Bittersweet Melody
First Arc: Act Four
The sun had just begun to set and a pink color filled the sky. Kai could feel heat come off his own body as he sprinted down the street until he found what he was looking for. The two sisters were still walking, now through the park. He stopped for a moment when his eyes landed on the girls. He stopped to think for a moment, was he doing the right thing by chasing after them? He wasn't sure. Seeing the girls walk further away, he decided, without much thought, to continue his chase.
"Hey!"
Cat and Jam both turned to the sound of his voice. The two girls looked at one another for a moment, confused by the boy's actions. They both returned their eyes to Kai as he stood in front of the two, his back straight his eyes still.
"Kai?" Cat tilted her head to one side.
"I can see that you two need a moment," Jam let a snicker pass her lips. "I'll walk ahead then. Catch up as soon as you can, Cat." She turned away and began walking north.
"What? You think of something mean Takao didn't already say?"
Kai let out a groan and rolled his eyes at the younger female. "No," He then crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at the girl. "I have a question for you."
Cat again moved her head to one side in confusion. Her brown eyes widened and her lips parted. So she wasn't expecting this, was she? No surprise there, after all, this girl had a habit of being naïve.
But with the threat of meaningless drama being played out between her and Takao, Kai wasn't going to risk anything. She had come back into their lives, whether anyone liked it or not and if it was going to cause drama he was going to nip it in the bud now. With that thought out, he also had his own questions for the girl he'd known for so long.
"Why-" Kai began as he stared sternly at the girl.
"Why what?"
His brow twitched. The boy stood silent for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts after being cut off.
"Well?" Cat poked her lips outward. "Why what?"
Kai closed his eyes in irritation. "Are you finished interrupting?" He was now beginning to remember why he did not particularly like this girl. "Why did you decide to come back?"
She stood shell-shocked for a moment. So his question really did have a harsh effect on her? The look on her face spelled out her emotions like a book. And did he detect a slight pink dusting coming over her chubby cheeks? No, she knew what he was asking and why. This was not new news to him; he knew her well enough now. They both knew he wasn't stupid.
After a moment, Cat frowned. No doubt that his question was echoing in her head. They both knew the truth; she might as well come out with it. It was just a matter of if she'd be truthful to everyone, and he was sure she wasn't ready for that just yet.
"I'm on tour," A simple answer fell from the singer's lips. "But you knew that, I'm sure."
"I knew that." He growled. "But that's not the reason you're here. Now what is the real reason?"
She twitched. "I don't know what else to tell you."
"Don't be stupid." Kai snapped at the girl, causing her to flinch. "I know you planned on coming here, don't tell me otherwise." He allowed let his crossed arms fall to his sides. "I have an idea why you're here but I'm not sure yet. I just wanted to verify it."
"What?" Cat's mouth dropped open several inches. "You're wrong!" She protested, stomping her foot on the ground in anger.
"Fine." Kai began to turn away from the girl. "I think I'll know shortly if I'm right." He then looked over his shoulder at the girl. "You'll end up telling me whether you know it now or not."
With that the boy began his walk back to Takao's home. He knew his premonition would come to pass. When was he ever wrong about something like this? Now that he was done speaking to that dunce of a girl, he could move on to Takao.
He was going to let the 'Champ' have it whether he liked it or not. Nothing was going to come in the way of winning the tournament this year. Even if that meant disconnecting Cat from the team forever. They didn't need the excess stress and he would not stand for it.
He was going to end this here and now.
XoXoX
Night had fallen on them. The warm summer's air had become cool and light. The boys slept together inside of his dojo. Their blankets and pillows in disarray on the wooden ground. Their clothes were not far from their original owners, Takao being the only one not to fold them.
Ugh, what was keeping him up? He should have been asleep hours ago! Takao rose from his pile of blankets and began walking. He stepped quietly over his teammates, being careful not to stir them in any way. He then made his way into the kitchen. With slow steps he crept over toward the cupboard and removed a cup from the top shelf. He turned the faucet on and began to fill the cup. Once full, he lifted the cup to his lips and began to take a sip of water.
