Inspired from marukaprompts on tumblr. Enjoy! (This story is in progress and will be edited)

The water was hot and murky today, and as Rin swam through it, it was as though he was swimming through a thick syrup. His spear wasn't moving as fast as he wanted it to, and the fish were avoiding him as if they knew he wasn't in any mood to be around. In the net laced around his neck hung five measly fish, barely worth catching in the first place, yet it was all he was going home with tonight.

When the surface broke, Rin breathed for the first time in what felt like forever, the sun beat down and upon his bright burgundy hair heavily. He wanted to dive under the surface and escape the rays, but he knew he needed to head home.

Today was reaping day, and it was the last one he was going through. Eighteen years old was his age just a week after today. He wished for the life of him that it was his sisters last reaping day instead of his. He would go through it for his entire life if it meant she never went thought it again. The water on his skin died not minutes down the road.

His formal wear was going to be the most uncomfortable thing he was ever forced to wear. District Four was quiet as he walked back, mothers and fathers dreading what would happen in just a little while, a few short hours. As his feet hit the sand and the swimsuit he was wearing stuck uncomfortably to his skin,

Rin turned his face to the sun and enjoyed the last few moments free of anxiety.

Haruka, one of Rin's rivals and friends was lounging in the water, his top half out. He seemed a bit tense, but nodded at Rin as he passed, mainly ignoring him though. Rin nodded back, and continued on his way. A few short minutes later, he was home, with his sister and his mother and his sister's boyfriend, Seijuro. It wasn't the loud home he normally came home to, they were quiet and simply waiting for his return.

"It wasn't a good haul today," he announced when they looked at them hopefully. His mother took the fish from him and began to gut them, while his sister Gou began some prep work and Seijuro patted him on the back.

"Great job Rin!" he said cheerfully. Rin glared at him. It wasn't that he didn't like Seijuro he just didn't approve of him dating his sister. Today was Seijuro's last reaping day as well. Gou had two more to go through after today ended.

"Shouldn't you be with your own family?" Rin growled out. Seijuro laughed as though Rin was telling a joke, and turned back to Gou to help her with her prepping. Soon the gutted fish and cooking away, and they tried to ignore the heaviness that descended upon the table.

Yet finally it was time to prepare, and Seijuro had to leave. Gou kissed him goodbye, and Rin made a chocking noise in the back of his throat as though he was dying. Gou made a face at him, but otherwise got the message, and Seijuro left their house with a simple goodbye to Rin and his mother.

Rin didn't have to bathe, the water he swims in every day keeps him clean. Gou did though, and it took the majority of the time they were getting ready to heat up a bath for her. Luckily in District Four they had access to things as heat on demand, being almost a Career District, but they were still lacking some of the things that Districts One, Two and Three had. Rin didn't wish they lived there though, it was nice being in the water, and he could hold his own there. Yet he was thankful every day that they didn't live in District 12, where the poor ran rampant and everyone seemed to be dying of starvation before they could even get to their first Reaping day.

Those were just rumors though.

The suit he donned was that of his father, a light and airy fabric tinted a dark shade of blue so dark it was black unless in the sunlight, with blinding brilliant cuffs passed down from generation to generation. They used to be a rare stone, but now there were no need for stones that weren't bright and vibrant in color. The stones were almost clear, cut sharply and reflected in a million different shades when exposed to the light. He planned to give them to his son when he had one.

If I have one, the thought streamed through his head almost as if it someone else placed it there. He shook his head, almost ruining the hair he spent so long getting perfect, and tried to ignore the worry gnawing at his insides.

Gou's dress took longer to form, the bright yellow almost clashing with her red mop of hair. The twists of fabrics took longer to take place, her hair longer to form, but eventually they were ready to go, and they could hear the others beginning to walk towards the town square. Their mother hugged them.

"Be good, I'll see you after."

Rin grunted out a reply, and let his mother fuss over him and Gou one last time before they left. They marched forward with the rest of the groups, and Rin let Gou hold his hand, not being able to remember the last time she had done so. Not since her first Hunger Games.

She had cried all the way there. She cried when they took her blood to categorize, and she cried when Rin couldn't stand with her. Yet she had made it, and didn't get called, and Rin hugged her and she thanked him for being there.

Rin squeezed her hand for comfort. She squeezed it back, and it was like they were small again, going to their father's funeral. He pushed away the sad memories as if they were poison. He refused to think of anything that wasn't about one foot in front of the other to get to the town square. He could see the building in the distance. Not even a five minute walk.

Haruka was near them. Makoto walking as well. They didn't hold hands, but they talked in hushed tones as if reassuring each other they would get out of this together. Rin could almost hear Makoto promising Haru mackerel if he behaved and made it through the ceremony without falling asleep like last year. Peace Keepers would have taken Haru away if it wasn't for Makoto's quick thinking. Telling them that he was so stressed he couldn't sleep, and he was so relieved when his name wasn't called he just collapsed. Now though, Haru looked as if he would do the same thing once more and just fall asleep as he was walking. The dirt under his shoes was gravelly, dust rising. It was almost strange walking on land that wasn't the normal sand under his toes. He wanted to run to the water and take Gou with him so they would never have to go through this again.

