The Stranger

"Kanae, we already have kanao! We can't just pick another one off the street…" Shinobu yelled

"What's wrong with having two girls? Kanao finally gets a friend!" Kanae smiled.

Kanae looked at the girl who was sitting in front of them.

"What's your name?"

"M-my name is Shizen...my father is a demon…"

"Tch...demon father...won't that mean you're a demon too?!" Shinobu yelled.

Kanae calmed her down.

"I-i'm not a demon...well at least I think...but, actually, I'm very much human...I was adopted"

"Adopted?"

"Yeah...as funny as it might sound, my father acted quite human...sure he was really pale, and had rainbow eyes, but...he cared for me...I guess?"

"Whaddya mean 'you guess?'"

"Well, he was the leader of paradise faith cult, and he took me under his wing...the cult made sure everyone was happy...including him"

"So...he ate his followers?"

Shizen nodded.

"All I remember is running away from him...it was morning, so he couldn't follow me...and here I am now"

"You're very smart for a 10-year-old...how did you know demons can't survive in the sunlight?"

"My father always told me that he can't walk out into the sun because it would hurt him...it wasn't very smart of him, to be honest…"

"Maybe he wanted you to run"

"I don't think so...he knew I would find out soon, and maybe he just thought I would stay…"

"Well...that's not very smart-"

"I know"

"Do you want to go back?" Kanae asked.

"No...I don't want to go back...all of my friends have been mauled to death and I fear I might be next…"

"Well...you did the right thing running away...come on. We'll take you in…"

Shizen looked at her and Kanae smiled.

"Okay…" Shizen said, with a shaky smile.