Chapter 1

A/N: …HIYO!!!!!!! For some reason, I feel like doing a Masquerade/Runo fic. Or more specifically, Masquerade/Runo/Dan. Dunno why. For the sake of the fic, Alice and Masquerade will NOT be the same person, cause that'll just make this creepier than it has to be. Also, I'm just too lazy to bother with making it all work…OK!!!!!!!!! This will have some AU in it, so beware.

Disclaimer: Me no own Bakugan. But I do my best to own Maskerado-kun.*Grins*

"Aaargh!" Runo banged her head on her bed, shoving the binder and assorted papers scattered on her bed to floor.

"Problems, milady?" Tigrerra asked mildly, obligated to ask, though she already knew the answer.

"Math, that's the problem!"

Alice poked her head through the doorway, her copper-red hair bundled gracefully in a ponytail. "Having trouble with your homework again, Runo?" she asked sympathetically.

"You think?"

"You know, milady," Tigrerra said, "You could always ask Marucho for help…"

Runo made a face at the suggestion. "Marucho's smart and all, but it would be just weird to have help from someone who's younger than me."

"You could get Shun to help…"

"I'd be wasting time trying to get him to talk," the blue-head moaned, burying her face hopelessly into her mattress…and bolted back up. "Alice, you could always help me…"

Alice sighed. "I'm sorry Runo, you know I'm no better at math than you are."

Runo's head fell again in defeat. "I'm doomed."

"Just ask your teacher for help tomorrow," Alice said, although she knew Runo never would. The tomboy had too much pride for that. "I've got to back downstairs and help your parents. They told me to tell you to try to hurry; we're quite busy."

"Fine," Runo mumbled, as Alice hurried away. "I'll try…"

"These mathematic problems certainly are giving you much trouble as of late, milady," Tigrerra commented, as Runo picked up her homework despairingly.

The girl scowled. "It's the stupid new math teacher."

"What about him? Is he not very helpful?"

"Oh, he's helpful. In a stuck up way."

Tigrerra pondered over this for a moment. "I'm afraid I do not quite understand, milady."

"He thinks he's the single greatest thing to happen to math since … some math dude or another. His stupid quote is, 'Do everything I say, and you'll get every question right. Think for yourself, and you'll get questions wrong.'"

"He seems rather…full of himself."

"Oh, he is. And you should see his hair and clothes. He's like some sorta model or something. And then he goes and acts as though he doesn't care what anyone thinks! He is a jerk. Worse, he assigns us piles of homework!"

"And this teacher is the reason you're having troubles?"

"Oh yeah." Runo glared at the paper before her, looking like she would very much like to stab her pencil through it repeatedly. "I'm totally going to fail math this year…"

"Sounds like you need a tutor."

Runo started; that wasn't Tigrerra's voice, but not unfamiliar. She recognized the voice; it was very recognizable, and very unwelcome.

Tigrerra let out a snarl, and that confirmed everything.

Runo whipped her head around, spitting out strands of hair. Sure enough, it was him; Masquerade. (A/N: BET NONE OF YOU SAW THAT COMING!!!!!!! …Ok, you probably did see that coming…)

He was leaning against the wall, nonchalant, as though he dropped in for visits all the time. His mask glinted in the light, in a way that Runo could imagine as malevolent. He smirked at the shocked, outraged expression on Runo's face.

Runo reacted quickly. She snatched up Tigrerra defensively and whipped out her field card. "You! What are you doing here?!"

His smirk only widened. "How rude. And to think that I've come here to help you out."

That threw her off guard. "What are you talking about? Help me? Why would you do something to help me? Why would I want your help?"

Masquerade ignored her questions. "You're having trouble with your math homework," he stated, gesturing to the discriminating papers.

"How'd you know that?"

"Full of questions, aren't you? You've only been complaining about it since that new math teacher came into the picture."

Runo frowned, edging away from the wild-haired boy. "Have you been stalking me?"

Now it was Masquerade's turn to frown. "Jeez, jump to the worst conclusion, why don't you? I have my connections. You Brawlers ought to know that by now."

This didn't placate her. "So what if I'm having a bit of trouble with math?" Runo snapped, tightening her grip on Tigrerra. "Why do you care? You're our enemy, remember."

