A/N: I wanted to post this yesterday but there was a nasty storm so it didn't quite work out...

But its here now, and with 3,547 words HOOTYHOO!

Don't ask what it means... *snicker* inside joke.

Unfortunately... Nobody has requested to do the disclaimer in a while so... I took the liberty to ask... KITT from knight rider to do it!

KITT: MUST I?

Jetravenex: yup

KITT: *electronic sigh* VERY WELL... JETRAVENEX DOES NOT OWN BAKUGAN.

Chapter 43

Masquerade entered the computer room, glaring at Klaus who was seated in the chair, sipping a glass of, wine? Ugh. The bastard was just too damn full of himself. Masquerade scowled.

"This had better be important." He hissed folding his arms across his chest.

Klaus merely glanced up at him taking a small sip of his drink before swirling around the liquid, sneering at the blond. "I apologize; I did not mean to interrupt your time with Jet." His sneer widened as Masquerade clenched his fists.

"And what part of it being none of your business did you misunderstand?" Masquerade said in a deathly quiet voice. "If you value your life stay out of it, Jet's-"

"Your prisoner… And yet you refuse to treat her as such…" Klaus said taking another sip as he sat up in his chair.

Masquerade scowled. "Jet is not just my prisoner, she is the prize I have taken from the brawlers. Useless as a weapon…" He said a small smirk appearing on his lips. "At least for now… But her uses can lie elsewhere." Then his expression returned to a scowl. "You mind your own business Klaus."

Klaus laughed. "Oh it's not for me you know."

Masquerade seemed to tense and Klaus chuckled.
"Naga is… growing concerned…" He stated simply rising from his seat to face Masquerade.

Masquerade's expression didn't change. "He never mentioned such thoughts to me." He stated simply. "And he wouldn't bring up such matters with a simple minion like you." Masquerade hissed.

Klaus sneered. "Well, that's only if the so called master doesn't forget which side he's on." He said/

Masquerade snorted. "You're ranked number 2 for a reason Klaus,"

Klaus inclined his head a little. "And Naga is willing to change that, should the need ever arise."

Masquerade narrowed his eyes behind his mask but said nothing.

Klaus chuckled. "But, if you were to give me Jet… Well, then he'd ascertain where your loyalties truly lie-"

He was cut short by Masquerade grabbing him by his collar and pulling him to him, ignoring the wine that splashed out of the glass and onto Klaus and the floor. Luckily not a drop landed on him. "I was the one who captured Jet, built the strategy that took out her and the other two goody goodies. Jet is my prize that I won and you will not take what is rightfully mine, she is whatever I choose to make her be! I am her master as you are my minion!" He snarled before shoving Klaus away from him relishing in the sight of the snobby german boy landing on his ass. "Remember that, and your life will be easier." Masquerade said as he turned and walked a few steps away before he held up his DT and disappeared in a rain of sparkles.

X-X-X

Jet groaned as she leaned against the side of the island and slid down onto the kitchen floor, the pot of chili she'd made simmering on the stove. With a sigh she rested the back of her hand on her forehead and heaved a long sigh of relief.

"Phew, at least that's done." She said looking up at the pot on the stove smiling slightly. "Ha, I actually cooked something for once…" She murmured chuckling softly. Then she yelped at the rain of sparkles that heralded Masquerade's return. Quickly she got to her feet and dusted herself off, unconsciously combing her fingers through her hair to straighten it out.

She turned to see Masquerade standing with his back turned to her, a frown plastered on his face, and his fists clenched.

"Uh, Masquerade?" Jet inquired reaching a hand towards him.

Masquerade whipped around and scowled at her making Jet draw back a little. "Is the food done?" He demanded.

Jet flinched and then glanced at the food and then back at the suddenly furious blond. "Y-yes?" She stuttered out, wringing her hands together as she looked at the fuming blond.

Masquerade's scowl shifted into a frown as he stepped past her to look at the pot of food behind her.

"Hmm… This appears to be satisfactory." He said nodding slightly, before he headed over to the cabinet and fetched a bowl for himself, and then he paused a moment and pulled out another.

Jet blinked as he closed the cabinet and returned to standing beside her, shoving the extra bowl into her hands.

