Author's Note: I do not own Hunter x Hunter!
There will be some passages that are told directly by Tanju ... you will see ... which ones. (lazy to write!)
Chapter 13 - Tanju Story
~ 18 years ago… ~
I was only twelve years old.
My home was a simple village, but many merchant ships docked with us and my family were just normal sellers, because of our circumstances even I sometimes had to help ... but I was happy to do it. We had suffered a lot before.
Because ... when I was just three I lost my sister who was five years older than me, she was seriously ill and ... I couldn't help her ...
We had gone to the mountains to collect herbs ... all of a sudden she collapsed ...
I still think of her a lot today ...
But one day it happened….
I met a boy ... my age ...
It was a strange encounter….
"Mother." Twelve year old Tanju spoke. "I'm going to take the next ship now to go shopping." He smiles. "We earned so much last week, so I can get something special with it, I promise!"
The woman smiled at the brown-haired boy, he was wearing dungarees and a simple shirt.
"Please be careful." She says. "And don't cause any trouble."
"Not me!"
...
With that the little boy went to the ship. He beamed at the sea as if he had never seen anything more beautiful.
" shopping, I'm going shopping… .lalala " he hums a melody.
~ A little later ... on the market ... ~
The twelve year old boy now had two pockets in his hands. 'There was a lot of discounts. Maybe I can find something small ... he thinks about it.
But suddenly two men stood in front of the brown-haired boy. "Hey boy."
"What's up?" Tanju asked confused and tilted her head.
"Do you already go shopping alone? How old are you?"
"Twelve!"
"Not bad. But joking aside, give us your things and maybe the rest of your money! "
"Why? It's not yours! "
"Listen, show us adults more respect!" The two came closer to the boys.
"Leave me alone!"
Some people in the market looked at Tanju sadly, but they didn't dare to help him.
But…
"Hey! You there! "A voice called ... it sounded ... young?
The people turned to the voice and saw a boy, Tanju's age. He had striking orange hair and purple eyes. He was wearing a green shirt, including a long-sleeved red shirt and shorts.
The boy smiled cheekily. "Then? You both cause trouble again and try to rob tourists, really lame. "He says bored. "And this time also a child… .tse, tse. You really don't learn anything! "
In the background, the crowd nodded in agreement.
"It's good. We're already going. "They walk away slowly. "But ... just because we don't want to fight you again ... unfortunately you are too strong for us ..." He mumbles.
Tanju looked scared at the boy. "What? So strong? … But is he not as old as me ? "he asks out loud.
The orange-haired boy giggled at the comment. "Thank you very much for the flowers. In fact, I just played with them last time. I'm not a guy who just beats up people like that. "
He walked slowly towards Tanju and eyed him curiously. "Should we be the same age? How old are you?"
"Twelve."
"Oh me too. You seem to have a good eye for this. "He smiles. "What's your name?"
"Tanju."
"Tanju ... strange name."
"Huh?" The brown-haired boy was outraged. "Then tell me your name!"
"Oh yes ... how rude." He scratches his head, embarrassed. "Call me Yutaru."
...
...
"Your name doesn't sound too crazy either." Tanju says bored.
"Huh?"
"No, Yutaru ... do you live near here?" The brown-haired boy asks curiously.
"No." Yutaru simply says. "I snuck away from home for some fun. I'm more of an adventurer than a couch potato. "He raises his arms dramatically.
"You ran away from home….? Do ... .. aren't your parents worried? "
"Hm ... good argument." He ponders. "My father is extremely strict, but he certainly thinks that I just go for a walk. I'll be back in the evening anyway. "He grins mischievously.
"….OK?"
"And you? I don't think you're from here. "
"Oh well ..."
...
...
The two twelve-year-old boys quickly became friends ... but they only had one thing in common ... their thirst for adventure ... they want to explore the world someday ...
...
"Nen?" Tanju cocked her head, confused. "Your father teaches you that?"
