Akiko went back to the kami tree that night, after Kazumi had gone home, and waited under its branches, leaning against the trunk, her cheek pressed against the bark. The tree was encouraging her to pass through to the forest again, but Akiko wasn’t even tempted. She didn’t want to be naked and alone in that park.

As she thought that, the tree suggested that she could come back out in the shrine grounds as well, but Akiko shook her head. Not alone.

Kazumi had been right. It was a lot easier to say that it made no difference than to mean it. Akiko had been telling herself that Kazumi hadn’t changed, but she’d been unable to avoid a change in attitude. Knowing that… Knowing what Kazumi had done, Akiko found herself wondering whether she should even be at the shrine.

Tamao accepted her, Akiko reminded herself, yet again. We all do stupid things when we’re teenagers.

Yes, but you were never a prostitute, a voice whispered treacherously at the back of her mind.

She lied to us, keeping it secret.

Yes, and that was a good idea, given how you’ve reacted.

Akiko stood up and stepped away from the tree, shaking her head. It didn’t look like Yoshiko was coming tonight; the other miko clearly also needed a bit more time to think. And that was probably a good thing; Akiko wasn’t sure she could handle any more major revelations today. She returned to the house, but sleep was a long time in coming.

Despite that, she woke at dawn, and knew immediately that she wouldn’t be able to sleep again. Shiraishi got up soon afterwards, and they were getting ready to perform the morning rituals when Kazumi arrived. She looked really tired, as if she hadn’t slept for several days, and her school uniform looked like she had thrown it on in the dark.

“I feel crap,” she said, after a moment. “I feel like I lost a week’s sleep in one night. Any chance of a harae?”

Shiraishi glanced at Akiko, but Akiko really didn’t want to face Kazumi’s kegare right now, so she just shrugged.

“We don’t really need to confirm it now, do we?” she asked, and Shiraishi, pursing her lips, shook her head.

“I suppose not. OK, let’s get you purified, and then you can help with the morning rituals.”

“Thanks…”

Akiko watched Kazumi carefully as Shiraishi swung the ohnusa over her, and was sure that she got visibly less tired every time the wand passed. At the end, she looked, well, just a bit tired.

“Oh, that’s better,” Kazumi said, standing up and stretching. Then she suddenly went very quiet, looking at the ground.

“Er,” she began, and then paused. “It’s the kegare, isn’t it? That’s what makes me tired and ill?”

“Yes,” Shiraishi replied. “I’m sure it is.”

“Then could I stay at the shrine? Please? There’s no kegare here, and I feel so much better. My mother won’t mind; she’s been hassling me to move out and fend for myself anyway. I promise to be no trouble.” It all tumbled out at once, as if Kazumi were afraid that, if she paused, it would just give Shiraishi time to refuse.

The priest looked at her for a long moment, while Kazumi stared at her feet.

“All right,” she said, finally. “At least until the kegare is purified.”

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 2 Comments »

Akiko wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about Kazumi staying, and annoyed with herself for not being sure, but Shiraishi’s last comment bothered her even more. They had to do something about the kegare. In particular, they had to get out of the shrine, and try to purify the area. Even ignoring the divine command, it was obviously necessary.

“Still not sure what to make of Kazumi’s revelation?” Shiraishi asked, gently.

“What? Oh, yes. Well, I mean…”

The priest smiled briefly.

“People do stupid things. Teenagers in particular. With sex, in particular.” She shrugged. “She didn’t hurt anyone except herself, and she’s been purified now.”

“Yes, I know, but…”

“But you never really imagined living with a former prostitute?”

“Well, no!”

“I don’t suppose you ever really imagined serving a kami in the form of a giant snake in a battle with encroaching pollution, either. Life is rather unpredictable.”

“That’s a good point. Revd Shiraishi, about the pollution. I think we have to get out today, and…”

Suddenly, they heard raised voices from the bottom of the steps, and Akiko cut herself off in mid-speech, looking at Shiraishi.

“Do you think they do it deliberately?” she asked. “Do you think the protesters are making sure that we can’t go out and do the purifications?” Even as she asked it, she realised that it might be true. From the shocked look on Shiraishi’s face, the possibility that it might be a plan had not occurred to her before.

