Purified Souls Ch.9 Cherish Family

Narrator said. ''Hi. It's been a few days since my daughter's accidently saved the nearby village from random pranks by a fox spirit. She's been doing well since then. Working quite well. I'm afraid she might be working too hard though.

That's how she is though. (Nervous chuckle) To Lumia's bookstore. Lets see how my daughter is faring.

Marisa said. ''It....doesn't seem like we are....getting many customers today.'' Estelle said. ''Yeah. Because it's raining today.''

Marisa said. ''Hmm....'' Estelle said. ''We got a few people, but some people don't like going out on a rainy day. My-my, look at it out their.''

Marisa looks lost staring at the rain. Woman Customer asks. ''I'd like this book, please.'' Marisa said. ''..Alright. Here.'' Woman Customer said. ''Goodbye, now.''

Estelle said with a realization. ''I just had a thought.'' Marisa looked confused. Estelle said. ''I don't think, I've really seen you smile yet. Hmmm....''

Marisa said. ''Smile? I don't have....anything to....smile about....'' Estelle said. ''Hm.... Yeah, I remembered. You told me..you had a difficult life before that graveyard, right?''

Marisa replies. ''Yeah. Full of nothing..and calamity....'' Estelle said. ''Yeah. No wonder you always..look down. How depressing...''

Fancy Lady yells. ''Excuse me! Is there someone that works here named, Estelle?'' Estelle explains. Suddenly, this stressed out stunning lady came in our doors. She looked to be confused & unsure. She seemed like she'd be in her mid-20's or so....

Estelle asked. ''Is there a problem ma'am?'' Fancy Lady said with a deep breath. ''I heard that there is a girl here & a demon, that can help us?'' Estelle asked. ''You sound like you need help. Sit down over there & fill us in, alright.''

Fancy lady explained to them. ''You see, ..I am one of the innkeeper's at the hot springs inn of our Haruka village. I am Yukito. We have a situation at our inn, & our landlady requested that I look for help since I heard rumors about you.''

Marisa asked. ''Hot....springs? What..is that?'' Estelle answered. ''Oh. (Clears Throat) It's business where you can pay to stay for a few days to relax and bathe in natural water. Good?'' Marisa said. ''Bathe....in natural....water? Hmm....''

Male Customer asked. ''Excuse me? I'd like to buy this book?'' Estelle said. ''Um, hold on. I need to help.'' Male Customer said. ''Thanks. Farewell....''

Estelle asked. ''Now, explain the issue.'' Yukito said. ''Oh--right. You see me & the other innkeepers are having trouble with this particular room & the surrounding hallway.... Room 13.''

Estelle asked. ''Can you explain what the problems are?'' Yukito explained. ''Yes. You see we've actually had trouble for the last few months, but hearing rumors, I thought we might finally be able to deal with it.

Not every time, but sometimes when the innkeepers go in to clean the room before the next guest, they will either hear a child scream, cry, or see something terrifying. Other times, the door simply won't open & it isn't locked.''

Estelle said. ''Hmm? Interesting.'' Yukito continued. ''We've also gotten complaints of mostly middle-aged customers, say that a small dark shadow is watching them from the closest in their room. There's more, but I think you can see for yourself.''

Estelle said while collecting her thoughts. ''Alright. Me & her will check it out. Also, you must pay us some money for requesting us.'' Yukito said. ''O-oh! Yeah, I was prepared for that. Here you go. My boss gave me some money to pay for you. 35 dollars.''

Estelle said a bit surprised. ''That much? I graciously accept it.'' Yukito explains to her. ''By the way, I feel I should mention that you'll have to investigate while our inn's open.'' Estelle said. ''Right. Marisa. Let's close the bookstore for today.''

Narrator said. ''Near the outskirts of the village.'' Marisa said amazed. ''Wow! This..is a hot spring inn??'' Estelle said. ''Yeah. I forgot that it's your first time at a inn....'' Yukito said. ''Alright. Best of luck. I need to get back to my duties.''

Estelle said. ''Let's go, Marisa.'' Marisa looked entranced. Narrator said. ''Meanwhile, on the 2nd floor, their was a small shadow looking down at them. (Gasps!)''

Desk Lady said. ''Welcome to our inn. How may I help you.'' Estelle said. ''We're here to investigate claims of the 2nd floor being haunted by your staff member Yukito.'' Desk Lady said. ''Ah, yes. Our landlady told me to expect you. Go on in.''

Estelle tells us. We made it to the 2nd floor. A floor a apparently 10 rooms. I noticed that the 2 rooms next to room 13 are currently empty. Because of how my abilities are lately, I stand at the beginning of the hall & try to sense anything noteworthy.

After attempting, I feel nothing worrisome. I ask the inn staff if we can check all 3 rooms. We were given permission. We first examine the 2 rooms next to room 13.

