“Thank you. With what?â€ Shiraishi sounded grateful, but a little puzzled. Akira blushed, and shrugged.

“Anything, really. I was feeling guilty about not coming after all the trouble my family have caused you.â€

Shiraishi shook her head vigourously.

“Don’t think like that. Anyway, we should pay our respects.â€ She didn’t need to say who to, but just led the way to Hideo Takenaka’s small shrine. Akiko and Shiraishi stepped back to give Akira some space, but the protester came over, and, apologising for getting in the way, walked between Akira and the shrine, and then went round behind it, bending over it to inspect the construction. Akiko started to feel annoyed, and she could see Shiraishi pressing her lips tightly together, obviously trying to avoid saying anything that would cause more problems.

“I’m sorry, would you excuse us for a moment?â€ Akira sounded tired, more than anything else. The protester looked up.

“Oh, please go ahead. Don’t mind me.â€

“I’d like a bit of privacy.â€

“This isn’t your private shrine, you know.â€

“Please leave.â€ Shiraishi was, just barely, polite, but her tone was very final.

“Oh, of course, Reverend.â€ The protester left immediately, heading straight for the exit.

“We have a couple of minutes before someone else can get here; go ahead, Akira.â€

As Akira paid his respects to his father, Akiko looked round at the entrance. Sure enough, another protester emerged into the shrine grounds, and was making his way over as Akira rose from his final bow. Shiraishi beckoned, and they hurried into the shrine house, avoiding any contact.

“I’m sorry about them, Akira.â€

“Can’t you do something about them? Call the police?â€ Shiraishi shrugged.

“They always go when we ask them to, they are always polite, and they don’t damage anything.â€

“But isn’t it harassment?â€

“Oh, probably. But I expect they’ll get bored before we could get anything out of the courts. And the police are hardly going to arrest all of them to stop them interfering, are they.â€ Shiraishi sounded completely resigned, even hopeless.

“I suppose so. Anyway, is there anything I can do to help?â€ Akira glanced between Shiraishi and Akiko as he asked. The priest considered the offer for a few moments, and then shook her head.

“Not right now, thank you. Once we start work on rebuilding, however, we might ask again. Since you’re here, though, would you like some tea?â€

“Thank you, but no. I should be getting back to the office. We’re actually quite busy, now.â€ He bowed again, and left. Akiko went to see him to the exit. She felt that she should ask how he was, but she couldn’t think of any way to phrase it. Surely there should  be more reaction to what had happened with his father? But then, why would he show it to her? In the end, she accompanied him in silence, and felt awkward as she saw him off.

Looking back at the shrine, she saw the protesters still wandering around, two of them now, and frowned as she walked back to the house.

“Revd Shiraishi,â€ she said as she got back in, “can we do the tamashi shizume while the protesters are there?â€ The priest looked at her sharply, and then went to look at the precincts.

“No,â€ she said, frowning, “I don’t think we can.â€ She paused. “We’ll do it tonight, after midnight. They’ve usually gone home by then. And that gives me time to prepare.â€