When Shinichi decided to lead the Vanguard, he knew he was going to have a hard time finding a proper headquarters and recruiting the other members of the team, but that wasn't exactly the case.

When Sonoko was approached by Ran, the latter did not even get to finish the sentence and ended up joining with her partner. The same had happened when Heiji contacted his friends; Kazuha and Soshi (also Kendo rival), and both of them instantly agreed.

And the new members were not exactly that happy when Shinichi told them about what happened.

"Didn't know that Dan was infected by the jerk virus like Shun.", Sonoko snorted. She was wearing a white skirt and sneakers, with a yellow shirt.

"We don't need douches in the team anyways, do we?", Pegatrix asked rhetorically with a posh-like tone.

"I honestly thought he was a decent guy really.", Soshi said as he rubbed his head in bewilderment. He was wearing black pants and shoes, with a dark green shirt over it a light green opened vest.

"Maybe the whole idea of winning got the best of him.", Hawktor pointed out.

"Doesn' change da fact dat he is a jerk now, like Suzuki said.", Kazuha scoffed.

"Take it easy, Kazuha.", Taylean tried to calm his partner down.

And what made things even simpler, was that Sonoko and Saguru, being both from rich families, collaborated in forming a headquarters.

They both, with the help of their fathers, bought a luxurious manor with three floors above land and one underneath, with several rooms for each member with other rooms; Living, Bath, Kitchen, Gaming, Command, etc.

The manor was already furnished, and it only needed some extra furniture for the command room, and every member wanted to design to their own room in another way.

And when Shinichi started wondering how he will form a command room and start adding artificial intelligence to the manor, he instantly recalled Professor Agasa Hiroshi and the Kuroba family's friend; Jii Konosuke.

So, five days after the fight he had with Dan, Shinichi stood in the large living room watching everything happening around him. Jii was designing a trap system for the intruders while Agasa was working on the other systems, Kashiko Shikibe (Hakuba's butler) even arrived to help the members learn how to take care of the house since they were still twelve years old.

So, the Manor or now the Headquarters, was 80% ready, so that counts as a check. The secondary Ventus Brawlers were recruited, and the secondary Haos brawler was recruited.

So, all what was left were the secondary Pyrus Brawlers, the Aquos Brawlers, the Subterra Brawlers, the Darkus Brawler, and finding a second Darkus and Haos Brawler.

Shinichi sat at a round table in the soon-to-be command room with the brawlers sitting around as he said, "So, I've located the locations of the remaining brawlers, and thanks to Sonoko's jets, we will be capable of easily traveling all over Japan, and Jii-san, Agasa-Hakase, and Kashiko-san said they could attend with us so our parents won't be worried.".

"You're welcome.", Sonoko said with a proud smile.

"Koizumi is in Ekoda, and Aoko had recently returned from her trip. Wada, and the Kyogoku siblings are in Hado, Ooka is in Kyoto, and Tsukamoto is in Beika.", Shinichi continued, "And we still have to look for the two other Brawlers of Darkus and Haos.".

"I can easily ask around and look for the Darkus brawler.", Masumi spoke up.

"Sonoko and I can do so for the Haos one.", Ran said with Sonoko nodding in agreement.

"I'll go to Ekoda anyways to check on Aoko, so I'll look for Koizumi.", Kaito shrugged.

"I'll find Wada and the Kyogoku siblings.", Saguru said in a monotone.

"I'll help ya, Okita an' Kazuha can handle Ooka.", Heiji said with Kazuha and Soshi nodding.

"I'll handle Tsukamoto then. So, only Kaito, Kazuha, and Okita will be traveling.", Shinichi said before a smile, "Let's do this guys!".

"Yeah!".

Masumi had honestly thought that finding another good Darkus brawler was going to be easy, but it turned out to be horrible.

Every Darkus Brawler she came across in Beika was either a douche (In which she ended up slamming her fist into his/her nose with no guilt), or was not even a rookie, worst Brawler ever, losing to her in less than a few seconds.

"Goddamn it!", She cried loudly in British English as she stomped her foot on the ground in the middle of the park.

"Quiet, will you?". She heard a female voice reply in perfect British English, which made her perk up and turn around.

A girl her age was sitting on the bench, holding an opened book, a school bag next to her, with a Darkus Bakugan floating across her.

Once her eyes met Masumi's, the latter noted that they held anger, resentment, coldness, and depression in them.

"Are you okay?", Masumi asked without a second thought.

The girl raised an eyebrow as she mumbled, "I should be asking you-".

"THERE SHE IS! THAT FOREIGNER!". The girl winced as she heard a group of older boys rushing towards her, forming a circle around her and Masumi.

"What the hell is going on here?", Masumi asked, ready for anything to happen.

"Stand aside, kiddo. Our issue is with Miyano!", The boy spat.

