Bittersweet Melody
First Arc: Act Six
Jam let out a loud sigh as she covered her eyes with her arms. She laid backward on her couch, stretching her legs outward. Now this was her idea of relaxation. There was nothing better than laying down on a big couch with her laptop at her side. She removed her arms from her face and peered down at her laptop, which was sitting a few feet away on the coffee table.
Earlier that day Jam had been using the internet to look up some information for herself and had left her internet window open. A chiming sound alerted her that she had received an e-mail. Reacting to the instant mail, she sat herself upright and reached outward toward the laptop. Her fingers danced across the tiny keyboard and her index finger swirled on the mouse pad. An e-mail from Ralf? Now this should be interesting.
"Oh," Jam said with sarcasm. "He actually e-mailed me."
Her eyes scanned the screen as she read the message. How flattering, the great and all might Ralf took time out of his important day to message her? Perhaps she had left an impression on him? She had to laugh to herself as her mind fluttered with the memories of him.
Sure he was mature in all the ways of a gentlemen but he was naïve to the real world. She had to admit, he was a spoiled rich boy but he was also kind and gentle. She slammed her open palms on her face. Why did Ralf continue to have this effect on her? A slight blush ran over her face as she removed her hands from her face and continued to read the message he had sent her.
"I want to see you as soon as possible. I am willing and able to send a plane out to you when you are ready."
"Back to Europe?" Jam sighed to herself, her back falling on to the couch. "Might be nice."
XoXoX
"Welcome,"
Two large doors swung open before Cat. She growled as she peered over her shoulder at the two men that had taken her hostage at the park. The men had explained to her that they were with a new Beyblading corporation and had access to the best Beyblades and Beyblade parts. They had been in search of a new team, a team that would test out some of their 'new equipment'. She humbled the stranger and agreed to come and see what types of 'equipment' this new organization had to offer.
"You know you didn't have to pull me into that van!" Cat hissed at the two men. "Try not to make it look like KIDNAPPING, you know."
"Miss Greco,"
The girl twitched to the call of her name. She took her eyes off the two men who had brought her to the building and looked forward to see two more strange men standing before her. One older, dressed in a lab outfit the other younger and dressed in an odd suit. What the heck?
"Allow me to introduce myself," The older man in the lab coat approached the young female with one hand extended out to her. "I am Dr. B."
"All right…" She hesitated for a moment before shaking hands with the doctor.
"And this is Gideon." Dr. B turned to his superior and offered the young girl's hand to the oddly dressed man.
"Hello…" She curled her lip at the man named Gideon and shook his hand. "Excuse me gentlemen but I'm really not interested in-"
"Please," Gideon released the girl's hand before interrupting her. "Allow me to explain."
"Sir, I'm just not-" She began but was cut short.
"Our organization has been specializing with new Beyblade equipment and we would like you, Cat Greco, to give it a try." The stranger explained as he turned his back to the girl and begun to walk ahead of her.
She began to follow the man as he toured her through the lab and watched as other men at large computer screens tapped away at their keyboards. What the heck was all this, all this work just for some new Beyblade equipment? The tiny female looked back at Gideon to see that he had not stopped walking. At this, she dashed toward him to catch up with the man, might as well listen to what he had to say.
"You see if we got an upcoming celebrity like you, Cat to test and market our equipment then it would greatly help us." Gideon spoke his voice low. "Don't you agree?"
"Yes sir but I can say something?" She cleared her throat in order to grab their attention. "I'm not sure I'm the proper person for this job. I mean, I don't Beyblade very much and I'm not very good."
"Oh please," Gideon turned back around to face the female with a grin. "Don't be so modest! And my dear, with our equipment you will surely improve. How about you give it a try?"
"Sir, I just don't think it's a very good idea." She shook her head from left to right. "I-"
"Please Miss Greco give it a chance?"
"I-I can't." Cat stuttered as her fear began to sink deeper, she took a single step backward. "I'm sorry but I can't!" She shouted before twisting around and charging toward the exit.
