~Kaguya's Sacrifice~

Lord Watatsuki no Tsukiyomi no Mikoto paced up and down the bridge of the Crescendo-class dreadnought. His shoes tapped slowly on the titanium deck, matching the fearful rhythm Kaguya could feel inside her chest. She'd seen the god of the moon so calm and polite only once before, and that had been the day of her banishment.

"So," Tsukiyomi said at last, "you have come before me to plead for mercy. After smothering yourself in the deathly impurity of infinite life, rejecting the paradise I crafted, housing convicts and deserters who threw my kindness in my face and worst of all manipulating my own two daughters into concealing you, you come before me. And you expect me to spare your little garden of earthly sin."

"Um." Kaguya gulped. "That's right, my lord. You see, Eirin and I have made a home for-"

"I know what you have done." Tsukiyomi cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You have planted a seed of discontent that spread throughout the Lunar Capital. Throughout my great citadel, even in my own court, there are those who suggest that my paradise is less than perfect. One of them dared to request permission to take a holiday to Earth! The fool! If I allow one iota of impurity to besmirch Luna, we will all fall into ruin. I have no choice but to destroy what gives them their foolish hope of a somehow better society."

"But they're people, not just porcelain dolls you can turn into whatever you want! If they want to-"

"Be silent! I have heard all that drivel before, and it is meaningless. I will not abandon any Lunarian to an impure life on Earth, no matter how they beg me to. My duty is to protect you and all my people, not to stand idly by while you give your lives over to ruin!"

"Right…" Although she'd been hoping desperately for him to see reason, Kaguya knew Tsukiyomi would accept nothing less than total victory. "Well, my lord, I… Since you want me so badly, I am ready to come back."

Tsukiyomi's awe-inspiring black eyebrows rose. "Indeed?"

"Yes. If you promise to call off your bombers and leave my friends in peace, I'll do whatever you ask. I'll be a good Lunarian." Kaguya bowed her head in surrender. "Whatever you want of me, you shall have. But please let me say goodbye to them first."

Tsukiyomi tilted Kaguya's chin back up and smiled at her. "Finally you see sense! Good! You know, I had high hopes for you, Kaguya. You were once almost as great a warrior as my eldest daughter, and I thought you might make her a worthy wife. That ship has basically sailed, given that she likes men for some unfathomable reason, but you could yet become a Lunarian worthy of renown."

"Brilliant." Kaguya tried to smile, but her empty heart would permit nothing more than a strained grimace. "So, can I say farewell to Eirin?"

"You won't need to. She's coming with us."

Kaguya felt as if the ceiling of Kinkaku-ji Temple had flattened her soul. She cried out in horror. "L-Lord Tsukiyomi, you promised-!"

"I don't need to promise anything, Kaguya. Considering our respective situations, you have no choice but to obey me." Tsukiyomi angrily resumed his pacing. "Eirin is a traitor and a fugitive, the rabbits who fled to her side enemies of Luna. The rabbits will be executed in full view of their brethren and sistren, and as for Eirin…" He smiled wickedly. "I think I will immerse her in molten titanium. Once it sets, it should take her a few thousand years to break free, by which time Chang'e will probably be looking for a new companion anyway."

"You can't! She hasn't done anything to you!" wailed Kaguya. "You heartless monster, I'm never going to be what you want! I won't ever stop fighting you-"

Tsukiyomi slapped Kaguya sharply on the back of the head. She flew helplessly across the bridge and smashed into the tactical console. Agony bloomed inside her jaw as the bones splintered and cracked.

"Any more complaints?" said Tsukiyomi archly.

Kaguya's broken jaw and twisted neck did not permit her to respond. A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Good." Tsukiyomi turned to face the moon rabbits standing awkwardly around the bridge and trying not to look sympathetic. "Commander, dispatch the bombers to Eientei. Captain, take us after them and get someone on that vat of molten titanium. Green-haired boy, get somebody in here to fix the tactical-"

The pilot timidly raised her hand. "Ex-excuse me! My lord, there's a, um… Well, a shrine-maiden. In front of us."

"What…?" Tsukiyomi peered out of the windscreen. There was indeed a shrine-maiden floating in front of the dreadnought, with her arms folded and a look of extreme annoyance on her face. Tsukiyomi sighed heavily. "Give her a type-one missile, will you?"

The tactical officer shifted nervously. "With what, my lord? I, um, don't exactly have a console…"

"Well, use your tablet, you dumb flopsy! Honest to myself…" Tsukiyomi gave an exasperated sigh.

Biting back a retort, the tactical officer pulled a sleek tablet computer from his pocket and pressed some stuff on the screen. A small missile burst out of the starboard missile turret and barreled towards the shrine-maiden.

Reimu's wand spun through the air as she called upon her power. "Indomitable Spirit: Duplex Deflect!"

