Sparks

Chapter 1

Reaping Day

My name is Serena Tuskino, though everyone calls me Bunny. I live in District 10 of Panem, the livestock district.I am sixteen years old, and I don't want to die.

Not that it matters anymore.

"Serena Tuskino."

The moment I heard my name, I knew my life was over. The blood drained out of my face as hundreds of eyes turned and focused on me.

"Serena Tuskino?" Molly, the District 10 Escort smiled as she looked over the crowd, her bright red, almost orange, ringlets flying around her head. "Serena? Miss Tuskino?"

I glanced around the faces staring at me, my eyes falling upon the concerned filled one of my best friend. Dark blue eyes locked upon mine, holding my gaze. "What do I do Dar?" I mouthed to him, still frozen in place. Darien broke eye contact and nodded his head towards the makeshift stage ahead. I took a deep breath and started slowly towards the dull gray building, focusing on every step, determined not to trip and fall.

"Miss Tuskino? Oh, there you are dearie." The redhead smiled a wide, friendly smile that didn't make me feel any better. She held out her hand and helped me up the stairs to stand beside her.

I turned around slowly to face the crowd, all of their eyes watching me. My friends and family were out there. I stood there motionless, feeling numb while the world continued on without me. I didn't register what was going on around me. The next thing I knew was my hand being thrust in the air.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the tributes of District 10! Serena Tuskino and Alex Mason! Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in their favor!"

The Hunger Games. A barbaric, insane tradition. Kids killing each other for entertainment.

And now I was one of those kids.

I was ushered through the double doors behind me, and led down a hallway by a pristine uniformed Peacekeeper. The tall man walked me to a small room, pointing me inside. "You will have a few minutes to say goodbye to your family."

He left me there, closing the door behind him. I heard it click, locking me in. Guess they didn't want me to even think about trying to escape.

I let out a sigh, collapsing onto the small chair that occupied the room. I wondered how many other tributes had sat in this same chair before being shipped off to their impending doom.

I reached up behind me and made quick work of the elaborate bun my mother had twisted my hair into earlier that morning. Long curtains of golden blonde hair fell down, grazing the backs of my knees. I ran my fingers through the strands, brushing them out before pinning it up into my usual style of twin buns perched on either side of my head with pigtails flowing down from them.

The same hairstyle that had earned me the nickname of "Meatball Head" from Darien. Tears welled up in my eyes as the thought that I might never be called that again came to my mind. I choked on a sob and buried my head in my hands.

I looked up as the door creaked open to reveal my family. My mother rushed in, her long navy blue hair flaring out behind her as she pulled me into a fierce hug.

"I love you"

I hugged her back, clinging onto her, never wanting to let her go. "I love you too Mommy."

She held me at arm's length and looked me in the eye. "I have faith in you." And with that she let go of me and stood by the door.

My dad didn't say a thing, he just wrapped me up in a hug. I felt his tears roll down his cheeks and drip onto my shoulder.

"I love you Daddy." I whispered, giving him one last squeeze.

I turned to Sammy, my little brother. He looked so small and young, tears dripping down his cheeks. He threw his arms around my waist, burying his face in my chest. "Please don't die Bunny."

I ruffled his dark blonde hair and gave him a watery smile. "I'll try not to."

A knock at the door caused me to look up.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Darien poked his head in the room.

I tackled him in a hug, tears starting to run down my face.

"Whoa Meatball, don't strangle me. Save that for the Arena." His deep voice was light and cheery, yet had a tinge of sadness to it.

Trust Darien Shields to crack a joke at a time like this.

I let out a sob and hugged him tighter, gripping his dark green blazer.

"We'll just leave you two alone." I heard my mom say quietly.

I lifted my face and wished my family one last goodbye as they made their way out the door.

I turned back to my best friend. "I didn't think I would get to say goodbye to you."

"Neither did I, Andrew snuck me in." he responded, gripping my hand.

Andrew was my cousin and one of Darien's good friends who worked as a Peacekeeper in the District, I made a mental note to thank him if I saw him before I left.

I looked at the floor, unable to look Darien in the face. "I don't wanna do this."

Darien tilted my head back up with his free hand, wiping a tear from my cheek. "I know, but you're the Tribute. You have to go."

His hand dropped mine and rummaged in the pocket of his jacket. He pressed something in my hand. "I want you to have this. Take it. As your token."

