Yo! This WRITER'S NOTE is IMPORTANT!

I have three things to say...numero uno is that have no fear, my readers, my life is just a bit bumpy but I'll NEVER leave this story without completing it! So keep reading! And stay tuned for more!

Numero dos is that I am co-writing a story called 'Bakugan Battle Squad' with another writer 'Lightus of the light'...thought I'd throw it out here in case anyone of you wanted to check it out!

And numero tres...my dear readers and reviewers...do you think I'm joking when I say that there are NO pairing and/or no romance in this story?! Because I certainly am serious. And for the final time here...I rephrase it...

***There are NO pairings and NO romance IN THIS STORY...The brawlers are just very close FRIENDS. Keep your minds out of the gutter, children. ***

Replies to GUEST REVIEWERS:

To JAYBIRD2000: Hey there! Welcome to the story! Haha, I'm glad you are enjoying my story! Read the author's note above to assure yourself that I will NOT leave this story unfinished. I WILL update...sooner or later. Stay tuned!

To TERRAH111: Hehe, what can I say, mate?! I love cliffies! And thanks! And here you go, enjoy the chap!

Disclaimer: I don't own bakugan contrary to popular belief. This goes on for the rest of the story as well.

Bakugan Baby Brawlers.

Chapter 9: Storms of Anticipation.

He wasn't breathing.

He couldn't breathe...

There was a maniacal smirk on the masked face.

Something red was glistening in the dim light.

And then...

The smirk turned into a grimace as the figure howled in pain and jerked his arm violently. Topaz eyes widened a fraction as he witnessed a wild mane of orange hair which belonged to the person who was now clinging to the arm of the older man holding a gun. A small set of teeth had sunk deep into the said arm.

"A-Alice..." Shun frowned at his hoarse voice.

"You little devil! Get off me!" Wiseman shook his arm hard, trying to get rid of the girl's grip.

"Shun! You run!" Even though her voice was muffled, the young girl managed to yell at the top of her lungs.

"Alice...no..."

And that was when adrenaline finally kicked in once again. Leaving his place faster than a bolt of lightening, the teen was behind Wiseman in a flash.

"What the..."

One punch to the face sent the man staggering back, clutching his bleeding nose. Alice was thrown away by the sudden impact and was now cowering in the farthest corner of the room, blocking her ears with small hands and closing her eyes as she began humming to herself.

Shun kicked Wiseman hard in his stomach and while the man was still recovering, looked around for any possible weapons. To his disappointment, he found none except for the ropes that previously kept him bound and immobile.

Catching the boy off guard, Wiseman aimed a kick at his already bruised ribs and unfortunately succeeded in sending the teen flying in the opposite direction. However, thanking his quick reflexes, Shun braced his feet and once they hit the wall, used the momentum to send himself directly at Wiseman. As a result, the two collided and dodging a rather lethal hit, Shun slammed the man's head on the ground a couple of times, knocking him out effectively.

Knowing that the man wouldn't be waking up any time soon, Shun used the ropes he had noticed earlier to tie the man up. Once that was taken care of, the ninja turned towards the girl in the corner.

"Alice?"

The young girl whimpered quietly, not changing her position.

"Alice...come on, let's get out of here before he wakes up."

The orange haired girl shook her head negatively.

Shun blinked in surprise, "Why not?"

"M-master say h-he p-punish...if I...If I go..."

A flame of anger ignited itself in topaz depths, "Alice...listen to me. No one's your master. You do whatever you want to do...not what he says."

"B-but..."

"No. you are your own master. Now come on."

The fear and despair in those auburn eyes clenched Shun's heart and he stretched out a hand, prompting the girl to take it and stand up. However, instead of moving out of her position, she began to cry uncontrollably.

"What's...-"

"I DON'T WANNA STAY HERE!" The girl was now screaming hysterically, "LET ME OUT! I WANNA GO HOME!"

"Alice...hey..." Shun stared at her at a loss of what to do.

Sobbing brokenly, she clung to the teen's hand as if her life depended on it, "I...want...home..."

The broken whisper reached his over-sensitive ears, making the teen wince as he gathered the girl in his arms, not knowing what else to do, "Come on...let's go."

"Go...where?" The small girl hiccuped, tears still flowing on the rosy cheeks.

"Home."

And listening that one word, she reached out with her arms, silently begging the teen to pick her up. Taking a deep breathe, the ninja bent down and allowed the girl to hold his neck from behind before carrying her on his back and exiting the cave.

However, he instantly regretted his decision as he saw the heavy rain outside. Knowing that he had to get out of that place, he shrugged and ignored the bitter cold that had begun to seep through his bones the moment he had stepped outside the confines of the stony space.

