I'm glad you all are enjoying this story so much. Please continue to review and I'll get each part posted ASAP as time allows. ~ Bishojo #3
Love Conquers All part three:
Shock and hurt. That was the easiest way to describe it. Not so much shock as hurt, considering the circumstances, but the shock was there. Still holding his hand to his cheek, Beat slowly made his way to the garage. He seemed dead to the world and vise versa. It had to be the worst day of his life.
It seemed like forever when he finally made it back to the hide out. All he wanted to do was sleep. He was completely exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Perhaps if he got some sleep he'd wake up and find out the whole thing with Gum was just a terrible nightmare. Unfortunately, his hopes of a long and much needed nap were broken when he saw who's turn it was to guard the garage.
"I see you came back today." Cube said as she watched Beat slowly enter the garage. "We hardly see you anymore. Any luck?" Beat wanted to die right then and there. He was having a hard enough time dealing with the fact that Gum had left them and didn't plan on telling the others until at least a few hours later. "Hey! Did you hear? The Love Shockers are back. I can't believe those bitches! Don't they ever learn?"
"I agree. They are bitches." Beat mumbled.
"So why did you come back so early? You had to have found something, right?"
Beat groaned inwardly. He had to make up a lie and fast, but his brain was just too worn out to function quickly. "No, I just thought I should get some rest before looking again." He cursed at himself silently after he said that. He knew that Cube wasn't going to believe him, but it was the only thing he could think of to say. Cube crossed her arms and eyed Beat. "Well, what happened?"
"I don't really want to talk about it right now." Beat said with an obvious hint of sadness in his voice. This alarmed Cube, who sprinted over to Beat and grabbed his arm. "What happened?! Is she hurt? Dead? What?!" That's when Beat broke down from stress. Not really knowing what he was doing, he pushed Cube away and yelled as loud as his voice would allow him. "She joined the Love Shockers! There! Ya happy now?!"
Cube stood in shock. Both at Beat's anger and at what he had just said. She was completely frozen as thousands of thoughts flew through her head at light speed. Beat was shaking slightly, fighting to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. After a few deep breaths, he looked up from the ground to see Cube still frozen from shock. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." Beat whispered. Cube nodded slowly, her eyes still wide with disbelief. It took her a while to recover. She blinked a few times then brought her gaze to Beat. He was staring at the floor again, his shoulders were shuttering slightly as he continued to battle the tears. With a sympathetic look in her eyes, she slowly approached Beat and placed her hands on his shoulders. Beat stopped shuttering and slowly looked up at Cube. She smirked slightly and said, "You love her, don't you?"
Alarm grabbed control of Beat's body and he backed out of Cube's grasp as fast as he could. "What do you mean?!" he demanded almost at the point of hyperventilating. Cube shook her head at Beat's stubbornness. "You love her. I know it, you know it. I don't know if you admitted it to yourself yet, but I know you love her. So I suggest you knock off the crap and quit lying to yourself if you haven't because you know what? Gum loves you too." Beat shook his head and took a few steps back. "You're wrong!" he said, nearly shouting.
"I'm not wrong, Beat. I can sense these kinds of things in people. I watched while Gum was taking care of you. She does love you."
"Loved you mean! Even if what you say is true, she doesn't love me anymore! How could she after what I did to her!?"
"The two of you have been through a lot together. There has still got to be a little place hidden in her heart that still belongs to you. Have faith."
"I broke her heart, Cube!"
"Even broken hearts can be mended."
Beat was at a loss for words. He really didn't have much of an argument in his tired state and Cube was really determined to re-unite the two. "I….I just need some rest." He mumbled as he slowly made his way to his room. "Beat," Cube called out quietly. He slowly turned around to face the girl. "If you haven't admitted that you love her, do it now, or sometime soon. Things will be a whole lot easier that way and I won't tell the others. I swear it."
