Hi, I have nothing to say. Just, LOOK! A STORY! Never mind I do have something important to say. For those who don't really follow our stories in any of our stories that we want to the Careers in a good light we have this theory where in 1, 2, and 4 they have two reapings (a real and a televised one) and whoever's name is drawn in the real reaping they'd kidnap their family forcing them to volunteer in the televised one. If you didn't know that there's just a scene in particular that would get very confusing.

An hour later Ria's father arrived he was normal height slim and had dark hair and eyes he was dressed in typical factory worker clothes. "Welcome home, Daddy." Ria said going over and hugging him.

"Good to see you." He said hugging her.

"Good to see you to. There are quite a few things I need to tell you guys about though."

"Okay what is it?" He asked taking a seat. She took a seat as well with her mother, Lani, and still Cady and Clove. "So tell us."

"There's a lot to it so can you guys try and save any comments until the end?" She requested.

"Alright, we promise." Her mother said.

So Ria launched right in explaining everything that had happened that day starting from when she first walked in on Kawino and Drusus. When she was done there was silence. "I know it a lot."

"What is wrong with those people?!" Her mother gasped.

"They were cruel heartless monsters." Clove said bitterly glaring at the ground.

"Is your eye okay?" Her father asked.

"It's fine." Ria said though it had by now swollen shut.

"No, it's swollen!"

"It's fine." She repeated refusing to complain about it.

"You are too stubborn."

"Really, it fine."

"Let me look at it." She hesitated but agreed as he went over to her assessing the damage. "It's just swelling like any bruise." He said.

"See? I told you."

"Alright so, what happened to them and that boy?"

"They're pending execution for child neglect and Kawino and I are staying with my boyfriend and his family." Clove explained.

"Good." They both said.

"Yeah, he's just so damaged though."

"I can't imagine."

"I know. We're trying to help him but he's just so far gone."

"Will he be okay?"

"Eventually, I'll make sure of it." Clove swore.

"Me too." Cady said.

"So will I." Ria added with no room for argument.

"Alright," Clove said smiling. "So, he will with time." Clove concluded.

"Yes, but why do you care?" Ria's mother asked Ria.

"I just worry about him." Ria half-lied.

"Ummmhmmm." Her mother said clearly suspicious.

"Alright fine, I kind of have feelings for him."

"I knew it!" Her sister said.

"Alright, I guess Lani caught me then."

"Yes I did! It was kind of obvious though." She added.

"It was." Clove said.

"I get it." Ria said blushing.

"Just saying."

"So, yes, that's part of why I care so much."

"Well, he seems like a sweet boy."

"He is. It's incredible given everything he's been through."

"Yes, he should hate the world at this point."

"But he doesn't. Just them and that's amazing." Ria said in awe.

"Yes, he is a kind hearted boy."

"That just makes this all way worse."

"I know but he will be alright soon."

"Yeah, he had seen a doctor today and they fixed what they could."

"What they could?" Ria's father asked.

"Well, yeah, they don't have the resources for everything." Clove sighed.

"I suppose not." He realized.

"They were able to help a lot though." Clove added.

"Well that's good."

"Yeah, hopefully he'll at least get better physically."

"That is a plus."

"Definitely," She nodded.

"So now what?"

The next morning Kawino woke up surprised to find himself in a real bed. He was also feeling well better than ever. Both of those feelings were very unusual for him. "Where am I?" He muttered. He got up and circled the bed a few times. No traps, no weapons just a bed. "Incredible," He breathed in confusion. The door opened and he sprang back expecting an arrow.

That obviously never came though and instead Mrs. Haring came in. "Oh good you're awake." She said. He nodded stay back still nervous. "Would you like breakfast?

"What's that?"

"Food in the morning."

"Oh… um… okay…" Kawino agreed awkwardly remembering how she said you were supposed to eat three times a day.

"Good, we have eggs."

He was still confused so she said, "You'll like them. I promise."

"Okay?" He said.

"Come on, it's okay." She encouraged. He made his way toward her a bit like a scared dog would a new master. "There we go. I promise I won't hurt you." He made his way over until she had a hand on his shoulder. He tensed at the touch but relaxed a little when he realized it didn't hurt. "Come on lets go eat." She said.

