"Stay away-" Kirara says.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMhi86TznJ
"It's me"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1DFJsnpUT
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdLnH3wajY
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVEObgpT3p
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe8XEXUw2x
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUpBFet1vS
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6hv0cgaFU
"Stay away! Stay away!!"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUltgFe13p
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOupeJ8DWnA
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz1nMjWJxs
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWghWz2LFD
"I don't... I don't... remember..."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqOzByiZ90
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUlU12tvsL
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIUABZGHDO
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEy0vzgx9n
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojWc5jSws0
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzVSCL6Stt
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T33ynlgfx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvnL4aMzwu
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4cr91t0hh
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ptUCaTevL
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nLvBozNOz
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHOLtNnWqP
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtE0SJPbkl
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckVU1cPXYy
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurQ9IznkkJ
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWquL1lTJhb
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9dSiTBXyj
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTrzn7N7p7
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZry3A3iPX
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3y6M8clMM
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jVeb1T8Jm
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9RNSK3BW0
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnUALGLgt9
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC30rTUCpE
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8KgRLKBeC
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WMuYPrKtW
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmSRrUNK1q
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUHxpUWj0s
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.
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RDtYg06hX
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs6hbjx857
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6saKzgiw2
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A5RfYXTZQ
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNHCF7YanO
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LwnlrwTWz
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 .82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioYTAeDh3r
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp61YMSVir1
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiIlNicvEd
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1OhAuqRLN
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA0Q8SxyPp
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL0fKkbsuc
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7BxaCpEF9
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkvBskhLur
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8sEFyS6BY
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3n7NKQ8tM
In a burst of frustration,82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReUf8VRidx
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIxdTjLlZH
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FezT3paO8
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1rSVgK60O
"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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTLTsBqxl0
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE9rbY5pDu
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.
ns 15.158.61.40da2
