Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only character I own is Marina as she's my OC. Any other references I make are purely coincidental.

Note: Any sentence in brackets indicates Russian speaking.

Chapter 17: Friendly Meeting?

The teams finally united and everyone getting on okay should have meant things were perfect, but they weren't. Tala was still having mental trouble and the two teams just didn't know what to do.

"I want to help Tala, but I don't know how. I can't talk to him, I can't battle him. I feel helpless." said Marina to herself while she was pacing around the room she was using in Tyson's house.

She sat on the bed when she heard the normal yell that meant Tyson was ready to eat.

"Nothing bothers him." she said to herself almost smiling.

She left the room to join the others for lunch, only to find that Tyson, Max and Kenny were the only ones present.

"Where are my team-mates, plus Kai and Ray?" she asked.

"Couldn't say please could you? You've been with Tala and his team too long." said Tyson.

"Sorry." she apologised.

"Don't mind him. You have a lot on your mind." said Kenny. "They're out the back somewhere."

"Thanks." she said and walked outside.

Kai was training with Ray and Spencer was training with Ian. Bryan was sitting by the pond flicking stones in it. Marina walked over to him.

"You okay, Bryan?" she asked politely.

"You've barely slept, Marina. Go and get some rest." he answered.

"I'm fine, Bryan. I was making sure that Tala leaving hasn't affected you too much. You were his best friend. Maybe even more so than Kai."

He stood up and faced her.

"Marina, for the last time, I'm all right and I don't need you to interfere."

Marina was surprised at what he said, but knew nothing less could come out his mouth so she started to walk away.

"Marina, if you really love Tala, you'll give him up." he called after her.

"What kind of logic is that? I thought you were one of the smarter bladers." she said back.

"(Marina, if Tala truly loved you, he wouldn't have lost control and hurt you.)" answered Bryan in Russian.

"(Bryan, we all know emotions are not that easy. Those scientists really did a number on you if you have forgotten that.)" Marina shouted back, also in Russian.

The others came over as they heard the Russian shouting match.

"(Marina, listen to me. I have known Tala much longer than you. This is not something that can be reversed.)" said Bryan.

"(I think it can, and I won't give up.)" she answered desperately.

"What are they saying?" asked Tyson to Kai.

Kai ignored him and continued listening to the argument. Spencer and Ian were also listening since they understood Russian. Bryan and Marina were speaking too fast for Kenny while the others didn't have a clue.

"(I have not forgotten about emotions, Marina, but I don't want any of us to have false hope for Tala.)" argued back Bryan.

"(If you have given up on him already, then you are not much of a friend for him.)" Marina yelled back.

Bryan stormed away and vaulted over the wall. Marina stood there, upset.

"It will be all right, Marina. Just give Bryan some time." said Ian walking over.

"What just happened? Someone please explain." said Tyson.

Kai grabbed Tyson and dragged him out of the way.

"What are you doing? This sucks, you always do this." complained Tyson until Kai let him go.

"I wanted to leave Marina alone and I know you can't keep your big mouth shut." said Kai.

As he walked away, Tyson crossed his arms and frowned at him behind his back.

Quite far from Tyson's house, Bryan was walking through a clearing of trees. He was clearly affected by the argument he had with Marina.

"I didn't want to end up in that argument. We both went too far." he said to himself even though he didn't like admitting it.

He walked a little further until he saw a shadow on the ground and looked up. Sitting in a tree was Tala.

"Tala? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." said Tala jumping down.

"Clearing my thoughts. Are you doing that?"

"Not exactly, but I wouldn't mind honing my skills right now." he said putting his blade in his launcher.

"You want to beybattle? Fine, but I don't go easy on old friends." said Bryan putting his blade into his launcher.

"Okay, then. Let it rip!" said Tala and both blades were released.

"Falborg, don't show any mercy." ordered Bryan of his falcon bit beast.

Falborg appeared and took any chance it had of striking Tala's blade.

"You don't stand a chance against me and you never have." said Tala as he defended against Bryan's attacks.

"Stroblitz!" shouted Bryan and the wind started to blow around them.

A beam went towards Tala's blade, but it avoided, so the ground split.

"Wolborg, attack!" and the wolf bit beast came out and struck Falborg.

Bryan kept attacking, but he was going nowhere fast.

"Wolborg, Novae Rog!" Tala's attack had been upgraded and icicles appeared around the dish, one actually stabbed Bryan in the arm making him cry out in pain.

"And I thought I was a brutal player." said Bryan as blood poured from the wound.

Tala called his blade back, ending the match.

"I didn't want to do that, but seeing as I did, the least I can do is let you go to get healed." he said and walked away before Bryan could answer.

Finally, Bryan returned to Tyson's house. Marina saw him first.

"Bryan? What happened to you?" she asked.

"Tala." he answered and collapsed.

Later, in hospital, with the wound stitched and bandaged, Bryan was looking better, yet annoyed being in hospital.

"I hate these places." he said.

"Don't blame you." said Ian, and Spencer nodded. Kai was standing not far away and Marina was next to him.

"Why did Tala attack you? He had no reason to." asked Marina suddenly.

"He got into a battle for a simple reason, to practice, but I don't think he meant to hurt me. You were right, Marina, he was out of control, but the old Tala is there." he said.

"I will bring him back. We need to find him. I'm ready." and the others looked at her, wondering if she could handle Tala.