Final chapter
They were taken back as I addressed the word 'cousin' to Shun. It was a matter of time before anyone broke the silence.
"You…you got to be kidding, ri...right?" my sister stammered as she let out a nervous giggle, her face turning pale.
"No, I'm not. That's the truth we have kept secret for all these years," I replied in a serious tone. "The Kazami clan is the Nashida clan's brother clan, making Shun our distant cousin."
Another moment of silence followed as they tried to absorb what I had said a while ago.
"No! This can't be!" Shun protested as he stood up and tried to slam his fist in the nearest wall. But suddenly an old, wrinkly hand whipped out and snatched his wrist, forcing Shun to turn around and look into the somber eyes of his grandfather.
"It's…it's true, Shun."The old man said, his head bowed trying to hide his face.
"Ah…Kazami, why don't you please explain this to these people? I know that you have been listening to my story," I said as looked at the elder ninja, as if we have known each other for a long time.
He slowly raised his head and attempted to stare me in the eye but abandoned the thought. "So, you are a Nashida. I never expected to meet anyone from that clan aside for that girl," he said, referring to Syphile. Then, he made a short bow in front of me, saying, "I'm sorry that we have brought your clan this fate."
"What's done is done. Don't worry; I know that your parents did what they had to do," I said solemnly as I motioned for him to rise.
"Wha-what's going on?" Dan asked. "Why is Shun's grandfather apologizing to Mark?"
I sighed at what my friend just said.
"Breakfast's ready," Shun's mom said as she peeked into the room.
"Thanks, mom…so, shall we?" Shun invited us.
In The Dining Room
Scrumptious food was placed in traditional square Japanese tables. Dan sat with Runo in his left while Julie insisted being on his right. Across them, I sat with Chan and Joe. To my left, Alice seated herself with Masquerade (who was close to Runo). Shun and Syphile then sat across them. Am I forgetting someone? Oh yes, Marucho. He sat with the elders on another table.
It was awfully quite this time. Usually, when I eat with the Brawlers, they would talk about numerous things, but now…they seemed to be rather gloomy. Perchance it was because of what I had told them earlier. Nonetheless, their appetite was still there. It didn't take a long time for a ruckus to start up as their hunger overtook their shock. The other table didn't seem to mind this, however.
"Try this one," Runo insisted as she fed Dan some sushi.
"Hey Dan, try this dumpling," Julie countered as the Australian stuffed the brunette's mouth with a beef dumpling.
What they didn't notice was Dan motioning for water, little choking sounds coming out of his mouth. I just laughed with Chan and Joe at the humorous sight.
"They never got over their liking for Dan, I guess…" I whispered to my seatmates.
"Yeah…they never did," Chan cheerfully answered, rolling her eyes.
Alice then noticed the commotion the three are making and scolded the girls for nearly killing Dan. Masquerade, on the other hand, never noticed a thing until Alice asked him for a glass of water.
I turned my attention to my relatives and saw that they are still eating quietly. A closer look showed that they were both blushing mildly, just a few little spots of pink on their cheeks. Shun extended his chopsticks for the last tempura at the same time Syphile did. When they realized that the other wanted the tempura, they quickly withdrew their hands.
"Why don't you take the last one?" Shun offered his cousin timidly, cautiously nudging it towards her.
"Are you sure? I mean… " she responded nervously, bowing her head to try and avoid eye contact with him
"Yes, it's alright."
"…No," she said as she broke the tempura in two. Now contented, she offered it to Shun. "Take the other part."
"No, my rice ball!!!" Dan cried
I immediately turned to look at the others just in time to catch a rice ball flying towards my direction.
"Ah, thanks for catching my rice ball, Mark. So, can I have it now?"
"Oh sure... You can have it" I said sarcastically while juggling the rice ball with my hand, similar to how I would with an ordinary ball
Joe and Chan immediately got my plan and gave me the thumbs up sign hidden from Dan's view.
After Breakfast, In The Dojo
Everyone was sitting on the floor, forming a small circle of people eager to know more of what happened, long ago.
"So, what were you asking before we ate?" I asked Dan
"Why did Shun's grandfather apologize to you earlier?" he repeated.