The same two strange men that had driven her to the building stood before the exit, blocking it. She let out a small gasp before her feet came to a complete halt. She turned around to see Gideon and Dr. B still standing in their original positions. The fearful girl let out a whimper, turning back to the exit and gripping her fists. This was wrong, this was illegal, they couldn't be doing this!
"Miss Greco," Cat shuttered to Gideon calling her name and moved in a slow motion and peeked over her shoulder. "We've been watching you for some time now," He began as he took slow steps toward the shivering female. "And I must admit, you have a lot of issues. Tsk, tsk!" He then loomed over the girl, his shadow dwarfing her. "You and that Takao Kinomiya."
"Takao?" Her hands shook.
"Kinomiya hasn't been very nice to you since you've been back in town, poor dear." He took a few steps away from the singer as he spoke. "Rude, mean, pushy, am I right?"
How could he know something like that? He wasn't following her around, was he?! Her body felt heavy and her legs felt as if they would buckle beneath her at any second. What was this man saying? Could he actually know of about the happenings between her and Team BBA? No, that was impossible. But he was right about Takao… wasn't he?
"He turned the rest of the team against you." The words fell from his lips so lightly but the words hit her like a ton of bricks. "He made you hurt, made you mad, made you… cry."
Cat gripped her fists. "It's true…" She muttered just loud enough for the men in the room to hear her. "He did all of those things."
"Wouldn't you do anything to get back at him? He did betray you and broke your trust."
She paused. Could he be right? Did Takao deserve to see her side of things? Didn't she deserve justice? No one, no one stood up for her. No one stood up to Takao; they all backed him and every word he said. All her work and support for the team and this is what she received in the end? It wasn't fair, it wasn't right. But was revenge the right road? Would proving herself in a Beybattle show Takao that he was wrong? What other way could there be?
"I-I can't…"
"We're experimenting with Electric Holy Beasts," Gideon spoke as his eyes stayed glued to the young girl. "Perhaps you've heard about it through your ex-friend Takao? That's us."
Cat flinched. How could she get herself caught up in this mess? She looked away from the taller man; she now knew why she was there. She was going to be used as a tool against Takao and his team.
Gideon turned away from the girl once again and stepped toward Dr. B. The doctor held a bundle in his arms and gladly gave it to Gideon once he approached him. The younger man let a chuckle pass his lips before returning to her. He pulled her right arm out toward himself and opened her hand. He then placed a small Beyblade into her hand.
"Take this," Gideon said.
She shuttered, her eyes darting down at the blade he had placed in her small hand. The small white blade glistened under the room's florescent lighting. Could she really do this? Could she really take part in this 'experiment'? Did she have the courage to take part in this thievery? Taking away Takao's Holy Beast for the sake of some experiment?
But on the other hand Takao had betrayed her first. He had thrown away their friendship and accused her of being a deserter. The world champ had also turned the rest of the team against her, how could she forgive this? He had taken everything sacred away from her in an instant. Revenge did sound satisfying.
Gideon then pushed the bundle of clothing into her arms. It was a uniform. Was this the team's uniform and if she wore it, did that mean that she was part of their organization? On top of the bundle of clothing lay a tiny red device. It appeared to be a single eyepiece, a scanner of some kind. Her fingernails dug into the clothes as she held them in her arms. Could she do this? Was she capable of destroying or taking Takao's Holy Beast from him?
"We have some tests we'd like you to endure." Gideon spoke, snapping her back into reality.
"Like what?"
"We would like to create an Electric Holy Beast for you. We must use your Dwarf Spitz as a reference." He explained as he placed his solo and atop of hers.
Cat looked to the ground. This was happening. She was going to side with the organization that created the Electric Holy Beasts. There was no looking back now, Takao had broken the friendship they had once shared and she wanted revenge. How could Takao take all her friends away from her? How could he be so cold and betray her in this way? This demanded revenge, this demanded justice.
Cat lifted her head and looked straight into Gideon's eyes. "All right."
A smirk spread across his face. "Welcome to Team Phykick."
XoXoX
"What are you talking about Yusuf?"
Ozuma stood before the smallest and youngest member of his team, his hands to his hips. Mariam, Yusuf's older sister stood beside her brother with an unsatisfied look on her face and Dunga stood furthest away from the group, his arms crossed over his chest.
