This Is My Battleground

Chapter 23
Epilogue

Looking back during that time, I can remember all the training, the work, the hardships, the pain, the friendship, the laughs, and the love. After the war, Len threw his weapons into the fire along with the dead bodies and SeeU found a way to domesticate the mutants as pets. The walls of the shielded city were torn down and it began spreading out, no longer in fear of the Battleground. The name of the city was Crypton and the minute they found out the war was over, they began expanding. Two years after the war, Len and I got married and we moved to one of Crypton's newest suburban areas around the city. As for the others, they either placed down their guns as well or are in the police force. Today marks the sixth year since the war and most of the Battleground didn't even look like a battle ground anymore.

"SeeU! Yuki!" I called. "Don't forget your lunches!" The fifteen year old twins ran back inside the house, grabbed their lunches, and ran off, trying to catch their bus. Both Len and I are thirty-two years old now, but we still looked nine years younger than that, so it's kinda hard to tell people we're SeeU and Yuki's parents. As for the others, Kaito and Meiko are both twenty-five years old now, Gakupo is thirty years old, Luka is twenty-nine, and Neru is twenty-four. I'm not too sure on Miku's age, but she's about twenty-four. Len and I own a two story house, just a few streets away from the rebuilt Vocaloid building which Len owned. He worked there as the head doctor and Vocaloid was once again a hospital.

I didn't have work today, so I decided to check on the others to see how they were doing. I changed into apair of white shorts underneath my short, pastel orange with short sleeves with a hood and tied my elbow length blonde hair back into a ponytail. Before slipping on my favorite heels, I walked to the backyard and whistled. Two of the mutants, apparently called Pega and Sus because they looked like horses with wings- according to SeeU. We called her Suu, but her legal name is See Usa Kagamine, since we didn't want to change her name too much. I fed the two pegasi and headed out to my convertable in the driveway. The first place I headed was the Kamui Institute for the Performing Arts. Yes, I'm not kidding. He opened the performing arts institute and runs it with an iron fist.

"Hello?" I asked, walking into the office. Neru's blonde ponytail popped up from behind a desk and she waved to me with a smile. "Hey Neru, how's it going?"

"Fine," she said, taking her seat again. "Are you looking for Gakupo?"

"Yeah. It's been a while seen I saw him." I looked around the office. "So...how's the Megurine-Kamui relationship going?" Neru smirked.

"You'd like to know, wouldn't you, sis?" she asked. "You've always been addicted to any sort of gossip." My phone vibrated in my back and I looked at the text before smirking back. "You can find Gakupo roaming around the designing section of the school. Have fun." I nodded a thanks and walked off. The school itself was sponsored by Satsuki, but don't ask me how because I still can't answer that. I found Gakupo stalking outside of a room where Luka's voice echoed from. He kept his long purple ponytail, but I'm pretty sure he grew a bit.

"Stalker much?" I asked, laughing. He turned around in surprise and immediately release a sigh of relief.

"Geez Rin," he said, frowning. "Make noise the next time you decide to sneak like that."

"You know my training doesn't allow that," I said, rolling my eyes. "Any way, I heard you're engaged to Luka now~" Gakupo smiled a goofy smile and nodded. "Who knew she'd actually say yes to a pervert like you?" The door behind Gakupo opened and Luka cleared her throat. Her hair was still long, but she held it in a tight bun when she teaches.

"Excuse me, we're having class right now," she said, glaring at both of us, but it softened. "You're forgiven, Rin." I gave her a thumbs up and gave her a hug. "I'm busy, but I'll see you later, alright?" I nodded and she walked back in, closing the door.

"You, my friend, are a lucky bastard," I said, patting Gakupo on the back. He laughed and I said my goodbye as I headed to my car for my next destination. I drove to the ends of the city where the Battleground still looked torn up. Around here is where I could find Meiko and Kiyoteru. They were placed in charge of taking the Battleground and changing it into some place people could actually live on. Around here, I had to change my heels into my old combat boots from the war. I kept them for memory of ever making a fatal mistake...and because they were really useful. I walked out of my car and it was sort of like walking onto a set of a movie. It was pavement to dirt and destroyed gravel. I couldn't hear construction, so I guessed they were on break.

"Rinny!" I felt Meiko throw herself on my back and give me a giant hug. "You should have called! What are you doing here?" She grew her brown hair to her shoulders, but kept it pinned up when working.

"I came to visit, duh," I said, with a smile. "And to look back at old times." Meiko let go and stood beside me, throwing her arm over my shoulders.

"Well, they weren't good times," she said. "...well, some were. Feel like walking around the last parts of the destroyed city?"

"Yeah," I said, looking around. "And maybe I can get some target practice in." Meiko let out a laugh.

"Just like old times." We walked passed the warning construction signs and waved to Kiyoteru who was in the trailer, planning out more construction stuff that I don't really know about. This last part of the Battleground was the UTAU territory. We never managed to take it down because it's structure was one of the most solid bases in history. Even the old hotel was still standing- not in good condition, but still standing. Meiko handed me a gun and I clicked the safety on. We don't need it going off yet.

