There was a slight edit in this one, but not a noticible one. I just realized that I had Naga know that his sister had the Infinity core, and then in the next one contridict that saying that he didn't know. So I just went back here to change that.


Chapter 8: Untitled

Dear Misuri,

I know a letter from me was the last thing you expected, especially after all of these years. To be truthful I had forgotten the name of my baby sister, and the only thing that I would picture was the childlike face and voice. But after being invited to the gathering of top ten bakugan players and I saw you sitting there something clicked in my head, however before I could ask you anything we were placed under Naga's mind control. Now that my head is clear I finally remember who you are now. Before your last name was Hibikane, it was Von Herzen wasn't it?

I know I'm right because I did some research. I don't know why our parents felt the need to split us when they separated, but now that we've finally met again I want to repair that void between us. Before that day we were always close and I hate for us to lose that now that we have the chance to fix it. I don't know how you came to be a part of Masquerade's plan but I'm not going to let that come in the way after almost 10 years of separation.

So whenever you get this letter you can call me at the number attached at the bottom. We can meet and rekindle our relationship. I feel as though this meeting is long overdue, and I hope that I will see you soon.

Your loving elder brother,
Klaus Von Herzen

I read over this letter for the fifth time today and the twentieth time since I've received it three days ago. I lay unmoving in my bed staring blankly at the letter in my hand. It's been almost a week since my brawl with Katsu and ever since then I hadn't moved or said anything to anyone. It was like I completely shut down. Why? Well I don't know why, I just didn't have to energy to do anything at all. Through the whole week Darkgrera, Fokuya, and Skipira had been trying to get me to talk to them but I would just pull the covers over my head until they would leave me alone. Surprisingly enough Masquerade had even attempted to get me up at least twice before giving up and leaving me alone.

I curled up into a ball hugging my letter close to my heart as soundless tears rolled down my face staining the pillow under me.

"How long do you think it'll be before she gets up?" I heard Skipira ask the other two bakugan with her.

Darkgrera sighed deeply, "Who knows but she's hardly eaten. I'm worried about her."

"I share your sentiment," Fokuya pitched in, "I don't know what is ailing her but I think it has something to do with the brawl against her old friend."

At hearing that I grabbed the covers pulling them over my head. I wished they would just shut up, it's not like I couldn't hear them. They were on the night stand next to my bed for goodness sakes, and they weren't talking softly at all. The door was opened and footsteps stopped at the edge of my bed. From under the covers I saw the outline of a familiar body standing over me with their arms crossed.

My blanket was snatched off of me and I glared at the person responsible. "This has gone on long enough Misuri. Either get up on your own or I drag you out of the bed." When I didn't move Masquerade pursed his lips before grabbing my arm and standing me up. I went limp forcing Masquerade to hold me up completely.

"What is wrong with you?" He said but got no answer.

Suddenly a face came out of the wall, and for the first time in a while I saw the face of Hal-G. "Perhaps I can offer an alternative."

"And what may that be?" Hal-G laughed. "You already know Masquerade. Being so close to obtaining the core we can't afford to have her stay in that condition. Lord Naga is on the break point of finding the Infinity Core. We are close and we cannot let this girl slow us down. So you can either get rid of her or go for the alternative."

Masquerade glared from behind his mask giving Hal-G a curt nod. "Fine."

Suddenly the room vanished leaving Masquerade and I floating in a purple space. It reminded me of the time when the top ten brawlers were being placed under Naga's control. In the back of my mind I registered what was about to happen to me but right now I really couldn't care less. So when the Silent Core appeared below us I made no attempt to avoid Naga's glowing red eyes. Soon my eyes went blank and the room returned to normal.

"Now out plans should commence more smoothly." Hal-G said before the wall smoothed out leaving no indication he was once there.

Masquerade looked into my blank eyes, narrowing his own in distaste. He didn't want to do that but he knew that if he was going to go through with his own plans then he also can't afford Misuri to be out of it like she was. He too planned on obtaining the Infinity Core, for with that no one could challenge him. If Masquerade could help it Naga would never see the Infinity Core.

