The Mortal Blade

"There you are!" the Kagamine boy called when he saw Miku walk into the arena. "I didn't think you were gonna show," the boy smirked.

One look at his smug face and all Miku wanted to do was slice the little bozo in half. "Let's get this over with," she growled. "I have more important places to be than amusing some sorry excuse for an elf."

"Elf?" the boy sneered.

"Did you get kicked out of the tree for bad attitude?" Miku provoked. "Or did you burn the place down while baking cookies so now you're homeless?"

"Very funny," he mumbled.

"That's why I'm laughing," Miku grinned.

"I'm going to enjoy kicking your butt," the boy said as he adjusted his shield and gripped his sword.

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" Miku asked as she unsheathed her twin blades.

"Bring. It. On," the boy said. "First move is yours, Cupcake."

Narrowing her eyes, Miku gritted her teeth and began to charge. "Nobody calls me 'Cupcake'!" she yelled as she swung a sword at him.

The boy used his shield to block the blow, leaving him completely unaffected by Miku's strike. "Hit a weak spot, didn't I?" he chuckled before using his own sword to slash at Miku.

Miku dodged the attack by simply stepping out of the way. She jumped backwards as she prepared her next attack. Before she could move, however, the boy began to run towards her. Her first instinct was to prepare to block her left, as he held his sword in his right hand, but a moment too late did she see the boy using the momentum to put power into his shield as he swung it her way.

He uses his shield as a weapon? was the thought that crossed Miku's mind shortly before she was hit in her ribs by the thing. She stumbled to her side and fell on one knee.

"Didn't expect that, did ya?" the boy asked as he sent his sword hurling towards Miku.

Using both of her swords to block the blow, Miku answered, "I didn't expect you to use such clunky thing to strike with. Now that I know I won't let my guard down again." With that the girl jumped to her feet and again tried to strike the boy.

The clashing of metal echoed throughout the arena. Strike after expertly executed strike followed from the both of them. Neither could land a blow on the other. They were equally matched. It was only when Miku got careless did the depth of the fight break.

In the split second she stopped focusing on her opponent to see where a strange sound came from, the boy took advantage of her lack of attention and swung his sword her way. Miku noticed in time to lean away from the metal, the blade just barely scrapping her cheek.

"Oi!" she shouted, the odd noise that distracted her forgotten. "What are you trying to do? Kill me?!"

"You were losing focus," the boy grinned as he kept a distance from Miku. "I wasn't going to really slice your face off. I only wanted to snap you back in the game."

"I don't need you to play with me to bring me back to our little duel," Miku claimed.

"I hope that's true," the boy smirked. "You're not a half bad opponent."

"I'm only just getting started," Miku said before charging the boy again. Their swords clashed with each swing. Again their skills were tied, but as the fight went on the more intense it became.

Both of them were studying the other's fighting style and worked to fight against it. Even the tiniest of tricks were adjusted to throw off the other, but one would always catch on and change whatever needed to be changed to match the pace. It seemed there would never be a winner.

Miku and the boy stopped each other's strike midway, leaving their free arms ready to attract. The boy began sending his shield her way, but Miku caught on faster than he anticipated. "No you don't," she growled as she used the butt of her hilt to block the blow. "I'm not going to let you win," she vowed.

"Ditto," the boy smirked before he pushed her away.

Before she could do anything, Miku's vision began to change. Not now. Please, any time but now.

There, lying right in front of her, was a dead body. What got to Miku wasn't that she was seeing some dead person, but that the deceased in front of her was someone she deeply cared about. It was strange for Miku to feel so empty over the loss, especially since she couldn't clearly see the face of this person she supposedly loved.

"If you don't want to lose the person you love most, you will not interfere with the sacrifice."

It was the kick to the stomach and her back slamming onto a wall that brought Miku back to reality. She snapped open her eyes to see the boy readying his sword for a final blow. "This victory is mine," he claimed.

Fury rose inside of Miku. She should be looking for her brother, but instead she was messing with this jerk. Mikuo needed to be saved immediately, and this boy was standing in her way.

"No," Miku replied as she stood to her shaky feet, "I will be the victor. I will come out on top." Preparing her swords for her final attack, she ran towards the boy as she yelled, "I WILL BE THE ONE TO OVERCOME ANYTHING THAT STANDS IN MY WAY!"

The fight was at its most intense at that point. Each one of Miku's blows grew stronger, faster, and deadlier. No matter how much he tried, the boy could not keep up with Miku's newfound strength. She was determined to win, and that determination was intimidating enough.

"DIE!" Miku shouted as she pushed the boy over to the point he was stumbling. Before he could regain his balance, Miku kicked him into the river that circled the arena.

Standing proudly over the water, Miku sheathed her swords and said as calmly as possible, "I win."

Emerging from the water, the boy began to laugh. "I underestimated you," he admitted, grinning. "You have some serious skills!"

"Years of hard work and dedication," Miku sternly said.

The boy dragged himself out of the water, shook out his blond hair, and said with a laugh, "I suppose I should probably introduce myself now, huh? I'm Kagamine Len."

"That's nice," Miku nonchalantly replied, ignoring the boy's sudden attitude adjustment, as she began to turn away.

"Wait," Len called, stopping Miku in her tracks. "I don't believe I caught your name."

Unsure why she said what she did, Miku replied, "I'm Hatsune Miku."