...................................................

Sarah didn't feel Jason's fist in her face, she blinked open her eyes and looked at him. Her eyes flew wide as she saw someone standing beside them, grabbing Jason's fist in their hand.

Jason looked confused. "What- AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

The guy that held his fist tightened his grip, crushing it.

Sarah looked at the blond guy, her heart skipped a beat as she recognized him.

"Jason, what do you think you're doing?" the guy asked calmly, though there was a growl to the tone.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Jason growled. "You're on my side! Not hers!"

"Let her go," the guy told Jason.

"Why- AAHHH!!!! Alright, alright!"

Sarah felt the pressure on her neck lessen and she fell to her knees, one hand on the ground, supporting her balance, the other on her neck, trying to catch her breath. She looked up at Jason and the new guy.

The blond haired guy let go of Jason's hand and Jason stepped back.

"Masquerade, what are you doing!?" Jason growled. "This chick is against us, remember!?"

"Oh really?" Masquerade growled back sarcastically. "I never realized that, Jason. But I thought you had a soft spot for her, after all, it does seem like it."

Jason clenched his fists. "That's not the point! Why did you just protect her!?"

"Why did you just try to knock her out?" Masquerade didn't reply.

Sarah just looked up at the two guys, not sure of what was going on.

"Masquerade, why are you here?" Sarah asked him, her voice quiet, still trying to catch her breath.

"I thought you'd be stronger than this, Sarah," Masquerade said. "After all, you did beat me in a Brawl."

Jason looked down at Sarah. "She beat you?"

"Yes," Masquerade said simply. "Now, I suggest you leave, Jason. And take Koga with you."

Jason looked back at Masquerade. "What!?"

"I said leave," Masquerade growled. "And not without Koga."

Jason growled at Masquerade, standing there for a few moments. "You really need to decide who you stand with."

Sarah watched as Jason turned and walked over to Bella and Koga. He pulled Koga out of the fight and they walked off.

Masquerade turned around and crouched in front of Sarah. "You alright, kid?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sarah said. "But, Masquerade, why did you help me? You're on Jason's side, not mine."

"I don't know why I helped you," Masquerade admitted. "I just did."

"Get away from her, Masquerade!"

"Dan, it's alright," Sarah assured him when he came over. "He protected me from Jason's punch."

Dan looked at Masquerade as if he couldn't believe it.

"It's alright," Sarah repeated.

"Sarah!"

Sarah looked over Masquerade's shoulder to see Bella running over, blood dripping from her bottom lip. She must have accidentally bitten it when Koga punched her in the jaw. "Are you alright!? What the hell is Masquerade doing here!? What do you want Masquerade!?"

"I just came to help," Masquerade replied to Bella. "I'm not here to Brawl you guys."

Sarah suddenly glared at Masquerade. "Oh yeah, I'm not gonna forget that you sent my Griffin to the Doom Dimension!"

"Yeah..... sorry about that...."

Dan and Bella were quite surprised. Masquerade just apologized for sending a Bakugan to the Doom Dimension?

"How's Amy," Sarah changed the subject. "Is she gonna be alright?"

Dan looked at her. "She should be fine, but she's gone back to the hospital."

Sarah looked at the ground. "Poor girl. She's been in hospital for four months and she just got out. Now she has to go back..... How long?" she looked back up at Dan.

"A few days," Dan said. "She's taken quite a few harsh beatings. She might have concussion."

Sarah looked really concerned. "Did Shun go with her?"

"Yes."

"Poor guy," Sarah sighed. "I can't imagine how he must have felt before, seeing his little sister getting bashed again......"

Dan crouched down beside Sarah. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sarah said.

"You've got a bit of a graze on your left cheek," Masquerade said. "From when Jason punched you."

"You're kidding!?" Sarah grumbled.

Masquerade put his hand up and brushed it across Sarah's left cheek. "Ow!" she muttered. "Damn Jason-"

Dan and Masquerade moved back a little as Sarah fell to her hands and knees and started coughing violently, blood spitting out each time.

"Sarah!" Dan exclaimed. "What exactly did Jason do!?"

"I don't know!" Sarah choked out. "But... it... hurts!" She continued to cough up more blood.

"Sarah!" Tigorra exclaimed.

"It must have been when he struck her in the stomach whilst cutting off her air," Masquerade said.

