"Stay away-" Kirara says.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL7HB1PiOq
"It's me"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DahHl2Q8l
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo1JzFy0cZ
Having found familiar comfort, the girls huddle together, crouch down, and begin to weep. As if with ill intensions, the howling wind intensifies rustling through the forest.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBAsHm8rCJ
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKgArR5yPT
Several days have passed. At the center of the home, Makoto stokes the fire under the hanging pot as it starts to boil. In a separate area, Chizue sleeps peacefully, breathing slow and steady while Okimi hums a soothing melody and softly brushes out her daughter's hair.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q8KJwDiqp
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA7i9in9rU
"Stay away! Stay away!!"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNtot7PXJA
Alarmed, Makoto drops his cup of tea. Abruptly, Okimi stops stirring a pot of stew. Swiftly, both rush towards Chizue. As soon as she sees her parents, her expression of fear evaporates. Chizue expels a misplaced chuckle. Skillfully, Okimi moves to her daughter - and warmly hugs her. Quietly, Makoto sits close by. Tenderly, Okimi strokes her head while Chizue lightly releases tears of joy.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2axlp06b1
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kfz8B94cL
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0dFwCHDXE
"I don't... I don't... remember..."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXun97bmsur
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3sDdD52qz
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnbxuPv8W2
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVn080ADAa
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r0cmZ8DH9
Before proposing to Okimi, Makoto spent countless hours building the humble abode then he presented it to her the following fall as a surprise. In expectation of wanting to have two children, a girl and a boy, he spent the additional time to build a couple additional rooms. Within the forest, the home was situated within an area on the top of a hill about a twenty-five minutes walk from town. After getting married, he cleared an area and established a couple small fields. Lastly, he set up garden in front of the home.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXxBkFnHt2
Beneath the gray sky, Chizue diligently helps pull the weeds from the family's personal garden. In the distance, Makoto tills the furthest field, toiling away. Okimi walks towards the family's garden bearing a pail of water. Suddenly, Chizue jerks, then throws up before finally collapsing to the ground. The pail crashes to the ground spilling its contents.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjoSBBuMyV
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvcoSTk5mC
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOVIGIcXxG
With a smile growing wicked, the evil presence beneath its breath whispers, "No. He won't do anything!" as sharp claws bear down like a guillotines.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KOtnGSDDm
An ethereal shield forms; two small female hands hold it up; powerful claws fall upon the shield; eyes squint; Sparks fly; teeth clench; feet slide back; bones crack; claws screech off the shield.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhW7Lj75VG
As her leg muscles give out, Chizue collapses to a knee while tightly holding the translucent shield overhead, her small hands trembling. Her body shakes with exertion.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj5BuEeTKL
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAmdov76qY
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKKFPM6gdL
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOqUtNJlkd
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H1if4pY2M
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3PN3KZznC
Faintly, the first rays of sunlight push through the darkness. As songs of the birds return to the forest, the sun makes its triumphant return.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2XOnwwVtn
Breathing laboriously, Chizue notices her torn clothes, and she is cut deeply in the side. Small hands move to her side and begin to glow as they mend her wound. After a minute, the bleeding stops.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PDEAb0Opl
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfgundfAFr
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbSgrnLkPf
Chizue attempts to stand, but falls back down with an agonizing scream, followed by frenzied breathing and a period of deep silence. She grunts with much effort as she drags herself to Akiko and heals her. Then, with even more determination, Chizue crawls over to Kirara and starts healing her as well. Finally, she takes a deep breath before looking down at her lower half.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrAI5iOpAr
Arms and hands outstretch; small hands glow; hands struggle to keep steady; bones and flesh begin to mend; sweat pours down her brow; teeth tighten; breathing intensifies; painfully a body contorts then falls over.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy3h1ld5u3
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzz4n89bVL
Chizue rouses. Beads of sweat run down her face as she maneuvers to her feet. She strains to create a clear floating platform. Then with effort, she carefully places Akiko then Kirara upon it. As she trudges up the steep path, the floating barrier follows. The path soon reaches a summit and ends at a clearing. Several minutes later, Chizue stops. Carefully, she takes the girls off the levitating plate gently placing them on soft grass.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jiKf3eTxj
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHORpz7lU0
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEboPswqLT
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou0aIhLl4G
Chizue sits down with the head of each girl comfortably resting on her lap. She strokes their heads with a gentle hand; Kirara is to her left and Akiko is to her right. Drooping her head, water flows down Chizue's cheeks.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEekqTS8Bs
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AF6xY3WXD
Okimi takes Chizue to Miu, a short-haired young lady about Okimi's age. Miu takes her time examining Chizue then abruptly stops. Calmly, yet seriously Miu whispers some words into Okimi's left ear making her jump a little. Okimi's eyes open widely.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojapvyB6J7
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDV8u7RHHR
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lIHIaZAzS
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Zs3NTvv65
Okimi and Chizue stand. Okimi holds Chizue's left hand with her right.
As they start walking out, Miu hands a sealed gourd to Okimi .182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACPSR4zJJR
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7vBwHBDvE
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJCv9rkuJr
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK8DXAkXYZ
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5HBHr6PPO
Okimi is lost in thought. Chizue's stomach suddenly churns, and throws up once more. Okimi spots unwell Chizue who is about to collapse, and swiftly reaches out to catch her falling figure.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aV4kVgyy7
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalu99WdURU
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QboXt6Cw7
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACIgbYc6bK
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafQBVMPGxv
In a burst of frustration,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpOa9YxxBa
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DLTVfU912
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwAcoo9ua4
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgDbEpi9tA
"Yes...I know..." responds Makoto relaxing his clenched fist. With his head forward, Makoto sits gently holding Okimi's hand. Okimi's thumb caresses the top of Makoto's hand.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwoSmuuPUv
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGpymGlo4J
Ominous sounds emanate from the edge of the clearing. With some effort, Chizue lifts her tear-streaked face still wiping water away from her eyes. Men have encircled her and the sleeping girls.
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