I opened my hand to reveal a small, golden, star shaped, music box locket. I looked up at him, knowing what this locket meant to him. "Dar, I can't. It's all you have left of your parents. I can't take this."

He closed his large hands took the locket, opening it so a twinkling, haunting melody filled the room. "And now it will remind you of me."

"But I already have my token." I said, pointing to the small crystal necklace I had been given on my first Reaping Day.

Darien's strong hands closed the locket and reached around my neck to deftly slip his locket on the chain that held my crystal. "There, problem solved. Now you can have both."

I flushed as his hand cupped my cheek.

A loud rap at the door startled me and a gruff voice barked "Time's almost up!"

Darien's hand fell to my shoulder, his deep blue eyes staring into mine. "Bunny, I have been meaning to tell you this for a long time. And this might be my last chance. I love you."

"I love you too, Darien. You're my best friend."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You are so much more than a friend to me. I love you Bunny."

With that he leaned forward and kissed me.

The door banged open. "Time's up!"

We broke apart, his forehead touching mine. I could see tears threatening to spill over onto his cheeks. Darien was never one to cry.

"Just know that I love you. Whatever happens I will always love you."

I stared after him as the Peacekeeper lead him away, my hand sliding up to clutch his locket. I felt my heart swell as I realized I felt the same.

I called after him, not knowing if he could hear me.

"I love you Darien. I love you too…"

'I love you.' The words echoed in my mind as I gazed out the window of the speeding train, still trying to take in everything that had happened that day. The last several hours had passed in a blur and I found myself on a train, zooming across Panem, on my way to the Capitol.

I had excused myself from dinner, not having much of an appetite, and not wanting to sit around Molly, Alex, and Trista, 10's former Victor and current Mentor for the Tributes.

I sat on the push bed in my train compartment, Darien's locket open in my hands. It's soft music filling my head. I thought about what he had told me, how he felt about me. I realized just how much I cared about the stubborn, messy haired guy. Just like he said, more than a friend. I loved him.

Soon the soft sounds of the music box locket and the landscapes flickering by lulled me to sleep.

I dreamed of Darien as I slept soundly.

I dreamt of the days of endless laughter. Days filled with jokes and smiles while we worked in the pastures. Little breaks in the shade, and time spent with family and friends.

How I wish I could go back to those days already.

I dreamed of the conversation we had just days earlier.

I sat leaning against the trunk of a tree laughing with my best friend. I gazed up into his sparkling, navy blue eyes, smiling at the joke he had just told me.

I leaned against his shoulder. Laughter rang around us like bells. How could I not help but smile? Darien was the one person who could always make me smile.

The air around us shifted from playful to serious as he slowly stopped laughing and turned his dark blue gaze on the direction of the town square in the distance.

I knew what he was thinking. The Reaping.

"How many times are you in this year?" he asked, looking back towards me.

"Around thirty." I replied dully. "You?"

Darien ran his hand through his raven black hair, "Lost count. What will we do if one of us is chosen?"

"Same thing we do every year. Hope it doesn't happen."

He ruffled my long blonde hair with his hand, messing up my buns. "Just think next year I won't have to worry about it, eh, Miss Meatball Head?"

I slapped his hand away in a playful way. "Yeah… Lucky you. But then what will you do for food?" I asked, lying down in the rough grass with my head against his arm, staring at the clouds drifting by. The sunset looked so perfect.

"I donno. I'll figure something out." Darien looked down at me, a grim smile on his face.

"You could always stay with us, I guess. I mean you already practically live with us."

He draped an arm around me and gazed up at the clouds overhead. "Hey, that one looks like you." He smiled, pointing to a fluffy white blob in the evening sky. Purposely changing the subject.

I glanced up at it. "No it doesn't!"

"Yes it does! It's a bunny, like you!" he chuckled, his deep laugh that I loved.

So much had happened since then.

I had been chosen as Tribute and was on me way to the Capital.

My dreams went back to Darien's last words to me.

Whatever happens, I will always love you...

Well here is the first chapter of my newly re-vamped Sailor Moon and Hunger Games cross over. I wrote this over four years ago and have just completely gone through and have re-written it after quite a bit more writing experience. It's the same plot for those who read the original, just updated and improved writing. For those who never saw the original, I hope you enjoy this fic!

Lots of Love!
Allie