The next few days, I kept going to the park to practice. I tried to stay out as late as I could, but nothing made a difference. I had to go home eventually.

Everyday was the same. Wake up. Shower. School. Park. Home.

If Kaku or Tomaru noticed anything other than my lack of appetite, they didn't say anything.

Haruhi had visited us at the park a few times, but those times she was alone.

I spoke to her, but because I was focused on practicing, I didn't speak much. She spoke mostly to Tomaru about the street show and what we were going to be doing there.

Finally, it was the morning of the street show. I got up early, just before the sun, and started to get ready.

Our father had drank heavily the night before and passed out hard enough Kaku and I were both confident he wouldn't wake up until midday.

I quickly grabbed my phone and my backpack. I wrote a note and slipped into Kakus room to put it next to his pillow. I wanted him to meet me at the fountain.

I snuck out the front door and down the stairs. The sun was just coming up, so there wasn't many people around. The only people that should be around, were the ones setting up the street show.

I rushed to the place were it was being held and helped out with as much as I was allowed. Once the food stalls started setting up and the ropes and fences were done, I went to the fountain.

I sat down and listened to the sound of the water. I leaned back and turned my head to watch the fish swim around, completely oblivious to anything but to beg for bread crumbs. They had no idea of the problems that some people had. People like me that were small and insignifigant.

"Kanako!"

I jumped and turned around. "Oh, Master Ineno. Sorry."

Master Ineno was much taller than me; the top of my head came to his chest. His long black hair always tied in a bun, but there was always a bit hanging down to his shoulders. His eyes were as dark as his hair, so most people avoided him because he looked scary all the time.

"You turned up today."

I hesitated. "Yea. Sorry I haven't been coming the last few weeks..."

"You're lucky I'm going to let you perform. Hitoshi insisted on allowing you to continue. You owe that boy."

I nodded. "I know."

Master Ineno sighed and sat down next to me. "I know your home life isn't great, but that doesn't mean you should avoid coming and doing what you enjoy."

I hesitated. "My father is starting to...He's been trying to stop me from going. He expects me home before he gets home."

Master Ineno leaned back on his hands. "I see. He's trying to stop you from growing up."

I scoffed. "Something like that."

Master Ineno glanced at me sideways, but I looked away. He nodded. "So, there's more going on than just controlling your actions, huh?"

I stayed quiet.

"You're not going to tell me?"

I shook my head and stood up. "Where do we have to perform? I told Kaku I'd meet him here."

Master Ineno didn't stand up. "Just over there." He pointed to a space not too far away, a large mat set up for us. "We have the tournament first, but since you missed the last three sessions..."

"I miss out on the tournament. What do you want me to do?"

He sighed and stood up. "You and Hitoshi are the best ones. Unfortunately for you, this is not a real tournament, so it's unnecessary for you to be in it. However, you will be the umpire-"

I groaned. "You can't be serious..."

He put his hand up and continued. "You also have your own roll in the performance."

I smirked. "Not breathing fire like you, I hope." Master Ineno tapped my head with his fist as a tick appeared on his head.

"Ouch!"

"You need to watch your mouth, Kanako."

"Sorry." I grumbled. "So what am I doing, then?"

He grinned, the amusement reaching his eyes. "Only your favourite thing."

I scowled. "Oh, fuck sake..."

Once the rest of the class had got there, and Kaku had arrived with Tomaru, the tournament started. It wasn't a real one where we got prizes for high ranks or anything. It was just so show what we were capable of. Of course, there were rivalries in the class, so I had to step in every so often to keep it from getting too far.

"Hey, just because you reckon you're the best here! You didn't even get a shot!"

I rolled my eyes and stood in the center of the mat, as a crowd of people watched. "Oh, shut it, Daisuke! Ryoma, you win."

"Oh no he doesn't!"

I rolled my eyes again and tripped Daisuke. "Watch it. Next time, I'll actually punch you in front of these people."

Daisuke scowled and walked off the mat. Ryoma bowed like he was supposed to, and went to the sidelines. After a few more match ups went on, then, finally the last one. Tomaru and Daisuke.

It didn't take long for Tomaru to beat him, and I didn't have to step in. Tomaru would've likely sat him on his ass if he tried anything.

Master Ineno came to the middle of the mat and announced Tomaru the overall winner. Tomaru received a medal, but it was more for show than anything. What really mattered was that he showed everyone in the class that he was better than them.

The crowd dispersed as we started to set up for the actual performance. Kaku come up to us, asking to help. Luckily, Master Ineno was happy for him to do the smaller stuff.

I growled as Kaku went off to get the costumes. "Is that really necessary?"

"Oh, yes."

I spun on Master Ineno. "I'm not the only girl in the group, you know!"

He nodded, trying and failing to look sincere. "But you're the only one that is amusing to watch."

I growled again. "You're not funny, you know that."

"No, but in all seriousness, it's an important role, and I wanted you to play it anyway. It's not like a play. There are no lines; no words. You just..." He moved his arms about in a flowy motion. "...Feel it."

I crossed my arms and pouted. "If I must, but it doesn't help me feel any better."

As it turned out, the performance that Master Ineno made me star in, was similar to my home life. So similar, I almost spoke out and quit on the spot; but I didn't want to be kicked out of my classes, so I grit my teeth and bared it.

