"What happened to it?" I asked.
Reimu narrowed her eyes. "Those that live on the moon – or used to live there – are interfering with our affairs. Though for what reason, I do not know."
My ears heard, but my mind refused to believe. "There are people living on the moon?"
"Not really the most outlandish thing you've heard so far, is it?" Marisa said. "Considering what goes on in Gensokyo."
"No, but at least everything I've seen so far has been confined to Gensokyo. The moon is a different matter, especially considering that we – humans in the outside world – have already been there."
"It is typical of human hubris to think that the universe is yours to claim," called a leering voice from the shadows between the trees.
The newcomer emerged into the false moonlight. She was pale-skinned and red-eyed, an almost ethereal presence whose otherworldliness was only emphasized by the slender black ears that sprouted from her head, twitching as the breeze blew past. A long robe of white and red, the colors parted at the waist, completed the picture.
"Kagerou Imaizumi," muttered Reimu.
"What business does a human have here, so far from the Village?" she asked. "On another note, it seems that you, Keine Kamishirasawa, are in the same predicament as I." Kagerou pointed at her own forehead.
"The moon is not what it seems," Keine replied. "A portion of it has been taken. I do not know if the incompleteness of the moon is preventing my transformation, or if the moon itself is no longer the same. Regardless, I intend to ask the Lunarians – they should have the answer."
"Ah, yes. Eientei." Kagerou put a sleeved hand to her chin and stroked it. "The last refuge for the exiles. Perhaps I will join you – after all, this concerns me just as much as it concerns you. Eientei is not far from here. I will take you to it."
Kagerou motioned for us to follow, and as we began walking, she turned to me, her unnerving half-smile never wavering.
"What is a human like yourself doing in such illustrious company?" she asked.
"I ask myself that same question regularly," I replied.
"He is our friend," Reimu said. "His magical potential is vast, but it is as yet untapped. We brought him here to resolve a question that Keine may have answered, if the moon were as it should be. But the traveler has accompanied us on many adventures, and has more than proved his worth."
"Ah, yes. So, he is your pet. How unsightly."
"Watch your tongue, werewolf," Miko warned. "He is a valuable companion."
"Pets are valuable companions," Kagerou retorted. "That does not change what they are. If he really were as important as you say, you would not pull him around like a dog on a leash. He would stay in the Village and hide, just like the rest of the humans do."
"Actually, it is mainly my fault that they have to drag me around," I said. "I do not wish to be a burden, but at the same time there are things that I must discover about myself, things that cannot be gleaned simply by remaining in the safety of the Village. I hoped not to take advantage of their kindness, but they have offered it nonetheless, and for that I am unendingly grateful."
"Hmph." Kagerou brought her head near my shoulder and sniffed it, as if trying to discern what it was about me that garnered such attention. "You are unlike the other humans. You willingly throw yourself into the bottomless pit hidden within this land. I do not smell fear, but the absence of caution shall be your undoing one day."
I could not help but laugh. "Then I hope to at least be in good company when that day arrives."
The sound of distant music stopped us in our tracks. It was the singing of a flute, merry yet undeniably solitary, borne aloft by the wind. If I strained my ears, the low hum of chatter was also audible.
"Sounds like the festival is in full swing." Miko pushed through the bamboo, and as we followed, the noise grew louder and more scattered. Before long, its source was revealed to us.
It was a gathering of girls, a meeting of maidens, one that appeared somewhat akin to a festival. Banners and lanterns were hung around and between the trees; food was laid out on the pink and purple tables arranged neatly around the clearing. The food itself, consisting of mochi, manjuu and other delights, all seemed to be moon-themed – as were the banners, which were ornated with gold circles and silver crescents. By all accounts, this was a celebration of the full moon in full swing.
More interestingly, the maidens, though varied in clothing and appearance, all shared one key characteristic: long, fluffy ears protruding upwards from their hair. Yet in the middle of the hubbub was the one exception to that rule.
Many of the rabbit-eared entities were standing in front of buckets full of mochi, pounding the glutinous mixture rhythmically to the music, their ears bouncing up and down as they strained their limbs. The only human-looking girl present was instead sitting quietly on a mat, pink and red robes spread evenly around her, a bamboo flute pressed to her mouth, swaying gently as she led the mochi-makers in their oscillations.
The girl laid eyes on us, and the music stopped. The rabbit-eared girls ceased their activities, and turned to face the gatecrashers.
"I bid ye welcome to the Moon Festival," said the girl, pushing her black bangs out of her eyes. She squinted as she realized the identities of her new guests. "Misses Imaizumi, Hakurei, Kirisame, Toyosatomimi and Kamishirasawa. And a stray human, to boot. Thy presences here are a surprise to me, especially in such a combination."
"Princess Kaguya," Reimu said in greeting, and bowed. "We have come because of a problem, whose solution we feel only you may be able to reach."
"Oh? What would that be?"
"The moon." Marisa gestured at the sky. "It's not the real one. You know something about that?"
"I might." Kaguya covered her mouth with her robe's unusually wide sleeve. "And what of it?"
"The Human Village is vulnerable without my protection," Keine said as she stepped forward. "I cannot protect it from the youkai if I do not have the full extent of my powers. If you know something, then I ask that you reveal it to us. For all our sakes." She, too, bowed.
The pink-robed princess frowned. "Such desperation is unlike thee. For a moment, I almost felt empathy for thy plight. But I can no longer abide such feelings. The moon must remain in its current state, for the sake of all that I hold dear. If not, I shalt never forgive myself."
"What do you mean?" Miko asked.
"I am not at liberty to answer thee." Kaguya gestured to the other maidens. "My rabbits. Hold them off for now, whilst I contact my adviser." She rose to her feet, and with a flourish, she vanished from sight.
"How did she do that?" I breathed.
"She has command over time, much as Sakuya Izayoi does – though her ability is to slow down and speed up time, rather than stop it completely." Reimu narrowed her eyes. "But she cannot use that ability for long, so she must have returned to her manor, which is close by. Marisa and I will take the rabbits on. Miko, you bring Keine and the traveler to Eientei – there should not be many left to guard the mansion, so I trust you can handle whatever is left, and you'll be safer there than here. Kagerou, are you with us?"
Kagerou sighed. "I had hoped not to be dragged into more petty conflicts, but very well. This matter pertains to me as well, so I will do what I can."
"Come, traveler." Miko pulled at my jacket, and pointed into the forest. "Let's go."
As Reimu and Marisa began to glow with energy, their formidable magical weaponry duly summoned from the tips of their fingers, the three of us scurried away into the night. The last thing I saw was the rabbit-eared maidens converging upon them, no longer looking as innocuous and benign as their dainty appearances might suggest.
A part of me cursed my personal uselessness in a skirmish – after all, it was my question to Keine which had put us in this position in the first place, and to have others do the dirty work did not sit right with me. But another part of me knew that my place was not in battle, and it would never be. The conflicts of this world were neither mine to bear, nor mine to intervene in. For me to stick my nose into disagreements whose foundations had been laid long before I had arrived, and which would continue long after I was gone, simply did not feel right. I was to be an observer, nothing more, and I ought to be satisfied with fulfilling such a role.
A large, haunting silhouette came into sight.
"Here we are," said Miko.