Bittersweet Melody

First Arc: Act Three

"So one whole year!"

"Yep!" Cat replied in a pleased tone.

The group had walked back to Cat's hotel room, where room service had been ordered. It was the perfect opportunity to catch up and talk about the current affairs of their lives. The group had been separated for what seemed ages and it was as if they were getting to know each other for the first time. Chitchat of days passed where of course revisited, gladly by the boys. Talking about their glory days when they were just starting out was just too much fun. Takao found himself warming up to the conversation and situation while talking about the previous years. Warming up also seemed to take care of his nervous stomach.

"So how have you been? You know we really worry about you." His Grandfather expressed concern for the girl he sat across the table from.

Cat looked down at her plate of food as the other members began to munch on their food. "I've been very good. You know I've really…been missing you guys too."

"Really?" Takao was sarcastic about his question causing Hiromi to elbow him in the gut.

"Of course." She whispered as she gently stirred around the objects on her dinner plate. "You know it wasn't an easy transaction…from living with you to living on my own."

Hiromi shot a quick glare to him, who at the moment was chewing on the inside of his cheek suppressing any angry words. "What?" She asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Didn't Takao tell you, Hiromi?" Cat cocked a brow at the young female before looking back at him. "I guess he didn't…"

"Tell me what?" Hiromi looked back to the celebrity with a confused gaze.

"Oh boy," Kyoujyu let out a loud sigh, placing his hand on his forehead.

"Takao!" His Grandfather turned to him with what seemed to be anger.

"Look, it was no big deal." Takao snarled as he pounded his fist down on the table. "Cat…used to live with us." He said his eyes on his plate.

"When Cat was a little girl," His Grandpa began to finish for him. "Her Mother assigned me legal guardianship. She didn't have the means to properly take care of her or her sister so she entitled me legal guardian." Closing his eyes, he continued, "See, I was a close family friend so she trusted me to take care of Cat. So she lived with us for as long as she can remember."

Did it all make sense to her now? Geez, it wasn't like it was any of her business anyway! Takao felt Hiromi's large brown eyes glued to him. He turned away from her gaze, refusing to look her in the eye. So now she knew the truth, why did she insist on staring at him like that? Ugh, now all of his dirty laundry was out in the open! All thanks to his Grandfather…

"And she left," Takao muttered causing the boys who were seated around him to flinch. "That was it."

"At the finals," Cat began to speak her voice low. "I asked a special favor of President Daitenji. I asked him if he would let me do the opening for the finals, live on stage. And…I did." She lowered her head almost as if she was shameful for what she had done. "I decided to stay in the US, because I had something I had to do. Someone I had to look for."

"And I ended up finding her," The boy's ears perked to the sound of Adof's voice. "I signed her for a contract and became her manager. So now she has a record label and we've been on tour ever since."

"Cat," Hiromi called to the female with a soft voice, "You said there was someone you were searching for…who was that?"

"That would be my sister," Cat lifted her head to look the shorter female in the eye.

BAM! BAM!

The group's back shot up in surprise. Someone had pounded on the hotel room door. The boys felt themselves shift into defensive mode as they sat around the dinner table. Adof let out an elongated sigh and lifted himself up from his seat. He then walked over to the door and opened it just enough to see who it could be. Without any warning the door swung open, slamming against Adof's face. He yelped in pain and jumped back, holding his red face. The group's eyes widened as the figure behind the door stormed in.

A female. She was tall, taller than any of the boys and only second to Adof. Her most noticeable trait was her beautiful long, flowing hair. It was dark brown almost black and greatly resembled Cat's hair. A slender pair of glasses sat on her nose and above the many freckles on her face.

She stormed into the room and toward Cat. She reached outward and grabbed the singer by her t-shirt collar and held her up in the air. She had anger written all over her face as she held Cat prisoner. "There you are!"

"HEY!" Takao snapped, leaping from his seat and to his old 'friend's' defense. "Who do you think you are?!"

"You must be Takao," The woman spoke slowly, still holding Cat in midair. "How nice to finally meet you."

"What?" He unclenched his fists and let his defense down.

"Jam, come on!" Cat let out a whimper as she struggled in the air. "Let me down!"