"Well if you stepped in to help her, why didn't you help her sooner!?" Dan growled.

"I wish I did," Masquerade told him. "But I had to see how far Jason would go."

Dan glared at Masquerade, he didn't trust him. Masquerade glared back at him.

"Instead of glaring each other down, why don't we try to do something to help Sarah!?" Bella growled at the both of them.

Dan looked at Sarah. "What can we do?"

"Like I know!" Bella snapped.

Dan growled inwardly. "Masquerade?"

"The only thing you can do is wait until she's finished coughing up blood," Masquerade replied. "I'm not a medic, how should I know exactly what to do?"

Masquerade and Dan glared at each other again, they clearly didn't like each other, let alone being near each other.

Sarah felt a fiery pain in her chest, throat and she just felt sick in her stomach. Eventually, her coughing stopped and she accidentally swallowed a bit of the blood remaining in her mouth. She spat the rest out.

"How are you now?" Bella asked.

"Sick," was all Sarah said as she sat backwards and leaned against the tree.

"Of course," Masquerade laughed a little. "That's to be expected after coughing up blood."

Sarah laughed for a moment, but held her stomach. "Owww..........."

"Take is easy, kid," Masquerade said. "You should get home and rest after all that."

Sarah noticed Dan glare at Masquerade for a moment, in her head she was laughing, and asking herself what was going on.

"Cut it out you two!" Bella growled. "Dan, take Sarah home and make sure she's feeling better by tomorrow."

Dan nodded and picked her up. "What are you going to do, Bella?"

"I'm going to the hospital to see Shun and see how Amy's doing," Bella replied.

Masquerade stood up and turned, starting to walk off.

"Masquerade!" Sarah called him back. He stopped and half turned to face her, curled up in Dan's arms. "Thank you," she smiled. "For helping me."

He nodded and walked off.

"See ya later, guys," Bella said and ran off, towards the hospital.

Dan looked down at Sarah. "What!?" she asked in a kid's voice.

"You really need to stop getting into trouble like that," Dan shook his head. "It scares me."

"Sorry," Sarah grinned innocently and Dan started carrying her back home, she fell asleep in his arms.

Bella walked through the hospital doors and, after walking around for a while, found Shun. She ran over to him. "How is she?"

Shun looked through a window that had Amy in a room and three doctors fussing over her. "Better than last time, that's for sure."

Bella sighed. "That's a good thing at least."

Shun nodded blankly and Bella hugged him. "I'm just glad Sarah screamed at Jason and he let her go," Shun said. "However he put her down, she got away with only minor injuries this time."

"Jason only put Amy down because he still has a bone to pick with Sarah," Bella breathed. "He still needs to bash her. If it wasn't for Masquerade, Sarah would be in here too."

"Masquerade!?" Shun exclaimed. "What was he doing there!?"

"Like I know," Bella replied. "He just showed up and stopped Jason from knocking Sarah unconscious. He full on crushed Jason's hand he was that mad at him."

Shun was confused. "Masquerade helped Sarah? That's something new. Why would he do that and get mad at Jason? Isn't he against us?"

"Apparently," Bella was just as confused. "But it seems like he's not against Sarah."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, remember when she first Brawled him? He walked into the classroom and asked for her, then asked her if she wanted to Brawl when he could've asked you or Dan instead. During the Brawl, he let Sarah win the second round by not using his Ability or Gate card. He stopped Jason from knocking her out today, he got mad at Jason because of it. He apologized to Sarah for sending her Griffin to the Doom Dimension and he stayed with us until I decided to come see you and Amy and Dan decided to take Sarah home. What does that tell you?"

Shun blinked at Bella as if she was nuts. "Don't tell me he has a soft spot for Sarah, like Jason does......???"

"Maybe," Bella shrugged and Shun hugged her back at last. "But if he does, then he's got a problem with Dan being with her, they had a glaring fest while Sarah was coughing up blood."

"She was what!?"

"She's fine, don't worry," Bella assured him. "Dan took her home, his parents will take care of her."

"Good," Shun breathed. "I don't need to worry about two people at once."

"None of us do," Bella sighed. "I just hope Sarah is feeling better soon, it's no fun when she's not around and we've got school tomorrow."

"Damn it!!!!!!!" Shun growled.

"I know," Bella grumbled. "But we can annoy the teachers again and run around the school being idiots."