The team had gotten together to discuss the current happenings and what Yusuf could discover about Cat Greco. The small boy had returned to their hideout with vital information about the celebrity's current state of affairs. He had followed the black van to the hidden lab where Dr. B and Gideon occupied and carried out their experiments and had discovered that Cat had agreed to become a part of Team Phykick. But the real question was, why would she agree to something like this?
"It's all true," Yusuf, confirmed the leader's worst fears. "Cat Greco agreed to be a part of Team Phykick." With a lazy shoulder shrug he continued, "She even handed over her own Beyblade to be experimented on."
"That means," Mariam placed her index finger under her chin. "That a cyber-version of her Holy Beast will be created."
Dunga snarled with his fist clenched. Quick to catch on to the sound of his grumbling, he turned toward the tanned male. The Electric Holy Beasts, they had embarrassed and dented Dunga's pride almost beyond repair, it was no wonder the tanned boy had a grudge. That day when Yuuya defeated Dunga, it must have made quite an impression.
But now there was another blader under the influence of that organization. This was not a positive moment for the team; anything that threatened the existence of Team BBA's Holy Beasts was trouble.
"We have to warn Takao."
The team perked up to the sound of their leader's voice. Ozuma gripped his left fist and rose it to chest-level. He then looked down at his clenched fist and let out a grunt. He could not allow this to happen. This strange girl, Cat Greco, what was her problem?
Going and making a mess of their plans of protecting Takao and his team's Holy Beasts. She had some nerve, seeking revenge on the World Champion. He had to admit to himself, this girl was something else although she went about her goals all the wrong way. There was nothing he or anyone else could do about the situation now; the only thing left to do was warn Takao and the team about Cat.
"I'm going to warn him." He replied, his team nodding in agreement.
"We're with you Ozuma," Mariam placed her slender, pale hand on the shorter male's shoulder.
"Then let's go." He said in a simple tone.
XoXoX
Takao launched his blade on the ground. The tiny blade spun on the ground, kicking up dust as it did so. It shifted left, right, right again and left. He had been practicing, ever since Yuuya had appeared and challenged Kai, He thought it was necessary to train as much as he could. Kyoujyu sat on the ground with his laptop placed over his crossed legs. Max and Rei stood beside one another each observing his spinning blade. Hiromi had her chin placed up against her knees as she sat next to Kyoujyu. She was lost deep in a thought by the look of things.
"Why…why is it okay for her to be here…but not me?"
Ah, so that was it, was it? It had to be. Girls weren't really the type of people to get lost in a world of rivalry, were they? Hell if he knew. All he did know was that things were going to be different now. Now that she was gone for good.
"TAKAO!"
His concentration instantly broke at the call of his name. His blade flipped over, tumbling into the ground. He let out a frustrated snarl and slammed his fists in the air. He walked over to his fallen blade and plucked it up from the dirt. He then swirled around to see who could be calling him at such an important time.
Takao turned to see Jam standing in the middle of the dojo. Her chest was slamming up and down; she had obviously run here from her place of residence. Her glasses had slipped off the bridge of her nose and hung off her face and sweat dripped from her forehead.
"What do you want?" He grunted.
"Takao," Jam huffed as she rushed at him. "Do you know where Cat is?"
"Tsh," He snorted and turned his nose up at the older female. "How would I know?"
"Takao, I'm serious!" She shouted at the boy as she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "Where is she?!"
"Wait a minute," Rei stepped over to Jam and placed his delicate hand on her tense shoulder. "What are you talking about?"
"Relax a second and tell us!" Kyoujyu squeaked after he jumped from the ground to meet Jam.
She released the blue-haired boy, his feet hitting the ground with a small thud. Jam then turned around to the group and took in a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself. "Cat's gone."
Max rushed at the elder sister and placed his hands on her shoulder, digging his nails into her shoulder. "Jam, what are you talking about? Cat's gone?"
"Yes. She's been gone all day." She placed her hands on Max's shoulders and pushed him away and off her. "She missed a photo shoot yesterday. It's unlike her."
"I bet." Takao snorted, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Takao!" Hiromi snapped at the boy.