Estelle said. ''I don't sense anything in this room.... Marisa, do you see anything out of place?'' Marisa replies. ''No. Seems normal....'' Marisa hears what sounds like a distant kid's cry. Marisa said. ''Huh? Hm....?''

Estelle tells us. Eventually, we examined room 13 and weren't sensing anything that was off. Then...., I wanted to open the closet of room 13. When I opened it, --there was a short shadow, --right there!

Child Shadow yelled. ''--Get out of here NOW!!!!'' Estelle tells us. Suddenly, there was a whole bunch of swirling wind in that room, with all the hallway windows breaking!

Child Shadow yelled. ''Please!! --Leave me alone!!'' Marisa yelled. ''What?! What's going on?!?!''

Estelle tells us. I began analyzing this situation. I took out my fan, & yelled at all the staff on the 2nd floor to run. Marisa summoned her book once again. This strange small shadow began trying to fiercely attack us. We had no choice but to attack.

For a child, it was hard to even get close to him. We tried out best. Marisa yelled. ''Whatever you are! Taste my Dark Sphere!!'' Shadow Child said. ''Ugh. You are so annoying! Leave this place!!''

Estelle yelled. ''Just let us, help you! If you just tell us, we can help you move on!'' Shadow Child said. ''Help..me? I don't need your help!!'' Marisa was knocked down.

Estelle yelled. ''Marisa! --Don't hurt her! (Grunts) You say, ..you don't need help? ....But if your dead, & not passed on, it means that you obviously need help!!''

Shadow Child yelled. ''Help?! Where was help, --When I needed it?! Where was help, --When I was on the verge of death?!'' Estelle said. ''Verge....of death? . . . .I was hired here to help....any way I can.... So, ....Let me help out!''

Shadow Child yelled. ''Huh?! --I....I don't need anyone's help----Anymore! Those....Those Doctors couldn't help me at all! Neither could anyone else!----(Aghh!) (Conflicted Screaming) Where am I!----(Screaming)''

Marisa got back up. ''Estelle! I think it's....your chance....'' Estelle said. ''Ahh! Yes!'' Estelle tells us. I paused & started getting ready to purify him. I threw my fan filled with light, and it cleansed him just in time.

Shadow Child said frantically. ''Wait! --Wait!! Aghhhh!'' Marisa said. ''Ugh. Following....by what happened..before, that..um....should have done it....'' Estelle focuses straight ahead.

Estelle explains. When things cleared up, & the destruction stopped, we saw a young little boy, looking sickly, cleansed of all malevolence.

Sickly Boy said. ''Ahh! You....You helped me. I....I thought..no one could..help, but I guess....I was wrong....'' Marisa asks. ''Why do you....look so..sickly?''

Sickly Boy said. ''....In life, my name was Haru. I was a healthy 8 year old boy, living with my parents. I was like anyone else.... I played with my other neighborhood friends...., I loved my parents.... My father had a job to support us.... My parents did their best....

Out of nowhere, while playing with my friends, I started getting weak & falling.... My parents first thought, that I needed to eat better meals, but then.... Days later, I started getting weaker & fainting.... I was getting headaches.... My eyes looked bad....

Then when my parents got a doctor, he figured out that I had a disease called, Encep..halitis.....(Ughh).'' Estelle was shocked. Marisa looked surprised. Haru said. ''I....didn't want to....die, & not be able to....see my parents anymore.... I tried to survive, &....they were supporting my recovery.... But after weeks of suffering, I passed on....

I hated that I died, & my parents couldn't see me. A while after I died, they sold the house & it was destroyed. This inn was built decades ago. I couldn't follow them.... With each passing year, My anger of dying got worse... I turned into the shadow you met.... ''

Haru said. ''Please, I know what I said before, but....please help me.'' Estelle said. ''Don't worry, I'll help you pass on.'' Estelle tells us. I took out a talisman & began purifying him.

Haru said with a tear. ''Thanks. Thanks for helping me.'' Haru said with a smile. ''I feel....better....now..... Good....bye.....'' Marisa suddenly had a peaceful smile while watching him pass on.

Estelle said. ''(~Sigh~) Finished. He passed on peacefully now.... Hmm?'' Estelle thought. Wait! Was she smiling?

Estelle tells us. Later, we told all the staff that it was safe now. They got back to work quick. Luckily, while some stuff was broken or destroyed, they could fix it in the next few days.

They requested someone to fix their windows. The landlady thanked me, & we went home. The next day....

It was raining again, but I think of it as god weeping for Haru. We got back to working in the bookstore again. I decided to not tell Marisa that I saw her smile.

Narrator said. ''(Sniff) That was so sad. I feel for the boy, Haru. I am so glad, that Estelle was able to help him pass on. (Sniff) See you next time....''