"Is this really a good idea?", Ran mumbled.

"I don't see any other choice really.", Kaito replied.

Shinichi, Ran, Kaito, Dan, Runo, and Marucho were standing across the Kazami family house.

After patching things up with Dan, Shinichi had ordered the Secondary Vanguard brawlers to handle any brawler that would team up with Masquerade while he and the others with the battle brawlers will try and track him down.

But then Dan brought up that Shun had completely disappeared after his mother died, something that shocked everyone because Shun had told no one, and Dan only found out when he defeated Shun and followed him to the hospital.

That was one of the reasons Shun cut his ties off with anyone he knew, and when Runo and Marucho tried to challenge him to a brawl, they both lost.

"If that guy won't let us check on him willingly, we will do it by force!", Dan cried as Runo tried to help him climb over the walls of the compound.

Ran sighed as she stood with her back against the wall, and interlaced her fingers together. Shinichi rushed towards her and once he placed his foot in her hand, she pushed him up, and he jumped off the walls.

Kaito followed in the same way before Ran glanced at the battle brawlers and said, "Come on you three.".

Marucho went first, and he almost fell off the wall, but Kaito hopped onto Shinichi's shoulders, the latter holding his legs to keep him from falling, and Kaito helped Marucho down.

Then Runo followed and finally Dan.

Ran then took a few steps back before she ran towards the wall, climbed on it, and jumped off it, before she landed across them gracefully, making the group look at her in awe.

"Your girlfriend's cool.", Kaito teased.

"She's not my girlfriend…", Shinichi grumbled.

"Well, well…". The group swiftly turned around and they did not just find Shun, but the one who had spoken up too; Masquerade.

"So, we finally meet; Masquerade.", Shinichi said.

"Indeed, this is the first time I meet members from the Bakugan Battle Vanguard.", Masquerade noted before he turned to Shun, "I think it's time to eliminate them.".

Shun then threw his doom card at the group, and they rolled out of the way.

"My house, my battle, my decision, so don't think you're my boss or something.", Shun said as he glared at Masquerade.

The latter scoffed before he said, "Not the smartest idea but I'll respect your decision, that is, if you don't battle Dan before me.".

"Well, how about this? I and Dan take you both on!", Shinichi cried.

"What he said!", Dan nodded.

"It's time you regained your senses, Kazama!", Nillious growled.

"Your time has come, Masquerade!", Drago cried.

"You all talk big, but can you back it up?", Shun asked challengingly as he wore his gloves.

"This is our chance, Shun!", Masquerade cried.

"This will be interesting.", Elfin said.

"Let's hope they both win, especially with the doom card now activated.", Leonidas mumbled.

Dan, Shinichi, Masquerade, and Shun pulled out their field cards as they cried, "Field Open!".

The battle and vanguard brawlers stood behind Dan and Shinichi while Shun and Masquerade were across them.

"Gate Card, Set!", The four cried as they threw their gate cards.

"Bakugan Brawl! Laserman, Stand!", Masquerade cried as he threw his Bakugan on his card.

Darkus Laserman: 370 Gs

"Bakugan Brawl! Stinglash, Stand!", Dan cried as he threw his Bakugan on his card.

"Ha! Nice try! Leap Sting! Ability Activate!", Masquerade cried.

Laserman turned and fired his guns and blasters at Stinglash, before a purple portal opened and Stinglash fell in it.

"God, no!", Tigrerra cried.

"He sent him to the Doom Dimension!", Preyas cried.

Dan Kusou & Shinichi Kudou: 0

Masquerade & Shun Kazami: 1

Laserman returned to Masquerade's hand just as Shun mumbled, "So, that's the Doom Dimension.".

"Yes, and once a Bakugan goes there it can never return. It's our greatest fear, Shun.", Ventus Skyress, Shun's Bakugan partner, replied.

She then turned to him, "Knowing this, do you still wish to continue?".

Shun did not get to answer because Shinichi cried, "Bakugan Brawl! Ravenoid, Stand!", on his card.

Pyrus Ravenoid: 390 Gs

Shun narrowed his eyes before he threw a Bakugan on his card, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Ventus Monarus!".

Ventus Monarus: 330 Gs

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Reaper!", Masquerade threw his Bakugan across Shinichi's.

Pyrus Ravenoid: 390 Gs

Darkus Reaper: 370 Gs

Drago growled at the sight of Reaper.

"Gate Card Open! Attribute Boost!", Shinichi cried.

Pyrus Ravenoid: 390 200 =590 Gs

Darkus Reaper: 370 Gs

"Ability Card, Activate! Dimension 4!", Masquerade cried.

Pyrus Ravenoid: 590 – 200 =390 Gs

Darkus Reaper: 370 Gs

"Ability Activate, Tornado Pandemonium!", Shinichi cried.

Pyrus Ravenoid: 390 Gs

Darkus Reaper: 370 – 100 =270 Gs

Ravenoid let out a battle cry as it charged towards Reaper, a fire tornado surrounding it.

"Nice try, Ability Activate! Reaper of chaos!", Masquerade laughed.

Pyrus Ravenoid: 390 Gs

Darkus Reaper: 270200=470 Gs

"Say goodbye to your Bakugan, kid!", Reaper cried as he fired a crescent purple blast from his scythe, hitting Ravenoid square in the chest.

A doom portal opened and Ravenoid was sent into it before it closed.

