Reisen Inaba was seated, polishing the metal of her weapon. She'd just finished disassembling and reassembling it, and was putting the finishing touches on the outside polish.
It was no rifle, no pistol; nothing so simple. This was a shoulder-mounted multi-purpose gun, parts bazooka, parts machinegun, parts mortar, and all metal.
It was also one of Reisen's oldest custom weapons.
"Al~most done." She smiled down at the gun, fitting a side plate back into place.
She was inside the Hakurei Shrine, and it was drinking night. Kind of. As it turned out, Reimu wasn't so much in the mood to drink, this evening.
Lukewarm, half-empty sake cups sat around the various kotatsus arranged in the main room of the shrine. The lights were dim; Reisen had brought some modern lamps and hooked them up to a tiny portable generator.
Reimu didn't complain, mesmerized by the dim, warm orange lights.
"You know…" Youmu was seated to the left of Reisen, staring at the complicated metal machine curiously. "What's the appeal, of guns?"
Reisen snorted. "What? ...In what sense?"
"Like—..." Youmu supposed she should clarify. "You seem really fascinated, with guns. I wonder why you don't just view them as tools."
Reisen wouldn't say the same of swords, even if she didn't see them as anything more than what they were. "...Well, why uh… why aren't swords just long knives?"
Youmu instantly got offended. "Wh— because—... well, they're not. There's a lot of skill that goes into wielding a sword. It's not as simple as 'blade meets skin'."
"Guns aren't as simple as 'bullet meets skin', either." Reisen smirked at her.
"You do have to aim, I guess." Youmu confessed. "But—"
"It's about reflexes." Reisen spoke over her. "It's about combining your knowledge of war and weapons with your reflexes, maintaining accuracy and efficiency, and taking out your enemy. It might not be as graceful as dedication to the sword, but it's—... it's a passion of mine. I'm just interested in how different weapons work, their uses, and in part, their unique spectacles."
"...Huh." Youmu couldn't really argue with that. "The art of war is also useful, with the sword. But—... I enjoy the concision, too. I view it as discipline that surpasses pragmatism. Reflexes are still important, but I stay true to the blade, and prefer performing by the blade."
"I might enjoy a little romanticism, but I could never be married to one weapon, like you are with blades." Reisen looked down at the ignored sake glasses nearby.
"It's not as plain artsy as you think." Youmu really wanted to justify her passion to Reisen. "I've not just had to raise Roukanken. I've used bokken, I've trained with greatswords… even stupid things like big sticks and guitars. It's a familiarity with a particular, ancient and martial discipline. It might not be as singularly useful in war as your learning, but… I'd rather the beauty. I don't believe I'll ever have to live through your life, or truly fight in war, after all."
...Reisen nodded, smiling. "Fair enough."
Her gaze returned to the warm lamp lights set up around the shrine. It was such a warm, comfy spring evening.
Reisen saw Reimu and Marisa gazing idly at them.
"You guys are huge nerds." Marisa stated plainly, smiling warmly.
"Both guns and swords are stupid." Reimu said the most polarizing thing of all. "Why would you even bother, when magic's a thing?"
"Reimu, sometimes, I don't know about you." Youmu shook her head…
"I'm gonna snipe you." Reisen decided.
Reimu grinned. "Okay, sniping's kinda strong I guess… and, kinda cowardly. But—"
Reisen smiled. "Cowardice wouldn't matter if your enemy was dead."
But, Youmu disagreed. "...I'd rather face my enemy head-on, no matter what. I suppose that's where the modern art of war and the dedication to the blade deviate..."
"Yeah." Reisen agreed. "On the outside, that sort of thinking would leave you dead in seconds flat. Then again, war on the outside is… anything but graceful."
Sanae sauntered into the shrine, from outside. "I can't believe you gu~ys. It's so cool-looking outside, and you just wanna sit in here polishing weapons and looking at these dingy lamps?"
"Hey," Reimu looked slightly offended. "Lamps… are cool."
...Sanae shook off how endearing Reimu's simple assertion was. "Well— anyway…" She met Reisen's gaze.
Reisen spoke when their eyes met. "Sanae. You're from the outside, yeah? Do you know a lot about the new guns they got out there?"
"No." Sanae grinned. "I was never one of those school shooter types."
Reisen double-took. "Bh— being interested in guns doesn't make you a school shooter."
Putting her arms on her hips, Sanae doubled down on her teasing. "From how you just sit around broodingly whenever we have a girl's night, you coulda had me fooled! You always got this intense look on your face."
...Reisen supposed she wasn't wrong. "Aa— I'm not that bad at hiding it, I'm sure."
...She looked at the other girls for confirmation.
"You are." Reimu stated plainly, before sipping some of her sake.
"Well— kinda— yeah, ya are." Marisa beamed widely at her. "When I first met ya, I didn't even know why ya hung around…!"
...Finally, Reisen looked at Youmu.
Youmu shrugged, looking sheepish. "I— I mean—... I'm kinda self-conscious and stuff, so I wasn't paying attention that much. But, you were really quiet."
"Come to think of it," Reimu pointed at Youmu. "I don't know why you came by, either. After every incident, it's like you all turned my shrine into a—..."
Sanae finished the analogy for her. "An after-school activity!"
"I was gonna say club, or something." Reimu gazed up at her tiredly. "But, yeah."
...Youmu tilted her head, looking oddly gentle. "I dunno. You guys are cool."
Reisen was sent here to socialize on her master's command initially, but that directive was only for a few days. Every so often after that, Reisen came here on her own, since everyone here was fairly nice, and it was becoming a tradition.
'Surely, it's the same for Youmu.' Reisen suspected. 'I don't know if it's a political ploy by our masters… but it doesn't really matter, in the end.'
"Here, Reimu." Marisa held her arm out. "Have a hat."
fwish! Marisa shot a little white sunhat from her hand, and it plopped onto Reimu's head gently, over her bow.
It was a little too big, so Reimu sank down a little, like a cat to cloth. "Wh—..."
...Sanae began to beam, staring down at Reimu. "Oh my god, Reimu. You're adorable."
"Aa— am I?" Reimu looked uncomfortable.
"So!" Sanae pivoted around, looking down at Reisen again. "Why're you so intense-looking? I wanna find out!"
"...I— I mean, it's not for any specific reason." Reisen clarified. "It's not like I have a tragic backstory, or anything. I mean, I've kinda lived a life of work and tedium, but it's gotten better. I expect that you've all had similar struggles."
...The others girls mostly all looked idle about this.
Reisen began to open discussions further. "I spent a lot of my life under a crappy oppressive lunar regime, where individual members of the lower social classes were just ants, basically. Really sucked since we were all still people."
"Outside life sucks." Sanae stated without hesitation. "Everyone out there was really mean, and I thought I was gonna die. There was really little interesting to do, and I was scared of wasting away my days doing nothing but giving back to a world I hated."
'...That's pretty jarring, coming from Sanae of all people.'
In the quiet, Marisa piped up. "I ran away from home ta join the circus! ...Well, I uh, actually ended up gettin' real mad at my pa, and the village, and ended up gettin' tutored by a ghost in an alternate demon realm. Wasn't a totally bad deal, but uh… yeah."
"My mom died when I was a kid." Reimu spoke in monotone. "I ended up getting lost in Makai and stuff too, until I wasn't. I kinda miss her."
Sakuya was there, all of a sudden, with a new bottle; this one of wine. Her entrance was quiet, and her act of sitting down even moreso. 'What about her…?'
...Everyone centered their gazes on Youmu.
Youmu was sheepish. "...I, um, had to study the sword really hard. And my master was kinda rough, I guess… but, not too much."
"Youmu is a pure soul." Sanae decided. "We have to protect her, guys!"
"You have any parents?" Reimu wondered.
"Aren't ya in like, the 'Konpaku Clan'? Where's the rest a' the clan?" Marisa also wondered.
"We— well…" Youmu shrank in her seat. "I don't know anything about any parents. And, I guess the rest of the clan is gone? I don't know."
"How mysterious…" Sanae plopped down on the ground, next to Youmu. "Unh! We're— gonna get to the bottom of it!"
"I don't think so." Youmu shook her head…
...Then, awkwardly, no one said anything.
Reimu gingerly yawned under the warm lights. She turned— and saw Sakuya at her kotatsu, and furrowed her brows.
When Sakuya poured her some wine, Reimu unfurrowed her brows, saying nothing.
"Well." Reisen rested her hands on her shoulder-mountable, multi-purpose gun, which was still lying on the kotatsu. "Who wants to hear a story?"
Sanae perked up. "Ooh. Is it gonna be on that lunar regime thingy!?"
