Chapter 18
A/N: Okay, here's…this chappie, I guess. *slumps* Brain…is slowing down…can't…think of what's going to happen after…need…inspiration…Internet…fanfiction…root beer…the root beer will tell me what to do…yeeeesssseseseseeeeessssss…heh heh heh, the root beer will save me…and the…marshmallows…and brownies…and yam fries…yes, my loves, they will tell me what to do…*twitches* No, I'm not going crazy at all…
CloneGirl: Maskerado-kun…say the disclaimer for me, love…ponies…eating…tigers…and lions…and…snakes…oh my…crap, no, bears…oh my…twinkle, twinkle, little star…
Masquerade: …Are you all right?
CloneGirl: But of course…my love…I'm perfectly all right…hee hee hee…squuuuuaaaaab…MY LOVE!!!!!! *glomps*
Masquerade: *smacks her away* It's okay, she's perfectly fine…and…may as well…CloneGirl does not any rights to Bakugan. Yippee.
CloneGirl: RAIN!!!! DOOM!!!!! THUNDER!!!!! PARASITES RAINING FROM THE SKY!!!!!!! PILLOW!!!!!!! Ooh, pillow…
"Alice…I think…I think that…that I might actually…actually…like…" Before Runo could finish what she was saying, the door had flown open and the lights flickered on, revealing her father standing in the doorway.
"What are you girls doing at this hour? Gossiping?"
Runo went red again, hurriedly unwrapping her arms from her legs and laying down, Alice following suit. "Sorry Dad…just had to talk to Alice about something…"
"You can talk about it tomorrow," he mumbled, with a bear-like yawn. "Just get to sleep, okay?"
"Yes, Dad," Runo replied as he left, burying her head in the blankets.
Alice watched her friend for a minute, before sighing and turning over. She knew exactly what Runo had been about to say; how could she not? It was so painfully obvious…the only problem now was whether she should keep it to herself…or talk to the others about it…but that would be betrayal…but…this was bad, very, very bad…
Runo being in love with Masquerade was something that just wouldn't work.
* * * * * * * * * * *
He was completely confident that Masquerade had nothing but contempt for all of his enemies, including the Brawler girl. He was now battling again, absolutely destroying any random kid who happened to have a Bakugan, with a renewed energy and sadistic pleasure that simply warmed Hydranoid's heart to see.
Not to mention Masquerade's constant and furious mutters about what 'Runo' had said about him. Hydranoid was very proud to know that his master was very hung up on the 'Dan being a superior brawler' comment. He had to congratulate his genius, he really did.
So, he had one half of his 'vow' done. Now there was the other part to worry about…something that might just be the slightest bit trickier…
Ensuring that the Brawler girl was completely and utterly in love with his master. Really, he should have thought about this part when he had fought with the Haos Bakugan…there were so many things he should have thought of.
At least he had an advantage. With the dimensional transporter, he would be able to go to the Brawler girl whenever he wished and did…whatever would work with making her fall in love. Granted, he very much doubted that his presence would be appreciated…and he had a feeling that Masquerade was now keeping a better watch over the transporter…as in locking it in a safe when it wasn't in use…but still. Advantage.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Okay girls, you can go now," Mr Masaki said as another person left the restaurant, clapping a hand on their shoulders. "If we get any more people, we'll be sure to call you girls down, okay?"
"Kay, Dad."
"Yes, Mr Masaki."
Runo yawned loudly as she and Alice trudged up the stairs. Another near-sleepless night, all because of that stupid piece of paper that she had hidden under her pillow, though she did get an hour or two of sleep. For some reason, the memory of something minty kept popping into her head as she tried to remember her dream…and now she was craving a mint…
"You should probably get some sleep, Runo," Alice said softly, not looking at her. Runo didn't look at her either; no need to be reminded of last night's conversation. Wait…crap, she just remembered it. Darn it.
"Nah, I'm fine…just…I'm gonna check the chatroom. See if anyone else is on…"
Alice hesitated for a moment, clearly wanting Runo to get some much-needed rest. But… "Well, okay."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Hydranoid was still pleased with the fact that his master hated the Brawler girl, and probably everyone else by now too…or at least more than he already had hated them. But now…it was starting to get annoying.
"Only a true fool would think that Dan is a superior brawler," Masquerade repeated, furiously clicking his mouse again. Hydranoid found himself fearing for its safety. "Has Dan defeated as many opponents as I have? Is he the one who's been number one for the last few months? No, I believe not."
"Of course, Master," Hydranoid muttered tiredly. Blah blah blah blah…he just kept going on and on and on and on…how annoying…thank goodness that Masquerade couldn't read thoughts…
"Are you sure that that's what she said?"
"…Yes, Master." And thank goodness that there was no way that he could know that he was lying. Who knows what kind of terrible punishment Masquerade would think up for getting him so worked up…the least he could do was glare at him evilly. That in itself was scary enough to properly punish the poor Bakugan…his master was probably the only human that Hydranoid was scared of. Not that he'd admit it.
"…Hmph. It's not as though her opinion matters much anyways. She's just another insignificant brawler…"
Vaguely, Hydranoid wondered if Masquerade would be offended if he just tuned out everything he said, or if he just wouldn't notice…how nice it would be to just ignore these tedious complaints…this hadn't been what Hydranoid had signed up for when he joined Naga. If there had been one, the job description wouldn't have said anything about having to patiently listen to the gripings of a teenage boy.
"This just won't do."
"Hmm?" It seemed that Masquerade had finally broken free of the cycle of 'she's a fool' and 'are you sure she really said that'. Thank god.
"This silly idea could most likely be the opinion of all of the Brawlers," the blonde muttered, tapping away on the mouse absentmindedly. "It just won't do…it would be better to put them in their place…especially…"
His voice dropped to a low hiss as a new face popped up onto the screen, the face of a young girl with green eyes and unusually bright blue hair.
"Runo."
As he watched the way his master stared at the picture, so hard to interpret with the mask yet strangely easy to understand (don't ask), it dawned on the Darkus Bakugan…that perhaps he wasn't so close to victory…
TV had certainly given Hydranoid a solid insight of the human mind (A/N: …Shut up. I happen to learn a lot from TV…and like using it as a proving point/mocking it. I mean, it's just hilarious the way people act on TV…). Especially (not that he watched them) soap opera's or other such shows that very commonly had a love/hate relationship, that nearly always ended with the two who had originally hated each falling in love with each other. Or they fell in love and then got shot.
And now, poor Hydranoid was almost completely sure of one thing. That Masquerade being in love with Runo just wouldn't work.
A/N: A fairly sucky end to that chappie in my humble, yet awesomely great opinion…not that I'm saying that it sucks. Because it doesn't…I don't suck…I don't suck…I don't suck…*repeats that to self several times* But yeah…I hurried it a bit…so yeah…you know…heh…sorry that it's a bit shorter than usual…I think it's actually a lot shorter than I normally do…but…wait…
OH MY GOD YAY I JUST GOT THE GREATEST IDEA EVER AND IT'S SO FREAKING GREAT AND YES! YES! GOOD BYE TO WRITERS BLOCK! Well, for now that is…but still…YES! YES! YES! YEEEESSSSSEEESSSSESSESESESESESSSSYESYESYESYESYESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! ……………………………………………………………………YES! Of course, that means that this will end soon…about two or three more chappies, I'd say…but still…GREATEST FREAKING IDEA EVER!!!! Yeeeeessss…
And no comments about my excessive use of TV as an influence to the characters…because it is very influential. Don't deny it.