"My Lady what a pleasant surprise!" I walked into the palace with a smile. Of course they couldn't see it, the dark veil covered everything from my collarbone up. It honestly looked a bit strange if others didn't know me. The crown on my head looked like the roof of a silver pagoda in a way with its swirling turrets around my head. The actual see through veil attached to the front was blue but enchanted to where no one could see beneath it. My ornately styled hair was held up with crystal pins and blue gems.

"Chamberlain, I've come to see my father." I requested. Tsukiyomi was the guardian of the moon. He also happened to be dear old dad. The man in question was part of the Jade Emperors court so most of the time he was at the palace. I moved forward making the long chandelier crystal earrings I wore jingle in impatience.

"Of course Lady Kaguya, this way." The chamberlain was a rather plain looking man as far as heavens standards though to the eyes of a human he would have been handsome. He had long brown hair tied back in a bun behind his head and a set of wide set gray eyes. His robes were a solid red with golden sash and adornments. As we walked down the halls the people on either side of the walkway whispered. I was famous here, a goddess of renown not only for my mystery but also for my beauty. At the age of fourteen I had been forced to wear this headdress to hide my face from the world. We hurried into the main chambers where many were walking about in service to their masters. Here the Bodhisattva worked their wonders upon mortals below and the Emperor himself ran the heavens.

"Over here my lady." I had gotten so distracted that I'd lost track of the chamberlain. He was standing to my left, motioning for me to follow him down yet another glittering hallway. I walked after him, the silk of my kimono leaving waves of the cloth in my wake. We came to a great door on which my companion knocked.

"Come in." The voice of my father penetrated the red painted wood. The chamberlain pushed the ornate doors inward to reveal the large office of Tsukiyomi. The man in question was sitting behind a beautiful golden desk filling out paperwork.

"Father, I have come as you requested." I bowed before him. He rose from his desk, his white robes billowing behind him as he came to wrap me in his embrace. The chamberlain bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

"My child, I have decided something very important of your future. Tell me daughter, have you not been pushing me for more freedom?" He asked me. I nodded in agreement.

"Yes I have, are you going to give me that freedom?" I asked. Tsukiyomi chuckled.

"Of course my child. It was always your choice of whom you should show your face to but I'd like to give you another choice. You are no longer young by the standards of heaven and though it isn't required I'd like you to take a husband of your choosing." A husband? And I could really choose?

"Oh thank you father! I truly appreciate this chance!"I brought him into a hug once more to prove my gratitude. He returned the gesture.

"But this choice has a shelf life. Because of how desirable you are I wish nothing more than to protect you from those who might wish you ill or even the gentry of heaven in general. I'll give you a year to find someone suitable." It was a short while but I'd try my best. No doubt if I didn't choose then father would choose for me. That wouldn't be so bad but he was a bit naiive when it came to his superiors. I feared he'd allow the highest ranking member of the court who asked my hand to have me. These men were much older and wiser with appetites I had not yet been exposed to no doubt. No, I'd choose before the time ended.

!

!

!

"Kanzeon!" After leaving my father I had gone to the palace home of my most beloved mentor, the goddess of love and mercy, Kanzeon Bosatsu.

"Ah my little tsuru, what brings you to my side?" She asked. I had caught her in the floating gardens, a place of peace and rest. Her hands were in the pool of vision, a large pond that showed the world below. There were even lotus blooms on its surface as far as the eye could see. I was told they were pillars of life that reached down to the mortals.

"I can really do it! I can take a husband." I pulled up my veil and smiled happily. Few were allowed to see my true face and Kanzeon was one of these. When she saw my trusting gaze her eyes sparkled.

"So he has decided to allow you the protection of marriage. Smart of him though I would have thought he'd have figured out it was a good idea earlier." She mumbled the last part but I still caught it. Let me be clear here. I was happy to choose a husband for two reasons. The first was so that I'd stop getting annoyed by the men who had heard of my rumored beauty. I could defend myself it was just frustrating and if I married someone of the high court I'd be mostly left alone. Then there was my own emotional needs. I'd always loved deeply and when I saw couples walk about so happy...well I wanted that happiness. I was an isolated child so the only person I had was my father for some time. After a time I found Kanzeon who also shared my rare affection. Now I wanted a love that ran deeper than that, one of non familial ties. Perhaps this was my chance.

