Cup of Violet Tea: Body language implied Alice was mad, not scared. I think the right word for that is 'confidant.' Add an 'e' in the end for female.

RosesOfTruth: We'll never know what Alice is hiding until she says it for herself. It's okay; vacation's more important.

MagicxMusicxMelody: Pursue/Pursuit is more like a crime show word. Even if Alice accidentally found out something, she's not going to say a word, is she?

InnocentDiamond: I'm barely learning Cantonese! Sorry, I skipped Chan and Alice's conversation. Jealous or not, something's definitely building up.

Cherry-Tree: It is odd that Alice actually admit that, but for certain reasons. The attacker might come back. I haven't planned it yet.

SSR: Updating this in the airport as I wait for my plane.

Dan: Lazing out, aren't you?

SSR: Finals exams were difficult, but they're finally over!

Marucho: Next planned update is still five days from today and-

Runo: New Year's Eve special or New Year's special?

SSR: Okay...tough decision being thrown at me. Former one? Latter one? Or maybe both! I don't own Bakugan!

Chapter Eleven

Invisible Friend

...

...

Earlier at Bayview's harbor, Julie was looking for Alice but met up with Marucho instead. They sat on the brick rising surrounding a tree in its shade. Shun was talking to Alice somewhere else at the time.

"We split up and are searching for Alice separately." Julie explained. "But since you have something to tell me, I'd rather listen to that instead. I gave him the bracelet so I can keep track of where he is."

"Well done. At least Shun's searching for her." Marucho used his lighted finger and drew a rectangle in front of them and tapped the 'screen' gently. "Alice life crisis is deeper than we thought."

"Again?!" yelled Julie, standing up and pulling her silver hairs. "Can we please talk about something other than her life crisis? I feel like we're not getting anywhere with this."

"Julie, I promise. This is different." Marucho swiped away a few images until he reached pictures of Alice in skeptical and paranoid expressions: looking back, clutching items tightly, speed-walking, so on. "I know it doesn't say much, but Alice looks like she's having issues and want to keep herself away from but can't."

"Keep herself away from what? You think someone's trying to kill her?"

"It's possible."

"But Marucho, this is two and something years from present day! Why wait so long to kill her?" Julie sat down again and tapped her foot. "Wait. If you're here, then who's-"

"I told Kato to watch over while I visit you. You know what else I found?" Marucho fast-forwarded to another few scenes where Alice was talking. "Notice anything strange?"

"She's talking. So what? People talk."

"Yeah, but not to themselves as if an invisible person exists next to them." He tapped the screen again, and the picture came to life as a video. Alice was talking by herself and even made gestures that suggest some nonexistent person did exist. "However, no one would usually talk to a killer who might kill them now or later this way. This 'invisible' person has to be a friend."

"You're the one who came up with this 'invisible' person, not me. Or, the killer is actually after the invisible person and killed Alice. After all, Alice isn't the best at making friends right now, and even an invisible person who can't be seen but can be spoken with is good enough of a lure."

"You're the one who came up with this target and killer, not me." With both hands, Marucho swatted the screen away and put on his cloak. "Even if we both made up the existence of this invisible friend and mystery killer, we shouldn't omit any little details. I'm counting on you, Julie."

"You have my word. Bye Marucho!" With that said, Julie waved goodbye to Marucho, who rose into the sky as a tall tower of light and disappeared. Invisible friend and mystery killer, Julie thought. Looks like we found our mystery killer, but who's the invisible friend?

...

...

"So that's what you two talked about?"

"Pretty much the same as what you and Alice talked about, minus some components."

It was now late night in Wardington, but the vibrant city lights and light snow illuminated the dark sky. Julie made and handed a warm coat to Shun. "Thanks, Julie. To be honest, it's my first time out in Wardington at night, especially on a snowy day."

"Really? On the first time? Where have you been all this time?"

"Home, mostly. One time, Alice and I were supposed to meet up here, but her relatives came over, and there was a major change of plans."

"Sound like Alice tried to change the boredom in your life. Right now it's...a little less than two years."

Shun stopped walking and answered, "Based on what we've seen, I think I changed her life." Now he continued walking again. "Could that masked guy be the mystery killer? He seems to have the motive."