"Wh-what?" Jet said nearly dropping the bowl from surprise. She looked at his face, her eyebrows furrowing, trying to receive an explanation for this unorthodox behavior.

His visible features revealed nothing, and his mask only reflected back her confused expression.

He snorted and turned to the chili in the pot spooning some out for himself. "I can't afford you to starve; you're useless to me dead." He stated simply not turning around.

Jet blinked at his words and cocked her head, "Oh, okay." She said smiling slightly. Then suddenly a thought hit her.

"Uh, what do you have to drink?" She inquired quietly ducking her head in embarrassment.

"Water," He stated simply. "And wine apparently." He added silently, scowling at the thought of the German bastard.

"Oh!" Jet said nodding her head vigorously. "Uh do you want me to…?"

"There's a pitcher in the fridge, get it out for me." He said offhandedly waving his hand, moving away from the stove. "Oh, and before you flip out again because you can't find it, check the top shelf." He said walking towards the kitchen table and sitting down, after retrieving a spoon from the utensils drawer.

Jet nodded her head and headed towards the fridge. She opened it up and her eyes tracked upwards and she smiled slightly as she located the pitcher in the right side of the top shelf.

"Found it!" She said triumphantly her lips curving up into a small smile. She reached up to grab it. She slowly lifted it from the shelf and then gripping its handle on the side and putting a hand underneath it she carried it over to the island.

"Cups?" Jet said looking towards Masquerade.

The blond sighed and gestured off handedly to the left. "Over there in the cabinet where I got the bowls." Jet brightened up at this and went over to where the cabinet was and opened it. She frowned as she spotted the cups perched on the top shelf. "I can't reach." She muttered quietly and that earned her an aggravated sigh from Masquerade who grudgingly rose to help her and reached for the offending items and brought two down handing them to her.

"Can you at least try to be useful?" He muttered turning away from her and sitting back down to eat.

Jet frowned, but with a sigh turned away and went to pour the drinks. "This is going to be the most awkward meal I ever have." She thought wearily as she tried to carefully pour the drinks into the cups, but silently cursed when a bit missed the cup and puddle beside the cups.

"Do you have paper towels?" Jet asked hopefully.

Masquerade scowled. "Do I have to help you with everything?" He barked at her whipping around to glare at her.

Jet drew back. "Its not my fault! I don't know where all the stuff is kept here!" She shouted.

Masquerade growled softly. "I think they're in the basement, you can get them later." He stated. "Get your food and eat, I don't want to hear you complaining about how hungry you are later." He snapped turning back around in his seat and back to eating.

Jet numbly nodded as she finished filling the cups and brought them to the table, placing one next to Masquerade and one at one of the empty places next to him.

Jet went over to the stove and then retrieved some chili for herself, glancing over at him. "I don't get it? Why won't he stop being such a jerk?" Jet thought miserably. "He's making me feel like I'm important and likable one second, the next I'm dirt to him…" She shook her head. "I just don't get it…"

She heaved a sigh as she sat beside him shooting glances at him, but the blond boy gave nothing away, as they ate in silence.

X-X-X

Julie's stomach complained loudly as she stared hopelessly at the floor tears spilling from her eyes, wincing in discomfort as the wound on her cheek stung.

"Oh Billy why do you do this to me?" She cried clenching her eyes shut as her lip quivered. "What happened to my best friend?" She whimpered tugging at her bounds helplessly.

She jumped and screamed at the sound of the door being thrown open with a bang, and she stared in fear at Billy who's expression was shadowed from her view by his bangs and baseball cap.

"Billy!" She cried tears streaming down her face. "Billy please! Please let me out! Why are you doing this to me?"

Billy didn't say anything merely entered the room and kicked the door partially shut, leaving it open just a crack. He went over to the side and retrieved the whip that he had discarded when he'd last been in there and he'd been interrupted by Masquerade's call.

He went over to her experimentally cracking the whip.

Julie's eyes widened in fear, the tears picking up as the cut on her cheek stung in memory from the strike he'd given her with that very whip.

"Billy! No please! Please I'll do anything! Stop!" She cried desperately jerking around in her chair as she struggled to get away.

