A/N: Okay, so this isn't that much longer than the last one. I apologize... They will get longer as time goes on I think. Hope you like this chapter.


Two

I was only eight years old when my parents died, ruthlessly killed by a mugger. We were actually one of the better off families in Region 5, so they were a prime target. My father's small fortune was taken by the government shortly after his demise for reasons that were not explained to me. But it left me and my little brother, Bolin, with nothing. I barely managed to grab my father's red scarf before we were both hauled off the the local orphanage.

Adoptions were rare in general, not many people wanted an extra mouth to feed, but when it did occur it was normally for children five years or younger. Me being eight and Bolin being six, we had already passed that cut off. You needed an advantage over the other children in order to get a family's attention, or pay someone to get it for you.

I left one morning, like the other children my age, to find odd jobs around the town to help fund the orphanage. I found my way to the Yao residence; Park Yao was the respected owner of a Power Plant, and had more influence than anyone else in the Region. Maybe, for the right price, he could be Bolin's advantage.

I found the front gate open, and made my to the front door. A tall man with a young girl in his arms answered. He wore a tailored gray tunic and shiny expensive black shoes. I gulped, suddenly horrified that my appearance would cause him to slam the door in my face. I hadn't had a decent bath in several days and had only ran my hands through my hair a dew times to try and tackle the bed head. He stared down at me, judging me surely.

"I don't have all day kid." he grumbled. He was actually waiting for me to speak.

"Mr. Yao, I would like to make a deal with you." I said, standing up straight. " I know I might not look my best, but it is important that you-"

"Come on in." he smiled quickly before stepping aside. I did my best to keep my cool, despite the fact that I had doubted I would have made it this far. I followed him into a small sitting room, full of expensive looking furniture. He put his daughter on the ground and told her to go upstairs and play. I remember Lien looking at me with her large brown eyes before running upstairs. When Mr. Yao turned back to me, I stiffened.

"If I hadn't have been friends with your mother, you probably wouldn't have made it trough the front door." he told me. Not sure how to respond, I stayed silent. "So, what's this deal?"

"I need your help to get my little brother adopted. I will do whatever it takes."

"Really, this is what your deal is about?" he laughed. "And here I thought you were going to ask for money or food."

"No, sir." I shake my head.

"You're an honorable kid... What's your name again?" he asked.

"Mako. My brother is Bolin. He's six." I replied.

"Mako, what do I get out of this deal?"

"I will work in your plant once I'm old enough, and you can keep half my pay. I said, having already thought this through. He eyed me, clearly not happy with the idea.

"We're going to have to work on your end of the deal." he sighed. "But in the meantime, I'll work something out for your brother. Just promise that when I come calling for you, you better show up."

"Yes sir! Of course!" I had nodded so hard I gave myself a headache.

Bolin was soon adopted by a family from Region 2, and my side of the deal was later changed. I would work in the Plant and Mr. Yao would keep one third of my pay until I was 19. My second part was that if his only child, Lien, was ever chosen for the Republic Games, I would volunteer to go with her and be her protection. Acting like her bodyguard in a way.

Now Lien is standing up there with Yumi, looking absolutely terrified when no one volunteers in her place, and I know exactly what I have to do.

I wait anxiously for them to call the chosen boy's name. Genzu, a boy of 14. He climbs the stage and stands beside Lien. She's had her eyes locked on me since she got up there, completely unaware of the arrangement I had made with her father.

"Are there any volunteers that wish to take the place of Genzu?" Yumi asks sweetly.

My body suddenly overheats and I feel sweat form at my hairline. My heart is racing and my breath quickens. "I volunteer!" I shout. The boys in front of me all turn to look at the idiot who would volunteer, and I feel everyone's eyes on me. I manage to walk on shockingly stable legs, up past the Guards on their way to retrieve me, and up onto the stage. Genzu is escorted off, whispering his thank you as he walks past me. I simply nod. Only I and Park Yao know I've volunteered for reasons other than to rescue Genzu from his certain death. Lien is staring at me wide-eyed. She clearly isn't impressed by my courage, in fact, she'll probably be mad at me later.

"How wonderful! It's not every year we get a volunteer here in Region 5!" Yumi claps her hands together again. "What is your name?"

