Chapter 8: Turf Wars

[mp_npc]

Even though it was nearly 6pm, the sun was still relatively high in the sky compared to just the month prior. The days were getting longer and the air was getting warmer. With the heat brought energy--especially in the particular stretch where Teru had asked Mob to meet up. It was in the southeastern district of Seasoning City, an especially dense urban stretch near the freeway bordering on the industrial part of the city.

Factories and and their smokestacks were in the near distance. Workers in uniform were shuffling about with purpose, disappearing in and out of the narrow alleys that snaked through that part of town likes veins. The scent of street food was strong. There was one food stand that Teru asked Mob to wait near in particular, one with especially good yakitori. A gust of wind carried the delicious smokey glazed scent of it--along with laughter and jeers from one of the alleyways just behind Mob.

"Hey, ain't that a Salt uniform?" A boy jeered as his friends formed a loose-but-coordinated semi-circle behind Mob. Their own uniforms were a rusty red with enormously tacky gold buttons down the center.

Comments

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"My mom says the same thing," he said, still oblivious to the sauce on his cheek.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teru motioned for Mob to keep his head still as he took the liberty of dabbing his cheek with one of his own napkins. Mob's round cheek gathered beneath his thumb as he worked to clean it.

"Are you ready for this?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob quickly finished his yakitori.

"Yeah," he said with a nod.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teru finished up his own meal and tossed the containers into a trash can near the door with a (psychically-assisted) flick of his hand. He stood at the edge and cleared his throat.

He identified the key skyscrapers - there were 3 of them, including the one they occupied, in the industrial district. They offered the clearest vantage points and were to the north, south, and east respectively. The one to the east overlooked the shipping bay. Teru emphasized the importance of rotating locations and not staying at any location longer than an hour.

"I know you work as an exorcist, but have you ever tried scanning for other psychics before?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Just for Kurata-san," he said.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Did you ever manage to sense anything?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Just once. He disappeared into a crowd before I could do anything else, though."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"I see...it's important to be observant. Think of it from a basic pattern recognition perspective." Teru motioned with both of his hands, hovering his palms close together before slowly separating them. "What's normal? That's your baseline. Any deviation from that should be noted. From where we're standing, it's unlikely we'll see anything up close, so what we're honing in on are energy patterns. Even normal people have energy, of course...but other psychics? They stand out right away when you're paying attention, no matter how much they may try to hide it. So, never doubt your instincts."

Teru backed away from the edge and dug in his pocket to hand Mob a black phone. It was completely unremarkable, unlike Teru's regular phone. "Here. It's a burner. It's got end-to-end encryption with mine. We're going to split up, so use this to call me if you see something strange. We're going to rendezvous on the roof of Kōji Tower at 7:30pm. That's the east building."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

This felt like something out of a movie... nothing like Mob's everyday life. Maybe this was what every day was like for Teru.

"Got it," he said, grasping the phone tightly in his small hand. "I'll see you then."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"I'll head south first. You go north. See you soon, Shige." Teru flashed him a wink and leapt from the roof, his body glowing a distinct yellow hue before he vanished.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

North? Mob was suddenly thankful for his brother's tip on how to find north, even though it was better suited for forest areas. Mob figured that it would be okay for him to just go the opposite way of Teru.

Mob gently lowered himself down onto the street. Unlike Teru, he didn't do well bouncing from building to building or zooming through the sky. The ground was Mob's terrain.

[mp_npc]

"Mya?" A spotted cat that had been lounging peacefully on a pallet trilled in surprise at Mob's sudden appearance from the sky.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Oh, hey." Mob leaned down to give the cat a scratch behind the ears.

[mp_npc]

The cat, apparently getting over its surprise, leaned into Mob's pleasant touch. It pulled back at one point to lap at his fingertips that still smelled of chicken.

A few smaller mews sounded from behind the pallet--about three tiny kitten heads poking around it to observe the newcomer. They all had spotted fur in unique patterns but were clearly the kittens of the cat that Mob was petting.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Oh," he said. "They must be your babies." Before his brain could remind him that he was on a mission, he was kneeling down to allow the kittens to investigate his hand.

[mp_npc]

The first of the trio came right up to Mob to inspect him and lick his finger. The next followed its sibling and circled around Mob curiously, while the third took a few shaking steps from behind the pallet but hesitated to come closer.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Um... sorry I don't have anything tasty for you." He suddenly wished that he had saved some of his yakitori.

[mp_npc]

The most outgoing kitten meowed questioningly--before it's fur was suddenly standing on end. It suddenly darted under the pallet with it's siblings and it's mother.

From one end of the alley passed a small gang of Miso thugs--followed by greater and greater numbers of delinquents. They were making their way down the street with intent--not noticing Mob in the side alley at all.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

It's those guys.

Mob peered out at them from behind a dumpster, trying to get a clearer picture of what they were doing.

[mp_npc]

"Boss Fuji thinks he's got him tagged!" One laughed to another. "The guy from Salt who took out Bean Sauce's leader yesterday!"

"Salt? No way, no goddamn way--"

"That's why he's got us out here, man! Word on the street is that--"

Their voices faded into the din of the street's noise as they continued their march.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Salt? Did they mean Salt Middle School?

Mob tried to tail them as inconspicuously as possible, which for him, was not inconspicuous at all. Whenever they stopped, he stopped too, nervously scrambling to figure out what was the inconspicuous thing to do.

[mp_npc]

"Oi! Kid!" An old man seated at a fruit stand barked at Mob as he tried to sneak by. He looked up from his deep hunch to motion for the boy to approach.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob immediately stiffened, but approached the man when he was beckoned; his every movement was unnaturally wooden.

"Yes?"

[mp_npc]

He motioned at the display of fruit before them. There were mango, biwa, strawberries, cherries, and melon.

"Here. Pick one," he said gruffly. It was less like an invitation and more like a stern command.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Um..." Mob reluctantly picked up a strawberry.