Earth Land, Ishgar, kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
August 7, x791.
"Come on, Yoruichi, don't look so nervous." Elicia, wearing a black bikini with white ruffles, said while reclining on a deck chair in the Mansion on the Lake' Grotto. "I mean, the worst Fonzie can say is that he doesn't want to be with you. It's not like he'll forbid you from coming around or anything. And given enough time, you might be able to change his mind, you know?"
Currently, while Alfonzo and Retsu were out in the countryside around magnolia having their duel, Elicia, Erza, and Rika were enjoying themselves at the grotto with Yoruichi, who was thinking herself into a nervous wreck. And because it was still summer, the ladies were naturally all dressed in swimsuits custom made by Elicia.
"Indeed." Erza, dressed in a solid red bikini, added solemnly while wading in the grotto's water. "Alfonzo has incredibly high emotional intelligence. There's no way he hasn't seen just how much effort you've put into making yourself a better person. Although I can't say that he would definitely accept you, at the very least, he won't scorn you for bettering yourself."
"Besides, just think, if he does accept you, I bet you'll have a good time tonight." Rika, wearing a white one-piece swimsuit with purple accents, said while waggling her eyebrows suggestively as she sat near the waterline with her feet barely submerged. "He'd probably be ready to rack his firearm and help you with some target practice, if you know what I mean."
Hearing what Rika had to say, Yoruichi, wearing a black and orange one-piece swimsuit, could not help but roll her eyes. Even so, it was clear to see that some of the tension in her expression had softened as a small, amused smile curled her lips.
"Honestly, being rejected isn't the issue." Yoruichi replied while shaking her head gently while sitting upright on a deck chair near Elicia's. "It's more about what I told him when we reunited a couple years ago. I mean, I did tell him that I wasn't allowed to go back to the Soul Continent until I convinced him to take me as his wife. And now that I think about it, I really regret telling him that."
With that explanation, Elicia and Rika wore expressions of realization. Erza, on the other hand, frowned slightly in confusion.
"Is that a problem?" Erza, not one to just stew in her confusion, asked what was on her mind.
"She's afraid." Elicia said softly. "Afraid that Alfonzo will misunderstand and think she's only making a move because she wants to be allowed to go home."
"Exactly." Yoruichi said with a nod.
"But like I said, Alfonzo is smart enough to see through that." Erza reiterated. "All you have to do is be sincere, and he will understand."
"Erza's not wrong." Rika pointed out. "Just be yourself and tell him the truth. That will be enough for Alfonzo to see the truth. In fact, if I had to guess, the only reason he did not accept you from the start was because of the other girls and what they thought. But since you managed to make a mends with them, there shouldn't be a problem."
"*Sigh* Unfortunately, that's probably not true." Elicia said while shaking her head once again. "That stunt that Yoruichi and I pulled really damaged Fonzie's trust in us. So badly, in fact, that if I hadn't known him so long, there's a chance that he would have broken up with me, too. Honestly, the punishment I got from the other girls was me getting off lightly."
That brought the mood down quickly. Yet, it did not last long.
"Speaking of which..." Rika said while tapping her chin with her right index finger in contemplation. "I still don't' even know what happened back then. Kinda makes any advice I just gave sound kinda hollow, doesn't it?"
A moment later, Rika's expression spread into a mischievous smile as she leaned towards the deck chairs.
"So, why don't you two tell me the story." Rika said in a tone filled with excitement for a bit of gossip. "Then, I can try tailoring advice better suited for the situation."
That statement only made the atmosphere more awkward. Elicia, Erza, and Yoruichi exchanged glances. Meanwhile, Rika's mischievous grin turned awkward.
"Uh... Did I just stick my foot in my mouth?" Rika asked sheepishly. "You know what? How about we just forget I asked?"
"*Sigh* No, I'll own up to my mistake." Yoruichi said after a few seconds of awkward eye contact with Elicia and Erza. "At worst, I'll just get a few more punches in the face... *Sigh* I'm not looking forward to a punch from you, though. Something tells me you know just how to hit to make it hurt a lot more."
With that, Yoruichi told Rika about the hairbrained scheme she came up with a few years ago to get Alfonzo and Elicia in bed together. Then, when the story was over, she simply closed her eyes and waited for the expected punch.
As time passed, Yoruichi could hear the wet footsteps as Rika stepped closer. Yet, when the expected impact never came, she cracked her eyes open and peaked in front of her, where Rika was standing with her hands on her hips. However, when she looked up to see Rika's face, she was surprised to see that Rika was not just looking at her. Rather, she was staring at both herself and Elicia with dumbfounded disbelief on her face.
