look away, look away

A BAD BEGINNING:

PART ONE

To Beatrice H.

Darling, dearest, dead.

If you are interested in stories with happy endings, then you would be better off somewhere else.

In this story, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle.

My name is Robert Callaghan. It is my solemn duty to bring to light the sorry history of the Hamada children as it happened so many years ago. But you, the reader, have no such obligation, and I would advise all our readers to turn away immediately and read something more pleasant instead.

This story will be dreadful, melancholy and calamitous, a word which here means "dreadful and melancholy." That is because not very many happy things happened in the lives of the Hamadas.

Thank you for your time.

Tadashi and Hiro were intelligent boys. Charming and resourceful, they had pleasant facial features, but they were extremely unlucky. Most everything that happened to them was rife with misfortune, misery, and despair. I'm sorry to tell you this, but that's how the story goes.

As Tadashi and Hiro boarded the San Fransokyo trolley, Hiro skipped to the back and telephoned the driver to take them to Briney Park, the most beautiful park in the city.

The Hamada family lived in a very large mansion at the heart of a dirty and busy city, and one day their parents rather unexpectantly asked the boys to take a rickety trolley alone to the park.

"I wonder why Mom and Dad didn't want to come with us," Tadashi said.

"Maybe they don't like this rickety trolley," said Hiro.

"Rickety" is a word here which means "unsteady" or "likely to collapse at any moment."

When Briney park was hot and sunny, the seashore was crowded with tourists, and it was impossible to find a good place to lay one's blanket. On gray and cloudy days, the Hamadas had the park more or less to themselves, so they could work together on their projects and experiments.

"Are you ready?" asked Tadashi, laying the blanket out on the cold, brown grass.

"Let's get to work," Hiro grinned.

"Do you think this will be as good as the mailbox?"

"I think this will be even better than the mailbox," Hiro said, smiling warmly at Tadashi. Tadashi smiled back.

Tadashi Hamada was the eldest Hamada child. He was 17 years old, right-handed, had a real knack for philanthropy, medicine, and building unusual devices. When Tadashi put his signature ball cap on, it was a sure sign that the pulleys, levers, and gears of his inventing mind were working at top speed.

"Hiro, at what angle are the prevailing currents?"

"The angle of the prevailing currents," Hiro started, flipping through a book while pulling a stone out of his bag.

Hiro Hamada was the youngest Hamada child. He was a little older than 15 and wore reading glasses on the tip of his nose when needed, which made him look intelligent.

"...Of course, we still need the right projectile," he finished.

He was intelligent.

Hiro pulled a stone out of his bag, making Tadashi's brow raise slightly. He chuckled at his younger brother.

"That's a perfect stone, Hiro, thank you!"

Tadashi stood from the blanket, pulling out a piece of chalk and marking an "X" on the stone. He then went into a lunge, aiming at the large pond in front of him. Hiro cleared his throat.

"Tadashi, why are you using your left hand?"

"Oh, I'm curious to see if I can skip the rock as far with my left as I can with my right."

"I don't mean to criticize, but standard scientific method calls for stable systematics."

Tadashi looked on at him blankly, waiting for him to clarify.

"You should use your standard right-handedness," Hiro said with a laugh.

"That does seem reasonable," Tadashi laughed, switching the rock into his right hand and lunging once again. Throwing his arm back and thrusting the stone forward, it flew through the air before hitting the water's surface and skipping across it eight times. Tadashi and Hiro both smiled in amazement.

"Hiro, what's that thing Einstein said?"

"'The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.'"

"And what's that thing James Brown said?"

"'I got something that makes me want to shout.'"

I've got something that tells me what it's all about.

Suddenly, after pressing a button on Hiro's bag, Tadashi had activated a claw-like machine that shot only inches above the water and about 15 feet out, going under water and retrieving the stone with the white X. Tadashi smirked as it came back quickly and dropped the stone into his palm. He looked at his brother, who was also smiling, and reached his fist out, letting their fists bump and making an explosion sound after.

For effect.

"It worked!" Tadashi exclaimed excitedly, proud of his latest invention.

"I never expected otherwise," Hiro said warmly.

Yes, the invention worked. This would be the perfect time to leave and pretend the rest of the story was just as happy and successful.

"I just wish Mom and Dad had seen it."

"It's not like them to send off on our own so unexpectantly."

A sudden coughing was brought to their attention and they turned to see the local bank teller, Wasabi (he thought the name made him sound cool), walking toward them, a handkerchief on his mouth to cover his loud, obnoxious coughs.