"Sure." Reisen never really connected with so many other people like this before. While she had friends throughout her life, this connection was especially casual, but also meaningful.
'Might as well see where this goes.'
"I do wanna know how life on the moon works!" Marisa scooted away from her and Reimu's kotatsu, and got closer. "An' this'll be a first from you! I'm sure yer bored to death of me an' Reimu's stories by now, ze."
Admittedly, she knew more about Marisa and Reimu than their parents probably did, by this point. The same could be said for Sanae and Youmu roughly, as well.
Smiling, Reisen moved to pull the multi-purpose gun off her kotatsu. "Nnh. Alright…"
Thud. It made the room's floor shake a little, when she sat it aside herself.
Then, Reisen took a breath, and spoke.
"It's not really what I'd call a traditional Japanese legend. It's nothing so elegant, as the tale of the bamboo cutter. That was elegant 'cause it provoked thinking in more ways than one. It left a lot vague, but dealt with mythological phenomena, and some things you could call morals. It was simple, had simple morals, and spoke of beauty; the beauty of that time in Japan.
"Which is not to say, it focused on that beauty. The beauty shone through the work itself, as a brief snippet of fantasy and mythology.
"Lady Kaguya would say it was a tale of her beauty… but, it wasn't her story, by a longshot. It was a tale of Japan."
...Since everyone seemed to be listening, Reisen shifted where she sat, and continued, her gaze flicking between each person.
"This isn't a story like that." Reisen prefaced. "I don't know if there's any morals to be found. It's not gonna be as mysterious, 'cause it's gonna be answering questions, more like. It won't emphasize fantasy; at least, not for myself, 'cause it's my reality. This won't be about Japan, or the moon, or master, or Lady Kaguya."
"This is my story."
Reisen's red eyes widened, then flashed.
Organ Jaws
She stepped down the stone path of the lunar capital's main walkway.
This was the capital sector, the heart of the moon and by far, the nicest looking place imaginable there, bar a few entertainment-oriented sectors, perhaps.
She'd just finished leading the year's first training session earlier this day, and now the capital soldiers had free practice, which she wasn't needed for.
"Huu~." Reisen exhaled, gazing at the blue sky above.
'I just got promoted here, and everything. But…' She still felt mildly bored. 'Thought things would really spice up. But, the capital guard is even more lazy than all the sector defense squads. Feels like any other entertainment sector's day one problem.'
'If I truly wanted to be part of something really serious, I'd have joined the riot squads.' While Reisen was a part of offense-based units before, it's not like the moon was actually fighting anybody, or would be for some time.
The bigger challenge rested on the shoulders of the dedicated anti-riot squads: bunnies who had to fight rebels across the moon, who were displeased with life in the industrial sectors. 'Those bunnies, while quite strong, have a damn hard time. Maybe one day I'll give them a shot, if I'm not some officer by then.'
Stepping along under the cherry blossoms, Reisen gave them an idle stare.
"Oh. There you are."
Watatsuki no Yorihime stepped up to her. She'd come from the lunar capital, hands on her blade's sheath at her waist. "Practice take longer than usual? How are the soldiers?"
'They're using long-outdated polearms, and only a fraction of their potential skills, but good.'
"As good as usual." Reisen stood tall, head leaning back for a moment to search the sky. Then, she gazed across Yorihime again.
Yorihime had long, pastel purple hair done up in a fluffy ponytail. Her dress was simple, the top being white and the bottom being red. "...Tell me more. Were they proficient in hand-to-hand? How about their counter-polearm arts?"
"Top class." Reisen sort of fibbed. "Their polearms are quite adaptable, too."
'In theory, those polearms would be very powerful against any projectile. It's just, their techniques can only defend against light ballistics, which are far and beyond a thing of the past. You throw them up against a tank, or even infantry with light plasma, and they'll get shot, plain and simple.'
"As I thought." Yorihime smiled. "We're the pride of the moon, after all. I was excited, to see what you thought of how I'd raised them. From today forward, I may even leave them in your care. I believe you've earned it."
To Reisen, this career progression felt superficial and fully formal, so she smiled a little at Yorihime's misconceptual pride.
"Have I?" Reisen asked casually.
"Quite." Yorihime gave her a big nod. "You are trustworthy, brilliant and a master of war. I'd have no one less than you and me lead Lunaria's finest."
'If you want our finest, you should look at the assault divisions. Pretty sure the lower class bunnies actually die in training, sometimes.' Of course, no one talked about the actual meat of the military system, here. Reisen was somewhat afraid to even bring it up.
"Truly, the finest." Reisen lied. "Your warriors here are truly bred from valor." She wasn't sure what the meaning of what she just said was, but she thought it sounded nice.
Yorihime's smile widened. "Of course. Of course."
The bright, sunny day shined down on the moon's gentle, grassy plains.
"Anyway." Yorihime moved away from the capitol building. "Let's go home, Reisen. I'm sure sister is waiting for us."
"Sure."
Reisen had lived with the royal sisters for much of her life. When she was younger, she was adopted on essentially impulse by the two, which was ultimately a huge stroke of luck.
'They're alright people, if… quite, quite naive. I'm not sure if they totally know how the moon works. I used to look up to them for knowledge, but recently, I've found myself looking down at them.'
\= Lunaria =/
It was later that evening, at the Watatsuki household; the Moon Palace.
Reisen sat in her suit, as the setting sun cast her room in gold light and fading warmth. She was in the chair before her computer, somewhat pensive.
'What do I do?' She looked back from it, at the room's side.
There was a blue metal crate below the bright window. Atop this crate lied swords, rapiers and polearms, but inside were guns. Only Reisen could open it, even if technically the Watatsukis could force it open. They respected her privacy, however.
Aside her computer desk was a workbench, lined with tools, some conventional and some laserwave-based.
Knock, knock. Someone was at the door.
"He~y, Reise~n." It was Toyohime, one of her lunarian masters. "Don't just shut yourself away. Tell me how your first day went!"
'Ah. Fine.'
Getting up, Reisen plainly approached her front door, and swung it open.
Toyohime smiled up at her. Her hair was long, sandy blonde, and her eyes were gold.
"You got so tall." Toyohime began to lean around Reisen's form. "So tall!"
"...Yeah." Reisen admitted. "Today was good."
Toyohime snorted. "Awh. Tell me mo~re."
Whatever Toyohime wanted, she got it, somehow. Reisen continued. "...We did startup orientation exercises for awhile. I checked melee, ranged and specific weapon proficiency. Everyone was… up to par."
'Left unsaid: the standards here in the capital sector are the loosest of any sector. Not sure why Yorihime insists on paper rubrics and handwritten reports. This whole sector feels like a time capsule.'
"How do you like this place?" Toyohime stepped into Reisen's room. She scanned the crate of weapons, the bed, the mini-fridge and the two desks with curiosity. "A lot nicer than the industrial sectors, isn't it?"
When they'd sent Reisen to train in leadership by working up the ranks at various sectors, Reisen had gotten a view of almost all the moon had to offer.
She had to admit: all the greenery was nice, and the cultural vibe here in the capital was a powerful difference. People smiled, stopped to breathe the air and smell the flowers, and were talkative. Provided, most of the population here were either lunarians, or specifically prestigious breeds of lunar rabbit.
"Yeah." Reisen admitted. "Not sure how you did it."
"Hmm?" Toyohime paused, looking down at the computer idly. "What do you mean?"
"...Ah. Nothing." Reisen had the compulsion not to say anything.
All around the room, were mementos of Reisen's travels.
A lunar calendar sat on the wall, with pictures of good looking bunny men. She'd bought this from entertainment sector L-16, some years ago, and never decided to toss it out. She'd just flip the pages to the corresponding month to pretend, but she had her computer for the actual recent date.
The blue crate in the back of the room was from the industrial sector, and she's been slowly filling it up with weapons that interested her since she bought it all those years ago.
'...All these cheap swords and polearms I got were just to make sure Yorihime didn't freak out. She always wanted me to use a katana.'
"Wo~w." Toyohime looked over the weapons crate. "You really got into some cool stuff! I bet sis is really proud."
'The whole reason she sent me on this trip, was so that I'd develop a hatred of guns and modernity. Instead, I've developed a—... not a hatred. An 'unappreciation' for the culture and the beauty in the capital. And, knowing these two sisters, they could fix everything. Why don't they?'
"Oh. I quite am."
Yorihime sauntered into the room next. "Good evening, Reisen. Good evening, sister."
"Sis!" Toyohime beamed back at her. "Reisen has a lotta cool swords and stuff!"
"I can see that." Yorihime smirked. "How many times do you practice a day with these, Reisen?"
'...How would I have had the time?'
"Many times." Reisen gave a bad answer.
