Eitsu's Nine Lives (永津の九生) [yuri/GL yokai reincarnation story]

42 - Jigoku

A/N: At this point, the assumption should be that I won't be able to put out chapters as they are usually scheduled for a while. Real life is currently kicking my arse.

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The group walked as one along the paths of the offices of Lord Enma. Eventually, they met the broadest path of all, paved with flat dark granite rocks and lined with burning bronze cauldrons to light the way. Eitsu saw the dragons begin to discretely dab themselves with damp cloths. Gong Lau Yan took a swig from the flask at her belt, but all the kaibyou could smell was fresh water.

Lord Enma walked at the fore of the group, followed by Tin Yueng Wong and Izanami, holding Eitsu to her shoulder, the other clasping her spear.

Curious, Eitsu sneaked a glance back at the human who walked at the rear of the group. How was this human able to travel alive through Yomi without any apparent discomfort?

Their eyes met, and Eitsu saw that they were no longer purely black, as they had been back when they had met at the auction. In fact, they were now mostly a ghostly white. Even from this distance, Eitsu could feel the resonance of her energy, more demonic than human. Perhaps that was what was helping her.

The black-paved path led to an enormous staircase that ran down into a building built into the ground. Only the roof, red-tiled and bristling with stone statues of armed oni, was visible above the ground.

"Welcome to Jigoku, the Court of Yomi," Lord Enma said, beginning his descent.

They entered an enormous hall, where imps and shinigami alike were busily carrying out their tasks. Bidding the group farewell, Lord Enma disappeared down one of the many corridors that led from the hall.

Eitsu licked her lips uneasily. Jigoku seethed with unsettling energy, from the very wood of the floors to the giant, scowling statue of Lord Enma in the centre of the hall, that seemed to follow them with its bulging, painted eyes. She turned back to Izanami, licking her jaw where the bone of her skull was exposed.

"Isani?" she purred. The Queen of Yomi shivered under her tongue.

"Eitsu?"

"What will happen now?"

"We will enter the courtroom and wait for Lord Enma and the accused to enter. Then the trial will begin. We will start with the laws of Yomi he has broken, namely, the murder of a mortal. Once that is resolved, other parties may bring their complaints."

"Sounds like this might take some time."

"I would assume several days, at least... Kitten?"

"Yes, Isani?"

"If you wish to testify, just speak. We can stop the whole trial at any time."

Eitsu turned her face away. "We'll see. If I don't think his punishments are enough, perhaps I will. But... I don't really want to be brought into this. This is a personal matter between me and him. I'd rather it wasn't gossiped about before an audience."

They walked down one last corridor towards a huge set of red-painted wooden doors, braced with blackened hinges. They creaked open with a deep groan, pushed from within by two imps.

The courtroom was more like a gigantic circular pit with seats around the edge. Izanami took a seat on a pale stone throne at the very highest point, behind a series of impressive red wooden chairs. Tin Yeung Wong and her entourage took seats here, with one in the centre left empty for Lord Enma.

The remaining seats around the outside of the pit began to fill with all manner of people and creatures. Eitsu watched through one narrowly open eye as youkai began to file in. Scattered throughout were some shinigami, their black robes like holes in the crowd. She caught flashes occasionally of something else, something more divine, but those beings kept themselves well hidden, so she was unable to see anything more than glimpses.