A.N: Latios is taking a small break so there will be no new chapter for bit. Don't worry he will be back soon!
Katie held up one of her Bakugan staring at it as Isabelle walked into her room. "Sis? Is everything ok?" She asked as Katie sat up on her bed. "Yeah everything's gonna be fine, don't worry about me." She told Isabelle as she nodded sitting down. "Hey how come the Bakugan are back anyway?" Isabelle asked as Katie sat up opening her mouth to speak as she stopped realising she never got an answer. "Ok really want to know? Ok, the boogeyman brought us back and he's gonna conquer the world with us!" Shinstui told her as Isabelle shook scarred causing him to laugh loud and hysterically before Katie swatted him. "Don't scare her like that!" Katie shouted at him as he grumbled curling back up tightly aggravated about being hit.
"I don't know right now, as soon as I know I'll let you know," Katie responded annoyed with Shinstui doing that as Isabelle nodded walking out. Katie groaned laying back turning the TV on. Flipping to news channels. Her eyes widened spotting a headline of one. "Bakugan are back?! Sightings spotted across the globe!" Katie's jaw dropped watching two newscasters in the shot. "Yes, we have photogenic proof the Bakugan have come back to Earth as they did years ago. The male newscaster announced as several screenshots over the world were shown depicting the raining Bakugan phenomenon that had taken place a few days prior. "Why yes, this is just like that day three years ago when things the Bakugan first appeared and the game truly took off. The question is will it gain momentum again and become popular like it once was?" The female newscaster asked as Katie's face lit up. "Well the thing is supposedly we have reports in Wardington City that several matches have been held in at least Japan, so if nothing else Japan is starting to pick it back up." The male newscaster reported as Katie's jaw dropped listening in exciting her as she watched on.
Dan, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of excited. He was walking with his mom basically to purge leftover anger out of Runo. Dan sighed worriedly about how much of it was her own and how much of it was about him ditching her. As they approached the cafe, Dan blinked stopping sniffing the air as he gagged. "Oh god! What's that stench! It's like someone burned Onigiri and Pie at the same time!" Dan said groaning pinching his nose. Miyoko's eyes widen whiffing the stench as she sighed. "I think Runo may have tried something… unique." Miyoko said scared of what could have caused the stench. Both of them walked in seeing thick smoke floating through the cafe as Julie and Alice furiously fan the smoke out of the building seeing Runo standing behind the counter nervously before Miyoko sighed under her breath as she saw her fears were true.
"Dan, why don't you and Runo go upstairs?" Miyoko suggested winking to Dan as he nodded picking up taking Runo to her room while Miyoko helped Saki giving Alice and Julie aid in ridding the stench and smoke. Both Dan and Runo sat down as she smiled at him making him tense. "Dan? Are you ok?" Runo asked tilting her head as Dan shook his. It's um, sorry Runo that's not the issue it's…" Dan stuttered trying to spit out what he needed to say. "Oh I get it, it was my Origini Pie wasn't it?" Runo asked as Dan stopped looking at her stunned. "You tried to make a pie out of Origini?!" Dan asked shocked at what made her think it was a good idea. "I was trying to do something different…" Runo trailed off twiddling the fingers nervously. "Well it-" Dan began speaking before hearing loud coughing and thudding from downstairs as both rushed downstairs as they saw something choking from the remaining smoke before passing out as Alice quickly started the giving them mouth to mouth resuscitation while Julie watched Alice amazed seeing her revive the person.
"T-Thank you so much for saving my life." The man said to Alice as she smiled nodding. "It's no problem, just stay safe," Alice replied back as Miyoko and Saki sighed before Saki gave a refund knowing it was bound to happen before Julie finally got the remaining smoke out of the building. "FINALLY! That was so close." Julie said slumping in one of the seats. "Well, at least I got to test out CPR," Alice said trying to make light of things. Dan nudged Runo to go down as she sighed walking down to everyone else. "Oh there you are Runo, we got worried about you!" Julie said running to her hugging her.
"I-I'm fine Julie, don't worry about me," Runo said as Julie got off her. "Just don't make THAT pie ever again, right now I think it's impossible to make a pie like that," Julie told Runo as she sighed nodding before Dan frowned tensing up. Runo wasn't having a good day and it scarred him to think of how off the handle she could fly if she heard her boyfriend tell her she had an anger issue. "H-Hey Runo, why don't we spend the day together," Dan asked as Runo nodded. "Hold on Dan; you have money on you to make Runo happy right?" Miyoko teased as Dan winced embarrassed while Runo laughed getting Tigrerra. "Y-Yeah mom don't worry about it. Just… we'll be leaving now if that's ok." Dan said wanting to rush out as both Saki and Miyoko nodded to them approving it before both of them left.
