INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(915, 1, '2009-11-09 07:12:50', '2009-11-08 22:12:50', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, Kazumi, from whom did you borrow the coats?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ Kazumi blushed furiously, and looked down at the table. Shiraishi just waited, holding up a hand when Akiko started to speak. After what seemed a very long time, but probably wasn’t even a minute, Kazumi took a deep breath and looked up.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I…â€ She broke off again, and looked back down at the table. “A… friend.â€ There was a long pause, and this time Shiraishi did break the silence.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ve been to that park before. The women there are almost all prostitutes.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So my friend is a prostitute. Anything wrong with that?â€ Kazumi looked up, trying to look defiant, but Akiko could see the tears in her eyes, and the girl didn’t actually make eye contact with either of them.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you remember when we saw Tamao in the shrine, not just now?â€ Shiraishi asked, and Akiko was momentarily thrown. Why was she bringing that up? “He said everything was purified. So, no matter what it was, it’s gone. It won’t make any difference.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s easy to say!â€ Kazumi was almost crying.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I’m very good at identifying faces,â€ the priest added, “even if people change their hairstyle and make-up radically.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi swallowed hard.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You knew?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A bit. Do you want to tell me more?â€ Akiko suddenly put the pieces together, and looked at Kazumi in shock. “Ah,â€ Shiraishi said. “It looks like Akiko isn’t quite as quick on the uptake.â€ Kazumi made a strange, strangled noise, and it was a couple of moments before Akiko realised she was laughing, and almost crying at the same time.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK,â€ Kazumi said. “I should tell you the important bits.â€ She took a deep breath.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I signed up on one of those dating phone sites in my last year of junior high. I… I used to let the men take my clothes off. It was no big deal.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ve noticed,â€ Shiraishi interjected, and Kazumi laughed again, although her heart wasn’t in it.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Anyway, I made quite a lot of money, but the men kept offering me more if I’d do sexual things. That’s… a bit different. Then one guy offered me 50,000 yen just to touch his prick. Just to touch it. I decided I could do that.â€ She grimaced. “He came all over my hand. I think I spent three hours washing it.â€ She sighed, looking down again. “But then, I’d done it. I told myself it was a lot of money for not very much effort, and did it again. And, slowly…â€ She trailed off.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We don’t need to know the details,â€ Shiraishi said, and Kazumi nodded.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right. Well, obviously it was a stupid thing to do. I was trying to prove to myself that I wasn’t bothered. Just like a body, right? Everyone has a naked body under their clothes. Everyone has sex. Or wants to. No big deal, nothing wrong with it. That was what I was telling myself. So I made myself up like the other tarts in the park, and went to join them. Selling your body to men in parks is like selling hamburgers, right? And at least you aren’t a slave to a corporation.â€ Kazumi shook her head, even as she said it.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Anyway, the woman I borrowed the coats off saw that I was new, and helped me out.â€ Kazumi grinned suddenly, and it looked genuine. “And in her case, I really <em>don’t</em> care that it was mainly because she wanted to get into my knickers.â€ Her face was suddenly serious again. “Of course, I did actually care about the rest of it. I felt dirty.â€ She paused, looking down.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Used?â€ Shiraishi suggested, but Kazumi shook her head.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. Not used. Actually,â€ she drew a deep, shuddering breath, “that made it worse.â€ She looked up again. “I couldn’t really blame anyone else. It was just me. But I couldn’t stop. That would mean admitting that I had made a really, really big mistake.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And then… And then you came to the park. You did the ceremony and, well, I <em>felt</em> something.â€ She smiled wryly. “Actually, I suppose that’s not really surprising. Anyway, I felt clean, somehow. It was, like, the mistake was part of the past. I wasn’t carrying it anymore. And I realised that I could, in fact, just stop.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So I did. I walked straight home, cut off my hair, cleaned off my make up, changed my clothes. Stopped going to the park. Cancelled my registrations on the dating sites.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was looking at them now, although there were still tears in her eyes, and tracks on her face.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I worked out you must be from a shrine, so I went round the local shrines looking for you, and found you here. I wasn’t sure what I wanted, really, but that ceremony had made a big impression on me.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The clean feeling went away, which is also not really surprising, and so I came back and asked for the purification ceremony. It worked again, of course, which is why I kept coming back; I really do feel a lot better in the shrine.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stopped, and after a while Shiraishi broke the silence.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And…?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi sighed, and fiddled with the belt on her miko’s hakama.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I still don’t know. Now I’ve seen the kami, I can hardly walk away. I mean, I <em>know.</em>â€ She looked up, her face really earnest. “The kami are real. Kegare is real, and dangerous. Some trees are paths to another world. How could I walk away from that? But I’m not a priest like you. I can’t see the kegare like Akiko. So I don’t know what I’m doing here.â€ She pulled a face. “Hanging around the kami in the hopes of something happening, I guess.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Shiraishi said, “it’s almost certain that things are going to happen. I…â€ Shiraishi swallowed hard, and Akiko could swear she was blushing. “We’ll wait and see,â€ she said, finally.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi nodded, her eyes on the priest, before she looked at Akiko, and raised her eyebrows quizzically. Akiko might have been slow on the uptake before, but she knew what this meant.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s OK.â€ Her voice wasn’t very steady as she said it, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “It’s OK. The past is the past. Tamao said it was all purified, so it is.â€ She nodded, firmly, and Kazumi broke out in a genuine smile, the tears leaking out of her eyes.</p>', 'History', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '798-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-09 07:12:50', '2009-11-08 22:12:50', '', 798, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/09/798-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(916, 1, '2009-08-28 15:19:13', '2009-08-28 06:19:13', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You didn’t say it was <em>this</em> sort of festival,â€ one of the women complained, holding up the strip of cloth in one hand.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>We didn’t know,</em> Akiko thought to herself, but that wouldn’t be a good thing to say. She had already changed into the loincloth and happi coat, and was aware that she was constantly blushing, something that didn’t help her to explain that there was nothing strange about it at all.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It wasn’t really surprising that the outfits had been Kazumi’s idea, but she had pointed out that the only established festival to the aramitama used them, and that they couldn’t afford to get it wrong. Akiko and Shiraishi had both had to concede that she was right, even as they adapted the mikoshi part of the ritual into a sort of contest involving two gohei; Shiraishi was sure that they needed some kind of chaotic competition to energise the aramitama.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry, it must have slipped my mind.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think I want to wear this.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, don’t be such a wuss.â€ Akiko gave silent thanks for the older Mrs Tanaka. She’d even bullied her older daughter into wearing the outfit this time; she was standing at the side of the room, back to the wall, her face red. “It’s not like there are any men here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There are. I saw them.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“About three. And that Akira Takenaka is a really sweet boy; you don’t need to worry about him. The other two are older than me, and have probably lost interest.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko wasn’t sure about that, but the shortage of men was worrying her. It was going to be another difference from the model festival.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Have you lost interest?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Absolutely.â€ Mrs Tanaka said it with a completely straight face. “Us old folk have no interest in ogling naked bodies at all.â€ The woman smiled, but she wasn’t showing any sign of getting undressed, so Mrs Tanaka tried another tack.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Have you had a harae recently?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, yes. We all came at the weekend.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And? Oh, yes, it made a difference. We all felt much better.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right. So now the shrine is asking for something in return. It’s not like you’re actually going to be naked.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK, OK!â€ Half exasperated, half grinning, the woman put her loincloth down and started to undress. “This had better be a <em>really</em> important festival.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>More than you realise, </em>Akiko thought, as she smiled and thanked her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they filed out into the shrine grounds, Akiko saw Mrs Watanabe standing at the top of the stairs.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What is this obscenity? What sort of depravity is the shrine descending to now? And with children here!â€ Akiko looked around, and realised she must mean Kazumi. The idea of Kazumi being corrupted by seeing people running around in loincloths was so funny that it gave Akiko the courage to go over and confront Mrs Watanabe.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is a religious ceremony…â€ she began, but Mrs Watanabe cut her off.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re just trying to lure people in so that you can spread your fascistic poison. You and your kami are parasites on Japan, and…â€ Akiko lost patience.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kegare is about to overwhelm Kawasaki. If we don’t perform a festival to strengthen Tamao, we won’t be able to purify it, and it will destroy the city. If you don’t leave <em>right now</em> you’re going to be in the same place as a very strong, and very angry, kami. You can try to explain your attitude to him directly if you like, but I really don’t recommend it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mrs Watanabe stared at her for several seconds, the expression on her face strange and shifting rapidly. Akiko remembered the dead girl, and suddenly felt guilty about the threat. Then Mrs Watanabe turned and ran down the steps. Akiko could here her sobbing as she vanished from view.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A bad taste in her mouth, Akiko turned back to the festival, suddenly aware that people were staring at her.</p>', 'Preparing for Battle', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '858-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-28 15:19:13', '2009-08-28 06:19:13', '', 858, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/858-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(917, 1, '2009-08-28 12:12:13', '2009-08-28 03:12:13', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sat at the kitchen table, her third cup of coffee in front of her as she tried to keep her eyes open.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Next time, I’ll insist on going into the forest,</em> she thought. Kazumi had finished breakfast, and had been sent to watch the shrine, while Akiko and Shiraishi discussed the problem of the school. Akiko explained what Yoshiko had said, and Shiraishi nodded as she finished.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That makes a lot of sense, actually. Waving the kami’s yorishiro around isn’t normally part of purification.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yorishiro? Oh, yes, the thing the kami is inhabiting. Well, it didn’t work, so obviously we were doing something wrong.â€ She took another sip of coffee, and frowned. “But what can we do to it right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, if we could get the kami to perform the harae, that might well work.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao doesn’t have hands,â€ Akiko pointed out, “and the aramitama doesn’t even seem to have a body.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That <em>would</em> make it a bit difficult,â€ Shiraishi conceded. “Although I think there are other ways to do purification; the ohnusa is just the most standard one today.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Like what?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, washing in a river or under a waterfall is the classic on. Using salt water or boiling water is also common. Transferring the kegare to a paper doll, and either burning the doll or dropping it in a river. Er…â€ The priest paused a moment. “I think there are some shrines that use small pieces of rope, as well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“None of those sound like things that Tamao could do, though,â€ Akiko said, and Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re right. They <em>are</em> all designed for people, after all.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think I should try to ask Tamao what sort of purifications he can perform?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wait, do you remember? He purified Kazumi with light when we saw him in the other shrine. Do you think he could do that for the school?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe…â€ Akiko thought for a moment. “But he didn’t suggest it. I know Tamao isn’t always as helpful as he could be, but failing to suggest that seems really obstructive.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe he’s testing us?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think so. I think he really wants the kegare to be cleared. The aramitama certainly seemed very angry about its presence at the wild festival; I don’t think Tamao would endure it for longer than he had to…â€ Akiko fell silent as something occurred to her. The aramitama had possessed her at the festival, and before, when she had worn the mask. “Revd Shiraishi, what about if I performed the purification while possessed by the aramitama? Would that work?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Could you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a good question. In the previous possessions, Akiko had not been fully in control of her own body.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know, but it might be worth a try. I was able to take the mask off during the wild festival, so I don’t completely lose control. Maybe if we explain to the kami first, I’ll be allowed to keep control.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked at her for a few moments, and then stared up at the ceiling for a while. When she looked down, she nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s worth a try. I’d better teach you how to do the purification properly.â€</p>', 'Making ut Active', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '838-revision-3', '', '', '2009-08-28 12:12:13', '2009-08-28 03:12:13', '', 838, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/838-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(918, 1, '2009-08-22 19:18:14', '2009-08-22 10:18:14', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko raised the kagurasuzu and stepped forward.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They’re…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, continue the harae. This is fairly normal.â€ 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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“N… normal?â€ 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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The harae!â€ 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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Told you you didn’t want to see,</em> 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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then, as Shiraishi paused before swinging the ohnusa again, they all moved in.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko grabbed Shiraishi’s arm.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Run!â€ 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!â€ Shiraishi said nothing, but she was running herself now, keeping up with Akiko, and the screams behind them sounded more like screams of rage.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Back to the shrine!â€ Akiko said. “Come on, we can make it.â€ Shiraishi seemed to be frozen, so Akiko grabbed her arm again, and pulled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The spirits didn’t.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Scrambling over houses and scuttling down alleys, they seemed to be trying to surround Akiko and Shiraishi, to hem them in.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Why can I still see them? </em>Akiko wondered. <em>Why can Shiraishi see them? Who else can see them?</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you all right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“For now…â€ she replied, looking at the spirits that were still approaching.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re nearly there.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded. If they could get past the rat, they were practically at the shrine. Shiraishi raised the ohnusa.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Frontal attack?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s stomach flipped over again, but the cockroaches were gaining from behind. She nodded. They didn’t have a choice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko took the right, Shiraishi the left, and both struck at the rat as the 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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and Shiraishi collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.</p>', 'Overwhelming Force', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '812-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:18:14', '2009-08-22 10:18:14', '', 812, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/812-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(919, 1, '2009-11-18 07:31:31', '2009-11-17 22:31:31', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko raised the kagurasuzu and stepped forward.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They’re…â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, continue the harae. This is fairly normal.â€ 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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“N… normal?â€ 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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The harae!â€ 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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Told you you didn’t want to see,</em> 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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then, as Shiraishi paused before swinging the ohnusa again, they all moved in.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko grabbed Shiraishi’s arm.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Run!â€ 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!â€ Shiraishi said nothing, but she was running herself now, keeping up with Akiko, and the screams behind them sounded more like screams of rage.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Back to the shrine!â€ Akiko said. “Come on, we can make it.â€ Shiraishi seemed to be frozen, so Akiko grabbed her arm again, and pulled.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The spirits didn’t.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Scrambling over houses and scuttling down alleys, they seemed to be trying to surround Akiko and Shiraishi, to hem them in.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Why can I still see them? </em>Akiko wondered. <em>Why can Shiraishi see them? Who else can see them?</em></p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you all right?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“For now…â€ she replied, looking at the spirits that were still approaching.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re nearly there.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded. If they could get past the rat, they were practically at the shrine. Shiraishi raised the ohnusa.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Frontal attack?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s stomach flipped over again, but the cockroaches were gaining from behind. She nodded. They didn’t have a choice.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">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.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and Shiraishi collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.</p>', 'Overwhelming Force', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '812-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-18 07:31:31', '2009-11-17 22:31:31', '', 812, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/18/812-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(920, 1, '2009-08-26 16:17:07', '2009-08-26 07:17:07', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It looks fine. I’m still not driving it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What will you do, then?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ve called a garage, said it was making funny noises and smells. We’ll see what they say about it. Anyway, I have to stay here until the come. Everything all right there?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, no problems. Noriko’s waiting for a harae, though. Should I tell her to come back later?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, probably best, no idea… Oh, here they come. Maybe it’s OK for her to wait. I’ll let you know what they say.â€ Shiraishi hung up, and Akiko quickly summarised the situation for Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Weeeeird,â€ the girl said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Noriko decided to go home and come back later, and a bit of shouting as she left the shrine confirmed that the remaining protesters were already at their post. Akiko shook her head, and then went to get a broom and start cleaning the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, about the tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What about it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shouldn’t we investigate it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stopped sweeping, and looked at Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, of course. But how?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, take our…â€ Akiko cut her off.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I know <em>that</em> bit. I was thinking more about getting back to the shrine afterwards.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, right. Well, er, send one of us to the park with a yukata and some shoes?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That… That would actually work, wouldn’t it?â€ Akiko suddenly felt really stupid. It wasn’t like the park was some remote corner of the world. “OK. We should do it during the day, then. That park is rather quieter, and safer, in daylight.â€ Kazumi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, are you going to wait for me in the park?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think you’d better wait for me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi pouted.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I found it first,â€ she protested, but Akiko wasn’t going to let such petty things cloud the issue.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You know the park better than I do, and I can see things you can’t. That might be essential.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can you see the flame in the iwakura?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Kazumi admitted, reluctantly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right. I’ll go through the tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Standing in front of the tree a couple of hours later, Akiko was no longer so happy with the decision. Yes, it was still the right one, but now she actually had to go through the tree. She was wearing a yukata, acutely conscious of being naked underneath. That had been Kazumi’s suggestion; it minimised the length of time she would be standing by the tree partially dressed. It was a even a sensible suggestion.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her cell phone rang.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hi Akiko. Well, I’m looking at the tree. Ready when you are.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko took a deep breath, and undid her belt, shrugging the yukata to the floor. She took a step forward, pressing herself against the bark.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The rush of feeling left her gasping again, as she found herself standing at the base of a tree in the forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves. She looked around for a moment, shifting her vision to look at the spirits. The power, the energy there was overwhelming, but Akiko forced herself to look, clinging on to the tree for support as she tried to adapt to it. She looked at the bark next to her, focusing on it, watching the rivers of light running up and down within the trunk, feeling the life pulse deep inside it, the waves reaching her fingertips, making them tingle.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And, deep inside the tree, she saw the shrine, all of it, all its details, Tamao sleeping under the scorched earth that was his sanctuary, Mr Takenaka sitting by his shrine, the ujiko on duty wandering around, Shiraishi coming up the steps…</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko wrapped her arms around the tree, and it was like jumping down a waterfall, spray and air all around her as she fell for an eternity in a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was standing by the tree in the shrine grounds, her yukata at her feet. Reaching down, she snatched it up and pulled it on, only breathing more calmly when she tied the belt.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She picked up her cell phone and called Kazumi. The experiment had already yielded useful results.</p>', 'Experimenting', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '822-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-26 16:17:07', '2009-08-26 07:17:07', '', 822, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/26/822-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(921, 1, '2009-08-26 16:18:50', '2009-08-26 07:18:50', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko could feel that she was bright red by the time they got back to the shrine. She had tried to forget that she was wearing nothing under the yukata, but every time they passed a group of men, Kazumi had said something in an unnecessarily loud voice about how traditional Akiko was, provoking whispering and stares. Kazumi, on the other hand, was having trouble controlling her giggles, and Akiko’s instructions to stop it had not had the desired effect.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The protesters at the foot of the steps ignored them, and when they reached the top Akiko could see Shiraishi just finishing Noriko’s harae. Akiko felt herself blushing again; her yukata really couldn’t compare to Noriko’s kimono. She motioned for Kazumi to follow her over to the shrine house, where they waited for the ceremony to finish.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When it did, Noriko came over with Shiraishi, and Akiko had to fight down a bit of frustration. She needed to talk to Shiraishi about… well, things she didn’t think she could say in front of Noriko. Noriko was frowning as she approached, and glancing round the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Tanahata, can we step into the entrance a moment?â€ she asked. Puzzled, Akiko nodded, and stepped inside, followed by Noriko. As the other two came in, Noriko reached forward and deftly undid Akiko’s belt.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s not how you… Oh.â€ The yukata had fallen open, and Akiko was sure she was blushing all over. Noriko quickly folded it closed again. “Hold it here, and here. You know, the only reason you traditionally didn’t wear anything under a yukata is that the yukata <em>was</em> the underwear.â€ She started wrapping the belt around.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really?â€ It was Kazumi asking, and she sounded disappointed. “So do you always wear underwear with one?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Always for fireworks. Too many people, too much risk. Too many drunk people!â€ She paused, as she turned Akiko so that she could tie the belt. “Never at an onsen. I mean, you’re only going to take it off to get in the pool. For other occasions…â€ There was a pause, and Akiko had to resist the temptation to look round and see what she was doing. “It depends on my mood, and the occasion.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what about now?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi!â€ Akiko and Shiraishi said it together, but Noriko just laughed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m not wearing a yukata. There, you’re done up properly now.â€ Akiko looked round at the mirror. It was true, the yukata did look a lot better now.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you.â€ She hadn’t the heart to say she had been about to change out of it, and actually, now she looked, maybe she could leave it for a little longer.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK, so what about…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“<em>Kazumi!â€</em> Shiraishi’s voice was quite sharp, and Kazumi quickly fell silent. Noriko was smiling, however.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If you like, I’ll give you kimono lessons. That does include full instruction on the appropriate underwear.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Appropriate underwear?â€ Kazumi sounded comically disappointed, and Akiko suddenly had the impression that they were being teased again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Miura, I am not naturally cylindrical!â€ Noriko’s voice sounded stern, but she was smiling. She also, apparently, thought she was being teased. “Actually, seriously, if you want lessons, I’ll teach you. Free. You could wear kimonos when off duty, then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m not sure we have time right now,â€ Shiraishi said, “but that’s a very kind offer.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, no problem.â€ Noriko bowed slightly as she moved towards the exit. “I don’t agree with Mr Fujimura about everything, but I do think that traditional Japanese clothes are more appropriate to a shrine. Well, thank you very much for the ceremony.â€ She bowed again, and Akiko bowed back, as she took her leave.</p>', 'Traditions', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '826-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-26 16:18:50', '2009-08-26 07:18:50', '', 826, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/26/826-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(922, 1, '2009-08-26 16:19:42', '2009-08-26 07:19:42', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So? There has to be a story.â€ Shiraishi was looking quizzically at Akiko, which made her blush again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Unlike some people, I don’t go without underwear for fun.â€ Akiko managed not to glance at Kazumi as she said it, but she heard a quiet “hey!â€ of protest. She went on to explain what they’d been doing, and the possibility of travel through the kami forest. Shiraishi, again, listened in silence.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, your other yukata and cell phone are still by the tree here?â€ she asked, and Akiko nodded. “Let’s go and see.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they walked over, Akiko suddenly remembered about the other issue.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, how was the car?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, yes.â€ The priest’s face went serious. “The mechanics looked at it, and told me how lucky I was. Apparently various bits of the engine were so old and worn that there was a serious risk of the car bursting into flames at any moment if I drove it. It needs a completely new engine.â€ She frowned. “So we don’t have a car at the moment. I don’t think the insurance will cover “attacks by kegareâ€.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They reached the tree, and Akiko’s yukata and phone were still there.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, can I try it now?â€ Kazumi asked, but Akiko shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You might pick the wrong tree. I can only see which tree it is when I look for the spirits, and you can’t do that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can we go in together, then?â€ Akiko could easily understand Kazumi’s point of view. It felt so <em>good</em> in the forest, really alive, and now that they knew how to get out at the shrine, there didn’t seem to be any reason not to visit.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not just yet,â€ Akiko said. She took a deep breath. “There’s something else I think we should try first.