Chapter 5.
…On Earth…
"Runo, what are you going to do…?' asked Julie worriedly. The blue-haired girl sighed. "I'm not so sure. I mean, Dr. Michael's no use. Believe me; I called him three times, same answer every time. Journey, journey, JOURNEY!" Runo punched her pillow repeatedly. "Temper, Runo…" warned Julie. Her tone picked up, "hey! Maybe I could try!"
Runo's eyebrows rose skeptically. "Try what exactly?"
"Calling Dr. Michael, silly! Like, everyone knows I can sweet talk anybody into just about anything." Julie's voice became considerably squeakier on the last sentence.
"Right…" Runo said slowly. "So you're gonna randomly ring him up and ask him where Alice is?" she said sarcastically.
"Yeah, like, duh!" said Julie happily.
Runo twitched. She had to restrain herself. Alice was probably in a lot of trouble, who knew?
"Julie. That won't work." She spoke slowly, as if speaking to a five-year-old.
"Runo, I, like, don't have the same luck as you, k', so just back off for once, and let me do my thing!"
That did it. "Julie," Runo breathed, "I. Don't. Have. Time. For. This. SO PLEASE STOP BEING A TWIT AND JUST CONCENTRATE FOR ONCE!" She slammed down the phone in a huff. "Stupid pink chick, stupid Dr. Michael, STUPID EVERYTHING! Alice could be hurt for all we know!" she shouted. Her blue hair splashed around her head, bigger than the waves. Her hands sunk themselves into her pillows in frustration. "Alice, where are you…?"
Runo thought to the people that could help her locate Alice. Komba, Chan-lee, Billy… but who could help? After a few minutes of brainstorming, her mind clicked. Klaus. He knew more about her than anybody else right now. He had been the one to help Alice that one time. He had resources, and all items essential. He had to be the one; much as Runo hated that arrogant jerk. "Klaus it is, then…" she muttered.
She picked up her phone-book, and the phone she recently slammed. "Klaus…Klaus…ah! Here it is!" she muttered, flipping through the pages. She hesitated for a second before dialing. "Jerk," she muttered. A few seconds after, a stiff voice picked up, "Klaus Von Hertzon, at your service." Runo held in her shiver. "Klaus," she said grimly, "It's Runo."
"Runo Misaki? The adorable blue-haired girl?" Klaus said amusedly. A growl rumbled her lips. "That's the one."
"Ah… how have you been, Runo? It's been a while… Dan around?"
"No, and you know that, now quit with the merry-making. I need a favour."
"Ah, always to the point, isn't that right, Miss. Misaki…?"
Alice's grip on her pillow tightened. This is for Alice… This is for Alice... she chanted her mantra in her head. She spoke darkly, "This regards Alice."
The subtle teasing stopped. Klaus screwed his ears onto the bluenette now. "What about her? Is she not in Russia?" he asked.
"No, at least, I don't think so. Here's the deal…"
Runo retold her tale to Klaus who listened attentively, "… and that's what happened," she finished. "Miss Misaki, I may have a solution to your problem. Why, it's in the primary stage, but might do."
"What is it?" Runo asked impatiently. She didn't know if she imagined it, but there was some hidden emotion under Klaus' voice. He wasn't doing this for her.
"A machine. Rather robust, I'm afraid, but it might just do the trick."
"I got that it was a thing, genius, now tell me what it does."
"Feisty, aren't we?" he smirked. "Why, why, Miss Misaki, it's very simple. This creation allows me to pinpoint the location of every bakugan on Earth…"
"And how does THAT help?" she said impatiently, this time she was pacing around the room.
"Do not interrupt," he said coldly. "Alice's Guardian bakugan is Hydranoid, is he not?"
"Yes," mumbled Runo.
"So it would mean Alice takes him everywhere, right?"
"Yes…" said Runo, slowly getting the picture. "So… wherever Hydranoid is, Alice will be with him?"
"Precisely."
"Klaus, that's genius!" cried Runo, forgetting herself. "But how does your machine find a bakugan?" She scratched her head.
