Hey guys, so Marcus recently just got a job. I'm so happy for him. However, this means are updates will be less instantaneous and probably shorter like this one here at just under 3,000 words instead of our usual 4,000-5,000 but I hope it's still good.

When the three women had left the house Kawino opened a pouch on his belt and tossed a knife to Clove. "So you're ready," He said simply.

"Thanks," she said catching it by the handle.

"My pleasure, I'm sorry, by the way," He said.

"For what?" Clove asked in confusion.

"Making you watch my Games," He said.

"That's not your fault. You were Reaped. Just like everyone else despite what everyone's supposed to think."

"I know, but I mean towards the end there when I could have won easily," Kawino said.

"You were right though with why you did it." Clove corrected.

"I know, but I never should have made you go through that," He said

"Well, appology accepted."

"Thank you," He said.

"You're welcome, Kawino."

They heard the door starting to open. "Get ready," He whispered to her watching the door.

In walked a man with bright orange skin he looked tired. Kawino threw a knife at his leg mostly to show that they're here.

It went straight into the mans thigh causing him to scream out in pain. "Who's there?" He hissed out throught the pain.

"Concerned citizens," Kawino said sarcastically.

"You!" He hissed looking over at Kawino.

"Me," Kawino said kicking him in the face.

The kick knocked his off his feet and Clove held him down with her foot on his chest, "He isn't alone either."

"Oh, you're here too?" He asked.

"Yes I am, and we know what you've been doing to your wife and daughter."

"What business is it of yours?" He asked.

"I couldn't let my girlfriends bestfriend and my stylist be treated that way." Kawino said seriously.

"Oh! So Destiny is dating you?" He asked.

"Yes she is. What business of it is yours?"

"I wondered, she could do better," He said.

"Not as far as she's concerned." Kawino said thinking about the jerk from when they first met.

"Well, then she's stupid," He said.

"I don't understand it either but that's her decision." Kawino said readying another knife.

"You're going to kill me?" He asked.

"Oh, so it does have a brain." Kawino said mockingly. "Yes, I am."

"Then why don't you just do it?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Last words?" Kawino asked.

"Just get on with it so you can both go to jail," He said.

"We won't." Kawino said literally dropping the knife on him.

He stabbed the man in the heart, death would be slow as he heart tried to keep beating and it would only force more blood out.

"We should go." Kawino said to Clove. She nodded as they set out leaving the man to struggle for life.

All Clove said when they left was, "That went well."

"Yes it did," Kawino said.

"So, your house?" Clove asked.

"Our house now," Kawino said setting off east.

"I know," Clove nodded.

"Well come on," He said smiling. She followed him down the streets to their house.

It was a nice two story red brick house with a surprisingly neatly kept lawn. "Nice place," Clove said looking it over.

"Thanks," Kawino said. He pulled out his keys and let her in.

The living room was small with white wall and a large sofa with a TV in front of it. They found the three women sitting on the couch waiting. "We took care of him." Kawino told them.

"Really?" Yizziki asked hopefully.

"Yeah, stabbing him in the heart." Kawino said.

"Well, that won't work. He doesn't have a heart." Destiny said jokingly.

"I was worried about that," Kawino said smiling.

Yizziki and her mother both went over and hugged them. "Thank you so much!" Yizziki said happily.

"Thanks," Kawino said.

"It really does mean a lot." Annia said.

"It was our pleasure," Kawino said sitting beside them.

"Yeah, we actually had our own problems back home." Clove said looking down.

"Really?" Yizziki both nodded.

Cue Flashback

Kawino was exhausted as tried to catch his breath. He barely managed to dodge a flying ax but then an arrown hit him in the arm. He hissed in pain but managed to dodge the swords and knives.

This is unfotunately how things work in District 2, if you get tired during training then either the other students use you as target practice or you have to fight the trainer and this was definately preferable.

Kawino ducked a spear and another ax as the weapons finally stopped flying. The female trainer went over him amd forcefully yanked out the arrow, "You worthless peice of shit. Can't even dodge a simple arrow. What the hell's wrong with you? You can never do anything right."

"Yes mother, I'm sorry I'll do better next time," Kawino said ashamed.

"I seriously doubt you can." She said and stabbed the arrow into his shoulder. "You had better though, because you know what going to happen if your not perfect and unbeatable."

"No one will ever ever lover me." Kawino quoted sadly.

"Exactly, now back in line, no blood on the floor," She said.

"Yes, Mother," Kawino said and head head over to the other students.

"Let that be a lesson to all of you am I understood?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am!" The rest of the class said.

"Class dismissed, homework, target practice hit ten times with no missing," She said dismissing all, but, "You, go patch yourself up, then get back here with your sister," She said.

"Of course, " Kawino said and quickly went and bandaged up his arm and shoulder then came back to the training.

He found Clove there waiting for him as their parents both arrived. "What are you two doing just standing there?" Their dad asked. "Five laps now!"

