Akiko reached the shrine precincts without any trouble, and the threatening clouds did not open up to actual rain along the way. At the bottom of the steps, however, she paused, looking up them at the torii. Something was strange about the way she felt, and it took a moment for her to work out what it was.

She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t nervous. She wasn’t even angry. What she was feeling was <em>anticipation.</em> That made no sense. She was almost convinced that Tamao was persecuting her; why should she feel as though she wanted to be here?

Under the grey clouds, the steps up through the bank were dark, and Akiko’s footfalls sounded very loud in her ears. Looking up, the area beyond the torii seemed very bright despite the cloudy day, but when she reached the top, bowing her head to enter, there was nothing unusual to see. The ground was still damp from the rain, and she had to fight down a brief urge to hunt for litter.

She had already purified herself at the basin before she realised what she was doing, and remembered that she had planned to go straight to the house and just give the coat back. <em>At this point,</em> she thought, <em>I might as well pay my respects first.</em> She walked over to the shrine, climbing the slick wooden steps, and rang the bell, without throwing any money in, before bowing, clapping, and bowing again. She stood quietly for a few moments, letting her eyes adjust to the gloom within the shrine, wondering whether she would see the snake.

She felt that she didn’t mind either way. It was just relaxing to be back at the shrine, back where she didn’t need to worry.

It was some time after that thought crossed her mind before she realised how strange it was. Why did she not have to worry here? When she thought back to the things she had seen, or the time she had woken up here in her nightwear, worrying seemed like the most sensible reaction. And, she had to remind herself, the kami had cursed her and ruined her life. <em>Why do I have to remind myself of that?</em> she asked herself.

None of it broke the mood. She was still calmly considering the problem of why she was so calm, standing, completely relaxed, under the eaves of the shrine, watching the flames flicker and dance in the two lanterns at the rear of the hall, light reflecting off the metal fittings on the inner doors, closed today, hiding the blind.

Akiko shook herself out of her reverie. She was here to return the coat, and it wouldn’t do to forget. Bowing once more, to take her leave, she went down from the shrine and across to the house, ringing the bell. Shiraishi soon came, and looked surprised to see her.

“Oh, Ms Tanahata.â€

“I brought your coat back. Thank you.â€

“Oh. Oh yes, of course. Thank you. I hope you are all right now.â€

“Yes, thank you.â€ An easy social lie, but it was somehow bitter on her tongue.

“Well… Oh.â€ Shiraishi was looking over Akiko’s shoulder, and she looked back as well, to see a young man standing there, smiling shyly, Takenaka’s son, what was his name? Oh yes, Akira.

“Good morning Ms Tanahata, Revd Shiraishi.â€