Purified Souls Ch.20 Passing On

The Narrator said, ''Last time. It didn't turn out to well for my daughter.... She survived and saved everyone at the academy, but everything else that happened that night, I'm sure is tearing her up inside.....

That spirit girl that she almost purified was erased by Rintarou, and when he was so close, she fainted from exhaustion. Her friend Marisa also had to take her home.

I hope she will be alright. The next morning after she fainted, at Lumia's.''

Marisa reacted, ''Aaa!'' Estelle asked waking up, ''Ughh.... Ma....risa?'' Marisa said with some surprise, ''Oh. Your awake.''

Estelle asked still hazy, ''What....happen-tch! . .Oww! What's with my body?'' Marisa answered, ''I think....that your body is just....overworked again....''

Estelle asked, ''From wha-Agh! 'Soon, I will bring a new beginning to this world. Goodbye....' ''I remember what happened!''

Marisa asked, ''Hmm? You remembered....yesterday then?'' Estelle said, ''Mmm.... Ahhh!! My memories are becoming clear.... Now, I remember.... Because of my incompetence, he's now close to having full strength....''

Marisa said, ''Uhh.... Yeah, I guess....'' Estelle said with guilt, ''I....was so....close...., but I fainted right there.... Hmm....''

Marisa said with slight worry, ''You....should rest today, shouldn't you? I suppose....I will work....downstairs today.'' Estelle said reacting, ''No! I will-Arg! ....I will help downstairs today too. What....time is..it?''

Marisa replied, ''Uhh.... 9:45 AM? But, ....you should rest....'' Estelle said forcing herself out of bed, ''No. I need....to get to my....full strength.''

Marisa said with concern, ''Uh, uh, fine. If your gonna....be that way, let me cast my Aura Healing on you first, alright.''

Estelle asked, ''Hmm.... Is it just me, or do you seem different today Marisa? You....seem actually concerned for my health.''

Marisa replied with no reaction, ''No, I don't. 'Aura Healing' . . . . . . . .'' Estelle said with a grin, ''Ahh!! . . . .I feel better now. (Sigh) I wonder...., are you actually worrying about me?''

Marisa said with a surprising cold face, ''I'm not. Now, I am going downstairs.'' Estelle said to herself, ''Hmm. Strange.... Time to get ready for the day.''

Estelle told us, After that, I pushed myself till I was working again just fine. I spent that whole week, trying to not think about what happened and move on.

Because I hit my limit that night, I found only two to three days where I could train in peace. I tried to increase my speed, flexibility, and duration of how long I could stay in that form.

I kept asking Marisa to heal my body and spirit. I somehow got her to comply, though I am not sure how..... Now a week later, on our next off day.

Estelle said to Marisa, ''Marisa! I got a idea.'' Marisa asked, ''Hmm?'' Estelle said with a smile, ''Since you've been working so hard for our bookstore lately, why don't I help you finally spend your money?''

Marisa asked with a secretly interested face, ''Really? Buy something?'' Estelle replied, ''Yeah. It's our off day today, and I know that you somehow haven't spent your money yet.''

Marisa said, ''Uhh, I....suppose....'' Estelle said with a smirk, ''Let's go to the shopping district.''

Marisa thought, I wasn't sure..what to expect, since she's never taken me shopping before.... I....didn't know....how to handle everything....

Marisa questioned in quiet shock, ''This is the shopping district?'' Estelle said, ''Yeah. A street with different kinds of stores and businesses. I go here a lot to stock up and buy sweets to try.''

Marisa said in shock, ''Uhhhhhh....''

Estelle thought, We spent probably almost a hour looking at possible things she could buy. She was having a tough time deciding. Just then....

Estelle thought to herself, ''Ahh!! Ugh! . .What....am....I..sensing? . .This strange..feeling. What..is this....strange feeling?''

Marisa asked, ''Is....something....wrong?'' Estelle answered, ''Hm.... Marisa. I....sense something...close....by....'' Marisa asked, ''You....sense something? How?''

Estelle said with concern, ''I'm....not sure exactly, but I feel something strange....'' Marisa asked, ''Uhh! . .Is it..because your half-yokai?''

Estelle replied, ''I haven't..figured that out yet, but I am worried.... I think I am sensing something....from that shrine....down....that..street....''

Marisa asked, ''A....shrine....?'' Estelle said, ''Ah? I feel better now...., but what's this..strange feeling?''

Marisa asked, ''Are....you....still sensing it?'' Estelle said, ''I am.... Hmm, follow me, alright. I have this weird feeling I can't shake....''

Estelle told us, Me and Marisa walked to the end of the street to this abandoned shrine, that looked like it hadn't been used for at least a few years.

We slowly approached it while I tried to concentrate on this energy I was feeling....

Estelle said quietly, ''Hmm.... Marisa. I think I....sense it from that small central building in the middle.... In front of that offering box....''

