Change of Plans

Satsuki pulled over to a grocery store where she found a parking spot with some leftover time in the meter.

Lucky her.

For a conversation like this, there was no way she was going to have a little chit-chat with the boss while driving. This needed her undivided attention.

“We caught sight of one of the Leech’s henchmen over at Shinagawa.”

That’s what the boss said.

Satsuki gripped the wheel, the edges of her smiling lips rising ever so slightly.

“That’s not too far from us,” she said, since the two were in Ōta City.

“That’s good.”

“So,” Satsuki went on, “what happened over at Shinagawa? I’m sure you didn’t let that spirit run free.”

“Of course not,” the boss said. His tone was as serious as ever. “We got into a scuffle. Tried to get some information out of him.”

“And how did that go?”

“Poorly.”

Satsuki raised her brow.

“If it went so poorly, then why are you telling me that you know where the Leech is?”

“I was getting to that part if you would give me a moment to speak.”

Satsuki sat back and raised her hands, despite there being no way for the boss to see her gesture.

“Okay. I’m sorry, Boss. Please, continue with your story.”

“Thank you.”

The boss moved on.

“The only information we got from the henchman was that the Leech is somewhere in Tokyo.”

“That’s good news though, isn’t it?” Satsuki said. “My nephew and I thought she and her gang would flee towards the countryside and lie low for a while considering all the spirit hunters chasing her.”

Ryoma nodded.

The boss spoke next.

“It’s true that it’s good information, but we could’ve figured that out ourselves.”

Just the encounter with the henchmen alone was enough to deduce that the Leech was somewhere in Tokyo.

“But we do have a theory of where the Leech will go.”

“And where is that?” Satsuki asked.

“We believe she’ll go to Shinjuku. Particularly to the red-light district, where there’s a lot of negative energy and wandering spirits that are easy to corrupt and curse.”

Satsuki took a second to take the information in.

“So you think that the Leech’ll go there to grow her army?”

“I can’t think of any reason besides that. Her army has been decreasing for the past year, and fast.”

Satsuki leaned her head back. Things were starting to make sense now.

“So you’re thinking that once she gets more firepower, then she’ll fight back against us spirit hunters.”

“Precisely. That’s why I want you to officially join this mission to find the Leech and stop her before she can expand her army any further. Are you up for it?” the boss asked.

Satsuki nodded at those words, her eyes brimming with determination. For her, this was the boss giving her permission to go all out and bring that wench to her knees.

How could she possibly refuse such a wonderful gift?

Her lips curved into a devilish smile.

“Am I up for it?” She scoffed. “You already know the answer to that, Boss.”

“Very well,” the boss said. “I’ll send you the details via text.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Satsuki said.

With that, the call ended.

Satsuki glanced at her nephew as she placed her phone in her purse.

The boy scrunched his brows. His eyes burning with vengeance.

Satsuki couldn’t help but be amused. This was her nephew’s time for revenge. For vengeance.

Though at the same time, she couldn’t help but still worry about her nephew. Weeks ago she had to pull him out of a tough spot. She knew that he’s gotten a lot more experience since then, but another question struck the back of her mind.

She wondered that if her nephew tags along on this mission, and they are able to defeat the Leech and avenge her brother, will Ryoma be able to move on?

I hope so… she thought.

The lady continued staring at her nephew.

She wondered if she should ask him to join her formally, like the “professional” she was.

But after a moment, the lady chuckled and stared at the boy’s fiery brown eyes.

“You already know what I’ll say to you, right, boy?”

Ryoma nodded.

“I do, Auntie. Let me join you on this mission.”

Satsuki smiled.

“Of course,” she said. “But, I’m only letting you join in on one condition.”

Her smile quickly faded, and what replaced it was a look of seriousness.

“If I even think that you’re not up for the task, then your butt is staying out of this confrontation. Do you understand?”

Ryoma nodded.

“I do.”

“Good.”

Satsuki’s smile came back just as fast as it vanished.

She turned the key in the ignition and grasped the wheel with both hands.

It was time for some last-minute changes. For the two relatives, going home would have to wait.

Right now, they needed to drive to their new destination.

Shinjuku.