Akiko backed away, letting the curtain fall. She backed through the central partition as the ringing of the bells died away, and only turned when she was out of the doors. She heard them swing shut behind her as she started to run down the steps, lost her footing, and tumbled to the bottom, banging her head.

“Miss! Miss! Are you all right?â€

A woman’s voice, someone she didn’t know. Akiko opened her eyes, her head pounded, and became aware of the cold water soaked through her clothes. The sound of wind and rain filled her ears, and a crash of thunder brought her fully awake. She groaned, and tried to get up.

“Can you stand? Let me help you.â€ The woman reached down, and Akiko took her hand gratefully. She struggled to her feet, her head throbbing, and realised that she was shivering from the cold. The woman noticed it at the same moment.

“Come inside, quickly. You’ll get a chill. Can you walk?â€ Akiko just nodded, and followed her to a house standing within the shrine’s precincts. She glanced behind her as lightning flashed, reflecting off the wet green roof of the shrine building, its copper covered in verdigris from long exposure to the elements.

In the entrance hall, the woman pulled off her waterproof and hung it up on a peg. It was hard to judge her age; she looked as though she looked younger than she was, but Akiko couldn’t work out how old she might be. She stepped up into the hall, and beckoned Akiko to follow.

“Come on. You’re absolutely soaked.â€ Akiko put her shoes down, and stepped up into the slippers the woman had put out. Once they were both standing in the hall, the woman bowed slightly to her.

“I’m pleased to meet you. I am Reiko Shiraishi, the chief priest of this shrine.â€ Akiko bowed in return.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Akiko Tanahata.â€ It didn’t seem sensible to give her company affiliation, and Shiraishi did not seem to be expecting it. She just nodded, and smiled.

“Well, that’s enough formalities for now. There’s hot water in the bath; I really think you should warm up a bit. I can dry your clothes for you.â€ Akiko found herself almost at a loss for words.

“Bath?â€

“Well, it’s up to you, of course, but you look soaked through. I would have thought you’d want to get out of those clothes and get them dry before you went home.â€

“But…â€ <em>I don’t know you</em> was the thought going through her mind, but she realised it would be very rude to say it. And it wasn’t as if she was suggesting that they take a bath together. Nor was she wrong about Akiko’s desire to get changed; Akiko could feel that her underwear was about as wet as her jacket. For a moment, she worried that Shiraishi might try to steal something, before dismissing the idea. She could have left her unconscious in the rain, after all.

Shiriaishi was still looking at her, expectant.

“You’re right. I would really appreciate a bath right now.â€