Shattered Past

By Kitty-Kris

Chapter 10: Melody and her FREAKY mood swings…

Robert looked around himself and took in the curious and concerned faces of his friends. He sighed, and after praying to be able to tell them the whole thing, he started letting out what he had kept inside himself for so long "When I was seven years old, my parents, Ralf and Nastasha Jurgen gave me the best Christmas present I could ever wish for… not exactly given to me on Christmas day, but about five days later, on New Year's Eve.

Normally, people spend that night happily celebrating the arrival of the New Year, drinking, partying and such things… but not that year… THAT New Year's Eve, I spent in a Hospital room, gazing passionately at my new treasure. She was so beautiful, so perfect… she was all I had ever wanted and I couldn't wait till we went back home all together.

In deed, a few days later my mother came back home and I was finally able to have her, my little sister, all to myself. My parents had given me the privilege to be the one to choose her name, and I wanted to choose a good one, one that suited her, one I could be sure she'd like. It took me some time… but I eventually came up with one when I was playing with my mother. At a point, she had called me "her sunshine" for some reason, and that gave me an idea. If I was her sunshine, then my sister would be her moonlight or something like that. So, after doing a little name-research, I came up with a name for her. Luna." Robert was suddenly interrupted by Kai, who had let out a gasp and was now staring at him with a shocked expression "L-Luna? Did you say Luna?"

Robert blinked and nodded, to which Kai took a very serious thinking expression, ignoring everyone's questions. After everyone had settled down, the older teen kept going "Well, eventually of course, Luna grew up, and… what can I say? You couldn't ask for a better girl… she was so sweet and caring towards everything… she'd love any living thing, whether it was a stray puppy or just a group of ants. Mother was constantly telling her to stop bringing lost and hurt animals home, but she would just smile and apologize, keeping all her "pets" in our backyard, where she knew no one would find them until they were fine to go completely healed… it was funny to see her hiding and taking care of all those stray animals, and it was even better when she found a fallen baby bird and climbed up the tree to put it back on it's nest. And THEN, she'd cry out my name because she didn't know how to get back down…" Robert chuckled a bit at the memory of his little sister yelling out his name in total despair… he missed her so much…

"Sometimes, Johnny, Oliver and Enrique would come over and we would always have her around ourselves too, being that how they met. Johnny would always pick on her for being younger and smaller, but she would simply ignore him, or call him an "immature baby", since she was surprisingly bright and mature for her age, more than he was and probably IS…"

Johnny frowned at him, but his captain ignored him and kept going "When she was around five years old, our mother was told by Luna's school psychologist that it would be best for her to get homeschooled or advanced lessons, because she was smarter than any teacher on that school and probably in mine at that time too… All that girl ever did in her free time was reading complicated subjects such as philosophy and mechanics anyways… God knows why…" He bit his lower lip "She was just too perfect… maybe that's why it happened…" The harder part approached, and Robert turned to his team mate for help "Oliver I really don't want to continue…" Oliver clutched his shoulder reassuringly "Come on now…" Robert sighed and felt someone kneel down in front of him. It was Melody. He felt… strange like he always felt when she was around him… it was hard for him to even look at her… she just resembled her so much… she smiled and her soft voice interrupted his stray thoughts "Come on Rob! You're stronger than that! I KNOW you are!"

Robert nodded and breathed in deeply, as he readied himself for the rest of the story. Now THIS part, was going to be complicated… he just hoped his mother wasn't around anymore to hear what he was about to say, because he was sure it'd make her angry… VERY angry. "When Luna was five, almost six, she and… my parents went out on a car trip to… somewhere… I- I was left back alone… and a few hours later I got a call saying they had had an accident and that… the only survivor had been my sister." He paused as the girl in front of him cringed and tugged at her lower arm as if something had stung her. She eyed him suspiciously afterwards, but he just shrugged and kept going "As soon as I got that call, I rushed to the hospital she was in and stayed there with her until she was good enough to go home again. I never had to tell her anything, since somehow, she already knew what had happened to our parents… I guess some doctor told her or something… Well er, we- we went back home, and… she- she was never the same again… she would just spend her days in her room, sitting right here… staring at that portrait for countless hours… she had lost all interest in the outside world, in those ridiculously complicated books she always read, everything… but she never cried… not even in the funeral… I don't remember ever seeing her cry now I think about it… she was just too proud… too strong… unlike me…" a tear had started trailing down his cheek and he furiously wiped it away.

