I don't own Beyblade or any of the characters. If I did, why the hell would I be writing a fanfic?

I'm sorry for the short chapter. It was originally longer, but then I added to it and decided to split it in half. The second chapter is even shorter, so I apologize in advance for it, but…you'll see why I did that. Believe me; it's less dense and easier to understand this way. Anyways, thanks to all my reviewers. This is the most reviews I've ever gotten for one story…I broke 100 reviews! Woohoo!!. You guys are the greatest!

Last Chapter:

They walked back to the complex in silence. Rei spoke up suddenly. "Sorry to end this on such a dismal note...I've just got a lot on my mind". Bryan shrugged. "It's alright. I'm used to fits of brooding". Tala had often gone silent and morose for hours on end. At least Rei acknowledged him through his thoughts.

"Give me a call whenever you sort out your thoughts, okay?", he asked. Rei looked upset, and he knew he was making it worse by sounding bitter, though he didn't mean to.

"Alright", replied Rei, squeezing Bryan's hand loosely before dropping it. "Night". "Night", replied Bryan, waiting until Rei's back disappeared to continue to his gate. I hope you find out what's bothering you soon, because I think I'm beginning to get used to your company.

Rei plopped down on his bed, angry at himself. I don't even know if I really like Bryan!, he thought, knowing that he had already hurt Bryan's feelings tonight. Why won't Kai just stay out of my head!?.

Why won't Rei just stay out of my head!?, thought Kai, frustrated. This whole 'situation' was grinding his nerves into nothing. He *hated* being so confused. Tala was being hurt because of his aloofness, and he was being unnecessarily rude to both Bryan and Rei because of it.

The next week was tense. Rei avoided Bryan and Kai at all costs, and Bryan was getting understandably upset. Kai didn't even notice, too busy trying to avoid Tala and Rei. Tala was upset, but knew that he wasn't the one who would be able to sort things out. Something was up with both Rei and Kai and Bryan and him.

Then he paused. Well, at least I can take care of that last problem. He headed up to Bryan's room for a well-overdue talk. Maybe he could at least start to settle this whole ordeal.

Unexpected

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Tala walked up to Bryan's room and knocked. "Go away", snapped Bryan's voice from inside. "Can't make me", replied Tala. "What do you want?", asked Bryan. "Talk", answered the red-headed blader. There was a pause, then..."Come in".

Bryan was lying back on his bed, tossing darts at a board across the room. Each one hit the bull's eye and knocked the previous dart down. "Nice to know that you haven't gotten rusty", said Tala. "What's that supposed to mean?", questioned Bryan. "Well, you're out almost every night with Kon", blurted out Tala, before cursing himself. That was *not* the way he had wanted to start things off.

Bryan glared at him. "I haven't seen Rei in a week, and even so, that has nothing to do with this, Tala", he said testily.

Tala held his hands up in surrender. "I didn't mean to say that", he said. "But you were thinking it", said Bryan, tilting his head as he scrutinized Tala.

"...Maybe", said Tala. "But that's not what I was here to talk about". "Whatever we have to talk about will inevitably lead up to Rei or Kai", said Bryan. "What's your problem with Rei anyways? He and Kai aren't dating anymore, so you shouldn't be so pissed with him".

Tala frowned. "I don't know", he admitted, sitting on a nearby chair. "I don't know why I feel so...angry at him".

"Are you jealous?", asked Bryan finally. "Of what?", asked Tala. "Of the fact that Rei had Kai first? Or that Rei's with me now?", asked Bryan, sounding wise beyond their years. Of course, that's what happened at the Abbey. It made you older than you should, stole away your childhood. And…that was it.

"Maybe it's because...he hasn't been through what we have. You, Kai, Spencer, Ian, me", Tala said finally. "We've been through hell and back. You don't make much of it, but you used to have nightmares all the time. I guess it's because he has no clue. He's...naive".

Bryan laughed. "Don't make him out to be like the rest of his team, Tala", he said. "Rei is far wiser than he lets on. Didn't you put up a mask during the World Championships so no one would suspect that you didn't want to win? Didn't Kai put on his high-and-mighty facade every day so he didn't have to get close to his team? Rei's mask is the same, but it's harder to see. He hides his experiences through laughter and reserved behavior".

He paused for a moment, speculating, then said, "He told me his life wasn't all that bad, but...I know he's lying. I know he's seen a lot more than he told me, but it's okay, because I've been through more than what I told him. But I wouldn't call him naive now that I know him better".

Tala took this in mind, and nodded. "Other than that, I don't know what it could be", he said, shrugging helplessly. "I know that he doesn't like Kai...sometimes it seems like Kai still likes him, and I feel like...".

"You feel like he doesn't deserve all that he has. He had Kai, and I'll admit that I like him, and you were with me and want Kai", said Bryan, finally figuring out Tala's odd behavior of the past few weeks. "But honestly, Tala, that's no way to think. You know better than to be jealous. Rei's worked for what he has too, even if it's in a different way. You can't blame people for having easier lives than we did. You know if you do that you'd have to blame Kai too, because his lineage and his wealth got him out of a lot of shit that we couldn't. You can't pick one person of a group to focus on, and you can't use that as an excuse to hate Rei".

That was probably the most he'd said...well, ever. Tala let this sink in, and he knew Bryan was right. He had been angry at Rei because he'd had a relatively easy life and didn't have to work to get what he wanted, be it Kai or now Bryan...or so he had thought...and he disguised it as dislike for the other blader's naivete and inexperience in life, which truthfully didn't exist.

Bryan watched Tala process his words. He's still computer-like even if he isn't wired up anymore, he thought, as Tala gained a look of understanding. The redhead was a quick and logical thinker, so Bryan wasn't surprised when Tala smiled slightly and said "Thanks".

Bryan shook his head. "Don't worry about it", he said. "So why haven't you and Rei gotten together lately?", asked Tala, over his jealousy and now curious. "I have no idea. Something's been bothering him lately, and I don't know what", said Bryan, now sounding worried. "He avoids me and he always seems to be pensive. It was after we went cloud-watching, he just started thinking, and he was like that all the way back".

Tala smirked slightly. "You went cloud-watching?", he asked. Bryan glowered at him. "Not the point, Tala". "Right...well, he'll have to come to you", said Tala thoughtfully. "I mean, if you don't know what's wrong, you can't fix it, so you'll have to have patience".

Bryan frowned. "I don't like waiting", he said. Tala laughed. "Same old you", he said, getting up. "In any case, I've got to get back to training. Let me know when Rei sorts his head out. When he does, I get the feeling that I'll be able to talk to Kai about us". He walked out, leaving Bryan to gaze at his ceiling.

As always, review and let me know what you think! The next chapter should be up fairly soon, as soon as I get time to edit it. Until then, farewell!