Billy chuckled softly and Julie stiffened as he lifted his head and she nearly screamed at the sight of the expression on his face.

His pupils were almost tiny pinpricks and he had a grin on his face that was just too wide…

"Hello to you too Julie." He said in a quiet voice as he sauntered up to her folding the whip up partially. "Miss me?" He asked.

Julie's breath caught in her throat. "Bi-Billy please let me out. Please." She said looking at him desperately searching his face for any of the Billy she knew.

Billy used the end of the whip to lift her chin smirking at her as he looked her up and down, Julie cringed as his smirk grew wider still.

"You know, I never did take the time to appreciate your other features." He said in a husky voice.

Julie paled as she writhed in her seat, tugging desperately at the bindings that held her wrists and ankles in place.

"BILLY! STOP! LET ME OUT!" She shouted.

Billy chuckled as he set the whip down on the ground next to him, and reached into his pocket to pull out what looked like a pocket knife.

Julie's eyes widened as her blood ran cold.

"Billy. NO! Stop!" She sobbed tears now steadily streaming down her face as she thrashed around her chair rocking side to side violently.

Billy's hand shot out and grasped her chin in a bruising grip, and Julie winced from the pain, halting her actions.

"You got me in big trouble with Masquerade… So now its time for you to pay me back." He said tightening his grip on her chin. He flipped the blade out from the pocket knife. Julie's eyes widening in horror.

"B-Billy please…" She whispered, her heart racing as the blond boy moved the knife to her throat.

"What's the matter? I'm only 'letting you out'," He smirked at the look of confusion as he placed the knife at the top of her shirt and began to cut through the material. "Of your clothes that is."

Julie panicked at the sight of the silver blade so close to her throat, cutting through her shirt, and then her lower lip quivered. Then she started screaming as loudly as she could, praying that someone anyone, even that creep Masquerade might show up to stop this.

Scowling at this Billy lowered the blade to avoid slitting her throat. He straightened up a bit and grasped the back of her head, and pulled her forward, crashing their lips together. He smirked as she whimpered and struggled to pull away from him.

After her struggles began to weaken, he pulled back to let her catch her breath. It wouldn't be any fun if she passed out on him now. Julie panted heavily weakly struggling against. "This time not even a call from Masquerade will stop me." He thought as he held her chin, his gaze boring into her wide frightened eyes. Smirking once more he made a show of lifting the blade back up to the cut he had previously made he let the edge drag gently along her throat smirking at the crimson drops that the tip drew. Julie let out a soft keening from her throat as she clenched her eyes shut, and cried.

Billy chuckled as he returned the blade to the cut he'd made in her shirt and continued cutting down her shirt.

X-X-X

Jet blinked as she kept turning her head right and then left desperately hoping some clue would pop out at her. Like maybe a red exit sign that they had at school and at hotels and other public places. But all she got was the bare walls of the hallway to see and the occasional door that led to an empty bedroom.

She groaned raising her hands to her face and rubbing her eyes wearily. She had managed to slip away from Masquerade to seek out exit, under the pretense she was looking for the basement.

Still, Masquerade wouldn't be happy, when he looked to see she'd disappeared on him, she hadn't exactly asked to leave.

"Oh boy, I hope im not making a huge mistake." Jet mumbled glancing behind her to see if he was following her, then she froze at the sound of shouting.

"What the-" She said turning to look down the hallway where the sound seemed to have originated from. Curious she began moving towards the source. Then a frightened screech tore through the air and Jet broke out into a run her insticts telling her something was wrong. She headed towards the door that was at the end of the corridor as it looked just slightly different than the others. Upon reaching it, she wrenched it open without a second thought and hurried down the stairs, the sound of faint muffled whimpers and sobs just barely reaching her ears.

Once she reached the bottom she cringed at the spiderwebs and the shadows that clung along the walls of the corridor before her and hung ominously above her head. But she then shook her head vigorously as if shaking off her fear and moved forwards towards the door where the sounds were coming from.

She grasped the door handle and turned it, opening it a little to reveal just the silhouette of a figure standing over another in a chair, before throwing it open.

