The Kitten's Frustration

The group separated according to Yoruichi's instructions. Sona, Medusa, Line, Kuroka, and Koneko stayed on the 16th floor while Yoruichi dragged Aika to the 17th floor. The two groups on the 16th floor separated in opposite directions so that they'll both have some privacy which is Yoruichi is aiming for.

While evading the monsters, Kuroka and Koneko reached the other end of the 16th floor where a large 'room' is situated. Rumors has it that this room spawns more monsters than any other parts of the 16th floor and it's also thanks to this that Kuroka and Koneko chose this spot to do their hunting.

A few seconds after stepping in the room, five Minotaurs immediately spawned from the walls, "Shirone, can you do it?"

Watching the Minotaurs drop on the floor, Koneko nodded seriously and closed her eyes. Kuroka jumped away from Koneko for her not to disturb her. As the Minotaurs run and growl towards the white cat girl, Koneko is slowly melding a small part of her Ki onto the world to activate some of her Sage Mode abilities.

In about a few seconds, the Minotaurs would reach Koneko and it was then she opened her now red-wine eyes. Her canines grew longer and ears and tails caught on small white flames. The blue pigment around her eyes didn't appear since it's only partial activation of the Sage Mode.

Kicking the ground, Koneko jumped in the middle of the Minotaurs and used most of her strength to punch the monster in front of her. The targeted Minotaur tried to block her fist with both of its arms but it couldn't do anything to the cannon-like punch as it broke both of it instantly and the Minotaur itself flew back to the wall it respawned, on the verge of death.

Koneko, however, didn't watch the result of her attack as she immediately went for the next monster and it was in this fashion that she annihilated the Minotaurs, a minute after they spawned.

But instead of being happy with her progress, Kuroka frowned and asked, "What's wrong, Shirone?" She noticed that she's putting too much strength in each of her attacks which is something Koneko shouldn't do after her first punch almost killed the Minotaur despite its blocking. Instead of adjusting her power release, her attacks became more and more violent, 'Is the Sage Mode affecting her mind again?'

However, instead of answering her, Koneko faced Kuroka with her flames getting stronger and the blue pigment around her eyes manifesting along with her third tail made out of white flames, "Kuroka-neesama... Please spar with me."

"Shirone?" Kuroka became confused and slightly nervous at her behavior, "D-Did I do something wrong?"

Koneko shook her head, "You did nothing wrong, nee-sama..." However, her battle intent became more intense that Kuroka had to become alert to receive any incoming attack. And just as she expected, Koneko started attacking even without waiting for her to agree.

With the use of Flash Step, Koneko reappeared on Kuroka's right side and threw a punch towards her face. Nevertheless, Kuroka didn't panic. She didn't even face Koneko and just shifted her head backward before grabbing her arm and redirected the force behind it to another direction, resulting in Koneko vaulting and spinning uncontrollably in the air.

Still, Koneko was able to find her bearing and land on her feet thirteen meters away from Kuroka, "At least tell me what's going on, nya..."

Koneko stopped her assault and stood straight up while looking on the ground and inaudibly muttering, "Unf..."

Kuroka didn't catch it so she slowly walked towards Koneko, "Hmm?"

With a grieving expression, Koneko looked up towards Kuroka, causing her to stop approaching, and shouted, "It's unfair!"

"What?"

"It's unfair!" Koneko shouted again and this time, she resumed attacking, "It's unfair! It's unfair! You're unfair!"

While dodging the flurry of attacks, Kuroka kept thinking about what she has done wrong for Koneko to act this way causing her to act passively which resulted in Koneko becoming more infuriated, "You're unfair! I'm the one who got close with senpai first!"

It was then that Kuroka finally understood where she's coming from. She knew that Kisuke and Yoruichi would be able to notice her intentions, but she didn't expect that her sister would notice it too. Kuroka is a bit happy that her sister is watching her but also sad and frustrated that she didn't notice her state, "S-Shirone... It's not a big deal... He'll also accept you in the future... I'm sure."

