Important Point: Alice and Masquerade are not the same here. Alice is not Masquerade. This is their fic so it'll be really weird for me if I kept them like one person… -shrugs- Infact, this fic wouldn't even make sense or exist for that matter if they were still one… We'll pretend that they're two different people with two different bodies and characters…yea… just for the sake of this…

Another point, if Alice and Masquerade and Alice are two different people then that means Alice doesn't have Bakugan so she doesn't play Bakugan here, just the usual advice thing-i she does.

Alice in Wonderland

Chapter 14

Death to Spies

"S-Shun?"

The Russian girl stood rooted to spot, paralyzed by fear and anxiety. She tried to form words but not only her vocal cords, this time, her mind also failed her. Her arms hung limply by her sides as she stared wide eyes at her team mate. Her heart beat rate doubled every second and she felt she might loose her senses any moment.

This had to be some sort of bad dream, or a far off notion of what might come to her. But for some wild reason, her mind refused to believe that she was in bed, or unconscious somewhere on unknown territory. This felt dreadfully real and very painful.

It appeared that both were lost for words. Shun was just as shocked as Alice. Neither ready to believe that the other had actually been there … Witnessed …

Alice felt her knees going weak. Her throat was dry. She had always been a poor liar. How on earth was she going to hide all this mess now? What had she gotten herself into? She had a chance before, to eliminate Masquerade from herself mentally and physically, but she refused her own advice, went on and brewed herself this… this… Oh God!

Shun had composed himself and was staring quite intently at the girl. She was a mess in her mind, her face showed that much. Now, how was she going to cover herself? He was interested in knowing. His insides burned and he couldn't help but feel bitterness soaking every inch of him.

'Why Alice? Why? Why you?'

He moved his lips apart but nothing came out. Did he want something to come out? What would one say in a situation as such? What would one do in as such? What ever the answer was, he felt betrayed, very betrayed. Ninja training never taught any of this.

Alice had other very urgent thoughts cramming her head. How much had he seen? Heard? How was she going to show her face to her friends EVER again? Even a fool wouldn't believe her story. If only the ground could open up right now and just swallow her whole.

Her mind was made up all of a sudden. She acted purely on impulse, on fear, on guilt. Her first step was weak but the second came a bit better, and the third; bolder, the fourth; even better. She walked right to him and passed him quickly.

"I'm sorry"

Those were the last words Shun heard from Alice before she disappeared, not just from the scene, but from his life, from the team, from her temporary residence and job. She was gone… She left … And he still didn't believe it.

Even at the last second as she moved closer and yet more towards him, past him, he was hoping her face would change to a nervous smile and she would explain how Masquerade was always threatening her, using her for his own selfish purposes, how she couldn't turn him down for this reason or that, that she was bound to him because of crap.

And now, he would have been contented if she had just broken into tears and collapsed on the grass, begged for forgiveness, apologized a million times and given her reasons for double crossing them. He would have forgiven her. Honest! He would have fought for her, kept her on the team, in their hearts.

He remembered still, when he turned around and found her gone. He was so certain of himself that she'd have gone back to the Masaki residence, to Runo. Perhaps she would have explained herself or locked herself, he didn't care, but he wanted to see her there, where she should have been. And when the red head didn't return by night fall, everyone was panicking. They were searching high and low. The police was informed and Alice's die-hard fans and stalkers also started the search for the missing girl.

Only one person had seen her and he too was an old man with feeble sight. "Yes, yes … She was boarding a train, I remember. Such a fine looking young lady. Unmistakably her" He replied scanning her photo.

Which train?

He didn't remember. He was just sitting on the platform waiting for his daughter.

What time?

Perhaps in the afternoon or later, maybe before. The sun was defiantly lower then noon … He wasn't very accurate.

After two days of miserable searching and no results, Shun dropped the bomb. He told them everything; everything that at least he knew. How he'd seen her on their website with Masquerade. The reason he came back before them and followed Alice, and how she left with Masquerade. The two of them returning from a certain spot and their little exchange of words. The stunned look on Alice's face when she saw him.

Runo had pounced on Shun and would have pulled off his skull if not for Dan and Joe. The younger Masaki screamed at him very harshly and said words that were better of undiscovered. She accused him of blaming Alice, polluting her reputation due to his own personal problems, grudges. If anything were ever wrong Alice would surely have shared it with Runo. They were closer then best friends or sisters!