Julie sighed silently before walking to both the moms. "Mrs Misaki I hate to be a bother but did Billy send me anything today?" Julie asked as she sighed shaking her head. "Sorry Julie, nothing, it's… been awhile since he sent you so much as a postcard. How inconsiderate if you ask me!" Saki replied annoyed at Billy neglecting before Miyoko started talking about her own opinions quickly turning it into a conversation between both moms while Julie hung her head feeling disheartened. Alice's eyes widened seeing Julie so unhappy as she walked up to her. "Hey now Julie, don't be so sad, Runo and Dan may not be here but we got each other right?" Alice said trying to cheer her up as Julie slowly nodded. "Come on, we can do something after the work day is done, does that sound good?" Alice asked as Julie smiled weakly. "Thanks, Alice, I hate seeing Julie so destroyed." Gorem gratefully told Alice. "Don't worry about it; I just want my friend to be happy," Alice told him back. "Ok come on, we need to pick up the pace to make up for Runo's mistake!" Julie shouted getting ready to get back to work as Alice nodded getting back into it with her.
Dan sighed in relief as Runo tilted her head. "I… I wasn't seriously laughing at you Dan, it was just playful teasing is all," Runo told him fearing she had offended him. "It's nothing, come on we have a date waiting on us!" Dan said trying to sound triumphant before Runo burst out laughing. "C-Come on Dan, you don't have to act all macho, it's just us for the rest of the day," Runo said between laughing as he groaned again under breath while they continued walking secluding themselves. "Hey, Dan can I be honest with you? I… I've been having a bad day… and I think I know where it all started. It all started the moment I slept." Runo said as Dan worried. "Well, what was it about?" Dan asked. "It just was… well it focused on you getting so strong none of us could keep up with you, and you even told me to 'stop holding you back'..." Runo said frowning feeling the painful images of her dream return to her head before her eyes widened feeling Dan embrace her tightly. "Runo, I know I screwed up. It was terrible and I will never make that mistake again, and I feel horrible I hurt you so much you had a nightmare about it. I know it doesn't mean much but I'm sorry." Dan said trying not to show Runo his own pain from doing so.
"I think this has gone far enough!" Tigrerra said trying to shuffle to let Runo know she wanted to come out before Runo held her up while Drago floated out. "Runo, trust me I know you must be hurting and while what I did wasn't excusable this has gone far enough!" Drago told her as Runo flinched while Tigrerra sighed. "He's right Runo. You've been holding onto that incident haven't you?" Tigrerra asked her sternly as Runo started getting defensive. "N-No of course not, what makes you say that?!" Runo said trying to shrug it off as Drago and Tigrerra weren't intimidated. "Runo were scarred fo-" Tigrerra began speaking as Dan cut her off. "Hold on! Tigrerra, Drago, I've got it. I need to say this" Dan said as both curled back up hopping in their pockets. "...Say what Dan?" Runo said getting scarred. "Runo, I… at this point a lot of us are scared you're harboring anger that hasn't subsided!" Dan told her sternly. "I-I Don't!" Runo said glaring starting to get agitated. "I'm saying Runo… ...I screwed up yes, but now YOU'RE screwing up not letting go of it!" Dan told her firmly.
"Is that what you truly think?!" Runo asked him feeling hurt. "...Yes, Runo. I've apologized and I AM going to keep my promise to make it up to you, so now you have to do your part and drop this!" Dan told her point blank as both of them stood each other down not letting the other intimidate themselves. "...I worried myself SICK waiting for you to return! I started BINGING to cope with getting ditched like that!" Runo said trying to defend herself feeling ganged up on. "Runo I get it now! I know I messed up." Dan pleaded as Runo saw a bench pointing to it. "Let's sit down before we keep going, ok?" Runo suggested as they agreed and sat down, putting Drago and Tigrerra on the edges of the bench as Runo sighed. "Dan I, I trust that you realized that it hurt me… ..but do you truly understand why? I felt scared.I felt scared that you'd start doing that more in the future and start destroying my trust. ...And I feel entirely guilty about it" Runo said mad at herself.
