<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/e5/1920x1080.jpg)</div><br/>A young couple entered the shrine, holding hands.  The man was an oni, over two meters tall with sapphire skin and broad shoulders, wearing khakis a nice shirt beneath a leather jacket.<br/><br/>The young human woman with him—tall and delicate with a kind smile and loving eyes—could easily be broken in two by her lover.  There was no fear in her eyes, only tenderness.  Midori and her sister had seen these two earlier in the day, while they were skating in the park, the oni gently braiding his lover's hair with flowers.<br/><br/>Kusanagi Midori's eyes danced and shined at the beauty of their love as they approached the young shrine maiden and asked her to lead them in a prayer.  “The gods have given us such a beautiful day,” the young woman explained after introducing herself as Megumi.  “We want to thank them.”<br/><br/>Midori's smile widened, dimpling, and she lead them to the alter.  Instead of kneeling, she made a deep gesture of respect, eyes moving over the sacred objects gathered hear to put them in mind of the gods each represented.  Then she turned to the couple.  Taking their hands, she guided them to clasp each other's hands, then clasped their joined hands in her own.<br/><br/>“A prayer for spring,” she began, dimpling again, “And for the beauty we find when we look to the world with love in our hearts.<br/><br/><div align="center">Amatsu Norito<br/>Spirits of purification<br/>created for order of and the mother<br/>that they inhabit the Sky,<br/>exactly as when<br/>The God Izanagi No Mikoto<br/>bathed in the narrow estuary<br/>of a covered river with trees<br/>permanently leafy, in the South region.<br/>With all the respect from the depth of our hearts<br/>We ask that they hear us, such as the spirit that hears our<br/>intent, with sharpened ears, together with<br/>Spirits of the Sky and the Land,<br/>Take the badness, disasters and sins and purify all.<br/>Miroku Oomikami<br/>You bless us and protect us<br/>Meishu Sama<br/>You bless us and protect us<br/>For expansion of our soul<br/>And the fulfillment of your will<br/></div>