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think the reason we couldn’t get back from the park was the pollution on the tree. I want to try purifying it, to see whether I can get through to the forest then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think this, what, magic forest?â€ Shiraishi really didn’t sound sure about what to call it, “is connected to the pollution around here?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko shrugged.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t really know. Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s definitely connected to the shrine, and I want to know how it works.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“All right, then. I’ll come with you to purify it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">An hour or so later, Akiko was standing in front of the tree, her belt already undone, holding the yukata shut as Shiraishi finished the purification ceremony. She had no idea how long it would take for the tree to get polluted again, and wanted to be ready as soon as it was clean.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As Shiraishi swung the ohnusa, the light swept the kegare from the tree, blowing it away like cobwebs, and for a moment the tree looked completely clean.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko dropped her yukata, and stepped forward to embrace the trunk.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a river again, sweeping her out, over a waterfall, so that she seemed to fall for ever before plunging into a pool of icy water.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The forest was all around her, the sun shining through the leaves as a gentle breeze, laden with the clean scent of wood, caressed her skin.</p>', 'A Way Back', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '828-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-26 16:19:42', '2009-08-26 07:19:42', '', 828, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/26/828-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(923, 1, '2009-12-07 00:00:03', '2009-12-06 15:00:03', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Everyone was still assembled in front of her, kneeling on the grass in their happi coats and loincloths. A few people had their faces to the ground, but most were staring. Staring at her, she realised, but for some reason it didn’t bother her. She stepped out of the pool onto the rocks around it, the stones warm and rough under her bare feet, and as she moved she became aware of a weight on her shoulders, something brushing against her skin.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko glanced down, and gasped in surprise. A wide cloak hung from her shoulders, overlapping in front to cover her completely below the neck. It almost shone in the sunlight, so brilliant was its whiteness, and it was a moment before Akiko realised that it was made entirely of feathers, from which drops of water were running down, glittering. Only her feet were wet.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She took another step away from the pool, onto the grass, glancing at Shiraishi. The priest was kneeling off to one side, her face tense and questioning. Akiko smiled and nodded, and Shiraishi visibly relaxed. She made a shallow bow to Akiko, and then turned to face the gathered people.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The pollution has been purified. And so, at this point, the special festival…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A sound from behind her, water falling into water, caught Akiko’s attention, and she saw Shiraishi glance sideways, immediately falling silent. Akiko turned back to the pool, and saw that its surface was churning, throwing off spray that landed on the surrounding rocks. There were colours in the water, lights dancing and shattering in the surface, gold and silver, green and red and purple.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Quickly, she turned to face the pool properly, stepping back to be off to one side, and knelt, bowing to calm herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Moments later Tamao’s head rose from the pool, his eyes shining as always, looking first at Akiko, then at Shiraishi, then beyond them to the gathered people. He rose higher out of the water, his head reaching above the stones of the iwakura as he looked down on them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko heard a squeal from behind her, followed by inarticulate sounds. Sounds of fear, incomprehension, disbelief.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>They can… see him?</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She risked a quick glance behind her, even though it meant looking away from the kami.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was no doubt. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Tamao, and several people looked on the verge of running. Kazumi, however, was calm, her face full of… longing, adoration. Old Mrs Tanaka had tears running down her cheeks, but she looked as happy as scared. Noriko was pale, biting her lip, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Akiko looked for Akira, and found him, near the back. As her gaze found him, he looked down from Tamao, straight at her, staring into her eyes with a look of wonder for several moments, before suddenly blushing and looking down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>They can see him.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s mind whirled as she struggled to come to terms with it. Everyone could see the kami.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bright Child,â€ Tamao said, and Akiko quickly turned back to him, bowing to cover her embarrassment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bright Child, speak for me.â€</p>', 'Cloaked', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'cloaked', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:42:43', '2009-11-24 02:42:43', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=923', 0, 'post', '', 5);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(925, 1, '2009-12-08 00:00:53', '2009-12-07 15:00:53', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The pollution has been purified, and my domain is safe. If you live your lives as you should and continue to pay me honour, it shall not return.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko bowed as Tamao finished, and then straightened up. The kami was staring at her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bright Child? Convey my words.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was puzzled. Surely everyone had heard Tamao speak? He had hardly been whispering.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They hear, but they do not understand.â€ Still puzzled, Akiko bowed again, and then turned to face the crowd.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao says that the pollution has all been purified, and the area is safe again. If you continue to honour him, the pollution will not return.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A few people bowed their faces to the floor, and then others copied them, until everyone was prostrate in front of the kami. Akiko turned back to Tamao, and knelt herself, bowing to the ground.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Suddenly, Shiraishi sounded a long, low “ohâ€, rising towards the end. Akiko felt, rather than saw, Tamao withdraw into the pool, but when Shiraishi finished and Akiko dared to look up, there was nothing to see but ripples on the surface of the water.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment the shrine was silent. Then…</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What was that?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Has it gone?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Was that the kami?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Will it eat us?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Will it come back?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Those were just the questions Akiko could make out, within the hubbub of shouting voices. Everyone was on their feet, most still hanging back from the pool, but a few stepping forward, looking at the water, Akiko, and Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What do we do now?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What does the snake want?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How can we get it back?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at Shiraishi, and the priest looked back at her, her face bewildered. Akiko smiled, hoping it looked supportive, and Shiraishi nodded slightly, her expression becoming solemn.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Be quiet!â€ The priest raised her hands, looking out at the gathered people. There was no immediate reaction.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What did it say? Why did Ms Tanahata speak to us?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where did the feather robe come from?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Quiet!â€ This time Shiraishi almost shouted, and everyone subsided, partly from shock. The priest took a few moments to look around, making sure that she had everyone’s attention.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“At this point, the special festival of Tamao Shrine has safely concluded. Thank you for attending.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She paused, visibly taking a deep breath.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We need to talk about what happened.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We certainly do! What was that?â€ someone shouted, but Akiko couldn’t quickly see who it was.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. We need to talk about Tamao’s manifestation.â€ A murmur passed through the crowd as Shiraishi confirmed what they had seen. “But I suggest that we all get changed first, and gather in the house. We need to discuss it calmly, and thoroughly.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The crowd looked at each other, and Akiko could see people remembering what they were wearing. There were a number of nods, and noises of agreement, and a few people started moving towards the house.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Once everyone is changed, we’ll meet in the large reception room,â€ Shiraishi continued. “That’s the one the women are using to change in.â€ People were moving towards the house now, glancing back towards the pool, and Akiko. Kazumi, however, had walked over to the pool and was crouching at the edge, her hand hovering over the surface of the water. She seemed to feel Akiko’s eyes on her, and looked up, sighing as she stood.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose we’d better get changed as well.â€</p>', 'Mouth of the Kami', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'mouth-of-the-kami', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:43:26', '2009-11-24 02:43:26', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=925', 0, 'post', '', 1);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(927, 1, '2009-12-09 00:00:35', '2009-12-08 15:00:35', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded, and turned towards the house. Shiraishi was still standing there, waiting for her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko,â€ the priest asked, her voice low, “where did that robe come from?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked down again. The feathers still shone white in the sun, but all the water had evaporated away.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know. It wasn’t…â€ She stopped, not sure how to explain what had happened. “In the kami forest, no, it wasn’t just there.â€ She stopped again. “I was fire. Or maybe the aramitama.â€ She shook her head, frustrated. “No, that’s not right either.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi and Shiraishi both looked sympathetic.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“For now, what do you know about the robe?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Nothing. I was wearing it when I appeared from the pool. I don’t remember it from before that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What are you wearing underneath?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s mouth twitched. Trust Kazumi. On the other hand, it was a sensible question.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Nothing, as far as I can tell.â€ Kazumi looked at her for a moment, and then nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just a moment,â€ she said, as she ran off towards the trees. Akiko quickly understood, but when she looked at the forest, she couldn’t see the kami tree.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You went into the kami forest, then?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied. “Didn’t you see me? The tree was right at the edge of the woods.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You ran into the woodlands, and out of sight. We couldn’t see the kami tree.â€ She looked like she was going to continue, but then she closed her mouth, and her eyes, for a moment, before opening her eyes again with a slight shake of her head. “You need to explain this to everyone. We need to decide what we are going to do with the robe.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do with it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s a feather robe received as a gift from the kami.â€ Shiraishi sounded slightly amused. “You can’t just take it off and hang it in the wardrobe.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. Ah, no.â€ That was a good point. “Maybe we should keep it with the mask?â€ Akiko suggested. Shiraishi nodded, slowly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. We can also ask Tamao what we should do with it.â€ The priest suddenly smiled. “There are advantages to the kami speaking to us directly, after all.â€ She went serious again. “But…â€ Kazumi appeared from the woods again, running over, and Shiraishi turned to look.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“At the base of the tree,â€ the girl said, holding up Akiko’s loincloth and coat. Akiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s what I remember doing.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Good,â€ Shiraishi said, “but what do we do about the robe?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I thought…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, sorry. I mean about you taking it off.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko, puzzled, raised her hands towards the neck, feeling inside.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There’s a hook here…â€ she began.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, not the practical problem,â€ Shiraishi said, quickly, blushing bright red. “I mean that I think we should do it in a ceremony of some sort. It’s not just a robe, after all. But you can hardly mess around putting clothes on underneath it. I mean, that wouldn’t be respectful. So…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko suddenly understood what was bothering Shiraishi, although Kazumi still looked baffled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So where do we do the ceremony?â€ Akiko completed the thought. “And when? We need to talk to the ujiko soon.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I need to write a norito for the ceremony,â€ Shiraishi said. “But if you can’t take it off before that…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I promise not to say,â€ Kazumi put in, grinning.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you all right with that?â€ Shiraishi sounded concerned now, and Akiko did have to think about it for a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose so. It’s really quite comfortable. And long.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right, then. Kazumi, you still need to get changed. Better hurry up.â€</p>', 'Robe of Feathers', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'robe-of-feathers', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:44:12', '2009-11-24 02:44:12', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=927', 0, 'post', '', 3);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(929, 1, '2009-12-10 00:00:21', '2009-12-09 15:00:21', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When they turned back to the house, they realised that everyone was waiting at the entrance. Shiraishi broke into a run.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I’m sorry,â€ she called out. “Please go in and get changed. I’m sorry.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi ducked into the office as soon as they were in the house, muttering about the norito and asking to be called, and Akiko followed Kazumi into the changing room. It was only when she was standing in front of her vestments that she realised she didn’t need to be there.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Get your mind back to earth, woman,</em> she told herself sternly, and then crouched to collect her vestments together. If they were going to have the meeting in here, it would be a good idea to tidy up a bit.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When she stood up, she noticed that most of the women hadn’t yet started to get changed. Kazumi was already pulling her vestments on, and Noriko was layering the kimono undergarments on, but just about everyone else was just standing there, looking at their clothes.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is there a problem?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“These clothes…â€ Mrs Tanaka replied first, gesturing at the clothes she had taken off. For a moment Akiko worried that they had been cursed or something, but she couldn’t see anything wrong with them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What about them?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They aren’t… suitable.â€ Another woman, someone Akiko didn’t know so well.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Too casual,â€ Mrs Ito agreed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It doesn’t seem very respectful to wear jeans at the shrine,â€ someone else chimed in, and there were murmurs of agreement.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I wish I’d worn a kimono,â€ Mrs Tanaka said. “It’s not like I don’t have enough sleeping in the closet.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t think Tamao would mind, but how could she say that tactfully?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mrs Ito looked down at herself, and pulled a face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We can hardly stay dressed like this, though.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">More murmurs of agreement.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Mrs Tanaka still sounded very uncertain.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We could have a naked meeting!â€ Kazumi suggested brightly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was absolute silence, as everyone turned to look at Kazumi. Akiko could feel herself blushing. The girl was grinning from ear to ear as she fastened the belt on her hakama.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Fastened the belt. <em>Oh, thank the kami. She’s teasing,</em> Akiko thought, and moments later Mrs Tanaka reached the same conclusion, and burst out laughing, quickly joined by the other women.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah… No,â€ she said, when she caught her breath. “No, I don’t think that’s a better solution.â€ She turned to look at her clothes again. “Well…â€ her voice was speculative for a moment, and Akiko couldn’t suppress a giggle. Mrs Tanaka flashed her a smile, and then shook her head. “We’ll just have to be more careful about what we wear in future. These will have to do for today.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sure the kami won’t mind,â€ Akiko said, seizing the opportunity. “You’ve just helped a great deal at the festival. And anyway, I think your attitude matters more than what you are wearing.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I still wish I was wearing a kimono,â€ someone said, to a lot of nods of agreement.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Next time,â€ Mrs Tanaka said, her voice firm. “Next time we dress properly.â€</p>', 'Changing', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'changing', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:45:06', '2009-11-24 02:45:06', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=929', 0, 'post', '', 1);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(931, 1, '2009-12-11 00:00:15', '2009-12-10 15:00:15', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko felt a little self-conscious, kneeling with the feather robe pooled around her while everyone else was dressed more normally. She was aware that people were glancing at her, although everyone was trying not to stare.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, then, if everyone’s here,â€ Shiraishi began, and everyone’s attention turned to her, “I think I’d like to start by explaining a bit about what happened.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were a lot of nods from around the table.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What was that snake? And the fire?â€ a woman asked, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s a good place to start. The snake was… is Tamao, the kami of this shrine. The fire was his aramitama, his fierce spirit.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“When Ms Tanahata spoke to us, was that what the snake said?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi turned to look at Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied. “What did it sound like to you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The snake’s voice? Well, I almost understood bits…â€ Mrs Tanaka started, before trailing off as everyone else nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think it was ancient Japanese,â€ Shiraishi said. “But maybe a bit older than the Japanese we use for the norito these days. I understood most of it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, the same as before, then?â€ Akiko asked, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Before?â€ Noriko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi said. “Akiko was possessed by Tamao when she formally became a miko, and he spoke through her then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How long has this been happening?â€ a woman asked, her voice shaking.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Only a few months. And this is the first time Tamao has appeared like this.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He first appeared to me a while before the fire,â€ Akiko put in, and Shiraishi nodded. “But no-one else could see him then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So what changed?â€ Mrs Tanaka sounded half curious, half sceptical.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao’s power, perhaps,â€ Shiraishi said. “There’s something else we need to tell you about before we can explain everything.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This area of Kawasaki was, until the festival, heavily polluted with kegare.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kegare?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Corruption. Decay. Pollution.â€ Shiraishi shrugged. “It’s what was causing all the accidents and the illnesses that you had. It’s what the harae clears away.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, today’s festival was a harae for the whole city. Well,â€ Shiraishi paused for a moment, “at least for the area covered by this shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did it work?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We think so,â€ Shiraishi said, looking at Akiko, who nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, everywhere looked purified,â€ she confirmed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“‘Looked?’â€ It was Mrs Ito. Akiko felt herself blushing again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I, ah…â€ She suddenly remembered that everyone here had seen the kami and heard him speak through her. They were hardly likely to doubt her now. Suddenly confident, she continued. “I can see the kegare, and there didn’t seem to be any after the festival.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How could you see the whole area?â€ one of the older men asked. Akiko was lost for words. How could she describe that?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“She was possessed by the kami,â€ Shiraishi said, rescuing her. “Anyway, the festivals, the wild festival and today’s festival, increased the power of the kami, and today’s festival purified the area. That might be why you were all able to see him.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You aren’t sure?â€ It was one of the younger women, and she looked very nervous. Shiraishi looked down, then glanced at Akiko and Kazumi for support.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I’m not,â€ she said, her voice steady. “This is all new to me as well. But it does make sense.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So all the little problems we’ve been having will go away now?â€ Mrs Tanaka asked, her voice a little sceptical.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What happened after a normal harae? I imagine it will be like that,â€ Shiraishi replied. “They should get somewhat better right away, but it might take some time to resolve them completely. At least the kegare won’t be interfering any more.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Will the kegare come back?â€ Noriko asked. She sounded nervous.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not as strongly, I think. Tamao should be strong enough to keep it at bay, as long as we continue the ceremonies.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were nods around the room, and people made comments to their neighbours. Shiraishi let them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what do we do now?â€ Akira asked, loudly, and silence fell again.</p>', 'Explanation', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'explanation', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:45:46', '2009-11-24 02:45:46', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=931', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(932, 1, '2009-11-24 11:45:34', '2009-11-24 02:45:34', '', 'Explanation', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '931-revision', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:45:34', '2009-11-24 02:45:34', '', 931, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/24/931-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(933, 1, '2009-12-12 00:00:54', '2009-12-11 15:00:54', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s a very good question.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We have to rebuild the shrine building,â€ Mrs Tanaka said, absolutely confident, and her daughter nodded, quickly followed by other people round the table.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How much money do we need for that?â€ someone asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Eighty million yen,â€ Shiraishi replied quickly. “Maybe a bit more.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Everyone went quiet again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, if I sold my house, that would be about half of it…â€ one of the men said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where would you live?â€ one of the women asked, but the man just shrugged.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Surely it’s more important that the kami be properly housed?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No.â€ Shiraishi quickly interrupted, her voice firm. “No, that’s not necessary. Tamao is protecting you so that you can live your lives, not so that you can give them up. We can raise the money from everyone.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll donate.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me too.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll need to talk to my husband about the amount.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko found herself smiling at the enthusiasm. Maybe they would be able to rebuild fairly soon.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ Shiraishi said. “We also need to look at the ceremonies we hold.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh yes,â€ Noriko said. “I’ll definitely keep coming to the morning ceremony.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There’s a morning ceremony? Why did you never say? What time is that?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just after dawn,â€ Shiraishi said, smiling slightly. There was a pause as people absorbed the information, but then they nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s good to get up early, right? Healthy lifestyle.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m always up by then anyway,â€ Mrs Tanaka said. “It sounds good to me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And we should have our homes purified more often, to make sure that the kegare doesn’t come back.â€ Lots of people nodded at that, and Akiko also found herself agreeing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think my daughter might want to become a miko,â€ one of the women said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ooh, can I be a miko too?â€ Mrs Tanaka asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Don’t be silly,â€ the other woman said. “Miko have to be, ah…â€ She broke off, blushing furiously. Kazumi glanced at Akiko, looking puzzled, and Akiko realised that Kazumi must somehow have avoided hearing that story.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Rubbish,â€ Mrs Tanaka said. “They just have to be unmarried. And I’m not married.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you were,â€ her daughter put in, and Mrs Tanaka waved her hands to show what she thought of that technicality.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Actually,â€ Shiraishi said, “miko can be married these days.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi suddenly went bright scarlet, staring down at the table. <em>Ah, she’s worked out what the story was,</em> Akiko thought. <em>I wonder how she managed to avoid hearing it.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But for now,â€ Shiraishi continued, “we have enough miko at the shrine. Akiko and Kazumi can do all that’s necessary.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Some shrines have part-time miko, right? Could my daughter do that?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Shiraishi said, “I suppose that if we have enough people coming at New Year, we might need it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If we get the kami on television, lots of people will come!â€ Mrs Ito suggested. Akiko stared at her in shock.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think…â€ she began, but then broke off, looking at Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I agree with Akiko. I don’t think Tamao will appear for the cameras.â€ She paused. “I’m also not sure that would be a good idea.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do we tell our friends? Our families?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tell people who will believe you,â€ Shiraishi said. “We don’t know whether Tamao will ever appear again.â€</p>', 'Ideas in Abundance', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'ideas-in-abundance', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:46:28', '2009-11-24 02:46:28', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=933', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(935, 1, '2009-12-13 00:00:36', '2009-12-12 15:00:36', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The grass was pleasantly warm under Akiko’s feet as she stood in front of the iwakura and pool, watching the light of the flame dancing within the stones.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Why can’t everyone else see it now?</em> she wondered. Everyone had seen the flames during the festival, but, apparently, only she, Kazumi, and Shiraishi could see them now. Was it just a matter of being officially affiliated with the shrine? But then shouldn’t the ujiko count? Or some sort of supernatural experience?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko? Are you ready?â€ Shiraishi was calling her from the entrance to the house.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Just coming.â€ She bowed to the stones and pool to take her leave, and walked over to the house. “You know,â€ she remarked as she entered the house, “this robe is really <em>very</em> comfortable.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You still can’t wear it all the time,â€ Shiraishi said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I know,â€ Akiko replied, “but it wants to be worn.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It has a mind?â€ Shiraishi sounded a little scared.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh, no, no. Just a metaphor. Probably.â€ Akiko quickly tried to work out exactly what she meant, which wasn’t as easy as she’d expected. “It doesn’t feel like formal robes, where you feel constrained while wearing them. It’s just really comfortable. Almost… no, that’s not quite right. I was going to say “liberatingâ€, but…â€ She stopped, shaking her head. “It doesn’t feel entirely normal, either.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe that’s just the lack of undies?â€ Kazumi suggested. Akiko pulled a face at her, but then turned serious.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, it’s not that. I keep forgetting that I’m not wearing anything underneath; that never happens with normal clothes.â€ Her words replayed in her mind, and she suddenly blushed. It sounded like she did it all the time. Kazumi was grinning, probably for the same reason. “You know what I mean, Kazumi. When we go to the forest, for example.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm-hm. I know what you mean.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“In any case,â€ Shiraishi started, obviously keen to change the subject, “we need to get you out of it now. We can think about what to do with it after that. It does sound as though just putting it in a box isn’t going to be right, though.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, let’s get started.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The three of them went into the main room, now empty, and stood in front of the kamidana. Noriko had lent them a kimono practice torso to drape the robe on when Akiko took it off, and it stood off to one side, a folding screen around it, one leaf open.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">First, Shiraishi read the purification norito and swept the ohnusa over them. Akiko let her vision switch to looking at the kegare, but the room was clear. There was multicoloured light pulsing from within the box holding the goshintai on the kamidana, and ripples of white light flowed within the feathers of the robe. There was no sign of anything from the box holding the mask.