Story:

"Well done, my flowers," Bel purred. "Truly, well done. Such value—such devotion. You have provided me the passage to gain access to the mortal world far sooner than any of my brothers dreamed possible. A month of your hunger, and an eternity of my gratitude."

Even frightened, even sprawled at his feet—the twins fought back the only way left to them. With words.

Ai raised her chin, wet hair plastered to her face, eyes blazing through her exhaustion.

"The shrine will destroy you. You've come through into the Yamato Shrine's own grounds, you fool—the entire shrine, every miko, every elder, every guardian will stand together—"

"The mountain itself will bury you," Mai spat beside her. "You've walked into a holy land—"

Bel laughed.

He laughed long and loud, madness ringing off the shattered stone, echoing through the chamber and up through the falls—drowning even the roar of the water.

"Oh, my flowers," he said, wiping an elegant tear from one ancient eye. "That's precisely the fun part."

And when his mirth subsided, he gazed down at the twins beneath him with something far worse than hatred in his ancient eyes: fondness.

"I do like these two, Yoshiro," he mused. "Even defeated, they bark at their master." His smile widened.

"Why ever would I destroy what delights me so?"