Certainly, I wish I could go back and change the history of the Hamadas at this very moment, rather than the descent into misery, tribulation, and dire inconvenience which will occur shortly.

"It only seems scary because of the mist," Hiro croaked hopefully, making Tadashi nod.

"It's Mr. Wasabi," Tadashi said with a smile.

"From the bank? What's he doing here?"

Wasabi smiled as he approached the boys, shoving his handkerchief in his pocket. The boys glanced at each other, unsure of what to say or do.

"Erhm, how are you today, Mr. Wasabi?"

"Fine, thank you," Wasabi smiled at the two.

"...It's a nice day," Tadashi added.

"It is a nice day," Wasabi said, not smiling. "I have some very bad news for you boys. Your parents have perished in a terrible fire."

The stone with the white X slipped helplessly from Tadashi's limp hand, toppling to the grass as he stared at the bank teller.

"...They perished in a fire that destroyed your entire home."

Hiro swayed slightly, never taking his eyes off of Wasabi's.

"I'm very, very sorry I have to tell you this."

Due to lack of response, Wasabi began to look around, waiting for what the now orphaned boys had to say.

"'Perished' means 'killed'," he clarified.

"We know what 'perished' means," said Hiro, his words empty.

Wasabi chuckled slightly, pointing at his car from across the street and leading the boys to it.

I have spent months of research and years crying myself to sleep, trying to discover the precise cause of the Hamada fire. But...all my associates and I have managed to learn is that neither the official fire department nor the volunteer fire department arrived in time to stop the blaze. Within moments, the entire Hamada mansion was engulfed in flames. It is useless for me to describe to you how terrible Tadashi and Hiro felt in the time that followed.

If you have ever lost somebody very important to you, then you already know how it feels, and if you haven't...you cannot possibly imagine it.

Wasabi coughed into his handkerchief as the Hamadas walked around the burnt remains of their home. All of their inventions, all of their personal belongings, their parents...

They were gone.

"I've never been through anything like this myself," Wasabi said sympathetically, "but I can imagine just how you feel. I did think you'd want to see what remains of your home, even though it is...more or less, um..."

"It's all gone," Tadashi muttered, his first words since Wasabi had announced the terrible news that changed his life.

"I just want to assure you Hamadas that you have absolutely nothing-"

"We have absolutely nothing," Hiro said, kicking a burnt book slightly to its side-it was his favorite book on robotics.

"...to worry about," Wasabi finished with a sigh.

Hiro walked over to his father's desk, now in ruins, to find a strange, cylinder like object in one of the drawers. He frowned, grabbing it for closer examination.

"I am the executor of your parent's estate, which means I'll be handling all matters concerning everything they've left behind."

"What did they leave behind?" Tadashi asked, fighting back tears.

"Financial security," Wasabi said happily. Hiro gasped quietly as part of the cylinder he had picked up broke and fell off. It appeared to be a telescope of some sort.

"Your parents left behind an enormous fortune, which will be yours when Tadashi comes of age."

"Wait, what?" Tadashi asked, stepping forward. "When I 'come of age'? I'm seventeen, can't we use it now?"

"Your parents specifically said they don't want you to have it until you are twenty-one in their will. Now, until then, you will be placed with the proper guardian, or guardians, as decided by myself and my fellow bankers at Mulctuary Money Management."

Tadashi said nothing, falling silent as Wasabi lead them back to the car.

As they got inside, they looked behind them, the mansion getting smaller and smaller as they pulled away. A tear went down Tadashi's cheek.

"Goodbye," he said helplessly, turning back to the front of the car. Hiro looked at Tadashi with concern before turning back around himself.

"Until we've identified your designated guardian, you'll stay with my family. That's not so bad, is it, Hamadas? I'm sure you'll become fast friends with my girlfriend, Eleanora. Right?"

Tadashi looked at Hiro, desperate for anything else than to stay with Wasabi. Hiro clearly felt the same.

"Wasabi, dear, I made boiled chicken for dinner!" Eleanora cheered when Wasabi and the Hamadas had walked through the door.

"Oh, hello, dear," Wasabi greeted tiredly. The group immediately sat down at the table as Eleanora rushed to the table to fix each of them a plate.

There was little to no conversation throughout the meal.

After dinner, which felt like lasted for hours, the two Hamadas went up to their beds, feeling empty and tired. They laid down in their beds slowly as Wasabi turned out the light.

"Remember, Hamadas, our home is your home," he'd said warmly.

The boys had a difficult time believing him but, nevertheless, smiled at him in gratitude.

