The blade is curved

[Yaoquizque]

It was a boring patrol. Nothing happened yet.

The view was beautiful however, around Saiun cloud.
His wingman, Rinji, directed his Chimaera to Shiun, mumbling something about occasional sightings of traitors in the cloud.

Ujisato liked Rinji. He was a fine pilot who saved him a couple of times already.
He wished he could become as talented with time.

Rinji was also slow to anger and quick to forgive. He was actually the only one who didn't make fun of him due to his incredibly high losses.
He also accepted to take him as wingman, when no one else wanted to.

While automatically staying in formation with Rinji and keeping an eye on his scan, his mind was wandering...

He looked at the sky when he came out of that car that took his family and himself to the jinja.
It just looked like that sky was unsure whether he should 'cry' or 'smile'.

Ujisato enjoyed the noise of the rain on the temple's roof when he studied there. It made a soothing song, favorable to meditation.
"On that very day, it should rain" he thought.

Following his father, the procession entered in the sanctuary, where a delegation of priests and the sōryo were waiting.

His father stepped in front of them and bowed "Thank you, wise ones"
The sōryo bowed back "I'm ready to read the sutras and give him his posthumous name, noble one"

His father nodded "Hmm!"
They then followed the priests and entered in a large room. Everyone assumed Seiza there, while the priests were officiating...
It was strange, and Ujisato noticed at times some guests were distressed.... Or even shocked.

Two priests took an urn and stepped in front of the guests. They all bowed and got on their feet slowly, preparing themselves to follow the two priests.

They then all left the room and moved to the garden inside the sanctuary.
The burying of the funerary urn followed and the sōryo burned incense on a altar nearby.

Little groups by little groups, the guests started to pray in front of the altar, putting their hands together and closing their eyes.
Ujisato turn followed. As he was praying, he heard two men conversing in a low voice.

"Gamo clan has sunk very low."
"Yes... What a pathetic attempt to hide the shame caused by his heir"
"I'm saddened. Even a family as old as that one is forgiving the old customs"
"Not forgiving... They are rather using them for their own profit."
"Yes... You're right. And this is not the first time. Remember that scandal with the daughter. He claimed she was dead too. Despite she..." The man stopped to talk suddenly.

Ujisato was puzzled. Last time he heard of his sister was around four years ago. His father told him she was dead.
He wanted to move and go ask them what they knew, but it would be unbecoming. He remained unmoved and kept listening.

After a while the two men resumed their whispering.
"And here we go again... Another burial of someone who is most certainly still alive..."
"No body for the cremation. He should accept his shame instead of doing such masquerade"
"And here is the last son..."
"He is not much to look at"
"Yes..."

Ujisato remained unmoved.
He thought they just wanted to sully the reputation of the clan. Probably some members of a rival house.

Still...
Daring to insult them during his brother funerals... A doubt seeped into his mind. What if they knew something?
His father never told anything.

"Ensign Gamo...?" A pause "Ujisato?!"
"Uhh... Yes Rinji-san?"
"Stop day dreaming, please. Check your scan, we have incoming hostiles"
"Yes... Sorry. I'm on it!"

While they were getting in range to claim the lifes of the traitors, Ujisato was thinking there were a lot of things he ignored. And it was unlikely his father would tell him anything.
Not until he proved him he was his laudable and trustworthy son...

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