I'M ALIVE! Forgive my late update...peeps. I'm facing a horrid writer's block. T.T But don't worry! I think I've fixed it now! Promise next update would be quicker...coz I've already written the next chapter! And I'll update when I get reviews! So review as much as you can! Nothing more matters for this creature!
REPLIES TO GUEST REVIEWERS:
To 57R4NG3 N07H1NG: Yo mate! It surprised me that I was still able to read and interpret your review! XP You think I've improved?! I think so too! Ah...your sis did write to me...a sort of good-bye message. Tell her I'm holding the fort for her! XD Stay tuned!
To Megan: Um...yes...it was one night indeed, miss. I don't want to rush things...that would kinda suck. Uh...I meant for Alice's royalty, not Terrah's! :P Hm...how many chapters? I never plan stories ahead. But I think it wont exceed twenty.
To Terrah: Haha! Had to throw in that humor! I thought the story was getting too...dry! XP And that story of Shun took me thirteen attempts after I settled down on that one! It was made up indeed...but I'm glad people doubt that!
Warning: Creepy beginning!
Bakugan Baby Brawlers.
Chapter 7: In enemy's lair.
"Rock-a-bye baby...on the tree top...
When the...wind blows... the cradle...will rock...
When the bow...breaks...the cradle...will...fall...
Down...will come the...baby...cradle... and... all..."
Her voice was low and haunting, as she hugged her knees close to her body and kept singing, the sound accompanied by the occasional sobs bouncing off the cold stone walls and echoing around her, terrifying her even more as it broke in the end.
From a darker corner of her cell...or maybe beyond the bars, outside her cell, echoed another voice,
"Hush little baby...don't say a word...
For your voice...must not be heard...
No one can hear what you have to say...
I will keep you here if I may..."
Her eyes widened and she gasped sharply, whimpering as a dark shadow approached her, a cruel smirk playing on the masked face.
…
Topaz eyes were downcast as their owner found himself lost within the voids of his own mind...
FLASHBACK...
She was running as fast as her stamina would allow. But it wasn't enough...it never was. And so, turning a corner of the alley sharply to somehow dodge her persuaders, she collided hard with something...or someone, resulting in both of them collapsing on the rough ground. Her startled eyes met wild topaz ones...amber flames dancing within those depths.
Quickly getting up to avoid any more embarrassment, she stuttered, "Oh my! I...I'm really sorry, sir...I didn't mean to..."
The raven haired stranger blinked, feeling somewhat dazed at the sudden impact. Rising noises in the background of the mysterious girl perked up his interest though, and pushing himself in a sitting position, he let his curiosity take over him for once, "Who are you?"
"I..." The girl stopped abruptly as she too, sensed the danger approaching her. Getting to her feet, she gazed at the boy who seemed a bit older than her, "I'm Alice...and that's all I can say right now. I'm sorry...but I have to go."
Ever the polite one...she turned, preparing to sprint once again when a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Craning her neck to see the obstacle in her way, she was taken off guard when she saw the strange boy's hand holding her wrist.
Topaz eyes regarded her calmly, "Why are those guys after you?"
"I...I can't tell you anything! Please let me go!" She tried to pull her hand out of his grip in vain, "You don't understand!"
"Try me." The voice was deep and cool...but had an undertone to it.
Losing all control on herself, she suddenly began to cry. Whether it was frustration over her helpless situation...or fear of what lied ahead, she just found herself sobbing, "I...let me go...don't hurt me...I...I promise I'll be good..."
The boy frowned. What was with this girl?! First she bumped into him only because she was running as if her life depended on it...and then he found out she was escaping from some...dangerous people...and now here she was, bawling her eyes out for nothing!
"Um...hey...I have no intention of harming you...I just want to know if you're in danger. I can help you." He tried to console the girl. But he was never too good in heart-to-heart conversations...this was supposed to be the job of a certain brunette...his best friend.
The girl was mumbling incoherently now, "I'll never disobey you again...I'll respect you...I'll do whatever you'll say...just don't punish me...I promise I'll never leave my room again...I...I'll be good now..."
The boy forgot to breath at the words...what in the world was wrong with her?! He tried to snap her out of her trance, "Hey! Stop it! I said I wont harm you...I don't even know you! You can tell me if you feel insecure. I'll do whatever to help you."
