2/5

"Good morning, Kirisame-san?"

A girl came in through the door to the shop while I was sweeping the floor. Masato looked up from his book.

"Oh, good morning," said Masato. "Can I help you find something?"

"Yes," the girl bowed. "I was wondering if you might have a lamp for a kotatsu. Ours broke."

"I can help you find it," I offered.

"Oh, well, thank…" She looked at me, and I looked at her. I realized she was that girl I had seen before… Kana.

"Are you… that guy?" she asked.

I paused. I wasn't sure what to say at that moment. Her eyes looked right into mine, shimmering red, and again, her face was expressionless and yet full of life and emotion.

"...I am," I bowed. "My name is Goro Akechi."

Kana bowed. "I am Kana Samaon. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Masato chuckled. "Seems you've come to be quite the ladies' man," he said.

All I could manage at that moment was a tired glare toward him.

"Let's find that lamp for you," I said. "Then, if you want, we can go find a cafe and continue our conversation. I'll pay."

"Thank you," Kana said.

We managed to find the lamp for the kotatsu, which she purchased before we went to the same teahouse Keine had taken me to the other day. I got both of us a cup, and we started visiting.

"So, you're the man who fell through the Border that I've been hearing about," she said.

"Indeed." I took a sip. "It was a rare series of coincidences. I was a detective out there, and I narrowly escaped death while investigating a case. That is how I came here."

"Mmn." She sipped her tea. "I don't know much about Outside. I'm just a farmer's girl, after all. Both of my parents are soy farmers. I'm told it's very different from the Village. Shining towers that pierce the sky. Lights all around, even at night. 'Hand Tablets' that everyone looks at all the time."

"Indeed. I came from Tokyo, the capital. To say that Gensokyo is an adjustment compared to what I'm used to would be an understatement. Life is slower here, and more importantly, there's several youkai running around…"

"I've seen you with those two, Reimu and Marisa, going back and forth to the Shrine."

"What do you think of them?" I asked.

"What do I think of them…" She took a sip. "Well, I suppose they do a good job keeping all the youkai in line, and yet… they seem to get too friendly with some of them as well. I don't know if I can really trust them. Certainly they must trust you…"

"They think I have potential to be an incident resolver," I said.

"I think they're just interested in anyone that falls through the border," Kana said. "I mean, most people are. You all are very interesting, what with all the crazy things that go on out there and all the cool stuff you have. Shame most of you end up as youkai food, because you wouldn't stay in the Village where it's safe." She sipped her tea. "Still, you seem pretty cool, and I can tell you're a lot different from the rest. I mean, mostly it's just lost travellers or guys in suits in whatever who end you here, but you're a detective."

"Indeed. Out there, I was known as the 'Charismatic Ace Detective.' I've always had a talent and passion for investigating things, which led to me being brought on by the SIU, or Special Investigations Unit, as a student detective, with the promise of a full position once I graduated from school."

"You were a student?" she asked.

"Yes. I was a third-year; I would have been graduating next month had I not been whisked away."

"I see. Well, I'm seventeen myself. My birthday was this past Christmas."

I sat up in my seat. "You're… seventeen, and born on Christmas?"

"Is… something wrong with that?" she wondered.

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. It's just… if that's so, then you're exactly the same age as someone I knew out there. A good friend of mine, a second-year at another school." And I wasn't lying: Ren's birthday was, in fact, Christmas Day, 1999.

Kana smiled. "A happy coincidence, then. What was he like?"

I thought for a minute. What was Ren like? Certainly, he was a man of many masks, both literally and figuratively. He could be silly, like that one time he fluffled up my hair and made me wear his glasses to help get rid of my fangirls. He could be serious, such as during our fight on the cruiser. He could be quiet when walking the streets of Shibuya alone. And, of course, he could be dashing, flamboyant, mischievous and cunning. He had everything going against him, and he simply smiled defiantly in the face of it. A rebel at heart.

How could I describe him, in a few simple words? Someone so complex, whom I admired and hated at the same time?

"He was a great man," I said. "Personable, affable, maybe a bit strange at times. He had a large circle of friends, too, not just myself."

"Sounds like it," Kana said. "He sounds like the sort of person who could just pick a girl right off the street and take him to his house."

