Chapter 7

A/N: Okay, Runo goes to the movie theater in this! And I just realized that I haven't really put a lot of the Bakugan in here, so I'll have a little section dedicated solely to them. Somewhat. So yeah…And I just realized that I wouldn't really be writing about the theater here…

CloneGirl: I don't feel like saying the disclaimer myself today. Soooooo … MASKERADO-KUN!!!!!!!!!!

Masquerade: What now?

CloneGirl: Hee, he even answers to his nickname … *Giggle*

Masquerade: …Yeah, great. What is it?

CloneGirl: SAY THE DISCLAIMER!!!!!!!!!!! *Drum roll*

Masquerade: …What was that drum roll for?

CloneGirl: To announce you saying the disclaimer, silly! Now SAY IT!!!!!!!

Masquerade: Okay then. The disclaimer.

CloneGirl: …

Runo: That wasn't what she meant, you creep! God, you are SO annoying!

Masquerade: I'm not the one writing this, am I?

CloneGirl: Tee hee… *Smile*

Runo: Whatever, I'll say it. CloneGirl does not own Bakugan in any way. Thank goodness for that. Now can we get on with the story?! I mean, look at how long this is taking!

Masquerade: Someone's a bit eager to get into the theater with Dan, aren't

they?

Runo: SHUT UP!!!!!!!!

After hours of hiding out in her room, avoiding questions from her parents and Alice and putting up with Masquerade, Runo was finally in her room, alone, with no annoying blond villian beside her. It felt nice.

He had finally relented and left, so that she would have enough time to get changed for her 'date', as he had called it. Runo was relieved, although she still threw her pillow at him again for the 'date' thing.

"Ready to go?" Alice asked, poking her head inside the room.

"Yep," Runo said, grabbing her purse from off of her computer chair. "Let's go."

Alice was relieved to see Runo acting normally. She had been weird all day, skulking up in her room and getting nervous whenever the red head had come to check on her.

"We're off, Mom and Dad!" Runo shouted as she and Alice hurried out of the restaurant. "See you later!"

"Don't stay out too late!" Mr Masaki called back, wiping a glass from the inside.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey Runo! Alice! Over here!" Dan waved the two girls over, grinning enthusiastically. The two of them hurried over to where the others were standing.

"You guys ready for this?" Dan asked excitedly as they walked into the theater. "It's supposed to be the best horror to have come out this year! And the goriest!"

"Yippee," Runo muttered as they bought their tickets and went into the food line.

Tigrerra was silent, barely noticing Runo's unenthusiasm. She was staring at everyone else's Bakugan, all of them on their owner's shoulders, thoughtful.

Perhaps, when no one was paying attention…

* * * * * * * * * * *

A/N: Okay, I would try to describe that scene more, except I'm really lazy and don't feel like it. So instead, I'm just going to skip ahead to where Tigrerra puts her master plan into action. Kapeesh? …And the first paragraph doesn't make much sense…But oh well!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Silently and carefully, Tigrerra somehow managed to roll over to Runo's other shoulder. The girl didn't notice, she was too busy staring at the screen wide eyed, cowering beside Dan, who also looked a bit green. Julie clutched his other arm, to his ignorance.

She knew that Drago had seen her, though. He was on Dan's shoulder, right beside her. "Drago," she whispered urgently, quietly enough that the humans wouldn't be able to hear her. "Can you inform the others and have you all meet in that far corner of the theater? It is of the utmost urgency."

"Of course, Tigrerra," Drago answered her, hiding his confusion well. Smiling inwardly, Tigrerra rolled off of Runo's shoulder.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Well, what is it, Tigrerra?" Drago asked once they were all assembled in the corner. "What is the problem?"

She didn't know how to begin, exactly. Preyus interrupted her before she could say anything.

"Man, I'm telling you! Humans are viiiooollleeent. I'm surprised that Marucho was allowed to come see this!"

"Preyus," Skyress warned. "Tigrerra has something important to tell us."

"Okay, okay, sheesh! Fine then, just making a comment. Okay Tigrerra, shoot!"

"Well…" She tried to think about how to begin.

"Is this about Runo and why she has been acting so odd lately?" Drago asked quietly. "She seems so…distracted and distressed."

"Yes," Tigrerra whispered, though there was no need. "It is." Taking a deep breath, she told the other Bakugan.

"What?!" Preyus looked aghast; they all did. "Masquerade is teaching Runo math?! Hoo boy, didn't see that coming!"

Tigrerra shushed them as they all began to talk at once. "Please, allow me to explain. Masquerade simply came to Runo a few days ago, offering to help her with her homework. He didn't ask for anything in return, simply offered his help. The only thing he wanted was for it to be secret. However, he never said that I wasn't allowed to tell."

"It's obviously a way of getting information from the Brawlers," Skyress said gravely.

"Why would Runo agree to something like this?" Gorem mused.

"Masquerade already has his own information source," Drago reminded them. "And I suppose that Runo agreed to it because there maybe a chance that she could get information from him, I assume?"

Tigrerra nodded eagerly, relieved that someone understood. "Yes. However, he has so far been very elusive. But…"

"What?"

"He has agreed to answer some of Runo's questions for him…on a condition."

"A condition?" Skyress asked worriedly. "What kind of condition?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. Apparently, he hasn't thought of one yet."

"What if Masquerade is planning to somehow get Runo on his side?" Gorem asked.

"That could be possible," Drago muttered. A silence fell over them as they contemplated what to do next.

"Should we tell everyone else?" Gorem finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, we should," Skyress said. "This is a very important matter, and the humans should know of it."

"What do you think, Tigrerra?" Drago asked.

"I think," she said slowly, "That is would be most prudent for them to know of this. But Runo is not to know that I have told you all of this. You don't want to risk Masquerade discovering that the secret is out."

"Yes, wise choice," Skyress murmured. "But when should we tell them?"

"How about tomorrow?" Drago suggested. "We will have them meet, excluding Runo, of course, and explain to them what is going on."

"Agreed," Tigrerra said with a nod. "I'd say that Marucho's house would be the best place."

Suddenly, the theater was flooded with lights. With a shock, the Bakugan realized the movie was over.

"Oh man, we're gonna get caught!" Preyus cried as they waddled as fast as they could towards where their owners were, trying to avoid being trampled on.

"Tig? What are you guys doing on the floor?"

The Bakugan looked up, to see the Brawlers before them, bending down to save them from the herd of exiting people.

"We had to discuss something," Drago answered, keeping as vague as possible.

"Really? What?" Dan asked.

"Er…Nothing of importance really…"

"Man, was that movie gory or what?" Preyus complained loudly, coming to the rescue. "What did you think, Marucho?"

The small blonde boy didn't answer his Bakugan. He looked rather pale and distant.

"Please tell me you aren't going to be having nightmares…"

A/N: And THAT, peoples, is as much as I feel like writing for this chapter. Because there was no Maskerado-kun in this chapter, I didn't really feel up to writing it…So I just kinda rushed…Sorry…