Yamame Kurodani
Yamame Kurodani's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Umm, Kisume said she was around here somewhere...
???
PLAYER! What are you doing?
Yamame
You shouldn't be here! It's dangerous! There are scary enemies everywhere!
Yamame
Youkai might accidentally hit you with bullets, or someone, like Kisume, might use this as an opportunity to attack you!
Actually, Kisume guided me here.
Yamame
Oh, really? Right, I guess you wouldn't have to worry about other youkai if she was with you.
Yamame
Most of the weak youkai around here flee at the sight of her.
Yamame
OK, I guess I'll guide you the rest of the way. We can descend down into the depths of the Underworld on my spider web.
Thanks! Have you got stuff to do down there, too?
Yamame
Not really. But with everything going on, they probably need help with rebuilding...
Yamame
Also, everyone seems to like me down there, so...
Yamame
My presence should help put a few minds at ease.
Yeah, you're like an Underworld idol!
Yamame
Exactly! Maybe I should sing a song or two for the folks at the hot springs.
Yamame
Not all youkai like me, though. The kappa always got angry at me for polluting the water.
Yamame
But that's what happens when you make stuff out of soil and trees. Besides, I live downstream of them now, so who cares?
Yamame
They don't have to ill-treat me just 'cause my ability's all about manipulating illnesses...
But don't youkai need people to fear and detest them?!
And, like, who doesn't fear getting sick?!
Yamame
Oh, um, yeah. I want people to fear me. Of course I do.
Yamame
But how do I say this...? It's like no one takes me seriously.
Yamame
Sure, people are scared of getting sick, but only in the sense that they try to prevent it. It feels kinda weak.
Getting sick now isn't as scary as it was in the past.
Yamame
I want them to feel true fear.
Yamame
Like the cold, merciless dread of finding out that the enemy you've been fighting all this time was an old friend.
Yamame
...
Yamame
For some reason, whenever I try to think back on the past, it's like my memories escape me.
Yamame
It's almost like I caught some kinda weird illness! But I didn't do anything to cause this!
(Everyone seems to be saying that lately...!)
Yamame
I can remember some things if I try really, really hard, but nothing all that useful.
Yamame
It's just stuff about other youkai―information you could probably find in a book somewhere.
Yamame
Youkai are manifestations of human fears, and the history of youkai is the history of humans overcoming these fears.
Yamame
Humans have battled against illness over the ages, and while plagues may have decimated their numbers multiple times...
Yamame
...they've always managed to pull through.
Humans vs. illness. It's like an eternal battle.
Yamame
Exactly. And it's also a battle to eradicate everything that causes illness.
Yamame
But humans will never fully succeed. There are too many causes, and what constitutes an illness constantly changes.
Yamame
Humans tend to label things they don't like as illnesses. So, to get rid of them all, you'd have to get rid of humans, too.
N-No way...!
Yamame
Well, medicine still has a long way to go before we reach that point. And the persistence of illnesses has had its benefits.
Yamame
You could even call them gifts from us youkai.
Yamame
Human offspring have become more resilient, and by studying diseases, humans have gained knowledge and technology.
Yamame
In fact, whenever humans rise up to the challenge of a new disease, their lives become more prosperous and lasting.
Yamame
But this isn't limited to just disease.
Yamame
In the past, humans also battled against their neighbors, beings that were not considered human.
Yamame
Their abilities and culture differed from humans. They had a history all of their own.
Yamame
I'm talking about tsuchigumo and all the other outcasts who did not obey the Imperial Court.
(Isn't this what Kisume was talking about?!)
Yamame
In the beginning, humans weren't anything special, you know? They were just dumb, furless monkeys with big heads.
Yamame
We were the ones who gave them tools, knowledge, and resilient offspring.
Yamame
That's 'cause we were the bigger, more powerful beings.
Yamame
But when they no longer needed us, we became nothing more than youkai. We got the short end of the stick. Like always.
So that's what you meant by old friends...!
Yamame
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we're better than them or that they should feel grateful. It's not as simple as that.
Yamame
It's just I've been thinking a lot about this kinda stuff lately. I've been reading books and talking to people about it.
Yamame
Feel free to ignore me.
No, I won't forget what you said. I think it's important.
Yamame
Right, you've got lots of youkai friends, don't you, PLAYER?
Speaking of... Here, take this. A token of our friendship!
Yamame
Is that one of those costumes everyone's been talking about?
Yamame
I never thought I'd get one. It's a surprise, but not an unhappy one.
Yamame
Wow. Those Gensokyo sages have a great sense of style.
Yamame
I love it! Thanks, PLAYER! Say thanks to the sages for me, too, would you?
Hehehe, you're welcome.
Yamame
I bet the elderly vengeful spirits at the hot springs would love my performance even more if I sang in this.
Yamame
...
What's wrong?
Yamame
I appreciate the gift. I do. It's just... I dunno... It reminds me of something...
Yamame
But I can't put my finger on what...
Yamame
No, it's probably nothing. Don't worry about it.
If you say so.
Yamame
PLAYER, if you ever find yourself in trouble...
Yamame
...you can ask me for help, OK?
You sure?
Yamame
I'm a youkai, an enemy of humans.
Yamame
But, even now, I still watch over them.
Yamame
We're old friends.
Yamame
Remember that.
...I will.
Costume Presentation
Yamame
Some pathogens are small enough to be carriers. But are you sure you wanna do this? It'll practically rebuild everything... Heh, I knew I couldn't talk you out of it! Nah, I'm not angry. I'm just hyping myself up! Hehe!