"Or, attic, as it may be," I said. "Because he was framed for an assault by a corrupt politician. That's how he came to Tokyo, from his home in the countryside. He was put on a year-long probation, and no school would have him, except for a prep school which wanted to prove it could rehabilitate 'delinquents.' Everyone was suspicious of him, treating him like a criminal and a troublemaker, even though he never did anything of the sort. Despite his constantly topping the school exams, he was rejected by all the sports teams and no clubs would have him. Because of that, he spent much of his free time walking the streets of Tokyo and making friends there. Actually, all of his other friends were outcasts, in one way or another, some from his school, and one from another."

"Then, how did you meet him?" Kana asked.

"His school had a field trip to a TV station which I was frequently invited to. We met in the halls during one of the commercial breaks, and in the short time I was able to talk to him I became impressed by his optimism despite his circumstances." I looked down. "Or, perhaps because of them. Because the man who framed him and ruined his life was one I had been gathering evidence on, tying him to corruption and kickbacks. He was growing in popularity, and had great sway over the police and the politicians, so it was probably a losing battle. I didn't care, though. I did it because it was right. And I had met one of his victims. How could I not sympathize?"

"How horrible." Kana shook her head. "I've heard from many Outsiders, like that Sumireko girl, how bad things can get out there. It just seems… I don't think I could ever live out there. Here in the Village, we all know everyone, and we make sure everything is alright. Out there? It just sounds like everyone has to take care of themselves, because no one else cares."

"I mean, it's impossible to know everyone, when there are literally millions of people in just Tokyo alone. And when you get millions of people together in one place, you're going to get crime. Drugs, yakuza, prostitution, theft, burglarly, murder, rape, corruption, bribery, just to name a few. My natural sense of justice is at odds with all of that. Of course, all my detective work and helping the police apprehend those I catch was just a drop in the bucket, in the grand scheme of things. For every criminal you apprehend, ten more take his place. But I did it, both out of duty and to help make a peaceful life possible for everyone else."

Kana chuckled. "Well, maybe that's why those two are interested in you. It sounds like you were born to take down criminals." She finished her tea. "I've been fascinated by stories of justice ever since I was little. Stories where someone was wronged, and took revenge against the smug snake who put them in that position… I just get a sense of satisfaction from seeing rotten people being shown their place."

"So did I," I said. "Except putting those people in their place was my day-to-day job."

Kana got up from her seat. "I have to get home. I'm sure my parents are wondering where I am. But I'd like to meet up with you again. Are you usually available on Sundays?"

"I am," I nodded.

"Great. Then let's meet again next week."

"It's a promise," I said back. As she left, and as I went back, I kept thinking about her. Her personality, and her appearance. She instilled a feeling in me which none of the other girls I had associated with so far had not. A mixture of what felt like fear, respect… and perhaps desire.

I was content with viewing the others as equals. Kana, I could tell… was something else.


2/6

I didn't have any plans lined up with anyone for the day, and there wasn't that much extra work to do around the shop; I had already shoveled out the snow from in front, everything in the store was spotless and put away, and there weren't very many customers.

I thought about the change of heart we had enacted in our neighbor, Kosuzu Mootori, last week. I decided it might be a good idea to head over and see how she was acting now. So I got my boots on, headed across the street, and knocked on the door.

"If you're looking for Kosuzu, I saw her heading up to the shrine with Reimu."

I turned around. "Who said that?"

A woman dressed in a boyish fashion approached me, in a tan jacket and pants and a cabbie hat, carrying a basket full of newspapers. "Good morning!" she said cheerfully. "Lovely weather we're having, aren't we?"

I looked up at the gray sky, and wisps and specks of snow blew around in the air. "Yes. Very lovely weather," I said dryly.

She took off her hat and bowed. "My name's Aya Shameimaru. I represent the Bunbunmaru news."

Aya Shameimaru… ah, I remembered. The name, the cabbie hat… this was the person Marisa warned me about, the one who could be spying on us. I realized I had to play this interaction very carefully."

"Ah, yes. My name is Goro Akechi. I-"

"Ohoho, say no more, say no more!" she said excitedly. "I've been hearing about you from all the gossip and rumors, and now I finally get a chance to meet you!" She took out her notebook. "Do you have time for an interview? I'd be able to sell so many copies if I could talk to you! I'll even compensate you for your time. What do you say?"