Joe did an excellent job of calming her down during which Shun had also bit back his retorts and paced the room to calm his own nerves. Even when the room cooled to a considerably calmer degree Joe still didn't enjoy it. This wasn't the type of reunion he was expecting with his new friends, particularly because he had been discharged from the hospital not long ago and didn't want to drown into any new types of depressions.

Nobody was quite ready to believe what Shun had just said but they were forced to. Why else would Alice leave them so suddenly?

After a lot of debating –during which Runo ignored their total existence altogether in her family's restaurant- they came to an abrupt conclusion. Alice was indeed guilty.

Dan was –for the first time- very quiet. He looked drained, exhausted and very pale. The brunette had defended Alice fervently and then helplessly given up. He looked dazed as he walked back home, his bike slowly being dragged alongside him. It was perhaps wise for him not to ride it in such a clouded state of mind.

Joe left just as silently as Dan, so when his mother saw him she actually thought someone had died. He hadn't expected Alice to turn out a minion to the blond Bakugan player.

If Marucho was utterly disappointed, he hid it well. He did pass around a smile while leaving but everyone saw the hollowness behind it.

Even though Julie was reasonably pleased with the explanation she still scorned at Shun when she left, muttering something that only reached his ears as she passed him to leave, and he was reminded dreadfully of the person who had slipped past his fingers. "I thought you liked her Shun"

Of course he had! But that was no reason for him to betray his team just as she had betrayed them. He wasn't going to keep his lips locked for someone who was laughing at their backs with their enemy! Shun didn't bother saying good bye to anyone whilst leaving. He groaned as a headache made its way to him again.

Oh Alice!

-x-X-X-x-

While the Bakugan Battle Brawlers seemed to have suddenly died on the second day of their Russian team mate's absence, Masquerade remained quite active on his duty. He only slackened when news reached local ears and was finally displayed on the Brawling website, news that Alice Gehabich was a traitor. His brows went high up his forehead as he read how Alice had been functioning against them in secret all along and had run away when she had been discovered, she was also an allay of Masquerade.

Even he couldn't believe this.

It was loads of crap.

Seriously.

So good guys had their breaking points as well, eh?

He wondered where they had forced the girl to take sanctuary. She was probably shaken to the core when the accusation came. Poor girl.

He couldn't help but feel a whole lot guilty on his part. It was more then just seemingly possibly that a lot of it had been his fault. If only he'd stopped seeing that girl, none of this would have come. She was paying the price of his obsession.

Obsession?

He wasn't really obsessed with her … He just liked her. That's possibly why he was feeling guilty … And pity for her.

What must it feel like to have your own friends turn against you? Definitely not good.

Thus Masquerade started his own personal search of the run away red head. If she had no place to stay safe in he would bring her back to his lair and allow her to stay as long as she wished. She would be able to kill the time by discovering the corridors of his mansion. Even he himself hadn't unveiled the place fully, but that's probably because he spent more then half his time in the underground computer room.

Mind made up, the blond would definitely be the next unfaltering knight in shining armor.

-x-X-X-x-

The short haired woman looked out into the court yard through the kitchen window. The young teenager sat there, legs crossed and eyes dazed. The woman wondered what was bothering the girl; it was quite obvious something was wrong. Of course she knew that her most closest relative was missing but the expression on the younger female's face screamed so much more complications.

Alice had a feeling of being watched. A little search around the yard had her eyes locked with her distant aunt who –on being caught- smiled and gave the girl a light wave of her fingers then disappeared from sight. When the woman left, Alice let out a long loud sigh.

It's not like she was ungrateful, oh no, she was very thankful to her aunt and uncle for readily accepting her into their house without any solid explanation. Even though they were related in a pretty complex far-off way, they still accepted her like a lost daughter, she was very grateful for that. They were such kind people. And now she was feeling guilty all over again. She was hiding things from them. Would they throw her out if they found out that her friends had disowned her? Thank God they didn't have internet at their place because Alice was quite sure that the Bakugan Battle Brawlers website would be updated about her by now.

Her lids dropped. She had had enough of crying; it was of no use, it hadn't helped her at all. She cried almost everyday for her grandfather and she was growing distant from him every day. And now she cried for her friends too and she mentally screamed atrocities at Masquerade. If she ever saw that masked face again …

Her knuckles began to loose color from the extreme contraction she was forcing her fist into. Her nails dug into her palm and began to sting her skin but it didn't matter right now. She was going to do something about Masquerade. Kill him if she ever got the chance!