"STOP!" She barked, putting as much authority into it as possible, stepping into the room making her facial expression look as fearsome as possible. When she recognized who it was her eyes widened a little and she stepped back a little. "What the heck? When was Julie-" Her thoughts were cut off when she detected a soft growling sound, seemingly originated from Billy.

Billy whipped around yanking the blade away from Julie's shirt and focused on the brunette that was now suddenly in the room, his face was shocked, before it contorted into one of rage. His grip tightened around the blade he held.

Then with an animalistic snarl of rage hurled the blade at Jet. "I will not be interrupted bitch!" He shouted.

Jet's eyes widened as she quickly turned away to avoid the blade, to stunned by the action to fully process it. Then she threw back her head, a screech of her own being ripped from her throat as the blade imbedded itself in her left shoulder. Blood splattered to the ground as she dropped to her knees, one hand reaching to grab at the blade, the other clawing at the ground her body shuddering with pain.

Billy smirked at the sight of the blade indebbed in her back. Laughing wickedly he moved towards the downed girl, bending down to the pick up the discard whip, before straightening up and moved towards Jet. With a snort he reached down and grasped the hilt of the blade. Jet stiffened at the odd feeling on the blade.

Billy sneered. "Let me relieve you of this!" He spat ripping the blade from her shoulder laughing when Jet screamed bloody murder, blood splattering onto Billy's clothes and hands. Jet's body trembled violently the blood flowing freely from the wound. Billy snorted straightening up wiping some of the sweat off his face with the back of his hand, rubbing some of his blood onto his face.

"You will regret intruding." He snarled, casting the bloody knife aside and cracking the whip against the floor. Jet immediately cringing at the sound.

"BILLY NO!" Julie screamed. "Leave her alone! PLEASE!"
Billy laughed as he raised the whip a manic gleam in his eyes. "Never!" He roared before he brought the whip down on Jet's back with a crack.

The girl screamed from the pain as the whip hit the wounded area, her body shaking from the pain, and the blood flowing from her open wound.

Julie sobbed as she watched Billy whip the injured girl repeatedly for interrupting. "All because of me, all because I was too weak," She sobbed. "Somebody help us!" She shouted. "Please! Make him stop! Billy!"

Jet cringed with every crack of the whip, she had already been stabbed and was now suffering from the continued lashings. Her jacket was beginning to tear and her shirt seemed to be soon to follow. She screamed again when her arms that she had been using to support her weight buckled under the pain and she fell on her face, her forehead banging against the ground.

Billy just burst out laughing at the girl's suffering, as he paused to taunt the injured girl clenching the bloodied whip in his hands, the ground under Jet was stained with crimson specks.

"Ha! How do you like that!" He said adding a kick to her ribs for good measure, relishing in the soft cry he received from the girl. "Serves you right for-"

He didn't get to finish that statement when there was suddenly a flash of bright light in front of the door and Billy was picked up by an unseen force, and thrown back into the wall behind Julie with a loud thud. Billy groaned loudly before sinking to the ground.

Julie stared at the newcomer, who was radiating an aura of rage as he knelt down beside the injured Jet. He carefully lifted his hand and examined her wounds letting a soft growl rip from his throat as he got back onto his feet, and whirled around to focus on Billy.

Billy was just starting to pick himself up, when he cowered against the wall as Masquerade's lips curved up into a dark smirk.

"I must thank you, Billy." He said in a low voice as he advanced towards Billy cracking his knuckles as he did.

Billy struggled to stand his back pressed flat against the wall as he looked around wildly for an escape. His eyes flew towards the door, but Masquerade was suddenly right in front of him. The masked blond grabbed Billy around the throat and pinned him against the wall. Billy let out a harsh croak at the stranglehold around his throat his hands clawing at his throat.

Masquerade laughed lips curved in a wicked sneer as he said in a harsh whisper. "I needed an excuse to murder someone."

A/N

I must thank Chaos in the sky for the inspiration for Masky's last line.

Haha, I said I might torture Jet, never said it was going to be Masky XD.

So... Now what do you people think? Didn't see that one coming did ya?

Anyways, leave your comments on this story or constructive criticisms in a review.

Or just tell me my story is freaking awesome and you want me to update.

Just make it longer than two sentences...

PWEASE?

For poor tortured Jet's sake REVIEW!