"Not really. He says I should go to a strong master whom he recommends. "He says dryly. "But ... hey ... I'll get stronger faster than I expected." He grins. "Why are you not coming? To train with a buddy would be fun. "
Tanju looked sad at the question. "I ... have to help my parents. I can't leave her alone. "
"Your parents? Oh ... you told me about your circumstances. "He nods. "What a shame ..." he lies down on the grass.
"I'm sorry, Yutaru."
"Yeah ... okay." He got up slowly. "I better go home."
Tanju was slightly startled. "Not because of me, is it ?"
"No, of course not." He says. "You'd better go home too. I'm thinking of something that you can still train with me, it's going to be a crazy plan because of me. "He smiles and left.
...
...
?
"A crazy plan ?"
I don't really know what I found so fascinating about him. He was just a boy like me, wasn't he?
But he was brimming with confidence and strength. He already looked like someone who knows me well because I told him something about myself ... and I don't really know anything about him. I really wanted to train with someone like that ... but ... my parents ...
But ... anyway I wanted to try ...
I wanted to ask her…..
They would understand ... after all, you are my parents ... you know my dreams ... at least that's what I hoped for this day ...
"Mother. Father. "Tanju spoke softly and played with his fingers. "I have to tell you something ... but I don't think you will like it!"
"What's up?" His mother looked confused.
"Did you do something?" His father looked thoughtful.
"No ... it's just ..." He sighs slightly. "I met someone my age today ... he is really unbelievable ... and he asked me ... ... whether ... I would accompany him ... he would like to train Nen with me ..." He looks at his parents sadly . "I know it comes suddenly ... but can I turn down an offer like that? Nen can be used in the future, you both always say it: the world is dangerous! "
His mother approached him. "You just want to go away with a total stranger that you have just met? I don't even know you like that, are you sick? "She felt his forehead.
"Nen ..." his father mumbles. "One of the things you have to be able to do as a Hunter ..." He looks at his son. "You don't want to be a hunter, do you?"
"Hunter?" Tanju cocked her head. "We'd have a lot of advantages then ... but I haven't even thought about that." He ponders.
"Then get that out of your head immediately!" His mother screamed. "You are far too young to be a Hunter to even leave home!"
"Mother ... I ..." Tanju looked at the floor. "Forgive me ... but I've wanted to get away from here for a long time." He looks her in the eye. "It's my dream… .to see the other places! The only places that I have been allowed to see so far were our home village here and the next village by ship ... nothing more! "
His father said nothing, he seemed deep in thought, but his mother had a stern expression on her face.
"No means no! You're not going to leave until you're an adult! "She certainly does. "Go to your room. … .And forget that stupid thought. "She mumbles.
"Yes ..." Tanju went slowly into his room, sad and slightly disappointed ...
...
...
I actually knew the answer ... but that my mother would get so angry ... I didn't expect that.
She has never been so angry ... or was she more sad than angry?
I didn't know what to do now ...
In any case, I wanted to see Yutaru again… ..I decided tomorrow to go to the same place where we said goodbye….
Hoping he has the same thoughts as me….
I also wanted to hear his opinion…
~ next day ... ~
Tanju sneaked out of the house early in the morning… he had never done anything like this before, but he couldn't wait any longer….
He really wanted to spend more time with Yutaru ... a boy who seems strange and mysterious ... in a good way, of course!
'In the end, it depends on my luck whether I will meet Yutaru ... or not.' The brown-haired boy sighs as he slowly sneaks onto a ship.
...
~ an hour later ... ~
Tanju looked around. He had just gone to the place where the two twelve-year-olds said goodbye yesterday.
... he heard steps!
He turned around and had a relieved look on his face, standing in front of him was his buddy with the eye-catching orange hair.
Yutaru grins. "We probably had the same thought ... I would not have thought of you. I'm amazed. "He walked up to him.
