Ayumi brushed Sachiko's knots out with fast strokes, her hair becoming undone immediately. Ayumi sometimes wished she had hair like that as she smiled, putting her hair up in a cute ponytail, then twisted her hair around the base of the ponytail, using bobby-pins to set it in place. She let Sachiko's long bangs free, and she put some of it behind the ear with her red pin.
She let Sachiko look at herself in her cracked mirror, and her face lit up. "Neechan, thank you!" Sachiko said, hugging Ayumi. Neechan meant 'Older Sister', even though this wasn't the case, they still acted close enough to call each other that.
"No problem, Imouto (little sister)" Ayumi said. Sachiko then got a determined look.
"Ayumi-chan, let me do your hair." Ayumi stared at Sachiko for a moment, putting her hand absently to one of her twin ponytails. "Ayumi, please?" Sachiko whined with pleading eyes.
"Sachiko-chan, thank you. But I like my hair as it is." Ayumi replied. Sachiko's cheeks puffed out before she blew out, deflating like a balloon.
"A-at least let me make it blue bows!" Sachiko whined. I looked down at my formal dress, since it was blue.
"How about white?" Ayumi suggested, since that was the trim. Sachiko's face lit up again as she began to work on Ayumi's hair, taking it out of its ponytails and brushing it out with a broken comb. Sachiko then carefully parted Ayumi's hair, before tying them with the white ribbons and tying them then into bows. She was impressed. It was like Ayumi's normal hairstyle, but with bows. Sachiko grew talented with dealing with hair.
"...I do it for money now." Sachiko said. Ayumi turned to look at her. "Girls come to me every day, asking for good hairstyles at the Hub, even if they aren't from the Seam." Sachiko giggled. I smiled.
"Well little sis, you might just make some money to feed yourself off of that." Ayumi said. Sachiko began to panic, but Ayumi just chuckled. "I'm kidding. I'll keep paying until you can live on your own." She patted Sachiko's head.
"Just you wait, I'll make the most money in District 12! No one will die from starvation because of me!" Sachiko said, looking determined. I covered Sachiko's mouth, looking around with a scared expression. She looked startled at me.
"You never know who's listening in. Don't mention that stuff, you'll get punished." Ayumi whispered. Starvation was more or less a 'banned' topic in District 11, since it happens every so often. Peacekeepers say that its never starvation, but we all know it really is. We've seen them on the streets, people we know, people we don't, suddenly disappear, and later buried with a 'sickness' labeled on them.
Sachiko looked at me, nodding and trying to speak, but my hand was over her mouth. I removed it quickly.
"Neechan, do you think i'll be picked?" Sachiko asked, her eyes wide. I looked at her in shocked. This is the first time I've heard her be worried about the Reaping. I held her hands in mine, looking into her eyes.
"You won't. I'll make sure of it."
Yoshiki's P.O.V
Gah. I feel like an idiot! I looked at myself in the mirror, debating whether or not to bring the jacket or drop the jacket. I was in a fancy button up shirt, with my normal dark grey jacket over it, along with dark grey pants and brown shoes. I grimanced at my hair. No, no. It was sleeked back. I hated it.
I messed up my hair, making it like normal, and checked my sharp eyes. Like a hawk's. No one will mess with me on first glance. If i get chosen, no one will mess with me. What am I talking about, I won't be chosen...Or will I? GYAHH. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths as my little sister, Miki, walked in.
"Onii-chan." Miki said, looking at me in a confused manner. "Why are you having your hair back? Sleeked back looked much better in my opinion" She giggled as I glared at her.
"Haha, very funny, but that isn't me." I replied. Miki sighed, ruffling my hair. I swatted her hand away, moving my hand up to fix it. Miki smiled brightly, but soon the smile was wiped off her face. I then remembered-again. It was Reaping day. And her first Reaping.
"Miki..."
"Onii-chan, what would you do if I got picked for the reaping?" Miki asked, all seriousness in her voice. She stared at me intently, enough to make me shift uncomfortably under her gaze. I told her the answer that immediately popped into my head.
"I'll kill President Snow for making these games, and I'll kill anyone who gets in my way. No one will make you go through that, Miki." I replied. Miki's eyes widened, and before I knew it, her hand was on my mouth, and she urgently told me to shut up.
"Do you hear yourself talking about that stuff?! If a peacekeeper were nearby, they would punish you senseless! And unlucky for you, there are twice as many peacekeepers here!" She scolded me. And continued to scold me, going on about how I'm the Mayor's son, how if I were caught I might become an Avox. Jeez, how did you know all about the punishments, and the Avoxes? Didn't I only learn that last year?
