After dealing with the Sweepers in the Black City, Dark Wraith quickly made an exit from Deep Ground. She may return later to mediate any disputes as the Sweepers relocate themselves into the city, but first she needed to speak with Yoshino. What she had to say must have been important if she couldn't simply message it over to Retsu in Deep Ground. Once out of Deep Ground Retsu looked around her room. It was the same as she left it.
"So Yoshino wants to talk huh..."Retsu dressed herself casually. She didn't have anything fancy, so she just put on some tights, a skirt, and a hoodie. She slipped on some converses and headed over to Yoshino's dorm, careful to make sure no one followed her. Wouldn't do her or Yoshino any good if anyone saw her go to the school president's room. On her way she sent Yoshino a message that she was coming.
"I'll knock five times. It should be me."However, Yoshino herself wasn't at her dorm. In fact, she was just now rushing out of the Student Council room after staying in late to file some paperwork. As she crossed the streets that led from campus into the dorms darkness, she expressed mild annoyance. Really, did it have to be right now? She could see how that sort of plan might have backfired on her but it was in the past at this point.
It wouldn't look good if the Student President had been late to her own meeting, though most of the blame could be pinned on Moon Rider for that one. Well whatever. Soon enough, she slipped from the darkness and towards her solitary dorm room, only to freeze when she saw Retsu standing outside her door from a distance.
She frowned, walking slowly and out of sight. All sorts of embarrassing scenarios could be bred from this one mistake alone and she immediately went to planning out methods to get into the room without Retsu noticing.
Retsu waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. She was counting the seconds. When five minutes had passed after she knocked, Retsu knocked again. When another five minutes passed Retsu decided to go for a little walk. Perhaps Yoshino was in the bathroom. Maybe she had taken a quick nap. Retsu didn't get a message from her yet, so she must have some reason to be missing.
As Retsu turned the corner she was debating breaking into Yoshino's room herself. Normally one needs a key to access it but Retsu could easily snap the lock. Though that would look suspicious. Retsu also made a mental note to make a copy of Yoshino's key, on the off chance she needs to get inside of her room.
Likewise, Yoshino waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. When it finally looked like Retsu was moving away from her front door, the Student President adjusted her glasses and released a sigh. Honestly, how determined was this girl? Still, at least now she had a chance of proceeding forward.
Checking Retsu one last time only to find her pacing alone, Yoshino walked with what she hoped to be the utmost silence towards her door. She crossed the stairs, eventually reaching her room on the higher most level. With key in hand, she carefully unlocked the door and slipped inside, hoping she wasn't seen.
Retsu stopped by her room and pick up a little gadget called the Skeleton Key. Unlike traditional keys, Retsu just needed to wiggle this one around the lock of her choice and she'd get an exact copy of the key needed to open the lock. Unfortunately, it was only good for once. She was going to use it to break into Yoshino's room, but first she would knock one more time. Retsu tucked her skeleton key into her shirt as she knocked on Yoshino's door once more.
At the sound of the knocking, Yoshino sighed. Well, she should have expected Retsu to be as persistent as ever. Dressed in simple purple pajamas, she walked over to the door and opened it to greet the other girl.
"Apologies. I was in the shower," she lied while adjusting her glasses.
"Let me guess, Moon Rider sent you, right?"Retsu nodded her heard and took a quick whiff. Either Yoshino had a very drab shampoo or she was lying. She didn't smell wet at all. But Retsu would ignore the white lie and nodded her head.
"May I enter?"Yoshino narrowed her eyes at Retsu's whiff but said nothing about it. Either she could believe her or not. It wasn't going to make much difference any way. So instead, she merely nodded, allowing Retsu access into her dorm room much like before. Pulling up a chair for Retsu while putting some lights on, Yoshino sat across from the other girl in a poised manner.
"Right then. I suppose we should get down to business, yes? Moon Rider has already informed me of the events in DGO. All of them, except of course your battle with the White King. Seeing as you came out of it alive, I assume you either escaped or she spared you."Taking a seat, Retsu began to recount her battle with the White King.
"She did spare me. I arrived to the Red Asphalt District alone, as she said, and battled with her. I had initial difficulties and did my best to duel her, considering my abilities, but ultimately I was at her mercy. The White King intended to use the spar as a pretense to insult you, as she revealed many intimate details about your relationship with her." Retsu paused and looked at Yoshino. She wanted to know what the Student President's reaction to the fact the White King revealed so much personal information about her would be.
Retsu would not be disappointed. To those words, Yoshino tensed up, her hands slowly curling into fists. Personal information? That could mean a wide array of things, especially with her position as Student Body President. She adjusted her glasses just once before staring at the other girl with a dark look.
"What did she tell you Retsu?""She taunted me about what you and her did while dating. Your faults and weaknesses, mistakes you've made, and many things you confined in with her. It seems like she was trying to point out your flaws. The White King was also quite frustrated and intended to kill me while she ranted at me. I had to use your advice to survive." Retsu said nonchalantly. Frankly, Retsu couldn't care less about Yoshino and Chiyo's old romance. There was slightly more pressing concerns.
"I believe she intends to use this alliance as a pretense to get close to you again, this time from the angle of a rival. After I used your advice, she seemed hesitant to continue the fight. I questioned her about her motives and what she intended to do with this alliance. She spoke in circles claiming to simply uphold the purpose of the White Guild. A very tsundere reaction. I believe she still has feelings for you, Tsugumi-San."Yoshino listened to all of this, her expression not changing. She could tell that Retsu didn't really seem to care all too much, simply relaying orders like a soldier. So too would Yoshino resolve and spare the other girl any signs of regret concerning her past actions. The Student President took a few moments to collect herself, her eyes focused more on Retsu's shoulder than her directly.