Masumi's eyes widened in disbelief as she slowly looked at the girl and mumbled, "M-Miyano…?".

"Yeah… Miyano Shiho is the only foreigner at our school, and she made fun of my little brother in class.", The leader sneered.

Masumi felt anger rising in her blood as she clenched her fists before she let out a battle cry, shocking everyone.

Shiho watched in disbelief as Masumi punched and kicked every boy present, in the face or below the belt, before any of them could even touch her.

"Looks like she knows some kind of martial arts.", Her Darkus Bakugan commented.

"J-Jeet Kune Do, Zentaur.", Shiho mumbled as she watched Masumi back flip and kick one of them in the jaw.

Masumi panted as she stood and glared down at the boys, who were all groaning in pain while looking up at her in fear.

"I never want to see your faces here again.", She growled.

"HAI!", The boys chorused before they rushed away, running for their lives away from Masumi.

Shiho then noticed Vladitor, who was floating in the air since Masumi charged at the boys, once he started laughing loudly.

"That's my partner!", He said proudly.

"Shiho!". Masumi turned around at the sound of a woman in her twenties rushing towards her, and she noted that she had a Haos Bakugan on her shoulder, which was rare for an adult to have since all believed Bakugan were plastic toys.

"Are you okay?", She asked worriedly as she checked over her sister with her eyes.

"She saved her.", Zentaur motioned towards Masumi as Vladitor floated to rest on her shoulder.

"Arigatou gozaimasu!", Akemi bowed down with in gratitude.

"You defeated a bunch of middle school boys alone?", the Haos Bakugan asked in surprise.

"She's a Jeet Kune Do practitioner.", Vladitor explained.

"No need to thank me… I did the right thing…", Masumi said before she gulped, "Is your name… Miyano Akemi?".

Akemi's eyes widened while Shiho looked alarmed as she asked in anger, "How the hell did you know that?!".

Vladitor snorted sarcastically, "Your welcome for saving you.".

"My name is Masumi…", Masumi mumbled, missing how Akemi's jaw slightly opened and her eyes widened further, "and I go by my mother's family name for safety… So, it's Sera Masumi… I am your-".

Masumi was interrupted by Akemi kneeling and hugging her tightly, tears threatening to fall as she said, "The last time I've seen you you were just a baby!".

Akemi broke the hug and as she took a good look at Masumi and said with a wide smile, "You look so much like Mary-Obasan!".

"But I'm not cranky though.", Masumi cracked a joke making Akemi chuckle.

"But you've got Tsutomu-Ojisan's humor.", She noted.

"Oneechan?", Shiho said in confusion.

Akemi turned to Shiho and said, "You were only a year when we had last seen them, but remember what I told you about our maternal family?".

Shiho understood what she meant and looked at Masumi suspiciously and asked, "You mean to say she is our cousin?".

Akemi nodded with a wide smile as her Bakugan spun happily, "Oh wow! A family reunion! This is so amazing!".

"Don't get so excited Wolfurio, I don't see what's so special about this, considering our maternal family did nothing to save us from this predicament!", Shiho nearly spat.

Akemi looked at her in pity while Masumi frowned heavily.

"Oh great… family drama, here we come…", Vladitor grumbled.

"We don't know the other side of the story, Shiho. I see we learn first then judge later.", Zentaur pointed out.

Masumi crossed her arms as she spoke in a stern tone, "I live with my mother in a hotel not far from here. You can learn the other side of the story there.".

Akemi then smiled again with a nod, "Lead the way, then.".

"Well, well, Teitan Elementary's Detective wants to meet me, now that's a new one.", Tsukamoto Kazumi chuckled as she met up with Shinichi in front of Teitan's elementary school. She was wearing a red tank top with black sport shorts and sneakers, with her Pyrus Bakugan; Kelion, resting on her right shoulder.

"Oh, and he brought his pet with him, ha!",

Kelion laughed arrogantly.

"Someone here needs to be taught a lesson, the hard way.", Nillious snorted.

"So, why did you contact me and have us meet today?", Kazumi asked curiously.

"I want you to join my team.", Shinichi said seriously.

"Your team?", Kazumi repeated before she burst into laughter, making Shinichi raise an eyebrow.

She wiped the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes before she smirked, "I'm the best Pyrus Brawler here, kid! You're the one who should be joining my team!".

"Your nonexistent team?", Nillious mocked making Kazumi frown, "Please, compared to my partner, you're not even second.".

"What did you say?!", Kelion growled angrily.

"You heard me, kitty.", Nillious snorted.

"How about a brawl? I win, you admit I'm the best in Beika and join my team, you win, I leave you and admit you're the best in Beika.", Shinichi suggested with a confident smile.

"Deal!", Kazumi and Kelion chorused.

Shinichi and Nillious shared a smirk as Nillious said, "Hook, line, sinker.".

