App
Mun
Name: Tiki
Livejournal Username: kranna_tiki
E-mail: wongsinapod[at]yahoo[dot]com
AIM/MSN: TheRoarMaster (AIM)
Current Characters at Luceti: N/A
Character
Name: Yamanami Keisuke / "Sannan" (Based on the way kanji was pronounced in the past, it is speculated that "Yamanami" was actually "Sannan". In PMK, it is treated as more of a nickname. The mun will tend to use "Sannan" more often in bracketed text due to laziness.)
Fandom: Peacemaker Kurogane
Gender: M
Age: 33
Time Period: [SPOILERS] shortly after he deserts the Shinsengumi but before he commits seppuku
Wing Color: light gray
History: Born in 1833, Yamanami was thought to be the second son of a kenjutsu instructor in the Sendai domain in northern Japan. Some time in his early teens, he traveled to Edo to study swordsmanship with Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, the founder of Hokushin Itto-ryu, and became a skilled swordsman in his own right, attaining menkyo kaiden (“license of total transmission” - basically, proof that he had mastered every aspect of the style) some time before the year 1860. In 1860, he visited the Tennen Rishin-ryu’s Shieikan dojo and had a match with Kondou Isami, a match that ended in Yamanami’s defeat. Upon his defeat, he enrolled at the dojo to retrain under Kondou and became one of its assistant instructors along with Hijikata Toshizou and Okita Souji. Admired and well-liked, Yamanami became close with many of the members of Shieikan, especially Okita and Toudou Heisuke; the latter would later serve as his assistant.
Yamanami was also approached by Hijikata shortly before the Shieikan officially joined the Roshigumi. Hijikata explained that if he went to Kyoto, he was unsure of the deeds that he would commit in order to obtain success and that therefore, he needed someone to keep him in check and his regrets to a minimum; to that end, he needed someone to “grasp his string of justice”. Yamanami agreed; this would set the stage for their relationship later on within the Shinsengumi.
In 1863, Yamanami, along with the rest of the Roshigumi and was sent to Kyoto by order of the Tokugawa Shogunate in order to protect the city. Later on, he became one of the original members of the Shinsengumi after it split from the Roshigumi and was appointed one of the group’s vice-commanders. Some time in 1863, Yamanami, along with Hijikata, forced Niimi Nishiki, one of the original commanders of the Shinsengumi, to commit seppuku; later that year, Yamanami participated in the assassination of the other original leader of the Shinsengumi, Serizawa Kamo. Both were killed for their disreputable deeds which had tarnished the reputation of the Shinsengumi, and following their deaths, the Shinsengumi reformed with Kondou serving as commander and Yamanami and Hijikata as vice-commanders.
The assassination of Serizawa would affect Yamanami more severely than he would have ever predicted: he soon found that he could no longer even handle holding a sword nor stomach the sight of blood - both serious weaknesses for the vice-commander of one of the most renowned military units in Kyoto. Neither ever got out to the Shinsengumi at large, but these fears would be the seeds of an anxiety over his place within the group that would dog Yamanami for the rest of his time in the Shinsengumi.
Also, some time after he arrived in Kyoto, Yamanami began a relationship with Akesato, a courtesan in Shimabara, the red light district of Kyoto. In actuality, Akesato was a spy for the Choshu, but it appears that she never used her relationship with Yamanami for her employer’s gain; likewise, although Yamanami eventually learned of her true job, he never used this against her and willingly told her of his association with the Shinsengumi.
In any case, before the official start of Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker, Yamanami along with Heisuke is sent out to attend to some business; the two return in time to meet Hijikata’s new puppy-like page, Ichimura Tetsunosuke, whom Yamanami mistakes for a small child. Shortly after, he leaves for a meeting with Kondou and Hijikata - and immediately takes Hijikata to task for recruiting young boys as killers. Hijikata rebuffs Yamanami’s allegations and announces that Tetsu is his page - and that they don’t need him as an active member of the Shinsengumi. Yamanami is clearly shocked and a little embarrassed at being mistaken, something that highlights what has become of his relationship with Hijikata in the years that have passed since they first joined the Roshigumi: although he is certainly living up to his promise to keep Hijikata in check, it has reached the point where the two are almost expected to be in opposition to each other, establishing the “Demon vs. Saint” duality.
Life in the Shinsengumi continues, and Yamanami even attempts to “help” Tetsu overcome the angst of teenage boyhood by taking him along for a trip to Shimabara. For Yamanami, it’s an otherwise normal trip (complete with thinly-veiled flirting), until a group of ronin burst in on him and Akesato, at which point Yamanami reveals an entirely different side of himself complete with demonic expression. Rather than drawing his katana, though, he “draws” his abacus - another subtle hint that he is losing the battle with his guilt from the Kamo assassination.
