A/N. Hey guys! I made this Author's Note just in case there was any confusion. First off, this is a crossover between The Hunger Games and Ouran Highschool Host Club. I will be using some The Hunger Games characters, but, the major characters will be filled in by the Ouran Highschool Host Club characters. Only if they fit the part, though. I hope you enjoy this! I've put a lot of thought into it!
Chapter 1
Kaoru's POV
It was just another normal day in Ouran, which our teachers always told us it used to be called North America. Ever since the Capitol took over, the place had been desolate and depressing. To the District I live in, at least. District 12.
As I was saying, it was another normal day in Ouran. I woke up at around 5 o'clock in the morning, got dressed into my soft leather boots and put on an old sweater that my mother had sewn for me many years ago. Of course I had outgrown it, but it was all I had to wear. People didn't really have much in District 12. After I was dressed, I turned my attention to the sleeping form of my brother.
He was lying on the bed, strewn about and softly snoring. I observed as his chest rose slightly with each breath he took; the way his lips were slightly parted as they sucked in those breaths. He was absolutely beautiful. I love him more than anything. I love my precious twin brother, Hikaru.
In fact, I'm pretty sure that Hikaru is the only thing that I love. Ever since our father died and our mom became distant, I had to take over as the man of the house and provide for everyone. (I didn't want Hikaru to have to carry such a burden, though he is slightly older than I am.) I would always go out and hunt for food to provide for my family.
Whenever I would catch a squirrel or a rabbit, I would gut it and leave the organs that couldn't be eaten in the woods for the other carnivorous animals. Then I would skin it, putting the pelt into one bag and placing the meat into my other bag.
After everything that was involved in catching the animals was said and done, I'd go back home and cook the food. As I would cook the meat, I would watch Hikaru out of the corner of my eye, amused by the way he would lick his lips in anticipation as he watched me cook.
When I had finished cooking the food, I would give whatever Hikaru wanted to him and give the rest to my mother. I went without most of the time to make sure that Hikaru was well kempt. But, Hikaru, being the kindred spirit that he is, would only eat about half of what was on his plate and make me eat. He would always say he wanted to eat the same amount as me so we'd always be identical.
No wonder why I love him.
I placed a gentle kiss upon my brother's forehead then grabbed my hunting bags, heading out of the dirty old shack that my family and I resided in.
The streets of District 12 were riddled with litter and muck, as per usual. Nobody really has enough time to make sure the streets were extravagant and cleanly.
I made my way through the well-worn path that I always took to the woods, keeping my eyes on the ground to avoid seeing anyone that was on the verge of starvation. People in District 12 rarely ever die of natural causes, such as sickness or old age. They almost always die in the excruciating pain of starvation.
My feet were nearly hard-wired to where they needed to go. Down the path of pale dirt, to the left towards the giant oak tree. After the oak tree, keep going straight until you take a left onto the giant, steel dam the Capitol had built many years ago. From the top of the dam, keep going straight until you're there, in the woods. The green, lush woods of District 12.
Of course there was a fence there to prevent us from going to the woods. But I had discovered a small hole many years before, about 100 feet to the right off of the dam, along the small grass patch along the fence. It was just big enough for me to squeeze through with relative ease.
I jogged into the woods, going straight to a tree log that my father and I had hollowed out several years ago. I removed the twigs and branches that I kept over the top of the log, concealing my bow and arrows. Picking up my bow, my eyes scanned over the mahogany wood and the leather strapped sheath. My father had made this for me when I was estimated to be about 10 years old. A year younger than when he had died.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts in my brain of my father. I can't think of him now. Not when I'm hunting.
Cocking an arrow, I kept my aim trained on the ground as I took tentative steps forward, my eyes scanning the surrounding area. I needed to keep my guard up in case that I sense an animal. Hikaru is always hungry when he wakes up, and I want to be there with breakfast ready when he does.
I pick up some leaves and crunch them in my hands to see which way the wind blows. Seeing that the wind was blowing to the west, I start jogging in that way. Animals tend to travel with the wind. I have no idea why, though.
Stopping my movement to listen, I hear a faint crunch to my right and I swing around, putting up my aim. Panic rushes through my veins when I see Tamaki, a person who's been a close friend of mine for a few years. Ever since my father died and I had to start hunting to support my family and I met Tamaki, we've been hunting partners, not to mention friends.
"Damn it Tamaki, make your presence known!" I growl at him, lowering my bow. I was so afraid that I would shoot him.
"Well, maybe you should start trying to look before you shoot, Hotshot." He comes closer and flicks me in the forehead. I chuckle lightly and push him away from me, turning away. "So, you know what today is, right?" Tamaki starts of quietly, making me turn back towards him.
"No. What is today?"
"Reaping day." He whispers, looking into my eyes. Then he reaches into his bag and pulls out a loaf of bread, breaking it in half and tossing me a half. "It's real, too. Figured I'd want to make this day somewhat happy with my best friend."
I smile sadly at him and catch the bread in one hand, quickly eating the sweet bread. It tasted wonderful, being warm and fulfilling as it is. "Thanks, Tama."
