Expectations
Nearly an hour was wasted just combing her hair.
An army of beauticians, stylists, makeup artists, and tailors were all tasked to make Cirno presentable as the fiancee of the most powerful person on the moon. Indeed, it was a tremendous challenge. Worse yet is that Cirno isn't the ideal person to sit around for hours and let other people take care of her. It wasn't that she's unwilling, but, for the life of her, she just can't sit still for that long. Or half that long. It nearly got to the point they had to tie her down with leather straps to keep her from fidgeting. Clearly she wasn't used to receiving such treatment.
For about the 50th time, the hairdresser slapped Cirno's hand when she tried to touch her hair. They spent forever pulling it all back, pinning it into a high knot in the take shimada style. They match different kimonos to see which would best suit her physique. Most are rejected for being too small. Cirno's the second tallest at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, but the difference between Meiling and her is vast. However, in contrast to Lunarians she shares a comparable difference. The exact same is true when they try to tie the obi around her waist. It's much too tight! She can barely breathe! She isn't lean like Sakuya or Koakuma, nor does she have muscles as big as that Chinese Youkai, but at least she isn't flabby like Patchouli! Yet they squeeze that obi so tight Cirno fears she'll break in half. Once the attendants finishing tying it off, cursing a bit in the process, they're finally finished; just a few minutes before the scheduled start to dinner.
The makeup upon her face itches like crazy, but Cirno's doing her best not to pick at it. She feels off-balance with her face so heavy, but she guesses this is for the best. Never in her life has she gone this far dressing up, let alone putting on makeup. These people are the experts, so perhaps it's best to trust their judgment. Now that she's finally all done and finished, they roll out a large mirror and-
-Cirno's icicle wings immediately sprout above her back. The reflection she's peering into doesn't seem real. Exactly the same as when Keine-sensei revealed it to her, Cirno again feels like a completely different person. The dark blue kimono depicting the night sky makes her look so pretty, and the cosmetics so mature. No longer was Cirno just an adult, she's now a woman. That she could be this beautiful is beyond any expectation! Of all the wonders she has seen in her life, never did she believe she could be one of them. It was so much of a shock and so exciting, magic automatically flourished within her. Back when she was an Ice Fairy, those wings were always there. As an Adult they sprout when using or channeling magic. Right now they appeared almost on their own.
Cirno turns, this way and that, checking herself out now that she's become beautiful. Unlike before with Keine, she isn't inclined to grope herself. As if she's also maturing on the inside, she's satisfied to simply beholding herself, like a treasured painting protected by a large panel of glass. She's just glad that at least once in her life she can look like this.
"Cirno-denka, it's time-"
"Drop the -denka," Cirno interrupts without realizing she's doing so. She was suddenly overtaken by a strange sense of déjà vu and couldn't help herself. But it felt more like she heard it said, rather than saying it herself.
"My apologies. Cirno, it's time to meet with Lord Tsukuyomi."
It almost seems timed perfectly, or perhaps it was. Regardless, she doesn't need to look at herself anymore. Cirno nods and follows the guide as he leads her to her fiancee.
At that thought the bubble nearly seems to burst. She's only receiving such treatment because Tsukuyomi wants her as a wife for some obscure reason. Cirno hasn't exactly said "yes" either, but does she really have that option? She's a prisoner and a criminal in their eyes, and for the most part she's just glad they haven't executed her. Being led around by the collar isn't exactly how Cirno would wish to be wed (although she's never thought about marriage at all up until this point), but what is she supposed to do?
It sure is hard to walk around in this kimono. When she was smaller it wasn't so bad, but now that her hips are bigger than her waist the tightly wound obi barely lets her thighs move. Walking is basically from the calves down. If she tries too hard, she might rip something. It's difficult being so lovely.
Led to an exquisite looking door, she's told to wait for a moment.
"Announcing," introduces someone inside, "Cirno."