Yamanami next appears at the funeral of Yamazaki Ayumu, a Shinsengumi spy who is murdered in the line of duty after replacing her brother, Susumu. When Hijikata appears late to the funeral and all but turns the funeral into a war meeting, Yamanami admonishes him with “Hijikata, is that all you have to say?”, but once again, Hijikata brushes him off and leaves shortly thereafter. Shortly thereafter, the Shinsengumi successfully capture the man responsible for Ayumu’s death, and Hijikata gets him to reveal through torture Choshuu plans to set the capital on fire and kidnap the emperor. This leads to the infamous Ikedaya incident, which Yamanami sits out due to illness - or, perhaps “illness”. As Tatsunosuke, Tetsu’s older brother, serves him dinner, Yamanami finally reveals his fear of blood and his inability to hold a sword.
Meanwhile, the Shinsengumi successfully halt the Choshuu plan and kill Yoshida, the Choshuu leader behind the plot to burn the capital; in the days that follow, Heisuke manages to recruit Itou Kashitarou, a dojo master from Edo, and his pupils for the Shinsengumi. With the group on the brink of acquiring new comrades, Yamanami works up his courage and manages to confront Hijikata while the other is in the middle of practice. He reveals to Hijikata his growing discomfort with his role within the Shinsengumi - particularly his penchant for always disagreeing with Hijikata, regardless of whether the other’s ideas are valid or not. Hijikata, not one to dwell on the past, reminds Yamanami of the incoming members and tells him that, since he will likely not get along with Itou, Yamanami will be the one to show him the ropes. It is at this point that Yamanami asks to be demoted to the position of accountant, citing his ability with the abacus. Hijikata angrily tells him that there are no excuses for such a ludicrous request, at which point Yamanami tells him that the murder of Kamo has rendered his sword useless. Hijikata points out that he, Kondou, and Souji have not been likewise affected, and Yamanami begins to lose his cool, declaring that he isn’t like any of them - and that he doesn’t want to be like them, for that matter. Rather than actually be understanding, Hijikata tries to goad Yamanami into a fight for the sake of disproving him, and Yamanami loses it completely, throwing down his sword and revealing his disgust for the way that Hijikata so carelessly disregards life. With tears in his eyes, he leaves Hijikata with the words, “I am not your pawn!” before storming off, so thoroughly affected that he completely runs into Tatsunosuke. Tatsu takes notice of Yamanami’s distress, but is distracted by the appearance of Sakamoto Ryouma, and Yamanami’s uneasiness continues unnoticed…
At a later visit to Akesato (again with Tetsunosuke, who has become a close friend of Saya, one of Akesato’s attendants), Yamanami begins brooding over the fate of Saya, and Akesato attempts to lighten his mood by reminding him that Saya too could one day come to enjoy the closeness that she and Yamanami now share. Their night ends with Yamanami concluding that one day, he will free Akesato from her life as a courtesan in order to properly “embrace” her-and that no matter who she chooses to be, he will always welcome her.
Shortly thereafter, Itou Kashitarou and his comrades join the Shinsengumi, and the sly Itou immediately takes an unhealthy interest in Hijikata - and in the politics of the Shinsengumi, making Yamanami an unfortunate prime target. As the latter ruminates on the murder of Serikawa Kamo, recalling Hijikata’s logic of simply disposing of whatever becomes an obstacle, he is confronted by Itou, who inquires about a perceived divide he feels between Yamanami and the rest of the Shinsengumi. His logic leads him to conclude that it is Hijikata that Yamanami is most uncomfortable with, at which point Yamanami interrupts him and fiercely defends Hijikata’s contributions to the group, stating that whatever flaws are his own fault.
Yamanami’s feelings of worthlessness are only intensified after Hijikata announces the group’s move from Mibu to a Buddhist temple. Naturally, Yamanami opposes the move on religious grounds, but Hijikata again rebuffs him, responding that he is looking for opinions, not objections - and that he will not tolerate dissent within the group. Although obviously an attempt by Hijikata at warning Itou’s group, the meeting has the reverse effect on Yamanami: once again, he has been shoved into the background, his opinion as a fellow vice-commander rendered useless.
Somehow, as the year draws to a close, Souji manages to lift Yamanami’s spirits by reminding him that even if Hijikata speaks righteously, Yamanami’s words are far more righteous - meaning that he agrees with Yamanami and still considers his point of view valid. Buoyed, Yamanami resolves to stay with the Shinsengumi despite his unease and do whatever he can to assist Hijikata. He also resolves to take up his old sword again, as previously (as in, following his blow-up in front of Hijikata), he had been wearing a wooden one. As he returns to the Shinsengumi compound, he takes notice of a black cat (pretty much the herald of death and destruction in this series) and follows it, overhearing a conversation between Hijikata and Kondou in the process - a conversation being replicated by these creepy cat-girls that work for Kitamura Suzu, Yoshida’s former apprentice (now driven completely insane) who is intent on destroying the Shinsengumi. Carefully distorting the conversation, the cat-girls manage to convince Yamanami that Hijikata and Kondou are plotting to assassinate him, and, resolve shattered, he disappears.