Marisa questioned, ''Offering box? That thing....over there?'' Estelle said, ''Hmm. Let's go.''

Estelle thought, In that moment, I opened the central shrine building and looked inside. As I walked in, I didn't see anything.... I could still sense something though....

Old Spirit asked appearing, ''You young girl? What brings you to this place?'' Marisa said with quiet surprise, ''Ahh! He....just appeared?''

(Author's Note: If you know what it is, picture him as a Shinto Priest. That is what he would look like).

Estelle told us, In that small room appeared a old depressed male with his back to us. He was looking at us asking us who we were.

Estelle replied with a serious tone, ''Me? I..am Estelle Lumia. This girl next to me is Marisa. My friend.''

Old Spirit turned around and said, ''Young one, I can tell that she is a demon, and you. You a are half-yokai, though I sense that you already know this, don't you?''

Estelle said, ''I do. Hmm.... May I ask, who or what are you?'' Old Spirit said in a somber tone, ''Don't worry. I won't harm you. I was a respected priest in life. I was Nanjo Ikkutsuki.''

Estelle asked in a surprised manner, ''You....were a priest? Hm.... If so, then how did you end up in this state?'' Marisa questioned to herself, ''A....priest?''

Nanjo said with a somber tone, ''You see, decades ago now, I worked at this shrine as one of the most helpful priest's in history. I had all manner of abilities.

While it was overwhelming, I did love the feeling of making people satisfied. After I got old in my years, I started getting weaker and fell ill.

Our doctors told me that I was going to die from my body giving out. I didn't want to die. I wanted to help many more believers, but after a few weeks of being bed-ridden.

My body eventually gave out and I passed on. I got stuck between passing on to heaven and having too many regrets. In the time after my passing, less and less people stopped visiting, and this place fell to ruin....''

Estelle thought to herself, ''How sad.... He died from doing....what he loved....'' Marisa thought to herself, ''Wow.... He died from....exhaustion?''

Nanjo said with a sad tone, ''For most people, without me, this place couldn't sustain itself.... I have been stuck here for decades.... You there. I can sense that you have talismans.

I sense that you have great ability as well.... Can you please help my spirit finally pass on?'' Estelle said, ''Yes. (Clears throat) I will. Hold on a moment. Marisa, stay back alright?''

Marisa said, ''Umm, alright.''

Estelle told us, I brought out a talisman and began purifying him. He didn't even hesitate to get himself purified by me. He stood up and started directly into my eyes.

He had such a look of sorrow and misery. Sure enough, I realized how similar we were to each other. Would that be me one day if I were to die from working too much?

We both worked everyday to help humanity. I couldn't stop thinking about how much we were similar.

Nanjo said with a tear, ''Young yokai girl. I thank you. No one has been able to help me in years. I sense that your abilities will only grow more.

Always work harder to grow into a better person and don't turn out like I did. Farewell young ones of the goddess. Farewell....''

Estelle thought to herself, ''Agh!! Am I....seeing his....memories? His....past?'' Past Nanjo said, ''Always keep the goddess in your hearts. Never lose faith in her miracles.''

Estelle told us, After he passed on, I fell to my knees. Marisa asked, ''Huh? Is something....wrong?'' Estelle said with tears, ''I....I saw his memories.... (Sniff) How sad.... (Sniff) . . . .Marisa, let's go....''

Estelle told us, After we got outside, I forgot that we were originally shopping for Marisa. While I was exhausted, I decided to finish what we started first.

Estelle said with a realization, ''Ohh, right! Marisa. Let's continue shopping for you, alright.'' Marisa said, ''Are you sure....that you can?''

Estelle replied with a small smile, ''I can make it. Let's spend your hard-earned money on something special, alright.'' Marisa replied, ''Uhh, right....''

Marisa told us, We shopped a bit more while I was deciding.... The last stop we made, was a general store with all manner of things. I spent a while looking around.

Marisa asked with a shy tone, ''Hmm.... Ahh! . . . .Estelle? Is it alright, if I get ....this tea cup....with a unique design?''

Estelle replied with surprise, ''Hmm.... That's what you want? Then you can have it. It is your money after all.''

Marisa thought, Both after and before we bought it. I couldn't stop looking at this tea cup I choose. I felt somewhat almost hypnotized by it....

It was a black clay tea cup with a tree design on it. After we bought it, I spent the whole time home staring at it.

When we got home, Estelle offered to poor tea in it and test it. Naturally, she made coffee tea, which I had grown to like since I first tasted it.

Estelle asked, ''How is it, Marisa?'' Marisa replied with quiet excitement, ''Ahh.... It....it's really tasty....'' Estelle said, ''Great. I'm glad that you enjoy it. Take great care of it. It's yours.''

Marisa replied quietly embarrassed, ''Um, ....sure....''