At her cue, she enters. Inside are multiple tables set up with people already seated. The vast majority share similar physical traits (most prominent being black hair), so this is very likely Tsukuyomi's family. Cirno's nervousness doubles. As the tables are set individually, there's no real head, but the forefront of the room is obviously reserved to the lord of this nation. All the other guests are set facing this direction. All eyes are on Cirno as she's led to her seat, right next to the spot centered and focused of most attention, a spot obviously reserved to Tsukuyomi. Cirno's seat is (her) left of center. With as much grace as she can, she lowers herself to seiza.
Wait. Her seat is left of center, so there's a right of center as well. Why are there three seats at the head of the room?
"Announcing, Akihito no Saya."
A dazzling yamato nadeshiko enters, a doll of a woman that reminds Cirno of Kaguya Houraisan. With a grace to which Cirno couldn't ever hope to mimic, Saya takes a seat at the head same as the blue-haired earthling, opposite the still empty center seat. Doesn't that make her-
"Announcing, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto."
Before Cirno can solve the conundrum, everyone stands, bowing forward. New to all of this, she rises half a step behind the others. Before she bows, she peeks to Saya. She's bowing to her left, towards Cirno. She knew she wouldn't be receiving that kind of respect, so it must be bow to Tsukuyomi's seat. That's likely what Cirno is supposed to do as well, so she also bows to his seat.
Cirno can feel the air vibrate the moment he enters the room. Unlike when she met him in that monitor room hours ago, he's casting his aura of absolute authority. The same she met on the battlefield. Cirno's hair and eyes glow in reaction, herself entering a heightened state of alert as she's worried. Hearing a few of the guests gasp, they must think she's challenging him or something. Cirno can't help it, her body's reacting to it's natural fight-or-flight mechanisms. Despite what his plans for her might be or how he tries to comfort her, he's still vastly more powerful and frightening.
As he passes by her right side, her body starts to tremble. Their fight was brief, very brief, but she can still feel the hopelessness that she did at the time. It's a belief so firmly stapled into herself that nothing can help it. Aside from the Light of Purification, he performed only one other maneuver. Raising his hand as if to say "Stop," he completely reflected her attack and sent her own power right back at her. Such an absolute technique could only leave a deep impression.
Tsukuyomi gets to his seat, but this is where he stops. Everyone else starts moving. Cirno has to turn her head to the side to see they've returned to sitting on their knees. Following their lead, she does the same. Once Cirno has taken her place (the last to take her place), Tsukuyomi sits.
Tsukuyomi no Mikoto isn't in the plain white outfit he was before, and neither is his hair loosely hung over his shoulders. Dressed in royal robes, he's also has his hair tied up similar to Cirno's, but in a way that's (probably) supposed to masculine. There are gold ornaments in his hair, likely to take the place of an actual crown. He's every bit the image of the Emperor of the most highly advanced civilization know to exist. Cirno feels she might have a cursed placed upon her for simply sitting next to him.
"Esteemed family," Tsukuyomi's authoritative voice booms, causing not only Cirno but some of the others in the crowd to shiver as well, "I have called you forth this evening to announce that I am courting this Cirno to wed."
Multiple gasps, clearly they are suffering the same sort of shock that Cirno herself had.
"Otōsama," a young-appearing man speaks out, placing his hands on the ground and bowing so deeply his forehead is touching the floor, "you already have Okāsama, why do you need another woman? Are you planning a divorce?"
Mother? Another woman? He's already married!
"I have never forbade multiple marriages. Since my separation with my sister, I've only chosen your mother to be my wife. Akihito no Saya is a woman without equal amongst our Lunarian Society. There has been no woman on this moon who could match her beauty, strength, or purity. Be that as it may, that was only on this moon. Somehow an impossible brilliance was born on the Planet Earth, and a woman who is near my equal exists. That is Cirno."
"She's a filthy barbarian?" someone shouts.
This causes an uproar, each speaking out of turn and arguing over the other. Cirno knew she should have expected something like this, and in no way is it her fault, but hearing such nasty things being said about her still hurts. Suddenly she was proposed to, and she didn't even know he was already married. She doesn't want any of this, so she shouldn't care, but it still hurts!
Cirno can feel herself about to cry.