Beat slowly nodded and walked into his room. He collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Placing his hands behind his head, he sighed. "I do love her. I have no problem saying that to myself, so why can't I admit it to Cube?" he asked himself, only to have something slimy lick his arm in reply. Letting out a small startled cry, Beat bolted into a sitting position to see just what had licked him. "Potts! When did you get in here?" The dog put his paw on Beat's lap and looked up at him. Beat patted the dog on the head and sighed. "I guess I don't have any problem admitting it to you either. It's not like you'll tell anyone. Right?" The dog didn't reply, but it wasn't as if Beat was expecting him too. Just to have someone there listening and knowing he won't say anything rude or interrupt, that was enough for him. "I don't understand why Cube thinks Gum may still have something for me. She herself saw how hurt she was. I don't think anything I do can get her to forgive me. I don't deserve it either. But, Gum's not as passionate as other girls are. Maybe if she knew why I said what I said, if she knew that I didn't really hate her. At least then her heart wouldn't hurt so much. Even if she doesn't want to be with me, just knowing that her heart has mended some is good enough for me. I've got to let her know that I'm sorry, but how?" Beat sighed as he settled back down into his bed, replacing his hands behind his head and staring up and the ceiling. "She won't even listen to me." He muttered as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Beat awoke a few hours later to the sound of several people conversing in the main area of the garage. It wasn't just Tab, Combo and Cube either, it was everyone. Mew, Garam, Piranha and the others. They were all there. 'Do they know?' Beat thought as he slowly got up. After stretching and yawning a bit, he went into the other area to see what was going on.
The group seemed in deep conversation about something. They were so engrossed with the current topic that they didn't even notice Beat's presence. He cleared his throat in hopes of getting their attention. "What's going on?" he asked when they temporarily stopped and looked in his general direction. Mew closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fists. "Gum's with the Love Shockers! I saw them!" she said, her voice straining from anger. "Why? Why would she join them?"
Beat threw a quick glance at Cube as if to ask if she told the others or not. Cube read his silent message and shook her head. "I promised I wouldn't tell them." She mouthed. Beat nodded and looked at the ground. It was his job to tell them, but he wasn't quite ready to have everyone know just yet. "I can't believe that bitchy traitor.." someone in the group mumbled.
"KNOCK IT OFF!" Beat yelled after hearing that. The entire group fell silent, clearly frightened of their unofficial leader. He had his teeth and fists clenched as he scanned the room. "She….she's just a little confused right now." He said, trying to keep his anger in check. "We have…to help her, and I have a plan to get her back. All I need you guys to do is get the Love Shockers out of hiding. Can you do this for me?" The others nodded in unison. "Thanks. I'll give you all the details later." With an okay, the others resumed chatting amongst themselves. During the group wide conversation, Beat pulled Combo and Cube aside. "What's up, Kid?" Combo asked as the three of them shuffled off to an unoccupied corner of the garage. "I need you guys to do something for me." Beat replied, barely over a whisper. Combo and Cube glanced at each other briefly and returned their gaze to Beat. "We're listening."
Center Street in Shibuya-Cho. While the others were off tagging over the Love Shocker's graffiti, Beat, Cube and Combo were working on the more essential part of the plan. "Throw me up another can of paint!" Beat yelled to his friends on the ground. Combo, being stronger than your average man, had the ability to throw small objects for incredible distances and heights, and thus, had no trouble tossing can after can of spray paint from ground level to Beat, who was on top of a rather tall store. This rather tall store had a very large billboard on it, which could be seen from anywhere on Center Street and sometimes even Park Street. A perfect place to post a message you want everyone to see, or in this case, one particular person to see.
Meanwhile, in their own hide out, the Love Shockers were about to do the final step in initiating Gum. "Are you sure about this?" Gum asked as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Don't worry. Your hair will dye very easily." A fellow Shocker replied. Gum smiled lightly as the others hurried to get the pink hair dye ready. She closed her eyes and chuckled slightly as she gripped the left sleeve of her casual clothes. The clothes she wore as a GG. "You don't want to get your nice Love Shocker outfit stained." One of them had said, and she agreed. "Who needs the GGs?" she asked herself softly.
She sighed softly and tried to relax as the radio played in the background. The music was helping her to clear her mind a bit, that is until Prof. K broke in with breaking rudie news. "This just in! The GGs are re-tagging over all of the Love Shockers graffiti and one of them is painting something on the large billboard on Center Street."
"WHAT?!" the leading Love Shocker screamed out, startling the others. "I am so sick of this!"
"What do you expect?" another asked. "Those GGs have bloody persistence."
"Well this time is going to be different! This time we are actually going to fight them! Shibuya-Cho will be ours! Let's go!"
"Wait. I don't have my Love Shocker out fit on." Gum said.
"There's no time to change. Besides, I think it would be rather appropriate for you to smash the GGs wearing your so called 'GG outfit' or something. Don't you think?" Gum smiled and nodded, grabbing her trade mark hat before heading out the door.
