Purified Souls Ch.12 Old Man's Words Pt.2

''Hello, it's me. Nicholas Lumia. Last chapter, my daughter had a lot happen to her. I think things are about to get more interesting for my daughter, though....''

Gensei asked, ''How are you parents faring anyway?''

Estelle said not knowing what to say, ''Uh, ....sir? ....about that? (Conflicted)'' Gensei asked, ''Huh? Something wrong?''

Marisa said empathetically, ''Gensei, guy? ....Her parents died....sometime ago....'' Gensei said surprised, ''Huh? They did? Estelle, is this true?''

Estelle replied withdrawn, ''Umm. Yeah.... almost 3 months ago....'' Gensei asked shocked, ''What?! Nicholas & Yumemi Lumia?! Hmm.... How did they die?''

Estelle replied, ''One night.... I woke up in the middle of the night, ....and they were both killed by a strange shadow in front of my eyes.... I took over the bookstore after they died....''

Gensei asked still shocked, ''They! They were a powerful couple.... What in the world could kill them?! Geez. This surprise almost made my legs give out....''

Estelle said, ''Old man Gensei.... I haven't seen you since I was but a child? How have things been for you?''

Gensei replied getting strength back in his legs, ''Me? For me, the last few years, I've been losing the strength in these old legs. I had to visit this hospital quite a lot. I don't have it in me to walk as much as I used to anymore....(Sigh)''

Marisa asked, ''Estelle? Who is this strange man?''

Estelle replied watching him, ''Uhhh. Where do I begin? He's a old friend of both my grandfather & father. I've seen him come visit my father in the past when I was a child. He stopped visiting for some reason, though....''

Gensei said excited, ''Look! I can stand once again! I still got it in me! You can't stop this Gensei Byakuya!! (Laugh)''

Estelle said with a sigh, ''As you can see. He's always been a interesting man.''

Marisa replied, ''Riiiight....'' Gensei asked, ''Ohh! Right! I wanted to ask. Why are you in the hospital? Also, who is this strange girl next to you?''

Marisa answered, ''Sir? I should probably tell you.... I am a demon. Um.. See the horns..on my head?'' Gensei replied putting his back out, ''What?! Ack!!''

Estelle explained, ''I met her on my first job.... She was-Um....living in a graveyard. After we 'fought', I let her stay with me.... She's been working at our bookstore for a while....''

Gensei said dealing with back pain, ''So. That's-how you know this girl? Ack! (Deep breath) How did you end up here though?''

Estelle explained the incident 3 days ago as best as she could.

Gensei asked shocked, ''So, that's why I fainted out of nowhere that night? No wonder I felt drained. Also, ....you transformed into something? Hmmm.....''

Estelle realized, ''Oh-yeah. I should be able to leave now. (Gets up) I feel better now....'' Marisa said, ''Are..you..sure?'' Estelle replied, ''I..just need to move around. I should be myself in no time.''

Gensei stopped her saying, ''Wait! -I think I might know, what your transformation was!! (Out of breath)'' Estelle & Marisa react, ''What?''

Gensei said, ''Wait. Let's go to my place. I was just here for a checkup. I can also leave as well now....''

Narrator said enthusiastically, ''To my old friend, Gensei Byakuya's place!''

Estelle said, ''I..don't think I've ever seen your house before....'' Gensei said to the two of them, ''I lost my wife 5 years ago.... I'm all alone now.... Please, sit down and relax.... (Sigh)''

Gensei said sitting down, ''First off, did old Nicholas ever tell you? I'm the one who gave your grandfather a loan to build that business in the first place?''

Estelle asked with shock, ''. . . .What?! Really?'' Marisa asked, ''Because of you, old man?'' Gensei replied, ''Yep. I'm 73, and I was 26 when your grandfather, my old pal, Hector asked for my help....''

Marisa said shocked, ''Wow.... That....long ago?'' Hm....''