A loud tapping noise, wood on wood, silences the mob. It came to her side, but it doesn't appear to be Tsukuyomi. It's Saya calling order like a judge in a courtroom.
"My children, and the rest of my family, this is no fault of Cirno's and definitely no fault of my husband's. It should only be natural that the most perfect possible man marries the most perfect possible woman. Not a one of us has the right to raise an objection to this obvious and inevitable outcome."
Saya's voice is soft yet deep, that of a mother insuring her children that everything is going to be alright. There doesn't seem to be the slightest bit of jealously or selfishness in her words. Truly she's worthy of being a queen.
"That being said, I feel obligated to the right to defend myself. Do I not, my husband?"
Cirno takes all that back.
Tsukuyomi pauses first, "I had no intention of divorcing you, nor was I even considering ranking the two of you. If you feel your position of my wife threatened, I am sorry we couldn't met in understanding. But you are right, you are in a position to defend your honor. However, if you continue with this, I might be inclined to reconsider my stance on polygamy."
"I would expect no less," Saya hesitates none, ever the bastion of confidence.
"Very well. I wished this to be a celebration of a new union, but we shall settle this now. Let us relocate to the dojo immediately."
Cirno never got a word in.
The Strongest Woman
This whole marriage thing might not have been so terrible had she been able to eat delicious food, but now she has an angry wife picking a fight. Worse yet is that Cirno doesn't even want to marry Tsukuyomi, let alone marry at all. Doesn't she have a choice or free will anymore?
It's not a private affair, either. The entire family's gathered in the dojo, lining the walls and all glaring hostile dagger at the "other" woman. Not only is this depressing as hell, it's also very sad. The only person who wants this is Tsukuyomi. How vast must be his ego to put so many through this pain and discomfort just for his selfishness?
"I would like there to be minimal bloodshed," Tsukuyomi is acting as MC. "This will be a match of pure martial arts. No magic. Is this agreeable?"
Neither object, thought Cirno would rather just forfeit.
"You may choose whatever weapon you wish."
Saya hesitates none, opting for a tri-bladed spear, a jumanji yari.
Maybe if Cirno looses Tsukuyomi will reconsider this whole marriage thing. It would be one thing to throw the fight, but if she legitimately loses there shouldn't be any objections. Saya looks comfortable with that long spear in her hands, so she's likely practiced tirelessly. It's probably the best chance she has to win. Cirno chooses the same kind of weapon. This of course causes a bit of a stir amongst the spectators. They must think her arrogant.
"Okay, on my mark-"
"Wait a second!" Cirno just realized her wings are still present. With these her speed and strength are increased. Closing her eyes, she does everything she can to calm herself. It takes a moment, but eventually she stops glowing and her wings fade away. It was actually harder than she would have expected it to be. "Okay, we can start now."
There's a slight grin on Tsukuyomi's normally stern face.
"Go!"
Saya vanishes, appearing just within reach of her blade. In the blink of an eye, she thrusts several times. Cirno can barely lean and avoid. She's fast! Way too fast! Fluttering about like a swallow, she darts back an forth and thrusts like a vicious animal lunging for that certain kill. How can she even do this while still in a kimono? Even Cirno's eyes can't keep perfect track of the movements as Saya casts illusions and mirages out of pure physical skill. Only the blue woman's experience and instincts are enough to keep her out of the reach of the spear's point.
Stopping and planting her feet firmly on the ground, Saya unleashes her full strength. Her spear strikes become completely invisible. Cirno can avoid no longer. Taking the shaft in both hands, she has to use it to block. Quickly does she become aware of another phenomenon. This isn't simple and straightforward trusts of a spear, but the attacks are starting to come from her sides as well! As Saya's thrusting she's somehow curving her strike! Cirno can't even understand how such a skill is possible! Yet she still barely manages to block, the shaft of her own spear being chipped away bit by bit.
Opponent taking a step back, Saya recognizes an opening. Release a hand, she uses her entire body as a spring, greatly extending the reach of her spear. Being caught off-balance, Cirno realizes this attack is going to hit, and it's going to hit hard. All she can do is brace herself.
