A/N: The paragraphs that are in Italics are Flashbacks.

Anguish

It was snowing again. Not that it was unexpected since it snowed a lot in Moscow when it was winter. A young red-head woman sighed, fogging up the window she was staring out of. Once upon a time she loved the snow. Always wanting to go out and play in it as it fell from the sky, she would build snowmen and toboggan over the slopes near her Grandfather's mansion. A ghost of a smile appeared on her face as she remembered those fond childhood memories.

She sighed again as she turned away from the window heading towards her kitchen. Now…Now she despised the snow with everything she had. Sure it was uncharacteristic for her; Alice Gehabich: the kind hearted girl that loves everything and everyone. But the snow took her Grandfather from her. It took the man who practically raised her after her parents died. Tears threatened to fall as these dark thoughts entered her mind and she shook her head. 'Snap out of Alice. It's been six months already.' She made herself a cup of hot chocolate and sat down on a couch in the living room. She thought back to that day, six months ago.

It was snowing that day. Alice was taking her Grandfather to the hospital for his monthly tests. She was feeling uneasy about the arrangement all morning and she had tried to convince Dr Michael to postpone the appointment on account of the weather but he refused saying they'll be fine. She drove slowly in the light snowfall but unfortunately she hit a slippery part of the road causing the car to lose control. The last thing she remembered about that day was the feeling of being juggled around in the car then everything went black.

The next thing she remembered is waking up to a white ceiling that was unfamiliar to her. She bolted upright in her bed in slight panic, waking up her aunt that was sleeping in a chair next to her bed.

"Alice? Oh Alice, you're alright!" Her aunt exclaimed wrapping her arms around the girl in a tight hug.

"Aunt Clara? What happened? Where am I?" Her aunt let her go and said sadly.

"You're in a hospital Alice. You were in a terrible accident. We were scared that you had slipped into a coma because you've been asleep for two weeks already." Alice stared at her, trying to remember what had happened then a sudden feeling of dread washed over her.

"Grandfather?" Tears started forming in Aunt Clara's eyes as she took both of Alice's hands in hers.

"Sweetheart… I'm so sorry but –"she was cut short by Alice's broken sob and anguished cry

"No! You're lying! He's not…He can't be!"

Alice ripped her hands away from her aunt and buried her face into her hands, sobbing. The next thing Alice knew was that she slipped into the darkness once again.

The next time she woke up she was calmer but the anguish and sadness was still there in her heart. Alice felt warmth on both her hands and looked to the sides. Her eyes widened in surprise as Runo and Julie was sitting on either side of her bed and both were holding her hands. Dan was seated next to Runo and had both of their small hands clasped in his bigger one. Marucho was sprawled out on the couch. All four of them were fast asleep.

"You're awake." Alice's head whipped to the direction the voice came from.

"Shun?" The raven-haired young man was sitting on the window sill gazing at her with concern and relief showing openly on his face. Alice smiled slightly at him and asked softly.

"I long was I out this time? When did you guys arrive?" Shun returned her smile and whispered.

"You've been out for a day and a half. Your aunt called us after they sedated you to tell us you woke up and that we were welcome to come see you." Shun sighed and looked out of the window

"Kato hardly had time to put the phone down before Runo and Julie grabbed him and hauled him to the jet demanding he fly like a bat out of hell to Moscow."

Alice didn't look surprised. She knew that was something those two would do. Shun brought his gaze back to Alice

"Once we got here, you're aunt explained to us about your breakdown after hearing about Dr Michael. After that Runo, Julie and even Dan marched right in here and refused to come out until you woke up. They only fell asleep about an hour ago."

After that explanation they both lapsed into silence. Shun turned back to look out of the window again as Alice just stared at the ceiling. They stayed like that until the others woke up.

Alice was snapped out of her reverie by a loud snap from the fire. Alice stood and extinguished the fire; she was going out soon anyway. She took her cup to kitchen and as she put it in the sink she noticed it had stopped snowing. She walked over to the coat rack next to the front door. She put on her purple coat along with her scarf, gloves and a beanie. She grabbed her house and car keys and walked out of the door. After she locked the door she stood on her porch for a few minutes to look at the scenery. Everything was covered by a blanket of snow and the sky was covered with light grey clouds.

