Summary: He wouldn't let it change him. He refused to become a killer just to win.
Characters: Vlad, Danny, and Skulker
Prompt: Hide and Seek Crossover

Day Four

Danny frowned at the group gathered before him. Three men wearing cocky grins. But there were more, lurking within the shadows, hidden from sight among the trees of the forest. His blue eyes remained focused on the leader of the group, who was a tall man with a neon green Mohawk and matching goatee. This wasn't their first encounter since the beginning two years ago, but he hoped after the last one that he wouldn't run into him again.

"I've grown tired of this game of hide and seek," Skulker announced, though his intentions were obvious from the number of goons that he brought with him to take out a single player.

Danny knew it was his own fault after killing off the boss at the very beginning and gaining the reputation as a beater. Many people grew to hate him after that event, and Skulker decided to make it his personal mission to bring down the beater, like he would achieve that greatest fame in all the game if he did so. Danny sighed to himself. Didn't any of them realize that player killing was just the same as murder? Until someone won the game, their players' lives were exactly the same as their real lives outside the game.

"This is pointless, Skulker." Danny reached back, drawing dual blades from their sheaths upon his back. One was a deep ebony, and the other a brilliant ivory. "If you fight, you'll lose." His eyes shifted to a glowing green as he glared at Skulker. A wind picked up, whipping about his white coat as black bled over the fabric. His now snow white hair pulled and tugged, dancing before his eyes, as the wind swirled outward from him, pushing back some of Skulker's goons.

"You don't scare me." Skulker drew out his own sword, a large wide bladed claymore that probably would have made many other players struggle under the weight. One good swing of that sword, and Skulker could cleanly sever a man in half.

Screams broke up the tension as the two of them glared at each other. Danny's gaze darted around, and he could catch sight of the blood splattering upon the trees even in the darkness. A roar snapped his attention back to Skulker. Danny brought his swords up, crossing them to catch the claymore on its downward swing. Skulker bore down on him, and Danny gritted his teeth under the pressure of the other's strength. He needed to be careful or Skulker would slice off a limb or two.

Pulling back, Skulker was quick to strike again, thrusting his blade at his opponent. But Danny was much swifter. He leaped into the air, avoiding the attack. Sailing overhead, he swung his swords, sharp blades of air lashing out at his opponent and slicing through his body. Landing neatly upon his feet behind Skulker, Danny turned to face his opponent, his gaze glancing to the life bar over Skulker's head.

"One hit, and you're dead," Danny said gravely after seeing how far into the red his attacks drained Skulker's life.

"I'll beat-" Skulker shouted, a potion in his hand, but before he had the chance to use it, a blood red blade pierced through his chest.

Danny jerked, shock jolting through his system as he watched Skulker's body drop to his knees as he slowly dissolved away, his life in the game over as much as it was in the real world. Gulping, Danny turned his gaze to the killer, and he met with glaring red eyes.

"You shouldn't be so soft, Daniel."

"I don't need you to rescue me, Vlad," Danny growled, his hands tightening around the hilts of his swords.

A grim frown appeared upon the man's face. "Do you think leaving your opponents alive will somehow change them? He would have kept trying to take your life, Daniel. Your enemies deserve no favors from you."

"But I don't have to turn into a murderer like them," Danny responded firmly, mouth pressing into a thin line as he returned his swords to their scabbards.

"You can't win this thinking like that." Vlad stepped closer to the young man. "Or have you already forgotten the cost of not acting?"

Danny's glare darkened at that statement. His heart tightened painfully in his chest, even if it was merely a simulation of pain. At the start of the game, his hesitation to act left his friends dead. "I'll win this game. And I'll do it without taking a single life." He met Vlad's cold gaze with that vow engraving itself into his mind.

midnight: Thanks~ =) Maybe Vlad's new obsession can be Danny? 8D *shot*

Author's Note: Thinking of a crossover idea was really tough since I don't usually do it. XD;; Can you guess what the crossover was with?