no one is to try and get you out early," Maho noted. "Had a..."
"Signed document, yeah, I wanted people to know full and well that I wanted to serve my prison term without any chance of getting it receded or lessened," Hanoashi interrupted.
"I guess that's noble of you," Maho sighed. "Mother said that she's going to try and visit you when she gets an opportunity. You are a friend of the family after all," she added.
"Mmm..." Hanoashi hummed slowly. "I guess I should hear her out." Pausing, she nestled the lee into a small enclave. "Here's the plan, I'll get out and..."
"You do that outside of an emergency evacuation and you'll be sent to the real prison," The TWSCO growled over the radio.
"Alright then, we'll pull into that enclave of bushes and hope that they don't see us," Hanoashi noted. "We cannot camouflage ourselves, so we'll just have to position ourselves in such a way that they won't see us."
"Any chance of them seeing us?" Maria asked from the driver's seat.
"Ten dimes we fail, but it's the best I can think of," Hanoashi sighed. "Between me not being used to these dual cannon tanks and having virtually no experience with cannons over fifty in caliber or dealing with enemy armor with more than sixty millimeters, it's honestly going to take a while before I'm up to speed to be honest.
To say it was a wipe-out was simultaneously an overstatement and an understatement. Sure, she managed to take out the Tiger and the team managed two of the III's, they just didn't have the manpower or firepower to go toe to toe with the regulars.
However, the ginger haired girl quietly stepped into the showers, and sighed as the cold water splashed on her. This is still a bit of a shock...she muttered, glaring up at the spout like it was somehow it's fault for not warming up the water.
The pre-rinse done, she soaped up using the soap packet, sighing as she glanced at her freckle laced chest. For some reason, the upper portion of her body was freckle laced, while her arms, legs, belly, and lower breast lacked any. This always fascinates me when I shower...I...I just hope Yukaro is alright with it...then again I'm guessing he'd gun for me even if I wasn't Irish...
She jumped as the cold water splashed on her, but she quickly showered and placed on her clear uniform, before a thought echoed in her mind. Wait a moment...with this uniform I can...
"Hanoashi...I need to cuff you for the transport," the officer mused, interrupting her thoughts.
"R...right," Hanoashi remembered, placing her hands on the wall while the officer cuffed her.
"May I ask what got you so interested?" the officer asked.
"I...honestly I just realized that I can pretty much look at my freckles on my chest anytime now," she shrugged.
"Huh...they are unique..." the officer turned her around and gazed at her, the officer's turquoise eyes growing curious. "Are all Irish girls like this?" she asked.
Hanoashi let out a small shrug. "Not really, though us gingers are more common in Ireland than most anywhere else, as are those of us with freckles."
"It suits you, both the hair and freckles," her escort mused, before guiding her out of the room and into the chambers. As she did she passed by Rikona, dressed in the blue division uniform, and gazed at her questioningly.
"Antony is asking me for dinner, so yeah, I've got to go," Rikona sighed.
"You don't like him?" Hanoashi's escort asked.
"Was hoping to have dinner with my cousin, but it'll have to wait." Rikona sighed.
"At least he seems to be taking care of you," Hanoashi smiled approvingly, though deep down she knew that Rikona really didn't want this relationship. Sure, she was okay with it, loosely speaking, but she didn't want it none the less.
In reality the two cousins were the polar opposite about romance. Rikona loved reading about it, but wasn't really all that romantic herself. Where as Hanoashi found romantic novels and movies the bore of life, well second only to prison, she herself was all about that romantic life. Dates, marriage, having kids, well maybe not wearing a ring but other than that she craved the married life.
"Will you be alright without me tonight?" Rikona asked her softly.
Hanoashi let out a nod. "I'll be fine, your husband needs to have time with you," she smirked.
"You and Taeko need to spend time with your husbands too," Rikona argued gently.
"They'll get to visit once or twice a month, and besides, it really can't be helped in our case," Hanoashi shrugged.
