"Stay away-" Kirara says.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVrPbj46Io
"It's me"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwhdd6nnPI
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4CSWOKw5c
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERLxVoLBjM
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHnobMHDyK
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YSjRyAHVt
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCRdAkRPQ9
"Stay away! Stay away!!"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rMsC2xWNc
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfhICrXWNp
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjNouH8xcg
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYwnTsQe56
"I don't... I don't... remember..."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWxLaEXWgV
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTvDnw3iFp
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOcxuc8OUk
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgygeFpGEN8
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuOGePvRly
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpSjqg3riK
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucF6YV66Vr
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLk6CQkCsR
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEubhJeMVSF
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa0LMYx209
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o1a6Hh2kf
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOILmB0LUw
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcFFPi397F
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHGta6OU3s
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbmpgPxMES
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQauS5mgPU
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNXKb89v6J
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFAkUfM9ov
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcABpjmPy9W
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84AvyTXyDk
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qyXQX4gx1
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzlxefMJBC
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxXh4FeSol
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEeTWlZzO3
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UPfPmGoO0
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcV6ps7Y7d
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlj2GWRnFN
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP4nLYu5Xq
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.
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKv9YFvlJr
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lWsTAzYRk
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXhSpNUiX1
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd98sWPUPdA
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiuYEdaZRe
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKlH8RrW9w
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 .114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHrD5fUtWY
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa22cx2fEJ3
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZHmiFeLXl
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsaa2FeV6O
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmAhQ2mgIg
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4iYdioNPZ
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADtSozzNuG
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4kg9CbDil
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8k7NZwwcE
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoYlESebup
In a burst of frustration,114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB2RCk19Vs
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyx9UwpgBp
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZGzcMVVz7
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT29Wbpd7Xd
"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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaIhHtcVgA
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKrrfTNdbZ
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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