Bab 39: Funeral
Arriving at the Kamisato, Allen found it completely surrounded by a great deal of soldiers who stayed still while seeing the people entering the state, making sure that they were invited.
Once inside, Allen was able to sense the solemnity behind it, all the servants and decorations being black for the mourning. It was also the case with Allen and Tomoki who wore a black yukata.
Entering the reception room, Allen found it full of people as could be expected for a commissioner's death.
Allen looked very attentively at everyone, relating the names in his mind with the actual image. Last day, he had an intensive with Honoka, so he was quite aware of who were they.
He recognized Kujou Takayuki with his two sons and daughter, Masahito who was a strong and tall man, Kamaji who was leaner and had an scholarly look, and finally Sara.
Seeing Allen and Tomoki entering, Sara tried to approach, but was quickly stopped by Takayuki who glared at her, forcing Sara to lower her head and return to her position. A funeral was a sacred event and trying to use it in any personal gain will tarnish their honor, having great consequences. Takayuki only slightly nodding, revealing that he had seen us.
Allen was also able to recognize the Kanjou commissioner, Hiiragi Shinsuke, with her daughter Hiiragi Chisato. However, Allen's focus went on the group next to them, a tall man with pale face and hair and a slender and tall woman with black hair, followed by what it seemed to be their son and daughter. The son was about 18 years old with her mother's hair and the daughter a little younger with long pale hair.
They were the Mai Clan, Mai Noa and Mai Kagura and their sons, Mai Hosho and Mai Kanze. They were the ones that Allen was warier as they were one of the strongest clan of the Yashiro Commission, only second to the Kamisato Clan. So if something happened to the Kamisato Clan, they will the ones to win the most, becoming the most probable next commissioner.
The Mai Clan focused on the Noh, a type of classical dance that, while quite unperformed by the middle and lower class, was quite popular among the aristocracy, focusing on slow and graceful movements.
Allen also heavily focused on the other clans of the Yashiro Commission, most of them focusing on one art. From the considered greatest blacksmith, the Amenona Clan, to the best traditional chefs, the Shizuoka Clan.
Most of them wore solemn and sad faces with the Mai Clan as the exception whose neutral faces stood out at the funeral.
Then, Allen turned over all the other people. All of them were nobles and the most influential people of all over Inazuma. It wasn't an exaggeration that all the government was here. Everyone except one person, the R-.
"Oh?!" The doors opened and after a short surprise, silence fell over the room. Everyone started kneeling on the ground as a woman entered the venue.
Allen's gaze unconsciously fell over the woman, having a certain charm that attracted all the attention. She was a very beautiful woman with long braided violet hair behind her back with a hairpin with pale violet flowers that resembled morning glories attached on the right side of her head.
Her eyes were purple, with a beauty mark below her right eye. Her cold demeanor which seemed to ignore everyone oozed confidence and strength. And unlike everyone else black, she wore a purple kimono with a bodysuit under it and long sleeves.
'So she is this nation god? Will I need to face her?' Allen thought.
"K!" Allen's thoughts were cut off by Tomoki elbowing him discretely, Allen quickly kneeling following the others.
Seeing everyone's reaction there was no doubt about her identity. She was the Raiden Shogun, the ruler of Inazuma and the Electro Archon.
The Shogun crossed over the reception door, directly entering the mourning room where Asahi's body stood.
Inazuman funerals had their own customs and ceremonies and of course, this funeral wasn't an exception, showing a flawless performance as could be expected from the Yashiro Commission head.
The first day was a mourning of the closest to the deceased, mostly family, that turned to keep vigil all night. For Asahi, the only ones that could do it were Ayaka and Ayato.
The second day, the ceremony is opened and everyone is able to say their final goodbye to the dead individually with only the family guarding it, entering by order of importance. So it was clear that nobody except of the Shogun was able to go first.
In the room, the Shogun directly went towards the coffin where Asahi lay wearing a white yukata, completely disregarding Ayaka and Ayato that were at its sides.
"You have worked hard for our eternity. You can rest now" the Shogun lowered her head a little "Thank you."
Then, she turned over Ayaka, but quickly ignored her as she turned over Ayato "Good eyes" The Shogun said looking at Ayato's clear purple eyes.
"Work hard" She said before leaving the room, completely ignoring the crowd of people and leaving the state.
After the departure of the Shogun, the room returned to normal and the funeral continued as planned with the heads of the top clans entering the room, with the Mia Clan entering first.
After the top clans had finished, it was Allen and Tomoki's turn, just after the Amenoma Clan. Entering the room, Allen completely ignored the plain decorated room and coffin, his eyes fixing over Ayaka.
Ayaka stood in seiza looking downward, her body showed exhaustion, especially her eyes that were red for having cried and not slept.
"Ayaka" Allen said worriedly.
"Allen" Ayaka lifted her gaze, her eyes opening wide as she saw Allen. She wanted to stand up and go with her friend but she couldn't due to the ceremony.
For his part, Allen was stopped by Tomoki "This is time to mourn the death. You will have time to cherish the alive later on."
Allen nodded and Tomoki approached the coffin.
"Asahi. Thanks for your help all these years." Tomoki started whispering making it difficult to listen by the others. "I don't know if I would be able to repay you, but I would protect your son and daughter with everything that I can. You can rest in peace."
Tomoki backed up and signaled Allen to step forward.
Approaching the coffin, Allen really didn't know to act with the unfamiliar man in it. It has been almost a year since Allen came to Inazuma and he had come quite some times to the Kamisato State but he had never met Asahi by his orders.
It was that Asahi really didn't like what had learned from Allen? Had he known that his time was close and didn't want to affect someone so young unnecessary? Allen didn't know the reason and it seemed that he will never know, Asahi bringing it to his grave.
