Yay! Here's the next chapter!

I don't really have a passion for anything now. Nothing. I feel so drained these days… So lifeless and tired. Like I'm done for. Nothing to live for. But then… I'd be letting all these people down. All these doctors and researchers. My family, my friends. Everyone. It'd be world-wide news, my death. There wouldn't be a person who wouldn't know about it. Oh, wait. There'd be me. 'Cause I'd be dead and no longer conscience of anything. People who I used to hang out with would laugh and talk about all the fun times we had together. People who hated and despised me would feel guilt and regret. Or would they?

One thing's for certain. I'd be gone. Deceased. No longer to live under the constant fear of what would happen after. No more pain. No more nothing. I'd be finally free from everything. All the stress and agony. Everything.

But is that what I really want? Do I really want to end my life this way? As a depressed teenage-angst kid who decided he'd do nothing but mope and cry over his miserable situation for the last remaining moments of his life? Yeah, right. Ask my friends. Ask anybody. They'll all tell you something different. I'm stronger than that. And I'm going to accomplish something before I leave. I'm going to become more than a famous beyblader. I'm going to become a legend.

"So…" Tala came over and sat down across from Max. "How exactly did Kai find out?"

"Before that, what do you know about me?" Max looked away from Tala and watched the events going on in the television. The fight between Rei and Lee was intense, but it felt far away and distant to him.

Tala smirked. He wasn't going to be fooled that easily. If anything, he learned through experience to keep the other thinking that he knew everything. Don't tell anything specific. Just enough to have the other assume you know everything about them. And… You could pretty much rely upon Kai to know the whole truth.

"It doesn't matter what I know," Tala slightly frowned "I just want to learn how Kai found out."

"Who cares about that," Kai stood at the doorway, Spencer behind him.

"Kai…" Max started. Kai held his hand up and silenced him.

"Just tell him, Max. He's not one to go babbling."

Tala folded his arms and looked towards Max with interest. What was going on in here?

Max gulped then slowly turned his head to look at both Kai and Tala. Was he one to trust? Could he trust him?

"I'm sick."

Tala waited. Sensing no further elaboration from Max, he sighed and stood up. "Alright. I understand. You can stay for the time being. Just try not to run into other people."

The three turned and exited the room, once more leaving Max alone. He sat in silence, the cheers on the television slowly bringing him back to reality. He turned the television onto mute and began to cry silently.

"TALA, YOU BASTARD!!!" Rick yelled out as he reared his arm back and punched the unsuspecting captain across the face. Immediately, the muscles in Spencer's body tightened as Bryan got ready to fight back. Wiping the small trickle of blood from his mouth, Tala slowly lifted his face to look Rick in the eyes.

"That's for beating me up in the locker room," Rick sneered arrogantly.

"Rick… What are you talking about? He beat you up? For what?" Emily rushed to her teammate's side. "Did you do anything to offend him?"

He laughed. "Yeah, right… I was only talking to M-"

But he never got to finish his sentence. Eyes flashing, Tala quickly acted. Seconds later, Rick was roaring curses at the silhouettes of the Blitzkrieg Boys as Emily looked at him curiously.

"Rick, shut up. What were you about to say just now?" Emily shook Rick in an attempt to snap him out of his fit. He shoved her hands off of him and pointed a trembling finger at Tala.

"That, that, that KID just knocked me down! ROARRRRR!!!!" He stood up roughly and chased after the Blitzkrieg Boys, leaving a small trail of dust behind.

Emily shook her head and went over to greet the other teams. Rick could chase after the Boys and seek revenge as much as he wanted, but she knew that he'd come back whimpering sooner or later. Tala wasn't invincible… But Rick just didn't know how to hold his ground and chose the correct timing. He was just… He only knew how to bad-mouth.

Tyson grinned as the bus met another bump in the road. They had made another victory and it would be just one more week until the final battle. Max was pretty cheerful today as well. It seemed as if inviting him to a day at the tournament did him some good. Plus, no media or crazy fans asking outrageous questions about Max. He grinned and it passed on to the others in the bus.

As they made their way back towards BBA building, Tyson's grin gradually faded. A bunch of press people were already surrounding the building with cameras already set up. He looked back towards Max, who stared back in horror.

The bus pulled up to the entrance and opened its doors. Instantly, microphones were jammed into the doorway as journalists pelted out questions. Camera lights flashed and people were pressed against the window.

"Hey!" One distinct voice yelled out from among the crowd, "Isn't that Max Tate?"

Yeah... So I felt a bit guilty for not updating in so long so... Hope everyone enjoyed it!

I think that this one was kinda hard for me to type up. I really didn't like it so I had to keep on retyping it. And I just realized how terribly out of character they all are. Well! As long as everyone enjoyed it!