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi moved to kneel in front of the kamidana, and began reciting the norito.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Kakemakumo kashikoki…</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She thanked the kami for the gift of the robe, and promised to treat it properly, with reverence, and use it for the right purposes. When she had finished, they all bowed, clapped, and bowed again, before Akiko stood up, taking a couple of steps forward to the torso. Shiraishi moved to stand beside the screen, while Kazumi was on her other side, holding a hakui, the white kimono from her vestments.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Bowing her head once more, Akiko reached up inside the robe and released the hook. The cloak almost flowed off her back, and Akiko easily placed it round the shoulders of the torso, as it settled to hang naturally around it, the feathers still shining. She took a step back, and Kazumi was already there with the hakui; Akiko slipped her arms into it and Kazumi settled it on her shoulders. As Shiraishi closed the last leaf of the screen, hiding the robe, Akiko tied the belt around her waist.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They all bowed to the kami once more, to close the ceremony.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, it will do for now,â€ Shiraishi said after a moment, looking at the screen. “But we really need to sort out a proper place for it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe when we rebuild the shrine?â€ Akiko suggested, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I think it will have to be. I hope that’s soon, though.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And we need to find out what we are supposed to do with it,â€ Kazumi chimed in. “Do you think I could wear it, or is it just for Akiko?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ Shiraishi admitted. “We’ll have to ask Tamao.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I need to get changed,â€ Akiko said, feeling herself going red.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just put the hakama on,â€ Kazumi suggested, but Akiko didn’t dignify the suggestion with any more than a glare. Kazumi just grinned at her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You should be getting changed as well, young lady,â€ Shiraishi said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Why?â€ Kazumi protested.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You need to go home, and you probably don’t want to walk back in your vestments.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Why can’t I stay here? That’s not fair,â€ Kazumi was almost pouting now.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You were staying here until the kegare was cleared,â€ Shiraishi reminded her. “Well, it’s cleared now. Time to go home.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe I should stay until we’ve checked that everywhere is clear?â€ Kazumi suggested, although she didn’t sound too hopeful.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think we can be pretty confident already. Right, Akiko?â€ The priest looked to her for confirmation, and Akiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ she said. “I suppose it would be best for me to check again tomorrow, but I’m sure the festival purified the whole area.â€ Kazumi frowned, and looked like she was about to protest again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, go home,â€ Shiraishi said, insistently. She paused a moment. “You do have a home to go to, right?â€ The question sounded genuine, and Kazumi appeared surprised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Of course… I just like it better here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Don’t let your mother hear you say that,â€ Shiraishi warned, smiling despite herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sure she likes having the place to herself,â€ Kazumi replied with a shrug. She still wasn’t making any move to go.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, you need to go home.â€ Shiraishi’s voice was a bit more gentle this time, and Kazumi sighed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, OK. Can I come back to help with the morning ceremonies tomorrow?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course, if you’re up in time.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course I will be,â€ Kazumi retorted, sounding slightly offended. She looked around, and audibly sighed. “Well, I’d better get changed then.â€ Akiko turned to leave the room, and Kazumi followed her out.</p>', 'Disrobing', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'disrobing', '', '', '2009-12-13 11:48:10', '2009-12-13 02:48:10', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=935', 0, 'post', '', 7);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(936, 1, '2009-11-24 11:47:08', '2009-11-24 02:47:08', '', 'DIsrobing', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '935-revision', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:47:08', '2009-11-24 02:47:08', '', 935, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/24/935-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(937, 1, '2009-11-24 11:53:17', '2009-11-24 02:53:17', 'I''ve decided to extend the story slightly. While the donations are not enough to keep going long term, they are enough to justify doing a little more. Further, the original ending of episode 49 just stopped, with a lot of things unresolved. Obviously, that was so that I could resolve them in the sequel, which now won''t happen.\r\n\r\nWhile there are big issues that I can''t address in a fairly short epilogue, there are other threads I can tie up a bit more neatly, so I will. The story should now run until the end of this year, with four more episodes tidying things up a bit. I hope you enjoy them.', 'Extension', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'extension', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:53:17', '2009-11-24 02:53:17', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=937', 0, 'post', '', 4);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(938, 1, '2009-11-24 11:52:29', '2009-11-24 02:52:29', 'I''ve decided to extend the story slightly. While the donations are not enough to keep going long term, they are enough to justify doing a little more. Further, the original ending of episode 49 just stopped, with a lot of things unresolved. Obviously, that was so that I could resolve them in the sequel, which now won''t happen.\n\nWhile there are big issues that I can''t address in a fairly short epilogue,', 'Extension', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '937-revision', '', '', '2009-11-24 11:52:29', '2009-11-24 02:52:29', '', 937, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/24/937-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(939, 1, '2009-11-18 07:29:58', '2009-11-17 22:29:58', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sat at the kitchen table, her third cup of coffee in front of her as she tried to keep her eyes open.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Next time, I’ll insist on going into the forest,</em> she thought. Kazumi had finished breakfast, and had been sent to watch the shrine, while Akiko and Shiraishi discussed the problem of the school. Akiko explained what Yoshiko had said, and Shiraishi nodded as she finished.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That makes a lot of sense, actually. Waving the kami’s yorishiro around isn’t normally part of purification.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yorishiro? Oh, yes, the thing the kami is inhabiting. Well, it didn’t work, so obviously we were doing something wrong.â€ She took another sip of coffee, and frowned. “But what can we do to it right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, if we could get the kami to perform the harae, that might well work.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao doesn’t have hands,â€ Akiko pointed out, “and the aramitama doesn’t even seem to have a body.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That <em>would</em> make it a bit difficult,â€ Shiraishi conceded. “Although I think there are other ways to do purification; the ohnusa is just the most standard one today.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Like what?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, washing in a river or under a waterfall is the classic on. Using salt water or boiling water is also common. Transferring the kegare to a paper doll, and either burning the doll or dropping it in a river. Er…â€ The priest paused a moment. “I think there are some shrines that use small pieces of rope, as well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“None of those sound like things that Tamao could do, though,â€ Akiko said, and Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re right. They <em>are</em> all designed for people, after all.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think I should try to ask Tamao what sort of purifications he can perform?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wait, do you remember? He purified Kazumi with light when we saw him in the other shrine. Do you think he could do that for the school?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe…â€ Akiko thought for a moment. “But he didn’t suggest it. I know Tamao isn’t always as helpful as he could be, but failing to suggest that seems really obstructive.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe he’s testing us?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think so. I think he really wants the kegare to be cleared. The aramitama certainly seemed very angry about its presence at the wild festival; I don’t think Tamao would endure it for longer than he had to…â€ Akiko fell silent as something occurred to her. The aramitama had possessed her at the festival, and before, when she had worn the mask. “Revd Shiraishi, what about if I performed the purification while possessed by the aramitama? Would that work?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Could you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a good question. In the previous possessions, Akiko had not been fully in control of her own body.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know, but it might be worth a try. I was able to take the mask off during the wild festival, so I don’t completely lose control. Maybe if we explain to the kami first, I’ll be allowed to keep control.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked at her for a few moments, and then stared up at the ceiling for a while. When she looked down, she nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s worth a try. I’d better teach you how to do the purification properly.â€</p>', 'Making it Active', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '838-revision-4', '', '', '2009-11-18 07:29:58', '2009-11-17 22:29:58', '', 838, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/18/838-revision-4/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(940, 1, '2009-11-25 08:57:51', '2009-11-24 23:57:51', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sat at the kitchen table, her third cup of coffee in front of her as she tried to keep her eyes open.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Next time, I’ll insist on going into the forest,</em> she thought. Kazumi had finished breakfast, and had been sent to watch the shrine, while Akiko and Shiraishi discussed the problem of the school. Akiko explained what Yoshiko had said, and Shiraishi nodded as she finished.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That makes a lot of sense, actually. Waving the kami’s yorishiro around isn’t normally part of purification.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yorishiro? Oh, yes, the thing the kami is inhabiting. Well, it didn’t work, so obviously we were doing something wrong.â€ She took another sip of coffee, and frowned. “But what can we do to do it right?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, if we could get the kami to perform the harae, that might well work.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao doesn’t have hands,â€ Akiko pointed out, “and the aramitama doesn’t even seem to have a body.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That <em>would</em> make it a bit difficult,â€ Shiraishi conceded. “Although I think there are other ways to do purification; the ohnusa is just the most standard one today.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Like what?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, washing in a river or under a waterfall is the classic one. Using salt water or boiling water is also common. Transferring the kegare to a paper doll, and either burning the doll or dropping it in a river. Er…â€ The priest paused a moment. “I think there are some shrines that use small pieces of rope, as well.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“None of those sound like things that Tamao could do, though,â€ Akiko said, and Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re right. They <em>are</em> all designed for people, after all.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think I should try to ask Tamao what sort of purifications he can perform?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wait, do you remember? He purified Kazumi with light when we saw him in the other shrine. Do you think he could do that for the school?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe…â€ Akiko thought for a moment. “But he didn’t suggest it. I know Tamao isn’t always as helpful as he could be, but failing to suggest that seems really obstructive.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe he’s testing us?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think so. I think he really wants the kegare to be cleared. The aramitama certainly seemed very angry about its presence at the wild festival; I don’t think Tamao would endure it for longer than he had to…â€ Akiko fell silent as something occurred to her. The aramitama had possessed her at the festival, and before, when she had worn the mask. “Revd Shiraishi, what about if I performed the purification while possessed by the aramitama? Would that work?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Could you?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a good question. In the previous possessions, Akiko had not been fully in control of her own body.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know, but it might be worth a try. I was able to take the mask off during the wild festival, so I don’t completely lose control. Maybe if we explain to the kami first, I’ll be allowed to keep control.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked at her for a few moments, and then stared up at the ceiling for a while. When she looked down, she nodded.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s worth a try. I’d better teach you how to do the purification properly.â€</p>', 'Making it Active', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '838-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-25 08:57:51', '2009-11-24 23:57:51', '', 838, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/25/838-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(941, 1, '2009-08-28 12:08:00', '2009-08-28 03:08:00', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko paced around the tree, hoping that Yoshiko would put in an appearance tonight. Neither she nor Shiraishi had been able to come up with any alternative ideas for purifying the high school, and she really wanted to talk to the other miko. Kazumi had wanted to come too, but Akiko had finally convinced her not to come.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A flickering light approached through the trees, and Akiko felt a great sense of relief. Yoshiko emerged into the clearing, and bowed formally.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have been most remiss in contacting you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko bowed in return.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, it is I who should be apologising.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They straightened up and faced each other, and Akiko realised that she had no idea where to start. The silence stretched on, until Akiko had to break it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shall we continue not asking those questions for a while?â€ Yoshiko looked a bit surprised, and then nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think that might be better. I don’t understand what I saw. It was real, wasn’t it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Yes, it was.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Then… I don’t think I’m ready to ask about it yet.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Akiko agreed, “I don’t think I am, either.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was another awkward paused.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I do have a different question, though. About purification.â€ Yoshiko visibly relaxed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I might be able to help with that. What is the problem?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko explained about the school, and the heavy kegare. Yoshiko shuddered at the description.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ve never seen kegare spirits like that. So, you want to purify the place?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But it’s very difficult. Normal harae doesn’t seem to work.â€ She described their first attempt, and then the attempt with the gohei, following Tamao’s instructions. Yoshiko was shaking her head as Akiko finished.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m not surprised it didn’t work. You had the kami present in the gohei; waving it around might make the kami more energetic, but it wouldn’t purify the area.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It kept the spirits away,â€ Akiko pointed out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, yes. The aramitama would scare any kegare.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko leant back against the tree, letting her tension drain away for a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what should we do? We need to purify the place.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded, obviously thinking.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think you must be right about somehow involving the aramitama. I think that is what Tamao meant. But…â€ She paused, looking up at the tree as she thought some more, and then looking back at Akiko. “I don’t know. If the kami somehow performed the purification, that might work. But,â€ she said, quickly raising a hand to forestall the obvious question, “I don’t know how you would make the kami perform the purification. It’s a difficult problem,â€ she concluded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Akiko was silent for a few moments, lost in thought, and then she shook herself, and stood up. “Well, we did solve one problem. I know how to get back out of the kami forest here, rather than at that other place.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh?â€ Yoshiko suddenly looked interested.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We just chose the wrong tree. Each of the trees in the forest seems to be connected to a different tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. Yes, that makes sense,â€ Yoshiko admitted.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So… Should we practise the dances in the forest?â€ Yoshiko looked at the ground.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is a good place to practise,â€ she admitted, without looking up, “but…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, it’s OK,â€ Akiko said quickly. “We can practise out here. I brought the kagurasuzu.â€ She held it up, and Yoshiko quickly brightened, soon becoming engrossed in the dance lesson.</p>', 'Taking Advice', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '836-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-28 12:08:00', '2009-08-28 03:08:00', '', 836, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/836-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(942, 1, '2009-11-25 09:06:27', '2009-11-25 00:06:27', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko paced around the tree, hoping that Yoshiko would put in an appearance tonight. Neither she nor Shiraishi had been able to come up with any alternative ideas for purifying the high school, and she really wanted to talk to the other miko. Kazumi had wanted to come too, but Akiko had finally convinced her not to.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A flickering light approached through the trees, and Akiko felt a great sense of relief. Yoshiko emerged into the clearing, and bowed formally.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have been most remiss in contacting you.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko bowed in return.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, it is I who should be apologising.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They straightened up and faced each other, and Akiko realised that she had no idea where to start. The silence stretched on, until Akiko had to break it.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shall we continue not asking those questions for a while?â€ Yoshiko looked a bit surprised, and then nodded.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think that might be better. I don’t understand what I saw. It was real, wasn’t it?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Yes, it was.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Then… I don’t think I’m ready to ask about it yet.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Akiko agreed, “I don’t think I am, either.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was another awkward pause.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I do have a different question, though. About purification.â€ Yoshiko visibly relaxed.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I might be able to help with that. What is the problem?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko explained about the school, and the heavy kegare. Yoshiko shuddered at the description.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ve never seen kegare spirits like that. So, you want to purify the place?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But it’s very difficult. Normal harae doesn’t seem to work.â€ She described their first attempt, and then the attempt with the gohei, following Tamao’s instructions. Yoshiko was shaking her head as Akiko finished.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m not surprised it didn’t work. You had the kami present in the gohei; waving it around might make the kami more energetic, but it wouldn’t purify the area.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It kept the spirits away,â€ Akiko pointed out.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, yes. The aramitama would scare any kegare.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko leant back against the tree, letting her tension drain away for a moment.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what should we do? We need to purify the place.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded, obviously thinking.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think you must be right about somehow involving the aramitama. I think that is what Tamao meant. But…â€ She paused, looking up at the tree as she thought some more, and then looking back at Akiko. “I don’t know. If the kami somehow performed the purification, that might work. But,â€ she said, quickly raising a hand to forestall the obvious question, “I don’t know how you would make the kami perform the purification. It’s a difficult problem,â€ she concluded.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Akiko was silent for a few moments, lost in thought, and then she shook herself, and stood up. “Well, we did solve one problem. I know how to get back out of the kami forest here, rather than at that other place.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh?â€ Yoshiko suddenly looked interested.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We just chose the wrong tree. Each of the trees in the forest seems to be connected to a different tree.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. Yes, that makes sense,â€ Yoshiko admitted.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So… Should we practise the dances in the forest?â€ Yoshiko looked at the ground.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is a good place to practise,â€ she admitted, without looking up, “but…â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, it’s OK,â€ Akiko said quickly. “We can practise out here. I brought the kagurasuzu.â€ She held it up, and Yoshiko quickly brightened, soon becoming engrossed in the dance lesson.</p>', 'Taking Advice', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '836-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-25 09:06:27', '2009-11-25 00:06:27', '', 836, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/25/836-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(943, 1, '2009-11-25 11:55:41', '2009-11-25 02:55:41', 'There''s another place where you can vote for Tamao now, topwebfiction.com. <a href="http://topwebfiction.com/vote.php?for=tamao">Click on this link to vote now.</a> No need for a log-in, but there is a ReCaptcha anti-bot thing. Apparently, votes only last for seven days, which makes sense given the ephemerality of web fiction, so I''ll probably have to ask again, if it produces any visits.\r\n\r\nIn case you were wondering, the torii is empty because I''m writing an extra four episodes to bring the story to a nicer stopping point. You got some more story a bit early. There''s still space for a sequel, but if you want that much more, the torii needs to fill up again.\r\n\r\nThanks for all the donations so far, and I hope you like the extra bit of story.', 'Vote for Tamao!', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'vote-for-tamao', '', '', '2009-11-25 11:55:41', '2009-11-25 02:55:41', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=943', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(944, 1, '2009-11-25 11:55:22', '2009-11-25 02:55:22', 'There''s another place where you can vote for Tamao now, topwebfiction.com. <a href="http://topwebfiction.com/vote.php?for=tamao">Click on this link to vote now.</a> No need for a log-in, but there is a ReCaptcha anti-bot thing. Apparently, votes only last for seven days, which makes sense given the ephemerality of web fiction, so I''ll probably have to ask again, if it produces any visits.\n\nIn case you were wondering, the torii is empty because I''m writing an extra four episodes to bring the story to a nicer stopping point. You got some more story a bit early. There''s still space for a sequel, but if you want that much more, the torii needs to fill up again.\n\nThanks for all the donations so far,', 'Vote for Tamao!', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '943-revision', '', '', '2009-11-25 11:55:22', '2009-11-25 02:55:22', '', 943, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/25/943-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(945, 1, '2009-11-25 12:05:00', '2009-11-25 03:05:00', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her vision did not clear, and slowly she realised that she was wreathed in flame, that the light blinding her was the fire up against her skin. But the mask protected her, and she did not burn. She took a cautious step forward, and the ground rang again, smooth and slick under her foot, like metal. She looked down, but there was nothing but light. The feel of her vestments on her skin reminded her of what Yoshiko had said; it seemed that the mask really was protecting her clothes as well, this time.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She knelt on the ground, bowing her head respectfully, and waited. There was a humming in the air, a tension. The anticipation leaked into Akiko, and she felt her heart speeding up, her breathing becoming shallow and rapid, as fear and hope tumbled over one another in her stomach.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And she could see herself, kneeling on white-hot metal, the mask still firmly fixed over her face, the red and white of the vestments barely visible in the light. But she, she was in the fire now, and could feel it gathering, drawing in, becoming denser, a swirling mass in her centre.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She moved, in a direction she could not name, and was within the iwakura, looking out, light spilling from the stones and illuminating Kazumi and Shiraishi, who seemed frozen in place. Between them, two sakaki branches hung in the air, caught in the moment of falling to earth.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was kegare there, too, and it was not frozen, writhing in the earth, flowing through the air, battening on the grass, drawing the life from every stem. Strands of the black web were already reaching into Shiraishi and Kazumi, threatening the lights that shone in the cores of their beings. Akiko felt the anger of the Aramitama, and her own anger at the pollution rose up to join it, as the light boiled out of the iwakura, catching the lines of kegare, igniting them so that they blazed with a furious white light for a moment before vanishing. The fierce exultation of the Aramitama merged with Akiko’s own feeling, as it paused for a moment at the curtains, before surging through.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The spectators were also frozen, most looking towards the curtains, but others concentrating on the food they had just bought, or on other attendees.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kegare ran through them, reaching out from the ground to join the dark shapes that writhed and boiled in their hearts, pollution and weakness settled into their souls, eating them from within. Akiko felt an overwhelming surge of disgust, transforming into bitter anger, rage against anyone who brought such pollution into the kami’s home, a rage that wanted to burn, to cleanse, to leave the shrine pure.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As it started to move, Akiko’s mind exploded in panic. <em>It is going to kill them all!</em> She struggled to pull it back, pleading with it to wait, to think, but it was like beating the seats of a train; the Aramitama was moving forward, every moment stretched out in Akiko’s awareness as the flames reached towards the first of the spectators, the one closest to the curtains.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Satomi.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The corruption was lodged deep in her heart, running through her whole body, bursting through the skin even now, pestilent mouths searching for the streams in the air. She was a plague, a rot. She carried decay.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>She is my friend.</em></p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>I am not here, </em>Akiko suddenly realised.<em> I am seeing through the Aramitama, but I am in my body.</em> And with that, she knew what she had to do, though her mind shied away from it. As she hesitated, the flames moved closer to Satomi.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She reached up, behind her head, and felt the threads holding the mask. For a moment, her courage failed, but then she imagined Satomi burning, not just in a vision, not just for a moment, and slipped the knot.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The mask fell.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was looking out of her eyes, but she could see nothing as the agony swept through her, clothes gone in a moment, flesh curling and falling away as her body was consumed to ash, to dust, to nothing.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was in the Aramitama as it swept towards Satomi, and now it was the easiest thing in the world to sweep it aside, swing round her, and then dive in, focusing on the kegare, following the lines of corruption into her heart even as the pollution flexed and twisted to escape, not even attempting to strike back.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As if it could strike back against the inferno.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fire pierced into Satomi’s heart, consuming every last trace of kegare, and the woman’s life was, for the briefest of moments, utterly open to Akiko. And then it was gone, as the Aramitama swept on, guided by Akiko, striking at the kegare in every spectator, splitting into two streams, then four, then eight, doubling each time until there was a web of fire filling the precincts, linking all the spectators as their pollution burned away, white fireworks against the dark sky.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The streams of fire merged and flowed out across the shrine, no threat now to the purified spectators, flowing across the open grass, through the house, into the woods, around the base of the sacred tree. All the kegare was burned up, consumed, and the rage began to change, to harden into satisfaction and defiance. The light reached the edge of the precincts.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And stopped. Beyond, a great wall of dark smoke, within which eyes and mouths and insectile limbs and gaping wounds weeping foul liquids moved and hissed and mocked, forbade passage. The light rose up against it, making its own wall, claiming its own ground. The kegare shrank back a little, giving no ground but avoiding contact. The kegare was not afraid, though. Akiko could feel no awareness in it, nothing beyond a mechanical repulsion from the light.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fire soared upwards above the shrine, cleansing the air, raising a shield over the shrine that covered the trees of the forest, and the air above them, a shield that closed into a burning roof, as the fire poured down again, into the heart of the iwakura, and further down, down into the hill beneath, driving the kegare from the cracks in the stone and awakening something that had been dormant for years.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The hot water rushed up through the rock, bearing Akiko with it, bursting up through the iwakura, bouncing over the rocks to splash onto the ground, which sank away beneath it, forming a pool, a pool that rapidly filled with water. Akiko could feel the water warm on her skin, relaxing, calming, refreshing.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stood, and stepped out of the water, the mask in her hands, her vestments perfectly dry.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>On to <a href="http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/category/07-spreading-the-light/">Part 7: Spreading the Light.