Title- Golden Heart

Summary- It was not such a bad idea to visit a small town, if you get to meet an interesting person. "Hahaha…..that's funny!". "Hey, what are you laughing at?!". Hmm…. you have found something afterall…. Modern AU. SxA DxR and more. RnR!

A/N - Greetings everyone! It's been a long time since I updated, I know. Sorry for the slow updates and thank you for the lovely reviews! So here's the long awaited chapter of Golden Heart! Cheers for their friendship and love! Happy reading! RnR! ^^

Disclaimer- I do not own Bakugan Battle Brawlers…

Chapter 38

No One's POV

"Stop"

'Oh no'…

Alice gasped when she felt him grab her hand before she could even take a step. Surprised, she turned around to see his face which held an unreadable expression. "S-Shun?"

"Alice, how long are you going to run away from me?" he asked, his grip tightening slightly around her wrist but careful not to hurt her. "Can't we go back to how we were before? It just… feels wrong to see you distancing yourself from me… It's just… you don't have to lie to me" he continued, his eyes hidden behind his bangs.

Alice gazed at him, speechless as he spoke with seriousness. Her wide eyes stared at his face when suddenly he pulled her to him and embraced her.

"Wha-?"… She was left dumbstruck at his action but was too shocked to react.

A Few Minutes Earlier….

…With the gang…

The passengers and the driver that rode in the van, who had left the inexperienced abductors behind, were waiting for the car (rescue team) to arrive near the park where they were now anxiously waiting… They were waiting for five minutes now but time seemed to pass too slowly for them.

"Are you sure you saw someone there?" asked Fabia, looking at the road where everyone was looking.

"I'm positive. That's why I had to get out of there. Didn't you see Keith, Dan and Baron running too?" replied Ace, running his hand through his hair.

"They ran like they saw a… ghost" said Mira.

Before anyone could say anything more, the car halted beside the van and came out the daring passengers. Aside from them, there was no one in the vicinity. After a long pause, everyone exhaled deeply and relieved.

"Man… it was so cramped in the car! So mission failed, huh…" said Dan breaking the silence. He was rubbing his forehead with one hand.

"Thanks for pointing it out, Mr. Obvious" said Ace, sarcastically.

"Hey! It's not my fault, Wanna-be Hot Shot! And how can you guys leave us like that?!" snapped Dan, pointing at Ace, Mira, Fabia and Ren accusingly who laughed nervously.

"He has a point. How could you?" Keith cut in, backing up Dan.

"You are one to talk! You were the first to abandon Baron and me and ran past us without warning! Some friend you are!" snapped Dan, giving Keith a look of betrayal. Keith sweat dropped when the others smirked at him while Dan huffed.

"But they waited for us on other side. Thanks for that" said Baron, looking at Julie, Billy and Runo while Dan and Keith sighed.

"He's such a drama queen…" stated Runo.

"Runo, you should be on my side!" retorted Dan. This caused another argument between them.

"I knew it. I shouldn't have relied on you. You left just like that because someone showed up!" exclaimed Fabia, throwing her hands in the air, dejectedly.

"But if you had hired someone else, your Father would have definitely found out…" Ren said and exhaled deeply. Fabia nodded at him, understandingly.

"Why didn't you knock out that person who saw you anyway?" asked Mira. Before Julie, Billy, Runo, Dan and Baron could reply, Keith cut in.

"Uhh… Because she was Alice…?" replied Keith.

"WHATTT?!"

Fabia, Ren, Ace and Mira exclaimed at the same time while the rest of the gang nodded affirmatively. A few seconds passed in silence then everyone glanced at each other.

"What was she doing there anyway…?" questioned Julie.

"Hold on! That means you left her there at this time of the night?! And with an unconscious man no less?!" exclaimed Mira, wide eyed.

"I told them to go back but…" Runo said, looking aside and crossing her arms now ignoring Dan's rants.

"We're so panicked that we couldn't think clearly" Keith said and sighed.

"She'll definitely try to help him… It's already been ten minutes since then so it'll be alright now. Just make some excuse" Julie cut in.

"Okay… I'll go back and check-…" said Ace but was cut off by Fabia's cell phone.

'RING-RING…'

"Shouldn't you keep your phone silent when on an abduction mission?" Dan asked while others nodded. 'What an amateur' he thought, rolling his eyes.

