"Stay away-" Kirara says.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanWsUpHiiP
"It's me"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpZ6li6bqr
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bU36XsSKR
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOVSNiNI8P
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBN1bld7FS
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfFcwFGp4z
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG5w9zHrAK
"Stay away! Stay away!!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQzjWeB1xQ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS6420SD5q
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr7crULCyR
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrchQMOhK7P
"I don't... I don't... remember..."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNvJGeYP8j
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0s5ODvmjL
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY4GkXZtui
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJuz93ULJh
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX1Mn2sJQS
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGqivGH90x
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7CRqGoR2j
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QW3T7hTlu
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu756Z0Yfwf
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWmyxCJvq8
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8oE6Rh1wP
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN1e7hk1yf
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlQJrhdHf8
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KsF2SKNzH
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFACEouWOt
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVGZ8bvZ0W
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAlKO4Q3t8
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJAy1ZRDCO
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0O3KgSBT3
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhxj19EdTl
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepUsr3Pgw9
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66ayVxnarJ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb533tMFBP1
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzXBRfqS6A
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvX4hdj8Zr
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEzojuPdot
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oRBFit6MK
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hGJncPbvi
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.
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnYaG5z2Qf
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1COTHbyfHJ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSo1te3umd
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkO0XlKYfz
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpzLhtQxmo
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnovPI6DZQx
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 .61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5aA1zW4Aj
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvAsQCPo4n
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5oFYiOQ5S
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Doeh0rUzt
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiyabruTBC
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNxnBgxf1R
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc53byAwkQc
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIpHGf9ChI
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy89FErlyB9
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0hkcfPtFj
In a burst of frustration,61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQCiCbTMuY
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPI7V3dZrI
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ewsifGE6Q
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMVBJTEK2Q
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXiXFfHrZ6
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpo4IpuMRD
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 18.68.41.175da2