Jam looked back to Cat with a sharp glare. She snarled as she dropped the girl from her grasp, letting her butt hit the cold ground. She let out a squeal after hitting the ground. Max was quick to jump from his seat and rush to her side, checking to see if she might be hurt in anyway.

"And you must be Max." Jam curled her lip at the sight of the blond.

"What?" Max turned and looked at the tall female with question.

"This is Jam," Cat explained as she lifted herself on to her feet, her hand still on her behind. "This is my older sister."

"Sister?!" Takao and Kyoujyu said together before turning to look at Jam with shock.

"Yes, sister." Jam replied to the boy's shock with a swift mouth.

"The sister I've been searching for, that's her." Cat said as she pointed the older girl out with her index finger.

"Ah," His Grandfather rose from his seat to greet Jam. "I've heard a lot about you from you from your Mother."

"What?" Takao looked at his Grandpa with wide eyes. "But why didn't you ever get legal guardianship of her." He snapped, pointing at the stranger with his finger.

"Well," He began with a heavy sigh. "I already had to take care of you, Takao and your brother. I didn't think I could take care of four children. So Jam went to live with her aunt."

"I always knew I had a sister," Cat spoke up, "But I didn't know where she was…" She then turned to her sister and gave her a bright smile. "After I became famous in America I had the means to find her."

"And now I'm Cat's legal guardian." Jam stated, her hands on her hips.

"That's great," Rei spoke finally; bring himself up from his seat and walking toward the taller female. "I'm Rei." He said, offering his hand out to her.

"Yes, I know." She took Rei's hand and gave it a good, strong shake. "As you all might already know Cat has a huge mouth. So I know all about you guys." She backed away and pointed to each individual. "Takao, Kyoujyu, Max, Rei and…where's the fifth one, Kai?" Jam turned to see Hiromi standing behind Takao. "And I don't remember another girl being here."

"Kai's refused to come," Rei explained before he walked to Hiromi and placed his hand on her shoulder. "This is Hiromi."

"Ah," She turned her nose up to the brunette and turned away seemingly uninterested.

Adof walked toward the small group of teens and opened his arms out wide. "Well, I do have some good news for you boys." He then walked over to Cat and placed his hands on her shoulders. "As you may already know, our tour has just come to an end and," The boys watched as Adof as he spoke. "It seems that we can stay here in Japan for the time being! How does that sound?"

"Great! That sounds great!" Max balled his fists in excitement.

"It should give you kids a chance to catch up." A wide grin spread across Adof's face.

"Oh boy," Takao let out a small sigh before turning away from the group.

"Takao?" Cat tilted her head to sound of his sigh. "What's the matter? You've been awfully quiet."

"It's nothing," He replied lifting on hand in the air, "Don't worry about it."

"Well then," Takao's Grandfather clapped his hands together. "Cat how about you and your sister come down to the house tomorrow?"

"Wow, really?" She mewed with thrill and darted her eyes to her manager.

"Sounds fine to me," Adof gave a lazy shrug of his shoulders and smiled.

Takao snorted as he placed his open palm over his gut. There it was again, that ache. He couldn't still be nervous? No, this wasn't like anything he had ever felt before. It was as if his guts were swirling around inside him. It wasn't enough to actually catch Cat in a hotel but to have her actually come to his house and catch up? It seemed too much for him. Strange how he felt like this was more of a chore than anything. He at one time lived with this female, so why was he feeling this way now?

XoXoX

"Something is wrong with the balance on your blade, Takao." Kyoujyu said as his fingers quickly hit the keyboard on his computer.

"No, that's not it." Rei spoke up as he stood up from his sitting spot and walked toward Kyoujyu. "Takao isn't concentrating. What are you thinking about, Takao?"

"Arrgh!" He threw his arms over his head as his blade tripped back and forth. "I'm not thinking about anything!"

His blade then sluggishly slipped over to one side and stopped turning. It was a crushing sight to the other teammates. The boys flinched at the sight of their leader's blade topple over in such an appalling way.

"Maybe you should give yourself a break, Takao." Max said as he sat beside Kyoujyu and Hiromi.

He walked over to his blade and plucked it up from the ground. He then turned around to face his team with a dissatisfied look. "Isn't Cat and Jam supposed to be here?"