</a></em></p>', 'Purification by Fire', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '724-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-25 12:05:00', '2009-11-25 03:05:00', '', 724, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/25/724-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(946, 1, '2009-08-30 18:22:58', '2009-08-30 09:22:58', 'Akiko walked back to the shrine house deep in thought. She hadn’t really thought of festivals as a source of energy for the kami, but if they were then it did seem like a good strategy. They had been performing the shrine rituals more thoroughly recently, and doing the purifications in the area, so that might have had an effect. Akiko thought back, and realised that she hadn’t really seen Tamao since they had started offering food in the mornings and evenings, so she didn’t know whether it was having any effect on his level of power. In fact, she had almost no feedback on what they were doing.\r\n\r\n<em>Why don’t you talk to me, Tamao?</em> She shook her head, and paused as she came out of the woods, looking around the shrine grounds. Was there any way she could get Tamao to speak to her?\r\n\r\nThe iwakura immediately drew her attention. Even in the darkness, she could see it clearly, the stones standing out from the gloom of the night. She took a step towards it, the feeling that she was the focus of someone’s attention getting stronger by the moment. Another step, and her pulse sounded louder in her ears, strengthening, becoming a drum beat that reverberated through her whole body.\r\n\r\nBy the time she reached the stones she was stepping in rhythm with the beat of her body, and she sank naturally to the ground beside them, placing the kagurasuzu by her side, bowing so that her forehead brushed the grass, bowing again, raising her hands to clap twice, and then bowing once more.\r\n\r\nWhen she straightened up, she could see the fire within the stones, a shifting red glow, flickering and winking as it looked at her. It was warm, then hot. Sweat began to pour off her, and her heart suddenly started to race. Seizing the kagurasuzu, she pushed herself up from the ground, swinging the bells towards the sky and running round the stones, fast enough to lift the trailing cloth from the ground. She ran faster, her footing unnaturally sure as her breath came in shorter and shorter gasps. The cloth strips seemed to be longer now, the red light from the stones brighter, and she swept the kagurasuzu down, the tinkling of the bells briefly drowning the sound of her panting.\r\n\r\nThe light within the stones flared.\r\n\r\nShe swept the bells up, and the light flared again. Still running, she moved the kagurasuzu before her, in patterns that came to her from hours of dance practice under the tree, patterns that she had never used together like this before. The light waxed brighter, and hotter, and called to her wordlessly, a cry of desperate longing.\r\n\r\nThrusting the kagurasuzu high with a shout, Akiko turned and leapt into the heart of the stones.\r\n\r\nShe fell a short distance, landing on a rough stone surface. She put her hand down to steady herself, and then snatched it back, sucking her breath in hard. The stone was hot. She stood, unable to see anything in the darkness, the heat of the stone already coming through her shoes, and strained her ears for any hint of sound.\r\n\r\nThe light from the jet of fire almost blinded her, as the crack of its eruption set her ears ringing, and the stone shifted under her feet, making her lose her balance. She cried out as her hands fell on the hot rock again, and she could smell the scorched cloth of her vestments as she stood up again. Her eyes had adapted now, to the red light from the fountain of lava ahead of her, its glow reflected from the dark clouds low overhead. She was standing on top of a large, dark rock, surrounded by other rocks in a chaotic jumble. The gaps between many of them vanished into darkness, deeper than she could see, and even as she regained her feet, the rocks shifted again, as if in an earthquake, just as a strong wind struck her from behind, almost lifting her off her feet.\r\n\r\nLightning split the sky, and then lanced down to strike the rock next to her. Fragments of stone stung her face and hands, and the blast of air knocked her back. The rock heaved again, and a geyser of boiling water erupted from the crevice beside her, sending her staggering away as drops of scalding water fell on her hands.\r\n\r\n“Tamao!â€ Her scream was whipped away by the wind, drowned out by the thunder. The rock was rolling like the deck of a ship now, fire and steam providing spray as the other rocks crashed like waves.\r\n\r\n“Tamao!â€ Akiko was afraid, no, terrified. This wasn’t natural. This was rage. Fury. She fell to her knees again, unable to keep her balance, and cried out as the rock burned her hands. The ground tipped under her, the wind gusting far stronger from one side, and with a scream she lost her balance, tumbling across the rock towards the edge, her hands scrabbling for some grip even as the surface burned and tore at her skin.\r\n\r\nShe couldn’t hold on, though. The rock was tipping further over, and now the red light from below was from a raging fire, not molten rock but actual flames, red and orange and white, smoke rising from her vestments even now as she smelled her hair start to singe.\r\n\r\nAnd then the rock was vertical, and she fell into the flames. There was nothing but agony in darkness as the flames consumed her eyes, her body.\r\n\r\nShe was the fire. She wanted to dance, to leap, and she found that she could. Springing into the sky, she danced around the lightning, dodging the clouds, then plunged into a stream of lava, melting the darkening crust again, encouraging it to flow once more. She could still feel the rage all around her, but it was not directed at her. The wind swept down around her, gently carrying her up, up through the clouds, clouds which were the ground.\r\n\r\nShe was a fire in a brazier, in the grounds of the shrine. She could see around her in her own light, see the nearly-naked people carrying the mikoshi, the palanquins of the kami. They were racing, the men slightly ahead of the women, and around them other people were watching and cheering. She felt their energy, their enthusiasm, flow into her, and she burned more brightly, the sweat that coated their bodies catching her crimson light and scattering it back at her, returning it loaded with energy. The white loincloths, the gold of the mikoshi, the red of the scarlet torii, the shouts of celebrants and the beat of the drums, the scents of sweat and arousal; Akiko was overwhelmed, burning ever brighter, a tower of flame now, looking down on the festival from above and illuminating it like a sun.\r\n\r\nThe men won the race, setting their mikoshi down in front of the iwakura scant moments before the women. A priest, Shiraishi!, stepped out from the shadows with an ohnusa, and as she swung it in purification Akiko felt her passions subside, her flames shrinking as she calmed down, the light dying with the fire, hiding the end of the festival from her as she sank back down from the brazier, towards the ground.\r\n\r\nWhere she was lying, her cheek against the cool earth, left hand flung out, touching the rough stone of the iwakura with one finger, the kagurasuzu still gripped in her right hand, vestments warm against her skin.\r\n\r\nFor long moments she lay still, eyes closed, feeling her breath pass in and out.', 'Arakeidai', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '602-revision-3', '', '', '2009-08-30 18:22:58', '2009-08-30 09:22:58', '', 602, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/30/602-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(947, 1, '2009-07-11 20:38:54', '2009-07-11 11:38:54', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her vision did not clear, and slowly she realised that she was wreathed in flame, that the light blinding her was the fire up against her skin. But the mask protected her, and she did not burn. She took a cautious step forward, and the ground rang again, smooth and slick under her foot, like metal. She looked down, but there was nothing but light. The feel of her vestments on her skin reminded her of what Yoshiko had said; it seemed that the mask really was protecting her clothes as well, this time.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She knelt on the ground, bowing her head respectfully, and waited. There was a humming in the air, a tension. The anticipation leaked into Akiko, and she felt her heart speeding up, her breathing becoming shallow and rapid, as fear and hope tumbled over one another in her stomach.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And she could see herself, kneeling on white-hot metal, the mask still firmly fixed over her face, the red and white of the vestments barely visible in the light. But she, she was in the fire now, and could feel it gathering, drawing in, becoming denser, a swirling mass in her centre.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She moved, in a direction she could not name, and was within the iwakura, looking out, light spilling from the stones and illuminating Kazumi and Shiraishi, who seemed frozen in place. Between them, two sakaki branches hung in the air, caught in the moment of falling to earth.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was kegare there, too, and it was not frozen, writhing in the earth, flowing through the air, battening on the grass, drawing the life from every stem. Strands of the black web were already reaching into Shiraishi and Kazumi, threatening the lights that shone in the cores of their beings. Akiko felt the anger of the Aramitama, and her own anger at the pollution rose up to join it, as the light boiled out of the iwakura, catching the lines of kegare, igniting them so that they blazed with a furious white light for a moment before vanishing. The fierce exultation of the Aramitama merged with Akiko’s own feeling, as it paused for a moment at the curtains, before surging through.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The spectators were also frozen, most looking towards the curtains, but others concentrating on the food they had just bought, or on other attendees.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kegare ran through them, reaching out from the ground to join the dark shapes that writhed and boiled in their hearts, pollution and weakness settled into their souls, eating them from within. Akiko felt an overwhelming surge of disgust, transforming into bitter anger, rage against anyone who brought such pollution into the kami’s home, a rage that wanted to burn, to cleanse, to leave the shrine pure.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As it started to move, Akiko’s mind exploded in panic. <em>It is going to kill them all!</em> She struggled to pull it back, pleading with it to wait, to think, but it was like beating the seats of a train; the Aramitama was moving forward, every moment stretched out in Akiko’s awareness as the flames reached towards the first of the spectators, the one closest to the curtains.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Satomi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The corruption was lodged deep in her heart, running through her whole body, bursting through the skin even now, pestilent mouths searching for the streams in the air. She was a plague, a rot. She carried decay.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>She is my friend.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>I am not here, </em>Akiko suddenly realised.<em> I am seeing through the Aramitama, but I am in my body.</em> And with that, she knew what she had to do, though her mind shied away from it. As she hesitated, the flames moved closer to Satomi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She reached up, behind her head, and felt the threads holding the mask. For a moment, her courage failed, but then she imagined Satomi burning, not just in a vision, not just for a moment, and slipped the knot.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The mask fell.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was looking out of her eyes, but she could see nothing as the agony swept through her, clothes gone in a moment, flesh curling and falling away as her body was consumed to ash, to dust, to nothing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was in the Aramitama as it swept towards Satomi, and now it was the easiest thing in the world to sweep it aside, swing round her, and then dive in, focusing on the kegare, following the lines of corruption into her heart even as the pollution flexed and twisted to escape, not even attempting to strike back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As if it could strike back against the inferno.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fire pierced into Satomi’s heart, consuming every last trace of kegare, and the woman’s life was, for the briefest of moments, utterly open to Akiko. And then it was gone, as the Aramitama swept on, guided by Akiko, striking at the kegare in every spectator, splitting into two streams, then four, then eight, doubling each time until there was a web of fire filling the precincts, linking all the spectators as their pollution burned away, white fireworks against the dark sky.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The streams of fire merged and flowed out across the shrine, no threat now to the purified spectators, flowing across the open grass, through the house, into the woods, around the base of the sacred tree. All the kegare was burned up, consumed, and the rage began to change, to harden into satisfaction and defiance. The light reached the edge of the precincts.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And stopped. Beyond, a great wall of dark smoke, within which eyes and mouths and insectile limbs and gaping wounds weeping foul liquids moved and hissed and mocked, forbade passage. The light rose up against it, making its own wall, claiming its own ground. The kegare shrank back a little, giving no ground but avoiding contact. The kegare was not afraid, though. Akiko could feel no awareness in it, nothing beyond a mechanical repulsion from the light.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fire soared upwards above the shrine, cleansing the air, raising a shield over the shrine that covered the trees of the forest, and the air above them, a shield that closed into a burning roof, as the fire poured down again, into the heart of the iwakura, and further down, down into the hill beneath, driving the kegare from the cracks in the stone and awakening something that had been dormant for years.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The hot water rushed up through the rock, bearing Akiko with it, bursting up through the iwakura, bouncing over the rocks to splash onto the ground, which sank away beneath it, forming a pool, a pool that rapidly filled with water. Akiko could feel the water warm on her skin, relaxing, calming, refreshing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stood, and stepped out of the water, the mask in her hands, her vestments perfectly dry.</p>', 'Purification by Fire', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '724-revision-2', '', '', '2009-07-11 20:38:54', '2009-07-11 11:38:54', '', 724, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/11/724-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(948, 1, '2009-12-14 00:00:06', '2009-12-13 15:00:06', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko woke early the following morning, feeling completely refreshed. She remembered only fragments of her dreams, including something including Akira that made her blush, but there was nothing that seemed like a message from the kami. The sky was just beginning to brighten, but she could feel that there was no point staying in bed, and, in any case, she wanted to be up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Pulling on a yukata, she let herself out into the garden, hoping not to waken Shiraishi, if she was still asleep. The surface of the pond was very still, a dark mirror with a few sparks of light deep within it, and the breeze she created as she walked past was enough to make them dance. She purified herself at the entrance to the shrine grounds proper, and switched her vision to look at the kegare.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was none.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment, she wondered whether she had managed to change her vision, but the things she could see moving were not all birds and insects; some were clearly minor spirits of one kind or another. The iwakura and pool both shone from within; fire inside the stones, like a blaze in a hearth, while the pool was lit from below in Tamao’s five colours, the light shifting with the ripples of the surface.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko walked further into the precincts, looking around her. The sounds became clearer, with the buzz of insects and song of birds joined by the laughter of water falling into the pool, and a deep beat, below all the others, felt as much as heard, her bones vibrating in sympathy. She could hear the grass bending under her weight, and springing up again as she passed. At the side of the pool, she could feel its warmth, even in the summer air, and a faint mist hung in the air above it, a mist she could taste on her breath. The water tasted of invitation, and for a moment she crouched to look into it. Her reflection looked back at her, and just for an instant she thought she saw something else behind her, thought she saw Tamao, but then the snake was gone, and maybe she had just imagined it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stood again, and walked away from the central area into the trees. She could smell the wood and the leaves, and let her fingers trail gently over the bark of the trunks she passed, enjoying the warmth and roughness. The trees seemed to be leaning over her, faces in the leaves and branches, spirits in the form of large insects springing from one to the next.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stopped to watch them for a while, enjoying the play of light on their iridescent wings, the glitter of their carapaces, the sounds of their feet scuttling over the bark. The green-gold of the beetles, the brilliant rainbows of the butterflies, all living colours. There was no kegare here.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She walked further into the woods, aware that it was very dark in their shade, but still able to see clearly as the spirits stood out against the last of the night. As her feet disturbed the earth, she could smell the loam, and distant birdsong filled the background as she stepped into the clearing around the kami tree.</p>', 'The Precincts', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-precincts', '', '', '2009-12-14 14:58:11', '2009-12-14 05:58:11', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=948', 0, 'post', '', 5);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(949, 1, '2009-11-26 12:55:33', '2009-11-26 03:55:33', '', 'The Precincts', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '948-revision', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:55:33', '2009-11-26 03:55:33', '', 948, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/26/948-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(950, 1, '2009-12-15 00:00:48', '2009-12-14 15:00:48', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As ever, the tree looked spectacular to her spirit sight, life surging through it, up into the canopy of the forest and beyond, and the shide on the shimenawa seemed to shine with their own light. The shide reminded Akiko of Yoshiko; they looked fresh, so Akiko concluded that the other miko was still coming there. She wasn’t there now, however, and Akiko took another step closer to the tree, reaching out to touch it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The invitation was almost overwhelming. The kami forest called to her, welcoming her if she would only step inside. There was nothing needy or desperate in the request; just life and delight overflowing so that the tree could not help but want to share. Even here, standing outside, the energy made Akiko shiver slightly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She glanced around quickly, and then started undoing the belt of her yukata. She caught herself wishing that she hadn’t worn any underwear, and smiled wryly to herself. <em>Kazumi is a bad influence…</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She embraced the tree as soon as she was naked — Kazumi still hadn’t influenced her that much — and it felt as if she was hit by a wall of water, swept away, tumbled over herself, then thrown up into the air where winds swept her ever higher, through the clouds.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The kami forest was all about her, the energy so bright, so active that it almost blinded her, making her head spin so much that she had to reach out to a tree trunk for support. As quickly as she could, she dropped her spirit sight, but things only became a little calmer. She could <em>see</em> the trees growing, twigs pushing out, buds emerging, turning into leaves, unfurling, then turning a brilliant red before falling from the branch to the ground. Every branch, every bud seemed to be at a different season, as leaves constantly fell around her, vanishing into the labyrinth of roots under her feet, the brilliant green of new shoots a dazzling contrast.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She felt the passion within her, driving her to run, to dance. She was laughing, laughing from pure joy, and she let herself run, springing up into the branches, tumbling back to the ground, dancing with the trees, which seemed to, no, actually did extend branches to meet her outstretched hands, lift her into their crowns, push her upwards with their growth so that she rose above the tops of the trees, seeing an endless sea of emerald under a flawless azure sky.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko closed her eyes and raised her arms as the wind caressed her body, but as it blew more strongly she opened her eyes again, watching the waves sweep across the tops of the trees, laughing as she was swept up and down, her hair swept back away from her face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She leapt, catching the wind, letting it carry her, higher now and higher, so that she could no longer make out leaves in the green below her, no longer hear anything but the roar of the wind in her ears, feel nothing but its pressure on her skin. She knew she was still laughing, but that was all she knew.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then it lowered her gently back into the branches of the trees, branches that supported her limbs on soft new buds as they lowered her to the ground, in front of a trunk, through which she could see the shrine grounds, dawn stealing across them, and people approaching the steps.</p>', 'Kami Forest', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'kami-forest-2', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:56:22', '2009-11-26 03:56:22', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=950', 0, 'post', '', 3);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(951, 1, '2009-11-26 12:56:13', '2009-11-26 03:56:13', '', 'Kami Forest', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '950-revision', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:56:13', '2009-11-26 03:56:13', '', 950, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/26/950-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(952, 1, '2009-12-16 00:00:29', '2009-12-15 15:00:29', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko ran across the shrine grounds, her underwear tightly bunched and, she hoped, properly hidden, in one hand. She made it to the gate to the house gardens before anyone was close enough to require acknowledgement, and sighed with relief as she hurried back to her room. Shiraishi had just pushed the door open.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, there you are,â€ she said. “Get dressed quickly; there are a lot of people here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I saw,â€ Akiko said, as she climbed in through the window. Shiraishi’s eyes dropped to her hand, and the priest blushed. “I was checking the kami forest…â€ Akiko felt the need to explain herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ Shiraishi was still blushing, but she nodded. “How is it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Fine. No, better than that.â€ She dropped her underwear and started unfastening her belt; Shiraishi quickly skid the door shut, with a brief grunt of acknowledgement.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was putting her hakui on when the door slid open a fraction, and Kazumi, in her school uniform, slipped into the room, carrying her vestments.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry, Akiko. Revd Shiraishi said I should change in here; there are too many people to leave the other room closed.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah… OK.â€ It took Akiko a moment to catch up; Kazumi had already shed her blouse and was unfastening her skirt. “Too many people?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Dozens. All dressed up, too.â€ The girl was already picking up her hakui, and Akiko pulled herself out of her reverie, tying her belt and adjusting the collar before reaching for her hakama.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Despite her head-start, Akiko was only ready a few moments before Kazumi, as the younger girl finished tying her hair back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ready?â€ she asked, and Kazumi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think we’ll see him?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko didn’t need to ask who “heâ€ was.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have no idea.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hope we do,â€ Kazumi said, and Akiko paused with her hand on the door.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know… Come on.â€ She slid the door open as Kazumi looked at her quizzically, and then followed her into the corridor.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There really were dozens of people there, and they were all dressed formally.  All the older women were wearing kimono, as were a handful of the younger ones, and all the men were wearing suits. They were also waiting very quietly and respectfully. Akiko took a deep breath to calm herself, and bowed to them, aware of Kazumi following suit next to them, before walking calmly to the office.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked up as they entered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, good. Just the tables, today. We don’t have anything close to enough chairs for everyone, so it’s probably best if we all stand.â€ She glanced out of the window, and moved towards the door. Akiko looked to see Noriko approaching, with another ujiko she recognised behind her. “Let’s give people a couple more minutes to arrive, and then we’ll start,â€ the priest said, as she left the room.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“See,â€ Kazumi said. “Dozens of people.â€ Akiko nodded as she picked up one of the tables, while Kazumi grabbed the second. “Do you think it will be like this every day?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko didn’t answer. She had just seen Akira enter the shrine grounds.</p>', 'Morning Ceremonies', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'morning-ceremonies', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:57:03', '2009-11-26 03:57:03', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=952', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(953, 1, '2009-11-26 12:56:56', '2009-11-26 03:56:56', '', 'Morning Ceremonies', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '952-revision', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:56:56', '2009-11-26 03:56:56', '', 952, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/26/952-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(954, 1, '2009-12-17 00:00:12', '2009-12-16 15:00:12', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko found Akira a constant distraction during the ceremony. It wasn’t that he was doing anything; he was just there. She was sure he glanced her way rather more often than was strictly necessary, and she had to really concentrate when she was required to do something. Fortunately, she got through the whole thing without making any mistakes, and without any manifestation of the kami. Kazumi was visibly disappointed at the end, as were a number of the attendees, particularly those who had not been at the previous day’s festival. No-one said anything, however, simply handing over their offering envelopes to Shiraishi with thanks for the ceremony.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">With the ceremony over, Akiko found herself wondering what to do about Akira. <em>The kegare is defeated,</em> she reminded herself. <em>There’s no problem now.</em> She glanced his way again, and quickly looked away when she realised that he was looking at her. Not before she had seen him look away, though, and she was almost sure he had blushed a little.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira was dawdling at the back of the group, and after handing over his envelope he slipped away into the shrine. <em>Gone to pay his respects to his father,</em> Akiko thought, looking in that direction.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko!â€ Shiraishi called. Akiko looked round to see the priest glancing at Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, sorry, nothing. Kazumi will do it.â€ Kazumi was nodding vigorously. “You have some free time,â€ the priest finished, a little awkwardly, before hurrying inside. Kazumi followed, but looked back to grin at Akiko and give her a thumbs-up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>What on earth?</em> Akiko wondered, before it hit her. <em>They think I want time alone with Akira.</em> That realisation was quickly followed by another. <em>That’s not a bad idea.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She waited a little longer, and then started walking slowly towards the small shrine. She could see Akira there, and saw him finish paying his respects. He remained standing in front of the shrine, and gave no sign that he had noticed her as she came up to stand behind him.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akira…â€ she said, quietly. He visibly jumped, and then, a moment later, turned to face her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko. It’s a very nice morning.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is,â€ she replied, really not wanting to talk about the weather.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I mean <em>really</em> nice. Outside the shrine. Things feel much better than they have for, well, it feels like months, but I suppose it’s really only weeks.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really? Well, I suppose it should, after the purification.â€ <em>Good to have some confirmation, but I really ought to check,</em> she thought. This still wasn’t what she wanted to talk about, though.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, that was really quite spectacular. The fire and all that.â€ Akira was blushing, suddenly, and Akiko felt herself doing the same as she remembered what she had been wearing. And what Akira had been wearing. He was in pretty good shape, she thought.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The silence stretched on a bit, as Akiko searched for something to say.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?â€ she asked, suddenly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira was visibly shocked, and Akiko hoped that she was hiding her nervousness better. That got harder as he didn’t reply.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Then, at last.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Yes, that would be very nice. I’ll come and pick you up at six. Is that OK?â€ His face relaxed, and he smiled at her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s fine,â€ Akiko smiled back.</p>', 'Invitation', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'invitation-2', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:57:46', '2009-11-26 03:57:46', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=954', 0, 'post', '', 6);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(956, 1, '2009-12-18 00:00:54', '2009-12-17 15:00:54', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko knew she was still smiling as she walked back to the shrine house after seeing Akira off, but she couldn’t seem to stop it. Kazumi ran out of the door in her school uniform, grinning as she passed, and when Akiko entered the office Shiraishi looked up, also smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did it go well?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko didn’t entirely understand the question.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, it? I spoke to Akira. Oh, is it all right if I’m not at the shrine this evening? We’re going out for dinner.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. It did go well.â€ Shiraishi smiled at her, then looked down at the papers in front of her. “Yes, that’s fine. I’m not anticipating any crises.â€ Akiko could feel herself blushing. <em>Was I really that transparent?</em> she asked herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, another thing,â€ Akiko said, as she remembered her conversation with Akira. Shiraishi looked up again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you need me for anything right now? Akira said that the whole area felt better, and I’d like to go and look for kegare. Just to be sure.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked shocked, and was quiet for a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s right,â€ she said at last. “We haven’t checked. Yes, go and look. It’s a very good idea. Are you sure it will be safe by yourself?â€ The obvious worry in Shiraishi’s voice made Akiko briefly concerned, but only for a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll be fine. I’m sure that the festival did cleanse the area. It’s just…â€ She paused. “I should see for myself,â€ she finished, a little lamely. If she was sure, why did she want to see?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked thoughtful for a moment, and then nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Noriko said something similar about the atmosphere. OK, go on. Will you be back for lunch?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A little while later, Akiko was walking through the streets, looking around her. She could feel what Akira had meant; the whole area felt the way that the shrine did, somehow fresh and alive, despite the increasing heat of the summer day. The people she met seemed more cheerful than normal, and most of them greeted her in some way. She also saw quite a lot of people clearing up rubbish, tidying small gardens, or cleaning their homes.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She walked until she was some way from the shrine, too far for the direct influence of the shrine and its ceremonies to have cleared away the kegare, and then found a small park, in the shadow of several blocks of flats. Somewhere she could stop for a while without attracting too much attention. There was quite a bit of graffiti, but an older woman was clearing up litter, and smiled and nodded in greeting as Akiko entered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko went to sit on the bench, and looked around her, paying attention to the normal details of the scene. When she thought she had them fixed in her mind, she switched her vision over.