Kuroka is correct. Koneko also noticed Kuroka's intention to go all the way with Kisuke and she also knew that he won't be rejecting her advances any longer, "It's not a big deal!? Maybe for you! Not for me! I've been working so hard for him to accept me! However, even my small advances that took all my courage to do but he only brushed it off to the side! He only sees me as a 'little sister'! But you! You only came recently and you've already advanced your relationship with him at that point!?"

"That..." Kuroka tried of thinking of something to say but failed. She can see the frustration written on her face and she probably has been keeping all of this feeling bottled up until it exploded today.

Still not yet done, Koneko let out everything without holding back, including what she doesn't mean to say, "Do you even like him that much!? Aren't you just using your body to tempt him!? Do you even like him that much!? What you want are just his genes! Anyone strong could do!"

It was this point that Kuroka stopped dodging and slipped through one of Koneko's attacks before giving her a loud slap across her face which caused her to flew back. Koneko wasn't able to catch herself this time as she's feeling dizzy and crashed to the ground.

It took her a few seconds to stand up while gritting her teeth and tasting the blood in her mouth. She's about to resume attacking but when she looked back to her, almost all of her will to continue disappeared. She then recalled the words she just said in the heat of the moment and immediately regretted it.

"N-nee-sama..." Koneko tried to say something, but Kuroka's mixed expression of rage, sadness, and disappointment blanked her head out as this is the first time she ever showed this kind of expression towards her. For the first time, Kuroka became angry at Koneko and started approaching her.

True, Kuroka has these kinds of intentions before and displayed herself as such. But as she is now, Kuroka threw those dirty intentions away so she couldn't help but be angry. She's also disappointed that apparently, Koneko couldn't see that change and became sad that she was able to say all of those things, "True... I do have those intentions and tried to seduce Kisuke. However, I knew he wouldn't fall for it so I gave up. But then, I was able to interact with him more easily thanks to giving that up... I don't know when it started, but imagining myself being touched by men other than him makes me want to puke!

"True! It all started unconventionally! With the pleasure of the body! But I won't allow you to say that I don't like him! That I didn't learn how to love him! I won't allow you to say that my feelings only came from the pleasure of the body! I like and love him for who he is! For how he takes care of us! For how he takes care of me! And most importantly, for his genuine concern for you!" Kuroka stopped in front of Koneko with only sadness remaining on her face, "...I won't allow you... Even if you're my beloved sister..."

Koneko's Sage Mode deactivated as she blankly looked up towards her sister. A few seconds later, tears started rolling from her eyes, "...I-I'm s-sorry... *sob* nee-sama... *sob* I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Kuroka now understood that she didn't mean what she just said about her but her frustration and jealousy towards her are real. Sighing, Kuroka hugged Koneko in her bosom and whispered, "It's alright... It's alright..."

Despite Kuroka's consoling, however, instead of stopping, Koneko's crying became worse as she buried her face in Kuroka's chest and hugging her tightly, "I'm sorry! *sob* I'm sorry! Kuroka-neesama!"

It took a few minutes of patting before Koneko calmed down and stopped crying. Also during that time, few Minotaurs appeared but Kuroka burned them with her Kasha.

"I'm sorry, neesama... I didn't mean what I said." For the nth time, Koneko apologized.

"It's fine. I also understand your frustration... and jealousy."

Koneko looked down to avoid meeting Kuroka's eyes, "..."

Kuroka, however, continued speaking, "In fact... I'm also jealous of you."

Covered in confusion, Koneko looked up to Kuroka's smiling wryly face.

"I'm jealous of you because he's more concerned about you than me..."

"Nee-sama..."

"So don't be sad... Both of us are jealous of each other..."

"...But we shouldn't..."

"...Right... we shouldn't..."

"What should we do?"

"Hmm... For now, let's think like this. What's yours is mine... And what's mine is yours... We're sisters, so something like that isn't too farfetched."

Koneko doesn't know if she should agree to that, but she's also wasn't against it. While fighting the Minotaurs, the two cat sisters had a long talk.

'Is this the reason Yoruichi separated us?' Kuroka couldn't help but think so.