Bittersweet Melody

First Arc: Act Seven

"You deliberately disobeyed my orders!"

Cat flinched to the sound of Gideon's bear palms hitting the cold surface of his desk. It was true, she had disobeyed his orders, she couldn't deny it but the fury that had built within her had far reached its boiling point. She couldn't hold it in any longer! She had to challenge Team BBA; she had to show them how much they had hurt her!

"I couldn't control it," Cat explained, "I had to take some kind of action."

"Greco, you know that your teammates have yet to arrive." Gideon removed his hands from the desk. "You still have a few days before you can launch an attack on Team BBA."

"I don't want to be a part of a team," She lifted her brow and frowned. "I don't need a team. I can defeat Team BBA by myself."

"By yourself eh?" He let a chuckle pass his lips. "Without your Electric Holy Beast you would be nothing."

Her back stiffened. Could that be true? No, she could do this without her Holy Beast. She looked the ground. It wasn't the blader that made her blade strong, it was some kind of artificial computer engineering and that was wrong, wasn't it? Didn't it go by everything she'd learned, everything Takao had taught her?

I'm a tool.

She lifted her clenched fist to eye-level and growled. A tool? How shameful, she couldn't go on like this, even if Team BBA had hurt her to the core.

"I don't need your Electric Holy Beast." Cat gritted her teeth in anger. "I can defeat Takao on my own."

"Believe what you want," Gideon gave the young girl a shoulder shrug before he closed his eyes. "You continue to use your Electric Holy Beast, correct? Then it must be useful."

She dropped her balled fist. He was right; she was depending on her manmade Holy Beast to defeat Takao and the rest of the team. She was no longer depending on her own strength to overcome her obstacle. What did this make of her? It made her a tool. An instrument used to serve someone else's purposes. How could she have let herself become a tool? How could she stoop so low as to let someone else use her?

Cat choked back her tears. Never once with Takao and Team BBA was she used as a tool. Never once was she looked down upon or treated differently because of who she was. But here she was being used. Could this have been a mistake, could this have been the wrong path in which she had stumbled upon due to her anger? There was no going back now, no way she could apologize enough to prove herself to Takao.

Cat turned her back to Gideon. "I need to go and rest…" She said in a soft voice.

"Go," He lifted his hand and waved it to 'shoo' her out the door.

She began to take slow steps toward the office room door. She paused for a moment as she stood before the door. She reached outward and her fingers just touched the knob. Wasn't there anyone who could help her now? Someone who could swoop in and save the day? Any savior would benefit her now. Cat shut her eyes tight, fighting back the urge to cry. She could hear her teeth grinding in her mouth.

As her fingers tapped the doorknob, a loud alarm caused her to retract her arm and look around the room. Gideon let out a loud gasp and rushed over to his computer. His fingers scattered about on the keyboard. Something was wrong, did someone kick started the alarm system? Cat let out a small grunt and her eyes darted over to Gideon.

"Someone had infiltrated the building!"

The office door slammed open, causing her to fall over on her rear. Gideon snarled at the sight of the people standing in the doorway. It took a moment or two before she could clearly make out who was standing before her. Four teens stood before her, each dressed in strange cloaks. One of the shorter members bent down to her and offered her his hand. What the heck? Her eyes grew as her eyes focused on the male's face. It was the same boy for earlier in the day.

"You!"

"No time to talk," The boy reached down and pulled the girl off the floor. "Come with us."

Cat gave a short small head nod and leaped up on her feet. The four teens surrounded her as a barrier of protection. The five teens then ran off down the hall, leaving Gideon in shock.

"Get them!" He shouted over his P.A. system.

The team's feet create aloud set of footsteps as they charged down the long lab hallway. Two men stood at the end of the hall, in an effort to prevent the team for leaving the building. The tallest member of the group ripped out a Beyblade launcher. He launched his swift blade at the two men. The two large men hunched over, ready for any attack aimed their way.

Much to their surprise the blade came to a halt feet before away from the men and began to spin very fast. The quick rotation of the blade caused a large amount of dust and smoke to fly into the air, blinding the two men. They hacked and coughed until the dust and smoke settled. In the midst of the large smokescreen distraction, the group of hooded teens dragged her away and out of the building.