Hiro rolled onto his side, realizing he was facing Tadashi from his bed. His eyes widened slightly. Tadashi looked over at Hiro, concern lacing his features. Perhaps at the fact that Hiro hadn't cried yet, or that he hadn't spoken much. To be fair neither had he, so he simply rolled over and closed his eyes. He heard Hiro shift from across the room, and the two were soon fast asleep.

"Chop-chop, Hamadas! Now that I've found you a suitable guardian, I'm going to take you to your new home before banking hours begin."

The Hamada boys followed tiredly, still extremely low on spirits and silent. Eleanora enthusiastically waved them goodbye, calling out "good luck!" repeatedly and waking the entire neighborhood. Angry shouts were followed soon after.

The three boys were soon driving off, Wasabi coughing obnoxiously the entire time.

"I know you must be nervous about living with a new guardian," said Wasabi, "I remember how I was when I was your age."

"We're both different ages," Hiro pointed out.

"Well, I should think at least a fraction of your unhappiness will turn to excitement when you meet this man. I know he's certainly very eager to meet you, and he's the owner of Krei Tech, so you know his excitement is genuine. His name is Alistar Krei."

"Wait-THE Alistar Krei?" Tadashi asked in disbelief. "Of Krei Tech Industries?"

"That's right," Wasabi said. "He's either...let's see...your third cousin fourth time removed, or your fourth cousin three times removed. In any case, he's removed. Still, he's only three miles away, and your parents' will was very specific about you being raised by your closest living relative."

"Does he really that's what 'closest living relative' means?" Hiro asked.

Wasabi only shrugged, shoving his handkerchief on his face again and letting out strained coughs.

"Hello there! Salutations! Shalom! You must be the Hamada children!"

Wasabi, Tadashi, and Hiro were parked at their destination, talking to a woman in her early thirties with red hair and a half apron on. They stood next to a cafe that she must have worked at, but there appeared to be a living area above it-this must be their new guardian.

"Yes, I'm Tadashi Hamada," Tadashi said, shaking her hand. "This is my little brother, Hiro. And this is Mr. Wasabi, he;s been arranging things for us."

"Mulctuary Money Management. My name and title are on the card," Wasabi said with a grin as he handed the woman a business card.

"Oh!" Cass said excitedly, "Well, I am Cassandra! You can call me Cass, I run this cafe right here! Forgive my not shaking hands, but as you can see," she said indicating her arms which, the Hamadas had just realized, were carrying five brown paper grocery bags. "I've got my hands full. I just bought a new toolkit because my food processor broke, although I don't who I think I'm kidding because I have no inventive or mechanical skill whatsoever. Then I treated myself to new seat covers for the couches in my garage and some new mouses for the five computers in there and frankly I don't have an acute technological sense. And then, to top it all of, I forgot to buy a new toaster for my bread, which is a real bummer because-"

"We'd be more than happy to help, Miss Cass," Hiro said. "My brother is very mechanically minded, and I'm quite adept at computer science."

"Well, how wonderful! How lucky am I to have such unusual children in my life?"

"Are you Mr. Krei's wife?" Hiro asked.

"What? Oh. Oh, no! No, no. Goodness me, no. I don't even really know him that well. He's...he's just my neighbor. His house is over there."

The boys gasped as they turned around. Right across from Cass's warm, welcoming cafe, was a large house, clearly technologically advanced in every way. The walls were painted black with glowing lights surrounding certain areas, which they assumed were buttons that operated certain aspects of the modern home. It scared them and lured them towards it at the same time. It was a modern masterpiece, yet a terrifying home.

When they approached it and rang the bell, a loud, obnoxious buzzing sound was heard from inside. The brothers looked at each other in uncertainty.

They waited for three minutes.

"That's strange," Wasabi frowned. "He said specifically he was waiting very eagerly to get his hands on you."

At those words, Tadashi's hand flew from his side and he grasped Hiro's tightly. Wasabi rang the doorbell once again.

A loud bang was heard before the door swung open. Alistar Krei himself was standing before them dressed in a blue suit and white dress shoes. He held his sleeves smugly as he smirked at the three.

"Hello, hello, hello, boys," Alistar said. The trio's eyes immediately noticed a tattoo on Alistar's ankle. What appeared to be the Krei Tech "K" was printed on his left ankle, making them all eye him awkwardly.

"I am Alistar Krei, the brilliant CEO of Krei Industries and your new guardian. You're welcome."

"Thank you," Tadashi muttered as politely as he could.

"You're welcome" Alistar repeated. "Please, come in, and mind you wipe your feet on the mat so you don't track any mud. And don't forget your enormous fortune!" Alistar swung his arm to reveal the inside of the home which, although modern and beautiful in every aspect, was completely trashed and cluttered. "Welcome to my humble home, orphans."

