Bakugan belongs to Sega Toys and Spin Masters.
Alex sighed in defeat as he looked at the sign post in search for directions to the main square. To his defense, it seemed like a good idea at the beginning.
He knew by now that Zoe was already there, with how good her sense of direction was, but he did promise to teach her how to play Bakugan once they reached the park. He couldn't just go home, defeated, like other times.
He bit back a sigh. He was genuinely enthusiastic about introducing his sister to the game, seeing as how many kids her age played too, hoping that it would help her break out of her shell. Don't get him wrong, he loved the company his she gave, especially on his routine trainings, but every day it felt like she was more of a shadow than someone keeping him company:
-Yo, Abner! - someone called, snapping Alex out of his thoughts. -Lost again?
He turned to the origin of the voice, expression brightening as he saw who had just called:
-Komba! How're you doing? - Alex asked, enthusiastic, the small boy aproaching him with a big grin on his face:
-Never better! - Komba answered with the same amount of energy –Just beat Shuji in a brawl. You should have seen the look on his face, he was furious!
Oh no. That was the thought that passed through Alex's mind:
-Really? And do you know where he went after that? - He asked, tense.
-Oh, he's still licking his wounds at the square. - Komba answered, oblivious, pointing a thumb behind him. -Though I wouldn't go there now if I were you. He seemed really mad.
-Great! Thanks for the advice! - Alex darted to the pointed location, leaving a bewildered Komba behind.
Zoe wrung the water out of her hair in frustration, hearing the endless complaints of the boy behind her and doing her best to not let her anger show:
-… and what's your problem, anyway!? - the guy kept on ranting – You think the park is yours to throw people to fountains without warning? Well, it isn't!
She would've given him reason if that wasn't the third variant of the same complaint, but right now it looked like he was trying to pick up a fight for no reason whatsoever. It didn't help that his brother was an absolute suck-up, mimicking his brothers outrage like a human-shaped parrot.
What have I ever done to deserve this? Zoe thought, finally wringing the last drops of water out of her hair. Taking a deep breath, she put on an apologetic expression and turned to the duo, bowing slightly as to apologize. Thinking that was the end of it, she spun on her heel and made her way to one of the stairs. Even if she had brought her notebook, it would've been useless as it would have been damp from the earlier incident.
She stepped back in surprise as the younger boy of the duo ran to face her upfront, blocking her passage:
-And where do you think you're going?! - he said, freckled face red with anger –I'm not letting you leave until you apologize to my brother.
I did, though. She thought, slowly stepping back, away from the angry kid. Zoe froze as she felt her back hit something soft, most likely the kid's brother. The situation seemingly started to sink in now that the original frustration was gone. The older boy was definitely larger than her, and if she ran the kid would easily catch up to her:
-So? How about it? - she heard the older brother say behind her. - Don't think you're off the hook just 'cause you're a girl.
She gulped drily, lost. They expected an apology, that was fair, but how to explain that they couldn't get that from a girl who can't speak? Cursing her luck, she stepped away from the duo, getting closer to the fountain, trying to get some space away from them.
She felt like a deer in the headlights as she now took a better look at the duo. Her previous deduction was correct, as the older of the duo was definitely taller and stronger than her, the constantly furrowed eyebrows and short haircut helping with the intimidating persona. He wore a white shirt under an orange jacket and green shorts. His brother, however, didn't hold half the aura the older boy had, his freckled face and buck teeth betrayed that he was, in fact, a pipsqueak. He wore a green shirt and blue shorts, his red hair hidden under a white cap.
It seemed that all that analyzing went both ways, Zoe noticed as the older brother's expression went from irritated to one of realization:
-Oh...I get it now...- He said, accusingly – you think you can walk away because you're a Bakugan player...
...Okay, what?
Zoe's eyes went to her pouch where she put her gear, indignant. He really thought that she was a jerk because she could play a silly game?! What world did he live in?
-I'll let you know that you've picked the wrong guy to mess with. -He said with a devious grin. -I happen to be the master of Subterra Bakugan, and you just happened to get me in the mood for a brawl.
The color left her face as she began to question her recent decisions that led her there. She barely knew what Bakugan was, how was she going to fight against someone like that:
-Hah! Look at her face! - The younger kid mocked in between laughs. -That's the face of a rookie! I bet she doesn't even know how to brawl!
-Well, - the kid's brother taunted – she'll just have to learn the hard way...
-Back off, Shuji!