"Stay away-" Kirara says.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXRvaFvCxz
"It's me"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTKkqZm8kJ
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV8IOnsR5u
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdH50twyQt
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF9jDn24gz
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYIFC6jorS
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAmXLIJOIv
"Stay away! Stay away!!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8cn0MAcV8
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuljoVt9PF4
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM11huIDuw
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMXl3iNzuO
"I don't... I don't... remember..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzvtCWR3J9
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR3i1TULos
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLssjcyE3y
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbPgJTjzU0
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59pNBgY8k2
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UXIYboBqT
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLUHwuXuXh
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2djhUhXvH1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTr7s4eEUw
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXCmbJ2U1l
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9ckaFsdrX
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7G3RBroJV
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa889ocehOy
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32OLhOCEVd
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzJG3J6J0A
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGAL2Lzx2d
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5kohTbUO9
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVLi48PYOQ
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfHthldBlO
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi36WhxKUV
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUz0R0o61M
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bH7b8YPCh
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxd9Dao5nL
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNgR6Y7eS0
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08JSmqvzTn
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQZQvQF4kk
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ATjPC75tm
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTmuk2TYID
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.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zUfg1XUrb
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTji86Q4vEq
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI5xlamiQG
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaOvZVzZ6g
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBFpis0Um4
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlMZCzqbnp
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 .74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A5Bj3XwEE
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WIJYrUXK8
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwgPNJDvgt
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQHp1ouQgz
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0SGdAcw7g
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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f0r167Ftl
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCReYO57Cv
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIs8LKgl3R
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0A8jFu5AQ
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvi7JCcu4g
In a burst of frustration,74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRJBgFbKIA
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIAyUlTZ4j
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHxmD6PAdV
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnvOjdxotY
"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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig9OwpZrVO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWkSQiKN3A
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 15.158.61.8da2
