Naito threw a sock at his alarm clock and rolled over, covering his ears by folding his pillow over his head. The alarm clock continued to buzz incessantly. Groaning in frustrated laziness, he climbed out of bed and turned it off.

"Shrimp! Wake up!"

Rose? Why is she here? "Coming!" Naito grabbed a shirt and pulled it over his head. He had slept in his shorts, again. His blue hair was a mess and lop-sided. He combed it on his way down stairs. Oh yeah, I'm staying at Rose's place until I've earned the regional title.

"Breakfast is in the nuke."

"What's on the menu?"

"Oatmeal." Naito crinkled his nose up in disgust. "Not my fault it's what's in the cabinets."

"Does it have to be oatmeal? That stuff's gross." Whiplash popped out of Naito's pocket and floated up onto the table. "Something wrong, Whiplash?"

"Your unwillingness to eat a nutritious meal has me rather perturbed. You need to eat it, Naito."

"But-"

"You heard him, Shrimp. Eat." Roselle got up as the microwave beeped and took out the oatmeal. She set it on the table in front of her blue haired friend. He complained, but ate it anyway. After breakfast, Naito gabbed his Bakumeter and ability cards.

"Another practice match?"

"Yep! Gotta keep practicing if I'm gonna beat Daniel Kuso. How come you're not participating this year?"

"Archangel's the only one I have. I wouldn't last very long against an opponent with say, six Bakugan."

"C'mon, Rose. Archangel's strong enough to take on even the best of the best!"

"I don't doubt that. I just lack the necessary experience, is all."

"Well, you can get that by practicing!" Naito grabbed Roselle's hand and dragged he along behind him to their friend's house. Naito knocked. "Ray! You home!"

The blond haired boy opened the door. "Is time already? Dang it, I was hoping to sleep some more."

"How's Naga?"

"Naga's fine. Pummeled a Darkus newbie yesterday." Ray held out the Aquos Serpent.

"Darkus? What did they look like? What was their name?'

"Uh, well, they were kinda tall, glasses and brown hair. Spike. That was his name. Why?"

"Oh, uh… nevermind. Not who I thought."

"You sure it's nothing, Naito?" Roselle asked.

"Yeah." He looked Ray square in the eye. "Let's brawl!"

"Right here? In my doorway?"

"Why not?"

"Uh, OK. Hey, Roselle, care to join? You can throw in Archangel."

"Can a three way match be done?"

"Think so."

"Alright. Fine. If I win, Naito has to eat oatmeal for breakfast for the rest of the week and Ray, you have to cut your hair."

"Ewww! Not oatmeal!"

"All of my hair? Or can I keep some?"

"You don't have to go bald, but you have to cut it short. If you guys don't want to do that, then don't lose to me."

"Done." Ray said. Naito nodded his agreement.

"Then its settled. Ready Archangel?"

"Ready!" The Haos bakugan floated in front of Roselle.

"Gate card set! Let's brawl, guys!"

"Naga, you ready?"

"Always."

"Bakugan Brawl! Aquos Naga stand!"

"Bakugan Brawl! Subterra Centipoid Stand! Get 'em, Whiplash!"

Roselle grabbed Archangel's ball form and threw him in. "Archangel stand!"

Archangel surveyed Naga and Whiplash. "I never understood why you battle friends to hone your skills."

"Same reason you have a sparring partner."

"Alright, Naga. Let's get a preemptive strike. Take out Archangel first." Ray pulled an ability card from his pocket. "Ability activate! Thunderous Typhoon!" Naga reared and came back down, a large stream of water appearing behind her. The water went flying towards Archangel with extreme force.

"Alright, I see you. Archangel, use your shield. That much water shouldn't be too hard."

Naito watched as Naga's most powerful attack struck Archangel's shield and splashed harmlessly around the winged warrior. "Whoah."

Ray looked at Roselle and Archangel. "What the-? How did you-?" He stammered.