But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't stop the first tear from leaking out of her eye. Soon it was followed by many more.

-x-X-X-x-

It felt like ages since she had left her friend's home and cherished the company of relatives again, even though it had just been a week or less. Alice was quick to offer help in the house chores, after all, she didn't want to be a burden on her aunt and uncle. She took the same position she had in the Masaki household – grocery shopping.

And it was one fateful day that she was returning from local market that she tumbled across him…

-x-X-X-x-

Masquerade's days were going more slowly then he had ever felt. They seemed to be dragged by turtles. What ever the case, he also tumbled upon a fateful day.

He was going through the recently uploaded files on his computer when something quite interesting came onto the screen.

It appeared that one of his ten goons had somehow managed to bring back his Bakugan from the Doom Dimension. What was that guy's name? Michael? Vincent? Nah, nah, it was Klaus Von Herzon! Whatever the case, he recalled quite clearly that boy's mermaid Bakugan, she and her luring tones. Quite an interesting phenomena had taken place indeed. Did this boy also know of the different gates that lay hidden on the general Earth surface? It could be a possible, how else was it possible for the German 'gentleman' to know?

The blond packed checked his gear and went to confront the lucky teen. He had a feeling something interesting was going to come out of it.

He had no idea how right he was.

-x-X-X-x-

Alice never expected to see Klaus ever again, never again in this lifetime at least. Yet there he was, with such a pissed expression on his face that she was quite sure the only reason he hadn't pounced on her yet was because she was a girl - and here she became really grateful for being one.

"Dear Miss Gehabich, I've heard that you've allied yourself with Masquerade. How true is it?"

Alice was caught off guard. "No, no, that's not true!" The redhead pleaded and hoped he believed her. Even though many facts worked against her in her current situation, she hoped she wouldn't be termed a liar as well.

"I cannot ascertain anything right now, but I do wish to participate in a battle against him. For the time being the Battle Brawlers have confirmed you to be on the opposite side of the line. May I battle against Masquerade's ally? I do wish to avenge him dearly"

"I don't have any Bakugans…"

Klaus remained silent for a while, still judging her. "You can use some of my spare"

Alice nodded and gulped. Why was she even agreeing to this? Perhaps a bit of humility might teach her something life lasting…

-x-X-X-x-

When Masquerade arrived at Klaus Von Herzon's location, he was met by a fair surprise.

There, not very far away, sat Herzon himself on a round marble table and with him sat none other then the dear damsel herself.

'Wow, she looks depressed. Tch. Pitiful. See what relations can do to you?' And even though he wanted to pull off some snide remarks he couldn't help but notice how much more dimmer she had become. The Alice he fell for had a beautiful mask on her face, one that brewed light and had a vulnerable and naïve core. But this Alice… she seemed a lost bird close to death.

This was not acceptable.

Whatever happened, he was sure it was the Brawlers fault, and since Von Herzon was their ally…

"Yo!"

Both heads snapped up at the new voice and what they saw they couldn't believe, their eyes screamed that much. Something flashed on the Russian girl's face and she sat up more straighter, looking directly at Masquerade, trying to see through his mask again. Klaus stood up and glared at the intruder. He gave an aura that itself radiated daggers. But Masquerade didn't care right now since he himself was raidted things much more dangerous. He was here to take care of some business for Naga and…

'Alice'

-x-X-X-x-

Alice was stunned to silence when she heard that familiar voice, a voice she had heard in a jolly tone all too many times, a voice she'd heard in a deadpan tone, in an emotionless tone, in volumes too familiar and this one she recognized too. He was angry, very angry. She sat up straighter to get a better look at him and her breath got caught in her throat for a few seconds. He was actually there.

Klaus –to whom she had just poured out her heart- stood up in both shock and anger. It appeared that all of her feelings were being emitted off like threats by Klaus instead of her. Well, at least now she knew that he cared enough for her. Alice had a feeling something bad was coming up and fast.

No sooner, Masquerade's lips moved again and he announced in a very clear and high tone.

"Herzon! … I'm here to dig your grave!"

End Chapter 14

Byz! That's all for today!

Once again another update after another prolonged period –sigh- I try to update faster but something always comes up – or 'm just too lazy. I hope I remain forgiven XD

Hope you enjoyed.

Do review!

P.S. Thanks for reading and all the awesome reviewers!