<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Those were… the kegare?â€ Shiraishi said, while gasping for breath. Akiko just nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you all right?â€ Akiko turned to see Kazumi approaching from the shrine house, her face concerned. Something was strange, but she nodded again, and then it hit her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, can you see the fire?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Fire?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko turned to look at the priest, who nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I see it. Kazumi, you can’t see a wall of fire around the shrine?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, no?â€ The girl looked really puzzled. “I’d hardly miss something like that.â€ The flames began to fade as she spoke, sinking back towards the ground, but the spirits on the other side were long gone. Her breathing finally returning to normal, Akiko stood up, and pointed at the iwakura.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, can you see the flame in there?â€ The priest looked, and drew her breath in sharply.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Just over the spring. Kazumi?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Flame? No… Is this revenge for me teasing you?â€ She sounded suddenly suspicious. Akiko couldn’t help laughing, although it sounded a bit hollow in her ears.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. I wish it was.â€ Quickly, she explained what had happened, and Kazumi shuddered a little.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was my school? Maybe I’ll take tomorrow off.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think that’s a very good idea,â€ Shiraishi said. “I wouldn’t go back there until we can purify it.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But why couldn’t we?â€ Akiko asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah,â€ Shiraishi said, looking at the ground. “That is, unfortunately, a good question.â€ There was a pause, then the priest continued. “Tamao said that we had to use the increased strength of the kami against the kegare, right?â€ She looked at Akiko for confirmation, and Akiko nodded. That was certainly what she remembered. “So maybe we didn’t do that.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But what didn’t we do? I mean, we went, and we performed the harae.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And the spirits couldn’t even approach the shrine closely,â€ Shiraishi added, “so it seems that the increased power is effective.â€ She paused again. “Do you think the car really exploded?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi almost shouted the word, and then clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry,â€ she said, as she lowered her hand again. “Exploded?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi nodded, but Akiko was puzzled.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We saw it, I felt the heat. Didn’t you?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, but I also saw and felt the heat of the flames around the shrine, and Kazumi didn’t.â€ The priest looked towards Kazumi for confirmation, and she nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No flames. Just you.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right. And, Akiko, you saw an attacking spirit at the river when I only saw a flood, right?â€ Akiko nodded, understanding now what the priest meant.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what we see when we’re seeing spirits isn’t necessarily what is really happening?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think so…â€ Shiraishi sounded uncertain. “I don’t believe kegare actually looks like a hedgehog. I think what we see is a concrete visualisation of an abstract existence. And I don’t think a visualisation could make my car blow up.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko had to think for a moment to follow that, and even then she wasn’t sure exactly what Shiraishi’s theory meant. But still…</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But then the explosion would be a visualisation of something, right?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I didn’t say I’d drive the car. Anyway, maybe it’s just a burned-out shell at the moment. I’ll go to look in the morning.â€ She stretched, and yawned. “First, though, I’m going to get some sleep. Maybe Tamao will send me a useful dream.â€</p>