Akiko stood in the doorway for a while longer, trying to work out why Satomi had visited the shrine. It was almost as if she was just keeping an eye on Akiko, making sure she was all right, but that didn’t make sense; why would Satomi be doing that? For a moment, she worried that Satomi might be part of the group conspiring against the shrine, but that made even less sense. They had protesters around the shrine all the time; Satomi wasn’t learning anything that they didn’t already know.

Thinking about the protesters reminded Akiko that she hadn’t checked the precincts for a while, so she stepped out of the house, closing the door behind her, and started on a circuit of the grounds. There didn’t seem to be anyone inside, although, when she glanced down the steps, she could see them gathered at the bottom, chatting among themselves.

<em>They’re certainly dedicated,</em> she conceded, and she wondered again just how much some of them knew.

The weather was fairly good, with plenty of blue sky visible between the clouds, so Akiko decided to have a look round the shrine woods, as well. So far, the protesters had not gone in there, as far as she knew, but it was something to keep an eye on.

For a moment, she couldn’t see in the gloom under the trees, but her eyes quickly adjusted, picking out the undergrowth and low branches, and the patches of dancing sunlight that made it through the many layers of leaves. Twigs and leaves, fallen in the windstorm, crunched under her feet as she made her way between the tree trunks, and birds sang above her, their sweet notes backed by the rustling of leaves.

On impulse, Akiko changed her course, walking towards the sacred tree. She was there quicker than she had expected, the white paper of the shide almost glowing as motes of sunlight flickered over it. She put her hands on the rough bark, enjoying the comforting warmth and solidity of the tree’s trunk, pressing her cheek against it, her eyes closed, leaning on the tree and letting it support her.

Her awareness of the cloth between her and the tree gradually strengthened, until she pushed off from it, opening her eyes and looking at it thoughtfully.

“Not today,â€ she said, and then blushed as she realised that she was seriously considering hugging it naked, or at least much less dressed.

<em>But maybe it’s important,</em> a part of her mind told her.

“Not today,â€ she repeated, and then bowed twice, clapped twice, and bowed once. Was the tree a kami, or the home of a kami? And did it matter?

Much calmer and refreshed, but still thoughtful, Akiko made her way out of the wood.

The sun shone from a clear sky, and the copper roof of the shrine glowed as if it were on fire. Akiko stopped at the edge of the wood, her breath snatched away by the beauty of the scene.

And then Tamao slid into view from the other side of the shrine building.