Purified Souls Ch.16 Inside Annoyances....

Um....Hi. It's Marisa. It's been 3 days since I was kidnapped by that blood sucking yokai. I've been trying to think about these..um, ....new abilities I seemed to have now.

When I didn't have to help Estelle, I spent my time looking more closely at my Grimoire's contents. This is so strange....

Since I learned to use magic, I've only ever known these few spells. Where did these come from?

Estelle said with a smile, ''Alright. It's time to close for the day. Marisa? Can you please flip the sign outside?''

Marisa said in thought, ''Fine..''

Marisa thought, After I flipped the sign, I stepped outside to look at the sundown and surroundings, and got lost in thought for a minute.

Strange creepy nearby voice, ''Eee-He-he-he-ee!''

Marisa thought, I was so lost in thought, I didn't hear anything.... After a minute or so, I went back inside.

Estelle asked, ''Marisa? Have you seen a scroll lying around somehwere? I'm missing one. I need it to keep track of our sales.''

Marisa replied, ''I..don't..think so....?'' Estelle said, ''Mhm.. To bad. I'll have to use another one.''

Narrator said, ''A little later.''

Marisa thought, I was walking to my room upstairs, through the hallway. Out of nowhere, the celling light burst and almost fell onto me.

Marisa reacted and said under her breath, ''Ah!! Eh?! What was that? Hm.... Maybe we needed to fix the lights....?''

Narrator said, ''Tiny bit later....''

Estelle thought, After I was done with everything for the day, I was heading back to my room, humming to myself. I saw a broken celling light next to the wall. I thought about it, and decided to take care of it tomorrow.

After I entered my room, I noticed something strange. I had a few bookshelves in my room of my own personal collection. The shelf closest to my bed was in disarray. On the two topmost shelves, every other book was half sticking out.

Estelle said to herself, ''I could have sworn I organized those recently. Ah! My goddesss! How did that happen?''

Narrator said, ''The next morning.''

Estelle asked, ''Marisa? Do you have anything to do with that broken light from last night?'' Marisa replied, ''No. When I..was walking last night, it just burst and almost fell on me....''

Estelle asked, ''It did! You didn't get hurt anywhere did you?'' Marisa said withdrawn, ''I'm....fine.'' Estelle said, ''Hmm.... Alright. I believe you. Forget it.''

Marisa thought, A bit later in the day. I needed to put these new books on shelf to the left of the entrance. While carrying three books, I slipped and hit my face on one of them.

Estelle asked in panic, ''Ack! Marisa! . .Are you alright?! . .That looked painful!'' Marisa replied while getting up, ''Owww.... I'll....be..alright.''

Marisa thought, I wasn't sure if I was just hearing things, but I could have sworn that as I was picking up the books, I was hearing someone's laugh, for what sounded like it was very distant from my ears.

I brushed it off, as it didn't seem like she heard it.

Narrator said, ''The next day afternoon.''

Estelle thought, It was our day off. I was coming back from temporarily leaving Marisa to buy groceries and stock. Right as I opened the doors, it felt like I just heard someone whisper to me, right up in my ears.

Creepy voice, ''welcome home....''

Estelle reacted, ''Ahh!! Ah! Eh?'' Marisa asked, ''Something wrong?'' Estelle answered denying anything, ''Hmm.... No. Don't worry.''

Marisa said, ''If you say so....''

Estelle thought, A bit later, I was by myself in the backroom making my favorite mint tea, and having chocolate mochi. When I was going to grab the mint leaves, they were moved.

Estelle said to herself, ''Didn't I put those leaves more closer to myself? I could have..sworn that I did?''

Estelle thought, After I sat down with everything, I saw what almost looked like a 1-inch bite in one of my mochi.

Estelle said, ''Hmm.... Maybe these were a rare batch.... Mhm. Regardless, time to enjoy! (Sip)''

Estelle thought, When I woke up the next morning, and I walked into the hallway, I tripped just like Marisa did the other day.

Estelle yelled, ''Oww!! That hurt!''

Estelle thought, Later when a customer decided on a book and was bringing it up to me, suddenly he lost his balance and fell backwards landing with the back of his head hitting a pile of unsorted books Marisa didn't sort yet.

I apologized, feeling like it was my fault and he left alright.

Narrator said, ''The next morning, in my daughter's room.''

Estelle was thinking, ''Alright. All these mysterious accidents and moving of objects, just can't be a coincidence! What is happening around here? Too many strange things are happening to be random.

Things have happened to Marisa, as well as other customers! Maybe I'll discuss it with Marisa....''

Marisa asked, ''You think....something is intentionally..messing with us? You want....my..opinions?'' Estelle replied, ''I do. Don't tell me you didn't notice by now?''

Marisa replied reluctantly, ''Actually, ....that makes sense....''

Estelle said, ''Can you tell me anything that might help?'' Marisa said while remembering, ''Mhm.... Yeah. Let me think.... Ah! A few days ago, ....I could have sworn I heard someone distantly laughing at me.''

Estelle said with a gasp, ''Ahh! Hold on a second.... A few days ago, I thought I head someone creepily, welcoming me back.''

Estelle and Marisa both think about it.