...Yorihime looked like she could feel how lame that answer was. "Is that so."
"Hey…" Toyohime held up a katana from the crate. "Ooo. This looks a lot like sister's!"
"And yet, it is a cheap knockoff." Yorihime's face became neutral.
Toyohime simply pouted back at her. "...That's mean, sister. You shouldn't be mean to Reisen, after she just came back. I thought you were happy for her, too."
"I speak on what I see." Yorihime countered. "You must know I am of results, sister. But, aside from that..." She quieted down, not eager to speak further with her sister around.
"Aside from that?" Toyohime pressed, smiling gently.
"Reisen has proved the justice of our culture." Yorihime said something completely different and irrelevant. "We should let her rest further. Tomorrow, we can get to know her better. She's just moved back in, after all."
...Toyohime pouted, and made for the door. "I guess you're ri~ght. I wonder if she has any naughty mags…"
"Scoot." Yorihime fought her own grin with a frown, and gestured to the door.
Soon, Toyohime made her slow exit, walking carefree down the sun-kissed hall outside.
...click. Yorihime shut the door, still inside the room.
She turned to Reisen. "What is the meaning of this?"
Reisen shot back immediately, expecting this a little. "What's up?"
Yorihime walked up to the melee weapons. "All of these are mere replicas of the kind we use here in the capital. They couldn't have cost more than a thousand credits, altogether. You mock me, with these souvenirs? Or, were you fooled?"
"...Tch." Reisen's face soured. "What's it to you?"
Yorihime's brows furrowed. "One implies you are trying to deceive me. The other implies you came out of your journey still a fool and none wise."
The latter Reisen's pride wouldn't allow, and yet the first was the truth she was trying to avoid dropping.
She closed her eyes.
'What the hell do I say?'
"...You don't have to answer." Yorihime declared. "I suppose I'll see your worth in the next few days." She began to leave.
"It was to deceive you." Reisen admitted, opening her red eyes. "Sorry."
...At that, Yorihime softened, stopping near the door. "...Is that the truth?"
"Yeah." Reisen took a deep breath. "...I learned some things, on my trips between all sectors. I learned, that I hated the lunar capital."
'I need to shut up. I'm going to get fired.'
...Yorihime stepped back. "You—... you what?" She looked absolutely winded, all of a sudden.
Body tense, Reisen said no more.
...Yorihime looked to the fake polearms on the crate beside herself.
'She's—'
In nearly an instant, Yorihime swiped one up, and slid straight over to Reisen.
Woosh. Reisen leaned her whole body back. The plastic emerald staff swung straight over the apex of her stomach, her suit's tie flicking to the side from the moderately powerful swing.
"Hup!" From here, Reisen flipped backward into a handstand, then arrived back onto her shoes. "Ah—"
Whunk. Yorihime met her instantly in the gut, thrusting her left hand forward to connect the plastic staff tip with Reisen's abdomen.
Wham! That's when Reisen's knuckles met Yorihime's nose.
"Gh—" Yorihime staggered back. "You— ingrate!"
Reisen's face hardened back. "How— how am I an ingrate?"
"After everything I've done— for you— with our soldier's blood and Lunaria's resources, you disrespect me, my sister—... the capital?" Yorihime gritted her teeth back. "How long have you upheld this lie? Have you never cared?"
"...I— I've cared." Reisen answered truthfully. "But it was hard to continue caring. All across Lunaria, there's hardships that seem like they're not even recognized or cared about, here. You must know, right? How other sectors operate?"
"Of course." Yorihime frowned. "I sent you to each one, didn't I? I filled out the paperwork for every sector."
"Then, why do neither of you fix anything?" Reisen frowned back. "Sending me to those sectors did not make me resent their way of life, or their people. It didn't make me glad how easy my life could be, here. It disciplined me, but it also made me—... it made me see our world for what it really is. And, I hate it. I think so much more could be done. It made me respect their way of living."
...Yorihime exhaled through her nose, glaring at the window for a moment.
Then, she met Reisen's gaze again. "My sister doesn't know. And, she shouldn't know. You do not understand, how essential to Lunaria every sector's specific orientation is."
Reisen protested. "If we allocate our resources different, it could be different, though! We could afford some sanity in how every person is treated. If we properly used—... our massive industrial power, as one globe-spanning nation, we could ensure a peaceful life for our citizens, and quality training for our soldiers."
"You understand nothing." Yorihime shook her head. "Such optimism, in those other sectors, would be a mark of weakness. Lunaria is very distinctly defined into all of these very different sectors for a reason."
"Even so— why are most of them shit?" Reisen returned. "I could see like— I could see geological difference, but—"
"Lunaria has a pure balance." Yorihime decided. "That whole excursion was for you to see this pure balance for what it was. These past fifteen years were your training. You are strong, you have potential, and they do not. Because Lunaria dictated so."
"Who cares about me?" Reisen grinned. "Why can't you clean up the industrial sectors? Why can't there be a little intellectual compassion in the military sectors? Why are the entertainment sectors complete good-for-nothings?"
"Ultimately, that sort of thing is out of my power." Yorihime shook her head. "While I may very well interfere, it is against the collective wills of the council. In my opinion, there is nowhere more fine than the capital, and that is the way things are meant to be. They squaller, so we may stand. For, if we all stood, there would be no unification."
Reisen thought on this. She could partially agree with the latter part, but at the same time…
'If there was just— someone making decisions with an ounce of decency in these sectors— everything would be remarkably better! These damn sisters have the power to change that, and they just have this fucking— 'no can do' attitude…'
"By the way." Reisen sighed. "...I really hate how the capital does weapons."
"Now you're just being petty." Yorihime scoffed. "Fine. You may sleep. Tomorrow, I wish to see more vigor in your duties. Your opinions must not ruin your aptitude as a simple captain, at least. I will not let you be a complete failure yet."
'A complete failure?' This would imply that Reisen was, in part, a failure now. 'Fuck you!'
The ceiling light went off. Reisen's computer turned off, and Yorihime opened the door. "You will sleep, and you may not be allowed out of this room for the evening. I don't feel like I can trust you, after everything you've said."
Fwi- Shi~ng! A barrier lit up around the room, only visible through the one window the room had.
Reisen leaned back, closing her eyes. "...Cool."
"This barrier will prevent leaving, as well as your wavelength communications with other rabbits." Yorihime turned away. "Goodnight, Reisen. I love you."
It'd been some time since Reisen had heard that. "...I- I love you too?" She wasn't sure how to reply, so she just said it back idly.
click. The door shut.
'...Last time they said that to me, it was when I was young, and actually pet-like. Them treating me like a pet now… ugh. I'm used to living in apartments and only having to sneak around the living regulation managers.'
Reisen moved for her crate. 'Speaking of sneakin' around regulation managers…'
\= Lunaria =/
It took awhile to set up, and the evening was late.
thump- thump. Reisen patted the side of her clumsy, bulky but small, portable generator. "Finally."
It was very basic, but also somewhat complicated. Ultimately, it was a box about twice the size of the desktop computer's tower. On the back, there were a number of triangle-shaped inlets, where the cables could be plugged in.
It got around most confinement and curfew checks by being very avant garde. It was powered by fifty double-A batteries, which could also be manually charged with lunar power.
'It's great that magical energy is just everywhere, up here. Too few people know how to take advantage of this.'
Reisen's computer turned on, after she plugged it in and pressed the power button. 'Got i~t. Eat shit…!'
...And yet, she felt like working on the gun she was designing now, instead. 'Getting that generator working again put me in a hands-on kind of mood, actually.'
Sitting at her workbench, she was able to wirelessly power her tools now, using both her own internal energy reserves, as well as the generator nearby.
It would be a combination of everything she's used so far, put into one gun. A mortar, a rocket launcher, a machinegun, and a precision shooter. It couldn't be exactly a sniper rifle, as defined by the limitations of everything else, but it could still assist aiming and accuracy.
She'd built many guns before, using what she'd learned in each sector to make something she found cool. But, this was something more. She'd been working on this since she began her fifteen year journey.
It laid on her workbench, looking like a nondescript metal machine at the moment.
She sat down, and the work began.
'I don't think I'll ever get through to Yorihime.'
Vrr- vrrr~! Laser drill noises began. She was fitting a particular, internal composite piece together.
'...Looks good to use.' She nodded at the pieces she'd combined. 'I'll use a lot of quick-twist screws, so I can actually pop this open later easier. Still gotta drill the holes, at least.'
Vrrr- vrrr~! Her room was alive with the sounds of work. Dim blue light was cast onto the workbench, from the computer and from a small, discreet worklight over the bench.
