85 Diary: Memories From The Youth 3 (1/2)

(Han's POV)

When I entered middle school, I was appointed to military school by my father. In those time I was traveling to other places or countries doing missions or tasks. I was trained to be a soldier at a young age. Stevan was the same as me as well.

My father getting used to called me Han, and not Hanzo anymore. Even my mother. I was wondering if they forgot about Hanzo? Even my name from the family book record change to 'Han'.

Did they think to make me back to normal again was helpless? I didn't know. I couldn't blame them, It was already eight years later and they didn't see any changes from me.

I didn't enthusiastic just like I was a child before. I didn't practice my kendo anymore and I unconsciously develop a phobia to the Japanese sword. I didn't want to touch it. My parent didn't notice my strange disgust, because I always sealed it inside me.

They didn't even try to make me remember something I didn't want to remember. They didn't want to trigger my bad memories. Well, that was what I thought. It turns out, I was right. They were a considerate parent, until now too. Even though I didn't like people, but my parent's kindness I could feel it.

As always, I tried to act usually with them and play my part as Hanzo, although not perfect. They accepted it and we converse normally.

My father asked me, why I didn't practice kendo anymore? I said to him that I was interested in Judo more. Thus, I practiced Judo martial art rather than sword combat.

Hanzo noticed my decision yet he only nodded and didn't say anything. I think he agreed with me at that time. He just wants to get away from the sword. Didn't want to see, didn't want to know.

Actually, Hanzo was missing father and mother as well. But at the same time, he felt guilty. His heart was hurting from making his father grieved at his grandmother grave. He could see how father really loves grandmother, and she died because of him.

He tried to become his usual self again, but he couldn't. It makes him sadder and I was affected by his sadness. My eyes turn to red and I cried for the first time since I was born from his shocked.

Hanzo couldn't help himself, to hide again, somewhere inside the black space. He didn't come out until high school year.

...

I was signed by my father around Central Asia, somewhere near the Himalayan Mountains area, while Stevan somewhere in China. When I went to the military camp base, we were divided into a team and I quickly became the leader of the group.

I beat all my opponent and prove my worth as a leader. Although I had my usual scary face, they still accept me after knowing me, that I was a normal person.

What did they mean 'normal'? I asked inwardly with an annoying feeling.

In military training, Hanzo didn't come out often. He didn't like the military program very much. For most of the time, I was the one who did the work while he was sleeping and constantly complained to me for not being nice to my teammates.

But I didn't listen to him, I pretend I didn't hear him. For me, only when my teammates didn't do anything to hinder my works or disturbed me, it was enough and I could still cooperate with them.

I didn't do so far to be more intimate than the way it was. My teammates didn't complain either because they saw me as a trustworthy leader and of course, General Asuzawa Nobuo's son.

One day we were signed to mountain forest for patrolling, it was snowing that time and the sky turn darker. Our teammates made a camp and prepare for a sleeping bag. One of my teammates prepared a hot chocolate and other warm liquid for us to fill in the stomach.

I excused my self from them, to gather more branches for the fire. The night will come, so we need more for warming up ourselves.

As I entered deeper into the forest alone, I heard some noises. It was two human approaching. It seems they were not from here. How can they enter this forest? Illegal poachers?

I grab my gun beside my waist and started to hide behind the bushed. I peeked at the side and could see two boys with loose clothes, dirt cover their face with a mix of sweat, and blood coming out from their body. As soon as they approached my direction. I pulled my trigger to shoot their way. But the next second I missed my target because Hanzo interfering me.

”No!” Hanzo shouted inwardly.

I held my head and saw the two boys who were shocked because of me. They tried to run away, but with my long grown leg, I quickly caught them and made them fainted.

I brought their little body to the headquarter in the next morning with my teammates.

That was me, To(Toshio) and Ta(Takashi) first meeting.

The two were brother and they were a runaway Japanese illegal slave. They were sold by their parent overseas, and they tried to run away when they had enough physically abused from the owner that bought them.

They were trying to cross the forest to get to the harbor for them to return or somewhere they could leave in peace. But, they didn't expect that they were caught by one of the soldiers and that was me. I report this to my father and the illegal slave market that we discovered.

My father frown when they heard the news. This involved with illegal human trading or human traffickers to their country and he needs to report this to the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Justice.

A few days later, he got an order from them to instruct a new mission to the soldiers as soon as possible. For us to exterminate the illegal slaving trade.

They also issue that there will be a collaboration.