'Cakes is kind of a weird name…then again it is a bakery.'
I pushed that thought back, as I looked around the small café/bakery.

The walls were painted the same reddish color as outside, as I noticed the booths were red and the tables were white and the set up was simple, but felt very homey.
I noticed there was a little opening in the wall were you could see the back and guessed that must be were all the employees worked, as I jumped when that opening opened and I noticed that it was a door and not a wall. The opening was just a very big window, as a little boy who looked to be 14 walked out and froze when he saw me.
His sapphire blue eyes were cold but held a nice warm feeling to them, as he went and started messing up his short chocolate brown hair and smiled at me.

"Sorry I didn't know anyone was here we normally don't get people till after 3…can I get you anything?"

He sounded a little timid, but I guessed it was just because he thought I was a customer.

"No thank you…
I'm here to apply for the job you put in the paper…"

His face light up, as he smiled at me.

"Well then take a seat and I'll get my mom…!"

I smiled and nodded to him, as he just ran back into the back and I took a seat in one of the booths.

'Who's that girl…?'

'Did she order something…?'

I could hear the employees talking, as I just waited and tried not to look like I could hear their whispers.
I looked around and liked the homey feeling this place had it felt nice and…safe.
Even if I didn't get this job I had found my new favorite spot to hang out when I needed to get away from 'him'.

"She pretty huh…?"

I heard that 14 year olds voice, as I glanced at the window and noticed him and an older man were looking at me.
I felt a chill when I saw that the older man had golden eyes, but unlike 'his' they held a soft warm feeling to them…kind of like my father's eyes.

"Yeah I guess…
Don't tell me you're into older women…"

"Not for me dad…"

"Don't you dare play match maker or this time I'll let her kick your butt."

'Her…?'
I thought, as I listened to both of them talk and tried to figure out what that little 14 year old was up to.

"Come on dad Chi chan has no life outside of school and this place…and I have a good feeling about this girl.
Even if she isn't at the very least she could make a good friend for her."

"Bud out Yukihito and stay out of your sisters life, besides I'm glad she loves this place as much, as me and Miyako.
After all she plans to own it someday, since her little brother wants to run off to some far away college and leave us behind."

"Hey I told you I'd come and visit besides I want to be a lawyer and the best law schools are in New York not here; besides Chi chan loves this place a lot and I bet she won't ever leave."

"Like I said I'm glad at least one of our kids will take up the family business."

"Hey you adopted us, so it was a 50/50 chance either of us would take on the family business."

"Yeah…Yeah…You're such a kill joy some times."

...

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

I smiled, as an older than me, but younger then my mom woman sat down in the booth seat across from me.
She returned my smile, but hers felt warm and motherly as I felt a small chill when her golden eyes looked at me, but hers felt warm and motherly way different then 'his', so I felt relaxed.
Her skin was dark, but not as dark as 'his', as she smiled at me and started to ask me the normal questions you get when your interviewing for a job…or at least the questions my mom said I would get.

...

It was getting late and I was getting a little antsy now…
since I knew Girochi was home and drunk by now, and coming home late was a sure way to get a beating.

"Well I think you're up for this job, so congregations you're hired."

The manager whose name was Miyako Ogami smiled, as we shook hands and exited the booth and headed to the back.
By now everyone was busy and hard at work dealing with all the customers that were inside the small café/bakery.

"As you can see we get really busy, since we are the towns hang out spot, but that doesn't mean we don't know how to have fun.
You'll see soon enough what I mean."

She smiled and winked at me, as she went and was looking through some red shirts, as I looked to see the 14 year old putting orders together and another girl who looked to be 15 was helping him.
The older man was baking and then there was a girl who looked to be my age helping him, as I quickly looked away when I noticed the older man nudge the 16 year old and I didn't want them to see me sharing at them. I could feel those royal blue eyes staring at me, as Miyako handed me a red polo t-shirt and a black apron.

"Alright these are your uniform and you wear them with jeans and come back at the end of this week, and the schedule will be up with when you'll start working.
Welcome to Cakes…!"

"Thank you!"

I shook her hand one last time, as I left and heard a 'yes' from the other side of the door and knew that 14 year old was happy I got the job.
'Working here is going to be interesting that's for sure…'
I thought, as I put my uniform inside my backpack and headed home.

...

I was glad I got a job and was on a somewhat happy high on the walk home, but half way through I saw the time and noticed it was getting dark and started running even though I knew what was waiting for me when I got there…better get it over with then to have to deal with 'him' later.

...

It didn't take me long after I started running to get home, as I opened the door and closed it.

"So look who finally decided to get her ass home!"

I turned to see Girochi's angry face inches away from my own and boy did he stink of beer, as I soon felt his huge hand grab my arm…hard.

"Why the hell are you getting home so late…?"

He yelled, as I lowered my head and gaze to him and was thinking about answering, but then remembered that it might hurt more if I told him I was late, because I got a job.
I felt a sharp burning pain from my face, as his hand just finished slapping my face.

"Answer me!"

"I got a job…that's way I was late."

I calmly answered, as his grip grew tighter and I knew he was pissed at the answer.

