Bittersweet Melody

First Arc: Act Five

Days passed without a single word. Between the days of their last confrontation the world champion and his team has come across a number of different situations. Thanks to President Daitenji, it was told to them the name of the clocked blader team. They were called 'The Saint Shields', or something stupid like that, didn't matter much to him. Ozuma, Dunga, Mariam and Yusuf were challenging but they had nothing compared to him and his Dragoon!

But then again, Rei and Max had come across the siblings Mariam and Yusuf and battled. They suffered a bitter, embarrassing defeat but he couldn't let their loss be in vain! He was going to face Ozuma again and he had proved himself by winning. But something Ozuma had said kept repeating in his mind.

"You need to practice your technique."

What was that supposed to mean? Of course nothing good could come out of a statement like that. More practice? How could that be, when he was the winner of their fight. Surely Ozuma was sore about losing. Or perhaps…was he trying to help? He couldn't be sure and he wasn't going to take any more risks.

He was only sure that there were many people out to get him and his teammate's Holy Beasts. Team Phykick had developed their own Holy Beasts: Electric Holy Beasts. How the hell were they supposed to fight something like that?

To fight back against any threat Kyoujyu had prepared his own training routine to aid Takao and his team fight back against the Electric Holy Beasts. A ridged work out that sent him and his friends through a loop. Running, push-ups, sit-ups all in an effort to become better at their sport. Ugh! When were they going to get a break?!

Running on at the local beach, in the sand, was not a good idea.

If 'cutting off' connections with Cat Greco was supposed to make things easier to deal with, why hadn't this training been easier? Then again, his mind was free of drama, right? Of course there was the occasional squabble with Hiromi but that was to be expected. The nervousness in his gut, however, had stopped since then and he hated to admit it but he hadn't felt this free in weeks. It was nice to be normal again!

"Come on guys!" Hiromi shouted as she ran alongside the boys.

Did she have to give out orders like some kind of drill sergeant? Gah. For whatever reason Hiromi felt found it necessary to work out with them. But even if she was shouting out commands like a P.E. teacher, at least it was better than dealing with Cat and her drama! He just needed that part of his life to be done and over with. He had things he needed to be worried about.

"Let's take a break!" Max panted, his running feet coming to a halt.

The boys nearly collapsed on themselves after taking a break from their running. It was hot and they had been training on the beach all afternoon. There was only so much the team could do to improve their blading. Perhaps physical training was too much? He could not find time to argue this, all he knew was that the training must continue. He had to get better.

"Any one got any water?" Max managed to speak, his throat sounding dry.

"Here."

A clear plastic water bottle appeared from what seemed nowhere. Without looking or asking, Max reached upward and wrapped his hand around the bottle. He twisted off the plastic cap and began to suck down the cool liquid. After finishing his swing of water, Max let out a satisfied sigh and wiped the excess sweat from his forehead.

"Thanks!" He replied, standing up straight.

Takao's eyes followed to look at who he assumed was Kyoujyu. But his eyes landed on a female standing in front of him. Cat?! His eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. What the heck was she doing here? Didn't he make his request clear enough?

The look on Max's face turned from confusion to delightful surprise. The blond hadn't seen the celebrity in days, so he had to be excited. With all their trouble with The Saint Shields, none of them had much time to be social.

"Cat!" The American boy exclaimed with joy.

The other tired boys turned up to see Cat standing in front of Max with a smile on her face. She turned to the rest of the group, water bottle in hand. Cat stepped toward Rei and opened the water bottle for the boy. As she stepped to one side it became obvious that Cat was not alone. There standing behind her was her sister, Jam.

"Hello Jam." Rei smiled at the older girl.

"Here, drink this," Cat said to the black-haired boy as she handed him the bottle.

"Thanks." He then began to take a few sips from the bottle.

Takao twitched. How arrogant! So she thought she could just come waltzing back into their lives? He had made his request as obvious as possible! What was she thinking? This was not what he needed at the moment; he needed peace and quiet and time to train. Drama was the last thing on his priority list. The team leader growled under his breath as he threw his arms over his chest and turned away from the girl.

