Blazepanzer here, just wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to read my story so far! Hope you enjoy the new chapter as well...also made some minor adjustments to the first chapter. Nothing major, just a few corrections I missed and such.
Fair warning, this is where young Hanoashi's life changes drastically. With that being said, enjoy! Note that Blazepanzer does not own Girls und Panzer!
It was a warm spring day, and it wouldn't be too long until summer vacation, and the students were excited for the break, but also eager to get their work done.
Hanoashi was one of the students. At this time she was wearing a beige ruffled sleeveless dress and matching feminine gladiator style sandals. She was now 106 centimeters in height, having grown a bit over the past three months she started school.
She, like the other students, was working diligent on their arithmetic, or math as they called it. Specifically they were doing their little count bys.
Why can't they just call this what it is, multiplication...Hanoashi muttered inwardly, her eyes narrowing as she focused on her work. She pushed the thought from her mind for the umpteenth time, and forced a smile as she began to rush through the work. Little more than a review thanks to mom...then again she was always apt to teach when she wasn't on the work site. Gives her friend Mina a good opportunity to earn a bit of money babysitting.
However, as she was about to finish, she heard the intercom come on. "Hanoashi Katoni to the main office, Hanoashi Katoni to the main office." a feminine voice echoed into the mic.
Okay...now what? She muttered, ignoring the whispers and stares of her fellow classmates. As she did she caught the gaze of a Japanese boy with amber hair and brown eyes. He whispered a quiet "you'll be okay" as a gesture of comfort.
"I hope so Yukaro," she smiled quietly as she gazed at him, wanting to stay and chat with him first, but she knew that it would not be appreciated of she stayed. Walking out of the doors, she let out a quiet sigh. We really ought to just become friends already, she noted to herself, blushing a bit.
Glancing up at the ceiling, she remembered when she had joined in with the jeers at any time one of her classmates was called into the office. Unfortunately for her, she had the brilliant idea of bragging about it to her brother, Nova, in earshot of her mother, who promptly took her to the restroom and washed her mouth out with soap. Her father had made her a dentist appointment the next day, reinforcing the idea that mocking those who were called to the office was inappropriate.
"What did you do sis?"
"Nothing as far as I know..." Hanoashi sighed, turning to her brother. "Wish I did know what this was about though..."
"Same with me Maple, but I was called to the office.
"Maple?" Hanoashi shook her head. "What is up with you and everyone trying to give me a nickname all of a sudden?" she added in exasperation.
"Better than Westeria, right?" Nova prompted cheekily.
"My hair is a natural red, not dyed purple," Hanoashi shook her head.
"What's wrong with hair dye anyways?" Nova shrugged.
"The Lord gave us our natural hair color, we should show it off with pride, not try and hide it behind toxic chemicals," Hanoashi noted pointedly.
"Read up what the King James Bible says about pride sometimes Sis," Nova muttered, shaking her head.
"You know what I mean," Hanoashi muttered. Although their mother had taken the name Katoni and not Matsumino as was tradition when marrying into the prestigious family, Yu had insisted on training them up in the way of the Matsumino. As a result, not only were they highly advanced in terms of their math and language skills, they were also required to read the bible.
According to Yu, the Matsumino did not require their children to become a Christian, only to adhere to the book of Proverbs, though reading the book in it's entirety was noted as a requirement. Hanoashi in particular found Proverbs to be a fountain of wisdom. Nova on the other hand found the wars more fascinating, and the disobedience of the children of Israel extremely frustrating.
"So really, do you have an idea of what's going on?" Hanoashi asked quietly.
"No idea, but if they called us both, it must be fairly serious," Nova shrugged.
"How bad could it be?" Hanoashi noted skeptically.
"You have no idea sis," Nova shook his head.
As they entered the office, they noticed that their aunt Sheila was there, with a smaller girl around Hanoashi's age standing next to her. She had long, waist length brown hair, light green eyes, and appeared fairly dutch with perhaps an ever so slight hint of Japanese to her hair texture. She was also a bit taller than even Nova so to speak, who was 120 centimeters already.
"What did you do to her Nova?" Hanoashi whispered.
