Bittersweet Melody

Second Arc: Act Fourteen

"She should be here any second!"

Takao rushed around his room, fixing things, picking up dirty clothes and preparing his bed. Kyoujyu, Daichi, Rei, Kai and Hiromi watched as the blue-haired teen danced about. What was with the sudden urge to perfect everything? He had been at it for at least a half hour. It was just Cat after all. Hiromi sat in a small chair with her chin rested on her palm. Kyoujyu and Rei stood beside her, both amused by his antics. Just as he finished straightening out his bed sheets, Kai plopped down on the bed, wrinkling the sheets.

"Hey!" Takao snapped at the older male. "I just fixed that!"

"Keep it down," Kai reached up with his right hand and ran his fingers through his silver hair. "It's not like Cat will know the difference if this place is clean or not, she doesn't remember how it used to look anyway."

"Shut up, Kai!" Takao rushed forward with his balled fist extended in the cold boy's direction. "That's not the point!"

"I've never seen him so intent on having his room clean." Kyoujyu replied with wonder.

"So," Rei turned to both Kyoujyu and Hiromi. "Max went to pick her up from her apartment?"

"Yes," He nodded while adjusting his glasses. "Cat insisted that Max bring her down, for whatever reason."

"That's a little strange," Hiromi lifted her head from his hand. "Since when have those two been so attached?"

"Well," Kyoujyu began after clearing his throat. "The two used to be very close three years ago. One never went anywhere without the other. They've always been close like that."

"Ah," Rei lifted his hand to his head and smiled. "That's right! I forgot about that until now. The two of them were really close, weren't they?" He giggled before looking Kyoujyu's way.

"Uh huh." He confirmed by nodding his head.

"Do you think this will help her to remember?" Hiromi asked in a soft voice. "It might be a little too much for her, don't you think?"

"Oh?" Rei cocked a brow. "How so?"

"Introducing her into a familiar place might be too much." Her eyes glanced over in Takao's direction. "Remember what Ozuma said? We shouldn't dump too much on her at one time."

"She'll be fine!" Takao barked from across the room. "You really think something like this will bother her?" He then slammed his fists to his hips. "It'll take more than that to keep her down."

"It might not even work anyway." Daichi grunted as he stretched his arms well over his head.

"What did you say?" He snapped at the younger boy.

"What makes you think it's gonna work? I mean, she doesn't remember your face what makes you believe she'll remember this house?!" The redhead shouted back at the three-time champ.

"Hey at least I'm trying!" He threw his fist into his chest.

"You just want her to remember that she loves you." Daichi teased, crossing his arms over his tiny chest.

"WHAT?!" He yelled.

Before Daichi could reply, he reached over to the small redhead and began to shove his balled fist into his head. The smaller boy let out a loud yelp and began to squirm in the larger boy's arms.

The sound of the bedroom door opening caught the group of teens off guard. The group of five peered up to see Max and Cat standing in the doorway. Cat stood to the right of Max and was wearing an orange sweater. Takao felt his heart jump that was Max's sweater! Trying his best to ignore the small change, he jumped to his feet and dashed toward the couple.

"Cat!" He said with excitement.

Cat's brows quivered and she took a single step backward. She lifted her hands in front of her chest and waved them at him. She then took a step closer to Max. She reached out to take the blond by the arm. She hid behind the American, still waving at him.

What was with that? He glared at the female then at Max. His friend released a few awkward laughs and lifted his hands up in his own defense.

Rei walked behind him and placed his hand on him left shoulder. "Relax," He whispered in his ear before turning back to the couple. "Hey Cat."

"Hello," She replied in a small voice.

"Nice to see you again." Kyoujyu said from his position beside Hiromi. "How have you been?"

She pulled her body away from Max and spoke, "I've been all right. I'm just having trouble remembering all of your names."

"It looks like you remember Max pretty well." Kai said in a sly voice from the bed.

Cat turned to look at Kai with a glare. She growled under her breath before looking away and sticking her nose into the air. So she didn't recognize him either? Eh, who would, it's not like anyone wanted to remember someone as rude as him.

"Who is he?" She asked with disgust.

"That's Kai," Takao answered. "But you know that, right?"

"No, I don't." She huffed. "Then again I might have wanted to forget a guy like that."

"Sounds pretty reasonable…" Takao cupped his hand to his mouth and whispered to Rei.