"What are you doing here?" Max asked, now appearing refreshed.

Rei handed the bottle back to Cat, a smile on his face. Before she could answer, she looked in Kai's direction and approached him. "Well, I was in the neighborhood and thought I might check in." She explained as she held the bottle up to Kai's face. "Grandpa said you all would be down here."

He twitched again. She had talked to his Grandfather? Why was she so insistent on talking to him? Takao felt his stomach do another flip. He lifted his hand and ran his fingers through his blue hair. He then removed his cap from his head and began to fan himself off.

Cat looked to Kai and shook the bottle at him. He said nothing as she continued to shake the bottle at him. The loner's lip curled at the female, her offer obviously not impressing him.

"Drink." She snorted.

Kai let out a grumble before snatching the bottle from her hands. He pressed the bottle against his lips and began to take a few sips. Takao had to admit, a drink of ice-cold water would be refreshing right about now. But how could he face her after their last meeting at the hospital?

Cat stepped toward Hiromi and extended her arm to the other female. She had offered the water bottle to the brunette. The younger female appeared surprised reached out and took the bottle from Cat's hands. Hiromi gazed at the bottle for a moment, seeing that there was about a fourth of a cup of the water left. The BBA's cheerleader's eyebrows dropped in disappointment as she looked at the more than half empty bottle.

"Go ahead; you and Takao have the rest." Cat said in a simple tone before turning her back to the couple.

"So what are you here for?" Takao grunted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jam approached the group, her hands to her hips.

He turned around to face the rest of the group. "Cat I told you not to come around anymore."

"What?!" Max, Kyoujyu, Rei, Hiromi and Jam exclaimed in unison.

"Takao, what are you talking about?" Max rushed over to his friend.

"It's exactly what it sounds like." His eyebrows lowered as his anger grew.

"Cat?" Rei turned to the young female.

She looked in the opposite direction that Takao had been looking in. "It's true." She spoke in a low voice. "Takao and I have decided not to talk to one another any longer."

Kai's mouth dropped and eyes darted over to Takao. He stared at the boy in amazement. Was he surprised? He had no reason to be; after all it was his idea to cut off communications with the pop star. Takao felt his eyes dart away from Kai, though the older boy continued his shocked stare.

"No, this isn't right." Kyoujyu followed Max and rushed toward him, his hands extended outward "Takao, you can't do this."

"Why not?"

"Why should you two stop talking?" Max asked, trying to change the stubborn male's mind. "What good will come out of this?"

The champ flinched. He wasn't feeling bad about this all of a sudden, was he? No, it couldn't be. This was the way it had to be. Kai was right; things with Cat Greco had to end here. This was the best move the team could make. No more distractions, no more sidetracking.

"That doesn't matter now," Cat spoke, breaking the boys back into reality. "Just because Takao and I aren't talking anymore doesn't mean I can't speak to the rest of you."

Takao growled, "Yes it does!" The female blinked in confusion as he continued to snap at her. "We can't have you around bothering us anymore! We have to train; our Holy Beasts are at stake!"

"Bothering you?!" Cat shouted her fists balled tightly, "I haven't said anything to you!"

"You're a distraction." Takao grunted.

Cat shut her eyes tight and lowered her head. She began to shake her balled fists in anger. The same facial expression she presented last night had come back with vengeance. She bit her lip and shut her eyes tight, an obvious sign that she was fighting back the urge to cry. Sweat had begun to build on her brow and before anyone could speak further, she exploded.

"Oh? And she isn't?"

The group turned to see that Cat was pointing at someone. Her arm was raised up high, her index finger pointed outward. The boys followed the direction of her finger and saw that it led to Hiromi. The boy's eyes widened before they turned back around to look at Cat. She stood there, her face and eyes, now open, growing red.

"What?" Hiromi's mouth dropped open from shock.