Some days after disappearing from the Shinsengumi, Yamanami sends a letter to Akesato, directing her to meet him under a bridge in secret. There, Yamanami reveals that he will soon be killed, and ironically apologizes to Akesato for not having satisfactory information to give her. Akesato, realizing that her secret has been found out, attempts to escape, but is prevented by Yamanami, who notes that she sincerely loves him even though he’s failed her as an information source. Akesato drops all of her pretenses and reveals her true face (and voice), and proposes that she and Yamanami run away and live together. She then asks flat-out if Yamanami truly loves her, and he agrees to her plan, stating that it doesn’t matter who she is, since he can live as long as he has her.
Their dastardly plot, though, is thwarted again by the cat-girls, who manage to distract Akesato and thus convince Yamanami that she too has abandoned him, and he rides off into the night, his desertion now solidified.
[The rest of Yamanami’s history is omitted as it is all after his canon point.]
Personality:
Yamanami (For the sake of my poor fingers, I’m just going to call him “Sannan” from now on in this app.) is often called the “Saint” to Hijikata’s “Demon”, and this is a pretty fair comparison. He is a genuinely kind-hearted man, which is something of a double-edged sword for a member of the Shinsengumi: on one hand, his kindness makes him likeable and popular; on the other, kind-hearted people are the ones who would most acutely feel the wear of constant, almost mindless killing and power plays. In fact, it is his kindness, coupled with his tendency to hide his feelings, that indirectly leads to his death.
I should probably talk about that tendency of his, because in some ways, it too springs from his kind nature. Simply put, Sannan is fairly self-sacrificial and will always act in the way that he believes is best for the Shinsengumi or for his comrades and friends. When he overhears Hijikata and Kondo supposedly discussing the idea of assassinating him, he deserts because he believes he’s unwanted and a nuisance. When he is brought back to the Shinsengumi compound after deserting, he greets his comrades with smiles even though he knows he’s walking to his death. In each instance, he played things down and kept his thoughts to himself so as to not alarm those around him and retain the illusion of cohesiveness that the Shinsengumi required as an elite unit. The flip side, of course, is that all this acting, so to speak, takes a toll on Sannan, and it is possible, despite his calm, for him to lose his temper if he’s properly stressed. (True to his nature, though, Sannan will always apologize to whomever he’s just raged at, even if it was with good reason.)
It goes without saying that he can be very self-deprecating as well.
Gentleness is also implied from kindness, and Sannan has that in spades, to the point where he ruefully considers himself “soft” despite being an elite swordsman. He does indeed have a soft spot for children and generally enjoys calm and serene activities (usually while in the company of Akesato). He also is highly respectful of life and all that it stands for, to the point where he finds staying in the Shinsengumi uncomfortable because of the growing disregard for the significance of people’s lives that he sees - particularly in Hijikata.
Overall, Sannan is definitely the antithesis of a stereotypical samurai; a young Okita was even drawn to ask him why he had joined the Roshigumi, as he didn’t seem like a samurai at all. Even then, Sannan made no attempt to change Okita’s mind (showing that he is very set in his ethical and moral ways), but rather commented that he merely wanted to get out and explore the “outside”. His response is rather dreamy and idealistic, and Sannan can be both - again, difficult things to be when you are the leader of a military unit. Even so, Sannan certainly does nothing to hide his kind ways (They have earned him the title of the “Godly” or “Saint” vice-commander.), and is willing to present his point of view, to the point of coming off as a “preacher”. Indeed, at one point, Akesato notes that Sannan seems like a father (especially in relation to Tetsu), and this is a pretty apt description to the type of role that Sannan unknowingly takes on within the Shinsengumi.
Aside from his kind nature, Yamanami is also the academic incarnate. His historical self was supposed to be well-versed in history and other scholarly pursuits, and this is represented by Yamanami’s affinity for the abacus. He actually calculates to relax (or so he claims), and this can be taken to mean that he is at his best when things are ordered and under control in the same way that the sums work out so nicely under his fingers. He is a fairly calculating, logical thinker who prefers to think things through - and, true to his nature, he will always take into consideration things beyond simply “what will serve me best”. In a way, this chains Sannan to frequent indecision, since he’s loath to forgo his morals, and it is true that he is not quite the assertive leader that Hijikata is - something that contributes to the way that he ends up being slightly removed from the decision process within the Shinsengumi.
Strengths:
Physical: Although his skills are never truly displayed in either manga, Yamanami is a master swordsman, having attained menkyo kaiden in the Hokushin Ittou-Ryu style. He retrained in Tennen Rishin-ryu, and the fact that in those few years he was able to become an assistant instructor in a second style speaks volumes about his talent with the sword.
Mental: Yamanami enjoys calculating on the abacus and doing arithmetic in general for some strange reason, so it can be reasonably inferred that he has a very methodical mind. It is true that he doesn’t take actions without thinking carefully about their consequences, and he probably does a lot of subconscious cost-benefit analysis, so he is definitely not a rash person.