"Alright," He agreed.

"The others are there if that helps."

"Yes it does."

"Okay then." She said leading him out.

She led him back to the kitchen where the others were enjoying the eggs. He sat down in a chair and she gave him a plate and fork for himself. "What's this?" He asked looking at the fork.

"It's called a fork. You use it to move the food to your mouth without getting your hands messy."

"Oh okay." He looked at how the others were and figured it out.

"Good work." Clove said.

Kawino was surprised but smiled slightly and said, "Umm... thank you," before taking the first bite. It was good and he started eating faster. Thanks to the medicine the doctor gave him it did stay down though. Soon he felt full which was new. He put a hand on his stomach very confused by the phenomenon.

"What's wrong?" Cady asked.

"I don't know. My stomach feels weird."

Cady looked at what was on his plate compared to when he started and concluded, "Maybe your full."

"I'm what?"

"It's your body's way of telling you it has enough food for now. I guess that has never happened before." Cady explained with a sigh.

"No, it has not."

"I figured." Cady sighed. "That is likely what's happening though."

"Oh okay."

"Yeah, it's perfectly fine." She reassured.

"Well, I should get school ready."

"Yeah, you probably should." She agreed.

"No, you will not." Mrs. Haring said.

"Why not?" He asked turning to her honestly shocked.

"You are not going to school for a few days."

"Why not?" He asked again.

"You need a break from school."

"I'm fine. I need to train." He insisted stubbornly.

"No, you need to rest and get a taste of life outside school."

"I won't stay all day. Just for the time everyone else does."

"No, I am sorry, Kawino. You need some time away." She said.

"No, I'm definitely training." Kawino said stubbornly and headed to the room he woke up in.

"Kawino Yetter, get back here." She called.

"I can't just not train at all." Kawino called back though honestly afraid of what will happen. It didn't make any sense though. He figured it must have been some kind of test.

"Yes you can and for a few days you will."

"I'll be fine besides; it's illegal not to train."

"Kawino, please don't. It's not illegal if you're sick. That's always been the exception."

"I'm not sick." He said.

"Yes you are. You just don't realize it because you have been for so long."

"I'm not sick." He said.

"Yes you are. Please Kawino, at least for today."

"Why though?" He asked.

"Because your body needs some time to heal from what your parents did to you."

"I feel okay though." He said.

"You're not though." She sighed.

"How do you know?"

"Because I can tell these types of things," She insisted.

"I just do not want to miss training."

"I know but it will be okay."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes I am."

"Well...if you say so."

"I do."

"Okay." He sighed.

"So you won't go then? At least for today?" She double-checked.

"Okay, for today."

"Thank you, that's all I ask."

"Not sure what I do now."

"I'll help with that." She offered.

"Okay, sure, what?"

"You can explore the town, get some clothes."

"I have some clothes though."

"That are not destroyed." She said.

"They're not destroyed." Kawino said looking down at what he was currently wearing have not changed from leaving the Academy. They were predictably torn and stained with blood and sweat. Not to mention those and his Reaping clothes were the only ones he had.

"Yes they are." Clove said calmly.

He looked at his sister then down at them before sighing and said, "I guess you're right."

"Good, I will take you out while they are at school."

"Fair enough." He said not sure what to expect out of this.

"Alright then go shower." She said.

"You don't have any knives with you right?" Clove double-checked.

"No, none."

"Alright, then yes, go." She released.

"Thank you." He sighed. He headed to the bathroom having found it last night.

He stepped in and enjoyed the heat of the shower. This time it wasn't turned up very high like he would do most times. He watched as blood rushed off him from training the other day. It was no unusual sight but it was weird to think that next timing there might not be any to wash off.

He sighed and used the soap. It took a while but eventually he had washed of all the blood and was clean. He got out and put on his reaping clothes since they were clean. Kind of an overkill but he didn't have anything in-between. So he did without the jacket to the suit and just wore the long sleeved red shirt, black vest and pants. He shrugged and headed out.

"See you later." Clove said hugging him.

"Yeah, see you later." He said awkwardly returning it.

"You'll be okay." She said.