This made it very awkward for Allen to see the dead man that resembled an older Ayato, Ayato really having taken in his image while Ayaka was more like her mother, Kaho.
"I will protect Ayaka" Allen simply said before turning back. There was nothing more to say to the unfamiliar man, simply his conviction.
Tomoki and Allen left the room letting others enter, continuing the ceremony.
After the individual mourning finished, it was the start of the main funeral ceremony. The body and everyone moved to a big hall with the higher the status the closer to the coffin.
As everyone sat in their place, the doors opened and a priestess entered. She had purple eyes and long, muted pink hair with two characteristic fox ears over her head with golden earrings with a violet gem on them, one of the gems being an electro Vision. She wore a red and white miko kimono and over her hands, she held a gohei, a type of ceremonial wand.
'Another big shot had appeared, as expected from the funeral of a commissioner' Allen quickly recognized who the priestess was. She was Yae Miko, the head shrine maiden and the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, making her the most influential priestess.
Yae crossed over the crowd while making a solemn and calm expression, kindly looking at everyone while she advanced without stopping. However, once her eyes stopped over Allen, Yae's feet stopped for a second. Her eyes went wide for a moment before turning sharp.
'What happens with her?' Even if it was only for an instant, Allen was able to detect it, making him confused as he really didn't know the reason behind it. Nevertheless, it was only an instant, she quickly returned to her solemn look and reached the coffin.
Yae started chanting prayers as she waved the gohei. After half an hour, Yae finished her ritual and lighted some incense before parting the hall, but not without leaving one last look over Allen.
Having finished the priest, it was time for the last goodbye of the people where they offered a flower over the coffin and said their condolences to the family.
Allen was curious and worried by Yae's actions but put them aside as this was a crucial moment to see how the different clans acted against the siblings, Allen's gaze completely fixed on the interchange.
Seeing the people giving flowers and talking with the siblings, Allen was able to distinguish them into groups as they revealed their hidden intentions with some micro-movements.
There were about three groups of people. Those that looked at the siblings like prey, seeming predators wanting to devour them and indulge in their pain, the Mia Clan a clear representative of this group.
Another group was the scavengers with greedy eyes, that seemed to calculated what could they win from this. The Hiiragi head and other clans from the Yashiro Commission being part of this group.
Finally, there was the group that looked at the siblings with pity and care, seeming truly worried about what could happen to the young boy and girl. This group was quite numerous and was the one that worried most to Allen.
Yes, they might be truly worried and care for the siblings, but they could also be too good at acting for Allen to discern. They were the grand unknown, while the others showed their clear aggression, this group could create the biggest differences in Allen's plans. One of them was Kujou Takayuki that seemed kind when Allen was sure that his hidden intentions were more aligned with the other groups.
As it was Allen's turn, Allen put a purple rose in the coffin. This flower was a Sumeru Rose as following Allen's background he was from Sumeru, it was the norm to use a flower from your natal place, the flower having been prepared by Tomoki.
"Let's talk when everything ends. Be strong." Approaching Ayaka, Allen lowered his head and whispered. Ayaka nodded while trying to keep up her tears.
For his part, Tomoki left a Naku Flower and gave his condolences with a perfect bow as it could be expected from aristocratic while informing Ayato to talk later on.
Having finished this open part, the crowd disbanded. Now there only were left the more intimate parts, only for the family and closest servants. The cremation of the body that would last over 2 hours and the final burial at the familiar grave.
Needing to wait until Ayaka finished, Allen went out to a walk, reaching a tree near the cliffs of the State.
"Sayu, are you here?" Allen asked to seemingly nobody.
"Puf!" white smoke surged from the tree, and the little ninja surged from it.
Seeing the seemingly little girl, Allen was a little surprised. Sayu hadn't grown much over this year, embarrassing Allen a little as he had told her that she would surely grow taller, now something that he had his own doubts about.
However, that wasn't the cause of his surprise. It was Sayu's eyes. Sayu had clear and decided eyes, very different than her usual cloudy and sleeping ones. It was the first time in these year that Allen had seen her so awake.
"You really are worried about Ayaka" Allen said with a warm smile.
"Allen..." Sayu avoided Allen's eyes, looking around indecisively. But in the end, she looked straight at Allen "Ayaka is in danger, she might be attacked by other clans. Her life is in danger."
"I know" Allen nodded surprising Sayu with his calmness. "Sayu, would the Shuumatsuban help us?"
"No" Sayu clenched her hands strongly "They have decided to step aside and wait for the end of it. They say that we work for the Yashiro Commission and the safety of Inazuma. The Kamisato Clan fall, not stopping us."
"Dammit" Allen cursed. He expected it, but it was nevertheless a bad new.
"But, I don't mind what they had said. I will help Ayaka!" Sayu said with strength "Allen, do you have any plan?"
During this year, Sayu had learned how intelligent could be Allen, his plans being far more elaborate and effective than others, especially herself who only planned to slack off.
"I have one, but..." Allen made a worried look "it would be dangerous. We will put our lives in dange-"
"I will do it!" Sayu quickly jumped "I will do everything to save Ayaka, no matter how dangerous! You can count on me!"
"You are really a good girl" Allen looked kindly at Sayu and patted her head, Sayu letting herself be patted. Sayu really didn't like people touching her head as it made it feel her to be small, but she permitted it to Allen and Ayaka, enjoying the warm of them.
"It could turn out to be dangerous, prepare yourself, Sayu" Allen said, Sayu nodded and quickly run away.
'One piece obtained. I hope there's no need for it' Allen thought seeing Sayu going away. Then, Allen turned his gaze towards the state, his kind and worried look completely disappearing, replaced by a cold and ruthless expression.
'It's no time for emotions' Allen face turned colder "Let's make the other pieces move."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone