Me: Urg, two more days, just two more days!

Runo: 'Two more days' until what?

Me: Until school finally ends for me… well at least for this semester

Runo: Then you can write all you want

Me: And watch all the anime's I've missed

Runo: And go to the city

Me: And…

Julie: Oh just shut up and get on with the story!

Me: Gee, what's biting you?

Julie: Well, let's just say, this is a very… juicy chapter (Grins evilly)

Dan: (Walks in) I'll have some juice

Runo: We don't have juice

Dan: Then why are you talking about it?

Runo: (Sigh) We're not. Julie is getting psyched about this chapter

Dan: … (Runs really fast out the door)

Runo: Hey! (Turns to Julie and me) What's with him?

Julie: (Snickers) Read and see. As long as the writer gets on with it!

Me: Fine, fine. But first of all thanks to my reviewers! I can't believe I've got up to thirty that means a lot! shadowwing1994, glad to see you've updated your stories! Oh and InnocentDiamond, I know lip balm is clear, I'm just a very observant person. For all those who want to know about Alice's personality switch… well you'll have to wait and see!

Chapter Ten: Nightmares

Alice's POV

Shun kindly taken me back to my room. Although I was still a little dizzy from him spinning me round in circles for who knows how long, it was kind of fun.

He turned on the lights and laid me down on my bed, then moved over to the left side and sat on the chair next to it, while I went under the covers.

There was a short silence before he spoke "So, when did your nightmares start occurring?" It startled me a bit, but I quickly recovered "About near the time when the bakugan returned to Vestroia… actually, it was the same night. I started to have the same dream every time I fell asleep…" I couldn't bear to look at him when I continued "…and it kept repeating itself over and over again."

I felt that Shun's gaze was fixated on me, but I didn't bother to see if he was "What was in your dreams?" I heard from the side of my left ear "Even now I'm not sure… It's still a mystery to me…" I felt like I couldn't speak any more, but then I felt something warm wrap around my hand. I looked up at him, surprised by his actions, it wasn't like him… but I was comfortable that he did. I didn't deny his movements. I just let myself pour out what I've been hiding "At the beginning of my nightmares I could feel my body being controlled, like there were strings attached to every part of me, pulling me by its own will… not mine…" I gripped his left hand tighter, trying to hold back my tears, but failed completely. As I sobbed, Shun moved his seat from the chair to the edge of the bed, right beside me. He put his other arm around me, pulling my figure closer to him. I couldn't help but cry in his chest "… I felt so helpless… I felt like… a puppet…" I barely managed to say.

He removed his hand from mine and laid it my head, moving it up and down. It started to soothe me. I regained my composure and sat back up. As I did Shun used his hand to wipe the stream of tears away.

I looked up at him and began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" he asked in a confused manner, probably from my sudden change in character.

"Nothing it's just that, you're acting differently than you usually do when we're with the others" I said in the midst of my giggles.

Even though he turned away, I saw a tint of pink on his face. I began to laugh even harder. Losing control of my balance, my head landed on Shun's lap, but I kept on giggling. Until I opened my eyes and saw his amber orbs staring at me. He started to lean in closer. I was shocked for a moment, but did the same.

He stopped an inch away from my face "You're… an interesting one"

I froze and began to move my head back down, growing a blush at the thought of my misunderstanding.

Shun chuckled as he lifted his legs up on the bed "What's wrong, are you mad that I didn't do something you expected" He said while placing both of his hands spread out behind him on my bed to position himself so he wouldn't fall, while I just stayed there on his lap.

I turned away from him "N-no… what made you think that!" I was attempting to sound calm about it, but I stuttered at the beginning which he probably picked up. He slightly laughed. I looked at him but he was viewing the canopy above the bed "Is this the real you?" I asked.

Shun still had his head up, but closed his eyes "What do you think?"

His answer surprised me.

I lay on my side away from him "If it is then I'm glad…. That I know apart of you that nobody else knows" I started to feel my eyelids get heavier.

I felt him lean closer towards me and whispered in my ear "Then I hope you can keep secrets" I averted my eyes to the right, still staying completely still. Even a slight glace I could see the grin on his face, I looked back down once again "I can… and, I'll tell you everything from my dreams… but now I feel a little strained, so would you mind waiting a bit longer before I continue" I asked, hoping he would understand "Of course" He gave me a small smile that gave me reassurance.

I felt sleepy.

I was almost at the brink of closing my eyes when I heard someone at the door.

Dan's POV

"Hey Alice, Runo wanted me to check up on you. She would have done it herself but, she's gossiping while Julie about something. Are you aslee…?" I couldn't fully finish as I walked up halfway across the room before seeing Alice, and the person she was with.

I couldn't help but smirk, it was like on instinct "Getting cosy now are we buddy" Shun, I can't believe the dude! I'm starting to wonder if he likes Alice more than just a brawler. Oh, I bet that's what the girls are talking about right now.

He gave me burning glare. I would have felt uncomfortable but knowing Alice was here, he wouldn't do anything violent.

She looked a little sleepy when she got up from his lap "Dan, I'm fine, thanks for checking up on me" Alice said as she yawned and scratched her right eye.

"No problem. Um… Shun, can I speak to you for a moment over here in the corner" He seemed to hesitate at first, but got off his butt anyway.

We both walked to the far end of the room on the right, away from Alice "What is it Dan" He said in an annoyed tone "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I ruin your private time" I said mockingly. I wasn't going to hold back now, cause knowing Shun, causing pain to me will make Alice worry, so I've got the advantage.

"Get to the point" He sounded ticked off.

I took his advice and went for the direct approach "Are you really into Alice?" He crossed his arms and shut his eyes "It's none of you concern, whether I am or not"

"Don't give me that! I have known you since we were in kindergarten, I know when you're lying" I was bluffing. His cold posterior is really hard to crack, even I haven't gotten past it yet. But I bet Alice has.

He saw through me "Even if I was why would you care?"

"Because if you make Alice happy then that's great, but if you hurt her, then you hurt all the brawlers, that includes me. Don't break up the team" Whoa, I sounded serious there for a second.

Shun sighed "Dan I'm not as dumb as you, so please don't drop me in with your standards"

"What does that supposed to mean!" Man he gets on my nerves every time. He looked up at me "Look, there's nothing going on between me and Alice. I'm just helping her, she needs it right now" That was a good answer but not enough for me to stop pressing "Even if you deny it, what about her. Does she have feelings for you?" Shun immediately stated "She doesn't"

"Fine, if you won't tell me about how you feel about her, then I'll find out from Alice" I turned and walked away, but I felt a hard kick on my back, pushing me up ahead. I landed on the bed "Shun what was that fo…" I stopped as I got up, I realised I was on top of a now sleeping Alice. My face started to heat up, I couldn't move until I felt a strong tug pull my jacket.

I landed on the floor on right side of the bed, only to be faced by a seemingly agitated Shun. Well that was what I was guessing. "You shouldn't do that to a girl" He said calmly. I sat up rubbing the part of my head that hit the ground "Speak for yourself. First, you did that too… twice, at least those were the ones I saw, and second you were the one that kicked me. Man you're the jealous type"

Shun lifted me off the floor by my collar "I would punch you so hard right now if Alice wasn't sleeping"

"So you would do it if she was awake" I managed to choke out as I was suffocating "No, I would do it when she leaves the room" He seemed to be joking, but in a serious way.

I struggled to get out of his grip but I only managed to kick him off balance, knocking the two of us on the bed. We were separated, but only because Alice was in between the both of us.

No one's POV

The vibration from the two boys caused Alice to squirm a bit. They did not want her to see the inappropriate positions they were in, so they kept silent and stopped moving.

"This is all you fault!" Dan whispered to Shun from the Alice's left, but in a loud emphasized way.

On the other side "You were the one who kicked me!"

"You started it!" He counteracted.

Alice began to groan in her sleep at the sound of the two people on the opposite sides of her. However she was still unconscious of the fact.

They stopped talking once more. Dan attempted to get off the bed, trying not to wake Alice in the process, but he felt something clutching onto his right arm. He turned to see what had happened, and was immediately met in front of Alice's sleeping face, they were not more than three centimetres apart as she laid her head on his shoulder. She was now holding onto his arm. This made him blush a tinge so red that he had forgotten about the ninja sitting across from them. Shun was staring at him enraged as he rested his body on his elevated elbows, but wasn't noticeable as Alice was asleep and Dan's gaze was directly on her, you could see the embarrassment in his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Shun half yelled, half whispered. Dan looked up at him as he realised that someone else was there too "Nothing! She grabbed onto me!"

"Humph…" He turned away, not believing in his words.

Dan looked back down at Alice, noticing her scared facial expressions and heavy breathing "Alice…" He felt sympathetic of her and began patting her head with his free arm.

Shun seeing this, felt a ping of jealousy hit inside him. He was usually the one to calm her down by those actions. But he didn't want to make a scene with Alice here.

She began to loosen her features, and started to breathe normally again. Dan gave a heart-warming smile that only Shun could see.

Alice's POV

*** I listened intently as he was about to tell me something… something I felt was important.

"They are… some one that controls time… and us…"

I hear his words, but aren't able to comprehend them "Are you telling me in riddles? Because I'm still not getting a clear answer" I had a feeling that I already knew, but couldn't put the pieces together.

"… You're not to know now. It's not the moment to, however don't stress, you will understand in due course… but in the meantime let me take you to a more pleasant location, out of this darkness" He looked forward and held out his hand, a card appeared in his grasp. Suddenly a portal appeared from nowhere, showing every type of colour, swirling around inside.

I knew this portal… I knew the only person capable of that ability. I looked back at him with a shocked expression.

"Are… you…"

No one's POV

Alice was still trapped in her dream, while the other two people beside her remained in the same spot.

She kept her hands around Dan's arm the entire time, however not aware about it. Dan wanted to leave, but at the same time he didn't want to wake Alice up, so he stayed there. Shun on the other hand had the intention of killing a certain someone, even though on his side he was able to get off freely, but chose not to as he did not want to leave the two alone together, so Shun did the same as Dan and laid beside Alice.

It was now late at night, and soon enough the three fell asleep.

? POV

It was dark.

The place was filled with despair and sorrow as a throne was centred in an echoing hall. It was like a ballroom where fairy tales were realised. Only it was shadowed in the blackness.

A pair of footsteps could be heard, heading towards the throne that was set on top of a flight of stairs. One by one up the steps, the room started to grow even darker.

They caressed their hand on the golden arm, then up to the headboard that was adorned with six jewels. A ruby, topaz, diamond, amethyst, sapphire and emerald placed around in a circle. Each stone represented something, but what?

"Soon enough… this will all be mine"

Me: (Drinking orange juice) This was juicy!

Julie: (Drinking berry juice) I know right!

Runo: Um… why are we all drinking juice? (Drinking apple juice)

Me: I… have no idea

Julie and Runo: Yeah… (All of us sip our juice uncomfortably)

Dan: (Walks in) Hey! You said there wasn't any juice!

Runo: Well, now there is! (Gulps down entire glass of apple juice)

Dan: Why are you so angry?

Runo: (Slams glass on table and stares at Dan with eyes of burning flames) Why… WHY? (Gets up from seat and starts chasing after Dan)

Dan: WAIT! RUNO STOP! I don't want to go back to the hospital again!

Julie: Aaaawww… I think our little Runo is a little jealous

Me: No use denying that. Well now that you've read, please review :) Oh, and on Friday I'm going to post my new story! So check it out :)

Julie: Is it good?

Me: … (Runs out the door)

Runo's Preview

I can't believe Dan! Why does Alice have everything… even him. Urg, I don't think I can take it anymore!

Will I be able to cope in the next time? In Chapter Eleven: Home?