"And the fish caught the bait.", Shinichi continued.

"Field Open!", Kazumi and Shinichi chorused as they pulled out the Field Card, and the area around them changed to the Bakugan Field.

"Gate Card, Set!", Both chorused as they threw their Gate Cards.

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Robotallion!", Kazumi threw her Bakugan on her card.

Pyrus Robotallion: 340 Gs

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Griffon!", Shinichi threw his Bakugan across Robotallion.

Pyrus Robotallion: 340 Gs

Pyrus Griffon: 390 Gs

"Gate Card, Open! Cheering Battle!", Kazumi cried before she pulled out a second Bakugan and threw it next to Robotallion, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Stinglash!".

Pyrus Robotallion & Stinglash: 700 Gs

Pyrus Griffon: 390 Gs

"Ability Card, Activate! Robotallion Enforcement!", Kazumi cried as she activated an ability card, and Robotallion charged towards Griffon.

Pyrus Robotallion & Stinglash: 750 Gs

Pyrus Griffon: 390 Gs

"Ability Card, Activate! Dive Mirage!", Shinichi cried, and Griffon flew on his Gate Card, and Kazumi laughed.

"Running away and deactivating your own Gate Card?! Idiot!", She mocked.

"Gate Card, Set!", Shinichi threw another Gate Card next to his.

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Mantris!", Shinichi threw Mantris on his second Gate Card.

Pyrus Mantris: 390 Gs

"Ability Card, Activate! Marionette!", Shinichi smirked.

Mantris let out a battle cry as red energy strings appeared and extended from his blades, wrapped around Robotallion and threw him across Griffon.

Griffon then leaped and bit Robotallion before he can fall on the card, making the latter let out a cry of pain, before both returned to their sphere form.

Griffon returned to Shinichi's hand while Robotallion fell at Kazumi's feet.

Pyrus Mantris: 390 Gs

Pyrus Stinglash: 360 Gs

Kazumi Tsukamoto: 0

Shinichi Kudou: 1

"See what happens when you use your brain?", Shinichi mocked.

"You got lucky!", Kazumi cried.

"How many times have we heard that, pal?", Shinichi asked Nillious.

"I lost the count a long time ago.", Nillious laughed.

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Kelion!", Kazumi threw her partner Bakugan across Mantris.

Pyrus Kelion: 360 Gs

"I'm going to teach your Bakugan a lesson.", Kelion growled angrily.

"Gate Card, Open! Sharing Battle!", Shinichi smirked before he threw his partner Bakugan, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Nillious!".

Pyrus Mantris & Nillious: 840 Gs

Pyrus Kelion: 340 Gs

"Hey! No fair!", Kelion cried.

"Now it ain't fair?", Nillious mocked, "What's the matter? Going to cry?".

"I'll give you a fair battle then.", Shinichi said, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Griffon!".

Griffon growled in Stinglash's face who growled back as both stood across each other on the same Gate Card.

Pyrus Griffon: 390 Gs

Pyrus Stinglash: 360 Gs

"Ability Card, Activate!", Shinichi and Kazumi chorused, "Fire Tornado!".

A fire tornado surrounded the field around Griffon and Stinglash as both charged towards each other.

Stinglash tried to use his pincers to attack Griffon but he dodged them, and when Stinglash tried to use his tail, Griffon caught it with his mouth, before he used his claws to hit Stinglash in his face.

Stinglash let out a cry of pain as Griffon let go off his tail before he bit him in the neck, and then both returned to their sphere forms, Griffon returning in Shinichi's hand while Stinglash at Kazumi's feet.

Kazumi Tsukamoto: 0

Shinichi Kudou: 2

"Ability Card, Activate! Fire Gallop!", Kazumi cried.

Pyrus Mantris & Nillious: 840 – 200 = 640 Gs

Pyrus Kelion: 340 200 = 540 Gs

Kelion started galloping with fire forming wherever his feet touched, creating a wall of fire around Nillious and Mantris, before he jumped high, the fire moving below him as a tsunami.

"Got you!", Kelion cried as he slammed his hooves into Nillious's chest, before back kicking Mantris away, both Bakugan falling on the ground, before Mantris returned to his sphere form and fell at Shinichi's feet.

Pyrus Kelion: 540 Gs

Pyrus Nillious: 350 Gs

"Now it's only you, and I'll crush you!", Kelion growled victoriously down at Nillious.

Nillious laughed a bit before he snorted, "You fell right into the trap!".

"WHAT?!", Kelion and Kazumi chorused in disbelief.

"Ability Card, Activate! Special Beam Cannon!", Shinichi cried victoriously.

"Goodbye, little pony.", Nillious laughed as he raised his two fingers before he aimed at Kelion's chest and shot the beam, the latter gasping for breath from the sudden attack.