"I could ask you the same thing, but I did nothing," he retorted in return.
"Ah good, you are here, we must hurry," Shelia urged.
"Hurry...why?" Hanoashi asked quietly.
"There was an accident at the work place. Your father is expected to survive...but..." Shelia trailed off, before her gaze hardened. "Yu's waiting for you," she added, before placing her hand on Hanoashi's shoulder, ushering her out of the room. Glancing back, she noticed that her bother and the girl was following, though she didn't register the significance of this at the time.
Please let mom and dad be alright! Hanoashi prayed fervently.
"So where do we sit, may I sit in the middle?" the girl asked quietly.
"I'm sorry...but who are you?" Nova asked quietly.
"This is Rikona Matsumino, my daughter," Shelia smiled.
"You kept a cousin from us?" Hanoashi hissed in disbelief and anger. Aside from Shelia, Midriti and Yu, the Matsumino had been ignoring is like the plague and here Shelia was, holding a cousin from us! she ranted inwardly, ill pleased at the revelation.
"Quiet Maple, I'm sure that she had her reasons," Nova chided, but even he was being weary about the whole situation.
"I did..." Shelia muttered, before shaking her head. "We're wasting time," she added.
"I'll take one side, Rikona, you can the middle," Nova offered.
"Great!" Rikona smiled.
Sitting on the right side of the car, Hanoashi suddenly felt a bit self conscious about being next to her cousin, but there was a twinge of excitement over meeting a new family member.
"So you are Maple?" Rikona asked.
"Hanoashi," she sighed in resignation. "My moss-brained brother here just has this habit of giving me nicknames over the past two weeks," she added half in amusement, half in exasperation.
"Plant foot?" Rikona asked.
"Wanna make something of it?" Hanoashi challenged.
"No no, there's nothing wrong it it, actually it's a pretty name," Rikona raised her hands up defensibly.
"She's a bit sensitive about it,"Nova shrugged. "More than a few strangers has made comments about it."
"Shush you," Hanoashi hissed.
"Oh I see..." Rikona noted in slight amusement.
"It's usually something biased off of my hair color...my nickname. It's Maple now, but once it was Autumn, another time it was Amaryllis. If I was the swearing type I'd swear that somehow someone's going to give me a nickname biased off of my hair color and it's going to actually stick," Hanoashi muttered.
"Must be annoying," Rikona sympathized.
"In the I'll laugh about it to myself in a bit kind of way," Hanoashi shrugged. "Kinda jealous of you though," she added.
"Why's that?" Rikona asked, alarmed.
"Your brown hair. My red hair is usually tolerated in Nishmari and in Ooarai...but people stare at it outside of those two towns. It's infuriating," she huffed.
"Why not dye it brown?" Rikona asked.
"The Lord made me a natural red head, and I'm going to show that off with pride," Hanoashi declared.
"Again sis, read up on what the King James Bible says about pride," Nova shook his head.
"Not in that kind of pride," Hanoashi huffed.
"If you say so," Rikona noted, mischief in her light green eyes.
I think I like this girl! Aunt Shelia...may I see the other Matsumino? Hanoashi laughed inwardly, though she didn't dare place her thoughts into vocal it was true that she wanted to meet the others, she knew that the Matsumino didn't really seem to want anything to do with her...Sheila and Medriti aside. And now Rikona aside.
"Aunt Shelia, the seat-belt is bothering me," Hanoashi muttered after a bit.
"Tough, you have to wear it," Shelia huffed. Glancing back, she give Rikona a stern warning through the mirror. "And don't you even think of asking it young miss!" she growled.
"What...me...never!" Rikona promised.
"Good...last thing I need is for them to think you as being weird," Sheila huffed.
Um okay...should Nova and I be concerned? Hanoashi mused to herself.
"So...you in school, Rikona?" Nova asked.
"Yep! Currently going to Kohnodai Girl's Elementary school," Rikona smiled.
"Is it any good?" Hanoashi asked.
"Yeah, more city-like than Nishmari but..."Rikona trailed off glancing at her legs briefly, before sighing. "Personally, I kinda like your school better, at least from what I've seen of it," she added.