"Oh," Max sat up straight, "I got a call from Cat earlier. She said that she'd be a little late."

"She's probably doing some kind of photo shoot!" Takao snorted his nose curled up.

"So?" Rei crossed his arms over his chest. "You've done interviews before. Besides, it's her job. She'll be here, she wouldn't flake on us."

"Oh yeah?" He fought back. "Remember when she left us? But that's fine if she wants to be famous that's her problem."

"That's a bit harsh isn't, Takao?" Kyoujyu peered over his laptop.

"Like I care." He shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to his blade.

"Takao!" Rei and Max called out together.

"We're here!" The boys jumped to the sound of Jam's voice.

They all stood as Cat and Jam entered the backyard. A quick smirk raced across Rei's face as he watched Jam walk closer toward him.

"Hey," Rei approached the two girls.

"Yeah, what took you so long?" Takao continued to focus on his blade, twisting and turning on the small gears.

"Oh we were at the studio," Cat explained as she reached deep into her coat jacket and revealed a small disc in hand. "I have something I would like to show you guys, is that okay?"

"Sure!" Kyoujyu replied, "You can slip that disc in my laptop."

"Thanks!" Cat stepped toward the boy and handed him the slender disc cover.

Kyoujyu was swift as he gently placed the disc inside his laptop. He ran his finger over the mouse pad and made a few clicks. Cat smiled as she watched the computer whiz work his magic on the disc she had given him. It was just like the youngster to know exactly how to work anything technology-wise.

"Hey after this, I want to know what you've all been up to." Cat looked at Max and Rei with a happy expression. "And- oh!"

Her cocoa-colored eyes had landed on Kai. He had been standing some distance from the group and seemed uninterested in what was going on. He had his arms crossed over his chest and an angry look on his face. It was obvious he didn't care at all about 'catching up' or what Cat had brought to share. Of course the whole situation didn't appear to bother the celebrity much; she was well used to the fact that Kai could care less about anything other than Beyblading.

"Why hello Kai," Cat said with a wink. "I didn't see you at the hotel last night. Mind telling me why you avoided me?"

"I didn't care." He replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "I didn't need to be there."

"A bit rude if you ask me." Jam muttered under her breath as she glared at the oldest boy.

"Ah, it's finished loading!" Kyoujyu announced with joy.

Max, Rei, Takao and Hiromi huddled around the tiny computer screen to see what the disc had to show. A video player popped up on screen, a large button to unpause the video at the bottom. Kyoujyu swirled his fingers around on his mouse pad and hit the play button.

The group watched as a commercial began to play. The commercial was an ad for a make-up product. What the heck, since when was his old female buddy into make-up? A few seconds into the video a familiar face appeared. The boys awed as Cat appeared on screen. The make-up applied to her face and wearing a frilly dress, Cat danced about on video advertising the make-up brand. Takao felt his stomach sink. Again? This feeling? He reached down and placed his open hand on his gut as the video finished up. Max and Rei watched with wide eyes, amazed by the transformation from average girl to commercial actor.

"Wow," Kyoujyu remarked after the video had completed. "That was really you, Cat?"

"Yep!" She bounced up on her tiptoes as a red glow engulfed her face.

"That was really something!" Rei removed himself from the huddled group and approached his old friend, giving her a pat on the back as a congratulation for her work.

"Yeah, I agree!" Max stood up fully to greet Cat with a smile.

Takao turned away from the group his hand still on his belly. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw as Hiromi caught on to the odd behavior and turned his way. She walked over to him and extended her arm out to him. But before she could lay a finger on him, he swirled around to face her. The two eyed each other for a moment, both unsure of what to say. Where they both feeling this strange stomach pain?

"Takao?" Hiromi retracted her arm. "Are you all right? You look a little sick."

"I'm fine, don't worry about it." He lifted his hand off his gut and held it up to Hiromi.

"Takao?"

Said male blinked as he heard his name being called. He looked up to see Cat standing there with a look of concern on her face. She opened her mouth to ask another question and probably to make sure he was in good health, when her sister interrupted her.

"So, are you gonna tell Cat and me what's been going on since she's been gone? Cat here has been very worried about you all." Jam gave her sister a sly grin before elbowing her in the side.