They both did as told without hesitation. "Now lets practice spears," He said

Just like everyday, the twins worked constantly though the day. Then it was time for dinner and their mom sighed rubbing her temples, "Clove, go eat."

Clove looked cautious, but nodded leaving sadly. "Kawino, you know the drill, keep practicing until you get it RIGHT for crying out loud." She ordered her son.

"Yes mom," He said.

So, that's exactly what he did . He didn't have any choice in the matter . He trained through dinner which Clove returned from and set back to work but eventually she went to sleep but Kawino couldn't . He just went right through the night . Not a bite of food or a wink of sleep until it was perfect . That was the rule .

"Finally, perfect," He said panting.

End Flashback

The three were speechless. "What?" Kawino asked.

"That's terrible," Yizziki gasped.

"That was life," Kawino shrugged. "It's pretty much the way it was since I could walk." He added.

"That does not make it okay," Destiny said.

"What's the problem?" Kawino asked confused.

"They didn't let you eat, or sleep," Yizziki said.

"Only if I didn't get it right." Kawino shrugged not seeing the problem.

"That's awful!" She said.

"Not really, it's just the way things were. If you get it right then there's no problem." Destiny was just stunned. "Seriously, what's the problem?"

"Everything with that," Destiny said.

"Like what?" He asked.

"You don't stab your children," She said.

"It was a lot duller than regular arrows so it doesn't hurt as much." Kawino corrected.

"That still is not good," She said.

"And not just that and the refusal of food and sleep but the WORDS ." Destiny added.

"What about them?" Kawino said.

"First of all you do not call your child a 'useless piece of shit "

"Why not? It's true." Kawino shrugged.

"What!? How can you think that?" Destiny asked.

"No matter what I do I always find someway to mess it up."

"You have not," Destiny said.

"Yes, I have! I always have!"

"No, you have not!" Destiny said

"And why do you say that?"

"What about me? Am I a mistake to you?" She asked.

"No but I'm a mistake to you." Kawino 'corrected'.

"No, you're not I love you," She said.

"Why?" Kawino asked . "You could do so much better ."

"Not in my opinion, you are the best for me," She said.

"How though?" Kawino asked . "You'd have to be insane ."

"Well, I was already insane, but you are worth anything that can happen," She said.

Kawino finally sighed, "I guess if you think so. I'm not perfect though . How could you possibly love me?"

"No one is perfect, you're you, how could I not love you?" She asked

"That doesn't make sense . No one could ever love me if I'm not perfect."

"That is a load of garbage," Destiny said. She hugged him, "As I just said, no one is perfect. They just said that to get even further inside your head so they could control you."

"You mean it?" He asked.

"Yes, I do." Destiny said.

"You really care about me?" He asked.

"Yes, I do." She said holding him close.

"I love you, Destiny," He said.

Destiny was surprised but did say it back, "I love you, too, Kawino."

"Awww," Yizziki said.

Clove elbowed her and whispered, "Don't ruin it."

"Sorry, it is sweet though," She whispered.

"Very," Clove whispered with a small smile. "He really does seem happy for once with her."

"She's better with him as well," Yizziki said.

"Maybe we should leave them alone," Clove suggested.

"Yeah I guessssss we ssssshould I can ssssshow you the resssst of the housssse I have been here before," Yizzik offered.

"I'd like that," Clove whispered with a smile.

"Come on then," She said.

Clove follow her into the next room there stood a kitchen with white counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

"Very nice," She said.

"Yeah, do you know what they are?" Yizziki asked.

"Some of them," Clove said.

"Alright, which do you know?" Yizziki asked.

"The stove and sink," She said.

So Yizziki explained all the other ones on what the are and what they do.

"Nice," She said smiling.

"Yeah, they're pretty cool." Yizziki noted.

"The fridge must be useful," Clove said.

"Yeah, not like food ever really last long enough in most of the Capitol to really need it. For you guys and the few people with a brain and a heart. Yes is does."

"Good, we need a lot of fruit," Clove said.

"Are you hungry now?" Yizziki asked.

"Yeah, and I have not had fruit in a while," Clove said.

"Well lets fix that," Yizziki said. She went over and got a red delicious apple tossing it to Clove.

"Thanks," She said biting into it happily.

"Anything else?" Yizziki asked.

"No, lets keep going," Clove said.

"Alright," She said and they headed to the next room. She lead her into a bathroom, with a large black marble tube and shower.

"Wow! It's beautiful," Clove said looking around.

"Yeah, Kawino decided that since you are allowed money with basically no cap he should get some good things," Yizziki said.

"Well, that seems very unlike him." Clove observed. "That's a good thing though."

"Well, Destiny helped persuade him," Yizziki said.

"As I said, that's a good thing. I'm glad she was able to get through to him."

"Well she's head strong so that helps," Yizziki said.

"Definitely he needed someone like her." Clove said with a smile.

"I can see that," Yizziki said nodding. "Was all of that really true?" Yizziki asked.

"Yes, it was," Clove sighed.

"How often would he have to go without food or sleep?"

