"Stay away-" Kirara says.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgHjOJXeMV
"It's me"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBlRBi5lV8
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N4MbzCwJV
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhH1QXSQCN
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EewW6YBpG
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM1UZIpA8F
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXAXSsFBWx
"Stay away! Stay away!!"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucQehnV5ry
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHdLWot2cD
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTfz65yaLz
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvrqjQJBmh
"I don't... I don't... remember..."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c7EmeC0Eo
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yxk0fOb4h
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4bfU3UBx0
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qszU3v2uI
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbrkXJ202I
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5YEggUZ5r
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8SnzmBwoN
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEDySAuaAk
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicRByc7Doy
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF39KTdy7OS
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYxGKcFb9a
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemm6tQWbmV
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtN8pvOLV8
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc2zd5Zlkd
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7OirvfzP9
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiCwt4x5yk
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2eOMoRRmg
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODBrz7gilj
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQEaEKWFFy
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdvydpIVZj
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENdzB4HB18
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKLtIiGUMx
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5ZNkhLxoC
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Athapsg7d
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZXRyi258f
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9ahSJFjK6
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8ZiAMnbru
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx8JzWP5tR
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.
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlrTsZfzPC
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kVZPmwHge
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQcpsjn4Dj
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVSchAVAz4
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunTV6k7NmF
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLolw5ATG0n
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 .119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGOp0JO7mH
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHkWQ1ESjh
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqITr8MG1W
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD6h8HitVm
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUVLpUmAiV
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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDV73SanDi
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfHO5aFwR3
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56nA0TMRpY
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgel7wIpOL
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgzpKGTCiG
In a burst of frustration,119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJv23huXJL
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNQuYNieNE
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOB8eKLDFo
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxW46zrkst
"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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9aumtmowl
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExlbih7IIA
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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