Brawl 9
"Alright ladies, I have your order of a seasoned chicken emperor salad extra onions and a slice of blueberry pie." Naruto said wearing a cheerful smile placing down the food next to to women in their early twenties.
"Thank you Naruto!" One of the woman said seductively winking at him as her friend giggled.
Running his hand through his hair Naruto paid no attention to the woman's attempt to flirt with him as he went back to helping Alice and Runo take and deliver orders in his uniform which were a orange undershirt and black waiter pants as the girls were wearing frilly white aprons over their normal clothes.
As Alice was seating the new customers in the packed restaurant which was full of people from fifteen to late twenties who came to ogle both her and Naruto, Runo was washing dishes in the back lost in a trance.
"Hey Runo." Alice said snapping Runo out of her trance unfortunately causing her to drop a coffee cup to the floor if Naruto hadn't dived down to catch it getting a round of applause from the customers. "Are you alright?" Alice asked worried but Runo merely shook her head with a smile.
From inside the apron's pocket Tigrerra rolled out just enough to look up at her partner. "Is something bothering you milady?" Tigrerra asked having a feeling it was about the loss to Shun.
"I'm fine." She said unconvincingly as she took back the cup from Naruto.
"Uh huh. It's about Shun isn't it?" Naruto said raising a eyebrow in disbelief.
Turning around Runo was about to demand how he knew but decided to wait for now as she told the story of when Shun and Dan had a falling out.
XXXXXXXXXXXX~SB~XXXXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile at the same time Dan was checking the ratings on the computer and was ecstatic he finally broke the top hundred being placed at 97th only to go bug eyed seeing Naruto jumped from 77th to 59th.
"Geez how does he do it?" Dan muttered as Drago and Monarus rolled up to him on the desk.
"Dan was it true that Shun was number one before Masquerade and Aku appeared?" Drago asked getting his friend's attention.
Leaning back in his chair Dan nodded his head. "Yeah. At least until he abandoned the game."
"He no longer plays?" Monarus wondered confused as she sat next to Drago.
"Mmm. Shun and I/Dan used to be the best of friends. We/They did everything together." Dan and Runo said at the same time unknowingly as Dan's memories flash into his head of him and a younger Shun played in the park before they got into a fight resulting in their mothers pulling them apart.
All the while memories of himself and members of the rookie nine flashed in Naruto's head.
"But I think it started when his mother was taken to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a tumor that needed an operation." Runo told him as Alice listened in.
Flashback
"So one day after weeks of disappearing Shun sends me an email challenging me to a brawl. We met ontop of a nearby parking garage but when the battle started instead of the fierce brawler he was Shun kept playing cat and mouse tactics." Dan said remembering that day.
A younger Shun and Dan started to brawl but young Shun either kept avoiding direct fights or used ability cards to send a bakugan back without defeating it. While young Dan was starting to get annoyed as they kept going until Shun misjudged his final throw.
"After both of them were down to their last bakugan Shun told Dan the truth. He was afraid of living with his grandfather and believed that if he kept stalling the match he can buy mother time." Runo continued telling the story.
"When the two finally ended the battle Dan's father raced us to the hospital where I barged into my mother's room where she was hooked up to a respirator. Fearing the worst I was surprised that she was still awake and that I barely made it in time. As it turned out the present she wanted to give me a bakugan because she knew how much I loved the game." Shun finished the story to Skyress as they were sitting on the roof watching the night sky.
Flashback Ends
XXXXXXXXX~SB~XXXXXXXXXXX
Inside a secret room Masquerade was doing a search on his computer for the strongest bakugan as he smiled when both his Hydranoid, a dark purple four legged dragon with a pink horn on its nose appeared next to a picture of Kyuubi in its pyrus state and a wind element Monarus.
"Hahaha. Excellent." He muttered as a green face with purple hair stretched out from the wall.
"Masquerade, both Naga and him wants to know why you're incessant on sending out weaklings to fight Dan and his crew." The face asked in a voice that sounded distorted with a frown.