"Without both or just without one?" She asked.

"Could you give an estimated tally on both seperately?" Yizziki asked worriedly.

"Very often," Clove sighed. "Not with myself though, they very clearly picked favoites."

"Did they treat you any better?" She asked.

"Yeah, besides the constant training besides to eat, sleep, use the restroom, and go to reapings it was completely different."

"Different how?" She asked.

"They always pushed him harder since he's a boy and with the word. They had never said anything like that to me. I was the golden child and that combined with the lack of food and sleep made him actually believe it. Sometimes I wish all that stuff had happened to me instead. Then it would have hurt a lot less."

"You were allowed to have breaks and at least talk to others?" Yizziki asked.

"Occasionally, absolutely never for Kawino though."

"So, he never got to have a life?"

"Never," Clove sighed sadly shaking her head. "At least not until he came here."

"So, I guess this is a good thing for him?" Yizziki asked.

"Yeah, as bad as it sounds, I'm almost glad his name was drawn."

"I can understand why. That can't have been easy for you to ssssee though," Yizziki said having heard how Kawino had 'died'.

"It wasn't. Especially with added to that how terrified I was th the Peacekeepers were going to kill me as well."

"What?" Yizziki asked confused.

"In 2 and I assume 1 and 4 as well they'd have a real reaping to see who has to volunteer at the televised one and kidnap their family until they win or die in the games and if the tribute isn't brutal enough they'd kill them in front of the whole district. Only about thirteen percent are declaired to have been brutal enough to save their families."

"That's barbaric!" Yizziki gasped.

"Extremely, but it's the way things are and the nothing you can do about it." Clove said with an angry sigh.

"So, he made sure you survived how?" Yizziki asked.

"I'm not sure," Clove said.

"Well, how exactly did he die?" Yizziki asked only ever having gotten the gist rather than the full story.

"The boy from 1 bludgeoned him to death with a steel bat wrapped in barbed wire." Clove said very angry at the boy even though Kawino's really alive.

"Well then, that was probably gory enough for them, especially if it took more than a few hits" Yizziki said.

"It took many." Clove said sadly.

"Then that's what did it," Yizziki said.

"It's rarely how you die though that makes the difference. It's how you kill, who you kill, and how many you kill. Something that can be weighed in both someone who died and a victor."

"Well, according to Destiny he had the most kills that year didn't he?" Yizziki asked

"Yes, he did." Clove nodded.

"That'ssss probably, part of it as well," Yizziki said.

"Most likely, at least he got one that feels it was enough."

"Well, I guess that's good right?"

"Yeah, do you know of Enobaria Jundive?" Clove asked.

"Yeah, she ripped a tribute's throat out with her teeth," Yizziki said.

"She failed," Clove sighed sadly.

"Really?" Yizziki asked.

"Yeah, apparently she killed the victims too quickly instea of letting them suffer."

"I think I'm going to throw up," Yizziki said.

"There is a toilet right there." Clove said since they're still in the bathroom.

Yizziki ran over to it and vomited. Clove sighed just waiting for her to be done. "That's horrid," She said.

"I know, but there's nothing you can do about it. You step a toe out of line and you just signed your own death certificate."

"Wow," She said sadly.

"I've heard a few tributes over the years refer to us as the Capitol's lap dogs. What they don't realize is were glued to it. The whole district's just one beautiful, over-glorified prison."

"They make others hate you all," Yizziki said.

Clove nodded, "Exactly."

"Why though?" Yizziki asked as they left the bathroom.

"I have no idea." Clove sighed.

"Well there must be some reason,"

"I know but I have no idea what it is."

"Well lets just get to the rest of the house?" She asked.

"Yes, let's." Clove said.

"Lets see your room then," Yizziki said.

She was entranced at the site the wall were honey colored, and in the center of the room surrounded by a black curtain was a queen sized round bed. Off to one side were three large windows. On the other side was a door to a large divided walk in closet and another that appeared to lead to a bathroom. "Wow! This is my room?" She asked stunned.

Yizziki nodded, "Destiny insisted again. He didn't quite want it to be his own room though so this was the compromise."

"It's incredible!" Clove said.

"I'm glad you like it," Yizziki said managing a smile.

"I love it," She said. Clove went over to the bed and sat down on it. It was the softest thing she's ever felt in her life. "Amazing," She said and lied down getting lost in it, "Yeah, this is perfect."

"Maybe you need sleep?" Yizziki asked. Clove was already out of it though. "Sleep well," Yizziki whispered leaving the room.

Still not wanting to disturb Kawino and Destiny, Yizziki sat down in the hall pulling out a blood-stained notebook. "Maybe the Capitol isn't the worst place to live after all."

There we go I hope you have been liking the new story. If you like Kawino you should know that we're working on a new Kawino AU story called Timing is Everything where Kawino and Clove's games are switched which will be up soon. We're not sure which account it will be on but keep your eye out for it. Review but please don't flame. I'm extremely sick right now and it might even require surgery so wish me luck.