Roselle looked confidently at him. "Archangel's shield boosts his power up to 1300 Gs. You attack would've taken out anything at or below 750 Gs. It'd help if you looked at your bakumeter before making a decision."

"1300 Gs..." Naito whistled. He'd have to give it his all just to beat Naga, let alone Archangel. "Whiplash, buddy. We've got quite the fight on our hands. Ability Activate! Spiraling Quicksand!" Whiplash burrowed into the ground and the earth underneath Naga and Archangel softened and began to swirl, much like a whirlpool.

"Crap! Hang in there, Naga! Dammit, Ray, think!"

A large lance appeared in Archangel's hand and he stabbed the ground, effectively canceling Whiplash's ability. "Ability Activate! Lance of Justice!" Archangel then streaked toward Naga as fast as lightning. Naga returned to ball form, defeated. "Although usually saved for Darkus brawlers, it's a good one hit knock out." Whiplash came back up to the surface moments later.

"Naga! Damn, Roselle. You're good." Ray stepped back a few paces.

"Alright, Shrimp. You're turn."

Naito swallowed nervously. "You're on!" Subterra's weak against Haos, gotta play this carefully if I'm gonna win. "Alright Whiplash, we got this! Ability activate! Stalwart Stance!"

"A defensive move. Nice." Roselle looked at her Bakumeter.

"Archangel power level at 1300 Gs. Whiplash power level at 800 Gs."

Naito had apparently done the same. "Need some more power. Alright, Rose. Your move."

"What are you planning? Careful Archangel."

"Of course." His lance glowed white as Roselle activated another ability card called Angel's Verdict.

Naito stayed resolute and determined as Archangel neared Whiplash. And… 3...2...1… Gotcha! "Gate card open!" The gate card Naito set at the beginning of the match glowed and Archangel hit a clay copy of Whiplash. "Ability Activate! Bladed Tail Slash!" Whiplash's twin tails extended into long, sharp blades and struck Archangel's side. "Crushing Mandibles!" Whiplash bit down on Archangel's shield arm. "Throw him!"

Roselle watched as Naito's series of attacks whittled down Archangel's power level. Archangel landed heavily and struggled onto his feet, bracing himself on his lance.

"Spiraling Quicksand!" Archangel began to sink into the earth beneath him.

"Ability Activate! Guardian's Stamina!" Archangel stood, surrounded by a golden glow. "Haos is strong against Subterra."

"I know. Whiplash can handle Archangel now. Let's finish him! Ability Activate! Roaring Avalanche!" The earth split, sending Archangel off balance and rocks began piling around him. The Haos bakugan had his hands full trying to deflect the boulders with his lance. The rocks continued to pile up until Archangel was immobilized and buried up to his shoulders.

Roselle smirked. "I though you'd try paralyzing him. Your strategy is actually working this time, Shrimp. Nice job. But, I have an ace. Ability Activate! Savior's Call!" Archangel glowed again and the rocks were blown away, shattered. The winged warrior then streaked toward Whiplash faster than he had moved when finishing Naga.

"Ability Activate! Stone Shield!" Whiplash's exoskeleton turned hard as stone and Archangel's lance bounced right off. Offense? Or Defense? If I counterattack, that'll leave Whiplash open because he'll have to let down his Stone Shield. He looked at his bakumeter.

"Archangel power level at 900 Gs. Whiplash power level at 880 Gs.

"You're toast! Ability Activate! Obsidian Whirlwind!" Whiplash's stone exoskeleton returned to normal and his twin tails turned into the volcanic glass for which the ability was named. The giant centipede whirled around in circles, tails striking Archangel several times and the Haos bakugan returned to Roselle, defeated.

"Damn. Nice job, Shrimp!"

Whiplash returned to Naito. "Yeah! No oatmeal for me!"

"Do I still have to cut my hair?" Ray asked.

"Yes. Since I beat you." Ray pouted as the field closed. "So, we've still got all weekend. Want to do anything?"