Taeko sighed as she slipped on the clear uniform, hating the way the plastic sleeves cling to her skin and how it both constricted her in feeling and made her exposed in terms of apprentice. Like she was strutting around the streets of Ooarai in nothing but her bra and underwear yet she was also wearing three layers of rain coat.
She went through the motions, really starting to miss the juvenile prison where she could walk un-escorted to her destination.
Arriving in her cell, her heart sank as she saw the last girl she wanted to room with.
Miho.
Her arm was latched to the opposite side of the bench, and a Cal-cake and a bowl of baked potatoes lay in front of the two. Like an idiot, albeit an unknowing one, Taeko dove into the baked potato, thoroughly enjoying the taste, before diving into the cal-cake, nearly gagging at the ever so bitter and extremely doughy taste.
The two ate in silence, Taeko doing her best not to glare at the team commander she once respected above all other people save her family. As she finished, the guard came in and took their foam trays from them, allowing the two to figure things out in peace.
For her part, Taeko crossed her arms, while Miho gazed away, clearly embarrassed and shamed into what she had done. And the two stayed this way for the next two hours.
"I'm sorry," Miho whispered after a while, barely more than a whimper.
She couldn't help but glare at the girl in response. It's ultimately your fault we're in prison Miho! She wanted to shout. But she let out a small sigh. "We will never be friends, Miho, and I won't ever forgive you for what you did to me and the other girls, especially the student council team," she muttered. "That said..." she paused, her voice crackling with the effort of trying to make conversation with the girl she hated. "Are...you managing prison well?"
"Barely, everyone hates me, though they should," Miho sighed. "And I'm not even trying to ask for forgiveness, Taeko, I know I don't deserve it." she added gently.
"Maybe someday," Taeko sighed. "But not now."
"Are...you managing it well?" Miho dared to ask in return.
No thanks to you! She thought in disgust, but she nodded. "I'm adapting. Hate it though," she croaked.
"Sorry." Miho whispered.
You'd better be! Taeko growled inwardly, but instead gazed at the screen with the buttons with great curiosity.
She noticed an on button, and decided to press it, growing scared as the screen turned on, and booted into a computer system. Glancing out of the cell nervously, the notice the guard smile and give her a thumbs up before returning to her patrol.
Glancing at the screen, she noticed three things. One, the picture quality was very blurry, with the words hard to read. Two, the words were in English, not Japanese. And third was that there was only about a hundred fiction books in addition to some school text books. Well...text books in terms of being like the text books she used in school except with only text if you will.
"Huh...so we get to read at least?" Miho mused.
Taeko let out a quiet shrug, still not in the mood to talk with the girl she considered responsible for commanding her team into that bad position. Let's see, we have about ten different book series and the rest seem to be stand alone fiction books as well as the text books.
Glancing up after an hour of reading, she realized that the guards were waiting. "Is it time to move?" she asked quietly.
The guard let out a small nod as she went in and unlatched Taeko's wrist, before quickly cuffing her and leading her into one of the cells. "You need to use the restroom, now's the time," her guard growled.
Letting out a nod, she quickly relieved herself, frowning as she was quickly latched into the bed. She flinched as the cell door shut, and the lights became dim.
A minute later she opened her eyes to see Rikona gazing at her, the guards letting her in. "You alright cousin?" she whispered gently.
"Not what I'm used to," Taeko let out a quiet sigh. "But it is what it is, I guess," she added gingerly.
"You'll get used to it," Rikona soothed, gently stroking Taeko's hair in comfort.
"Hanoashi wasn't kidding when she said that you were tall," Taeko smiled softly.
"I think I surprised everyone with it even myself,"Rikona chuckled. "Antony seems to like it at any rate."
"Do you like him?" Taeko asked softly.
"I guess so, he'll do at any rate," Rikona sighed, before smiling at her. "Thanks for agreeing to marry Nova by the way, he's a good guy and will need someone like you."