"Wait Runo is… oh god, Runo I… Runo you're not weak!" Dan said getting scarred trying to stop her from putting herself down."I felt so weak at that moment. I felt like I was dead weight." Runo said holding her chin up before she heard Tigrerra pop out. "Runo is that how you felt? Oh my… goodness I feel so guilty now." Tigrerra said surprising Runo. "Tigrerra don't say that, you were taken before we even got there," Dan said to her as Drago watched on silently. "Tigrerra? What's this about?" Runo asked confused about what she was going on about. "Well… the thing is Runo, I might have had a chance to get away and not have been captured by the Vexos, but I was protecting a member of the Resistance, I was fighting for him, he tried to keep me safe but I sacrificed myself for him..." Tigrerra explained as Runo's eyes widened thinking back to the day the incident happened seeing her picture with TIgrerra crack through her. "Oh… Tigrerra, please don't say that. You were doing what you had too." Runo said to her before her eyes widen letting the words echo in her head thinking about it before looking back at Dan and Drago. "...Now do you get it Runo?" Drago asked her as she hung her head. "Oh my god I… I've been such a bitch focusing on my needs over yours…" Runo said disgusted with herself as Dan shook his head.
"Runo, think of it like this. We were both doing stupid things. I shouldn't have ditched you like that, and you should have letting go sooner than this. But were BOTH human, we make mistakes we're not proud of but we also make mistakes we can fix! It's not too late to fix it!" Dan told her as she looked up at all three of them. "Dan I, I just… ...Ok." Runo said smacking herself trying to force out any remaining feelings like this out of her. "Dan, When we go to New Vestroia and make it safe for the Bakugan to return too, I will personally find the one responsible for making Tigrerra feel that bad!" Runo declared clutching her fists. "Runo, just don't get overconfident about it ok?" Dan asked as she nodded in response looking him in the eye. "I promise!" Runo told him smiling.
Katie meanwhile decided to return to Alice to directly apologise to her for her actions. "You think you can actually win this time?" Shinstui asked as Katie sighed. "I just have to remind myself, it's not about winning or losing in a battle like this, this is just a battle between two people who…" Katie winced stopping sniffing the air. "...Oh, my GOD! What is that horrible stench!?" Katie said nearly coughing on it before approaching Misaki Cafe freezing up at the door. "Go on, open it." Shinstui blurted out annoyed with her hesitation. "D-Don't rush me please; my nerves are on edge as is!" Katie told him strictly before her eyes widen seeing Alice open the door as they stare at each other, "...Before ANYthing else is said, I'm sorry!" Katie said quickly before anything could interrupt her. "It's… I should apologise too for breaking your streak." Alice said feeling guilty before her eye's widened as Katie laughed slightly forced. "Hey don't worry about it, it was just a steak, it really didn't mean much in hindsight, I was just being difficult!" Katie said trying to apologise as Julie wandered over as her eyes widened glaring at Katie. "You! What are you doing here again!?" Julie demanded rushing in her face taking Katie off guard. "...To apologise for being so temperamental when Alice beat me." Katie told her Julie continued staring at her distrustfully.
"J-Julie come on now, let's hear her out now. Remember what Runo said?" Alice told Julie as she stopped looking back to Alice before nodding stepping back. "...You're lucky Alice is so kind." Julie told her as they sat down. "So, what do you have to say for yourself?" Julie asked still not thrilled with her as Katie slumped back. "Listen I-I'm sorry about what happened when I lost yesterday. I was in the wrong, and I should be begging for forgiveness." Katie blurted out as Alice and Julie's eye widened as Julie giggled silently at the idea as Alice sighed shaking her head. "Look don't worry about doing that. You realised it was wrong and you're sorry for it. That's good enough for me." Alice said smiling at her trying to help Katie calm down.
"Are you kidding me!? She beat Runo in revenge!" Julie said as Katie's eyes widened shocked as Alice tugs her ear making her yelp as Alice reeled her back. "Sorry about that! Again, I forgive you." Alice told her as Katie felt guilty. "You're sure about this? I… I really need to wonder if I deserve it." Katie said putting herself down as Shinstui popped out. "ENOUGH! Katie, YOU promised me you'd take care of me as long as I needed it! If you can't even take care of yourself HOW could you possibly take care of me!?" Shinstui scolded her as she shirked. "I, well… no, you're right! I shouldn't be mopping like this." Katie said sitting up. Julie sighed shaking her head. "Alright I… guess that if Alice is ok with you, I guess I can too," Julie said begrudgingly as she sighed.
"Regardless about that, did you come to apologise to Runo too? Sorry, she's out at the moment." Alice told her as Katie sighed slightly. "Crap, I wanted to apologise to everyone at once but oh well," Katie said as. "By the way, we were about to go check if another of our friends made it back yet, you wanna come?" Alice asked as Julie's jaw dropped. "WHAT!? I thought it was just gonna be us!" Julie said as Alice sighed. "Julie calm down I get it! You don't… Alright fine. Sorry Katie, can you wait here?" Alice asked nervously as Katie nodded. "Sure, go on ahead," Katie told them as Alice nodded getting up with Julie leaving with their Bakugan. "...You better hope they were referring to someone other than Shun." Shintsui said hovering down to the table. "Oh, hello there sorry we didn't see you!" Katie yelped seeing Saki walk up with a notepad as Miyoko laughed behind the counter. "So, what can I get you?" Saki asked smiling as Katie sweat nervously.
