"Stay away-" Kirara says.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXDqLrceaA
"It's me"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxeoJ7YcSx
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpTBAnrHZc
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6trhws6pRK
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK7PjB0iOl
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yBx08Ti5w
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4S0qpDaqC
"Stay away! Stay away!!"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78AEng7e3L
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZvYt40BZF
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZc71Y0kpn
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XhVyMhVct
"I don't... I don't... remember..."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAviO0F9Pa
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzI5cEtk4v
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9r97PmcG6
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY46r7boum3
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYCipAUnXH
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQnl0xGtiN
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOlTqMyejd
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrm1m8sZKF
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3w618im35
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQilcmlDx0d
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M0nuYxlF0
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MJQW6XE9P
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYfkNixy69
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbjeOg3ij5
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChp7HwpjV3
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0UHSuJR55
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOav3UQRIRW
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54FklbkYsk
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXA2G0hBKxa
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIxZdr3hpA
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBHDN0lUAi
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz7BcGQDOs
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FgwSaqhqi
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXaq9rouFd
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaRHT16m0a
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO3OcHdoEz
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYsi5G1Q4B
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdJGY9cb6z
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.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmBiZro9td
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKQAEqIdyI
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XpFG5vEmX
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs0LCrQUQg
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRpFFHsG0H
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKFcvXMmNc
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 .116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfBEz0fGKz
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJz9CDcRhP
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIFv4WEs2V
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZg1LcmJRf
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfubSkiNcx
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab9DIAJKnn
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rzK7mY12E
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCYnUSxF7k
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwui65HMBF
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCHNeyMENW
In a burst of frustration,116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLxd7iezUj
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuvGKN6H0y
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6lFTpOA7u
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6YTc5mmxF
"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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQBurenK3v
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWRG2PMOJc
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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