You also have to have some sort of mental fortitude if you’re going to be a swordsman. His combat instincts are certainly top-notch, and Yamanami is capable of conjuring up a formidable presence when he requires one, as shown by the hideous expression he managed to have on his face when he confronted some ronin in Shimabara.
Emotional: As shown by his popularity among the members of the Shinsengumi, Yamanami is a very welcoming, friendly person. (Tetsu, upon meeting him for the first time, immediately tells him he’d rather work for him than Hijikata - which isn’t much, granted, but the fact that he’s willing to honestly tell a near stranger this says something for how comfortable people feel around Yamanami.) He is a man of honor who can be trusted, and he trusts willingly in return. He also understands the concepts of humility and dignity, and always acts with both in mind.
Weaknesses:
Physical: He does wear glasses, so Yamanami’s vision without them is probably poor.
Mental: One thing about Yamanami is that he tends to overanalyze situations or brood on them unnecessarily. In a way, this tendency springs from his aversion to blood, the one secret that he tries to hide as much as possible. He knows that this fear is completely unacceptable for someone of his position, and the stress of suddenly becoming useless to the Shinsengumi and being pitied (Yamanami has his pride, after all.) by his comrades drives a lot of Yamanami’s actions. One such example is when he snaps at Hijikata after the other refuses to demote him to accounting - with actual tears in his eyes. Because he’s read so deeply into the situation - that Hijikata detests him and that he therefore must be completely useless - Yamanami suddenly forgoes his usual level-headed self.
Additionally, Yamanami is not normally an assertive person, so it’s easy for him to become pushed into the background of the action since he is slow to stand up for himself. This is seen when he tries to admonish Kondou and Hijikata for moving their quarters to a Buddhist temple. Hijikata shoots him down, and rather than continue the argument, Yamanami quietly gives up; Shinpachi later comments that he got completely “chewed on”.
Emotional: Yamanami, as mentioned in the Personality section, tends to bottle up his feelings in order to maintain a steady image of calm normalcy. As the series progresses, this tendency wears on him to the point where he starts making completely irrational decisions (It has been suggested that the real Yamanami was suffering from some sort of neurosis prior to his death and that he might have been depressed.), such as when he decides to leave the Shinsengumi after overhearing “Kondou and Hijikata” discuss the possibility of assassinating someone - someone he immediately assumes is him.
Samples
First Person:
[Voice]
Hello…? Is this working? Oh-oh, it automatically works-oh…Ah ha ha, I’m sorry, Okita-kun, I’m still not used to this at all. You’ll have to be patient with me for a few more days-
[A faint voice in the background can be heard saying, “Yamanami-san, it’s still on!”]
-oh, right! I’m sorry, I completely forgot. [He coughs.]
I sincerely apologize for that unnecessary chatter in the beginning; as you might have heard me telling Okita-kun, I’m not the best with these sorts of things.
In any case, my name is Yamanami Keisuke, and I…[pause] hm. Ah, I merely wished to ask if anyone had any intentions of claiming the house - I believe its number is 40. My group’s residence has become more crowded as of late, and we are in need of larger quarters. If someone did, I’m sure we can come to an agreement of some kind.
If you would please respond promptly, that would be most appreciated, as, um, well, you see…[he coughs]
It would be most appreciated.
Third Person:
When he came to, Yamanami half-expected to find a blade staring him in the face. It had only been a few days since he’d left the Shinsengumi, and yet, that was plenty of time for the surveillance unit to find him; he wouldn’t put such a thing past Yamazaki-kun.
Instead of a blade, though, it was a book.
“What-when did I…?” Slowly, Yamanami reached up and pulled the book off of his face. This was hardly the first time he’d woken up in such a fashion, but the circumstances he’d been in prior to falling asleep hadn’t exactly been ideal for reading. Unsettling…He frowned and glanced at the cover, blinking in surprise as his name stared back at him, before re-opening the book and squinting down at the first page. “‘Surely some of you must at least have theories…’” Yamanami blinked again, clearing non-existent spots from his vision before shaking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand-no use, words were still appearing as rapidly as he’d thought they were.
A book that writes itself? He stared at the book for a second longer (I’m dreaming. That’s the only explanation.) before setting it aside and sitting up, rubbing the back of his neck-
He paused as something on his back flexed, shaking off stiffness, setting off a dull ache that certainly had not been there mere hours before. Slowly, Yamanami turned his head, hand frozen on his neck, as light grey feathers curved to greet him.
Wings.
For a few seconds, he could only stare, mouth open, eyes wide, as the wings, as if sensing their owner’s disbelief, flapped experimentally, fluttering in the slight breeze. He let his hand make its way shakily down his back until it just barely brushed against the downy base-“Gnngk!” The wing twitched under his fingers, and Yamanami likewise as he hastily yanked his hand away, holding it as if it had been burned. The instant his fingers had collided with the feathers, this queer feeling had shot through his back, this feeling of contact and yet…disconnect.
He waited, heart pounding, for the wing to fall back flat against his back, before he snatched up the self-writing book and began flipping furiously through the pages, searching for something, anything that would explain all of this.