"Perhaps you might help me, I trust your judgment of men." I told her. She seemed thoughtful for a moment.

"In my opinion sweety you're screwed no matter who you choose. Every man has his baggage." She said. I frowned.

"I did not ask of the men with little to no baggage Kanzeon. I am no fool, I simply want someone who will love me as I love them. I'm asking for a challenge. Those who hide the loudest love the deepest." The woman laughed. I'd never had a veil cast over my idea of people in general. In my isolation I had not only read but I'd watched.

"Well then I have a few." She turned on me, the golden hoops hanging from her ears making a rather nice sound. She flicked her thick wavy black ponytail over her ear and motioned for me to follow her. I pulled the veil down over my face and watched as her hips swayed from side to side. Among all the gods she...well wasn't really modest. Her long gown was see through minus the great brand of the sun sitting between her breasts. I was surprised she didn't let her dick hang out either...did I mention she was a hermaphrodite? Well she was pretty good at hiding it even if pretty much everyone knew. I was told that she identified as female mostly and had a sexual drive for men. I shook my head, I needed to stop thinking about it.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"A council meeting. You want a highborn I'll point you to the biggest assholes at the table." I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my red lips. She knew me so well. I was willing to take a lot of pain for a true love, one that could transcend lifetimes. We turned a corner and there stood a few men...arguing. They were certainly handsome and by the grin on my mentors face I figured they weren't people she disapproved of. The first was a man with short black hair and dark eyes. He wore a military coat with nothing beneath and baggy navy pants. The coat was embroidered in gold but seemed simple enough.

The second man had longer dark brown hair and emerald green eyes covered by square spectacles. He looked like a doctor with that long sleeved white coat but I knew better. There were few in heaven who wore glasses and this man was considered famous. His underclothes were generally plain, a dark shirt and khaki pants.

It was the third and final person though who gained my attention. He was wearing official high collared white robes with a silver necklace that housed rather large beads. His arms were covered by arm warmers that reached over his biceps and ended in golden bands. Hair the color of the sun ran down his back in a long thin ponytail and his violet eyes made him look like a risen demon. Of course all these men had the chakra on their foreheads to signify their closeness to heaven. We approached them and Kanzeon bowed. The short haired one made to leave until he caught sight of me.

"Well hello there dearest nephew, General, Marshal. I was just showing my newest attendant around the palace." She'd pay for that. Yet she was like my sister. If she told me to cut my wrist I'd do it simply because I knew she'd never do something for no reason. Her knowledge and plans far exceeded what happened in just a moment.

"Ah, the young woman with the veil. I've heard of you. My name is Field Marshal Tenpou Gensui." The man with glasses bowed. I returned the gesture making the silver of my adornments glimmer in the light.

"I have heard of you as well Marshal Tenpou. It is a pleasure." I watched him through the veil and saw something strange behind that jovial smile. He surely deserved his title with a hidden gaze like that.

"You're Kaguya right? Tsukiyomi's daughter?" The man with short hair asked. He had a cigarette held between his fingers. Such vices of the mortal world. He probably drank and engaged in a lot of sex too. Men of war could be like this more often than not.

"Yes and you are?" I let a bit of my real sarcastic nature through. He seemed to approve of this and a grin appeared on his face.

"General Kenren Taishou at your service." A ladies man indeed. I bowed to him as well but not as low.

"And this quiet fellow is my beloved nephew Konzen Douji." Kanzeon took the blond into her embrace. He growled and pushed himself away. He obviously didn't care to meet me but something about him sparked my interest.

"A pleasure I'm sure." I bowed the lowest to him but he simply grunted in response.

"Well, I'm sure you three have better things to do. Come along Kaguya, we have some more places to visit." Kanzeon waved to the men and pulled me away. It was a quick exchange but I could tell by the silence that these three men were her choices. For the rest of the day she did show me where I would be staying using the excuse of being close to the men I would supposedly marry. She said nothing of the three all day but I could feel from her all the things she did not say. If I wanted a challenge, a love that transcended physical form, I'd choose one of the men I'd met today. It would take time but I knew the right one would emerge with time.