A/N:

kd: Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait! I also apologize for this being such a short chapter…and not with enough humor than I would have liked…

Hydranoid: What are you apologizing for? Just get to the part I'm in!

kd: Ummm, well, the thing is, Hydrie…you're only in one scene ^.^;;

Hydranoid: …did you just call me 'Hydrie'? Is that my new, wait a minute, I'M ONLY IN ONE SCENE!

kd: Sorry, sorry! I kinda just made this to rush things along…it might even be my shortest chapter yet…

Hydranoid: But WHY? Are you trying to abuse us?

kd: Not really, I'm just trying to get more reviews…-.-;;

Hydranoid: Oh comon'!

kd: Anyways, hope you guys can enjoy this chapter!

Hydranoid: WAAAAAIIIIITTTTT!

kd: What?

Hydranoid: You forgot the disclaimer!

kd: Oh…this again -.-…just tell Masky to do it.

Hydranoid: But I haven't seen him since the late A/N

kd: Then who's going to—

Jet: *pops out of nowhere* kd does NOT own ANY part of bakugan!

kd: Alright, so there you go~

December 4th in Alice's bedroom

"A…beach house?" Alice asked uncertainly while holding a cute, small, pink, flip phone against her right cheek and shoulder. She in her bedroom, laying on her bed belly-down as she slowly kicked her legs into the air in a rhythmic motion. Her arms folded near her chest as she used her elbows to support the upper half of her body.

"Yes, everyone else is going, it'll be like having summer in the middle of winter." Shun tried to reassure Alice.

"I don't know, I kinda like winter…" Alice said in an almost dreamy voice as she imagined slowly drifting snowflakes as there were child sledding and making snowmen and snow-angles then going home after to drink delicious, warm, hot coco.

"We'll only be there for a week." Shun said with a tired edge to his voice. Alice still wasn't sure. Why would she want to have summer during the winter when the month of her favorite holiday was so short? She could always go down there during the actual summer, she could also go down there most of the year, since it was owned by Marucho, but winter only came around once a year. Then again, now that they were getting older, school was getting harder and they were losing more and more free time. If she passed up the opportunity to be with the other brawlers, she might regret it.

"Alright, I'll go." Alice said a bit wishy-washy.

"Alright!" Shun said in genuine happiness. Alice couldn't help but smile to hear Shun's excitement and thinking about the fun time she'll have with everyone else. She could always celebrate Christmas, but she had a feeling that her time with the Brawlers may be limited…

"Ugh, I'm so bored." Masquerade complained as he stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom.

"Well, what do you suppose we do, Master?" Hydranoid asked optimistically.

"Hmmm…let's put more bakugan in the doom dimension." Masquerade offered, though he made it sound like more of a command than a request. But Hydranoid knew he was just pondering this option as he was still lying on his bed, unsure of what to do.

"…or we could go sledding."

"Or send the Brawler's bakugan to the doom dimension."

"Or make snowmen…"

"Or plot complex mastermind plans on how to destroy the Brawlers."

"Or we could watch Christmas specials."

"Or we could work on world domination."

"Or we could do something a little more Christmasy—"

"Or we could just do something FREANKIN' EVIL ALREADY!" Masquerade blurted out, now sitting on the edge of his bed to glare at Hydranoid who was sitting on his dresser.

Hydranoid sighed, "I guess I should just tell you already…"

"Tell me what?" Masquerade asked irritated.

"Ummm…well…Naga gave us vacation time for the holidays…"

"WHAT?" Masquerade threw his hands up in disbelief.

"Well, you see, Naga's noticed your dropping performance and thinks that forcing vacation time on you would help you to relax for a while…you have the entire month off…"

"Why in the world did you not tell me this before?"

"Because I knew you'd act all stressed out…like you are now."

"I'm not acting stressed out." Masquerade snapped.

Hydranoid coughed and muttered, "Denial," and then coughed again.

Masquerade sighed, "So what do we do now?" Masquerade asked as he felt déjà vu, Weren't we just thinking of things to do?

"I dunno, boss, where do you wanna go?" Hydranoid asked, unable to hide the broadness from his voice.

Masquerade looked to his left to see his dresser and saw the sun glasses that lay on the top. "I think I have a fun idea, Hydranoid…"

Meanwhile in Runo and Alice's room...

