Kawino woke shooting bolt upright and screaming once again as nightmares of his time in the arena woke him again. For a while after his games though the nightmares were there his body was desperate enough for sleep to keep him under but by this point the nightmares have been winning. "Got to get up." He sighed.

It was reaping day after all, his first year as a mentor. "Be calm."

It was at least a little good to know that whoever goes into the arena there's an extremely low chance that he knows them. He got up and went straight to the shower.

As an unshakable habit, he turned the water on way too hot. To him it was alright. When he striped it was honestly weird to see his skin clear from any bruises, wounds, or scars. Though he was still way too thin it was like seeing a complete stranger. It was also odd getting into clean well maintained clothes daily. Of course, he could never even come close to saying he missed his old 'life' but he wondered if he'd ever get used to this new one.

He decided to focus on that later now though he had a tribute to meet. He got dressed and was soon met with Clove in the hallway. "Hey Clover." He said.

"Hey Kawino," Clove said and he could tell from her voice that she was nervous.

"Calm down, Clover."

"It's hard to."

"You'll be safe." Kawino said. "Even if by sick chance you do get Reaped, you'd win."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I promise you'll be okay."

"Okay." She said hugging him.

"I have to go though. As a mentor I'm supposed to be there earlier than everyone else."

"Right, see you there." She said.

"See you there."

He left and just as he was leaving so was Enobaria. He immediately made her way over to her not sure or really caring if he was going towards his partner or motherly figure… probably both. "Nervous?" she asked him.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"That's to be expected. The first year is always the hardest but I'm sure you'll do great."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"I'll be there to help whenever needed."

"Thanks."

"It's no problem."

"I would hug but we're almost there."

"Later," she said, as they walked.

"Promise?"

"I promise." He smiled at that as they arrived in a room where victors waited and watch this reaping with the Mayor.

They both took their own seats. "So Kawino, nervous?" He asked.

"A little," he admitted.

"Well, I can imagine why but try not to."

"I will. At least Enobaria's my partner."

"Yes, that must be a relief."

"Yeah, it really helps."

"Good then."

"The whole thing seems hard though."

"It is a hard thing to deal with."

"At least I'm not like Haymitch and alone."

"Yes, that poor man."

"You can't really blame him for turning to alcohol."

"No, and I don't it does not make it any less sad."

"I know. Believe me...I don't blame him for anything." Kawino said thinking of his own nightmares.

"Neither do I." Enobaria agreed.

"I assume you both have not slept well."

"I guess I have by comparison."

"Right, okay?" He said.

"So, not too bad I guess."

"It's starting." Enobaria sighed.

"Still many times more sleep than I ever got before the games."

"That's not good."

"I know but that's over now."

"Yeah it is."

"It all feels kind of weird honestly."

"I can't imagine." He said

"The reaping is starting." She pointed out. He gulped and turned his attention.

The head peace keeper came to the stage and went over to the reaping balls. Unlike the televised Reaping in an hour there was no pageantry and he went in and pulled the first name he found. "Clove Yetter."

"No! No no no!" Kawino said from a room which he couldn't be heard in anyway.

On the screen, unlike the later fake reaping and any non-Career District. Clove was trapped as some of the other Peacekeepers took their 'parents' back into custody for the second year in a row. Being a victor Kawino was automatically exempted.

"Why her?!"

There wasn't any time to answer though even if the was one as he went to the boy's bowl and things somehow got even worse. "Cato Harring."

"NO!" The Mayor said.

The door to the room they were in flung open almost immediately. "Mr. Mayor, come with us." He got up and headed over to them knowing full well even he could never get away with disobeying a Peacekeeper.

"No, not them. Why them?!" Kawino said. They were both stunned staring at the screen. It just couldn't be happening.

"Kawino I..." Enobaria stammered.

"This can't be happening."

"Your tributes!" The head peacekeeper said. "You guys obviously both know the drill. Dismissed."

Kawino was sprinting for them instantly.

He found his sister first. "Clover!" He said rushing over and hugging her.