“I… I hope not.” The shouting was still continuing. “But we have to go and see what the problem is, in any case.”

From the top of the steps they could make out some voices, including Mrs Watanabe’s, and Akiko realised that none of the guards seemed to be involved.

“He was a traitor and an idiot!” That was Mrs Watanabe. Naoyuki was standing behind her, and they were facing another group of protesters Akiko recognised.

“He looks a lot better, though. And his wife’s cough got better.”

“Coincidence!”

“Maybe. Everyone else coming for purification says it makes them feel better, though.” That was a different protester.

“Of course they do.” Akiko was surprised to see Mr Akiyama was there; it seemed a long time since he had come in person. “They have a vested interest in their superstition being believed to be effective. They’re hardly neutral witnesses.”

“What? They look better to me, too.”

“You’d go into this, this fascist place just to feel better?” Mrs Watanabe was having some trouble talking coherently.

“They don’t look very fascist to me.”

Mrs Watanabe pointed silently at the guards.

You have a point, Akiko conceded, and suddenly remembered the little girl. You have several points. But you are wrong in the end.

“Oh, they’re fascist. But the priest and miko don’t like them much either. Can’t you tell? They’re just worried about what us protesters are going to do next.

“And they’re cute.”

“That’s not a good reason!” Mrs Watanabe practically exploded, but everyone else was trying to suppress giggles, and most of the tension had gone. Akiko felt herself blushing, and a glance confirmed that Shiraishi was as well. The man who had spoken glanced up at them and winked, and Akiko tried to make her face as stern as possible.

“In any case,” he continued, turning back to Mrs Watanabe, “we aren’t going to join in the protest any more.”

“Cowards!”

“I’m not saying I’ll go and get purified; it’s a very expensive way to get quality time with cute women in miko costumes.” Now Akiko was blushing furiously, and trying very hard not to connect the comment with Kazumi. “But lots of people seem to be finding it useful. I don’t think this is something we should oppose.

“We’re going home.”

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 3 Comments »

The former protesters did leave, then, although Mrs Watanabe shouted a few choice insults after them as Naoyuki and Mr Akiyama tried to calm her down.

“Well, maybe not a plan, then,” Shiraishi commented.

“No…” Akiko agreed. They turned, and started climbing the steps again. “But… cute?”

“Well, you are,” Shiraishi replied.

“Cute?” Akiko tried to keep her voice down. “I was hoping for “elegantly beautiful”. Kazumi is cute.”

“Mm.” Shiraishi muttered something Akiko couldn’t quite catch.

“Sorry?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Well, I think he said you were cute as well.”

The priest suddenly stopped, looking at Akiko, her face incredulous.

“I really don’t think…”

“Why don’t you lot go home, too?”

Shiraishi’s face fell.

“Very perceptive man, that. Spotted the fascists as well as the cute miko,” she said, quietly.

“Yeah, take your disrespect away, and stop bothering honest Japanese citizens who still know to respect the kami.”

Akiko wasn’t about to say it, but she nodded, and they turned back to deal with the new crisis.

“We are exercising our democratic rights! Japan is not a medieval dictatorship anymore. The emperor is no longer a god.” Mr Akiyama was confronting them, but keeping at least as much of an eye on Mrs Watanabe as on the guards.

“Can we please…” Shiraishi began, but the guard interrupted.

“The occupying army made him say that. The emperor is just as much a kami now as he has ever been.”

“Of course, that’s true,” Mr Akiyama said, puzzling Akiko for a moment, and the guard for slightly longer.

“But… you said…” Mr Akiyama smiled as the guard floundered.

“The ancient customs of Japan are as good for the country now as they were three thousand years ago,” Mr Akiyama continued, “and the guidance and wisdom of the kami as valuable as ever. That is why we are protesting.”

“But… shouldn’t you be on our side?” The guard sounded genuinely confused, and Akiko had to feel a bit sorry for him.

“You stupid man. The emperor has never been a kami and the ancient customs of Japan were as cruel and oppressive then as they are now. As for the kami, well, I certainly wouldn’t take advice from bloodthirsty bullies.” Mrs Watanabe was sneering at them, quite obviously.