"Anyways, a few weeks after the accident, Luna had gone out into the front garden to walk around a bit. I was supposed to have met her at noon so we'd go out to meet some people we knew together… but I… was never there until an hour later…" Robert gritted his teeth, trying to hold back all the tears threatening to spill "…and… and when I got there I found her sitting just outside of the castle's fence, waiting for me. She stood up and ran to me smiling. It was the first time since the accident I saw her smiling and I was so happy, so glad for that. I thought that now things would be like they used to, or at least better than they had been until then… I smiled at her too and opened my arms, waiting for her to reach me, but she never did. Neither of us had noticed a black van approaching the castle from behind her, and when I finally did, it was too late… someone had already jumped out of it and was now running towards Luna. I panicked and ran in her direction, yelling at her to watch out, but the person was too fast and she couldn't get away. In a fraction of a second, he grabbed her around the waist and turned back to the van, running as fast as he could, taking my sister with him…"

Robert paused for a second, glaring at the floor. What he wouldn't give to kill the guy that had taken his little Luna from him "She… she screamed and kicked him with all her might, but it was useless… and I could do nothing but try to catch up with them before the van left." he couldn't take it any more. He pounded the table beside him as he let it all out "I- I never made it there! And they took her away! They took my little Luna away from me! And I couldn't help her, I couldn't do anything to save her… I- I felt so useless, so…" Robert rose his head as someone wrapped their arms around him. A shade of red and black clearly indicated who it was. Sighing, he hugged her back tightly. He didn't know why he wasn't pushing her away from him… all he knew was that it felt good to have her there, and it gave him the strength to go on after she spoke softly to him "Ah'm sorry Robe't… Ah'm so sorry…"

He pulled her away gently and looked into her eyes. He smiled weakly as Melody placed her hands on Minxes' shoulders whispering something to comfort her. Her expression was exactly like the one Luna had when she saw someone sad… He could actually see his sister in her… if her skin was a little darker and her hair was violet instead of purple(not that that was too different anyways), he'd practically have his sister standing there. He sighed as he remembered what Deenix had told him about Melody when he had revealed that same story to her a couple of days ago, wondering if Melody wouldn't in fact be his long lost sister… But for some reason, it hadn't hurt as much as it was hurting now… Deenixes' words still echoed through his mind though. And he still couldn't believe it…He couldn't believe Melody was a monster like Deenix had practically told him.

"I'm sorry Robbie-Chan, but I- I really don't know what to tell you… I now understand why you look at Melly-Chan the way you do but… according to what you said… I can practically assure you that she's not your sister… Melly-Chan may look all happy and innocent on the outside but… even though she herself doesn't notice this… on the inside, in reality she's… a very, VERY different person…very dark, calculative, ruthless and even, I hate to say it… CRUEL as silly as it may sound… She's had a hard life ever since she can remember, getting beaten everyday, WATCHING her friends get beaten, loosing some of them in the process… she created a shell around her to protect her, a hatred shell…" Deenix paused for a while then "Kai-Chan asked me once if she hated him… I told him no, of course not! But I don't know if what I said was true… I honestly don't know who she likes and who she doesn't… After all she's been through.. after all that hate she's developed… I don't know if she's capable of truly and actually feeling any other emotion besides that…" she had smiled at him then "but she's also got a very kind heart underneath all that hatred towards humankind in general… she just… tries her best not to use it… though I must say that ever since she met the Bladebreakers things haven't gone her way much… I think she's actually starting to like you guys…"

Melody nudged him "Robert? Are you ok?"

Robert snapped back into reality and sighed as he turned his face away from hers and apologized for the interruption, scolding himself while he did it 'Must ALWAYS remember to be polite! I AM a gentleman afterall, a lonely gentleman, but STILL a gentleman!' He cleared his throat, and finally finished his story "I- I ran after the van for as long and as fast as I could, calling out my sister's name desperately, but eventually, it disappeared on the horizon, leaving me alone… I ran back to the castle as fast as I possibly still could, screaming out for Gustoff to call the police immediately, crying to the maids that they had taken Luna away… that I had been left alone… I don't know what I did… I felt so desperate… and I couldn't tell much to the police neither because there was no plate on that van and I didn't want to think about it neither. They did their searches, but all they were able to find was a- a corpse a few days later…" he cringed at the memory "Apparently, my sister had been used by one of those organizations that sell human organs in the Black Market… Gustoff went to check if it really was her, because I was under aged and couldn't, and he came back looking horrified and saying that it was her… it was my little girl they had found… dead… taken away from me by some monsters that just don't care! Those-" Robert was crying like he had never cried before. And, like never before, he finally had someone there for him. Melody stroked his hair as she kissed his forehead, leaning hers against it afterwards, while soothing words came out of her lips "It's ok… you have people who care for you now… you have friends, and no one can take that away from you…"

Robert glared at her. "SHUT UP! What would YOU know? I- I thought that no one could take my Luna away from me neither! And look what happened! They took her and they- they-" he shook his head and buried it in his arms, as he felt Minx place her hands on his shoulders and Melody standing up in front of him. He could feel her hurt glare on him as her voice came out harsh and a bit shaky "Robert . you're . being . ridiculous."