"That's because it's all part of the plan." Masquerade answered without even turning around keeping his gaze locked on the computer screen. "If we want even the tiniest chance of controlling the Infinity core let alone wield it we need the strongest bakugan there is. And as Naga knows a bakugan will only evolve when facing strong opponents, Hal G." He explained not moving an inch.
Snorting from his place Hal G shook his head in amusement. "Fine fine. Just remember that He wants both the fox and the one called Naruto in exchange for his help." Hal G said as an image of Naruto appeared on the screen as he thinks back to their hidden partner who appears to be around Naruto's age as he wears a tan shirt and black pants held up with a oversized purple belt that binds a sword to his right hip. Around his shirt is a open black cloak with red clouds decorating it.
"Don't worry if all goes right then we won't have to deal with him any longer. After all I think I found the perfect brawler to take Dan down." Masquerade said as he brought up a picture of Shun.
XXXXXXXXX~SB~XXXXXXXXXXX
"Hey Runo, what's the status on the pie?" A customer asked as Runo came walking out carrying a tray while Alice was attending the counter as Naruto was wiping down tables. Thankfully it wasn't as packed as yesterday.
'I've never been so popular!' Runo giggled to herself as she passed Dan and Merucho who were sitting at a table enjoying some tea. "Or am I?!" She raged at three male teens who were busy ogling Alice.
"Take it easy Runo." Runo turned her head to see Naruto next to her patting her shoulder. "Don't let those idiots make you miserable." Naruto said as made his way to the kitchen. Unfortunately the three teenagers overheard him.
"Geez. I never seen Runo so mad." Merucho said witnessing her anger.
"Merucho trust me never get between a catfight. It won't end well." Dan whispered to him as they caught Naruto subconsciously nodding in agreement at this.
"Who are you calling idiots, jackass?!" They yelled as one ignoring Alice's attempt to get them to back down.
'Sigh. Those idiots just signed their death warrant.' Alice thought to herself facepalming as she tilted her head up. 'The last time someone pissed Naruto off he had a mental breakdown screaming about rubber duckies and pissed himself at the sight of one.' Alice shuddered inwardly remembering that day.
Flashback
Walking out of the grocery store both Alice and Naruto were deep in conversation about bakugan when a muscular guy got in front of them and tried to flirt with Alice uncaring that he shoved Naruto away like a fly.
The next thing anyone knew was the guy who was easily 7 feet tall was on his back screaming in fright at a rubber duck that mysteriously appeared on his chest.
Flashback Ends
Turning his head around Naruto sent a single mischievous look towards the three who immediately clammed up.
"Hey Merucho can you go grab a bag of coffee from the back?" Runo asked walking away to hide her blush. 'Holy hell that was amazing. Never noticing that Alice saw or that she was in complete agreement with Runo's thoughts.
As Merucho was pulling a bag of coffee out unknowingly creating a coffee avalanche, Preyus hopped ontop of the table next to Drago and Monarus.
"Psst Dan, there's something you need to know." Preyus said as he checked to make sure no one else was listening. "Runo and Merucho went to go see Shun a few days ago. Gotta tell ya it was the weirdest place I've seen. From wooden spears to ninja throwing stars, I was lucky to make it out alive." He said in a 80's detective voice.
"What?!" Dan shouted in anger and surprise slamming his hands on to the table accidentally scaring Runo and Alice, who dropped a coffee cup as she bent down to hide behind the counter.
'Uh oh. He found out.' Runo thought as she covered the lower half of her face with the metal tray.
Coming out of the back after freeing Merucho Naruto was confused on what had happened as Runo confessed to trying to recruit Shun.
XXXXXXXXXX~SB~XXXXXXXXXXX
After work Dan, Runo, Merucho and Naruto were taking Merucho's plane to Shun's house once more.
"Whatever. Thanks for coming Dan, Naruto." Runo said angrily raspberring at Dan before smiling at Naruto as she sat across of them with Merucho by her side.