"Jam!" Cat snapped, her cheeks bright red.

"It seems that we've got a few mysterious people following us around," Kyoujyu said as he returned his attention to his laptop. "Strangers with invisible Holy Beasts."

"Invisible?!" Cat's mouth dropped open wide.

"Yeah," Max lifted his blade to his face and stared at it. "Each member of their team has battled each one of us and won. They say they're after our Holy Beasts."

"And that's not all," Kyoujyu added. "Tomorrow we have a match with a team called Team Phykick."

"So we all got together, thanks to President Daitenji, to battle against them." Rei lifted is arm and gripped his fist. "So we're training for that."

"Ah, awesome." Cat grinned as she brought her balled fists to her face. "That sounds like the good 'ol days."

Kai let out a small sarcastic chuckle, his shoulders bouncing up and down as he did so. Takao turned at looked at the boy with confusion. What could be funny at a time like this?

"Well, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about!" Cat pounded her balled fist on her chest.

"There's a lot to worry about!" Hiromi cut in. "These guys have some serious training to do! Takao already lost twice to one of those strange hooded guys!"

"HA! WHAT?" Jam let out a loud laugh. "The world champ?"

Takao growled. "What does it matter to you anyway?" He then stuck his nose up in the air. "It's not like you blade anyway. You don't know what you're talking about."

"It can be harder than it looks." Max pointed out, his finger lifted.

"Oh please." The elder sister shook her hand from side to side in front of her face. "Don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about! I know exactly what you mean."

"Do you, know?" Takao asked, his hands attached to his hips.

"Hey, Takao!" Cat bursted in. "My sister knows what she's talking about! She's a blader too you know."

"Oh?" Rei raised a brow as a grin spread across his face. "Is that right? Do you blade?"

"Sure," Jam's shoulders rose and shank in a sluggish shrug. "And I'm pretty good at it too. At least that's what Ralf thought so when I battled him."

"Ah!" Takao's mouth dropped open as he took one step toward the opposing female. "You fought Ralf?!"

"Of course, and I won too."

Cat let out a small snicker as she held her hand to her mouth. "When I was on tour we went to Europe and we ended up staying with Ralf while we were there!"

"Oh yeah?!" Takao rubbed his index finger under his nose before reaching around to his back. "Wanna prove it?" He then pulled his Beyblade launcher from behind his back and shifted it in Jam's direction.

"Oh please!" She waved her hand in an up and down motion. "I wouldn't waste my time."

"What?!" Takao jumped back, surprised by the older girl's reaction. "Why not?"

Cat then began to punch at the air with enthusiasm, "Oh come on Jam, I know you can beat him!"

"What?" Hiromi and Takao turned to Cat at once, both in shock.

"You're rooting for her?!" He snapped at Cat while lowering his blade launcher.

Cat turned to Takao with a wide smile equipped on her face. She brought both balled fists to her chest and gave him a firm head nod. His mouth dropped open and he felt his arm hit his side. He could barely believe what he was hearing. Rooting for the other opponent? How could she? He put his launcher back behind his back and looked to the ground.

He didn't know what to say or even how to say it. What could he say? Takao could feel the deep stabbing pain of hurt sink deep within his gut. He hated it. Pain was weakness and he couldn't stand for weakness. So he turned to the only other emotion he could, anger. He would suppress the anger for now, but it was building.

Cat opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a muffled ringing. Her eyes snapped open with surprise as she reached down into her jacket pocket. She then pulled out a small cellular phone. She flipped open the device and before speaking, pressed a small green button.

"Whadd'ya want?" She spoke in the phone with a demanding tone.

The girl poked out her lips as the voice on the other end of the phone spoke. The boys could only assume that it was Adof, seeing as he was her personal assistant. Takao curled his lip at the sight of Cat talking on her fancy cellular phone. It was apparent that she had come into some sum of money, the new clothes, shoes and phone. The idea of one his oldest friends' being super rich was sickening. How could his friend change so much in such a short period of time? It must be her new status of fame.

"All right," Cat let out a loud sigh. "We'll see you in a few hours than."

Without saying 'good bye', she pouted her lower lip in frustration and flipped her phone closed. She then stuffed the tiny cell phone back into her jacket pocket. She greeted the bladers with a smile and shrug of her shoulders.