I carefully considered her offer. I knew if I said too much, she could easily tie us back to our activities as the Day Breakers and expose us. On the other hand, if I declined, she would get suspicious and investigate us anyway.

"Sure, I don't mind," I said. "I have nothing else going on today."

"Really? Sweet!" Her eyes glinted. "Then, I know a good place to go! Come, follow me!" She practically took off into the town streets.

"Whoa, hey, wait!" I ran to catch up, but struggled to do so, both because of her seemingly unnatural speed running through the snow, made tougher by me trying to do so in heavy boots.

Somehow, I wasn't surprised that she had led me to Geidontei. At first, I thought that a bar would be a poor location for an interview, but inside, I could see it was less busy, likely due to it being midday still. We found a quiet table towards the back, and got some drinks; Aya said she would pay the bill as part of the compensation.

"Phew, good thing it's not busy." She sat herself down. "Anyway, thanks for agreeing to do an interview. I… didn't actually think you'd accept so readily."

"Oh, it's not a problem at all," I said. "Back Outside, I was frequently invited for interviews for publications and on live TV, so something like this isn't anything new for me."

"Right. You call yourself the 'Charismatic Ace Detective, so they say. Care to elaborate on that?"

"Absolutely."

I gave her an account of my life as an Outside detective, mixing in my fake story about how both of my parents died young, with more factual details including my taking down of several gangs and organized crime groups, to the SIU recruiting me as a student detective.

"Wow, impressive," she said, busily writing notes down. "So, you managed to balance your school and working lives? That must've been very tough; I'm told the schedules of Outside students are quite rigorous."

"Oh, it was very strenuous," I nodded. "Six days a week studying, and my only days off weren't really days off as I had quite a lot of homework to do, not to mention going out and solving cases, making time for interviews, evading my fangirls… actually, I've gotten so used to always being on the move, that ever since I came here and life slowed down so much for me, I've found myself getting very antsy, constantly going out just so that I can be doing something."

"Is that so?" Aya wrote some more. "Well, I suppose if you need something to do, you could always go and help those two solve incidents." She laughed. "Actually, if anything can be called an 'incident,' it's the fact that a guy like you managed to get on their good side in the first place, and so quickly at that!"

I sighed. "Well, I wasn't called the Charismatic Ace Detective for no reason. You could call it an unwanted talent of mine. I could rarely go places in public without a horde of them vying for a view of me. Not even lying and saying I was gay was enough to shake them off at one point, and in hindsight I regret doing that because people started spreading rumors which I was forced to clear up."

"Are you kidding? There's people out there who'd kill for your charm and good looks! Seriously, you're tall, handsome, and I can tell you work out a lot. That puts you ahead of just about every man and boy in the Village by default. Personally, I don't think it's a surprise at all that you managed to catch the eyes of those two. I mean, getting the big, tough shrine maiden Reimu interested in men is almost impossible to begin with, due to how she hates everyone equally."

"Well, I wouldn't call it 'hating everyone,' based on what I've seen," I said. "She very obviously has a strenuous job where she puts her life on the line quite frequently; if I had her job, I'd be grouchy quite a lot too."

"But she fights to keep the peace in Gensokyo, just as you did out there as a detective, and you're not grouchy and resentful! How does that make you any different from her?"

Oh, if only she knew…

I shook my head. "Look, it's one thing to have a gun pointed at you, which has happened to me more times than I care to count. Facing down a rampaging god who hurls suns everywhere is another matter entirely."

"But both of you were facing death, in the name of justice! It's in the same ballpark!"

"I…" I thought about it, and chuckled. "Well… I suppose you're right. Death is death, whether it's from a bullet or in raging crimson hellfire. But still, even then, the bullet is instant." I finished my glass, and looked at her; only then did I notice the bags under her eyes, which she had hidden quite well with her bubbly personality. She was also on dish number two of sake at this point. "Speaking of which, how do you view justice?"

Aya sat up. "E-eh? Where's this coming from?"

"Well, you ask me about mine and Reimu's senses of justice, so I think it's fair I ask about yours. You go around and document things going on in Gensokyo, then report them in your paper, just like any Outside journalist. Does that include documenting crime in hopes that someone will step forward and reveal the culprit, or be inspired to go out and find them?"

