NOTE: Welcome back! Pretty emotional chapter I think, but also a good set-up. I don't really have much else to say other than, thank you for all of the support you've given me! You guys are a big reason why I haven't abandoned this story like many others up to this point. I want to continue brining my best, so keep on giving me your support.

Enjoy and Review!

Chapter 22: Before the Storm

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Yuji asked Alice. The two of them were sitting alone inside of the Bakugan Store. It still wasn't time for the store to open, so they had enough time to have some privacy themselves. Well, Leonidas was with him, but his Bakugan liked to have his own privacy sometimes.

"I'm certain, Yuji." Alice said.

"But what if she hurts you?"

"She's already hurt me."

"If she hurts you again?"

Alice gripped the fabric of her coat and refused to meet his eyes. "I want to have faith that she's come to her senses. If Julie can realize that you and Leonidas aren't bad guys, then maybe the others can also stop acting like jerks."

"If she doesn't?"

Alice took a deep breath to steel her emotions. She looked the boy of her dreams in his eyes with a resolute look. "Then, I'll leave the Battle Brawlers."

"WHAT?!" Yuji jumped to his feet. He stared at Alice as if she just told him that Serena hadn't been kidnapping people the last two chapters. "Y-you can't just do that, Alice!"

"Do you think I want to?!" She met his emotions head-on. Her mask of indifference was starting to break. "Do you think that I want to break off my friendships that I've had for years?! That I want to continue fighting them?!"

"Then, why?" Yuji asked. "Why do something like that over me? I know we're friends, but it's been about a couple of weeks since we've met. Why do all of that over me?" The distance between them lessened as he spoke. Alice felt her heart pounding against her chest as she looked up into his eyes.

She wanted to, more than anything, to convey her true feelings to him. But she couldn't do it, she couldn't tell him right now. Even still, Alice gripped his jacket and pushed her head into his chest. Yuji froze up for a moment before his hands wrapped around her waist to hold her close. He didn't speak a word as he listened to the soft muffled sobs of the girl of his affections. Yuji still needed to hear her answer.

"I-it's because…y-you're just as important to me. Ever since I met you, I've felt some pull in my chest. The more I talk with you the more I've come to admire the sweet and clumsy boy that you are. And the more I watch you battle, the more I see the potential that you hold to become the strongest." Alice admits with red cheeks.

"Y-you really think that?" Yuji's breath hitched.

Alice gives him a genuine smile. "Yes, I do! You're the coolest, Yuji!" It may not be a declaration of love, but this was still her way of letting him know just how much he means to her.

"S-she thinks I'm cool…?!" Yuji's poor heart felt like it was going to explode. He was so happy, so goddamn happy to hear that. Nobody other than his family has shown him such kindness, such warmth and affection. More than anything, he wanted to make the people who have placed so much faith in him proud. His family, his partner, Dan, Drago, and Alice have all been so supportive of him since the beginning. They're good people, too good for him.

But that's why he also couldn't let Alice go down this road.

"You're really cool too, Alice."

She started leaning towards him instinctively, practically giving into her body's desires. However, Yuji lightly pushed her away, eliciting a gasp from her lips. "You're really cool, Alice, and that's why I can't let you make that kind of decision."

"Yuji-"

"They're your friends. Sure, they've made mistakes and have hurt me a lot. But that doesn't change everything you guys have been through together. I know if Dan was here, he'd be smacking you all on the head for acting like this. He wouldn't want you to give up on everyone, especially not now." Yuji said.

Alice lowered her head shamefully, knowing that Yuji was correct. She knew that if she did choose to leave the Battle Brawlers, she'd regret it. She'd hate herself for the rest of her life for making a choice like that even if it meant staying by Yuji's side. Her friends were acting like bullies and needed to be shown the error of their ways.

Runo is lost, struggling to find the right path, and needs someone to guide her back to it. She can't give up on them now, not when their integrity as a group was hanging in the balance.

Alice clutched her hands to her chest. "W-we've never gone through something like this before. I'm scared that if something goes wrong, then we'll never recover."

"Then let's talk with Julie." Yuji said softly. He grabbed one of her hands, holding it within his own. "Whatever Julie has to say, I'm sure it'll confirm everything for you."

"...Yeah. I-I can't keep crying forever." Alice strengthened her grip on his hand. "It's funny, I thought I was completely confident about this, but it seems like I was the most scared out of the two of us."

"There's nothing wrong with that. I get scared a lot, honestly. But we don't have to face our fears alone, at least that's what I've learned with Leonidas. As long as we're together, we can do anything." Yuji smiled.