"It's no trouble Runo." Naruto said snickering as Dan pouted.
"Let's just hope-/Enough." Tigrerra interrupted Preyus with a glint in her eye that promised pain.
XXXXXXXXXX~SB~XXXXXXXXXXX
"You haven't decided yet have you, Shun?" Skyress asked looking at her partner as Shun relaxed in the storage shed.
"I'll decide after I fight Dan and our mysterious guest again." Shun answered as the door opened.
Meanwhile Dan jumped over the wall with Naruto following as Runo and Merucho tried to warn them about the traps. But when nothing happened they tried their luck only to activate a pitfall.
Walking around a pond Dan spotted Shun approaching.
"I've been expecting you Dan." Shun said with a contemplative look on his face. But before either of them could talk about the past Masquerade showed up with an arrogant smirk behind him.
"Masquerade?!" Drago shouted in anger as Masquerade continued to smirk.
"I think it's time we eliminated him,Shun." Masquerade said only for Shun to toss the doom card away breaking a statue in the process much to everyone's confusion as Dan dodged to the right.
"I fight alone." Shun said as his eyes never wavered from Dan.
"I can respect that Shun. Foolish but still respected." Masquerade said stepping away from Shun as he advanced towards Dan only for a kunai to stop him from proceeding further.
"Afraid I can't let ya do that Dorkgeta." A voice said. Snapping their heads to the right they found Naruto sitting sage style balancing ontop the broken statue.
"What the?!" Masquerade said shocked never once noticing the blonde approach.
"You! You're the one from the night the others showed." Shun said in surprise recognizing the blonde's voice.
"So tell me Shun. Has the story sunk in yet?" Naruto asked opening a eye as he and the others started a brawl.
"Field open. Gatecard set!" They shouted as four cards glowed in three colors. "Doom card set." Masquerade activated his signature card.
"I've been waiting for this chance. Go Laserman!" Masquerade said throwing his first bakugan onto his gatecard.
As Laserman rose up it looked like purple Robotallion with a green giant buster for a torso and twin mounted laser guns on its shoulders.
"Darkus Laserman 370 Gs."
"You're gonna pay for every bakugan you sent to the doom dimension!" Dan shouted in anger towards Masquerade. "Go Stinglash!."
"Pryus Stinglash 360 Gs."
As Stinglash shook its body to limber itself up Laserman swirled its entire torso 180° and started unleashing hell on the unaware giant scorpion.
"Ability card activate Leap Sting!" Masquerade said holding up an ability card. "This allows Laserman to target and attack any bakugan on the field." He explained as Laserman shot one final round towards Stinglash causing it to fall into the doom dimension.
"S-so that's the doom dimension." Shun said in shock at what he just witnessed as Skyress floated near him.
"Indeed. It is the thing all bakugan fear the most. For once you enter there is no way to return, knowing that are you still sure you want to continue?" Skyress told her partner with a sad voice as she quietly wept for Stinglash's lost soul.
Instead of answering Shun sent out his Monarus onto his gatecard with a look of determination.
"Ventus Monarus enters at 330 Gs."
Selecting his first bakugan, Naruto sends out Falconeer onto his gatecard. "You may have won the first round but this time will be different Jerkquerade!" Naruto taunted Masquerade getting Dan to snicker.
"Ventus Falconeer at 320 Gs."
"Ohh burn! Need some aloe vera?" Dan mocked.
"Grrr. Reaper stand!" Masquerade growled at the taunt sending out his Reaper.
"Heads up kid, I'm itching for a rematch." Reaper said as it stood up getting Drago to growl in rage.
"Darkus Reaper at 370 Gs."
"Is that the best you got?" Dan mocked as he played his second gatecard. "Go Gargonoid!" He said sending out his second bakugan onto his freshly played card.
"Pyrus Gargonoid 320 Gs."
"Hey Dan, let's kick this battle up a notch. Ability card activate Air Battle!" Shun said holding up a card as Monarus started flying across the entire field circling Reaper, Gargonoid and Griffon.
