"Stay away-" Kirara says.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW3aMP6f2B
"It's me"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0phq3t2kq
"Huh... Aki-chan?" Kirara responds.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqXsOuyoGb
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P6tDzRWNN
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItUFaXwtot
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5ImWFf0mO
On the twelfth day, Chizue gradually opens her eyes - and springs back into a corner, shaking. She remains there terrified.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCXq4Uvqor
"Stay away! Stay away!!"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPypydAjfWF
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6TQ0esTNz
"Dear, you're safe now"
"Your father and I are here."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuXRP2vDuV
Chizue starts to jitter then shake.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHIsKdzHXI
"I don't... I don't... remember..."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxHUZYNZQU
Okimi grabs her tighter and rests her head on hers.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBpIwZzxSl
Several weeks pass and Chizue's energy has returned being back to her cheery self.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDegdxTklXU
From a sitting position, Chizue looks up and says, "Mama, I feel better."
"Can I help you in the garden?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qv07CAlnI
Okimi turns, pauses, then responds "Yes -thank you dear."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnQxmd6w9q
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMlqXv98bR
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLoV0OBJTU
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW40FXNGYhR
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X2qGB5CiE
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyKUA1K77c
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSrHbAUgfF
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtj58M5ABx
Teary eyes spot; claws descend; the raven-haired girl braces.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqxZHWC2kr
Abruptly, a burst of energy cuts through the evil presence, first the hands, then the arms, and finally the legs.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pxuc1IPoW
"Weak!" resounds in the forest as the evil presence fades away turning into dust.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYCSPtou4A
As the shield dematerializes, Chizue drops to her rear, then to her side.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx4gc4HL9K
Abruptly, the wind dissipates while the mist retreats.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo1OUnIvYs
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gDaBEhkiI
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtVfzFOm9w
Eyes look around; two girls lay face down.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqdTfeW3rM
"Aki-chan... Ki-chan..."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoqAokg3v9
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRmEJROqD5
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yo11gbbFV
Three bodies lie on the forest floor. Slowly, the sun rises to its highest point and a warm wind passes through.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOTjCNWhDF
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg215dkqaW4
Kirara rouses to a half awake state, "Ma...?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFpTWhzmSF
Naturally, Chizue comforts, "Shhh..Now, sleep".170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHj6cMa8IA
Chizue rubs her head a couple times as Kirara shuts her eyes once more.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ3fOmbSQ6
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISPVHV3o0P
Chizue remembers a sinister voice saying, "I won't let them ever touch you."
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1BBEAqAju
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfcGso2uoZ
"No, no....." then turns her head towards Miu in disbelief "Are you sure??"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThS62q6th4
Lips quivering, "Please, please don't tell anyone."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTbTxj20Sb
Miu pats Okimi on her left shoulder, "I've known you for so long, so don't worry."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB5UvRNtWP
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 .170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGXii1m5ic
"Give her some in the morning and evening."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and avoids the sun."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSBw5n7J6q
Okimi nods, "Thank you, Miu."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMctkSQZYl
Walking back Chizue looks up at Okimi, "Am I sick, Mama?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Kv7CBAVN
Okimi sprouts a smile then responds, "Nothing a little medicine can't take care of....."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y3WryLt2s
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH3unwQWyh
At home, Chizue sleeps tranquilly. Wildly, a pottery cup smashes against the wall of the house shattering into shards.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Oj9jnO697
"I knew you should have never gone to her!"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl87ilTSfec
"That woman is a quack" says Makoto.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbzUIf6EOD
"Calm down Dear," Okimi says. "You know Miu would never lie to me."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkZuYyPpTu
In a burst of frustration,170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0NV0jrtms
"No one can know."
"We'll be outcasts!" responds Makoto.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4MWwACOUO
"Please, focus on taking care of our daughter", Okimi replies.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O0AuCH8L1
Makoto looks frustrated and distraught. Okimi tenderly rubs her husband's back.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVB5Si9a2z
"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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOm7cfhO1E
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJTYFvAlXo
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.
ns216.73.216.197da2