She climbed into her car and drove to the cemetery, once there she started making her way to her grandfather's grave. The first time she had gone to visit her grandfather's grave was with the brawlers and her aunt and uncle the day after she got discharged from hospital. She had stared at the grave trying to take it all in. She tried to believe that this was real, that her beloved grandfather was gone. She had collapsed in front of the tombstone in broken and anguished sobs. Runo and Julie had kneeled down next to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace the sound of their cries echoing hers.

The day after the visit the Brawlers had to return to Bayview. The first month Alice didn't eat or sleep much. She guessed that Aunt Clara kept the brawlers up to date about her condition because at the beginning of the second month Runo and Dan arrived at her house and demanded that she went back to Bayview with them. When she had refused the offer Runo and stormed into her room, packed her belongings in a suitcase and stormed back out towards the jet. Dan gave Alice an apologetic look before he threw her over his shoulder and headed towards the jet.

She stayed in Bayview for two months. The brawlers tried all they could but her condition wasn't getting any better. She hadn't cried since that day in front of her grandfather's tombstone. Runo and Julie tried to force her to eat but failed and Dan and Marucho tried to take her out around Bakugan city and amusement parks, hoping that she would enjoy herself. That also didn't work.

She started to get thinner and weaker because of the lack of nutrients and sleep. The brawlers' patience with her was also wearing very thin. One day Dan had found Alice in her room unconscious. Dan had immediately picked her up and ran down the stairs yelling for Kato to take them to a hospital. The doctors had diagnosed her with malnutrition. She had spent two weeks in the hospital and after she was released her condition started to get a bit better. She slept through the night but still wouldn't eat much. Alice remembered the day Shun's patience had suddenly snapped.

After Alice refused once again to eat dinner he had grabbed her by the shoulders and roughly shook her. "Dammit Alice, just snap out of it already! You can't carry on like this!" All Alice could do was stare blankly at him which only managed to anger the young ninja even more. "Why won't you cry? Please cry, scream, hell even hit something if that would make you feel better, but just stop being so distant. Can't you see that we want our old cheerful Alice back?"

They all stared at him in shock. This was so out of character for Shun. Alice just stared at him with wide eyes. Suddenly tears started to form in her eyes and with an anguished sob she threw herself into his chest. Shun was surprised at her sudden action. His narrowed eyes softened and he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. The others soon joined them and the only sounds that were heard in the room were the broken cries of five brawlers.

Soon after that Alice started to recover fully. She started to look and feel healthier. She ate all three her meals although it wasn't the proper amount of portions of food she should be eating daily, yet. She steadily began to pick up weight again and her face regained its color and the eye bags weren't as visible as before. When Alice noticed her condition was getting better she decided to return to Moscow. Alice had to stay by her aunt and uncle for a month so that they could monitor her progress and make sure she doesn't have a relapse.

After that month she returned to her cottage. From then on out she visited the cemetery once a week; went to the hospital twice the sixth month for tests, her aunt and uncle checked in on her twice a week and she got daily phone calls or e-mails from the brawlers.

Now she stood in front of her grandfather's grave as healthy as a horse. She had regained all the weight she lost and she looked healthier and happier, except when it snowed. Snow once brought to her joy but now it only brought sadness. Alice looked at the tombstone and lifted her hand and ran it down the engraved words as Alice withdrew her hand a soft smile formed on her face

"Hello Grandfather. I miss you but I came here to tell you that after a traumatic six months…I'm finally ready to move on. I want to be that person I was before the accident and I can only be that person if I let you go."

Silent tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"So… I'm setting you free Grandpa. I'll always remember you and visit you often, but…I won't let anguish rule my heart and life anymore. I know I'm not alone even though I sometimes feel lonely. I have Aunty and Uncle and the brawlers will always be there for me. I know you're also watching over me Grandpa and I thank you for that. I love you and goodbye."

Alice wiped her tears away and smiled a bright smile as she turned and walked back to her car. If she had looked back towards Dr Michael's grave she would have seen her beloved grandfather's spirit smile proudly at her before vanishing into thin air knowing his granddaughter will be able to take good care of herself now that she set both him and herself free.

A/N: Hey. This is the first edited chapter. I was quite happy with this story so I only made some minor adjustments. Welp, read and review and give constructive criticism even if you feel the need to flame I can take it. Oh, I know this is mainly Alice-centric; some chapters will center around one brawler with mentions of the others.