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment, she wasn’t sure whether it had worked. Everything looked much the same. Then she spotted a small, dark plant, nestled among some litter, writhing tentacles reaching out and around it. Even as she was watching, the woman swept the litter up, and the kegare with it, leaving the spot clean.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Leaving her vision as it was, Akiko walked back to the shrine. There was scarcely any kegare to be seen, and what there was, was weak, and even entirely mundane cleaning seemed to destroy it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She knew she was grinning as she walked up the steps into the shrine, and didn’t feel like trying to hide it.</p>', 'Surveying the Territory', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'surveying-the-territory', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:58:30', '2009-11-26 03:58:30', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=956', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(957, 1, '2009-11-26 12:58:25', '2009-11-26 03:58:25', '', 'Surveying the Territory', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '956-revision', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:58:25', '2009-11-26 03:58:25', '', 956, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/26/956-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(958, 1, '2009-12-19 00:00:40', '2009-12-18 15:00:40', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko! Just in time,â€ Shiraishi called from the office. “Was it…â€ Her voice suddenly dropped, becoming much quieter. “It was clean, wasn’t it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“All clean. Hardly any kegare at all.â€ Shiraishi smiled, and Akiko could almost see her relax.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s good to know for certain. Anyway,â€ she started speaking in a normal voice again, “someone has come for a ceremony; could you get changed and assist, please?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The petitioner was a relatively young man, maybe in his thirties, dressed very smartly, and asking for a prayer for success at work. Akiko hadn’t seen him before, but he looked vaguely familiar; Shiraishi explained that he was the eldest son of the Yamaguchis, and that his mother had been at the festival. He was very polite, but he seemed very nervous, jumping when Akiko appeared in her vestments, and constantly looking around the shrine grounds as they prepared for the ceremony.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Even during the ceremony, he could barely keep still, looking at the pool and iwakura most of the time, but constantly glancing around, over his shoulders, and peering at the woodland. Akiko thought she could guess what the problem was, but wasn’t sure what to do about it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">After they finished the ceremony and he handed his offering over, he paused awkwardly in front of them, obviously wanting to say something. Shiraishi waited, so Akiko followed suit, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to say anything. In the end, Shiraishi broke the silence.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did you mother tell you about the festival?â€ she asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">His expression instantly changed to one of relief, and he nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did she really see that?â€ he asked. “The fire, the snake?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I assume so,â€ Shiraishi replied. “We certainly did.â€ She glanced at Akiko for confirmation, and Akiko nodded. The man looked around the shrine again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I didn’t really think she was seeing things, but… Is that the pool?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi answered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And you’re the miko who rose out of it in a robe of feathers?â€ he asked Akiko, suddenly turning to look at her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er… yes.â€ Akiko felt herself blushing. She had rather been the centre of events, she realised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The man shook his head, before turning to look around the shrine again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I was rather hoping…â€ he began, before trailing off, sounding embarrassed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You hoped to see the kami?â€ Akiko asked. He nodded, blushing and not meeting her eyes. “We don’t know when he will appear again, or even if,â€ she continued. “Yesterday was a special occasion.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mother said something about purifying the area.â€ Akiko nodded, but it was Shiraishi who replied this time.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s right. We cleansed the area of kegare, with the help of the kami.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What does that mean?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Didn’t you feel better this morning?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, yes, but… the weather, and…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s what it means,â€ Shiraishi said. “It’s not all about giant snakes, towers of fire, and beautiful women in feathered robes.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The man blushed again, and Akiko felt herself doing the same.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I suppose not,â€ he said. “But if I keep coming to the shrine…?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe. We really don’t know.â€</p>', 'Ulterior Motives', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'ulterior-motives', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:59:09', '2009-11-26 03:59:09', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=958', 0, 'post', '', 2);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(960, 1, '2009-12-20 00:00:18', '2009-12-19 15:00:18', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You need <em>sexy</em> underwear.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko could see herself blushing in the mirror, as Kazumi emerged from the bath towelling her hair and offering her opinion.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I mean, at least they match, but don’t you have anything more, I don’t know, lacy? Smaller?â€ Kazumi continued.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose you’d just not wear any,â€ Akiko retorted, desperate for something to say, but Kazumi shook her head vigorously.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh no. Teasing is very important. Sexy underwear, definitely.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s just a dinner date, Kazumi.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right.â€ The younger girl held Akiko’s gaze in the mirror, her face deeply sceptical. Akiko knew she was blushing again, and she looked away, concentrating on her make-up. Kazumi sighed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK, do it your way,â€ she said. “At least it won’t positively embarrass you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>It might not, but you are,</em> Akiko thought, as Kazumi pulled her underwear on.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s hardly sexy,â€ she commented, realising how stupid the comment was as soon as it was out of her mouth.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“<em>I’m</em> not going on a date,â€ Kazumi retorted. “I don’t think Tamao’s very interested in my underwear.â€ She started pulling her vestments on. “Although maybe we should ask Yoshiko what the traditional underwear really is.â€ She frowned for a moment. “I should have paid attention when we came out of the kami forest.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi! Please leave me alone to get dressed!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Laughing, Kazumi left the room, leaving Akiko alone with her reflection and her nerves.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She looked at herself critically. Should she put sexier underwear on? She didn’t want to look too forward. <em>If</em> anything like that happened. Which it might not. It was just a dinner date. That was all. She glanced at the clock. <em>And if I don’t hurry, I’m going to be late!</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was dressed before Akira arrived, waiting in the hall of the shrine house, telling herself she was being silly. She’d been on dates with him before. There was nothing to worry about. Well, apart from that stupid grin on Kazumi’s face as she watched her pace back and forth.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh! Here he comes! Quick, run away!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko glared at Kazumi, and took a deep breath, fighting down the urge to do as she suggested.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Um. Good evening, Akiko.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Good evening, Akira.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You look, ah, very nice.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you. You look good as well.â€ It was true. He was wearing a suit, and it made him look more mature and serious. “Er, have you decided where we’re going?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. Oh yes. I managed to make reservations. Um. Shall we go?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is it all right?â€ Akiko turned back to the office. Kazumi was openly watching them and grinning, while Shiraishi was apparently absorbed in some papers.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, have fun,â€ the priest said, without looking up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You need to be back in time for the morning ceremonies!â€ Kazumi added, making Akiko, and, she noticed, Akira blush.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, go and get the o-fuda supplies,â€ Shiraishi said, a little sharply. Kazumi pulled a face and ran off, waving to them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was quiet in the car, as was Akira. The restaurant was very nice, Japanese-style with a private room, and the kimono-clad waitress brought the dishes in sequence.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I went to have a look around the area this morning,â€ Akiko said at last, breaking the silence.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh? Did you feel it too?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. And I saw it. There was hardly any kegare.â€ Akiko described what she had seen, becoming a bit more animated as she did so, Akira nodding, and making all the right noises.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That sounds good. So the festival worked, then?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It seems so. It’s really a relief; we were running out of ideas for dealing with it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, what happened?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The question was very sudden, and it took a few moments for Akiko to work out exactly what Akira meant.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You mean to me?â€ she asked, checking. Akira nodded. “I…â€ She suddenly realised how much there was to explain. “It’s a long story.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ve got all evening, and I can’t think of a better way to spend it,â€ Akira said, smiling now, and Akiko smiled back. It was true, she could tell him about it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Explaining the kami forest and the purification took quite a while, with lots of questions from Akira. They both went bright red when Akiko explained that you had to be naked to get in, but apart from that it was easier than Akiko had expected. Akira was very willing to believe her, and that helped a lot.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But what caused the pollution in the first place?â€ he asked when she had finished.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ she replied, suddenly feeling worried again. “Maybe just Tamao’s weakness? The attack on the shrine?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The attack? Oh, the fire. Yes, yes, I suppose that could be it.â€ Akira looked thoughtful, and took a bit to eat. Akiko waited for him to continue.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Talking of this fire, did you hear about Wakabayashi?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wakabayashi? No.â€ With a shock, Akiko realised that she’d almost forgotten about it. How on earth could she have done that?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“His company is being investigated for fraud. Nothing is public yet; I’ve just heard through the industry grapevine. Some people say it’s tax evasion, or padding his invoices to the government. A few people claim he’s been skimping on the earthquake precautions for his buildings, although the company has officially denied those rumours. The police are saying nothing yet, though. There are a few people saying he’s just gone bankrupt, and that the investigation will find nothing apart from a few messy contracts.â€ Akira frowned slightly. “Those are the people most closely associated with him.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So they’re biased,â€ Akiko said, and Akira nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But also the best informed,â€ he pointed out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What about Mr Wakabayashi himself?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He’s apparently been keeping a very low profile. Staying away from the company as much as possible, so that he can’t be accused of interfering with the evidence, but cooperating with the police when they ask.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So that’s why he seemed to disappear.â€ Akiko thought about it for a few moments, and then shrugged. “Well, in any case, it seems to have saved us from having to deal with him. We should be grateful for that.â€ She shook her head. “Can’t we talk about something more cheerful?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira looked slightly hurt for a moment, but then smiled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re right. Far too serious. We should enjoy the date.â€ He blushed as he said that, and Akiko felt her face heating up in response.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She nodded, nevertheless.</p>', 'Date', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'date-2', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:59:41', '2009-11-26 03:59:41', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=960', 0, 'post', '', 3);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(961, 1, '2009-11-26 12:59:33', '2009-11-26 03:59:33', '', 'Date', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '960-revision', '', '', '2009-11-26 12:59:33', '2009-11-26 03:59:33', '', 960, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/26/960-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(962, 1, '2009-08-28 12:09:24', '2009-08-28 03:09:24', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, hold it a bit higher. About here.â€ Shiraishi lifted Akiko’s hands, so that the ohnusa was at chest level. “Now, left hand up a bit. You want to hold the head of the ohnusa a bit higher than the handle.â€ The priest stepped back, as Akiko held her position, and considered her for a minute, before nodding. “That’s good. Now, walk forward, left foot first.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko carefully followed the instructions, although she couldn’t shake a worry about them. Finally, they finished, and Shiraishi said she could take a break before practising again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, am I going to be able to perform all of these movements correctly while possessed and being attacked by giant cockroaches?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, if you practise them…â€ Shiraishi suddenly came to stop, and then grinned, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I took that question completely seriously.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Akiko started to protest, and Shiraishi raised a hand.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I know. It’s just a straight question about the circumstances you are studying for. But… ‘while possessed and being attacked by giant cockroaches’? That’s weird.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, they aren’t really giant cockroaches,â€ Akiko offered, but she could see the priest’s point. When had such things become everyday matters of course for her? And, more to the point, <em>how?</em> <em>They turned up in your everyday life,</em> a voice said in the back of her mind. <em>You are really quite adaptable.</em> “Anyway, am I going to be able to do it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If you practice enough, I think so. It needs to be more-or-less automatic.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose I’d better do plenty of practice, then. Let’s try it again.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The movements were not the only thing Akiko needed to practise; she also had to practise reading the purification norito.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You carry a piece of paper with it written on,â€ Shiraishi explained, “but given the giant cockroach situation, you’d better try to memorise it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“‘Giant cockroach situation’?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry.â€ Shiraishi did sound apologetic. “I just can’t shake the sense that it’s somehow ridiculous.â€ She grimaced. “Maybe I should apologise to Kazumi for shouting at her about joking about it; it does have a weird side. Anyway, let’s try it again.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was lunchtime before Shiraishi let Akiko try a full harae, and Kazumi volunteered to be the subject of it. As Akiko knelt in front of the ohnusa, reciting the norito, she felt something building up inside her, something like tension, like the crackle of static electricity in the air, like the ominous calm of an approaching typhoon. Fragments of kegare suddenly became strikingly obvious to her, tiny deformed insects scuttling across the grass even as they were consumed by a light that seemed to come from the green blades.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When she picked up the ohnusa, she could see the light within it, and as she swung it she felt an incredible sense of release, as the power that had built up inside her swept out, a wave of light that obliterated all kegare before it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was good,â€ Shiraishi said. “You seem to be getting the hang of these ceremonies.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, is it possible to do the harae without any tools?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No tools? Well, I’m sure we could think of something. Is it in case you drop them?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, although that’s actually a good point. No, I was thinking about the kami forest. Maybe I can purify the trees, and get back through them.â€</p>', 'Bare Purification', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '840-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-28 12:09:24', '2009-08-28 03:09:24', '', 840, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/840-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(963, 1, '2009-11-27 17:02:48', '2009-11-27 08:02:48', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, hold it a bit higher. About here.â€ Shiraishi lifted Akiko’s hands, so that the ohnusa was at chest level. “Now, left hand up a bit. You want to hold the head of the ohnusa a bit higher than the handle.â€ The priest stepped back, as Akiko held her position, and considered her for a minute, before nodding. “That’s good. Now, walk forward, left foot first.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko carefully followed the instructions, although she couldn’t shake a worry about them. Finally, they finished, and Shiraishi said she could take a break before practising again.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, am I going to be able to perform all of these movements correctly while possessed and being attacked by giant cockroaches?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, if you practise them…â€ Shiraishi suddenly came to stop, and then grinned, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I took that question completely seriously.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Akiko started to protest, and Shiraishi raised a hand.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I know. It’s just a straight question about the circumstances you are studying for. But… ‘while possessed and being attacked by giant cockroaches’? That’s weird.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, they aren’t really giant cockroaches,â€ Akiko offered, but she could see the priest’s point. When had such things become everyday matters of course for her? And, more to the point, <em>how?</em> <em>They turned up in your everyday life,</em> a voice said in the back of her mind. <em>You are really quite adaptable.</em> “Anyway, am I going to be able to do it?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If you practise enough, I think so. It needs to be more-or-less automatic.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose I’d better do plenty of practice, then. Let’s try it again.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The movements were not the only thing Akiko needed to practise; she also had to practise reading the purification norito.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You carry a piece of paper with it written on,â€ Shiraishi explained, “but given the giant cockroach situation, you’d better try to memorise it.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“‘Giant cockroach situation’?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry.â€ Shiraishi did sound apologetic. “I just can’t shake the sense that it’s somehow ridiculous.â€ She grimaced. “Maybe I should apologise to Kazumi for shouting at her about joking about it; it does have a weird side. Anyway, let’s try it again.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was lunchtime before Shiraishi let Akiko try a full harae, and Kazumi volunteered to be the subject of it. As Akiko knelt in front of the ohnusa, reciting the norito, she felt something building up inside her, something like tension, like the crackle of static electricity in the air, like the ominous calm of an approaching typhoon. Fragments of kegare suddenly became strikingly obvious to her, tiny deformed insects scuttling across the grass even as they were consumed by a light that seemed to come from the green blades.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When she picked up the ohnusa, she could see the light within it, and as she swung it she felt an incredible sense of release, as the power that had built up inside her swept out, a wave of light that obliterated all kegare before it.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was good,â€ Shiraishi said. “You seem to be getting the hang of these ceremonies.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, is it possible to do the harae without any tools?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No tools? Well, I’m sure we could think of something. Is it in case you drop them?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, although that’s actually a good point. No, I was thinking about the kami forest. Maybe I can purify the trees, and get back through them.â€</p>', 'Bare Purification', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '840-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-27 17:02:48', '2009-11-27 08:02:48', '', 840, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/27/840-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(964, 1, '2009-11-29 21:20:39', '2009-11-29 12:20:39', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The dark fog of kegare was close around Akiko, and she nodded, trusting that Shiraishi would be able to see the signal. She heard the priest begin the harae norito, and looked around, hoping to see some change.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They were back in front of the school, Akiko carrying the mask from the shrine, but there was no way that they could try calling the kami into such a polluted area. So, the plan was for Shiraishi to purify the area around them first, and hope that this did not draw the attention of the spirits in the school.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fog began to visibly shift, and Akiko caught a glimpse of light. She looked in all directions, but there was still no sign of any spirit larger than a mosquito, and the smaller ones were all driven off by the faint aura surrounding her body.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The light brightened suddenly, as Shiraishi swung the ohnusa and drove the kegare back. She swung again, and the fog was driven away, leaving Akiko and Shiraishi in a clear area. With the final swing, Shiraishi completed the purification, and a glow seemed to settle on the ground and in the air, holding back the corruption. Akiko looked around once more; still no sign of the spirits.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It looks OK,â€ she said, as she walked a bit closer to the edge of the purified area. She could see the fog rubbing up against the light, now, like sandpaper, slowly eroding it. It wouldn’t last for ever, but they should have enough time. She looked back at the priest, who nodded, holding the ohnusa ready.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stepped back to the centre of the purified area, and took a deep breath as she raised the mask towards her face. She remembered the pain of the previous times the aramitama had taken her, and for a moment her hands froze, the mask still only halfway up.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I see the spirits,â€ Shiraishi warned. “I think they’ve noticed us.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Swallowing her fear, Akiko quickly lifted the mask the rest of the way, settling it over her face, reaching back to tie the strings.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The rage filled her like the wind in sails, driving all other thoughts from her mind. The wall of kegare in front of her still blocked her vision, but now it was painful to look at, as if the sandpaper was rubbing on her eyeballs.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Taking a deep breath, she blew at the fog, and the wind that sprang up around her caught the kegare, twisting it, scattering it, and leaving the school clear to view.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She could see no spirits, but the kegare was obvious, veins of black running through the structure of the building, weaknesses in the pillars supporting it. Currents in the air spoke of fatigue and malice, while the ground was barren, parched and ready to soak up any water, any life that might be poured out on it. The rage flared within her again, and she took a step forward, shifting her weight, ready to run.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko!â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi’s shout was barely audible, but it was enough.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>No, </em> Akiko thought, throwing all her willpower into not moving. <em>Not like that. Not. Like. That.</em></p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She took two steps forward, and stopped, breathing hard. The rage was still boiling inside her, and sweat was streaming off her. She could still see the light from Shiraishi’s purification, sparks being sucked off and into the school, where the currents of darkness absorbed them. Those currents were shifting now, starting to flow out of the building and towards Akiko. But she still couldn’t move. The aramitama wanted to run straight into the school, and fighting that urge was taking all her effort.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Harae,</em> she thought, directing it at the rage within her. <em>Purify the place.</em></p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The currents of decay had reached the edge of the light now, but although they scythed off a bit of the illumination every time they touched it, it was still slow. They still had time.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Harae,</em> Akiko thought again, and turned towards Shiraishi.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest was pale, staring at Akiko, and the ohnusa was shaking slightly in her hands, but she still stood there, holding it ready.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stopped in front of the priest, and bowed. The second time was much easier, the aramitama no longer resisting. She began to recite the norito, aware as she did so that the darkness surrounding them was crowding in, pressing on the barrier of light, as the rage began to build within her again. Forcing herself to focus on the ohnusa, she continued the norito. Light appeared within the shide, and the words flowed out easily, two days of practice showing their worth.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She caught a glimpse of the movement out of the corner of her eye, and felt something cold and empty brush against her skin. She remembered failing a test at elementary school, one she had bragged to all her friends was really easy. She remembered a really bad choice of boyfriend, dumped after an excruciating week. Failure after embarrassing failure came back to her.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And were swept away by the rage, and by the flow of words, as the norito continued to fall from her lips, and the light in the ohnusa strengthened, blossoming into fire.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She took the ohnusa from Shiraishi, holding as she had been taught, and turning to face the school.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In front of her loomed a gigantic figure, like a centipede formed by a rent in the air, a rent into a dark void, an emptiness, a lack in the world. Its jaws clashed together above her head, with a sound like the death of music. As Akiko raised the ohnusa, the thing fell back a pace, its head lowering towards her.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She swung, and the centipede flinched back, dozens of legs scrabbling for purchase as a wave of fire swept over it, illuminating the void, a hundred sparks in the blackness.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She swung again, and the sparks within the centipede grew brighter, flaring in moments into a hundred suns, light that filled the void and vanished, along with the creature itself.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The school was visible now, hunched over, the decay running through it all too obvious. It was in the walls, in the floors, in the water and the books, in the very air of the classrooms. Fear, exhaustion, despair; no sign that the building was normally filled with people on the verge of adulthood.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko swung the ohnusa one last time, and the fire rushed from it in a towering wave, burning red and purple, green and gold, silver limning the edges of the flames. The school grounds vanished in a burning lake, and the buildings were surrounded, covered, hidden in the light.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The flames burned brighter, blindingly so, and Akiko felt the rage within her change to exultation. She could see nothing but the light, hear nothing but the roar of the fire, feel nothing but fierce joy in purity.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then it was over, the mask falling from her face, bouncing off the ohnusa to land on the ground, spinning a few times before rocking to a stop in the darkness.</p>', 'Rematch', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '846-autosave', '', '', '2009-11-29 21:20:39', '2009-11-29 12:20:39', '', 846, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/11/29/846-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(965, 1, '2009-08-28 12:11:40', '2009-08-28 03:11:40', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The dark fog of kegare was close around Akiko, and she nodded, trusting that Shiraishi would be able to see the signal. She heard the priest begin the harae norito, and looked around, hoping to see some change.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They were back in front of the school, Akiko carrying the mask from the shrine, but there was no way that they could try calling the kami into such a polluted area. So, the plan was for Shiraishi to purify the area around them first, and hope that this did not draw the attention of the spirits in the school.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fog began to visibly shift, and Akiko caught a glimpse of light. She looked in all directions, but there was still no size of any spirit larger than a mosquito, and the smaller ones were all driven off by the faint aura surrounding her body.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The light brightened suddenly, as Shiraishi swung the ohnusa and drove the kegare back. She swung again, and the fog was driven away, leaving Akiko and Shiraishi in a clear area. With the final swing, Shiraishi completed the purification, and a glow seemed to settle on the ground and in the air, holding back the corruption. Akiko looked around once more; still no sign of the spirits.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It looks OK,â€ she said, as she walked a bit closer to the edge of the purified area. She could see the fog rubbing up against the light, now, like sandpaper, slowly eroding it. It wouldn’t last for ever, but they should have enough time. She looked back at the priest, who nodded, holding the ohnusa ready.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stepped back to the centre of the purified area, and took a deep breath as she raised the mask towards her face. She remembered the pain of the previous times the aramitama had taken her, and for a moment her hands froze, the mask still only halfway up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I see the spirits,â€ Shiraishi warned. “I think they’ve noticed us.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Swallowing her fear, Akiko quickly lifted the mask the rest of the way, settling it over her face, reaching back to tie the strings.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The rage filled her like the wind in sails, driving all other thoughts from her mind. The wall of kegare in front of her still blocked her vision, but now it was painful to look at, as if the sandpaper was rubbing on her eyeballs.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Taking a deep breath, she blew at the fog, and the wind that sprang up around her caught the kegare, twisting it, scattering it, and leaving the school clear to view.