"Melody!" Minxes's angry voice sounded from behind them as Robert rose his head to look at the girl in front of him again. Melody narrowed her eyes at him and spoke in the same harsh tone "Tell me, do you think your sister would like it if she knew you were… crying over her death? Over the fact of you not being able to help her? You said yourself that you did all you could! And I'm sure that, where ever she is… she's very proud of her big brother… for loving her so much…"

Robert huffed and stood up, glaring back at her. He was so mad… He forgot what Deenix had told him. He forgot that there could be consequences. He forgot everything. All he knew was he was hurt and needed to lash out at someone, he didn't care who! He NEEDED to release all that anger inside him! He ignored Deenixes' signals, since the bitbeast was awaken and listening to the whole thing with huge worried eyes. He growled at the girl and spat back "I did all I could? I DID ALL I COULD? If I had gotten down by noon like I was supposed to, MY SISTER WOULD STILL BE HERE WITH ME! It was because of ME that she DIED! It was all my fault! But then again, WHY WOULD YOU CARE? YOU NEVER HAD ANY FAMILY! YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOSE SOMEONE YOU LOVE! HELL! YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!"

Deenix gasped and her huge eyes became even wider at his shouts, while Melody just gave him a look of pure disgust. The teens watched as she jerked her head down, breathing hard and twitching a bit in fury, before she slapped him across the face, sending him crashing to the floor and earning complaints from Minx and their teams again.

Robert rubbed his cheek as he looked up at her with wide eyes. His eyes widened even more when he got a hold of her expression. She looked ready to kill. "You have NO RIGHT to insult me! You don't even know me or what I've been through… So don't say I don't know what it feels like to lose someone, 'cause I DO! And I ALSO know that it's no use crying over them because THAT DOESN'T BRING THEM BACK!" Then, without another word, she turned around and left the room, her head still jerked down.

"Melly-Chan!" Deenix stood up from the bed and ran after her Mistress, stopping as she slammed the door. The robot turned to Robert, her glare even deadlier than Melody's if possible "I had told you she had been through a lot! WHY did you have to say THAT out of all things? Why did you- you-" the robot sobbed.

Robert rubbed his face and looked at her. Great job… now he'd done it… "I- I'm sorry… I- I'll go talk to her and-"

"Don't…" Kai spoke from the shadows. He too was finding Melody's outburst quite disturbing "I think you're the last person she'd want to see right now… so you better leave her alone."

Tyson clapped cheerfully, as usual oblivious to all the drama around him "Well then, why don't YOU go Kai?"

The slate haired teen blinked at him and glared "Me? WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I GO AND RISK GETTING KILLED? You all should know by now how deadly that girl is when upset!"

Ray grinned as he got Tyson's idea "We know… but I don't remember her ever touching you… well… not to HARM you at least… and anyone can see she kinda likes you so…"

"SO what?"

Max laughed as he placed his arm around his shoulders and winked at him "SO go!" n-n

Kai growled low in his throat and pointed at Deenix "Why won't that flea go instead? It knows her better than me… and I bet it also knows why that girl's been acting so gloom the whole day too! Now THAT would explain why she's so bitchy…"

Deenix glared at him "DON'T CALL ME FLEA YOU DINGBAT! Herm! Anyways… I too think you should go… AND she refused to tell me that too… she won't tell me much, don't think I know everything about her, 'cause I don't… the only person that knows her well, and I mean REALLY well, is back where we came from and currently out of touch so there! AND, I do believe there's the probability of she having a soft spot for you Kai, so she won't hurt you… I think, he he… Just don't push it too much and you'll be fine… and DON'T do anything that might outrage her or I guarantee you you'll be sorry… she can be quite nasty when upset like you said yourself…"

He rose an eyebrow at the robot "And knowing that you STILL want me to go?"

Deenix grinned and opened the door for him.

The boy groaned as he left the room, hoping that the stupid robot was right and he'd live to see the next day 'A "soft spot"? Does that mean? Nah… couldn't be…' he sighed 'too bad though… I think I'm starting to really like her… despite those freaky mood swings of hers she… she's been kinda nice to me and I think she's the only one that actually UNDERSTANDS me! Not like those so-called teammates of mine that just don't get it when a guy asks to be left alone! I suppose that's what she wants us to do now… to leave her alone… but what if she tries something- I can't think about that! I don't know what I'd do if she-' he frowned as he stopped his track 'What would I do? I- I don't care what I'd do! If something happened to her now, I'd just go on with my life and forget about her!'

'Oh would you? Are you sure you wouldn't be sad? Angry that the only person you ever cared for was gone?' an annoying voice sounded from the back of his head.

Kai felt himself blushing at that question 'I- I don't care for her! Why would I anyways? She means nothing to me! NOTHING!' he gritted his teeth and stomped towards their room, opening the door roughly and taking a look inside. He frowned at her sight. She was sitting on her bed, her face turned to him with a surprised look. "Can'tcha knock?" He approached her, not even taking more than two steps before she spoke to him again, this time in an angry and somewhat hurt tone "What do you want Kai?"

He froze 'NOW what am I supposed to say?' he swallowed and opened his mouth to speak, not being able to produce a sound as she completely turned to him. "Well? Are you just gonna stand there?"

"I- I just came here to check if you- if you're ok…"

Her features softened for a split second and she turned her face away from him "I'm fine! Can you leave me alone now?"

Kai sighed and approached the bed, taking a seat beside her "Not 'till you tell me what's wrong with you today… Why are you so… gloom?"

