Prologue:

I remember this day…

To be honest, I'm sure I could never forget it.

I was so young and innocent, I was so naive to the world that was happening around me. The events that started to send my life in a new direction and pushed my Father to become too way he did.

The day that my mother vanished.

I'm looking at her with a bright smile and hopeful eyes. Eyes the same colour as the man she loves so much. The man that is my father.

She call's out to me and urges me to come forward into her embrace. My father laughs as I run up to her without any hesitation as does his Bakugan, a small red object against the bright rays of the sun.

My mother pulls me close and hands me something. I recognise it as her Bakugan. My mother's Bakugan that she's had since she was a young girl.

The Bakugan stares at me and gives me a beautiful oath that makes me smile. I hug my mother one more time, taking it the sweet smell of her hair and perfume.

But that hug was all too brief.

She pulls away from with a smile and rubs my hair thoughtfully and lovingly. The last touch I ever received from my mother, the last mention of her love for me. She gives my father a brief kiss on the lips before picking up her purse and heading out the door.

She doesn't look back, doesn't give us any more signs to say she loves the both of us. Just the beautiful light-hearted harmony of her voice calling out 'I'll see you when I get back!'

My father waves and I do the same as my mother walks further and further out of my sight. But with one last naïve smile I called out to her the last words I ever said to her;

"Come back soon, Mother!"

A strange man comes through the door. A look of pity and mourning on his face. He is wearing the uniform that the police wear but its decorated with fancy badges.

"Is your father here?"

I nod and call out to my dad. He comes pounding down the stairs, ignorant to the truth that neither of us know of. His Bakugan perched on his shoulder seems just as ignorant but I could feel mine tensing up.

She whispers 'Runo…'

I don't understand her worry. Her fear. Not until my Dad meets the eyes of the stranger and all the happiness drains out of his face, leaving it pale and scared. His eyes fill with fear and yet slight hope and he pulls me behind him asking me to stay quiet.

I agree to do what he says. But he is scaring me, why is he so afraid of the man at the door.

The man speaks "Are you Dan Kuso?"

My father nods "I am. Is something wrong Commissioner?"

He takes his hat off, allowing me to notice the grey hairs that remain on an otherwise bald head, and bows to my father slowly as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. My father is shaking and holds my hand tightly as tears start to fall down his face.

Both of our Bakugan appear to realise what is happening 'no…. oh dear.'

I look between all of them trying to get a grip on the situation. All I see is fear, panic and worry across of all of them. I start to shake, feeling the urge to cry as the silence and press my hand into my father's 'Daddy…I'm scared! I-I want mommy!'

My father drops down to my level and pulls me close. Allowing me to cry into his chest and he does the same, tears drip down his face onto my clothes as the stranger whispers 'I…I'm sorry for your loss Mr Kuso. We did everything we could…. but your wife is gone.'

Father shakes and covers my ears as he lets out an ear piercing scream: 'RUNO!'

The world is no longer filled with sunshine. It becomes dark and grey as lightning begins to strike and clouds of thunder boom signalling the end of what was a beautiful and peaceful life.

It's been a couple of days since the funeral was held for a woman much beloved by all. I held my father's hand the entire time wishing that what we were witnessing was a dream and my other hand was held by my best friend Shay, who came with his parents (who were close friends of my parents as well), as he told me that everything was going too alright.

But after everything that happened. I doubted that anything was going to be fine. Especially after what my father had decided on days before.

Since no body was found, that gave hope to my Dad for a few days. He hoped that he would be told of any sign that she was alive or that there was some big mix up and she was perfectly safe, waiting to come home to her family.

Yet all he received was proof that she was dead. Her phone was at the scene of the crime and blood found was identified as her own. They even found a picture that had her hugging me and father on the Christmas that I was born.

But perhaps the most damming piece of evidence was a tattered up ability card that had belonged to my mother. Her 'Lightning Tornado' card that she used frequently in all of her battles growing up and even when battling up to her death. The authorities knocked it up as a Keepsake but my father knew that it meant Bakugan and Brawling had something to do with her demise.

And because of that my father locked up everything in our house that reminded him of days as a Battle Brawler – all of his, mothers and mine own things were locked away in a safe buried deep in the attic. He kept Drago and Tigerra out as he considered them friends not items like the trophies, cards and an old gauntlet that were locked away.

