Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

"How... how do you know?" Touka Kirishima asked, her beautiful eyes widening in shock, her words faltering.

"Did you really think I'm an idiot, Touka?" Kaguya sighed and shrugged. "With such a strong scent of coffee clinging to you, how could I not notice?"

Touka clutched her chest and took a few steps back, her flushed face hidden behind her rabbit mask. "Idiot! Pervert!" she shouted.

It was then that Touka realized she had regained control of her body. She could move again, and her senses had fully returned. But for some reason, she didn't want to run away anymore.

After all, Kaguya already knew her true identity. Escaping wouldn't change that. And strangely, seeing Kaguya's radiant smile made her feel oddly relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It felt like being back at Anteiku, during simpler times.

"Ahem, don't sweat the small details," Kaguya said with an awkward laugh. "By the way, sorry about earlier. I was just joking around. Don't take it seriously."

"Joking?" Touka puffed her cheeks in anger. "You did something that excessive, and you're calling it a joke?"

"Well, who told you to come after me without understanding the situation first?" Kaguya shrugged, feigning innocence. "Don't you think I was pretty restrained under the circumstances?"

Touka hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words. It was true. She had come to kill Kaguya, and her actions reflected that intent.

For a moment, an awkward silence hung between them. Neither spoke, both uncertain what to say now that their identities were exposed. One was a ghoul; the other, a supposed enemy.

"What do you really want?" Touka asked, pursing her lips and lifting her head. Her voice was steady and serious. "If you have any plans to hurt the people I care about, even if you let me go now, I won't forgive you."

"Hah." Kaguya scratched her head, exasperated. "Is that what you think of me? Am I really that despicable in your eyes?"

"Aren't you?" Touka huffed, her tone sharp.

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think?" Kaguya said, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "I'm really not who you think I am, and I'm not as scheming as you imagine. I have something to talk to you about. Come with me. This isn't the place for it."

The noise from their earlier fight had likely disturbed the quiet night, and there was a good chance someone had already called the authorities. It wouldn't be long before investigators arrived, making this an unsuitable place for a conversation.

Kaguya extended a hand toward Touka, who flinched slightly but didn't resist as her hand was gently grasped. She turned her head away, biting her lip, but didn't pull away.

They walked together down the quiet street. With the bustling city silenced, a peaceful stillness settled over the surroundings. Kaguya led her to a nearby park, its dim lighting casting a faint glow over the empty grounds. Fallen autumn leaves swirled in the air before landing softly on the ground.

Kaguya stopped near a bench and gestured for Touka to sit beside her.

"What I want to talk about," Kaguya began, her gaze fixed on the clouded sky, "is something I've already mentioned before. Do you really think humans and ghouls can never coexist?"

"Isn't that the case?" Touka turned her head away, her voice quiet. "Humans and ghouls... They're enemies. Always have been. That's how it is. And even if you want to change it, it's impossible."

"Why so pessimistic? That's not like you," Kaguya said with a gentle smile.

"Some things can't be changed just because you want to change them," Touka replied, lowering her head. Her fingers twisted nervously together. "In truth, ghouls... we only exist because we have no choice. We can't be anything else."

Kaguya didn't respond immediately. Instead, she reached out and hooked her finger under the edge of Touka's rabbit mask. Touka flinched but didn't resist as Kaguya gently lifted it away, revealing a sharp yet delicate face tinged with youthful determination. Despite her strength, Touka's expression betrayed her age—still a teenager, carrying burdens too heavy for her years.

Perhaps every ghoul bore their own hidden sorrows.

Kaguya studied Touka's face intently, her gaze lingering until Touka's cheeks flushed. Just as Touka was about to lash out in embarrassment, Kaguya smiled and said, "I don't see how you're any different from a human."

Touka blinked, momentarily stunned into silence.

"In my opinion," Kaguya began with a casual smile, "ghouls and humans aren't all that different. They have feelings, emotions, desires—everything that makes someone human. The only real difference is their unique diet."

"Do you... do you really think that?" Touka asked hesitantly.

