"Stay away-" Kirara says.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lgTQaYCvC
"It's me"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA21ZakTgt
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ674kEomQlL
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsIZBHZrDz
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78oLugcJCk
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15RiI6huQj
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU6WxaakAy
"Stay away! Stay away!!"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscswrgVbby
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTuk8z61Rk
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcJcY3CU1n
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z6E1TXny1
"I don't... I don't... remember..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyv7eN7saN
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHt07AMhF2
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jdNf0i2a7
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMifMdVmxy
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRM4tO3xpv
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjkUjTIdgP
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYWmiC5Jjl
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zExcaMCFx
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaED5nQVfZN
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBiea0kEmK
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82Vw1TTNKH
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA7H6UW4sM
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwfnflttgL
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFK2K3oYxi
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Tq8FF6AA
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGeiCMd8uO
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxPwrZsLdr
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwotkNL0oC
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F7UxTVjaw
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEKjaBwOYW
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltayxFjNLg
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRTcdZICUM
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtKHiN0Fkk
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDa92Kdo3a
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiBfX076aB
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyAZAJtOV7
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLh7Dy4wt6
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6GjXUZJlp
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrl7rcnRx3
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbEWLEBiyg
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsPfWvdP6k
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf6nceJaGl
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuzweoBInW
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm68hu36Oil
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 .188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzvgJxlnjS
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwgjHWW7su
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoAcq5gccr
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK15GPXhoN
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNhanxPd6x
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn9RXOwIwb
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfM3AbLlAw
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2bryb4ofT
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBuZBJe4JG
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69cmizI8rY
In a burst of frustration,188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0p0oliEf0
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDxT69XmyM
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RAPYAiZB5
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmlWiZclC4
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmmK3gRc7C
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFMZLnbTHs
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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