CHECKMATE || ITZY

Wolves' War

Ryujin didn't feel any better about herself when she woke up the next day.

In fact, she felt worse.

It was as if ITZY's ghosts had been haunting her all night, berating her for the way she had slipped like a snake into a noble lion's den, endlessly tormenting her for the devilish betrayal she'd eventually commit. Namely, Mashiro's. Ryujin did not believe in ghosts or the supernatural – nor the gods, for that matter – but she had been unsettled all the same, despite her iron will, despite her iron loyalty to the Golden Government.

Yeji came to pick her up at nine, cheery and bubbly as ever. Ryujin hated it. Hated the way she acted, as if she had nothing to worry about. Hated her attitude. Hated her everything. She was meant to be a feared gang leader, for gods' sake! Couldn't she at least act like it, instead of like some annoying child playing a game with her friends, carefree with no fear or consequences? Because there were consequences – for everything. And Ryujin was about to become one of them as a result of her almost comical naïvety.

"What's got you in such a good mood this morning?" Ryujin grumbled as she raked a hand through her hair in an attempt to smooth it down. Tossing and turning all night had not done the mane of straight uniformity any good. She just hoped her lack of sleep was enough to warrant her hostility towards the gang leader; she wasn't in the mood to tolerate her right now.

"We've got an operation tomorrow," Yeji said. "And we've got a neat new ex-government agent to guard us. I'm sure you've been trained by the best of the best, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Ryujin said, getting up and rolling her eyes as she put her hands to her hips. "Is that even a question?"

"Yes, when you go barging into Cherries' headquarters brandishing your government ID card as if you are still working with them," Yeji said, her tone quietly mocking. "Not very professional, is it?" Ryujin bristled.

"They wouldn't have let me in otherwise, okay?" the agent said.

"Alright, alright, enough with the defensiveness," Yeji said, putting her hands up as if calming a growling dog. "I believe you. There's no need to prove yourself any further," she shrugged.

Ryujin sighed, her hand slipping from her hip and flopping by her side. "What's for breakfast?" she asked in a weary and resigned tone, and Yeji grinned.

"Follow me and find out," she said, and flounced off. Ryujin muttered something under her breath, running a hand through her hair in a last-ditch, fruitless attempt to smooth it down, before rushing off to follow the Wild Kitty of West Taerrya.

* * *

Breakfast was an uncomfortable affair, as had been dinner the night before. Ryujin hardly knew anyone, and Yeji and Lia were the only talkative ones. Well, so was Yuna, but the maknae only talked to her group mates, completely ignoring the elephant in the room. In fact, she shot this elephant a multitude of dirty looks all throughout the meal. Although she was annoyingly sly and slipped them in whenever the leader wasn't looking. Chaeryeong only picked at her meal, her expression blank and dark as she took little spoonfuls, little mouthfuls.

"Alright gals!" Yeji said after they'd finished breakfast, having cleared the table, clapping her hands together. "We've got a lot of work set out for us today: we've got our long-awaited operation tomorrow! And with a new member to fill in the blank space at that," she said pointedly, glancing at the agent. Ryujin could feel Yuna's eyes burning into the back of her head. "Lia, as the official strategist of our team, I want you to take Ryujinnie through what's going on tomorrow. The rest of you, continue practising with me."

ITZY – and Ryujin – nodded in affirmation and dispersed according to the leader's instructions. Lia, holding a hand out (why were the members of ITZY so affectionate and touchy?) led Ryujin back to her little box as Chaeryeong, Yuna and Yeji left to gather their instruments for practice. Ryujin made a mental note to find out where they got the instruments from – if she was going to carry out this mission, she was going to carry it out perfectly. Just cutting the weeds was not enough; she needed to destroy the roots as well. Ensure no form of rebellion dared rise up in Taerrya, at the very least, ever again. Make sure even whispers of the word would be treason, a reason to hide and flee and die.