This one's not a request either. It's just depressing. Sorry about that; I seem to be writing a lot of angst lately. There's really no reason for it, but the ideas I get. Things should start looking up soon.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade.

Enjoy!

Reluctance

It had started as a awkward relationship: blushing hugs, secret meetings, constant worry, and just the first sparks of a fiery love. It had evolved into blunt, limit-testing, fearless, unashamed, and ungovernable passion that far surpassed the more frequently seen red-orange flames to glow white-hot. All that had come to an end with many a tear spilled and a stormy night on their favorite beach.

"I'm leaving Max."

If only he'd seen through her façade. Her eyes were like fogged up windowpanes that would only allow vision into her soul if you found some way to look past them. The thing was, Max couldn't see anything through his tears.

"It's better this way."

No, it wasn't. He loved Mariam! He'd fallen head over heels for her swift comebacks, smarmy comments, sarcastic nature, and soft inner core (which she kept carefully hidden). She couldn't make him believe that this was better.

"Your mom hates me; I ruined the close bond you two used to have. I can't live with that." And it would be so much easier on him if her and Judy weren't constantly at each other's necks.

He didn't care. He couldn't make himself care. What his mom thought wasn't his problem! All he wanted was to wake up and find that this was all some twisted nightmare.

"Max, this isn't easy for me either."

It sure sounded easy. If he'd have had the strength to look her in the eyes, however, he'd know that she spoke the truth. The soul's windows had been clear for only a few seconds to reveal the torn up little girl within.

"You have to understand that I'll always love you. I love you so much that I'm willing to let you go, because it's best."

He stood with clenched fists and a drooped head. Relentless tears of anger, hurt, confusion, and sorrow flooded the freckled plains of his cheeks. It killed her to see him like that. Her life would never be the same without him, nor would his apart from her. Neither of them could go on, but they would try for the sake of one another.

"I don't want you to go, Mariam. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I love you."

The easiest thing to do right now would be to stay and not care, right along with Max. Unfortunately, Mariam had once learned that what was easiest, was hardly ever best.

"It's what's best for you." She tried to keep her voice steady.

"You don't know what's best for me," he cried through the bout of seaside wind that was being carried in with the present storm.

"You're so childish, Max." It was one of the things she loved most about him. "I wish I'd never fallen in love with you." It would make her departure so much simpler.

Those words shattered his heart. The ebbing of the sea wore away at the coastline as the words she spoke wore away at him. She couldn't mean that, could she? It just couldn't be so.

"Liar," he spat out, pitifully, lifting his face to see her reaction through his lashes.

It was hard for her to muster the strength to speak, or even acknowledge him. The battle she fought was as much with herself as it was with him. Why couldn't she make him understand that she was only doing what she believed to be best? Why couldn't she come to terms with it herself? The answer came from the deepest depths of her being; she knew it in her heart before her mind even had a notion of it.

Because it shouldn't have to be this way.

"I'm sorry, Max."

She turned her back on him that night, something he thought would never happen. He cried every tear he had and, when he ran out of tears, he sobbed pathetically as rain drenched him. When he longed for a release of negative energy he screamed a scream that couldn't be heard through the howling winds that engulfed him. It never helped.

Death would have been more sweet than separation by her hand that neither of them really wanted. It was gruesome to think that two people, who were so deeply in love, should have to separate because circumstances beyond their control made it better to be apart.

He trudged back to his house the next morning, soaked to his skin, miserable, and sick in more ways than one. He set off to practice before his parents woke up, where his team was quick to find that he wasn't the same. How could he be when part of him, the best part, was gone?

A/N: Yes, it's very depressing. I hope you liked it nonetheless. I do have a happy one for tomorrow.

Also, this would've been up earlier today, but Fanfiction was being stupid and wouldn't let me into Document Manager. Silly little Fanfiction, silly, silly.

Also, also, we've decided to breed my dog. I smell puppies!! (That was random, but puppies will make any piece of writing more cheerful.)

Review?