"I'm not really all that great of a girl...I mean..." Taeko glanced over to her bound wrist.
"You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Rikona reassured her. "And from what Hanoashi told me about you and what I've seen of you, your the perfect girl for my cousin."
"Maybe your right, but even if I was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, it was my tank that brought the Hetzer past it's limit, and it was my friend who fired into the Maus." Taeko whisper.
"Try not to guilt-trip yourself into viewing yourself in the same way you'd view the others involved," Rikona rose and glanced at the door. "Just try to relax and make sure to obey all rules and commands, and you'll be fine. Take it from someone who's been here a few months," she added before exiting the cell.
As the cell door slammed shut, Taeko stared out, feeling conflicted. How can I be alright for Nova when I'm a criminal? She asked herself, before letting out a small sigh, lying her head down on the rather meager pillow. As she turned, she began to flex her hand, wishing that she could turn and sleep on her side like she used to. "I hate being chained up like this..." she muttered.
A bright light woke her, and Taeko started to rub the sleep out of her eyes when she felt a resistance on her wrist. Dammit I forgot about that! She fumed, but to her surprise a moment later the latch came undone, and her wrist were free. Albeit a guard came in presenting a pair of handcuffs. "I'll brush your hair for you and then we can place you in the day cell," she informed.
Obeying, she simply stared at her cuffed wrist as the guard gently patted her hair down, placing in some odd form of water-less shampoo, and she let out a small sigh as she began to feel the brush across her hair. "I wish I had done more that day," she whispered.
"What exactly happened anyways, I'm a new hire so I don't have the story on the girls here," her guard admitted gently.
Taeko must have spent the next five minutes explaining her situation. "Like I said, I wish I had done more, or at least been able to figure out what happened in time to warn the other girls," she finished up.
"Still, you realized that something was wrong with the plan. At least it's only five years and not decades," her guard nodded, before gently rising her up. "Gotta cuff you behind the back for the transport," she added.
"I understand," Taeko nodded as her wrist were undone and re-latched behind her back.
Hanoashi sat down, eating her cal-cake as Rikona let out a small sigh.
"Everything alright cousin?" Hanoashi asked softly.
"Just wishing we didn't have to be here is all," Rikona sighed, her lime green eyes clearly troubled. "I mean I do get a break, but even then being behind bars is taking it's toll. It must be even harder for the other girls."
"We all ultimately did or partook in something worthy of being here, even if some of us were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time," Hanoashi reminded her. "Not only did I resist arrest, but I failed to protect my teammates from themselves. Taeko might have been the radio operator of the type 89 and even tried to warn them of a potential danger, yet she was there."
"And I spent stolen money,"Rikona nodded. "Still, is it so wrong to wish that things had been different?"
"Only if that wish is that we were found innocent of a crime that we did commit," Hanoashi noted. "But wishing that we had done things differently or been in different circumstances, no, that's not wrong to wish for, provided that we don't let that desire depress us into a slump."
"You're right cousin, thanks," Rikona smiled.
"So, how was your date with Antony?" Hanoashi asked.
"Better than most. We don't fight or anything, but usually his choice of words is...frustrating. Even so we only had one frustrating moment yesterday, which is a better result than normal," Rikona admitted.
"I think Yukaro and I had a few frustrating moments, but nothing I really remember. He's...too much of a prude to try anything too strange," Hanoashi admitted. "Still, I'm not too sure about Antony..."
"He's alright, awkward as Maus and frustrating, but he did help me and the younger Matsumino out in exchange for a simple arranged marriage, which in all honesty is much better than we would have been asked in exchange for a deal by most," Rikona reminded her. "And his touch comforts me, so that's a plus."
"Don't tell me you are having sex already," Hanoashi muttered.
"Honestly I think he's more interested in a companion than sex, or at least that's the vibe I get." Rikona sighed. "If I'm honest I am curious as to what it's like, but I've never been too crazy bout it."