"Of course," Kaguya replied, her smile unwavering. "If there's a difference, it's just that their food preferences are a bit more... unconventional."

"Hmph, that's easy for you to say." Touka turned her head away, annoyed.

"To be honest, you might not believe this," Kaguya continued with a light laugh, "but I'm a ghoul too."

"A ghoul?" Touka's voice rose in disbelief. She narrowed her eyes at Kaguya. "You? A ghoul?"

"Is there a problem with that?" Kaguya asked, her tone teasing.

"You're not trying to trick me, are you?" Touka frowned, irritation creeping into her voice. "Do you take me for an idiot?"

"If you don't believe me, see for yourself," Kaguya said with a shrug.

Touka hesitated, watching as Kaguya's confident demeanor remained unshaken. Then, to her surprise, Kaguya's eyes began to change. The black and white clarity of her pupils faded, transforming into an otherworldly crystal-clear white, shimmering like water or stars. The eyes radiated a mesmerizing, dreamlike glow that seemed to pull Touka in.

"This is..." Touka stammered, her voice shaky.

"This is my kakugan," Kaguya explained softly. "Though it seems a bit different from others'. And there's this."

As she spoke, scarlet tendrils resembling tails emerged from her back, radiating an eerie, vibrant glow. They swayed with a life of their own, unmistakably a rinkaku kagune.

"Now do you believe me?" Kaguya asked.

If Kaguya had tried to convince Touka of her ghoul identity without showing proof, Touka likely would have remained skeptical. After all, the relationship between humans and ghouls was built on distrust and fear. But seeing Kaguya's kakugan and kagune with her own eyes dissolved those doubts.

Touka let out a long breath, relief washing over her. Her previously tense expression softened, and a radiant smile lit up her delicate features. She playfully punched Kaguya's arm, her tone light and teasing. "You should've told me you were a ghoul from the start! I wouldn't have been so suspicious of you."

She seemed genuinely cheerful now, her earlier heaviness lifted.

"How could I?" Kaguya replied, feigning exasperation. "You came at me swinging before I could even say a word. I figured I'd explain later when the timing was better."

"That's your fault for hiding it in the first place," Touka huffed with a small smile.

Kaguya cleared her throat, her expression suddenly serious. "Uh, there's something else. I'm not sure how to bring it up, but..."

"What is it?" Touka asked, tilting her head.

"Well, it might not be the best time to mention this," Kaguya said, pointing at Touka's chest, "but... aren't you feeling a bit cold?"

Touka followed Kaguya's gaze and froze. Her face turned bright red.

Somehow, during their earlier intense fight, the front of her shirt had been burned away by Amaterasu and torn in places. Her innerwear had been pushed up, leaving her chest almost completely exposed. In the dim park lights, The radiant curves of her skin glowed faintly, and the rosy peaks of her chest were subtly visible.

"Ah! Ahhh!" Touka screamed, scrambling to cover herself.

...

...

"What a stingy person. If I'd known, I wouldn't have told her," Kaguya muttered as she walked home, her clear, fair face bearing a distinct red handprint.

Her original plan had been to head to Anteiku for a free meal to solve her growing hunger problem. After all, she was completely broke and couldn't afford even a simple meal. Who would have thought Touka Kirishima, with her independent and headstrong personality, would react so bashfully? Touka had smacked her squarely across the face and then fled, leaving Kaguya standing dumbfounded in the park for ages.

"Seriously, we're both girls. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"Has she never been around another girl before?"

It wasn't entirely impossible. As a ghoul, Touka's interactions with others were limited, especially with humans. Most of her relationships were built on a delicate balance of secrecy and survival. Being reserved and easily embarrassed was entirely plausible under such circumstances.

Most people, if they rarely interacted with others, would naturally feel self-conscious about exposing themselves—even to friends. Of course, perverts were a different matter entirely.

Kaguya sighed as she continued her walk, feeling increasingly famished. Her expression turned serious as she pondered: Where else can I find someone to mooch food off of?

...