"Misuri let's go."

I nodded grabbing my pouch filled with my bakugan, and the three sitting on my night stand, who have been very quiet during the whole ordeal. With one last look of disgust at my eyes he led me through the transportation portal.

~~~~~~~x

"Masquerade, I have taken care of Julio just like you asked." I said, my voice void of emotion, walking out of the portal and standing next to Masquerade.

"And Chan Lee is no longer a threat to me. Come we have three more to go." Walking through the portal, we appeared at the park right in front of Komba, who was by the looks of it coming up with some new strategy. Masquerade challenged him and before Komba knew it his Harpus was sent to the doom dimension. Masquerade turned without another word and I followed behind silently as we both walked into the portal before coming to the rocky canons where Billy is known to be. We saw him and Masquerade challenged him to a battle. Less than a second later, at least to me, Billy was on the ground most likely in defeat. The portal appeared next to me as Masquerade turned away from the defeated Billy.

"Should I take care of Klaus?"

"No, out of all of them he was the strongest. The strength I gain from defeating him will surly cause my Hydranoid to evolve."

"Of course Masquerade." I said his mask hiding the obvious dislike of how I was acting. With a rough push from Masquerade I stumbled through the portal, emerging at a very elegant looking court yard. There standing at a fountain was Masquerade's last target.

Klaus turned with a look of surprise, "Misuri?" When he saw my companion his face turned hard, "Masquerade, what are you doing here?"

Masquerade laughed, "I'm sure you know why Klaus. You're much smarter than that."

Klause closed his eyes with a smirk. "I should've figured I would see you sooner or later. Seeing as you've been taking out all of the rest of us." He took out a card. "Unlike them, however, I will not lose to you."

"We will see about that."

Right before they started the battle Klaus' eyes darted to mine and he wondered what had happened to make me so unresponsive and silent in behavior. He decided that when it was over he would get the answers to all his questions. Just like before the second they were gone, they appeared again only this time Klaus was on the ground with tears in his eyes. Masquerade smirked holding his newly evolved Dual Hydranoid.

"M-misuri.." Klaus whispered reaching out his hand.

I just stared at him uncaringly until Masquerade opened the transportation portal. "Let's go." With one last look at Klaus a lone tear ran down my face right before I vanished through the portal. We exited back at the mansion that Masquerade used for HQ.

"What is next Masquerade?"

"Now, I take a visit to little Dan and give him the invitation to brawl." Masquerde turned to me, "You will stay here in your room and out of my sight..." With that said he left leaving me standing in the hall. After he disappeared around the corner I made an about face then walked to my room, and sat on my bed staring straight ahead.

"Misuri are you ok?" I looked down and to my right at the Ventus bakugan.

"Of course I am alright."

"Are you sure? You're acting a little strange." Fokuya asked.

"Yeah by now you would have been in a right fit at what Masquerade is doing. Especially after what he did to your brother." Dargrera put in his two cents from my shoulder. "It's all necessary for Hydranoid to become the perfect bakugan and to obtain the Infinity Core." The three bakugan's exchanged looks. Something was defiantly wrong, and all at once they had the same thought.

Naga...

The only explanation was that she was under his control. They could only watch as I stared indifferently at the wall waiting for my next orders. Fokuya sighed sadly then rolled into her ball jumping back into my bakugan pouch, the other two following after her shortly. There was nothing that they could do to help my current situation so watching me act like a living shell was not something that they could bear for too much longer.

I don't know how long I was sitting there but eventually Masquerade was entering my room. Quickly I stood, "Is it time to leave?"

"Yes, let's get moving. We're meeting Dan at the warehouse down by the pier." (A/N: I really don't know...) He grabbed my arm and we vanished appearing at one of the many piers surrounding the city (A/N: Don't know the city's name). The sun was setting casting an orangey-red glow over everything. Seven figures could be seen in the distance and slowly the shadows in the distance became closer and denser. Dan, Katsu and the rest of the Battle Brawlers stopped a little ways in front of us, who had our backs turned to the water.

Dan pointed at Masquerade, "Ok! You're reign at the top is over Masquerade!"

Said person smirked and held out a card, "Go ahead and try."