He was about to shut the door when Wasabi stepped inside, looking around the home with a disgusted yet pleased look.

"...And a man with a hat on."

"Wasabi," the bank teller greeted, shaking Alistar's hand.

"Actually, I'm about to be very wealthy-well, wealthier than I am now-so if you'll excuse me..."

"No, we spoke on the phone," said Wasabi. "I'm from Mulctuary Money Management."

"Hmm. 'Money' sounds familiar, but-"

"The bank. I'm from the bank."

"Ah, yes, the bank!" Alistar said excitedly. "Well, welcome to my humble home."

"Yes, it-" Wasabi began coughing violently into his handkerchief once again, hurling over before straightening back up and looking around. "It does seem to need a little work..."

Alistar glared at him.

"Well, I realize it's not as fancy as the Hamada mansion, but perhaps, children, with a bit of your money, we'll be able to fix it up, make it look nicer."

"Mr. Krei, the Hamada mansion is not to be used for such matters," Wasabi instructed. "The Hamada will is very specific as to how the children are to be raised in case if an unfortunate event."

"Ah, yes, the fire," Alistar said with a frown.

"They're to be raised by their closest relative."

"That is I, Alistar Krei."

"And every cent of the Hamada fortune is locked up until Tadashi comes of age."

"Which one is Tadashi?" Alistar asked in a whisper.

"The eldest," Wasabi said.

Alistar growled under his breath in annoyance.

"All right, then. Well, I hope I can prove myself to be the father you never had."

"We had a father," Hiro said.

"Yes, I know, and a mother. A remarkable woman, flammable."

Tadashi and Hiro looked at him in disgust. Wasabi cleared his throat, desperately avoiding another coughing fit. Alistar only continued smirking.

"So, Wasabi, do I need to sign for them or something?"

"What? No, no."

"Well then, as we say in business, this sale is closed!" Alistar said, his smirk growing. Wasabi nodded, turning to the orphans once more.

"Goodbye Tadashi, goodbye Hiro. I hope you'll be happy here. I'll still check in on you occasionally. If you need anything or have questions, you can reach me at the bank-"

Alistar slammed the door, turning to smile at the brothers.

"Well, boys, before I give you a tour of your new home, aren't you going to say 'How are you doing?' to your new guardian?"

"How are you doing?" Tadashi asked bitterly. Alistar grimaced.

"How am I doing? Better and better, Hamadas. Better and better."

The dreadful villainy of this vile fiend had haunted me since I met him as a young man. And every night when I continue my work on the Hamada case, I find myself weeping thinking of his utter wickedness and severe lack of talent in any form.

Alistar pulled a long piece of paper out of the pocket of his suit, presenting it to the two.

"Do you know what this is?" he asked them.

"It looks like a list," Hiro replied.

"Wrong! It's a list. A list of chores. Rich brats like you are probably spoiled rotten and have never done a chore in your life."

"Actually," Tadashi spoke up, his anger rising, "we often help around the house."

"Really? Did you help around the house? That's great. Well, welcome to your lucky life. Come with me, and I'll show you the delightful features of your home."

Alistar began to walk to one of the doors in the living area, Tadashi and Hiro slowly following him.

"This is the kitchen," Alistar said, opening a swinging door. It would have been beautiful if not for the tremendous amounts of dishes piled on the counters and tables. Grease and dust were on almost every inch of the floors and walls, and it reeked of rotten food. The boys looked around with growing disgust. "I expect you to keep everything gleamingly clean."

"'Gleamingly'?" Tadashi asked with dread.

"Clean," Alistar said. He leads them to the next room, an open area next to the staircase.

"This is the library, which you will keep well-dusted," Alistar said. The library was somehow even messier than the kitchen, books lying torn and abused on every section of the floor. "This is where I do all my reading."

Hiro looked around at the library, utterly terrified. If there's one thing Hiro loved doing as much as fixing things and performing his flawless computer skills on all technology possible, it was reading. Gulping loudly, the boys followed Alistar to the next room, a large set of double doors. He swung them open, allowing them a very little view of the room.

"I don't use the work room at all," Alistar said. "You'll have to redo the floors."

He took them across the hall to the laundry room.

"You can hang my underwear in here when you're done washing it," Alistar said simply, slamming the door and taking them outside.

"This is the backyard, which needs weeding, mowing, and pruning. It is also where you will chop wood."

He finally took them upstairs, kicking an old wooden door open.