Alice felt her heart swoon for him all over again. His words resonated within her more than he'll ever know. "You've grown so much, Yuji. I'm certain Dan would be proud."

"So, how's Dan?" Julie asked, talking into her watch. She was talking to Runo as she waited for Yuji to finish his match. Julie frowned at the physical state her usual tsundere friend was in. Runo's eyes had dark bags under them, her hair frazzled along the pigtails, and a deep frown settled along her face. Runo's eyes held a dark look that unsettled Julie greatly.

"He's…fine. His parents told me that the doctor's said his condition is stable, nothing irregular. But they don't know when he'll wake up." Runo explained.

"...I wish there was something we could do to help him and Drago." Julie said.

"There is. We beat the ones responsible and avenge them."

"Runo, I-" Julie stopped herself, mulling over her own thoughts. She didn't know if it was a good idea to inform Runo about her upcoming conversation with Yuji and Alice. "Runo, are you certain that Yuji and Leonidas are the ones responsible?"

The distressed Haos narrowed her eyes. "Of course, Julie, or did you forget that Dan was the one who told me that it was them! If this was Masquerade or one of his little minions, then Drago would've been sent to the Doom Dimension. There's nobody else it could've been."

"But what if they're innocent?"

…

"...I think it's best if you focus on your upcoming match, Julie. Come visit once you're done." Runo ended the call without answering the question. Julie released a breath she didn't know she had been holding. The Subterra Brawler didn't know what was going on through her head, because everything was such a mess. Everything always seemed so easy before when it came to these things.

Something terrible happened to someone and their Bakugan? Obviously, it was Masquerade and his cronies. Find them, beat them, and then move on.

But now the one who seems to be responsible doesn't seem so guilty, and it's tearing their group apart.

"I think this is all too much for me, Gorem." Julie whined. Her guardian floated up out of her bag to talk to her. "What do you think about all of this?"

"I am also unsure of what to say, Julie. What happened to our friends greatly saddens me, yet I can't find myself thinking that Yuji is the culprit. However, he and Leonidas are the only ones who could've possibly done it. Regardless of Alice's feelings, there is no way to properly tell if she's covering for him or telling the truth." Gorem lowered his head. "I wish that I could clear your doubts better, Julie."

She gently tapped her guardian affectionately. "It's okay, Gorem. I appreciate your feelings on everything, like always." Julie looked down at her watch and saw that the time was drawing near. She stood up from the bench and dusted off her shorts. "Alright, guess it's time for the crucial talk!"

The three (Technically five if you include Leonidas and Gorem) decided to meet up inside the auditorium, since it was still pretty empty. They would have a good chance to talk with each other without worrying about someone listening in on their conversation.

Yuji awkwardly sat between the two girls, who were giving each other nervous glances. Most guys would be lucky to be stuck between two cute girls, but the situation surrounding this hardly allowed room for such thoughts. He could even feel Leonidas growling slightly at Gorem's presence and was hoping that ticking time bomb wouldn't explode any time soon. Yuji coughed into his fist. "S-so…uh…what is it that you-"

"Are you and Alice dating?" Julie's sudden question punched through him like a boxer's ace move. He and Alice stared at the bubbly brawler with a mix of embarrassment and astonishment.

"W-what?!" Yuji sputtered. He had been caught off guard completely.

Alice's face quickly morphed from embarrassment to anger. She stood up from her seat, glaring down at her friend. "J-Julie…! I-I-I can't-actually I can! Of course, you'd ask something like that at a time like this!"

"A-Alice-" Julie was quickly interrupted by Alice's finger pointing at her.

"After you and everyone else shunned me like some kind of traitor, you decide to approach me for a serious conversation, and instead all you care about is if I'm dating a guy! Not a 'sorry', not a 'I can't believe you'd do this to us', or a 'how have you been'!" The non-brawler's anger increased with each exclamation, deepening the guilt in Julie's stomach.

Yuji quickly stood up to his feet, blocking Alice from Julie's view. He took her hands into his and stared into her eyes. "Alice, you have to calm down!"

"No!" She tore her hands out of his, pushing Yuji out of the way. "She's been an awful friend lately! Her, Marucho, Runo, and Shun! Their Bakugan included!" Alice turned away from Yuji to set her sights back on the trembling Julie. "You have no right to ask me something so personal, when you clearly don't care about my feelings or the people I care about!"

Julie couldn't believe her eyes or ears. Alice, the sweet girl that wouldn't hurt a fly, just exploded at her in a fit of rage. If Alice was upset, she'd shut herself away or would cry to one of them about it. But to think she'd actually get angry enough to yell at one of her friends was new. Something must've brought this change out of her…no not something…someone.