"Gate card open!" The rest of us, even though we weren't brawling, took out our cards as well so we could watch the battle. All of the cards emitted light transporting us to the familiar brawling arena. "Doom card set." Three guesses as to who.

"Gate card set!" Dan and Masquerade yelled tossing out their cards, which landed on the far side of either of them (Masquerade's landed in front of Dan, and Vice Versa). Masquerade pulled out another, "Gate card set." This one landed on the left side of Dan's card.

"Bakugan brawl! Darkus Wormquake stand!" Masquerade yelled playing his bakugan on the card he just threw out. Dan smirked tossing his bakugan on the same card as Masquerade, " My turn, bakugan brawl! Pyrus Gryffin stand!"

"Pyrus Gryffin 10 G advantage." I ignored the baku-pod, my lifeless eyes focused solely on the brawl.

'You should stop this.' A far away whisper...

Why should I? It's going just like we had planned, and soon Drago will no longer be a threat.

'But this is wrong! Stop him!'

No, I was not told to.

'Oh my god! Snap out of it!'

My inner conscious practically screamed at me. Like the battle everyone was watching and even more intense battle was raging inside my head. My true self was fighting to resurface but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get through the hold Naga had on me. I don't know how I could've let myself get like this. Was I so obtuse that I couldn't pull myself together and prevent something like this from happening? I was fighting so hard to come back. So I could stop Masquerade before it's too late. But Naga's control was too strong and I could feel what little fight I had left in me start to ebb away. Soon I'd be nothing but a shell watching from inside my head and un able to do anything.

A loud roar from Drago pulled my from my inner fight. And the longer I looked at the battle between Masquerade's Hydranoid and Dan's Drago flashes on my own battle with the dragonoid appeared.

A purple tornado swirled around Darkgrera as he emerged. The tornado dissipated when he opened his wings, letting out a roar similar to Drago's. Darkgrera was a dragon with a purple belly and black body. His size could rival Drago's. Darkgrera's wings were pitch black with purple metal tops. His head had three spikes, two on the side of his head and on right in the middle. They were purple. His glowing red eyes also added to his menacing effect.

The two dragons roared at each other engaged into a heated battle. They clawed, bit and tackled each other. The dragons flew high into the sky continuing their battle.

It seemed like the more I remembered my own battle with Dan the weaker Naga's hold on me became. However it still wasn't weak enough to completely break free, so I still couldn't move on my own free will. The tide of the battle was turning for the worse for Dan. Masquerade was clearly dominating this battle and knowing that soon Drago will be sent away I tried harder to break free as yet another memory burned in my skull.

"Darkgrera...Finish it!"

"As you wish, my mistress!" Dan could only watch as Drago tried and failed at holding back my dragon's attack. "DRAGO!" I covered my ears and turned my back refusing to watch what I've just done.

"Drago! You can't leave me! You can't go!" I heard Dan yell. His voice was cracking, and I could tell he was fight back tears. "Dan...I couldn't have asked for a better partner...I will always be with you, Dan."

"Doom card return..." I whispered so low, even I wasn't sure if I said it or not.

That seemed to be the key because as soon as my memory was over life instantly returned to my eyes. But I could see that it was a little too late, for the rip in the dimension was opened sucking Drago in, and to my, and his friend's horror, Dan was running straight for Drago.

"No!" I yelled and ran to Masquerade reaching for his arm. "You have to call the doom card back."

He looked down at me but didn't say anything.

"Please! If you don't Dan will be trapped as well!"

"No Drago!" Dan yelled gaining speed, "I'll never leave you! Wait for me!" His friends screamed and my eyes widened in disbelief as Dan jumped head first into the doom dimension. He didn't...There's no way he would actually.

"Hn, well that was foolish."

A bright light engulfed us all bring us back to the pier, everyone, except Masquerade, had a look of complete shock. Soon the blue haired girl, named Runo, face melted into one of unwilling belief. Like she knew what had happened but was too afraid to actually believe it. "Dan...What happened to you?" She whispered, "Dan...What have you done with him! Tell me!"

Masquerade smirked, "I've done nothing to him he chose his own fate. The doom dimension is the graveyard for bakugans and there is no return for bakugans or humans." I looked at them sadly feeling my heart literally being torn in two at the heartbroken look on Runo's face. It was clear that she liked him, and the guilt on my chest was too much so I looked away right before Masquerade and I disappeared.