'Yorihime is one of those kinds of people. Severely traditional and complacent. No matter how I argue, it's never gonna be good enough. I'm always missing something. There's always some reverence— some illogical sacrecy in the way things are.
'I don't know if she actually knows better, or if she's just scared. Scared of trying, or scared of losing this way of life.'
What Reisen desired really was nothing less than a revolution, when she thought about it. With the council at fault over the myriad utilitarian rule over each sector, what needed to be cut may've been obvious.
That didn't mean it had to be a violent revolution, of course. 'How are we gonna change the way people think?'
Plus, thinking about how to make this smooth over for each sector was just beyond Reisen herself. 'Isn't this why we— have— a council?'
She frowned, as she fit the front of the gun into place.
'In every sector, there are people who are yearning for freedom. People who spend endless days working, living in small apartments, going to work at hands-on jobs, or simple thinking jobs that merely require a sentient interface, ad infinitum. We could be using those minds for so much more, or not at all.'
'Even my thinking is a waste. All I'm supposed to be is a soldier. A leader, maybe, but one who follows orders from higher command. In other words, a sentient interface to tow the line and be a mouthpiece.'
The grip was being fit into place. The gun was large enough to fit onto her back, and the front had a huge, metal vice which she could clamp.
Cli- click. The magazine fit into the very back of the weapon, arced over the rear stock. This unorthodox design was to feed in rocket and mortar energy payloads, in addition to a reserve of bullets.
A triangular tank handled every type of ammunition fed through the magazine, parsing them into the base gun. This wedge-like part was for processing the elemental flavor of the innately non-elemental payloads. Like this, Reisen could channel the elements into her weapon.
'Talking to Yorihime at all was a mistake. Trying at all was a big mistake. I'm not supposed to be anything but—... like a pet, to them. Because, even trying, I've probably sealed myself in this captain role for good. And, Yorihime's gonna make sure of it: no matter how hard I try, I'm stuck. It's over. This is my life, now.'
Cla- clack. She shut the vice, which closed over the gun's barrel.
'I fucking hate it.' Reisen grit her teeth. 'Yorihime…'
Yorihime may have thought she was being fair. But, in a moment of near revelation, as Reisen worked on her multi-gun, she realized something.
'She's making impulse decisions which impact my entire life. My entire professional and personal life have been— and will continue to be— impacted by her thinking. I'm going to suffer for a long time, and I won't be able to do a fucking thing. I can't even just tell her off for being a bitch.'
She shut her eyes.
'I want out.'
Standing up from her gun, she moved for the computer. 'Let's clear my head.'
Plopping down in her computer chair, she opened BunnyFlufferNetwork. 'Wonder what the captains I assigned in the other sectors have been up to…'
Ding! Reisen got instant messaged by someone. 'Wait- already? Oh.'
SuperBunny76: Congratz on ur promotion!
It was a message sent just now, by a short-haired bunny girl in the previous industrial sector.
It was one of few sectors focused entirely on systematic work, and it showed in many of the bunnies there. Many had day-long jobs of sitting in an isolated cubicle all day. Their computers were monitored to ensure that they didn't spend time on entertainment websites; the web network of most computers were restricted on a per-sector basis.
But, this late at night, the bunny must have just gotten out of work.
She had short, lavender hair, Reisen remembered. Reisen's own hair was similar in nearly every way, but way longer, going almost down to the ground.
'She's got a lot of potential.'
Reisen messaged her back.
MasterChiefReisen_A11: thanks
'Short and cute.' Reisen judged her own message. The lack of punctuation endeared it to herself. 'Wonder if she'll pick up on that.'
SuperBunny76: thanks huh
'She did…!'
SuperBunny76: tell me what its like in the capital! what work do people do?
'She's still pretty curious, about this place.'
MasterChiefReisen_A11: not much
MasterChiefReisen_A11: its like one really long culture festival
MasterChiefReisen_A11: if you even have those in A-I2-E
'For some reason, I doubt it. Who'd manage the credits system? Especially at their own festival?'
SuperBunny76: kinda
SuperBunny76: we have a week of observing the like week of summer
SuperBunny76: not that we have seasons here so its weird wtf
MasterChiefReisen_A11: pft
'I had the urge to type 'lol' but that felt like a really bad idea, for some reason.'
Reisen looked at her computer's time.
2:06 AM. July 20th, 1969.
'Damn. Today left me drained. Didn't help, already getting scolded by Yorihime.'
SuperBunny76: from what other people told me its like a party all the time
SuperBunny76: are you having fun
...Reisen glanced at her bed, before replying.
MasterChiefReisen_A11: no
Getting up, Reisen moved for the bed.
'Tomorrow morning, I'll put the last touches on my new multi-gun… and, maybe after work, I'll test it out. Maybe I should bring it with me, so I can head to a forest right away and start shooting it.'
Creak. She flopped onto her side, head meeting the pillow.
'Still— in my suit…' She realized. 'Wha— whatever…'
Reisen curled up where she lied, and her tenseness and urge to struggle left her.
'Ye— yes…'
She smiled into the room's bleary dimness, cast by the computer screen.
'So—... good…'
\= Lunaria =/
Creak. Reisen awoke instantly, slamming her right arm down on the bed covers. It was five o'clock sharp, and she'd gotten about four hours of sleep. She thought, at least. 'Um— two, three, four, five… more like three, maybe? I can't count, apparently. Whatever.'
Getting off her bed like it was a defeated beast, Reisen glared at the computer screen ahead. 'Another day, another waste of my time. Here's hoping I can get through to those stupid capital buns.'
Her head was dulled by the vague tinge of being tired, the feeling of just waking up. But, when she looked at her multi-gun, she forgot all about her drowsiness.
'Alright! Now, I just gotta put some finishing touches on this, and then I'll be rea~dy, pretty much. Maybe I should change into a different suit, too. So that I don't smell, or anything.'
So, Reisen instantly began stripping. She flung her clothes around the room haphazardly, first discarding her dress coat, then her undershirt and pants…
'Wait, where'd I put my new undergarments. Ah.'
shoof. She slid open a small, off-color wood dresser, and retrieved a pink bra, and pink panties from a mess of miscellaneous clothes.
shoof. The big lower shelf had all the neatly folded dress clothes.
'Surprising how much better you smell, just throwing on a new pair of clothes. Where's my perfume and deodorant stuff…'
Not soon after, she buttoned her dress shirt up, staring down at her multi-gun…
'Later today, I'll test how ammo feeding performs. I've hardly ever shot this thing yet, aside from a few test fires.'
She lifted the entire weapon. It was definitely mortar and bazooka sized. She hefted it onto her shoulder, and it nearly as wide as she was.
"Nnh." The weight made her tense up, but also made her feel strong. "He— hehe… hell yeah."
'Already feel like I'm gonna love this thing. I mean— I made it, after all!'
After grabbing a few backup tools, and other necessities, she moved for the door.
click. Upon opening it, she saw Yorihime there.
"Ready to go?" Yorihime had a brow raised. "...What's that, you're carrying?"
"Nothing." Reisen shook her head. "Some weight. Makes my back stronger, and my movements more precise."
Yorihime snorted. "Really? That reminds me of the training regime of sector A-11-H. Such brutal simplicity doesn't befit a capital captain, you know."
"Lemme have this for today." Reisen frowned. "Please?"
Yorihime began to move around her back. "What even is—"
"Do not touch it." Reisen demanded.
Yorihime smirked. "Oh? Are you hiding something, in there?"
Reisen's voice became lower. "If you so much as scratch it, I'll skullfuck you."
...Yorihime blinked twice. Then, she opened her mouth.
'I'm too used to being the near-top authority. Working up the ranks in a new sector is always like this. Somehow, this feels just as awkward.'
"I—..." Yorihime let her head lean back, looking at the ceiling. "I have no words."
"Good." Reisen nodded, moving down the hallway. "Anyway. What're your orders, for today?"
"You know…" Yorihime inhaled. "I don't think I can trust you, around my soldiers."
Stopping, Reisen faced her. "I don't think I can trust you around your soldiers. They're weak against our modern technology."
"...You think that's the point?" Yorihime smirked back at her. "Our efficiency comes from our rich purity and the meaning we carry into battle. No mechanation, no matter how fierce, comes close to the power the gods give us in combat. My soldiers here are designed for such."
'Yorihime can channel gods.' Reisen recalled. 'But…'
Reisen kept moving. "Yeah? Well, without divine intervention, your army's a pile of trash. About as much of a pile of trash a few other sectors were, 'fore I got to 'em."
She'd had a very curious relationship with every sector. Sometimes, especially when she was younger, her progression through the ranks would be rocky, filled with people calling her out for her own weaknesses, and the environment itself would put emphasis on her own powerlessness.