“Ah, yes…” Shiraishi tried to interrupt again, her tone worried, but it was too late.

“What did you say about the kami?” the guard roared. “How dare you, you stupid old woman.” He ran down the steps towards her, and Naoyuki quickly stepped in front of his mother.

The guard punched him in the stomach, and then kicked at him as he doubled over, sending him sprawling onto the floor. Mr Akiyama took several hasty steps backwards, but Mrs Watanabe swung a fist at the guard, missing as he dodged out of the way.

“Stop this right now!” Shiraishi yelled. “I’ll call the police!” The guard, who had raised his fist, seemed to suddenly realise what he was doing, and lowered it again, looking slightly sheepish. Naoyuki got to his feet, cradling his stomach but not looking too badly injured.

“Now, all of you,” the priest continued, “get out of here! Just… just go home.” The guards didn’t even look at her as they made their way down the steps, but although Mrs Watanabe looked about to protest, Naoyuki took her arm, speaking to her quietly, and firmly guided her away. Mr Akiyama paused for a moment, looking like he was about to say something, but then left without a word.

Akiko and Shiraishi were left alone on the steps.

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 8 Comments »

“I need to talk to that man. This has gone too far. Again.” Shiraishi was half talking to herself, but Akiko had to agree. Especially now that most of the protesters seemed to have given up. Shiraishi went straight into the office, but people were arriving to look at the pool, so Akiko waited outside.

A couple of minutes later Shiraishi came back out of the office, her face stormy.

“He said he would come here to talk to me. Why can’t he just take no for an answer?”

“So we can’t go out until he’s been?”

“Oh.” Shiraishi looked even more irritated for a moment, and then sighed. “No. We have to wait for the ujiko anyway; the rota doesn’t start until eleven. I think he’ll be here before that.”

In the event, Mr Fujimura arrived less than half an hour later, bowing formally as he entered the shrine. Akiko couldn’t resist checking him for kegare, but, as usual, he was completely clean, at least after passing through the barrier around the shrine grounds.

“Before we talk, can I request a ceremony?” he said, after the initial greetings. “I would like to pray for the health and prosperity of our Imperial family.”

For a moment, Akiko thought Shiraishi would refuse, but finally she nodded curtly, and went to get ready.

After the ceremony they sat in the meeting room, the green tea untouched in front of them.

“Mr Fujimura, I am serious. I want you to keep your men away from this shrine. They cause more trouble than they prevent.”

“Revd Shiraishi, you do not know that. There is no way to know what would have happened had they not been there.”

“The protesters would have ranted, and probably given up at this point. Maybe even earlier, if they hadn’t been looking at guards who looked like comic-book fascists.” Mr Fujimura stiffened at that, and Akiko thought Shiraishi blushed briefly, although the priest did not look away.

“I cannot be responsible for people’s misinterpretations…” Mr Fujimura began, but Shiraishi interrupted him.

“Misinterpretation or not, it is causing problems. But the main problem is their tendency to solve problems with violence.”

“The protesters insulted the emperor.”

“They have the legal right to insult the emperor. They also have the legal right not to be assaulted.”

“I will speak to them.”

“No. You will stop them from coming.” Mr Fujimura stiffened again, clearly unhappy with the way Shiraishi was talking to him. Akiko was getting a bit nervous, as well. They really didn’t want him as an enemy. “You said that you would stop them doing it again. They did it again.

“Now I do not want them coming here.”

Mr Fujimura was silent for a long time, looking at Shiraishi, and then at Akiko. His gaze made her feel uncomfortable, like she had felt at school when asked where her homework was. She tried to shake off the impression, but it just got stronger.

Finally, he looked back at Shiraishi, and nodded.

“Very well. I cannot send them here without your consent.

“But I do not think it is wise. Those protesters are far from the only threat to your shrine, you know. There are forces opposing those of us who still properly serve the kami.” He emphasised the last sentence, and once again Akiko found herself wondering just how much he knew. “If you decide that you need protection again, you know how to contact me. Now, please excuse me.”

He bowed, then got to his feet and left, as Akiko and Shiraishi scrambled to see him off properly.