"I was sure she might come back here…" She lowered her head in upset.
"No, we haven't seen her here." Rei placed one hand on the woman's back for comfort. "But I'm sure we can find her, try not to worry."
"This is all your fault, Takao!" Jam swirled around to face the boy. "If it wasn't for you, she wouldn't have left!" She lifted her clenched fist to the boy.
"No!" Max reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. "Stop!"
Rei complimented Max by reaching out and grabbing Jam's fist. He applied pressure to her arm, forcing it down and back to her side. Rei then placed himself in front of upset female and put his hands on her shoulders. "That won't help."
"It'll sure make me feel better."
"If that solved every problem, it'd be great."
"Kai!" Kyoujyu gasped.
The group turned to see Kai standing near the backyard entrance, The Saint Shields standing not far behind. What the heck were they doing here? Takao felt a gasp leave his lips as Ozuma's image came into clear view. Had he come back for another match? If so, he was more than ready to go.
"What are you guys doing here?" Hiromi placed her hands on her chest.
"We have some information you might want to hear." Ozuma answered as he stepped in front of Kai and the rest of his team. "Important information."
"And you should listen," Kai added in a serious tone. "We can't afford another incident like Yuuya."
"Then what is it?" Max asked.
"You are going to have another member of Team Phykick attack you soon." Ozuma spoke slowly as his hair danced in the warm air. "And we found out who it is."
"Who?" Kyoujyu asked as he clung to his laptop.
"Cat Greco."
"What?!" Max's mouth dropped open in shock.
"It's the truth," Yusuf stepped forward and stood beside his team captain. "I saw it all. A day or so ago she left with them and has agreed to have her Holy Beast transformed into an Electric Holy Beast."
"She's joined Team Phykick." Ozuma was blunt.
No, that couldn't be true, it was a lie! "You're lying!" Takao shouted, his left fist balled and shaking.
"Takao?" Max's voice strained in confusion.
"I'm not lying." Ozuma replied as his eyebrows lowered on his face.
"Cat would never do something like that!" He shook his head from side to side.
"And how would you know?" Yusuf chuckled and closed his eyes. "From what I've observed you two don't talk."
"I-"
"Aw, are you having regrets now?" Mariam giggled.
"Shut up!" He snapped back. "I know you're lying because…because Cat's not strong enough to do that!"
"Ha!" Mariam threw her head back in another fit of laughter. "Oh? And that Yuuya kid wasn't strong either until he got his Electric Holy Beast."
Out of the corner of his eye, Takao saw Kai flinch. The subject was still sensitive for him? It had to be, and now Cat was going through the same thing. What the heck had he done? He made the wrong decision; everything he tried to do backfired, tenfold.
"Cat's going to get an Electric version of her Dwarf Spitz?" Max asked Mariam with a saddened tone.
"Yes," Ozuma answered for his female teammate. "And soon. You all should prepare for the worst."
The worst? No, there was no way that could happen. It wouldn't let it happen. Even if she had joined sides with Team Phykick, she wouldn't last long…right? He had to say something, anything to make himself feel better.
"Oh what's there to worry about?" Takao said before thinking, causing his teammates to turn his way. "Cat will never be stronger than me," He spoke, while feeling a false sense of security and turned back to face the BBA. "I can beat her, no matter what. There's nothing to worry ab-"
SLAP
A cold hand came fast at his face. The bear open hand had slapped him clean across his face. Takao felt himself stumble back for a moment, stunned at what had just happened. Did he just get slapped? He quickly reopened his eyes to see Jam standing before him, sweat dripping down her temples.
"Jam!" Hiromi screamed before throwing her hands over her open mouth.
"How dare you." Jam pulled back her red hand and glared at the younger boy. "Cat's out there destroying her own blade to get back at you and all you can do is stand here and brag about yourself?"
Takao lifted his hand to his red cheek and held it there. Was he bragging? No, that wasn't bragging if it were the truth. He was stronger than Cat in every field of blading so how could that be considered bragging? Besides, if he could say anything to make himself believe that his old friend hadn't made a wrong decision, then he was going to say it and believe it.
