Chap 5 and 6 are supposed to be 1 chap, but I guess it was too long, so I cut it.

Hope you enjoy this one

--o—o--

At the airport, late afternoon,

"Sorry, but I have to go now." Max carrying his luggage, saying his goodbye to his father and Daichi.

"Promise that you kick their butts, especially Rick's ok!?!" Daichi shouted optimistically as always, knowing that Max is still the best in their place and the training they have done together.

Max smiled, "You can bet on that!" he then waves goodbye leaves to two to catch his plane.

"Hey! Say hello to your mom for me!" Mr. Mizuhara shouted.

"Sure dad!" his voice fading away.

Max conveys to his airplane while the two went home to Mr. Mizuhara's place. The plane is heading to New York were Ms. Judy's office is. And while Max excited at the same time obnoxious (thinking that Rick will be his partner again), the plane cruise quietly into the sunset.

-o-o-

Meanwhile on Ms. Judy's office, in the US

"You don't trust me and my beyblading skills, don't you?!" Emily yelling furiously, eyes glowing from anger, slamming Ms. Judy's table with her hand. "You think Max and Rick are the only beybladers good enough for you!"

Ms. Judy sitting on her chair, calmly replied, "I trust you but not your beyblading skills. And about Max and Rick, I think they're the best in our country, that's why I focus my attention only to them."

"But still! You're being unfair! Just because we lost to the Beybreakers a very long time ago doesn't mean were not capable of winning anymore! Look! Eddy already left the team and you don't give a damn about it! You didn't even restrain him to leave; you didn't even asked why he left! You don't care about anything except winning, you're son and Rick!!!" Emily shouted, and ended up breathless and almost crying.

Ms. Judy stood up, looking to her sharply but coldly,"Listen, I'll be frank. You're not that good at beyblading anymore. Most of them have improve, even Michael who always says that he'll be leaving our team someday for his baseball still tries to improve his beyblading skills, and he does. Not like you. You know a lot but can only do so little. There's nothing more of you… everybody have passed you by, Emily."

Emily was silent for a minute, and under her glasses were widened grey eyes, eyes that are crying, fogging her glasses. She was shocked for what her boss said…Everybody has passed me by?...She then went back to her senses, her anger, "Fine! If you really think I'm worthless then I QUIT!!!"

Ms. Judy's sits down and coldly answered, "That's fine with me."

"What?! You don't care?! Not only you'll loose another beyblader but also an assistant?!"

"It's alright with me, it's your choice anyway." Ms. Judy not looking at her but continuing some paper works.

Her tears stopped falling. And anger was replaced with sorrow. She wiped her tears and walked slowly out of Ms. Judy's office into the hallway, walking in despair.

She smiled as she looks at every room in the building. Saying hellos to her co-workers but not saying that she will be leaving. The last room she visited is her room. She lays on her bed for awhile staring at the ceiling…

Guess this is my last time here…

She then readies herself and packed her things.

-o-o-

It was again late afternoon when Max arrived at the airport. A bunch of reporters and beyblade fans crowd over him to welcome him and to ask for;

"Will you be champ in the nationals again?"

"What do you think about the other teams in the other countries? Do you think they're a threat, especially G-Rev and Blitzkrieg?"

"Hey! Can I have you're autograph?!"

"AAHHH!!! You're still so cute!!!"

"Who do you think you're partner will be? Would it be Rick again?"

And a lot of questions and requests storms to him, making him somewhat dizzy. He tries to escape the mad crowd but they were all over him. He smiled falsely and answered back," Sorry, but I can't answer any of you're questions—"

A man squeezed in and controls the crowd, "Sorry, you can't disturb Max right now, he just arrive and is very tired from his journey, I hope you understand that." The crowd gradually calms down, and one by one the people left except for one, It was Michael!

Max jumps for joy and run towards Michael, "Thanks! You've saved my life!"

Michael pats Max's head, "No prob, sorry if I was late. Sorry if your mom couldn't take you home. "

Max, cheerful as ever anwered "That's alright! You shouldn't have bother---Mom!!!" He saw his mom outside, waiting for him. He runs straight to his mother and hugged her tightly like a child. Even for an already grown up Max he still hugs her mother so sweetly.

She smiled at Max, "Hi, how have you been doing?"