Other times, she'd have to do the same for the entire sector, as she would be the most disciplined person there. How each area handled itself was surprisingly self-contained, and always quite different.
"You've never taught an army that may be aided by gods." Yorihime stomped after her. "You've never seen soldiers like mine."
"If I had a credit for every time I heard that line, I'd be rich." Stopping again, Reisen grinned back at her. "This whole 'god' thing feels like a stupid perk in a video game. Almost like cheating."
Her face hardened. "You use what you must in war, Reisen."
"I know, I know. That's exactly why your soldiers should be better prepared. Your powers should be an ace, a trump card, not a crutch."
"They are no crutch!" Yorihime got offended. "They are the backbone of my army, my pet! We-"
As they moved down the halls, they came to the kitchen of the Moon Palace.
Toyohime was there, with some pancakes. "...Are you guys fighting? Really~?"
Instantly, there was no more fighting.
...Yorihime sighed. "My soldiers fit a very specific role. They are not meant for the duty of… our more expendable troops. My soldiers are heroes. My soldiers can combat the myths of fantasy. Anyone you have ever taught, Reisen, could not, and cannot."
...Reisen had no idea how to interpret those words. 'She's fucking crazy.'
There were three cakes of pancakes at the table, each stacked three high, with butter and syrup.
"...These look good." Reisen awkwardly stared down at them, since she was ready to leave, and everything.
'I suppose I could stand and eat them.'
"Don't they?" Toyohime smiled widely. "I asked for one of the palace staff to prepare you guys something…"
"Thank you, sister." Yorihime smiled, and gave her a deep nod. "Let us eat, Reisen. I suppose you may carry on as usual, today, and we'll take things from there. I… may have been somewhat unfair to you."
'You think.'
\= Lunaria =/
It was now eight in the morning.
Reisen stepped off the main path of the lunar capital, coming up to the oriental-looking barracks which housed Yorihime's personal guard.
The barracks itself was unlike anything Reisen had seen. There were no dorms, and there was only a small armory of melee weapons in the rightmost rooms. The leftmost rooms had a bathhouse, and the center room was simple a common area.
Coming in through the front door, Reisen felt herself get bombarded by the mental network in here.
'Hello~!' Someone yelled at Reisen. 'Good morning, captain!'
'The captain's arrived!'
'A~nd now we have a captain!'
"Is it true— that you're Yorihime's pet from long ago…!?'
'I wanna sniff your hair!'
Reisen shook her head, after a moment. 'Oh, geez. They're all so starry-eyed. Yorihime, what the hell…'
Then, the physical assault began, the bunnies all romping up from parts of the barracks to confront Reisen. "It's you!"
"What's that on your back…?"
"It's probably a really big suitcase!"
"It's a little pointy for a suitcase…"
"She's really hot!"
Reisen sighed. 'This is going to be a long day.'
"Everyone…" She spoke, but they wouldn't quiet down. "Everyone!" So, she yelled.
They only mildly quieted down. For now, that'd be good enough.
"I want everyone— out in the courtyard!" Reisen yelled as loud as she could. "Right now!"
...The bunny soldiers were all vaguely displaced, but eventually did as she said.
Normally, commands were issued by wavelengths, so that words wouldn't be needed. 'If I give harsh and sudden commands by mouth, it'll at least get them to shut up and listen for a moment, 'cause they won't be used to it.'
One bunny soldier stuck around, though. "Um… you don't have to yell. Don't you know, about our mind stuff?"
Reisen snapped her gaze to her. "And who're you?"
The short-haired bunny furrowed her brows. "I'm Rena. Yorihime asked me to keep an eye on you."
...Reisen shook her head. "Trust me, the only one here who'll need to be kept an eye on is you soldiers. What rank are you?"
"We're all royal sentinels." Rena answered.
"...The hell's a royal sentinel?" Reisen had actually never heard of this unit type. "They unique to Yorihime?"
"Well, yes—"
"Of course." Reisen marched into the midst of the common room, shaking her head.
The ground shook a little with each step, her multi-gun weighing her down and making her way heavier.
Stopping at the table in the center, Reisen faced Rena again. "Yesterday, I ran basic checks just to see what you were all about. I wanna know now, the hell've you all been doing for the past year or two?"
...Rena didn't immediately follow her, but answered anyway. "Practice with our mythril polearms. Additionally, we're all pilots for Yorihime's custom 'Emerald Sentinel' unit."
'Emerald Sentinel unit?' Reisen had never heard of that…
"Emerald Sentinel unit? And what's that?" Reisen really wanted to know.
"They're a new brand of deep space combat mech." Rena provided. "They're meant for use backing up Yorihime in combat. They're outfitted with acid gas spray, dual homing missile launchers, advanced melee capabilities, and a heat ray."
...This, Reisen was starting to like. "Re- really? Yorihime would authorize something like that?"
"Right?" Rena grinned back at her. "She admitted we needed some innovation for the new era. But, she keeps telling us how crappy guns and vehicles are, so she got those sentinel mech suits for us to pilot. They're powerful."
'I guess she wouldn't let herself be too behind the fold. But, deep space combat mechs are only effective in deep space, right? We have plenty of other military-standard mech operators out there, too. We have a whole sector about deep space combat, basically. Even that sector wouldn't let its infantry skip exercises.'
Speaking of, Reisen wanted to know some things. "How often you all do exercises?"
"Everyday, we practice rites of our weapons." Rena declared. "We practice battle in the woods, and run at least a lap around the perimeter of the whole sector every day."
'Hmm. Not too shabby, actually. Still, sounds just like a warm-up, before the actual exercise would begin. At least they're further along here than in the entertainment sectors.'
"...Huh. Alright." Reisen nodded. This surely couldn't be too bad.
BAM. She laid her multi-weapon to rest atop a table on the side of the room. 'Let me just tether this down, so no one can steal it.'
\= Lunaria =/
It was bad.
They were along the sunny, southern woods of the capital's long green lawn, and Reisen was having a time.
"What the fuck…!?" Her jaw was agape. "Are you two— what the fuck're you doing!?"
fwi- fwish! One of the bunnies hopped on one leg out of a bush, pulling up her dress pants. Her half-naked partner began to crawl out, too. "Uu- wh- why're you running with us!?"
"To make sure you aren't fucking yourselves in bushes apparently— that's wha~t!" Reisen hollered. "Does Yorihime let you just all fuckin' lez out in the middle of practice!?"
"They— ugh…" Rena caught up to them, a hand on her own face. "Look— they still get their work done— just—"
"No!" Reisen's eyes were wide and red, when she turned back to Rena. "We're in the middle! Of! Practice! You can all be cunt buddies— in your own fuckin' time— but we, are, exercising!"
"Ugh!" The half-naked bunny came up to Reisen, her top still off, and bare chest exposed. "You don't fuckin' get it— we do this everyday!"
"Ev- everyday…!?" Reisen beamed widely, sauntering up to her. "Do you mean to tell me— you skip out on practice every fucking day— to have sex in the bushes!?"
"We don't skip!" The bunny flourished her arms out. "We just— we just do it!"
In truth, this wasn't really all that uncommon, considering the sexual appetite of lunar bunnies. Still, Reisen couldn't let this slide; especially not in active training.
"Look." Reisen stepped up to her, finger pointed right at the bunny's nose. "Here's what I want you to do. I want you to do ten more laps— and I don't want to see you all just fucking each other in the bushes again."
The bunny huffed. "Look— if we get it done, we get it done. Sorry, bitch-captain, but that's how we roll. We only take direct orders from Yorihime, you know."
Reisen's eyes narrowed, and she grinned. "Oh? Oh yeah? You're— you're just gonna say all this shit to me, without even your fuckin' shirt on?"
Beaming, the bunny brought her arms behind her own head. "What, see somethin' you like? When I'm done with ya— you'll be sucklin' 'em too. Not gonna lie, captain, but you're pretty attractive!"
"Heh- hehe." Shaking her head, Reisen lumbered back. "Wo~w. Alright, hit me."
The half-naked bunny blinked. "Whah?"
Reisen was in her face in an instant. "I want you to make a fist, and fucking hit me in the cheek. Right here." Reisen pointed to her own reddening cheek. "Take your best fucking shot."
...The blue-haired bunny beamed again.
Whap! Then, Reisen's head flicked to the left, knuckles meeting her right in the cheek.
WHA- CRUNCH! In the next instant, Reisen slid back, and kicked her leg straight up. The tip of her boot met the bunny's nose, and the heel met her chin, one after another.
"Nghf—" Holding her face, the bunny glared back. "Fuck—"
Lunging forward, Reisen grabbed onto her shoulders, and made the bunny lurch forward. 'I'll show you to bitch back at me!'