"Get out of my sight and don't saw your face to me till tomorrow or you'll be sorry!"

He coldly ordered, as he released my arm and I quickly ran upstairs and into my room. I locked the door and made sure Nekoko was in my room, because I wouldn't be able to get her later and I didn't want him to try and hurt her like he had tried to do so many time in the past…but I had always gotten those beatings too.

I could hear him breaking things downstairs, but as long, as I stood in my room like he had ordered I would be alright. I took a deep breath and sat down on my bed, as I slowly calmed down. I was glad that it wasn't as bad, as I had thought it would be, but the new 'injury' on my face was going to be fun explaining.

I went and got my backpack, and checked to see if I had any homework to do, but I had nothing to do and I knew I wasn't going to be able to go to sleep right now. So I grabbed my notebook and opened it up, and hoped writing would help me relax enough to get to sleep.

...

(After that I was scared of closest…still to this day I can't go into a walk in closest for too long without freaking out.
He told me if I told anyone what he did to me he would hurt my mom and Korona, and that was something I did not want. I loved them too much for me to want them hurt too, so I didn't say anything.
I was just glad I was going to my dad's for the weekend and could get away from him and his monster.

"Himeko…!"

I felt warm arms go around my neck, as Otoha was hugging me with her head resting on the top of my head. I could feel her chest against my back, but I winced from the pain my body felt from the weight of her body and even from her just touching me. I was still sore from the beating that I got the day before we came to our dad's house, as I soon felt her warmth slowly pull away.

"Hey Hime what's wrong…? Are you alright…? Are you feeling sick…?"

I felt bad, as I heard all the worry in her voice and, since I was the only one still awake at 1 in the morning it made sense.

"I'm fine…
I just can't sleep…"

I quietly answered her, as she smiled at me.

"How about you and me go down stairs and watch some T.V. that might help you sleep…
What do you say…?"

I smiled and nodded yes to her, as she went and picked me up and held me close to her in her arms. The way my mother use to do, but never had time to do anymore, as we left hers and my dad's huge room where Korona and I slept even though we had our own room. It was nice to sleep in their room even though it was in sleeping bags and on their floor…it was nice to wake up as a family. We both missed that feeling and Otoha loved waking up with us in the room, as for my dad well he wouldn't have it any other way.

We slowly walked down the stairs and passed the unused room that Korona and I shared, and headed into the living room as she gentle sat me down on the couch.

"I'll be right back I'm going to get a blanket…"

She whispered, but it was too dark, so I grabbed her baggy pajama shirt…tight.

"What's wrong…?"

She asked, as I felt my hand was starting to shake.

"It's too dark…"

I whispered, as I felt her warm hand run through my hair and I slowly released her.

"Here…"

She turned on the T.V. and it brightened up the room, and I could see a little better.

"Is that better…?"

She asked, as I nodded yes to her and slowly released her and she went to get a blanket, but I kept my eyes glued to her while she walked to the hall closest…I didn't want the monster to get her. I loved Otoha too and I didn't want anything bad to happen to her either…and I didn't know if the monster followed me.

She got the blanket and came right back to where I was, as she sat down next to me and we both covered up. I cuddled closer to her, as we started watching a funny movie that I didn't really pay attention to, since I was starting to feel sleepy and with Otoha next to me I was feeling…safe enough to sleep. I closed my eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep, but it was the best night's sleep that I had for the last few days.

...

"Hime…
Hime…"

I slowly opened my eyes, as I saw Otoha's warm copper eyes looking at me…filled with worry.

"Morning…"

I whispered, as she smiled down at me and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Morning sweetheart…
Hime…
What happen to your arm…?
Did you hurt it…?"

She asked, as I noticed you could see my busied arm since my pajama shirt was ruffled up.
I quickly pulled it back down and weakly smiled at her, as she looked even more worried.

"Yeah…I fell on the playground at school.
I guess being a klutz isn't such a good thing…"

"Klutz…?
Hime who called you that…?"

She asked, as I realized the person who called me that might hurt her too, if I told her.

"The kids at school…is it a bad word?"

I asked, as she shook her head no.

"It's just a word I didn't think you would know yet…I guess kids are smarter than I thought…"

"I guess so…
It means to fall a lot right?"

"That's right and also that you drop things too…"

I nodded and knew that 'klutz' word sounded just like me.
I yawned, as I looked to see the sun was coming up, but my dad and sister were not up yet.

"Did we beat my dad and Korona?"

"Looks like it…so do you want to help me start breakfast?"

I smiled and nodded yes to her, as we both got up and headed to the kitchen across from the living room of our small two-story apartment.)

...

I put my notebook back in my backpack and got up to change, as I wondered if Girochi was knocked out yet so I could get ready for bed, but since he was so angry I didn't want to risk it. So I just got changed into my pajamas and covered up in my bed, and fell into a light sleep, as I went into yet another dreamless sleep wishing that someday I could be that happy and safe once again.

...

I thought I should give you guys a little happy memory…

(Please review ^-^)

Sorry for any mistakes and THANKS FOR READING ^-^