"I see. She's still as much of a nuisance of ever," she finally said with the utmost calm.
"Well then, it's obvious she still has mixed feelings on the matter as a whole. Though it's laughable to think she was telling the complete truth Goroshi-san. I believe you fell for one of her lies. But regardless of what she thinks she feels, the fact remains that we have an alliance with the White Guild."Yoshino adjusted her glasses while moving out of her seat to turn away. She figured Retsu might want to get home at this point considering how dark it was out. Besides, she had fulfilled her role so far and there was no other reason to keep her here.
"If that's all you have to say Retsu, I'll see you off now. Hearing about Kuroke-san has...dampened my mood. I expect you of all people would take annoyance in hearing my drabbles anyway so have a good night."Retsu wouldn't admit that she was somewhat curious. After all, she wasn't a gossip...that being said, the White King's emotions were certainly something that Retsu could manipulate. Perhaps without Yoshino's permission...though Retsu was going to need to know more about Yoshino if Retsu was supposed to pose as her.
"I understand. However there is something else that concerns me, Tsugumi-san. As you know, the Sweepers have made an alliance with the Black Guild. I do not intend to make many public appearances, but I will be fairly active in Deep Ground now that the Sweepers have played their hand. With that in mind, the chances that I'll have to deal with the White King, under the impression that she is speaking to you, will also increase. For the sake in maintaining my disguise, I would like to know more about you. So I know how to pretend to be like you."To say that Yoshino was surprised would not be appropriate to the situation. In fact, she had suspected something like this would eventually come along in her interactions with Retsu and she soon turned a sharp glare onto the other girl.
"Is that so? Forgive me for being suspicious Goroshi-san, but it seems a little contrived for you to learn yet more about me. After all, we've only known each other for how many hours now? Less than a day I would assume."It was unclear why Yoshino was being hostile at this moment and to this notion of all things. Perhaps Chiyo's actions had affected her in more ways than she would care to admit. Still, she really didn't feel like dealing with Retsu now and hoped that her body language would get the point across. What right did this complete stranger have in knowing anything about her?
"Retsu. You may call me Retsu." Retsu said with a certain air of authority. Despite Yoshino's temper, Retsu didn't seem like she intended to back down either. In fact she stepped closer to Yoshino.
"I will admit that we’ve learned much about each other in a short time. But considering the circumstances what I know isn't enough. You know as well as I do that White Sun intends to seek you out, both in real life and more importantly in Deep Ground. If you wish for me to continue to keep up this facade on your behalf, you will have to work with me. It's only thanks to Chiyo's emotions that she hasn't seen through me. Even with my tasks with the Sweepers I have no doubts she'll seek me out with the intent of finding you. Unless you'll face her yourself, I'm going to need to know more about you so this alliance with her holds.""What's there to learn? Surely you can copy my mannerisms just by observing me," Yoshino pointed out dryly.
"Furthermore, you seem to have played my part perfectly so far. There's not much else to know about me Goros-...Retsu. Pardon me for saying this, but leaning about me only puts you more in a position to betray me," she finished, finally revealing the source of her mistrust.
[colro=black]"Heh..."[/color] Retsu put her hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a chuckle. She was failing.
"Heh heh. Ah ah ha ha ha ha! That's what you're worried about? Aaaah, Tsugumi-san, you have every right to distrust me." Retsu stepped away from Yoshino and walked towards the door, stopping when she put her hand on the doorknob.
"In my line of work, paranoia is survival. If you do not trust me, then I will take my leave. However I do want to make one thing clear: Chiyo will not be fooled for long. I may have your mannerisms, but Chiyo was exploiting your memories. Memories I do not have. Unless you expect me to weave some sort of tale of amnesia, even Chiyo will begin to see the threads. If you do not trust me with your personal information, I'm more than willing to trade parts of my life for parts of yours."Retsu turned towards Yoshino and gave her a smile. It reeked of evil.
"Consider it insurance by mutually assured betrayal. Think about it, Tsugumi-san. We will speak again tomorrow. Goodnight.""Bold words. Alright, you've impressed me," Yoshino said with a sigh.
"If it were up to me, I'd have nothing to do with you Goroshi Retsu. But unfortunately we are only bound to each other's fate due to Moon Rider. And whatever Moon Rider wants, Moon Rider gets. Someone like you, who crawls in the shadows, can't understand the ambition we have. We will sacrifice anything to achieve our goals."Yoshino's eyes practically gleamed behind her glasses as she stared Retsu down. Really, she didn't think this would conclude with a contest of will power alone. But she met what she said behind her words.
"Unlike you, we have nothing to lose. But I'm wasting my words, aren't I? Someone like you can never understand me. It's just the way this world is. Now then. You can have your biography tomorrow," Yoshino said, fumbling with her glasses as she watched for Retsu's reaction. In this world, the only one she could ever rely on was herself. That was the case back then and it shall continue to be so even now. Someone like Retsu could never understand.
"Glad that we've come to an agreement. And lastly, Tsugumi-san...you are right. I can play your part quite well. Heh. See you tomorrow." For a brief moment, there was a look of sadness in Retsu's eye. It was quickly replaced by a look of arrogance. Retsu opened Yoshino's door and left, though not before slipping her skeleton key into the lock after she closed the door. Five seconds later and Retsu had a copy of Yoshino's room key.
