<em>What should we do?</em> That was a big question, and one that Akiko had rather been hoping that Shiraishi would have easy answers to.

“Don’t you know?â€ The priest shook her head.

“Like I said before, my training really didn’t cover this sort of situation.â€ She looked out of the window as she spoke, and then started to get up. “The weather has brightened up. Let’s walk in shrine grounds while we talk about it.â€ Akiko’s legs were getting sore from kneeling, so she readily agreed, standing up slowly and massaging life back into them.

The weather really had improved. A few wispy white clouds were scattered across the blue, but the sun shone on the shrine, making the leaves of the trees and the grass of the precincts gleam. The air was fresh, with a hint of the smell of pine, and the noises of the city were distant, drowned out every time a bird sang among the trees. Shiraishi led the way off the path, and towards the rear of the shrine.

“So, you say you’ve seen the kami several times. Has he said anything to you?â€ Akiko shook her head.

“No, he just looks at me, like I’m supposed to know what to do.â€ The priest sighed.

“And what about the kegare spirits?â€

“The what?â€ It was that word again.

“Ke-ga-reh. Pollution. Loss of energy. Bad stuff. It’s what you get rid of when you wash your hands and mouth at the water basin, or have a harae done.â€

“Harae?â€

“A ritual to get rid of kegare. Anyway, the other spirits you are seeing sound like kegare spirits to me.â€

“Hmm, yes. I suppose that would describe them.â€ Akiko paused to think, but nothing leapt out at her. “They just seem to appear in places, and then chase me.â€

“Decaying places, right?â€

“Well, the laundrette’s building, certainly. And I suppose the one at the building site appeared from the bamboo grove that was being cut down. The love hotels weren’t decaying, though.â€

“Not physically. But they aren’t exactly happy and hopeful places.â€

“I suppose not. My old flat wasn’t decaying, though.â€

“No, but you had just been evicted.â€ They were round the back of the shrine, near the stones, and the priest paused.

“Akiko, do you have anywhere to live?â€

“What? Oh, I’m all right. I’ve got a job interview this afternoon. I think this is just going be a really difficult week when I look back on it.â€

“Mm, OK.â€ The priest didn’t sound completely convinced, but she wasn’t looking at Akiko, instead staring into the stones. Akiko remembered the light she had seen, and looked as well, but there was nothing unusual. The priest noticed where she was looking.

“That’s the iwakura. It’s where the kami was honoured before the shrine building was first built. You said you saw a light there?â€ Akiko nodded. “But not the snake? The snake was always in the shrine building?â€

“Well, sometimes it wasn’t in the shrine at all, and it did come out, but…â€

“But it lives in the shrine building.â€ The priest frowned and looked between the iwakura and the back of the shrine. “I can’t help feeling that’s significant, somehow.â€

Akiko glanced at her watch, and gasped.

“I’m sorry; I really have to go. I’ve got to get changed before I go to the job interview.â€

“Do you want to change here?â€

“Oh, thank you, but I didn’t bring the clothes. I really have to go; I’ll come back soon.â€

“Yes, please do.â€

Once again, Akiko was running from the shrine, but this time she turned at the torii to wave good bye.