Takao:

It just hadn't felt right.

When the phone rang, he knew.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Max smiled at him. "Only an hour til your big match, buddy!" The blonde slapped him on the back. "Are you excited or what?"

Takao did his best to manage a happy expression. His eyes slid up to the clock. "She should've been here by now. She said she was coming."

"Oh please," Daichi rolled his eyes, throwing himself backwards onto one of the benches in the locker room. "She's probably too busy getting worked like a dog by you-know-who. He's always keeping her busy with projects for her beyblade line."

The blunette wasn't convinced but tried to smile despite it. "Yeah. You guys are right. Why don't you head down toward the arena. I've got to finish preparing and then I'll be right there."

"Okay." Kyojyu gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You've got this Takao. You've always beaten him. Just stay focused and you've got it."

Daichi gave him a quick grin, and Maxy, as always, gave him a bear-hug and the sweetest smile he'd ever seen. "Kai's got nothin' on you, Takao. Wipe the floor with him!"

Soon, the champion was on his own. He ran his hands through his hair and pulled out his phone, checking for voicemails or text messages. Nothing. "Well," He mused aloud, after a few seconds pacing and checking the phone for anything he'd missed, "Better safe than sorry."

Thirty seconds of ringing later, her voicemail message greeted him. He sighed. "Mimi, it's Takao. You were supposed to be here half an hour ago. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. If you got sidetracked or something, that's fine. Just.. call me as soon as you get this, okay?" Clicking the end button, Takao sat down on one of the many benches, clutching his phone in one hand and dragoon in the other.

He wanted so desperately to focus on his match – it'd been years in the making after all, but something just didn't feel right. He didn't feel like he normally did before a match. Even his bit beast was on edge, and it had nothing to do with Kai or Suzaku. Something just wasn't right.

The phone rang.

He scrambled after it almost immediately, only letting it get out half a ring. "Hiromi?!"

"Ta-ka" The voice on the other end most certainly didn't sound like the girl whose picture was smiling up at him through the phone. The picture was a few years old, sure, but her voice had stayed the same through all these years. It was her voice, but it sounded like she had a cold. She sounded wheezy and raspy. "I need-"

"Hiromi? What's going on?"

She wasn't given the chance to reply. A screech and then a muffled wet thudding sound came from the other end. His heart lept into his throat.

No.

It couldn't be.

"YOU MADE HER LEAVE ME!" Another thud. He could hear more weezing, then an even louder thud. "WHY? WHY DID YOU DO IT?" More slamming and banging. It all sounded so far away, as if the phone were on speaker, placed at a distance from whatever was happening on the other end.

"She chose-"

Skin collided with skin and something cracked.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS." The very masculine voice grew quieter, then incredibly clear, as if someone had picked up the phone. "I'll make you regret being born, little girl."

Blinking out of his shock, Takao began yelling into the phone. "Hiromi? Talk to me please. Hiromi!"

"Call ended," The operator, then dial tone sounded in his ears.

"No. Nononononononono," Takao babbled, staring at the blinking call timer. He tried to redial, but the phone went immediately to voicemail. "Fuck," He swore, looking up, willing himself not to get too emotional.

He had to get her help. Now.

Tucking his launcher and beyblade into his pockets, the champion headed for the locker room's back exit. It would put him outside immediately. As he pushed the door open with the full force of his body, Takao made the one call he prayed he'd never have to make.

"I'm calling to report an assault. I'm pretty sure her father is hurting her. It sounded like she couldn't breathe. She called me and all I heard was slamming and banging and she was asking for help but she couldn't-" Shaking, Takao navigated the parking lot to his vehicle as the response team asked him further questions. "I think she's at home. I'll give you her phone number and address." Numbly, he navigated through the call and was assured that a medical response team would be sent to her home immediately.

All thoughts of a battle forgotten, Takao pushed the gas pedal to the floor, praying this time he wasn't too late.