My masquerade

Chapter 1

"Runo, why did I have to come?" Red-haired Alice Gehabich whined as they stepped into Marucho's mansion, the ballroom already crowded with people. Her best friend, Runo Misaki, simply stared at her.

"Is there a problem?" Runo asked icily, daring her to say yes. Normally, this would silence Alice's answer and hinder any further questions. But not tonight.

"Yes, there's a problem!" The girl yelled at Runo. "I don't know anyone here but the gang!" Runo merely sniffed and picked imaginary fuzz off of her beautiful yellow gown, long-sleeved, lace lining the low neckline.

"That's all you need, isn't it?" Runo pointed out. "And besides, you can make new friends while you are here!"

"And I need to do this by wearing a mask, and therefore concealing my face?" Alice asked hysterically. "Do you know what I went through last time I wore a mask?"

"You'll be fine. And besides, this is a masquerade. So that's the point of wearing the mask!" Runo stated excitedly. "So everyone remains a mystery!"

"I see." Alice said slowly, suggesting that she actually didn't. But she refrained from saying anything else on the subject. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her floor-length, off-the-shoulder royal purple dress nervously.

"Runo!" A young boy ran up to them, adorned in a tuxedo and a red and gold mask.

"Hi, Dan!" The blue-haired girl greeted enthusiastically. She hugged his neck tightly, gently placing her lips on his.

"Can you guys go one day without kissing?" A disgusted voice asked.

"Oh, be nice, Shun." Another voice reprimanded as a trio of people came up to Alice, Dan and Runo. Shun humphed.

"Hey, guys!" Runo exclaimed, having finally broken away from Dan. "You made it!"

"Of course we did, Runo!" Julie pouted, tossing her curly silver hair over her shoulder indignantly. "Why would you think otherwise?" Her eyes then landed on Alice. Julie squealed and pulled the poor girl into a bear hug.

"Nice to see you too, Julie." Alice said in a strangled voice. "Now, could you let me go before I die from lack of oxygen?" The silver-haired girl let go with a sheepish grin, dark eyes alight with happiness behind her equally dark mask.

"Sorry, got a little carried away."

"Hey, Alice!" Marucho greeted, adjusting the red glasses upon his face in lieu of a mask. "How's your grandfather?"

"He's been doing better. But he still believes that he is Hal-G sometimes." Alice replied. "And may I say that you look great tonight?"

"Thanks, Alice." Marucho blushed, adjusting his crimson red tie.

"Your welcome." Alice smiled sweetly before turning to greet the raven-haired boy to her left. "Hello, Shun."

"Hello." He replied quietly, the barest trace of a smile quirking his lips. Alice turned slightly pink, adjusting her black mask upon her face. Shun looked absolutely handsome in his forest-green attire, a crisp white shirt peeking out from beneath the jacket. His mask was white with green designs swirling out and across the snow-white background.

Suddenly, a slow song came on through the speakers as the DJ called for the couples to come on the dance floor.

"Well, that's our cue to leave." Runo declared, dragging an embarrassed Dan by the wrist out onto the dance floor. Julie also voiced her excuses, dragging Marucho over to the refreshment table. A silence descended upon the remaining pair.

"Well…I guess they left us." Alice stated.

"Yes, it seems they did." Shun replied with a chuckle.

"So, what should we do?"

"I don't know… Dance, perhaps?" A small grin found its way onto Shun's face as he held out his hand to Alice. "That is, if the lady permits it." Alice laughed and gently took his hand, allowing him to lead her out onto the dance floor. The song progressed and the two began to dance.

"So, how has Skyress been?" Alice asked. "Have you heard from any of the Bakugan in New Vestroia?"

"Yes, I have. They're doing quite fine." Shun smiled softly. "Skyress says that Hydranoid misses you."

"Well, I miss him, too. How's your training been going?"

"My grandpa is still as tough and stubborn as ever." Alice began to chuckle, Shun following after a few seconds.

"You and ninja-boy. How touching." A sarcastic voice remarked. Alice jerked back from Shun a bit, scanning the room frantically for the source of the deep voice.

"Alice, are you okay?" Shun asked concernedly.

"Yeah." She replied, still scanning the room. "I just thought I heard…" She trailed off.

"Who?"

"Never mind, it's silly."

"Alice…"

"Just drop it. Please."

"…Fine." The two were quiet for the rest of the song, which seemed to drag by slowly. When they finally left the dance floor, Alice excused herself, heading to the refreshments table.

"Just calm down, Alice." She muttered under her breath. "You didn't hear his voice. That is an impossibility…"

"That hurts, Alice." That same voice rang in her ears again. "That really hurts."

Alice's breathing quickened and her heart thumped wildly in her chest.

"I must be going crazy." She panicked. "I have to be going crazy."

"I assure you, my dear, that you are quite sane." She could just hear the smirk in his voice.

"How is this possible?" She breathed. It had been four years since she had heard that voice last, but hearing it thrice was not imagination. Alice stumbled back and sank down into the nearest chair, cradling her head in her hands.

