Author's Notes

Last chapter we saw Runo thinking about Dan and then punching him in the face when he showed up on her doorstep. Now in this chapter we find how why Dan was in Bakugan City and how he found out where Runo lives.

6 Months Earlier

Dan POV

It has been two and a half years since Drago and I had left Bakugan City and decided to travel the world. Right now we were heading back to Bakugan City and as we walked I let out a sigh. My Bakugan partner Drago,who was in his sphere fom sitting in his usual place on my shoulder, asked "Are you alright Dan?" I nodded then answered "Just thinking about Runo and how much I miss her". Drago let out a chuckle then responded "That doesn't surprise me. I know you think about her often but that doesn't cause you to sigh. What are you actually thinking about?" I let out a wry chuckle knowing I couldn't, hide much from him then responded "I'm just wondering if she'll be there waiting for me". "She'll be there Dan. Runo isn't they type of person to skip out unless something very important prevents her." Drago reminded me. I smiled knowing he was right and we kept walking to Bakugan City my worries temporarily alleviated.

A few hours earlier

I was standing partially hidden the shade of a tree, leaning against it while scanning the area looking for Runo. "Where is she? I thought she'd be here by now." I muttered. "Relax Dan she'll be here. You don't even know if she's still in Bakugan City and if she can't make it she'll send is a perfectly reasonable explanation for why she isn't here." Drago told me with an air of calm. "I know. I know but it has been hours". I whined. "Daniel relax!" Drago shouted at me. I stood there in shock primarily because it had been many years since Drago had called me by my full name. We stood there in silence for a little while then I felt someone wrap their arms around me in a hug while happily screaming "Daaaaaaaan". I turned and not surprisingly seeing Julie. I then grabbed her by the shoulders and asked in worry and concern "Julie where is Runo? Is she alright? Did something happen? Tell me!" Julie gently pushed me away and answered "Jeez Dan chill. Runo's fine, nothing has happened to her. She's at home last time I saw her". My mood become depressed immediately as I muttered sadly "She doesn't want to see me". Julie looked at me puzzled and asked "What are you talking about?" "I gave Runo an envelope with a letter the day I left asking her to meet me here. Guess she didn't want to see me." I answered dejectedly. Julie's eyes lit up in understanding then let out a laugh as she told me "Is that why you're depressed. You needn't be". I looked at her in bewilderment and asked "Whataya mean?" Julie smiled and then answered "She's never even read your letter. It just sits on her desk gathering dust". I raised an eyebrow at her and asked her a little skeptically "And you know this how?" Julie let out another laugh then answered "She's my roommate. We have an apartment together here in Bakugan City". I nodded in understanding then noticed Julie writing down something on her ever present notepad and then handing what she'd written to me. I read it and raised an eyebrow at Julie again asking her a silent question. Julie let out a laugh then responded "It's our address. You did want to go see Runo didn't you?" I nodded then with my eyebrow still raised asked "You can't take me there why?" "I'm showing my sister around." She told me as she pointed at a girl that looked like and older version of her. I nodded then told her "Thanks and could you not tell people I'm here yet. I wanted Runo to be the first one to know I was back in town". Julie nodded and answered "Sure. I'll see you later". I gave her a hug in thanks then headed off to the apartment she and Runo shared. As well walked off Drago told me rather smugly "I told you there was reasonable explanation as to why Runo didn't show up". I chose to ignore that comment.

