"Stay away-" Kirara says.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQoxEVPm0F
"It's me"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmCD0w0tpc
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L2cmZxZKi
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2AJX7boFZ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC0UTNr4qU
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpCz9e0RNY
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k6kacHx4l
"Stay away! Stay away!!"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6T5JWBgYM
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibFUQEP0n9
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEbN2NLndc
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpqPTqQAFV
"I don't... I don't... remember..."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNTTf7GvNg
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6l6gKUHJl
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNkLor293U
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zmE3RI8PJ
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB54N66CHq
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjFHuAeym2
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtxwRYRnYz
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhniHc9yal
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡternXMSldI
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gbprRNdEF
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv0WKkp1mJ
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u4O9LJJEZ
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkQhPBtrZb
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHSkvTl3cE
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH11TYimcb
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AtFsKeJ6F
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOt5rzedhM
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tp8LDiim6
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPYy2lX0hZ
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QrSD7VtaF
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWIcexdZBS
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9dFGQssQK
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5skvZrCZrN
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRv25sx4t1
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMilIHVKFlG
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD6UmxaM3N
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXBeqjySs4
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqs6i0VRyb
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.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIamo1GEmTi
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKmWIWTTHQ
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ5QOwYB5u
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUcuFKeAio
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqhnjTAfAn
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte2kAnXVw1
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 .138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfhn6WvPB3
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL177gwg4Mm
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7aGSAf1KM
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeBpvPvtEJ
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7dGyCYbxG
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQuVnzuZCx
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSSmcPLaTX
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegeNAv2WRX
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAZd6i7PlE
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSUnjeXJsT
In a burst of frustration,138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUwPCNrJh6
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dthOaFXm0
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75aeojfkuQ
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqSbL0XSfE
"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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzg8NICEIR
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF42Jf86CKx
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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