"Are you bitches stupid or something?" Rika asked before shaking her head in disappointment. "Honestly, I'm surprised that Alfonzo didn't just beat the hell out of you for doing something so fucking dumb."
Elicia and Yoruichi only lowered their heads in response. Because they, in fact, also thought they were stupid for actually executing a plan like that.
"Well, whatever." Rika continued with a shrug. "I trust Alfonzo. And if he forgave you, then I'm not gonna get mad over something that I wasn't even there for. But seriously, I just can't understand what either of you were thinking."
Meanwhile, out in the countryside, Alfonzo was still holding Retsu by her throat with Minazuki's blade clamped between the thumb and index finger of his other hand, the blade suspiciously close to his crotch. All the while, Retsu struggled with all her might to free herself, clawing at the arm holding her up, kicking at his torso, and striking him in the face. Unfortunately, nothing she did made Alfonzo even flinch.
Even with Retsu struggling so fiercely, Alfonzo did not move or say a word. Instead, he simply stood there, looking Retsu in the eyes. And when he noticed the murderous intent starting to mix with another emotion, he found himself somewhat startled. But at the same time, he almost expected it.
"*Sigh* Are you done yet?" Alfonzo said as Retsu's struggle eventually stopped. "If so, let's go back. This fight is over."
"Kill me." Retsu replied raspily with her air flow slightly constricted.
"And why the hell would I do that?" Alfonzo asked, tilting his head slightly as he did so.
"Because I lost." Retsu said as if Alfonzo asked a stupid question.
"*Sigh* Nah, I'm good." Alfonzo replied. "I'm not really into taking life needlessly. And since there's no life and death grudge between us, there's no reason for me to kill you."
Retsu only looked at Alfonzo blankly when she heard that. The fact that she was genuinely trying to kill him should have been enough of a reason for Alfonzo to kill her in return. So, she could not understand what he was talking about.
"I know what you're thinking." Alfonzo said while shaking his head. "But what you fail to understand... You would have never been able to kill me. Even if I had not used my [Bankai]. You're just not strong enough."
Retsu only continued to stare blankly when she heard Alfonzo's explanation.
"*Sigh* Fine, I'll take your life." Alfonzo said in an exasperated toen. "But I won't be killing you. Instead, your life belongs to me. Meaning, I can do with it as I wish. You okay with that?"
'For some reason, I get the feeling she's gonna take this completely the wrong way.' Alfonzo thought to himself.
"Put me down, please." Retsu said, her tone returning to its usual gentle tone. Yet, there was something extra mixed with the gentleness.
"You're not gonna attack again if I do, are you?" Alfonzo asked before agreeing to release Retsu.
"I won't." Retsu replied calmly.
"And you're not gonnna try to kill yourself, either, right?" Alfonzo asked.
"I won't." Retsu replied just as calmly as before.
Hesitating for a moment, Alfonzo eventually lowered Retsu to the ground. He then took a step back, not that that would do much good. Then, he released Minazuki's blade.
A moment later, instead of attacking again or raising her blade to end her own life, Retsu released her [Bankai] causing all the blood-like substance to be retracted towards Minazuki's blade. Finally, when the blade returned to its normal size, she sheathed it in one fluid motion.
"*Sigh* Good. She didn't---" Alfonzo began to mutter.
Yet, before he could even finish his sentence, Alfonzo's eyes, as well as the white liquid metal covering them, widened dramatically. The reason? Retsu pulled her sheath from her sash, held Minazuki with both hands, and dropped to one knee in front of him.
"Hey! What the fuck are you doing?" Alfonzo asked in a dumbfounded tone.
"Making it official." Retsu said as she raised her sword while lowering her head. "As the loser of our duel, I have no right to refuse. Therefore, my life belongs to you."
Completely dumbfounded by Retsu's words and actions, Alfonzo found himself even more so when he saw a light pink tint Retsu's cheeks.
["Oh my. Oh my. Looks like you picked up a violent psycho mommy for your harem."] Bedlam said in an amused tone from Alfonzo's inner world. ["Aren't you happy? Now you have someone that would definitely not shy away from doing the dirty work for you. Not only does she enjoy killing, but she's also rather good at it, too."]
["Hmph! She's not as good as Lici, though!"] Riot scoffed in return. ["Lici would do anything for you, too. Even if she didn't like it, she would push through for you. And that definitely makes her better."]
["Simp."] Bedlam shot back mercilessly.