Cirno is blow away, her spear breaking and flying out of her hands. The fiancee is hurled far, crashing into the floor and rolling just before she hits the wall. If this were not a friendly match, this might continue, but as a sport it's clear she's defeated. The crowd cheers accordingly.
Yet Saya doesn't exactly seem satisfied, but it doesn't stop her from declaring herself the victor. She raises her weapon, showcasing herself as the superior.
Tsukuyomi watches without amusement. However, only he and Cirno would know it's not because his new woman was soundly defeated.
Pushing herself to her feet, Cirno only shows how good a sport she could be (after all, she tasted defeat often when she was an Ice Fairy), "You got me good," she half laughs. "I couldn't keep up with you at all."
Only a select few are noticing the discrepancy. Cirno's outfit is completely unblemished, her hair only slightly disheveled, and she doesn't appear spent in the least. Meanwhile Saya has a quickened breath and hair more than a mess. What's more, it's obviously clear that she could breach the "new woman's" defenses despite all her strength.
"Again!" Tsukuyomi demands.
Cirno near collapses. She lost honestly. Saya is strong and fast, there's no denying that. Such skill Cirno couldn't overcome.
"The rules shall be the same, but this time we shall have a wager." Tsukuyomi is grinning again as if he has a devilish idea. "Saya, if you win again, I will cancel the marriage and keep Cirno as a mere concubine. Is that agreeable?"
Saya nods firmly.
Concubine? Does Cirno know that word? Thinking about it, was that better or worse than wife? It takes a moment, but the newly adult finally remembers what it means. She blushes furiously. She can't lose this time!
"Cirno," Tsukuyomi continues, "if you win, I shall reward you with a treasure."
That isn't particularly interesting to Cirno, and her expression shows.
"You'll want something like this. It'll help you understand who and what you really are. I won't tell you what it is now, but win and it's yours."
Something that will help her understand herself? Does Tsukuyomi really possess such treasure? If he does, why hasn't he used it? Wasn't he just as curious as Cirno herself to her true existence? Well, even if he's lying she doesn't want to face what she will if she loses. She agrees to the rematch.
Seeing as her previous spear is broken, a spectator hands her another one.
Waving it off, Cirno says, "Get me a sword." Then thinking about it a second, "A wooden sword."
This isn't received lightly. For the first time, Saya displays clear anger in her expression. She must think she's being looked down upon. This isn't true at all, Cirno simply doesn't want to kill her.
Cirno's given a bokken. The blade is about 59 centimeters and even has a pommel and guard. It's properly balanced. Perfect.
"Ready," Tsukuyomi signals again-
Her best style of weapon isn't enough, Saya's also much too fast in that kimono. Cirno reaches for her obi, pulling it completely undone. It falls to the ground and the woman's dress unravels, clearly exposing her body and underwear underneath. Kicking the obi to the side, she plants her feet firmly, taking a wide stance. She readies her sword and leans her body forward.
"Barbarian," some woman mumbles.
"Go-"
Saya disappears and charges for a flurry of attacks, just like before, displaying no decrease in speed. Her spear goes through Cirno. Or appears to. Only after the fact does Saya feel her spear involuntarily rotating in her hand. Those three blades have been shifted vertically instead of horizontally. Cirno completely sidesteps the spear and approaches to close range.
Swinging, Cirno has a clear opening on her opponent. Before it can pound flesh, the wooden blade is halted by a pinpoint magical barrier, one so small it wouldn't be noticed by any of the spectators. Saya's cheating!
Crashing into the wall, Saya coughs up blood from the impact, her expression in great anguish and eyes not understanding. Barely does she perceive what's happened to her, but certainly nobody else does. Before anyone even realizes that nobody is even standing in front of Cirno, Saya has lost consciousness, her body still and embedded in the wall. Moments later, Cirno's wooden sword explodes in her hands, incapable of sustaining the level of stress it was victim to.
"Winner," Tsukuyomi immediately announces, his tone certain and unshakable, "Cirno!"
Everyone is in stunned silence. Glancing back and forth between the victor and the defeated, they try their best to make heads or tails of the preceding.
"Cheater!" one person accuses.