The girl jerked her head up as if she was slapped, looking into those hypnotizing amber depths. Dried tear streaks marked her cheeks, making her feel as if a bitter cold was being driven inside her, "You...you'll help me?"
"Yes...my name is Shun...and you're my friend now...and no one touches my friends while I'm around." The raven haired boy assured her.
"Th-those people...they hurt me. So I ran away...and now they're after me. Please save me..." She clutched his arm in a death grip, pleading.
"Okay..." Placing his arm around the girl's waist, the teen bent his legs a bit, preparing to jump. And with a sudden flash, he was gone... along with that girl.
...
"Here Shun..." The fair face had a soft smile, "I'll bandage it for you."
The raven haired boy blinked as her touch...gentle as a feather...began to dance over his arm. The cut wasn't deep...that he was sure of. But it seemed like the orange haired girl's healing magic was all he needed.
"There...all done." The girl beamed at him proudly.
Shun glanced at the carefully tied gauze, "Thanks...Alice."
"You're welcome. It's the least I can do in gratitude for your hospitality." She bowed.
"It's fine. There's nothing to be grateful for. You were in danger so I had to do something." The teen assured her.
Before any of them could say something, an arm thumped his back twice, "Hey Shun! Man, are we celebrating or what?!"
"Dan..." Shun shook his head in exasperation.
"What?! Growing teens need more food. Right miss Malice?!"
"Malice?!" Shun raised a brow, "Who the heck is that?!"
"I...I'm..." The orange haired girl tried to stop her laughing fit, "I'm just Alice..."
"Oh..." Dan threw her a sheepish smile, "Sorry...'just Alice'...Shun told me about you on phone. And the lines were a bit...disturbed because of yesterday's rain so I couldn't quite catch it."
"It's alright. Would you like some hot chocolate?"
"You bet!" The brunette flashed her a toothy grin.
"Dan! Dan! You wouldn't believe it! Oh hey there Shun and Alicia! You guys wouldn't believe it!" A small blonde came running in what the occupants of the room noted as excitement.
"What is it, Maruch?" Dan whistled casually.
Shun rolled his eyes as once again...Alice's name was pronounced wrongly.
"Um...Alice would suffice." The orange haired girl beamed at the blonde who turned a bit red.
"Beg your pardon..." He mumbled before remembering what had he been talking about, "So I got this inspiration..."
"Uh-oh..." Dan sat a bit straighter, throwing a glance at Shun who sighed.
"And it was like some force was pushing me to do it...so I did!"
"Do I want to know what exactly did you do this time?!" Dan gazed at the smaller boy intently.
(A/N: These ingredients are real! Anyone who guesses which product they belong to will get a reward of choice! Just guess what common solution would these chemicals make. The result of this stuff is used almost daily...every time you...ahem...go to a specific room and the solution is used for only one specific purpose...starts with "S" and ends with "O"...hint hint! ;) ...)
"So I mixed a few chemicals, namely... sodium laureth and lauryl sulphate, glycol distearate, dimethicone, zinc xylenesulfonate, zinc pyrithione, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium benzonate, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium, nitric acid, magnesium hezyle cinnamal, linalool, butylphenyl methylpropional, polyquaternium-76, polynaphthalenesulfonate, methylchloroisothiazolinone, tetra-hydantion...-"
"JUST TELL US WHAT IN THE FREAKING WORLD HAPPENED ALREADY!" Dan's chair had tipped off, imbalanced and now he was on the floor, glaring at the blonde.
Shun was holding his head, eyes shut tight, uselessly trying to understand what this was all about. Alice's jaw could hit the floor any time now. She had forgotten to breathe, or so it seemed.
"THE BEAKER EXPLODED!" Marucho was now jumping up and down hyperly.
The audience sweat-dropped.
"Uh...hehe...um..." Marucho shot the others an apologetic smile, "And it changed the shape of the beaker. And it gave out sparks of nice colors...Runo and Julie would love those colors in their wardrobe...and it produced flame of a different sort..."
"Just...never mind." Dan exhaled, trying to get his bearings again, "I think my ears just dropped off...after bleeding to death!"
Shun shook his head, trying to get rid of the head-ache. All those mangled terms had got stuck in his mind.
"I..." Alice finally composed herself, "I'll go prepare the hot chocolate!"
And that's how the merry group ended up in front of the T.V, watching a movie and enjoying snacks.
…
"But Shun! This is a stupid plan!" Keith banged his head on the table in front of him after his another failed attempt at convincing the ninja.