"Bathroom number seven, the only one you are allowed to use. It has all the usual amenities, though the management regrets to inform you that the shampoo is not tear-free. If anything, it encourages tears."

The boys looked away as a large rat ran across the bathroom floor.

"Rats bite," Alistar said simply. He took them up to the attic, extending his arm to present the final room of the house.

"This is where you will sleep, orphans."

The room was really small, angled at the top and containing one twin sized bed in the center.

"Out of all the rooms in this enormous mansion, I have chosen this one for your safety and comfort."

"There's only one bed," Hiro said.

"As you can see, I have provided, at no cost to you, this complimentary pile of rocks," Alistar said, pointing at a large pile of rocks in the corner of the room.

The boys' mouths opened slightly at this, looking back at Alistar as he slowly approached them.

"Thoughts?"

"'Thoughts'?" Hiro asked in disbelief. "First of all-"

"First of all, first impressions are often wrong," Tadashi interrupted, looking at Hiro cautiously.

"Very true," Alistar nodded in agreement. "For example, your first impression of me may be that I am a terrible person. But in time, Hamadas, I hope you will come to realize..."

Tadashi smiled politely at Alistar, waiting for the end of Alistar's kind gesture.

"...you haven't the faintest idea."

Tadashi's eyes widened and his hand once again reached for Hiro's. Alistar however, walked in between them, breaking their bond and bumping into Tadashi in the progress.

"I'll give you a moment to unpack," he said finally, slamming the door shut.

The boys slowly walked to the small bed and sat down. Hiro glanced at the door in fear.

"It's okay, Hiro, he's gone," Tadashi reassured him, rubbing his baby brother's shoulder.

"He's horrible," Hiro said quietly. "Did you see the tattoo on his ankle?"

"A tattoo is just a decorative pigment on skin," Tadashi said flatly, continuing to rub Hiro's shoulder. "It's not a sign of a wicked person."

"Unless it's on a wicked person," Hiro muttered. "How could our parents put us here?"

"It's just a mistake, I'm sure it'll get sorted out. Until then, we'll make this our home."

"Mom used to say, 'Home is where you hang your hat.' But we don't have any hats. Just rocks."

"Hiro...have you read any books on people who make homes in difficult places?"

"There's a village in the Pacific Islands suspended on ropes above an active volcano."

"How do they manage?" Tadashi asked, trying to lighten the mood. Hiro paused, swallowing hard.

"They own very little...in case it erupts," Hiro said.

"Then we're already one step ahead," Tadashi said with a small, pitiful smile. "We own nothing."

"If they can survive that, we can survive Alistar Krei."

Tadashi nodded, grabbing Hiro's hand tightly and hugging him.

At that moment, Alistar burst through the door, a mop and bucket in both of his hands.

"Showtime!" he exclaimed.

He tossed the tools at the two, leading them to the seventh bathroom. They filled the bucket with soapy water, scrubbing the bathroom. The sound of the doorbell chiming made them shoot their heads up.

"Stay here!" Alistar scolded them. "And not a peep."

Alistar rushed down the stairs, swinging the front door open to see Cass from the cafe across the street. She gasped at the sight of him before quickly putting on her biggest smile. In her hands, she held a large platter, assorted donuts of all flavors and colors on it.

"You're a little old for a girl scout," Alistar said.

"I'm Cassy!"

"Doesn't ring a bell."

"I'm your neighbor. I...I live across the street. I run the Lucky Cat Cafe."

"Ah, yes, Cassandra."

"May I come in?" she asked eagerly.

"Is this about the Hamada brothers? I apologize for the noise, I told them to cry using their inside voices."

"What?"

"Hmm?"

"I...I just thought I'd stop by to see how they're doing," Cass clarified. "I know it's a little soon, but I'm about to become very busy with a difficult catering demand from a client. I made them these donuts!"

"How neighborly," Alistar smiled, stepping outside and shutting the door behind him. Cass backed up cautiously.

"I don't mean to seem like a lonely woman who's overinvested in the lives of someone else's children..."

"You do have that aura," Alistar grimaced.

"Perhaps if I just pop in for a quick hello-"

"Now is not the time," Alistar said. "They're in one of their moods."

"They seemed so sweet," Cass smiled.

"Do you have children, Cassandra?"

"Me? Oh, no," Cass said sadly. "No, I always hoped I would, but I'm married to my cafe, and you can't very well have donut babies...now, can you?" she laughed at her joke, but Alistar only continued staring at her.

"Well, you dodged a bullet," Alistar said. "Let me tell you, those boys are monsters. I open my home to them, and all they do is complain. 'The bathroom is filthy. The rat is noisy. The bed is cramped.' I think living in a mansion has spoiled them."

