"Stay away-" Kirara says.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw85r3fdq0x
"It's me"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugyQSwU6qS
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzr4IVk84t
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9UkyDv9Rh
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0fYPkXIXm
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZDTQOCdeB
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBimrmITht
"Stay away! Stay away!!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWpLeVEcF8
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudlKqgYcYA
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTmkwr9D2f
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmmpyWmlMR
"I don't... I don't... remember..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5lUVZmHr5
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqGoaRM2YY
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ653LhswWHN
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17PAGjBWT6
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFFPJZrFIB
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSOs8jupvx
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwrQSKTZdY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJATUwwVICi
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepch3PSmYB
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtUPXeCRlI
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMaTQhjAEn
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQSaMKMGo1
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5kAKszJIO
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WrWJCUBuU
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFSPX5f9i4
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsevoIHzRr
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnvWaw32D4
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdrksP6RQj
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR3d2mvq1T
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupRNYMqson
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQSW09RYcc
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAl7IBsxl7
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaJ7tzpnav
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qAH0WuBrk
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN3usXjKK8
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOtAOsxX0A
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWcY1KzkNw
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ye3DUmTjN
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.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ERgHlnOoD
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhkSgqG4rg
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4unbpawDQ2
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgpOmJvffi
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kQd7quzGN
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z1DMregrB
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 .139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyaq1WGkdq
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuFpyPGsiP
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZ5Dcz8amX
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFLXhambGy
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7CMVQeQGS
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7VdT0pbj0
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMyNIZnYvT
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHiuGprizY
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uoiOtkj9d
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq0iiTwD9V
In a burst of frustration,139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7pUWa7abJ
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZstRbbJSW
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QIwXGmbDw
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9kieDWAFB
"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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbIt3Ggl0G
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64TdWKYreC
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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