When Akiko emerged from the bathroom in her yukata, there was no sign of the priest or her clothes.

“Revd Shiraishi?â€ There was no immediate response, and Akiko made her way to the waiting room. The tea things were still on the table, and her clothes were carefully hung over stands. Akiko reached out to feel it, but even her underwear was still too wet to wear.

<em>Well, it’s not like I have somewhere else to be,</em> she thought. <em>But where is Revd Shiraishi?</em>

“Revd Shiraishi?â€ she called out again, louder this time.

“In 'ere.â€ The reply was slightly slurred, and Akiko followed the sound back into the house. She found the priest sitting by a table, a half-empty large bottle of sake and cup in front of her. As Akiko entered, she was pouring herself another drink.

“Kanpai!â€ she said, with a half smile, and then she barked a humourless laugh, before downing the contents of the cup and filling it again.

“Revd Shiraishi, are you all right?â€

“Course I am. Fine. What could possibly be wrong? You juss sit there. I’m busy.â€ She drained another cup, and looked away from Akiko as she filled it again. Her face was already red, and Akiko, looking at the size of the bottle, was suddenly worried.

“Revd Shiraishi…â€

“I’m <em>fine</em>, I said. Lemme alone. I dint push you. You can wait til your things are dry, course. But lemme alone. Go on. Go.â€ She made shooing motions with her hands as she picked up the cup, spilling a lot of sake on the table. “Shit.â€

As Shiraishi started pouring herself another drink, Akiko went back to the waiting room, not wanting to upset her further, but very worried. As she paced the room, wondering what she could do, her eyes fell on a stack of business cards. The top one belonged to Mr Takenaka, and had his address on. It was really very close to the shrine. She pulled out her cell phone, but as she opened it the screen flashed “battery lowâ€ at her, and it died. Cursing herself for not recharging it at the hotel, she looked out of the window and the torrential rain, and then crept back inside to peep in at Shiraishi, who was still drinking. Sighing, she went back to the waiting room and changed into her wet clothes, shivering at their touch.

<em>Not that it’s really worth drying them out,</em> she thought.

Changed, she checked the address again, picking up the business card, and borrowed one of Shiraishi’s waterproofs before heading out into the rain.

Despite the coat, she was soaked, again, before she had even got to the bottom of the steps. The water running along the road was up to her ankles, and she had to step carefully to avoid falling over. Peering at the address plates on gates and lamp posts, she found her way to the right house, the Takenakas’ name on the board.

She rang the doorbell, and worked out what she wanted to say. Akira answered.

“Ms Tanahata?â€ He sounded very surprised, which was only to be expected.

“It’s Revd Shiraishi. She’s… well…â€ <em>drinking herself into oblivion,</em> Akiko thought, but she couldn’t say that.

“I’ll get my father,â€ Akira said, disappearing back into the house. When Mr Takenaka appeared, he was already getting ready to go out.

“Is she drinking?â€ He kept his voice low. Akiko nodded, and he sighed.

“I’ll go to the shrine. You’d better go home.â€ Akiko thought about the manga cafe, but nodded anyway. There was nothing else for her to do.