"Well, they did just their-did you say 'bed'?"

"I meant 'bed' as in 'more than one bed', obviously. The plural of one bed is 'bed'..."

"Well, I wouldn't know," Cass shrugged. "I live alone."

"No kidding," Alistar nodded, turning around and going back inside.

"At least take the donuts," Cass begged. "I made the frosting and...please, just ask them if they'd like to see me."

"Fine," Alistar sighed, "But wait here, for your own safety. They tend to throw things."

With that, he stole the platter of donuts and slammed the door, rushing up the steps to see the boys. He flew the door open, a donut hanging out of his mouth.

"You missed a spot," he spat at Hiro, throwing the half-eaten donut on the ground and going back downstairs.

The brothers looked at each other in confusion.

Alistar opened the front door, making Cass gasp again in surprise and tossing the donut platter back to her, which appeared to be lacking donuts.

"They don't want to see you," he said simply.

"Are you sure?" Cass asked, heartbroken. "What did they say."

"The donuts were too mushy," he replied, picking a clump of donut out of his teeth. "Rich kids."

And with that, he slammed the door once more in her face, leaving her deeply saddened as she trudged back to her cafe.

If only Cass had been able to get past Alistar Krei, if only she'd seen the boys in their horrible circumstances, if only this world weren't such a wicked and topsy-turvy place...this story might have turned out differently.

Hiro and Tadashi trudged to the attic and collapsed on the small bed. Hiro pulled his toothbrush out of his pocket, which had turned a horrible brown color due to the fact that he used it to clean the bathroom floor.

"I never want to use a toothbrush again," Hiro sighed, dropping it and letting it topple underneath the bed. Alistar opened the attic door, frowning at the two.

"Why aren't you cleaning? My list was very specific."

"We finished it," Tadashi replied, handing him the list. Alistar grabbed it and chuckled in disbelief, pulling out a pen from his suit pocket.

"No, you didn't," he smirked, turning the paper over and writing on the back.

"We even cleaned your underwear," Hiro said, pleading him not to make them do any more work.

"You missed one," Alistar said showing the two boys the freshly written ink on the old piece of parchment. Hiro snatched it from him, reading the words. "You still have to prepare a large meal for myself and my business partners."

"We don't know how to prepare a large dinner," Hiro argued.

"Plan the menu, purchase the ingredients, prepare the food, set the table, serve dinner, clean up afterward, and stay out of our way," Alistar sneered.

"How can we purchase anything?" Hiro asked. "We don't have any money."

Alistar sighed. pulling out his billfold and handing Hiro thirty dollars.

"Do you know what that is?" Alistar asked.

"Something greasy," Tadashi said, looking over Hiro's shoulder at the browned cash.

"Money," Alistar said. "Hard-earned money. The most important substance on earth besides business and management. Since the bossy banker won't let us use any of your parents' enormous fortune, I am forced to cough up my own earnings from my occasional but of consulting work. Now...quick. Get a move on. My associates will be here at 7:00. And in the meantime, I will be up in...erhm, my secret tower room. Which you are forbidden to go into! Understood? Forbidden!"

"Forbidden," Tadashi confirmed.

"That's-yes," Alistar snarled, slamming the bedroom door.

Hiro collapsed on the bed again, looking from the money to the list.

"How are we supposed to make dinner for an entire business meeting?" Hiro asked.

"We start with a recipe," Tadashi said. "Do you think Cass would let us use her computers to search for some on the internet?"

Suddenly, a newspaper came flying into the room from their window, landing a Tadashi's feet. The headline read:

HAMADAS SAFE AND SOUND

AT HOME OF FAMOUS BUSINESS OWNER

They both sigh in annoyance.

The Hamada brothers walked into the cafe, ringing Cass's doorbell above the entrance. The excitement of being in the public area came over them. It may have been stupid, but this was the only person in their lives that appeared to really care about them, and the boys couldn't resist feeling slightly happier when she spotted them from the counter.

"Hamadas!" she greeted excitedly. "I wasn't expecting you."

"We meant to come sooner," said Tadashi. "We were cleaning."

"Yes," Cass smiled. "Alistar told me you were very particular about that. I hope you appreciate how much he's doing for you."

"I wouldn't say 'much'..." Hiro muttered.

"Well, perhaps not compared to what you're used to," Cass said. "What can I do for you?"

"Actually, Cass, we really need your help," said Tadashi.

"You do?"

"Tadashi and I were wondering..." Hiro started.