With the bunny's upper body held, Reisen swung her left leg all the way back.
whish. Then, kicking it forward, she slid her entire body under the half-naked bunny, flopping onto her own back.
This massive overhead throw flicked the bunny straight behind Reisen, forcing her to flip forward.
thunk. The bunny's upper back met the ground directly. "Kh— aa—..." Her whole form went limp, as she stared agape at the blue sky.
\= Lunaria =/
When the running exercise was complete, Reisen stood before them in the field outside the barracks, arms behind her back.
"I get that you had your own social after-school club ecosystem going on." Reisen admitted, from what she'd seen. "And we can all be buddies, sure. But the number one thing, that kills in a wartime scenario, is letting your personality quirks, emotions, and other shit get in the way of efficiently serving."
The blue-haired bunnies all neutrally stared ahead at Reisen, keeping quiet. There were at least thirty of them, all in a single-file, side by side line.
"I've told other sectors this lesson before." Reisen also admitted, as she stood before them. "War is not a game. It's not an anime, it ain't a fuckin' fairy tale, it's 'shoot or get shot'. And if little miss sugar tits over there's having bush sex with her cunt-rag pal, then someone's gettin' shot."
"We wouldn't— do that shit in combat!" The bunny who Reisen overhead threw earlier spoke out. She was the only bunny in a chair for this talk.
"What would she do if you got shot?" Reisen stepped right up to her. "What would she fuckin' do if you got shot? What if she got shot? Sure, we heal good, one a' you might get better— let's say it was in the head, and they're fuckin' dead. Miss bush cunt over there is dead. You're supposed to be piloting a specific mech, loading mortars, something— what do you do?"
...At first, the bunny didn't say anything.
"What do you do~!?" Reisen yelled in her face.
"I— I would take revenge." The bunny decided. "In the name of our fam—"
"Wrong! Answer!" Reisen barked. "Aa~nh! Wro~ng! Pff- pft…" She nearly made herself giggle.
"Yh- you're a weird chick…" The bunny near them spoke, smiling.
Grinning, Reisen looked up at her. "...Anyway. I don't care about whatever familial honor bullshit we got goin' on in the capital. I don't expect you all to fight like fuckin' samurai. I expect you to all fight like defenders of Lunaria. An' defenders of Lunaria do their job right, 'cause that's the best service they can do. Am I clear?"
Rena stepped forward. "Captain Reisen. You are out of line."
Reisen leaned back. "Oh, hell no. Don't make me throw you, too. I was just startin' to like you, Rena."
Rena didn't falter. "We are guardians of the capital first, and the servants of Yorihime second. I cannot permit you to corrupt her ideals with your own. We are a unit of honor and dignity."
'Only reason I'm even doing this whole drill sergeant act is to break their silver spoon shtick. First day I was here, it was clear as crystal a lot of these bunnies are just the 'pure-breed' type you see in all kindsa ads in other sectors, never had to work a fucking job in their life. To them, this place is summer camp, or a fun club.'
Another bunny stepped forward. "You sound a lot like the stupid rabbits from the other sectors. In fact… you even look quite shoddy."
"That slutty body of hers— it's probably good for nothing but sex."
"Yorihime did adopt her. She's really got her work cut out—"
"Did she adopt her from sector Z!?"
"Is— is there even a—"
Reisen marched up to Rena, who was simply smiling back at her.
For some reason, Rena was wearing this bunny-styled hat on over her normal ears. 'This motherfucker.'
pop. Reisen took the cap right off, revealing the bunny's normal ears beneath. "This all a fuckin' joke to you?"
Rena tilted her head. "What do you mean, Rei—"
whap. Reisen whipped her with the fluffy bunny cap. "Shut the fuck up. Do another ten laps."
Rena blinked. "I— I'm sorry?"
"Ya heard me." Reisen stepped away. "In fact, you're all fuckin' bunnies, one lap a day's fucking bad. We should be doing a hundred everyday at least for awhile, if we ain't doing something productive that day."
"You're a fucking madman." Rena stepped closer, following Reisen.
...Reisen grinned back at her. "We're not the Lunatic Capital for nothing. You know who does a hundred laps everyday and gets all their gun exercises done? Sector Z."
'Footnote: sector Z doesn't actually exist. But, this actually does happen in sector H-79-Edge. They're a sector closest to the side of the moon facing Earth, and those bunnies are hu~ge. I thought I was gonna die, working there. Hundred laps is no fucking joke…'
"They— exist?" The various bunnies all reacted with incredulity.
"Bullshit."
"No one even compares to what we do. We guard the capital."
"We're the protectors of Lord Tsukuyomi, and Yorihime! We're the best!"
"Wonder if this captain's just fuckin' jealous…"
Reisen shook her head. 'These stupid motherfuckers. Man…'
\= Lunaria =/
The day's activities were almost over. It was now late into the day, and the sun was setting on the green, lush land of the lunar capital.
Reisen deeply inhaled a breath of fresh air. "...Alright. That was a start."
Tired, angry bunnies stood all around her. Reisen read their red glares, grinning back at them.
"Tomorrow, I want us ta do twice as much!" Reisen gave them a shit-eating grin back. "He~ll, yeah!"
Rena shook her head. "Lady Yorihime will know about this day."
"Ooh, let her know." Reisen marched up to her again. "Let her fuckin' know. It wouldn't be the first time someone reported me to HR— and let me tell you, in no other sector do they give a damn. If you got bunnies reportin' ya out there, you're doin' your job right."
'Mostly for the first few weeks, anyway. Eventually, a squad gets real cool, and you can be personal with them without them getting unprofessional or fucking everything up.'
'And, you know. This kind of thing's to establish that I'm the one in charge. They've gotta look at me like I'm some kinda superman— 'cause then they'll wanna be a badass, too. And they'll get there, they just gotta want it, and earn it. It's all about experience— real, hands-on experience, provable in combat and through being.'
Shoof. The back door of the barracks opened.
Yorihime marched out onto the plain where the bunnies all stood. "Everyone. We have a situation."
...Everyone turned, facing her, immediately becoming quiet.
"Humankind has lead an invasion on the moon." Yorihime made her announcement. "...The Earth has begun its assault."
Everyone was still quiet.
'...Wh—' Reisen's eyes widened. 'No way. No fucking way. S'this a joke? Thought Yorihime didn't do humor...'
"Re—..." Rena's mouth was agape. "Really?"
"Yes." Yorihime nodded. "They are attempting to land a craft on the Sea of Tranquility. My sister is already informed and heading to the scene. We will follow her shortly after to dispose of this craft. You are all to join me in this first battle of the new Lunar-Terra war."
'Oh, fuck.' Reisen felt at herself. 'Oh, this unit is not ready. We're gonna sustain crazy losses—... well, unless Yorihime does all the fighting herself. With the powers of the gods, it's likely.'
Yorihime scanned everyone with a purely neutral face. "And, amongst us, there is one traitor."
'...What?' Reisen had a bad feeling in her gut.
Everyone instantly looked at Reisen, only compounding that feeling. 'Oh, fuck me. What now?'
Yorihime drew her katana, and pointed it ahead. "Reisen. You are to be killed for your crimes against the capital. Or, should I say… Master Chief Reisen underscore A-eleven?"
'When'd she find out my username? And— what the fuck could I have even done…!?'
Adrenaline pumping, Reisen glared at her. "What'd I do?"
"You conspired to reveal our lunar defense structures to the human people on Earth." Yorihime declared. "The price for such treason is death. It pains me to say so, but you will have to die here."
"I didn't fucking do anything." Reisen's glare deepened. "You set me up, didn't you? You're— reconsidering bothering with me, aren't you?"
"We have undeniable proof." Yorihime shut her eyes. "Do not make this hard, Reisen. I take no pleasure in putting you down. Not only this, but years ago, when we first adopted you, it just now came to light, that you aided in the immortality of Kaguya Houraisan."
'I'm totally being set up.' Reisen couldn't even recall such a thing. 'What a joke.'
"...Let's say I don't buy this." She frowned hard back at Yorihime. "I'm innocent, is what I'm saying."
Yorihime raised her blade. "I'm sorry, Reisen. You were already dead, all those years ago. I should have realized it sooner."
'Really, huh.'
Reisen began to walk for the barracks. 'Guess I'll just leave, then.'
When she moved to leave, Rena grabbed her, by her right wrist.
The previously half-naked bunny began to saunter up, grinning. "Where do you think you're going, asshole?"
"Lady Yorihime— permission to peg her with a huge strapon!?"
"I'm gonna kick her ass!"
"No wonder she was such a bad person. We'll deal with her in no time."