"Apparently Adof forgot that I had something to do later on," She replied as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Sorry guys, I'm going to have to cut this visit short."

Takao turned away from the girl and stretched his arms behind his head. "It's not like you'll be missing anything." He said in a lazy tone. "Just boring training stuff, nothing like the exciting magazine and commercial shots you do."

Cat puffed up her cheeks at him and his remark. "Hey! Well excuse me, Takao but I do have other important things to do! Not that it concerns you."

"Oh yeah, that's right!" Takao lowered his hands and interlaced his fingers before placing his hands in front of his face in a feminine manner. "You have important things to do like wear makeup and dance in puffy pink dresses, I'm so sorry I forgot!"

"Ugh!" She threw her arms up into the air before turning her back to him. "At least…at least…"

"Haha!" Takao turned to face Cat with a wise smirk on his face and his finger pointed at her back. "You can't even think of a comeback."

"Takao!" Cat whined as she turned to face him once more.

"Hey, hey!" Max stepped between the two with both hands raised to each. "Relax, both of you."

"Takao, you're being a jerk." Jam interrupted the blond boy with her sharp mouth. "Quit it."

Takao stuck out is tongue at the older girl and pulled on his lower left eyelid. "Make me."

"Takao!" Hiromi reached toward the boy and grabbed him by the arm. "What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing!" He stuck his nose in the air and placed his hands on his hips.

"Is how he is all the time?" Jam asked her younger sister, frustration in her voice. "I don't remember you telling me Takao was a jerk."

"I must have forgotten!" Cat turned around to face the group. "But it doesn't matter," She lifted and dropped her shoulders in a shrug. "I'm not going to let him ruin us catching up." She presented Max with a warm smile after turning her attention to the blond.

A bright red flash radiated off Max's face for a moment before he gave Cat a firm nod of his head. Takao rolled his eyes at Max's only reaction to the female. He then folded his arms over his chest and glared at Jam as if she were the cause for all the drama. Catching his glare, Jam returned the favor and lifted her arm and took a tight hold of Cat's shoulder.

"Cat, we should get going now."

"What?" Kyoujyu and Max exclaimed. "Why?"

"Because," Jam squeezed her hand on her younger sister's shoulder, urging her to listen. "Takao is pissing me off."

"Can't you stay a bit longer?" Rei stepped forward and placed his gentle hand atop of Jam's, which still rested on Cat's shoulder.

The two looked at one another for a moment, Cat still in between the two. The celebrity let a small awkward chuckle leave her lips as she looked at both Rei and Jam. The eldest girl's facial emotion shifted from angry to sultry. She stared at the black-haired boy with interest in her eyes. Rei returned the favor by applying pressure on her hand with his own.

"Uh," Cat coughed as she gently pulled away from the two. "Anyway!"

"Sorry Rei, but I think it's best if we left now." Jam said as she pulled back her arm and let it hit her side.

"All right then." Rei let out a sighed.

"Come on then," Jam turned to her sibling and began to pull her by her jacket. "Say good bye now."

Cat's eyes grew wide as she was dragged away by her sister. She looked back at the fading image of her former team. She quickly waved her arm back and forth and gave the group a silly grin. It wasn't long before she was out of sight. Takao and Max both let out loud long sighs before looking to one another.

As the two boys stared at one another Takao's stare turn into a glare, "What? I didn't mean to make her mad!" He protested his innocence with a defensive pose.

"It's just as well," Hiromi voice seemingly appeared from nowhere. "You guys need to train anyway."

The group fell silent. Takao knew that he had done wrong by angering Cat's sister and in some strange ways he was saddened to see his old friend leave. But he couldn't let on to the others that he was hurt in anyway. Either way as much as he hated to admit it, Hiromi was right, they needed to train.

"I'll be right back," Kai's voice turned heads.

Takao's mouth dropped open and he lowered his launcher. "Where are you going?!"

Without an answer, Kai ran off out of Takao's backyard. He took a tight turn and headed down the street. Where the heck did he think he was running off to? Just when Takao didn't think things could become any more awkward! Ugh, if he wanted to chase after Cat then so be it. It was no skin off his back.

Act End.