Purified Souls Ch.2 To Protect....

Greetings! It's me, Estelle. It's been a week now since I've taken in my strange 'friend' Marisa. I've made her help around our bookstore just in small ways for now at least. Marisa is too shy to do much yet.

She keeps asking me questions. I want to help her, but how do I? One thing I've found out is that she apparently likes sweets as well as bakery.

I've gotten her to at least figure out how to help me with inventory. If Marisa indeed wants to live her, she must help as well.

As we were in the backroom, another new customer appeared. Sweaty Male asked, ''Um....hello? Is anyone insi----?!?! (SMACK)''

Estelle thought, He tripped over a pile of books Marisa left in the middle of the floor, and fell flat on his face. Afterwards, I came out front & apologized. We sat down on the sofa in the middle of the front room.

Sweaty Male said nervously, ''Sorry about that, I-I've always been known for being pretty clumsy.'' Marisa said reserved, ''Sorry sir, it's actually..my fault, ....I think?''

Estelle asked clearing her throat, ''Now, what's your business here?'' Sweaty Male said, ''O-Oh--Yeah! First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Ayumu Tanaka.'' Estelle said, ''Pleased to meet you.''

Ayumu said explaining, ''You see, me and my wife together, we make & sell clothes in a small business. We decided recently to move into a bigger house.

Me & my wife went to check the inside of the house and it was perfect. Soon after I officially bought the house, things got strange & dangerous....

The next day, When I opened the door, it felt as if a invisible sword just went missed me. Then I heard 'LEAVE!!!! LEAVE NOW!!!!'

Estelle & Marisa reacted, ''Wait! What?!'' Estelle said clearing her throat, ''Yes, what else?''

Ayumu continued, ''After that, I just dismissed it. The next day, my wife was bringing some of her stuff next. After she put down boxes, suddenly it felt as if, some physical force knocked her down.

Then she heard, what sounded like a kid crying from nowhere. Uhhh...., More happened but I think you get it, right?''

Estelle said curiously, ''Okay.... We will take the job. That will be 25 dollars up front.'' Marisa was lost in thought. Ayumu replied, ''Okay. Now, follow me-Uh!--uh!-(SMACK)''

Estelle thought, Somehow as he stood up, he lost balance and hit his head on the table.

Estelle thought to herself with a sigh, ''I wish you readers, could see how much that looked like it hurt.''

Estelle thought, Ayumu guided us to his new house & pointed to it. Marisa said curiously, ''This..is it?''

Estelle said seriously, ''Thanks you sir. Now, you better leave us be. It's safer that way.''

Ayumu said gleeful, ''I wish you girls luck!'' Estelle thought, He runs down the street & tripped again. Estelle said with a Sigh, ''Let's go inside Marisa....''

Estelle thought, We went inside the 2 story house. We split up & searched around the establishment. I looked towards our customer's living room table. When I looked down, I saw what looked like a spot of dried blood.

I was hearing a child cry out of nowhere. Is this what he mentioned? I had a sudden instinct to move out of the way. I just barely missed a invisible sword?

A mass mass of dark energy gathered & was formed into what seemed like a humanoid shadow....

The Sword Shadow yelled, ''Geeeetttt OUT NOW!!!! This place belongs to my family!!!'' Marisa said while walking in to a crazy sight, ''What is all that racket? Huh?!?''

Sword Shadow said angry, ''Another intruder in my home?! (!YELL!)''

Estelle thought, So this is what my father & grandfather fought for so long? My father has only ever brought me on one of his jobs before. It wasn't as scary as this!

Marisa asked, ''What do we do?''

Estelle said composing herself, ''What my father taught me! With any tainted energy, we need to weaken it! then we cleanse it with one of the talismans! Help me Marisa!''

Marisa said, ''alright....''

Estelle thought, Marisa summoned that strange grimoire again. We were fighting, trying to weaken the spirit. I analyzed everything I could as we were battling it for what seemed like a while....

He seemed to attack us, using his spirit body and what I could only assume was a sword made of shadow? We had no choice, but to fight it in that room, trying to not wreck anything of the customer's.

