<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Evening was drawing in, and the preparations for the festival were nearly complete. Half a dozen vendors had come to set up temporary stalls, in the precincts but set back a bit. The ritual equipment was set up in front of the iwakura, with the mikoshi on stands, facing the stones. Akiko fought down the urge to fiddle with the decorations again, and was turning to check on the tents for changing when she caught sight of Mr Fujimura, standing at the entrance to the shrine.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Bowing, she quickly hurried over, as Noriko came up the steps behind him.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mr Fujimura, I am very pleased you have come,â€ she began, but he shook his head, his face stern.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I will certainly not be attending this festival. No, I wanted to try one last time to persuade Revd Shiraishi not to hold it. Or at least to make it more decent.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko involuntarily glanced around at the preparations. Did he really think they could stop it now? Still, he had saved the shrine; he had earned a hearing, at the very least.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“One moment. I will find Revd Shiraishi.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">That actually took a bit longer than anticipated, and she finally tracked the priest down arguing with one of the vendors about his cooking facilities. When she mentioned that Mr Fujimura had come, however, the priest quickly conceded the last couple of points, and came with her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What does he want?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The same,â€ Akiko replied. Shiraishi shook her head in frustration.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Does he really think we can stop now?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi greeted him politely, nevertheless, and invited him into the shrine house, as the first people had started to arrive for the festival. They sat in the reception room, Noriko sitting behind Mr Fujimura, and off to one side, with an attitude of deference that made Akiko uncomfortable.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I will come straight to the point,â€ Mr Fujimura began. “I am asking you, based on whatever respect I might have earned, not to hold this festival, at least not as advertised.â€ Akiko stole a glance at Shiraishi, and thought she saw the priest wince. It was true; refusing Mr Fujimura was difficult. The priest bowed deeply before replying.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your service to this shrine has been great, Mr Fujimura, and I do not want you to think that we do not appreciate it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But I am afraid that we must hold this festival.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, Shinto has a long tradition of noble and dignified festivals. Can you not see the damage you might do to the reputation of the kami as a whole?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This festival also has a long history.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you not concerned that it might make things worse?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It seems very popular.â€ Shiraishi’s tone was questioning, as if she wasn’t quite sure what Mr Fujimura was asking. Akiko, also, started to wonder once more just how much Mr Fujimura knew.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I am not talking about the number of visitors to the shrine.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We are sure that the kami wants us to hold this festival.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura looked thoughtful, and his eyes narrowed slightly.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How sure?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Completely sure.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He still looked doubtful, but suddenly he nodded, bowed, and stood up.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“In that case, I can see that I will not convince you. I still believe that you are making a mistake, and I fear that I can no longer offer you any protection.â€ He turned towards the door, and then noticed that Noriko had not stood up. As he glanced down at her, she bowed, and then looked up at him.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I will be participating in the festival.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment, Mr Fujimura actually looked angry, or upset, or something, but he quickly brought his face under control, and simply nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Very well.â€</p>