Name: Tiki
Livejournal Username: kranna_tiki
E-mail: wongsinapod[at]yahoo[dot]com
AIM/MSN: TheRoarMaster (AIM)
Current Characters at Luceti: N/A
Character
Name: Yamanami Keisuke / "Sannan" (Based on the way kanji was pronounced in the past, it is speculated that "Yamanami" was actually "Sannan". In PMK, it is treated as more of a nickname. The mun will tend to use "Sannan" more often in bracketed text due to laziness.)
Fandom: Peacemaker Kurogane
Gender: M
Age: 33
Time Period: [SPOILERS] shortly after he deserts the Shinsengumi but before he commits seppuku
Wing Color: light gray
History: Born in 1833, Yamanami was thought to be the second son of a kenjutsu instructor in the Sendai domain in northern Japan. Some time in his early teens, he traveled to Edo to study swordsmanship with Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, the founder of Hokushin Itto-ryu, and became a skilled swordsman in his own right, attaining menkyo kaiden (“license of total transmission” - basically, proof that he had mastered every aspect of the style) some time before the year 1860. In 1860, he visited the Tennen Rishin-ryu’s Shieikan dojo and had a match with Kondou Isami, a match that ended in Yamanami’s defeat. Upon his defeat, he enrolled at the dojo to retrain under Kondou and became one of its assistant instructors along with Hijikata Toshizou and Okita Souji. Admired and well-liked, Yamanami became close with many of the members of Shieikan, especially Okita and Toudou Heisuke; the latter would later serve as his assistant.
Yamanami was also approached by Hijikata shortly before the Shieikan officially joined the Roshigumi. Hijikata explained that if he went to Kyoto, he was unsure of the deeds that he would commit in order to obtain success and that therefore, he needed someone to keep him in check and his regrets to a minimum; to that end, he needed someone to “grasp his string of justice”. Yamanami agreed; this would set the stage for their relationship later on within the Shinsengumi.
In 1863, Yamanami, along with the rest of the Roshigumi and was sent to Kyoto by order of the Tokugawa Shogunate in order to protect the city. Later on, he became one of the original members of the Shinsengumi after it split from the Roshigumi and was appointed one of the group’s vice-commanders. Some time in 1863, Yamanami, along with Hijikata, forced Niimi Nishiki, one of the original commanders of the Shinsengumi, to commit seppuku; later that year, Yamanami participated in the assassination of the other original leader of the Shinsengumi, Serizawa Kamo. Both were killed for their disreputable deeds which had tarnished the reputation of the Shinsengumi, and following their deaths, the Shinsengumi reformed with Kondou serving as commander and Yamanami and Hijikata as vice-commanders.
The assassination of Serizawa would affect Yamanami more severely than he would have ever predicted: he soon found that he could no longer even handle holding a sword nor stomach the sight of blood - both serious weaknesses for the vice-commander of one of the most renowned military units in Kyoto. Neither ever got out to the Shinsengumi at large, but these fears would be the seeds of an anxiety over his place within the group that would dog Yamanami for the rest of his time in the Shinsengumi.
Also, some time after he arrived in Kyoto, Yamanami began a relationship with Akesato, a courtesan in Shimabara, the red light district of Kyoto. In actuality, Akesato was a spy for the Choshu, but it appears that she never used her relationship with Yamanami for her employer’s gain; likewise, although Yamanami eventually learned of her true job, he never used this against her and willingly told her of his association with the Shinsengumi.
In any case, before the official start of Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker, Yamanami along with Heisuke is sent out to attend to some business; the two return in time to meet Hijikata’s new puppy-like page, Ichimura Tetsunosuke, whom Yamanami mistakes for a small child. Shortly after, he leaves for a meeting with Kondou and Hijikata - and immediately takes Hijikata to task for recruiting young boys as killers. Hijikata rebuffs Yamanami’s allegations and announces that Tetsu is his page - and that they don’t need him as an active member of the Shinsengumi. Yamanami is clearly shocked and a little embarrassed at being mistaken, something that highlights what has become of his relationship with Hijikata in the years that have passed since they first joined the Roshigumi: although he is certainly living up to his promise to keep Hijikata in check, it has reached the point where the two are almost expected to be in opposition to each other, establishing the “Demon vs. Saint” duality.
Life in the Shinsengumi continues, and Yamanami even attempts to “help” Tetsu overcome the angst of teenage boyhood by taking him along for a trip to Shimabara. For Yamanami, it’s an otherwise normal trip (complete with thinly-veiled flirting), until a group of ronin burst in on him and Akesato, at which point Yamanami reveals an entirely different side of himself complete with demonic expression. Rather than drawing his katana, though, he “draws” his abacus - another subtle hint that he is losing the battle with his guilt from the Kamo assassination.
