Thanks for writing the story, and the epilogue. And for sharing it with us. I'll keep voting every day to increase the chance that more people will find their way here, and perhaps they could be persuaded to chip in to see a sequel.

I find myself not wondering what will happen, because everything sure seems to be going quite well right now. And given that Tamao seemed to survive for such a long time without Akiko, it doesn't look like there should be any imminent dangers. So I find myself wondering what direction the story might take in order to change, while still stay the same.

I suppose that battles against kegare could be exchanged for (even) more intricacies of Shinto, as Akiko studies further. In a very far away end, Akiko might even write a book on the subject of understanding the kami. Perhaps disguise it as fiction, to avoid being viewed as crazy by all those who don't believe. She could call the book "Tamao". Oooh, now the serpent is eating its own tail! ;-)