She didn't say just leaned into his chest starting to cry. He didn't know what to say he just held her. He of course remembered his own reapings vividly but they couldn't possibly compare. "Why did this happen?" Clove asked.

"I don't know. I've been wondering that myself."

"It's not fair," he muttered.

"No, it isn't."

"I will get you through."

"Then Cato will have to die."

"I can't save you both."

"I know! That's the problem!"

"Why are you yelling at me!?"

"I'm sorry. It wasn't at you. I just…"

"You're afraid."

"Extremely."

"I'll figure something out," Kawino said.

"It's impossible."

"No, I will figure something out."

"There's only one winner though."

"I don't care, I will find a way." Kawino said.

"Well, if anyone could find a way, it's you."

"I will," he said.

"Thank you, Kawino."

"No problem, Clover. As long as you 'volunteer'."

"I will. I swear." She sighed.

"Good, I don't know what I'll do if you die."

"I don't know what I will do without you or Cato."

"I'll make sure you don't have to."

"Okay, I trust you."

"Good, you should."

"I'm going to go talk to Cato and his family; could you come please?"

"Of course."

"Thanks." She said leading the way over.

They soon found him taking it no better than Clove was. "I can't kill Clove." He was saying to his family.

"You may not have to," Kawino said.

"What do you mean?" they all asked.

"I'll figure something out."

"You really think you can?"

"I'll find a way."

"Okay, I trust you."

"Good, and, I'll have to discuss it with Enobaria but I think it would be a good idea to play this up the next few days."

"Play what up?"

"Your relationship."

"You want people to know?"

"At the very least it could get sponsors."

"Okay, we can do that."

"I'll ask Enobaria what she thinks and get back to you guys on the train." Kawino sighed.

"Okay," they said nodding.

"We'll get through this." They nodded before hugging each other. "I have to go back though. Not actually supposed to be here anyways."

"Right see you soon." Clove said.

"Of course." He nodded and headed back.

Kawino, was not slowing down he was already planning. Two tributes out of the arena seemed impossible but he was determined to make it happen. 'I just need to manipulate the Capital,' he thought. He made his way back to Enobaria trying to figure out how.

He walked back into the room he left her in and she was there. He walked over and hugged her, still thinking. "We can't let them die," he muttered to her.

"I know, and we won't."

"We need a way to save both."

"We will find one," she said, holding him.

"I was thinking we should play up their relationship to the Capitol."

"That could work."

"Yeah, try to find a soft spot."

"We will and then we exploit it."

"Exactly."

"Okay, that's the plan then."

"Yeah, hopefully it will work."

"I think it will."

"It better."

"We will make it work," she said.

"Okay, I trust you."

"Good."

It wasn't long until it was time for the televised reaping and they had to head up on stage. Kawino composed himself and headed up. District 2's escort Azalea soon took the stage. "Welcome everyone to the 74th Reaping!" She said.

That was met with cheers from the crowd that were all just acting.

"Now then, let's begin." She said. She went to the whole speech and showed the video and everything. "Now then ladies first." She said.

She drew and read a name that no one paid attention to not actually having any meaning as Clove stepped out from the 15 year-old-girl's section calling, "I volunteer!"

"Oh! A volunteer!" She said clapping. "What's your name?" she asked, as Clove took the stage.

"Clove Yetter."

"Yetter? Like last year's victor Kawino Yetter?"

"Yes, he's my brother," Clove said, managing to hold a smirk typical to Careers.

"Oh, that's very interesting. Well, then I am sure we can expect great things from you."

"Thank you, Azalea."

"You're welcome, My Dear. Now then, the boys." She said.

"I volunteer!" Cato said once the name was pulled.

"Another volunteer!" she said happily. He went up to the stage and took her hand almost immediately. "Oh! What is this now?" She asked.

Cato glanced at Kawino for a second earning a nod then said, "We've been dating for a little over two years."

"Oh, I see. That is very unfortunate." She said her smile actually slipping.

"My name's Cato Haring, by the way."