And that led to another fight between Alfonzo's [Armament Spirits], something he has gotten used to over the years. So, he just ignored them and returned his attention to the kneeling Retsu.
"*Sigh* You know, you're taking this way too seriously, right?" Alfonzo asked in a tired tone. "The only thing I wanted to do is keep you from throwing your life away."
"If that's the case, you should take responsibility." Retsu said, her cheeks reddening a little more as she did so.
"Take responsibility?" Alfonzo muttered to himself while continuing to watch Retsu. "Yeah, that sounds kinda wrong in this situation. Especially with you blushing like that."
"Does that mean you're not willing?" Retsu asked, finally raising her head to look Alfonzo in his eyes. She then began pulling Minazuki from its sheath as she continued. "If that's so, then there is no reason for me to continue---"
*Click!*
"Alright, that's enough.' Alfonzo said, sounding even more tired than before as he used his [Metal Magic] to force Minazuki back into its sheath. "I get it. If I don't' accept, you really will kill yourself, won't you?"
'Thank God I can control a Zanpakuto when it isn't in a released state with my magic.' Alfonzo thought to himself. 'If I couldn't, making her stop would be a lot harder.'
"For as long as I can remember, I've fought for the thrill of battle." Retsu replied solemnly. "To clash blades with the strong. To be pushed to use all my power and skill. I even learned [Kaidō] so that I could either heal myself or my opponent to make fights last longer. And all that was so that I could meet a warriors end when I found someone who could best me in all aspects. But now, you've taken that final pursuit away from me. So, if you have no intention of accepting me as yours, what point is there in living?"
"*Sigh* And this is why you swordsman types are so annoying." Alfonzo grumbled. "Erza and Saeko are just as bad, if not nearly as extreme. I'm just glad my
Sun isn't so bat-shit insane."
After he finished grumbling, Alfonzo looked down at Retsu. Then, after exhaling an annoyed sigh, he released his [Bankai], returned to his base form, and put Riot and Bedlam in the strap on his lower back.
"Fine, I accept." Alfonzo grumbled.
"Very well." Retsu said with a nod. She then stood up and put her sword back into her sash. "Then, When Yoruichi and I get back to the guild, I will start packing my belongings. I'll probably need you to come to Mermaid Heel's headquarters to help me bring them back to Magnolia."
"Hold on… What?" Alfonzo asked while raising a hand to stop Retsu. "Why the hell would you do that? You're the acting guild master for Mermaid Heel."
"Why shouldn't I?" Retsu asked, tilting her head cutely as she did so. "I belong to you now. So, it only makes sense that I would be by your side, would it not?"
"And what about Mermaid Heel?" Alfonzo asked in an exasperated tone. "They need a guild leader."
"They can figure that out on their own." Retsu replied nonchalantly. "As you may recall, I am retired. Technically, I'm not even the guild master anymore. In fact, Tsunade is still registered as the guild master. So, she can figure it out."
"Oh, now that you mention it." Alfonzo muttered while rubbing his chin in contemplation. "She never named a successor when she went to the Village Hidden in the leaves to become Hokage, did she?"
"She did not." Retsu replied with a smile. "So, it's only right she fixes the issue after dumping the problem on me without a word."
["Wasn't she the one that told Tsunade to fulfill her responsibilities, though?"] Bedlam asked with a grin. ["But now that she wants out of the responsibility, the job was forced on her. This woman is sly as hell."]
"Well, Mermaid Heel can't be without its guild master." Alfonzo said while internally rolling his eyes at Bedlam. "So, until you can get Tsunade to do something about it, you'll have to stay at Mermaid Heel, so things don't get out of control."
To Alfonzo's surprise, Retsu's response to that declaration was a pout… A very powerful one. One so powerful, in fact, that Alfonzo actually felt bad about telling her to stay with Mermaid Heel until things were settled. But since he had been dealing with Elicia for so long, after a moment, he was able to see through it and realize that Retsu was only trying to manipulate him into changing his mind.
["If it was Lici, you would have changed your mind, though."] Riot said. ["But this old hag has nothing on her."]
'I can't even deny that.' Alfonzo replied internally.
["You're both simps."] Bedlam said with a hint of disdain in his tone.
"Anyway, let's get back to the mansion." Alfonzo said, completely ignoring his [Armament Spirits], who began fighting once again. "We've been out here long enough."
"As you wish." Retsu said, clearly unhappy that Alfonzo did not give in.
With that, Alfonzo and Retsu made their way back to their motorcycles, put on their helmets, and started the magic vehicles. Then, at a leisurely pace, they drove back to the Mansion on the Lake.