Present time

Normal POV

"Owwww. What the hell Runo? What the f was that for?" Dan cried in anger and pain as he got up. "3 year. 3 bloody years of silence. No phone calls, no texts, no emails, only a single freaking letter the day you left." Runo roared at him in anger and fury. Dan opened his mouth to say something but closed it realising that it was better for Runo to let out her feelings that had clearly been building up inside her. "3 years of knowing nothing. 3 years wondering if you were dead, alive, sick, injured, healthy or if you were even in this dimension. 3 years of constantly worrying where you were and if you were okay." Runo cried out as her anger evaporated and she burst into tears. Dan wrapped his arms around her in a comforting gesture. Runo buried her face in his chest and cried out "Oh Dan. I've missed you". Dan smiled at her and told her "I missed you too Runo". Runo showed a tearful smile and kept their embrace for a few minutes before a cheerful voice said "Well, well, well. What is going on here?" They broke apart quite quickly and saw Julie standing in the door way behind them. "Nothing." They cried out in unison. Julie looked them over taking in Runo's tear stained face and the black eye on Dan's face. She could guess they reason for Runo's tears but she was unsure why Dan had a black eye. So Julie asked Dan "What happened to your face?" But before Dan or Runo could answer Drago who had been sitting quietly in Dan's chest pocket on his jacket let out a laugh and told Julie "Runo punched him the face". Julie let out a laugh and then responded "Alright Dan come on in and you can put some ice on your eye". Dan nodded gratefully and he, Julie and Runo headed back into the apartment. Dan and Runo sat at the kitchen table while Julie went to the freezer and got Dan an ice pack. As Julie handed Dan the icepack Runo asked her "Julie why didn't you tell me Dan was back?" Julie shrugged then answered "Two reasons. One Dan asked me not too and two Dan was coming here so wasn't important. Beside I assumed he'd be here before me" . The two girls looked at Dan who was in the middle of putting the ice pack over his eye and asked in unison "So why weren't you here before Julie/me?" Dan's free hand flew to the back of his head and he let out an embarrassed laugh then answered "I got hungry, lost, hungry again and then lost again". The girls just shook their heads at him then Julie headed towards the front door. "Where are you going Julie?" Runo asked curiously. Julie turned around and answered "Billy's taking me to a movie then dinner so I dunno when I'll be home later tonight or tomorrow". And without waiting for a reply Julie went out the front door locking it behind her. Dan and Runo then got up and transferred to Runo's room.

In Runo's room Runo sat on her bed while Dan sat on her desk chair. The two sat in an awkward silence for a few moments before Runo broke it and asked "So what did you do while you were adventuring?" Dan smiled and then started telling about the places he went, things he did and the people he met. It took Dan half an hour to finish telling Runo what he did with occasional input from Drago. Once the tale was over Dan ask Runo what she'd been doing these last three years. Runo told how she had started brawling again. Her partner was Haos Aerogan who was Tigrerra's student and how thanks to him she was in the top ten brawlers in the word. She told him that Aerogan had gone back to New Vestroia so Tigrerra so she could assess his progress. Dan smiled proudly and happily upon hearing Runo was not only brawling again but doing extremely well. At some some point Dan had picked up the envelope with his letter to Runo while she was talking. Runo noticed he was holding it when she finished telling him what she'd been up to and asked "Dan could you hand me that? I'd like to read it now". Dan smiled and nodded then opend the envelope and gave her the letter. Runo took the letter and began to read the letter aloud "My dearest Runo". Runo blushed a little at then then continued "As you may have guessed or been told by Kato Drago and I have gone off adventuring. I am writing to tell you why I'm doing. The first reason is because after saving Earth a few times Drago and I wish to see, exploring and enjoy the world. The second is a more personal and is related to you. After once again spending time with you again I've wondered what direction I wish our relationship to go in and this adventuring I'll be doing will give me to think on it. I will try to contact by email, text, calling etc whenever I can but I am not be able to so please forgive me if I fail to keep in contact. I also have something I wish to ask of you. I would like you to meet meet me at statue in the centre of Bakugan Land on this date in three years time. Hoping to see you in three years, love Dan". Runo smiled at the last part then looked at Dan and asked "So,you were thinking about our relationship aswell?" Dan nodded then asked "You too?" "Yeah. I was gonna talk to you about our relationship the day you left. " Runo told him. "I probably would have just said I needed time to think." Dan told her. Runo nodded then responded "Well you've done that, what was the conclusion you came to?" But before Dan could answer they heard an extremely loud explosion and rushed outside to try and see what caused it.

A/N

What caused that explosion? What direction do Dan and Runo want their relationship to head in? Do you wanna become a couple again or just stay friends? To find out the answers to these questions and more you'll just have to keep reading to find out. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always please review