"Stay away-" Kirara says.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSWBqpiLUg
"It's me"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuXJsupDw1
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNhjSTCWaK
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIZQ3hdI5e
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn3ajWGp8w
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJGKzlQDya
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Nyxv83UB
"Stay away! Stay away!!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJlseTDwHv
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRrNAY7ipY
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmFjn3hVuY
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69tBh5Y6E5
"I don't... I don't... remember..."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YI2dQYBcn
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3XlNaUfzE
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ueoJocNEu
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00nHcCWrdG
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tX28xg7un
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWkvq9TfIN
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BnlKfOedQ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExXJ5Td6Md
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzlqbbAMEP
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGFMzkS2g3
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtkOU4gbHc
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4D7VfQZ7H
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VBCvJjuGZ
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHVmrLLVlu
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwoh4EzR6y
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlMZscSrAE
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFDVLYXf72
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNhOf43NIH
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDtO0oIuwS
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL8cRu2oFk
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZZQKumYHc
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdsgjDKhcS
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrtESkMs0L
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlYSWdrc9A
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPC3eoTuc2
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOriS6dBoz
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMobQ3scAF
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUkteEgs6i
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.
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEqhaZSEyg
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj0fM9HB3Z
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV1Xy14bZU
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfSaegnl4N
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzywKPlsDVy
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnlXgUgJD9
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 .125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB7CsVGvqs
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwBsyDhXNh
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OHEtcYFAh
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qwREKF3LZ
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa2cAf8TNA
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKOekm2ZlP
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh6S3WfiEu
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh435NkiQsj
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8p72cQiFT
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrZBnaKTCP
In a burst of frustration,125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdrX8sEcJa
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQSHzKte6e
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvmuzMbRGH
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgl0n1XkNJ
"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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr50GZ7F0m
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx74rIVMndN
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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