Brawl 8

"...And that's how Gorem and I met." Julie finished her story of how she had met Gorem.

Sitting in the guest room of Runo's family restaurant Dan and the others congratulated Julie on her new partner.

As Alice continued unpacking, Dan and Merucho decided to head to Dan's house with Runo joining them so she could deliver a get well meal that both she and Alice had cooperated to create. But on the way back the three were ambushed by another of Masquerade's and Aku's henchmen who put up a somewhat decent fight that left Dan completely exhausted.

"So what happened to mayor hothead?" Naruto asked as he leaned against Dan's bedroom wall as Runo was sitting on his bed by Dan's feet while he rested as Merucho commandeered the chair.

"Ugh. That was freaky. I'm just glad Drago was strong enough to win." Dan muttered ignoring Naruto's barb at him.

"Well you have no one but yourself to blame." Runo snarked as she giggled into her hand at Naruto's nickname.

"Sigh. According to my data stronger opponents are going to start appearing. If we want a chance to continue we'll have to come up with strategies that revolves around this." Merucho said with a calculating look on his face.

"In dumb-dumb for Dan, Merucho." Naruto said this time ignoring Dan's outburst of anger while Runo covered her mouth with both hands in a futile effort to stop her laughter.

"I mean a bakugan when a bakugan is in alignment with all six attributes. Drago is a pyrus a fire element, Tigrerra is haos or light element while Preyus is an water element." Merucho explained with a serious look.

Getting at what the smaller blonde was talking about. "Add Julie's Gorem we have Sub terra the earth element." Dan continued.

"Plus with Naruto's Monarus we got the wind element!" Runo cheered in excitement. "Which leaves the dark element." She finished as she, Dan and Merucho thought about where to find someone with the darkus attribute.

"Wait a minute." Dan said quietly as he remembered the first time he and Naruto met about a month ago.

Mini flashback

"It is strong. Very strong but it's also rather arrogant and destructive. Like Drago it has the pyrus element." Naruto answered.

Mini flashback ends

"Hey Naruto!" Dan swirled his head to the hidden ninga getting the others attention. "That bakugan you kept in your pocket. You said it was a fire element and was powerful. Can it-"

"Absolutely no Dan!" Naruto nearly shouted cutting Dan off when he figured out what Dan was getting at. "I will never use it in battle! That... thing brings nothing but pain and misery so forget it!" Naruto snarled as he opened Dan's door. Find yourself another idiot to do it." He finished slamming the door closed in anger causing the room to shake.

"Nice going Dan." Runo said grumpily. "So who do we know that also has a wind bakugan?" Runo asked in confusion.

"What about Shun?" Merucho offered but unfortunately Dan put an immediate pin to that claiming that hell would freeze first before he begs Shun for anything.

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As midnight rolled around Runo and Merucho were flying towards Shun's house west of Baycity by Kato. However what the three never realized was that Naruto was hiding in the shadows of the aircraft.

"Geez Dan is going to be pissed if he finds out about this." Merucho said worried about destroying Dan's trust.

"Don't worry. Even Dan has to admit we need all the help we can get." Runo comforted him. "But what I don't understand is at one point they used to be the best of friends who created the rules of the game." She revealed.

'Sometimes even the strongest of friendships can be destroyed like toilet paper for the stupidest of reasons.' Naruto, once more dressed in his old ninga outfit, thought to himself as Monarus jumped out of his pocket looking to him sadly. 'Don't say anything Monarus. I know you're trying to help but it's pointless.' He mentally told her.

When he and Monarus met after she left the seal for the first time some of his chakra stuck with her unknowingly. However it was because of this that they are able to communicate telepathically.

'Oh Naruto. Stop trying to close your heart.' Monarus thought to herself as she saw that a lock of his blonde hair started to redden.

Leaving the plane Runo and Merucho headed up to Shun's house which was modeled like the Hyuga estate. As the two entered through the front door unknowingly setting of the traps inside Naruto went around the house until he heard a song being played.

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Meanwhile Runo and Merucho were trying their best dodging hidden poles that shot out of the walls before jumping over a trapdoor only to get caught in a net.

"Oh man this bites." Runo said as she and Merucho started maneuvering the net so they could get free.

"It seems I caught a couple of trespassers in my home." A voice said as an old grandfather like man approached wearing a blue hakama with a dark green kimono. The man had white hair in a high ponytail style and carried a wooden bokken.

"So who are you?" He asked preparing to attack if necessary.

"My name's Runo and this is Merucho." Runo said with a friendly smile as Merucho waved trying to act small. "We're friends of Shun and came to talk to him. In fact show him this and he'll understand." Runo grabbed Merucho's pants inadvertently giving the small blonde a wedgie as she tossed Preyus at the old man.

