The Hunger Games: Mashup

Chapter Nine

District 8

The sun shown on District 8 in late afternoon. Sakura Kinomoto's elementary school was having their lunch hour, and Sakura and her best friends Tomoyo Daidouji, Syaoran Li, and Meiling Li joined her outside for their break. Sakura's hair was amber brown with small pigtails on her head. She had an adorable face and even more adorable green eyes. Tomoyo had black hair that appeared gray in the sunlight. She was mature beyond her years and adored Sakura. Syaoran was brown haired and had hard eyes, ready to take on anything. Meiling had sleek black hair in a traditional Chinese haircut. They all wore their school uniforms: a black sailor shirt with red hems and white shirts for the girls, black pants for the guys. Sakura gave a soft sigh, her lunch laying untouched before her.

“Sakura? What's wrong?” asked her best friend Tomoyo. Sakura looked over at her, and Tomoyo gave her a gentle smile.

“Are you worried about something?” she asked her in concern. Sakura gave her a small, sad smile.

“Yeah...I guess so. I'm just...thinking about the Hunger Games,” she told her. Tomoyo's face got an unusually angry frown on it.

“Yes. That is troublesome,” she admitted to her. Sakura kept her voice down low so their classmates couldn't hear them.

“I'm just worried about who we'll have to send away to die,” said Sakura.

“Come on, Sakura! Don't you have any faith in your fellow district members? We may just be a bunch of sewing idiots, but that doesn't mean we haven't had an occasional champion! We have as much chance to win the games as everyone else!” said Meiling confidently. Syaoran gave her a hard stare.

“Don't forget, Meiling—the Career Districts train their whole lives to get into the Games. We're only a small district focused on sewing blankets and making tiles. It's not like we get much chance to practice our strength. The most training we've had is with a needle and thread,” said Li seriously. Meiling pouted, her hidden worry surfacing out for all to see.

“Besides, my brother is eighteen now. He could be put into the Games at any moment—and then what will I do?!” cried Sakura. Syaoran took her hand reassuringly, and she gave him a sad stare.

“It'll be fine. Toya only has one more year to go and then he's free from the Games himself. You're only twelve. You're not going to get in. I promise,” he said. Sakura felt him squeeze her hand, and she felt his fear herself. Still, she tried to put on a brave front and smiled.

“Sakura,” said Tomoyo softly. Sakura looked over at her best friend and Tomoyo gave her a small smile. Sakura could see her hands shaking. Even as the mayor's daughter, Tomoyo was as in much danger as anyone else. The four children were better off than the people in the poorer area of town, but that didn't mean they were safe from the Games.

“If you are chosen, I will volunteer to take your place,” said Tomoyo gently. Sakura gasped, and Meiling grabbed Tomoyo's shoulders angrily.

“Don't you even say that, Tomoyo! You have no practice in combat training at all! If anyone should go, it should be me!” said Meiling furiously. Tomoyo shook off Meiling's grip. For once, she was being completely stern with her opinions.

“No. I won't let my best friend go into the claws of death when I know I can prevent it,” said Tomoyo

“Even if you do sacrifice your lives for Sakura for the next two years, that doesn't mean she couldn't be picked for the year after that,” said Syaoran to them both.

“I'd rather her live another year than be put into that arena, Li!” said Tomoyo, her eyes trembling with suppressed emotion.

“What are you guys saying?! This isn't a fantasy land!! Whether you like it or not, someone will walk up that stage and someone will be chosen to die for the Capitol's entertainment!” said Syaoran. “If it's Sakura, we have accept it! At least with her magical abilities, she has a chance at winning!” Meiling stood up in fury and Syaoran followed suit. Soon Tomoyo was up, standing next to Meiling.

“How can you say that, Syaoran! You love Sakura!” Meiling screamed at him.

“I love her, yes! Do I want her to die, no! Do I have a choice in this—NO I DON'T!!” he yelled back at her.

“Yet you're still going to just give up on her?!” asked Tomoyo coldly, in her calm yet shaking voice. Sakura flinched away from the anger of the group.

“I don't have a choice!” Syaoran repeated. “If Sakura goes, she goes—but I will not lose my other friends, got that!!” he cried. Sakura tugged at his sleeve for him to step down, but he didn't relent.

“We're going to protect Sakura no matter what, Syaoran! I don't care what you say! I'm going to replace Sakura in the Reaping if she's called, so you two don't have to worry about a thing!” snapped Meiling determinedly.

“I don't want to see you die either, Meiling! I'll go instead!” said Tomoyo quickly.

“You're both being stupid! None of us are going to be called because we're only twelve! Besides, neither of you need to risk your lives, because Sakura has her powers!” spat Syaoran. Tomoyo turned on him.

“Sakura will not be able to use her powers because she won't be allowed to use her cards! She can't take them into the arena with her!! Did you ever think of that, Li?!” said Tomoyo angrily. Sakura had never seen Tomoyo raise her voice or get mad, but Tomoyo looked about ready to punch Syaoran in the face. Syaoran swallowed hard. Apparently he hadn't been thinking of that.

“That's why I'm going to going in your guys' stead! Neither you or Sakura have had any training in an actual fighting style! At least I know martial arts! I'm going to protect you two! Be grateful!” said Meiling in aggravation. Sakura looked between the three of them, all yelling at the top of their voices. She could see the fear radiating in their eyes, and how their bodies shook with their fear. Sakura stood up as well, and finally all eyes were on her tear stained face. She wiped at her eyes, but the tears kept flowing. She fixed a steady gaze on them nonetheless, making sure to look each of them in the face with a fierce expression they had never seen her wear before.

“Have you guys ever considered my feelings in this?” she asked them in a voice just above a whisper. They saw her fear and her anger and and her hatred of the Capitol, but none of them could say anything.

“I don't want any one of you to say anything—because I'm going up on that stage if I'm called, and I won't let any of those Peacekeepers take you guys away from me!” she told them furiously. Storming away from them, Sakura broke into a run as soon as the first person called out to her. She rushed to the edge of her school yard until she met the corner of the fence that locked her in school. She collapsed against the fence, her fingers clutching at the metal wire that prevented her from running away. She wanted to scream, but instead, she fell onto the ground with soundless sobs and curled into a ball. Darn them! Darn them all for being so selfless! Why did she have to bring up the Games anyways?! This was all of her own fault. Sakura cried into herself, holding back any ounce of sound from within her.

“Are you alright?” came a voice. Sakura looked up and saw a boy hovering above her. He wore the high school uniform for her brother's school. His blonde hair fell over his face in a handsome mess. He gave her a smile.

“Hey there, kid. How are you doing?” he asked her. She shook her head, hiding her tears from him. He straightened up and dropped his handkerchief in front of her. She looked up at him and he gave her a smile.

“When you want someone to listen to you, just ask for Satsuki Akiyoshi and you'll find me again, little girl,” he told her. He walked off smiling, whistling a cheerful tune to himself. Sakura took the handkerchief silently and wiped her tears with it. She sat in her hidden spot in the shade until the bell rang and she was forced to return to the school house where everyone waited for her.