<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was nearly midnight when the last people left the precincts, and Shiraishi, Akiko, and Kazumi could start taking down the curtains.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That is going to take some explaining,â€ Shiraishi said, pointing at the pool. Akiko nodded, and then looked at the iwakura, where the flame was still dancing.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can you see the flame in the iwakura?â€ she asked. Shiraishi shook her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just the pool.â€ Kazumi was crouched down beside it, testing the water with her hand. She looked up with a broad smile on her face.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s a hot spring! Feels great.â€ She looked around. “Hey, there’s no-one here. I’d really enjoy a bath…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You can have one <em>inside,</em>â€ Shiraishi said, sternly. Kazumi pouted for a moment, but she stood up. “And, actually, we should talk about what happened.â€ The priest turned back to Akiko. “You vanished while you were dancing. Then there was a small earthquake, and the spring started flowing from the iwakura. It looked like the bottom of the pool sank as the water flowed into it, and then you appeared under the water, walking out of the pool dry. Did I miss anything?â€ The question was directed at Kazumi, and the girl shook her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s what I remember,â€ she said.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, Akiko, what did you see?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko initially intended to give a brief explanation, but Shiraishi and Kazumi both asked lots of questions, and it was soon apparent that she would have to go into all the details, so she suggested that they finish the discussion inside, sitting down.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They gathered in the kitchen, still in vestments, and Shiraishi got drinks as Akiko finished her account.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think the fire would really have hurt them?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied. “I think it would have killed them. The Aramitama was <em>furious</em> at the pollution they had brought into the shrine.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you stopped it,â€ Shiraishi said. Akiko nodded, shuddering slightly.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t want to have to do that too often; it’s very painful. But maybe now the shrine is clear things will start to get better.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You are sure it was fully purified?â€ The priest sounded concerned.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh yes. There’s no way any kegare survived that. Of course,â€ Akiko continued, reflectively, “we’ll have to see how things are in the morning. I hope it lasts.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hope the hot spring lasts,â€ Kazumi said. “And the enthusiasm. You were talking to people afterwards, right?â€ The girl was grinning, and Akiko smiled back, glancing at Shiraishi. The priest was also smiling.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I didn’t just talk to people,â€ she said. “I collected donations.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really? That’s great!â€ Akiko said.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Almost a million yen.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hey, we should have the festival every week!â€ Kazumi said, her eyes bright. Akiko and Shiraishi both laughed, and she pouted at them. “What?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we’d collect that much every week,â€ Akiko said. Kazumi frowned, and then sighed.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I suppose you’re right.â€ She brightened again. “Still, it’s really good!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is,â€ Shiraishi agreed, “and I spoke to several ujiko; they want to start having meetings again, and Noriko has expressed an interest in supporting the shrine more formally.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko realised she was grinning like an idiot, but she couldn’t stop.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Everything seems to be going right for once, doesn’t it?â€</p>