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She could see no spirits, but the kegare was obvious, veins of black running through the structure of the building, weaknesses in the pillars supporting it. Currents in the air spoke of fatigue and malice, while the ground was barren, parched and ready to soak up any water, any life that might be poured out on it. The rage flared within her again, and she took a step forward, shifting her weight, ready to run.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi’s shout was barely audible, but it was enough.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>No, </em> Akiko thought, throwing all her willpower into not moving. <em>Not like that. Not. Like. That.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She took two steps forward, and stopped, breathing hard. The rage was still boiling inside her, and sweat was streaming off her. She could still see the light from Shiraishi’s purification, sparks being sucked off and into the school, where the currents of darkness absorbed them. Those currents were shifting now, starting to flow out of the building and towards Akiko. But she still couldn’t move. The aramitama wanted to run straight into the school, and fighting that urge was taking all her effort.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Harae,</em> she thought, directing it at the rage within her. <em>Purify the place.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The currents of decay had reached the edge of the light now, but although they scythed off a bit of the illumination every time they touched it, it was still slow. They still had time.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Harae,</em> Akiko thought again, and turned towards Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest was pale, staring at Akiko, and the ohnusa was shaking slightly in her hands, but she still stood there, holding it ready.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stopped in front of the priest, and bowed. The second time was much easier, the aramitama no longer resisting. She began to recite the norito, aware as she did so that the darkness surrounding them was crowding in, pressing on the barrier of light, as the rage began to build within her again. Forcing herself to focus on the ohnusa, she continued the norito. Light appeared within the shide, and the words flowed out easily, two days of practice showing their worth.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She caught a glimpse of the movement out of the corner of her eye, and felt something cold and empty brush against her skin. She remembered failing a test at elementary school, one she had bragged to all her friends was really easy. She remembered a really bad choice of boyfriend, dumped after an excruciating week. Failure after embarrassing failure came back to her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And were swept away by the rage, and by the flow of words, as the norito continued to fall from her lips, and the light in the ohnusa strengthened, blossoming into fire.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She took the ohnusa from Shiraishi, holding as she had been taught, and turning to face the school.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In front of her loomed a gigantic figure, like a centipede formed by a rent in the air, a rent into a dark void, an emptiness, a lack in the world. Its jaws clashed together above her head, with a sound like the death of music. As Akiko raised the ohnusa, the thing fell back a pace, its head lowering towards her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She swung, and the centipede flinched back, dozens of legs scrabbling for purchase as a wave of fire swept over it, illuminating the void, a hundred sparks in the blackness.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She swung again, and the sparks within the centipede grew brighter, flaring in moments into a hundred suns, light that filled the void and vanished, along with the creature itself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The school was visible now, hunched over, the decay running through it all too obvious. It was in the walls, in the floors, in the water and the books, in the very air of the classrooms. Fear, exhaustion, despair; no sign that the building was normally filled with people on the verge of adulthood.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko swung the ohnusa one last time, and the fire rushed from it in a towering wave, burning red and purple, green and gold, silver limning the edges of the flames. The school grounds vanished in a burning lake, and the buildings were surrounded, covered, hidden in the light.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The flames burned brighter, blindingly so, and Akiko felt the rage within her change to exultation. She could see nothing but the light, hear nothing but the roar of the fire, feel nothing but fierce joy in purity.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then it was over, the mask falling from her face, bouncing off the ohnusa to land on the ground, spinning a few times before rocking to a stop in the darkness.</p>', 'Rematch', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '846-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-28 12:11:40', '2009-08-28 03:11:40', '', 846, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/846-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(966, 1, '2009-08-28 15:17:10', '2009-08-28 06:17:10', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi had been less than delighted to hear that her school had been purified, but she set off nevertheless, leaving soon after the morning ceremonies were complete. A near-constant stream of people was coming for harae, and the kegare they carried sickened Akiko, increasing her worry.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was back within a couple of hours.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No school!â€ she said as she bounded into the shrine grounds, not even trying to sound unhappy. “The fire department was called out last night, and although there was no fire they spotted some problems with the fire safety systems. They had us wait outside while the engineers looked at it, but they found cracks in the building itself. Apparently, it could fall down if we breathe on it too hard. So we were all sent home.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Breathe too hard?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, OK. But it would only take a level four earthquake, they said. So no school until they have safer temporary accommodation ready.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kegare,â€ Akiko said, half to herself, but Kazumi picked it up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You think the kegare caused the damage?â€ Akiko nodded, and looked over at Shiraishi, who was just finishing another harae.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think we need to act now. Go and get changed.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh, yes. Right away.â€ Kazumi dashed into the house, and Akiko walked over to Shiraishi, her jaw set.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, we have to do something now,â€ she said, not bothering with any preamble.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ The priest was confused for a moment, but quickly put things together. “Why so urgent?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko quickly explained about the school, and the priest nodded in understanding.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK. Tell everyone waiting for personal harae that we’ll do a group one; then we have to do something about the city.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Half an hour later the three of them were standing in the road outside the shrine, Akiko looking out at the pollution, which was getting every heavier. She had the mask in her hands, the wood becoming slick with her sweat.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Why am I so nervous?</em> she wondered, even as she nodded to Shiraishi to begin the initial purification.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As the mask settled over her face again, Akiko’s nerves were swept away by the fierce exultation that filled her, a need to act that drove her a step forward, before she turned to walk over to Shiraishi, and stop before the ohnusa. The aramitama seemed to know what was happening this time, because it did not interfere as she began to recite the norito, as the light and fire built up within the ohnusa. Instead, her tension and anticipation grew ever greater, her skin tingling to the tips of her fingers as she reached out for the ohnusa, taking it from the priest and returning to face away from the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She raised the ohnusa in front of her, and it was a great blossom of flame, the tongues of fire rising up, writhing in the air almost like a snake, almost as if they were anticipating her swinging them through the air.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Perhaps they are,</em> she thought, as she swung the ohnusa hard.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The flames flew off it, growing as they raced away from her, merging into a wall of fire that swept through the houses, and then another as she swung it once more, and a third, scouring the kegare away, and remaining as an arc of fire, another barrier against pollution.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A barrier that was, Akiko saw, far too close.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Again, the mask dropped from her face, and the fire vanished. As the mask touched the ground, the wood ringing clearly, the earth lurched beneath Akiko’s feet, sending her staggering to one side.</p>', 'Urgent Purification', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '852-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-28 15:17:10', '2009-08-28 06:17:10', '', 852, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/852-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(967, 1, '2009-12-01 09:36:06', '2009-12-01 00:36:06', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi had been less than delighted to hear that her school had been purified, but she set off nevertheless, leaving soon after the morning ceremonies were complete. A near-constant stream of people was coming for harae, and the kegare they carried sickened Akiko, increasing her worry.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was back within a couple of hours.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No school!â€ she said as she bounded into the shrine grounds, not even trying to sound unhappy. “The fire department was called out last night, and although there was no fire they spotted some problems with the fire safety systems. They had us wait outside while the engineers looked at it, but they found cracks in the building itself. Apparently, it could fall down if we breathe on it too hard. So we were all sent home.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Breathe too hard?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, OK. But it would only take a level four earthquake, they said. So no school until they have safer temporary accommodation ready.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kegare,â€ Akiko said, half to herself, but Kazumi picked it up.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You think the kegare caused the damage?â€ Akiko nodded, and looked over at Shiraishi, who was just finishing another harae.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think we need to act now. Go and get changed.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh, yes. Right away.â€ Kazumi dashed into the house, and Akiko walked over to Shiraishi, her jaw set.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, we have to do something now,â€ she said, not bothering with any preamble.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ The priest was confused for a moment, but quickly put things together. “Why so urgent?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko quickly explained about the school, and the priest nodded in understanding.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK. Tell everyone waiting for personal harae that we’ll do a group one; then we have to do something about the city.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Half an hour later the three of them were standing in the road outside the shrine, Akiko looking out at the pollution, which was getting ever heavier. She had the mask in her hands, the wood becoming slick with her sweat.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Why am I so nervous?</em> she wondered, even as she nodded to Shiraishi to begin the initial purification.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As the mask settled over her face again, Akiko’s nerves were swept away by the fierce exultation that filled her, a need to act that drove her a step forward, before she turned to walk over to Shiraishi, and stop before the ohnusa. The aramitama seemed to know what was happening this time, because it did not interfere as she began to recite the norito, as the light and fire built up within the ohnusa. Instead, her tension and anticipation grew ever greater, her skin tingling to the tips of her fingers as she reached out for the ohnusa, taking it from the priest and returning to face away from the shrine.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She raised the ohnusa in front of her, and it was a great blossom of flame, the tongues of fire rising up, writhing in the air almost like a snake, almost as if they were anticipating her swinging them through the air.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Perhaps they are,</em> she thought, as she swung the ohnusa hard.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The flames flew off it, growing as they raced away from her, merging into a wall of fire that swept through the houses, and then another as she swung it once more, and a third, scouring the kegare away, and remaining as an arc of fire, another barrier against pollution.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A barrier that was, Akiko saw, far too close.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Again, the mask dropped from her face, and the fire vanished. As the mask touched the ground, the wood ringing clearly, the earth lurched beneath Akiko’s feet, sending her staggering to one side.</p>', 'Urgent Purification', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '852-autosave', '', '', '2009-12-01 09:36:06', '2009-12-01 00:36:06', '', 852, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/01/852-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(968, 1, '2009-12-21 00:00:35', '2009-12-20 15:00:35', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko woke early the next morning, still vaguely unhappy about the previous evening.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>It was a nice date,</em> she told herself. <em>The food was excellent, and wasn’t interrupted by monsters. Akira was fun to talk to. I enjoyed it.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was all true, and Akira had been a perfect gentleman, bringing her back to the shrine and bidding her good night. Without even a little kiss.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sighed, and shook her head. Maybe Akira wasn’t thinking about her like that. She headed for the shower, and her thoughts turned to whether there would be as many people for the ceremonies this morning.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">This time, Akiko was already changed when Kazumi came into her room.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry! Full of ujiko again,â€ she said apologetically, before sliding the door shut and turning on Akiko with a grin. “So, how was the hot date?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It was fine,â€ Akiko said, determined not to let anything show.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh dear,â€ Kazumi responded, looking down as she started undressing. “That bad.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It wasn’t bad!â€ Akiko protested. “We had a lovely dinner and a very pleasant conversation.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“As bad as <em>that?â€</em> Kazumi asked, her face stricken.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, shut up!â€ Akiko shouted, and Kazumi suddenly looked very contrite, bowing a quick apology.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sorry,â€ she said, as she started getting dressed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko waited in silence until Kazumi had finished changing, and then stood.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s OK,â€ she said. “Let’s go and see how many people are here today.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It looked like it was almost as many people as there had been the previous day, although it wasn’t all the same people. They were still all dressed very formally, and today there was even a man in a kimono; not Mr Fujimura, though, for which Akiko was grateful.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The ceremony passed without incident. Tamao did not appear, although several people were clearly looking for him, and Akiko had to wonder how much attendance would drop off when it became clear that the kami was not going to appear every day. Still, it was nice while it lasted. As people left, handing over their offerings, Akiko reflected that there was at least one very concrete benefit.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No Mr Takenaka?â€ Kazumi asked quietly, when they were clearing up afterwards. Akiko felt herself blush.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He said he had to go to a site today, but would come tomorrow.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. Well, that’s OK then.â€ Kazumi actually did sound relieved, and Akiko shot her a suspicious look, but she was gathering the implements and not looking at Akiko at all.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi was talking to Noriko as the two miko took everything into the office, and Akiko caught something about kimono as they passed. When they came back out of the office, Shiraishi called them over.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Yamanaka has repeated her offer to teach us about kimono. I think it’s a good idea, but what do you think?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sounds good to me!â€ Kazumi blurted out. “Do I get to wear one of those kimonos with the enormous sleeves and furry collars?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Noriko smiled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The collars are really just for the adulthood ceremony, but the long sleeves are for unmarried women, so you should both, er, all wear them.â€ She blushed a little at her slip. “But that’s just for formal occasions; they get a bit inconvenient in daily life. What do you think, Ms Tanahata?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’d be very grateful,â€ Akiko replied, bowing slightly. It was true, it did seem more appropriate, somehow. She wasn’t sure that the feeling was rational, but there it was.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah! I’d better get changed,â€ Kazumi suddenly said. “Oh, Revd Shiraishi, could I leave my school stuff here tomorrow? I don’t have time to do any homework at home after the evening ceremonies anyway…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, OK…â€ Shiraishi said, and Kazumi immediately darted into the house, grinning.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thanks!â€</p>', 'Morning Crowds', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'morning-crowds', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:19:17', '2009-12-02 03:19:17', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=968', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(969, 1, '2009-12-02 12:19:10', '2009-12-02 03:19:10', '', 'Morning Crowds', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '968-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:19:10', '2009-12-02 03:19:10', '', 968, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/968-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(970, 1, '2009-12-22 00:00:26', '2009-12-21 15:00:26', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was sweeping the area in front of the pool, cleaning up after the morning ceremonies, when she saw Mr Fujimura climb the steps and bow at the top, where the torii should have been. She bowed slightly in acknowledgement, and he nodded in return, and then, deliberately keeping herself calm, she walked over to the shrine house.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi had emerged from the office by the time she got there, and was already greeting Mr Fujimura.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“…and I should like to offer a ceremony for the health and prosperity of our imperial family,â€ he was saying. Akiko wasn’t surprised, but it reinforced her uneasiness.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course,â€ Shiraishi’s agreement was perfectly correct, but even Akiko could hear the chill in her voice. Mr Fujimura showed no reaction, but she couldn’t believe he had missed it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">After the ceremony, they went to the reception room to talk. Akiko went to get the tea, but the conversation did not start until she returned.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Tanahata,â€ Mr Fujimura began, “I think I should talk to you as well about this.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What is it, Mr Fujimura?â€ Shiraishi asked, sounding slightly irritated.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have…â€ He paused, apparently searching for the right words. “I have heard that things happened at the festival you held a couple of days ago.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Things normally do happen at a festival,â€ Shiraishi replied, cagily.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The things I heard about are not normal,â€ Mr Fujimura said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, then, you had better tell us what you heard,â€ Shiraishi responded. Akiko’s unease was growing; why was there so much stepping around the issue.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hear that people saw things that they interpreted as evidence of the supernatural,â€ he began. “There were accounts of flames, and of a giant snake. I also heard that Ms Tanahata disappeared, and then reappeared from the pool in a robe of feathers.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Silence fell as he finished speaking, Akiko glancing surreptitiously at Shiraishi, trying to judge the priest’s mood, and to choose an appropriate response.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I see,â€ she said, at last. “Thank you for telling us that you have heard those stories.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura looked hard at the priest for a long moment, and then turned his gaze on Akiko. It made her uncomfortable, reminding her of one of her school teachers, a strict man with an uncanny ability to tell when you hadn’t done your homework, but she refused to look down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He looked away, nodding once.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, then. I am sure you must be very busy. Please excuse me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He took his leave as politely as ever, turning at the top of the steps to bow to the shrine once more.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What was that about?â€ Akiko asked, when she was sure he was out of earshot.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ Shiraishi responded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, why didn’t you just tell him that we all saw those things?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ Shiraishi said, again. “I think… I think he already knows. I think he just wanted to see what we would say.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And he did.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked at her, surprised, but then nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, he did.â€ She looked back towards the entrance. “I wish I knew what he was planning. What he was thinking.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How much he knows,â€ Akiko added, and Shiraishi nodded again, but without looking at her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He knows <em>something,</em>â€ she said. “He had a reason for helping us.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I want to know what it was.â€</p>', 'Fujimura''s Visit', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'fujimuras-visit', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:20:02', '2009-12-02 03:20:02', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=970', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(971, 1, '2009-12-02 12:19:57', '2009-12-02 03:19:57', '', 'Fujimura''s Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '970-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:19:57', '2009-12-02 03:19:57', '', 970, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/970-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(972, 1, '2009-12-23 00:00:10', '2009-12-22 15:00:10', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">People came for ceremonies throughout the day, both established ujiko and people Shiraishi had never seen before. Only a couple asked about what had happened at the festival, and Shiraishi put them off, saying that it was something that they had to see for themselves. In a quiet period in the afternoon, Shiraishi raised the issue with Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What do we say to people?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a simple enough question, but surprisingly difficult to answer.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, we told Mr Yamaguchi yesterday,â€ Akiko pointed out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi replied, “but he was worried that his mother was going crazy. And he’s been associated with the shrine for years, even if he hadn’t been coming much lately. What about other people?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It <em>did</em> happen.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It did. Which is why this is difficult. I don’t want the shrine to turn into a media circus, or a freak show.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But people are going to talk about it. There will be rumours,â€ Akiko pointed out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Rumours are fine. Rumours claim that you aren’t wearing knickers.â€ Shiraishi grinned briefly, and Akiko scowled back. “Most people don’t take rumours seriously,â€ the priest continued, her face serious again. “A few people turning up in the hope of seeing the kami; that’s OK. Camera crews all over the place and bus tours from Osaka; not so good.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, keep avoiding the issue and telling people they have to experience it for themselves?â€ Akiko suggested. Shiraishi pulled a face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I was rather hoping you’d come up with a better idea.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry,â€ Akiko apologised. “I really can’t think of anything.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh well. I’ll just have to keep being vague. I’m going to start sounding like that fortune-teller woman on television.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi arrived at the shrine quite early in the afternoon; she explained that the temporary accommodation at the school was only partially finished, so they’d been sent home early.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How is school, anyway?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? It’s school. Boring, pointless…â€ Kazumi trailed off. “But, OK, it’s better than it was. I think the harae did make a difference. I still want a shower before I get into my vestments, though.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As the afternoon wore on, a steady stream of people came to ask about the evening ceremonies, and Akiko explained that they were held at sunset.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t remember it being like this yesterday,â€ she commented, and Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Nothing like this. I think people have heard that we do evening ceremonies now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, attendance is good, right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes…â€ Shiraishi didn’t sound entirely sure.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What’s the problem?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s all at once. I don’t know how we are going to cope if people keep coming, or if they stop.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ll be able to cope tonight, though.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I suppose so. Just take it as it comes.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As sunset approached, however, even Akiko was surprised at the number of people arriving at the shrine, and at how formally they were dressed. Shiraishi was trying not to show any reaction, but Akiko couldn’t tell how much surprise she was hiding. Kazumi, on the other hand, was transparent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s the whole population of Kawasaki!â€ she exclaimed, under her breath. “Everyone is here! I’ve seen some people I know from school.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your school is quite close, you know.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yeah, but they’ve never come before.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not embarrassed, are you?â€ Akiko teased her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? No, don’t be silly. But… It’s <em>everyone</em>.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at the crowd. <em>Well over a hundred people, probably twice that, </em>she thought, shaking her head slightly in wonder. <em>I hope they all make donations.</em></p>', 'Evening Crowds', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'evening-crowds', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:20:38', '2009-12-02 03:20:38', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=972', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(973, 1, '2009-12-02 12:20:33', '2009-12-02 03:20:33', '', 'Evening Crowds', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '972-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:20:33', '2009-12-02 03:20:33', '', 972, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/972-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(974, 1, '2009-12-24 00:00:44', '2009-12-23 15:00:44', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The following night, Akiko and Kazumi were waiting under the kami tree to see whether Yoshiko would come.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think she’ll come tonight?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, she didn’t come yesterday,â€ Akiko said, “and she knew about the crisis. I’m sure she’ll come soon.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If she doesn’t, we can just go into the tree,â€ Kazumi said, sounding quite happy. “We can practise the dances without her, I suppose.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mmm.â€ Akiko was peering into the darkness, looking for signs of Yoshiko’s lamp, when Kazumi suddenly interrupted her with a question.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, when are we?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Huh?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I mean, Yoshiko’s from the past, right? So what year are we in right now, at the tree?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I…â€ Akiko looked around. There were just trees around them, trees that could be from any period of history. She couldn’t hear the city, but they were quite deep within the shrine grounds anyway. “I don’t…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As she spoke, she caught sight of a flickering light bobbing through the trees, and pointed it out to Kazumi. Moments later, Yoshiko emerged, setting her lamp down to bow formally to them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hope that your rituals were successful,â€ she said, as soon as they had finished the greetings.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They were,â€ Akiko replied, and went on to describe what had happened.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You held an extra festival?â€ Yoshiko asked. “That’s very…â€ She fell silent. “I suppose it worked, and the kami approved. So I can’t really criticise. But…â€ She shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What’s the problem?â€ Kazumi asked, but Akiko thought she understood.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You think we shouldn’t make up festivals, is that right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The rituals of Shinto have been handed down from the kami from before the creation of the world. We can’t just make up new ones! But…â€ She looked puzzled again. “But you say it worked, and the kami approved. I don’t understand!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sounds normal,â€ Kazumi put in, making Akiko blush, and glare at her. Kazumi seemed to realise how that sounded. “Oh, er, no. Sorry. I didn’t mean that you…â€ She fell silent as Yoshiko started laughing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, don’t worry. I know what you meant. There’s so much happening that we don’t understand. If we can meet, maybe you can make up new rituals that have existed from before the creation of the world.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How…â€ Akiko started, and then shook her head. “I’m not even going to try to understand it. The important thing is that we purified the area, and lots of people are coming to the shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is the area still pure?â€ Yoshiko wanted to know.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The bits I’ve checked are,â€ Akiko replied, “and people are not picking up as much kegare as they used to. Not even close. I think Tamao is holding his own.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded in satisfaction.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s good,â€ she said. “I was worried about you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So were we!â€ Kazumi said, making Yoshiko smile.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But,â€ the other miko continued, “you said that everyone saw Tamao at the festival?â€ Akiko nodded. “And you received a robe of feathers?â€ She nodded again. “That’s never happened before,â€ Yoshiko said, her voice thoughtful. “No matter how big the festival. Even I’ve never seen Tamao outside the other shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Things change. Can we have the dance lesson?â€ Kazumi’s impatience finally broke out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s likely to be more productive than worrying about these things,â€ Yoshiko said. “Yes, let’s do that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">With a whoop of delight, Kazumi started undressing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What are you doing?â€ Yoshiko asked, her voice sharp, but Kazumi barely paused.