Yamanami next appears at the funeral of Yamazaki Ayumu, a Shinsengumi spy who is murdered in the line of duty after replacing her brother, Susumu. When Hijikata appears late to the funeral and all but turns the funeral into a war meeting, Yamanami admonishes him with “Hijikata, is that all you have to say?”, but once again, Hijikata brushes him off and leaves shortly thereafter. Shortly thereafter, the Shinsengumi successfully capture the man responsible for Ayumu’s death, and Hijikata gets him to reveal through torture Choshuu plans to set the capital on fire and kidnap the emperor. This leads to the infamous Ikedaya incident, which Yamanami sits out due to illness - or, perhaps “illness”. As Tatsunosuke, Tetsu’s older brother, serves him dinner, Yamanami finally reveals his fear of blood and his inability to hold a sword.
Meanwhile, the Shinsengumi successfully halt the Choshuu plan and kill Yoshida, the Choshuu leader behind the plot to burn the capital; in the days that follow, Heisuke manages to recruit Itou Kashitarou, a dojo master from Edo, and his pupils for the Shinsengumi. With the group on the brink of acquiring new comrades, Yamanami works up his courage and manages to confront Hijikata while the other is in the middle of practice. He reveals to Hijikata his growing discomfort with his role within the Shinsengumi - particularly his penchant for always disagreeing with Hijikata, regardless of whether the other’s ideas are valid or not. Hijikata, not one to dwell on the past, reminds Yamanami of the incoming members and tells him that, since he will likely not get along with Itou, Yamanami will be the one to show him the ropes. It is at this point that Yamanami asks to be demoted to the position of accountant, citing his ability with the abacus. Hijikata angrily tells him that there are no excuses for such a ludicrous request, at which point Yamanami tells him that the murder of Kamo has rendered his sword useless. Hijikata points out that he, Kondou, and Souji have not been likewise affected, and Yamanami begins to lose his cool, declaring that he isn’t like any of them - and that he doesn’t want to be like them, for that matter. Rather than actually be understanding, Hijikata tries to goad Yamanami into a fight for the sake of disproving him, and Yamanami loses it completely, throwing down his sword and revealing his disgust for the way that Hijikata so carelessly disregards life. With tears in his eyes, he leaves Hijikata with the words, “I am not your pawn!” before storming off, so thoroughly affected that he completely runs into Tatsunosuke. Tatsu takes notice of Yamanami’s distress, but is distracted by the appearance of Sakamoto Ryouma, and Yamanami’s uneasiness continues unnoticed…
At a later visit to Akesato (again with Tetsunosuke, who has become a close friend of Saya, one of Akesato’s attendants), Yamanami begins brooding over the fate of Saya, and Akesato attempts to lighten his mood by reminding him that Saya too could one day come to enjoy the closeness that she and Yamanami now share. Their night ends with Yamanami concluding that one day, he will free Akesato from her life as a courtesan in order to properly “embrace” her-and that no matter who she chooses to be, he will always welcome her.
Shortly thereafter, Itou Kashitarou and his comrades join the Shinsengumi, and the sly Itou immediately takes an unhealthy interest in Hijikata - and in the politics of the Shinsengumi, making Yamanami an unfortunate prime target. As the latter ruminates on the murder of Serikawa Kamo, recalling Hijikata’s logic of simply disposing of whatever becomes an obstacle, he is confronted by Itou, who inquires about a perceived divide he feels between Yamanami and the rest of the Shinsengumi. His logic leads him to conclude that it is Hijikata that Yamanami is most uncomfortable with, at which point Yamanami interrupts him and fiercely defends Hijikata’s contributions to the group, stating that whatever flaws are his own fault.
Yamanami’s feelings of worthlessness are only intensified after Hijikata announces the group’s move from Mibu to a Buddhist temple. Naturally, Yamanami opposes the move on religious grounds, but Hijikata again rebuffs him, responding that he is looking for opinions, not objections - and that he will not tolerate dissent within the group. Although obviously an attempt by Hijikata at warning Itou’s group, the meeting has the reverse effect on Yamanami: once again, he has been shoved into the background, his opinion as a fellow vice-commander rendered useless.
Somehow, as the year draws to a close, Souji manages to lift Yamanami’s spirits by reminding him that even if Hijikata speaks righteously, Yamanami’s words are far more righteous - meaning that he agrees with Yamanami and still considers his point of view valid. Buoyed, Yamanami resolves to stay with the Shinsengumi despite his unease and do whatever he can to assist Hijikata. He also resolves to take up his old sword again, as previously (as in, following his blow-up in front of Hijikata), he had been wearing a wooden one. As he returns to the Shinsengumi compound, he takes notice of a black cat (pretty much the herald of death and destruction in this series) and follows it, overhearing a conversation between Hijikata and Kondou in the process - a conversation being replicated by these creepy cat-girls that work for Kitamura Suzu, Yoshida’s former apprentice (now driven completely insane) who is intent on destroying the Shinsengumi. Carefully distorting the conversation, the cat-girls manage to convince Yamanami that Hijikata and Kondou are plotting to assassinate him, and, resolve shattered, he disappears.