'These little shits…'
whish. Reisen spun around, breaking Rena's vice-like hold.
WHAM! She took to the air in an instant, her right knee meeting Rena's nose. "Ghu—!"
"Reisen!" Yorihime flew closer, like an evening star. Her form was alive with light, her whole body white.
Reisen's eyes lit up red as she saw the nearing swordswoman— and then—
woosh. Yorihime swung wide— but had to stop.
Reisen had Rena in a chokehold now, using her as a human shield. 'He- hehe~!'
Whi- whi- whi- whish! All the nearby soldiers summoned their mythril polearms from thin air, but stood cautiously at the side, not willing to risk injuring Rena.
Reisen rolled her right leg up, then kicked it outward.
Whack! Her boot met Rena's back, flinging her straight ahead into Yorihime. "Wuah—"
thud! Yorihime caught Rena before she could faceplant, kneeling down to do so.
WOOSH! Reisen sprinted and leapt, clearing the air over Yorihime in an instant.
"You—...!" Yorihime's eyes flared with lunar teal, her zeal igniting. "You damn— criminal!"
'Nope!' Reisen sprinted straight into the barracks. 'Let's get the fuck outta here!'
She slid to a stop in the midst of the room, and saw her multi-gun against the left wall, tethered into place. 'Oo— ooh…'
Breaking the plasma tether in an instant, she raised it from the polished wood platform, grin gradually growing. 'Let's get down to business. First thing's first, I've got to head home and see if Toyohime—... hmm. Well, I still have shit I need there.'
With it over her shoulder now, she looked at the barracks door—
WOO- WOO- WOOSH! The entire legion of mythril polearm-wielding bunnies sprinted inside, blades poised ahead.
Reisen aimed her gun ahead, expression flaring in vengeful pleasure. Her hands fiddled with the sides of her gun faster than the eye could see.
FWUMP. She fired a molten payload from her multi-gun.
It soared straight into Rena, who was leading the charge. She looked up at it, but didn't fear it, unknowing of what it was.
FWAM- BLAM- THWA- THWACK! The payload became a searing orange flameburst, which then exploded into a hell of bullets, which scattered across the entire barracks room.
Wood furniture was serrated, the walls all around everyone becoming wood fiber spaghetti.
Reisen's teal energy shield flickered, her own spread of shells shaking her body. 'That— was bigger than I thought!'
"Uhu— it burns!" Yorihime's guardians had no energy shielding, so the flaming bullets pierced many of them, igniting them.
"Ghk- khk- coff…" The bullets had pierced one of their throats, and they were now ejecting blood from their mouth.
Blood was now flecked across the entire barracks room, bunny girls collapsing in heaps unceremoniously, and polearms clattering to the floor.
"Hgh—" Coughing up blood, Rena shambled towards Reisen at running speed, limbs limp, one eye shut, as her whole form smouldered. "Yhu— yh— trait— hher!"
Whack. When she got close, Reisen kicked her boot into Rena's ribs, then turned for the door.
'Alright— I've got to haul ass. There has to be someone around here bigger than these clowns— and if I've supposedly committed such huge crimes, the riot squad'll be on my ass in no time.'
Outside, Reisen looked around. The bright sunlight now seemed inappropriate and ominous.
Yorihime was already there amongst the brightest rays, however. She had her katana drawn, whole body alight searing white.
"Reisen." She called to her pet. "You will drop your arms, and surrender your life for Lunaria."
...Reisen sneered back.
'We coulda came to an understanding, probably. Yorihime wasn't completely unreasonable; she had a logic to things. But—... fuck. Fuck everything. Life does this shit to you.'
"I don't think you have a clue," Reisen's grip on her multi-gun tensed, "how bad this'll go."
...Yorihime closed her eyes.
"Goodbye." She crouched down, poising herself to swing ahead in an instant.
Reisen aimed her multi-gun straight at the floor. 'Oh— fuck—'
KABOOM! She shot a rocket straight down.
Her energy shield roared to life, flickering dangerously, threatening to break. The blast's sheer force threw her far away, however. 'Ooo— holy shit…!'
SHING! Yorihime swung in an instant.
...She opened her eyes, and turned, expecting to see the two halves of Reisen there.
Clack! Twenty meters away, Reisen landed out of her rocket jump, and began sprinting. 'Fuckin' idiot! Rockets beat swords!'
\= Lunaria =/
The Watatsuki household was largely empty.
Two blue-haired male rabbits stood at the gate, cobalt polearms ready. "She's coming…"
"Did— did she get past the fuckin' Emerald Sentinels?" The other one looked a little squeamish...
Reisen raised her head, glaring ahead at the two guards.
'No matter what I do at this point, I'm gonna die if I can't get out. I need to get to my computer.'
"Hu— hey!" The men got in her way, when she got close. "You're not allowed—"
"Hrr~...!" Reisen lugged her multi-gun from her shoulder, and lunged forward.
WHA- WHAM! She slammed the men aside with one swing, clotheslining the both of them with the gun.
\= Lunaria =/
...Inside, Reisen nearly slid onto her ass as she rounded a corner, sprinting straight for her room's door. 'Who— waxed the fucking floors…!?'
BAM. She kicked the door of her new room open, and sprinted for the computer there.
THUMP. The computer chair almost broke when she sat in it, her weapon still awkwardly mounted to her shoulder.
Logging into BunnyFlufferNetwork, she sighed. 'Let's see if this went viral yet.'
Di- di- ding, ding! Her instant messaging lit up with activity, making her jump. 'Oh, shit.'
AmazonGoddess69: reisen wtf ahahahahaha
SuperBunny76: what the fuck did you do reisen
asdf: reisen you BUNNY FU CK
SuperBunny76: she's probably ded
AmazonGoddess69: nah
asdf: HOLY SHIT
Grinning intensely, Reisen clacked away at her white keyboard.
MasterChiefReisen_A11: help
'Someone has to know something. They're all defense captains, for fuck's sake.'
Apothia: Reisen, you disappoint me.
SuperBunny76: reisen man wtf u do! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
AmazonGoddess69: fight the power reisen
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: just so u know reisen i wont care when ur dead
AmazonGoddess69: fuck off mistake
'If they can calm down in time, that is…'
MasterChiefReisen_A11: alright look i need some help
MasterChiefReisen_A11: i gotta go- like, not from chat, from fucking everything
SuperBunny76: reisen wtf ! ! ! ! ! ! ! what did ou do
MasterChiefReisen_A11: someone help me flee pls
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: u could try letting them shoot you
SuperBunny76: lol
'I'm gonna fuckin' die aren't I.'
SuperBunny76: dude my place right next to the capital and no one comes by banking
SuperBunny76: u could crash here reisen or something
Reisen's eyes widened. 'Oo— oh yeah! My keycards!'
Standing up for a moment, she lumbered over to her crate, and opened a compartment on the side.
She drew the red keycard within. 'Should get me through the door to the economy office sector. Then, I can—... I don't know.'
Reisen hurried up to the desk again, abandoning the chair. 'I'll just kneel before the monitor…'
AmazonGoddess69: hey if you actually get to HEDGE we'll help fight
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: i just wanna kill people
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: so maye dont visit me
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: idk
Apothia: And you're just helping her right away. What the fuck is wrong with you people?
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: many thnigs
Apothia: She's a lunist; we've always known she was a lunist for awhile now. Can't believe you're all so stupid.
i_like_big_bunny_cock: owo
i_like_big_bunny_cock: Reisen let me turn u into one of my hookers
i_like_big_bunny_cock: No one will notice
i_like_big_bunny_cock: You live and you get big dick
i_like_big_bunny_cock: win win
Reisen began to stand to begin her jaunt for the exit into the nearest industrial sector, when she paused to look at the last few messages.
NotYagokoro: Reisen. If you want to live, read my messages.
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: reisen if u want to live dont become a hooker
Apothia: 'NotYagokoro'. How distasteful.
i_like_big_bunny_cock: wtf how ould becoming a hooker kill her
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: i hate hookers
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: thats why
NotYagokoro: Your custom tank in the last sector had its transfer procedure cancelled; it's still waiting in the garage where you left it last month.
NotYagokoro: Someone you know left a automated transfer ship waiting for you at the top of Big Chun Credit. This will take you to HEDGE.
NotYagokoro: At HEDGE, there's a tank I left for you there. Use the yellow keycard in the automated transfer ship to access it.
NotYagokoro: Taking the tank, drive across the Sea of Tranquility, to the point most facing Earth. There is an escape capsule there. While defense systems are scattered over this human invasion, you will be able to escape by virtue of being a low-priority target. You won't even register on radars, no matter what anyone does.
NotYagokoro: Good luck. Don't die.