Shun smiled. "Yeah, annoying Miss Purdy again."

Bella laughed. "Yep, I wonder when she'll end up blowing her top and leaving the school."

"I don't think that's ever gonna happen," Shun said. "But if it does, what other teacher can we annoy?"

"I don't know," Bella shrugged. "But if Sarah doesn't come to school tomorrow, it won't be that much fun. She usually starts it all and we follow on from there."

Shun laughed. "That's a certain."

Bella nodded. "So she'd better be at school."

Dan walked in the front door and was about to go right upstairs, but his parents saw Sarah.

"Oh my goodness, what happened to her!?" his mother rushed over. "She looks so pale. What's this graze from? Is she alright!?"

"Yes, mother, she's okay," Dan said. "She tripped and fell, that's all. The bit of blood loss made her feel a little sick and dizzy."

His mother breathed. "She looks like she needs a good rest. You should take her upstairs."

"That's where I was planning to take her," Dan smiled and continued on his way up the stair case.

"Liar," he heard someone whisper and he looked down at Sarah, she still had her eyes closed.

"What makes you say that," he whispered back.

"You didn't tell the truth," she murmured.

"Well it's better than saying someone tried to seriously hurt you."

Sarah shrugged. "I feel sick."

"I wonder why," Dan joked. "I'm just glad you're alright."

"Me to," Sarah poked her tongue out at him. "Then I'd be in hospital and I wouldn't be able to be with you for a while."

Dan smiled and walked into his room. He walked over to his bed and put Sarah down, she opened her eyes and blinked at him. "Dan?"

"What?"

"Why were you glaring at Masquerade?"

"Uh................ Sarah, he's against us, he's the bad guy, and he helped you. That seems a bit odd to me."

"Righteo," Sarah smiled.

"You should get some sleep," Dan put one of his hands on her forehead. "You have a temperature."

Shasta walked in, pushing the door open with his nose. "Arf!" he walked over to the bed and put his paws up on it to see what was going on. He sniffed Sarah's hand and nudged it with his nose. He made a whining noise.

"It's alright, boy," Sarah smiled. "I'm okay. Just tired."

Shasta jumped up on the bed and walked to the other side of her, curling up and lying beside her, resting his head on her stomach.

Dan brushed his hand through her hair. "Get some sleep, Sarah."

Sarah nodded and closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.

"Sarah, time to get up."

Sarah opened her eyes and blinked up at Dan's mother. "Huh?"

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Pretty good," Sarah replied. "Is it time for school now?"

"Yes, Daniel is waiting downstairs," she smiled. "Are you sure you're ready to go to school? You're not feeling unwell or anything?" she put her hand on Sarah's forehead. "You do have a temperature."

"I'm fine," Sarah insisted and sat up, Shasta woke up and got up.

"Okay, take it easy today though."

"I will."'

Sarah watched as Dan's mother walked out of the room. She turned to Shasta. "Sorry for waking you, boy," she patted him on the head. He pushed his nose against her chin and she laughed. "I have to go now. But you be a good boy for Dan's parents, okay?"

Shasta nodded and Sarah quickly brushed her hair before going downstairs. She joined Dan at the door and he looked a little worried. "You sure you're okay to go to school today?"

"Yes, I'm alright," Sarah laughed. "Everyone has to stop being so concerned about me."

Dan shrugged. "You know people worry about you all the time."

"Yeah, I know," Sarah smiled. "Let's just get to school already."

Dan nodded and they walked out of the house, slowly making their way to school.

"Just take it easy when you start annoying Miss Purdy," Dan told her.

Sarah nodded. "Yeah, your mother told me to take it easy today too."

"And are you going to listen this time?" Dan cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Maybe," Sarah grinned, looking up at the sky. "You know me."

"Only too well," he joked and put an arm around her, pulling her close to him.

Sarah smiled as they walked to school together.

They reached school in their own time and they met up with Shun and Bella.

"Hey, it's good to see you're feeling alright after what happened yesterday," Bella smiled.

"Thanks," Sarah smiled back. She looked at Shun. "How's Amy?"

"She's doing alright," Shun said. "Nothing serious, luckily. I actually wanted to thank you."

Sarah tilted her head. "Thank me? What the hell for?"

"Yesterday, when we first walked into the clearing you yelled at Jason," Shun said. "He lost interest in trying to hurt her and he went for you instead. But I'm sorry you got hurt."