"Alright then. Ladies and gentlemen, your tributes: Clove Yetter and Cato Haring," she said. Though usually you're supposed to shake hands, Cato pulled Clove into a hug. The crowd cheered as they were lead to the Justice Building.

Clove was put into one of the rooms separate from Cato. 'Time for goodbyes?' She thought. Soon the door opened though revealing the two last people she wanted to see.

"Clove, dear." Her mother said heading over.

"Don't you dare call me that, get out of here!"

"We just want to talk to you," she said.

"Just go away."

"Clover, please," she tried one more time.

"You have no right to call me Clover! You are the devil and I hate you both for what you did to him!"

Before they could respond they were dragged out. "What are you doing? We have plenty of them and we're just trying to say goodbye to our daughter!"

"She clearly doesn't want you in here we can't have people in here against the tributes wishes."

"She's just scared. You can't take us away from her like this."

"I don't recall near this much concern for your son last year, Ma'am."

"He wasn't going in with the person he loves," she blurted pulling the first thing out of her ass. "We knew he'd win but she might not even want to."

"Well, she knows she does not want you in there."

"You're really going to keep us out?"

"Unless she says otherwise."

"How could she?"

"She can knock and say so through the door."

"How long would you wait?"

"She has three minutes." They both had figured out there wasn't a chance of it though. "Go now." The Peacekeeper said. They re-restrained their wrists.

'It'll be okay.' Mantear thought.

A short while later Cato and Clove were lead to the train where they found Kawino and Enobaria waiting. Kawino quickly noticed that Clove seemed even more bitter than expected. "What happened?" He asked as they started to speed off.

"Mom and Dad came to visit," she grumbled.

"Oh, they did huh?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"How did that go?"

"I yelled at them until the peacekeepers took them away."

"Smart tactic." Enobaria said.

"I didn't even think about that part. I was just yelling at them."

"Oh, well still."

"Well… thanks, I guess."

"Yes, now, on to the other issues," Kawino said.

"Right."

"This idea seems to be our best bet," Kawino said.

"With our relationship being public."

"Yes, you see the people of the Capital are ruled by emotion... not so much brains well at least not for most of them."

"So it might get to them."

"It should, but you need to really play this up."

"We will."

"Good, now go eat." He said.

They both nodded and dug in.

Kawino sat silently at his spot pondering.

The idea seemed pretty foolproof if they push it hard enough.

He knew it would be a lot of work on his part and in all honesty he was ready for that.

After all, he'd literally do anything for the two of them.

In fact in the arena he had done plenty of things just for Clove alone.

Even before that he put up with all that stuff so that Clove wouldn't have to.

'This is no different from any other time.' He thought.

There was no question about it.

I was getting DB)

"Kawino are you okay?"

"What? Yeah, just thinking."

"Oh, okay." Clove sighed.

"It'll be okay, Clover."

"I hope so." She sighed.

"I'll make sure of it."

"Okay, okay." She said smiling a little hopefully.

"You know I'd never let anything happen to either of you."

"Yeah, but we have to save Cato's family as well." She said.

"Of course, that part could be hard."

"Not if you don't care about your parents." Enobaria said.

"Of course not. They need to die," Clove grumbled.

"Then let Cato do most of the dirty work in the arena."

"I guess that make sense."

"I can live with that." Cato said.

"Then we have a plan."

"Yes, we do and I need to warn you both most of what happens in the styling you won't like." Kawino said.

"How bad?" Cato asked, Clove remembering some things from when Kawino's team came over to prep for the victory tour.

"Pretty bad."

"Just do what they say though okay?"

"Well, if we have to."

"You unfortunately don't have a choice."

"Fine but I won't like it."

"No one does," Enobaria stated.

"You'll love the stylist though."

"At least one of you. I don't know the other one."

"Try to give Clove the one you know."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks."

"Can we do that?" he asked Enobaria.

"Do what?"

"Decide which gets which stylist."

"I think I can try with Annia." He said.

"Okay, thank you."

"She's great." He said.