"It's a plan never-the-less." The teen was way too calm.
"You call it a plan?! It's...-"
"We don't have any other option, Keith." Shun looked into the blonde's eyes, "We have to do it."
"It's too risky..." Keith protested again as Shun stood up.
"I don't care. No one harms my friends when I'm around."
Keith sighed, allowing himself to be dragged by the Ventus brawler towards the main double doors leading to the wild outland, "You know Shun, you're the most stubborn person I've ever met! Stubborn... and headstrong!"
"I take pride in it."
…
Shun was about to step into the portal when a small figure came running out of the large door, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Dan?" Keith looked at the young boy, "What are you doing here? I thought everyone was asleep."
"I want to go too..." The small brunette yawned before looking at the raven haired teen, "I go with you!"
"Uh...you can't go Dan. It's dangerous." Shun glanced at his young friend warmly.
"But...but...I help too!"
"You are helping...by staying behind. Take care of the other brawlers while I'm away. And help Keith in...whatever he does!" The teen knelt before the young boy.
"Oh..." Dan stuck out his lower lip, pouting, "But no go without good-bye."
Topaz eyes blinked, "Huh?"
"Don't go...we say bye-bye first."
"Um..."
Small arms found their way around the raven haired teen's neck as Dan hugged him, "Be back...quick. I miss you."
Shun felt like his voice was getting blocked, "I...I'll try my best to return soon."
"No try...just come back." The brunette mumbled in his jacket.
"Okay. I'll be back."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"When you back, I wanna show you a thing."
"What thing?"
"Some thing."
"Alright." Shun took a deep breath and after giving the boy a gentle squeeze, he stood up.
Keith stepped forward and the two locked hands as he stared in topaz eyes, "Stay safe."
The ninja smiled, "Take care."
Bidding farewell was never easy. But it had to be done. The bitter-sweet pain had to be experienced. Otherwise, it could turn into a burdening guilt for an entire lifetime.
Preparing himself mentally, Shun stepped into the portal, a new-found determination reflecting in his eyes.
…
Hm...should I stop?! But since I'm updating after so long...maybe I should go on! XP
…
Shun stumbled out of the now closing portal. Looking around, the teen found himself in a rocky, barren place. Keith had already told him what the place was like, so it was nothing unexpected.
"Hm...now what?" The Ventus brawler mused to himself, thinking out loud.
Looking ahead, he could see the hills Keith had mentioned in the maps. Those hills were bound to have caves. This persuasion made the teen start walking.
…
"My, my...look at that..." The masked form smirked menacingly from the darkness. The large screen in front of him was glowing. Different stats were being calculated in the corner but what amused the man was the figure displayed on the screen. Topaz eyes scanning the premises.
"Master...do you wish for us to dispose him off?"
"Hm...but where would be the fun in doing so? They don't call me Wiseman for nothing..." The man came out of the shadows.
"So...what do we do, sire?"
"We welcome him...like the good hosts we are." He began to laugh mirthlessly, "Let's go."
…
Shun sighed as he came out of cave number fifty-three. The place had so many caves to hide in! Wiseman could be anywhere. He was suddenly caught off-guard as a whirring noise appeared behind him. Dodging just in time, the teen was able to narrowly avoid being hit by a curved blade, albeit the fact that it grazed his cheek.
Wincing from the stinging pain, the Ventus brawler looked up only to find Wiseman standing there on a few feet high boulder.
"Hello...dear Shun...missed me?"
"Quit the theatrics. Where's Alice?" Shun glared at the man.
"Finders, keepers." Wiseman jumped down to stand in front of the ninja, "She's such a sweet, little girl."
"What do you want?"
"I should be asking the same to you Shun...because you're the one who's standing in my premises." Wiseman smirked.
"Let her go, Wiseman. She's got nothing to do with it." Shun admitted to himself, he was never good at the game of words.
"You know what, Shun? When you're in enemy's lair...not even the ground can be trusted."
"What's...-"
Shun was cut off short when all of a sudden, a clawed hand broke the ground's surface, grabbing the teen's ankle in a vice grip. Electric sparks shot out from the hand, engulfing it's prey. A pained scream echoed in the air.
And then there was nothing.
There! You had it! Promise, next chap would come up quick...as long as you review! I've already have it written! Mwahaahahahaa!
Hope out!
Until next time! :)