"What how is that?" Dan was shocked and confused at what was happening as he followed Monarus's movements.
"In air battle mode it allows Shun's Monarus the freedom of movement unrestricted to the cards below. Its a wind attribute ability." Drago clarified.
"It also stops the gatecard Monarus lands on from activating." Shun added as Monarus power dived at Gargonoid before dropping powder bombs on the gargoyle, when the butterfly bakugan was nearly tackled by Falconeer who was glowing.
"What!" Shun and Dan said simultaneously as Masquerade looked on intriguied.
"News flash Shun. You're not the only one who can break out a surprise. Ability card activate, Air Battle!" Naruto said as Falconeer high jump kicked Monarus who barely dodged the kick allowing Gargonoid to take the full force before tackling Falconeer.
"Looks like we'll have to wait to see who's better huh Shun?" Naruto said as he caught Falconeer's ball form
"Hehehe looks like you're down to Drago, Dan. But not for long." Masquerade said playing his last gatecard. "Go Laserman." He said sending the robot back out.
"This is our last chance Drago. So let's be prepared for anything." Dan said as he sent Drago to confront Reaper.
"We meet again Reaper." Drago growled angrily at his nemesis.
"I'm ready whenever you are Drago." Reaper replied as he grabbed his scythe with both hands.
"Pyrus Dragonoid at 340 Gs"
But before either one could move to attack purple lighting started dancing around Drago's body paralyzing him in place.
"Gatecard active Third Judgement." Masquerade activated his gatecard. "Well Shun? Now's your chance." He said believing Shun would help him defeat Dan as Shun looked deep in thought.
"I guess you're not the great ninja after all Shun." Naruto said gaining his attention as he played his second gatecard. "I've been hearing stories of how great you are but I guess that it was all a lie." The blonde ninja teased as he sent out Monarus.
"Go Monarus!" Shun said sending Monarus onto his first gatecard.
"Naruto's ventus Monarus at 480 Gs. Shun's Monarus at 330 Gs."
"Fine then. Go Hydranoid." Masquerade said unamused into the fight between Drago and Reaper. Roaring into the sky was a dark purple four legged dragon with pink spikes growing over its back and tail with a pink horn on its nose.
"Holy hell." Dan muttered as Naruto shivered uncontrollably as he sensed the darkness waffling off of the bakugan.
"I-i never seen such a powerful bakugan!" Shun said in a mixture of fear and awe when he saw the dragon's power level.
"Darkus Hydranoid roars at 500 Gs. Combined with Reaper power is stabilized at 870 Gs."
"Very observant humans. I am the most powerful bakugan in existence as I feed off of the ones I send to the doom dimension." Hydranoid said condescendingly.
"You'll pay for every one you sent!" Drago snarled as it lit Hydranoid on fire with the help of Boosted Dragon but to everyone's shock the purple dragon merely shrugged the fire off like nothing before he slapped Drago with its tail while Reaper laughed menacingly.
However before Hydranoid could deliver a second strike Drago was teleported across the field. "Ability card activate Crimson Twister." Shun said activating his ability card as his Monarus charged at Drago only for her sister to hold her in place as Drago slammed his tail into her.
"You don't mind if we but in do ya? Ability card activate Reckless Charge." Naruto joked seeing Shun's confused face.
"Celebrate while you can yo-gggh!" Reaper mocked before it was impaled on Hydranoid's tail. "M-m-master? Why?"
"There can only be one Reaper and I'm afraid your services are no longer needed." Masquerade said apatheticly as Hydranoid tossed Reaper into the doom dimension without a single second of hesitation.
"You are a sick freak Masquerade!" Naruto screamed in anger at the display.
"I got a idea." Dan said playing his last gatecard along with Drago.
While he wondered what Dan was up too Shun decided to focus on the blonde ninja as he played his second gatecard along with Falconeer.
"Ventus Falconeer at 340 Gs."
