"Stay away-" Kirara says.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DjfQri5Fy
"It's me"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjitV6fvIq
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRajcjGQEt
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYlcG9q710
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmVwXmh5Xw
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6mvGwR3JZ
"Stay away! Stay away!!"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufHfsbElfv
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS7pe8odjj
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMnkT2pEbD
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDQDpyR00i
"I don't... I don't... remember..."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzcAK2ufvh
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GeStjMxCy
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBQOIamA5x
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw3jME71Bd
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFn8fxoqUf
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs3tskoBSc
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73xulTyhn5
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIkwmNtk7n
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UDeb9tKcA
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbbeVYXqHQ
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNXoZ2uZN9
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hlLNH7Ei1
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0xkWb0vAH
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXFdemzxiM
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv9zKAgY78
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiDNSqGhrX
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c7g4TeQLg
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYQTmZMNwl
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmXX096wji
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX3bWYtDVl
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJZOobsQDh
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFjWpUqA9A
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX23cWr7ig
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1CywQpiv2
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf4EQTgPBM
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QuzPxdIxR
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvLsU2G5PQ
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmzwfGqp9p
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.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMQfnSySoo
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77srj5Mkaz
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWR3MelUAa
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy3N2XWHzj
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PVLZPctdJ
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 .180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Zulg8jmd
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGXGIoGf6x
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iENR8Qo5j
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sT3sA828U
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOXJNHkBAo
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2p5xMT4pu
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGwfwC4okj
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QK01QQmj8
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqSKFPRGvk
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTbBGWbfzk
In a burst of frustration,180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj2WlZ2Y3A
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yqDh0SrfP
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMD1ZuGGiM
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h1uoJjrQq
"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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpr6iylxeF
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO6C5lb0DZ
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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