How many times was she going to be kidnapped in one week?

XoXoX

Sunset. The sun was beginning to fall at Takao's house and the whole team sat around together, stunned at what had happened earlier in the day. Why and how this could have happened? What had possessed this girl to go from friend to foe within a day? It seemed crazy. Takao felt himself at an utter loss for words. What could he say? He couldn't have upset the girl that much…could he?

"This is all of your fault, Takao!"

He grunted. Hiromi had gone on an 'accusing spree'. How could Cat's actions be a result of what he did? He didn't force her to join with Team Phykick. He sat inside of the dojo and threw his arms up over his head. He then let out a loud sigh before falling on his back. Could she be right? But he was only trying to do what was in the best interest of the team. He didn't mean to cause anyone hurt or harm. He just wanted to be at his best for the upcoming battles he was soon to face.

"It'll be all right." Max spoke out to the group.

"How could this be all right?" Takao snapped at the blond, causing him to lower his head.

"I know," He replied in a low tone. "I know that she'll turn around."

"It's not like Cat to do this," Rei added. "We must have really hurt her feelings."

"We?" Kyoujyu looked at Rei with confusion on his face.

"Yeah!" Hiromi shook her fist at the black-haired boy. "Takao was the one who said those mean things!"

"But none of us stuck up for her either." Rei answered in dull, mild voice.

They were all speechless; no doubt the blame game had consumed each and every one of them. Who did this, who didn't do that; he was sure that his team was questioning every little thing they said or didn't say. And in the center of it all? There he was, this was his fault. But he had good reason…or so he once thought. All the arguments they had before this point now seemed so silly and unimportant. Why did this have to happen? Why did they both have to be so stubborn? Takao found himself clenching his fists in anger. What could he do now?

"It doesn't matter anyhow." The group turned to see Kai leaned against the dojo wall.

"What?" Takao jumped up into a seated position. "What did you say?"

"She's a distraction." Kai mumbled, now catching Max and Rei's attention. "All she does is cause meaningless drama."

"That's not true!" Max shouted.

"Then what are we doing now?" The older team member turned to the blond with a serious look on his face. "Instead of improving our skills, we're stuck here dealing with her drama."

He had just about enough. He balled up his right fist and slammed it on the ground. The whole team turned to see an angry expression stuck on his face. This was stupid, this was drama, this was meaningless but…he had caused it. He was not free of guilt here; he had involved himself in drama and for what? He wasn't sure anymore.

XoXoX

Night had fallen on the quiet town. The cool breeze entered the empty warehouse through its broken windows and floorboards. In the dimly lit room Cat sat on the cold ground her face buried deep in her knees. Tears poured out of her eyes and stained her Team Phykick uniform. The four-cloaked teens stood around her, watching her sob.

"Stop crying."

Her ears twitched to the sound of a male voice. She lifted her head a small amount to see a short boy standing before her. He had pushed back his hood to reveal his face. It was the boy from earlier in the day. She paused for a moment before sniffling and let out more tears. She threw her face back into her knees and began to cry louder.

"Didn't you hear him?! Stop your crying!" The tallest member of the team shook his clenched fist at the crying girl.

"Dunga, shut up." The female of the team pushed the taller male aside and knelt down in front of her. "Are you all right?" She asked in a soft voice.

"NO!" She screamed, causing the female to back away.

"Cat Greco," The team leader approached the sobbing girl. "Stop crying."

Cat lifted her face off her knees and glared at the strange boy. The boy cocked a brow as the tears slid down her cheeks. What was this guy's problem? Couldn't he see that she was crying?!

"Who are you supposed to be anyway?" Cat managed to speak. "You're those thieves Takao was talking about, aren't you?"

"We are The Saint Shields." The boy explained. "I'm Ozuma."

"I don't care!" Cat threw her head back and began to cry once again.

"But you just asked-" The youngest boy paused after seeing the blue-haired girl shake her head at him.

The female once again bent down toward the girl, this time placing her delicate hand on Cat's back. She then began to rub her hand on her back. Cat looked up at the female to see that she was smiling at her. What captivating eyes. She stared into her green eyes with wonderment. The female let out a small chuckle after seeing that the singer had stopped her crying.