Some days after disappearing from the Shinsengumi, Yamanami sends a letter to Akesato, directing her to meet him under a bridge in secret. There, Yamanami reveals that he will soon be killed, and ironically apologizes to Akesato for not having satisfactory information to give her. Akesato, realizing that her secret has been found out, attempts to escape, but is prevented by Yamanami, who notes that she sincerely loves him even though he’s failed her as an information source. Akesato drops all of her pretenses and reveals her true face (and voice), and proposes that she and Yamanami run away and live together. She then asks flat-out if Yamanami truly loves her, and he agrees to her plan, stating that it doesn’t matter who she is, since he can live as long as he has her.
Their dastardly plot, though, is thwarted again by the cat-girls, who manage to distract Akesato and thus convince Yamanami that she too has abandoned him, and he rides off into the night, his desertion now solidified.
[The rest of Yamanami’s history is omitted as it is all after his canon point.]
Personality:
Yamanami (For the sake of my poor fingers, I’m just going to call him “Sannan” from now on in this app.) is often called the “Saint” to Hijikata’s “Demon”, and this is a pretty fair comparison. He is a genuinely kind-hearted man, which is something of a double-edged sword for a member of the Shinsengumi: on one hand, his kindness makes him likeable and popular; on the other, kind-hearted people are the ones who would most acutely feel the wear of constant, almost mindless killing and power plays. In fact, it is his kindness, coupled with his tendency to hide his feelings, that indirectly leads to his death.
I should probably talk about that tendency of his, because in some ways, it too springs from his kind nature. Simply put, Sannan is fairly self-sacrificial and will always act in the way that he believes is best for the Shinsengumi or for his comrades and friends. When he overhears Hijikata and Kondo supposedly discussing the idea of assassinating him, he deserts because he believes he’s unwanted and a nuisance. When he is brought back to the Shinsengumi compound after deserting, he greets his comrades with smiles even though he knows he’s walking to his death. In each instance, he played things down and kept his thoughts to himself so as to not alarm those around him and retain the illusion of cohesiveness that the Shinsengumi required as an elite unit. The flip side, of course, is that all this acting, so to speak, takes a toll on Sannan, and it is possible, despite his calm, for him to lose his temper if he’s properly stressed. (True to his nature, though, Sannan will always apologize to whomever he’s just raged at, even if it was with good reason.)
It goes without saying that he can be very self-deprecating as well.
Gentleness is also implied from kindness, and Sannan has that in spades, to the point where he ruefully considers himself “soft” despite being an elite swordsman. He does indeed have a soft spot for children and generally enjoys calm and serene activities (usually while in the company of Akesato). He also is highly respectful of life and all that it stands for, to the point where he finds staying in the Shinsengumi uncomfortable because of the growing disregard for the significance of people’s lives that he sees - particularly in Hijikata.
Overall, Sannan is definitely the antithesis of a stereotypical samurai; a young Okita was even drawn to ask him why he had joined the Roshigumi, as he didn’t seem like a samurai at all. Even then, Sannan made no attempt to change Okita’s mind (showing that he is very set in his ethical and moral ways), but rather commented that he merely wanted to get out and explore the “outside”. His response is rather dreamy and idealistic, and Sannan can be both - again, difficult things to be when you are the leader of a military unit. Even so, Sannan certainly does nothing to hide his kind ways (They have earned him the title of the “Godly” or “Saint” vice-commander.), and is willing to present his point of view, to the point of coming off as a “preacher”. Indeed, at one point, Akesato notes that Sannan seems like a father (especially in relation to Tetsu), and this is a pretty apt description to the type of role that Sannan unknowingly takes on within the Shinsengumi.
Aside from his kind nature, Yamanami is also the academic incarnate. His historical self was supposed to be well-versed in history and other scholarly pursuits, and this is represented by Yamanami’s affinity for the abacus. He actually calculates to relax (or so he claims), and this can be taken to mean that he is at his best when things are ordered and under control in the same way that the sums work out so nicely under his fingers. He is a fairly calculating, logical thinker who prefers to think things through - and, true to his nature, he will always take into consideration things beyond simply “what will serve me best”. In a way, this chains Sannan to frequent indecision, since he’s loath to forgo his morals, and it is true that he is not quite the assertive leader that Hijikata is - something that contributes to the way that he ends up being slightly removed from the decision process within the Shinsengumi.
Strengths:
Physical: Although his skills are never truly displayed in either manga, Yamanami is a master swordsman, having attained menkyo kaiden in the Hokushin Ittou-Ryu style. He retrained in Tennen Rishin-ryu, and the fact that in those few years he was able to become an assistant instructor in a second style speaks volumes about his talent with the sword.
Mental: Yamanami enjoys calculating on the abacus and doing arithmetic in general for some strange reason, so it can be reasonably inferred that he has a very methodical mind. It is true that he doesn’t take actions without thinking carefully about their consequences, and he probably does a lot of subconscious cost-benefit analysis, so he is definitely not a rash person.