"She used magic!" another.
Meanwhile Cirno ignores them and gathers her obi, trying (failing) to refit her kimono.
"Do my children lack the perception to understand what sits before their eyes," Tsukuyomi's tone darkens a bit. "Your mother is weaker, and lost. I'm unsure of her divinity, but Cirno's skill is godlike. In the same instant, she struck three simultaneous times. First she parried the spear thrust. Next she landed a guarded blow against her midsection," so he did see his wife cheat, but he isn't saying so. "And finally, a third strike against her chest, bypassing her defenses and hitting her with full impact."
Cirno freezes. She turns and looks at her future husband. With as powerful as he is, it isn't surprising that he saw through her attacks.
But Cirno hit Saya four times, not three. Twice in one swing. Saya's thrust wasn't so weak that it could be so easily parried. Cirno hit Saya on the wrist before hitting one of the extension blades, rotating it horizontally allowing her body to slip through and lean forward. Tsukuyomi's eyes are indeed sharp, but he completely missed it.
"Cirno," he approaches the victorious so that none of the others can hear, "come to my room after dinner. We shall discuss your prize."
Unexpected Kindness
If this was all there was to married life, Cirno might reconsider getting hitched. After mopping up Saya (she awoke a couple minutes after the fight, but she wouldn't rejoin them for dinner), the party reconvened at the dinning room. However, tensions were very tight as much animosity was still directed at Cirno, perhaps more than ever before. Lord Tsukuyomi seemed to be the only one in high spirits, having his judgment proven correct once his bride-to-be was given proper motivation. Still, that wouldn't stop Cirno from devouring that delicious meal, maybe lacking a bit in table manners. Well, the family already hated her; it's not like she could really lose any more points.
Upon returning to her room she immediately removed her hair pin. While the dress and makeup were spectacular, she didn't like that hairstyle at all. It made her scalp feel weird and too much of her forehead was showing. She never saw herself at the angle where she could see the nape of her neck, but despite missing such a lovely portrait she'd rather have her hair down. Cirno just felt stuffy otherwise.
Next she slips out of her kimono, trying her best to remember how to fold it properly. She probably didn't get it right, but an attendant would likely come later to retrieve it. Sometime during the party, Cirno's previous dress must have been returned to her apartment, because here it lays on the bed. She has nothing else to wear so it might have turned out bad if someone hadn't been so thoughtful. Then again she owns nothing in this room, so she could as well visited Tsukuyomi in the kimono, but while she's got the option she'll stick with the white and gold dress. It's easier to move around in.
Once she's ready, the escort takes her only so far. They travel to the palace on the top floor, head to that special lift, and Cirno is left on her own at the hallway guarded by those two elite soldiers. As she passes them and is once again alone, she's hit by the sudden and uncomfortable feeling. She doesn't know exactly why it is, but she feels a little bit icky.
Walking up to the door panel, she's glad to see that someone's repaired it. Cirno would feel bad if this door was stuck open. It might get drafty when Tsukuyomi sleeps.
Pressing it, it gives another angry buzz. It seems it remembers her. Instead, she knocks,
"Yomi! It's me, Cirno!"
This almost reminds her of going to Alice's house to play with her dolls. At the Hakurei Shrine you can walk in whenever you want, but Alice always locks the door (not to say Cirno is always granted access). Alice's house was fun because all the dolls would play back.
There's a slightly less angry buzz, and the door slides open. Inside Tsukuyomi can be seen sitting on the white couch. Like Cirno, he too has returned to his preferred outfit, that white suit and his hair down. Odd the things they have in common.
"You show no bashfulness in entering a man's room at night," his tone has only somewhat softened, but he is nowhere near as threatening when speaking at dinner. She can almost be comfortable when he's like this.
Ever the picture of innocence, Cirno enters without a pause in her stride, "What do you mean?" and she honestly doesn't know.
There's a pause, and maybe for the second time Tsukuyomi is stunned by her actions, "I guess such things will become apparent after you are my wife, but that is not our business tonight. I think we should have much to discuss, do we not?"