"It's a pretty good school, not that Maple and I have been to any other schools before," Nova shrugged. "Kinda wish that sis and I were in the same grade though, kinda worry bout her from time to time."
"I'm perfectly fine where I am...but...thanks for thinking of me..." Hanoashi began hotly, but grew shy. She was thankful that he was always looking out for her, even if it could be annoying sometimes.
"Maybe sometime you two can see my school," Rikona suggested.
"Kona Dear..." Shelia warned gently.
"Just saying..." Rikona muttered.
Okay...that was weird...Hanoashi mused, but kept quiet. While her mother had fully adopted the Katoni traditions and lifestyles, she had taught her and Nova as if they were Matsumino...for the most part. Part of that was that you tried to not ask pointless questions nor make pointless mummurings. A work in progress given that they both were still quite young, but it was clearly coming along good.
Aside from all the snootiness when it came to the guys the girl's married, the Matsumino way of life meshed in well with the Katoni, the main difference between the family philosophies in life is that the Katoni didn't have the prestige nor financial resources of the Matsumino.
Yu always described it as thus, the Matsumino believed in charity through resources, where as the Katoni believed in charity through actions. They didn't have the same resources as the Matsumino, but they did believe in helping others out when and where they could, which often came in the form of work over money. That didn't mean they were tightwads, rather that they just had to be more cautious with gifting money compared to the other family.
Arriving at the hospital, Hanoashi undid her own seat-belt and began to run before pausing, remembering how dangerous parking lots can be to the careless. "Sorry, just super anxious to see if mother is alright," she apologized.
"I understand," Sheila nodded. "But let's make sure that we don't cause another accident in the process, alright?"
"How bad is it?" Nova asked.
"Very...very bad," Shelia noted, her expression grim.
Following in silently, Hanoashi became more and more apprehensive with each step. They will survive...right? They're not going to die...are they? Hanoashi whimpered inwardly. She felt her brother hand gingerly grasp hers, and she shot him a quiet but grim smile.
What seemed like an eternity later she walked into her mother's room, rushing to her side. "Mother?" she gasped urgently but softly.
She was wrapped up in various bandages and such, so much that not much of her skin was showing despite wearing a sleeveless hospital gown. Very different than the causal short sleeved leather blouse and skirt she had left with this morning, brown and complete with matching stockings and dress shoes.
"You made it in time," she rasped, her throat very hoarse, and gazing at her, Hanoashi realized that she must have suffered a lot of injuries and perhaps smoke inhalation.
"Wha...what happened?" Hanoashi gasped.
"There was a fire at the insurance department...Drake and I..." Yu began to cough, swallowing hard as if to hide something. "We...managed to get every one out in time...but then a pillar fell on me...Drake breathed in too much smoke trying to get me out...He'll survive, but he may never work again," Yu whispered, before turning her gaze to the small brunet girl in the room. "Rikona...may I share a word with you and Hanoashi real quick, privately?" she asked.
Nova and Shelia nodded and exited the room, and Hanoashi gazed at her mother, her heart slowly breaking at how rough she was having it.
"Rikona...you look beautiful...you always did in your pictures, but even more so in person."
"Aunt Yu..." Rikona whispered.
"I know that I have no right to ask this of you...but...will you look after Hanoashi for me?" Yu asked.
"Of course! I've have been visiting her this whole time had I been allowed too. Stupid Matsumino! Well...not you and Mom, you were forced to keep us a secret from each other, but still..." Rikona trailed off, embarrassed at her outburst.
"I know...we Matsumino are way too stubborn...for their own good..." Yu sighed, before placing her bandaged hand on her stomach "I'm so sorry my little ones," she whispered.
Hanoashi's eyes widened in shock. "You're having twins?" she gasped.
"Was going to have twins..." Yu sighed, before shuddering. "Rikona dear, can you bring Nova in now?"
"Yes mother," Rikona nodded, opening the door and calling Nova in.
