Izayoi City - James Maury
Frank tapped the steering wheel of their rental car in annoyance, the full blast of the air conditioner barely holding steady in its war with the heat outside, ever attempting to push its way into the car. He was annoyed at this hot ass city. He was annoyed by the glare of the buildings. He was annoyed at the guy sitting in the back seat who had insisted that this city was, quote, "a unique treasure to be experienced by those all over the world." He was annoyed that he had to hold his tongue around this person. He was full to bursting with complaints, every one of them valid, but he couldn't air them before this man because he'd somehow feel guilty about it later. So Frank sat there and stewed, anger building and building, just waiting for something to uncap it.
Then what looked like a teenage girl ran in front of the car. He slammed his food down on the breaks, sounding the horn as the kid disappeared into the crowed with some yellow bastard hot on her heels!
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU STUPID LITTLE SH-" He exploded, yelling through the closed window. He wasn't allowed to finish his thought, however. He felt an arm reach around from the back seat, a finger press silently to his lips, and a voice modify his thought into a gentle "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."
He glanced over into the face of James Maury, mere inches from his own, a look of peace plastered across it. "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." He repeated, before smiling. "Pull over, please?"
"There's, uhhh, there's nowhere too Mr. Maury." Frank, a little bit embarrassed.
James quirked up at this, looking around as though for the first time. "So there isn't." He said, spying the dearth of public parking. "I suppose things are very different in Japan, aren't they? In America you'd be able to pull into any random lot in front of a store. But here you just walk places. Very nice exorcize."
"Suppose you'll just have to circle around then, if you'd be so kind." James said suddenly before pulling away and bounding out the back door. He would have argued, but already people were lined up and honking behind him. With a exaggerated groan, he pulled away down the street.
-----
James progressed after the pair as something between a jog and a run, hands planted firmly in his pockets as he bounded after them. This sort of confrontational situation, he thought, could be averted easily with the addition of a cool head. Cooler heads, after all. always prevailed. Besides which, he was curious. He had been watching their interactions out the window as he'd daydreamed, fascinated by the exchange of body language until one had kicked the other in the unmentionables and run off. He wanted to know what harsh words had lead to this situation. Where these people friends, or strangers? Was this a planned meeting, or the wild machinations of fate?
He followed their backs around corners at his own pace, just catching glimpses of them until finally reaching the front of the arcade again. Just in time to behold sudden violence. The yellow man went flying back and collapsed in a heap. While everyone was concerned over the young man he decided to check on the groaning ruffian as he came to his senses and listen to the conversation going on over there. So, this man on the ground had been the aggressor.
"I think not yet, young man." He called over to the little group. "If there's conversation to be had, this ruffian is a part of it. At the very least he owes you an apology for his rude behavior." He looks down at the still addled man, shaking his head and clicking his tongue. "Leaving things like this only means there will be hard feeling in the future. Lingering resentment can lead to terrible things."