Beat had just joined Cube and Combo back on the ground to view his work. He couldn't help but think that the whole idea was lame, but it was the only way to get Gum to listen to him. He grinned slightly at the simplicity of it all, as he looked up to see the billboard he was just tagging covered in bright red spray paint that spelled out the following: I, Beat, am sorry and I love thee, Gum, with all my heart and soul. "Are you sure the 'thee' is really necessary?" Cube asked, scratching the back of her head.
"Hey, chicks like guys who are into literature and Shakespeare and stuff like that. Makes 'em look intellectual." Combo replied.
"Well, I personally think it's the character that matters and not the intellect." Cube retorted, crossing her arms. "Besides, if all girls looked at intellect, you'd never get a date."
"Yo, that's cold kid."
"Will you guys knock it off!" Beat interrupted. "This isn't the time or the place."
"We're just playing Beat!" Cube said, putting her hands up. "We do this to each other all the time."
"I know, I know. I'm just a little nervous."
"That's understandable, kid." Combo said, putting a friendly hand on his shoulder.
Beat was about to say something, but was cut of by some sort of ruckus down the road. "They're here!" Cube said with a strain of anger in her voice. "Let's go!" Cube and Combo skated off to take their places. After slight hesitation, Beat followed them. "I hope this works." He mumbled to himself. The Love Shockers began their attack upon arrival. Two skated off to take care of Park Street while Gum and the leading Shocker reclaimed Center Street. Covering up her former gang's graffiti with Love Shocker symbols felt so odd to Gum, but it was something she had to do. 'I'm no longer one of them.' She thought to herself as she drew her spray can around.
The leading Shocker grinned as she stole a quick glance behind her and saw her newest member covering up GG tags without being phased at all. However, her grin quickly disappeared when she turned back around and saw the message painted on the billboard. She then remembered what Prof. K had said during his announcement. 'One of them is painting something on the large billboard on Center Street.' "Damn! If Gum sees this, she might go back!" She looked back at Gum who was still busy painting over the GG tags. "We can't have that, now can we?" she said as she narrowed her eyes.
Just as Gum had finished up her tag and was about to move on, she was confronted by her new leader and friend. "Gum, why don't you take care of Park Street and send one of the other girls up here?"
"Um, okay." Gum said baffled. Usually when the leading Shocker made a position change, there was an obvious reason for it. But Gum didn't question, there had to be a reason for the leader's decision and it wasn't in her position to question anyway. "GUM!" She was brought out of her small train of thought when the sound of her name being called cut through her brain. "That sounds like…" she muttered as she began to turn. "Gum, you need to get to Park Street now!"
Gum was about to follow her order, when something bright red caught her attention. Only after reading the first four words, she pushed the other Shocker down and dashed up the street. "Damn!" she muttered as she got to her feet. Using her two way wrist radio, she called for back up. "Girls! I need you both on Center Street now!" she hissed. "Will do boss! Over and out." Seeing that Gum had heard him, Combo dashed back into his hiding place with Cube. "Christ! I had no idea you could yell so loud Combo!" Cube said rubbing her ears. "Ah cram it!" Combo growled, then looked back up at the sign. "Well, it's all up to Beat now."
When Gum had reached the top of the sloped street, she stood there out of breath as she read the rest of the message. Over and over again she read it, a million thoughts flying through her head. 'He loves me?! How can he? He said I was ugly. But, he says that he's sorry and he's not one to lie. I guess I could believe that part about him being sorry, but how could he love me? It does make sense. Do I still love him? I'm not so sure anymore.'
The sound of someone clearing his throat from behind caught Gum's attention. She slowly turned around and let out a slow breath when she saw who was there. "Beat." She said just barely over a whisper. Beat swallowed nervously and slowly approached the girl he loved. "Do you mean that? What you painted I mean?" She asked with a shaky voice. He continued to walked towards her until he was within arms range of her. He slowly lifted his hand to her face and gently caressed her cheek. "I meant every word of it." He said softly.
"You…love me?"
"I do Gum. I do."