"Now...my precious children...I need you to promise me that you'll be strong, alright?" Yu begin, coughing, and this time she couldn't hide the spicket of blood she coughed up. "Sorry...they offered me a coma shot...but I insisted on seeing you before I...passed away," she gazed upward, wiping her mouth.
"Don't go mother!" Hanoashi whimpered tears forming in her eyes. "Please...don't go..." she whispered, trying to wipe them away
"I'm sorry...little one..." Yu apologized, before sighing. "Father can only afford to take one of you, and he insisted on you, little Hanoashi. Nova...You'll be going with Nedriti to America...his wife and he will take care of you," she noted.
"Wait...when did Medriti get married?" Hanoashi and Shelia asked at the same time. Nova and Rikona looked just as equally shocked as well.
"He's always been doing that, like how he suddenly asked me out or long before then dropped the Matsumino name out of the blue," Yu chuckled.
"Nova and I should stay together," Hanoashi noted stubbornly.
"Yes...but America is no place for a girl, especially from Japan. The boys are..." Yu shook her head, coughing again.
"But..." Hanoashi sighed, wanting to argue, but not wanting to cause her mother grief. "I'll do everything I can to take care of father," she promised.
"I know you will, precious," Yu smiled, before shaking. "While father recovers though, you'll be staying with Shelia and Rikona. If worse comes to worse, she'll adopt you into her family," she added, before making a small but unsettling sound.
"Let's go..." Shelia whispered.
"Good bye...Mom," Hanoashi whimpered, numbly following them out.
Arriving out of the room, Hanoashi felt her tears begin to flow, unbidden. Before she knew it she felt a hug, and expected to see Nova or Shelia, but saw Rikona instead.
"Cousin," Hanoashi whispered.
"It's okay, cry as much as you need to, I'll shield you from sight," Rikona whispered.
Letting out a few sobs, Hanoashi took her up on her offer.
After a few moments, she glanced up again, noticing Rikona's dress becoming wet. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" Hanoashi gasped.
"It's alright, I'll be there as long as you need...any time for any thing," she promised.
"Th...thank you," Hanoashi whispered, wiping her tears before gazing up at Shelia. "Can we go see father?"
Shelia gazed down. "Sorry, he's in a clean-room right now. Given how much smoke he inhaled he's lucky to make it.
At that time Meditri walked in. "I got here just in time," he breathed as a woman with long black hair and amber eyes gave him a reproachful look. "You no better than to run in the hallways," she growled at him.
"Actually...you're a bit late, Yu passed just moments ago," Shelia huffed. "And Chenoa is right, you really shouldn't be running in the halls like that," she added.
Is this Medriti's spouse? Hanoashi mused. She's really pretty...but different. Similar to the native Japanese, but still the skin tone and facial features are...different than ours. She'd later learn that Chenoa was mostly Cherokee with a touch of German and England mixed in, not that you could tell by looking at her.
"I am Chenoa Reno," the girl introduced herself. "I recently married Meditri two weeks back so to speak, which would make me your Aunt in law."
"I'm Hanoashi Katoni, and this is my brother Nova Katoni," Hanoashi introduced. "Oh...and this is Rikona Matsumino, my cousin," she added with a smile which was returned by said brunet.
"It's very nice to meet you all, Medriti speaks highly of you three," Chenoa smiled, before turning to Shelia and Medriti. "Is it wise to...you know..." she cast a guilty glance toward the two siblings.
"Yu already told them...and unfortunately the Matsumino would only take pity on Hanoashi, not Nova," Shelia sighed.
"Why's that?" Hanoashi huffed.
"Because the Matsumino are Maus damned hypocrites!" Medriti hissed.
"Now is not the time dear," Chenoa urged.
"Of course," Medriti apologized.
"I think I'll like living with those two," Nova reassured her. "I mean being separated sucks...and I still miss Mother...but..."
"You find those two interesting?" Hanoashi inquired.
"I'm sorry," Nova sighed.
"No need to be, they do seem like an interesting couple," Hanoashi noted. "And Mom wouldn't want us to dishevel ourselves into useless lumps over her passing..." she trailed off, trying to hold off a sob. "Not that it's easy..." she added, her voice cracking with grief.