Picking up the bakugan off the floor after it nailed him in the head. "Ah my grandson told me about this you're what's known as bakugan brawlers." He said getting Runo and Merucho's hopes up as they nodded. "I'm afraid he doesn't want anything to do with this." The old man destroyed their hope in a unapologetic tone.

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Heading outside after giving the old man the slip Merucho and Runo found a dark haired teen in a royal purple shirt and black jeans sitting on a roof whistling on a leaf, never noticing Naruto hiding in the shadows watching.

"Shun!" Runo called to the teen gaining his attention. "We're so glad we found you!"

"Why are you here?" Shun asked in a expressionless tone as he stared at them as his eyes slightly darted across the field believing he saw movement from the shadows.

"I'm not sure if you heard but there's these two guys called Masquerade and Aku and they've been sending kid's bakugan to the doom dimension." Merucho explained happy at reuniting with his friend.

"We need your help in taking them down Shun. So what do you say wanna team up again?" Runo asked in a hopeful voice as Shun looked up to the starry sky.

"Sorry. But I no longer play on a team. Leave." Shun answered as he dropped onto the other side of the wall making his way towards a storage shed.

Devastated at his answer Runo and Merucho begged Shun to reconsider as Shun's grandfather arrived to escort them out.

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Sitting inside the storage shed Shun looked up at the moon from a window.

"Are you sure you want them to leave Shun?" A green bakugan in the shape of a bird asked in a feminine voice gaining his attention. "They came a long way to talk to you and I doubt they'll return."

"She's right ya know." A voice agreed surprising them. Looking for the source of the voice they found a blonde haired teen in a orange and black jumpsuit sitting in the window still with his back turned to them.

"Who are you?!" Shun demanded rising to his feet as a hand subtly went to a nearby drawer grasping a kunai.

"Don't." Naruto said without looking at him. "I came here to talk." He explained as Shun narrowed his eyes.

"If it's about reconsidering about joining them than you can forget it." Shun snapped. "I quit a long time ago."

"Cute." The hidden ninja shrugged off Shun's anger like it was nothing. "No I wasn't about to do so." He said calming Shun down as the green bakugan silently berated her partner. Shaking his head as his lips curled up into a tiny smile. "I could care less if you joined the others or not." Naruto continued closing his eyes.

"The reason I'm here is because you remind me of a story I heard once. I won't bore you with the details but essentially there were these two friends called Sunny and Emo. Ya see the two were once the best of friends who did everything together and dreamed about being the best brawlers in their town. But Sunny had a rare condition that prevented him from that yet Emo didn't care." Naruto told them as childhood memories of him and Saskue flashed through his mind as Shun and his bakugan listened intently. "One day however Emo was offered a chance to obtain his dream but in exchange he'd have to leave Sunny behind and break his promise."

"What does this have to do with me?" Shun interrupted wanting the stranger to get to the point.

"The point is nobody can be strong on their own." Naruto shook his head in disappointment. "Just humor me for a minute and give them a chance in a brawl. You win they'll leave you alone, they win you help them fight Masquerade and Aku."

Opening his eyes Naruto vanished in a swirl of leaves. "The choice is yours."

"He's right you know. One day you will have to confront your past and today may be it." The bird like bakugan said agreeing with their mysterious visitor.

"Will you stand by me Skyress?" Shun asked as he opened another drawer revealing his cards and remaining bakugan.

"Always."

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Walking back to the ship with their heads down in disappointment Runo and Merucho were trying to think of a way to somehow either change Naruto's or Shun's mind.

"Do you think we should try again?" Merucho asked when Shun dropped in front of them. "Did you change your mind?"

"Only if you can beat me." Shun said plainly as he slipped a glove on neither party noticing Naruto appearing between the trees.

"Let's go. Field open, gatecard set!" They shouted as the cards glowed green, yellow and blue.

"I'll go first. Terrorclaw stand." Merucho sent out his first bakugan onto his gatecard.

"Go Ravenclaw!" Shun said sending out his bakugan to meet Merucho's. As Terrorclaw waited for his opponent a tornado sprung up revealing a human like falcon bakugan with a ravens head.

"Ventus Ravenclaw at 320 Gs vs aquos Terrorclaw at 290 Gs."

"Gatecard open Tidel surge!" Merucho activated his gatecard as Terrorclaw started surfing a tsunami as it headed towards Ravenclaw.

"Ability card activate tornado pandemonium." Shun countered with a stony expression.

"Terrorclaw lowered to 240 Gs."

Spinning around Ravenclaw created a tornado that slammed head first into the tsunami breaking it up in the process before the raven bakugan uppercutted Terrorclaw winning the battle.