She gave him a "duh" look followed by a glare "Gee, I dunno… let me see… hum, a ghost practically ripped me apart, which is very painful and extremely COLD in case you didn't know, I was insulted by a guy that doesn't know shit about me and NOW I'm being asked obvious questions by a guy that couldn't care less about how I really do feel! So tell me, what did they have to do to make you come down here ask me that, hm?" she turned her glare away from him as he glared back at her too and stood up "I came because I wanted to, I came because even though I don't like it, I- I DO CARE FOR YOU! But since apparently you don't want me here, then I'M SORRY I EVER DID!" he gritted his teeth and turned around "I'm LEAVING so YOU can now be alone! I hope you enjoy yourself!" he stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind him dramatically.

Melody sighed and laid back on the bed 'Fine… it makes things easier for me anyways… let him go and leave me alone once and for all… he was getting too close to my liking anyways… WAY too close…' she turned to face the door and sighed, closing her eyes and trying to drift off to dreamland. "Well, are you satisfied now?"

Her eyes snapped open as someone beside her spoke "Wha?" turning around she saw who it was "Na-Nastasha, right?"

The pale woman smiled warmly at her, causing the girl to frown "Huh, what are you here for? To tell me more riddles or give me more bruises?"

Nastasha stroked her cheek and in a second a cut she still had there was healed and disappeared "I'm sorry I ever hurt you, I just… wanted to be heard so badly I- got carried away… I'm sorry little one…"

Melody stood up and eyed up the woman in front off her "Thanks, er… my name's Melody, not "little one" by the way… and what are you here for?"

"Well… I came to ask you if now that you and him are mad at eachother, you feel better than you felt this morning when you woke up… or when you two arrived… together." she smirked.

The girl blushed "How- how did you know I- we?"

"No matter now… but you KNOW he's important to you, as you are to him so I think you should think a bit about what you said to him… it hurt him and you know it little one… so promise me that at least you'll consider your actions and TRY to correct your mistakes, ok?"

Melody pouted "Heh! It's not my fault he's sensitive and has an over-pumped ego! He's just like Tala!" she saddened at the thought of her best friend "My Ivy… I miss my boys…"

She felt a shiver run through her skin as Nastasha approached her. She looked a bit jumpy all of a sudden for some reason "I- I must go now little one, so please promise me you'll do what I said…" Melody's sapphire eyes looked into the spirit's worn out crimson ones as she sighed "Fine… I promise I'll think… but I can't promise you I WILL do something about it… I am NOT admitting I'm wrong! Never!"

Nastasha giggled and waved as she started to disappear "Goodbye little one…"

Melody smiled "It's Melody! MEL-O-DY!" she sighed as the already practically transparent ghost shook her head and finally disappeared completely. Melody shrugged "Oh, never mind! Bye!" n-n

(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)

Kai walked madly around the castle's grounds, trying his best to forget about the girl he had left behind in his room. 'Damnit! GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY HEAD!' he growled and kicked the closest thing he could find, which happened to be Tyson's shin much to his delight and Tyson(who had left the room with Ray and Max to have a walk around the castle)'s disgrace.

"OOOOOOOOOOWWW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!" the raven haired boy kneeled down rubbing his hurt leg while the rest of his team mates suspiciously eyed their captain. Ray spoke up as Kai growled again and kicked a rock in anger "What's wrong? Did Melody say something to you or did something, or er… something? He he…" n-n'

Kai glared daggers at him ignoring the fact that Melody was approaching them and at ear range "WHO FUCKING CARES ABOUT THAT FUCKING BITCH! FUCKING MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" he stomped away from them, swearing out loud and kicking random objects out of his way.

Max sweatdropped as Ray fell over and Tyson cried in fear "Huh… guess that's a "Yes she did, and I didn't like it". He he…" n-n'''

Ray stood up and looked over Maxes' shoulder, fear filling him all of a sudden at the sight before him "I believe he wasn't the only one getting pissed off at their huh… conversation…" Max frowned and turned around to meet Melody's furious glare "Did that- that useless, worthless excuse of a-" she roared causing the boys to cringe away from her "- DID HE JUST CALL ME A BITCH? WHY THAT BIG-" she made a move to run towards him, but was luckily stopped by her team mates, who prayed to God for their lives.

Apparently God was busy at the moment, because in no time they found themselves scratched, bruised and in a pile, watching helplessly as Melody pounced on Kai screaming her lungs out "DIE YOU EGOTISTIC BASTARD!" Kai turned to her as she punched the surprised boy in the jaw, a loud crack indicating it had been broken.

The force of the impact made him go crashing down to the floor, clutching his bruised face. He hadn't even had time to say "Ouch" when a kick went through his gut, making him gasp and try his best to roll away from her, screaming out to her while she kept kicking him repeatedly "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? STOP THAT!"