"It's S-Shun! Why is he calling at a time like this?" questioned Fabia, panicking and staring at her cell phone, her hands shaking slightly.

"Stay quiet, guys. Receive it and talk casually, Fabia" said Ren while the others just stood there with anticipation. Fabia received the call after taking a deep breath and walked a little further away from the group.

Phone Conversation…

"H-hi Shun!" greeted Fabia with fake cheerfulness.

"Fabia, your father is knocked out right now by some thieves but he's safe… I found him with Alice and they are with me now. I'll have drop him off to your house"

"Wha-…? I mean thanks. Please do"

"Uhh… You okay…? You sound weird"

"I'm… I'm shocked to hear that! Is he alright?"

"Yeah"

"And is Alice alright?"

"Alice…? Why are you asking?"

"J-Just asking! I'm worried for her too! Can't I ask about her? She's my friend too"

"She's… fine. I'm just surprised you are asking about her instead of your father"

"Uhh… Okay… See ya"

"Hn"

End of Phone Conversation

"Oh my God! What is he doing there!" exclaimed Fabia, rubbing her temple in frustration. The others looked at her questioningly and before anyone could ask, she continued, "Shun is with my father and Alice right now"

"What? Why is he out so late at night?" questioned Dan to which he got 'We-are-out-so-late-then-why-can't-he' look by his friends. "I mean… he doesn't like roaming late at night and now he's being a 'Knight in a Shining Armor" he continued.

"No, he does like it. It's actually one of his favorite things, he had said once" said Keith. The others gave them incredulous look for where this conversation was going…

"But he had always refused for late night walks with me since high school!"

"Get a clue already…"

"WHY… HIM!"

At the Same Time…..

Shun looked at his cell phone questioningly after the call ended. 'She sounded really strange… Anyway, I'll ask Jin if he could come and take Sheen-san back as I have other things to attend' he thought and sighed, dialing 'Jin' on his cell phone.

Present Time…

With Shun and Alice

"You are leaving for Russia?" Shun asked, feeling her tense against him. His question shocked her, he noticed. He couldn't help but feel jealous that she told Klaus but not him...

"I…" Alice swallowed the lump in her throat. She had been thinking how to tell him this…

"Is it because of me?"

"No… I-I realized I'm wrong. I have made up my mind, Shun…"

"…I see…"

Alice could feel the hurt and sadness in his voice. 'He doesn't deserve this… All I did was hurt him in return for his kindness and love. I'm such a coward… I'm running away' she thought, closing her eyes tightly, feeling remorse all the while.

On the other hand, he came to realize his action soon after and released her, reluctantly. He looked aside, away from her, thinking why he had to hug her without thinking but sighed as he knew why. She was leaving soon and he wanted to stay close to her for a little while…

"I… I am sor-…" he started, his action weighing on him when…

"I'm sorry! I really am, Shun!" exclaimed Alice suddenly, cutting him off. She was surprised herself when she wrapped her arms around him.

Shun looked at her, surprise crossing over his face as she held onto him abruptly. He looked down at the orange head. She was hugging him and he could hear her sob while she held onto him repeating her apologies over and over again.

"H-hey, it's alright, Alice" he said and was surprised he stuttered. Well… she's the only one who makes him feel like this. Oh wonder, what effect she has on him…

"I'm hurting you! I'm the worst! I'm worst to the person who l-loves me! I d-don't deserve your kindness… or you! There must be a better woman for you out there who would never hurt you… You have already done enough…" she continued as she cried and held him tightly.

Shun gazed at her as she trembled and her voice cracked as she blabbered, which according to him was, nonsense. He didn't know what caused her to act this way but he stood firm as she cried.

"Why… Why do you have to come back? You should hate me. I hurt you. You knew I lied yet you came for me" stated Alice with a tear stained face as she looked up at him with glazed eyes. Shun stared at her face as he patted her head, slowly and a few seconds passed by in silence except for her sobs.

"I thought I made it clear? You mean a lot to me, Alice. I'll always be there for you" he answered with seriousness lacing all the words he spoke. 'Even if you don't feel the same for me…' he thought, looking up at the starlit sky as he recalled her words from before…

'I don't love you' words she had shouted at him which he didn't want to recall. That hurt a lot…

Alice blinked. She straightened and stepped away from him. Shun knew she had a lot to talk but didn't fail to notice her reluctance. She was still struggling and holding in which made him sigh deeply. He saw her looking around abruptly and he instantly knew why she was acting like a paranoid.

