Akiko tried to stay out of the conversations that followed, letting Akira take the limelight. He had a good reason to be there, and the mother even recognised him. They wanted to include her in their gratitude, but Akiko was still too shaken to handle that. Shaken, and worried. She couldn’t stop looking at the pile of dirt and rock that used to be a house, that used to be a home. Yes, everyone had got out safely, but only just. Even if Akiko could get to everyone Takenaka planned to curse, she didn’t think she’d be able to get everyone out. And then there was the fever; Takenaka might let people die of it now, and she had no way to stop that.

She wasn’t even sure how much longer this family, the Sugiwaras, would survive. Takenaka was targeting them, and he might not give up. Earthquakes, lightning, and plagues were enough to kill them if he wanted to. And Akiko was fairly sure that he did want to, now.

Hysterical expressions of relief and gratitude just scared Akiko even more right now, and she walked away from the knot of people, standing where she could see the ruins, catching occasional glimpses of kegare spirits crawling over them. Eventually, Akira came over to talk to her.

“Akiko, are you all right? We were in time; we saved them.â€ He seemed very cheerful, but that just grated on Akiko.

“<em>This</em> time.â€ She kept her voice low, not wanting anyone else to overhear. “What about the next curse? Or the fever? We haven’t solved the problem.â€

Akira’s face fell in a moment, his colour draining, and Akiko regretted telling him. <em>The tatarigami is his father,</em> she reminded herself. <em>It’s even harder for him.</em>

“You’re right. What do we do next?â€

Akiko sighed, and shook her head.

“I don’t know. Revd Shiraishi said that she was going to look something up about tatarigami; maybe that will help.â€

“So, back to the shrine?â€

“I think that would be best.â€

Akira nodded, and walked over to the Sugiyamas and their neighbours, to take their leave. Akiko saw several people look her way, sympathy on their faces, and briefly wondered exactly what Akira was telling them. Would they think she was unstable or something? She looked away, saw the kegare spirits on the ruins again, and worry and fear swept all other thoughts from her mind once more.

She said nothing in the car on the way back to the shrine, staring out of the window at the kegare that was still obvious to her, spirits crawling over many buildings, hovering like flies over a corpse.

As soon as they got back, she hurried up the steps to the shrine, and paused at the torii. There was no sign of kegare within; even under the grey sky the grass seemed to shine, as if washed clean. She put a hand on the torii, its cool stone comforting, and became acutely aware of how dirty she was.

She needed a bath.