Gensei said certain, ''Estelle? The way you described your situation earlier to these old ears.... I think I know what that was. Pace yourselves.... . . . .I think you have inherited the power of your mother....

Estelle said, ''Wha?'' Marisa asked, ''Wait, what?''

Gensei said seriously, ''Your family only ever told me, but I'm certain your mother was a Yokai.... A lovely one as well. Your father fell in love with a yokai, knowing full well what it meant....''

Estelle asked in shock, ''Wait. What are you saying? My mother? A Yokai?''

Gensei said, ''Your father told me after you were born, that he knew you had signs of it. I believe that was what happened to you during your fight.''

Marisa asked, ''Her....mom..wasn't....human? How can....this be?'' Estelle asked in disbelief, ''I....am...half....Yokai?''

Gensei explained, ''Nicholas told me, that your mother had the ability to hide her Yokai side and look fully human.

I was also told that your mother was from a important clan of full-Yokai's in the underworld. She was banished though for marrying a human, cause she fell in love with your father.''

Estelle replied, ''What? She could hide her true form? Wait. Mother was banished....for..falling..in..love? And she was from a whole clan?''

Marisa said realizing, ''Wait! If..that's true. That would explain a lot of your unexplained situations....''

Estelle said, ''Ugh. I need to sit down....''

Gensei said, ''I know.... It's a lot to believe....'' Estelle said realizing, ''Ugh.... Wait a second.... If this is true, ....then does that mean, ....what I saw that night they died, was my mother's true form?''

Gensei asked, ''Huh? You..mean? You saw Yumemi's true form? The night they were killed?'' Marisa asked, ''Your mother's....true..form?'' Estelle asked curiously, ''Is there anything, else I should know?''

Gensei replied, ''Only this.... From what I saw.... Your mother was a really caring lady. Everytime I came over, I saw you always being taken care of, by her as best she could....

Your father tried his best as well.... Your mother had this really motherly aura all the time. She only showed me her Yokai form once to prove it. She told me, that she would only use her full power if things were getting dangerous....''

Estelle said, ''Yeah.... I believe it. I have such nice memories of growing up, with them always close by.... Hm.... Father.... Mother.... (Tears) Why did you....have to die? (More tears)''

Gensei said with understanding, ''Estelle.... (Thinking)''

Marisa asked, ''Something wrong?'' Gensei said remembering, ''I just remembered.... They both told me that if they ever died or passed on, they said I should tell you to go to a certain place....''

Estelle asked, ''A special place?'' Marisa asked, ''Huh?''

Gensei said, ''Right, right. Hold on a second. (Mumbles) I believe it was over here....somewhere....-Ah! ....Here you go.'' Estelle thought, He searched a table by the wall, and handed me a dusty scroll.

Gensei said, ''This place. I think your ready for it. Kokoro Cave.... A underground cave in a forest a few miles from this village....''

Estelle asked, ''Why? What's so special about this cave?'' Marisa asked looking at it, ''Hm? ....A cave?''

Gensei explained, ''Apparently, it's a cave that lets you talk to spirits. If the myths are true, it also shows you their memories if they let you.... That's all this old man knows.''

Estelle said with a smile, ''Alright. If that's what my parents wanted, it must be important. Thank you, Gensei.... Thanks for sharing everything you could. It must have been fate, that I met you today....''

Gensei said happily, ''I'm glad that this old folk could help you find your way foward. I only ask that the next time I visit, I see you with a smile.''

Estelle said cheering up, ''Sure. Let's go Marisa. Bye!'' Marisa said confused, ''Okay....'' Marisa thought, She seems....better.... That makes....me feel..better, for....some....reason....''

Gensei said to himself, ''My friend.... Your little's girl growing up.... It brings a tear to this old heart....''

Nicholas said putting a arm on his shoulder, ''I..know.''

Gensei said, ''Wait. Was that..his voice I just heard?''

Nicholas thought, ''Es..telle....''