Sword Shadow said frustrated, ''I MUST PROTECT MY FAMILY!!! GET OUT OF OUR HOUSE!!!!''

Marisa said upset, ''What's with this thing? He seems to be....to skilled at blocking everything....''

Estelle said frustrated, ''I don't know..what to do either.'' Sword Shadow yelled, ''LEAVE!!''

Estelle thought, Father? What do I do? There has to be a way.... Hm....

Out of nowhere, we both heard from the corner of the room, what sounded almost like a mother coddling her child? What the.... The Shadow man paused his attacks and looked at that corner, ....like he was in a daze.

Hmm? What's with my energy? Suddenly my body felt strange.... It felt like my energy was surging.... It felt like in that moment, my body was telling me to act now.

I could feel my fan charging up with some kind of energy I've never felt before.... I cast my fan at the sword shadow. After the fan made contact, it seemed to be purifying him.

The Sword Shadow started screaming while being purified.

Estelle thought, Light filled up the whole room. When it died down, we were looking around the room, confused.

Marisa asked confused, ''What....just happened?'' Estelle replied, ''I....don't know.... What did I just do? (Gasps)''

Estelle thought, In front of our eyes, we saw the same spirit now looking human once more with 2 others behind him.

Male said, ''Thank you! I feel so much better now. I can't thank you enough. (Sigh) I am Lloyd, a Shinsengumi Vice Captain. This is my wife & daughter. You freed us from ourselves.''

Marisa looked confused. Estelle said, ''Your welcome.''

(Flashback scene now?) Lloyd explained, ''You see, years ago, I was a vice captain & was on my way to soon becoming head commander.

That day, I was playing cards with my daughter on our living room table, while my wife was reading 'Sewing for fools'. In that instant, I thought I felt danger.

I turned my head towards the window, when I saw a hand with a gun in it. Before I ever fully turned around, I was killed with one shot. Then my family right after me.'' Marisa said concerned, ''Hmm?''

Lloyd continued, ''I figured out after I died that it was someone, who broke out prison to get revenge on me. I despised the fact that I couldn't even protect my family, & I was so close to making things better for us.

At some point, It felt almost like something gave me a push, & I began filling with hatred & envy towards dying in such a disgraceful way.

I would've gone to any means to protect my family even in death. Did I truly protect them? Please tell me?''

Estelle said with conviction, ''Yes. I believe you tried your best in your own way. You truly deserve respect for you actions. Now, join your family & pass on peacefully. I will cleanse your soul & your family.''

Lloyd's son said, ''Thank you!'' Lloyd's wife said, ''I thank you as well!''

Lloyd said gratefully, ''Thanks once again.... My lovely family, Let's leave this place & be together forever in heaven.''

Estelle thought, I took out a talisman and cast it in the air, purifying them. I focused all my energy. Marisa said, ''Wow! This is....being purified?'' Estelle thought, They passed on peacefully. With that, another job is completed.

The next day, with our satisfied customer, Ayumu thanked us & even gave us a 15 dollar bonus for mostly leaving his place in fine condition, except for a slashed box & some other ones knocked over.

Right as he opened the doors, he fell on his face again hitting the outside street. He left a happy customer.

Estelle said cheerfully, ''Wow! Wow! Look!, I got a bonus! I can't wait to figure out what to spend it on! (Giggles with glee)''

Marisa thought, That....actually was...kind of..fun.... Hmmm.... Marisa asked Estelle withdrawn, ''Can I....try those rice balls, you were....talking about?''

Estelle replied with a smile, ''Yes. Let's go in the back.''

Estelle thought, Hmm.... I can't stop thinking.... What was that strange power that seem to almost overtake my usual energy? ....It felt almost like I was being protected from all corrupt presences around me....?

Narrator Nicholas said, ''That was so beautiful. It made me tear up again. I was watching you again, Estelle. I hope that Lloyd & his family passed on peacefully.

My daughter is doing so well taking over my role. Hmmm.... Why did what happened with her energy feel so familiar? (Thinks....)''