"Stay away-" Kirara says.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4bWYgZ2Qv
"It's me"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gyKX5uw0T
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSef2J7saLI
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24VWJZumXc
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eyvSwdV08
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwpoM3EUpd
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD6UpGoWU8
"Stay away! Stay away!!"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5WjZimmaj
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD0f5xYo6B
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxWt98lBJQ
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa3A7KNYg0
"I don't... I don't... remember..."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ04KKue5E
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l043dAc0b
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBhY1HgUOQ
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvpRpDB7CY
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwUi1WBl8B
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt1aNc670I
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8rPpaXBVs
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBkHPLYFOB
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5CrBYgNOf
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL9r2kfUTL
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKCPgZ6oix
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINC5kzNgvu
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGcdibV7sa
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AHbDuIsWW
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtxwtrG9aB
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvyDfp5eTQ
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWiu9FnLLZ
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CVfOOeVVh
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2sopF4YwJ
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZyJaRp7zu
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0YrvFzs0Q
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcmAN9f8ap
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoaxCe3l46
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsyHGs8uSl
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CgstIB6fB
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREAOgZB9MJ
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgTKRbAN6Y
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQdIO6FjzN
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.
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCWq2hbaf5
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqMFKDHQ6v
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3rgsgQgAm
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ6Roj70PP
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOc6qaEyLB
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs2YJXgtlv
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 .104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XcZfWLqfj
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBzZNQGnZi
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8E3OL878q
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWFbVQ1pHc
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09mtisMsQT
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkQ14RyYCL
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmykdH6xgXL
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN6z7buKB6
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufR79rZphg
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SNhn1I0pb
In a burst of frustration,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTQvSWxuYi
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1OU0qkuEz
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqhV2QFEt7
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJapmVgTFl
"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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDEfSW2j6z
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AHFFq3FWi
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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