The Hunger Games: Mashup

Chapter Twenty Five

District 10

Yuuki looked at herself in the mirror, combing through her wet hair with a brush. She noted the redness that had tinged her eyes, aware that her throat was a little dryer than usual. She dropped a white tablet into a glass of water and it fizzled at the touch, turning the water the color of blood. She took a long gulp and felt the dryness in her throat fade, but not clear entirely. She sighed, straightening her skirt . She wore a headband to pull back the most of her hair, but leaving her bangs to frame her face. She had a denim jacket covering her thin, black dress that barely reached down to her knees. She had high heels that were almost three inches high, the longest heel she had ever dared wear on one foot, even just for fun. Her feet were already aching from the effort of standing in them. She sighed, rolling back the sleeves. She suddenly missed her long hair. It used to fall down to her waist, but she cut it when her fiancee, Kaname was killed by a stampede of bulls. It made her too sad to keep it. She had the blood lust—that was enough of a reminder of him. Reminding her that his sweet presence was gone, and that it hadn't been a dream. If she knew it was a dream, perhaps she could have forgotten the whole experience—maybe starting a new life with Zero. But his touches lingered, and she felt her lips yearn for his. Then Zero was eaten alive by the blood inside of him when he locked himself underground and forced himself not to drink human blood. She had no chance of happiness. Was that because she was a vampire? No, it was the Capitol's fault.

She sighed, standing up. The house seemed a lot emptier when her two first loves weren't bickering in the hallways.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Ohaa-luckies!!” said a little girl into the mike, her voice as high and cute as a newborn babe. Her hair was a salmon pink, sticking out at comical angles from her head. She winked at the cameras, and Yuuki internally giggled at the host's shirt sleeves which were too long for her. She had heard of this child—the forever bipolar, self-proclaimed idol of the Capitol. She felt slightly honored in her presence, but the feeling dissipated in the cold air.

“I'm your host, Akira Kogami!” she said happily, dancing around onstage. A stage hand suddenly came onstage, acting as if this was normal. He approached her carefully, a sheepish frown on his face. He tried whispering, but his words were caught by the mike, magnifying everything he said.

“Um...Akira-sama, you weren't supposed to come on until after the mayor's speech,” he said weakly. She gave him a cute, pouting look.

“Huh? But the speeches are so boring! I thought I would liven things up a bit by singing for the Capitol,” she complained innocently. Her assistant, Minoru Shiraishi rushed onstage, panting.

“I—I'm sorry, I should have reminded you of it, Akira-sama,” said Minoru. Akira gave a girlish giggle, patting him on the back.

“Oh, Shiraishi-san, you are too flustered! You should relax and be more free like me, Akira Kogami!” she said, posing for the cameras again.

“I—I beg to differ, Akira-sama, if you don't mind me saying—I think this ceremony calls for a bit more of a formal air,” said Minoru uncomfortably.

Akira's air immediately change as soon as she was contradicted. Her eyes flashed and she glared at me.

“Are you telling me how to do my job?!” she demanded, her voice taking on a lower, harsher sound. She sounded almost like a 21-year-old. She even adapted a rougher accent than her first tone.

“N-no, of course not, Akira-sama!” said Minoru hurriedly. The stage hand, trying hard not to faint from being onstage, took this moment to race away, no doubt attempting to escape the wrath of the bipolar Akira.