I: Importance

"Alice, what are you doing?"

"Oh, Hydranoid… I'm wrapping a gift to Shun. Tomorrow is his birthday." Alice smiled at her bakugan partner. It's already 2 years they spent together and Shun has come back from his event crash with the Neathia along Dan and Marucho.

"Is it necessary?" the first head asked her.

"Isn't he the type doesn't receive any gifts?" the second said rather than asking her. Alice smiled wryly but nodded.

"Yes he is. But I feel I wanted to give him since he looked so lonely. It's not I'm pitying him but...I don't know exactly why…" She said sighing at the thoughts if Shun won't receive her gift or even threw it out. She just stubbornly wanted to help the young ninja.

"I'm sure he will thank you." The third head said, Alice not sure whether he was smiling or not because she couldn't see his mouth. It's been a long year since she regained her Hydranoid back and she didn't have any plan to brawl, she just wanted to live peacefully in Russia along him. Alice smiled at her three headed darkus bakugan.

"I hope so, Hydranoid." She tied the wrapped gift with green ribbon. Green has always been his favorite color and important to him. Green reminded him of his mother's eyes. "Come on Hydranoid, Marucho is going to come soon." Hydranoid jumped to her shoulder, the girl smiled again, taking the gift she put on her handbag.

"Tell me, why do I have to come here, Marucho?" Shun eyed the short blonde, an obvious irritated light hazel colored eyes. Shun was in Marucho's mansion along Dan, Runo, Julie, Billy, Ace, Mira, Ren, Jake, Baron, and Fabia. But where is Alice? His heart ached when he didn't see his important orange hair girl.

"Oh come on, Shun, Marucho didn't intend to do anything." Hawktor bounced on his shoulder, his ventus bakugan.

"Yeah, we won't do anything. Cool is the rule, dude!" He exclaimed.

Shun rolled his eyes, "Where is Alice anyway of you all are here? Do you purposely leave her behind?" they shook their and shrugged, "No. She is here but I don't know where she went to." Marucho said worried that the Russia girl might get lost in his big mansion.

Shun face-palmed his face, "Marucho…" He said warningly making the blonde backed and 'eek' slightly. Dan quickly put a hand on his shoulder, "Chill out, she might somewhere."

"Agree." Drago said.

"Then let's find her before we started the party." Baron said slipped out his mouth. Mira elbowed him hardly, Nemus sweat-dropped at his blurted and sighed looking at the wincing boy.

"What party?" Shun arched an eyebrow.

"Party? Was he saying party?" Julie awkwardly asked while sweat-dropped, same goes to the others who trying to hid the fact that they were preparing a party for their ninja-friend. Shun glared at them, "What are you planning?" dangerously eying them.

"None of it. We just want to have a little gathering." Runo quickly said.

Shun sighed, shrugged it off. 'What important now is to find Alice.' he thought as if Alice was going to be lost forever if he didn't quickly find her.

"Alice, are you sure you are not lost?" Hydranoid asked her innocently while Alice was walking with a confused face. "Oh no, I think I am. I never visit Marucho's mansion again since Mira and Baron's arrival." She gasped, slapping her forehead lightly. Hydranoid sighed at his master's clumsy. Sometimes, instead too innocent Alice could be too clumsy.

"Maybe we could ask his maid's for direction."

"Maybe. But I didn't see anyone here." Alice said, looking around the hall. After her trip to Wardington, Marucho suddenly ran to the mansion to met the others leaving Alice with his butler, Kato. He directed her but she didn't catch his word. How clumsy she could be.

"Won't they search on you?" the second head grumbled.

"Yeah, aren't they friends?" the third head huffed.

"Since when they become so arrogant?" the first head groaned.

Alice glanced at them with a pair of hurt eyes, its true she never go to any of their adventures anymore after her events with Masquerade, it wasn't because she was traumatized but she didn't want to cause any unnecessary events. Enough for her to be Masquerade.

