Bakugan: Precious Memories

Chapter 3: Sweet

Aubrey's smiling face greeted Aya at the door, her purple hair flowing in the wind. She looked pretty. "Yo!" She greeted. "Hey Aubrey. Gimmie a sec, I'll be ready soon." Aya informed. Aubrey nodded and Aya went to grab his bakugan. He decided to mix and match to see if another strategy would work. He wanted Aubrey to stay away from the masked man more than anything. So he would do this. He would challenge her to a battle, and if he won, she would drop her challenge. He grabbed his new team which included his new partner, darkus dragonoid. "Dragonoid. I'm gonna need your help. I need to keep Aubrey from brawling the masked man. I'm counting on you." Aya spoke to his new bakugan. The dragonoid opened and spoke. "Of course, Aya. I'll do everything in my power to help you." The dragonoid closed and Aya slipped him into his clip. "Yo! You ready yet dork?" Aubrey called. "Yeah! I'm ready!" Aya responded. He ran down the stairs to his friend. He and Aubrey walked to her father, Henry's, car. "Aya...I can't get you." Aya looked at her, puzzled. "When I battled you, you had a cocky bright smile, then when I beat you, you were breaking down. Even more so when I called you. Now here you are with the smile...what gives?" Aya thought for a second...he couldn't come up with an answer. He had mood swings before but they were never this bad. So, he used the cop out he almost always used. "It's just one of those days." Aya said. Aubrey lifted an eyebrow but decided not to press further. They hopped in the car and Aubrey's father drove. "So, Aya! Been a while since I've seen you! How've you been?" Henry smiled with his thick mustache. "I've been...OK sir." Aya answered. Henry's fave changed to a more serious and saddened expression. "I know things have been tough for ya bud. Runaway father, deadbeat mother...dead sister." Aya flinched at the last one. The images were flowing back...but suddenly disappeared. Aya felt something kinda cold but soft on his hand. Aubrey's fingers were entangled in his own. Aubrey didn't look at him and had her usual stone face, while Aya's turned a tad red. The feeling of dread had practically vanished and Aya had calmed down. "Thanks." He whispered. Aubrey acknowledged his statement with a nod. She whispered in his ear; "if it ever starts to get bad, just tug on my shirt or something like that. I'll be there and I won't leave you. I promise." Aya gripped her hand tighter. "You're more than welcome to stay the night if you want, Aya." Henry said. Aya smiled. "Thanks. I think I'll do that." Aubrey smiled upon hearing that. They've been friends for a long time, ever since kindergarten. Aubrey was there for Aya, and Aya was there for Aubrey. As sweet as the moment was, Aya had a mission. An urgent one. But, he was very tired, hungry and thirsty. The urgent mission could wait till tomorrow. But nevertheless, Aya was a bit happy. He had the thing he wanted now with his new dragonoid. Power to protect. The dragonoid thought to itself; "Aya has quite a bond with this Aubrey. I will lend him my strength so he may protect the few loved ones he has left...don't worry Aya...I'll help you keep them safe." Dragonoid assured. Aya was just about to drift off to sleep when Henry proclaimed; "We're here!". Aya snapped awake, and him and Aubrey hopped out the car. "Aubrey..." Aya called to Aubrey. She turned to look at him. "Wassup?". Aya looked at her with a serious look in his eyes. "About what we talked about on the phone-" Aubrey cut him off; Aya, dude, I got this!". Aya glared at her. "How about this. Tomorrow, let's battle. If I win, you have to back down on brawling the masked man. If you win I'll shut up and never bring it up again." Aubrey paused and thought for a moment. Then a cocky smirk spread across her face. "You're on Aya. I'll wipe the field with your bakugan! In fact...why wait till tomorrow? Why not tonight?" Aya's stomach growled. "Because I'm too tired and hungry to even throw my bakugan." Aubrey's stomach growled in response. "Point taken, tomorrow it is." They laughed and headed inside. Anna, Aubrey's mother, greeted Aya with a bright smile "Yo! Aya! How ya been lil dude?" Aya chuckled. "I've been ok Ma'am. Thank you for having me." She ruffled his hair and laughed. "No problem! You're always welcome here!" Aya smiled and walked to the table. Aubrey sat next to him and they waited for their dinner. Aya loved Aubrey's house. There wad a lot of cool stuff there. But most importantly...it was the closest thing he had to a family. A real family. Aubrey's mom was closer to a mom than his actual mother. Her father was also a better dad. And Aubrey was a great friend to him even if she was kinda mean at times. "Dinner is le served!" Henry called out. As they sat at the table, Anna noticed Aubrey had a sour expression. "What's wrong honey? Don't tell me you don't like pork roast anymore!" Aubrey looked at her mom. "As if! Nah it's just...Aya's mom left him alone again...that's one of the reasons I asked if I could invite him." Aubrey explained. Anna also gained a sour expression upon hearing this news. "Are you friggin kidding me!?" Anna exclaimed. "My lord. This woman..." Henry sighed. "I-it's OK. I'm used to this by now." Aya said. "Even so, it pisses me off." Aubrey gritted under her teeth. "I second that one." Anna replied. "Let's just eat. I don't wanna think too much on it and I'm really hungry." Aya proclaimed. "Agreed!" Henry said. They all ate their food and had laughs. When it was time for bed, since the guest rooms were under renovations, Aya slept in Aubrey's room. Both quite flustered about it. "I gotta use the bathroom." Aya walked out of the room and into the bathroom. In there, he pulled out his dragonoidipn"I'm counting on you for tomorrow." He said to the dragon. It opened up and spoke. "Of course, Aya. I'll make sure her battle with this masked man doesn't happen." The dragonoid closed and Aya placed him in his clip. Meanwhile, Aubrey was sitting on her bed, talking to her guardian bakugan. But not Monarus. A bakugan not seen before. Ventus Cendrillion. "Oi. Cendrillion. I need to talk with you." The bakugan opened to reveal it's sphere form. "What is it my mistress?" The smooth, feminine voice questioned. "Aya. He's hell bent on making sure I do not brawl this masked man. I'm pretty sure he'd punch a hornet's nest ass naked if it meant I didn't brawl him. I...almost want to throw the match." Aubrey admitted. She'd never surrendered before. "Mistress. You must not falter. You are strong enough and you must show him you are. His concerns are valid, but you cannot back down now." Aubrey's cocky smile returned as she clutched her partner. "Alright, let's do this!". A few minutes later Aya returned and he tucked himself into the sleeping bag. "Good night Aubrey." He said. "Good night Aya. I'm gonna crush you tomorrow!" Aya chuckled. "Let's see." They both chuckeld and eventually drifted off to sleep.