"Okay and you'll be back at the normal person time?"

"Yes, I promise." She said sincerely.

"Okay, I'll see you then." She nodded and headed out and for one of the first times things around Kawino were quiet. He just stood there not sure what to do or say.

"Nervous?" Mrs. Harring asked.

"Very," He admitted.

"Well, try to relax while I get ready."

"What does that mean?"

"Relax?" She asked.

"Yes, what does it mean?"

"Just sit down and distract yourself in a fun way."

"Oh… um… okay…" He said awkwardly.

"So try it."

He sat down on the couch but wasn't sure how to 'distract himself in a fun way'. He tried lying in different positions on the couch which only resulted in his falling off and onto his butt. "This is harder than it sounded." He sighed getting back on.

When Mrs. Harring returned he was laying on it upside down. When he saw her he got out of it though. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not exactly sure."

"You were upside down." She said.

"Yes I was." He admitted awkwardly.

"Why?" She asked chuckling.

"I didn't know what to do."

"What do you like to do?"

"Do you honestly expect me to have an answer to that?"

"Well, maybe."

"Well, I have no idea."

"I'm sorry, I should have known." She said.

"It's okay. It not like it's normal not to."

"Well still we will find something that you like to do."

"Okay,"

"So let's go then." She said. He nodded and got up to his feet. "So, clothes first then some sort of hobby."

"Right," She offered a hand and he hesitated but took it.

She smiled and led him out into the bright day. He had to blink a few times but did get adjusted. "You do not get sun much huh?" She asked.

"Only on Reaping Day," He answered honestly.

"I see." She said sadly. She was cursing his parents for doing this to him.

"Yeah, it sounds weird but sometimes it was almost something to look forward to. I could get out and away from them and training for a short while and the night before I'm pretty much sure to actually get some food and sleep."

"So you liked the reapings?" She asked.

"Well, almost, yeah, I mean. They're really only bad if you or a family member gets chosen and it's such a big district."

"That the odds are small." She finished for him.

"Exactly, so why not?"

"Most people don't."

"Well, I do."

"You are a special case." She said carefully.

"I know that." Kawino sighed.

"Sorry, I did not mean it in a bad way."

"Then what did you mean it as?" He asked.

"Just you never got to do much."

"So, yes, in a bad way."

"No just unfortunate."

"Well, I guess."

"Cheer up though now you will."

"I guess you're right." He said awkwardly.

She smiled as they walked into the clothing store. It was a mid-sized black building with two large doors. The inside had hard wood floors and white walls and several racks of clothes. Kawino looked around it rather impressed. Mrs. Harring rang the bell and they waited.

In a short while, a dirty blond haired woman came up. "What is he doing outside school?" She asked.

"He's too sick to train. Nothing contagious though."

"Oh, well alright then so what are you here for today?" She asked smiling.

"Well, he needs lots of clothes."

"Really? How much is lots for you?" She asked.

"Well, what he's wearing right now are really all he has."

"Oh, alright then."

"Well, this and I training outfit but they say it's destroyed." Kawino added.

"It is destroyed Kawino we will get you a new one."

"Alright," He nodded.

"Alright well, we can measure him and get to work." She pulled out a seamstress tape measurer from the counter and went over to him. Kawino watched con fused as she measured him from head to toe, foot to head, fingertip to fingertip, and around his waist. When she got to the waist she was shocked to say the least the clothes having sat to mostly hide it. "He's so thin." She muttered.

"I never really had much food." Kawino said having heard her.

"Yes, I can see that." She said.

"Yeah, I do now though." He said looking and Mrs. Haring.

She smiled at him he was a good boy. "That's part of the reason he can't be in training for now."

"Oh, I see." She said nodding.

"Well, I do have some that should work out."

"Great, may we see them?"

"Of course, just follow me." So he did realizing he had been told that a lot today.

She got him quite a few outfits and Mrs. Haring obviously paid for it. "Thanks." He said.

"It's no problem."

"He seems like a sweet boy." The shop girl said while Mrs. Harring was paying.

"He really is. He's just… been through a lot to say the least."

"Well, I hope things get better for him."

