It was still Sunday.

It was getting late into the evening now, and Retsuko was nowhere Resasuke had assumed she was. Instead, she was somewhere completely new, a fancy restaurant. Usually Retsuko would never go to these places in attempt to save money, but she wasn't paying, so it was fine with her. 

Who was paying was instead Washimi and Gori. They had stolen Retsuko away all day so far, taking her to multiple places around the city. This was their last stop for tonight though, and neither Washimi nor Gori wanted to leave. 

"This was really nice guys...but I have to get home soon...we all have work tomorrow..." Retsuko sighed, stirring her drink repeatedly. "Oh c'mon Retsuko...just one more drink?" Gori pushed, leaning over the table a bit towards Retsuko. "I haven't been drinking all night you guys...I don't want a hangover at work tomorrow. If anything you should stop drinking Gori..." Retsuko chuckled a bit as she pointed to Gori's empty wine glass. "At least your stable Washimi..." Retsuko looked to the bird, looking composed as always. "Yes, Gori. I think you've had enough.." Washimi's voice took on a bit of a warning tone as she spoke to her friend. 

"Oh fine. Can we at least get some desert?" Gori pleaded, directing her gaze to Washimi. "We....already had desert, Gori.." Retsuko smiled awkwardly at her friend, tilting her head to the side a bit. "We're just waiting on the bill.." 

"Oh.." Gori sat back in her chair, staring at her empty wine glass. "Washimi...you'll take me home....riiight?" Gori didn't take her eyes off the glass as she spoke, her speech starting to slur slightly. "Yes, Gori. " Washimi confirmed, giving a short nod and glancing at her friend. 

"Thanks again guys. Today was awesome. And are you guys sure you want to pay the whole bill? I can pay for at least half if you guys would like..." Retsuko chimed, patting her purse to emphasize her point. "No thank you Retsuko. We have this-" Washimi started to speak until she was interrupted by her friend. "No, no, no nooooo...We...we got this Retsuko...no...no don't worry..." Gori slurred, the alcohol clearly starting to affect her more. Washimi was about to say something when Retsuko laughed, grinning. 

Quickly, Washimi hushed herself, listening to the sweet sound filling the air. She was almost entranced with her laugh. It was so...nice. It made her feel calm, relaxed, happy.....  She could hear that sound forever and never get irritated. And she would make sure she kept Retsuko laughing. For her and....
Washimi turned to look at Gori, also snickering to herself as she swayed drunkenly. 

Did she really want Gori to have Retsuko too? Gori was....

No. No, they were in this together. Washimi would need help anyway, she couldn't get rid of all of Retsuko's followers herself. Plus, it would help bring suspicion away from her if it got to that point. So as much as she was starting to doubt Gori...she was essential to this plan. By the time Washimi had finished her thoughts, though, the laughter had stopped. 

"Well....I have to go...thanks guys, can't say that enough. I'll see you guys later okay?" Retsuko had gotten up from the table, holding her purse and waving.  Leaving the restaurant, Retsuko didn't stop or look back once. How Washimi wishes she did. She could never get enough of seeing Retsuko. Gori couldn't either, but she was too drunk to notice that right now. 

Only when Retsuko was out of sight did Washimi look away, laying a large sum of yen on the table and standing up. "Gori." She stated, grabbing her friends shoulder and lightly pulling her out of her chair. "What...?" Gori answered, letting Washimi walk her to the exit. Gori wasn't staggering, at least. "Gori...we need to start getting with Retsuko more. Have you noticed how others keep trying to get to her? She's so popular that-" "Weeell why would seeee not be popluar.....populer...popular?" Gori interrupted her friend, looking up at her slightly as she tried to speak correctly. 

"Well yes, she's popular for a reason. She's easy to start loving, you know." Washimi paused and looked about, exiting the restaurant with Gori. "That's what everyone seems to be realizing currently, and we can't exactly have that. " Washimi nodded to herself, Gori having looked away from her friend by now. "Yeah....their not goreat enouf for Retsuko..." Gori stammered out, so drunk she didn't notice herself using the wrong 'they're' in her sentence. If that drunken speech was a sentence, even. 

Washimi nodded again, looking forward as she walked her friend home. "Exactly. So we need to do something about it. But we have to plan this. We can't just go out and do this without a plan, at least not successfully. That'll take some time, which is why we should get stared now, but question is...who first?"

"What do you mean, who first?" Gori stated, surprisingly not sounding super drunk as she spoke. "I mean, who do we kill first?" Washimi answered, still looking straight ahead as she walked. "Oh...hats easy.." Gori stated, smiling to herself either from her thought or the alcohol. Or both. "W'ell kill Tadano."

~- - - - -~

"So what your saying is....not one, not two, but THREE guys came to my apartment today?" Retsuko stared in disbelief at her mother, who was calmly stirring a cup of tea. "Yep. Maybe I was wrong about forcing you to date." Retsuko's mom paused before she added, "No, wait, I wasn't. Only your exes came to see you." The older woman nodded, not looking at her daughter. "Oh...why would Tadano and Resasuke come here? If they're expecting me to come back to them they got it all wrong -"  "I told them that, don't worry." Retsuko's mom interrupted, putting a paw up to show her point better. " "Eh.....Well what I don't understand is why they both came at the same time." Retsuko sighed, shutting her eyes for a minute. "I don't either. But do you know someone named Unai?" The older red panda looked up at her daughter, expectant of an answer. 