"I'm great, Dad wants to say hi." Still hugging her mother.

After that, all of them jump in to her car and went back to her office…

-o-o-

"Well, it's about time!" Rick waiting for them at the hallway, still looking gangster and still feeling like he's cool(although he doesn't have his stereo with him).

"Mom, why is Rick also here?"

"We have something to discussed about", Max didn't asked anymore questions and the three of her beybladers follows into to her office.

-o-o-

All of sat down, the three All-Starz very quite, ready for what Ms. Judy is about to say,

Ms. Judy started her meeting, her voice professional as always, "Ok, you know why we're all here. It's about the upcoming Nationals. And of course I want all of you to make it to the Finals. It's just almost 5 days away and I want you all to be ready. We don't want to loose on any newcomers don't we. That's why the three of you won't leave this building, until I say so, to train and only to train. On the fourth day, we'll be heading to California where the tournament would be held. And we'll research you're upcoming opponents and the stadium while you still continue to train. There will be no more fun and games, even if we are in California---".

Rick wined, "That's sucks! What about all the---"

"Shut up Rick!" and Rick quickly stopped and sulked." --Max and Rick, I have already told the both of you that I want both of you to be partners in the finals that's why you have to win the tournament. As for you Michael, a want you to at least be able to go to the semifinals. I want to be the substitute beyblader for our team in the Finals." Michael sighs feeling that his boss is bringing him down, " Michael, I know what you're capable of. You're a great beyblader but I don't think you're good enough as the main beyblader when we get to fight the other countries. But if you can defeat Max or Rick in the Nationals, it would be ok for me. A slight change in plans and strategies but at least its still in our original team."

Michael made a weak smile, now knowing that at least he's still important to the team. Max

aw how his mom hurt his feelings and tries to the defend him, "Mom! Michael is a great beyblader and I think he is capable of competing with the other teams—". "Max, it's alright", Michael smiled at him,"well.. alright, if you say so… Mom! I forgot to ask! What type of match would it be?"

"It is still the same as last year, for the Nationals is individual. In the finals, it is still a tag-team although there will be three legitimate beybladers; two main beybladers and a substitute blader and I assume it will be the three of you. A coach and assistant can accompany in the bench, of course the coach will be me."

The word assistant reminds Max of Emily and he realized that he hadn't seen her, which usually is always with her mother. He asked her mother where Emily is,

"She quit." She replied coldly

"SHE WHAT!?!" Max and Michael was shocked, Rick didn't care and was still sulking.

"Didn't you hear me? I said she quit." Her face still emotionless.

"But mom?! Why didn't you stop her?! Why didn't you even told us?!" Max shouted. Michael still looking confused, "I just saw her awhile ago, and she was just fine. As if there's nothing wrong…"

"It was her decision to quit. If you want to meet her, she's still at the airport." She looks at the time. "Oh, I think her plane is leaving in about 20 mins."

Max and Michael immediately jumped to their seats, "Mom! Can we borrow your car and your driver?!"

"Sorry Max, I have other appointments to attend to before 7, you'll have to commute."

Michael drags Max, "Come on! There's still time! We could make it!" The two of them runs to the streets to wait for taxi.

Ms. Judy noticed that Rick stayed on the room, "Rick, aren't you going with them?"

Rick sneered, "Nah, she hates me anyway."

"Well, it will be the last time I'm letting any one of you out of the building."

Rick gulps, "Ok, you got me." He rapidly went out of the room to join Max and Michael.

-o-o-

At the sidewalk, Max and Michael are waiting in vain. There's no empty taxi that has passed by. Time is running out and the two boys are almost ready to give up,

"You really don't know what to do 'bout a simple problem like this." Rick was at the back of them, smirking and pompous to himself. "Come on! Follow me!". The both followed him and he runs to the nearest empty car and broke the driver's window.

"RICK! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!" Max furious and scared.

"Oh come on! I'm just borrowing it!" Then he sat on the driver's sit. "Well what are you waiting for!"

Michael and Max looked at each other knowing that what they're doing is wrong, "the hell! Let's just get in! We've already done it!" Michael jumps to the backseat. "I don't know…" Max still hesitant sits on the front seat.

BROOOM!!!

--o—o—

Oh boy, a cliffy!

Hey! That was quite..err..different.

Please review anyway!