Disclaimer: I don't own Bakugan.

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CHAPTER 1

The room fell into utter silence as Marucho lowered his head, letting his chin rest against his palms.

"Oh, c'mon, buddy," an ever-confident voice came from the object which was hovering in the air above his shoulder. To some, it might have looked like a cross between two types of toys: a tiny ball topped by a miniature action figure.

"Don't tell me you're giving up so easily?" Trister, an Aquos Bakugan, continued to hold the role of what he saw was the voice of reason.

"We've already talked about it, Trister," said the bespectacled teen, "It was not an easy decision to take, but my father…he does have a point."

The blond boy lifted his chin and put his hands on the smooth, gray surface of the long table. His two palms came together.

"Are you sure about it, Marucho?" sounded another voice.

If the first speaker had not even tried to hide his disappointment, the second sounded calm and unemotional as if he had heard third-rate news from a different part of the world.

"Yes, Shun," the boy gazed at his friend with his blue eyes that seemed even bigger through the glasses he wore.

Shun stood some meters away from him, leaning against the wall, his hands against the wall. He was in the same room with the boy, but a special, unseen radiance surrounded him, making the older boy feel more distant.

A similar object was floating in mid-air beside him. Its green color manifested the Bakugan's attribute.

The room had no windows, but its white-colored interior kept it bright. Its furnishing was scarce but hi-tech. A computer with an enormous screen took up the back wall. The table and chairs seemed futuristic.

"We all know Bakugan Interspace has turned into a lawless zone. I think I really need to take a break from brawling and concentrate on the administrative aspect," he made a pause.

Marucho sighed deeply.

He was not sure how many hours it had taken him to come to this decision. It had been the toughest choice he had ever had to make. Brawling was a big part of him, bigger than his father thought. He was not even fully sure that his choice was fully correct. Still, a strong person could leave what he thought dear behind if it was for everybody's good.

"I'm only taking time off," he concluded.

This statement made calming feel of easy go through him like light wind. He silently reminded himself the course of action: he would sort this problem out and make his return to the battle arena.

"Things won't be the same without you," Taylean commented.

"Oh, come on guys. You'll still be seeing me in Bakugan Interspace."

"It's alright, Marucho," Shun said, "Do whatever you believe is right."

"Thanks, Shun," the boy smiled.

His friend did not smile back. The Ventus Brawler merely turned and proceeded to make his way towards the exit, the ball-formed Bakugan by his side.

"Wait, Shun, where are you going?" Marucho asked, standing up.

The young ninja stopped and turned around.

"Where else? Back to brawling," his words sounded like a verdict. He smiled, but even from a distance of several feet it was clear that the smile he had on that moment was not authentic. It was a means to slightly lighten the situation.

"I've got a battle later today," he added.

With that he turned around a second time and left the room that served as Marucho's unofficial office.

Marucho wanted to call out to him, to tell the Ventus brawler that he too needed a break…though for a completely different reason, but he knew it was useless.

—

"It's just you and me now, Taylean," Shun said, walking down the corridor.

"Are you sure you're not jumping to conclusions, Shun?"

"There's no room for interpretation. Now that Marucho is officially out of the equation—"

"He's not retiring. He's trying to deal with the present mess. The difference is that he's chosen using different methods."

"I didn't say he did. It's just that the approach he has chosen to take is wrong. The problem is not technical; it's in the mindset of a significant portion of the players. For them, brawling is all about winning, getting a thrill, and showing off. Only a battle in which two opposing approaches meet can show the audience which way is the right way."

"You make a good point."

He exited the building and walked down the virtual town that was the heart of the Bakugan Interspace. Any brawler or fan that passed him by saw Shun as calm and stoic as ever. Usually, he was able to synchronize his mind with his expressions, but this time his inner world felt a minor shaking like an area caught by the vibrations of a distant earthquake.

He wanted to clench his fists from disappointment, but his self-control set that wish aside.

For years, Shun Kazami had been somewhat a loner. In general, he was not bothered by it. On the contrary, this was one of the traits that defined him.

