Akiko knew the voice, and she looked up, mouth open in shock.

Hideo Takenaka was standing beside the shrine, dressed in a suit. He looked grateful, but also a bit worried.

“I don’t know what I would have felt if that had blown away, but I doubt it would have been pleasant.â€

He looked alive.

Akiko looked away, out to the centre of the precincts, where Tamao was still twisting through the air. There was another crash of thunder, and the rain started. Akiko was soaked in a moment, but she couldn’t make herself move. She managed to look back. Mr Takenaka was still there.

<em>Well, if I can see Tamao, and Mr Takenaka is now a kami, I suppose it makes sense. And I saw him before. Even if it was in a fever dream.</em>

“Mr Takenaka?â€ Akiko could feel the water soaking through her clothes and starting to run down her skin, and noticed that Mr Takenaka’s suit was not getting wet. “Are you really there?â€

“Yes, I’m really here.â€

“How?â€

He shrugged, with a half smile.

“I don’t know. I remember hanging myself — an experience I do not recommend, by the way — and I remember being enshrined here. The bit in between…â€ He shrugged again. “That’s more like a dream memory. Or hallucinations.â€ Akiko remembered all too well what he had been doing then, and decided not to say anything. “And so you can see me.â€

Akiko nodded; that was obvious.

“But not all the time, right?â€

“All the time?â€

“Yes. I’m always here, you know. This is where I’m enshrined; I’m not sure I can leave the precincts.â€

“So you know what’s going on?â€

He nodded.

“Wakabayashi drove me to my death, so I pay attention when he comes.â€ His face suddenly became completely serious. “Ms Tanahata, this is very important. You have to find a way to preserve the shrine.â€

“I know.â€

“No, you don’t. You think you do, but…â€ He seemed to take a deep breath. <em>Do kami breathe?</em> Akiko wondered.

“Aramitama,â€ Mr Takenaka said. “You have heard of it?â€ Akiko nodded, and he continued. “Tamao’s aramitama is enshrined in the iwakura.â€ Akiko remembered the pulsing presence within the stones, and nodded slowly. “Ah. I see you have had some dealing with it.â€ He paused again, as if deciding what to say.

“The storms have been Tamao’s nigimitama. The aramitama is much more forceful, more violent, and it cares a lot less about whether people get hurt.

“If the shrine is destroyed, the aramitama will be furious. Floods, earthquakes, storms, all at once. Even volcanic eruptions.â€

“Mount Fuji?â€ Akiko asked, without thinking.

“No,â€ Mr Takenaka shook his head, “the kami of Mount Fuji is too powerful for Tamao to interfere. No, Tamao would create a new volcano, here.â€

“He can do that?â€

“I fear so. He is certainly threatening it. Even if he can’t, the other disasters would kill hundreds, at least.â€

Akiko swallowed hard, and nodded.

“I understand. I don’t know what we can do, but I understand.â€

“Good.â€ Mr Takenaka paused, and this time he looked almost embarrassed. “Ah, could you give my son two messages?â€

“Oh… Yes, of course.â€

“Thank you. First, tell him that the password for the encrypted directory is “obviouslyâ€, in English. And second…â€ The kami paused, looking really embarrassed. “Second, tell him I’m proud of him for continuing the company.â€

He vanished, and when Akiko looked around there was no sign of Tamao, either. It was still pouring with rain, but the wind had dropped. Her clothes and hair clinging to her skin, Mr Takenaka’s warning heavy in her mind, Akiko stood up to return to the house.

<em>And how am I going to tell Akira?</em>