"Ravenoid!", Shinichi cried in disbelief, fear creeping into his voice. What if he lost Nillious too? What if-

"Don't lose your senses!", Nillious snapped him out of his state, "Focus on the battle! Together we can win!".

Dan then turned to Shinichi as he said, "Nillious is right. We are battling alone, and we both lost, we have to work together so we don't end up losing.".

Shinichi blinked before he nodded, "Here's what we are going to do.".

"Only you can come with a plan in seconds!", Dan laughed proudly before Shinichi whispered in his ear the plan.

Dan and Shinichi pulled out a Gate Card and threw it, "Gate Card, Set!".

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Ventus Monarus!", Shun cried as he threw his Bakugan on his card.

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Nillious!".

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Come on, Drago!".

Both were standing on their partners' cards, glaring at Monarus.

"Are you willing to sacrifice your Bakugan?", Masquerade laughed in mockery before he threw his Bakugan, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Mantris!".

"Gate Card, Open! Cheering Battle!", Both Dan and Shinichi cried, surprising the other two.

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Pyrus Saurus/Falconeer!", Both cried as they threw their respective Bakugan on their cards, Saurus from Dan and Falconeer from Shinichi.

"Ability Card, Activate! Marionette!", Masquerade cried.

"Ability Card, Activate! Air Battle!", Shun cried as Monarus flew towards Shinichi's card.

"Both of you fell right into the trap!", Shinichi cried, "Ability Activate! Chaos Barrage!".

Nillious let out a roar as he stomped twice on the ground before he started spinning around, forming a fire tornado around himself, and random blasts and beams started coming out of it.

"This card not just nullifies any opponent ability, but Nillious will keep on spinning until he takes down one Bakugan!", Shinichi explained just as Nillious hit Mantris, forcing it to return to its sphere form.

"Ability Activate! Boosted Dragon!", Dan cried as Drago gathered a fireball before he fired it towards Monarus, forcing it to return to sphere form. All of the Bakugan then returned to their partners' hands, the field now empty with no Gate Card.

Dan Kusou & Shinichi Kudou: 2

Masquerade & Shun Kazami: 2

"That was a risky plan.", Ran said worriedly.

"Yeah, but now they can use all of their Bakugan again.", Runo said with a smile.

"Which means Masquerade will use Reaper again…", Marucho mumbled.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Kudou's got something up.", Kaito said.

"How could you let them win twice?!", Masquerade cried at Shun.

But Shun was staring at the empty field before he stared at Dan and Shinichi, the two whom he created Bakugan with, the two whom he grew up with as childhood friends (alongside Ran, Sonoko, and Runo), the ones he enjoyed playing Bakugan with.

What was he thinking? Why did he join Masquerade? Just because he wanted to find worthwhile opponents? This was not worth being on the wrong side nor sending Bakugan to their graveyards.

"Gate Card, Set!", The four cried as they set their Gate Cards.

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand!", The four cried as they threw their Bakugan on their Gate Card.

"Drago!".

"Nillious!".

"Skyress!".

"Reaper!".

"Dan, Shinichi… Let's play Bakugan like the old times.", Shun said with a smile, surprising Masquerade while the other two boys smiled widely.

"Oh yeah! You're back to your senses!", Dan cried.

Shun nodded before he cried, "Green Nobility – Soar Violent Winds! Ability Activate!".

Skyress let out a cry as winds started gathering around her before she charged towards Drago.

"Ability Card Activate! Boosted Dragon!", Dan cried.

Drago fired a fire ball at Skyress but she evaded the first one, before Drago fired another that hit her.

"You…", Masquerade growled, "Ability Activate! Reaper of chaos!".

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

"Get out of here you creep head!", Nillious cried as he charged his beam with his two fingers.

"I won't go down easily!", Reaper cried as he sent the crescent slash, but Nillious flew high, evading it, and fired his beam at Reaper, causing him to return to his sphere form.

Dan Kusou & Shinichi Kudou: 3

Masquerade & Shun Kazami: 2

Winner: Dan Kusou & Shinichi Kudou.

"What a waste of my time!", Masquerade spat once the field returned back to normal and he disappeared in purple light.

"Someone's cranky.", Shinichi noted.

"Serves him right.", Nillious scoffed.

Dan rushed towards Shun and fist bumped with him, "I'm so glad you're back, Shun!".

"I guess I just needed sometime to clear my head after everything that happened.", Shun shrugged.

"I told you so.", Skyress chuckled.

"So, does that mean you'll join the Battle Brawlers for good this time?", Ran asked as she and the others moved closer.

Shun nodded, "For good.".

Dan pumped his fist in the air, "YES! The Bakugan Battle Brawlers' Primary Members are complete!".

"Primary?", Shun asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We'll explain later.", Shinichi said before he smiled, "How about I invite you all for something to eat as a celebration?".

"Let's hope a murder doesn't happen then!", Dan joked making Shinichi groaned.

"That still hasn't stopped.", Shun scoffed with a smirk.

"Nope, our Battle Vanguard leader seems to be a grim reaper after all.", Kaito joked before he and Dan fist bumped at their jokes, before they burst into laughter.

Ran, Marucho, and Runo joined in while Shinichi grumbled, "Not funny guys.".

Shun stared at them for a bit before he smiled, feeling happy that he was surrounded by his second family; his friends.