— — — — — —
Right next to the Moon Lord's grand palace was the modest estate of the Watatsuki family.
After her complete and overwhelming victory in yesterday's war, the new ruler of the Lunar Capital—Her Supreme Highness Kaguya Houraisan—was now visiting the Watatsuki residence to inspect the living conditions of her newly acquired prisoners.
"Why the long face? Come on, smile for me~"
Sitting shamelessly on the host's main seat like she owned the place (because, well, she kind of did now), Kaguya Houraisan looked down at Watatsuki Yorihime's expressionless face and giggled behind her hand.
"What's the deal? You just naturally hate smiling… or are you saying you're not happy to see me?"
Yorihime forced a stiff, unnatural smile onto her face.
"Tch. You know what? Forget it. That's even creepier."
Kaguya clicked her tongue in disdain. "Let me remind you both—when you're standing before me, you better show some manners. If I hadn't decided to be generous with you two last night, let's just say... as the defeated princesses of the losing side, you'd already be in the Moon Palace next door, warming up my daddy's bed and being trained until you only knew how to—"
Bonk.
A hand lightly knocked her on the head before she could finish that trainwreck of a sentence.
"Watch your mouth," Veyron said calmly from his seat beside her.
"Okay, okay, I get it! I'll be more careful next time," Kaguya muttered, sticking out her tongue like a scolded child. Then, without the slightest shame, she threw her feet up onto the short table in front of her and pointed at Yorihime.
"You. Come here and massage my legs."
"..."
"What, just gonna sit there? Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
Taking a deep breath, Yorihime silently knelt down beside her and started massaging Kaguya's legs with a darkened expression.
"Ugh, I love that look—the mix of hatred and humiliation in your eyes while your hands still obey me. It's delicious."
Clearly enjoying herself, Kaguya let out a satisfied hum, then pointed toward Toyohime.
"You. My daddy's shoulders could use some work."
"Sure thing~" Toyohime replied with a bright smile and cheerfully walked behind Veyron to get to work.
Once upon a time, the Watatsuki sisters were among the most esteemed nobility in the Lunar Capital. And now? One was massaging legs, the other rubbing shoulders.
That's the scene a moon rabbit walked in on as she knocked and peeked through the door.
"..."
"…Um, did I interrupt something?"
Kaguya casually turned her head toward the rabbit frozen in the doorway. "What's up?"
"Uh, those two horned guests who arrived yesterday said they heard our family's known for brewing sake, and asked to borrow a batch for a banquet. They also said if Lady Toyohime or Lady Yorihime—or any of us moon rabbits, really wanted to join in, we'd be welcome."
The moon rabbit gave a quick glance at Toyohime, who stood behind Veyron, just far enough outside Kaguya's direct line of sight. Receiving a small nod from Toyohime, the moon rabbit passed the message.
…Although now that she thought about it, was that a hint of resignation in Lady Toyohime's eyes?
A second later, she understood why.
"Oh? Looks like this little bunny is pretty close with you two," Kaguya said, her eyes narrowing playfully. "I've heard moon rabbits are often kept as pets, so it's rare for one in your household to have this kind of freedom, isn't it?"
Despite not turning her head, Kaguya seemed fully aware of the little glances exchanged behind her back, as if nothing could escape her notice. She turned to Yorihime.
"Care to introduce her?"
"Reisen Udongein Inaba," Yorihime answered calmly. "She can manipulate the insanity and wavelengths that reside in objects. She's also capable of sensing the mental waves emitted by other moon rabbits, almost regardless of distance. Both abilities are extremely advanced."
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She paused briefly. "Though she's timid and not really suited for combat, her aptitude and talent are easily among the best of her kind."
"Wait—did you say she can sense the others regardless of distance?" Kaguya repeated, her tone turning serious for a moment.
"At least in all the tests we've done so far, her reception range hasn't been limited by distance at all," Yorihime confirmed.
"So theoretically," Kaguya mused, "even from Earth, she could still connect to the 'Moon Rabbit Network' like normal?"
"That's how it worked during the tests," Yorihime nodded.
"Excellent!"
Kaguya clapped once and waved for Yorihime to stop massaging her legs. Then she jumped off her seat and floated over to Reisen, ruffling her hair like she'd just found a shiny new toy.
"From now on, you're coming with me and Eirin."
"Wha—wait, huh?!" Reisen squeaked, staring helplessly at Toyohime and Yorihime as if begging for help.
"Why are you looking at them?" Kaguya snorted, flicking one of Reisen's long ears in irritation. "I'm the ruler of the Lunar Capital. You think I need to ask a couple of prisoners for permission to take a moon rabbit? Please—if I wanted to bring all your kin along to serve me tea and carry my fan every day, they wouldn't have the right to say no either."
Poor Reisen could only tear up in silence, finally coming to terms with her reality.
— — —
And so, with her new prize in tow—a top-tier moon rabbit who could act as a wireless signal booster even from Earth—Kaguya left the Watatsuki estate, clearly in a fantastic mood.
She was accompanied by Veyron, as well as Suika Ibuki and Yuugi Hoshiguma, who had also managed to acquire a few bottles of fine sake brewed with "eternal time" from the Watatsuki's cellar.
Once the courtyard was empty and the visitors were gone, Toyohime and Yorihime exchanged a glance, both catching the weary smile in the other's eyes.
"She really is just like Master Eirin said," Toyohime sighed. "Still just a pampered princess who's been spoiled by both the moon and the Earth, and deep down… hasn't really grown up at all."
She was remembering what Eirin had told them the night before, after the victory banquet had ended.
Yorihime gave her sister a strange look.
'Says the woman who's basically the same…'
"Yorihime? What are you thinking about?" Toyohime waved a hand in front of her distracted sister's face.
"…Reisen," Yorihime replied after a moment. "Based on the question Kaguya asked after learning about her powers… even though she's the Moon's ruler now, it seems like she doesn't really plan to stay here long-term."
"Yeah," Toyohime agreed with a quiet admiration. "She really is something else…"
They were both beings tied to the concept and divinity of the Moon.
Their 'father' had succumbed to that divinity—losing all sense of self, becoming nothing more than a divine husk, imprisoned in the Moon Capital like a lifeless relic.
And yet Kaguya… her Earthly daddy had given her the freedom to carry all that weight without ever being weighed down. Even as the embodiment of lunar authority, she could remain completely herself. She could choose to stay on the Moon… or just leave for Earth anytime she felt like it.
No divine chains. No spiritual anchors. Just… freedom.
.
.
.