Julie's eyes trailed over to Yuji. "It was you…wasn't it?" Her question confused the two teens. "You're the one who changed Alice so much. The old Alice never would've gotten angry like this."

Alice intervened before more blame could get shoved at Yuji. "Don't say things like that! Quit talking like I'm some different person you all don't recognize! I'm Alice, one of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers! None of that has ever changed!" Alice stopped to catch her breath, she grabbed her head and felt a headache coming on. She stumbled back and was luckily caught by Yuji.

"Alice!" Yuji and Julie exclaimed in worry.

Alice glared at Julie. "I-I should've realized this was a mistake. Y-you guys won't l-listen until we've proven Yuji's innocence."

"W-wait, Alice!" Julie jumped to her feet. "P-please just let me talk! I know what I said was stupid, but I was just trying to break the tension! You're my friend, so I don't want things between us to be so…so unbearable!"

"...Neither do I." Alice muttered.

"Please, give me another chance!" Julie begged.

"No." Everyone turned to Leonidas, who had answered the request. "You had your chance to speak and wasted it with a joke that not even Yuji would make. And trust me, his jokes are unfunny."

"W-why was I insulted in this?" Yuji went ignored.

Julie glared at the dragon. "I was talking to Alice."

"And I refuse to let you continue. From my understanding your issue isn't with Alice, but with Yuji and I. That's where all of this stems from, therefore your conversion should be with us." Leonidas floated upwards off of Yuji's shoulder. "If there's anything I learned from my battle with Drago it's that I am weak."

Eyes widened at the dragon's admission of his weakness. "I failed to be the partner-the friend that Yuji needed. I had to grow, and I believe that I still have growing to do. This is something that I could only learn after facing defeat for the first time."

"What are you trying to say?" Gorem asked.

"If you wish to speak to Alice, if you wish to understand the truth of what has happened, then simply talking isn't going to bring the answers you seek. We must battle to understand each other. Our words have failed, and others have already declared us enemies. Therefore, we no longer have anything to talk about verbally." Leonidas explained.

Gorem spoke first. "I understand, Leonidas."

"Gorem?!" Julie gasped.

"Julie." He turned to his human partner. "I understand that you want to continue talking to Alice, and that you want to find out the truth, but Leonidas is correct. Our answers to everything will be answered in battle."

The Subterra Brawler closed her eyes, struggling to understand their words. But in the end, she had to accept that Gorem was right. She had made a blunder in this conversation and widened the rift between herself and Alice. Her thoughts on Yuji and Leonidas were even more uncertain. Questions burning inside of her that wouldn't be answered today no matter how much she continued to push. Julie released a breath and opened her eyes. "Okay…fine."

"Fine?" Yuji blinked.

Julie took Gorem into her hand and pointed him at Yuji. "Listen here, Yuji Shujin! Gorem and I are gonna make it to the finals, and then we're gonna win this tournament! I'm still uncertain if you're innocent or not, but we'll let our brawling skills do the talking now! Everything that I wish to say to you and Alice will be saved for when the battle's over!"

That makes two people now who have challenged him to make the finals. Yuji steeled his gaze and repeated the same motion with Leonidas to meet her head on. "Bring it on, Julie! This doesn't just extend to you; it goes out to Runo and Marucho too! Leonidas and I are gonna clear our names, find the one responsible, and win this tournament! We'll convey the truth in the final battle!"

With the promises declared with fiery hot passion, Julie turned away to prepare herself for her match. Yuji released his partner and turned back to Alice. He gave her a sad smile. "I'm sorry about that, Alice."

"It's okay." She shook her head. "I think Leonidas was in the right. We were long past the time for talking when they refused to listen to us before. All we can do now is fight and prepare ourselves for the final battle."

"Right." Yuji smiled.

Alice grabbed his hand, tightening her hold on it. "Yuji…you have to win, okay? So much is riding on this battle! Runo, Marucho, and Julie will be gunning for you! It'll be a three-on-one fight! Losing is not an option!" Her eyes screamed a fierce determination that Yuji had never seen from her before.

Yuji responded to her feelings with his own. "Of course, Alice! But you were wrong about something."

"Huh?"

"It's not a three-on-one! It's a three-on-three! It's you, me, and Leonidas working together to beat them! We'll meet them head on with all of our strength!"

Alice stood back up and smiled at her friend. "Right! We're all doing this together!"