"This can't be." She whispered. "It just can't be!"

"Alice?" Shun's calming voice drifted over to her, full of concern. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She lied. Shun looked at her in suspicion and she flashed him a weak smile.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…" She murmured. "I just need some air, is all." She stood up and headed through the nearest door, located at the back of the room. The cold night air swept across her bare shoulders, causing her to shiver. She stepped closer to the marble railing, taking in the beauty of Marucho's perfectly manicured gardens before her.

"Well, well, well. It's about time you showed your face." His haughty, arrogant voice exclaimed. Alice whirled around, finding herself at eye level with the buttons on his white trench coat, and gasped.

"H-how…?" She couldn't think clearly. Her thoughts were hazy, her heart tapping out an irregular drum beat.

"After four years, that's all you can manage to say to me?" His lips curved into a supercilious smirk. Other than that, his expression was hidden behind his mask, reflecting back an image of a frightened, orange-haired girl dress in purple and black.

"I-I don't believe it." She breathed. "Y-you were supposed to be gone f-forever." He shook his head and tsked at her.

"Alice, you of all people should know that I never followed the rules." He chided, his smirk still upon his lips.

"Why are you here?" Alice asked coolly, steeling herself against the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. The smirk on his lips wavered for a split-second.

"Why, to see you, of course." He sputtered, grateful for both the mask on his face and the dark night that successfully concealed his blush. He berated himself for blushing. Why was he allowing this girl he had once been a part of make him blush?

"Am I really that special?" Alice whispered. Before he could answer, the door opened, light spilling onto the stone ground.

"Alice? Are you okay?" Runo called. The blond-haired boy cursed, then pulled out a card.

"We'll talk later." He hissed, and then disappeared in a swirl of sparkling light. Alice sighed.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She told her friend. "I just think I'm ready to go back to the house."

"Well, okay. Do you need a ride?" Runo asked. Alice shook her head. The blue-haired girl sent a reassuring smile her way before re-entering the mansion to rejoin the others and revel in the festivities. Alice began to trek home tiredly.

After about twenty torturous minutes of walking in her heels later, Alice finally made it to the apartment she and Runo shared. She dug for her spare key in her clutch, unlocked the door, and sighed in relief, kicking off the offending five-inch heels.

"Finally." She exclaimed, slipping into her black-and-purple striped fuzzy slippers. Alice trudged into her room, throwing open her door. Pale moonlight illuminated the room. She flopped onto her bed with a groan, rolling onto her back a few moments later.

A small shriek escaped her lips as her eyes caught sight of him, hanging upside-down from her ceiling.

"I told you we'd talk later." He smirked. He shimmered out of sight for a brief moment before reappearing next to her bed.

"Yeah, but not in my apartment and certainly not in my room!" She cried. "What if one of my friends walked in and saw you?" He shrugged.

"Again, Alice, you forget that I was never one to follow rules." He sank down onto her bed, causing her to sit up frantically and scoot to the other end of the bed. His eye twitched in annoyance, but, of course, it was hidden by his mask. Somehow, his grin still remained, but it slowly turned into a frown.

"Alice?" He inquired.

"S-stay away from me!" She demanded, turning her face away from his. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her shoulders shaking.

"Alice, what's wrong?" He asked gently, surprising both Alice and himself.

"None of y-your business." She answered coldly. He carefully took her hand in his, filling him with a searing heat. She gasped and tried to pull her hand away, but his grip was firm and iron-strong.

"Yes, it is." He whispered. "We used to be one and the same at some point in time. Now, tell me what's wrong."

"No!" She yelled. "I don't have to tell you anything! Leave me alone!"

"Alice?" Runo's voice sounded as she opened the door to Alice's room. "Is everything all right?" Alice's breath caught in her throat as Runo padded towards her. She frantically looked around the room, only to discover that he was gone. Her breath came out in short spurts.

"He's gone." She breathed in relief.

"Who's gone?" Runo asked confusedly.

"Nothing. It must've been a dream." Alice murmured. "When did you get here?"

"Five minutes ago." Runo stated matter-of-factly. "Dan brought me home."

"Oh." Alice yawned, stretching as she did so.

"Well, I'm going to go to bed now. Goodnight." Runo slipped out, closing the door softly behind her.

"Goodnight." Alice called softly, begrudgingly getting up to change into her pajamas before slipping under her covers, falling asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

"Sweet dreams, Alice." Came a whisper from the figure sitting on her windowsill as he settled down to watch her sleep, a content smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Boy, was it good to be back.

Well, here you go! A new story for you guys! If you don't know who the blond-haired, masked guy that stalks Alice is, then I advise you rewatch the first couple episodes of Bakugan season one.

Shun, please read the disclaimer.

Shun: …HeroofTwilightsgf owns nothing but the plotline.

Thanks, Shun.

Also, kudos to you if you can figure out what song I sort-of based this off ^.O

Hasta Luego!

-HeroofTwilightsgf