"They will. I can guarantee that." Mrs. Haring swore.

"Well then, good luck." She said.

"Thank you, have a good day."

"You as well."

"Is that all?" The shop keeper asked.

"Yes thank you so much." Kawino said.

"It's my pleasure. I really hope you get better."

"Oh uh...thank you?" He said.

"You're welcome. You seem like a really nice boy."

"Thanks, you are a really nice woman." He said.

"Thank you, I like to try to be."

"Well, you are." He said.

"Thank you,"

He smiled a little before heading out with Mrs. Harring. "That was nice." He said once they were out.

"Yes it was." She said.

"So, what now then?"

"Well, we can go home or try to find a hobby."

"Maybe we should at least get home and change first though."

"Okay." He shrugged.

So they both headed back with the clothes just purchased. "Okay, go change and put your clothes away." She said.

"Okay," He said taking an outfit and heading back to his new room. It was still odd looking at his new bed with its baby blue sheets. He ran the sheets in between his fingers. He never had any before. They were soft and smooth and felt like that odd material he had felt at the store silk.

"Interesting," He breathed before letting it go and getting dressed. He now wore black pants and shoes with red laces. He also wore a darker red shirt. "Hmm…" He said looking it over in the mirror. He nodded and began to put his new clothes away.

Once done he headed back to Mrs. Haring. "You look a lot more comfortable." She said.

"What does that mean?" He asked for the millionth time the past two days.

"It means you like those clothes better." She said.

"Oh, well, yes I do."

"Good." She said happily.

"So, this hobby. It's something you do in your free time, right?" Kawino asked since Ria had already explained it to him.

"Yes it is why?"

"That's what Ria said it was."

"Oh! That girl Clove was telling me about?" She said.

"Yeah, she was very nice, brave, too."

"You like this girl?"

"I don't know. If it wasn't for her I'd still be stuck with my parents."

"She's a good girl then." She nodded.

"Yeah, she got a black eye for it though."

"That poor girl." Mrs. Harring said.

Kawino nodded sadly, "I stepped into her defense though. Got an extra hard beating for that but it was worth it."

"It was?" She asked.

"Yes it was. Better me than her. At least I'm used to it. It also played an important role into them getting caught."

"Good."

"Well, yeah, I guess I do like her."

"That's a good thing." She said.

"It is?"

"Yes, it really is how does she make you feel?"

"I don't know how to describe it." Kawino said in uncertainty.

"Well, try to."

"I'm not sure I feel… really good."

"Like better than normal?" She asked.

"Yeah, a lot better."

"Nervous as well?"

"Well, yeah, I had figured it was just since I might have gotten in trouble for talking to her but when she came back after they were arrested…"

"You were still nervous?"

"Yeah,"

"You have a crush." She said smiling.

"A what?"

"A crush it means you want to date this girl."

"Oh, you mean like Cato and Clove?"

"Yes, like Cato and Clove." She said.

"Well, it doesn't make a difference anyways."

"Why not this is great news." She said.

"She'd never like me that way though."

"Why would you say that? You're a nice boy." She said.

"I'm not perfect though. No one will ever want that kind of thing with me unless I'm perfect." This was so surprising to Mrs. Harring she froze in shock. "What?" Kawino asked failing to see the problem with that.

"Did they tell you that?" She asked.

"Yes,"

"Kawino, that is not true." She said pulling him into a hug.

"It isn't?" He asked very confused.

"No it isn't. People love you now, and I am sure that girl would as well."

"You really think so?"

"I really do, you never know until you ask you could even go to meet them when school ends today."

"How would you even ask that though?"

"You just need to be polite about it and ask her if she wants to come to lunch with you." She suggested.

"Okay… what's lunch?"

"The meal in the middle of the day."

"Oh, okay," He said thinking for a second. "What if she says no though?"

"Then try not to take it personally she may not be ready for a relationship, but you have to try."

"Alright, I guess I will."

"Good." She said.

"How much longer is it until then?"

"About an hour and a half."

"Okay, then we should probably try out that hobby thing?"

"Yes we should."

"So, what can we try?"

"Instruments, Drawing, Sowing, cooking." She named off.

"So, what to start with?" He asked.