"Being honest myself, I'd like to experience being brought to the brink," Hanoashi admitted.
"Isn't that..." Rikona's eyes widened in shock.
"No, not that persay," Hanoashi sighed in exasperation. "I meant that I'd like to see how far he and I could go," she explained, before shaking her head. "That's not really important though, and he'd probably never try that."
"Alright then," Rikona noted.
Taeko let out a small sigh as she held down Miho's bare feet, trying not to cringe at the thought that she had to hold her cellmate's feet down.
"You sleep well?" Miho asked as she began to do her sit-ups.
Taeko left it at a small sigh, resisting the urge to push down on Miho's feet or worse. I never really sleep well thanks to the mess we, mostly you, got us in, she muttered silently, but didn't dare try to show her anger.
Watching her work in silence, they quickly swapped position and Taeko still kept her peace, determined not to talk to what she viewed as the grand traitor of Ooarai.
Sighing, she finished up and quickly got a bit of distance, doing the rest of her exercises in peace. right after she had finished, a guard came in, spoke to Hanoashi, and escorted her out of the room.
Walking up to Rikona, she gazed at her in concern, wanting to ask about her sister-in-law, yet a tad afraid to ask.
"Shiho Nishizumi is visiting," Rikona smiled gently at her.
"Miho's mother?"Taeko asked quietly.
Rikona nodded. "She's been a quiet friend of the Nishisumi family every since she saved Miho's life several years back," she explained. "No doubt she's going to try and get Hanoashi to agree to a lesser sentence. Not that it'll do any good."
"Why's that?" Taeko asked.
"Katoni are notoriously responsible, and they don't take favors, exceptions or lesser demerits for mistakes they make," Rikona explained. "And Hanoashi lives and breaths the Katoni tradition if you will."
"I suppose that means I should take the full deal as well then," Taeko nodded determinedly.
"You both have husbands waiting for you, you should accept any early releases if offered," Rikona reminded her. "Hanoashi though...she's stubborn."
"What about you and Antony?" Taeko dared to ask.
"Given that our marriage is for the sake of the younger Matsumino, it's unlikely that I'll get any sort of reduction," Rikona reminded her. "And I was a Matsumino, which meet that I was supposed to take responsibility, and we were strict about it, but not as much as the Katoni were."
"Right." Taeko let out a small sigh as she leaned against the wall. "So..."
"I heard you were the one who found her," Rikona asked, leaning next to her and stretching.
"Yeah..." Taeko glanced down briefly. "I kinda felt guilty though, when she was handcuffed she kinda freaked out for a second. Not that I can blame her given that I kinda did a similar thing when I was arrested."
"Can't say that I blame you," Rikona smiled reassuringly. "I've always practice self bondage, so being handcuffed wasn't really the issue with me. I can handle that. It's the whole being locked in a prison cell that I struggle with."
"You practice self bondage," Taeko stared at her, wide eyed.
Rikona gave her a nod of understanding. "Most girls hate being restricted like that. But me...there's something exciting about it. Not that I'd want to be tied or chained up forever, but for me it fun for about a half hour or so."
"I guess so," Taeko sighed. "Me...I've only been handcuffed, and it's still weird to me. Granted, I could handle it and would probably let Nova handcuff me briefly, but I'd rather leave it behind once I get out."
"I doubt Nova would ask. During the brief time I saw him, he was horrified when he and Hanoashi discovered my particular hobby. Though he was like seven...eight at the time."
"Yeah, when he and I was dating in America, he never brought it up." Taeko admitted quietly. "Like I said I could probably handle him handcuffing me from time to time now, but the suggestion back then would have been a deal-breaker."
"Hanoashi was the same," Rikona sighed. "Always refusing my offers to let her try it, though we really didn't discuss it much. I'd offer, she'd refuse, and that'd be the end of it."