"No way!" Merucho was stunned as Runo set her second gatecard card next to her first.

"This isn't over!" Runo said throwing Saurus in.

"Haos Saurus 310 Gs."

"Runo what are you planning?" Merucho asked as Shun placed his second gatecard in front of Runo's.

"Don't worry all I have to do is activate the character card to double the power." Runo explained with a smirk.

Without saying a word Shun sent out Falconeer onto his second gatecard. "Why isn't he attacking?" Runo asked as her smirk vanished.

"Ventus Falconeer 320 Gs."

"I got an idea Runo!" Merucho whispered the plan into her ear as a face splitting grin appeared.

"Oh yeah he won't expect that!" Runo cheered as Merucho sent out his second bakugan that looked like a stingray.

"Limulus stand!" Limulus started crawling on Runo's first gatecard as a blue aura started spreading around it. "Ability card activate Hologram Divide! Now the longer the battle the stronger Limulus gets."

"Aquos Limulus 320 Gs."

Raising an eyebrow Shun kept his expressionless face. "Oh?" He said sending out Ravenclaw to his first gatecard.

"Didn't see that coming. Guess its back to the drawing board." Runo said baffled at the hole in their plan.

"Send me in milady." Tigrerra soothed her partner. Shun's bakugan are on the verge of attacking so let me help."

"Are you sure?" Runo asked worried for her friend. Upon seeing her nod Runo played her final gatecard. "Let's go Tigrerra!"

Haos Tigrerra at 340 Gs."

"Are you ready Skyress?" Shun asked as he sent her out. Above Tigrerra storm clouds started to raing as a bolt of lightning hit the ground. Inside the lighting bolt a giant green phoenix appeared ready for a fight.

"Ventus Skyress 360 Gs."

"Oh wow." Naruto said in awe quietly at the appearance of the mystical bird as Monarus agreed never having met Skyress before as they continued to hide under the blonde's ninja tarp.

"Ability card activate Winds of Fury!" Shun said as both Ravenclaw and Falconeer power dived at Tigrerra, Saurus and Limulus. As the latter two were defeated Tigrerra tried to stay strong but eventually Skyress herself proved too much.

"Tigrerra!" Runo cried in worry as Tigrerra passed out losing the battle.

"It's up to you now Preyus." Merucho said looking towards his partner.

"Hell yeah put me in!" Preyus said as he landed in front of Falconeer.

"Aquos Preyus 300 Gs."

Prepare to lose gatecard open, Positive Delta!" Shun said activating his gatecard causing Preyus to breathe heavily as his strength left him.

"Preyus power reduced to 100 G's due to Positive Delta."

"Preyus now!" Merucho shouted catching onto Shun's plan.

"Right attribute change darkus!" Preyus backflipped as his skin turned purple before uppercutting Falconeer.

"You see Positive Delta reduces power levels from the pyrus, haos and aquos trinity but will backfire onto the user if the opponent is apart of the ventus,darkus or sub terra trinity." Merucho explained after seeing Runo's confused look.

"Alright go Merucho!" Runo cheered for her friend at finally getting a win against Shun.

"Shun?" Skyress asked worried for her partner but he merely shook his head.

"It's fine Skyress I've yet to get serious." He informed her as he played his last gatecard before sending her back out.

"Now it's my turn." Runo said excited. "Go Griffon."

"Haos Griffon 290 Gs vs ventus Ravenclaw 320 Gs."

"Ability card activate Vengeful Beast Strike!" Runo said activating an ability card as her Griffon returned to her as Tigrerra pounced Ravenclaw catching her opponent by surprise.

'So how are you gonna get out of this one?' Naruto thought to himself from his hiding spot as he looked to Runo and Merucho.

"Let's end this Merucho." Runo said confidently believing she and Merucho already won.

"Right. Preyus!" Merucho said sending Preyus back in against Skyress. "Ability card activate aquos to ventus alignment."

"Ability card activate Cut in Saber!" Runo said as Tigrerra and Preyus got ready for the final round.

"Fools. Gatecard open!" Shun said calmly.

Skyress power surged to 720 G's. Preyus and Tigrerra power at 740 Gs."

"Oh yeah even with the character card we're gonna win!" Preyus gloated as he and Tigrerra jumped towards Skyress.

"It's game over for you. Ability card activate Fire Storm!" Shun said powering up his partner once more.

"Skyress at 920 Gs."

Skyress released a battle cry as her entire body covered itself in green flames before she went into a sky dive leaving behind a fire trail behind her. Unable to dodge Tigrerra and Preyus crashed right into Skyress's burning form losing the battle.

"You lost." Was the only thing Shun said before he vanished back in to his house.

End of chapter 8