"Stay away-" Kirara says.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDHAiVA8zD
"It's me"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakxA5khrI3
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpBTURMgyg
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh6JWrRWKD
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJBkk2V6Uf
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKDvs92XlA
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiSzBv9pir
"Stay away! Stay away!!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKduVDu2JP
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdvA3DvcJl
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWalWSYBft
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFa845L4k6
"I don't... I don't... remember..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnD4JCZpei
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1H6DAcRPh
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdW5JappUd
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdcQGN8vID
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAVaQwJxQt
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlzGlHBphO
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6G7PFGbr3
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJKkYzU4T6
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTJ9gtR1ii
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5KwBZg058
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDbnzslpX2
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxpQsqlHpU
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjACvezCe24
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH4Qobb9eP
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyAEeqQ3kZ
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwWQsYYbv9
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTjYh6CXn5
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeRHahxfbT
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWdPmVZWsH
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRTK4h9Yix
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtitJOsyhJs
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv0NL5352k
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7y6ASTRlw
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N9heaMtMP
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLKHpvAIPA
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjCoVGXlPI
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQf7A8Bz8b
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC72VBjH72z
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.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60ctKk0PSd
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDowyQf5Gef
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVepikkVIRw
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTebGOhJpe
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZDXNGm8XZ
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2XjHt89w1
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 .144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmgubggohK
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALNFHWQorO
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8JvmugUIi
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJqepEiq2p
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaS8PVvhZ4
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm3yL7Y81d
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW59DJQDg5S
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRes1tN5iT
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnnaCss0IG
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x8M1M06mu
In a burst of frustration,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1B33T2Lzl
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxVnESIMf2
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6svUtfvgaw
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP1oAeJRAd
"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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJVNzbMvPY
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10UUQBt0At
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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