Disclaimer: no owns hunger games or yugioh, including its characters…

Let me clear something up right now: yugi shall be a girl in this cuz I counted the unofficial votes.

Well, heres the next chapter. Enjoy. (btw, read kuroshitsuji. Awesome manga/anime)

*dodges rock* im sorry it took so long…

The bread was delicious and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, the kind I haven't felt for a long time.

It wasn't until the next morning until the thought that the girl had purposely burnt and delivered the bread to me presented itself. I quickly dismissed it though. She probably knew she would be punished a lot more than she knew me. Still, even if it was a mistake, merely giving me the bread was an enormous kindness, one that would not be forgotten in my lake – my sea, of memories.

We ate some more bread before going off to school. Warm, sweet air; fluffy clouds; it was as if spring had arrived overnight.

At school I saw the girl again. Her face was bruised and her eye was black and swollen. I grimaced slightly at the sight. She was with her friends and didn't acknowledge me in any way, but later, when I picked up Ryou, I caught her staring at me. Our eyes met for a second, and I would like to believe that mine reflected my sincere gratitude. Then she blushed (I think; we were kind of far apart) and looked away.

I dropped my eyes as well, and that was when I saw it. The first dandelion of the year. My mind turned to the hours I had spent in the woods with my father, and I realized how we would survive.

To this day I could not shake off the connection between Yugi, the bread of hope, and the dandelion that had reminded me I was not doomed.

Though we hardly spoke to one another, I have often turned around at school and saw her eyes watching me, and I felt as though I owed him. I hate owing people.

Perhaps, had I thanked him at some point, I would not have felt so conflicted, but the opportunity never presented itself. And now it never will. We were about to kill each other, or at least try to. I could just imagine the conversation.

"Hi, thank you for the bread. Know that I will kill you shortly. Bye."

We are about to be thrown into an arena to fight to the death. How am I supposed to fit a thank-you in there? For some strange reason it wouldn't seem sincere when I am trying to slit her throat.

The mayor finished the dreary Treaty of Treason and motions for Yugi and me to shake hands.

Her eyes are as warm as those loaves of bread she had given me so long ago.

Yugi meets my gaze and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I tried to return it, but I think it might have felt more like a nervous spasm.

We turn back as the national anthem begins to play.

Well there will be 24 of us. Odds are someone else will kill him before I can.

I mentally snicker. Of course, odds have not been very reliable as of late.

As soon as the anthem ends we are taken into custody. Of course, if asked, the Peacekeepers would probably claim to be 'guiding' us, as there were no handcuffs involved. Perhaps tributes have tried to escape their fate. I have never seen it happen though.

Once inside, I was led to the richest room I have ever been in. Thick, deep carpets as well as velvet couches and chairs. Thin, golden strands were peeking out between all the fabrics, and a sweet-smelling perfume decorated the air.

It made me want to sneeze.

I ran my fingers repeatedly over the fabric. It helped to calm me down. The next hour would be the allotted time for tributes to say good-bye to family and friends.

And I would not break down then, as cameras would be filming our every action.

I would not appear weak and make myself a target.

Most of all, I would not worry Ryou and Mother.

They were my first visitors. I took a deep breath and turned to face them.

I reach out to Ryou and he climbs onto my lap. Mother sits beside us and hugs us. We stay like this for a few seconds, relishing the silence.

Then I begin instructing them.

Ryou is not to take any tesserae. They can get by – if they're careful – by selling the goat milk and cheese as well as the small apothecary business Mother now runs. Akefia can get them the herbs she cannot grow, but she must be very detailed when describing them, as he is not as experienced with these matters as I.

He will also bring them game, as he and I made a pact on this a while ago, and will not ask for any payment, but they should thank him with some milk or cheese or medicine.

I don't bother suggesting that Ryou should learn how to hunt. The few times I tried to teach him was disastrous. The woods terrified him, and whenever I shot something, he would burst into tears and insist that if we hurry, we could heal it when we got home. But her goat would suffice, so I concentrate on that.

When I am done instructing about fuel, trading, and staying in school, I turn to Mother and grip her arm.

"Listen to me. Are you listening?" she nods, alarmed. "You can't leave again."

Mother's eyes find the floor. "I know. I won't. I couldn't help- "

"Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, but you will have to help it this time. You can't leave Ryou by himself again now that I won't be here. No matter what happens, fight the urge!" My voice rose to a shout, betraying all my emotions.

She pulled her arm out of my grasp. "I was sick. I could've treated myself if I'd had the medicine I have now."

Perhaps she was telling the truth, but illness was one thing we – they, couldn't afford.

"Then take it, and take care of him!"

"I'll be all right, Bakura," insisted Ryou. "But you have to be careful too! You have a chance; you are so fast and nimble. Promise me you will try at least!"

I can't win. Ryou must know that. Many of my opponents come from wealthy districts where winning is an honor. The boys will be two or three times my size. The girls know twenty different ways to kill you with a knife. Of course, there will be people like me too. People to weed out before the real fun begins.

"Maybe," was my reply. I can hardly tell Mother to carry on if I already gave up. Besides, I had a feisty nature, and I would not go down without a fight. "Then we'd be as rich as that drunk Atemu."

"I don't care about money!" cried Ryou. "I just want you to come home unharmed. You will try, won't you? Really try?"

"Really, I swear," I said. And now, because of Ryou, I will have to.

And then the Peacekeeper is at the door, signaling our time is up, and we were all hugging each other, repeating the words "I love you so much."

The Peacekeeper calmly steps between us, effectively breaking us up. They exit and the door closes. I bury my head in the soft fabric of the pillows as if this can block out the whole thing, as if I could make this whole experience a nightmare; a mere hallucination.

I look up and sigh. It's no use.

1305 words! Very long for me.