"Takao."
Said male jumped at the sound of Kai's voice behind him. The unexpected voice caused him to choke on his water and he began to cough. He balled his hand to make a fist and began to pound on his chest.
"K-Kai?" H managed to speak as he lifted his arm to his mouth to wipe away any water hanging off his lips.
"Takao," Kai spoke standing in the doorway of kitchen, his body against the left side of the wall. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," The champ narrowed his eyes at his ultimate rival. "What's wrong with you? Sneaking up on me in the middle of the night."
"Don't lie to me." Kai snarled, his voice low. "You've been acting strange ever since Hiromi brought Cat up. What's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem." He muttered as he returned his attention to the kitchen sink.
"You two are just alike, you know that?" The older boy growled as he lowered his head. "You both deny any wrong doing. You're both stubborn to a fault."
"What are you talking about?" Takao hissed, rotating his body to face Kai once again.
"When I asked her the same question, she gave me the same answer you just gave me." He shook his head back and forth, saddened by the stupidity he found in both Cat and Takao.
"You asked her what?" He felt his mouth dropped several inches in surprise.
"Why should that matter," Kai turned his back to him and shrugged his shoulders. "Not like you care anyway." He was silent for a moment before he glanced over his shoulder at the younger male. "Or do you?"
"I don't!" Takao slammed his fist down on the kitchen counter. "She left us, remember? I don't care what she does anymore."
"All right then."
The boys let silence overcome them. The air between them grew still as the two settled their emotions. Why did this have to happen now? Why did she have to return now, when things were so tense? As far as he knew, she left them for good. When she left their friendship was over and suddenly wanted to come back? It wasn't right. There was no excuse for popping in and out of his life the way she had.
"Just don't let this upset bother you tomorrow." The words fell out of Kai's mouth slowly. "We don't need this meaningless drama interfering with the match. Don't let the team down, Takao."
Takao lowered his head. This was true. In that sense, Kai could not be wrong. The team needed him, maybe now more than ever. He could not let this little incident ruin him mentally when he had such an important match coming up. He had to be ready physically, mentally and spiritually. Meaningless drama was no use here.
He watched as Kai stepped away into the darkness of night. Takao could only assume the boy had taken himself back to his bed. With a sigh, as he stood in the kitchen alone. What was he thinking? Why was this bothering him so much? Perhaps it was the idea of losing such a dear friend or perhaps it was like he lost a sibling. Either way he couldn't let it distract him. He had a battle with team Phykick the following day and nothing would stand in his way of victory.
XoXoX
Days passed the teens as if they were minutes. The day of their fated match with team Phykick had come and gone within an instant. The fated match, much to their surprise, had been a trick, which lead the team being locked away on an island. A day or so passed with no news of Takao or the other's whereabouts. Ryu, Takao's Grandfather had almost exploded with worry and had gone on a rampage looking for his grandson. President Daitenji had become sick with concern and guilt for having set up the match in the first place. Their prayers were answered when President Daitenji got in contact with Takao and found where he and others were located. He was quick with a helicopter and picked the group up and returned them home, all safe.
Safe, but not all in good health, Takao had injured his leg during the heist. Upon returning home, the boy had been admitted to a hospital. Now located at the local hospital and was being well taken care of.
Hiromi stepped down the street with light steps. She had her arms crossed up over her chest, holding a stack of papers in them. She had some work to deliver to Takao homework, every single sheet. She had to admit to herself, she found joy in bringing Takao pain. But she had to stop for a moment and ponder about this, why did she find excitement in doing these things to that idiot boy? Perhaps it was because she got some kind of attention out of it.
Or maybe…no, that was impossible. She shook her head from side to side in denial and tightened her grip on the sheets of paper she held.
"Hiromi!"
Hiromi lifted her brows to the sound of her name being called. She looked over her slender shoulder to see some approaching her at a fast rate. It didn't take more than a few minutes for her to realize whom it was running toward her. It was Cat, the very same Cat that she had reintroduced the team. Hiromi let out a loud sigh, why did she even suggest that Takao meet back up with her?