"He definitely has a motive for killing me because he thinks I'm in his way." Julie screamed, pointing her finger at herself. "Who knows what he'll do to Alice?"

"Don't make it too crazy." He took out the bracelet and counted the charms. "Dolphin, horseshoe, frog, and mushroom... Friendship, protection, safe travel, and good things to come... I think there were seven charms on the actual bracelet that I gave her, but I forgot what they were."

Julie's jaw dropped wide open. "How could you?! You said it was a Christmas or birthday present for her!" She clicked her tongue and faced away from him. "Shame on you."

"No, really. I seriously can't remember. I only remember the dolphin because the clerk chose it for me, but the others-"

"Even more shame on you for forget what you personally chose." A block later, they saw a familiar redhead standing at the street corner typing a text message. "Saved by the girl. Knock yourself out."

"Really?!" Shun sighed and walked over to the girl, but it didn't feel the same as before. Earlier, I still felt like it was mandatory for me to talk to her, but now I'm actually scared to go. "Hey. Are you-"

"Shh." She held a finger up to her lips and waited until her phone made a sound. Shun eyed the incoming message, which read: 'sry Alice, we're in uptown'. After reading that, she sighed. "So close."

"What happened?"

Alice closed her phone and replied, "A few friends from Bayview came over, and I was supposed to take them around like a tour guide, but they went to uptown Wardington with other people rather than downtown here with me."

"Wow. That sucks. Leaving you alone on a snowy night like this."

"Pretty much." She fixed her beret and asked, "Who are you? I find it odd that a stranger would just walk up to me and ask for my plans for the day—uh, night."

Completely forgetting—or just not recognizing—him after a deep, 'heart-to-heart' conversation in Bayview not too long ago was disappointing, but hearing her say she had friends over wasn't disappointing. "I guess I'll leave then."

"Wait. Don't go."

Honestly, Shun hadn't thought about what he'd do if Alice hadn't stopped him. "What is it?"

She stood still, hands twitching. Shun couldn't tell if she was nervous, scared, or simply cold. "Can I...like...just...spend the night with you?"

That was a shock.

"Spend? Night? Me? What are you-"

"No, I don't mean that! I just want someone to talk to and walk with before my ride comes here an hour or more later. If you don't want to, then-"

"Oh, no problem. Now that must really suck." He took this time to see Wardington at night for the first time and to talk with Alice. "What's your name?"

"Alice. You?"

"Shun. Do you live here?"

"Yup. I may live in downtown, but it's really far from here. What about you?"

"My house is in the direction behind us. You said you had friends from Bayview coming over? How did you meet them?"

"Well..." Although Shun knew part of her story of Bayview, Alice's voice hinted a longer story. "I have a couple friends from school who moved away to Bayview. Then I met more from Bayview through inter-school activities. By the way, do you want to eat anything?"

"Oh, I see. No, thanks. I'm not hungry." In reality, Shun hasn't eaten anything since he went to beach except for what was left over from food Julie that 'bought'.

"Come on, I insist. I can't eat this all by myself."

"Save it for when you get home." Suddenly, he smelled something really fresh and sweet. "What do you have?"

Alice laughed her signature giggle. "I knew you couldn't resist." She took out a fancy, rectangular paper box with a bakery's logo on top. "I bought this lemon-vanilla roll cake a few minutes ago. I wanted to share it with my friends, but they didn't show up. It's pre-cut, so just take a piece."

"Sure. Thanks." Alice ripped the tape off and opened the box for Shun, took a piece and bit it. "It's so sweet."

"I know, right? Let me throw away the trash first." While Shun stood by a light post enjoying his food, Alice ran over to the trash can and threw the tape away. Suddenly, she hastily whispered, "What are you doing here?"

She wasn't talking to Shun, though.

SSR: Original chapter title was "Invisible Friend, Mystery Killer" but that would not make enough sense yet.

Dan: Alice, are you schizophrenic?

Alice: What?! I'm not anything!

SSR: Dan, I think you overdone it with the serious medical condition. Nothing here is medical, as far as I know.

Runo: Yeah, Dan. And welcome back, Alice!

Alice: Aw, thanks Runo!

SSR: While you people reminisce, I'll do other stuff. Please review guys!