<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they bowed once more, Tamao retreated back into the sanctuary, leaving them alone. They stood, and starting walking back to the tree, in silence at first.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was…â€ Akiko wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to say. <em>“How can you be here now?â€</em> she remembered, and now that she thought about it, that fitted with other things she knew about Yoshiko. But she couldn’t ask about that. “Unusually direct,â€ she finished.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded, and suddenly smiled.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. A straightforward instruction from Tamao. Not <em>quite</em> a first, but still.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why is he so indirect?â€ It had been bothering Akiko for a while, but there weren’t many people she could ask.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think he means to be,â€ Yoshiko said. “I think he just doesn’t understand the way we think.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, yes,â€ Akiko replied, remembering when she, Shiraishi, and Kazumi had all seen the kami. “He said something like that to us.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really?â€ Yoshiko looked at her, and then suddenly pulled a face. “Actually, I was rather hoping it was deliberate.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Because then there’d be a chance of getting him to stop.â€ Akiko tried to fight down the giggles that provoked, but when she realised that Yoshiko was also trying to stay serious, she gave up.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Both miko were still laughing when they returned to the tree, Kazumi’s yukata lying at its base. They stopped abruptly.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It was a very straightforward instruction,â€ Yoshiko said, looking at Akiko.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied, glancing at Yoshiko, and then back at the tree. “I suppose there’s only one way to do this.â€ She looked back at Yoshiko, who took a deep breath and nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Neither of them moved.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi just got undressed?â€ Yoshiko sounded a bit sceptical.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi really doesn’t seem to care about that sort of thing.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They stood there for a bit longer, and Akiko suddenly shook herself.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is ridiculous. Tamao is obviously right.â€ She reached for the belt of her hakama, and started to undo it. As she did, Yoshiko also seemed released from the trance, and began to undress.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When they were both naked, they stepped up to the tree, Akiko keeping her eyes fixed on the trunk.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ready?â€ she asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ready,â€ Yoshiko replied. Together, they stepped forward, reaching out, touching the bark, pressing their bodies against it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They stood, side by side, breathing hard, at the foot of a great tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves above them, while the roots were rough and warm under their bare feet. Akiko felt as though she had just dived through icy water, or perhaps fallen from a great height, or, no, maybe it was more like running through fire. She looked at Yoshiko.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you OK?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The other miko nodded, looking around.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where are we?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a good question. They were surrounded by trees, all as ancient and tall as the kami tree, their branches meeting overhead in a canopy of leaves, their roots stretching out to cover the ground. A gentle breeze blew, caressing Akiko’s skin, pleasantly warm.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko switched her vision over, and gasped.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The trees were all huge, throbbing with life, each leaf pulsing with energy, even a leaf was overwhelming.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko switched her vision back, breathing hard, and realised that Yoshiko was doing the same.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did you look?â€ she asked, and the other miko nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So much… power. Energy. Life.â€ Akiko nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think this is where the kami tree came from?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe. Or maybe this is the kami.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This forest?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why not?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko couldn’t answer that, so she just nodded, as she looked round again. She felt, not calm, exactly, but not worried. Exalted, maybe.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We should look for…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I thought I heard voices.â€ It was Kazumi, above them. Akiko looked up into the tree, to see the girl among the branches. She swung nimbly down, landing in front of them, on the uneven roots, without even stumbling.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Isn’t this place great?â€ Kazumi’s eyes were shining. “I mean, did you see that? I just swung out of the tree!â€ Akiko wasn’t sure what she meant, and Kazumi seemed to pick up on her puzzlement. “I’m not a gymnast,â€ she explained. “I can’t normally do that. Go on, you try.â€ Akiko looked up at the tree. It seemed a long way up, certainly further than she thought she could jump. “Look, just jump for the lower branches. Like this.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi crouched, and sprang. Her hands closed around a branch, and she swung herself round it and up, releasing her grip at just the right time to land sitting on it. Akiko just stared at her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I can’t do that!â€ Yoshiko was nodding beside her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me neither. Where did you learn it?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Here,â€ Kazumi replied. “Look, just try it. Come on, Akiko.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko squinted up into the tree, choosing a branch she thought she would be able to sit on. <em>Well, maybe I can do it here,</em> she thought, before crouching.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her legs seemed stronger than normal, and her hands closed around the branch easily, instinctively. She swung her legs forward without thinking, pivoting up and around, releasing the branch as she tumbled over in the air, and then grabbing it again as she came to rest on top of it, the texture of the bark against her skin sending shivers through her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Moments later, Yoshiko was sitting on a third branch, a look of wonder on her face.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. I’m Kazumi Miura, a miko at Tamao Shrine. Pleased to meet you.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m Yoshiko. I’m also a miko at Tamao Shrine.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Akiko cut Kazumi off.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We aren’t asking those questions.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Akiko cut her off again. “We have enough to worry about. Yoshiko has been teaching me miko dances for quite a while now; she taught me the secret ceremony for the wild festival.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. Can you teach me, too?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko grinned.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ooh, what happened to your teeth?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I blackened them,â€ Yoshiko replied.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But only women hundreds of…â€ Kazumi trailed off. “Right, we aren’t asking those questions.â€ She looked around for a moment. “I suppose we’d better get out of the tree if we’re going to have a dance lesson.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko got to her feet, balancing on the branch, swinging her arms.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmm, yes. The other branches would get in the way.â€ She pushed up, jumping off the branch and plummeting to the ground. Akiko looked down, to see her standing calmly under the tree. “On the ground, please.â€ Kazumi swung down round her branch, spinning in the air to land on her feet, and Akiko grinned, shaking her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>That girl is a real show-off.</em></p>