He probably rolled his eyes, but the mask disguised this. "Oh yes, how could I forget, with you people complaining about me on a daily basis?"

"With good reason! Now leave, you creep!"

The tips of his mouth turned down in mock hurt. "I only wanted to see if I could tutor you."

Runo stared at him. And stared. And stared some more.

"That's impolite, you know."

She refound her voice. "You want to tutor me? Me? An enemy? Why?"

"Can't I be a nice guy?" His smirk returned; he had to be playing a joke on her. "I'm bored, that's why. When I'm not sending Bakugan to the Doom Dimension, there isn't really much for me to do."

Tigrerra growled threateningly. Masquerade didn't notice.

Runo glared at him suspiciously. "I don't believe you. What do you really want?"

Masquerade sighed dramatically. "So mistrusting, although I can't really blame you. Seriously, I just want to help you, no strings attached, nothing in it for me."

"How do I know you just want to spy on the Brawlers?"

"I already have my own source of information, remember," Masquerade reminded her. "Try to keep up, now."

Runo very nearly told him to where to shove it, but stopped herself just in time.

I have my connections. You Brawlers ought to know that by now.

Well, why couldn't the Brawlers have connections too?

"Sure."

Tigrerra stopped her growling in shock. "Milady? Runo?"

The blond grinned, triumphant and held out his hand. Runo flinched back unintentionally, and action that did not go unnoticed by the boy. He groaned.

"I don't bite, you know. And I don't plan on taking your Bakugan either."

Unconvinced, Runo switched Tigrerra to her left hand and grasped her tightly. Slowly, she inched closer and reached out her hand, planning to make the handshake as short as possible.

It didn't work out that way. Before she could react, he had her hand in a tight grasp. She tried in vain to wiggle her hand away; he was too strong.

He leaned his face close to her ear. Her heart stopped for a second; what was he doing? It restarted again, fueled with anger and indignation.

"This'll be our little secret, okay?" he whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear. "Tomorrow, after school."

Her hand was freed; he had disappeared, as though he had never been there.

"Runo," Tigrerra cried. "What are you thinking? Allowing Masquerade to tutor you, of all people…you could have gotten help from your parents or someone…"

"My parents don't have inside information to Naga."

Tigrerra was surprised by the small, mischievious grin on her mistress' face. "What do you mean?"

"It's simple," Runo explained happily. "I just get Masquerade to talk about Naga's plans somehow. If Masquerade gets inside info on the Brawlers, then the Brawlers get inside info on him. Just let me go tell the guys…"

"Aw, gonna break our little deal already?"

Runo jumped; was he back? Had he heard what she had said?

Her green eyes scanned the room frantically; no, he wasn't back. But that didn't reassure her in any way.

"Runo, I think Masquerade already knows of your plan."

"Thanks for stating the obvious, Tig." Runo sighed. "Well, it still wouldn't hurt to try. I won't tell the Brawlers…yet." She said the last word with particular emphasis, in an attempt to cheese off Masquerade, if he were still listening.

She could of sworn she heard a small chuckle.

A/N: Well, whatcha think? I'm just REALLY bored, and I kinda like the couple…although I suppose that Dan/Runo fans are glaring at me at the moment. If you guys decide to hate this fic because of it's pairing, GROW UP AND GET A LIFE! …Okay, that was rather harsh. But seriously, I know that it's supposed to be Dan and Runo getting together, but it's called a crack pairing. Live with it, there is this thing called imagination…Okay, I think I'm totally being harsh. I'M NOT BEING MEAN BECAUSE YOU MIGHT LIKE DAN/RUNO, OKAY!!! I'M JUST MESSED UP!!!!!!!!! God, now I feel bad! STOP MAKING ME FEEL BAD!!!!! Okay, I'm sorry. Just ignore my useless rant above and flame me if you feel the need to. Go ahead, I don't actually mind.

Remember; for sake of fic, MASQUERADE WILL NOT BE ALICE!!!!!! Ok? I'll figure something out for that…But I need your opinion. Okie? If something doesn't make sense or weirds you out, just tell me, okay? Oh, and the evil math teacher is based off my real teacher. He's actually kinda cool, but he can be obnoxious…