She gave him a look of pure, raw hatred, her voice in the most cold, venomous tone he had ever heard "Don't you EVER insult me again! You don't know me, you can't judge me! Now do me a favor and DIE!" Melody swung her fist back preparing to hit him again, but she never made it. She turned around to meet a pair of serious crimson eyes glaring back at her "Are you trying to get him killed or something?" Robert clutched her wrist tightly, keeping it and herself to strike her captain again. She growled and used her free hand to try to hit him as well, getting stopped once more by his quicker hands, which were now grabbing both her fists, annoying her to no end "LET ME GO! I'm gonna make him wish he was DEAD when I'm done with him! Let me go!"

Robert grabbed her by the waist and quickly lifted the struggling girl from the floor, trying not to get hit by any of her kicks and punches "My, you're REALLY violent today… Would someone PLEASE try to calm her down!" he called out to his approaching team, and in no time, the rest of The Majestics plus Deenix, Kenny and Minx ran towards them, attracted by the screaming.

The loyal bitbeast was soon standing in front of it's Mistress. "Melly-Chan! WHAT do you think you're doing?"

Melody glared at her robot and elbowed Robert in the gut, walking towards Kai again as soon as the older teen released her gasping for air and kneeling down clutching his stomach. Boy that girl had some strength… he looked up at her and then saw what Deenix had meant. That WAS her. The cold cruel girl hiding under the sweet caring one… he shut his eyes tightly. No! That couldn't be Melody! Deenix HAD to be wrong! He looked around at the teens watching the scene. They all had similar shocked faces, none of them had ever thought that such a nice girl could turn out to be so… bloodthirsty, whatever they wanted to call it. She had her mood swings, sure… but that went WAY beyond that… What was wrong with her in reality? Why WAS she like that?

Kai in the meantime, had already stood up and now looked at her with a shocked expression as well. He had never seen her like that and even though he didn't want to admit it, it was scaring him. 'Now Kai, don't get scared, she's just a- a girl… Now don't be afraid and get ready, she might try to strike again… and next time it might not be so nice neither…' He curled his hands into fists, readying himself for a new strike "Come and get me if ya can… I'd love to see you try do that again now I'm ready for you…"

The girl grinned cruelly at him "Oh, I'll kick your ass so hard you won't even know what hit ya… and I WILL have a lot of fun out of you when you're nothing but a leaky piece of meat… now THAT will make me happy…"

Deenix gasped at her words and grabbed Melody by her wrist, glaring bravely at her "MELODY KRISTHIANA NADEZHDA! ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHO YOU'RE STARTING TO SOUND LIKE? Do you? Let me give you a hint… he did the exact same thing you're doing now to YOU several times…"

Melody's eyes widened as her words sunk in and she lowered her hands by her sides, suddenly looking extremely scared "N-no… I- I can't be… you're wrong…"

Deenix didn't give up. She pointed at Kai, her voice in a mandatory, strict and somewhat angry tone "Well LOOK at HIM! And THEN look at YOURSELF! All you have to do next is imagine you're bearing a whip or something like that and in a dark cold dungeon. Familiar?"

Melody' breath accelerated as she collapsed to ground staring up at Kai's bruised and still shocked expression. She covered her ears and shook her head "No… I'm NOT like him! I'm not like him!"

Deenix looked at her hurtfully, her voice softened in a mutter "I'm sorry Melly-Chan… but I'm afraid you are starting to act like him, SOUND like him and… thinking like him too apparently…"

The girl rose her head to look at her robot. She looked like a little child, desperation and fear filling her eyes "No…" she shook her head again and looked down at her hands, her eyes shutting tightly. Deenix was right and she knew it. She looked back at the robot, sending her a pleading look "What's happening to me Deenix? Why am I doing these things? Why am I becoming like that- that monster? Why?" her bit-beast wrapped her arms around her "It's ok Melly-Chan… I- I'll contact our friends and… ask how things are going… I bet you're like this because you're worried about them… that's all… Now look, I do believe you have other things to worry about now… don't you?" Deenix gave her a half fading smile as Melody stood up mumbling "The Worlds…" she rose her head to look at her team. They now all had confused faces to add to the already shocked ones, especially Kai. Melody sighed and spoke mechanically, as in a trance "I need to… train them… get them to the next level… to perfection… no flaws…"

The robot shook her head standing up as well "No! That's what he does! Now what's our team motto Melly-Chan? YOUR motto? The sentence you always used when he questioned your methods? The first thing you ever taught our boys the first day you coached them?"

Melody twitched a smile as she remembered that day. She still didn't know neither of them except for Tala. They were all a year or two older than her, she was 7 at the time, and didn't exactly understand why Boris was getting them a younger GIRL to coach them. Fortunately, Tala managed to get them quiet and her first experience as a trainer went well. She mumbled that sentence she had told the boys when they had started asking her to train them to utter perfection, her own motto, the sentence that could have gotten her boys to victory on the last World's… "To know and accept your own flaws and imperfections is the only way to true perfection and therefore to victory…" her face lit up at her robot "Yes… I remember…" she now grinned widely "I remember Deenix! I've been so obsessed with winning the stupid tournament I even forgot my own beliefs! And- and that's why I can't make Tyson go up to the next level! How could I have been so- so-"

"-blind and stupid?" Kai rose an eyebrow at her while he finished her sentence. Melody just gazed at him with a guilty look "Huh… right… sorry you had to get beaten so I got it…" she looked down at her robot and signaled towards him with her head, to which Deenix ran to Kai and made him sit while she did her funny healing thing. Kai just blinked down at the robot and then at his weirdest team mate "Why are you asking her to heal me? Aren't you still bruised from your "encounter" thing?"