"Wondering what?" Cass pushed on hopefully.

"If we might use your computers," Hiro said.

"If you might use my computers..." Cass repeats, ushering them to follow her to the garage. "Is there a reason in particular?"

"We need to search for a good recipe," Tadashi said. "Alistar is making us prepare a meal for his business associates."

Cass stopped, turning around to face the boys with shock.

"Why didn't you just say so?" she asked. "We can prepare a meal here, together! I've got all kinds of recipes memorized, from meatloaf to bread to spaghetti-"

"That would be wonderful, thank you!" Tadashi said, sighing in relief. Cass lead them back upstairs to the cafe, turning the "OPEN" sign to "CLOSED". She then leads them upstairs to her personal kitchen apart from the one in the cafe, pulling out pots and pans.

"So, boys, what'll it be?"

"Well, what's the quickest recipe we can use?" Hiro asked. "We only have until 7:00."

"Hmm...the quickest thing that comes to mind is chicken pot pie."

"Perfect!" the boys said in unison, helping Cass in every way possible. Hiro began cutting up vegetables while Tadashi cut up the chicken. Cass rolled the dough onto the counter and placed it in a large pie dish. After working on their own stations for about fifteen minutes, they combined the ingredients and placed them in the oven.

"What about dessert?" Cass asked the boys.

"Well, what do you think?" Tadashi asked.

"We can make chocolate chip cookies, easy!" Cass said, immediately putting the boys to work.

Only, this time, they really enjoyed the work.

After the cookies and the pie was done, the boys thanked Cass continuously and ran back to the house. Before they reached it, however...

"Hamadas!" Cass called, rushing after them and meeting them halfway.

"Yes, Cass?" Tadashi asked.

"I think...I think that it's really nice that you're cooking dinner for Alistar."

Cass paused, breathing heavily and looking around sadly before turning to Hiro and holding his hand.

"You have had such sorrow in your life already. You deserve the blessing of a new family with Alistar Krei and, if you don't mind my saying so...with me."

Hiro chuckled, squeezing her hand and hugging her tightly.

"We don't mind your saying so," Hiro said softly. Cass gasped, hugging him back tightly as Tadashi watched on in pure joy.

Boy, he did not wanna go back inside of Alistar Krei's house.

As Hiro and Tadashi walked back inside the house, a newfound hope burning inside of them, Tadashi looked at Hiro with a small smile.

"Hiro, what's that thing James Brown said-?"

"I feel GOOD!" Alistar shouted suddenly from the staircase, startling the brothers. Three businessmen and two businesswomen followed behind Alistar, laughing tremendously and drinking champagne. They all stopped when they saw the two boys, straightening up and glaring at them slightly.

"Orphans," said Alistar. "Meet my business colleagues."

"Hi."

"Hello."

"Good day."

"Lovely."

"Splendid."

"And as anyone in business knows," Alistar continued, "around your superiors, you should not stare."

"Sorry," Tadashi said, looking down at the covered pie in his arms.

"And what is of the meal you've prepared for us?" Alistar asked.

"We just need to set the table and it will be ready," Hiro said.

"What are we supposed to do until then?"

"We could wait patiently," one of the businessmen suggested.

"How about some wine, Alistar?" a businesswoman asked.

"Yes, yes, wine," another added. "We had that nice rose last time."

"All right, fine," Alistar sighed. "I'll open up a box of Merlotte."

An associate of mine named Brillat-Savarin famously said, "To invite people to dine with us is to make ourselves responsible for their well-being as long as they are under our roofs." But he was an 18th-century philosopher and gourmand, and these were two teenagers with very little cooking experience. If it weren't for Cass, Alistar would be having them for dinner. Nevertheless, the Hamada orphans snapped into action. Tadashi reheated the pie, Hiro prepared the cookies on a platter, set the table, and poured the wine.

"Maybe we can make this our home after all," Tadashi said. "Remember what Dad said when he burnt the quesadillas?"

"Yeah," Hiro laughed. "'Better than nothing.'"

At times like these, surrounded by colleagues and cohorts, gathered together in fellowship for the purpose of selling adequate robot and futuristic technological features, there's an eternal question that always springs to mind...When are we going to eat?!"

At the moment, Tadashi and Hiro opened the kitchen doors, the pie, and cookies in hand.

"Dinner is served," Hiro said.

"Wow, that was quick," one of the businessmen said.

"And it smells delicious."

"As I was saying," Alistar growled, "before the help interrupted, there is no 'I' in business..."

The Krei Tech workers all glanced at each other in uncertainty.

