<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was dressed in moments, but it took Yoshiko and Akiko a bit longer to get back into their vestments. As soon as they were dressed, Yoshiko bowed to the other two.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think I can get back from here,â€ she said.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Kazumi was obviously about to ask a question, and Yoshiko shook her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not tonight. I need to think, first. Please excuse me.â€ Without waiting for a response, she picked up her lamp and disappeared into the trees.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If we followed her, do you think…â€ Kazumi began.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Quite possibly,â€ Akiko cut her off. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea. We might not be able to get straight back. Again.â€ Kazumi looked disappointed for a moment, and then nodded, gathering up the coats.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yeah, OK. Enough excitement for one night.â€ Akiko looked at the coats, and her eyes narrowed as she thought about it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi…â€ She paused. Better to have the whole conversation once, with Shiraishi. “We need to talk to Revd Shiraishi.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi looked at her, and pulled a face.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I suppose we do.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The night was already brightening, and when they got back to the house Shiraishi was up, preparing for the morning rituals. She was a bit surprised to see them coming in, but that made it easy for Akiko to explain that they needed to talk.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi knew not to ask too many questions while Akiko told her what had happened, although she did blush deeply when Akiko described how to get inside the kami tree. When Akiko had finished, the priest looked at the table for a few moments, glancing up at both of them from time to time, then took a deep breath.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is…â€ She stopped, and shook her head. “Kazumi, did Akiko miss anything?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No…â€ the girl said slowly, shaking her head. “Think she got the lot.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Shiraishi nodded, and looked down again. “So, where did you go?â€ She asked the question quietly, without looking up, and Akiko got the impression she wasn’t really asking them. “And…â€ The priest stopped, and visibly shook herself, before looking up at them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t understand any of this.â€ She grinned, suddenly. “And I don’t suppose that surprises either of you. So I don’t imagine you can answer most of my questions. Where were you? Who is Yoshiko? Why doesn’t Tamao know what’s going on? What’s the connection to the tree in the park?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko just shook her head as Shiraishi listed the questions, not even pausing between them. The priest nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I do have a couple of questions I think you will be able to answer, though. First, er, aren’t you tired?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Akiko was a bit surprised.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“From your story, you haven’t slept all night, and you spent most of the time practising kagura in the forest, when you weren’t jumping in and out of trees. Shouldn’t you be tired?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I…â€ Akiko didn’t know what to say, and glanced at Kazumi, who looked equally nonplussed. “Actually,â€ she said, looking back at Shiraishi, “I feel great. Full of energy. Completely rested.â€ She glanced across at Kazumi, who nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me too. Ready for anything.â€ The girl paused. “That <em>is</em> really odd, isn’t it?â€ Akiko nodded, and looked back at the priest, who was looking at them both thoughtfully.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ she said. “It is odd. But maybe…â€ She paused for a minute, then shook her head. “I need to think about it a bit more. OK, second question. Kazumi, about those coats…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi suddenly sprang to her feet.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have to take them back before school! I’ve got to go!â€ She rushed out of the room, and Shiraishi sighed, shaking her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I’ll try again this evening.â€</p>