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It didn't took long for Eris' chauffeur to find his way to the address given by Chiyo and Yoshino's mother. It was a half-city drive, but with all the chaos going about on Deep Ground, the streets were tranquil. In less than an hour, she was in front of the building where Retsu Goroshi was supposed to live, along with Yoshino. The sight of the building made Eris frown. The place reeked of a rotten smell and she was sure that most of those who lived there were as rotten as the stench their home exhaled. Then again, what to expect of a building made to house the daughters of low-life criminals?

[color=9966cc]"Oh, I almost forgot,"[/color] Eris said to herself as she stepped out of her car, taking the time to undo the top most button of her shirt, exposing far more of her bust, including the  than she usually was confortable with, but at least managing to not look like she was walking with a damaged shirt, before going to knock at the door.

The ride back home took a bit longer than it should have, if only because Retsu needed time to deal with things in DGO. Her uncle was mostly understanding, though his attendant was insistant on knowing just what was going on. Retsu wasn't going to bother explaining things to her however, knowing that there was very little she could do even if Retsu did explain. The last thing she wanted was useless induviduals trying to get involved in affairs they have no knowledge of. 

Of course, things in DGO wasn't going to be easy to fix over night. One of the Blue Cities was lost and the alliance with between the Ebony Strykers and the Cobalt Bruisers was jepordized. Sweeper agents loyal to Retsu was far and few, and one of the only ones who responded to her calls was someone from the Scarlet Harleys and simply told her that the agent hasn't received any specific orders in weeks. So either the Scarlet Harley eraser was AWOL or dead. So not much help there either.

Eventually they arrived back to the apartment complex. Yoshino was still out, so one of her uncle's bodyguards offered to carry her back to their room. What Retsu hoped was a quiet trip back to her home took yet another unexpected turn when none other than Eris Reinhardt was at her front door. This surely wasn't a coinisidence: even if Eris was just looking for Yoshino, Retsu took careful measures to ensure that Yoshino moving in with Retsu was kept a secret. The red-head made a note to herself that there may be yet another traitor among her people.

[color=cd2626]"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. One thing after another, and somehow you're always involved in it. Here to finish the job?"[/color]

The disdain on Retsu's glare was expected, obviously, yet this wasn't why Eris was here. She had only one objective, as long as it was fulfilled, Eris didn't had a reason to argue with Retsu. Taking a moment to breath and look as little offensive as she could, Eris said, [color=9966cc]"I cannot imagine what you mean, Retsu Goroshi. Contrary to what you believe, I'm not here for any sort of conflict. I came because Chiyo and Yoshino's mother told me that I could find her here."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"The only thing I want is to know if she's well. I mean, I'm sure she should go to a hospital after what happened this morning,"[/color] Eris said with a legitimate look of worry in her eyes. [color=9966cc]"Can I at least talk to her? I'm fine with waiting here, or in my car, if you don't want me inside your house."[/color] As befits Eris, she didn't look like she was lying, in fact the aprehension was visible in her face.

[color=cd2626]"Do you know what happened to her?"[/color] Retsu was genuinly curious. Eris was a pain in the ass, but she wasn't the type to go out of her way to do something underhanded like attack people. Con them maybe, atagonize them into attacking her possibly, but somehow Eris convincing Bel to choke out Yoshino seemed...out of character for her. That being said, Retsu also wanted to know if Eris even knew or if she was just being used too. In fact, Retsu didn't exactly make Yoshino's injuries public. She made sure to escort Yoshino out after everyone else left (Leaving Alex to deal with Bel alone back at the backrooms). So how exactly Eris knew about this put a lot of red flags up to Retsu.

