"Check mate!" Vladimir says, smirking slightly. His opponet, a small 12 year old had a look of anger on his face.

"No fair! You cheated!" he cries out, scratching his ash blonde head.

"Did I? Last time I checked this is called a check mate, meaning the person who landed it, is the winner." Vladimir smiles, he frowns slightly, his bangs in his face again.

Vladimirs bangs always found there way to his eyes. Always. Constantly he would flip them away in order to see correctly. To study, to tinker. Tinker with toys and figure out puzzles. That was his normal routine in District 2.

The gifted orphanage sat in between the peace building and training center. Most kids in the orphanage strived for both physical and mental strength, but not Vlad. He honestly preffered mental strength, because without brains, there'd be no brawn.

Also, the brain was a form of muscle, so technically your mind would be brains and brawn, because your brain is a muscle you can excercise.

Vladimir flicked his bangs to the side again as the kid walked furiously away. The small child turned his head around, and glared slightly.

Vlad smirks, and rearranges the chess set. As if on que, Wammy, the orphanage head master walks in.

"Vladimir, you are going to volunteer, remember this." Wammy says, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

Vlad sighs, and runs his fingers threw his hair. "I know, You have told me this before, no need to repeat. And... that was rather blunt."

"Very well." Wammy says, nodding slightly. As the headmaster turns on heel, Vlad takes it to him self to take out one of his beloved puzzles. As he finishes it, he wonders. Will this be the last time I fix this puzzle?

Putting away the worn box, he gets up and wipes his crisp, brown pants. Slowly, he walks over and pockets his favorite chess piece.

"Come on Children!" Wammy's voice echoes hrough the hallways. Vlad and the rest of the children make it to the center square, as he makes it to the 17 year old section, he fiddles with his chess piece, still questioning it all.

Katana touches her most recent bruise her Uncle has layed upon her. Her slim, sliver knife slipped between her fingers, causing the beating. She barely felt the pain anymore. Only a slight sting that dissolved over an hours time. She hastly put her hair in a half ponytail.

Katana follows the rest of the kids to the square. She adjusts her shoulder strap, and smoothes over her skirt. She remembers who her uncle said was supposed to volunteer. Sheena was her name? Yes, now that she recalls it was.

Sheena was never nice. Ever since they were 5 they had a long declared feud. Sheena was all looks, capturing even the most heartlessess eye. With her silky blonde hair, and delicate blue eyes she was considered a total knockout.

Being an overachiever, she would daintly and skillfully pick up a knife. She always hit her target, moving or not.

Katana was fed up with Sheena's act, so one day she challenged her. Taking to using words at first, until Sheena threw a knife at her feet. Katana then later held victory in beating the blonde.

Her uncle was dissapointed in a sense, yet was overjoyed she managed to beat this years Choosen.

Katana slyly fingers her necklace, while walking about she fixed her hair. Her long, muscular legs flexed at each step. Her feet silently made there way across the stone sidewalk, to the check in line...

"Welcome! To the 2000th Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever, in your favor!" the escort cries out.

The entire crowd cheers, smiles upon faces. The escort, Muffet Laarz smiles, walking over to the female bowl.

Her hand dips in slowly, the crowds anticipation growing. They all slightly lean forward, awaiting to hear who was going to be picked. They all knew Sheena was supposed to volunteer. Hell you could see bloodlust gleaming in her eyes, the nervous twitch of her hands.

Muffet slowly opens the folded paper. "Katana Stone." she says.

Katana falters for a second, regaing her composure, she starts making her way up.

"I volunteer as tribute!" Sheena's voice calls out. Katana keeps on walking up, calmly and carefully, her face netural.

"I said I volunteer as tribute!" She screeches threw clenched teeth. Several other females were having small fights whilst it was going on. One girl even scratched Katana

Muffet ignores the girl, paying attention to the one walking up the stairs.

" State Your name please." Muffet's capitol accent shines through.

"Katana Stone." She replies smoothly, inside shes shocked. Why did she agree to this? To get back at Sheena for her stupidity? She questions this as a male voice calls out.

"I volunteer!" Vladimir says, already making his way to the stage. The small 12 year he'd early beat looked at him thankfully, and made his way back.

"What?! I volunteer!" a voice calls out.

"No, I do!"

Vladimir sighs at the nonsense, walking around the bickering boys. As well as the girls, many of the, were fighting.

"Please say your name sir?" she asks, orange hair flouncing as he made it to the stage.

"Vladimir Dragunov." he says simply, nodding his split bangs out of his face.

"This years Hunger Games tributes!" Muffet calls out, a roaring in the crowd sounds. "Shake hands you two." she nods, gesturing to the hands suspended at there sides.

Katana's Final Goodbyes.

Katana sat in the decorated room, the soft, plush, red carpet sunk in as she applied pressure. Her Uncle walks in, his face showing no emotion.

"Good job Katana, I knew all my training would serve you well." he nods, about to leave. "Oh," he adds. "I know you can win this thing." he says, exiting the room.

Honestly, he was mortified. His niece, his little niece. About to fight to the death! He has a surge of worry, and is about to go back, before a peacekeeper pushes him away.

He did train her. At least she was prepared, from training sessions from the academy, to training at home. She had a chance. She definatley had a chance. Didn't she?

"Twenty-four go in, one comes out." he says softly.

He never got to tell her he's sorry. He never got a chance to comfort her. He never got a chance to tell her he loves her..

Twenty-four go in... Only one comes out..

Vladimir's Final Goodbyes

Vladimir sat in the brightly lit room, the flouresnt bulbs gleaming in the corners of his eyes. This time he was thankful for his longish hair.

He sighs, picking slightly at the the chair.

Wammy comes in, his strides leaving drag marks in the carpet.

"You can keep the chess piece." Wammy chuckles, his features softening. The elder man took a seat.

Vladimir nods, "I would've kept it anyways." he says. He wasn't surprised the old man knew he took it.

Wammy chuckles again. "You sure are the honest one, eh? Anyways everybody in the orphange is rooting for you."

Vladimir nods again, digesting the information.

The old man's face turns serious. "I believe in you. You can and will win. You must." he says, voice breaking slightly. Vladimir nods again, actually feeling grateful to have this man in his life.

Wammy hugs Vlad quickly, and exits. The tears in the corners of his eyes stinging. The old man sighs, and walks back to the orphanage..

Woo! Another chappie done! I hope its alright! Please review if you can! I'm loving all of these tribute! I'm/ We're so excited to write this! :)