<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It didn’t take long for the mikoshi to stop feeling light. They were barely down the steps — behind the men, unfortunately — when they had to stop trying to hurry, sweat already pouring off them in the heat of the twilight. Akiko carried the mikoshi for as long as she could, and Kazumi and Noriko had already dropped off for a break before she gave up, her shoulder too sore to continue. Mrs Tanaka took her place, with a surprising amount of energy and enthusiasm, even leading the other women in a chant. Grinning, Akiko joined in as soon as she caught her breath.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were quite a few people by the roadside, gathered in small groups, with cameras. Akiko winced a little at the flashes, but reflected that it was inevitable, really. She glanced down again, to check that her happi coat was in place, and got nudged by Kazumi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Don’t think about it,â€ she whispered. “You’re doing nothing wrong; what does it matter if something slips out?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked across at her, and the girl’s face was surprisingly sincere. Akiko couldn’t think of anything to say; Kazumi had a point, but…</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">To have something else to think about, she switched her vision over, and almost stumbled. The dragon was visible again, coiled around the spear, its light pulsing brightly, occasional tongues of flame detaching from its body to consume the kegare over the houses. The polluted spirits clinging to the roofs of the houses were disappearing as they approached, and ahead of them, where the men had already passed, she could see that the road itself, and the people waiting, were clean.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hey, look!â€ Kazumi sounded excited, and it broke Akiko’s concentration, so that she saw the ordinary scene again. Ahead of them, a family was waiting outside their house — with rows of drinking bottles on a table.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko gladly took the offered bottle, and made sure that they had enough for the women who didn’t have hands free.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Looks fun!â€ said the woman, as she handed over the bottles.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is. You should join in next time,â€ Kazumi replied, making her laugh.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The water seemed to restore Akiko’s energy, and she slipped back in to carrying the mikoshi, resting it on her other shoulder this time. It even felt a bit lighter, and, glancing at the others, she started up the chant again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yo-sha!â€ They were picking up the pace again, and the men came back into sight.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re gaining!â€ Akiko wasn’t sure who had said it, but they could all see it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Faster!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We can catch them!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The men had heard them, of course, and glanced back, before sending up a shout of their own, and putting on speed.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s vision switched by itself, and the light dazzled her. The phoenix was spread out over the men’s mikoshi, its fiery wings brushing the houses to either side, tumbling kegare from them and sending spirits scurrying for cover, those that were too slow bursting into flames. She glanced up at their own mikoshi, where the dragon, its claws firmly gripping the frame, rippled in the air, flying, sheets of flame sloughing off to further purify the area around them. It was bigger now, and brighter.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And helping to carry the mikoshi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yo-sha! Catch them!â€ Akiko shouted, and pushed herself into a run.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The mikoshi seemed to weigh nothing at all.</p>