Hiromi pushed herself up from her seat and approached the confused female. She smiled at her female counterpart and placed her hand on Cat's shoulder. She flinched on contact and gave Hiromi a strange look. The two girls stared at one another for a moment before Hiromi broke her silence.

"You seem to have lost all memory of anything associated with Beyblading."

"Beyblading?" Cat asked with one brow arched. "What's that? Some kind of game?"

Takao fought the urge to grab at Cat. He wanted to shake her into remembering, if only that would work. He had tried once all ready and failed. He let his mouth hang several inches, how could all memory of her and his Beyblading career be taken away? He felt his hand reach to his shoulder. His fingers dug deep into the pocket on his jacket, where his blade waited. He wrapped his fingers around the cold metal and pulled it out into the light. Once in the daylight, the white blade shined and caused Cat to squint.

"This," Takao reached out to Cat and took her by the hand. "Is a Beyblade."

"Don't touch me!" She shouted and tried to tug her arm away from him.

"Just wait a minute!" He tightened his grip on her hand and pulled harder on her forearm. "Look at this!"

Cat whined and shook her head. With one last yank, he pulled her close to his body. He flipped her hand over, exposing her empty palm. He then stuffed his white blade into her hand.

She flinched at the sensation of the cold metal. Cat hesitated for a moment before opening her eyes to face the blade in her hands. She gazed at the blade with wide eyes. It was then that her hand containing the blade began to shake. He watched her expression with anticipation; perhaps this would help get her memory back? She stood dazed and confused. Her eyes and head darted up from the blade in her hands to the people in the room. Her eyes landed on each teen before she looked back to her hand. She gulped aloud before letting her hand fall to her side.

Takao's white blade came crashing down to the floor with an eerie thud. Cat's body began to sway back and forth and her eyes fluttered open and shut. She lifted her chin to the ceiling before shutting her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but before a single word could come off her tongue, she went crashing to the floor.

"CAT!" Hiromi screamed in shock.

Max darted to the floor and cradled Cat in his arms. He used his left hand to support her head and neck. The soft brown on her forehead parted, revealing her skin. Max lifted right palm to her forehead and felt the warmth there. No fever obviously, he then placed his two fingers on her wrist to feel her pulse.

"She just fainted." Max reassured the group of teens.

"That was too much for her, Takao!" Hiromi turned to him and hissed.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault she fainted!" He countered with anger.

"Yes it was!" She snipped. "You're pushing her too hard!"

"Great going, Takao." Daichi snickered from the back of the group.

"Quiet Daichi!"

"Stop fighting!" Rei lifted his hand to silence the three arguing teens. "It's not going to help anyone."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Kai replied from his seat on the bed.

"I suggest we let her rest on the bed until she comes to." Rei nudged his head toward his bed.

Kai let out a loud groan, lifting himself up from his sitting position. He then made a sarcastic gesture to Max to move Cat onto the bed. The blond moved to one side, allowing Rei to aid him in Cat's relocation. The two boys plucked the stunned girl up from the floor and onto the bed. Max pushed the bed's pillow under her head before stepping away from her.

"We should let her rest now." Kyoujyu replied. "And place a cool rag on her forehead. She'll come around shortly."

"I'll get the rag," Hiromi blurted out before rushing out of the bedroom.

"Let's wait for her to wake up on her own." Max said in a soft voice. "She'll be more comfortable that way."

"Good idea." Kyoujyu lifted a single finger into the air and nodded. "Let's wait in the dojo after Hiromi comes back with the rag."

"You guys do that," Takao's eyes glanced over to Cat. "It was my fault she passed out, I'll be here for her when she wakes up."

"Takao…" The American frowned. "Are you sure?"

He nodded then gave the group of males a positive thumbs-up. "I'm sure."

"All right," Kyoujyu nodded. "We'll be waiting in the dojo, come and get us when she wakes up."

"I will."

XoXoX

One full hour had passed with no news from Takao. Max and Daichi had long left the home, upon a text message from Max's Father. Kyoujyu, Rei, Kai and Hiromi sat together on the cool dojo floor waiting any news from Takao. Rei and Kai sat with their arms crossed tightly over their chests and eyes shut tight. She sat with her legs tucked under her body and fingers teasing the strings that strayed from her skirt.

