"Stay away-" Kirara says.35Please respect copyright.PENANADwgQd0xAlI
"It's me"35Please respect copyright.PENANA1lbrwMjAOo
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.35Please respect copyright.PENANAFEogSHvQFc
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANA6NpKoj4HU3
35Please respect copyright.PENANAqxoA03Qq1X
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAKkrcAWsjJL
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.35Please respect copyright.PENANA9AcKVRqbdS
"Stay away! Stay away!!"35Please respect copyright.PENANAofI9xu5kqL
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAMDEHCG78gy
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."35Please respect copyright.PENANAn3jOCRQZu3
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.35Please respect copyright.PENANANncS89cVea
"I don't... I don't... remember..."35Please respect copyright.PENANADmvtBN0Ybx
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.35Please respect copyright.PENANAjJcQEAgNh6
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.35Please respect copyright.PENANAKfrpe7rM8X
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"35Please respect copyright.PENANAOkBWT2xgij
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."35Please respect copyright.PENANAz5Mpnj2a0q
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANANhWd8toLHZ
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAksdmEOYbrR
35Please respect copyright.PENANAsZi2FakfuA
35Please respect copyright.PENANAbmfR1tozl2
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAk9ApUS8j5s
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAvEmgs347Uc
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAtO8EPLUsGj
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.35Please respect copyright.PENANAFohlehCEjx
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.35Please respect copyright.PENANAzi0I4upcV1
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.35Please respect copyright.PENANA3n3XPj10w7
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.35Please respect copyright.PENANAybBh3hb2iv
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.35Please respect copyright.PENANAbqAA9piNdT
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAqdpwXpggVp
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAhLnphpjQai
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.35Please respect copyright.PENANAYzJXKiPwDe
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."35Please respect copyright.PENANAbWwmNcCP5M
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAS1Ilxnbjmt
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANApBvA8ujr4e
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.35Please respect copyright.PENANAt1IA1hgF6g
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAaLOkdWRvt3
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"35Please respect copyright.PENANAKaEFKEtcou
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".35Please respect copyright.PENANA3oOfYkskDS
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.35Please respect copyright.PENANAptVgGd5hoI
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.
35Please respect copyright.PENANAfw2OPsUAgV
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
35Please respect copyright.PENANAKeyb2fgQF6
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAWbsNR4ePWt
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"35Please respect copyright.PENANAc6fbKoWT0c
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."35Please respect copyright.PENANA6vg84HMfaZ
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."35Please respect copyright.PENANA9LQrWn9pBH
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 .35Please respect copyright.PENANAtZgHgYb0Fh
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."35Please respect copyright.PENANAIjDbltmTvb
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."35Please respect copyright.PENANAfSwMBBoAzv
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"35Please respect copyright.PENANA3UJaf5h3UJ
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."35Please respect copyright.PENANAo9e42zx4Vs
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.35Please respect copyright.PENANArHPaHGxNg2
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.35Please respect copyright.PENANAu83z8uir67
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"35Please respect copyright.PENANA0ioGHogobG
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.35Please respect copyright.PENANAjjx26WvC2a
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."35Please respect copyright.PENANAOdeXyI34K3
In a burst of frustration,35Please respect copyright.PENANAgigAMl6cGz
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.35Please respect copyright.PENANA0PMXiBcq30
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.35Please respect copyright.PENANALOefC0eNXP
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.35Please respect copyright.PENANAk6xe5sBkVX
"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.35Please respect copyright.PENANAmKaykAjm4m
35Please respect copyright.PENANANEcGESCXvz
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 172.70.127.130da2