"Unai? mm....Oh! I think you mean Anai? I know an Anai." Retsuko chirped, smiling for a brief second until confusion hit her face. "Wait, was he the third guy who came here today??" Retsuko now looked up at her mother, it being her turn to expect an answer. "Actually, he was the first guy to come over. He told me to give you this. Real polite guy actually..although he could of looked better. A little editing on his jaw line and he would look-" "Mom just give me the thing." Retsuko sighed, stopping her mother mid-sentence. Retsuko's mother just huffed and shoved the letter towards her daughter, rolling her eyes. 

Retsuko stayed silent for a minute, staring at the letter for a while before opening it up. More perfume busted out of it than she expected, taking her back a bit as she coughed. When she regained herself she looked over the letter, reading. When she finished, she was about to tuck it away before being halted by her mother.. "So you aren't going to read it out loud then?" 

Retsuko sighed, knowing she'd have to read it out to her nosy mother. Opening the letter again she read, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible. "Dear fair Retsuko...."

'I wanted to apologize for all the mistakes I made against you. I cannot say that enough, and if you do not accept this written apology that is my fault. I was such a jerk to you, fair Retsuko.. but your heart is so kind that I don't doubt you in the slightest. You will make someone very happy one day. I hope that day is soon. I love to see you happy, Retsuko. I will help you with anything you need. I will get you anything you want. I will do whatever it takes for you to be happy Retsuko. This small letter can't even amount to all that I feel, Retsuko. Not for what I feel about you. I will protect you. I swear that on my life Retsuko. And the life of others as well. 

Signed, Anai.'

...

"That sounds kind of...stalker-ish..." Retsuko's mom raised an eyebrow at her daughter, looking her up and down. "Yeah..." Retsuko laughed nervously, folding up the letter and putting it in her pocket. "Maybe it just came off the wrong way...? It sounded like he had good intentions..." Retsuko glanced at her mom nervously, her still looking un-amused. "Uh huh. Like when he said 'I swear on my life and others lives as well?' Sounds like he's going to kill someone." The older woman sighed, shaking her head. "Where do you know him from?" 

"Oh, I work with him. I'm still kind of training him, though." Retsuko nodded, not taking her eyes off her mother. "Well, your staying home tomorrow." She nodded, standing up and starting to clean. "Wait- mom I can't! I have to work to earn money and my boss will be-" "Shush! Your staying home tomorrow and that's final! I want to let at least one day pass before you see that Ani guy again." Retsuko's mother shook her head, a stern look on her face.

"First of all, his name is ANAI. But mom-" "No but's!" Retsuko stayed quiet at her mothers new tone. "Look, I know you have to work, you are an adult now. But...Retsuko I am your mother, so of course I worry." The angry tone quickly subsided, taking on a more sympathetic voice now. "I know your staying off of relationships right now, but that doesn't mean that other people are too. I just...let one day pass for your old mom, okay? I'll even help pay some bills if you really missed out on money." She looked and sounded older than she usually did, letting worry spread more wrinkles on her face.

"... Alright fine. ONE day." Retsuko sighed, smiling softly at her mom. "But you better not be bluffing about that money." the younger red panda laughed a bit, causing the older one to smile. "Thanks honey. But don't call for more money than you need, slacker." She turned around and faced the wall to hide her smirk, but it was clear that she was laughing a bit too. 

"Me? Slacker? You should see some of the other people at my office!" Retsuko laughed again, smiling still as she stood. "Oh please, your the one eating snacks instead of full meals here! I swear I saw you eat a whole jar of peanut butter one day, by itself!" Retsuko's mother tried to look serious, but a smile still cracked her face as she laughed back, turning back to face her giggling daughter. "What can I say? I learned that from you!" Retsuko struck back, her laughter doing nothing more but increase. "Hey! That was one time you brat!" The older red panda's laugh also hit a crescendo, a full out smile cracking her normally stern face. 

"Pfft, one time! I aw you eat more than one tub before!" Retsuko kept going, her mother responding with more come backs for each statement. They did this for awhile, at one point even having a small pillow fight as they giggled. This felt....nice. Getting along with her mom like this. Even if she was annoying sometimes, she did love her mother, and her mother loved her back. 

They eventually quit, holding their sides and collapsing on the floor. They wheezed together for awhile, regaining their breath and smiling as a few minutes of silence ensued. Until, of course, it was broken. "Mom?" Retsuko chimed, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Yeah?" The woman answered, trying to find what her daughter was looking at on the ceiling. "Thanks for looking out for me." Retsuko glanced at her mom, who in turn glanced right back. "No problem honey." She responded, looking back up at the ceiling and stretching, tired. "Love you Retsuko."

Retsuko, though, didn't hear that part. She had already fallen into the sweet clasp of sleep, not a worry in her mind. Retsuko's mom chuckled at this, not even bothering to get up as she shut her eyes. "Goodnight, Retsuko." Her mom whispered, erasing all thoughts of Anai and just focusing on the present. 

That was the best thing to do right now. There were far worse things going on that no one would want to think about. In the past, present, or future.