Then it happened. The sick feeling had made its return. He looked down at the ground as his insides flipped and flopped within him. What was happening? Why was he feeling sick now? Was it possible for him to be feeling guilty?
"You should heed our warning." Ozuma broke the silence with his deep voice.
"A warning for me?"
He stiffened. That voice…it was Cat's voice. The teens shifted their heads right then left trying to find the girl. Max called out for the girl as he searched the area, hoping to find her safe and sound. A rustle from a nearby tree caught the group off guard. A single body leaped out from the tree and hit the ground hard. The body then stood up to reveal herself. There standing before Team BBA and The Saint Shields stood Cat dressed in her Team Phykick uniform. She hand one hand to her hip and the other adjusting her red eyepiece.
"Look at that uniform!" Kyoujyu shouted his index finger extended in her direction. "It's Team Phykick's!"
"So…it's true…" The words fell out of Takao's mouth slowly as his eyes did a full scan of Cat's body. "You're a part of Team Phykick!"
"It looks like it." Cat smirked.
"But Cat why?" Max ran and stood in her path.
She lifted her arm and moved her finger out to point Takao out. "Because you betrayed me."
"As I recall, you left us!" He shouted back, pushing Max to one side.
The former singer retracted her arm and reached around to her back. There she lifted and pulled out her Beyblade launcher. She then lifted it out into the air and pointed it into his direction. With a glare on her face she loaded her launcher.
"Cat!"
Said female flinched at the sound of her sister's voice. For a moment, she lowered her launcher and watched as her sister walked passed Takao and Max. She stepped out in front of her younger sister and moved her arm out toward her.
"Cat, where have you been?" She asked, her voice soft and sweet. "I was worried sick about you."
"Stay out of this!" Cat barked. "This doesn't concern you!"
"Cat I know you're scared," Jam's voice took on a tone Takao hadn't heard before, was she trying to sooth the younger sibling? "Come now, let's stop this. I will forgive you."
"No!" Cat shook her head violently from left to right. "I'm not going to let this go!" She shouted raising her launcher up once again.
"Let them at it," Dunga shrugged his shoulders.
"What?" Jam turned to the blonde boy with wide eyes.
"I say let them fight. If they fight and Cat wins it'll be twice as easy to get Takao's Holy Beast from her." He explained with a smug attitude.
"What?!" The female enemy shouted, turning Dunga's way with her launcher ready for fire. "Don't underestimate me!"
"Cat this is crazy!" Rei called out to the female.
"With my modified blade I'm not crazy, I'm powerful." She let out a small chuckle. "You!" She shifted her launcher toward Dunga. "Let's go. If you're so confident."
"Come on then!" He snorted back as he lifted his own launcher into the air.
"Dunga, no!" Mariam reached out to the larger boy and touched his shoulder. "It's not worth it."
"Not worth what?" The biggest male peered over his shoulder to make eye contact with the blue-haired female.
"Remember the last time you battled with an Electric Holy Beast?" Hitting an obvious a soft spot with the tanned boy, Mariam continued, "You lost. If you lose again I don't know what will happen."
"She's right Dunga." Ozuma agreed with the girl.
Dunga let out a growl before he lowered his blade launcher. Taking in his teammates' advice, he frowned. He had failed on the pervious occasion and the odds were against him.
"No one wants to battle then?" Cat lowered her hands. "How disappointing."
"No!" Takao pushed himself forward. "You can't do this! What did you do to your Dwarf Spitz?!"
"Electric Dwarf Spitz." Cat said with a stern voice. "He's more powerful than ever before." She lifted her arms up once more. "Allow me to show you!" She then ripped the cord on her launcher, releasing her blade on to the ground.
The blade it the ground with great force and it began to spin in giant circles, leaving a deep trail in the ground. Dust and wind swirled around the blade as it spun faster and faster. Team BBA threw their arms over their faces, shielding themselves from the dust and harsh wind. Small electrical sparks flickered off the small white blade as he flew across the ground.
"This is for betraying me!" Cat shouted, her voice hardly recognizable to his ears.
"What incredible power!" Yusuf managed to shout to his teammates.
