<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They bowed to conclude the ritual, and as they did the light faded around them, so that they straightened up back in the normal shrine precincts, the stones of the iwakura dimly illuminated against a backdrop of dark trees.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko drew a deep, shuddering breath, and carefully got to her feet, cradling the mask in her hands. She turned to look at the others; there were tears on Shiraishi’s face, and Kazumi was looking between them, still bewildered. For a long moment, none of them said anything.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ll talk inside.â€ Shiraishi was, in the end, the first to speak, and Akiko just nodded, following the priest into the house. They said nothing while they prepared tea, and the silence continued for some minutes as they sat around the table.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I found myself in a different shrine precinct, in daylight, with a shrine building,â€ Akiko began, finally breaking the silence, “and then we performed a ritual and Tamao appeared in the form of a giant snake.â€ She could see the relief on Kazumi’s face, and Shiraishi was nodding in agreement. “It really happened. What do we do now?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hold the aramatsuri,â€ Shiraishi said. “I don’t think we can really disregard such a clear instruction.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded her head, and glanced to Kazumi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er… yes.â€ The girl was obviously still rather distracted. “Er… That was Tamao? The kami?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes.â€ Akiko tried to keep her voice gentle. She could remember how much of a shock it was; at least Kazumi had some people to believe her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He’s beautiful.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded, and noticed Shiraishi doing the same.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Don’t forget that he’s still dangerous, though,â€ Akiko warned.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What do you mean?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi took over the task of explaining things, which reminded Akiko that the kami had told her she still had a lot to learn. Thinking about it now, she was fairly sure that he didn’t just mean the sacred dances and the various details of Shinto, but that didn’t help with the positive question. When Shiraishi finished her explanation, she decided to ask the question.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry to change the subject, but what do you think Tamao meant when he said I still had a lot to learn?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, you do,â€ Shiraishi said, quickly. “Rituals, myths, dances; all that sort of thing.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you really think he meant that?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think that’s part of what he meant.â€ The priest paused. “You probably still have to learn more about your ability to see the kami and kegare, as well. And possibly about your ability to fight it. Talking of that, though, Kazumi, why did Tamao purify you like that?â€ Shiraishi blushed slightly as she asked it, but that was nothing compared to the dark colour that filled Kazumi’s face.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I… I don’t… I have no idea…â€ she stammered, before trailing off.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I see. Hmm, well, we should talk about what we’re going to do to hold the aramatsuri, then.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at her, a bit surprised, and Shiraishi shook her head slightly. Suddenly, Akiko understood. Kazumi didn’t want to talk about it, and Shiraishi wasn’t going to press her yet.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think that’s the one I saw in my visions?â€ she asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Visions?â€ Kazumi asked. Akiko nodded, and quickly explained what she had seen.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That sounds fun!â€ Kazumi said, brightening up considerably. “We should definitely do that!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Shiraishi didn’t sound quite so enthusiastic. “I’m not sure that it needs to be done exactly as Akiko saw it in her visions.â€ Kazumi’s face fell, and Akiko rolled her eyes. “We’ll have to look in the shrine records, but you need to go home, young lady.â€ Kazumi glanced up at the clock, and then sprang to her feet in a panic, pulling at the tie on her hakama.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shall I bring your clothes in here, then?â€ Shiraishi asked, her voice slightly weary.</p>