[color=cd2626]"And why would Chiyo know where I live?"[/color] Of course given that it was Chiyo, it wouldn't be hard for someone like her to know through the grapevine of her family's business. They were the worse type of criminals; they were politicians. Oh sure they did do smuggling and such before, but that was just a stepping stone to legally screw people over, much like what DGO is. But that wasn't important right now. [color=cd2626]"Forgive me if I seem paranoid, but this past hour hasn't exactly been great. And frankly with all the drama you've caused just this past week, you seem to be a magnet for trouble."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"You seem to have misunderstood me again,"[/color] Eris said as Retsu questioned her about how she found out about Yoshino's whereabouts, shaking her head when she noticed that she was going off-track. [color=9966cc]"Never mind, how I found about here isn't important. The answer for you other question is simple, really. After I saw what happened with Moon Rider it was obvious that Yoshino wasn't well, there's very few things that can cause someone's avatar to collapse like that and none of them are good ones."[/color] Eris made a brief pause to let her words register on Retsu's mind before continuing, [color=9966cc]"I know that my behavior wasn't the best, and I'll not try to produce any excuses. I'm sincerely just worried about Yoshino's well-being— after the talk I had with her the other day, I feel... I feel that we got a bit closer and I wouldn't like to jeopardize it because of a game."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"You don't even need to let me see her, Retsu Goroshi, I know you aren't the trusting type and, sincerely speaking, you don't have any reason to trust me,"[/color] This was very much likely going to be Eris' last appeal, she made sure to measure her words well, before finishing it, [color=9966cc]"Just take her to the hospital. For that to happen, she must be at some risk of brain damage. The last thing I want to see is someone like her falling into a coma she wouldn't wake from ever again, or something even worse. That's all I'm asking of you, Retsu Goroshi, as a human being, not an extension of my online persona."[/color]

[color=cd2626]"Do you know. What happened. To Yoshino?"[/color] This was the important question that Retsu wanted to know. Eris made her thoughts clear about the Sweeper's methods and like Eris, Retsu wasn't going to defend it. But it was certainly hypocritical for her to critize the Sweeper's actions if she is willing to overlook what happened to Yoshino, which Retsu honestly thinks Chiyo and Eris had something to do with. Retsu was in no real position to really accuse her of this, but it did annoy her how much Eris says she has the moral high ground, but still has to go out of her way to validate her humanity. At least Retsu doesn't attempt to hide her cruelty; she just keeps it low key. [color=cd2626]"And if you do, then know that it's only going to get worse from here on out. And if you don't, consider this a warning then and make your decisions carefully."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"If you are asking if I know the specifics of what happened to Yoshino, then the answer is no,"[/color] Eris replied. [color=9966cc]"What I know is that she's the only person within that auditorium that could be Moon Rider. If it was you, you wouldn't be standing here, talking to me. It's not from today that I suspect this, really, but I'll leave the explanation of my deductions for a more timely opportunity. Like I said, there's only a handful of things that can cause an avatar to behave like that, everyone who plays Deep Ground knows that."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"I'm just worried, you don't need to threaten me, I don't even plan to hold her secret against neither of you. Blackmail is far bellow my standards,"[/color] the platinum-haired girl added. [color=9966cc]"If you excuse me, I need to go back home. My sister is waiting for me and I don't want to leve her alone. All I ask of you is that you tell me when you take Yoshino to the hospital. I want to visit and, if possible, make good of a promise I made to her."[/color]

Retsu narrowed her eyes at Eris. Honestly, Retsu didn't plan on taking Yoshino to a hospital and planned on bringing the family physician to oversee Yoshino's recovery at Retsu's home. After today's attack Retsu just couldn't feel safe leaving Yoshino anywhere outside an area she couldn't control. There wasn't any hospital that wasn't already shady, or somewhere she couldn't defend. But now she was put in a spot. Retsu wanted to keep Yoshino's injuries secret, but since Eris knew she'd be watching. And now that she's watching Yoshino, and knows where she lives, and knows that she lives with Retsu, Retsu has now found herself in an unwanted position: noticed.

She couldn't keep Yoshino's condition a secret, especially not with someone as volitile as Eris taking a personal interest. Sighing Retsu sent a message back to her uncle that they'll need to make another visit. But before Eris left, Retsu had one final thing to say to her. [color=cd2626]"Maribel tried to choke out Yoshino. The alliances between the Cobalt Bruisers and Ebony Strykers are effectively shattered after what she did. Chiyo seems to know nothing about it, but it's very convinent that this happened for her. If you want to know what happened to her, I suggest you find the Blue King. I have questions myself."[/color] Retsu walked away from Eris to go inside her room. She and Yoshino were going to need a change of clothes for the next few days. That, and she'd need to sort out some personal matters. Maribel, the Erasers, White Sun, and so much more. Times like this Retsu wished she actually had friends.

[@KoL][@TheWindel]