"Stay away-" Kirara says.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4b2NOaGNB
"It's me"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXxkh3ANBx
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvmAYqdFch
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62EmRHkLDE
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX5XXEhTN2
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDlVevGV39
"Stay away! Stay away!!"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenqDmAIbp4
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv76FXV7Ca
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYoXJOUF31
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GF9fWasYc
"I don't... I don't... remember..."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUxVyoI9O0
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UGDVQotEg
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ9IbaP1X7
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVooKGCthOB
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCshiLOF9h
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmYZlrtgeN
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLXeHbdGga
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UI4ZRUCr1
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfbXp5jdwx
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBW6RbOVzt
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1r834Ej8j
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLIthwG06V
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSghGWK7A7
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XvWt5VhI9
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5srlL8vKWV
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6diDTUgSuW
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEZTpscYmy
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t4zV65DaQ
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvtNt7AbPK
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoxuv1KSUm
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlE6ED3rh6
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QqfBNkikC
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuV0v2kbZm
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSCXnT50Es
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F9qwafKtk
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl3YBwXSQq
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.
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL4kTpnpTG
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5tRhmtob6
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYkNtztVcr
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY48DrfkKOD
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 .105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39QrP2D9aj
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1F8HJnncw
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wb0N7VzHC
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOC4mMJd4z
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB7oIFciGi
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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYDX3vxWxL
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnVfMquUkk
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSDeqZb2z0
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnICSBsnu3
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ057rs6vG90
In a burst of frustration,105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ0I0MtQn6
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcGlv0CD8W
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHskIyyYvc
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDMH1KFLFE
"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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sIIRH4vvN
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjnJNu8pHj
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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