Yet in this particular context he felt…abandoned.

The same game that he and Dan created had morphed into something else. Even their fanbase which was once vast had been eroding. Some of the recent matches the Battle Brawlers took part in made him wonder how big the remnant of their following really was. He seriously doubted that it was more than marginal.

However, that was not his biggest concern. He was completely on his own, left roaming the sea in a boat without a sail.

Marucho avoided his anger. The little guy was at least trying to fix things: desperate but understandable. Still, he felt somewhat hurt.

And there was Dan…that was when concealing irritation became hard. Dan, though partially, was to blame for this situation. He had brought about significant damage to the team through his inability to handle Drago's power and attempts of downplaying the problem. The fateful brawl between him and Anubias reran before him like a TV show, and Dylan's words about brawlers thinking that Dan heralded a start of an extreme way of brawling accompanied it like a voiceover.

And what had Dan done to help clear the mess? Absolutely nothing. He had chosen to sneak out like the lowest coward and let others sort out what were the consequences of his recklessness.

He had several hours left before the next brawl. He had to admit that this was a calm day for him. The past few days had been intense; he had spent his whole time on brawling and the fleeing moments of rest in the intervals. Moreover, yesterday's battle royale had become a special culmination of that marathon of a brawl.

The atmosphere was bright—such was the setting of Bakugan Interspace. It existed in a loophole of an early summer day: warm and cloudless.

Soon enough, his stroll led him to the park. He sat on the bench that stood by the side of the path that led to the park's core. By each side, the park's rich vegetation, manifested in trees and bushes joined together into a seemingly endless sea of green.

He just sat there as the visitors of the park passed by. There were only a few of them. The stadiums were what attracted people to Bakugan Interspace.

He kept sitting, his gaze on the paved surface on the path. Taylean had dipped into the pocket of his white jacket to get some rest before the upcoming brawl.

"Is this seat taken?" sounded a feminine voice that bore many traits of a British accent.

He did not need to look at the speaker in order to recognize her. They had not spoken much, but he had become familiarized with that voice.

He turned towards the speaker, neither glad nor reluctant. She only needed a few more steps and there she was by the bench, her hand on her hip. Tall, slim and elegant, she was eye candy for many brawlers and fans.

"I don't own the bench," he commented.

She sat down on the bench, a move she performed with her usual grace.

"I was there at the battle royale yesterday," she said, "and I believe I ought to congratulate you with an impressive victory," her face was turned to him, but catching the expression in her eyes, Shun thought the pair of deep blue orbs was gazing somewhere into the distance.

"Um, thanks," Shun said unemotionally.

Mere moments had passed since she joined him, but the young man was already becoming weary of her company. It unnerved him more that she was sitting so close; a small distance still kept them apart, but by Shun's measurements she had already unintentionally encroached on his personal space.

"But the credit isn't fully mine. I couldn't have beaten that Mechtogan without those two guys."

A thought suddenly came to his mind. At first, it seemed random, but he did note it.

He did not brawl in order to receive ovations, but it was somewhat a downer to realize that no one else before this moment had congratulated him with any of his recent wins. Not even Marucho, even though the young ninja was doing it all for the team.

"I don't remember seeing those two brawlers before," she said, "but it's no surprise, there are new faces popping up all over the place on a daily basis."

"So true," Shun nodded; she did not need to know why the duo had come, "so did you brawl anybody today?"

His own question surprised a part of him, the part that was always stoic and unbreakable. But another side of him, the one that was exhausted by the numerous showdowns from bore the brunt of the feeling of abandonment sought an idle chat. And Sellon happened to be the one beside him that moment.

"No, not today, and I don't remember seeing you in the arena today."

"I have one scheduled for today," he said.

"Only one?" she sounded genuinely surprised, "that is quite a contrast to the last couple of days."

"Yes, these few days were quite intense," he leaned against the back of the chair. Even thinking about those past events was tiresome.

"And no doubt very exhausting. I know why you're doing it."

Of course you do, Shun thought. After all, she was the one who had inspired him.

