/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45937096
Anon, I'm pretty sure that's the real Yama. She may not show it, but compliments do wonders to her delicate ego.

A crowd which, I noticed, was parting somewhere ahead of us. The hole in the crowd seemed to be coming toward us, as if there was something in the middle that people were giving a wide berth. I looked over at Yamame, they decided that it probably wasn't worth the effort to avoid. Knowing my luck, it was meant for me anyway. So, I swallowed, gripped her hand tightly, and stepped forward.

As I'd expected, there was no way that it wasn't for me. Not when I could see Komachi, looming a little bit roughed up, being dragged along by the ear as if she was a misbehaving child. She was protesting, but it seemed to be falling on her the deaf ears of her companion. Here, I paused. Then, the dots connecting in my mind, suddenly straightened my posture and squared my shoulders.

A girl approaching me wasn't exactly new at this point even if the reasons usually varied. This girl was tall. Easily as tall as Komachi, even with her thick sandals on, meaning she was probably taller than the Shinigami was if both of them stood barefoot. Her eyes were sharp, her mouth a straight line and her brow furrowed. Her green hair came down asymmetrically, her right shoulder covered in mossy green, and her left shoulder devoid of it as it hung just over her ear. Her vest was deep blue and impressively adorned with symbols on her shoulders, and a white shirt sat underneath. Her skirt was surprisingly short only coming to about midway down her thighs, but her long legs meant that most skirts would come up slightly short. On one side, the ribbons adorning the outfit were red, and on the other side, they were right. Asymmetrical, just like her hair. The shoes followed the same pattern, flat like she worked in an office.

But most striking were two things. On her head, a hat that I'd heard mention of. With golden segments coming up and sinking down like the points of a crown, and the representation of a scale on the very front. Two loops of ribbon, again in red and white, and two more gold bits sticking out.
The other striking thing was what was in her hand.

Almost like a pillar, and with symbols etched into it. She held it tightly in the hand that wasn't dragged her subordinate along. I'd heard talk of it before. It was in all of the stories of the afterlife. The Rod of Remorse, that which your sins will be written on when you die, and you will be beaten until you have repented for those sins. How many hits would I have to endure in the future?

Of course I recognised her status, even if I hadn't seen her myself. How could I not? I was sure that every Villager could recognize her. Keine's lessons had mentioned her, as had Akyuu's. That outfit could only mean one person.

I was looking into the verdant green, sharp eyes of the Yama of Gensokyo. Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu.

"L-Lady Eiki, I think this is a bit- Ouch!" Komachi cried, her eyes already looking even more red than her irises from the tears of pain that seemed to be spilling out of them. "It- No, I can apologise myself, you don't have to-"

"Apologizing for pain you have inflicted." Her voice was mature, serious. Intense, and I could tell that she could probably shout anyone into silence. "That is the good deed you can do right now." She looked from Komachi to myself and Yamame, her eyes sharp. "Good evening. My name is Eiki Shiki. I am the Yama of Gensokyo, and I believe I owe you an apology on behalf of my subordinate."

Komachi raised her head, her hand on the back of her head. "No, no...Lady Eiki, its fine. I already apologised to you, and I can handle myself. So, I'll just-"

"Silence, Komachi." She looked poised to smack the Shinigami over the head with her rod. Komachi let out an 'eep!' and fell silent immediately. "Now, from what I understand, my ferryman here was attending Miss Hakurei's New Year's Eve party. Then, while suffering a fever," Yamame coughed slightly, then mumbled about her nose, "She has accidentally sent you," Eyes at me, "Off of a roof, where he landed on you. Is that the size of it?" She tilted her head, the curtain of mossy hair on her right side breaking apart on her shoulder. "Were you injured in any way?" She asked, this time to Yamame, who stammered slightly.

"U-Um, no. Well - I mean, no, not by him falling on me." She scratched her head and stood up straighter, though she was still shorter than all three of us.

The Yama raised an eyebrow and looked at her more closely. "Your answer suggests that there is something more...?" Her eyes were the kind for whom no lies could escape. She held the Rod of Remorse in her two hands, clasped tightly in front of her chest. "Please do not refrain from speaking the truth. Komachi's sins will be measured regardless, but I will save time if you simply speak."

"Lady Eiki, I don't think this counts as a real sin when all I did was-" Komachi was still trying to protest, and I honestly wasn't sure why considering the Yama had already made it clear that she was not accepting her excuses.