FOLLOW UP
When Jen pulls up to Nakamoto's house the following day, the first thing she spots is a car waiting just before the gates with two familiar people leaning against its doors. She openly groans, throwing her head back against the seat.
"Looks like we're not alone Jennykins," Boston comments lightly, "Are you going to play nice?"
"Depends." Jen responds, ignoring the look the taxi driver gives her through his rearview mirror.
A hand goes to the box beside her to keep it from jostling as the taxi pulls to a stop. She bites at her lower lip in debate, wondering just how to play this out, unsure if their presence indicates something wrong. It would rather suck if SPR maintains its almost monopoly over Japan's business because they sabotage competitors. Yesterday's short time with them wasn't enough for her to really get to know them or gauge them properly - with the exception of Masako Hara, who she saw prior. None of their auras were bluntly malicious, but that hasn't stopped people before nor does it really tell them their personality.
"You really need your own car, Jenny-pop," Boston slides through the door before it even opens.
"I'm well aware," Jen comments before thanking the taxi driver formly as she heads out of the cab.
She watches them closely as she approaches them, taking a casual approach with the box cocked on her hip. Their auras are just the same as when she first met them - John's pulsating with a heavenly presence that's typical of a good, honest priest and Yasu's radiating with the underlying presence of an old reincarnated soul; something she doubts he's aware of since most reincarnations don't tend to find that out about themselves - the fox energy that faintly weaves through it is interesting, but she shouldn't be surprised to see a few distant relatives of kitsunes throughout the area.
Nothing flashes through the energy around them that's typical of liars or of thieves. By all accounts, they seem relatively normal and happy; though that doesn't stop her mild annoyance at them. She rolls the tension out of her shoulders as John happily waves her over, Yasu giving a simple nod yet looking just as pleased.
"Do I want to know why you two are here?"
"Probably not, we could be doing something highly illegal," Yasu retorts easily, the smile never leaving his face. His eyes bore into hers blankly, void of the emotion in his voice. "Something nefarious."
His aura suggests anything but that. Definitely a distant ancestor of a trickster, Jen thinks with a dry amusement.
"I wanted to apologize to Nakamoto-san and check up on little Kimaru," John doesn't even seem phased by Yasu's commentary, still smiling pleasantly, but having the decency to look a bit sheepish at showing up.
Jen looks at them both skeptically, as they give her both innocent grins it becomes apparent that the real reason they're both here is because they were curious about her follow-up with Kimaru. She doesn't blame them, but in retrospect having two members of the SPR be so curious about her, she likes the idea of the advantage that would give her over Naru. Unless he sent them here to scope me out. She thinks for a brief moment, looking over them carefully before she finally speaks.
"Alright, you're funny," she points to Yasu before pointing toward John, "-And you're cute so you both can stay, just don't get in my way."
John flushes at the compliment while Yasu just beams with the same innocent smile that seems constantly plastered on his face.
"Playing nice, Jennykins, I'm so shocked."
She hopes that her sharp whisper of shut up goes unnoticed by her two unexpected guests.
John watches Jen curiously, noting the different things that she starts to pull out of the box as she sits down at the table with Nakamoto-san and Kimaru. He glances at Yasu briefly with uncertainty, still not completely used to or comfortable with the senior student's presence. For the life of him, he can't quite put together why Yasu is even with him, insisting on going when he announced to the group that he planned to join Jen Constantine the next day. Maybe it had something to do with Mai wanting to also come, but unable due to her schedule. Maybe it was simply so John didn't have to go alone - John latches onto this theory the most, but there's also a chance that Yasu is just simply as curious as to what Jen is going to do.
Unless Naru-san sent him to keep an eye on Constantine, John thinks and as much as he hates to admit it, it's the most likely outcome of the theories given Yasu's reputation as their researcher and sending Lin with John would out Naru's intention immediately.
Like John, Yasu does seem to pay close attention to the items that Jen pulls out - giving brief explanations for each and their uses, things like tarot cards, picture cards, photo puzzles, salves and crystals. John has to admire the care that Jen displays in handing each item over to Kimaru carefully, though he notes the way that her smile doesn't quite match up to her eyes.
"Think of all of this like a complex guessing game," Jen explains to Nakamoto-san, "And with a gift like hers, she should get at least 15 out of every 20 cards. If she's not, or is getting a perfect score, text me. The cards are thick enough that no one should be able to see through them, but try to avoid holding them up to the light when you pull them out just in case. Keep it as random as possible with little room for cheating. But it should all be a good start."
"Of course, Constantine-san," Nakamoto swears, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for us - for her." Her eyes flicker to John and Yasu as well, "It's a thankfulness that I extend to the SPR group as well."
"No thank you is needed," John reassures her, "We simply like to do our jobs, especially when it's protecting the children. I just apologize that we weren't able to come to the conclusion sooner."
"What a suck up," Boston blows a raspberry so close to her ear that she feels the breeze it sends down her neck.
"What a priest is more like it," Jen whispers with a snort - she sees Yasu's eyes flicker to her, though his gaze doesn't stay long.
She only shrugs, knowing that him or even John overhearing her is bound to happen. But at least unlike a majority of the public, they know that she's not crazy. Or at least she hopes that they put two to two together and realize that she's talking to Boston.
"That was very informative," John praises her the moment that they all leave.
Jen shoves her hands into the pockets of her cardigan, "At least it shows you were paying attention.
Whenever you tell Naru about this, you better make me look good."
The last comment is directed to Yasu, who doesn't even look the least bit surprised at being called out. To his credit, John looks too genuinely surprised to have been in on it. She has to admit that while she was a bit suspicious of their intentions at the beginning, it did take her a minute to figure out that Yasu was there under Naru's orders. But he paid too much attention to her and ultimately, given his neutral disinterest during the investigation, that gave him away pretty quickly. Besides, Naru did give her the impression he wasn't above doing dirty work.
"Was I really that obvious," Yasu comments, smiling, "My apologies, it's nothing personal. But it was interesting to see what you brought and the way you explained everything. I'm sure Naru will be happy to know that you didn't go behind his back to tell her bad things about us at least."
Jen snorts, waving her finger at him, "Listen, I at times may be a bitch, but a backstabber I am not, make sure to write that down in your report to your boss or hell, write it on a napkin."
John watches the two with a strained caution, unsure what to make of it and what to do about it. As Jen starts to head back to the taxi - who she knows is drawing up a large sum by running the meter - John stops her.
"Wait, Constantine." John waves at her frantically, trying to catch her before she leaves. She sighs, the taxi door opens as she leans against it. "I wanted to apologize. I didn't know Yasu was here to spy on you. I hope that it doesn't reflect on us poorly."
Jen waves the apology off, but she doesn't quite meet John's eyes. "Don't worry about it. Business is business. Besides -"
She turns to give him a cheeky wink, "I only took this case because I wanted to spy on the competition anyway. No hard feelings."
She blows him a cheeky kiss before dipping inside of the taxi, not leaving him a chance to respond as he stands there flabbergasted.