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Getting ready to go into the kami forest.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko could see that Yoshiko was about to protest, so she quickly supported Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We really don’t have time to have the lesson and sleep,â€ she pointed out. “But if we do it in the forest, we don’t need to sleep.â€ She reached for her own belt, aware that Kazumi was already naked. Yoshiko looked as though she was going to refuse, but finally she nodded, and then ducked round the other side of the tree.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi asked. “What’s the point?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, wait for us in the forest!â€ Akiko scolded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Akiko’s eyes narrowed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You are not waiting to see what underwear Yoshiko has on. Go now!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Pouting, Kazumi embraced the tree, and vanished.</p>', 'Times Past', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'times-past', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:21:18', '2009-12-02 03:21:18', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=974', 0, 'post', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(975, 1, '2009-12-02 12:21:06', '2009-12-02 03:21:06', '', 'Times Past', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '974-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:21:06', '2009-12-02 03:21:06', '', 974, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/974-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(976, 1, '2009-12-25 00:00:24', '2009-12-24 15:00:24', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira saw Akiko back to the door of the house after their date, again, and although Akiko waited, willing him to kiss her, he just bowed, thanked her for the evening, and left. She stood by the door to watch him go, her fists clenched in frustration. Was he just not interested? Or completely oblivious to the obvious?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Sighing, she let herself in, calling out to let Shiraishi know she was home.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Welcome back.â€ It was Kazumi’s voice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi? Why are you still here?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Homework.â€ She was, indeed, sprawled on the floor in the reception room in a yukata, schoolbooks spread around her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where’s Revd Shiraishi?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think she’s in the kami forest,â€ Kazumi replied.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“She wanted to go by herself, I think. Not with an audience.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s not unreasonable, you know.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mmm. Well, in any case, she’s not back yet. I wasn’t expecting you back yet, either.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. Well. I’m back.â€ Akiko didn’t think she’d kept all of the frustration out of her voice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did you have a fight?â€ Kazumi had pulled herself up, and was now sitting cross-legged, looking up at Akiko. Akiko sank down on the floor beside her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, no fight.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But no sex, either?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi!â€ Akiko could feel herself blushing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No sex, then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, can you please not talk about it like that?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Like what?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Like it’s just…â€ Akiko wasn’t entirely sure what to say. “It’s private,â€ she finished, a little lamely. Kazumi just snorted with laughter.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The <em>details</em> are private,â€ she said. “The fact you want to do it with Akira is really, really not private at all.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko knew she was bright red now, embarrassed at being quite so transparent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And,â€ Kazumi continued, “he wants to do it with you as well.â€ Akiko was sure she’d got even redder. “You know, you’re almost the same colour as your hakama,â€ Kazumi commented.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, Kazumi! Stop it!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The girl dropped her eyes.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry,â€ she said, and she sounded sincere. Then she looked up again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But, really, you’re being silly about this.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He won’t do anything!â€ Akiko said, and realised it sounded like a wail.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Have you done anything?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Of course not.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But I’m the woman. He’s the man.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, for pity’s sake!â€ Kazumi sounded genuinely exasperated. “This is the twenty-first century! Women are allowed to take the initiative.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What do you think I should do, then?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Take him to a love hotel.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ That was not the response Akiko had been expecting.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, unless you want to screw in a park… No, OK, I didn’t think you would,â€ Kazumi said quickly, as Akiko felt herself getting genuinely angry. “Look, if you want to sleep with him, you have to go to a love hotel, or bring him back here. The walls here are paper.â€ Akiko wondered whether she was going to spend the entire conversation blushing. <em>Quite likely,</em> she told herself. “So,â€ Kazumi continued, “you might as well go to a love hotel to start with. You can just kiss in them, you know. They don’t magically make you go all the way.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But what if I scare him off?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi burst out laughing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is <em>very</em> hard to scare a man off by being willing to have sex with him,â€ she said. “Trust me on this.â€</p>', 'Voice of Experience', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'voice-of-experience', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:21:55', '2009-12-02 03:21:55', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=976', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(977, 1, '2009-12-02 12:21:49', '2009-12-02 03:21:49', '', 'Voice of Experience', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '976-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:21:49', '2009-12-02 03:21:49', '', 976, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/976-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(978, 1, '2009-12-26 00:00:08', '2009-12-25 15:00:08', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi’s suggestion distracted Akiko for most of the following day. About mid-morning, when she found herself standing in the precincts, broom in hand, staring vacantly into space, she made herself face facts.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She liked the idea.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was direct, it took control, and it would, surely, work. After all, Akira was interested in her. At least, he had been before, and Kazumi didn’t think anything had changed. So, it was a good idea. She just needed to decide to do it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Before she could quite summon up the courage to go to call Akira, she saw someone entering the shrine. She didn’t recognise him, but he was looking around as if expecting to see something remarkable; not an unusual situation these days. He spotted her, and bowed in greeting. She bowed in return, and hurried over.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Welcome to Tamao Shrine,â€ she said. “How can we help you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I am Tanaka, from Mainichi Shinbun.â€ He was holding out his business card, the newspaper’s logo clear on the top. “I was wondering if you’d be willing to talk to me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You need to talk to the chief priest of the shrine, Revd Shiraishi,â€ Akiko countered, desperate to buy time. “If you would come with me, I will see whether she is available.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He’s following up the rumours,â€ Shiraishi said with a sigh when Akiko explained it. “I suppose it was inevitable.â€ She looked at Akiko. “Could you manage moral support?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He’s a journalist, not a police officer,â€ Akiko said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I know, I know,â€ Shiraishi replied. “But this isn’t like the pool. I… Let’s have him interview both of us.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The journalist had no objection to that, and actually looked quite pleased, which worried Akiko a little. His first questions were entirely general and innocuous; he asked about the shrine, the fire, the wild festival, and the appearance of the pool. He had obviously done his homework, and Akiko could feel herself bracing for the next questions.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hear you held a small festival a few days ago,â€ he said, at last.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, we did,â€ Shiraishi said, the caution clear in her voice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There are a number of rumours about that festival. Would you care to comment on them?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Rumours?â€ Shiraishi was obviously playing for time.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“People are saying that the kami appeared, in the form of a snake of fire, and swallowed the miko.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi opened her mouth, and then shut it sharply. Akiko also caught herself just before blurting out a denial.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is the shrine’s miko,â€ Shiraishi said at last. “You can see that she has not been swallowed by a burning snake.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The rumours also say that she descended from the sky afterwards, with great white wings.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And you can see she has no wings,â€ Shiraishi countered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, there is no truth to the rumours, then?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was another pause.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shinto festivals cannot really be explained in words,â€ Shiraishi said at last. “You have to experience them for yourself.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is that ‘no comment’, then?â€ the journalist asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No comment,â€ Shiraishi said. He looked at her, and then at Akiko, before nodding and putting his recorder away.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, off the record, I’ve heard quite a lot of other rumours about that festival.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Festivals can have quite an impact on people,â€ Shiraishi said, nodding in agreement. “Please feel free to attend.â€ She rose, and the journalist was also forced to get back to his feet. He looked a little frustrated as he left the shrine, and Akiko suspected that he would be back.</p>', 'Reporter', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'reporter', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:22:42', '2009-12-02 03:22:42', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=978', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(979, 1, '2009-12-02 12:22:33', '2009-12-02 03:22:33', '', 'Reporter', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '978-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:22:33', '2009-12-02 03:22:33', '', 978, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/978-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(980, 1, '2009-12-27 00:00:50', '2009-12-26 15:00:50', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where are we going?â€ Akira asked again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s a surprise,â€ Akiko repeated, as her stomach turned somersaults and her mouth went dry. It took all her effort to keep her voice steady and stop her limbs from trembling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Down here?â€ he asked, sounding a bit sceptical, and this time Akiko just nodded. The love hotels were visible now, and Akira was looking around, as if trying to work out where they could be going. Akiko knew she was starting to blush, but relied on the darkness to hide it, as she headed for the hotel where she had stayed. It wasn’t too bad.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A few moments later, Akira realised where they were going, and stopped in his tracks. Akiko was sure her heart stopped for several seconds.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko… That’s… a…â€ Akira seemed to be having trouble speaking. Akiko just nodded, not trusting herself to say anything, certainly not trusting herself to look directly at him. She took a deep breath, and then walked inside and up to the machine for booking rooms, taking the one she had stayed in before.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She held the key in her hand, gripping it tightly, very aware that Akira wasn’t beside her, hoping that he would appear.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were footsteps, hurrying, and he came in, standing beside her, but not, she thought, looking at her. She wasn’t looking at him as she turned and made her way to the lift, either, so she could hardly blame him. She didn’t think he was saying anything, either, but then she could hardly hear anything apart from her heart, pounding in her ears.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>He’s come in with me,</em> she told herself. <em>He knows what this place is. He knows what that means. That must mean he wants to.</em> She was painfully aware that she was trying to convince herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The room looked much as she remembered it, except that Akira’s presence made everything completely different.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The door closed behind them, and they both stood silently in the room. Akiko was painfully aware of not looking at Akira, of looking everywhere but at him, of desperately hoping that he would do something <em>now</em>. When the silence got too long for her to bear, she walked further into the room, into the bathroom, looking at Akira in the huge mirrors as she turned the water on to fill the bath. Even as she did it, she realised she didn’t know why. They weren’t here to wash.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, Akiko…â€ Akira faltered and fell silent. Akiko took a deep breath and turned to face him. He was still standing in the entrance, and he looked almost as nervous as Akiko felt.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">That realisation suddenly made her feel a lot better.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akira, come into the room,â€ she said, actually managing to smile slightly. He did, but he still looked very unsure.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko took a deep breath.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is a love hotel,â€ she said. “I stayed here alone when I was homeless, but that’s not what it’s for.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I… When you were homeless?â€ Akira suddenly sounded very concerned. Her tension draining away, Akiko smiled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That sounds really dramatic, doesn’t it? I got thrown out of my flat, and it was a little while before I moved into the shrine. This is just one of the places I stayed.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. Oh yes. I remember now.â€ He walked further into the room, carefully avoiding touching the furniture. He glanced down at one of the tables, spotted the bowl full of condoms, and recoiled, bumping into the bed, which made him recoil again. Akiko found herself smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akira, relax. The bath is nearly ready.â€ As she said that, Akiko suddenly found herself getting nervous again. The bath. Together. With Akira. He blushed furiously, and Akiko, aware that she was doing the same, looked away again, into the mirror.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The bath really was ready, and she turned the taps off. She tested the water temperature with her hand, and stood there for a long moment. There was only one sensible thing to do next, she knew. It was a vital part of her whole reason for coming here.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Kazumi would be naked already,</em> she chided herself, straightening up and drying her hand before turning to face Akira.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Will you join me?â€ Her voice wavered on the last word, and Akira seemed too stunned to respond. Akiko reached up and started to unbutton her blouse. She was half way down, and could feel the pounding of her heart through her chest, before Akira reached for his tie, and started to undo it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stopped when she was down to her underwear, waiting for Akira, unwilling to take the final step alone. Akira also stopped, facing her in his boxer shorts. Akiko glanced down, and felt herself blushing again. <em>Sexy underwear was a good choice, then.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Taking another deep breath, she reached behind her back, and unhooked her bra.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As it fell to the floor, Akira seemed to come out of his trance, and reached for the waistband of his shorts. <em>This is really happening,</em> Akiko thought, as she slipped her knickers off and then stepped into the bath. Akira came up beside her, and then they were standing next to each other in the bath, both looking in the mirror, neither looking at their own reflection.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The mirror rippled, like the surface of a pool, and then churned, darkness and light within it, until it quickly settled again. But now they could no longer see themselves. Instead, the bath formed one edge of a pool in a forest clearing, stones completing the circumference, stars twinkling in a dark sky while the light from the bathroom</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What…â€ Akira gasped, and Akiko reached out to grasp his arm.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s all right,â€ she said. “This happened last time I was here, as well. Come on, it’s safe.â€ Still holding his arm, she took a step forwards, her foot coming down on stones rather than the plastic base of the bath. She looked back at Akira, at the bathroom as it appeared beyond a wooden frame. “Come on,â€ she repeated, gently insistent, and Akira stepped after her, still looking at the trees and stars.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko inhaled the fresh air, the scent of the pine, the slight hint of sulphur from the hot spring water. The air was pleasant, with a gentle breeze that played over her skin, and she could hear nothing but the flow of the water and the wind in the trees. Her nervousness slowly drained away. Was this a present from Tamao, she wondered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She turned back to Akira, and reached out, putting her arms around him and pulling him close.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Look at <em>me</em>!â€ she said, her voice low. Akira looked down, and then bent a little lower to kiss her.</p>', 'Under the Stars', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'under-the-stars', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:23:28', '2009-12-02 03:23:28', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=980', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(981, 1, '2009-12-02 12:23:17', '2009-12-02 03:23:17', '', 'Under the Stars', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '980-revision', '', '', '2009-12-02 12:23:17', '2009-12-02 03:23:17', '', 980, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/02/980-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(982, 1, '2009-12-28 00:00:32', '2009-12-27 15:00:32', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and Akira walked up the steps to the shrine together in the early light. Kazumi was already there, in her vestments, and when she saw them she stopped dead, looked at each of them a few times, and then grinned.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Welcome back! Akiko, you’d better get changed quickly.â€ Akiko turned to Akira.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“She’s right. I need to get changed for the ceremony. See you soon.â€ She turned her face up, and, after a moment, Akira, blushing again, bent down and kissed her quickly and gently on the lips. Kazumi breaking into applause did not help his embarrassment, and Akiko tried to glare at the girl as she hurried into the house, but she couldn’t get the smile off her face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were still a lot of people at the morning ceremony, although attendance had dropped off a bit, but Akiko couldn’t stop herself glancing at Akira and smiling. Shiraishi went into the office almost as soon as the ceremony was over, and when Akiko went to help clear up, Kazumi shooed her away.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Go and talk to Akira. I can do this.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You almost sound like my mother,â€ Akiko said, smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, <em>someone</em> has to manage your love life,â€ Kazumi retorted, and, with a laugh, Akiko went back to talk to Akira.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We should tell my father,â€ he said, after a few minutes of walking around the precincts with her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tell… Oh. Yes,â€ Akiko said. “But… isn’t it a bit quick?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I wasn’t suggesting announcing an engagement <em>just</em> yet,â€ Akira said, smiling and blushing at the same time. “But… you <em>are</em> my girlfriend now, right?â€ Akiko smiled back, and nodded before kissing him quickly. “I think we should tell him,â€ Akira said again. “We don’t want him to think we’re trying to hide it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Akiko agreed, and they walked over to Hideo Takenaka’s shrine. Akira slightly self-consciously straightened his tie, and then they paid their respects together. After clapping, bowing, and clapping, Akira cleared his throat.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Father, you know Akiko Tanahata. We have…â€ He stumbled over his words and cleared his throat again. “We have started going out. I hope you approve.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He bowed again, and Akiko quickly followed suit.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It took you long enough.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira jerked upright as if someone had pulled him straight, and Akiko was almost as fast. That was Hideo Takenaka’s voice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He was standing beside the shrine, one hand resting on it, dressed in a suit and looking as solid as anything else. He was also smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I approve. I was starting to wonder whether you would ever get round to it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira’s face had gone white, and his throat was working hard as he swallowed. Akiko could see tears forming in his eyes.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Take good care of each other,â€ Hideo continued. “Akiko, he’s a bit of a spoiled idiot, but I suppose he might not be a complete disaster. You might even think about whether he’s husband material.â€ Akiko blushed at the suggestion, and quickly bowed. “Akira, take good care of her. She needs particular support.â€ He paused, and Akiko risked a quick glance at Akira. The tears were flowing down his cheeks now, and when she looked back, Hideo looked rather embarrassed. “Hmm, yes,â€ he continued. “You’re not doing too badly with the company, either. Keep it up.â€ He paused. “Well, then.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He vanished.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Father?â€ Akira finally found his voice. “Father?â€ He was crying openly now.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s all right, Akira. I saw him too.â€ Akiko said, but Akira was still shaking as he wept.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stepped closer, put her arms round him, and held him while he cried on her shoulder.</p>', 'Paternal Blessing', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'paternal-blessing', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:56:10', '2009-12-04 07:56:10', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=982', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(983, 1, '2009-12-04 16:56:01', '2009-12-04 07:56:01', '', 'Paternal Blessing', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '982-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:56:01', '2009-12-04 07:56:01', '', 982, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/982-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(984, 1, '2009-12-28 12:00:17', '2009-12-28 03:00:17', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">By the time Akiko got back to the shrine house, a number of ujiko had gathered in the office, and Shiraishi had the building plans spread out on the table. She looked up and beckoned Akiko to join them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“… are already paid for,â€ Shiraishi was saying as Akiko entered the office, and the ujiko were nodding.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How big is this compared to the old shrine?â€ one of them asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“About the same size,â€ Shiraishi replied. “A little bit bigger, so that there’s properly space for kagura.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked around. She recognised everyone, but couldn’t put names to most of the faces. <em>You’re going to have learn the names,</em> she told herself. <em>Now that they are supporting the shrine again.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s a shame Mr Takenaka isn’t with us anymore,â€ someone commented. “He knew about this sort of thing.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“His son is still running the company,â€ Akiko pointed out, leaping to Akira’s defence and immediately blushing. The man looked at her, and smiled, kindly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s true, but he doesn’t have the experience yet. Still, it’s a good point.â€ He turned to Shiraishi. “Don’t you think we should invite him to the next meeting? He could take his father’s place.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi nodded, and made a note.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, that’s a good idea,â€ she said. “It would also be good to have some younger people involved.â€ There was some good-natured chuckling, as Akiko realised that she and Shiraishi were probably the two youngest there.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He could lead the youth group,â€ someone else suggested, “Let Ito give it up.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you going to steal my youth from me?â€ Mr Ito protested, laughing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your son can join,â€ someone else suggested, provoking more laughter, even Shiraishi joining in.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“All right,â€ the priest said, as things quietened down. “We’ll get Akira Takenaka along to the next meeting. But, for now, we need to make a decision.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Mr Ito said. “You say this would cost a further eighty million yen?â€ Shiraishi nodded. “Can we borrow the money?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi’s face fell, and she looked very uncomfortable.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’d rather not. That… caused problems before.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we can raise the money that quickly,â€ someone else said, “but we really need to get Tamao’s shrine rebuilt.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How much do we need to get started?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked at the plans, and shrugged.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ she said. “Er… This is interior decoration. That could be left for a while. These bits as well…â€ The ujiko bent over the plans once more.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You know,â€ one of them said, “we really need to take the pool into account.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked up sharply, and out of the window.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, <em>stupid…</em>â€ she muttered, under her breath. “Of course. That’s going to make it more expensive, I imagine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well then, get the architect back, and discuss how we can do things one step at a time,â€ Mr Ito said. “If we have to have the plans redone, we might as well take account of the financial realities.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi sighed, and nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll call him today,â€ she said. “Let’s see what we can do.â€ She paused for a moment, looking around. “You will all support the rebuilding, won’t you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Everyone nodded, and everyone looked sincere.</p>', 'Building Plans', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'building-plans', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:56:54', '2009-12-04 07:56:54', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=984', 0, 'post', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(985, 1, '2009-12-04 16:56:47', '2009-12-04 07:56:47', '', 'Building Plans', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '984-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:56:47', '2009-12-04 07:56:47', '', 984, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/984-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(986, 1, '2009-12-29 00:00:02', '2009-12-28 15:00:02', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko held her cellphone in her hand, arguing with herself about calling. On the one hand, it was a long time since she had called her mother. On the other, she wasn’t sure that she really wanted to call just because she had a boyfriend now, and it might stop her mother complaining about it. On the gripping hand, they had already told Akira’s father, and he was dead.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko flipped the phone open. She did want to call, and she ought to call. Standing on her dignity was just silly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hello, Akiko?â€ Her mother didn’t even pretend not to know who it was.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hi Mum. Is this a good time?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, it’s fine. You haven’t called for a while.â€ Her mother’s voice was reproachful, but Akiko couldn’t argue with her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ve been a bit… busy. At the shrine.â€ She wondered how much she should tell her mother. How much could she tell her mother?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re still at the shrine, then?â€ A disappointed tone.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, mother. I told you, I’m working as a miko. We’ve had some important festivals recently.â€ <em>Telling her about Tamao is not a good idea,</em> Akiko decided. <em>At least not yet.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you <em>sure</em> that’s what you should be doing?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes…â€ Akiko suddenly stopped. <em>Was</em> she sure? While the kegare had been a threat, it had been obvious that she had to stay at the shrine and fight, but now… Now, the problem seemed to be solved, so maybe she didn’t have to stay.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You don’t sound entirely sure,â€ her mother said, and Akiko grimaced, glad she couldn’t be seen. Her mother could be very perceptive when it suited her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Now that the festivals are over, I’m thinking about it,â€ Akiko said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shall I send you job information?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mother!â€ Akiko almost shouted, and quickly calmed herself down. “I said I was thinking about it. I might well decide to stay.â€ <em>I can still see the kegare,</em> she thought, <em>and Tamao. Maybe I should stay here.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“All right, all right. I was just trying to be helpful. It’s your life, so you can make the decisions.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you. Anyway, that’s not why I was calling.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh? You have some news?â€ Her mother suddenly sounded very eager. Akiko was sure she wouldn’t be disappointed, and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. <em>There’s nothing wrong with making your mother happy,</em> she berated herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes… I’m, well, seeing someone.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Who is he?â€ Her mother sounded delighted.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“His name is Akira Takenaka. He’s one of the ujiko of the shrine. His father died a few months ago, and he’s taken over his father’s company. It’s only a small one, though.â€ Akiko hurried through the sentence, hoping to get everything out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ooh, that sounds nice. How old is he?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A few years younger than me,â€ Akiko admitted. “He had to abandon university to take over the company.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ Her mother sounded a little uncertain, but then brightened. “Well, older wives are quite common these days.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mother!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh. Sorry. Right, you’re not at that stage yet.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right.â€ Akiko was smiling, though. At least her mother had apologised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, that’s wonderful news. When do we get to meet him?