<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko switched her vision to the spirits and looked back at the tree, the rush of energy making her light-headed, but it was something she was getting used to. Looking within its trunk, she could see the tree in the park, and an area around it, with Shiraishi and Kazumi standing there, waiting for her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>The darkness was the kegare,</em> she thought, and ran quickly over the roots to another tree. Looking into this one, she could see an old tree, a pine, but it was surrounded by darkness again. Frowning, she tried another tree. Again, she could see a tree through it, but nothing around it. A couple more were discouragingly similar. Akiko went back to the tree leading to the park, but the darkness had already drawn more closely around it, keeping its distance from Shiraishi and Kazumi, but reaching out for the tree. Shaking her head, she went to check the one leading to shrine.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As before, she could see the whole of the shrine precincts. Tamao was awake, his eyes shining as his scales sparkled in the sunlight, and Mr Takenaka was standing next to him, apparently talking about something. The fire burned brightly within the iwakura, while the ujiko keeping an eye on things — Akira, as it happened — was walking around the grounds, speaking to a few worshippers, completely oblivious to the presence of the kami. Her vision stopped at the wall of light around the shrine.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was no-one near the tree, and her yukata and phone were still there, so it looked safe to go back to the shrine. She embraced the tree, and fell through rising jets of water, breaking out into the air, beside the tree.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Quickly, she got dressed and called Shiraishi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m back at the shrine,â€ she started.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why didn’t you come back here?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The kegare was already getting close to the tree; this way looked safer.â€ She quickly explained what she had seen. “Come back to the shrine; there are people waiting for ceremonies, and I think we’d better discuss it here.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was getting towards evening before they had time to sit down and talk about the forest.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose we could walk around looking for the trees I saw, but that would take a very long time,â€ Akiko said, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We don’t even know that they are local.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“True, but I think they are.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wouldn’t it be cool if one was in Okinawa! Or Hawaii!â€ Kazumi said. “We could go there free!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And naked,â€ Akiko reminded her. “I think we can be confident that it’s not a practical means of transport.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. Oh yes. Um.â€ Kazumi subsided again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“<em>Why</em> do you have to be naked?â€ Shiraishi asked, and it sounded like a serious question.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The kami’s a dirty old man?â€ Kazumi suggested, prompting Shiraishi to roll her eyes.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I really don’t know,â€ Akiko said. “Purity?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi shook her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There’s nothing impure about clothes. Although I suppose we could try doing a harae on you first.â€ She shook her head again, and sighed. “Just when I thought I was starting to understand things, we get something completely weird again.â€ Akiko couldn’t quite suppress a chuckle, but she had to agree.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And does it help? I can see the kegare through the trees, but that’s all.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Talking of the kegare,â€ Shiraishi said, “we have to go back to Kazumi’s school.â€</p>