"Why…why is it okay for her to be here…" Cat lowered her face, her chin touching her neck. "But not me?"

Silence filled the salty air, the crashing of the waves, the only sound to be heard. Takao had returned his glare to Cat and he stood proud. He wasn't about to back down now; he wouldn't let anything get in the way of his team winning. No distractions.

She left them. They hadn't hurt her the way she had hurt them. She deserted them at the time they needed her the most. How was he supposed to forget that? How could everyone else forget that? Things could never go back to the way they were. Things were different now, and the rest of the team had to come to grips with it.

"She didn't desert us."

Cat's head rose to the words that fell out of Takao's mouth. Did he really say that? The words fell from his lips before he could consider them. But it was the truth, wasn't it? There was no arguing it now; she left them for some stupid dream. A dream that obviously was more important as their friendship.

"You left." He continued to speak. "Once you got what you wanted, you left us." He looked at his sand-covered shoes. "No one wanted you to leave, but you did. No letters, no phone calls, not a thing. You deserted us."

"I did not!" Cat screamed, her voice now shaky and unsteady.

"Ask everyone here," He lifted his head and looked the girl straight in the eye. "We used to be a team, but you broke that."

Cat scanned the group in front of her: Max, Kyoujyu, Rei and then finally Kai. They all refused to look at the female, each for their own reasons no doubt. Her shoulders tensed for a moment but the relaxed and drop.

"I-I…" She stuttered as she brought her hands to her face, trying to shield her red eyes.

"That's enough."

The boys looked to see that Jam had stepped in front of her sister. She had her arms crossed tightly across her chest. She had a look on a face that could kill. Jam's beautiful, long dark hair danced in the salty ocean air as she stood before the boys.

"I won't stand here and let you talk to my sister this way."

"It's the truth," Takao added, causing the older sister's eyebrow to twitch. "I'm sorry if you can't handle that."

"Is that why…" Cat's unstable voice came from behind her sister's back. "Is that why you've been so mean, Takao?"

He turned his nose up at her. He couldn't feel bad for her now. What she did was something he could not forgive. She left him, left his family behind. After all the years together, all the battles she removed herself from it. Were things that bad that she had to leave? It had to have been, why else would she give them up? Why else would she give him up?

"Fine." The boy's ears twitched to the sound of Cat's voice. "I understand. None of you want anything else to do with me."

Max looked at the troubled girl with large, innocent eyes. "No that's not-"

"No," Cat lifted her hand into the air, causing Max to pause mid-sentence. "I'm through with the arguing. Good bye, Takao."

Max's mouth hung open as he watched the girl begin to walk away from the group, her feet taking heavy steps through the sand. Her head hung low on her shoulders, her hair covering her eyes. Jam turned to look at her hurt sister. She trailed after her, shooting one last glare at the boys before leaving. Takao grunted, refusing to watch the sisters leave the beach. This is what he wanted. He wanted to be left alone, nothing to distract him from his training.

"We should get back to the work out." Takao announced as he turned his back to the team and began to step away from them.

"Takao?" Hiromi approached the blue-haired boy, attempting to place her hand on his shoulder. "Are you al-"

"I'm fine!" He shouted, causing the worried female to twitch and take a single step backward. "I'm just fine…"

XoXoX

"So what are we going to do about this?" Ozuma's ears twitched to the sound of Dunga's voice coming from behind him.

The Saint Shields had gathered together in their usual spot, an abounded warehouse. This was the place where Ozuma and Takao had battled the earlier day. Of course, Ozuma had only tested the world champ in that battle and let him win as a mean of examining his true strength. Now he and his team stood within their hideout, pondering about this new 'situation' about team BBA.

It wasn't anything the leader of The Saint Shields would normally drabble in, this social drama, but this situation just could turn out in their favor, if they played their cards right.

"Hm, good question." Mariam let out a loud sigh as she sat on the ground, one leg crossed over the other.

"Why should we let this bother our plans?" Yusuf leaned up against his sister and gave a lazy yawn. "It's just some boring social drama. Nothing we should care about."