"No problem, Cow." Tamaki says, brushing my bangs from my eyes.
I tear my gaze away from his, smiling at the memories of that nickname. When we had first met, and I was examining the snare that he had made, he came up from behind me, scaring me. It was one of the few memories that I actually treasure. I had seen his snare and was examining it, to see if I could copy the same things, when he had caught me.
He thought that I was actually trying to steal his catch. I had to explain to him that I wasn't, and when he asked for my name, I answered him "Kaoru", which is my name. But, he thought that I had said "Cow" so the nickname just sort of stuck.
"Wait. Today's reaping day?" I start off, realization flooding through my brain. I looked up at Tamaki, my eyes as wide as saucers.
"Uh, yeah. I just kind of said that, dear."
"SHIT! I have to get an animal so I can cook for Hikaru! He's always distressed and nervous today!" I run away from Tamaki, and can hear him laughing behind me.
"Good luck, Cow!"
In no time at all I had caught a fat, plump rabbit and had gutted AND skinned it. From there I ran home, meat in tow.
Reaping day scares Hikaru. He knows that even though he is strong, he can't kill a person. He just doesn't have it in him.
You see, Reaping day is the day that tributes are chosen for the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is some sort of twisted game that the Capital created to herd in the districts and keep them in order.
Traditionally, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 are chosen. Each year, your name is added once. If you're 12, your name is in once. 13, twice, etc. etc. If your family is poor, you can opt out to getting tesserae, which is your name added in extra times. In exchange for tesserae you get a year's supply of wheat and oil, in which I get for Hikaru, Mom and I.
I've been getting it for years, and now that I'm 16 years old and my name is in there four times per year for Hikaru, Mom and I, my name will be in the pool 20 times. Hikaru's name is only going to be in there 5 times. ¼ of mine. Good.
Eventually I got home and ran inside of the shack, started up the wood grill and got out a pan. I tossed the rabbit inside of it and cooked it up quickly, tenderizing the meat and doing everything that I could.
When I had finally finished, I cut it into thirds and put each section on a plate. Then I got 3 glasses of some sort of juice and placed the on the table.
I had finally finished everything and took a deep breath, walking into Hikaru's room. He was about to wake up; I could tell.
I sat down on the bed next to him, keeping my eyes trained on his face. I was waiting for him to wake up.
He sighed quietly before his eyes fluttered open, soon landing on me. As soon as they did, he smiled, reaching out to touch my shoulder. "Kaoru," He said with a lazy grin, sitting up and kissing me on the cheek softly.
"Morning, Hika. Now, get up. Time to eat." I stood up and held my hand out to him. He took it and stood up as well, stretching before following me out of the room. I tried to take my hand from his, knowing that it was more affection than I needed to show to him, but he wouldn't let go.
Hikaru sits down at the table and begins to eat, keeping his gaze glued to his plate. "Today's the day, right?" He asked quietly.
"Uh, yeah, I guess." I answer, eating my food and watching him as he ate.
Suddenly he stopped, looking up at me. "So… how many times is your name going to be in today?"
"Hikaru, don't worry about it-"
"How many?" Hikaru sliced in, his gaze hardening slightly.
"Twenty," I whisper, looking away as his jaw drops.
"Twenty?! Kaoru! Come on, let me put my name in! You can't keep on increasing your number while mine is so low-"
"No, Hikaru!" I cut him off, clenching my fists. "No, Hikaru. It's not your job. I provide for the family, and I will be the one with the tesserae. Now finish eating. We have to get ready."
My eyes are trained on the ground to keep them away from the dumbfounded, sad expression on Hikaru's face. But, he listens to me, finishing his food and getting up to get dressed without a word. I look at my plate of half-eaten food and mom's full plate before sighing, standing up to get dressed.
When I walk into my room (Well, Hikaru and I share a room. I have the right side, he has the left.) I see a pale orange, neatly folded button-up dress shirt along with black slacks and well worn dress shoes on my bed. Mom is standing by Hikaru, helping him get dressed into his identical outfit, only his dress shirt is a pale, light blue.
"Morning, Kaoru." Mom mutters to me without even sparing a glance at me. Hikaru's her favorite, I know.
"Hi." I deadpan, grasping my clothes in my hand and getting dressed quickly. I don't care that I didn't even take a bath. I think the whole Hunger Games thing can go to hell for all I care.
"Kaoru, come on. At least straighten your collar." Mom says as she walks over to me, reaching out for the collar of my shirt.
I take a step back from her, reaching up for the collar myself. "I got it."
Hikaru and I were soon ready to leave, but, before we leave, he grasps my hand and pulls me into a hug. I can feel his warm, wet tears as they fall on my shoulder and I close my eyes, wrapping my arms around my older brother.
"Shh… Hikaru, it's alright. You won't be picked. You won't be picked…" I whispered to him soothingly.
"I'm not worried about me, I'm worried about you," I could've sworn I heard him whisper, but he had let go of me and walked out the door before I could question him.
