<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The harae had barely finished when Shiraishi remembered that the news segment was being broadcast that morning, and they all rushed inside to watch the television. It had already started, but they caught the end of the ceremony, and the interview. Shiraishi smiled, looking pleased, and Akiko agreed.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That is so <em>cool.</em> Why didn’t you call me?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You were in school, Kazumi.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmf,â€ she pouted, and then sprang up. “And I’ll be late! Thanks for the harae!â€ She ran out of the house, stopping the conversation for a moment.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Noriko broke the silence, “it certainly won’t hurt. Do you think many people will come?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have no idea,â€ Shiraishi replied.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The first people came within half an hour, while Shiraishi and Akiko were talking about how they could take the power of the kami out to the kegare, as Tamao had commanded. They wanted to talk about the pool, of course, which interrupted the discussion.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">By eleven, it had become a steady stream, most of whom were making small gifts. The traditional five yen was a popular option, and Akiko worked out that if the entire population of Kawasaki came about fifty times each, they might raise enough to rebuild the shrine. She mentioned that to Shiraishi, but the priest wasn’t worried.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They’ve remembered about the shrine, so some will come for ceremonies, or make other donations,â€ she said. “And five yen is still five yen.â€ There was a splashing sound in the background, and they glanced over, sighing. “Well, if they would just refrain from throwing it into the water. You tell them, Akiko. I’m going to make a sign.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko went over to explain to the latest visitors that they weren’t supposed to throw the money into the pool, and they were very apologetic, asking several questions about where the water was coming from. As she pointed out the spring within the iwakura, Akiko was very conscious of the flame she could see above it. <em>Why can I see that all the time? And why can’t anyone else?</em></p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The first person to try to get into the pool was an older man, around mid-morning. Akiko spotted him before he could take off too many clothes, and she hurried over to explain why he couldn’t. She risked a quick glance at his kegare, and the worms crawling over his skin were just one more reason why he had to stay out of the water.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The visitors were all, Akiko realised, bringing their pollution with them, but none of it was affecting the shrine; the grounds stayed utterly clear, even when a drunken group of young men who were positively laden down with it came in. They also looked like they were about to get in the pool, and Akiko had to call the guards up before they could be persuaded not to. For the first time, Akiko found herself simply grateful that the guards were there.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The man from the council came around midday, explaining that he’d come over in his lunch break to see the spring. He peered into the iwakura, tasted the water, and then looked up at them, clearly surprised.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I really think this is a natural spring. We’ll need to run some tests and get the paperwork sorted out, but…â€ He looked back at the water, and smiled. “I didn’t think I’d get the chance to deal with a new one.â€</p>