The missile glanced off Reimu's shimmering blue barrier and went spiralling off to the side, where Mokou pounced on it and wrestled to gain control. Neither flying nor being dragged along, but in a very uncomfortable place in between, Mokou guided the missile towards the colossal battleship.

On the bridge of the dreadnought, chaos reigned.

"Don't panic! Don't panic!" the chap with green hair wailed.

"Brace for impact!" the captain shouted, diving under her chair.

"Abandon ship!" yelped the wing commander, running helplessly around in circles.

"Um," said the tactical officer, "should we maybe put the shields on?"

"Oh, for my sake…" Tsukiyomi grabbed Kaguya by the scruff of the neck and stuffed her into the broom cupboard. He made a mental note to ask why there was a broom cupboard of all things on the bridge. "All right, rabbits, brace for imp-"

An almighty explosion tore through the front bulkhead, showering Tsukiyomi and the moon rabbits in shards of red-hot metal and glass. Tsukiyomi was flung against the broom cupboard. Half-conscious, he clung to the door handle with grim determination and ignored the terrified screams of the rabbits being sucked out into space.

Reisen's ears flattened with horror. "Oh, no! Lady Eirin, the vacuum-breathing potions, quickly!"

"Here!" Eirin tossed a heavy tote bag over to Reisen, who caught it and flew to the nearest suffocating rabbit.

"Did we really have to blow up the front end of the ship? It's such a… It's so destructive!" Reimu couldn't stand the sight of shattered spaceship, much less the scattered, helpless rabbits who were going to die if Reisen didn't hurry.

"A normal spell-card wouldn't do much to Lunar steel," Eirin pointed out. "We've got to move fast, though. They have fighters."

"So do we. Five of the greatest!" said Mokou fiercely, drifting over to Eirin. Her right side was badly charred, but she didn't seem to mind.

"No, fighter ships," Eirin clarified. "With laser machine guns and proton torpedoes. We could beat a few of them in a spell-card duel, but they'll be shooting to kill, and we can't hold out forever."

"Then let's move fast. Keine, Mokou, with me! Eirin, watch my… twelve?" Reimu shot Eirin a hopeful look.

"Six," said Eirin.

"Right. Of course." With a mildly chagrined look, Reimu flew into the flickering cavern that was the dreadnought's bridge. She shot out of the hole a few moments later, battered and trailing smoke. "I've found Tsukiyomi! Help!"

Shining with an eerie silver light, Lord Tsukiyomi drifted out of the battered dreadnought. His skin and clothes were pristine in spite of the explosion he'd just endured, not a single strand of his silky black hair was out of place. Reimu edged a little closer to Eirin and waited for the stars to stop swimming in front of her eyes.

Mokou burst into flames, roared like a lion with a sore throat and charged at Tsukiyomi. "You miserable old bastard, I want my mortal enemy back and I want her now, you hear me?! Give her back or I'll-!"

Tsukiyomi punched Mokou in the stomach. She spiralled helplessly into the asteroid belt.

"I must say, that was an enjoyable little warm-up." Tsukiyomi brushed some dust off his collar and approached Eirin. "Now, how may I help the traitor?"

"Nice to see you, too." Eirin folded her arms. "I have come for Kaguya. If you value your life, I suggest- Reimu, stop clinging onto me!"

Tsukiyomi scoffed. "This is the prodigal goddess I once revered, back to claim her love?" He drew his silver katana and thrust it towards Eirin. "You arrogant old hag! Even if you can cope with your clingy shrine maiden, Luna does not tolerate traitors."

"Doesn't tolerate individuality, you mean. Kaguya, Reisen and myself happen to be enjoying our freedom, and you will never have us back!"

"I will shatter your spirits like plywood upon a meteor, you scum!" Tsukiyomi flew at Eirin and took a swipe at her neck. His sword flashed through the void, but cleaved only a few silver strands of hair as Eirin rolled out of the way and Reimu ran for it.

Eirin lashed out with her leg, catching Tsukiyomi a vicious blow on the chin. He grunted angrily and thrust his sword through Eirin's shoulder. Eirin yelped plaintively, grit her teeth and grabbed Tsukiyomi's wrist. She met his steely gaze and summoned an orb of sizzling blue plasma.

Tsukiyomi's eyes widened as he realised what she was planning. He abandoned his blade and tried to flee, but Eirin clung to his wrist with grim determination and smashed the plasma into his face.

"Aaaaaaaargh!" howled Tsukiyomi, his face sizzling. He bit down savagely on Eirin's forearm and wrenched himself out of her grasp. "You stupid bitch! You'll pay for this, you hear me?! You'll pay!"

Eirin pulled the sword out of her shoulder and tossed it to Reimu, who fumbled it and almost stabbed Keine. Rolling her eyes, Eirin hefted her bow and nocked an arrow tipped with blue crystal. "How much do you charge for a lifetime of fear and oppression, Tsukiyomi? I think this should go some way towards settling our debt!"