They stood at the top of the stairs for some time after he had left, lost in thought.

What does he know?

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 1 Comment »

“I can’t see anything,” Akiko said, looking out of the car’s window in despair. “Just… fog. No, dust. Ash. Clouds of it, swirling right up to the windows. Black and brown, rotten. Stinking.” She stopped herself. “Sorry. You don’t need the details. The kegare has got a lot heavier since I last checked.”

Shiraishi pulled over to the side of the road, and Akiko let her vision revert to normal. The houses suddenly sprang into view around her, looking, at first glance, to be in good shape. But Akiko soon noticed the litter, the minor damage, the bits of vandalism, the dying plants in pots and window-boxes… The effects were more subtle here, but they were still real.

“Didn’t you notice it around the shrine?” the priest asked. Akiko shook her head.

“It’s not this heavy round the shrine. Maybe the barrier around the shrine grounds purifies the surrounding area a bit. Anyway,” she went on, “if Kazumi’s been sleeping in this, it’s hardly surprising she wakes up feeling dreadful.” She paused, and then smiled wryly. “I don’t suppose we can evacuate the ujiko to the shrine grounds.”

Shiraishi looked at her sharply, and then shook her head.

“It wouldn’t really be practical. We need to solve the problem at its source.”

Akiko nodded. That was true, but where was the source?

“So what do we do?” the priest asked. “Just purify some random place?”

“Well, we could…” Akiko said, thinking about it. “But I don’t think that would be very effective. We need to find somewhere that’s more polluted than average. If there are any such places left.”

“But how do we find them, if you can’t see?”

“That is a problem,” Akiko admitted. “Where is the kegare likely to be heavy?”

“Well, places associated with pollution. Rubbish dumps. Places associated with sickness and death, as well.”

“So, hospitals and old folks’ homes. What about the park?”

“That was a different…” But mentioning the park had reminded Akiko of something.

“Kazumi’s school!”

“What?”

“When Kazumi comes to the shrine after school, she always has really heavy, really nasty kegare. She might have picked it up at school. And given that it’s presumably full of teenagers, it would be a good place to purify if it is that polluted.”

“Do you know which school she’s at?”

“I’ll ask her.” Akiko pulled her cell phone out and started on a text message.

“She might be in a lesson,” Shiraishi warned.

“Do you really think that would stop her answering?” Akiko asked, and, after a moment, Shiraishi grinned and shook her head.

Whether Kazumi used her phone in lessons or not, the answer came back almost immediately, and they drove over to the school, parking a short distance away and walking over. When they stood at the entrance, Akiko switched her vision over.

For a moment she could only see the clouds of fog and ash, writhing around them, flinching away from the thin layer of light that covered their bodies. The power of the shrine, Akiko thought. On impulse, she raised the kagurasuzu in front of her, and brought it down hard.

The fog rolled back, revealing the school.

And the things crawling over it. They were large, lizards with the legs of centipedes, giant spiders in school uniform, cockroaches with human arms instead of legs, and something like a rat with spines, small white things hanging from the spines. Beyond them, the whole surface of the school heaved in browns and yellows, the colours of vomit and excrement, shifting as millions of creatures too small to distinguish swarmed over it.

“This is a good place,” Akiko said, swallowing hard.

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 2 Comments »

It was obvious that they couldn’t perform harae on a school during the day; someone would interfere. Back at the shrine, there were several people waiting for purification, and they barely had any time free before Kazumi got back from school. As usual, she was heavy with kegare, and after harae she went to get changed.

“So, my school’s a festering pit of corruption,” she said when she came out, “but how’s the kegare?”

Akiko managed a smile, even as she shook her head.

“Festering pit of corruption is about right,” she said.

“So, do you think I should stay away?” She sounded rather hopeful, and this time Akiko had to grin.

“We’re going to purify it tonight, so you’ll be OK to go back tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Kazumi pouted for a moment, and then shrugged. “Hey, can I go with you?”

“To purify it? We were hoping you would watch the shrine.” Kazumi pulled a face.

“Can’t Tamao do that?”

“Tamao isn’t very good at calling the police if vandals come. He just causes earthquakes,” Akiko said, and Kazumi started pouting again.