"Hey!" Cat waved to the brunette after catching up with her.
"Hello, Cat." Hiromi said in a mild tone, her eyes on the street ahead of her.
The strange female paused vocally for a moment, her eyes landing on the stack of papers she was holding. Cat lifted her index finger to her lips, she was thinking. Catching wind of the celebrity's silence and turned to give her a confused look.
"So, where are you off to?" She finally asked, no doubt still puzzled by the papers she was carrying.
"The hospital."
"Oh," A smile spread across Cat's face. "Me too. I have a jerk there I have to visit."
"Uh-huh." She inhaled a deep breath and returned her eyes to the road ahead.
"Hiromi?"
The shorter female turned and looked again at the female standing beside her. Cat had stopped walking. Several steps ahead, she came to a halt after seeing the singer pause. She turned to face Cat, feeling more confused than ever.
"Cat? What's the matter?"
"I was just thinking about something, that's all." She shook her head and began walking once again. "How long are you going to stay?"
Hiromi tilted her head to one side. "Stay? Stay where?"
"For the visit. How long are you going to stay?" Cat asked, her voice low.
"I don't know." She replied as the steps she took picked up speed.
"Because," Cat bit down on her lower lip, "Because I need to speak with Takao. Alone."
Hiromi's shoulders shot upward. She had come to a complete halt. She turned around to see that Cat had stopped mid step once again. What the heck was going on? What could this strange girl mean? She had to talk to Takao alone? What was so important that she had to speak with Takao alone for? How could she not be suspicious about this? She narrowed her eyes at Cat. Something was amiss here.
"Not long then."
"Sorry." Cat inhaled and gave a large sigh.
"Not a problem," Hiromi turned back around and once again began her walk to the hospital.
XoXoX
"You have a visitor!"
Takao was sitting up in bed when an older nurse had informed him of his visitor, it was Hiromi no doubt. He let out a sigh and laid his hand on his bandaged leg. It was still causing him some slight pain. It had not been long since he and his team had been rescued from that strange island where those strange bladers lurked.
A moment of no activity later, the room door opened and Hiromi stepped lightly in. Over her chest lay the stack of papers; Takao's smile dropped at the sight of these papers, surely they were homework sheets. How perfect, homework at a time like this! That was all he needed, to do more work.
"Takao," Hiromi stepped into the room.
What no smile? She always had an evil smirk when she came to visit him with work! No grin, not even a lifted brow. Something was wrong; he could smell it on her. He hadn't known this female for any extended period of time but if there was one thing he knew well were her emotions.
"Hiromi…" He said, feeling worry for her. "What's the-"
The room door opened a bit wider as Takao spoke. Another body was about to enter. He blinked in surprise, Kyoujyu? It had to be. Hiromi then stepped to one side and there before his eyes stood Cat. His eyes grew as he saw the girl. How could this be? Why would she come and visit him?
"C-Cat?"
"Takao."
The room fell silent. Hiromi's eyes darted to the floor, obviously feeling partially responsible for bringing the girl with her. The annoying female was now well aware that he wanted nothing to do with Cat but here she was standing before him. Hiromi took slow steps toward his bedside. Takao watched as she dropped the stack of papers on the lower half of his hospital bed. With her head lowered, to where her brown hair covered her eyes, she refused to say a word. It was as if the stack of papers were silent as they hit his bed. She then turned her back to him and without even looking over her shoulder, spoke.
"Here's your school work, Takao. I'll see you later."
Takao lifted his hand to stop Hiromi but she was already sprinting out the open door. He took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. Something was wrong with her but he couldn't tell exactly what. Perhaps she felt sick or something, but it was unlike her not to tease him about his homework.
Takao's attention quickly shifted. Cat was there, standing in the doorway, her hair shining from the sunlight that entered the room. The two stared at one another both silent verbally but mentally screaming at one another, at least on his end anyway. His eyes fell on the papers Hiromi had left him. He could no longer stare at his former friend. Small footsteps echoed through the room, she was approaching him. He felt his body stiffen as she moved toward him. The sick feeling in his gut had returned to him. Why did this sick stomach follow him whenever Cat was around? Was he so angered by her presence that it sickened him? It must, it only appeared when she was around him.
