Mayu entered the apartment she shared with her younger sister. Eight years had passed since their escape from All Gods Village. Since then, Mio had grown accustomed to her lack of vision. In each room, a symbol resembling those etched in the camera obscura had been drawn on the walls. In the unforeseen event a spirit followed them from the woods, it would automatically be exorcised.
"Mio, I'm home!" the elder Amakura called out.
"I'm in here." Mio replied tenderly.
Mayu placed the groceries on the kitchen counter. She strolled toward the bedroom where her sister was waiting. Despite the bandage covering her eyes, Mio heard her twin's approaching footsteps.
"How are you feeling?" Mayu asked out of concern.
"It burns a little." Mio admitted.
Mayu sat next to her sister, reflecting on their teen years and the aftermath that followed. Neither told a soul of the nightmare they endured. It seemed so long ago now...
"...I'm sorry..." Mayu apologized.
"For what?"
"For everything. This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so selfish."
"Don't say that. I went back for you because I wanted to."
"I know you feel like you have to say that, but..."
"It's true. I can prove it."
"Huh?"
"Do you remember the tunnel I found leading out of the village?"
"The one Sae and Yae used?"
"I could've escaped on my own after you disappeared, so why didn't I...?"
"Because of our promise..."
"Together forever..."
"..."
"Please don't look away."
"How did you-"
Mio raised a finger to her sister's lips. Slowly, she removed the blindfold from her eyes.
"Do you remember when we were little? Grandma used to tell us stories about sight beyond the physical realm. She called it the third eye."
"Mio...Can you see me...!?"
"I think that's what Seijiro meant when he wrote about linking with spirits. When I gazed into hell, I must've inherited their powers."
"I get it now. You weren't scared because you trusted your experiences to show you the way."
"It's ironic. When my eyes worked, I was so blind I couldn't see you were guiding me all along."
"I was...?"
"Sae only saw me as an extension of Yae. What she couldn't understand was, we aren't them. We're our own people with our own ideals. I couldn't spend one more day in this world without you..."
"Mio..."
"Take me to the cliff."
Mayu nodded.
"Mm..."
Far beyond the hustle and bustle of the city, Mio and Mayu watched the ocean in silence. The waves crashed into the stone wall of the cliff, unleashing a flurry of calming white noise. The wind blew across their skin, cooling them to a point where they could relax, think, and reflect.
"Mayu...?"
"Yes?"
"There's something I've wanted to say for a long time, but I was never sure how to put it into words."
"What is it?"
"I don't need to see to know how precious you are. Ever since your accident when we were little, I've felt overwhelmed with guilt for letting it happen. I don't want to feel that way anymore."
Mio wrapped a hand around Mayu's head, pulling her close.
"Pease, kiss me."
"Mio...I can't...!"
"We're condemned no matter what we do. There's no point in concerning ourselves with social taboos anymore."
"I know, but...I'm scared..."
Mio leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Mayu's.
"Don't worry. I'll be here every step of the way."
Mayu held her sister's hand close, letting the warmth and comfort overtake her. Her resistance crumbled...
Mio carried Mayu home. They made love for the first time that evening. Rather than wander through eternity as spirits of pain, they chose the path less travelled: the path of forbidden pleasure. Whether in life or death, they would truly be together, both as siblings and as lovers. Hell itself could not sever their connection, no matter how persistent its attempts.
"That American guy's playing music downstairs again. Should I ask him to turn it down?" Mayu questioned.
"Don't worry about it. He'll go to sleep soon. I kind of like the stuff he plays anyway."
"Yeah...Me too..."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Whether what we do in secret is right or wrong, I don't care. As long as we're together, nothing else matters."
Mayu closed her eyes, resting her head against Mio's shoulder.