"We need to get everything we need," Shelia sighed. "Nova, Rikona, Hanoashi, let's get into the car," she added.
"Yes ma'am," Hanoashi noted, following their aunt into the car slowly.
"So...when did you find out about us?" Nova softly asked Rikona as they trailed behind a bit.
"Only when we got to the car after mom got an urgent phone call. I was excited to discover you and Hanoashi, but disappointed that you had been hid from me." She then glanced at him curiously. "I'm guessing that this is the first time you heard about me?"
"Yeah, it was," Nova sighed.
"I had my suspicions that Aunt Shelia was pregnant in my birth photo, but I never bothered to ask about it," Hanoashi confessed. "I'm...guessing that was you?"
Rikona shrugged, but then nodded. "Had to have been. I was born in early September, so..."
"I see. I was born in April, so..."
"You're the older one of us then," Rikona chuckled.
"Nova's older than either of us, being born in March of, 1995" Hanoashi noted.
"So he's just over two years older than you," Rikona noted.
"So...are they any rules I need to know about...living with you Aunt Shelia?" Hanoashi asked.
"Shouldn't be much too different than living with Yu and Drake...but uh...might ought to avoid the guests for a bit, they might take offense to your presence unless you become fully adopted," Shelia warned.
"Why?"Hanoashi huffed, clearly offended, but deep down she felt a small twinge of fear. Not too sure that I want to be part of a family when I'm not even wanted.
"Well dear...they never approved of the marriage between your parents," Shelia paused, gazing down. "So they might not appreciate you being there..."
"Will I have to take the name Matsumino?" Hanoashi asked quietly. "And why didn't they approve of their marriage? They made a fantastic couple from what I've seen..."
"Unfortunate, yes, but only if Drake doesn't pull through. And he will...if nothing else but for your sake," Shelia smiled at her before frowning. "As for why, the Matsumino are hypocrites, the guys can marry any old girl off the streets and be fine but if I girl wants to marry someone from a lower class...Maus help you," Shelia sighed.
At once Hanoashi felt anger boiling up in her. "I don't give a care what they say, I shall marry whomever I wish," she growled.
"And you have my full support in that endeavor, just as Yu had," Shelia smiled warmly at her. "But I should warn you, you'd be giving up anything the Matsumino as a whole could give you, just as Yu and Medriti's did," she added.
"Thanks...but I don't care about those gifts if they are so stingy about them," Hanoashi huffed, crossing her arms in anger.
She caught Nova and Rikona sharing a concerned look, but didn't respond, too repacked with anger and grief. How dare they! She hissed to herself. Stupid Matsumino, abandoning their daughter just because she wanted to marry my father...
After a bit she calmed down, as they began driving with Medriti and Chenoa following in the car behind them. "I'm sorry, just upset about finding out that my parent's marriage wasn't approved...thanks for supporting us Shelia, Rikona," she apologized suddenly.
"It's no problem, and I don't blame you for being so upset about this," Shelia smiled. "Believe you me, I was really mad when they disowned my sister," she added.
"So they went that far..." Hanoashi mused quietly, gazing at her hands resting in her lap.
"I'm sorry," Rikona whispered, placing her hand on Hanoashi's."
"It's not your fault, Rikona," Hanoashi whispered back, taking comfort in gesture.
When they arrived at the Katoni home, Hanoashi wondered through the house, a growing sadness threatening to erupt from her. "Gotta stay strong," she whispered stubbornly, every step reminding her that things would never be the same. Her siblings...gone. Her mother...gone. Her father expected to survive, but...
"We'll be grabbing any clothes and pictures you need. Nova, if You have any toys you want to take with, now's the time," Shelia noted.
To her surprise Nova shook his head. "Leave them for sis," he noted gently.
"A...alright then," Shelia smiled, but unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
Hanoashi headed to her room, packing up as many things as she needed, including her picture album that her mother had made for her. Opening it up briefly, she let out a quiet sigh at her birth photo. "I'll never see her again in this life..." she whispered, shutting the book as she began to erupt into tears.
A gentle hand on her shoulder revealed that Rikona was by her side, and she allowed the dutch girl to comfort her, before she let out a small sigh and placed the album into her bag.
