In a world where blood determines worth… he was born already condemned. Child of Taboo follows the early childhood of Sha Gojyo — marked by crimson hair, blood-red eyes, and the cruel label of “half-breed.” Scarred at four years old by his stepmother’s hatred and branded unclean by society, Gojyo learns quickly that weakness is not something the world forgives. But scars are not only carved by blades. They are carved by words. By whispers. By laughter. As bullying and prejudice tighten around him, Gojyo begins shaping the mask that will define him — the crooked grin, the careless laugh, the armor of mockery. Then comes the night everything changes. In The Night He Ran , Jien — the only person who ever stood between Gojyo and cruelty — makes a choice that fractures their world forever. After killing to protect his younger brother, Jien must flee into the darkness, leaving behind a child forced to grow up in a single night. No dramatic promises. No heroic speeches. Just two words: “You survive.” This deluxe edition collects both arcs into one emotionally charged volume — a quiet, devastating exploration of trauma, identity, and the birth of defiance. Before the flirtation. Before the swagger. Before the street-smart smirk. There was a child. And he survived