"Okay, I trust you."

"Good you'll love her."

"What should I expect?"

"A kind women who will work with you."

"That is a relief at least."

"Yeah she was my stylist."

"Okay then."

"Yeah you'll love her.

"I'm sure I will."

"Good now try to relax before we get there."

"I'll try."

"Enobaria, can you recommend a drink?"

"How strong?" she asked thinking it over.

"A little."

She took out a bottle of red wine and poured him a glass.

"Thank you." He sighed taking a drink.

He didn't really notice anything with the first sip but soon very his head was spinning.

"Okay wow." He said.

"Sorry, I guess it would take less to get you drunk."

"Yeah I suppose."

"Just be careful with that."

"I will be.

"Good, we can't have you too disoriented like a lot of the other mentors."

"I won't be."

He set down the glass collecting himself for a second.

"Okay I will be Okay."

"Good," Clove said.

"Thank you."

"When are we supposed to get to the Capitol?" Clove asked.

"About two hours."

"Not long then."

"No not long."

"What should we do when we first get off?"

"Stay together."

"Okay."

"Do not separate until they style you.

"We'll make sure of it."

"Good." He said.

"What else?"

"Emotional at reuniting."

"Now when we get off the train wave to everyone."

"Got it," they both nodded.

"And like I said stick together."

"Of course."

"Don't glare no matter what you hear."

"Right."

"It'll be harder than you think."

"Really because it already sounds hard enough."

"You don't know the half of it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"That's all I ask."

"That's it then?"

"Pretty much for this part."

"Okay, we'll make sure to remember that."

"Then you are safe."

"Thank you."

"No problem." He said hugging them.

They both of course returned the hug.

"I'll get you both out of this."

"We trust you will."

"Good, now go try to relax when you're done."

"Okay."

He nodded and headed to his own room.

"This is all so much," Clove said once he was gone.

"You think he's going to crack?" Cato asked.

"Probably," she admitted biting her lip.

"He needs somebody." She sighed.

"Like a girl friend?"

"Maybe yeah I mean you help me a lot." Clove said.

"Could definitely be a good idea if we could find anyone."

"Well, we can worry about that after the arena or before in small parts." Enobaria said.

"Right, of course."

"He's tough, he'll get through."

"You I know."

"Annia!" He said smiling a little for the first time since Clove's reaping not noticing that there were others with her.

She instantly returned the hug. "Kawino, there's two girl here I want you to meet."

"Oh, okay who are they?" He asked.

"These two girls here, this is my daughter, Yizziki and my niece, Sabina."

Yizziki was a girl of roughly his height with auburn hair and pale skin. She was also a bit skinny, but not overly so and she also had the look of someone who was only here because she had nowhere else to be.

The other girl was about a foot shorter than them. She had long auburn hair, and slightly tanned skin. She had dark green cat like eyes and dark red nails that, on closer inspection he noticed were actually rubies, and she smiled at him revealing white pearly teeth.

He felt, an odd sensation of nerves when she smiled at him.

"So you're Kawino Yetter?" Sabina asked.

"Yes, I am... and your Sabina?" He asked nervously.

"Yes I am… it's nice to finally meet you, Kawino."

"Finally?" He asked offering his hand.

"Well, yeah, I had heard a lot of good things about you."

"Oh? I didn't know." He said smiling.

"Aunt Annia talks about you all the time."

"Oh she does huh?" He asked looking to the older woman.

"Well, yeah, of course I do," Annie said but then mouthed 'not that'.

He nodded, and turned to the girls.

"So, your Yizziki?" He asked turning to the other girl.

She nodded and he notice her hand was clasped around a notebook at her side as if her life depended on it.

"What's that?"

"Just some drawings."

"Can I see them?" He asked.

"Um, sure, they're a little odd though." She said opening the notebook.

"Okay?" He shrugged opening it up and seeing seemingly random doodles, but on a few pages he noticed blood.

Of course, he'd know blood anywhere. His throat tightened and he looked up at Yizziki.

"Is this blood?" He asked carefully.