One by one her necessities and a number of prized possessions were packed up. Not everything mind you, but enough to which she could live comfortably at Shelia's for the next month or so.
Stepping downstairs, she noticed that Nova was waiting for her. Unable to bear it anymore, she ran up and hugged him. "Please don't go," she whimpered.
"I have to sis...but I'll never forget you, and I'll visit and communicate as much as possible. So you'd better not forget me, alright?" Nova stated gingerly as he likewise embraced her.
"I...I'll never forget you Nova...how could I? You are the best older brother a sister could ever ask for...and you're my brother..." Hanoashi whispered, before pulling back and wiping her tears. "I guess this is goodbye," she added somberly.
"Take care...sister," Nova whispered as he turned his back, picked up his last box and followed Medriti out of the door.
Sighing, she turned to Shelia and Rikona, her new family. "Let's...just go..." she noted tiredly, clearly worn out by all of this grief and loss and sudden change in her life.
"Alright then," Shelia noted, and the two climbed into the car, this time setting on opposite sides of each other.
Hanaoshi gazed out of the window, her mind beginning to wonder a bit. Will Nova be alright? Can I fit into the Matsumino...at least until Father recovers? What if he doesn't...can I make the family proud? Also...what would they be like...my twin siblings that died with mother?
"You alright, Hanoashi?" Rikona asked quietly.
"Huh? Oh...yeah...I'm fine," Hanoashi sighed, turning to gaze at the brunet. "Just...thinking."
"Anything I can do to help?" Sheila called from the front.
"Can you put on the news?" Hanoashi asked.
"You might hear of the fire," Sheila began.
"That's what I'm hoping for," Hanoashi noted.
"Alrighty then," Shelia shrugged, turning on the news.
"In other news, it looks like it'll be a nice day, perfect for those seeking a quick swim after school or work. And with summer vacation coming on, the kiddos will be especially eager to have some fun in the sun," A male voice echoed through the speakers.
We were planning a road-trip to the tip of Japan and go camping all summer...Hanoashi mused sadly.
"Will Hanoashi be going on our road trip with us?" Rikona asked.
"I don't see why not?" Shelia smiled.
"This just in, a fire in the economic center of Ooarai has occurred in the Yagoti Insurance company building. Most made it out with only minor burns to no injuries, but one couple is in the hospital with serious injuries," a news anchor noted.
Mom and Dad! Hanoashi gasped inwardly, leaning in...or she made an effort to try too, what with the seat-belt holding her back. Stupid seatbelt! she ranted, glaring at the strap briefly.
"Yes...our hearts and prayers go out to the family and...this just in, we've discovered that the family is a Drake and Yu Katoni respectively," the second anchor, a female, noted.
"Supposedly Yu just discovered that she was expecting twins and would go on maternity leave in the next two months," the first news anchor noted, his voice drenched in worry. "Now with two lives in the balance...we can only hope that everyone can pull through."
"More details to come in later." the second news anchor sighed off.
"They're a bit late on that," Hanoashi noted.
"They can only share the information they receive," Shelia noted to her softly.
"I guess so," Hanoashi mused.
Just as they arrived into the family parking lot, the news castors came back on the air. "This just in...a sad day for Nishmari residents. Today, at 1:45 PM, Yu Katoni passed away from her injuries."
"Not only did the twins not make it, being too young for an emergency procedure, but we've also discovered that they had two older children, a boy and a girl. For privacy reasons we are going to withhold their names..."
"Say my name you coward," Hanoashi hissed, glaring at the car's speakers.
"Don't blame the speakers," Shelia shrugged. "They're just trying to protect you...not that it'd do any good considering that..."
"I know," Hanoashi sighed gently.
"From what we understood, Drake and Yu worked tirelessly to try and get everyone out, and as they were on their way out a pillar fell onto YU's stomach, and Drake, refusing to leave her side, inhaled too much smoke."
"That pillar falling on Yu probably doomed the twins," one of the news anchors mused.
At that Hanoashi felt tears flood through her face again, and this time the sobbing was inconsolable.