"You choose." She said.

"I don't know any of those though."

So she gave a small description of each.

"Hmm… how about cooking?"

"Useful skill to have." She said smiling.

"Could you show me then?"

"Sure I can." She said leading him to the kitchen. He followed curious as to how this works. She decided to start simply with eggs. She pulled some out and showed him how to crack it first.

Over the next little while he learned basics to cracking, slicing, and seasoning. "This is incredible." He said with a real smile.

"You like it?" She asked.

"Yes I do."

"That's great!" She said.

"Yeah it is. Thank you."

"It's my pleasure believe me."

"Why do you care so much?" He asked looking her right in the eye for pretty much the first time.

"Because you deserve to be happy and have a normal life. Everyone does and I just can't stand that someone would do that stuff to an innocent child much less their own."

"Well thank you." He said smiling.

"You're welcome." She smiled just glad to see that he was.

"So, what about the others?" He asked.

"They should be getting out soon." She said looking at the clock.

"So, I should go then?" He asked.

"Probably, good luck, Kawino."

"Thank you...for everything." He said.

"My pleasure, I'm glad to help in any way I can." He smiled and set out toward the school.

He got there at just about the time classes had let out. Out came Clove, Cato, Cady, and beside them was Ria all of them smiling and talking. Kawino was unsure if he should interrupt so he just waited for them to notice him. Which Cady did and she pulled on their others sleeves and pointed over to him. They turned noticing him as well. "Oh, hi Kawino." Ria blushed.

"Hey Ria, uh...can I talk to you?" He asked a little red himself.

"Um… sure." She said going over to him.

"So...I was wondering if...maybe...you would want to come to lunch with me?" He asked more nervous than ever.

"I would love that." She said turning even redder.

"What really?" He asked smiling.

"Yes, really." She said but left it at that not knowing if he had meant it that way or not and not wanting to ward him off if he didn't.

"I mean like as a...what do they call them... date." He said.

"Really?!" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah, I mean, I understand if you don't."

"No, I would really, really like that actually."

"That...that's great!"

"Yeah, you really mean it? You know what a date is and everything?"

"Yeah, I know." He said.

"Then let's go," She smiled taking his hand.

"Really? Even though I am not perfect?"

"Yes, no one's perfect."

"You are."

She got even redder at that, "No I'm not."

"You seem to be." He said oddly.

"Well, I'm not so we should just be imperfect together."

He smiled and nodded wondering what to do. "So, where are we supposed to go for this lunch?" He asked awkwardly.

"One of us could make it and we meet up at their house?" She asked.

"Sure, Mrs. Haring has been teaching me how to cook."

"So you want to cook?" She asked.

"I would like to try. I've only learned a few things so far though."

"I would love to try whatever you want to cook." She said.

"Okay but it probably won't be any good."

"We'll see." She said smiling.

"Alright... so... I should go back now then?" He asked awkwardly.

"We can hang out."

"What's that mean?"

"We stay together with the others." She said.

"Um... okay."

"It'll be fun."

"Okay, I trust you." He agreed.

She led him back to the others by the hand. "Guess what?" She asked them excitedly.

"What?" Clove asked.

"Kawino asked me out!"

"He did!?" Clove asked smiling.

"Yeah, and she said yes." He said still having trouble believing that part.

"That's great!" Clove said hugging them both.

"Yeah, I really needed that."

"Well, I like seeing you happy." Clove said.

"Well, it feels good. I guess I owe it to her in the first place anyways." Kawino noted.

"No you don't." She said.

"Yes I do. If it wasn't for you I'd still be stuck with them."

"Well yeah, I guess." She said smiling.

"Then yes, I owe it to you." He said still holding onto her hand.

"Well alright." She said.

"So, what now?" He asked.

"Well what did you do today?" Clove asked.

"I got some clothes and Mrs. Haring taught me some things about cooking."

"You can cook?" Cady asked.

"Just some of the basics."

"That's still great." Cady said.

"Yeah, it was fun, too."

"So you were happy?"

"Yeah, a little." He admitted.

"Good." Cato said.

"Thank you,"

"No trouble."

Still nothing to say just review and you are welcome to flame.