Convergence

Part 1 : chapter 4

With such news, everyone was speechless. 

Then, millions of questions flew in all directions.

Everyone wanted to know all the details of this tragic event.

Only Utahime remained silent for a few minutes. 

She stood there without speaking, 

while everyone gathered around the servant like bees around honey.

Madame Gojo was found dead around noon in her room. Nobody knew she was there.

Her servants had first thought that the lady wanted to rest more, but when the latter had still given no sign of life by the beginning of the afternoon, a servant finally dared to enter the room. The poor woman had passed away several hours ago. Her skin was livid, her cheeks hollow and her lips bluish. The whole household then sank into panic. Other family's members had right away been alerted of the situation.

Gojo Satoru's uncle, went directly to Madame's room with the medical examiner to verify the latter's death.

"What about Gojo Satoru? Was he informed?" someone asked.

"I think he was the last informed? All his daily activities were immediately canceled." replied the servant.

Utahime couldn't help but feel a little twinge of sorrow while thinking of this young boy who had lost his mother so suddenly. His pain must have been immense. He was now truly alone in this world. Loneliness must have completely invaded his being at that moment. Utahime wanted to run to him but what words could have comforted him...? She had never experienced similar events in her life.

...............

For several weeks, the whole house was in mourning.

 Every woman had to wear a black kimono and every men had to wear a black suit.

Silence was required.  

Anyone who laughed loudly, chattered excessively, eat with gluttony was severely punished.

When the day of the funeral came, the cold was once again freezing.

Utahime had never felt so cold in her entire life. She missed the rather cool weather of the south of Japan. Each of her breath formed a small whitish mist.

The funeral procession was made up of dozens of members of the Gojo clan coming from different regions of Japan. Their faces all had the same gloomy expression as young Satoru. No one could tell if they were really saddened by the death of this  woman, or if it was their usual facial expression.

At the head of the procession was Gojo Satoru dressed all in black, he was followed by his uncle, his aunt and their other distant relatives.

Gojo Satoru held in his hands a large frame with a photo of his late mother. His features were sunken and dark circles hollowed his magnificent eyes. It was really painful to see. 

Utahime felt her heart pinch. He seemed so alone. And he truly was now. But her heart almost gave out upon seeing the portrait of Gojo Satoru's mother. It was exactly the same woman she had seen that night....! A giant weight of guilt fell upon Utahime's frail shoulders. So this woman was his mother. His dead mother....

After the relatives, the procession was made up of friends and acquaintances of the family. 

Utahime was shocked by the number of political figures with ties to the Gojo clan. Everyone came to pay their respects to Madame Gojo - the woman who gave birth to the most powerful exorcist in today's world.