"Yes. But it was a fifty-fifty chance that we would get the same idea, wasn't it? "
"It could be." He crosses his arms. "And? What do you want to tell me?"
"Huh?" Tanju cocked her head.
"Oh man. Your face clearly says that there is news. "Yutaru points his finger at him. "I have to confess something to you, so you better start!"
"O-okay!"
...
Tanju told what happened yesterday ... the reaction of his parents ... his mother. The whole time he had a sad expression ... he wanted to know Yutaru's opinion, but he thought about it for a long time ... but could not come to an answer either.
...
Yutaru was looking at the floor the whole time, but after a short while he turned back to Tanju. "You traders ... have a harder time than you thought. We have really different lives. "
"What do you mean?" The brown haired boy looked confused. "We can talk about my problems later… but… Yutaru what did you want to confess to me? Are you telling me now? "
...
"Yes ... also ... if I haven't known you that long." He smiles. "I trust you. That sounds pretty weird ... but I trust you. "
'Trust….'
"My last name is Himiki." Yutaru simply says. "And I don't come from any normal family. I bet you've never heard of that name! "He raises his hands dramatically.
"Himiki…." Tanju mumbles. "Well ... I can't think of anything spontaneously to be honest." He pouts. "What is so special about the name? It's just a name."
The orange-haired boy giggles. "You are really funny. Himiki is the name of a royal family that is still very traditional ... that's why it unfortunately still exists. "
"Uh ... royal family? But that means then… .that you…. "
"Exactly." Yutaru nods. "When I am older, I shall go after my father on the throne, that is my destiny. After all ... I am his eldest son. "
"HUH ? You are lying! But…. "Tanju thinks about it. "….you're telling the truth? Why do you entrust me with something important ? "
"Because I trust you ... and you are my first real buddy. And besides, I would like to train Nen with you and if you hardly know anything about me, it's stupid. "Yutaru grins. "I have a goal. I want to smash my family ... "He says dark.
"Smash?"
"We live in a modern world. We don't need a king. The areas that are governed are just unnecessarily terrorized. I don't want more generations of people to suffer ... under the name Himiki. "He looks Tanju in the eye. "You understand that, don't you ?"
"... yes." He smiles slightly. "And… as your buddy, I'll be by your side. We'll destroy this monarchy ... or whatever it's called ... "he stutters easily.
Yutaru grins. "Oh. I like this tone ... despite this uncertainty. "
...
"No. Is it really called a monarchy? "
~ a little later ... ~
Yutaru looked questioningly at the brown-haired boy. "And? What will you do? As I heard right, your mother won't let you go. "He grins mischievously. "As you know ... my father will take me to a master, with me there is no other problem to overcome!" He proudly points to himself.
Tanju said nothing for a moment, but then nodded resolutely. "It's like you said yesterday ... I must be doing something crazy ..."
"That's what I said ...?" He thinks about it.
"I ... I think I'll use the next few days to pack a rucksack ... and then I'll go secretly." Tanju says resolutely.
"That sounds harsh." Yutaru says seriously. His purple eyes looked at Tanju. "Do you think you can do that?"
"Sure ... nothing is impossible. There are more difficult things than this. "
"… You are probably right." The orange-haired boy gives in. "All right ... do what you want." He says dryly.
...
He was a good buddy ...
He had just confessed to me what a big job he would have in the future ... it sounded so easy to him, as if it were nothing at all.
At that moment I really wanted to go….
Even if I had to do something secretly ...
I wanted to support my buddy ... and that's why I'm leaving home!
...
But how would it go on ... even I couldn't imagine that at this point in time ...
To be continued...
Neo-Digital: A bit of the past - stuff from Tanju ... and ... other characters.
Gon: What's next? Will we still be in the past next time?
Neo-Digital: I think that's the best!
Gon: On with Tanju-san?
Neo-Digital: Yes. But we'll see what else he tells you.
Gon: See you in the next chapter! ^ - ^