"Stay away-" Kirara says.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7JRFCW6eu
"It's me"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EBXxfrTLs
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbvck33TUf
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwmIKvZilp
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaP5uIPJJE
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52L5B8nvxD
"Stay away! Stay away!!"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8oJK5fcLp
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjjBJswsnJ
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSO8RpYTxH
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTHSptzpUH
"I don't... I don't... remember..."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zykDr9yRZ
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf8c2hlEf2
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuKkmZQNqd
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSS4wmFfb0
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXbsxN6zwr
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPo4QSs4kaT
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡul4ti4rbfv
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47dThcy5Qq
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcPRDTKEER
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4SwCzwKRW
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9mb8dCiIv
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEntZwzg8I
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIVVxKN5Pt
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vm7J9V8qN
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaY2Ys4MvI
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEh39XAbwB
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo6Lk2Xvgr
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcxLR5x4dA
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtMxe6WZB1
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1Mte69CrB
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TJsEu0LX4
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOG3RmJCau
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6GTL5s58c
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzo4b7HMCD
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFqJYhLsGR
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q3skDdQu5
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP4F4jK31y
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57XE0yRBXr
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpCCkzXWqN
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkihFC67HNp
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CbX4cUP2F
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 .75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTdLFcV0V5
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqreJALQneo
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gz6uClN6U
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoAuT2DyZW
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx3l4iQz7A
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOsUwGQKI5
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ic6z2AM0h
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLLP8fN8rP
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk192SmSrco
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWCcu3Jk7g
In a burst of frustration,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cjvW9x9dX
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9liEmh77lI
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsaaLR0x6i
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDtacQsC1C
"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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu4XDMvPxW
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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 15.158.61.51da2