"Dear Runo, it is easy, every bakugan has its own energy signature. Hydranoid will have a Darkus energy signature, but that mark will differentiate from the other Darkus bakugan. The physics of bakugan is difficult for the meager mind to develop, but Dr. Michael explained it thoroughly the last I saw of him."
"Okay. Great. I didn't need a lecture, but thanks. Now the important part, I need to get there. Me and a friend. Alice is my best friend – like a sister. I NEED to know if she is alright," Runo pleaded.
"Klaus stayed silent for a second, but he broke it with his agreement. "Very well, Runo, you may come. So can your friend. I suspect it is Miss Julie, is it not?"
"Yes."
"I will send my private jet to pick you and her up. It should be arriving in an hour and a half. Inform Miss Makimoto of this arrangement. Do not be tardy."
"I won't, and thanks," said Runo gratefully. "You saved me a heap of trouble."
"Ah, it's no problem. A gentleman must always save a damsel in distress," he said airily. "And, besides that, I'm worried about Alice too," he smirked lightly.
"Right… see ya, Klaus."
Runo hung up. "Maybe he's not a huge jerk after all," she said to herself. "Nah, who am I kidding? He just has a mega-crush on Alice!" She laughed at her own joke, and picked the phone up again. "Now to take care of other matters…"
The familiar numbers pressed a pattern on the phone. A few beeps later, Julie's teary voice answered. "H-hello?"
"Julie… are… you crying?" said Runo. The guilt poked her without hesitation.
Great, one more problem to fix… she thought unhappily. "I'm sorry, Jules," she said sincierely. "I was just worried, and… yeah. I have temper issues."
"You got that right!" Julie sniffed. 'That was like, SO mean. Who do you think you are, Runo…?"
"Uh, apologizing here!" Runo said, irritation arousing. Instead of yelling, she took a deep breath and let it out. "Julie, I really AM sorry. I promise not to yell at you like that again."
"Promise?"
'Promise."
"Swear?"
"Swear," Runo's irritation multiplied.
"Pinky-"
"I FREAKIN' PROMISE, OKAY?" Runo exploded. There it was.
"Ha! I knew it!" scoffed Julie.
"Julie! Are you doing this for your own pleasure?" screeched Runo.
"Maybe," Julie chortled.
"I REALLY have no time for this, Julie. I have news on Alice, so listen."
Julie straightened. "What? How? So fast?"
"Yeah, I'll tell ya, but don't tell anyone, especially your parents," Runo warned.
"Right, right!" Julie brushed it off. "So tell me!"
Everything about Klaus was recounted to Julie. "He's gonna pick me up in an hour?"
"That's right, don't be late."
"You mean that jerk's actually helping us for once?" said Julie amazed. Runo pictured her powdered-pink face agape.
"He's not doing it for us, he's doing it for Alice," smirked Runo. "Mega-crush, remember?"
"Oh yeah…" said Julie. She smirked. "Klaus and Alice, sitting-"
"JULIE! Get ready! We're off to Germany!"
"Sheesh, okay! Don't need to yell! So what do I wear? My pink…"
Runo wasn't listening. She looked out the window worriedly.
"Be okay, wherever you are, Alice…"
My last chapter hardly got any reviews at all... I'm really disappointed. :( Only shadowing1994 reviewed. Thank you for it. You rock! I really hope you update your stories soon. ;) please guys, can I get at least 3 reviews for this chapter? Please...? I might not update if I don't. Reviews help me know if I do good, so please, just say a word or two! It's that simple :P. Press the little blue button below! Say if I'm the work is good, bad, anything! Thank you. :) And trust me, the plot does thicken after a will come in the next chapter. This one was a sort-of 'filler'. I needed to show what happened on Earth. I found it slightly difficult to keep the story revolving around Alice the whole time, so I put in her friends. Dan, Marucho, and Shun will make their way through soon, don't worry, and I might even add the Resistance. Oh, and bythe way, this story is NOT Klaus/Alice. Klaus just has a mega-crush on her, but she doesn't like him! So...
PLEASE REVIEW. :)