Marucho turned off the screen, he had hacked into Julie's watch to listen in on the conversion between the three of them. Everything about the situation with Dan had left a terrible taste in his mouth, and he didn't know what to think. His friends were hurt and the one responsible had become the reason their group was beginning to fall apart. But at the same time, that same person was fighting to bring them all together.

"Marucho? Are you okay?" Preyas asked.

"Yeah, I think I am, Preyas." Marucho stood up from his chair. His partner followed him as he headed towards the kitchen. "I understand now, Preyas."

"Understand what?"

"The only way to finally get rid of these clouds in my head is to meet Yuji head on. We'll be making preparations for the final match. No matter what, losing is not an option." Marucho declared.

"Right, buddy! We'll totally win this thing!" Preyas exclaimed.

"Runo…" Tigrerra murmured at her partner. They had just left Dan's hospital room since their visiting times were over. The twin-tailed hothead hadn't spoken a word after her call with Julie, leaving Tigrerra to wonder what was going on through her head.

"I'm okay, Tigrerra."

"You know…it's a terrible thing to lie."

Runo whipped around, recognizing the voice it belonged to. She hissed angrily at the figure of Masquerade, the Darkus Brawler that has been a thorn in their side for a long time now. She whipped out a Gate Card, prepared to fight off the masked villain. "Masquerade! What are you doing here?!"

"What? I can't visit poor 'ol Dan when he's hurt?" Masquerade smirked at Runo's anger. "I mean, it's pathetic! Someone as strong as them getting beaten by some nobodies."

"If you have the time to run your mouth, then you have the time to brawl!" Runo yelled. She flinched back when he vanished in the blink of an eye. Runo scanned around for him, only to gasp as she felt an arm wrap around her waist. Masquerade pulled her in close, his mouth inches from her ear. "Y-you…!"

"My lady!" Tigrerra would've attacked, but the masked brawler just flicked her away into a bush.

"Tigrerra-guh!" She winced as Masquerade's hold on her waist increased. "W-why are you…"

"Listen, I'm not here to fight. Honestly, I'm on your side here. I mean, it's only obvious that Yuji and Leonidas are a threat. Who knows? At the rate they're growing they might even be able to surpass Hydranoid, especially if they've managed to take down Dan and Drago." Masquerade whispered into her ear.

Runo struggled to break free. "I-I don't need you to say that to me! I'm going to beat them, then I'm coming for you next!" She promised with conviction.

"Certainly, but they've already beaten you twice, right?"

Runo stopped struggling.

"They've humiliated you."

Leonidas turned the tables on her and Tigerra by stealing their Gate Card, turning it into his own.

"They surpassed in the span of weeks."

She remembered the pain and humiliation after losing that tag tournament.

"Even your own friend, who is like a sister to you, has taken their side over yours."

Just seeing Alice holding onto Yuji's arm, cheering him on like some kind of love-sick cheerleader. It pissed her off every single time.

"And now the boy you love is hospitalized because of them."

She and Dan were supposed to go on a date that day. Instead, she was spending that time crying in a hospital lobby waiting to hear the stress inducing news.

Masquerade smirked as he felt the darkness inside of the Haos Brawler growing with each passing statement. "You can finally make them pay, to burn them down before they get too strong. Watch the two crumble in defeat in front of everyone. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

Runo could see it now. She can see herself standing victoriously over Yuji and Leonidas. Her friends cheering her on, Alice realizing her mistake, and Dan embracing her in a warm love-filled hug.

It was perfect.

"Don't be afraid to take what is yours." Masquerade left those words to echo in her ears as he slipped a surprise into her deck box. He vanished from sight before Runo could snap out of her trance.

"RUNO!" Tigrerra finally managed to pull herself out of the bush. She rushed to her human partner, worry etched into her voice. "Are you okay, my lady?! Did that monster hurt you?!"

Runo touched her head before letting out a small laugh. "I'm okay, Tigrerra. I just finally realized what it is that I want. And what I need to do to get it."

"My lady?"

"Let's go, Tigrerra. We have a final battle to prepare for." Runo walked away with Tigrerra following close. The Haos Bakugan stared at her partner with worry and apprehension. No matter what, she will always stick by her lady's side.

But she felt like she had truly failed Runo in her time of need.

Chapter End

NOTE: I feel bad for Runo, but oh well. I'm sure things will work out in the end...right? Anyways, next chapter will be the last battle of the tournament because I want to move on from it. It'll be a big battle, since I won't be skipping right towards the end of it like the last two.

As Leonidas said, the only way any of this will reach a conclusion is through battle. No more need for words.

Have a great day!