Estelle thought, In that moment, I remembered reading something in a book when I was young that felt like our situation.

Marisa asked, ''Where are you going?'' Estelle yelled, ''I need to look at something! I'll be back momentarily!''

Estelle thought, I ran to my room. Estelle said under her breath, ''I remembered, my father gave me a book about various Yokai years ago. Where..is..it? Where? Ah! Is this is?''

Estelle thought, I picked up the book and quickly turned the pages, until I found just what I thought. A page about a yokai who curses and haunts certain people.

Estelle read while analyzing, 'They transform into powerful, wrathful spirits who seek vengeance on everything they encounter. However, they prefer letting the object of their hatred live a long life of torment and suffering.'

Estelle thought, After reading that, I put down the book and tried to grab my gear. Estelle asked, ''Hold on. Where's my fan, and my short sword?!''

Creepy whiny voice asked with a laugh, ''He-he-he. Are these what your looking for?'' Estelle asked surprised, ''A spirit?!''

(Author's Note: I like picturing his voice as Anime voice actor, Greg Ayres. If you know what he sounds like, please visualize it).^^

Estelle thought, I was right. He's a type of cursed spirit who torments it's victims slowly and very annoyingly. He's a Onryo....

Up from the corner of my room appeared a barely visible yokai with uniquely whiny voice, and messy black hair. He had a white burial outfit, with a silver sash.

Male Onryo said, ''I knew that these are your tools you use all the time. I learned it from a secret source. (Chuckles) I am Waku, remember it well.''

Waku was thinking, ''Darn it! They figured it out too fast! I'm still too weak yet! I only absorbed a portion of their emotions. I must get out of this predicament somehow!''

Estelle asked, ''How did you learn about my weapons?!'' Waku said with a nervous laugh, ''Didn't I say it was secret?''

Marisa asked barging in, ''I-thought I just felt unfamiliar energy in here?!'' Estelle reacted, ''Great. Your here! . .Ahh!''

Waku teased while phasing through the wall, ''I made your weapons disappear. I'm getting..out of here....'' Estelle said, ''He got away! We need to find him!''

Estelle thought, I went into the hallway, and decided to try sensing his energy.

Waku was thinking by the entrance, ''He-he-he.... What to do now? (Thought about it) Mmm.... For now, I think I'll leave and come back with a better plan.... Time to slip away....''

Estelle told us, Right after we got downstairs, Marisa used a spell to attack.

Waku shrieked as he just made it outside, ''What?!'' Estelle yelled, ''I found you with Marisa's help!''

Waku thought in that moment, ''Darn it! I need to get away.''

Estelle said with clarity, ''Marisa. I need your help. I can't do very much without my weapons. I can't control my other abilities yet. Can I count on you?''

Marisa replied quietly, ''Yes....''

Marisa thought, I started using my grimoire and tried to hit him with my spells. He kept phasing in and out. Annoying! He was really getting on my nerves.

Estelle was thinking, ''I wish I could actually help. . . . .I feel so useless. She looks like she's having a lot of trouble. There must be something.''

Marisa realized in her mind, ''Wait! . .Isn't he a cursed spirit? Do I have anything that would work a on cursed spirit? Hmm.... (Remembers) That's it!''

Marisa said to Estelle, ''Estelle! Bring out your Talismans!'' Estelle said while not sure, ''Alright! I'll be right back.''

Marisa yelled, 'High Magic Aura Healing!' Waku started screaming, ''Argh!! (In pain) . . . .You..actually hurt me!?'' Marisa yelled again, 'Aura Healing!'

Waku started screaming in even more pain.

Marisa said, ''I thought so.... Your a cursed spirit. So of course, healing would hurt you....'' Waku said in pain, ''You'll..pay..for..tha-!''

Marisa yelled once again, 'Aura Healing!!'

Estelle said, ''I got the talismans. What was that screaming about?'' Marisa replied, ''Use the talismans, right now!''

Estelle thought, While confused and curious. I took this chance, and purified him. After I started, something strange was happening to my mind.

stelle said, ''Argh! What....am....I..feeling?!''

Estelle thought, While I was purifying him, I started seeing his memories play out in fast motion.

Past Waku said, ''Who will be my next victim?''

Familiar Shadow said, ''Hold on a second. (Evil Laugh) I can help you with that.'' Waku asked, ''Huh? Who are you?''

Familiar Shadow answered, ''Don't mind who I am. I just want you to do what you do best, and torture certain pests that have been buzzing around for too long.''

Waku asked, ''Huh? What do you mean?'' Familiar Shadow said, ''I have a certain enemy I want you to get rid off.''

Waku said with excitement, ''Alright. If it's more victims, point the way.''

Familiar Shadow said, ''This particular girl called, Lumia. Make sure you make it so she can't find her weapons.''

Estelle thought, I saw a memory of Waku intruding days ago, when Marisa briefly opened the doors. Laughing.

After the Purifying was over, I stopped and fell to my knees. It was overwhelming to my mind.

Marisa asked, ''Estelle? Are you..okay''

Estelle thought, In that moment, I was realizing something. It was making sense.

Estelle thought in that moment, ''I recognized that voice and that shadow. It's him!''

Fin?