Melody sweatdropped "Huh yeah… I still got a few cuts and bruises but I'll be ok… besides… it's my fault you're like that so… it's the least I can do…"

Oliver looked her over noticing a few remaining bruises "Hum, but, doesn't that hurt?"

She poked at her side, cringing a bit "Huh! Like Hell… but don't worry! You eventually get used to cuts and bruises when you get them everyday… he he…" she bit her lower lip 'Damn! Said too much…'

Johnny gave her a weird look "YOU GOT BEATEN EVERYDAY! No wonder you're so fucked up! Where on Earth did you come from? Hell itself or something?"

She chuckled "Well… that's one way to see it… it WAS my very own Hell afterall… but I still miss it… I left all my friends there… to die probably…" she sighed and turned to her robot as she finished healing Kai's broken jaw "There! Like new!" the robot grinned and punched his chin playfully, earning a complaint from her "patient". "OW! That still hurts ya know?"

Deenix sweatdropped and apologized before running back to Melody, who looked Kai over still looking guilty "Kai I- I'm sorry… you have every right to be mad at me or even to HATE me… I'd probably do the same if someone punched me for some stupid reason like I did… sorry…"

Kai's features softened for a split second. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, comfort her, urge her to tell him where was that place she had come from, why was she treated like that… but he couldn't do that. So he just shrugged and leaned against the closest tree "Yeah… whatever… just don't do it again… ok?"

Melody smiled at him "No prob…" she then blinked and thought a bit, suddenly sweatdropping "Eesh I'm weird…"

Robert rose an eyebrow at her. But man was she right! "On what purpose are you saying that?"

She grinned sheepishly "Well I… you see, a minute ago there I was, practically ready to kill the first living thing that came near me… THEN I was depressed and NOW I'm looking all happy and whatever… and this wasn't exactly the first time this has happened neither. I know I have a lot of mood swings and, well… I'm kinda surprised no one's ever called the loony van for me… Guess I owe you guys both an apology and a thank you… he he" n-n'

Johnny smirked "Oh, but we can call them if ya want us to and- Ow!" Minx shut him up fisting him in the head while she smiled warmly at Melody "Dun' mind'em! He's stooped! And we like ya da way ya'r, with thos' mood swangs n' everythin'! Ya wouldn' be ar lil' Melody withou'em!"

Max hugged the suddenly surprised purple haired girl "Ya heard her Melly! We likes ya the way you are! We're your friends and we have to accept you the way you are! Good and bad points! Right boys?"

The Bladebreakers (minus Kai of course, since he apparently is always on the moon at these times) nodded, smiling happily while Melody smiled lightly and blushed as she lowered her head, feeling funny. She felt all warm and fuzzy inside when those words echoed through her mind "We like you the way you are…" she smiled, feeling happier than she had felt in ages.

Tyson then decided to try his luck "Er, Melly? Now you found out you were training me the wrong way… will the training sessions be less er… tiring? He he…" he gave her a hopeful look to which she grinned sheepishly "Sorry Ty-Chan! But NOW we need to work a little harder so that you can overcome your flaws!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Tyson collapsed crying, attracting Maxes' good heart immediately "Aw! Dun' worry Ty! I'll go and train with you too!" n-n

Ray joined them "Yeah, me too!" they turned to their captain "Kai?"

He just sighed and smirked a bit "Sure, whatever… just as long as she doesn't whip me… I've had enough of that when I trained at the Abbey…" he shuddered at the memory of that place.

Melody narrowed her eyes "Abbey? What Abbey?"

Johnny rose an eyebrow at her "Don't tell me you never heard of the Valkov Abbey? But it's in Russia! Which is also where you came from?"

Melody's eyes widened for a split second 'He TRAINED in Valkov Abbey? How come I never saw him before then?' she frowned at Johnny trying to pick up an answer "So what if I never heard of it? Russia's pretty big ya know?"

"Yeah but still…"

Oliver suddenly pointed at the castle "Hey look! It's Gustoff! And he brings someone else with him…"

Ray narrowed his cat-like eyes "Huh… it looks… pink…" he flinched and looked back at the rest of his team who had equally twisted expressions "No… it can't be it…"

"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIZEEEEEEEEER!" a huge squeal called out and in a fraction of a second a pink thing was sticking itself to Kai's arm blabbing about missing him and wanting to marry him. (dejá-vu anyone?)

A vein instantaneously popped in Melody's forehead as she looked around for something big and heavy to drop on the disgusting creature. Since nothing useful was around, she made a move in Kai's direction. Luckily (or maybe not), Deenix noticed this "MEEP! Someone grab her!"

