“Can I help you?â€ Shiraishi asked, before Akiko could say anything.

“She’s here to see me, Revd Shiraishi. She was one of my work colleagues.â€

“Oh, well, in that case come inside, out of the rain. If you’ll excuse me…â€ Shiraishi was obviously still fuming, and didn’t wait for either of them to respond before returning to the office.

“Mr Wakabayashi? What was he doing here?â€ Akiko was about to explain, but she suddenly realised that it wasn’t really something to tell just anyone.

“Is it really that strange? Do come in.â€ Satomi stepped into the entrance hall, but returned to the issue as she was taking her shoes off.

“Well, Mr Wakabayashi’s opinions of Shinto are fairly well known. It’s not somewhere I’d have expected to find <em>him.</em>â€ She looked at Akiko, obviously waiting for her to elaborate. Akiko was about to, wondering what Satomi knew, but, once again, something held her back.

“Hmm, well. My uniforms are in my room; come through.â€ She led Satomi back through the house, to her room. Satomi looked around while Akiko got the clothes out of the closet.

“This is your room? Wow.â€

“Mm.â€ Akiko’s feeling of embarrassment increased with every moment Satomi was there. Satomi knew her from when she still had a normal life, after all, so what must she be thinking now?

“So, what are you doing here?â€

Akiko had to admit that it was a really natural question, but she wished Satomi hadn’t asked it. She didn’t want to admit to training to be a miko, but she could hardly claim to be working at any other job. Not without making it much harder to explain why she was at the shrine. And as for mentioning Tamao’s appearances, or Takenaka’s curse…

“I’m sorry, what did you ask?â€ Akiko played for time as she fished the last bit of uniform out.

“What are you doing here?â€

“Oh, I’m training to be a miko.â€ That, Akiko decided, was the least worst option.

“Really?â€ Satomi sounded surprised. “I thought…â€

“Miko don’t have to be virgins,â€ Akiko cut in.

“Oh, I know that.â€ Satomi blushed and giggled a little. “No, I was going to say that I thought miko were normally younger, early twenties.â€

“Not always.â€ Akiko knew she was being short, but why did Satomi have to bring her age up?

“Wow. You’re really lucky, Akiko.â€

“Lucky?â€ Akiko couldn’t keep the surprise and incredulity out of her voice. That was the last thing she’d expected Satomi to say.

“You don’t think so? You’re living in a shrine, training to be a miko. How is that not better than being an office worker? If I thought my father would allow it, I might even be tempted to join you.â€

“You’re not serious.â€

“Well, OK. I wouldn’t have the patience to learn the ritual moves. That’s why I never made any progress in traditional dance.â€ Akiko found herself nodding, before it suddenly struck her that Satomi seemed to know an awful lot about miko. She was trying to think of a way to ask about it tactfully, but Satomi didn’t stop. “But it’s still much more interesting than an office job. And such a nice place to live! Really, I’m quite envious.â€ Satomi smiled as she said it, removing any barb. Akiko handed over the uniforms, confused, and not at all sure what she should say. Satomi looked through them quickly.

“Yes, this is everything, thanks. Well, now I know where to find you, I’ll drop by again. I might even want a ceremony done.â€

“Er, yes, of course, that would be fine.â€

Akiko saw Satomi off, watching her wave from the torii and then vanish down the steps.

Lucky?