"So tell me Tigrerra…" Wyvern inched toward Tigrerra, "Aren't you going to miss Hydranoid when you go to Marucho's beach house with Runo?"

"W-what are you talking about?" Tigrerra stuttered, "Why in the world would I miss Hydranoid, the guardian bakugan of the brawlers' nemesis, of all people?"

"Huh, I thought so," Wyvern concluded.

"See, there's nothing between me and Hydranoid."

"I knew there was something between you and Hydranoid."

"Wait…what!"

"So tell me. When did you guys first start seeing each other? Do you have pet names for each other…like…Hydrie and Tigs? Are you guys going to be mates? What's his favorite color? Do you believe that he's your soul mate? How far, exactly, are you two into your relationship. Does either Runo or Masquerade know?" Wyvern shot questions at poor Tigrerra like rapid fire.

"Ummm, well, actually…wait, why in the world would you come to such conclusions after I just said that me and Hydranoid weren't seeing each other…"

"But you guys are, aren't you?"

"Yes…and it's so exciting!" Tigrerra let out a girl squeal along with Tigrerra, she starts spilling everything, unable to hold it in. "We first started seeing each other 3 months ago, when Runo and Marucho visited Masquerade mansion and I met Hydranoid, face to face. Ummm…mates…I'm not sure about that yet, It'd be great if out relationship ever reaches that point, but I don't know yet. He says his favorite color is white, but I think he says that to flatter me, so I don't think he really has a preference. Neither Masquerade or Runo…or anyone else on the face of this planet knows about me and him, yet. I'm not sure if he's my soul mate, but we go nice together, I think."

"Wow…so none of the others know…"

"Time to say goodbye, Wyvern!" Joe called from across the room. Joe also turned to Runo, who was still packing for the trip, and said his farewells. "Thanks for the party and letting me stay for the night while I waited for my flight back home."

"No problem." said Runo.

"Please come again!" Alice said, also exchanging goodbyes with Joe.

I couldn't imagine their reactions if I told them… Tigrerra thought as she watched Runo's and Alice's smileing faces as they waved goodbye to Joe.

December 5th, in Flordia somewhere...

It was a perfect day for the beach. The sun was shining, making the ocean glean and sparkle as the waves beat against the rocks, spraying water droplets high into the air where it might catch the light to quickly cast a small rainbow. Alice smiled at the scenery around her. She was wearing a green one-piece, with lime green sides. Marucho, who was in light blue trunks, was happily slashing in the water with Runo, wearing a yellow bikini with orange flowers. Alice sat near the wet mark in the sand that showed how high the waves flowed.

Alice sat down and sighed in contentment. She stared off into the horizon as her head swarmed with deep inner thoughts. She thought about how she was glad she came here, though she missed the snow. She thought about how the other brawlers were getting along and how they were improving on their brawling. When she thought about brawling, though, an image of Masquerade abruptly appeared in her mind's eye. I wonder what he's doing… Alice thought dreamily.

In her mind's eye she replayed the memory of Masquerade kissing her under the mistletoe. She remembered his face, covered by that haunting mask, coming closer to hers. She thought of the tingling sensation throughout her body as their lips touched. It was a very light kiss, their lips barely brushed against each other, but that just left her wanting more. She never thought kisses could feel so good. She blushed as she realized that it was her first kiss. She imagined Masquerade pulling away from the kiss, while still embracing her by holding her arms, and gently calling her name. 'Alice' he murmured quietly. Alice turned to Masquerade and waited for what he was going to say next but they both stayed silent in her mind's eye.

"Alice." Masquerade said a bit more firmly, as if worried that he did not have her full attention. Alice nodded to him to continue…but he didn't, Alice started to worry. Why was fantasy Masquerade acting this way? "Alice!" Shun almost yelled. Alice flinched as she finally noticed the handsome ninja sitting next to her. His long black hair looked glossy in the intense sunlight, which seemed out of place among the white sand and the more colorful brawlers. He wore dark purple trunks and a shark tooth necklace, a nice contrast to his darker skin, hung next to his bare chest.

"Oh, Shun!" Alice said, surprised. "I'm sorry I was just thinking about something."

"What were you thinking about?" Shun asked in true curiosity.

Alice's blush deepened, "Oh, n-nothing in particular!" Alice didn't want to tell any of the Brawlers about what happened between her and Masquerade, even if it was Shun. They all hated Masquerade, which was a problem because she found that now she really likes Masquerade. Not only does she like him but she's been having uncontrollable fantasies about him, and she definitely couldn't tell the brawlers about that, even the girl brawlers would be freaked out.