"Takao sure is bent on making sure Cat's memory comes back." Kyoujyu said as he stretched his legs out in front of his small body.

"Isn't it obvious?" Rei said with a smile. "It's because he wants her to remember that confession."

Hiromi felt her stomach flip. So her worst fears were true. She shut her eyes tightly and tilted her head down to the floor; there was no way she wanted to hear more of this. But how could she fight it? She couldn't let on that she had romantic feelings for Takao. She would be the laughing stock of the group! Instead, she would remain silent.

"Really?" Kyoujyu turned to Rei. "You think so?"

"I know so." The black-haired male began to laugh between words. "He also wants her to remember everything that happened between them from the time they met to now."

"Don't we all?" Kyoujyu asked.

"Yes but there's more to it." Rei countered.

"Like what?" He tilted his head to one side.

"He loves her."

Hiromi jumped out of her state of silence to turn to Kai and gasp. Kyoujyu's mouth hung open with shock. Kai sat against the sliding dojo door that lead into the backyard. He had his eyes shut and arms still crossed over his well-built chest. She felt her heart begin to thump away in her chest.

She shifted her head forward and shut her eyes once again. Her hands gripped and clenched her delicate skirt. She wasn't hearing this, she couldn't be. There was no way that Takao could love Cat in a romantic way; it was just too strange to be true. The two were almost siblings in behavior! How could they love each other?

"That's not true!" Kyoujyu jumped up to his feet to face Kai.

"It's not?" He cocked a brow. "You explain all the strange, awkward meetings they shared. Why Takao was mad when Cat first came back. And most of all, why Takao had been acting odd after her alleged confession."

"But that's too weird!" Kyoujyu moved both hands to his head and began to tug at his hair.

"Not really," Rei replied looking Kyoujyu's way. "If you think about it, they've always been right for one another."

"But what about Max?" The computer whiz removed his hands from his head and began to wave his arms wildly in the air. "He loves Cat, doesn't he?"

"Yes," Kai answered for Rei. "But he's kinda outta luck isn't he?" He then began to chuckle under his breath.

"But," Rei replied. "Things have been switched up since Cat's accident. It seems that now Cat has feelings for Max." He closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "Don't you agree, Kai?"

Kai hesitated for a moment before answering, "I do."

"So he isn't so 'outta luck' is he?" The Mandarin disputed the Russian.

"Not unless she remembers her feelings for Takao." Kai grunted and shut his eyes.

Hiromi's body shivered in an effort to keep herself from crying. She ducked her head into her neck and squeezed harder on her skirt. How could they talk so casually about something like this? This wasn't a game, this was serious, her feelings were involved! She let out a small whimper before moving her hand to her mouth. She couldn't cry, not now, not in front of them of all people.

"And what about you?"

Hiromi flinched. The sudden heaviness of their eyes landed on her shoulders. She slowly opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder to see Kyoujyu, Rei and Kai looking straight at her. A red blush appeared on her cheeks and forced her to look in the opposite direction. Kai was calling her out, but why? Hiromi could feel the burning behind her eyes grow worse; she was ready to cry at any second. Kai called her out once again and she did her best to ignore the older male's words.

"You love Takao too, don't you?"

Hiromi felt her back straighten out. She jerked her head around to face Kai and the others. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes became glossy. She felt her hands shake under the pressure of Kai. She stuttered once or twice in an effort to combat his accusations but no words could form. She was at loss of what to think and say. It was true after all. She did love Takao, with all she had. How could she fight the truth when it was blurted out in front of her? She felt her eyes jump from Kai to Rei and Kyoujyu. The two boys were staring at her with looks of shock and wonder. So they didn't know…

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Hiromi jumped up from his seated position. "I'm going home!" She shouted before making a mad dash for the nearest exit.

She had to leave; she had to get out of that situation. What was his deal? Why could he keep his big mouth shut? It was none of his business anyway! Hiromi covered her mouth as she ran out of the house, tears now streaming down her face. She had to find a way to fall out of love with Takao…as soon as possible.

XoXoX

He watched as she tossed and turned before jerking herself awake. Her eyes fluttered open to see a white, popcorn-covered ceiling above her. She had to have felt the damp, moist lump laid over her forehead because the moment she opened her eyes, she pulled her hands over the cloth. Her fingers traced over the small terrycloth towel. She pulled the cloth from her head and let it hit the side of the bed.

