Akiko had been staring at the darkness beyond the bathroom window for some time before she realised it, and, shaking her head, she stood up, going over to the taps to splash cold water over her body. Gasping, and slightly more awake, she went out to the changing area, looking at herself in the mirror as she dried off.

Her reflection was suddenly fully clothed in the vestments of a miko, a slender golden tiara with fresh flowers thrust through it on her head, a mirror on the centre, over her forehead. She wore a thin over-mantle over the kimono, its translucent material embroidered with dancing dragons. Behind her, she could see nothing but the clouds of a stormy sky, roiling and changing, with occasional flashes of lightning. The clouds and lightning drew together, taking the shape of dragons, dancing like the embroidered ones.

There was a change in the distance, a darkness in the sky, deeper than the clouds, and it came pouring forwards, consuming the dragons, tearing them apart in straggling lines of vapour, until the background was nothing but the deepest darkness.

Which fell like a curtain, leaving the mirror black.

Akiko staggered back, and her reflection reappeared, with the changing area behind her. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she finished drying herself and dressing, keeping an eye on the mirror the whole time. It remained just a mirror.

The image of falling darkness preyed on her mind as she sat in the shrine office, looking out of the window but seeing nothing but her reflection. Were they really doing anything to deal with the pollution? Why was Mrs Watanabe so scared of the suggestion of a curse? What was going on with Kazumi? Had they really helped the situation with the pollution?

Akiko stood up to snap herself out of her brooding. Maybe she could actually do something about one of the questions. She checked the time; just after eight. Still early, really. She took her cell phone out, and called Akira.

“Hello? Ms Tanahata?â€

“Yes, good evening. Is this a good time?â€

“Yes, sure, no problem. What is it?â€

“I was wondering if you could drive me round the area a bit. I want to look at the kegare. I want to see whether we’ve made any progress.â€

“Oh, of course. When?â€

“Er, could you do it now? Revd Shiraishi will want to go to bed early, because she has the morning watch, so I want to get back before she does.â€

“Now?â€ He sounded a little surprised, but not upset. “Yes, yes. No problem. I’ll be there in a few minutes.â€

“Thank you. See you soon, then.â€

“See you soon.â€

He hung up, and Akiko went in search of the priest. Shiraishi was just finishing eating, and sighed when Akiko explained what she wanted to do. The priest looked tired, and Akiko suddenly realised that she had been hoping to get to bed very soon.

“I’m sorry,â€ Akiko apologised, “I’ll get back as quickly as I can. But…â€

“But you want to check.â€ The priest shook her head. “It’s fine. A good idea. I’ll cope. I don’t suppose Tamao has said anything useful?â€ Akiko also shook her head, and then quickly described the vision in the mirror. The priest looked irritated.

“That’s hardly a useful vision, is it. If the kami are going to talk to you, they could at least tell us something useful in the process.â€ She sighed, obviously frustrated. “Well, tell me what you find.â€ The doorbell rang, and the priest stood, carrying her dishes over to the sink. “That’s probably Akira now. Stay safe.â€

“Of course.â€ It was only after Akiko and Akira had set off in the car that she realised that the priest’s final warning may not have been entirely conventional.

“Where to, then?â€ Akira asked.

“Let’s start with the Tanakas’ house. Then there was a park, and an old folks’ home, the bridge, and the river. I want to see how much kegare there is now.â€

“You’re the boss.â€

They drove in silence for a couple of minutes, before Akira cleared his throat, glancing quickly at Akiko.

“What… What does kegare look like?â€ Akiko glanced over at him, not sure that that had been the question he originally wanted to ask.

“Look like? To me? It… varies. Never good, though.â€

“Yes, but, like what? You said something about a wall at the bridge.â€

“Right. Well…â€ Akiko started describing some of the ways kegare had appeared.

“Here we are.â€ Akira interrupted her as he pulled up near the Tanakas’ house. “Do you want to go in?â€ Akiko shook her head.

“No, I want to check places as quickly as possible. One moment…â€ She switched her vision over, and sucked her breath in sharply.

The house was heavy with kegare again, looking like flaps of inflamed skin wrapped around it. This time, however, the pollution was no heavier than that of the houses around it, and Akiko glanced around, realising that they were near the centre of a concentration of the pollution. She switched her vision back, and shook her head.

“What is it?â€ Akira asked.

“Not good. Let’s look at the next place.â€

The park was as heavy with kegare as it had been, and still full of prostitutes and drug dealers. On the bright side, there was no sign of the greater spirit Akiko had seen before. The old folks’ home looked as if they had never done anything. The road was a little more encouraging. There was a great deal of scaffolding, and notice boards explaining the repair works, and, although the kegare had increased, it was nowhere near as bad as it had been.

The river, however, was the best case. There was almost no kegare to be seen, and looking into the water, Akiko could make out the shape of the river spirit within the current, the fire of its scales burning away any bits of pollution that tried to settle there.

“This one was good?â€ Akira asked, as Akiko smiled.

“Yes. The spirit of the river seems to be keeping it pure." She frowned again. “The other places were polluted again, though. The harae isn’t cleansing them permanently.â€ She pursed her lips, thinking for a moment, but nothing occurred to her. “Oh well, back to the shrine, I suppose.â€

“Do you want to get a drink first? Or dinner?â€ Akira asked, but Akiko shook her head.

“No, I promised Revd Shiraishi I’d get back as quickly as possible.â€ She looked back at the river, wondering how they could find spirits elsewhere.

“Oh.â€ Akira sounded odd, and as Akiko glanced over it suddenly struck her that he’d asked her out for dinner.

“Oh, thank you for the invitation. But I really did promise Revd Shiraishi. I’m sorry, but I can’t do it tonight.â€

“Oh, that’s OK. I’d better get you back before your curfew, then.â€ He looked at her and grinned, and she smiled back.

“I don’t have a curfew, Mr Takenaka.â€ Her mood suddenly turned serious again. “Just responsibilities…â€ she said, looking back out of the window at the city, smothered under the blanket of night.