Kaguya had lived on the Earth for centuries, but the bamboo forest still fascinated her.
The sun had gone down an hour ago, and the woods were still full of life. Raw, untamed life, unlike the carefully curated gardens of the moon. Chirping insects and hooting birds filled the night, occasionally punctuated by a wolf howl or the rustle of a larger creature moving in the distance. Now and then, the underbrush parted as another rabbit made its way home for the night. Kaguya crouched down to greet each one with a pat on the head, but continued on her way.
The new arrival was seated in the open hallway at the rear of the mansion. She sat with her head bowed and one crumpled ear cocked up, like she was listening to somebody. She probably was, but it was no voice that anybody else would notice. A sliver of red light shined past her closed eyelids.
Kaguya approached her. In one hand, she had a pot of tea. In the other, two cups. She bent down to sit the pot on the floor. "Oh," she said, "I didn't know I'd have company.
She spoke quietly, but it was still enough to send a jolt through the rabbit's body. Her ears both twitched upright, and her eyes flew open, the lunatic light slowly fading from them. The bewildered look on her face took a bit longer.
"Oh. Er. Princess Kaguya. I just came out here to talk to some friends back on the moon." Anxiously, she added, "Lady Yagok—er, Master asked me to keep tabs on them. I wasn't trying anything, I promise!"
It had been like this ever since the girl—Reisen, apparently—had arrived. The poor thing was a wreck. She'd been an anxious mess when she'd arrived, and the grilling that Eirin had given her certainly hadn't helped. She jumped at every shadow, and she watched the mansion's other inhabitants like a whipped dog waiting for another beating. When she'd talked about fleeing the front lines of a war, Eirin hadn't believed her at first. Seeing how she behaved... Kaguya couldn't doubt her for an instant.
Reisen looked like she might pass out from fear. In contrast, Kaguya tried to look as calm as possible. She rested the cups on the floor and took a seat next to them. "Tea is better with company anyway."
Reisen nodded uncertainly. Kaguya lifted the pot and started filling the cups. "Did you know that watching the moon is a human custom?"
Reisen's eyes drifted from Kaguya, to the unclaimed cup, and back again. "I didn't, no."
"They say that sake is even better for moon-watching." Kaguya claimed a cup and rested it in her lap. "They're right, but Eirin's being grumpy, so I'm stuck with tea for the moment. Would you like some?"
This time, Reisen didn't respond. Kaguya kept her eyes on the moon, taking the occasional sip of her drink... and observing the rabbit from the corner of her eye. Reisen's hands fretted in her lap. A nervous twinge shot through her ears whenever something moved in the forest. She kept an anxious eye on Kaguya. She did everything but relax, really.
A few minutes passed in silence before Kaguya said, "Is something bothering you?"
Reisen flinched. Obviously she thought she'd been hiding it better than that. "It's... nothing. I wouldn't want to trouble you."
"Oh, but if you're anxious, we can talk about it over tea. That's the best way to unwind." Just to highlight that point, Kaguya took a longer sip of hers.
Reisen obviously wasn't convinced. She went anxiously quiet again. Kaguya watched her with polite curiosity. More and more tension built up in Reisen's body until she finally caved in, drooping down with a sigh. "Princess," she murmured. "Did you come out here to keep an eye on me?"
"Ah? I'm not sure that I understand."
"You're fugitives, and I'm... just a rabbit. When Master found me and I realized who she was, I thought for sure that she was going to kill me to keep this place a secret. There's no way to prove that I'm not a spy, and you don't have any reason to trust me." As she spoke, Reisen's voice grew quieter and shakier. "I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Last night I was wondering if it might be better for me to just... leave..."
Her voice trailed off. Kaguya gave her a moment to recover, taking a long, thoughtful sip of her drink before she said, "Oh... I'm sorry, but the moon is just so beautiful that I got distracted. Could you please repeat all of that, Inaba?"
Reisen looked dumbfounded. Kaguya smiled. "Oh, if you already forgot, I guess that means it wasn't very important after all...?"
Reisen reddened, her ears slowly lifting in outrage. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Hmm...? That would be rude, wouldn't it?" Kaguya lifted the pot and started refiling her cup. "Would you like me to top off your tea, Inaba?"
"And my name is Reisen."
"Oh, I apologize." Kaguya shot her the sweetest smile as she sat the pot aside. "There are so many Inabas around, I'm afraid that my memory can't keep track of you all."
"Maybe I should just go..."
"Ah, one moment... oh! I remember you now. You're the rabbit who was sleeping on my chest when I woke up this morning, aren't you?"
"I'm not that kind of rabbit!"
"Hmm...?" Kaguya took a thoughtful sip of her drink. "Oh! You're right. I apologize. You must be the rabbit who takes naps in my closet."
Reisen stared at her in outraged disbelief. Kaguya stared back, with a look of such profound, blank innocence that even the idea that it might be faked seemed like a cruel accusation.
Reisen broke first. "Princess, even if this is just an act, I think that you might be crazy."
"Crazy...? Oh! I see now. You must be the Inaba who wanted to sit on my lap this afternoon."
"That must be it," Reisen said, half-exhausted, half-indulgent.
"I'm glad that's sorted out then," Kaguya said sunnily. She nursed her tea, giving Reisen time to recover. Reisen still didn't touch her cup. After a few minutes, she said, "Inaba... I don't know what was bothering you earlier, but I'm sure that it isn't anything to worry about. All of the Inabas are under my protection. I'd be a terrible pet owner if I let anything happen to you."
Reisen stared at her face, searching, almost desperately, for any hint of duplicity. Her ears drooped. Her lips quivered. Tears welled in her eyes. And, in a barely-controlled tailspin, she plummeted straight to bawling. Between sobs, she choked out, "You… you are crazy," with a barely-restrained smile on her lips.