"Would you want to tie her up?" Taeko asked quietly.
"It's not so much that I wanted to more than I wanted to let her know that she could ask me to help her try it as apposed to trying it herself or with someone I didn't know." Rikona admitted. "It's a dangerous hobby if you don't know what you're doing."
"True," Taeko shuddered as she remembered her father...or so called former father telling her about the dangers of letting a guy simply have his way with her, and how being tied or chained up could herald the end of her, and even if she managed to escape that she might be left without a limb or a seriously damaged limb.
Hanoashi sat down, dressed in her Blue Division spare uniform as she came face to face with Shiho. Gazing down, she let out a silent sigh. "I'm...sorry I couldn't stop them," she whispered.
"No...I...I should have kept a closer eye out on my daughters, and Ami," Shiho rebutted softly. "The only reason why Miho went to Ooarai is because I suggested that she find her path outside of Sensado and left it at that. Had I known that Ooarai was going to close, or that they were going to start up their Sensado team, I'd have sent her to another academy."
"We can't always catch everything, no matter how much we try," Hanoashi noted gently. "Had I realized the meaning behind Ami's words, or registered what she was trying to do, then I'd have walked off and changed clubs, only to feel guilty about the whole Maus incident."
"Ami's words?" Shiho asked, tipping her head in confusion.
"Walking up to Miho, she said, and I quote, Wait, aren't you the daughter of instructor Nishizumi? The instructor has done a lot for me. Is your sister doing well?"
"That's a weird greeting," Shiho mused.
"To me it sounded more like she was warning us not to challenge Miho and propping her up in front of the class. Placing us in a Sensado match right away when she would have been the only one capable of doing well only adds to my suspicion," Hanoashi shrugged. "By the way, what was it that you did for her?" she asked, gazing at her with great curiosity.
"You know how under-performers are expelled from Kuromorimine?" Shiho asked.
"Unfortunately yes, Miho told me all about it," Hanoashi sighed.
"Ami was at risk as her gunnery skills were...rusty to put it lightly. I took pity on her and taught her myself...twice. Once on a Panzer III and another time on a Tiger. She eventually lead the team and began our nearly decade long winning streak in the nationals, and as a result I...suggested she go into the officiating role."
"I'm guessing that she was different than the one I knew?" Hanoashi dared to ask.
Shiho nodded. "She was hard working, and a lot more shy at the time, yet ambitious. I could tell that she had what it took to fit in, she just needed a push back then. Now she needs a good legal lashing."
"I'd have to agree, people are responsible for their own actions. That's why I'm insisting on serving my prison time," Hanoashi needed.
"It wouldn't be on the Sensado team, but...I could help you gain your freedom and even give you a scholarship to Kuromorimine if you want."
"Sorry, but I failed to stop my teammates from acting so recklessly, not to mention spend months on the run. And while my arrest might be considered improper, I did assault that officer," Hanoashi declined.
"I just don't like seeing you in prison is all. I mean you in those handcuffs..."
"I'm growing a bit used to them," Hanoashi admitted. "They're not as bad as I thought they'd be, though I don't really like wearing them."
"I've never been in them before, so I wouldn't know," Shiho admitted. "To be honest though, I was going to give you a scholarship to Kuromorimine, but we had to delay a lot of our paperwork due to the incident with Pravda and by the time we got around to it you had already accepted Ooarai's offer."
"Time's almost up," the guard called.
"Say I had waited and accepted Kuromorimine's offer, do you think I'd have made a good fit for the academy?" Hanoashi asked.
"I wouldn't have offered it if I didn't think you would have been. You know me better than that," Shiho chuckled. "If you change your mind, let me know, alright?"
"Alright...but I won't be changing my mind," Hanoashi whispered softly as an officer came in and gently escorted her out of the room. As she was lead into the changing room, she inwardly let out a sob. If I had just waited a bit or did my due research, I could have avoided this whole situation! She realized in horror.