"If you are looking for those men who are keeping tabs on you, they are already arrested" stated Shun, causing her to turn to him with wide eyes.

"H-how…?"

"I know you lied because you were being threatened, Alice…" he continued, his voice hard.

Alice stared at him for few seconds then turn at her side. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand to get rid of the tears, now feeling abashed as well as guilty. She had been so stressed that she had broken down in front of Shun and just now she realized what she did. She glanced at Shun from the corner of her eyes, her fists clenching and unclenching unconsciously, and saw him sigh deeply before stuffing his hands in his pockets. She just noticed what she failed to notice before; he looked weary and restless, that increased her guilt. She decided to speak; more like contemplated what to say, when…

A car stopped beside Shun's car and came out the butler of Kazami's, Jin, interrupting Alice. Jin greeted his young master and Alice, once he approached them. He noticed Alice's disheveled look but didn't speak when he glanced at an impatient Shun.

"Thank you for coming at this hour, Jin. Please take the car and drop him off" said Shun, exchanging his car keys with Jin. Straight to point as always…

"Yes, Master" said Jin and smiled at Alice who merely stared at him. "And I'm glad you are safe, Miss Alice. I hope you'll come back soon" with that he left with Shun's car (in which Sheen was lying knocked out)… He sighed when he saw Shun's tired look. 'I've never seen Young Master so distressed… And what happened to him?' he thought, shooting a glance at Sheen on the back seat.

Alice watched the car, the only source that broke the awkward situation, drove away. She glanced at Shun then averted her eyes from his face and stared down at the ground. She knew she couldn't hide anything now.

"I wanted to tell you… but they were following me everywhere… I tried to call you as well as others but they found out… And I thought you won't listen to me as you were angry…"

"Hn. I still am"

Alice sighed at his response. She looked up at him and saw him staring at her intently. "I'm sorry… I was scared… Afraid that they will do something like they did to Grandpa… I cannot let anything happen to my friends… I'm… weak. Broken even…" she said, staring at the ground with clenched fists. Shun sighed. Yeah… friends… Shun looked away at that.

"No, you aren't. I'll accept your apology only if you come back home with me. You need rest" stated Shun, pointing at her disheveled appearance while Alice looked at him surprised.

"I'm fine!" she exclaimed to which he gave a challenging look to her. "I-I m-mean… I-…"

"Don't even start"

Meanwhile…

"So now what?" asked Fabia. As everything was settled, weariness was taking its toll on everyone now.

"Well… Lover boy is with his love already! How I wish I was there to watch them!" exclaimed Julie and sighed dreamily.

"He has no romantic bone in his body so you would be disappointed anyway" stated Dan and smirked.

"Look who's talking…" Runo drawled out, rolling her eyes while others snickered.

"HEY! Are you angry at me, Runo?"… Runo shook her head at Dan's question.

"Now… there is nothing left to do so…" Ren drawled out, stretching his arms.

"We are leaving, of course" said Keith, stifling a yawn and others agreed with him. He turned to look at Ace. "Let's go" he stated.

"I'm not your chauffer" Ace replied, rolling his eyes. Mira, Baron and Keith ignored him and sat in Ace's car.

"Come on, Ace! We have work tomorrow" said Mira.

"Don't remind me…" he muttered, losing his interest in arguing and went to his car.

"Okay guys! See ya tomorrow then! Let's retreat! That was cool, don't you think, Runo? But I'm tired from the mission"

"You mean- failed mission, Dan…"

"I need to be home when my father arrives"

"You mean… unconscious body of your father"

"Billy! Come on, drive the van! I need my beauty sleep"

"On it, Jules. I'm tired anyway. Come on everyone, sit back. Fabia and Ren, we'll drop you off too" said Billy, opening the door.

"Okay" replied the rest of the gang and sat wherever in the van without arguing, surprisingly and the two vehicles sped on an empty road. Oh, the friendship!

To be Continued….

A/N – They all are interesting, aren't they? So how's drama, friendship and humor in the chapter? Liked? Loved? As usual, review and share your thoughts! Thank you! ^^