<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Still not sure what to make of Kazumi’s revelation?â€ Shiraishi asked, gently.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh, yes. Well, I mean…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest smiled briefly.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“People do stupid things. Teenagers in particular. With sex, in particular.â€ She shrugged. “She didn’t hurt anyone except herself, and she’s been purified now.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I know, but…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you never really imagined living with a former prostitute?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, no!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“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.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s a good point. Revd Shiraishi, about the pollution. I think we have to get out today, and…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Suddenly, they heard raised voices from the bottom of the steps, and Akiko cut herself off in mid-speech, looking at Shiraishi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think they do it deliberately?â€ she asked. “Do you think the protesters are making sure that we can’t go out and do the purifications?â€ 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.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I… I hope not.â€ The shouting was still continuing. “But we have to go and see what the problem is, in any case.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He was a traitor and an idiot!â€ That was Mrs Watanabe. Naoyuki was standing behind her, and they were facing another group of protesters Akiko recognised.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He looks a lot better, though. And his wife’s cough got better.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Coincidence!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe. Everyone else coming for purification says it makes them feel better, though.â€ That was a different protester.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course they do.â€ 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.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? They look better to me, too.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’d go into this, this <em>fascist</em> place just to feel better?â€ Mrs Watanabe was having some trouble talking coherently.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They don’t look very fascist to me.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mrs Watanabe pointed silently at the guards.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>You have a point,</em> Akiko conceded, and suddenly remembered the little girl. <em>You have several points. But you are wrong in the end.</em></p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, <em>they’re</em> 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.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And they’re cute.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s not a good reason!â€ 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.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“In any case,â€ he continued, turning back to Mrs Watanabe, “we aren’t going to join in the protest any more.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Cowards!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“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.â€ 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.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re going home.â€</p>