/jp/ - Otaku Culture

"Hang on." Yamame said, raising a hand. "How do you know about that? Even I only found out about it right now." But, as soon as she said it, she knew the answer. Of course, Mum hadn't just arrived. She'd probably known they were there from the start. "Sorry, sorry...I don't mean to act suspicious." She finally said.

"That's okay, Yamame. Even if you don't visit me, I'll always hold an interest in what you're up to." Mum smiled warmly, but with the hidden eye and her general nature, it looked more knowing and seductive than anything else. "Now, what has possessed you all to come back home after all of this time?"

Drawing in a breath, Yamame decided not to waste any time and raised her hand. "Mother, I'm getting married. The wedding is on the fourth of April, and it will be held at the Garden of the Sun." She forced it all out at once before she could lose her nerve. Really, it was just Mum. Nothing to be worried about.

And indeed, Yamame seemed to have stunned her. She paused and stared at Yamame, a hand to her lips. "...Married?" She finally asked, a wide smile blossoming on her face. "That's wonderful, dear. To whom? What man have you ensnared?" Of course, she'd not bring up Yamame's father. Probably for the best, too. "I've not had word of any males in these parts." Of course she would know that. She'd probably be after them long before they could meet Yamame, and they would be well on their way to safety once they had met Mum.

"A human." Yamame replied. "A human from the village on the surface. We met in the Summer." Of course, she'd left a hell of a lot out, but it really didn't seem the time to deal with it. "We - We love each other."

"A...human?" Mum repeated, slowly, as if she was savouring the taste of the word. "Yamame, I'd be careful. Humans break easily." Yamame grit her teeth and decided not to ask how she knew that. "I want to meet him. See him for myself."

Somehow, Yamame had known that it would be part of the deal. And yet... "Do you need to, mother?" Yamame asked, though it was more of a whine. "You'll see him at the wedding, if you're going to come."

"Of course I'm going to come, Yamame." Mum told her sharply. "My own daughter, marrying a human, and you think I'd not see it? Do you care so little for me?" That was Mum's favourite trick. It put anyone on the back step. "However, I have to meet him first. I need to. It's important." She sounded sincere, but...At the same time, she stood just a little straighter. "You still leave near the tunnel to the surface, do you not?" Yamame nodded slowly, resigning herself. She should have expected something like this. And - Honestly, Mum did have a point. Yamame was her daughter, after all, and she definitely deserved to see her human for herself. "In two days, then." Mum said, nodding. "I'll meet this boy of yours and...Find out for myself if he has what it takes to marry a Kurodani." Idly, Yamame wondered if any of her sisters had actually met someone in the past, only for Mum to decide that they didn't meet her exacting standards. Whatever those were, anyway. She really should have asked Ki about that.

"And - The rest of you, Reiko, Yura, Ruka and Nai - I want you to come home more often, too." Never mind that Mum's general behaviour was why they'd all moved out in the first place. It was just...Overbearing. "Well, I had best start thinking about meeting this human of yours. What's he...No, actually. Don't tell me anything. I want it to be...All new." She gave another of those seductive-but-probably-not-on-purpose smiles. "Congratulations, Yamame, dear. It pleases me greatly to see you doing so well." She stepped forward, up to Yamame, and drew her into another hug, this one much more gentle and concluded by a kiss on the forehead. She was still far taller than her, even now. "Come here, all of you." Mum said, drawing the rest of the sisters into hugs of their own. "Reiko, your hair looks lovely like that...Yura...You'll grow soon, I'm sure." Yamame turned to watch Mum flit between her sisters. Reiko's hand seemed to be twitching slightly, and Yura's was squeezed into a fist. "Ruka, I always knew you could handle your younger sisters well." Ruka managed to keep herself steady, it seemed. "And...Nai, you seem to be doing very well in general."