"Hey Meiko, look at this," I said, picking up a rock. She looked at me in confusion and I tossed it towards the UTAU building, smashing through a window.

"You're still a kid, aren't you?" Meiko asked. "Aw, who cares? It's good to be a kid." We walked into the UTAU building and looked through the once beautiful lobby that was now covered in rot, mold, and mutant nestings.

"This is disgusting," I said, looking around. "What a shame." We heard gunshots ring through the lobby and I immediately held my gun out, taking off the safety. Meiko took out two pistols and we stood back to back, looking around the place. The gunshots kept ringing and we both aimed for a hall.

"Whoa! Don't shoot!" a familiar voice said, walking towards us.

"Kaito, what the hell are you doing in there shooting your gun?" Meiko snapped, getting ready to punch him. He dropped his gun in defense. He kept his hair the same way, but at the moment, he used a hairband to keep it back.

"I'm sorry!" he said, scared. I picked it up and aimed at Kaito.

"Rin? What are you-" I shot the gun and a splash of red showed on Kaito's arm. "Rin! Are you insane?"

"What?" I asked. "It's a paintball gun." Kaito started wiping off the paint and another gunshot was heard.

"Ow!" Kaito hissed, holding his arm. Teal pain dripped down and I looked up to the second floor. "Miku! That's not fair!" Miku always wore her hair in a ponytail now, but it was the same length as before because apparently "it would feel weird without it".

"Your mom!"

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"It did when she said it in bed last night!"

"No it didn't!" Kaito snapped. "She was reciting lines from a book!" I coughed.

"Lovers quarrel~" I sang.

"Don't make me shoot you too Rin," Miku yelled. I placed my hands up and immediately 'escaped' from the building. The last place I visited was the Crypton's High School where Yuki and SeeU go to. I changed out of my heels and walked in, apparently during a passing period. I walked around to the principal's office and waited till the principal walked out.

"R-Rin!" Gumi said, surprised. "Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack!" I gave her a hug and smiled. Gumi was definitely growing into a beautiful woman. I wonder who she's dating... Her hair grew down to her elbows and she wears glasses when reading for long periods of time.

"I was just wondering how you were," I said, rolling my eyes. "Geez, we're friends, aren't we?" Gumi instantly flustered out a yes and I laughed. "You don't change do you? Don't worry, that's a good thing." Gumi smiled and we walked into the halls of the school. "So, how are my girls doing? I hope they haven't caused you any trouble." Gumi shook her head and we kept walking.

"Nope, they're not too bad," she admitted. "But sometimes I'll get Yuki into my office for threatening someone because they hurt SeeU's feelings. It's really cute, actually and I try to convince her not to..." I patted her back.

"Yuki's been raised as a fighter," I explained. "She's rough around the edges, but she's a good kid." She nodded in agreement and I left because apparently I was causing some sort of disturbance in the male population of the school. Damn horny teenagers. I drove to the last place I hadn't visited back yet and the place I always seem to end up when I don't have any work. I parked outside of the building and walked inside.

"Good morning Mrs. Kagamine," Miki greeted, at the front desk. "Are you here to see Dr. Kagamine?"

"Yup." Miki looked back at the screen and paged Len through the phone. "Dr. Kagamine? Are you in?"

"Hmm?" I heard him asked. "Yes I am."

"Someone requested to see you specifically," Miki said, looking at me. "Apparently this person has trouble sleeping at night and you're the best doctor we have in that department." I heard him sigh.

"Fine, send them up," he said. "Geez Miki, I'm about to go home! I'm never taking the night shift again." Miki took her finger off the speaker and winked at me. I waved a thanks and headed up in the elevator. This was the first time Len took the night shift since there weren't as many doctors last night. Most of them were sick. The elevator opened up to the last floor of the building and I walked down the hallway, but I stopped at the old conference room. I walked into the room and turned on the lights. This was the only room that no one touched during the war. I remember this was the first place we held the meeting of what to do with the building. I stood at the window, looking out into the normal city life that bustled around the city.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I felt two arms slide around my waist and a chin press on my right shoulder. "It's nice to look out and see people alive and happy."

"Yeah," I agreed. "It's nice, but not perfect."

"Well, what kind of world would it be if this were perfect?" Len asked.

"A world I'd hate to live in."

"Exactly," he responded. "But isn't that why you are part of the damage control?" I laughed and turned around to circle my arms around his neck. Len hadn't changed much himself, other that his ponytail being slight longer. His eyes still held that same bright blue happiness and his touch sent chills up my body.

"Damage control?" I repeated. "You make it sound weird." He gave me a kiss and I kissed him back. "Miki wasn't lying, you know. It's hard for me to sleep without you."