Cat let out a loud scream as she threw her head back in what seemed to be pain. She threw her hands onto her head and fell to the ground. Her knees it the dirt and she continued to scream and shout. Takao felt his arm extend toward the female, if there was only a way to reach her. A bright shining light came from Cat's blade and blinded the group for a second. It was then a loud roar shot through the air; it was the Electric Holy Beast.
Kyoujyu knelt down on one knee and unfolded his laptop. His fingers began to scatter along the keyboard as his computer picked up information on the energy surging from Cat's blade. He let out a small gasp as his computer completed its data analysis.
"The blade is responding to Cat's emotions!" He called out to the rest of the team.
"Cat!" Takao called out to female, his arm still extended toward her.
She wrapped her arms around her body. Her arms and legs appeared limp as her face became pale. Her chest lifted and fell in desperate moves to catch her breath. Her eyes darted left then right, was she trying to steady the world around her? Beads of sweat dripped down her temples and cheeks and hit the ground. The dust and wind began to settle as the blade slowly began to stop spinning.
"Greco,"
Cat twitched to the sound of Dr. B's voice coming through her communicator located in her eyepiece. Cat panted as she lifted her hand to her eyepiece in an attempt to listen clearly.
"Get out of there. Team BBA is recording your information. Don't let them get the better of you! Get out of there!"
It was then her blade stopped spinning. The blade tumbled down to one side. Crawling on her hands and knees, she approached her blade. An inch or two away from her modified blade, Cat collapsed falling on her stomach. She reached one arm outward and her middle and finger gently tapped the top of her blade.
"She's hurt!" Hiromi called out.
"I-I can't…can't…I can't breathe…" She huffed and puffed as she lay on the ground her fingers just barely able to touch her blade.
"Don't speak!" Ozuma ran toward the girl and bent down and placed one hand on her back.
He then reached under her and placed his other hand on her belly. He pushed her upward. Sitting her up right so he could clear her airway, The Saint Shield leader cradled the exhausted female. He then lifted one of her arms and wrapped it around his shoulders. Cat's chest rose up and down at a fast rate, she was gasping for air. Her face grew pale with each passing second, was she going to pass out? Acting fast, Ozuma removed her arm from over his shoulders and laid the girl down on her back.
"Cat!" Jam rushed the girl and placed her ear on her chest. "Your heart, it's beating so fast…" She lifted her head and turned to Team BBA with a look of shock on her face. "Do something!" She shouted.
"My blade…give…it to…me…" Cat whispered as she lifted her arm into the air.
Jam let out a yip and jumped to her feet. She ran toward the blade and bent down to pick it up. A small shock of electricity stunned her and caused her to retract her hand quickly. She looked at the burn on her hand and once again reached out for the blade. She plucked the small Beyblade from the floor, heat still radiating from its gears. She stood up straight and began to run back to Cat when Kyoujyu called out to her.
"Jam, no!" He stood up from his previous position. "Don't! If you give it back to her this will happen again!" He then took Jam by the arm, trying his best to hold her back.
Cat pushed herself upright and began to stand on her own two feet. Ozuma and Mariam reached out to help the girl but were quickly shooed by her flaying arms. The two ducked for cover and backed away. Jam watched as the blade begun to spin in her hand. The searing pain of the hot blade caused her to open her hand and drop the spinning top. Cat's Beyblade spun toward her and jumped into her open hand.
"I-I'm ready for pick up..." Cat spoke into her earpiece.
"Cat…" Max took a few shy steps toward the wounded female. "You don't have to do this."
"All of you…just stay away…" She managed to speak as she limped slowly away from both teams. "We're not through here, u-understand?"
"Cat, no!" Jam rose her single arm into the air.
A loud tire screech alerted the group that Cat's ride and come. Upon hearing the tire, the injured girl stood up straight and placed her hand over her chest. She then made a dash for the street. Team BBA gave chase. The team followed the young girl until she collapsed shortly before meeting the street. A slick black van twisted around the corner and came a screeching halt in front Takao's home. The door slid open to reveal a tall blond male in sunglasses. The man reached out and tugged on the girl until she picked herself up from the ground. She entered the van and the door slid closed. The car then sped off to the left and was soon out of sight.
Act End.