"What I don't understand is—why doesn't Marucho help you out? After all, he is a Battle Brawler too."

"Let's just say that he's has a different approach to all of this," he gave a summary without letting anything slip, "so I'm solo on this one."

He felt an unpleasant feel shake his being. The lack of backing from his closest friends dismayed him, again making him feel abandoned. Even Sellon had confidence in him and she was…

That was a curious question. He found her and her team suspicious at first. But his last two encounters with Sellon had made him change him change his view. Team Sellon was different, but they were not really antagonistic towards the Brawlers. And they had nothing in common with dirty-fighting, "no-rules-but-our-rules" crews such as the Tri-Twisters, the Bash Brothers, and Team Anubias. They were eccentrics not scum. Team Sellon was all for honor and beauty; the Brawlers were too, but in a different way.

"You know what, Shun," her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Sellon placed her elbow on the back of the bench and leaned against him.

"You remind me a knight from those old chivalric novels," she said, looking at him, "Going all around, fighting for honor and justice on his own against impossible odds."

He preferred stories about ronin and samurai, but he knew what she meant, and he had to admit there was quite a resemblance.

Sellon gracefully brought her hand forward, palm up. At first, he did not understand what the gesture implied. He felt suspicion—he often had— but he did not stop her.

She cupped his chin with her thin fingers. Her touch was gentle and cooling. Strangely, its effect was so strong that Shun thought he was paralyzed for a few moments

Sellon shifted further and pressed her warm lips to his.

The sensation this kiss conjured up shot through every fiber of his being.

It felt like nothing else he had experienced. He could not find a correct term to describe it. It felt nice in a unique way.

The tenderness of the kiss reached out to the whole of his inner world. It carried a message of comfort, something the tired and let down brawler had been seeking for the last few days…

He began to respond to the kiss.

But it did not last long. Sellon was the one to start the kiss—Sellon was the one who broke it.

She calmly stood up like nothing happened.

"See you at the arena, Shun," she said without looking at him before making her first step on the road that led to the central square of Bakugan Interspace.

Only now when the kiss was over did Shun start formulating questions. He watched the slender figure begin her exit.

Sellon only managed to take a few steps before he caught her hand in his. He made sure the grasp was the softest, hoping that she did not become startled. She turned around to face him in a swirl that reminded a segment of a dance.

"Shun?" he caught the speck of surprise flash in those blue eyes.

"Why did you do it?" he asked.

His voice was as firm as usual, but his thoughts were partially scattered.

"Why? I said you remind me a knight. You fight for ideals without expecting a reward. It is very admirable," he had her standard cold expression on her face, "You would have at least gotten a kiss from a Princess had you been a knight from the old tales. But since there are no Princesses around, I thought I had to give you one as compensation," a grin appeared on her face, teasing and confident.

Her words found their way to his mind. Princesses out of the equation, her words about knights drew a clear parallel with his recent way of life.

It was an awkward realization. A person he barely knew understood the situation better than his friends. Images of Dan and Marucho flashed before him, and the feeling of abandonment which had been pushed to the back of his mind by the radiance of the kiss resurfaced in full. Its blazing sting stabbed him in the straight in the chest. It felt especially painful when it was mixed with the memories of a chain of tiresome battles.

His eyes were on Sellon, but now she appeared before him in a different light. She was the leader of a rival team and he still did not approve some of her methods, but he was grateful she was there beside him. He might have been strong and enduring, but even he needed to hear such words. And a voice deep inside his soul admitted that he needed that kiss…and that he liked it…and that he yearned for another…

Sellon did not expect it. He understood it by the way her mouth suddenly twitched when their lips came together a second time. But the young lady did not back away. Instead, she contributed to the kiss, making it more passionate.

He instinctively wrapped his hand against her waist, clasping her body tight against his. Her body emitted warmth, and such physical proximity lit a lustful spark in his subconsciousness.

He parted his mouth from hers, letting her look straight in the eyes.

"I didn't expect something like that from you," she said, astounded.

