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The midsummer sun blazed down onto the golden beach. The sand, baked under the sun’s rays, burned to touch. Still, undeterred, they continued their way along down the peninsula, barefoot, shoes slung over their shoulders, and hand in hand.
It was going on past noon, meaning the event would be starting soon. Very soon. It made Kaguya’s insides twist. She felt the cloud of doom that had been hovering over her head all day darken. She wanted the ocean to rise up and swallow her whole. She wanted to be taken away from this dreadful place.
Eirin felt something was amiss and glanced down at Kaguya.
“Is everything ok?” She asked in her very best English.
“Yeah.” Kaguya responded back, again in English. She forced a smile.
It felt so weird speaking the language, and yet she had been the one who insisted on it. She didn’t want to stand out where they didn’t have to. Americans had been so jumpy at the thought of foreigners recently. It would be better not to give them any ammunition.
A singular cloud blotted out the sun for a few brief moments, and Kaguya felt her skin cool a bit in the instant of shade. She took in a deep breath and looked away from Eirin, instead she turned out onto the water. It wasn’t the prettiest beach she had ever seen, the water wasn’t crystal clear, the sand wasn’t glittering, it was far too crowded for her liking. This could have been any other beach. This should have been any other beach. This should have been any other day, but it wasn’t. It was July 16th 1969. Today was the day they did it. Today the humans were headed for the moon.
Eirin and Kaguya had made the decision to witness the launch firsthand. For what? Nostalgia, protectiveness, fear, something else? They didn’t know why. But, two airplane tickets later and they were here. Cape Canaveral, Florida.
In only thirty minutes, the humans would be on their way out of the atmosphere and barreling clumsily towards their home world.
They didn’t know how the Lunarians would react, that was the scariest part. Would they launch a full out attack? Would they even care? Would they try once again to take Kaguya back with them, kicking and screaming and crying out for Eirin? Would they-
Kaguya felt Eirin’s hand give hers a squeeze, pulling her out of her fantasies of damnation.
Kaguya took a deep breath in and glanced up at Eirin. She forced another smile. Eirin held her hand tight in her own, almost so tightly it hurt. But it was what Kaguya needed, she needed to be grounded- not to this moment, not to this planet, but she needed to be grounded to her Eirin.
“Kaguya,” Eirin began as she ran one finger over Kaguya’s thumb, “You’ve lost yourself in your thoughts again.”
“I know… Sorry…”
“Don’t apologize for your anxieties, love.” Eirin said. She gave Kaguya a small reassuring smile.
Eirin then turned and glanced around for a moment before turning back to Kaguya.
“Let’s find a place to sit. I think a moment to cool off would do us both good.” Eirin said.
They made their way away from the water’s edge back onto the burning hot sand.
Kaguya’s yellow sundress swirled around her as a gust of wind came billowing from off the waves. It felt nice. One small reprieve brought her out of her swimmings in her anxieties for the moment. She now instead focused on Eirin leading them in search of an empty spot to set up.
It was more difficult than she’d anticipated. Due to the crowds, finding that spot took quite some time. By the time they managed to set out their blanket and umbrella it was nearly time for the launch to begin.
Still, they were sandwiched close between flanking American families who jabbered on excitedly about the event.
Because of this, Kaguya was unable to comfortably cuddle up in Eirin’s arms like she so desperately needed to. These Americans would think it was too strange.
Still, Eirin never let go of Kaguya’s hand. And for right now, that would have to be enough.
They sat in silence for a long while, looking out over the ocean. Just across the way, on a further peninsula, any minute Apollo 11 would launch from the base, forever changing the history of not only Earth, but of the moon.
“Kaguya,” Eirin began before Kaguya could let herself get lost in her thoughts again.
“Yes?”
“You know, this wasn’t my ideal vacation destination, but still, I’m enjoying myself.” Eirin said.
“You are?” Kaguya asked, slightly taken aback.
“I am.” Eirin smiled. She lowered her voice a bit and began speaking in Japanese once again, “You look so adorable in that sundress, it makes up for this awful situation.”
Kaguya laughed a high laugh that echoed across the beach. The neighboring families glanced annoyedly at her for a second before turning back to their own doings.
“I know you’re just trying to comfort me.” Kaguya said.
“Then let me comfort you, love.” Eirin said back, still speaking in a hushed tone.
“I don’t need comforting. I need to see this. I need to know it’s real.”
“Mmm…” Eirin closed her eyes and sighed through her nose. “I know what you mean. It all feels like a dream doesn’t it. It feels like no time at all, but now look how fast humans are developing. I never thought they’d actually make it to the moon.” Eirin opened her eyes again and looked down at their hands. She intertwined her fingers with Kaguya’s.
“You didn’t?” Kaguya said with a snort.
“You did?” Eirin asked, serious now.
“I wasn’t sure…” Kaguya said looking down at their fingers now as well. “But, I hoped they never would. I want to be cut off from that dreadful place forever.” Kaguya admitted.
Eirin gave her a sad smile, “Maybe I can look into that later.”
“Do you think you could do it? Cut us off from them forever?”
“Maybe.” Eirin said looking back up at Kaguya, her pale eyes burned with something Kaguya didn’t have a name for. “But I’d do it for you. I’d do it for us.”
“I know you would.” Kaguya said.
Eirin smiled a true smile this time. She leaned in to kiss Kaguya, caught herself, then simply planted a peck on Kaguya’s cheek.
Kaguya laughed, “You’re so obvious.” she said in Japanese. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t hide how in love they were.
“I don’t care.” Eirin said, leaning in once again to peck Kaguya’s other cheek. “Take these kisses as a promise. I’ll find a way to protect you.”
“Eirin,” Kaguya sighed, “How many times have you said that? I know you will. I know.”
“I know you know.” Eirin said with a coy smile, “But,” she lowered her voice down to almost a whisper, “Maybe I just wanted to kiss you.”
“Oh.” Kaguya smiled and looked away blushing. “Then make all the promises you’d like.”
Kaguya heard Eirin laugh for a moment before she was cut off by chanting.
It took them a moment to process what it was, but then they heard it. It was counting. The crowd here, and crowds around the world, were counting down. The launch was beginning
“NINE!”
Kaguya looked at Eirin, she could feel her eyes beginning to well up.
“EIGHT!”
Eirin placed one hand on Kaguyas cheek.
“SEVEN!”
The dam broke, Kaguya began crying.
“SIX!”
Eirin wiped away Kaguya’s tears as she herself began to cry.
“FIVE!”
They smiled a teary smile at each other.
“FOUR!”
Over the chanting, Eirin said “I love you.”
“THREE!”
Kaguya responded with, “I love you too.”
“TWO!”
“Always.” Kaguya said.
“ONE!”
“No matter what.” Eirin said.
There was a sound like an explosion, so loud they could hear it in the distance.
They looked over across the water and saw a billowing of smoke and fire. The rocket lifted off.
Kaguya and Eirin pulled each other closer and wrapped themselves in an embrace. Kaguya felt Eirin nuzzle her face into her shoulder. She felt Eirin’s entire body quake with sobs. Kaguya completely broke at that moment and began to sob as well.
Fireworks shot up and blazed in the afternoon’s sky as the families all around them jumped up and cheered.
Kaguya and Eirin held each other close as Earth celebrated.