"...no selfish urges, no arrogance, no ego, no vanity. There is only what the French call a certain...'escargot.'"

"Mmm-hmm."

"It is the first burst of applause when you make your first sale. The second burst of applause when you become CEO and rename the company. I give and I give to the public, just as I give and give to these orphans."

"Erhm, boss?" a businesswoman speaks up, pointing behind him. Hiro and Tadashi were standing waiting to serve Alistar his dinner. He frowned.

"Where's the roast beef?"

"What?" Tadashi asked.

"The roast beef," Alistar repeated in a hiss.

"We didn't make any roast beef," Tadashi replied, feeling immense anger towards Alistar. "We made chicken pot pie."

"And homemade cookies," Hiro added, gesturing at the platter in his arms.

"What?" Alistar asked in disbelief. "No roast beef?"

"You didn't tell us you wanted roast beef," Hiro said, keeping completely calm. Tadashi tilted his head at this slightly.

"Look at my guests!" Alistar yelled, gesturing at the employees, each one of them devouring their pie. "They...they can hardly touch this revolting foreign food!"

The employees all immediately dropped their forks, staring at Alistar. Alistar stood up, towering over Hiro. Tadashi stood behind him, putting the pie dish on the table in concern.

If he lays a hand on him...

"In agreeing to adopt you, I became your father," Alistar whispered, his face turning red. "And as your father, I am not someone to be trifled with. I demand that you serve roast beef to myself and my guests!"

"We don't have any!" Tadashi yelled. "We have chicken pot pie."

"And cookies for dessert!" Hiro added, putting the tray on the table for Alistar to see. Alistar stood with a wave of his hand, glaring at his employees.

"We're leaving for a late night of work!"

"But the kid said there were chocolate chip cookies!" a businessman complained.

"You children are to clean the table," Alistar went on, ignoring the hungry businessman. "Wash the dishes, polish the silver, rinse out all the wine bottles for recycling. Then you are to go straight to your beds."

"You mean our bed?" Hiro asked, calmly crossing his arms and glaring at the man. "You've only provided us with one bed."

"If you want another bed, tomorrow you may go into town and purchase one."

"You know perfectly well we don't have any money."

"Hmm. Of course, you do. You two lucky orphans are inheriting an enormous fortune," Alistar began to angrier and angrier at Hiro. Tadashi hadn't noticed, but he had begun backing away from the two along with the Krei Tech employees, watching the scene unfold in great concern.

Why are you backing away?! Go help him-!

"The money our parents left behind is NOT to be used until Tadashi-"

SMACK

Hiro toppled to the ground unconscious. Alistar had slapped him across the face, shaking his hand out afterward. He burped, looking around at the shocked group, and straightening his jacket.

"The office awaits."

The employees and Krei left the mansion, leaving Tadashi to stare in shock at his unconscious brother. Realization began to kick in, until...

"Hiro!"

Tadashi sprinted toward his little brother, cradling him in his arms.

"Hiro, Hiro, Hiro! Please wake up, I'm so, so sorry..."

Hiro moaned, slowly opening his eyes and looking up at Tadashi.

"Hiro? Oh, thank god! Are you all right?!" Hiro sat up in Tadashi's arms, rubbing his red, swollen cheek.

"Yes-no-I...This isn't." Hiro stuttered. Tadashi shook his head in confusion, brushing Hiro's bangs out of his hair.

"What?"

"Better than nothing."

Thunder began to rumble outside and the pattering of rain was heard soon after. Tadashi only cried slightly, relief pouring over him that Hiro was okay as he pulled his brother into a bone crushing hug.

There are many, many things that are better than nothing. A home-cooked meal is better than nothing, a roof over one's head is better than nothing, and a place to sleep, even if the bed is very small and the blanket damp with tears, is better than nothing.

But being raised in a violent and sinister environment by a man more interested in one's fortune than comfort and well-being is not better than nothing, and as the Hamadas will discover, there are some things that even a long night of introspection cannot change.

Across the street, Cass sat in her cafe drinking her tea, reading deeply into her book that had been stowed away in her closet for many years, Adoption Law & You.

The Hamada orphans new they had to find a way out of their dreadfully unfortunate circumstances, and, perhaps, solve the mystery of how they ended up in them. I have the same dedication to researching and presenting this story no matter what danger it puts me in. Trouble and strife can cover this world like the dark of night. Or like smoke from a suspicious fire. And when that happens...

...all good, true and decent people know that it's time to volunteer."

"I'm worried about the children."

"Me, too. They're in danger, I know it."

"We need to get to them."

"We need to get out of here first."

...

...

"What's that thing Einstein said?