Alice and Julie walked on. "...Julie what was that about? You're normally more forgiving than that." Gorem said as Julie sighed wanting to leave the subject as is. "Come on Julie, what's wrong?" Alice asked pouting worried about her as Julie groaned. "It's just the timing of everything! So many things have been happening and I'm feeling burnt out because of it, to be honest." Julie said aggravated as Alice's eyes widen. "Hey come on now, I think we're all a bit high strung at the moment Julie, we'll try and do something together soon so we'll be able to wind down and ease our tensions," Alice told her to calm her down as Julie sighed nodding. "Will she be alright, Alice?" Hydranoid asked in unison as she nodded to him. "Yeah don't worry Hydranoid, Julie is a strong person she won't let this get to her," Alice said as Julie walked ahead.
"That girl just rubs me the wrong way, is that wrong?" Julie asked as Alice looked up momentarily feeling anxious. "I… suppose not," Alice said reluctantly. "...Oh! Look we made it." Gorem said distracting them as they looked up seeing Marucho's house. "It's about time!" Julie shouted running for the door as Alice followed through Julie and Alice looked around seeing massive space within the mansion. "Alright so let's ask them if they heard anything from Marucho," Alice suggested as Julie nodded. Julie's eyes widened hearing crying from further in. "His parents must be distraught. "Come on let's go check on them!" Julie said rushing on with Alice holding Gorem and Hydranoid tightly before running to an office seeing Shuuko Marukura and Kia Marukura seeing Shuuko crying while Kia hugged him comforting him.
"Honey he'll be back, Marucho is far from stupid. He'll be back to us any day now." Kia said rubbing Shuuko's shoulders as Alice and Julie looked at each other awkwardly as they cleared their throats. "Oh thank goodness that you two are here J.. ..HUH!?" Kia's eyes widen getting taken back from seeing Julie and Alice. "Oh my, Julie, Alice, it's a surprise to see you. What are you doing here?" Kia asked shocked seeing both of them in their home. "We were worried about what happened, and it sounds like Marucho is still missing," Julie said as Kia sighed. "He's our son, were worried sick to death about what happened to him, we have NO clue!" Shukko said wiping his eyes. "He… I know where he is." Julie said as both of them rushed to her. "Where is he?!" Kia asked Julie loudly making her nervous,... "He-He-He's… He's not on Earth." Julie said sighing as both of them stared at her getting pale. "...What do you mean he's not on Earth?" Shuuko asked as Julie frowned nervously. "He… he's currently on New Vestroia." Julie told them as Kia stumbled back sitting down.
"Please understand, Marucho is trying to save a world." Alice said trying to calm them down. "...Well… you're his friends right can't you do anything?" Kia asked scared out of her mind for him. "Not unless my grandfather is given funds to him repair his portal to New Vestroia," Alice said sighing. "Marucho vanished!? That's not good!" Julie and Alice shouted shocked hearing a female voice from behind as they turned around before their jaws dropped seeing both of the JJ-Dolls, Jenny and Jewels. "Jenny, Jewels, it's about time you made it!" Kia said as both girls walked in towards Alice and Julie. "We were called here to help find Marucho but you can help us look for him?" Jewels asked as Alice nodded. "My grandfather needs major support in funds to help him repair a portal to allow hopefully us to find him," Alice told them as Jenny smirked. "I… suppose we can help. BUT!... there's one condition." Jenny said as Jewels caught on smirking as well leaving Julie and Alice uneasy. "...What is this condition?" Julie asked as their eyes widened seeing Jenny and Jewels hold both a Subterra and Aquos Bakugan in their fingers. "Money isn't something light to hand out. If you want us to help you need to beat us in a Brawl!" Jenny proclaimed challenging both girls.
"...It's for Marucho! We can't be intimidated" Alice said glaring getting serious as Julie nodded following her example. "It's a brawl!" Julie said accepting their challenge. "Alright, let's take this to the roof!" Alice said as they regrouped on the roof. "FIELD, OPEN!" each one said holding a special card as a circle formed around the four of them while Kia and Shuuko looked on before they got frozen in time while the arena formed around the four girls. "Ready or not, it's time to brawl!" Jenny and Jewels shouted in sync as Alice and Julie stood their ground ready to brawl against them.