LordTsukoyomiWasAMistake: wait wat
i_like_big_bunny_cock: lol wtf you talking about
i_like_big_bunny_cock: cringe prank
asdf: my ass is empty
Standing up again, Reisen exhaled. 'I've never seen NotYagokoro talk before today. But— their plans line up with mine and go a bit beyond, so it couldn't hurt following them.'
thump- thump- thump! She heard noises in the hallway outside. 'Shit— took too long.'
She reached for her crate, and took the one revolver on top stored there.
It was a modified one; meant to go with her multi-gun. She slid it into her suit's inner pockets.
'...Heavy Claw.' She decided what she'd name the big multi-gun. With HEDGE on her mind, her multi-gun's weight, and the jaw-like vice she put on the multi-gun's edge, it came to her mind on impulse.
CRA- CRA~CK! She shattered the window with Heavy Claw, ramming its vice into the glass. 'Not like it matters, this shield'll stop cuts—'
Leaping into the window, she flicked her gaze down at the roof shingles; her room was on the third story, but the palace design happened to provide a convenient slope here.
Cla- clack! Landing on the tiles outside, she glanced back at the room inside—
PATATATAT! Then, she weaved out of the way as fast as she could. A lightning-fast spread of teal plasma shots roared from within.
Fwi~sh. Her energy shield was broken in a near instant; she'd been hit by a lot of that last barrage. 'Capital riot soldiers! Oh, shit—'
Then, over the cusp of the roof, Yorihime floated up. Two angelic wings bloomed from behind herself, composed of magic, and her eyes were solid white.
'There's no use fighting her head-on. I gotta—'
"Reisen." Yorihime spoke. "I beg of you."
'Oh, thank the gods, she's monologuing.'
A yell was heard from inside the window. "She went out the window!"
'They know where I am. They've definitely got people on the perimeter.'
"End this stupid event." Yorihime asked. "Lay down your head, and die with honor."
Reisen heard the hum of her shield recharging. 'Thanks for letting me have a break.'
"...No!" Reisen decided to argue back to buy even more time. She was gripping Heavy Claw hard, slowly aiming it down. "I'll keep fighting! Fuck you!"
Yorihime leaned her head back, as if struck. "...Then… a fight to the death, it is. All will realize your failure, and brutal stupidity. It pains me to admit, but my judgment in you was flawed. Rabbits of your ilk are naught but manpower, and that will never change, it seems. I'm sorry, Reisen."
KABOOM! Reisen shot the ground beneath herself with a rocket again. Shingles exploded off the roof, blue dust from the colored tiles crating a small haze.
The blue trail lead to the upper roof. Reisen lifted her legs, shooting one more rocket against the roof she was soon to graze. 'Please— work—'
FWISH- KABOOM! Her shield broke. A moment later, she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly amidst the rush of air. She'd skidded over the top of the blast, the rocket she shot having launched her further like she anticipated.
'My legs— just barely missed the rooftop…'
The estate walls of the Moon Palace were below her—
Patat- fwish- fizz- whish! Plasma bullets fizzled in the air around her, the riot rabbits below unloading into the air, trying to stop her.
Pap- pap! Yorihime was soaring after Reisen, eating the wake of plasma bullets, uncaring. "Hrrr~...!"
Now at the apex of her ascent, Reisen's heart leapt in her chest. 'Falling— so fast…!'
The ground below had a series of sheds; it was the outer-estate lawn and garden. From the wall, riotgear-clad rabbits poured out, but only one was quick enough to move exactly for where Reisen would land.
Cla- clack! The metal of Heavy Claw clattered, as Reisen hoisted it off her shoulder, raising the butt of it into the air. 'And— when I land—...!'
WOOSH. She cleaved Heavy Claw down.
The riot officer below blinked, and defended with her clear, mythril-dusted glass shield.
KRAKA- KRING- BOOM! It sounded like the first impact of a car crash, almost. The magic glass shield exploded everywhere, the butt of Heavy Claw shattering most of it.
The parts defending the bunny girl herself had folded in like a car's windshield. "Ergh—" Her legs had buckled, the impact itself too much for her, in spite of the core of her shield holding on.
Shunk! Reisen tore Heavy Claw from the crumpled shield. 'My energy shield's recharging—'
Patatat- patat! Spreads of plasma came from all around her, as Yorihime hung overhead, overseeing the combat to come.
But, Reisen wasn't planning on a messy tradeoff fight.
Fwish! Grass spun into the air as Reisen leapt, twirling to face the squad.
FWUMP. She fired an electric, lavender-tinted payload from Heavy Claw.
"Morta~r!" The riot soldiers all brought up their shields, tensing their jaws and skirting away, keeping close so as to use their combined might to endure it together.
KLACK- FZZT- ZAP- ZAP- ZAP! The payload became a cross of lavender plasma on impact with the ground before them. Metal shells cased in shivering electric, lucid arcs created spiderwebs in the glass-mythril shields.
The energy shields on the rabbits flickered unevenly, overloaded by all the energy. "Shield's down!"
"The fucker- unloaded 'em!"
"Ugh…"
Reisen's boots uprooted grass, as she skidded around the side of a shed. 'That should slow them down long enough.'
KABOOM- BOOM- BOOM- BOOM! Yorihime landed on the ground, and her every step was a neon-white shockwave of pure, godlike power.
CRACK- CLATTER- THOOM! The shed next to Reisen gave up the will to live, its foundation undone by Yorihime's footsteps.
"Gods…" Yorihime's voice was louder than any bullet. "Grant me power!"
From the tidal rush of tools and metal, Reisen reached in as she ran, and held up a cobalt and diamond encrusted rake. 'Wait…'
BOOM- BOOM- BOOM! Yorihime's form of light energy powered across the land, moving towards Reisen in a near instant.
thunk. Reisen slapped the rake down before herself, and leapt over it.
BOOM- BOOM! Yorihime rushed right up behind her—
whish. Yorihime's white leg stepped on the rake's edge, and it flicked upward with explosive energy.
KABOOMBOOM- BLAMBOOM! Yorihime's own terrain-forming, godly power exploded not only the ground beneath herself, but into her own face, the super-charged magic rake hitting her with terminal velocity.
"Rrhh— fuck…" She staggered back, form refocusing into being, rubbing her forehead. "Damn it!"
Reisen hauled it. 'I— can't fucking believe that worked…!'
\= Lunaria =/
Reisen was out of sight amongst the trees faster than anyone could admit.
'This is probably why most military sectors are barren wastelands. Runners can't just turn on their 'radar begone' field and hide in some bushes.'
Radars were scarily easy to fool on the moon, she realized. '...Not that a lot would be solved if they worked, to be honest. Not like you need a radar to find out where a riot is.'
Fwi- fwish! Reisen darted out of the brush, up to one of the sector gateways.
It was a huge, platinum wall. This wall of cobalt, platinum, steel and magic was what encapsulated all sectors. Atop each wall segment were massively powerful, impossible to defeat pinecone-shaped guns; the Strix cannons.
'Good thing I don't have to fuck with those.' Even amongst rabbits, a Strix cannon could turn any humanoid to paste in seconds. They were specifically to keep riots from spilling into other sectors, and did so with lethal, near-perfect efficiency.
The walls were lit up with brilliant, purple-white lights, and the blue of the capital's sky faded out against the hexagonal great barrier the walls also upheld.
'I know a hundred and ten things about these damn walls. They're kinda cool on the inside, but… boy, does seeing the same hallway layouts over and over in every damn sector get old.'
Two bunny men stood before the gate, polearms ready.
"Hey." One of them stepped up, frowning hard and looking formal. "You're not—"
BAM- BAM. Reisen drew her revolver and shot him in the knee, twice. "Gh- dh- aargh!"
...As he collapsed, the other guy dropped his polearm, and held up his arms. "I'll help you."
"Oh?" Reisen smiled at him. "Alright. Open this door."
...He bowed, and turned. "Right away—"
whap. She smacked her revolver against the back of his head, and he dropped instantly.
'Not a very uncommon training practice. Guard tries to be on your side, then he dials the riot squad, or pulls his own gun when your back is turned.'
Now, it was just Reisen, and the big code-red door.
Looking around for Yorihime, only to see her nowhere, Reisen dug in her pockets for her keycard. 'Should open this door…'
flick. She swiped the keycard in the red keycard slot, on the wall next to the door.
KRK- KLANK. It began to roll open.
FWI~SH! Atmospheric pressure created a fog, as the two different environments conflicted with one another, while the doors slowly powered open.
...Stepping forward, Reisen gazed at the eternal evening of economy and corporate sector A-2-B.
'Maybe I can get some answers here, before I get the hell out.'
