<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Even though one of the ujiko had turned up in the late afternoon, Akiko and Shiraishi had still not been able to get out of the shrine before Kazumi turned up; there were just too many visitors demanding their attention, or asking for purification ceremonies at the shrine. The former protester had been heavy with kegare, and had actually made a larger-than-normal offering after the harae, possibly out of guilt, and he wasn’t the only one. Turning them away seemed wrong; as Shiraishi had said, they really needed another priest.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi’s kegare appeared as cockroaches tonight, covering her in a solid mat, shifting over each other in a constant clicking and skittering, never for a moment revealing so much as a glimpse of the girl beneath. The harae quickly dispersed them however, and Kazumi, looking cheerful again, went into the house to shower and change.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Tanahata! Revd Shiraishi! I think you should come here!â€ Kazumi was calling from the bathroom, and sounded quite alarmed. Akiko called Shiraishi over — the priest had been on the other side of the grounds, out of earshot — and they went in to see what it was.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was standing in the changing area, clutching the knot of the towel wrapped around her body, and staring at the mirror. She glanced at them as they appeared in the doorway, and then nodded at the mirror.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The mirror reflected a forest under a stormy sky, lightning flickering at the base of the clouds. Tamao dominated the centre of the image, his gem-like scales sparkling as they caught and refracted the lightning. Akiko quickly stepped into the room, turning to face Tamao and bowing deeply, and, moments later, Shiraishi did the same.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Spirit Child, I told you to purify the area, did I not? The kegare is growing in strength. You must not neglect it.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi bowed deeply again, and Akiko quickly followed suit.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Take the power you have raised, and cleanse my lands,â€ the kami commanded, and for a moment Akiko felt that she was standing outside, the scent of pine heavy on air that held the promise of a storm. There was a flash of lightning and a deafening crash of thunder, and they were standing in the changing area, looking at their own reflections.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I guess we’d better <em>make </em>time to get out,â€ Akiko remarked, before realising that Shiraishi and Kazumi still hadn’t moved. Kazumi’s knuckles were white where she was gripping her towel. “Er, are you all right?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, Tamao just appeared in the mirror.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes… Oh. Ah, yes. Sorry. He used to do that to me all the time, before I moved to the shrine,â€ Akiko quickly explained. “Sorry, I forgot that you weren’t used to it.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Used to it?â€ The scepticism was clear in Kazumi’s voice.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You can get used to anything,â€ Akiko said, smiling.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Shiraishi seemed to have come out of a trance. “Kazumi, get dressed, and then come to the meeting room. We have to talk before we do anything else.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What…â€ Kazumi began, but then she sighed. “Yes, all right.â€ She unwrapped the towel and began dressing, and Shiraishi, who had flushed bright red, grabbed Akiko’s wrist and almost dragged her out of the changing area.</p>