"Stay away-" Kirara says.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuncz9PBdc2
"It's me"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHt6CdrF92
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklkXKW7Lq4
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pcThm24iS
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl65Gch4FxD
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcVnx4dNpH
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTmt7IlNR0
"Stay away! Stay away!!"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWSSpPgOeU
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrqJHDrJ5i
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm34jZWT2G
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J1UOPdRIm
"I don't... I don't... remember..."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1SHLqoWFR
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB4NaJbGIK
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBty1r0eOuH
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR614BP8zZ
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PahGDBH5I
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqupDDWBS3R
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXoq3dBvSG
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPGMfBWZlh
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe05UgyFsNy
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4S2dAeEXU
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOQys3dxFA
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI6lQfFAUl
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCY71ZXQsP
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2eDOkIYWH
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwT7M1FLjs
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI7ySAWEsq
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbQdRwXcfh
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDANgVbkxb
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWJNseaMDt
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6yOFiDna8
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6txpncDrYA
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6twIEXFEj
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtb4gOrUBu
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sK97wfnfO
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoyR1MSkxE
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99O3PVlOrv
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcTHAo4zGd
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqYvH92f3W
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.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP48yglereY
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPbDVnd4nQ
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkDaDjdrwl
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFlPsQEKiv
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbActKktQNr
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 .66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViMoE5eeV4
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGcZrqqbiQ
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilFE0QhvsV
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnJUdR5bhR
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSIbT8D9zC
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2bdcTSvpL
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YCoRbJrkb
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFtRNx1OJU
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt5C4WoHsI
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNeYtGe8pq
In a burst of frustration,66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTnq6bGVxC
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oKpLQNbMQ
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qAmGxqfdF
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqBNG8p9ot
"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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rdMoYaUmK
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcQc8PzsRp
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