"You continue to baffle me Shun. But it doesn't matter." Masquerade said uncaring about what Dan's plan was as he sent Hydranoid back out who immediately tried to charge at Drago.
"Quadruple battle activate!" Dan said as his gatecard created a barrier between the opposing dragons.
"Awe ain't that cute li'l Danny and Fishcake believe you're going to team up with them. Hahaha!" Masquerade mockingly laughed before a torrent of wind started swirling around Shun blowing his hair into a gravity defying hairstyle.
"You're rein of terror ends here!" Shun screamed. "Skyress you ready?" He asked as Naruto sent out Monarus to join Drago.
"Glad to have you back Shun." She said nodding her head as she was tossed in allowing the barrier to fall.
"Ventus Skyress at 360 Gs. Combined with Monarus and Drago power stops at 1280 Gs."
"If that's how you want to play then fine." Masquerade said venomously. "Ability card activate Chaos of the Darkness."
Above the four bakugan storm clouds gathered together before a huge bolt of dark purple lighting struck Hydranoid's horn. Focusing the energy into a ball form, the dark dragon attacked everyone without discrimination. The first ball bomb landed on Drago's foot causing him pain as a second bomb scorched Monarus's right wing.
"Aggghhhhhhhhhhh!" Monarus screamed in agonizing pain as she fell to the ground writhing in pain.
"Monarus power decreased to 100 Gs."
"Ability card activate Fire Wall!" Dan shouted as a living wall of fire surrounded Drago,Skyress and Monarus who tried to ignore the searing pain that threatened to consume her to little success.
"This isn't working!" Hydranoid snarled in anger as he let himself be consumed into his lust of greed. As lighting danced and sparked across his entire body Hydranoid started attacking everything in his sight.
The first to fall was Shun's Falconeer who despite dodging the first bomb sent his way was unable to dodge the second and cried in fear and pain as a hole into the doom dimension swallowed the bird whole. The dragon's second victim was his own teammate Laserman who was too shocked at the betrayal to do anything before it was too late.
As Hydranoid continued to go on a frenzy while destroying Masquerade's ability cards Naruto knew that if he wanted to save one of his few real friends than he had no choice but to use him. 'Alright you stupid fox, unless you want a personal one way trip to hell then I suggest you help save Monarus.' Naruto yelled at the Kyuubi through their mind link.
"Double ability card activate, Comrades Salvation and Uzu Chains!" Naruto said as Monarus was pulled back to him as he sent out Kyuubi in her place.
"So you're the pathetic overgrown lizard who's unlucky to be my opponent." Kyuubi mocked as he slapped Hydranoid with his red coated tails to distract the dragon as golden chains sprouted from them wrapping around Hydranoid in the process.
"Pyrus Kyuubi no Yoko initially at 490 Gs. With Uzu Chains in effect power skyrockets to 990 Gs. Hydranoid reduced to 250 Gs."
With Hydranoid busy trying to free itself Skyress aided the red fox as she clawed and pulled the dark dragon's mouth open. Narrowing his eyes at both the fox and Naruto in suspicion Drago decided to seek out answers later as he hurled a fireball down Hydranoid's throat winning the battle.
"Tch. Next time I won't go easy." Masquerade said in anger as he vanished into a plane of glass.
"Oh no you don't!" Naruto shouted at him. Gathering chakra around his fist the blonde ninja punched the ground hard enough to create a small hole to leave the battleground before running through it.
"Did he...?" Shun asked confused as he looked in shock at what had just happened.
"Yep." Was all Dan could say as he tried to understand what his house guest just did.
XXXXXXXXXXXX~SB~XXXXXXXXXX
Outside the battleground Naruto tried to find any trace of Masquerade but his search ended up hopeless as there was nothing.
"Help!" Running towards the source of the cry the blonde ninja found Runo and Merucho clinging to a unstable dirt mound in the pittrap. Helping them out of the hole, Naruto couldn't help but smile at the sight of Dan and Shun's restored friendship.
End of chapter 9