"Alice…" Shun said with concern in his voice. He placed his hands on her reddened cheeks. "Are you burning, already? You forgot to put on sun lotion, didn't you?"

"Ah, well, I guess you caught me there." Alice hastily stood up. "I'll go put on some right now!" She laughed nervously as she turned around and ran back to the house.

"…all I did was ask her about sun lotion…" Shun murmured in amazement about Alice's edginess.

I need to tell someone, the secrecy is killing me! Alice thought franticly as she searched around the large vacation house. She ran around the place a few times only to remember that everyone was outside. Alice went up to her room and laid on the bed in distress. Belly-down, limbs spread out so they partly fell off the bed and face being suffocated by the pillow. This was Alice's 'overwhelmed' pose. All it took was one kiss and she was falling apart, Am I really that weak? Alice thought to herself. Sure it was my first kiss and all but do I really need to be so obsessed about it? The real problem isn't necessarily about the kiss but about how much the brawlers hate Masquerade. He really isn't that bad of a guy…right? I wonder why he serves Naga, there must be some reason…I wish he was here so I could ask him, or at least be able to see him.

"Hey Alice, what's wrong?" Runo asked walking into the room to discover Alice sprawled out on her bed.

"Nothing." Alice muttered into her pillow.

"Oh, come on." Runo said while walking to sit on the edge of the bed to comfort Alice.

Alice looked up from her pillow, "I told you, it's nothing." Alice tried to say this convincingly but the emotion must have been plain on her face.

Runo sighed, "If you don't tell just yet, that's fine but what are you doing in here, Shun's waiting for you!"

"He is?"

"Yes!" Runo flailed her hands in frustration. Alice can be really clueless when it comes to guys sometimes…at least I can always understand Dan…well, it's not that hard to misunderstand him, either…so I'm not saying I'm a mind reader…I just know Dan well…well, kinda…we're good friend…acquaintances…co-workers? While Runo was having such internal conflict Alice slid off the bed in one fluid motion and walked out of the room to meet up with Shun.

Mean while down on the beach...

"AHHHHH! HELP! HEEELLPP MEEEE!" Preyas yelled as the waves started sweeping him away.

"Preyas?" Dan asked in surprise after spotting the drifting blue bakugan.

"Don't just stand there, help me for Pete's sake!"

"Alright," Dan said as he waded into the very shallow water to pick up the squirming bakugan, "I thought you were an aquos bakugan, how could you drown? And who's Pete?"

"Wow, you really are stupid…"

"Hey!" Dan yelled, offended of Preyas's blunt criticism.

Preyas sighed, "You know, not all aquos bakugan can swim."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Then what's the point of being an aquos bakugan if you can't even swim?"

"…WHY DOES EVERYONE POINT THAT OUT?" Preyas said in despair.

"Ummm…I thought you could change attributes, too."

"Oh yeah…"

"…"

"…" Preyas reflected Dan's silence.

"So who's Pete, and why is everyone worried for his sake?" If bakugan could face palm in ball form, Preyas would have defiantly have done it.

That Afternoon

"Alright Alice, what's up?" Shun said, strait to the point. It was been multiple times that he caught Alice with that worried stare. Something was definitely on her mind but no one could figure out what. She would just stare out into space at the most inconvenient times, like now, while she and Shun were playing volleyball together and she let the ball pass her without making any effort.

"Oh, uh, nothing's…'up'" Alice tried to make the lie more convincing with a smile, but the smile must not have reached her eyes because Shun had a worried look on his face.

"Alright, but could you at least get the ball? They're over the rocks over there." Shun pointed toward the 'mini mountain range' of rocks that separated this summer house into the next private property.

"Shun, that would be trespassing, the rocks separate the properties!"

Shun sighed, "Alice, just go. It's not like anyone else will be here, it's early December."

"Yeah, you're right, I bet nobody's home over there, anyways." Alice said before walking off. The setting sun made the rock glow orange, giving a somewhat otherworldly impression, a barrier that she had to cross, more mentally than physically. Alice climbed the rocks but froze in shock when she saw what was on the other side. Alice slowly walked up to the boy in the reclining beach chair on the adjacent property. "M…Masquerade?"