I saw that the wound on Mitsuko's arm had completely healed.
Miyako forced a smile and said, "Maybe it's just that Mitsuko has a good physique, but that doesn't mean Mitsuko has become a demon."
Kenichi shook his head and said, "No matter how good a person's physical condition is, or how small the wound is, it is impossible for them to recover in just a few minutes. This is beyond the recovery speed that humans can achieve. We will know once it gets light."
Looking at the sleeping Mitsuko, Miyako was overcome with grief. Her hand trembled as she stroked Mitsuko's cheek: "Why? We only wanted to live a peaceful life. We've never done anything wrong in our lives. Sōta died on the battlefield, and now even Mitsuko..."
Outside the window.
The morning sun was gradually rising, and sunlight streamed in through the window.
Mitsuko, exposed to the sunlight, suddenly awoke, a sizzling sound coming from her skin.
Unable to bear the pain, Mitsuko hurriedly hid under the bed, avoiding the sunlight.
"Father, Mother, what happened? Why does the sunlight hurt so much on my skin?"
Miyako's tears were already flowing uncontrollably.
Kenichi, who was also heartbroken, held the weeping Miyako in his arms and silently comforted her.
Seeing that his parents didn't answer him, Mitsuko poked his head out from under the bed.
Seeing the two crying, Mitsuko wanted to come out, but she was afraid to because she would feel intense pain when exposed to sunlight.
"Father, Mother, what happened? Why are you crying?"
Miyako wiped away her tears, then got up and covered the window with a black cloth to keep the sunlight out.
Without the sunlight, Mitsuko crawled out from under the bed, nestled in Miyako's arms, and reached out her small hand to wipe away Miyako's tears: "Mother, why are you and Father crying?"
Miyako gently comforted him, "It's alright, Mitsuko. Your father and I have some things we want to talk about. Stay in your room and don't come out."
After placing Mitsuko on the bed, Miyako and Kenichi went outside.
"Kenichi, shall we take Mitsuko to see a doctor? Maybe Mitsuko is just sick, and what if she can be cured?" Miyako pleaded, clutching Kenichi's clothes.
Kenichi grabbed Miyako's hand and said seriously, "Miyako, we can't take Mitsuko to see a doctor. If people find out that Mitsuko has become a demon, then everything will be over."
"Does Mitsuko have to hide in the darkness forever?" Miyako felt as if her heart was being torn apart.
Kenichi made up his mind and said with a firm look in his eyes, "No matter what, even if we have to live in darkness for the rest of our lives, we cannot let Mitsuko get hurt."
Kenichi embraced the sobbing Miyako and said, "Miyako, we will definitely find a way to save Mitsuko."
...
From that day on, Mitsuko was strictly forbidden from leaving the house by Kenichi and Miyako.
Although she didn't know why, Mitsuko still obediently did as she was told.
Mitsuko would want to drink human blood about every seven days.
If they don't drink human blood in time, they will lose control.
However, as long as he drinks blood, Mitsuko will regain his sanity and be no different from a normal person on ordinary days.
In order to allow Mitsuko to drink blood, Miyako took on odd jobs at the clinic so that the doctors could obtain some of the patients' blood when treating them.
But there will always be times when there is no blood available. In such cases, Kenichi and Miyako can only take turns feeding Mitsuko their own blood.
Meanwhile, Kenichi kept inquiring about the demons, hoping to find a way to restore Mitsuko to normal.
To get away from people, Kenichi and Miyako moved their house to a remote location far from the crowds.
Six years have passed like this, and Mitsuko is now twelve years old.
Unlike other demons whose appearance remains unchanged from the moment they become demons, Mitsuko grows up like an ordinary person.
Mitsuko also realized that he was no longer human, but a monster.
For the past six years, Mitsuko has never left home in order not to cause trouble for his parents or let others know that he exists. He has been studying at home on his own.
At this moment, Mitsuko was holding a tree branch, practicing the sword techniques in his mind inside the house.
Although he could cultivate the sword techniques in his mind, the breathing technique called Sun Breathing caused him excruciating pain, as if his body were being burned by flames, whenever he used it.
Mitsuko felt a surge of anger; he couldn't understand why he had become like this.
Why are people afraid of the sun?
Why would someone drink human blood?
Whose memories are in my mind, and why do they appear in my mind?
Mitsuko stretched out his palm, and a clump of blood hovered in his hand, constantly changing shape. This was no longer a power that a human could control.
Mitsuko angrily squeezed his palm until the blood burst, hating himself for his inhuman and grotesque appearance.
The door to the room was opened.
Miyako returned home.
Miyako held a can of food in her hands and said gently to Mitsuko, "Mitsuko, drink it quickly."
"Mother, I don't want to drink. I don't even know if I'm a human or a demon anymore. I don't want to be a burden to you and Father anymore."
"My dear, you are not a burden to us. Your father and I are not afraid of being tired. As long as you are well, we are fine."
"Mother, you work in the clinic all day long for this blood. And Father? He doesn't come home for days at a time, also trying to find a cure for me. This family shouldn't be like this! I shouldn't have been born into this world!"
With red eyes, Mitsuko vented his grief and anger in a hoarse voice.
"Smack!"
Miyako slapped Mitsuko across the face. For the first time, the usually gentle Miyako lost her temper with Mitsuko: "I won't allow you to say such things. This family is complete because of you. Without you, my life and your father's life would be bleak. As long as it's for you, everything is worth it!"
Mitsuko covered her cheeks, her heart filled with grief.
Miyako pulled Mitsuko into her arms: "Mitsuko, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you..."
Mitsuko hugged Miyako tightly: "Mother, I should apologize. It was my fault. I shouldn't have said those things..."
Miyako wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Hurry up and drink it. We still have things to do at the clinic tonight. Mitsuko, be good when you're home alone tonight."
Mitsuko silently picked up the jar and, under Miyako's watchful gaze, drank the blood inside in one gulp.
Seeing that Mitsuko had finished drinking the blood, Miyako smiled.
"Stay home and be safe. I'll be going now." Miyako left the house.
Feeling agitated, Mitsuko tore a small gap in the curtains.
A few rays of sunlight filtered in.
Mitsuko stretched out his hand, wanting to feel the sunlight.
But the moment the sun shone on him, the skin on the back of his hand began to burn and fester, and the excruciating pain stimulated Mitsuko's nerves.
Mitsuko gritted his teeth and persevered.
Despite the pain, the sunlight allowed Mitsuko to feel that he was now basking in the sun, just like any other human being.
Mitsuko just wants to live as an ordinary person.
But this dream is out of reach.
The burning pain on the back of his hand constantly reminded him that Mitsuko was no longer human.
Mitsuko sat in a dark corner, a cockroach scurrying about in the darkness.
Mitsuko said with bitterness and dejection, "Am I now just a cockroach that can only hide in a dark corner?"