yay! :3 reviews! my response: yes yes... Tala will make up... ish... this chapter. And to ice... haha... a lemon? I wish. I can't write lemons at all . I'd have one if someone wrote one for me :D. The only person who I know personally writes REALLY good lemons... but she hates/dislikes Beyblade, so I doubt it. Volunteers?

Okay.. well, this is a short chapter. But I swear, they'll become longer. I had a crap load of exams/tests/quizzes this week, and... well... that's my excuse. Now for chapter 6!

Disclaimer: I'm lazy. Go read the ones from before, if you really want to read one.

Chapter 6

Tala couldn't help it, but stare at the door. Guilt stirred inside him. Did he do the right thing?

"Don't worry about that bastard. He deserved what he got," said Spencer, noticing his captain's turmoil.

"You did the right thing," confirmed Ian.

"And everything you said was true," finished Bryan.

Tala sat back down and looked at his food. The others continued eating. Rolling some peas around his plate, Tala rose, drawing his teammates' attention. "I'm not hungry," muttered Tala before slipping out of the room. The others frowned. They needed to do something about their redheaded friend.

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Tala wandered the hallways, lost in his thoughts. "If what I was right… if everything was true… then… why do I feel so bad?"

He stopped abruptly as he neared the door at the end of the hallway. Figuring he's lost anyways, he opens the door.

A cool gust of autumn air rushed in, ruffling his hair. He closed his eyes letting the air wash over him, and sighed. He inhaled the scent of the calm trees and late flowers. Opening his eyes again, he recognized the garden he saw from his room. Tala grinned and stepped outside. Maybe some fresh air will help clear his thoughts.

Calmly following the paths of the garden, his mind got lost in his new surroundings. The last birds of autumn chirped to one another and the few fish left in the calm water swam peacefully. Tala sat on the large flat rocks surrounding the water and watched the fish swish their tails. He pulled his legs close to his chest and hugged them, laying his head on his knees.

"Did I do the right thing? Did I really? It wasn't all true… I mean… I want to be around him. Even after what he did. Hah. I really am crazy. Why would I want to be by him if he betrayed us so many times?" A pang rang through his chest, but Tala ignored it. Instead, he closed his eyes and thought of all the experiences he shared with his friends. A warm shiver ran down his back. Tala tightened his grip and soon fell asleep.

Taking its last worried glance at Tala, the sun disappeared from the horizon. A cool breeze blew past Tala, shaking Tala from his slumber. Opening his eyes groggily, Tala realized he was still outside. Deciding to go inside to sleep, he stood up and walked towards the mansion. Walking without a sound, he noticed a slight movement by a tree and stopped. Tala narrowed his eyes: was someone following him? Tala strode quietly and casually to the tree and lent against the trunk. He sharp eyes didn't find anything in the dark. Maybe the movement was in his imagination. Maybe he was more tired than he thought. Shaking his head, he turned his head for one more look at the starry sky, when something caught his eye.

"Kai!"

Something jumped in the branches of the tree. A face looked down at Tala, glared, and looked away.

Tala bit his lip. The pain he felt before grew at the glare. Tala looked at the ground. He needed to say something, but he didn't know what. He bit his lip harder, drawing blood, and could only think of one thing to say.

"Sorry… I really didn't mean it. Before… at dinner." Tala waited, in hope of an answer. None came, so he continued. "I… I don't know what came over me. It just came out. I wasn't thinking. I really didn't mean it. Please believe me. Kai… I don't want you mad at me—"

"You don't want me to be mad at you? Is this what the great Tala has become? Some softy that hates people who are mad at him?" Tala stiffened and narrowed his eyes. This was not where he wanted to go, and he started again.

"Kai, please, don't take it that way."

"I can take it any way I please."

"Kai, I really didn't mean it. It was a spur of the moment. None of it was true! Please believe me. Kai…"

No answer came from the branches above him. Tala looked down disappointedly. Standing up, he headed back to the mansion.

"You have no idea how true it all is," whispered Kai, just loud enough for Tala to hear. Tala turned around. "It's all true," said Kai, "no one cares. They all run from me. No one cares. My family and my friends... hn… what friends? I haven't heard from them since the last tournament. They're really only my 'friends' when they need my help. My help training them. That's the only time they care about me. Otherwise I'm nothing. And you guys hate me for deserting you guys so many times: after the destroying half the abbey with Black Dranzer, after the World Championship, and when I went to BEGA after Garland injured all of you. I'm a great person, aren't I?" Kai grinned slightly, chuckling to himself. After a pause, Kai continued quietly, "I should be the one apologizing, Tala. Not you. You only told the truth."

Kai jumped down from the tree. As he passed Tala, Tala heard him murmur, "I'm sorry."

Tala swivelled around. "Kai!" but Kai had already disappeared.

:O... :O...Kai :( .

Next chapter's happier... I'll see how often I can update. I borrowed a new anime to watch so I might not update more than once this coming week, sorry. Review and I might change my mind. XD