“Oh, go on. I want to see.”

“There’s not a lot to see,” Shiraishi said. “Just me doing a harae. Akiko gets a rather better show, but for the rest of us it’s really nothing special.”

“You really don’t want to see what I see,” Akiko said. “Trust me.”

“Ohhh, all right.”

“Er, Kazumi,” Shiraishi said, “if you’re staying the night, don’t you need some pyjamas?”

“You wear things to sleep?”

Shiraishi blushed, and pressed on.

“Clean underwear?”

“Oh, I’ll just not wear any…” Akiko felt herself go red, even as she saw Shiraishi do the same, and Kazumi doubled over in laughter. “I have some in my bag,” she said when she recovered. “Honestly, you two are far too easy to tease. Like I’d ever go to school without wearing underwear again,” she said as she got up and hurried off to supervise the shrine.

“That was a joke too, right?” Akiko said, looking at Shiraishi.

“I’m sure it was. Had to be, right?” The priest didn’t sound completely sure, and then she shook her head violently. “She’s right. We are far too easy to tease. Come on, let’s get ready for the harae.”

The school was quiet when they arrived, and they soon found a quiet back road running along one side of it, where they could perform the ceremony with little risk of being interrupted. Akiko lifted the kagurasuzu, and switched her vision over. The fog still swirled around them, carrying the unmistakable stench of sewage, but she was confident that wouldn’t last long. Indeed, as Shiraishi started to intone the norito it drew back, and as the light built within the ohnusa they found themselves in the centre of a clear area, expanding rapidly as the fog drew back.

Akiko kept alert, looking in all directions for any spirits that might try to stop them, but there was nothing. Had the festival made their harae that much stronger? Shiraishi picked up the ohnusa, and swung it. Light spilled from it, as ever, driving the fog back, all the way to the school. She swung it again, and the fog was swept over the school, revealing the kegare spirits clinging to it. Their eyes were all fixed on Akiko and Shiraishi, but they didn’t move.

“Again!” Akiko muttered.

But as Shiraishi swung the ohnusa for the last time, the spirits screamed and leapt from the building.

Towards them.

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 2 Comments »

Akiko raised the kagurasuzu and stepped forward.

“They’re…”

She was cut off by Shiraishi’s scream, and she looked round to see the priest stepping back, her face white. It only took a moment for her to work out that, for some reason, the priest could see these spirits.

“Revd Shiraishi, continue the harae. This is fairly normal.” She didn’t even try to keep the urgency out of her voice; the spirits were nearly on them, and she raised the kagurasuzu, trying to judge which would be there first.

“N… normal?” Shiraishi stammered out, but Akiko had no time to look back, as she swept the kagurasuzu to her left, the tinkling of the bells momentarily drowning out the sound of the spirits as one of the giant spiders fell back, shrieking.

“The harae!” Akiko shouted, as she spun round to the right, thrusting the kagurasuzu out to block the path of the rat-thing. It was the size of a bus, and she could see what was on its spikes now: girls’ knickers. It veered off to one side, away from them, but she had no time to watch it, because she felt the ground shake. A cockroach was right in front of her, its mandibles over her head, the arms it had for legs splayed out on the ground, fingers grasping at the tarmac. With a shout, she thrust the kagurasuzu straight up, and with a loud hissing the spirit fell back.

Behind her, she could hear Shiraishi intoning the norito again, and she could see the purifying light flowing from the ohnusa. The spirits retreated slightly, and Akiko took a step back to stand beside the priest. Shiraishi was breathing hard, her face white and her eyes wild.

Told you you didn’t want to see, Akiko thought, but this wasn’t the time to say it. She held the kagurasuzu ready as Shiraishi lifted the ohnusa, sweeping it through the air.

The light flowed out, and as it washed over the spirits they flinched back, hissing and shrieking, black smoke pouring from them as if blown by a strong wind.

And then, as Shiraishi paused before swinging the ohnusa again, they all moved in.