Gum let out a shaky breath and looked away from the boy. Tears began forming in her eyes, but didn't threaten to fall. Her breath became a bit rapid and raspy. "But…those things you said.." Gum was cut of short as Beat sealed her lips with his index finger. "Those things I said," he began as he slowly turned Gum's head so that she was once again facing him, "were horrible things to say to anyone. I had no idea what I was saying. At the time I was delirious. An infection had formed in my leg and my whole body was over run with a fever. I don't even remember what I said exactly. But, when Cube told me what had happened and why you ran off, I was devastated. I spent three whole weeks looking for you and in that time, I realized how special you were to me. I apologize for the things I said and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Blushing slightly, Beat moved the hand he had behind his back into viewing position and presented three red roses before a startled Gum. Her eyes softening, Gum took the gift from Beat's hand and held it gently. She then leaned in closer to the other teen. "Of course I forgive you, Beat. I had no idea you were delusional. I suppose it's my fault for not noticing. You weren't acting at all like yourself." Beat shook his head and gently brushed away the tears that were starting to drop from her eyes. "It's not your fault. You shouldn't beat yourself up over it. But, I have one more thing to ask you."
"Yes?"
As if a trigger had been pulled, Beat suddenly became more nervous than ever. His whole right hand was shaking as it slowly made it's way to his pocket. Gum watched intently, wondering what could have caused the boy to get so nervous so suddenly. Beat reached into his pocket and slowly withdrew something concealed in his fist. "Gum," he turned his gaze to the girl, who nodded silently for him to continue. Beat held out his shaking fist and slowly opened it, revealing a beautiful gold band ring with a white diamond cut resting in his palm. "A commitment ring." Gum gasped quietly. "Gum, will you do me the honor of leading the GGs by my side?"
With a shaky hand, Gum slowly took the ring from Beat's hand and examined it closer. Her gaze went back and forth from the ring to Beat. Finally, the realization of what was happening hit her. The guy she loved didn't hate her after all and was, in fact, confessing his own love for her! Gum threw her arms around Beat and hugged him tightly. "Yes!" That was all she could say, and all that was needed to be said. "I think we should give them a bit of privacy." Cube whispered to Combo. The latter nodded and the two quietly skated off to join the other GGs in the bus terminal.
Gum slowly released Beat. He held her right hand with both of his and slowly slipped off her glove. Taking the ring from her grasp, he gently slid it on to her finger. Gum sighed happily as she gazed upon her newest and favorite piece of jewelry. She closed her eyes and blushed as Beat wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her in for a warm embrace and Gum rested her head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic sounds of his heart. It was perfect.
It was the sound of a devastating strike and a painful gasp from Beat which caused Gum to open her eyes. "Got him!" a Love Shocker cried, holding a rock in her hand. Beat slid down to the ground in total shock. "Oh my God!" Gum cried as she leaned forward to check if Beat was okay, but before she could, she was grabbed by two Love Shockers who drug her off. She struggled, but the combined strength of both of them overwhelmed her. "BEAT!!"
The other GGs eventually got tired of waiting around in the bus terminal and wanted to see for themselves just what was going on. That's when they heard Gum's cry. In unison, they all sprinted into a mad dash down the street. As they turned onto Center Street, Cube and Combo were in view and skating back the way they had come. The other group sped up to catch the other two who arrived on the scene just in time to see Beat lying on the ground and the Love Shockers carrying Gum off.
The rival gang zoomed right by the other GGs, who did a double take to make sure they were really seeing what they were seeing. "They got Gum! Someone go after them!" Cube yelled at the others. Piranha, being the fastest and slickest skater, silently volunteered as she screeched down the hill in a blur. The others joined Cube and Combo at the top of Center Street.
Combo was helping the dazed Beat to his feet. "What happened?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head. Cube raced up and grabbed Beat's shoulders, nearly frantic. "The Love Shockers kidnapped Gum!" she said as calmly as she could. "What?!" he screeched. Cube nodded her head slowly and was gently pushed out of the way by Beat. He was about to dash down the hill after the rival group, but Combo held him back. "What are you doing?!" he practically yelled at the other rudie.
"Don't worry. Piranha's already on their trail." Cube explained. "Besides, it would be a good idea if we had a plan before we rushed into things."
"And you just suffered a pretty bad blow to the head." Combo added.
It took a lot of convincing, but eventually, Beat gave in and reluctantly headed back to the garage with the others. His head was starting to hurt badly anyway. He slouched as he drug his feet over the pavement. With his teeth and fists clenched, he stared at the ground as he walked, kicked the occasional pebble around. He felt so helpless. He wanted to do something, but irrational thinking would've only made things worse and he knew that. He just hoped that Piranha would come through for them. Before entering the garage, he took one last look at the sky. "You'll pay for this Love Shockers." He muttered as he clenched his fists even tighter and narrowed his eyes. "When I'm through with you, you'll wish you had never been born!"
To be continued……
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