Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Your Father's Alive
"This is Esther, he's lost and is trying to find his way back home."
Gon answers Kite's question. I nod rapidly. Kite stares, not asking about my looks. We continue to travel with him around the island. I learn so many new things than mother has ever taught me. The sun starts to set. We stand near the site which we buried the foxbear. I place flowers on the grave.
"Gon, you told me yesterday that your parents had passed away, didn't you?"
"Yup."
"Do you know anything about your father?"
Father. Nothing but bad thoughts. I never want to see him ever again or anyone who acts like him. Why was he so dangerous? Why did he value money and comfort over his own family? I can't remember a time in where he was ever satisfied.
"Well, Aunt Mito won't tell me much about him."
"I see…"
I can see Gon trying to feed the cub some fish. I've learn from experience to just eat it as it is. I sit near the cub, it doesn't try to hurt me. Gon smiles, looking determined to achieve the same feat.
"What's his name?"
"His name is Ging Freecss."
I can feel the air around Kite shift. I look to him, he doesn't seem surprised but I can feel it.
"Gon…"
Gon keeps staring at the cub.
"Your father is still alive."
Gon looks back at Kite in shock.
"He is alive somewhere in this world. Your father, Ging, is my teacher. In other words, he's a hunter."
Gon seems to be processing this information as if it's filling in the many blanks that covered his life.
"..A hunter…"
"Yes, the best hunter in the world."
With that final thought, Gon and I prepare to leave the forest. We don't talk along the way. Arriving at the house, the smell of food fills the air. I open the door and see Aunt Mito serving food to great grandmother. We eat for a bit in silence until Gon asks Aunt Mito about his dad.
"What are you saying?!"
Everyone looks at Gon.
"I want to know more about my father. Please tell me, Aunt Mito!"
"Tell you about your father? He was just an ordinary man. He ran this shop and was killed in an accident before you were born. There is nothing else I can tell you about him."
I was impressed by how easily she lied.
"It may sound cruel, but I want you to quickly forget about someone who's dead. I realized that I can't be your father, but I don't think I've ever made you feel that you miss him."
"No…"
"I'm glad that you understand. "
After finishing eating the food, I follow Gon up stairs. Closing the door behind me, I see Gon standing near the window. I pull out the chalkboard and scribble something. Facing it to Gon, he reads it.
(Why does Aunt Mito lie to you?)
Gon shakes his head.
"I don't know."
I point to the bed, he sits down.
(Here's a better question. If your father's alive, why doesn't he visit you?)
"…Maybe, I was abandoned?"
I stare at Gon, giving him a shoulder.
(You can't know that for sure. Why not ask him yourself?)
That seems to spark something in him. He jumps up, I'm startled.
"You're right! I should just ask him myself. I'll ask him why he thought becoming a hunter was more important than raising me!"
Not exactly what I had in mind, but, that will do.
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