<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I need to talk to that man. This has gone too far. Again.â€ Shiraishi was half talking to herself, but Akiko had to agree. Especially now that most of the protesters seemed to have given up. Shiraishi went straight into the office, but people were arriving to look at the pool, so Akiko waited outside.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A couple of minutes later Shiraishi came back out of the office, her face stormy.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He said he would come here to talk to me. Why can’t he just take no for an answer?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So we can’t go out until he’s been?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ Shiraishi looked even more irritated for a moment, and then sighed. “No. We have to wait for the ujiko anyway; the rota doesn’t start until eleven. I think he’ll be here before that.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In the event, Mr Fujimura arrived less than half an hour later, bowing formally as he entered the shrine. Akiko couldn’t resist checking him for kegare, but, as usual, he was completely clean, at least after passing through the barrier around the shrine grounds.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Before we talk, can I request a ceremony?â€ he said, after the initial greetings. “I would like to pray for the health and prosperity of our Imperial family.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment, Akiko thought Shiraishi would refuse, but finally she nodded curtly, and went to get ready.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">After the ceremony they sat in the meeting room, the green tea untouched in front of them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mr Fujimura, I am serious. I want you to keep your men away from this shrine. They cause more trouble than they prevent.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, you do not know that. There is no way to know what would have happened had they not been there.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The protesters would have ranted, and probably given up at this point. Maybe even earlier, if they hadn’t been looking at guards who looked like comic-book fascists.â€ Mr Fujimura stiffened at that, and Akiko thought Shiraishi blushed briefly, although the priest did not look away.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I cannot be responsible for people’s misinterpretations…â€ Mr Fujimura began, but Shiraishi interrupted him.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Misinterpretation or not, it is causing problems. But the main problem is their tendency to solve problems with violence.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The protesters insulted the emperor.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They have the legal right to insult the emperor. They also have the legal right not to be assaulted.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I will speak to them.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. You will stop them from coming.â€ Mr Fujimura stiffened again, clearly unhappy with the way Shiraishi was talking to him. Akiko was getting a bit nervous, as well. They really didn’t want him as an enemy. “You said that you would stop them doing it again. They did it again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Now I do not want them coming here.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura was silent for a long time, looking at Shiraishi, and then at Akiko. His gaze made her feel uncomfortable, like she had felt at school when asked where her homework was. She tried to shake off the impression, but it just got stronger.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Finally, he looked back at Shiraishi, and nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Very well. I cannot send them here without your consent.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But I do not think it is wise. Those protesters are far from the only threat to your shrine, you know. There are forces opposing those of us who still properly serve the kami.â€ He emphasised the last sentence, and once again Akiko found herself wondering just how much he knew. “If you decide that you need protection again, you know how to contact me. Now, please excuse me.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He bowed, then got to his feet and left, as Akiko and Shiraishi scrambled to see him off properly.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They stood at the top of the stairs for some time after he had left, lost in thought.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>What does he know?</em></p>