Affected more than she ever had thought to be, Noriko hurried outside, pulling the wrappings from her face as she did so. Briskly, for there was virtue in normalcy for calming an abnormal world, she walked towards the old headman's house. He came out before she was halfway there.

"How is he?" the old man called.

Noriko stopped, bowed and said in formal tones, "He has died, Grandfather. During the night."

"Did you start the rituals?" Shinto had more rituals ...