Beyond the Mask - A Bakugan fanfic

Chapter 13.5

"Bakugan, Brawl!" the four shouted in unison.

The greenery of the park around them disappeared in the blinding white light as the field manifested before them. The pressure pushing down on Amari's chest did not help to alleviate the anxiety she felt building up in her stomach. She didn't know how to describe it, but this time out on the field, she could already feel the power surging from each Bakugan present; the light felt brighter, warmer, and their voices carried far louder than in a regular battle.

"Amari," Masquerade caught her attention. He held up his cow skull car and waved it in her direction. "Play yours."

"Oh, right," she agreed, reaching into her pocket. Masquerade smiled at her.

"Doom Card, set," he said, not looking away from her. The pair dropped their cards at the same time, both landing with their corners cutting into the floor before sinking into the ground. A new power pulsed through the field, something Amari had never noticed before with that card. She felt its beating within her own heart.

From across the field, Dan groaned.

"Not that same Doom Card again! Can't you play a game without using that?"

"What's the matter, Daniel? Are you scared of raising the stakes just a little?" Masquerade egged him on, and Amari was shocked to see how easily those words alone riled Dan p. The other boy growled and stomped his foot, too on edge to do anything else.

"Don't try me, Masquerade! You're gonna be the one who's sorry when you lose your Bakugan!"

"We'll see about that," Masquerade responded in that all too cool tone of his, even Amari was intimidated by him.

For a moment, she was relieved to be on his side. She didn't know exactly how he battled apart from what she read online, but Amari was at least happy to have someone strong fighting with her. At least now she'd also get to see firsthand how the mysterious masked boy battled; she only hoped that she wouldn't get in the way.

Runo rolled her eyes, an over-exaggerated gesture that moved her entire body.

"Would you two boys save the trash talk for some other time? We do have a battle going on here!" Her shrill voiced snapped the two boys to attention. "Let's get this battle started already!"

"Gate Card, set!" Everyone shouted, throwing their cards to the field. The game had finally begun, her first fight against the Dan Kuso and Runo Misaki, with Marucho Marukura there on the sidelines to offer them any help in their battle strategies. However, something seemed a little off about him.

Despite himself, Marucho appeared far more off put than the others. While Runo and Dan were far more prepared for the battle, the shorter boy seemed lost, his face in a daze that he couldn't quite break himself out of. Although he stood further back from the field than his unwieldly counterparts, he seemed far more removed from the battle than just physically.

Amari cast her eyes away from him. He was probably calculating some convoluted strategy to share with the others or waiting to see a weakness in her battle prowess to exploit. She decided that Masqerade's being there and fighting with Amari put even that much more pressure on her to perform. What if she messed up? What is she lost one of the rounds? What if she lost one of her Bakugan?

She shook her head. There were the last thought she needed running through her mind right now. This battle was everything that she wanted – she always wanted the chance to fight the Bakugan Battle Brawlers. Now that she was, standing before Dan, Runo, and Marucho, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about this fight felt wrong. It just didn't feel right.