COUSIN

"Great! Now we are a team!" cries Catarina, "And we'll go to that turnament and we'll win!"

"Don't be so sure. A lot of bladders are better that you." Says Jacques.

"Oh yeah? I don't believe that!! And what exactly did you mean with that? That I'm a bad blader?" starts yelling Catarina, "I'll prove you!" and she prepares her blade.

"Put you're blade back. I didn't mean that. It's just that....you don't have a bit-beast and in battle.....you need it."

"He's right." PJ agrees with Jacques "Even if you are a good blader without a bit-beast you don't have a chance."

"Oh...you're right." Catarina puts her blade back. "What do you think Fedja? You're very quiet." She turns to the window sit where Fedja was sitting but now it's empty and window is open. "Fedja?"

"It look like she's gone...somewhere." Says Jacques quietly and little confused

"You mean she left us!? How could she leave? And now that we've just become a team!"

"Hold your horses Catarina." Smiles Fedja lining to the window from outside, "I'm right here. And you have a quick temper haven't you?"

"Well I was just little upset" starts Catarina apologising.

"It's ok....but he's right-without a bit-beast you won't come a long way on a turnament."

"Where can I get a bit-beast? Am I the only one here who hasn't one?"

"Don't be sad" says Jacques and adds, "I don't have it ether. You both have bit-beasts? "

"Yeah." Answers PJ and Fedja nods.

"Where did you get them?" asks Catarina eagerly.

"Well, mine is in family for generations. My grandfather gave it to my father and than he gave it to me. Not very interesting story..."

"I found mine together with my blade." Says Fedja.

"You mean...you have a bit-beast but you don't blade?" asks her Jacques.

"It's not that I don't blade. It's just....I haven't blade now for some time."

"Why?"

"I hate nosy people!! Because my blade was damaged in a battle and still is damaged because I can't find someone who could fix it."

"Let me...." starts PJ but Catarina yells angrily:

"You mean you stole it? No one can find a blade with a bit-beast in it!"

"No...that one was meant for me to have it.... I just took it little earlier as was planed. Father wanted to surprise me."

"You mean like a birthday present?" laughs Catarina.

Fedja smiles "Yeah, something like that."

"I wish I had a father like you!" sights Jaques.

But Fedja ignores him. She goes to PJ.

"So you think you could fix my blade? It's very bad!"

"I can try...can I take a look?"

"Sure." Says Fedja and takes her blade from a pocket. But before she gives it to PJ she removes her bit-chip.

"Here it is."

"Wow, that must have been a great blade," says PJ when he looks at golden blade. "but you're right. It's bad....but I think I can fix it. But I'll need silence and peace so you two" he looks at Jacques and Catarina "will have to leave."

"Why should we leave?" asks Catarina and stands up.

"Because you can't be quiet. Out!"

"Come Catarina, we'll go for a walk." Says Jacques and pools Catarina out the door.

"I wish I had a bit-beast." Sights Catarina when they start walking.

"So do I. They both get there's from their families. We don't have a bit-beast in the family."

"Even if you had it, it wouldn't help you. You stink at blading." Says an ironical voice.

They turn. Boy with brown hair, put together with a shawl, sitting near them with a mean look in his eyes.

"You can't say that. You haven't seen me blade...and you never battle with me! You should think before start talking and maybe you would say something smart from time to time." Says Jacques back.

"Are you looking for trouble?" asks boy a little surprised.

"I think you started!" yells Catarina at him.

"I think he can talk for himself so you can stay quiet!"

"He's in my team so if you're evil to him I won't stay quiet!"

"Team?" he laughs "You have a team? Is just you two or are there any others? When did blading come to every kid that can hold a blade in his hand thinks he can have a team."

"There are two others. And they can take you any time!"

"Really? Why? They have a bit-beast?"

"Stop Catarina." He turns to the boy "What do you want?"

"I want to fight, Jacques." Smiles boy

"Ok, we'll fight right now!"

"How does he know Jacques's name?" thinks Catarina and looks at boy.

"Are you ready to loose?" asks boy and prepares his blade.

"Are you ready?" asks Catarina who takes place as judge. "Let it rip!"

Blades fall in to the bowl and the boy's blade attaks Jacques's blade with all speed. But Jacques's blade moves aside and runs in to the boy's with other side.

"You've really improved." Says boy a little imprest.

"Thanks," Smiles Jacques. "but that's not all. Look at this!"

And his blade somehow comes under the boy's and throws it in the air so that boy looses control for few moments.

"Now I'm really imprested! But there's still something missing.."

"Like what?" asks Jacques full of himself.

"Like this." Smiles boy and shouts: "Salamulyon!"

Yellow light comes out of his blade and a big salamander takes form above him.

"Attack!"

And Jacques blade is knocked out.

"You won...Again!" says Jacques disappointed.

"Don't worry. If you had a bit-beast you would be a real calang to fight." Says boy.

"Wait a minute! What's going on here?" asks confused Catarina.

"Sorry. That's my cousin Johnny. He's an amazing blader. He tough me how to blade."

"You tough him to blade??" Catarina is amased.

"I was bored.....now what were you talking about a team? Are you going to the tournament?"

"Yeah! Why? You think we don't stand a chance?"

"Catarina!" says Jacques little impatiently. "You'll have to control your temper."

"Sorry...I'll try....but it's hard." Says Catarina and glares to Johnny.

"Why are you asking than?"

"I'm just curious that's all. I know few people that are going to the tournament and without a bit-beasts you don't stand a chance."

"You have any idea of what to do?" asks him Jacques.

"I have a great idea!"

"Really? What?!"

"Get a bit-beast." Laughs Johnny and turns away.

Catarina wants to run after him and hit him but Jacques stops her.

"Let it go....it's his character. And his idea is not so bad. We really should get bit-beasts....but where?"

"Maybe I could help you with that." Johnny turns back at them "Come with me....maybe you'll get one. If you really are from our family."

"What do you mean? How could I get a bit-beast by coming with you?"

"Well I heard a legend, my grandfather told me that there are two bit-beasts in our family-one is Salamalyon and it's mine. But the other one is sleeping in my house ans all you have to do is wake it up. If you can do it." He adds ironicly.

"He's just joking..let's go Jacques" says Catarina and trys to move him. But he stays where he is.

"I can't loose anything. I'll go with you."

"But the girl stays here!" says Johnny and looks at Catarina.

"If she's not going I'm not going"

"As you wish. It's not vitale for me that you come. As you I also don't have anything to lose." He smiles meanly" But think what you could get."

"Ok, she'll stay here. "says Jacques.

"No, I'll not! I'm going with you! You don't know where he's taking you!"

Jacques pulls her little away from Johnny: "Maybe you should go. He's my cousin! I trust him. And someone has to tell PJ and Fedja about that so they won't worry."

"So I have to go and you'll stay alone with that creap?!"

"Hey!! He's my cousin! He's just little weird."

"Little?" cries iconicly Catarina and just wants to start naming reasons why he's totally crazy but Jacques stops her with a begging look.

"Ok, ok I'll be a good girl and I'll go back.. but you owe me one favour!"

"Ok." Smiles Jacques and goes with Johnny in to his car and they drive away. Catarina slowly walks back to PJ's house.