Aya fidgeted with her pen, then set it down and took another drink. She smiled. "Look, I'm just a simple newswoman who earns her living by making and selling the Bunbunmaru. I report on things in Gensokyo, simply because I like it and I feel I have a talent for it, just as you have your talent for detective work."

"I see…" Somehow, I could tell there was something she wanted to say, but couldn't or wouldn't. Given how I had my own secrets, I wasn't one to judge.

Aya finished up her notes, put her notebook away, then got up. "Anyway, thanks for the interview. As I promised, I'll cover the tab." She reached into her pocket and got something out. "And just as a little bonus, I have these gold coins laying around. I'll let you have one, since I think your interview was very valuable."

I took the coin, and inspected it. It had an inscription of a tengu mask on it. "It's very pretty."

"Thanks! I hope to interview again! And just remember, if you ever need something, you can count on Aya Shameimaru of the Bunbunmaru news!" She smiled and waved, then went to the counter to pay the tab. I watched her leave, and she suddenly slumped her arms. Listening very carefully, I could hear her mumble something.

"...justice… if only I could…"


2/7

After lunch, I went out and walked the Village streets. It was flurrying this morning, but by now it had cleared up, and horse-drawn plows went up and down the streets. Children were out making snowmen and snow forts, having snowball fights, and fashioning igloos in which they hid and had "secret clubs" in. Shopkeepers were shouting and hawking their wares from their storefronts. The market was busy. People were criss-crossing all through the village.

And everywhere, from the school to the markets to the bars, people were gossipping about the same thing.

"Did you hear about that incident at that temple recently? They got a bunch of cards from people calling themselves the 'Day Breakers.'"

"Oh, yeah, my sister was talking about it! She said she brought one of them back home with her, and it said something about Byakuren being a 'false prophet' or something."

"A 'false prophet?' I mean, I've heard rumors about her, but do you think she's actually a wicked person?"

"I dunno, maybe someone just has something against them. I've heard that Miko chick does."

I kept to myself. I wanted my identity as a Day Breaker anonymous. Still, I should have known we'd get name recognition eventually, especially after pulling a stunt like that. Although… The idea of becoming an "urban legend" wasn't at all a bad thought. Much like the Phantom Thieves, I wanted to remain secret, but at the same time I thought about the allure, the romance, the tantalizing mystery we could sow in the hearts of the villagers, and Gensokyo, as a whole, as we continued our endeavors in the Metaverse, righting wrongs which otherwise eluded justice.

I came back around to the main square. As I approached, I heard a woman's shouts, and saw people walking in their direction. Rounding the corner, I could see the source of the shouts: an orator, standing atop a box, dressed in a strange, ornate dress: a blue vest with white sleeves and red buttons, a short black skirt, red and white ribbons coming off her back, and an intricate black hat with a gold plate crowning a head with green hair. A group of villagers had crowded around her to listen to what she had to say.

"You must all listen to me!" she shouted, holding her fist in the air. "Pain and suffering await those who lead sinful lives! Only by pursuing virtues, helping others, committing no crimes and respecting your family can you avoid being sent to Hell!"

I hung near the back of the crowd, listening to what she had to say. Probably just some religious zealot, I figured, but of course I had quickly learned that not only was religion real, but it practically ran Gensokyo as well. It was strange, though: this person looked like a young girl, but possessed a highly unfitting, powerful and compelling voice more suited to a much older and mature woman, and she acted the part, too.

Once she had finished speaking, the crowd dispersed, and I approached her as she stepped off the box and got ready to move it aside.

"That was a great speech," I complimented. "I can tell you're very passionate about your beliefs-"

She looked over at me. "You…" She walked right up to me, and the height difference between us was clear: she couldn't have been much taller than the very short Nitori. "The two of us finally meet."

I was puzzled. "What… do you mean?"

She scoffed. "I sensed your thick, overwhelming miasma of sin almost as soon as you appeared in Gensokyo. I checked with some other yamas, and the yama of Tokyo confirmed the full extent of your crimes with me."

I tensed up, and my eyes widened. "M-my… crimes? Are… are you a-"

"Indeed," she declared, putting her hand to her chest. "I am the yama of Gensokyo. Today is my day off, so I am here in the village warning people away from sin." She looked around. "But, I trust you do not wish to speak of this matter in public. Follow me, then we can continue our discussion."

I was still visibly shaking. "...sure…"

A few minutes later, we were outside of town, near the edge of the Forest of Magic. Once we stopped, the yama turned around and bowed.