~~~~~~x

Two days later Masquerade had challenged Shun to a battle like he had Dan. This time the brawl was to be inside of one of the warehouses at the pier we were at before. I really don't know why I came, because the more I watch this, the guiltier I become. Maybe it's my subconscious punishing me because deep down I knew that if I tried hard enough then I could've stopped Masquerade when we first started. I sighed swinging my legs slightly.

I was sitting on one of the crates in the warehouse waiting for Shun. Masquerade wasn't with me right now. No doubt waiting for Shun to arrive so he can make his dramatic entrance. The darn show off.

"I am so glad you are back to your normal self." Fokuya said perched on my right shoulder.

"As am I dear friend. I can't believe I let that happen to me, but...It won't happen not ever again."

"We are all glad to hear that." Said Darkgrera on my left should along with Skipira.

"What exactly did snap you out of it?" I shrugged at the question.

"I really don't know...But if I had to take a guess it was the brawl between Dan and Masquerade. The images of when I brawled Dan emerged...And...I don't know how but it was the push I needed to get through..." I scratched the side of my head, "It's confusing when I think about it...The important thing is that I'm not under Naga's control anymore," I laughed. "You should've heard how angry he was when he heard I broke free on my own. . It was hilarious."

The three on my shoulder laughed with me. But we stopped at the footsteps we heard coming towards us-Wait...Footsteps? It should just be Shun. I looked up at the entrance and saw all of the brawlers, minus Dan.

"You guys are a bit early." I said smiling slightly. My smile was met with a glare from everyone in the group.

I looked down sighing sadly.

"I am Masquerade." The one and only said literally appearing out of thin air and walking forward towards the group of brawlers. I rolled my eyes. The show off.

"And I'm Shun."

"Hn, well Shun I don't remember inviting your little friends to our rendezvous."

"You know what we're a team Masquerade!" Julie yelled.

"Yeah and we don't need no stinkin' invitation!" Shouted Marucho.

"So get over yourself," Runo started, "If you wanna play then you play the brawlers. So as I see it you either put up or shut up."

"Yeah, so get ready to lose." Katsu glared.

"You do realize that if I defeat all of you my Hydranoid's power will go off the charts." Masquerade smirked pulling out a gate card, "So are you in?"

"Of course!" Runo yelled holding out her own card, the rest of the brawlers following suit.

"You are not coming?" Masquerade questioned me seeing as I hadn't pulled out one. I shook my head, "No, I'm not watching you send even more to the doom dimension. I've seen enough of that."

"That's assuming he wins." Katsu countered back.

"Field open!"

I looked to the opening again just as the light expanded. There was a woman running towards us and her face looked oddly familiar but I couldn't place it. She she got closer she slowed down slowly coming to a stop as she was becoming stuck in time as everything does when a brawl is being started. In only a second to the lady and I the light vanished only Masquerade emerging. The woman looked confused.

"Wha? What's going on?" She walked up to Masquerade, "Hey excuse me, where did everyone go?"

When Masquerade walked pass her I thought he was going to ignore her completely but he turned paused and said, "The doom dimension."