A/N: Okay Chapter 12! Only 2 more to go! Is anyone as excited as I am? Then again, I know the ending already ;) It's been fun working on this, my longest story ever. Reviews please! :D

Disclaimer:

Me: I'm going to have someone else say it today. Any volunteers?

*crickets chirp*

Me: Well I'll have to make somebody then.

*Lync appears* Lync: What's going on here? And I am NOT saying the disclaimer.

Me: Come on, Lync. At least your getting away from all the torture of my other story for awhile...

Lync: ...I hate you.

Me: *smiles angelically* please

Lync: She doesn't own Bakugan.

Me: Thanks Lync! *transports him back to other story*

Lync: NOOOOO-!

"Ugh. I'm not feeling so well." Alice muttered as she transported back with the last brawler and held her stomach. She felt like the room was spinning but shook it off as Runo led the last of the brawlers to the meetingroom.

"Great now everyone's here." Runo said .

There were 19 brawlers in all gathered there including Runo, Alice, Mira, Masquerade, and Baron.

"So do all of you know why your here?" Mira asked. Assorted mumbles of yes were heard along with some insults to Gundalians which the five present, Zenet, Becky, Jesse, Lena, and Ren, didn't find so welcoming. The others there were Klaus, Chan-Lee, Billy, Komba, Julio, Jenny, Jewls, Nene, and Christopher.

"We must protect Vestal from the imminent Gundalian attack. You all possess the ability to brawl and we'd like to ask you to aid us in this fight. Anyone who doesn't may leave now." Mira finished.

No one so much as twitched. "Excellent. We have decided to break into groups. Team A shall lead the attack up front and ultimately be on the front lines. Team B will infiltrate the lair secretly in hopes of bringing down Mason. Team assignements will be given as you exit the room. Thank you all."

Slowly the assorted brawlers trickled out of the room and got their assignments. "Here you are Chan, Team A. Oh and here's yours Billy..." and thus this went on until everyone had a slip of paper with their tea on it. "You know, Runo, I really don't feel well." Alice muttered as she staggered back to where Mira and Runo were now standing. "Your burning up, Alice!" The haos brawler cried as she grabbed Alice's arm to steady the dizzy and lightheaded girl.

Moaning Alice was taken to her room, told to rest, then she fell asleep. When she awoke Masquerade stood next to the bed with a glass of water. "Here drink." For the rest of the day whenever Alice needed anything he was there. More pillows? Some water, a tissue. Alice idly wondered if he was telepathic, then became to drowsy to pursue the thought.

"Here's some soup." Masquerade said offering Alice the bowl as she feebly lay in her bed with a fever and a headache." At least I hope it's soup..." Masquerade finished so that Alice couldn't hear.

"Thanks Masquerade." She mumbled quietly before falling asleep again, but Masquerade was already out the door.

"So...You don't have anything to say to me after I've been hypnotized for weeks? What shields did I destroy? What happened?" Lena asked as she stared at Ren imploringly who was seated next to her on the couch. Then she added quietly, "Did you even miss me?"

"Ummmm...stuff." Ren replied lamely, "And no- I mean yes! Wait, what was the question again? "

"I hate you." Lena stormed out.

Then Zenet came in and slapped Ren.

"What was that for?"

"For being such a jerk to Lena! After all she's been through in the last days and you cant even talk to her? You're hurting Lena's feelings by being so oblivious to your relationship. " Zenet shrieked looking like she wanted to hit him again, "You do know she likes you right."

Ren was left to think about what had happened alone for about three seconds before Masquerade came. Flopping onto the couch next to Ren he asked him what was wrong.

"I don't really know. I think it's about Lena, because Zenet came in and slapped me, but I could be wrong."

"I know how you feel." Masquerade admitted as his standard hard demeanor and cockiness fell for a moment, "I don't understand why Alice is so upset with me. I've been bringing her soup (I think), and taking care of her since she's sick all day. I mean maybe I shouldn't have kissed her the other day, but...I hate girls!"

"Zenet said I was hurting Lena's feelings by being so oblivious to our relationship. I didn't even know we had a relationship!" Ren said truthfully, he liked Lena but they weren't together or anything...Unless he really was so oblivious he just didn't know it...

Then Billy came in and also slumped down on the couch (which gave Ren something else to think about), "I miss Julie!" Billy moaned.

"I thought you two broke up." Masquerade stated.

"We did," Billy responded, "But I still miss her. I mean I knew things were going bad when she got that crush on that Ace guy, but then we brawled and everything was okay again for awhile. If only brawling was the answer to everything."

"Hey guys." Baron called as he came in the doorway.

"No!" Masquerade cried out, "There is no more room on this couch!"

And with that Baron got a faceful of one of the couch pillows.

"Geez. I was just going to tell you not to eat any of that stuff out of the red can from the fridge. It's expired and really nasty."

"You mean the soup?"

"Yeah."

Ren burst out laughing. Wiping tears from his eyes he got out, "Maybe that's why she's still mad!" Then commenced laughing again. Masquerade shoved him off the couch.

As Masquerade was walking back the hall to his room he replayed some of the conversation and remembered soimething billy had said. "He's a genius!" Masquerade now had a plan, an incredibly ill conceived and for him rather stupid plan, but a plan.

The whit carpet was stained red and Gus felt remorse, but what else could he have done? He walked passed the limp body and stopped a few feet away then brushed the hair out of Julie's still face. Her face looked pale and he wondered if she was even still breathing...

A/N: Lol Masky and the soup... Also I have a little offer for any reviewers out there. If I can get 50 reviews(i mean total, not just this chapter) I'll post both the last two chapters by next Friday. And I'll make sure I'm not late. So review ;)