"Stay away-" Kirara says.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYmiThpJuj
"It's me"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIR5dKGtHD
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzNbmuoAEh
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrgJZncOBN
115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOOubWlhCc
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X7SMQ12SB
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1NaDpb4dA
"Stay away! Stay away!!"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmir9yP5yhY
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2DwSbzm8z
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nacnTesOb
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoXQz1USg1
"I don't... I don't... remember..."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLcY3IoQv6
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRGC3uQhci
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p0JAtVoSw
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fAQhDiZFQ
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qh1L8OYLq
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirVFqdi4wg
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qfd5UIjVZ
115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlk1mbNPGw
115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi0axZZUBy
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKfDSUbKbL
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jkF0RGx07
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tj0BNpw4U
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBCW14VHyp
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YoiwMvo77
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFTv76Przq
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD2MAXEg2a
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKi5hpSPW7
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrFIj305Cg
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptU8PPXxIP
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs8CKQZCUN
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4VlMfEAaN
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuOdGBdRRA
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwl0M8B7Ol
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nnIpDRyKd
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFenRhGZewC
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS4i6BHbgy
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG39mwLUKRD
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbM1W0u6C5
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.
115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlgjWPevkp
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OHBfn8XdI
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYedzBDeRrD
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQZP2J1Gmd
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1An9uZ05N
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZelyuDZlD
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 .115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ119wOdMPve
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB26d93c2D
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroQqdE1Mq7
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSliNy9DxH
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq70cBRsP6
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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xYlG6oKrO
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH9jyLSp0o
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQVywSDUFO
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEzFvrcTzy
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid0DYVwYXR
In a burst of frustration,115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGJBAI76TK
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ySlcJrpX4
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RVfR7GsdY
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfF5QLs5IU
"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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwGJY04toS
115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uy1r33lAu
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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