"No, it's just sauce."

"No, this is definitely blood," he countered looking at one of the stains.

"How would you know?" She asked defensively.

The looked her in the eye for a few seconds before saying, "Because we recognize our own."

She stared at him and it clicked in her head, his look was understanding not pity.

"Well… yes… it is."

"Why is there blood in your notebook?"

"…My father."

"He does this?"

She nodded slowly, "Mostly with broken bottles."

"That's not right." He growled.

"No it isn't. He does to Mom, too."

Kawino turned questioningly to Annia.

"He does this to both of you?"

She nodded as well.

"I'm going to kill him."

"Kawino, you don't have to," Annia said carefully.

"I know but I'm going to."

"No one should beat a woman," he added.

"Kawino, are you sure?" Enobaria asked.

"Absolutely."

"Well, it'll be hard."

"I can handle it."

"You have to get away with it."

"Victors kill after the arena all the time."

"Chalk it up to a random outburst." Sabina said.

"Exactly." Kawino nodded.

"Seems like a good plan to me." She said.

"It's what needs to be done."

"Need a partner?"

"Wouldn't that make it harder to cover?"

"Just as a look out."

"Well, yes I could."

"Then I'll come."

"Really?"

"Yes, I have always wanted to save them."

"You knew what was going on?"

"Yes, but no one would listen."

Kawino of course thought of Cady then. "And they asked you not to tell?"

"Well...yeah they did." She admitted.

"To be expected, I asked Cady not to when she found out."

"Who?"

"A friend."

"Oh I see."

"She saw the abuse herself about two years ago."

"Oh I'm so sorry."

"We have a plan for my parents too though."

"That's good then."

"What did they do to you?" Sabina asked.

"It would be easier to tell you what they didn't do."

"That bad?"

"Yes that bad." Enobaria said.

"Oh, I shouldn't ask then."

"Not now."

"Okay, I won't."

"I will take care of the man."

"Thank you, Kawino."

"My pleasure I'll be back."

"Okay."

"Lead the way." He said to Sabina.

She nodded and led him out.

"So, Kawino...do you do this sort of thing a lot?"

"What sort of thing exactly?"

"Stick up for people."

"If it's someone I care about."

"That makes you a great guy you know?"

"It does?"

"Yeah it really does." She said smiling.

"It's not really that hard with such a short list."

"Well maybe you'll add more."

"Probably."

"I hope so."

"I probably just need time."

"Yeah probably." She said with a small smile.

"Since I won I was able to escape and it all just takes a lot to get used to.

"Yeah, I hope you have had help."

"Yeah I have."

"That's good, everyone needs someone sometimes."

"Well, now two of the people I can count on are going into the games together."

"Oh, I just...wow that's got to be rough."

"Yeah, it really is."

"Well, if you need to talk to anyone...I am open to listen." She said.

"Maybe after this."

"I would be honored."

"You guys different from most here."

"We try to be."

"That's a great thing."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, you guys are sensible and nice."

"Well that's sweet of you to say."

"It's my pleasure."

"We're here." She said.

"You ready?" she asked him.

"Of course I am." He said.

"Right through there then."

He nodded and headed inside.

Very soon he found a very Capitol-like man with orange skin that almost looked like snake scales, maroon colored hair, and yellow eyes. He had a bottle of white liquor pressed to his lips until Kawino came in. "Who are you what are you doin in my house?" He slurred.

"I'm Kawino Yetter, victor of the 73rd Hunger Games and I'm here because I know what you've been doing to your wife and daughter."

"Is that right? What business is my life to you?"

"The fact that your wife was my stylist and means a lot to me."

"Well, listen boy there is nothing to be done about it."

"I can kill you."

"You can't and wouldn't."

"I can, would, and am going to."

"You can't expect to escape the law." He said as Kawino approached grabbing a knife.

"I'm a victor. Chalk it up to a random outburst, some mental evaluations, in the clear."

"No please..." He said stumbling back.

