In the Bamboo Forest

Night fell over Heian-kyo, deep within the bamboo groves near Mount Inari.

Ethereal moonlight spilled into the serene emerald forest. A gentle evening breeze stirred the stalks, sending a deep, lonely rustle through the shadows.

Having shed her male disguise, Kaguya walked through the grove clad in a simple, elegant hitoe. The cold moonlight clung to her figure, casting sparse shadows amidst the lingering fragrance of the bamboo. The peerless beauty of the Princess of the Bamboo Cutter was fully revealed in this moment.

"So this is the bamboo forest of Heian-kyo? Not bad..." Kaguya murmured softly. She was taking a leisurely stroll after dinner to clear her head of recent troubles.

The riddle set by that other Princess Kaguya had been weighing on her and Eirin for several days. It was clear that the 'Elixir of Immortality' mentioned in the challenge referred to the Hourai Elixir. The fact that the other princess had specified this suggested she likely knew Kaguya’s origins and was using the riddle as a probe.

How had Princess Kaguya sensed her uniqueness? To what extent did she understand her? Did she already know everything about the Lunar Capital and the People of Hourai? What was she trying to learn from this test?

These questions had consumed Kaguya and Eirin lately. The direct mention of the elixir had certainly caught Kaguya off guard. While Eirin was currently back at their residence devising a counter-strategy, Kaguya had taken the opportunity to wander the outskirts of Heian-kyo to relax, eventually finding herself here.

Treading upon fallen leaves and soft grass, Kaguya paced slowly through the quiet grove. Suddenly, she noticed the bamboo thinning ahead, opening into a relatively wide clearing. Standing in the center of that space was a familiar figure.

'It’s her...'

Clad in splendid robes with hair as white as snow, wearing a fan and a tate-eboshi, the Fujiwara noble she had recently encountered at Kiyomizu-dera stood there. She was gazing deep into the forest with a profound, pensive expression, lost in thought.

Kaguya’s expression flickered with surprise. Sensing an intruder, Mokou suddenly turned around. When she saw Kaguya in her female attire, she froze for a moment, her expression tightening.

"It’s you... What are you doing here?" Mokou asked, her voice tinged with a certain gravity.

Kaguya, hearing the tone, puffed out her chest defiantly and responded with little warmth. "And why shouldn't I be here? Is the Fujiwara Clan so powerful that even this bamboo forest belongs to your family?"

Mokou opened her mouth to retort, but her current mood sapped her desire for an argument. She simply let out a long sigh.

"This place belongs to no one. Do as you please..."

Kaguya was surprised by the response. From their encounter at Kiyomizu-dera, she had pegged this Fujiwara noble as an arrogant and overbearing sort. Why wasn't she biting back now? Had something happened to dampen her spirit?

Suddenly, Kaguya remembered the riddles Princess Kaguya had given to the suitors. The one for this Fujiwara tomboy was specifically related to bamboo, and here they were in a bamboo forest... Realizing this, a strange, knowing smile played on Kaguya's lips.

"Hey, you're not in this forest looking for that Spiritual Bamboo from your riddle, are you? If so, I’d advise you not to waste your breath. A plant like that would only grow in a treasure land overflowing with spiritual energy. This forest is average at best; it’s impossible for such a thing to grow here. Don't waste your energy. I’m shocked someone from the Fujiwara Clan couldn't even see that... Tsk, tsk."

Kaguya spoke with a mocking lilt, but Mokou only gave her a flat look.

"I know the Spiritual Bamboo isn't here. I even know where it actually is... I'm not here to search," Mokou said slowly.

Kaguya blinked in surprise. "Then what are you doing here? Why the long face?"

"Just thinking about things..."

"Things?" Kaguya’s confusion deepened. She instinctively felt that the Fujiwara girl before her seemed more somber than before, as if she were carrying a heavy burden on her heart.

Perhaps it wasn't the best time to pick a fight. Thinking this, Kaguya decided to leave her alone and began to turn away. However, Mokou suddenly turned back to her and spoke with a calm gaze.

"Since we've met again tonight, I suppose it’s fate. I want to ask you a question. Will you answer it for me?"

"A question? What kind of question?" Kaguya asked, puzzled. She didn't know why the other girl was suddenly asking for her opinion, but she didn't refuse.

"As you know, my riddle involves a person who planted a piece of Spiritual Bamboo for the sake of revenge. But once the bamboo grew to be magnificent and beautiful, the person became conflicted about whether to cut it down to forge a weapon... I want to ask you, if you were that Bamboo Planter, what would you choose?" Mokou asked solemnly.

Kaguya answered without a second thought. "Is that even a question? I’d choose the bamboo, obviously. What’s the point of cutting down such a beautiful thing just to make a weapon?"

"What's the point...? Revenge, of course."

"Revenge? Sacrificing a precious thing right in front of you for something as boring as that?" Kaguya spread her hands, speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "After the revenge is over, what does that person have left besides the loss of their precious bamboo? Nothing at all..."

Mokou nodded thoughtfully and continued, "What if the hatred is so immense that it’s impossible to let go?"

"So what? No matter how great the hatred, it belongs to the past. Only a fool would sacrifice everything precious in the present for the sake of the past. If that Bamboo Planter doesn't want to spend the rest of their life in a regret more agonizing than hatred, they had better think clearly..."

Kaguya’s lips curled into a small smile. She raised a finger toward Mokou.

"Even the deepest hatred fades and vanishes under the wash of time. But precious things, once lost, may never return. Time moves forward; everyone should cherish what they have now."

After hearing Kaguya’s words, Mokou stood frozen in silence. She looked up at the bright moon in the sky, her expression vacant. After a long moment, she let out a soft breath and turned her gaze back to Kaguya.

"Thank you for your answer... It was very helpful."

"Heh, so you do know how to say thank you. I suppose not everyone in the Fujiwara Clan is beyond saving... Fine, stay here and ponder your life. I’m leaving."

As Kaguya turned to walk away, Mokou’s eyes flickered with a strange light.

"Why did you dress as a man to participate in Princess Kaguya's Marriage Selection?"

"Aren't you a woman too?" Kaguya shot back without looking back.

Mokou watched Kaguya’s receding figure and spoke one last time. "You are beautiful. You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. To be honest, your beauty reminds me of someone."

"Who?" Kaguya stopped and glanced back over her shoulder.

"An enemy. An enemy I have never met, but whom I hate with all my heart. Rumor has it she possesses a beauty just like yours," Mokou said slowly.

Kaguya simply waved a hand and continued walking.

"Is that so? Well, I wish you luck in finding that enemy and settling your grudge soon."