Love Far Beyond the Ashes

Natural Insincts

Botan pov: Everyone seemed to be pampering me like a lioness; I liked that, but at the same time I knew everyone was taking pity on me. Everyone decided to take a quick nap, so when they all went to sleep, I decided to sneak out.

"Where are you going?" My mother asked

"Out," I replied.

"Are you battle hungry?" My mother asked

"So what if I am?" I asked

"Well then, I'll quench your hunger." She told me

"You wouldn't fight your daughter..." I laughed

"I'll fight my own sister," Sudama said as she ran in, throwing a punch at me. I caught it with ease.

"Do you really want to fight?" I asked

"Yup," Sudama said.

"So we are sisters, but if you've noticed, not all of us are lionesses," I said.

"Huh," Sudama stated.

"You all are blood related," our mother stated.

"Okay," we both said.

We were about to start fighting, but our mother yelled at us to go take this outside so we don't do a ton of damage.

"Just before we begin, I want to know if you've been treating your girlfriend well in bed," Sudama asked.

"What kind of question is that!?" I asked

She smirked and ran at me, trying to hit me due to my loss of composure.

"So crafty!"  I commented

I slashed at her, and she dove under with ease, saying, "I'm strong." Chitose told me

I realized I shouldn't underestimate my sister. I am powerful, but I need to focus. I also think I am underestimating myself. After all, Roboco-senpai really did kill some confidence within me. I was the apex predator, but now I'm less than that. I need to step it up.

"Is Roha strong too?" I asked

"Very," Sudama told me.

That's interesting  I mean, she must be stronger than me if she managed to help me escape from Roboco-senpai after I lost, but I wondered

"Botanically, according to Roha, you only lost because you got distracted by something," Sudama told me.

That was true. I was off guard, but still, that shows I'm weak mentally at least.

"Botan, you worry too much," Sudama commented.

"Do I really?" I asked

"Yeah, I can tell this isn't normal. What is wrong?" Sudama asked

I thought about it. I reunited with Omarun, Nenechi, Aloe, and Lamy-chan. I am overjoyed and I don't want to lose them. I worry about their safety, and thinking about Watame makes me really hungry.

I need to focus or I'll be defeated by more than just Roboco-senpai, but I can't really focus when those five could be in danger at anytime, and now add my family to that.

"In Botan they'll be okay." "Judy focus on yourself sometimes; if you lose, then who will protect them?" Sudama asked

She had a fair point. I hadn't thought about who would save the others if I lost; it wouldn't be me. I need to be there for Lamy-chan and, I guess, the others too.

"You love Lamy; she was pretty cute," Sudama said.

I glared at her and growled, "Don't you dare." I told her 

"If I'm not going to steal her, what kind of sister would I be?" Sudama asked

"That is a good question," I giggled.

"If I stole Lamy from you, I'd be the worst sister, and I want you to love me," Sudama said.

She wants a sisterly bond, something we never had ever since we were separated at some point a while ago.

"I want to be a reliable sister, so please let me help you grow!" Sudama said 

"Maybe we don't have to fight after all," I said.

"Why not?"  Sudama asked 

"We just need to beat my lioness instincts," I said.

"I get it. You think you are too territorial, right?" Sudama asked

"Bingo!"  I said 

That is easier said than done. I need to focus on how to get myself to not be so territorial with Lamy-chan. I claim she is mine all the time; maybe I should stop doing that, but she likes it when I claim her as my own.

"Where the hell are you two?" Roha screamed

"She's awake..."  Sudama sighed 

Roha ran outside and glared at the two of us with rage in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"  Sudama asked 

"I always wanted to kick your asses!" Roha yelled

"What?"  The two of us responded.

"As the strongest sister, I want to see your strength," Roha said.

"The strongest sister?" I sighed 

"I think that title goes to Botan," Sudama said.

"I think that title goes to Sudama," I told her.

She began to pout: "Why don't we have a fourth sister?" She asked 

"Do you think they'd vote for you?" We asked her 

"Correct," Roha said.

There is no way this girl is this full of herself; she thinks she's the strongest one of us. I doubt it after all; I'm crazy strong after all, and Sudama is clearly leagues above me, even if I can accept that.

"Let's have a contest to see who's the strongest." Roha yelled

"Now?"  Sudama asked 

"Correct or are you chicken?"  She asked 

"I'll mop the floor with you," Sudama said.

"I guess a little contest wouldn't hurt," I told her.

I thought about it some more but began to worry about Lamy-chan. Would he leave her alone?

"Don't worry about it," Sudama told me softly.

I nodded; she understood what I was going through right now.

The three of us tried to think of what we could do for a contest, and we came up with a few physical challenges.

"We need to do these quickly!" Roha yelled

"Why?" I asked.

"Mama is making us food," Roha said.

"Well then, let's get this show on the road!" I cheerfully stated

The three of us did some stretches and then got in a triangle.

"We start on three and get it," Roha asked.

We nodded 

"One, two, three!" She shouted

We began our first challenge by going first to the main area of the forest and back.