<i>"... why would Akiko be doing that?"</i>

Wasn't it Satomi who would be doing that?

And I'm a bit disappointed that Akiko didn't insist on the harae. Not that Satomi wouldn't gather new kegare, but at least she be better off for a while. Then again, perhaps she would've refused anyway, and considered Akiko a bit too far gone for her liking.