"Babe, it wouldn't even matter," he responded. "If I was there, neither of us would be sleeping." He winked and I gently pushed him back, rolling my eyes.

"Down boy," I laughed. "Other than Meiko, I'm probably the only one who ever uses a real gun these days." He held his hand up in a defensive position, but a smirk was stretched across his angelic-devilish face. "Okay, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking we need to get home because I'm exhausted," he explained, but there was something a bit off.

"Boy, don't make me get my gun." He chuckled and picked me up bridal style.

"Come on, Rin. Let's go home." He brought me to the elevator, but placed me down after I kept protesting against it. We walked out into my car, about ready to drive off when my phone went off like crazy.

"Hello?" I asked, picking it up.

"Rin," Miku called. "We have a small problem on the battleground. A few ex-UTAU members are getting ready to revolt. We're gathering the team."

"They can't be that many," I said, turning on the speaker. "Len, catch." He caught it immediately and I started driving out of the parking lot to the border. "Len, there's a small rebellion going on and we're gonna have to get there." Len nodded and continued talking to Miku as he got the stuff out of the trunk. I skid to a stop and crawled into the back, starting to change into my bullet proof outfit. Instead of my old outfit, I got a bit of an update. Instead of just a black bra, I had a tank top and a dark green jacket that looked like something you'd get in the army. My shorts were about several inches longer and my old boots stayed the same. Len wore underarmor under a green bullet proof vest and pants that matched Kaito's old ones from the war.

"Rin, catch." He tossed my twin pistols at me and I slid them into my belt. "Let's go. Miku already called Gumi and the twins. They should be here soon." We exited the car and ran towards the battleground. Rebellions like this happen every once in a while, mostly the last of the UTAU that absolutely hates the city. Len called me Damage Control. That part's true. I lead the remaining army with Kaito and Miku to take down anything that stands in Crypton's way. Fighting is in me. It's how I was raised. Before I met Len, I was in Kendo, several different kinds of Karate, and on the archery team. In my reconstructed life, I was raised as a perfect soldier. If I couldn't fight, I'd probably be driven insane, but that's just me. Those UTAU are rebelling because of their loves that we killed during the battle.

"Rin, Len," Kaito whispered, beckoning to us. We carefully made our way to him, but he didn't seem in any hurry to do anything.

"I'll be right back," Len told me, kissing my cheek. He ran off into the nearest building and disappeared in the rubble.

"Kaito, what's the situation?" I asked, looking around.

"Miku needs you up in the front line," Kaito said. "Remember the shed?" I nodded and ran there immediately. The shed from before was apparently were Len was kept before joining Vocaloid, before we met again. I walked to the shed and saw that everything from the years before were still there. The matress, the small table. But there was something new. A piece of paper. I walked over to it and opened it.

The newest base is the old UTAU building.

Wow, obvious, much? I crushed the paper in my palm and walked out of the shed. Looking around, no one was in sight. How strange. I snuck my way to the old UTAU building and saw slight movement on the roof. They probably saw me and ran out of view. I ran into the building and ran up the stairs, quickly trying to get up there and end the problem as fast as I could. Maybe if I was more observant, I would have realized that everything was cleaned up. The windows were still broken, but the carpets were replaced, the walls rebuilt, and the lights replaced. I'm pretty sure the elevator was fixed too. When I got up to the roof's entrance, I readied my guns and kicked down the door.

"SURPRISE!" I dropped my guns in shock and streamers went flying around. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIN!" Everyone was there, in their battle uniforms, but surrounded with party things.

"...you bastards surprised me!" I yelled out, with a smile. Miku and Luka walked over to me and pulled me to the middle and I was immediately surrounded by my friends and family. Gumi started the music and we- ironically, I might add- had a party on the roof.

"I can't believe you forgot your own birthday, Mom," Yuki said, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Mom's always forgetting things, Yuki," Suu defended. "Don't hold it against her." Both of them hugged me with a smile on their faces.

"Happy birthday!" they both chirped.

"Thanks you two," I laughed, kissing both of their heads. They ran off to talk to Miku's younger cousin, Mikuo and Luka's younger brother Luki. I won't even go into detail there.

"Rinny." I turned around and Meiko shoved a wine bottle at me. "Poor the wine! It's your party!" I nodded and popped the cap off, pouring the wine into the glasses.

"Rin, do you like what we did the building?" Kaito asked, smiling.

"I redesigned the interior myself," Gakupo boasted. I rolled my eyes and gave him a thumbs up. "Yes! Approval." Gumi tugged me away and swiped her hands towards the table filled with presents.

"I swear, you people are insane," I said, laughing. Yet, no matter how insane they were, they were my closest friends. My family. Len walked to me and wrapped his arms around me.

"Happy birthday," he told me. "I love you."

"I love you too," I responded. I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes. This entire war was a lesson. A simple, deadly lesson. Love is kind, love is strong, love is war, love is a battleground. And this love...this is- no, Was my battleground.

And I walked off it, victorious.