Tsukiyomi laughed a cruel, barking laugh. "Shooting me will accomplish nothing, you fool! I am a Noble Child, the second spawn of Lord Izanagi! I can unmake you with but a thought!"

"They built me to last, sonny boy, so you'd better think hard!" snapped Eirin.

"Oh, yes?" Tsukiyomi raised a hand aflame with primordial magic. He grinned savagely and clenched his fist.

Deep, slender cracks spread across Eirin's skin. She gasped in horror as burning white light began to pour out of her.

"Oh, no…" Reimu's heart was heavy with dread. "Keine, y-you don't think-?!"

"I don't know," said Keine quietly. "Neither of us can defeat a god anyway, so we have to believe Eirin can do it."

"I… I just wish I could do something!" Reimu stared ruefully at her gohei, which could cut through youkai as if they were tissue paper but was useless in that moment.

"You can't." Keine took Reimu's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Sanae wouldn't be able to help either, though, so cheer up!"

Reimu attempted to cheer up. It was not particularly easy.

Eirin was screaming in pain as her body slowly disintegrated. Even Hourai-infused Lunarian flesh wasn't enough to resist Tsukiyomi's power.

"Well, Eirin, it seems this is the end for you." Tsukiyomi smiled smugly as he focused all his power on Eirin. "Am I stronger than your disgusting Hourai elixir? Who knows?! Either way, I can scatter you so far across the universe you'll never be reborn!"

"Th-that's… Never… Going to happen!" Eirin wasn't prepared to let any amount of pain get the better of her. With a furious battle-cry she loosed her arrow. Caught unawares, Tsukiyomi made a grab for it a split second too late. The arrow pierced his heart.

Tsukiyomi shrieked like a banshee standing on a chair to escape a mouse. He slumped helplessly as the strength drained out of his limbs. "Eirin, wh-what have you done to me?! Y-you'll pay for this, you-! You… Aaagh…"

"Isn't it obvious? I shot you, you miserable bastard!" Eirin laughed out loud as relief flooded through her and the cracks crisscrossing her skin began to close. "A god-slayer arrow! One of my best inventions, I feel. You'll live, but you'll spend at least a couple of days wishing you weren't."

"Eirin, that was incredible!" Reimu's eyes were shining with awe. "You-! He-! Oh, you're just amazing!"

"The greatest!" agreed Keine.

Reimu and Keine hugged each other and whooped with joy. Reisen, the captain, the tactical officer and the chap with green hair wept over the poor wing commander.

"Eirin… H-how could you do this?!" spat Tsukiyomi. "I am trying… To save my lost children from… I hate you…!"

Eirin rolled her eyes. "Sure you do. Where is Kaguya?!"

Tsukiyomi spat in her face.

Eirin wiped the saliva away with her plait. "Fine, be that way. I imagine she'll be stuffed inside a cupboard somewhere, or an old sea chest…"

Keine gasped. "A cupboard! Eirin, look! In there!" She pointed to a rectangular metal cupboard that was spiralling slowly through the void. Tsukiyomi took one look at it and put his head in his hands.

"I.. I don't believe it! The broom cupboard survived without a scratch!" Eirin drifted towards the battered metal cupboard. "Reimu! Orb, please!"

Reimu blinked. "Orb? Um… What about this?" She withdrew a small hammer from inside her bloomers and passed it to Eirin. "I do trust you, it's just that, you see…"

"Don't worry about it." Eirin drew back her arm and started bashing away at the lock.

After a few good thumps, Kaguya burst out of the cupboard in a clatter of brooms and mops with a bucket wedged firmly over her shoe. She flopped into Eirin's arms. "Eirin! Oh, Eirin! You came for… For me… Uwaaaaaaah!" she wailed, hugging her as if she was never going to let go.

"Oh, Kaguya! My darling, thank heavens they didn't hurt you!" Weeping with joy, Eirin squeezed Kaguya and nuzzled her cheek. "Unless they did hurt you, which I wouldn't know if you'd healed already. Anwyay, you're safe now. I've got you."

"But… What about…?"

"Tsukiyomi may be the god of the Moon, but even a god fears his old schoolmistress!" smiled Eirin.

Keine laughed. "Especially if she's a goddess herself!"

"Oh, Eirin…" sniffled Kaguya, burying her face in the pharmacist's shoulder. "I-I'm so glad… I couldn't bear to go back to that awful place. Thank you! Thank you so much! Oh, but when is this even going to end?" She reluctantly pulled free of the embrace, eyes wide with fear. "Are they just going to keep hounding us until the world finally comes to an end, and there's nothing left for us but an empty universe?!"

"They won't get the satisfaction. In Gensokyo, we stick together no matter what!" Reimu glared at Tsukiyomi. "Eirin, do you keep in touch with the other gods?"

"What?" Eirin blinked. "Um, yes, sometimes."

"Good. I think it's time we had a word with his sister."