Akiko’s stomach lurched. That wasn’t supposed to happen. They weren’t supposed to fight back against the harae. Shiraishi swung the ohnusa again, and although they screamed in pain, this time the spirits didn’t fall back at all. Akiko glanced around them. They were already surrounded. But if the spirits didn’t fall back this time, they’d have to try to get away. She peered at the spirits blocking the way to the car, one of the lizard-centipedes and a spider-thing, and hefted the kagurasuzu.  Shiraishi swept the ohnusa across again, and the spirits screamed as the light washed over them. Screamed, but did not move.

Akiko grabbed Shiraishi’s arm.

“Run!” she shouted, as she dragged the priest towards the spirits. They were still distracted by the light, and Akiko swung the kagurasuzu around her, leaving them too confused to do anything as the two of them ran beneath the creatures. “To the car! Quickly!” Shiraishi said nothing, but she was running herself now, keeping up with Akiko, and the screams behind them sounded more like screams of rage.

They rounded the corner and saw the car. And the spider-spirit poised over it. It had the face of a girl, heavily made up with bleached hair, but when it grinned at them its teeth were needles, needles in syringes. It raised one leg, and brought it crashing down through the bonnet of the car.

With a roar, the car burst into flames, the kegare spirit still grinning in the middle of the inferno, unaffected by the heat that Akiko could feel even at that distance.

“Back to the shrine!” Akiko said. “Come on, we can make it.” Shiraishi seemed to be frozen, so Akiko grabbed her arm again, and pulled.

The light from the ohnusa was fading, and the fog drew back in around them. Akiko could see the grit within it, the ash, and now also see the insects flying in the midst of it, outsize jaws reaching for them, repelled by the faint glow that still clung to their bodies.

Akiko couldn’t see where she was going. Couldn’t see where the spirits were. She listened for them, swinging the bells in the direction of anything that might be a threat, but then something grabbed at her shoulder.

Screaming, she slammed the kagurasuzu against it, and the giant hand drew back as she heard a hissing from overhead. Shiraishi took the lead, pulling her along, and Akiko realised that her sight was worse than useless. She switched back, and the fog vanished in a moment.

The spirits didn’t.

Scrambling over houses and scuttling down alleys, they seemed to be trying to surround Akiko and Shiraishi, to hem them in.

Why can I still see them? Akiko wondered. Why can Shiraishi see them? Who else can see them?

The spirits were slower than Akiko had expected, covering remarkably little ground as they hunted, for all that they seemed to be moving quickly. In a straight race, Akiko and Shiraishi could keep ahead, but the spirits kept moving in from the side.

They turned a corner, and the spiny rat was blocking the street in front of them. Its eyes burned a deep blue, while sickly green slime leaked from its mouth. Within its jaws, dozens of cog wheels turned, grinding and squealing as it moved towards them, spines rising and falling in ripples across its back.

Akiko and Shiraishi backed up, glancing behind them. The cockroaches were approaching that way, and there was no sign of the spiders or the lizards.

Something made Akiko glance up, and she pushed Shiraishi aside with a scream as a lizard crashed to the ground where they had been standing, its spiked insectile legs creating a network of tiny cracks on the surface of the road. Akiko swung the kagurasuzu against it, and its skin burst, oily smoke in a rainbow of colours pouring out, making her eyes water, driving her into a fit of coughing. Screaming and thrashing, the lizard creature collapsed into the road, and Shiraishi came running round to Akiko.

“Are you all right?”

“For now…” she replied, looking at the spirits that were still approaching.

“We’re nearly there.”

Akiko nodded. If they could get past the rat, they were practically at the shrine. Shiraishi raised the ohnusa.

“Frontal attack?”

Akiko’s stomach flipped over again, but the cockroaches were gaining from behind. She nodded. They didn’t have a choice.

Akiko took the right, Shiraishi the left, and both struck at the rat as they passed. Surprised, it reared up on its hind legs for a moment, opening a way through, and they darted round it. They heard its scream of rage, but they weren’t looking back now; they could see the steps to the shrine. They were on the steps, up the steps, standing on the lawn.

The barrier around the shrine appeared, a wall of golden flame leaping into life before them. Beyond it they could see the spirits as they gathered at the foot of the stairs, shrieking their disappointment before turning and disappearing back into the city.

Akiko and Shiraishi collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

07: Spreading the Light, Episode 46 | 5 Comments »