When her vision cleared, there was a shrine building in front of her, its pale wood warm in the sunlight, the copper roof shining. She heard someone gasp behind her, and realised that Shiraishi and Kazumi, or at least one of them, was there with her, but she did not look down. Taking a deep breath, smelling the sun-warmed grass, she composed herself to wait, watching the doors of the shrine.

The sun was warm, and the breeze playing through the trees was pleasantly cooling as it toyed with her hair. But there was no motion from the shrine, and no sense of motion. Keeping her face neutral, Akiko tried to shift her vision to see kegare, but nothing appeared to change. <em>Makes sense, I suppose,</em> she thought, and then, quite deliberately, stood up, turning her back on the shrine.

Shiraishi and Kazumi were both there, still kneeling on their mats, and the stands with the ritual equipment were also there. Then Akiko looked again, and corrected herself. There were stands with ritual equipment, but not the same ones as they had been using.

“What… Where?â€ Kazumi finally found her voice, and it was shaking. Akiko wasn’t surprised; she remembered how she had reacted the first time she had found herself here. Shiraishi, of course, had heard about it from Akiko, and she was looking around, an expression of wonder on her face.

“It’s another version of the shrine,â€ Akiko explained quickly. “Tamao’s nigimitama lives here, in the shrine building.â€ She gestured back over her shoulder.

“Why are we here? Where is here?â€ Kazumi sounded a little calmer now, but still rather bewildered.

“Where? Ah… At the shrine, sort of, I think. I’ve always come out of here at the shrine. As for why, I presume that Tamao wants to talk to us.â€

“Tamao?â€ Kazumi sounded surprised. “The kami?â€

“Yes,â€ Shiraishi replied. “The kami. I was planning to tell you these things a bit more slowly, but Tamao doesn’t seem to be into giving his miko much time to adapt at the moment.â€

“You’ve been here before too?â€ Kazumi asked. Shiraishi shook her head as she stood up and walked over to the stands, inspecting the ritual equipment, picking up a folded piece of paper.

“No, but Akiko has told me about it. She came here before she came to the normal shrine.â€ Shiraishi looked over at Akiko for confirmation, and Akiko nodded her head.

“That’s right. Normally, Tamao appears quite quickly, though.â€

“Is he… What does he look like?â€ Kazumi was standing up as well, now, and looking around.

“A giant snake with scales of gems and precious metal,â€ Akiko said, glancing back at the shrine. “He is… quite impressive. But apparently shy.â€

“He wants us to summon him,â€ Shiraishi said, the piece of paper open in her hands. “This,â€ she continued, holding it up, “is a norito for summoning Tamao.â€ She suddenly grinned, and then, quite clearly, forced herself to be serious. “I’m sorry, I just suddenly had a mental image of a snake writing with his mouth. Anyway, I think we have to perform the ceremony to call him down. We have all the necessary materials,â€ she said, gesturing at the stands, “and enough people to do it.â€

Shiraishi quickly explained the procedure. It was fairly simple; many elements that Akiko had performed several times fitted together to make a longer ritual. Kazumi looked a bit baffled, but fortunately her part could consist of just copying Akiko.

As ever, the ritual started with purification. As Shiraishi swung the ohnusa, Akiko felt as though sparks of electricity were running all over her body, then inside and through her; beside her Kazumi gasped, and Shiraishi faltered slightly, as if she had also felt it.

They took their places in front of the shrine, and Shiraishi bowed, Akiko and Kazumi following suit. Then Shiraishi stood, and as the notes of a flute drifted through the air, Akiko and Kazumi bowed again, faces close to the ground. Other instruments joined the flute, and Akiko could hear Shiraishi climbing the stairs. Even over the music, she could hear the whisper of wood as the priest opened the doors to the shrine.

A drum beat three times, and Akiko somehow knew that it was time to look up. Beside her, Kazumi also rose to a kneeling position. The doors were open, but it was still dark inside the shrine, behind the hanging blind. Shiraishi was kneeling to one side, at the very edge of the veranda. Akiko stood, Kazumi following her, and between them they set the offerings in front of the shrine, at the foot of the steps, and then returned to their places.

Shiraishi took the paper with the norito out of the folds of her kimono and carefully unfolded it. The music fell silent.

“<em>Kakemakumokashikomi…â€</em> she began, and Akiko and Kazumi bowed once more.

“<em>…kashikomikashikomimomosu.â€</em>

“Rise.â€

There was no mistaking that voice, and Akiko sat up to look at Tamao. He was brighter than before, and larger, his scales almost dazzling with the brilliance of the light within them, his eyes so bright it hurt to look directly at him. Akiko glanced to one side, and saw that the kami’s tail was wrapped around Shiraishi, who looked frozen in place, one hand trembling as if she wanted to reach forward, but dared not. Akiko risked another sideways glance, at Kazumi, whose mouth was hanging open in shock.

“Spirit Child, you have served me well for many years. I am pleased with you; be calm. Reach out.â€ Shiraishi did reach out then, laying her hand on the kami’s scales. The light seemed to flow up through her, enveloping her in a polychrome aura that shifted and sparkled.

“Spirit Child, if I could have, I would have spoken to you first.â€ Shiraishi started at that comment, and Tamao continued. “There are some who can hear easily, and some who cannot. It is no judgement.â€

“Bright Child.â€ Akiko felt the kami’s eyes on her, as hot as direct sunlight, and bowed, hiding her eyes from the light.

“You listened. You have more courage than you realise, and more wisdom than you imagine. But you still have much to learn.â€

<em>What does that mean? Dance moves? It could be, at that…</em>

“Beautiful Harmony. Come here.â€ Akiko glanced sideways again, as Kazumi stood and, shaking slightly, slowly climbed the steps to stand before the kami. Tamao dipped his head, lightning flickering from his mouth to touch the girl’s head.

And she was consumed in light, light so bright and pure it should have hurt to look at it, but it did not, and Akiko could see Kazumi within the light, see her in her vestments, and naked within them, and then, even more naked, she could see into Kazumi’s soul, and for an instant she understood the girl completely.

And then the moment had passed, and Kazumi, still fully clothed, dropped to her knees in front of Tamao, panting.

“Beautiful Harmony, all has now been purified. Serve without fear.â€

Bowing, still unsteady on her feet, Kazumi walked backwards down the steps, holding tightly onto the railing, and returned to her seat.

“Spirit Child, Bright Child, Beautiful Harmony. Remember! I am not as you. I do not see as you, or think as you, or feel as you. We shall ever be mysteries.â€

<em>Was that an apology?</em> Akiko couldn’t quite believe it, but why else would Tamao say that?

“You must hold the shrine’s aramatsuri. It has been neglected for too many years, and my aramitama is too weak to turn back the pollution. Hold the festival, and restore its strength.

“And now, Bright Child, dance!â€

Akiko rose from her place to continue the ritual, performing the sacred moves of her own volition in the presence of the kami.