RTC: Hello everyone! I have a bit of bad news about this chapter: it's another filler type chapter, and just would not come out as I'd planned! Grr! I'm so mad, and sorry!

Kai: Now what have we told you about rambling? You do realize most people don't read this anyway.

RTC: Fine, do the disclaimer. I'm too annoyed with this to bother.

Ray: Ray-Tiger-Cat still does not own Beyblade.

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Reunion

"Max! Over here!" Hiro's voice could barely be heard over the noise in the busy airport. Max looked over and quickly spotted Hiro, Tyson and their grandpa waving frantically at them.

"Hi guys!" Max said awkwardly. It was strange seeing Tyson after so many months apart. It wasn't like this before, Max thought sadly; when Kai was still alive, a few months apart seemed like a few days; we were never awkward around each other. "So where is everyone?"

"Ray and his family arrived late last night, so they're at the hotel, probably asleep," Tyson replied.

"And it's a good thing you weren't here for the reunion," Grandpa Granger interjected, making a kissing face, "I thought those two were never going to come up for air!" At this, Hiro turned red and Tyson looked away.

"Anyhow, I don't think Tala or Kari are coming... Not that I blame them! Daichi said he'll be in later this week," Tyson continued, to cover up the silence. "So, how are you doing? How's New York?"

"I'm fine... Or as fine as anybody can be under the circumstances," Max sighed, "You?"

"I have to agree with you there, Buddy. It's been tough."

"Can we talk later?" Max asked, feeling bad for having brought it up.

"Sure," Tyson replied, feeling more relived than he had been in a long time.

"Hello Diana. Can we please talk to Ray?" Tyson asked later in the day. Grandpa Granger had gone home and Hiro had gone to Mary Anne's room. Meanwhile, Tyson had dragged Max along with him to see Ray.

"Sure, come in," she replied, ushering them into the main room of the hotel. "Ray! Your friends are here!"

"I'll be there in a minute!" he shouted back.

"Hi," another voice said. A little head popped out from the doorway.

"Is that you, Lynn?" Max asked and she nodded in reply. "Wow, you've grown!" Max heard himself say. It was like he was on autopilot; he was making small talk to cover up his fear of being with his friends.

"Lynn, come here!" Lizzie emerged, with Ray right on her heels. "We'd better let them talk, okay? Sorry guys! I'll see you all later."

"Okay," the child said agreeably.

"So, how are you?" Ray shifted uncomfortably.

"We're okay," Max replied, continuing his facade.

"That's good." More silence followed. 'Is this really my team?' Ray wondered. We could never shut up before and now it's all we can do to avoid the awkward silences. "Hey, if it's okay with you guys, maybe we should just not talk about it."

"Works for me," Tyson answered and Max nodded in agreement. After that admission, things went considerably smoother, but we they really doing themselves a favour by not talking about it, or would this decision come back to haunt them?

"Here comes the bride," Daichi started singing, "Fair-" He couldn't continue as Tyson had slapped his hand over his mouth. Yes, the day of the wedding had finally arrived, and Hiro was both elated and disappointed.

Well, I do get to marry the girl of my dreams, he told himself, but it seems that my brother and his team are no closer to working out their problems. After some cursing under his breath about the pains of being the older sibling and how unbelievingly annoying his brother was, he decided to intervene in said problems. "Tyson, now I know this is not really any of my business, but why can't you and your friends just talk things through?" he asked after sitting Tyson down alone.

"You wouldn't understand it, Big Bro. And I'm not just saying that to sass you. You spent most of your life studying or traveling, but you never had really close friends. When one of them goes away, it's really devastating," Tyson said, sounding very un-Tyson-ish.

"Yes, the first part is true, but it's partly because I didn't get that experience that I want you to have it. I want you to have close friends. Maybe I was wrong to push you all into this and I can see that it hasn't really worked, but at least I tried. You need to make and effort. Maybe it's too soon..."

"Hiro, come on, we're about to start!" someone called and they were forced to end their discussion. 'I'll talk to you later,' mouthed Hiro and he left the room.

Tyson watched the ceremony in a daze. Was what Hiro said true? Am I really not trying hard enough? Well, I'll probably be seeing my friends again in a few months, it can wait until then.

How much more of this pretending must I do? Max was also lost in a world of thought. I can't wait to get back to New York! There's nothing I can do.

Ray wasn't really observing anything during the whole ceremony, which was quite unlike him. He found it much easier not to think about 'the incident' in public, so that he couldn't lose it in front of his friends. They did not need to see him break down.

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RTC: Well, this chapter focused mostly on the three guys (Ray, Max and Tyson) and their internal battles. They're starting to work things out for themselves, but don't know how to work as a team again because leadership was Kai's thing. Hopefully the next chapter will be better? I'll try you guys, I promise! I guess it didn't help that I was time-pressed. I have big plans for this fic and I have actually figured out how the plot will go, so things will get easier! Please review and tell me what you thought, what you'd like to see etc! Bye!