In less than a second the whole Bladebreakers team minus Kai was grabbing Melody with all their strength, while the rest of the teens just stared at them with confused looks.

Unfortunately, their strengths combined still weren't enough and they found themselves piled up and bruised again, while Kai soon found himself free from the annoying pink thing, who once again was screeching as Melody pulled her off him by her now pink-streaked bleach-blond hair "EEK! Like, LET ME GO YOU!"

Melody made Jessica turn her face to her and growled at her squirming form "What the fuck are YOU doing here so soon?"

Jessica got free from her grip and glared at her, composing her hair "I came like, earlier to like, surprise y'all! Especially like, my dear Kai-Zer!" she winked at the slate haired teen who was mentally walking away from that place to avoid the icky thing.

Melody gritted her teeth "DON'T call him that you- ARGH! Don't you get it when you're not wanted? Go away and leave us the Hell alone!" she hatefully glared at her and soon Jessica copied her in a huge glaring contest.

You could practically see the anger sparks between the two just before Melody quickly snatched Jessica's hair again and dragged her in Gustoff's direction ignoring her screams and high-pitched squeals "Where's the car the slug here came in?"

Gustoff sweatdropped "Huh, it's already gone Miss… I already got her luggage up on your room too… since she's Master Maxes' cousin I thought-"

"You did WHAT!" Melody let go of Jessica's hair and towered over the freaked-out butler "I REFUSE TO SHARE THE SAME CEILING AS THAT- that THING! So either YOU get her some other place to sleep or I'm sleeping downstairs at the kitchen!"

Jessica glared at her "Don't bother you pole, I'm not like, sleeping with you neither and I like, can't sleep in a room with boys like YOU neither! And you like, call ME a slut!" Jessica stood up giving her a superior look.

Melody growled, and Gustoff sensed a storm coming so he started walking back after telling them he'd move Jessica's luggage to somewhere else and that dinner was about to be served. Meanwhile, Minx and The Majestics watched the whole scene speechless. Enrique grinned "Guess they don't like eachother… HEY! Maybe they'll wrestle and tear eachother's tops off!" n-n

Both girls glared at him while Minx punched him in the head. Jessica smirked "I like, sorta understand why he'd want like, to see ME with my dear Gucci shirt torn… but YOU? I mean like, what do you like, have? You look like, like, a pole!"

That was it. The other girl roared and was about to lunge at her again when strong arms encircled her around the waist, preventing her to move any further. "LET ME GO!"

Kai sighed and swung her over his shoulder "Chill… we'll discuss this over dinner… Doesn't time fly? Heh heh… you can kill her later…"

Melody stopped her kicking immediately and her face lighted up "Really? Can I use knifes and- and spikes and whips and ropes and- and- pointy things… and-"

Kai chuckled "Yeah yeah… whatever you want… but NOT NOW!" he put her down and looked her in the eyes with a serious expression. "Ok?"

Melody jumped with glee "Aye aye Cap'n!" she giggled as she hugged him tightly for a few seconds, letting go a REALLY red and shocked Kai "What are we still doing here? Let's go get ready for dinner!" n-n She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the castle, leaving Minx and the two Beyblade teams with eyes as big as saucers while Jessica fumed in anger.

"Huh… did she?" Tyson blinked

"-just hug him?" Maxes' jaw dropped comically

"-and he didn't do a thing about it?" Ray pinched his cheek to make sure that wasn't some surreal nightmare.

Deenix tilted her head to her side sweatdropping "Huh, guess Kai-Chan's also got a soft-spot for Melly-Chan huh?"

"That- tha- that BITCH! How dare she lay her hands on MY BOY!" Everyone cautiously slipped away from her in the castle's direction as Jessica stomped her feet childishly and screamed in frustration like a five year-old to who a new toy had been denied.

(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)

Meanwhile, Kai and Melody ran along the corridor leading to the dinning room, laughing madly at Jessica's face "AND we did it again! Don't you just LOVE ditching that slug?" Melody did a high five with her captain laughing madly while he snickered "I do have to admit I haven't laughed like this in a long time…" he looked over at Melody who had a weird expression upon her face "Did you ever laugh before? Now THAT'S amazing!" she took a look at him and grinned "Aw! But you look so cute when you're smiling! Why don't you do it more often? It won't kill you ya know?" she rose an eyebrow at him.

"I can't… I'm sure people would loose the already little respect they have for me if I started acting like Max… and being the captain, I can't let that happen…"

The girl cringed at the thought of Kai jumping around like Max. It sure looked weird… she sweatdropped "Right… Guess I have to agree with you there… heh heh… but I think people respect you more than you think… Hell! Even Tyson gets moving when you tell him to!"

"Sure, after I give him death threats…" Kai sighed and opened the living room's door slowly, going inside and taking his usual seat, a funny thought running over his mind 'Funny… I had a funny dejá vu feeling when we were running around a while ago… I wonder why?' he watched as Melody took the seat next to his with a similar expression. He was about to ask her what was wrong when a screaming hurricane went in the dining room, taking the other seat next to Kai, just like the last time they had had a meal together. "Kai-Poo! Why did you like, leave me alone like that?"