"It's much too late, there's nothing that can save you now," Kawino smirked and threw the knife into the air catching the handle.

"You know for house knives these are very well balanced." He shrugged on approach.

"Look like I get to have some fun here," Kawino trailed tapping his other finger to his chin, "and I know lots of ways to inflict a lot of pain on someone."

"After all pain is what I do best." He said before stabbing the man's shoulder all the way through.

The man screamed but Kawino kneed him really hard in the stomach. "Shut up, I've barely even started."

With that he grabbed the man's hair and slammed his head back into the wall.

"Just remember, you brought all of this on yourself."

"This had it coming, especially the girl. Things were fine until she came."

"Do I look like I care about your excuses?"

"It's true though."

"I don't believe you."

"I was fine until she came along and ruined the life we had."

"And how exactly did she do that?"

"We were not ready for a child!"

"So you're saying it's her fault for being BORN?!"

"That is what I said boy."

"That's sick! Do you not even realize how wrong that is?!"

"It's wrong to speak the truth?" He muttered.

Kawino slammed his back against the wall with his forearm pressed against the man's throat. "If you weren't ready then it's your fault! Not hers!"

"She could have died, and sometimes I wish she had!"

"You are a sick twisted monster!"

"So, are you going to put me down?"

"Not a chance," Kawino said and slammed his flat palm against the man's ear.

The man staggered and fell to the ground.

Kawino bent down to his level grabbing the liquor bottle from near him. "Had enough?" He slammed the bottle against the ground breaking it leaving him with as Yizziki said his favorite weapon. "Maybe I should give you a taste of your own medicine."

He stabbed him with the shards.

The man screamed again that time. "Oh I see. So you can dish it out but not take it?"

He tried to fight back, but it was impossible to stand.

"Don't worry, you wouldn't have stood a chance even if you could stand," Kawino said taking the neck of the broken bottle and smacking it across the man's face.

The man groaned as he was losing too much blood.

"Looks like our little visit's just about over," Kawino said and twisted the knife in the man's shoulder.

"It's been fun though." He said.

Soon the man seized to move no sign of a pulse coming for any of the wounds but he checked it manually just in case.

His pulse was no longer there. Kawino sighed with relief and sat on the table thinking for a moment.

He had to admit that a large part of him enjoyed that and as much as the man deserved it, he hates that part of him.

"Maybe I am a monster?" He muttered as Sabina came in.

"Kawino, what's wrong?" She asked ignoring the body for the moment.

"I don't really know...I feel like maybe I'm a monster."

"I don't think you're a monster," she said, making her way over.

"I enjoyed that or part of me did." He said.

"Let's me ask you something," she said sitting down next to him. "When you were in the arena and you ripped out that girl's intestines, did you enjoy it."

"No, I hated it. I had to do it though...people I love were depending on my performance." He sighed.

"Why did you hate it?"

"Because she didn't deserve that, in retrospect no one deserved the deaths I gave them."

"He did," Sabina countered, motioning over to the body.

"Yeah, but still I enjoyed it."

"There's nothing wrong with taking joy in it in a case like this."

"There's not?"

"No, I know I at least took joy in coming in seeing the damage."

"You did?"

"Yes I honestly did."

"Well you aren't a monster."

"Neither are you."

"I think I am."

"Well, you're wrong."

"I am?"

"Yes, you are. A monster takes pleasure in hurting and killing innocents. A hero takes pleasure in hurting and killing monsters."

"A hero?" He asked skeptically.

"Yeah, by doing that you had saved Aunt Annia and Yizziki."

"Yeah I guess that's true." He said.

"So, what else would you call that?"

"I don't know really."

"Well, that's what it is."

"You think so?

"Yes I do."

"Well, thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

"I guess you should call the peacekeepers."

"Yeah, you clear on what to do?"

"Act like I had a freak out while visiting." He said.

"Exactly."

"I can do that."

"Got it." She said and took the phone.

"You have to seem scared."

"I will."

"Okay."

She dialed the number pressing the phone to her ear.

"Hello?" She asked voice shaking.