Departed

Chapter 30: Revelation

Harumi's POV

     At their nods, I didn't know how to respond. I simultaneously wanted to run to my parents like I had when I was a child, but I was also frozen in shock. Lloyd had told me I could use the Ancestea to see my parents. I should have expected it. But now, I couldn't seem to figure out how to proceed. My parents' expressions held an emotion I couldn't exactly decipher. I never remembered them with this look. It made me cautious.

     "I understand your longing, but we are only spirits. It takes a lot of energy just to hold this image up. Trying to become physical enough to touch you would shatter the form we have visualized." My mother's eyes were sympathetic. The sound of her voice made my knees wobbly. It was a voice I hadn't heard in so long that I had forgotten what it sounded like. My mind danced back to loving memories of picnic, family board games, and endless hours of having fun together. All I'd ever wanted was to return to that life of love and laughter.

     "We still love every bit as much as we did the day we died." My father added on. "I only wish we could hold onto you one last time." In the swirl of nostalgia came the caution again. I had never vocalized my longing to touch them once more.

     "How did you know what I was thinking?" I stepped forward. Strangely enough, they did not get closer.

     "We are spirits." My father repeated my mother's words. "We know many things."

     "We know your past, your present, and your future." My mother judged my reaction.

     "You know..." A twinge of shame sparked inside of me. They knew the lengths I had gone to. They knew how many people I had harmed to try and regain the joy they had blessed me with. They knew everything.

     Words escaped me as I avoided their eyes. I was sorry that I had made more children like me. I was never going to be that person again. Still, admitting to it was harder than I realized, and the people I had always looked up to were only judging each second of my silence.

     "Those were bad times." I cleared my throat, trying to find some way to get rid of the lump that had formed there.

     "You are trying to fix those mistakes. We do not love you less because of what happened in the past." My mother gently smiled.

     I hesitated. If they knew my past, present, and future, then perhaps they knew about the prophecy. It seemed rude to switch from a joyful (and depressing) reunion to a give-me-details situation, but they did say they had limited time. And I wasn't sure how to feel about all of this. My parents weren't acting like I remembered.

     They were much gentler in their demeanors. Cautious, even.

     "Do you know the identity of the Oni and Light?"

    My parents exchanged glances. My father took my mother's hand and carefully stated, "You will meet your light in time."

     "My light?"

     "Did you notice the book that brought you here?" My mother asked. Her voice was filled with hesitation, as if she were walking on thin ice.

     "The history of the Oni royal bloodline? What does that have anything to do with my light? Why are you trying to change the subject?" I started toward them again, but they never came closer. My aggravation was growing as my mind picked up on their verbal cues. I knew those tones all too well. They were hiding something.

     "Everyone hides behind a mask; it just depends on how much the mask covers." My father repeated the words from earlier. "There is much to tell you, my dearest daughter, and little time to say it all."