Shun's grandfather then motioned for everyone to come closer to him. We did what he instructed, and he began his speech.
"As you all now know, the Kazami and the Nashida are brother clans. This is because my father's elder sister, Iue Kazami, married a rich nobleman from an unknown but powerful clan. We then promised to keep their experiments secret, at Iue's own request. However, we already pledged our loyalty to our liege lord and disobeying that command means termination. The lord we served threatened to annihilate our clan if we were to keep the practitioners of forbidden arts hidden. We didn't know how this information leaked, but it was either us or them. This is the reason we were forced to betray the Nashida," he said soberly as the people around him listened keenly.
They understood why the Nashida hated the Kazami; being betrayed by the only one you trust. They then bowed their heads and prayed for peace of the souls of the deceased.
Afterwards, we left the dojo and went our separate ways. Dan, Runo and Julie rode with Marucho on their way to their respective homes, whilst Syphile and I, having nowhere to go, decided staying with Shun. Alice and Masquerade, along with Dr. Michael, also chose to stay with us for a while.
Later That Day
I was resting under the shade of a tree while staring at the setting sun, thinking of what events just occurred and how it will change our lives when someone approached me.
"So, your clan's fate was a sad one," Alice said as she laid her head on my shoulder.
"Yes, yes it is…I hope that they will find peace wherever they are now," I answered as I patted her head. After that, I wrapped my arm around her waist and she firmly grasped my hand. We stayed like that until the stars glistened in the night sky.
"Thank you, for saving me last night," she whispered, before tilting her face upwards and planting a quick kiss on my cheek.
I blushed a bit before offering to escort Alice back to the house.
"Mark just got kissed," Syphile teased as she suddenly came from behind, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "And to think that it was his cru…"
"Syphile! What the…don't you dare say it," I threatened, raising my fist.
"Aw…can't take a joke," she giggled before heading inside the house, Alice right behind her. I slowly followed the girls, embarrassed.
Upon reaching the doorway, I saw Masquerade and Shun waiting for me just outside the house. They looked rather serious this time. I remembered that since Dezyn won the bet for me, they'd be taking my orders.
I tried to lighten up their mood by talking about how each other is related to one another. Accidentally, I got into what might be Alice and Masquerade's relation in a family
"Well, I presume that your surname is Gehabich now, making you Alice's younger brother, right Masquerade?"
"Unless you stop about this whole relative thing…" was all Shun managed to say before I interrupted, ignoring him as I continued on with a teasing comment.
"Oh, yeah! Since you came from Alice; that means she's your mo-"
"NO!" Shun and Masquerade both yelled in defiance.
"Sister's fine," Masquerade added as he looked around, trying to see whether anyone heard me.
"On a more serious note, I'll only be giving each of you one request," I began. "Shun, please protect my dear sister."
"I already got that covered," he assured me.
We continued to walk until we reached the bedrooms. Alice emerged from her room and hugged her brother.
"Masquerade, you know what I'm going to ask of you, correct?"
"Sure, I'll protect Alice with all of my life. But, Masquerade's no more," my friend said as he slowly removes his mask…
End Final Chapter: Guardian (Mark)
Seityrn: There… All done now. Hope that you people liked it. Till next time ^.^
Mark: (^. ^ ;) He's going to be college next week, thus he'll be busier than before.
Seityrn: But that doesn't stop me from writing FanFics for you guys and gals.
Both: Now, for the last time for this FanFic
We don't own Bakugan Battle Brawlers.
Also, all the events and clans here are fictional. Anything that happened in real life that is the same with this FanFic is PURELY coincidental.
FAQs:
Q1.) Sequel!?!?!?!?
A1.)I'm already trying to find a new plot to link this with the sequel, so yah... There will be a sequel. Not just now.
Q2.)Masquerade is no more? …Then what is he…?
A2.)I assure you that he is human. AND WILL live as a regular one, not just a shadow that protects Alice like before.
Syphile: Yay! I managed to hack at the last moment... I invite you people to visit Seity's profile and see my share of space. ^^ Also, don't forget to R&R this story.