Authors note: This is an extended version of Tai finding out how Racer X is in The Month of June part 2.
Racer X Revealed to Tai "Hello Racer X. What brings you here?" Tai asked. "I just spoke to the race official. He says that due to lack of rooms you and I will be roommates. Is that all right?" Racer X had to be careful about his voice. Tai was Rex's best friend and could recognize his voice anywhere. "Okay. Don't worry. Your not my type." Racer X stood there motionless. "How'd you…" "My brother Rex wanted to be a detective. He taught me how to expect what some one is going to say by facial expressions. Even with your mask I can still tell." Tai opened the front hood and started tightening bolts."What's so great about this Rex?" Tai dropped his wrench.
"He was my best friend. When I "told him" he said that I could be myself around him. He taught me everything I know about driving. But then, for his birthday, I built him a car. The Inertia. He entered a race and was winning until the car crashed into a wall. I ran over to help but the car blew up. Rex's body was never found. And it was all my fault." Tai ran to his room. He got on the bed and started sobbing. Racer X went to comfort him.
"There, there. It's all right. Rex's death was not your fault. It was mine." Tai looked at X with eyes full of tears.
"What…"
"Tai, I am Rex Racer." Racer X removed his mask. Tai stared, shocked.
"You…you died in a
car accident. I saw it."
"I ejected from the car into a
secret place on the track. I needed to escape."
"But…I came out at your funeral! I thought you were dead! How could you?"
"I'm sorry. What do I have to do to make it up to you?" Tai got up.
"To make it up to me you need to DIE! You caused me so much pain!" Tai pulled back his sleeves. On Tai's wrists were cut marks.
"When I saw you with Speed you seemed happy…"
"What people appear may not be what they are. My brother Rex told me that. I'm sorry. I can't forgive you for what you've done. To me you are just another competitor."
"But we used to be friends…"
"Used to. When you died I spent the night before your funeral trying to answer Speed's question of "When's Rex coming home?" Pops told me to tell him the truth. When I did Speed ran to his room and locked his door. That night, I head him having a nightmare. He ran to Pops who told him to go to him room. I went after Speed. He sat in the Mach 5 crying. He said his nightmare wasn't a nightmare. It was your death. I got in the Mach 5 with him and held him close. I didn't cry. But I wanted to. Not only did I loose a brother, I lost my best friend. I did not cry only because of…well look." Tai pulled back his sleeves. On Tai's wrists were cut marks. Racer X gasped. Tears ran down Tai's face.
"You think that's bad? When Pops saw Speed crying, he told him to grow up and be a man. Pops didn't even shed a tear during the nights. And Mom… she stopped smiling like she used to. When I came out Pops banished me, were family now, but when Pops shouted at me in front of every one at the funeral I started to run out when Speed hooked on to my leg. He begged me not to leave. Pops pried him off and told Speed that I was nothing but trash. Pops then said that if I ever try to contact Speed ever again he'd make sure I'd hurt. I ran away before Mom could stop me. I dyed my hair and got another name. Once Pops said I could come back I changed it back. I was able to forgive Pops because those were just words. But faking your own death because of Pops words? I just can't forgive you. I will keep your secret. Only because you knew my brother." Tai walked back to the garage. Racer X sat there, pondering if he had done the right thing.