<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi and Kazumi both seemed frozen in place, staring at Akiko and the pool. Akiko looked at them both, and then glanced behind her. The pool was filled by a spring that burst from the heart of the iwakura, and above the water Akiko could see a tongue of fire, dancing within the stones.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She looked back at the other women just as Shiraishi visibly shook herself.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Later,â€ she said, in a quiet voice. Akiko didn’t need to ask what she meant. “Leave the curtains. We’ll perform the final ceremonies in front of them.â€ Akiko nodded in agreement and, a few moments later, so did Kazumi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi held one of the curtains aside as they filed out, and there was a quiet murmur from the crowd. Akiko couldn’t quite read the mood; certainly not hostile, but somehow on edge, she thought. They lined up in front of the curtains and bowed once to the iwakura, before turning to face the attendees.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The wild festival of Tamao Shrine has safely concluded,â€ Shiraishi announced, and a spontaneous cheer went up from the crowd. Akiko looked at Shiraishi in shock, but the priest was equally surprised. Indeed, when she looked back, many of those who had cheered also looked a bit surprised, as if they didn’t know what had come over them. Still, they also looked cheerful, and people soon returned to the food stalls, or to chatting in small groups. Akiko stood still, searching the precincts until she found Satomi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Satomi!â€ she called, as she walked over. “Thank you for coming.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh!â€ Satomi seemed, somehow, a bit surprised to see her. “Yes.â€ She suddenly grinned. “I still can’t believe you actually wore that outfit.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko smiled back.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It was very cool. You should try it next time.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I think I will. When do you think the next time will be?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er…â€ Akiko was a little taken aback. “We’re not sure. It isn’t a regular festival.â€ She paused a moment. “Do you really want to help carry the mikoshi?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, why not? It did look like fun. And…â€ Her voice trailed off, and she blushed, looking away from Akiko, towards the curtains. “And I feel so much better now, better than I’ve felt for weeks.â€ She looked back to Akiko. “Maybe there’s something to these festivals after all.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you.â€ Akiko didn’t know what else to say, and Satomi just nodded. Then she smiled again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, do you still doubt that you are lucky?â€ Akiko couldn’t suppress a laugh.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. No, not any more. Well, excuse me. I should talk to some other people.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I bet they’d rather talk to you in the mikoshi outfit.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s not an option,â€ Akiko said, laughing, as she felt her face turn red.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Unfortunately, it seemed to be a common thread in the comments people made to her as she circulated. No-one was actually crude, but just about everyone seemed to feel the need to compliment her on how much the mikoshi outfit had suited her. Fortunately, people also felt the need to say how much they’d enjoyed the festival, and more than a few also mentioned feeling a lot better after the festival. Her feelings a complicated mixture of embarrassment, pleasure, and relief, Akiko managed to speak to most of the attendees before they left, leaving her tired, but rather more optimistic than she had been.</p>