"I'm Mariam," She said with a sweet tone. "That's my little brother, Yusuf." Mariam explained as she tilted her head in the shorter man's direction. "And that is Dunga over there."

Her eyes perked to see the tallest and biggest member with his arms crossed over his chest. She then looked back at Ozuma, no doubt her eyes still red from the tears she had shed. The leader shook his head slowly, right then left. Was he mad?

Ugh, what a sight this was! Cat Greco the famous recording artist, sitting in an abandoned warehouse crying her eyes out. This would not be a moment she would be proud of. This would forever go down her lamest hour! How could she do this to the team she once called her own?

Ozuma let out a loud sigh and took a few steps toward the girl. He reached down and tugged on her arm. Her mouth opened as she let the boy pull her arm toward his body. Ozuma opened her hand and placed a small blade in her open palm.

"My Dwarf Spitz!" Cat exclaimed.

"Yusuf managed to get it before the alarm sounded." He said as he closed the girl's hand and pushed her arm back toward her chest. "Now, pull yourself together."

Dunga turned around to face the rest of the group, a silly grin on his face. "Yeah because you sound like an animal when you cry."

Cat felt another stream of tears leak down her face. Was she crying again? She lifted her hands to her cheeks and wiped away the moisture on her cheeks. Dunga threw his arms up into the air upon seeing her cry once again. Why wouldn't the tears stop? Why couldn't she just pull herself together and be strong, like Takao?

"What are you going to do?" Ozuma asked the girl.

She paused for a moment; her glassy eyes peered up at the team's captain. What could she do? Return to her life as a celebrity and forget this ever happened? It was impossible to do that now. She had hurt her only friends and betrayed their trust. How could she show her sorry face in front of them ever again? Guilt consumed her and she tightened her grip on her Beyblade to suppress more tears from falling down her face.

"Well?"

She continued to stare at Ozuma. He had a stern, serious look on his face.

What would you do, Ozuma?

Cat's eyes hit the ground. What would he do? Cry? Scream? No. She bit down on her lower lip. Takao…he wouldn't do those things. He wouldn't sit on the floor, throwing a fit he would get back up and fight, right?

"First," The team's ears perked to the sound of Cat's voice. "I think I should get up on my own two feet."

The team leader stretched his arm out. "Here,"

Cat complimented Ozuma and took his hand. He managed to crack a smile as he pulled the girl up on her feet. Mariam followed and stood up beside the couple. Cat turned to the other female and opened her arms. The strange female blinked in confusion. Cat then walked toward her and wrapped both arms around her body. A bright red flush came across her face as the singer nuzzled her face on her shoulder. Mariam let out a small chuckle before loosely placing her arms around her.

"Thank you," She whispered in Mariam's ear.

"And what's next?" Ozuma spoke as the two females broke away from each other.

"A change of clothes, I think…" She mumbled, looking down at her Team Phykick uniform.

"Sounds like a good idea." Yusuf said, stepping forward.

"You made a mistake," Ozuma spoke in a soft tone. "Everyone makes mistakes. If they can't understand that, then there isn't anything you can do."

She gazed down at her outfit. Team Phykick…had she really joined forces with them, however brief it was? Cat reached up, her fingers touching her eyepiece. She had joined with them. She had made it her mission to steal their Holy Beasts. How could she?

Forgiveness sounded like heaven. She ripped the eyepiece from her face and threw it to the ground. More tears trickled out of her eyes as she proceeded to stop on the device. The eyepiece shattered into bits on the floor with a loud crash.

"Stop crying," Ozuma repeated himself.

Cat closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She paused for a moment or two before reopening her eyes and looking at Ozuma. She gave the smaller boy a firm nod of her head. She then lifted her right and left arms and began to wipe away the tears from her face.

Ozuma…he wasn't such a bad guy. Cat looked at the boy for a moment or two more. This Ozuma, The Saint Shields…were they really out to get Takao and Team BBA? How could that be? She smiled to herself; there was more to this boy and his team. Perhaps they had good intentions.

"Ozuma," She spoke with sympathy in her voice. "I'm sorry I caused you and your team so much trouble."

Dunga threw up his arms into the air. "Just GO already!"

"You should get going," Ozuma agreed with his older teammate. "Your sister is worried."

She nodded once more, "Right."

Act End.