"Mako. Son of San and Kima." I manage to say. For a moment, I think I see Yumi's eyes widen, but I'm too busy looking at Lien to care. I had always pictured this moment, if it ever came, to go by slowly. Yet it's going by alarmingly fast. I hardly have a chance to take in all the details over my racing thoughts and thumping heartbeat. There's a deafening ringing in my ears as Yumi says her last words to the crowd. I feel dizzy as she raises my hand above my head, as if I've accomplished something. My chest begins to tighten as she ushers me and Lien into the Main Hall.

We're both shoved into separate rooms. Lien will be visited one last time by her father, I'm sure. I have no one who would possibly want to say good bye to me, so I am left with my panic.

There is nothing more for me to do than protect Lien for the next several weeks. I have been told time and time again how important it is to keep Lien safe. Only one tribute can win, meaning if I somehow manage to save Lien, I will have nothing to look forward to but death. It was part of the deal, and I am always true to my word. But now that the deal is in play, I suddenly think of so many things I wanted to do. What if I wanted to marry? I haven't even had a girlfriend yet. Maybe I could have found Bolin someday, wherever he was in Region 2. I've signed my life away to protect a girl... To protect my brother.

The door suddenly bursts open and Mr. Yao hurries inside.

"I don't have much time." he says. "I just..." He looks at me in a way I've never seen before. Is that gratitude? "Thank you, Mako. I almost thought you wouldn't hold up your end of the deal... because of what I had said earlier..."

"I am doing this for Lien and Bolin." I say, surprising myself at my stern tone. "Not for you."

"You are an honorable boy, Mako. Just as your father was." Mr. Yao actually bows to me, a respectful and sincere bow. Then he exits the room just as quickly as he had entered.

Lien and I are whisked away to the docks, where cameras and reporters wait to see us one last time before we board the boat to Republic City. I whisper to Lien to ignore their questions and the camera lenses. She grabs my hand as we fall in line behind Yumi.

The boat we'll be taking is state of the art. Shiny and new, it's speed is unlike any boat we have here in Region 5. We're far enough away from Republic City that it will just be quicker to travel by water. Not to mention that there are no trains that travel through the desert that sits between us.

We walk the catwalk up to the ship, and find ourselves surrounded by luxury. Yumi giggles at our expression.

"Please, make yourselves at home. This ship is full of things to do. There is a projector in the other room, which we'll use to watch the other Regions reaping. It's not good for much else, I'm afraid. But there is plenty of food. I'll show you to your staterooms later. First I must go find Lin... She's probably being her old grumpy self in her room." she sighs, as she takes off down the short hallway. "Take the first door on the right!" she shouts behind her.

I pulled a silent Lien to the room Yumi has directed us to, and find piles of food on silver trays. The light fixtures are all adorned with silver dragons and the walls are a deep purple. Purple actually seems to be the main color of the room, most of the furniture are different shades of it. Lien yanks her hand out of mine harshly. I turn to look at her. She's clearly angry, and I have a feeling why.

"Why would you do that, you idiot?!" she demands. Her palms have balled into fists, held straight at her side.

"Because Genzu had no chance..." I say. It was true, there was not a hope in the Spirit World for that boy. "And because I couldn't let you do this alone." She softens a bit.

"You're still an idiot." she grumbles, stalking over to the indigo chair in the corner and sinking into it. She turns her back to me in one sharp movement.

I begin to eye the food on the trays. They all look too extravagant to even touch. Not that I'm hungry, I probably won't be for the rest of the night. I'm nothing but a bundle of nerves now. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate the obvious work that went into every pastry.

"The plates are over there." a cranky voice says behind me. It takes everything in me not to jump. Lien looks away from the window that she was staring out broodingly. "You've probably never seen that much food in your life."

"Lin, please. Don't be rude." Yumi says as she walks into the room. I look at the woman, her graying black hair and bright green eyes. She has a scar on her cheek, which I believe is from when she participated in the Games. Yumi looks at me and Lien. "We're leaving port now, if you wish to get one last look at Region 5."

I shake my head. There is really nothing for me there. No one to miss, and no one who will miss me. I've made close acquaintances, but no friends. Mr. Yao never let me have time for that, between training and working.

"So who are you?" Lin asks as she plops down into her own chair.

"I'm Lien Yao... He's Mako." Lien answers. She looks over at me quickly before looking back out the window.

"Well don't get your hopes up, kids." she says, crossing her arms across her chest.

I feel a burning in my stomach. Everything I've heard about Lin Beifong is true. Only no one ever mentioned how rude she was. I spin on my heel to face her.