"Meh, don't worry about it," Sarah smiled. "He didn't hurt me that bad. Thanks to Masquerade I suppose."

"You still look a little pale," Bella commented. "You still look pretty sick."

Sarah shrugged. "I may look it but I feel fine."

"Running around fine?" Bella asked.

"No."

"Then you're not fine."

"I am fine."

"Well if you're not running around fine, that means you're not fine."

"Uh.. righteo," Sarah shook her head.

"Hey, guys."

"Alright, I'm not fine!" Sarah growled.

Bella rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Julie?"

"To say hi," Julie said and joined them, standing on the other side of Dan. "Hi Danny, how are you?"

Sarah growled quietly.

"I'm perfect," Dan said, looking at her.

"That's great!" Julie grinned and hugged him.

Sarah clenched her fists.

"Julie, get off of me!!!!!" Dan growled. Julie let him go and stepped back.

"Why do you have to sound so angry at me all the time when I hug you?" she asked, looking at the ground, pretending to be sad.

"Don't you get it!?" Dan growled. "Stop trying to be with me, Julie! I'm going out with Sarah in case you haven't heard, which you would have because it went all around the school the first day Jane found out. By Sarah I might ad," he looked at her, she grinned innocently.

Julie shrugged. "So...."

"So..." Dan took a deep breath to calm himself. "I would really appreciate it if you didn't hug me all the time. It does get annoying when I'm going out with somebody and you're hugging me."

"Sorry, Dan, but......"

"Julie, just get lost!!!!!!!!!!" Sarah snapped.

Julie looked up at Sarah, she looked really mad, and pale. "Uh........" she looked at Dan. "Is she alright today? She doesn't look well-"

"WILL PEOPLE STOP SAYING THAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" Sarah yelled. "NOW GET LOST JULIE BEFORE I REALLY SNAP AT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Julie took a few steps back. "You really aren't yourself today..."

Sarah took a deep breath, trying to control her anger. She tried, but she could barely do it. She walked over to Julie and stopped right in front of her. "Julie....." she said, trying to sound calm.

"Y-y-yes?"

Sarah changed her expression to furious. "GET LOST ALREADY!!!! I'M SICK OF YOU HANGING AROUND AND HANGING OFF OF DAN!!!!!!!!! So........"

Julie gulped.

"That means..... go away, NOW INSTEAD OF HANGING AROUND AND INCREASING YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING KILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Alright, Sarah," Dan held her back and pulled her towards him. She leaned her back against his chest. "Calm down a little, okay?"

Sarah glared at Julie, the pink clothed girl was shaking with fear, Sarah had never been so angry. She wondered what had happened.

"Julie, it would be an easy thing to do if you left us," Shun suggested. "Because Sarah isn't in the best of moods today. We had a few problems yesterday."

"Like?"

Sarah growled. "Julie! Get lost!"

Julie suddenly smiled. "What's the matter, lost your voice have ya?"

Sarah smiled evilly and looked right into Julie's eyes. The silver haired girl suddenly shivered with fear. "You think I lost my voice?" Sarah made her voice sound croaky.

Julie nodded. "You sound like it."

Bella, Shun and Dan exchanged glances and quickly covered their ears when Sarah took a big breath.

"HOW'S THIS FOR LOSING MY VOICE, JULIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she screamed. "NOW GET OUT OF MY FACE BEFORE I SNAP YOUR NECK AND THROW YOU OFF OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Julie was terrified. She turned and she bolted away from them.

"That's better," Sarah sighed.

The bell rang and Sarah rolled her eyes. "What class do we have first?"

"Maths-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THAT CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sarah yelled.

"Stop yelling," Bella complained. "I was trying not to get a headache until later when we annoy the teachers and crack up laughing."

"Sorry," Sarah mumbled.

"Come on," Shun sighed. "Let's go. We have Miss Purdy for maths."

"Just great!" Sarah grumbled. "Absolutely perfect. This is gonna be great fun. NNNNOOOOTTTT!!!!!!!"

Dan had to drag Sarah to class, she really didn't want to go to maths. He pulled her into the class and to the back of the room. The four friends sat down together.

Miss Purdy walked in and looked at the four of them, expecting to be annoyed again.