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"Damn this rain..." Keith cursed as he waited for the jet's engine to warm up.

"Language, young man!"

"Huh?!" Keith glared at the small brunette at the statement, "I'm older than you!"

Dan just pouted in reply.

"Come on...come on..." The teen urged the control system to function and eventually, the engine started up with a loud whirring sound.

"We flying!" Dan cheered.

"No Dan...we haven't even moved yet!" Keith sighed as he began to operate the various levers and buttons, "Okay...let's go over the safety precautions again...Seat belt?"

"Yes!" The brunette nodded vigorously.

"Your backpack?"

"Yes!" The young boy's mood could not be dampened.

"No jumping. No moving out of the seat. No disturbing. No pressing any button you find just to see what it does. No yelling. No running around. No kicking your feet on the seat or on the floor."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"Good. Now we're going to play a game."

"A game?!" The young boy bounced as Keith tightened his seat belt for him, "What game?!"

"A game called 'Let's not bother Keith and sleep peacefully'."

Dan scrunched up his nose, thinking, "It boring."

"But it's a game...and good brawlers play it when they're going to save Shun." Keith told the boy seriously.

"I be 'bawler'!"

"Then you have to play it. Otherwise, Shun will never talk to you." The teen moved toward the driving area of the small plane calmly. A few minutes later, they were airborne.

"Oh...okay!" Dan frowned at the blonde's statement before looking out of the window. All he saw was pelting rain and storm clouds.

Keith frowned at the weather as he steered the jet in the right direction. Leaving the three remaining children with Fabia was a good idea indeed. The teen reminded himself. Runo, Julie and Marucho weren't that fussy. All the Neathian princess would have to do was to keep Marucho out of Julie's sight and as long as there was no Dan, Runo was the happiest girl around.

"Keet?"

Reprimanding himself mentally at being so lost in thoughts, the blond teen glanced behind at Dan, "Yeah?"

"Can me eat?" The brunette batted his eye-lashes in a failed attempt to melt Keith's heart.

"Dan..." Keith shook his head in exasperation, "You've had a huge breakfast before coming! If you eat right now, you might get sick."

"Please? I eat and I save Shun!"

"You can save Shun without eating too!"

"But me backpack so full!"

"That's because you mademe bring an awful lot of snacks!" Keith twisted his head to glare at the boy.

"Me bring them to eat!" Dan pouted and stomped his feet stubbornly.

The action seemed to give Keith an idea, "Dan! What did I tell you before the flight?!"

"Uh..."

"We were playing a game, remember?" The teen gazed at the child with a straight face.

"We...were..." Dan smiled sheepishly.

"No...we are." The blond corrected the young brunette.

"Oh..."

A few moments of silence followed. Keith took a deep breathe and relaxed in his seat.

"Keet?"

"Yes?!"

"Please...just one? Or two?"

Keith groaned. Seemed like he wouldn't be able to live it down, "Fine...help yourself, kid."

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"Just...a...little...more..." Shun tried to stop his constantly chattering teeth from vibrating so much. It was no use though. The pelting hail and wild winds were trying to swipe him off the ground and down a dead end from the cliff. On his back, clutching his neck and shoulders tightly was Alice, wrapped in the teen's jacket but shivering uncontrollably.

"Have to...find...a cave..." Shun gritted his teeth and attempted to look around for a temporary shelter.

"Shun..." The young girl he was carrying whimpered quietly, "I be cold..."

"I know..."

At long last, the teen caught sight of a shadowy space amongst the storm and shivering from the cold that seeped in through his bones, he began to walk towards it blindly.

Shun let out a sigh of relief as he finally stepped in the small cavern to shelter himself from the storm. Setting the girl down, the teen analyzed the situation, checking the cave cautiously. It was safe enough for a temporary shield against the pelting hail. Though it didn't help with the cold.

"Sh-Sh-Shun?"

Shun turned toward Alice, "Yeah?"

Taken aback, the teen blinked at the young girl's face. Her skin was picking up a blui-ish hue because of the low temperature and she was shivering violently.

Without a word, Shun approached the girl and covered her with his jacket once again, this time more tightly and led her to the back of the stony space. Sitting with his back against the wall, the teen took a deep breathe to warm himself up. Beside him, Alice was still shaking.

"Shun?"

Topaz eyes met the girl's auburn ones, "Mhm?"

The girl patted his arm, "I sleep here?"

Sighing as he understood the meaning behind her innocent words, the teen allowed the girl to crawl into his lap, seeking warmth. Resting his back against the cold stony wall, Shun tightened his hold on the freezing young girl in his lap as she slept peacefully.

All done!

Hope out!

Until next time!