Indeed, there's a lot of things she wishes to say to him, especially now since she no longer feels swept away by the tide, "Yes."
"Then have a seat."
Opposite his couch, there's a small table and chair set up that wasn't there when Cirno was here before. On the table is a small chest, undoubtedly the treasure he spoke of before the second round of her fight with Saya. Cirno goes ahead and takes a seat, but doesn't even make a motion for the chest.
"Does what's inside not interest you?"
For some reason, Cirno has a hard time thinking that's it's really important, "I guess we can get to the later."
"Very well. By your expression I can tell you have something to say. A lot to say most likely."
"Yes."
"Let me start first, however. What is your impression of the kingdom I've built?"
Cirno doesn't even need to think about it, "It's all very impressive. The buildings, the technology, and the food are all excellent, but it's like it's all over-specialized. There's little variety here on the moon. All these towers have to be high enough to give you a nose bleed, there are all these devices that will do everything for you, and the food, even though it's fantastic, almost all tastes the same. I had yakitori from a vendor in a market, but it didn't taste much different than what we had for dinner."
Tsukuyomi retorts, "In our strive for perfection, it would be unlikely that any would take a drastically different course. All our efforts are to achieve a single goal, so there would be little variety between courses. As for the food, perhaps you are recognizing the fact that most of the textures are synthesized. Meat, in particular, isn't acquired in a way that is similar to Earth. There are no livestock on the moon, so beef, chicken, and ham are grown in a slightly similar ways as vegetables. I could explain the process, but the science behind would likely be too advanced for you to comprehend."
Actually, it's the whole idea of "perfection" that's giving her the most trouble, the same that "purity" does. Most things are impossible to do without getting your hands dirty, so how is it so different if it's done on the Moon as opposed to Earth? Cirno's heard Yorihime try to sell her case, but the newly woman doesn't buy it. However, that isn't what she wants to discus with Tsukuyomi right now.
"I want to know," it's Cirno's turn to ask a question, "why do you really want to marry me?"
"There's a contradiction in being perfect. I am the most pure, the strongest, and the smartest being in existence, and being the best, by definition, means you're alone. However, as a living being I can't exist without at least one other. I can't reach full perfection until I have an equal counter-part, and that is something I'm helpless against until such a person arises. Akihiko no Saya brought me close to that goal, but with you by my side I shall be able to achieve feats even higher. I won't be fully complete until I have you as my wife."
That's almost romantic. Almost. Sure there are plenty of compliments there, but Tsukuyomi completely disregards both of their emotions. Although, he's not being completely selfish either. By the same logic, that would mean that Cirno herself would also rise from their union. His idea of marriage is similar to that of the Ying and Yang, two opposite forces becoming one. It's clear he doesn't regard Cirno as some kind of passing fancy.
"Now it's my turn to ask a similar question. What are your thoughts about marrying me?"
Here, Cirno can't speak very comfortably, "I still feel like a prisoner. There's no chain or shackles tying me down, but I'm still not in control of myself. I've always had my freedom."
"I don't mean to cage you like a bird," Tsukuyomi's voice has taken an odd quality, Cirno can't pinpoint what it is, "but the wheels of destiny are pushing your direction more so than I am. I will prove that fact."
He reaches for the box, opens it, and reveals what's inside. It's an absolutely lovely, semi-transparent, yellowish long cloth.
"This is the prototype model of the Lunar Veil. This will take you to Earth."
Cirno's being sent back?
"I can understand your confusion. I said this will help you better understand yourself, but what I meant is that you will not be able to find your answers here on the moon."
Cirno doesn't know what to say. This is so sudden, it almost feels like this entire day has been a joke.
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"That odd sensation you feel, it's not that of a prisoner. You're lost. Before you can become someone truly worthy of being my wife, you yourself must become whole. You're yet mature and unable to commit yourself to another. Until then, you shall journey to find yourself. Though I expect I will not have to wait long."
Cirno still can't understand his intentions, "Are you going to be sending an escort with me?"
"You mean an observer? That won't be necessary."
"Aren't you worried I'll run away?"