"I apologize for not introducing myself. I am Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu. As I said before, I am the yama of Gensokyo."

I bowed as well, attempting to be polite while still scared shitless. "A pleasure to meet you, Shiki-sama. I am-"

"Goro Akechi, also known as 'Black Mask,' terror of Tokyo who used the Metaverse to murder dozens and ruin the lives of countless others, all at the behest of corrupt officials, using powers granted to you by a malevolent God of Control who used you as a piece in his twisted game, taking advantage of your background as a bastard child," she shot off quickly.

I sighed and stooped. "So you really do know everything…"

"Why wouldn't I?" she said sternly. "It is the job of the yama to know the sins of everyone in their jurisdiction at any given time. On one hand, you are not nearly the biggest sinner in Gensokyo, even with your atrocious rap sheet, but among humans none have one which is longer. Truly, someone such as yourself deserves to be tortured in Hell for…" She thought for a moment, and counted with her fingers. "...well, let's just say you don't want to know the exact amount of time."

I sighed again. Based on the Netherworld existing, I knew a judge of the dead had to exist somewhere. Now I had met that judge, perhaps far earlier than I would have liked. Even if she could do nothing now, I dreaded the day where my soul would face her in court, and she would hand down her judgement.

Again, though, I didn't think that the judge would be so diminutive.

"So… I suppose that, since you know of my crimes, you want nothing more than to have the chance to judge me by them…"

Eiki looked down, then up again.

"...actually, no."

I shot back up. "Er…"

"I judge the souls who come before me as yama. However, I hate few things more than to have to send those souls to Hell to repay their debts, and face punishment for their actions in life. What I really want to do is see them off, back into the Sea of Souls where they belong. I do not seek to condemn individuals, but rather, ensure that evil and corruption do not taint the natural order of things." She held some sort of golden stick in front of herself. "You, of course, are familiar with the concept of 'distortion.' These evil, twisted thoughts are the source of our world's pain and suffering. They're what created that maniacal, twisted being, Yaldabaoth, who used you as a toy. And now, they are what you are fighting against."

"How much do you know about the Metaverse?" I asked.

"You mean the Collective Unconscious? That invisible force of perception which sculpts the world around us? Every yama is very familiar with it, and I am no exception. But it is rare for a human to become aware of it as well, at least in life. You misused it before, in an attempt to get revenge and take out your frustrations against a society you felt rejected you. Now, you use the same power to fight against the very thing you unwittingly served."

"What are you suggesting?" I asked?

"Normally, I'd call a soul like yours unable to be salvaged, at least enough to be able to avoid being sent to Hell. However, you are a special case, a possessor of a power no one else has, truly one with remarkable talent, skill and charisma which cannot be wasted. I would love to be able to not only see your soul avoid Hell, but earn the privilege of Heaven as well. Therefore," she turned around, and pointed her stick at me. "I want to offer you my aid."

I stepped back. A yama, offering me her assistance? Was she even allowed to do that?

"Your aid?"

"Indeed. I want to help you redeem your soul, to the maximum extent possible. Furthermore, I would also like to assist you in dealing with this incident. Consider yourself fortunate: normally, I do not meddle in the affairs of the mortal realm, but this unfolding mystery of hedonistic and exploitative sin in the Metaverse is too much of a threat to be allowed to exist. You are the only one who can deal with it. I only ask that you fully commit yourself to leading a virtuous life, and avoid the temptations and pitfalls put before you by those who slither in the dark."

I thought about the deal she was offering. Certainly, I wanted my soul to be saved, and if a judge of the dead was personally offering to assist me in that regard… Well, my luck could not possibly have been any better. Then there was the matter of her impressive public speaking skills; if I could pick some of those up for myself, I might have better luck negotiating with shadows in the Metaverse.

The choice was clear, I felt. I would be a complete fool to pass it up.

I held out my hand. "I accept your offer, on the condition that you fully commit to assisting my endeavors in the Metaverse."

"Of course I will," she said. "Besides redeeming yourself, your actions have the potential to help Reimu and Marisa avoid that dark fate as well, among others."

"Then, it is settled." I reached down, she reached up, and together, we shook hands, inking the deal…

I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast acquired a new vow.

It shall be the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity.

With the birth of the Judgement Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power...