"Takao…"
He flinched at the call of his name.
"Takao, I wanted to see how you were." She continued to speak, Takao's eyes still glued to the papers on his bed. "I was really worried about you and the team." Her voice flowed into his ears slowly. "Especially when I heard that you were hurt." Cat sat down beside the bed. "Mind telling me what happened?"
"Not much to tell." Takao replied with a swift remark to end the conversation short.
"Oh?" She raised a brow. "That's not what Max told me."
He twitched. Max had filled her in on what happened? How could Max betray him like that? To speak with the enemy? But it wasn't unlike Max to tell Cat what had happened and he knew why the blond would.
"Quite a story if you ask me."
Takao snapped back into reality. He turned to Cat with a stern look. Quite a story? It wasn't just a story it was the actuality that had happened to him and his team. An actuality that had ended with him in the hospital, it was more than a story. How could he not be angry when she said things like that? Then again, it was beginning to feel like everything she said made him angry.
"Yeah well, nothing much you can do about it now." He said as he turned his head away from the girl and looked out the window.
"Takao," She began as she placed her hand on his bed sheet. "I'm really worried about these people coming after you."
"Tsh," He shrugged his shoulders, his head still turned to the window. "Why, I'm not worried about it. You have better things to worry about, remember?"
"Takao!" Cat snapped, causing the boy in front of her to flinch. "What's the matter with you? Are you mad at me?"
"Why in world would I ever be mad at you, Cat?" He replied as he turned to the girl, a glare equipped on his face.
The two fell quiet. Cat looked down at her knees and gripped on her pants. She then closed her eyes tight and bit down on her lower lip. She then let out a small sigh. Takao let out a small 'humph' before turning back around to face the window. He looked outside for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. He felt his eyes land on his bandaged foot.
"You know," She began in a soft voice. "I would have given anything to be there."
What did she just say? He turned to her with an arched brow and curled lip. Why would she want to be stuck on an island set to explode if the team didn't meet the villain's demands? Sounded crazy to him. He let out another long sigh and shook his head. What a stupid thing to say. This girl must have been out of her good mind.
"Yeah, being stuck on an exploding island is lots of fun."
"That's not what I meant." She snapped back.
"What does it matter now?" He threw his arms behind his head and fell backward on to his soft pillow.
"Takao-"
Enough was enough.
"No," Takao lifted a solo hand into the air, interrupting her. "Cat," He lifted himself up once again in a sitting position and looked the girl dead in the eyes. "I think I should tell you something." Her body stiffened as he continued, "I don't think it's a good idea for you to come and see me anymore."
"W-what?"
"It's just not…not a good idea." His eyes fell on his injured leg.
This was for the good of the team, it wasn't a good idea for him and Cat to communicate any longer. It was only causing unnecessary drama. It was causing unnecessary harm to his emotional status. He was too focused on his old friend and what she had done the previous year and it was taking him away from his team.
"Takao," Her voice strained, "I-I can't do that, you're my friend. You're like my-"
"Cat, it's not a good idea."
Her fingertips gripped at the hem of her pants. Was she having a hard time thinking of a reply? Her large eyes glazed over with tears and she had begun to chew on her bottom lip. Her eyebrows dipped over her eyes and she clenched her fists. Was she repressing the urge to cry?
Without any words, she lifted her body from his bedside. She then turned on her heel and made a beeline for the exit. Her head tipped downward between her shoulders as her feet came to a stop just before the door. In the midst of the silence, her tiny voice called out.
"I still wish I could have been there."
Another stupid comment? Ugh, he growled under his breath and turned his head to one side, away from her. He couldn't stand the girl at this point. He let out a grunt and crossed his arms over his chest. He had to do this; it was in the best interest of his team. He needed to be as focused as he could be. People were after his Holy Beast, his Dragoon. He couldn't let drama sidetrack him. Blading was his life and nothing would come in the way of that.
Act End.