"Mmmhmmheeehmmmy..." I tried to say. She removed her hand from my mouth. "Alright, I get it already." I said. I took a glimpse at the clock. "C'mon Miki," I said, gulping nervously. It was time. I grabbed her hand in mine, and I could tell she was already faking, her bubbly happiness was a mere facade. I lead her downstairs, where our parents were waiting for us. We left the house together, heading down the dirt road towards the Hall of Justice.
Ayumi's P.O.V
I grab Sachiko's hand, giving her a reassuring smile as we headed towards the Hall of Justice. With each step, Sachiko grew more nervous. She began to shake, stumbling as she walked, and when we got to the check-in point, where they scan our blood, she couldn't go on. I lead her to the side, grabbing both sides of her face gently and wiping a few stray tears that began to fall.
"Hey hey hey, shhh. Listen, Sachiko. It doesn't hurt that bad, kay? Its just a little peck on the finger." She refused to move. I hugged her gently. "Sachiko, we have to go. Okay? We have to attend to this. You wont be picked, its a one in a thousand chance its you, okay honey?" She shook her head, more tears falling. I hugged her still, resting my chin on her head. I couldn't cry, I had to be strong for her. "Sachiko, we need to go. You can't skip this, or they will punish you." She whispered. It was the hard truth that Ayumi herself wish she could miss...but it was the truth.
Sachiko stayed in her embrace, shaking, but started to calm down. She walked over with me, hand in hand, to the check in station, as they took a sample of our bloods and checked us in. I pointed to a group of other 12 year olds, and Sachiko walked towards their group, lining up like practiced over and over in her school with her head hung low, not making eye contact. She was an awkward odd-ball around them, but I think the fact of the day it is today is having an effect on her, too.
Ayumi walked over to her age group, nodding to a few people she knew, and staying silent. She waited, standing tall-well, short, since she was under-height for her age- as she waited for this to be over with. Her and Sachiko could probably go out in the fields after today, hunt some game, she could teach her so much about herbs and hunting...
Soon the town square was completely packed with people. Parents and adults stood in another section. I spotted Hinoe within the crowd, earning a small, reassuring smile from her older sister. This relaxed Ayumi slightly, but still...
Soon Effie Trinket came onto the stage, greeting us all, giving us an annual speech about how we lost the war, and this is how we pay-what a courageous sacrifice it is-what an honor it is-all that stuff. The speech felt like ages-almost like every single time she said it. She opened her mouth and began to say almost the same thing Effie says, mimicking and quoting from every other time. Its the same speech, over and over, and it hasn't changed, as Hinoe puts it.
"Now then, now we will get what you all have been waiting for. So, shall we say...Ladies first!" Effie called, walking over to the orb with every single name put in there. My heartbeat began to quicken. The whole auditorium tensed as she slowly reached in, picking out a normal looking piece of paper.
She slowly drew her arm back. She then opened the piece of paper. Everyone's breathed hitched, as we all leaned in on every single word she slowly speaks out.
"Sachiko Shinozaki!"
My heart stopped. No...No I heard that wrong. Every head turned towards the 12 year old section, to the only girl wearing red. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, and she began to tremble, tears starting to form as she stood frozen. One kid lightly pushed her, one even hugged her, and we could all hear murmurs from the group. So much for being silent. Sachiko walked slowly up to the stage. I stared at her form, and I cracked. I grew hysterical.
"Sachiko..." I breathed, taking a step forward. What am I doing? I took another step, and a few people around me saw this. Everyone moved out of the way for me. Another step. "Sachiko, no.." I silently cried. Why am I moving? But deep down, I know. It was the love for Sachiko.
"Sachiko..." Tears began to spill. "No...SACHIKO!" I screamed, breaking into a run. Peacekeepers barely had time to catch me, I was too agile and fast as I dodged one who tried to grab me. "SACHIKO, NO!" I screamed, tears falling as I began to have a panic attack-not good when you're running.
Every head was turned towards me. Sachiko was inches from the stairs. I sprinting to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to me, hugging her tightly as Peacekeepers surrounded me and Sachiko. Before they could lay a hand on me, to imprison me, to kill me, to abuse me, I screamed the words that would soon bring me hell.