You also have to have some sort of mental fortitude if you’re going to be a swordsman. His combat instincts are certainly top-notch, and Yamanami is capable of conjuring up a formidable presence when he requires one, as shown by the hideous expression he managed to have on his face when he confronted some ronin in Shimabara.
Emotional: As shown by his popularity among the members of the Shinsengumi, Yamanami is a very welcoming, friendly person. (Tetsu, upon meeting him for the first time, immediately tells him he’d rather work for him than Hijikata - which isn’t much, granted, but the fact that he’s willing to honestly tell a near stranger this says something for how comfortable people feel around Yamanami.) He is a man of honor who can be trusted, and he trusts willingly in return. He also understands the concepts of humility and dignity, and always acts with both in mind.
Weaknesses:
Physical: He does wear glasses, so Yamanami’s vision without them is probably poor.
Mental: One thing about Yamanami is that he tends to overanalyze situations or brood on them unnecessarily. In a way, this tendency springs from his aversion to blood, the one secret that he tries to hide as much as possible. He knows that this fear is completely unacceptable for someone of his position, and the stress of suddenly becoming useless to the Shinsengumi and being pitied (Yamanami has his pride, after all.) by his comrades drives a lot of Yamanami’s actions. One such example is when he snaps at Hijikata after the other refuses to demote him to accounting - with actual tears in his eyes. Because he’s read so deeply into the situation - that Hijikata detests him and that he therefore must be completely useless - Yamanami suddenly forgoes his usual level-headed self.
Additionally, Yamanami is not normally an assertive person, so it’s easy for him to become pushed into the background of the action since he is slow to stand up for himself. This is seen when he tries to admonish Kondou and Hijikata for moving their quarters to a Buddhist temple. Hijikata shoots him down, and rather than continue the argument, Yamanami quietly gives up; Shinpachi later comments that he got completely “chewed on”.
Emotional: Yamanami, as mentioned in the Personality section, tends to bottle up his feelings in order to maintain a steady image of calm normalcy. As the series progresses, this tendency wears on him to the point where he starts making completely irrational decisions (It has been suggested that the real Yamanami was suffering from some sort of neurosis prior to his death and that he might have been depressed.), such as when he decides to leave the Shinsengumi after overhearing “Kondou and Hijikata” discuss the possibility of assassinating someone - someone he immediately assumes is him.
Samples
First Person:
[Voice]
Hello…? Is this working? Oh-oh, it automatically works-oh…Ah ha ha, I’m sorry, Okita-kun, I’m still not used to this at all. You’ll have to be patient with me for a few more days-
[A faint voice in the background can be heard saying, “Yamanami-san, it’s still on!”]
-oh, right! I’m sorry, I completely forgot. [He coughs.]
I sincerely apologize for that unnecessary chatter in the beginning; as you might have heard me telling Okita-kun, I’m not the best with these sorts of things.
In any case, my name is Yamanami Keisuke, and I…[pause] hm. Ah, I merely wished to ask if anyone had any intentions of claiming the house - I believe its number is 40. My group’s residence has become more crowded as of late, and we are in need of larger quarters. If someone did, I’m sure we can come to an agreement of some kind.
If you would please respond promptly, that would be most appreciated, as, um, well, you see…[he coughs]
It would be most appreciated.
Third Person:
When he came to, Yamanami half-expected to find a blade staring him in the face. It had only been a few days since he’d left the Shinsengumi, and yet, that was plenty of time for the surveillance unit to find him; he wouldn’t put such a thing past Yamazaki-kun.
Instead of a blade, though, it was a book.
“What-when did I…?” Slowly, Yamanami reached up and pulled the book off of his face. This was hardly the first time he’d woken up in such a fashion, but the circumstances he’d been in prior to falling asleep hadn’t exactly been ideal for reading. Unsettling…He frowned and glanced at the cover, blinking in surprise as his name stared back at him, before re-opening the book and squinting down at the first page. “‘Surely some of you must at least have theories…’” Yamanami blinked again, clearing non-existent spots from his vision before shaking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand-no use, words were still appearing as rapidly as he’d thought they were.
A book that writes itself? He stared at the book for a second longer (I’m dreaming. That’s the only explanation.) before setting it aside and sitting up, rubbing the back of his neck-
He paused as something on his back flexed, shaking off stiffness, setting off a dull ache that certainly had not been there mere hours before. Slowly, Yamanami turned his head, hand frozen on his neck, as light grey feathers curved to greet him.
Wings.
For a few seconds, he could only stare, mouth open, eyes wide, as the wings, as if sensing their owner’s disbelief, flapped experimentally, fluttering in the slight breeze. He let his hand make its way shakily down his back until it just barely brushed against the downy base-“Gnngk!” The wing twitched under his fingers, and Yamanami likewise as he hastily yanked his hand away, holding it as if it had been burned. The instant his fingers had collided with the feathers, this queer feeling had shot through his back, this feeling of contact and yet…disconnect.
He waited, heart pounding, for the wing to fall back flat against his back, before he snatched up the self-writing book and began flipping furiously through the pages, searching for something, anything that would explain all of this.