He growled and did his best to ignore her, while Melody did her best not to use her gun launcher's secondary function on the annoying creature. "Rob? You mind it if I go eat with your mother? I'm sure she'll be a much more pleasant company than Miss Slugniverse over here… In fact, I think I could be eating with the devil himself and have a more pleasant dinner…"

Jessica forced a smile, trying her best to ignore her "Oh! I simply MUST like, meet your mother! Now I think of it, I haven't even like, introduced myself to any of you, have I? Ok then! Huh, HI! My name's like, Jessica and I'm Maxi's cousin! I'll be like, accompanying the Bladebreakers throughout the World's thing thingy!" n-n

The Majestics and Minx introduced themselves too and glared at Max, who was hiding his head in embarrassment while the rest of his team glared at him as well.

Tyson whined "You never said she'd come with us for the whole thing! Now we'll never train and-" he smiled "I mean, great! Yay! She's coming too!" n-n "Now where's the food?"

Gustoff sweatdropped and served them dinner, sending strange looks at Robert from time to time, since his Master had such a thoughtful expression on his face. He also seemed to be sending weird looks to Melody now and then. 'I guess it's because she resembles my dear late Miss Luna so much… But even though her presence is bringing back painful memories to my dear Master Robert, I've noticed it's also bringing him something he hadn't had for a very long time… joy…' Gustoff smiled as Melody threw a little piece of bread at Robert to awake him.

"Hey Robbie-Boy? Minx is talking to you!"

Robert blushed and turned to the punk girl who was currently sending him evil smirks "Robbie- Dude… Ah was wonderin' if yar plannin' on havin' anotha' partey sumtime again?"

"Huh, sorry April but no… I don't think it would be good because they need to train and that would distract them…"

Minx pouted "Aw, PLEASE?"

"Sorry, no."

"Pretty please?"

"No…"

Minx gave him huge puppy dog eyes "Aw, c'mon! Pretty please with sugar n' sprinkles on top? Please! Ah'll be yar bestest frend fo' eva'…"

Robert sighed in defeat "Fine… WHEN they win the European Championship in about two weeks… if they don't… NO party!"

Johnny looked at his cousin with huge eyes "I can't believe Rob's called her April and got away with it!"

Minx glared at him "Shu' it! Robbie-Dude's nice, unlahke YOU!" she stuck her tongue out at him and winked at Robert, making him blush a deep red.

Melody grinned turning to Tyson "Ain't he nice? And Ty… NO extra food neither until the championship, got it?" she sorta finished Robert's sentence "So guess who'll be waking up extra early tomorrow morning to run a few laps around the castle before breakfast?" n-n

Tyson cried "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"AW, shut up Tyson! We'll all have to do it!" Ray glared at him

Max gave him a mocking grin "Yeah, and you don't see us whining!"

"Besides, you're needing it, we all are, and two weeks is very little preparation time… I warn you boys, I don't do miracles, so you BETTER work hard!" the purple haired girl looked over the table fixing all her team mates faces "So after dinner, you're all going to bed and have a good night sleep with NO MIDNIGHT SNACKS, got it Ty? You're on a diet from this moment on, which means, no desert neither!" n-n

"WAAAAAAAAAA! But it was chocolate cake! I love chocolate cake! You can't take the chocolate cake away from me! I want chocolate cake! I NEED chocolate cake!"

Kai snapped at him "SHUT UP ALREADY!"

The rest of the meal went on quietly, except for Jessica's giggles whenever Kai happened to blink, breathe or move and Tyson's whines about the chocolate cake.

Melody sighed when he complained about his diet for the hundredth time "Look Ty, if you get to that tournament and make me proud, I'll bake you a chocolate cake big enough to fill your stomach… even if I have to take all the supplies available worldwide to do it… ok?"

The raven-haired boy stood up jumping in joy "ALRIGHT! WOO HOO! I'll go to bed now so I'll wake up early tomorrow! 'Night folks!" he ran up the stairs as fast as he could, and when the rest of the Bladebreakers went up to sleep as well a few minutes later, (Jessica had gotten the room next to Minxes') he was already fast asleep.

Max poked him "Yup! He's asleep alright… like a rock. You think he'll wake up tomorrow morning?"

Melody gave him an evil grin "Oh he WILL, I assure you… I asked Gustoff to leave me a bucket with ice and cold water in that mini-bar over there… so he'll be up running tomorrow morning whether he likes it or not. Now get to sleep… You'll have a lot to do tomorrow and you need your rest."

The boys went to bed obediently while she went into the bathroom to change. "Hey Kai, you think she'll get us ready in only two weeks?" Kenny asked.

The slate haired teen sighed and rubbed his forehead, thinking "I hope she does… I'm counting on it. We've all seen that in only one morning she's made Tyson improve a bit so… I suppose we can trust her… Now shut it you all and sleep!" he laid down and closed his eyes, falling asleep shortly after making sure Melody had come back from the bathroom and had fallen asleep as well, just like the rest of her team.

RR PLEASE! n-n