"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"
The whole auditorium grew silent, the peacekeepers stopping, Effie's eyes widening, the camera-men zoomed in on me. No one has ever volunteered as tribute before. Hinoe ended up breaking away, running to the both of us and pushing through the Peacekeepers, but she was knocked down. I told Sachiko to go back with Hinoe to my mom, but she refused.
"No...NEECHAN, NO! NEECHAN, NO. NOOO. NOOOO!" Sachiko cried, as she was picked up by Hinoe, who had just risen back up. Sachiko's cries never ceased to stop as it grew more distant, Sachiko fighting Hinoe every which way. "AYUMI, NO! NOOO! LET GO, LET GO! NEECHANNN!"
I felt tears coming on, but I quickly wiped them, turning towards the stage. "I'm sorry, Imouto" I said, silently crying as her heart shattered at her begging and screaming.
"Well that was...eventful! Come up, come up dear!" Effie said. I slowly turned to the stage, lifting my chin, even though I was scared shitless, and slowly made my way on stage, counting each step, glaring daggers at every Peacekeeper I passed. I was trembling as I walked across the stage, to the center, with the microphone.
"Yes, yes, now what's you're name?" Effie asked. I glared at her a moment, but that didn't seem to faze her.
"Ayumi Shinozaki." I replied, clenching my fists as sweat rolled down the side of my face. I put on a determined look, looking out at the crowd. Everyone's face was grim.
"Well, no doubt that must have been you're sister then." Effie said, getting sort of a sad smile.
"Cousin, actually." I replied, my blood running cold.
After a long moment of me not willing to say anything, Effie clapped her hands together, facing the crowd. "Now then, on to the boys!" She walked over to the glass orb with ever boy participant's name in it. Again, everyone's breath hitched, everyone leaning into the words she began to speak.
"Yoshiki, Kishinuma!"
There were a few gasps of the people who were friends with Yoshiki, though I knew one single thing. Trouble. This won't be good. Yoshiki skips out on classes, gets into fights, everything like that. A very startled Kishinuma slowly made his way towards stage, looking around, probably knowing this is the last time he will ever see his home.
There is a strangled cry from the crowd. I look over, seeing a girl with dark brown hair screaming Yoshiki's name over and over, trying to break through some Peacekeepers. Yoshiki clenched his fists, not turned to look. He was shaking slightly. My eyes widened. Since everyone's camera was turned towards Miki Kishinuma...Yoshiki let a stray tear fall. Miki was screaming things like 'I'LL TAKE HIS PLACE! I VOLUNTEER, I VOLUNTEER!' But we all knew a girl cannot take a boys place, and once there was already a volunteer for the girls section, you can't volunteer.
Yoshiki stood on the other side of Effie, having no evidence of the tear that had fallen, and a very serious face. His sharp eyes were intimidating, even Effie flinched when he looked at her.
"Any volunteers?" Miki began screaming his name again, shouting that she volunteered, until a Peacekeeper had to force her out of the auditorium. Yoshiki hung his head, clenching his fists, before looking back up. Was that...anger in his eyes? I gulped.
Silence filled the auditorium. Effie smiled, speaking into the microphone again. "Well lets give a warm round of applause to the Tributes and to Ayumi for being the first ever District twelve volunteer!" Effie began to clap, but no one followed suit.
Instead...something strange happened...
Almost automatically, starting with one, then a few, then everyone in the auditorium, people rose their three middle fingers after kissing the tip. They held their hands out towards us, staying deathly silent. Sachiko, who was crying in the arms of Hinoe, rose did the same along with Hinoe. My mother also. Miki came back, standing by two older people who looked a lot like Miki and Yoshiki, and all three of them did it...
They were calling us precious. Calling us wanted silently, and caring. It is a rare gesture seen at funerals. It means thanks. It means admiration. It means goodbye to someone you loved. Tears threatened to fall, as they didn't put their arms down. Effie looked around, confused, then shook her head. "Now, you two, shake hands."
I turned to face Yoshiki as he faced me once Effie stepped back. We grasped for eachother's hand at the same time, tears threatening to fall. No one put their hand down. Yoshiki gave me a reassuring squeeze, and I squeezed back, turning towards the crowed after letting go, and making the same gesture they made towards me. Yoshiki did the same.
Then we were escorted into the hall of justice, preparing to get shipped off to our death bed.
A.N: I normally don't do crossovers, but I think I might be proud with this one ^^ Oh, and about Sachiko, I made her older so she could fit in the reaping, and Miki's age is the same as always. And yes, that's good Sachiko in a red dress, hehe...Now the next chapters is where the real fun begins!