The story was about a girl who's family hated her. Her mother had died giving birth to her, so she was deemed cursed. The girls father and older brother treated her like trash, and would try to take as much from her as they could. They beat her, starved her, sold her. Once the girl had become old enough, she would hide away in a secluded area and practice moves she had seen some of military men do. She mimicked the silent footsteps of the assassins she knew; copied sword strikes with a stick. The girl rose up on her own, with no help, and managed to become something.

As Master Ineno promised, there was no dialogue; just silent movements that forced people to really pay attention to what was going on.

At the end of the performance, the girl had to stand up to her family because they were going to execute the only real friend she made.

Of course, Master Ineno had to give Tomaru that character.

I jumped, landed with one hand down and kneeling on one knee. That ended the performance and I blinked a few times.

Tomaru and I headed off the mat and went to go get changed. When we got back, Master Ineno pulled me aside.

"You deliberately put me in that, didn't you?"

Master Ineno gave a half smile. "Of course. I hope you learned something from it." He let go of my shoulder and walked away, shouting orders to other people from the class about cleaning up.

I sighed and turned to Tomaru. "Please tell me you knew nothing of this..."

He winced and shook his head. "I knew the story, but I didn't think it was to do with you."

I nodded. "Uh huh. Sure."

"Oh, uh, by the way-" Tomaru barely got the words out before somebody leapt onto my back. I thought for a second that it was Kaku, but then I spotted Kaku standing next to Tomaru.

"Guess who!"

I shook my head and grinned. "Like I need to. You guys saw all that?"

Honey wrapped his arms too tight around my neck, but I didn't mind too much.

"Yea! You didn't tell us you were that good!"

I looked up and saw Haruhi rolling her eyes at boys. Tomaru was scowling with his arms crossed. Kaku was staring up at Mori, not used to someone that tall.

"Look, I wasn't that great..."

Tomaru scoffed. "They didn't get to see you in the tournament. If they did, then they could be impressed."

I grunted and crossed my arms. "Says Mr 'Best In The Whole Class'..."

Tomaru turned his head. "Hm. Come on. We need food."

The rest of the day was mostly just the group of us hanging out together. Kaku and Honey actually got along, after Kaku got over Mori's height. Tamaki freaked Kaku out with his flamboyance, so Kaku avoided him. The twins tried to talk him into doing pranks. Luckily, Ootari said something to them before it went too far.

Haruhi and I just stayed out of the boys' way, and Tomaru tried to keep an eye on Kaku.

"Is it always like this?" I scrunched up my nose as Tomaru started to chase the twins around.

Haruhi nodded. "Pretty much. Minus you, Kaku and Tomaru."

I sighed. "I don't know how to feel about that."

We were quiet a moment until we got to a park near the street show. Kaku ran straight for the slide, the twins chasing him and Tomaru chasing them, shouting. The others wandered about, as Haruhi and I sat on a bench to watch them.

"How is everything at home?"

I felt her watching me as my eyes darkened and my shoulders tensed. I breathed out and tried to smile. "I'll be fine. I mean...I have to be, right?"

She looked at me for a bit, and I shifted my eyes to Kaku. He was letting the twins hang him upside down between them, over where the fireman's pole was, Tomaru underneath reaching up to him and shouting.

"Maybe you should have a break away from home for a while. Come to my house and stay. The holidays are coming up."

I shook my head. "My father would never agree to that."

She nodded and looked towards the boys. "Because I hang out with them."

"Yea." I hesitated. "I would rather not be home during the holidays though. I couldn't stand being there 24/7."

Haruhi smiled. "I'll see what I can do."

I breathed out. "Thanks. Kaku would hate it if I had the chance to get away and didn't take it." I grinned. "I can already hear him yelling at me."

Haruhi stood up. "It's getting late. We should all go home. I'll text you when we figure something out."

I frowned. "We?"

She just nodded and went to get the boys. I sighed as Kaku ran over, laughing.

"Those two are great! They're helping me lighten Tomaru up!"

I rolled my eyes, then laughed. "I guess he does need it."

"I heard that!" He yelled from his spot on the monkey bars. He was sitting cross legged on top, the twins underneath harassing him.

I laughed again and said to Kaku about going home. He didn't object and we left with Tomaru yelling after us.

That night, Katori was in a worse mood and would flip out over any little thing. Kaku had gone to his bedroom after I had made him go hide.

Katori hit me over and over, but he didn't try to stop me when I managed to escape and hide in my room.

I quickly text Haruhi to see if she had any ideas about me disappearing for the holidays yet. She replied that she had some ideas, but needed to talk to her father about it.

I hid my phone again and hoped that they would figure something out soon.

I checked the bruising and knew if I was going to wear short sleeves or singlets, they'd show up and I couldn't let anyone else see.

Especially Master Ineno; it seemed he already suspected something was going on though I'm not sure exactly what he suspected.

The bruising on my legs wasn't as bad as it has been before, but it still hurt and I was going to be sore in the morning.

I just hoped that nothing else too bad happened before I was able to escape for the holidays.

A few days later, I got a text from Haruhi saying that she worked out a way to get my away for the holidays and make sure my father wasn't too mad about me being away.

I spoke to Katori about it and he reluctantly agreed to it. He also said that if I was going to be working that I was to either save every penny I earned to give to him when I returned, or send it as I earned it. I chose to save it. It meant that if I kept some for myself, he wouldn't notice.

Kaku was happy that I was getting out, at least for a while. He had started to see that I was getting worse and worse, and he saw how Katori was treating me; he had gonna worse.

As much as I was happy to get out of the house for a while, I was also a bit nervous. I felt like there was something wrong, but I didn't know what.

And I wouldn't find out until later what it was.