In a dark, foreboding room filled with an oppressive atmosphere:

"You've done well. The blood samples you extracted are of immense value to the organization," a cloaked figure rasped, their voice hoarse and grating. "The organization will properly reward your contributions."

"It is my greatest honor to serve the organization," replied a masked man, bowing respectfully.

The cloaked figure turned, their presence ominous. "However, these blood samples are far too few. They're nowhere near sufficient."

"My apologies," the masked man said, bowing slightly deeper. "The target is no ordinary individual. Acquiring even these samples was a stroke of luck."

"Your assignment has changed," the cloaked figure announced. "You are no longer responsible for the 20th Ward. Your sole mission now is to obtain more of that individual's blood. As much as possible. If you can, bring her back alive."

"Understood, my lord. I will do my best."

"Not 'your best.' You must succeed. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good. Dismissed."

As the masked man exited the room, a mocking smirk crept across his face, filled with disdain. The dim lighting revealed the mask's design: a sinister, grinning clown face.

...

The next morning, the sun rose slowly over the horizon, its warm rays banishing the cold of the night. Golden sunlight bathed the land as autumn leaves danced in the crisp breeze, spiraling down from branches already bare. The ground was carpeted with a thick layer of fallen, yellowed foliage.

Kaguya dragged herself into her office, yawning with exhaustion. She had eaten nothing the night before, and now her stomach burned with hunger, a gnawing ache that refused to relent. For the first time, Kaguya truly understood the pure bliss of having a full belly.

Amon Koutarou paused upon seeing Kaguya's state. He walked over and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

"Nothing," Kaguya mumbled, slumped over her desk, listless.

She was simply starving to death.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Amon leaned closer, his worry evident. "If you're not feeling well, don't push yourself. It's bad for your health."

Kaguya abruptly sat up, slapping the desk. "You're so annoying!"

Amon stiffened, taken aback by her sharp tone.

Suddenly, Kaguya's nose twitched as if she had caught a whiff of something delicious. Her eyes followed the scent to a sandwich sitting on the table. Her eyes lit up instantly.

Amon noticed her gaze and quickly understood. Picking up the sandwich, he handed it to her with a smile. "You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Here, take this."

"This is for me?" Kaguya's eyes widened with delight. "Really?"

"Of course," Amon said warmly.

"Thank you! You're such a good person!" Kaguya exclaimed, eagerly grabbing the sandwich and devouring it ravenously.

Amon was speechless. This person who had just told him he was annoying now called him a "good person" in the blink of an eye. The sudden shift was whiplash-inducing.

For some reason, though, he found her oddly endearing at that moment. Especially the way she sucked her fingers after finishing the sandwich—it exuded an innocent, youthful vitality.

If only she treated me kindly more often, Amon thought wistfully, before shaking his head to dispel such idle fantasies.

He had his own goals to focus on—there was no time for frivolous distractions.

Amon, being a man with a considerable appetite due to his size, typically ate larger portions than most. Thus, the sandwich he'd brought was a bit bigger than usual. Yet even a larger sandwich was no match for Kaguya, who devoured it in just a few swift bites.

Turning back to Amon, Kaguya tilted her head and asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you having some kind of seizure?"

Amon froze at her words, his mouth twitching. And there it is. She really can't stay adorable for long.

...

The Tsukiyama Family Manor was a grand estate perched precariously atop a seaside cliff. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean, the manor featured a towering structure that dominated the landscape.

Ghouls often operated in secrecy, hiding their existence from human authorities like the CCG. The remote and inaccessible location of the manor ensured it stayed off the radar. Even satellite maps struggled to pinpoint its exact location, a testament to the family's caution and ingenuity.

When Kaguya and her team arrived at the manor, they were struck by its striking architecture and isolated beauty. The high cliffs and crashing waves below created an air of both majesty and peril. This was clearly the stronghold of the notorious Tsukiyama family.

"Well, no wonder the CCG had trouble finding this place," Kaguya muttered, taking in the sheer scale of the estate. "Hidden in plain sight. But now that we're here, their little secret won't stay hidden much longer."

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