Both Bakugan then returned to their sphere form with Kelion falling at the feet of a shocked Kazumi while Nillious returned to Shinichi's hand.

Kazumi Tsukamoto: 0

Shinichi Kudou: 3

"Game Over.", Shinichi smiled as the area around them returned to the real world.

"Flawless victory!", Nillious exclaimed.

Kelion popped out and floated to rest on Kazumi's shoulder, "Sorry Kazumi… I thought we truly had him even with his great G-Power, but he is something else… and the kid is smart…".

Kazumi looked at Kelion before she smiled faintly, "Don't feel bad Kelion. We were getting a bit cocky from winning over and over again Bakugan with G-Power higher than you. We needed to wake up.".

"Besides, this kid is the smartest kid in Teitan, anyways.", Kazumi said as she turned to look at Shinichi, "Alright, you're the best in Beika, and I'll join your team.".

Shinichi smiled, feeling proud that he succeeded in his mission. He walked towards Kazumi until he was at arm's length and raised his hand for her.

Kazumi shook his hand with a wide smile as Shinichi said, "Tsukamoto Kazumi, welcome to the Bakugan Battle Vanguard.".

Mary perked up at the sound of the room's door opening, knowing that Masumi had arrived.

"Tadaima… I'm not alone…". Mary did not only narrow her eyes because of her daughter's tone but also because of her words.

"Masumi who….", Mary trailed off once Masumi appeared in her view, and so did Akemi and Shiho.

Mary jumped up off the couch once she recognized Akemi, she had not changed much since she'd seen her 12 years ago when she was only eight years old.

"Akemi…", Mary mumbled in disbelief with her eyes wide.

"Aunt Mary…", Akemi's voice broke as she felt herself about to cry before she ran towards Mary, and hugged her with a wide smile, "I can't believe I've finally seen you after so many years!".

Masumi, who had been tense and frowning since she had heard Shiho's words, relaxed and smiled warmly at the scene, especially when she saw Mary hugging Akemi tightly while the latter cried silently. She then noticed that Shiho seemed to relax a bit, despite still having her cold face expression.

Masumi then glanced behind her, at the small drawer present, where she hid their Bakugan, since her mother had no idea about Bakugan, let alone the truth about them.

"This is Shiho.", Akemi said as she broke her hug with Mary to face Shiho, raising her hand at her to invite her to come closer.

"You… look just like Elena… you were only a baby when I last you…", Mary tried to find the proper words, since she knew she was awful in emotional moments like this.

"You mean the sister you failed to save?", Shiho couldn't help but say her angry and bitter thoughts.

"Shiho!", Akemi gasped.

"Not again.", Masumi grumbled as she turned to Shiho, opening her mouth to tear Shiho apart verbally and-

"She's not wrong.", Mary said solemnly, making Akemi and Masumi look at her surprised, "I did my all to help her escape without the Organization figuring out… But they died… and they did what they did, and they kept on having you two move every once in awhile so I could not reach you… I understand why you'd feel like that…".

Shiho then frowned heavily as she grit her teeth. She could not just forgive her aunt like that.

"Do you have any idea what we have been through?! Do you have any idea what they made me do?! I've made them poisons, experiments, even in my young age, even when I'm still in education because of my genius mind! People died because of what I made! If you had saved us, none of that would have happened! You-".

Shiho did not continue her burst of anger and resentment, because Mary had approached her, knelt down, and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry Shiho… I'm so sorry…", Mary said, her voice full of emotions and guilt, and Shiho caught on the fact that she was trying to keep her voice steady.

At the feeling of her aunt's arms around her, Shiho felt a different kind of warmth she had not experienced before, even when Akemi would hug her.

A warmth of a mother.

Shiho felt herself tear up before she started crying silently as she returned her aunt's hug.

Masumi then smiled again, feeling proud that even if it was all coincidental, that she succeeded in making this family reunion.

Her happiness turned to horror and worry once she heard a sound coming from the small drawer, she had hid the Bakugan in.

Mary perked up at once, let go of Shiho gently, and went towards the drawer, despite Masumi trying to tell her not to.

"It's nothing Mama! Just something fell in the bathroom! You don't need… to…", Masumi trailed off once Mary opened and the drawer and picked up the Bakugan in her hands.

Vladitor was slamming his body in Wolfurio angrily with Zentaur trying to keep them apart.

"I said enough, Vladitor.", Zentaur insisted.

"He had it coming with all of his annoying questions!", Vladitor growled.

"I was just trying to get to know you!", Wolfurio defended himself.

Mary raised her eyebrows at the Bakugan, who still had not noticed her, before she looked at her daughter and nieces, who now looked like children who had been caught by their parents.

"Can anyone explain what's going on exactly?", Mary asked.

Shiho and Akemi then looked at Masumi who let out a heavy sigh.

"This is going to take some time…".