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You could come to Tokyo,â€ Akiko suggested. “You could see the shrine as well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmm. I’ll talk to your father. It does seem to have been a long time since we saw you. Anyway, thank you for calling to tell me. I’m really happy for you.â€ She sounded genuine, and, for once, Akiko was happy that she had called.</p>', 'Maternal Blessing', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'maternal-blessing', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:57:43', '2009-12-04 07:57:43', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=986', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(987, 1, '2009-12-04 16:57:26', '2009-12-04 07:57:26', '', 'Maternal Blessing', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '986-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:57:26', '2009-12-04 07:57:26', '', 986, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/986-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(988, 1, '2009-12-29 12:00:50', '2009-12-29 03:00:50', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Stupid rumours!â€ Kazumi exclaimed, as she fiddled with the belt. Noriko shook her head and started adjusting it for her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Akiko didn’t follow.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, people say women don’t wear underwear under a kimono. I’m wearing more underwear than I normally wear overwear.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, that doesn’t make sense.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m already up to four layers!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I see.â€ Akiko couldn’t help smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I did say I wasn’t naturally cylindrical,â€ Noriko reminded her. “There, that’s right now. Were you paying attention?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, thank you.â€ Kazumi was looking down at her belt as she said it, but her hands were fumbling round the back for the strip of cloth attached to the collar. “And we pull this down to make the opening, right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Not <em>that</em> hard!â€ Noriko quickly grabbed Kazumi’s collar. “Look.â€ She turned around, showing them the way her collar stood away from her neck. “You want to do it about this much. You’ll probably have to fix it again after you put the kimono on, but get it right to start with.â€ Akiko tugged at her own strip, peering over her shoulder at the mirror. Noriko came over to check her, and Kazumi started trying to walk.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s tight!â€ she exclaimed. “How am I supposed to walk in this?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Small steps. It’s ladylike,â€ Noriko replied, somewhat absently, as she tugged on bits of Akiko’s underwear. The top layer of the underwear, the nagajuban, was almost a kimono in itself. Actually, Akiko couldn’t see a big difference between it and the hakui that was part of the miko vestments, except that the material was a bit lighter, and it was wrapped rather tighter.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmph.â€ Kazumi wasn’t impressed. She twisted to inspect herself in the mirror. “How, exactly, do I go to the toilet in this?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Basically the same way as in a dress,â€ Noriko said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I can see my panty line.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi,â€ Akiko said, “stop moaning.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well I can,â€ Kazumi repeated. “I’m sure it shouldn’t look like that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’re wearing the wrong sort of knickers,â€ Noriko said. “T-backs, shorts type.â€ She paused, and sighed. “Or none. But I think you knew that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Aha!â€ Kazumi was grinning. “Well, let’s see how it looks.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Noriko said. “You’ll get it all messed up, and we’ve only just got it right.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So how am I supposed to go to the toilet?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You learn how to fix it. Or don’t wear knickers in the first place. OK, Akiko, you’re right now. Have a look.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was posing for the mirror now, trying out her geisha look.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are we actually going to put kimono on today?â€ she asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was trying to walk in the nagajuban, and it was a bit harder than she’d expected. The material was tight all the way down to her ankles, and she could only take very small steps.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we have time,â€ Noriko said. “Next time, when you are a bit more familiar with the underwear.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK. Well, I’m going to go and try walking,â€ Kazumi said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh no you don’t!â€ Noriko replied, catching her arm. “You’re in your underwear. Do you normally walk around in your underwear? Don’t answer that. You aren’t walking around in this underwear.â€ Kazumi was pouting, but Akiko was grinning as she looked at herself in the mirror.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It looked right, somehow.</p>', 'Kimono Lessons', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'kimono-lessons', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:58:20', '2009-12-04 07:58:20', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=988', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(989, 1, '2009-12-04 16:58:15', '2009-12-04 07:58:15', '', 'Kimono Lessons', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '988-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:58:15', '2009-12-04 07:58:15', '', 988, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/988-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(990, 1, '2009-12-30 00:00:39', '2009-12-29 15:00:39', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The morning ceremonies were still busy, and Akira hadn’t missed one since he and Akiko had started going out. Akiko looked forward to seeing him, and getting a bit of time together every day, so she was disappointed when he turned up with an older woman, dressed in a kimono. It didn’t take long to work out that this must be his mother, and she hurried over to greet them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, there you are,â€ Akira said. “Mother, this is Akiko Tanahata. Akiko, this is my mother.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Pleased to meet you,â€ Akiko said, bowing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The pleasure is mine,â€ Mrs Takenaka replied, also bowing. “I’m afraid that my son is very thoughtless, but I hope that he isn’t causing you too much trouble.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, not at all,â€ Akiko replied, suddenly realising that she had been nervous. The conventional apology, however, reassured her that Akira’s mother approved. “I hope that I can live up to his expectations.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mrs Takenaka smiled at her, then.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I don’t think there’s much doubt about that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko felt herself blushing, and for a moment didn’t know what to say.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shall I show you to your seats?â€ she asked, taking refuge in the ceremony, and both Akira and his mother nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">During the ceremony Akiko faced up to the loss of a chance to be alone with Akira, telling herself that it was good to have a chance to talk to his mother. She couldn’t quite master her own disappointment, however, even though they did both wait to speak to her as everyone else dispersed. Kazumi hurried inside to change for school, and Shiraishi spoke briefly to Mrs Takenaka before going to the office.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Tanahata,â€ Mrs Takenaka said as she approached, “Akira tells me that my husband is enshrined within the precincts.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ For a moment Akiko couldn’t think how to answer. “Er, yes.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you for your efforts on his behalf,â€ Mrs Takenaka said, bowing deeply. Akiko wondered how much Akira had told her about the curse; not too much, she hoped. “Would it be possible for me to pay my respects there?â€ Mrs Takenaka continued.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course. Please come this way.â€ Akiko led her to the small shrine, and then, when Akira beckoned her, left her alone there.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mother really wanted to talk to father,â€ Akira said, apologetically. “She talks to the Buddhist shrine at home, but…â€ He looked back in the direction of the shrine, obviously slightly nervous.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But that never replies,â€ Akiko supplied. “Are you sure this is a good idea?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ he said, “but not telling her seemed even worse. How can I keep that sort of secret from her?â€ Akiko nodded in agreement. “We should wait for her,â€ he continued, putting his arm around Akiko’s shoulders, “but I imagine she will be there for some time.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In the end, it was at least half an hour before Mrs Takenaka reappeared, her face showing that she had cried, and tried to hide the evidence. She bowed again as she approached.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Would it be possible to have an o-fuda from my husband’s shrine to take home?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, I suppose so. I’d better ask Revd Shiraishi,â€ Akiko replied. “Please come with me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ Mrs Takenaka replied. “I really appreciate it.â€</p>', 'Husband and Wife', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'husband-and-wife', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:59:11', '2009-12-04 07:59:11', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=990', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(991, 1, '2009-12-04 16:59:04', '2009-12-04 07:59:04', '', 'Husband and Wife', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '990-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:59:04', '2009-12-04 07:59:04', '', 990, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/990-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(992, 1, '2009-12-30 12:00:24', '2009-12-30 03:00:24', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, are you still here?â€ Shiraishi sounded surprised, and when she looked at the clock Akiko was surprised as well. She got up, careful of her kimono, and walked slowly to the other room. Noriko had said that they should get as much practice as they could, so she was wearing a kimono most of the time around the house.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi was also in a kimono, kneeling at a low table with her homework spread out on it. She looked up, and then looked at the clock. “Oh! Is that the time?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Not even Akiko was fooled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is it too late to go home?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think it is,â€ Kazumi replied. “I’ll just call…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. Kazumi, this is the third time this week.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I just get absorbed in my work,â€ she protested, but Shiraishi was having none of it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You deliberately stretch things out so that you can stay. You can’t keep doing this,â€ she lectured.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi deflated, and Akiko thought she looked as though she might really cry.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But I like it here,â€ she protested. “I like the shrine. I like you. I like Tamao. And I’m working here. You have to admit that it would be more convenient if I was here normally.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked at her in silence for several moments. Even Akiko thought it felt like a long time. Finally, the priest spoke.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko,â€ she said, still looking at Kazumi, “what do you think?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me?â€ Akiko was surprised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You live here as well.â€ As Shiraishi said that, Kazumi turned to look at Akiko, her eyes pleading.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well…â€ Akiko began, “I don’t mind Kazumi being here. She does help with the rituals. It’s your decision, Revd Shiraishi, but I don’t mind if she stays.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmm,â€ the priest said. “I need to talk to your mother, Ms Miura. Stay here.â€ She disappeared off to the office, and Akiko and Kazumi could hear the sounds of the conversation, but not make out any words. Kazumi was fidgeting with her kimono, her books, anything, and looking anywhere in the room but at Akiko, although her eyes kept going back to the door, looking towards the office. Akiko started to feel quite uncomfortable, but she couldn’t think of a tactful way to leave. She’d have to come back to hear the decision, in any case.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They heard the office door open, and Kazumi almost jumped, turning to the door and fixing her eyes on it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi slid it open, and then smiled at Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your mother says you’re old enough to leave school, so you’re old enough to leave home if that’s what you want.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yay!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You aren’t leaving school, though. You can move in here, but you are going to finish high school. Clear?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, of course.â€ Kazumi looked delighted, and Akiko felt excitement in sympathy.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi suddenly snorted with laughter.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your mother said that I wasn’t to let you develop any bad habits. I suppose I should try to stamp out the ones you have.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hey! I don’t have any bad habits!â€ Kazumi protested. “I stopped selling my body.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you wearing knickers under that kimono?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Noriko said they were optional!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not while you’re living here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi managed to pout for a moment, but she was too happy to keep it up for long.</p>', 'Accepting the Inevitable', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'accepting-the-inevitable', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:59:55', '2009-12-04 07:59:55', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=992', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(993, 1, '2009-12-04 16:59:43', '2009-12-04 07:59:43', '', 'Accepting the Inevitable', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '992-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 16:59:43', '2009-12-04 07:59:43', '', 992, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/992-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(994, 1, '2009-12-31 00:00:09', '2009-12-30 15:00:09', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sat nervously at the table, glancing at Kazumi, who seemed equally nervous. The girl had moved all her stuff over from her mother’s that day, and Akiko had seen it piled in her room, waiting to be sorted out. Shiraishi had said that she wanted to talk to both of them, and had been both serious, and rather mysterious, refusing to tell them what it was about. Akiko took another deep breath, to calm herself, and glanced at the screen around the feather robe. Was it about that, she wondered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi came in, with a tray of green tea and Japanese sweets, and carefully set them down in front of Akiko and Kazumi, before sitting down. She looked at the table for a while, and then at the ceiling, finally taking a deep breath.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A lot has happened in the last few months,â€ she began, and Akiko realised that she was nodding in agreement without even thinking about it. She remembered the first time she had stumbled into the shrine; was it really only a few months ago? Kazumi was nodding, too. “I’m really not sure…â€ the priest broke off, considering again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where do we go from here?â€ she asked, finally, looking at both of them. Akiko didn’t have an immediate answer, and Kazumi said nothing either. Shiraishi sighed. “I suppose hoping you would have an answer was a bit too optimistic,â€ she said, picking up her tea. After a sip, she started speaking again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Many of the ujiko have now seen Tamao. This has provoked a sudden increase in devotion, which is hardly surprising; he is very impressive. And obviously real.â€ She stopped, and shook her head. “Easy things first. The increase in devotion means that the shrine is financially secure. If you like, I can afford to employ you both properly, get you into the workers’ health and pension schemes. We’ll also be rebuilding, in some form.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was about to say something, but Shiraishi held up a hand.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just a moment, please. The shrine needs more staff now, so I would be happy to hire you both as formal miko. You are clearly qualified by now. But you do need to think about the future. Akiko is already, forgive me, old for a miko. Kazumi could do it for years without raising questions, but it’s not a long-term career.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, I want you both to think about the priesthood.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko couldn’t find anything to say through her shock. Kazumi found her tongue a little faster.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The priesthood? Us?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’ve both been chosen and marked by the kami,â€ Shiraishi pointed out. “I could hardly refuse to recommend you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What does that involve?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, more training. You have to learn to write norito, and more about the history of Shinto. You’ve actually learned most of the ritual movements already, so you have a bit of a headstart. Kokugakuin University, in Tokyo, runs intensive training courses, and I think that would be the best way for you to do it, Akiko. Kazumi, on the other hand, should actually attend Kokugakuin as a student if she wants to go that way.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wouldn’t I be a priest sooner if I took the intensive course,â€ she asked, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You would, but I think a bit more maturity would be appropriate in a priest.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You sound like my mother,â€ Kazumi protested, and Shiraishi just nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s my job. You aren’t an adult yet.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmph.â€ Kazumi subsided, and Shiraishi looked between the two of them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You don’t have to decide immediately, of course. Kazumi still has a year and a half of high school left.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll do it,â€ Kazumi suddenly burst out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really?â€ Shiraishi sounded as though she didn’t quite believe it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes.â€ Kazumi took a deep breath, and then broke out smiling again. “Yes. That’s exactly what I want to do. How can I do anything away from the shrine, now that I’ve seen Tamao? How can I neglect the kami for anything else? And it’s something I can do. I don’t need supernatural powers, like Akiko.â€ She smiled again, nodding firmly. “I’ll go to the university, and study to be a priest.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi was smiling as well.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m very glad you feel that way, Kazumi. In fact…â€ She paused. “No, never mind. That’s not important right now. Let’s get you to the university first.â€ She turned to Akiko. “Akiko, what about you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was feeling envious of Kazumi, because she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ she replied. “This wasn’t something I asked for; it just happened to me.â€ Shiraishi nodded sympathetically, and Akiko went on. “While there was a crisis, I really had to stay here, and fight the kegare. But there isn’t a crisis any more.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you’ve seen Tamao!â€ Kazumi protested. Akiko nodded, and paused to gather her thoughts.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ve seen him. He is glorious. But do I have to organise my whole life around him? It’s great that you want to, Kazumi, but I…â€ She fell silent again, and could feel herself blushing. “I have the chance of a normal life, with Akira,â€ she said, at last. “It’s what I always wanted.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, you don’t want to train?â€ Shiraishi sounded disappointed, and Akiko quickly shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I wanted a normal life before I saw Tamao. I still want it now, but…â€ She searched for the right words, and finally gave up. “Things are more <em>complicated</em> now,â€ was the best she could manage. She looked at Kazumi and Shiraishi, and was relieved to see understanding on the priest’s face, at least. “I just don’t know what I should do with my life.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe Tamao still has plans for you,â€ Kazumi suggested. Akiko glanced at the screen, and the robe beyond, and nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe he does. Maybe I don’t want to go along with his plans, though.â€ Kazumi looked shocked, but Shiraishi just laughed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I promise to do my best to keep him under control if you do decide to live a normal life,â€ she said. “But, for now, do you want the formal miko job?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at the priest, thinking, and was surprised to see Shiraishi slowly blush. Did she think she was being too pushy? Akiko had to think about the question, but in the end she nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you. I don’t know where I’m going, but I can’t leave here yet.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There is still too much I don’t understand.â€</p>', 'Future Plans', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'future-plans', '', '', '2009-12-04 17:00:35', '2009-12-04 08:00:35', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=994', 0, 'post', '', 3);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(995, 1, '2009-12-04 17:00:15', '2009-12-04 08:00:15', '', 'Future Plans', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '994-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 17:00:15', '2009-12-04 08:00:15', '', 994, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/994-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(996, 1, '2009-12-04 17:02:46', '2009-12-04 08:02:46', 'The epilogue is now finished, and will take you to the end of the year in four additional episodes. You''ll get two installments on the 28th, 29th, and 30th, because there isn''t a full week there. The whole story is now just short of 240,000 words, which is about the same as a fat Harry Potter.\r\n\r\nThe main plot finishes on Sunday, so the pace and tension will drop substantially, but I hope the epilogue makes the ending a bit more complete than it would have been.', 'Finished (Again)', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'finished-again', '', '', '2009-12-04 17:05:01', '2009-12-04 08:05:01', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=996', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(997, 1, '2009-12-04 17:01:55', '2009-12-04 08:01:55', 'The epilogue is now finished, and will take you to the end of the year in four additional episodes. You''ll get two installments on the 28th, 29th, and 30th, because there isn''t a full week there.\n\nThe main plot finishes on Sunday, so the pa', 'Finished (Again)', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '996-revision', '', '', '2009-12-04 17:01:55', '2009-12-04 08:01:55', '', 996, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/996-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(998, 1, '2009-12-04 17:04:51', '2009-12-04 08:04:51', 'The epilogue is now finished, and will take you to the end of the year in four additional episodes. You''ll get two installments on the 28th, 29th, and 30th, because there isn''t a full week there. The whole story is now just short of 240,000 words, which is about the same as a fa\n\nThe main plot finishes on Sunday, so the pace and tension will drop substantially, but I hope the epilogue makes the ending a bit more complete than it would have been.', 'Finished (Again)', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '996-autosave', '', '', '2009-12-04 17:04:51', '2009-12-04 08:04:51', '', 996, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/996-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(999, 1, '2009-12-04 17:02:46', '2009-12-04 08:02:46', 'The epilogue is now finished, and will take you to the end of the year in four additional episodes. You''ll get two installments on the 28th, 29th, and 30th, because there isn''t a full week there.\r\n\r\nThe main plot finishes on Sunday, so the pace and tension will drop substantially, but I hope the epilogue makes the ending a bit more complete than it would have been.', 'Finished (Again)', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '996-revision-2', '', '', '2009-12-04 17:02:46', '2009-12-04 08:02:46', '', 996, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/12/04/996-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(1000, 1, '2009-08-28 15:20:55', '2009-08-28 06:20:55', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Still out of breath from the contest — but they won! — Akiko stood before the iwakura. The fire still towered into the sky, its light burning bright against darkness that seemed to threaten from all sides, looming over, blocking all but a tiny circle of blue sky.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Taking a deep breath, Akiko reached for the mask.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Even before her fingers reached it, the column of fire bent over and poured down into her like a waterfall. She felt it fill her, running through her veins, her nerves, into her eyes and ears, blotting out everything else with the sheer power. For a moment she forgot where she was, forgot what she had to do.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The shrieks from behind her brought her awareness back. The ohnusa was in front of her, and she bowed before it, twice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Please try to be calm,â€ it was Shiraishi’s voice. <em>Why?</em> “She is perfectly all right.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Somebody call the…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“<em>No!</em> Please be quiet for the norito.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>They can see! They can see the fire!</em> Akiko suddenly realised. As she began to recite the words of the ancient norito, she wondered what that meant.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She finished and bowed again, but the ohnusa was unchanged, still paper streamers on a wooden rod. She reached for it, with hands she could see were wreathed in flames, and as she touched it the flames spread from her hands to the ohnusa, each strip of paper burning a different colour, scattering sparks of light and flame as she lifted it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She turned back to the gathered ujiko, and raised the ohnusa. A few bowed their heads immediately, the other after a few moments. She swung the ohnusa, and fire exploded from it, across the shrine grounds, out to the boundary, and beyond, rushing out across the city. Akiko was filled with exhilaration. <em>It’s working.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She swung it again, and the fire rushed out once more, but this time the kegare stopped it some way outside the shrine, a boiling wall of blackness that was pressing in from all sides, pushing the light back. Akiko swung the ohnusa again, but the kegare was too strong now, pushing back hard in all directions, pressing right up to the edges of the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fire in the iwakura flared up again, sending out wave after wave of fire, but they were all checked by the kegare. Things moved within the darkness, things with claws and wings and beaks, things that tested the barrier of fire, and then withdrew.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>It’s still not strong enough!</em> Akiko thought, wildly. <em>How can we…</em> The fire was eating at the darkness, and for a moment created a hole, a hole that was rapidly patched by kegare flowing in from other sides.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And suddenly Akiko understood what was happening. All of the kegare was concentrating here to contain the aramitama. If they won here, they would win everywhere.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">But it wasn’t at all clear that they would win here. There were places where the darkness extinguished the flames, and while the aramitama quickly reinforced it, the strength it had gained from the festival would not last for ever.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko knew what she had to do. Turning, she replaced the ohnusa in its stand, and then ran for the woods. She heard Shiraishi call after her, once, and then fall silent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The woods felt more alive than ever, even the ground under her feet lending her strength and bearing her up. She reached the kami tree in moments, faster than she could ever remember, and wasn’t even out of breath as she paused to bow before it. She shrugged her happi coat off, and quickly undid the loincloth, before stepping forward to embrace the tree.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment there was agony, as the fire burned at her, and at the tree, and she felt the tree’s pain as her own, but then she was the fire, and the tree accepted her, letting her through.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stood in the forest, the trees above her drawing their branches back from the flames that still leapt up from her body. Putting her hands together in front of her, she began to intone the harae norito once more. The flames drew in, concentrating above her hands, forming into an ohnusa of fire once more, but as she kept chanting Akiko seemed to flow with the fire, her awareness entering the ohnusa, her voice continuing to chant from behind her and above.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She raised herself, and turned herself loose.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and the aramitama, a distinction she felt she was losing, rushed through the forest, filling it, surrounding the trees, pushing at them, opening them, embracing them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Pouring through them, like through a dozen open doors, and bursting out into Kawasaki through the trees, trees which shook themselves and put out new leaves and twigs as they passed, growing larger in a moment. Akiko laughed as she saw Kawasaki from many places at once, the shrine unmistakable within a dense cocoon of kegare, while the light swept between and through houses, under the streets, along power lines, burning away the kegare that was left, purifying everything as it rushed onwards, spreading out to the edge of Tamao’s domain, lapping gently against the realms of other kami.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Concentrating itself like a tsunami as it converged on the shrine, on the kegare around the shrine, the kegare fighting against the light within, turned in on the shrine, not prepared for the fire to strike it from all directions at once.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The scream filled Akiko’s soul as the waves of light crashed down on the corruption, and she exulted in it, gloried in it as the kegare held for a moment, and then collapsed, burning up under the light, dissolving into particles of darkness that vanished into nothingness, a cocoon of kegare that became a film, that was burned through, that vanished as the light without rejoined the light within, a sea of cleansing fire that covered the whole area, burning the clouds away from the sky. The joy of completion filled Akiko, submerging her soul in ecstasy.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Tamao was coiled around the pool, his eyes gazing deep into the light.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bright Child, come back.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was not the aramitama. She was…</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bright Child, come back.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She remembered. She remembered a body. She was not a spirit, she was a body, human. Tamao looked at her, the light refracting through his scales and scattering in a million colours. He was calling her back. She let her awareness extend over the whole of his domain for a moment longer, confirming that it was all purified, through to the deepest level, and then answered his call.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You have done well, Bright Child. You have done very well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was something in the pool, something pale, something familiar… A body. Her body.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You are still human, Bright Child.â€ Tamao had not taken his eyes from her. “Remember that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She remembered. She remembered bruising her knee against a table. She remembered the taste of umeboshi. She remembered the feel of silk on her skin.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was in her body.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She rose from the water, the scattered droplets turned to burning diamonds in the light from the iwakura.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The air was clean under a blue sky, and Akiko’s mind was at peace.</p>', 'Purification', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '862-revision-2', '', '', '2009-08-28 15:20:55', '2009-08-28 06:20:55', '', 862, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/28/862-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