Good she had finally come around. He jerked closer to her from his spot on the other side of the bed and faced her. Their eyes locked for a short moment and he felt his heart in his chest begin to pick up speed. Takao sat with his mouth open, unable to find any words to say to her.

He moved a bit closer to her to get a better look at her. He then reached his hand out toward Cat. He wanted to check her temperature for any sign of sickness. He hesitated for a moment before touching her. Why was he nervous? His gut flipped and flopped as he inched closer and closer. She flinched after his hands finally touched her forehead. No fever. Takao released a heavy sigh of relief before pulling away from Cat.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked.

"I-I'm fine!" She stuttered with fear.

"Cat," He narrowed his eyes at her, surprised that she would be fearful of him. "What's the matter?"

"You scare me…" She mumbled under her breath.

He twitched. Scared? Cat? His eyebrows dipped over his eyes and he frowned. Cat, meanwhile, moved her knees up to her chest and gripped her pants. Her eyes appeared to become glossy with tears. Was she really that scared? When, when did she become so frightened? It wasn't like her at all…

"That day you grabbed me, you scared me. I don't know you and you shook me." She ducked her head under her knees, in an effort to hide her face.

"I…" Takao began with his hand extended to her. "I just want you to remember me." He watched as Cat flinched as he moved his hand closer to her. "Everything we've been through together is gone and I just want you to remember."

"What have we been through?" No doubt Feeling interested, she lifted her head and gazed at him.

"Cat," He began to explain, "We grew up together, you're like my sister." He let his hand fall on to the bed. "You traveled all over the world with me and you were there when our team won the Beyblade Championship. Don't you remember?" He leaned in closer to her.

"No," Cat shook her head. "I don't even know what a Beyblade is." She let her knees fall down and she moved them off to the side of the bed. "All I know is that I want to sing. Singing is what makes me happy."

"Beyblading made you happy too." He muttered.

"I want to sing for the rest of my life," She continued to speak now with her head lifted. "I want to live out the rest of my life like this, I want to sing forever."

He began to grind his teeth and grip his fists. How could she? How could she leave him again? It was bad enough the first time but now she was completely gone. Now fearful of him of all things. What about him? What about his feelings?

Takao picked his head up to see Cat smiling with her eyes shut. She parted her lips and began to sing a soft melody. The hum filled the air and she allowed the wind to carry her notes. How could she remember that song but not remember him? Takao felt his arms and legs begin to tremble with anger. Now after everything had passed between them, she forgets. After she told him to forget her. How could she do this to him? To everyone? It just wasn't fair. He could feel his body losing control. He had to do something; he had to get her memory back if not for him, but for everyone else.

Mid-song, he jolted forward. He reached outward and grabbed Cat by her shoulders. He yanked her to face him and looked her straight in the eye. She yelped in fear and shut her eyes tight. He gripped her arms hard and began to shake her.

"Don't you get it?!" He shouted. "I want you to remember! I want you back! I don't want you to forget!" He then let his head fall down. "I want you to remember me. I want you to be with me." He then slowly moved his head back up to face her. He gave her a serious look that sent shivers down her spine. "I love you…"

All of his fears disappeared. It was as if his heart had stopped beating. He could feel the air in his lungs become stale. She watched as his gaze became deeper. He could feel the grip on her arms loosen. Her lips parted as if she were about to speak but before she could make any sound, Takao contracted his grip on her arms and yanked her forward.

Her face fell into his and he proceeded to press his lips against hers. Cat's eyes snapped open with shock. The feeling of her lips on his gave him goosebumps. His heart seemed to jump back to life and began to slam away in his chest. He could feel the blood rush to his face and pool at his cheeks.

She pulled her face away from his. The two unlocked from one another within an instant. He looked at her with serious eyes. He began to lean into her once more. Before he could make another move, her hand lifted. Her flat palm hit his cheek and sent his face flying to the right. Tears streamed down Cat's face as she bolted from her seat.

"Don't ever touch me again!" She screamed before running out of the bedroom door.

Takao let his head hang in the same position left after his slap. He waited for a moment or two, his cheek red with a handprint. He stared at the floor at a loss. What did he just do? What did he just say? I love you. How could he say such a thing…it wasn't true, was it?

Act End.