When I asked why he did this, he only gave me a sad look and said 'If someone used Bakugan as a way to kill your mother…then I don't want you having anything to do with this game.'

I couldn't argue with him. But how could a five-year-old when she was dealing with her father suffering from a broken heart? Break his heart further by arguing with him?

So I kept my mouth shut and let my father shut away what I considered to be a strong connection to my mother & what could have been a future for me. Since I never mentioned to either of them my dream to become a Battle Brawler just like they were back in their youth.

But at the time, I gave up on that dream in order to make my father happy.

However, his friends were not happy with the decision to shut me away from Bakugan. Shay's parents, Shun Kazami and Alice Gehabich, were both confused and angered by this decision – especially in the case of Shun. Shun and Alice were deemed by God-parents by my mother before I was born so I became close to the both of them growing up and that was helped by my love for Bakugan. Shun argued that he saw the same fire for the game that my parents used to possess and that my father was letting a future champion never experience a possible dream. My father however, refused to speak about the matter further causing a bond of tension to grow between them.

My father's other friends kept silent about the matter but I knew they were not pleased. It was hard for all of us to accept why my father, the Legendary Dan Kuso, would be so stubborn about removing Bakugan from his own child's life.

So for a while, I watched and read about Bakugan in secret. I desired to go and watch the tournaments live or even try out some tactics in person but I could never do so as a child for I had a fear that it would further break my father's heart.

But when I was 13…I had enough.

I was starting High School and started to feel the excited nature that most had about the gateway between a child and an adult. My father even had started to let me have more freedom than he ever did in my childhood especially now that he was engrossed in the work he had now.

My father, by this time in my life, had become the Head of the Company that organised the Tournaments involving Bakugan. He had made great strides to improve the company than it was before he joined especially with the joint ventures he had with the worlds such as Vestal, Gundalia and Neathia. Not to mention the help he had from all of his other friends that stood by him during the rough period of his life.

But despite feeling guilty that he had put trust in me, I wasn't going to let him stop me enjoy Bakugan for the first time in years and make it to the top.

And begrudgingly, I got Tigerra to help me – she called it a favour to Runo.

So, at 13 years old, I started to play Bakugan again. I was enjoying myself and had a blast meeting new people through the game. The experience of winning or losing helped me develop my skills better and soon I felt pride for what I was accomplishing as a Haos user just like my mother.

My best friends Shay and Yuki von Hertzon stood by my side as I started to battle again. They two were brawlers and soon we got closer and closer despite also competing with each other. We had fun and I learned to laugh like I was back with my mother again.

I felt bad about lying to my father. And even now I still do. I used his trust to get away with doing what he wanted me to avoid. But I never could see anything bad coming out of it.

But of course, I never knew what this game could bring and what it could do.

This game soon became a very significant part of my life and I am more determined than ever to reach the top just like my parents. I cared more about this dream than anything else, I wasn't going to let my effort go to waste.

Even if that meant lying to my father about what made me happy.

Besides, I know it is all fun and games. I knew that it could cause enemies to appear and try and take me down. But I also knew that it would bring people together, people that would help each other out just like they had done years ago.

But what happens next shocked me. I never knew that something like that could happen to me. However, I know that I will prevail and won't let my family or my friends or the world down.

The day that once more changed everything.

The day the next generation began their journey.

The day that I, Aki Kuso, began my destiny as a apart of the next Generation of Bakugan Battle Brawlers!

Main Cast:

· Rin Kuso – daughter of Daniel Kuso and the late Runo Misaki. Is a Haos User.

· Zero - currently unknown family members (Me: I KNOW BUT ITS A HUGE SPOLIER). Is a Darkus User.

· Yuki von Hertzon – daughter of Klaus von Hertzon. Is an Aquos User.

· Shay Kazami – son of Shun Kazami and Alice Gehabich. Is a Ventus User.

· Fira Clay – daughter of Spectra/Keith Clay. She is a Pyrus User.

· Terra Grit – son of Mira Clay and Ace Grit. He is a Subterra User.

NB:-I know Bakugan for Shay, Zero and Rin (and possibly Yuki). But if you have ideas for the remaining three/two then let me know in the Reviews :)

I am also allowing for 6 OC's to be rivals to the brawlers - as long as they are reasonable!

I hope that you enjoy the new story and what's to come. Next chapter should be up soon ;)

P.S. If you have any suggestions for character themes or opening/ending songs (as that is a thing I do) let me know ;)

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