"Hydranoid, they are still my friends even they won't care about me anymore." A small wry smile slipped from her mouth, whether it was a fake or not, Hydranoid stayed quite.

Alice then looked at the ceiling and sighed, "Maybe I'm not important for them." She whispered darkly only to be heard by Hydranoid. "Maybe I don't have any importance meaning in my life. My dull life."The darkus bakugan gazed toward her with painful eyes, he knew it was hurt for her but what could he do?

"I hate to hear those from them."

Alice didn't make any respond, still walking to search her friends with her handbag hung on her shoulder. Another sigh escaped from her mouth as she walked through the fountain, sitting there.

"We should wait them here."

"I think it's a good idea since we didn't catch a glimpse of them." Hydranoid said, resting on her shoulder still with his head plopped out.

"Where is she?" Shun looked around with Hawktor resting on his shoulder.

"Oh, Shun. She won't be eaten by a bakugan. Don't worry about her." Hawktor said.

"But…" Shun then caught a glimpse of long orange hair sitting on the side of fountain staring the ceiling with empty eyes. Alice.

He quickened his pace to meet her, "Alice? There you are!" she looked at the voice and smiled wryly, "Hi Shun. Guess I'm found." She said began to stand with her legs. Hydranoid gazed at him unemotionally. Shun couldn't guess what was his emotion since he couldn't see his eyes and mouth but for sure the Hydranoid didn't look happy with it.

Hawktor's head turned from Alice to Shun then to Hydranoid, "Yo Hydra, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing." He said simply, turning himself back to a ball. He seemed in a bad mood.

"What's wrong with him?" Shun pointed at the darkus ball. Alice shook her head unknowingly, "I don't know. Where are the others?"

Shun shrugged, "We split up to find you."

Alice quirked an eyebrow, 'To find me?' a half of her heart jumping in excited however another half said 'don't make your hopes up.'

Her bangs covered the pain dark hazel eyes she has, Shun was confused by her uncharacteristically silence. "What's wrong Alice?"

The girl snapped, "No-Nothing."

"Positive nothing?"

"Not… really." She laughed wryly at the joke.

"Alice…tell me, is there anything that concern you?"

"There is…nothing…" She said ending the conversation. Alice glanced on her yellow handbag, pondering whether she would give or not. It was a right time to give, but her hesitation covered her courage to give. A few minutes passed and she managed to open her handbag, taking the gift.

"Shun, um… Here…" she shoved the gift in front of him.

Shun surprised as he widened his eyes, "For me?" Alice nodded nervously, she bit her lower lips preventing her red embarrass creeping her face.

Shun took the gift without hesitation, a grin escaped from his lips, "Thank you, Alice."

With surprised she looked at his light brown eyes, locking it with hers. Once the staring contest ended, a blush creeping her face, "Um.. Your…welcome…" she said nervously averting her eyes away from him.

"And…Happy birthday Shun. It may not be as much important to you but... at least I can do something for you." A small smile tugging on her lips. The young ninja smirked and nodded, thanking the girl. He didn't notice he was enjoying the air around them, awkward but somehow a warmth encircling them.

Shun approached her, lifting his hand to care seek her blushed cheek. He leaned down on her ear, "Actually, I don't need anything. You are an important girl for me more than anything and I couldn't ask for more." Alice blushed ten different shades of red, blood boiling from her body as a slight shiver ran through her when she felt his care seek.

Hawktor secretly smirk, he decided not to disturb the two lovebirds. He turned into a ball sliding down to Shun's pocket.

"Shun…" Alice called him.

"Hm..?" he tugged a strain her behind her ear.

"Thank you."

For once, I realized that I valued my life. I valued my importance of living with them. And I won't regret about it anymore.

Reviews? I won't bite, don't worry. I just need a time to recover the energetic and cheerful on me. Life just been crazy, for those who knew me, sorry if my reply was a little cold. I just need time to restrain myself.