Sarah yawned and put her arms on the desk, resting her head on her arms, facing the desk so nobody could see her face.

Miss Purdy, not to mention the rest of the class, looked at her with surprise. She hadn't made a comment or anything.

"Is she sick?" one kid murmured to her friend.

"She must be, if she hasn't started a ruckus yet," the other kid replied.

"I wonder what made her do this," one boy muttered.

Sarah listened as kids started murmuring, wondering to themselves why she hadn't done anything to annoy Miss Purdy.

"Uh.... Sarah, are you sure you're feeling alright?" Bella asked.

"Yes, I'm just tired," Sarah said.

Bella looked at Dan. "Didn't she get much sleep last night?"

"She slept the rest of the day after the event with Jason and Masquerade," Dan said, wishing he hadn't said it. Kids started muttering again, wondering what had happened. "And she slept all night."

Bella blinked. Something's gotta be wrong, she thought. This isn't like Sarah.

Sarah listened as Miss Purdy continued with the class, although sometimes she drifted off to sleep, only to startle awake when a kid called out an answer to something.

It was the middle of the day and Sarah was more awake, she had annoyed their language teacher to an extent where he had to send her out. Outside of the classroom, she had lied down and kicked at the door. When he had come to the door to growl at her, she was leaning against the wall, in a sitting position.

They walked into history and sat down, Sarah waited for Miss Purdy with a spit ball ready.

Miss Purdy walked into the room, not expecting Sarah to be disruptive, because she didn't play up in maths. She got right into the lesson and started writing things on the whiteboard.

Sarah picked up her straw that had the spit ball in it and she blew on it really hard. The ball of saliva soaked paper flew through the air and Miss Purdy turned around. Sarah's eyes widened as the spit ball hit the teacher right between the eyes. She quickly hid her straw, but she wasn't quick enough.

"SARAH! GET OUT!"

"Whoa....." Sarah looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Sit outside the classroom," Miss Purdy growled. "I cannot stand your behavior today! NOW GET OUT!"

"Alright, I'm going I'm going," Sarah got up and walked out of the classroom.

She sat against the wall, looking at the ceiling, bored.

She heard footsteps and turned her head. She growled.

"Hello, Sarah."

"Hello, Jason," Sarah grumbled. "What are you here for?"

"I have a note for your teacher," he said. "Why are you sitting out here-"

"If you have a note for the teacher, give it to her and get out of here you stupid slug!" Sarah snapped.

Jason shrugged and knocked on the door of her classroom. He walked in and Sarah tried to listen.

Miss Purdy appeared at the door, Jason walked out. "Sarah, you need to go see Miss Harp, the music teacher."

Sarah glared up at Jason, that meant she had to walk with him to see the teacher. She grumbled and got up, following Jason down the hall.

"You can't tell me to get lost now," Jason smiled at her, walking beside her.

"I still hate your guts!" Sarah growled.

"You're not still mad at me about yesterday are you?"

"What do you think!?" Sarah snarled. "If Masquerade hadn't of showed up then I would be in hospital right now because of you!!!!!!!!!"

"Chill out, would ya."

Sarah crossed her arms stubbornly and walked beside him down hallways. "Where the hell is your classroom anyway!?" she complained after a while.

Jason smirked. "Not far. You know the practice room, for drama and dance and stuff?"

"Yeah, I've been in there a few times," Sarah replied. "Is that where your class is?"

"Yeah... though not many people are in the class. Some ditched."

"And why does your teacher need to see me?"

"I don't know, she didn't tell me."

Sarah grumbled. "Should have guessed. You don't know anything."

"I know more than you do sometimes," Jason grinned, hiding the evil glint in his eyes.

They finally came to the drama room, it was separated from the main building, up a long path and far away from the building.

"Why is the drama room all the way out here anyway?" Sarah mumbled. She hated talking to him, but not asking questions was impossible.

"It's put out here so that drama and dance classes can be as loud as they want and nobody from the main building will hear them," Jason replied, smiling at her. She glared at him in return.

They walked into the room, it was dark inside.

"Where the hell are the lights?" Sarah murmured. She heard a door close and she also heard the sharp click of the lock. Her eyes flew wide. DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she screamed in her head. HE TRICKED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MISS HARP DOESN'T WANT TO SEE ME, I DON'T SEE WHY SHE WOULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS CREEP FAKED THE WHOLE THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!