Seijuro appeared almost out of thin air, walking along with them as if he was there from the beginning. Gou took his hand, and Rin thought it wouldn't be the best time and place to yell at them under the circumstances.

Boys and girls on separate sides, a drop of blood to check in, and a giant glass bowl that held all their names. Rin stared at it, as if his glare would be enough for it to fall and crash upon the floor, toppling down, and Gou wouldn't even have a chance to get called. Her name was only in there five times, but it was five times too many for Rin. He glanced at Seijuro, and knew the other was thinking of the same thing.

They were some of the last to get called. Rin stood next to Seijuro, with Haru and Makoto standing near the front. Gou was somewhere in the group of girls, blending in with the mass. He craned his neck, hoping to spot her.

"Welcome!" their District escort blared through the microphone. Rin couldn't remember his name, but he was sure that it started with an 'F'.

"Welcome!" he said once more at a normal volume, "to the 58th annual Hunger Games. I'm so happy to see so many eager faces."

Rin wondered who looked eager. Silence was their escorts answer. Rin looked over his outfit, complete with pants that looked as if they made simply out of the nets he used to catch fish. His top was the bright blue of the sky, and a fish of some bright color done in jewels. His short cropped hair was as bright as his shirt.

"Well no time to diddy daddle. Let's draw names."

A short stubby hand let itself fall into the glass bowl. It brushed the surface of the slips of papers before it clutched one and drew it out. Rin couldn't breathe anymore, his heart was pounding, and everything was a rush. It was his final year, and there were only so many names he didn't want to be on that slip of paper.

"Gou Matsuoka!"

Rin couldn't breathe anymore. Everyone was glancing around looking to see who the name belonged to. A loud wail came from the back, and Rin recognized his mother's voice. He had hoped he would never hear her cry again after his father's death. He knew she was getting glares. It's to be an honor when your child got their named called.

But Gou, Gou was being called forward, and the Peacekeepers were beginning to surround her, and he was losing his chance. She was so close to the stage, and as soon as her foot stepped up on it, that would be the end, and she would be gone.

"Gou!" he screamed out. Her foot was hovering over the edge of her step. She paused, and brought her foot back to earth, and not the wood. Rin almost cried out of relief.

"Gou!" he screamed again, and suddenly he was held back, and more Peacekeepers were there, blocking him from her. He could see one of them pushing her forward, edging her to take the step onto the stage, and ripped from him forever.

"No!" He fought against the Peacekeepers. He knew what he had to say.

"I volunteer! I volunteer! Gou!" he cried out, voice cracking at the end.

The Peacekeepers were gone, Gou was in his arms, and she was crying. And he thought for sure that he was crying as well, for his vision was blurry. He was telling her to go with Seijuro, to find their mother, and tell her he was so, so sorry. And she was crying and refusing to let go, and holding on tighter and tighter until he couldn't breathe.

Seijuro picked her up out of his arms in one swift movement, and Rin was alone with a Peacekeeper pushing against his back to move him towards the stage. He didn't fight, but when his foot landed on the step something inside him broke, and he knew he wouldn't be coming back.

"Wow, that was very honorable of you young man, what's your name?" the name of their escort suddenly came to his mind, Faic.

"Rin Matsuoka," he spoke into the microphone.

"Oh? Was that your sister?" Rin didn't miss the way he said 'was' instead of 'is'.

"Yes."

"Let's give one of District Four's volunteers a big hand!" he started applauding, but stopped when no one joined in. Instead they put their fingers to their lips, and raised in the air, the ultimate sign of respect. Rin felt tears blur his eyes once more.

"Now, let's have the second tribute, shall we?" Faic dug his hand deep into the bowl, almost as if he wanted to reach the bottom.

"Haruka Nanase."

Haru, staring at the floor, as if avoiding the sight of everyone, snapped his head up. Makoto was already looking as if he was ready to volunteer for his friend, but Haru placed a hand on his arm, telling him in simple gestures that everything would be okay. Makoto kept his mouth shut, and Haru stepped on stage on his own, not even needing the Peacekeepers to escort him up. He stood on the other side of Faic.

"For the 58th Hunger Games, your tributes, Rin Matsuoka and Haruka Nanase! Please shake hands," he stepped back, letting them shake hands.
Rin shook the hand of his lifelong friend, and looked into his eyes seeing something he hadn't seen in his eyes since he was little, something Rin saw every time he looked in the mirror in the morning. He saw a determination, the will to fight. Rin looked at Haru and knew he wouldn't be able to be allies with the other.

Besides, it was time for goodbyes.