"That's it?" I snap. "Don't get our hopes up? You're telling us straight up that we're going to die!"

"Listen boy, I've worked with dozens of you! Not one has lived to talk about it. The ones that did killed themselves or got locked away for good." Lin stood abruptly.

"Mako! Lin! Please! We've only just left port!" Yumi says, walking over to us.

"You haven't even given us a chance!" I shout. I've been in panic mode since I heard Lien's name called. Lin's behavior was clearly the boiling point for me. "Maybe that's why all our tributes die! Because they have you as a mentor..."

Lin stares at me through her thin eyes. "Then surprise me." she says as she exits the room.

"Now you've done it." Yumi frowns. "She'll be in foul mood for the rest of the day."

"She wasn't already in one?" Lien asks.

"She was actually having a rather decent day today, dear." Yumi says, plucking a small iced cake from a tray and popping it into her mouth. I looked at Lien incredulously, but she looked back out the window. Clearly she still wasn't talking to me. This was going to be an extremely long trip.

After a very silent and awkward dinner, during which I didn't eat a thing despite Yumi telling me to try different dishes, we gather into the projector room. I'm still receiving the cold shoulder from Lien, and Lin is sitting behind me, grumbling to herself. No one seems to be feeling the affects of being on a ship but me. Or perhaps I'm still getting over all the things that have happened today.

Yumi flips the projector on and it appears the broadcast has already begun. It's in the middle of Region 8's tributes. The girl has already been called. I find my focus zoning out because of my nausea, but I manage to catch the name of the boy. Shao. Then appears the tributes from Region 7. A twelve year old boy by the odd name of Skoochy, and a thirteen year old girl named ReiRei. Both seem to be in poor condition. Region 6 is next. It's situated in the vicinity of the old Western Air Temple. Tashi and Jinora. Jinora looks younger than her age of twelve. And Tashi is a skinny sixteen year old boy. Both appear to be airbenders. Then it's our Region. When I volunteered, and heard a pleased sound and light clap come from Yumi. I hadn't realized how shocked everyone looked when I volunteered...

Region 4 is next. Located in the Southern Water Tribe. The boy goes by the name of Hasook. He's not the most intelligent looking, and I have a feeling meeting him in person will solidify this. The girl Tribute goes by the name of Korra. She's athletic looking, a look not many girls in Region 5 have. Then Region 3, where the Northern Water Tribe stood. Tahno and Anana are their tributes. Tahno looks far to thin to be any sort of threat... While Anana looks shy. Both are volunteers.

"Here come the Careers." Lin growls behind me. "I don't know why that kind of thing isn't outlawed yet..."

"Oh it is!" Yumi says, her high pitched voice is really starting to annoy me. "Trained tributes highly looked down upon!"

"But their always the favorites." Lien says. It was nice to finally hear her again.

"Just because their looked down upon doesn't mean their illegal." I mumbled.

"Exactly." Lin agrees.

The logo for Region 2 appears. My heart leaps at the sight of the big crowd. Bolin's in there somewhere. I've tried every year to find him, but the projector in Worker's Quarter is blurry and I can never get a good look. A girl named Asami Sato volunteers in the place of a skinny pathetic looking girl. I know it's not out of the kindness of her heart, but rather the fact that she's trained for this all of her life. Much like me and Lien. Only difference is that I was trained to protect someone. She was trained to win. Their escort digs her hand into the boys names.

"Bolin Liao!" she shouts.

I stand abruptly, taking everyone in the room by surprise. Lien knows about Bolin, and I can feel her looking at me worriedly. It could be another Bolin. Unless Bolin had been adopted by the Liao family... I had never met another Bolin in my life, so obviously it wasn't a common name. My heart begins to race again as it had when they called Lien's name, or when I volunteered. Suddenly I'm having a hard time breathing.

"Don't be him..." I say under my breath. I watch the stage, as I see a black haired well built boy appear. I examine his eyes. His nose. And I shout. It's my brother. My sixteen year old brother.


A/N:Before any of you tell me, let me assure you I am well aware that Jinora is not twelve. But for the purposes of this story, she is! And no, Mako's last name is not Liao. That's the family that adopted Bolin. Don't worry about the Region 1 tributes, you'll find out who they are soon enough! Please feel free to review or ask questions! You can even PM me if you wish. Thank you for taking the time to read this! Truly appreciated!