"Very intriguing," she had that mysterious grin on again, one that could have meant anything.

Sellon lifted her hand and put it on his shoulder. The kiss might have ended, but Shun was still holding her in his embrace.

"It's a surprise even to me," he said, "Are you OK about it?"

"I don't mind" she chuckled quietly and parted her lips, inviting him for another kiss.

Shun looked past her shoulder.

"But we should step away from plain view," the path was empty at the moment, but there was always the chance that somebody would pass along any moment.

Sellon looked behind her shoulder.

"Yes, who knows what kind of rumors will emerge if anybody saw us," she said.

He let go of her and gestured her to follow him into the green grove. Their walk lasted just a few moments. The lush vegetation provided enough cover. They made a turn, and a wall of dense bushes, thick and leafy in their summer dressings, shielded the spot from view.

The flame Sellon kindled kept burning stronger. This was the first time he…interacted…with a woman so closely. And under the weight of all the recent events and feelings, he was starting to lose control over the urges he had kept restrained.

He kept gliding his hand rubbing Sellon's hip as they continued to kiss. The girl's palm, gliding up and down caressed his side.

Shun pressed his lips against Sellon's neck. She arched her head back in response, eyes closed, savoring the moment as her lips curled with glee.

His palm maneuvered downwards as if it had free will before gripping her behind softly. In response, Sellon slid her hand under his green shirt and pressed it to his chest just as tenderly.

There was rising in his lower body.

"We don't need to adhere to limits," she said when another kiss was finished, "nobody has to know."

Shun let go of her waist. She stepped back and began to strip out of her long dress. Shun followed her; his white jacket fell to the ground first.

Soon all of their clothing lay on the grass. Shun caught his breath in his lungs as he beheld Sellon in her nude splendor. She removed her hair tie; the locks she usually kept up in a neat ponytail fell to her back and shoulders. Every curve of her body seemed perfect.

She shot a look at his erect member before she sat down on the grass.

"Aren't you going to join me, Shun?" she asked teasingly.

He sat down beside her. They had one more kiss before she slowly shoved him to the ground, her palm light against his chest.

Shun lay sprawled on the ground. Only one part of his body was pointing upwards.

Sellon descended on him bit by bit. He breathed out an unfamiliar sensation as he the tip of his penis penetrated the female Ventus brawler. Shortly after, he was fully buried in her. Sellon's palms fell on his shoulders as she hung over him.

Shun quickly adjusted to this pose, and soon their session was in full swing. He rocked his hips, rhythmically thrusting into her. His partner was bouncing on his lap, her head arched back, her mouth open.

The liaison was accompanied by two types of moaning. It amused Shun that Sellon's erotic moans were just as accented as her speech.

He continued to shove his member into her. Every thrust created a wave of sensations that flew to every corner of his body. The expression of utmost pleasure that seemed unable to leave Sellon's face clearly implied that she was at least just as delighted as he was.

The longer it went, the more it felt as though the surroundings were unraveling around them. Sellon screamed out as she convulsed in her orgasm. The pumping in his groin hinted to Shun that he himself was already on the edge.

He rolled his head back as he released his load inside Sellon.

—

He walked by her side as they exited the park. Fans and brawlers were scurrying all around. Some of them threw looks at them, but all they could figure was that two of the most skilled brawlers going the same way: not really an extraordinary sight for Bakugan Interspace.

Shun tagged along silently, still thinking about their liaison that ended just minutes before. He had reservations about it, especially the last part, but Sellon had told him there "shouldn't be any unwanted consequences".

"I need to get back to Soon and Chris, so I will see you at the arena," Sellon stopped as they reached a crossroad.

She spoke as if nothing had happened between them. But he still needed an answer.

"Very well. But tell me one thing, Sellon. Why did you agree to go all the way?" he asked, having made sure nobody was close enough to hear.

"We both needed to unwind, Shun," she smiled again and turned the route leading straight forth.

But before going further, she turned to him once again.

"And, Shun. Remember the offer I made you? I haven't withdrawn it."

With that she left off, as mysterious as always.