A/N hmph, apparantly fanfiction deleted my authors note, bad fanfiction! anyways, this is a story I wrote on a random bolt of inspiration so I want you guys to tell me what you think okay?

Jetravenex: ..now to find someone to do thee disclaimer.

Dan: *raises hand* hey I'll do it

Jetravenex: *makes a point of glancing around before sighing* oh all right say the disclaimer.. Masquerade isn't around.

Dan: *grins* okay, jetravenex does not own bakugan!

jetravenex: nuff said now leave.


Masquerade stood on the bridge glaring down at the rushing water below him. His hands gripping the railing in front of him tightly in frustration.

Everything was going wrong goddamnit! He was supposed to have defeated Joe and bring the infinity core to Naga. He wasn't supposed to battle Dan! Worse, Dan wasn't supposed to beat him!

If it was possible his hands tightened their grip as if he was trying to break the railing in two.

He heard his bakugan, Darkus Alpha Hydranoid pop open on his right shoulder. However Masquerade didn't make any move to acknowledge him.

"Master, you must relax.." Masquerade's head jerked in Hydranoid's direction and in an instant the darkus bakugan wished he hadn't spoken up at all.

"I lose my number one status to Dan and you tell me to relax!" Masquerade snarled, "Well, guess what Hydranoid this is partially your fault!"

"I apologize master." Hydranoid said weakly deciding it was much safer to let his master vent out his emotions before he attempted to talk some sense into his incredibly agitated master. He popped closed and disappeared inside Masquerade's coat pocket.

Masquerade let out a grunt of frustration as he released the bar in front of him and began to pace.

He had to do something… He had to sow that idiot that this wasn't finished, he wasn't done yet. If Dan thought that he and his precious dragonoid- Suddenly Masquerade stopped in his pacing.

"Wait a minute! All this time I've been trying to take out the dragonoid." A devious smirk appeared on his face. "Which we do have to do, however we can completely eliminate the problem if we attack from another angle." He began to chuckle evilly. "If we eliminate Dan, the dragonoid's power will become useless and I can claim the power that is rightfully ours…" With this in mind Masquerade set off to do the mission he had assigned himself.


Dan Kuso wasn't a chicken, in fact anyone who called him that was in for an earful, but he had to admit the darkus brawler's newest challenge was leaving him shaking and uneasy. This didn't go unnoticed by Drago. The pyrus bakugan turned to look up at the grim faced Dan.

"Dan we don't have to go through with this, we've already defeated Masquerade, and besides its not like he has anything we want." Dan didn't reply. "Dan…" Drago pressed.

Dan didn't answer, he had to fight to maintain a stony expression on his face to hide away his innermost thoughts and emotions.

In truth, the pyrus brawler had developed a sort of crush on the powerful darkus brawler. As much as he hated to admit it to himself, he couldn't deny the blond was impressive in both skill and looks.

When he'd extended his hand towards Masquerade yesterday he'd truly hoped beyond hope that the blond would accept it, and come join their team, heaven knows what a great addition he'd be. But, alas Dan had also figured that some rivalries were too deep seated to disappear just like that. So, he wasn't all that surprised when the blond merely slapped it away and then disappeared in a rain of sparkles.

"No Drago, this isn't about the game anymore, I want more chance to reason with him, and this might be it." Dan replied as he walked toward the location where Masquerade had asked to meet him.

"Dan this is crazy! Klaus already told you, Masquerade was probably too far gone (out of his mind that is) to be reasoned with before all this, and know he's flat out driven mad with rage! Your practically walking in like a lamb to be slaughtered!" Dan sighed.

"I know that's what you think buddy, but relax.." He focused his sights back in front of him again. "I could tell something was wrong with him yesterday, he looked kinda ill and exhausted…"

Drago nodded his head. "Yes, I noticed it too." Dan waited for a moment when finally his bakugan heaved a defeated sigh. "Well, I suppose their nothing I can possibly say that can dissuade you so all I can say is watch your back.-"

Dan heard the scrape of a boot on the pavement behind him and he had two seconds to dodge out of the way of the punch Masquerade aimed at his head.

"Jeez, you have great timing." Dan muttered straightening up. He glared at the masked blond, and then he let his ruby eyes sweep over him once.

The older boy was panting slightly, he'd managed to replace his ruined white trench coat with another one, but still Dan could tell by the way the blond stood he wasn't in the best shape for a fight.

"So you did come." Masquerade snarled, the bitterness in his tone making Dan have to suppress the urge to shudder. "It's time we finish this, once and for all."

Dan glanced down at Drago, and then back at Masquerade. He'd already brawled the guy once, and won so why was Masquerade pressing for a rematch so soon? And in his condition. Dan mentally added. Then he decided to voice his question.

"Look, I know you and I despise each other, but I have one question for you Masquerade." The blond didn't speak and didn't show any signs of pressing an attack…for the moment so Dan decided to continue. "Why are you pressing for a rematch so soon?" Dan demanded. "Weren't you the one who told me that in order to stop it was to beat you?" Masquerade didn't speak. "Well? Didn't you? God damn it answer me Masquerade!" On his shoulder Drago dropped down into his chest pocket to hide. The blond straightened up but again said nothing. "Well then why hasn't this stopped? Why are you pressing this matter?"

"If you're going to quote me Dan you might as well work your brain and see if you can remember this part too. I also told you bakugan isn't just a game! And you seem to have forgotten that!" Masquerade balled his fists and gave Dan the evil eye through his mask.

"Fine then." Dan replied struggling to keep his voice steady. "How can I beat you?"

At this Masquerade smirked. "The same way the gladiators did in ancient Rome, until one of us is dead." He took a step back and gestured around to the bridge and warehouse district they were in. "And here will be where it all goes down. That is, if you're man enough."

"If you're going to compare this to what went on in ancient Rome then I'm guessing this isn't a brawl."

Masquerade snorted. "Oh how right you are kiddo, we're settling it the best way we know how,"

"In a fight." Dan finished shaking his head. "You know this doesn't have to-"

"Just shut up Dan!" masquerade snapped at him. "I'm tired of you trying and failing so many times over to convince me to come over and join you brawlers. Well guess what? I've got news for you, I have no intentions of joining the brawlers, now are you going to fight or not?" He demanded casting aside his whit trench coat.

Dan shook his head for a second then he stopped. "Fine, I'll fight you, but on one condition."

Beneath his mask the blond arched an eyebrow. "And that is?"

"I win, I don't kill you, you come with me as a prisoner to the brawlers, and if you win, well I suppose I can already suspect what's coming." Dan did the same as Masquerade had done taking off his red jacket and letting it fall to the ground, no point in Drago getting caught up in their fight.

Masquerade sneered, just as a ragged bolt of lightning struck successfully lighting up the night sky, making the blond's face light up in a creepy way.

"This ends here and now Dan!"

And then the two charged at each other.


A/N ... I really don't know what came over me.. But obviously if none of you guys review how am I going to know what you guys think? Love it? hate it? Want me to goet rid of it? TELL MEEE! Now. Or you get no updates FOR ANYTHING! 0.(((0)))