He actually cracks a bit of a smile, such a miniscule difference that most might not realize it, "In our first meeting, it was you who came to find me. People of our caliber can't help but continuously seek another of equal standing. We are tied together by the strings of destiny. You will not run away. Our next meeting, such again shall you come to find me. And besides, I shall soon come to Gensokyo to retrieve Houraisan Kaguya, so I imagine we'll be seeing each other then."
She's almost forgot! Tsukuyomi started this invasion all for the purpose of catching the runaway princess. He said he's coming to Gensokyo personally, so all of her friends are in danger. Cirno can survive his Purification naturally, but can anyone else? He might destroy all of Gensokyo if there isn't someone who could put him in check. Cirno might be the only one who can fight him head-on.
"If I return to Gensokyo, I might fight you when the time comes."
Tsukuyomi offers no offense, "That may be so. Our destiny might actually be tied together as enemies rather than lovers. I am fine with either. We will be joined in one way or another, that is the whim of destiny. However, why would you fight me? Because you hate me? Or is it to defend your friends? The very same friends who killed and lied to you? You may not believe the words I spoke to you before, but I grant you the opportunity to ask them for yourself. Even I am not entirely certain of the circumstances surrounding that incident, but I imagine that the truth will be very difficult for you. When you learn what they really did to you, will you rise in their defense when I arrive? Perhaps you'll throw yourself into my arms when you know everything. I don't know, but I eagerly await the time when we shall meet again in Gensokyo."
So this is his logic. Cirno's not being set free, but rather being kept on a rather long leash. There's no way she can simply ignore his attack on Gensokyo. He's absolutely right, they will be meeting again shortly. While she doesn't completely believe what he told her in the monitor room, now that she thinks about it, it's clear her friends are hiding something from her. Now she can't believe she never noticed it sooner.
So thus is her choice: what shall she do when he arrives? Will Cirno desperately fight against an overpowering opponent, our shun the friends who committed yet known sins against her? It's a bitter choice, but could there be a third option?
"What if," Cirno's voice is rapidly losing it's strength, could this be the only choice to avoid the devastation that's to come? "What if I agree to marry you. Will you stop the attack on Gensokyo?"
"No," he states firmly. "You are not a pawn in someone else's game. You are a king, not to be manipulated by any other. Your hand in marriage shall not be given away for something so frivolous. I will continue forward with my intentions and my will shall not bend. If you come to hate me for this, so too is the whim of destiny. But I expect in time you will come to understand and accept me as your husband despite this. Our attraction is beyond either of our control. One day we will be united."
This is almost unbearably kind. In his own way, Tsukuyomi is actually doing everything he can for Cirno. In reality, his declaration of intent to marry was almost meaningless. The choice completely relies upon the heart of the woman. She isn't being led this way or that, and far more than Remilia or any other of her friends, Tsukuyomi is giving the immature woman her freedom. Perhaps he is the only person who has really handed the reins of her life over to Cirno. Her chest hurts and for the first time she actually considers this man.
Very meaningful was their conversation, but she fears if this continues any longer she might accidentally rush to judgment. Cirno hesitates only slightly, but she takes the Lunar Veil into her possession.
"That's the prototype," Tsukuyomi explains in detail. "A normal Lunar Veil will take several days to reach the Earth, but this one shall make it in less than 24 hours. I've preprogrammed it take you to the footsteps of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. If you decide to use it again, it will take you here to the Lunar City, but you will have to program the coordinates yourself upon descending to the Earth again. Feel free to use it as many times as you wish to travel wherever you need or want. Your journey might not only lead you to Gensokyo, so this is my gift to you. May you find what answers you seek."
Cirno's heart beats very warmly, and she can feel herself blushing. Maybe not, but just maybe this is the start of a long and lasting relationship. This is all suddenly very embarrassing. She has to get out of here now or maybe she never will. Cirno is still too immature to realize this, but she's being seduced.
With the Prototype Lunar Veil in her hands, she heads for the door. But she can't just leave like this; without saying a word. Unable to turn around and face him, she says the words that feel the most correct to use,
"Thank you. See you again."
Unconscious of her actions, her wings sprout on her back.