<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they walked through Kawasaki, Akiko was acutely conscious that she was wearing nothing under the coat, and had to resist the temptation to keep a death-grip on the hem.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No-one will notice if you just walk naturally,â€ Kazumi had said. “Try to forget about what you aren’t wearing.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you do this a lot?â€ Akiko had asked, but Kazumi hadn’t answered. Still, she tried to follow the advice, but it was difficult.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko, however, seemed to be having a different problem. She kept flinching away from things around her, from almost everything in fact, and Akiko realised that she was on the verge of panic.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yoshiko?â€ she asked, putting her had on the other miko’s arm.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What… where… what is this place?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is Kawasaki.â€ Yoshiko shook her head violently, and Akiko quickly amended her statement. “This is <em>our</em> Kawasaki. Come on. The shrine isn’t far.â€ Yoshiko just stood there, apparently frozen, so Akiko put an arm around her shoulders, and started guiding her forwards. She realised that the woman was shaking, trembling, and found herself almost supporting her as they walked forward. After a few moments, Kazumi came to join her on the other side, putting Yoshiko’s arm over her shoulders and gripping the miko round the waist.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I guess this wasn’t the best way to find out where we were from, was it,â€ she said. Yoshiko actually managed the ghost of a smile as she shook her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then a car went past, and Yoshiko screamed, pressing herself against the wall of the nearest house, breathing heavily as Akiko and Kazumi tried to calm her down.</p>
<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, at last. “But what was that? Some sort of demon-spirit?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, no. That was just a car…â€ Kazumi said. “They don’t have them where you come from. No. Of course not.â€ It was just a statement, but she looked at Akiko, obviously seeking confirmation of some sort, and Akiko nodded. It really looked as thought Yoshiko was from the past. Somehow.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s all right, Yoshiko. It’s safe. Come on, the shrine isn’t far now.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When the shrine, with protesters and guards gathered at the base of the steps came into view, Akiko realised that she had been so concerned with Yoshiko that she had almost forgotten about her state of dress. Looking at the steps, however, forcibly reminded her. Kazumi glanced across and grimaced, suggesting that she’d had the same thought.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The shrine!â€ Yoshiko, however, sounded relieved. “That is the shrine! Who are those people?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Half of them are protesting against Shinto, and the other half are making sure they don’t damage the shrine. So, what do we do?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at the situation for a moment. The steps were dark, and the guards would recognise them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We just go in,â€ she said. “If we don’t give them any reason to be suspicious, they won’t notice. Can you walk by yourself?â€ This last was to Yoshiko, who nodded, straightening herself up.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sorry. Yes. I’m feeling a lot better now.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Everyone turned to look at them as they approached, but the guards did quickly recognise them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, Ms Tanahata, Ms Miura. We didn’t notice you go out. Welcome back.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ Akiko said, and led the way up the steps, forcing herself not to run. <em>Slow and steady. Keep it steady and the coat will stay hanging down.</em></p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Once they made it into the shrine grounds, however, she did run, racing across the open area and into the forest, heading straight for the kami tree. Yoshiko and Kazumi weren’t far behind her. It was only when they reached the tree, their clothes still neatly piled at the bottom, that Akiko realised Kazumi was laughing.</p>