Ozuma plopped down on a nearby crate and placed his chin on his empty palm. "I know it sounds unimportant to us right now but…" He closed his eyes as he collected his thoughts. "It might be a problem for us later."

"Why?" Dunga grunted, dissatisfied with his leader's statement.

"Just a feeling."

"That's it? A feeling?" The tanned male snorted, throwing his hands on his hips and turning his face away from the team.

"I think it would be a good idea if we follow that girl." He moved his hand from under his chin.

"What? You mean that singer-girl?" Dunga turned back around, his jaw hanging open, "You're not serious are you?"

"Are you up for it, Yusuf?" Ozuma looked down at the youngest member of the team.

"Sure, if you think it's useful." Yusuf agreed with a simple shoulder shrug.

The small team leader gave his group a satisfied smile. "I do."

XoXoX

"I need to be by myself for a while. I need to think about a few things."

Cat let out a large sigh. Her feet touched the gravel beneath her as she pushed herself back and forth. She had taken a break from Takao and from being a celebrity and found herself sitting alone at the nearby playground. Her hands and fingers wrapped around the connecting chain of the swing. Cat lifted her two feet upward and gently began to push herself back and forth. It was now sunset. She was alone; she had separated from her sister to be alone.

There were things she had to think about. People she had to think about. Why and how could this happen? Since when did Takao hold a grudge against her and her past choices? Had she been so blind to not see her decisions hurting others around her? But why couldn't he just be happy for her and her newfound fame?

Anger fueled her to push herself higher on the swing. Dust kicked upward into the air as she pushed and pushed. Why? Why couldn't he just be proud of her? Why did he have to be angry? It was apparent to her that Takao had turned the rest of the team on her. Kyoujyu, Max, Rei and Kai they all agreed with him no doubt. And Hiromi? How could Takao replace her like that?

"It's not fair!" She shouted aloud.

The girl pushed on, flying higher into the air. The whole swing set began to rock back and forth as the female pushed. She shoved her two feet out in front of her body and her heels grinded with the ground causing her to stop the swinging process. After coming to a halt, she hopped off the swing set. Her two feet hit the ground hard, causing more dust to disburse in the air.

"He…he…they…" She muttered to herself, her eyes on the ground below her.

Cat then slammed her fists against her sides. She then began to drag her feet through the gravel. What use was it to complain about it now? Takao wasn't going to change his mind on the matter he was far too stubborn. She let out a grunt and threw her hands into her jacket pockets. She then began to walk toward the street. She might as well go home, no point in staying out too late and catching a cold.

She looked up to see the empty street before her. The singer could only wonder, how many times did Ryu take her and Takao to this park when they were children? Countless times and countless laughs. Why couldn't it be like that now? She felt her heart ache as her memories flashed before her eyes. Her and Takao…together not as friends but as siblings.

Cat lifted her hand to her forehead and looked off into the distance. Strange, there was a black-colored van headed her way. She cocked a brow, a black van? She watched the van approach her at an accelerated rate. As the van drew closer the speed decreased. Was it stopping for directions? Tilting her head to one side, watched as the large vehicle came to a slow stop beside her. The van door then slid open to reveal to strange men in side. Both men were dressed in business suites and wore sunglasses.

"Do you need directions?" Cat asked the taller blond man.

"Cat Greco?" He replied in question.

"Oh, so you've heard of me!" She released a strain of nervous giggles before throwing her hand behind her head. "How can I help you?"

"Come with us."

"What?" Her smile flipped upside down.

"Here," The taller blond man then reached outward and grabbed Cat by one arm.

What the heck?! The girl let out a shriek, which caused the tall man to wrap his gloved hand around her mouth. She continued to let out small yelps and muffled screams as she squirmed around in the man's arms. The man pulled the young teen inside the van and slid the door shut with a loud slam. The blond man then turned to his driving counterpart and commanded him to drive. The car sped off, letting loose a loud screech as he drove off down the street.

Act End.