"Stay away-" Kirara says.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheQMcGYi1O
"It's me"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9TZdW8owl
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv0bIoxtVu
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zlpeCxWwq
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHcn8mZ7QW
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRarRKK1JL6
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfQ4vK2MSs
"Stay away! Stay away!!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J5vxfTCzo
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMIECXSy65
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjic3tQOiwi
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd26g8A8HX
"I don't... I don't... remember..."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq8UBGw3PM
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5wLBnJvir
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrAr8NbTqI
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbNsoQEDT6
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeUDVbZULe
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoQ4VKlpDR
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVodA95Aix
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaaYQRKoZY
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZl9Q4UxAg
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsWblAa0sT
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPOci6xJc4
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYtuXFqRhW
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVO3SbjzN0
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOc1xS3BFk
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULIgklh10A
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4FW45njPp
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZnL9QCcKa
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCX3KwW4kW
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXOuANOivw
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbTflZfCyg
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsKLi3qaEd
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOeqcfXOAc
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebgEpJKRjP
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebLj71cTN9
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyGLEorafe
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOAhrCVZlD
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBjOzqXuAW
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACkM7BS8ML
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.
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8o6TgHoOo
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VbMoWiTbr
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwOkkcf0b3
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4FQ84273I
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtMYDjimST
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSEFkiOu0B
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 .108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nVF6YE2O5
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIDzet43MO
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfCCDVsfSu
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcuLtcou6o
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8w34MkpY0
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0plo8SvYd5
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ1ghinkeP
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBZ4dEbCE3
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAZwA95uI2
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmV958QvTv
In a burst of frustration,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cbQP9pklB
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgzalVQ6ho
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7TzBpnCQs
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYkDl0QzWd
"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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqUWsSXAm8
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY7ixTeHKY
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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