With a yell, the Career from District 2 charges forward. Shadow Kurosaki of District 3 throws a knife at her, then runs. The Two girl dodges to the side to avoid the attack, wavering slightly and giving Kai Wilson of District 12 the chance to rush at her with his cleaver. The Career blocks Kai's stab with her spear, but Shadow runs around her and stabs her in the back of the neck with his remaining throwing knife. Kai jumps back as the District 2 girl lurches forward, coughing up blood. He drives his cleaver deep into the Career's back and stabs again when the tribute continues to writhe. Shadow watches in awe as Kai kills their final opponent. All three of them are covered with blood. A cannon fires.

Kai is silent, breathing heavily as he clutches his cleaver and stares at the bloody corpse of the District 2 girl. Shadow stares at the blood on his throwing knife.

"It's over," Kai finally says, not looking up.

"Yeah, it's - Kai, are you hurt?" Shadow says with concern, tucking his knife into his belt and walking over to his ally.

"No, it's just Serpentine's blood," Kai murmurs, still staring at the fallen Career.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay," Shadow says, giving his ally a small smile. "We did it."

"Yeah," Kai says, smiling back. "Come on. Let's clear away from here."

"Right behind you," Shadow says solemnly, giving the dead body a final glance.

Kai and Shadow make their way up the grassy hill in the Arena. It's dotted with wildflowers here and there, and a warm breeze rustles the vegetation. It's a beautiful place, much too beautiful for the Hunger Games.

"Do you ever dream about your own death?" Kai asks as the two tributes reach the top of the hill.

"I get it, you still need to kill me," Shadow says bitterly, taking in the view of the village from where he is standing. "Alright, go ahead. You have friends and family waiting for you back home. I don't. Come on, what are you waiting for?"

"For as long as I can remember, I've had dreams about you, Shadow," Kai says, turning to his friend. "You and me. Dying. In the Hunger Games Arena. Together. Getting Reaped as enemies, but becoming friends and falling for each other. The Districts we're from, in the dreams, are always different. So are the Arenas. But one thing is the same, and that is our fate."

Shadow blinks. He takes Kai's hand.

"Me too," he says.

"You… dream about dying with me in the Hunger Games?"

"Yes," Shadow says, looking down. "For as long as I can remember. I thought it was strange that I was dreaming of someone I didn't know. But now I understand."

"Shadow?"

"Kai?" Shadow says quietly, gazing into Kai's eyes.

"I love you."

Shadow pauses, conflicting emotions surging through his chest. But it doesn't take long for him to be sure.

"I love you too," Shadow murmurs.

They kiss, and the hill is silent save for the rustling of the grass in the wind.

"It makes what comes next so much harder," Kai says, tears coming to his eyes.

"Kai," Shadow says forcefully. "Kai, do you trust me?"

"Of course," Kai murmurs in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Good. I need you to stay here, and don't move."

"Shadow, what are you planning?"

"Trust me," Shadow says, letting go of Kai. "Please."

"Okay."

Shadow starts walking away from Kai. Kai watches him go until he disappears into the nearby woods.

BOOM.

"Shadow, no!" Kai screams, his voice breaking. There's no holding back the copious tears that flow as Kai is announced as the Victor of the Games. Why… Why did he do that? Kai wasn't okay with that. Why did Shadow just let Kai win like that? Why did Kai let Shadow go and do that? Why?

All these questions are swirling in Kai's head as the ladder descends, lifting him out of the Arena.

I didn't even get to say goodbye.

As the days pass, Kai barely registers what's happening around him as he is presented as Panem's latest Victor. The dreams about Shadow don't stop, and they make everything worse. Why did Shadow have to sacrifice himself for Kai? Were the two of them really doomed from the start, the way the dreams predicted? Why did Kai and Shadow have to fall in love, only for that love to be snatched away from them?

Kai returns to District 12 with more questions than answers. He's happy to see Nya and their grandfather again. But he knows that there will always be a shadow in his heart.

Months pass.

The dreams continue. Sometimes Kai still hears Shadow's voice, calling out to him and asking questions. Are we doomed? Are we really doomed no matter which reality we live in? Kai wishes he had an answer.

In the meantime, Kai tries to heal. He tries to move on from Shadow, from the nightmares, from the horrors of the Games. But the dreams continue. Shadow's voice haunts him.

Every day, I imagine a future where I can be with you.

There's no future where we can be together, Shadow, Kai thinks, his heart breaking.

Months pass.

One day, Kai is walking in the woods at the edge of the District when he sees Shadow's face. This is nothing new because Kai still sees Shadow a lot these days, in his dreams.

But something is different. Kai is awake.

"I don't believe this," Kai murmurs, tears in his eyes as he regards the ragged man steadily. "Shadow Kurosaki is dead. He died in the Hunger Games."

"I snuck through a hole in the fence," Shadow says with a small smile. "Do you have any water? I could use a shower too."

And he shows Kai his bandaged arm.

"I can't believe it's you," Kai whispers, sobbing happily as he rushes forward and embraces his old ally, friend, and lover. "Cutting out your tracker? How did you think of something like that?"

"I'm not sure," Shadow admits as he hugs Kai back. "I guess I was tired of those dreams."

The dreams fade.

-END-