Summary: Mariam is considered 'rebellious' but Mariam herself considers it thinking for herself, which everyone says otherwise. What'll happen when someone finally takes her side?

Disclaimer: I don't own any shows whatsoever.

Yeah, we're still in Ozuma's flashback, but I'll try to wrap it up here.

Y'know… I just realized that I've been calling the neko-jin blader 'Rei' instead of 'Ray' … crap… boy, I'm an idiot…

Do I update too fast? 'Cause I'm not sure if I'm letting you guys let what happened sink in... just wondering. :)

Chp. 9 is done, but I'm gonna wait a bit before I put it up. So please review!

Ozuma nodded. "I see." In his mind, Ozuma felt that he was…losing in some way. He didn't really know what he was losing, but he felt that he was losing something.

And he knew it wasn't his sanity, because he felt that he was already getting it back, because of Kai.

Ozuma looked up at the Russian smirking down at him.

Maybe he could…finally trust someone. But why someone like Kai? He didn't even know…

Ozuma and Kai stood there for a while.

Kai, of all people, why'd he have to be the one to open Ozuma up and make him feel like…he wasn't crazy, and that everything'd be alright? Ozuma hit himself in his mind.

"C'mon!" Kai yelled suddenly, bringing Ozuma back to his senses. The emerald-eyed boy looked startled. He hung his head and closed his eyes.

None of this was happening… Ozuma so wanted that to be true. It wouldn't affect him; it'd just flow right past him. No matter what happened. Whether Mariam still liked him or not, he couldn't let it affect him, he couldn't let it hurt him.

"Wh---" Ozuma started at Kai.

The slate-haired boy shook his head. "There's no time to waste asking why, Ozuma." He replied plainly, "Just come on."

Ozuma felt he had no choice, and ran alongside Kai, to wherever Kai was leading him to. Where the hell…? Ozuma asked, and then gaped when Kai stopped. Back to the park?

"If this is what's bothering you, you have to let it go." Kai explained, nodding a head to Max and Mariam.

Let go…of Mariam? But…she was his pride. And he had to let it go?

"Why?" he whispered.

Again, he closed his eyes, thinking of what Kai meant about Mariam. She was always there…so what? And he fell into her eyes.

Ever since then…she had been 'his', but he didn't like the possessive stuff. Why didn't Mariam say anything? Why didn't she say anything about Max?

He opened his eyes and looked at them. He felt he didn't need to figure this out anymore…he didn't want to look back anymore.

Kai seemed shocked when Ozuma just went up to them. He saw Mariam's eyes widen in shock, and her mouth fall open a bit. She looked pale when Ozuma left them. Max was just looking at her.

He did it… Kai concluded. Ozuma went back to Kai, and then put something in his hand before walking off without a word.

Kai opened his hand. "Dragoon…"

End of Flashback

Joseph stared at Ozuma who had the slightest hint of tears lingering in his eyes.

"Ozuma…?" the boy asked softly.

Ozuma shook his head and looked down. "I don't expect you to change what happened, Joseph. It was the only thing to do…"

"Ozuma…" Joseph said gingerly.

"Please…" Ozuma begged lightly, "Just…get out of my room."

Joseph was in awe of how Ozuma was acting. But he nodded; mouth opened a bit, and walked out, closing the door lightly.

His sister crushed him…and she didn't even know it.

Kai closed his eyes, folding his arms over his chest. Mariam just looked at him.

"You all right?" she asked him. Kai said nothing. "C'mon, Kai, don't act like this just because I took Dranzer." She smirked. Still no response. "Kai, don't be a little child."

Kai turned his head away from her. He had helped Ozuma for the wrong reason, and now he had to deal with the girl.

"Don't call me that again." He warned sharply, then walked off, putting his hands back down by his sides.

Mariam looked at his departing figure. Why the sudden turn-around in attitude? What did she do? They were just joking around just a minute ago, now he was talking to her like she was his born enemy, despite her having done nothing wrong. Why did she feel…hurt…that he did that?

She couldn't afford to fall into another trap again, like what happened with Ozuma. She shook her head. Not another trap…not again.

Mariam felt part of her feeling sorry for Kai, like wanting to give Dranzer back so he didn't hurt anymore. That wouldn't be enough anyways… And that would mean that she gave in to him…that she had a soft side… It wasn't right! Why'd he have to make her feel like this?

Mariam was about to go up to Kai, to apologize for whatever she did… that is, until Max stepped in front of her.

"Max? What do you want?"

"Oh…nothing…I was just wondering…" Max started, rubbing the back of his neck uneasily.

Kai glanced back over to her; Max was talking to her. Was this stupid thing going to happen all over again?

Kai shook his head. It couldn't…he promised he wouldn't let it. He promised Dunga. And as much as Kai wanted to disregard the man, he couldn't. Dunga said he'd crush Dranzer if he didn't. Oh! But Kai didn't have Dranzer anymore, so there's nothing to break.

Oh yeah, he was so smart. Kai smirked. Then he glanced back at the cerulean-haired girl. Wouldn't it hurt her all over again? Normally, he wouldn't care what happened to her, but now…something was different. And it wasn't because she had Dranzer… It was something else altogether.

He imagined what would happen if he did let it happen all over again. She would be hurt, but no tears would come out; he knew she was stronger than that. But he imagined her falling on her knees, then sitting on her knees, hanging her head and covering her face with her hand to hide what she really felt. And Kai was standing a few good feet in front of her. He was staring at her, and the look in his eyes projected sadness, but the look on his face projected concern…deep concern that he'd hurt her.

But why did he care?

He wouldn't let it happen again...not because of Dunga, but because of Mariam.

What did she do to him to suddenly make him care about what happened to her? He didn't want to hurt her… not anymore…

Mariam flushed. "Oh…um…" she glanced at Kai who was now hanging his head, "I can't…sorry. Maybe next time." She smiled, although it felt forced, even to her.

Max just stared at her. "Oh…well…okay. I guess…I'll… see ya 'round?" he asked solemnly.

"Yeah." Mariam nodded, watching Max walk off.

Tyson still had to confront Hilary. Stupid Max and his stupid bet. This wouldn't work; everyone saw that Hilary liked Kai, so what was the freaking point?

Hilary was staring at Kai staring at Mariam. Tyson sighed, blowing some hair from his face.

"Oy...this isn't gonna end well." Tyson let out a deep breath, walking over to Hilary.

"Tyson!" the blue-haired boy looked over to the side, seeing Joseph running towards him. He stopped a few meters from Tyson, his arms open by his sides.

"Where is my sister?" Joseph demanded.

Tyson looked over. "Over..." he pointed a finger to where he saw Mariam, staring at both Dranzer and Sharkrash, "...there."

Joseph ran right up to his sister. "What is wrong with you?" he spat at her.

"What are you talking about, Joseph?" Mariam put her hands on her hips.

"What you did to Ozuma!" he retorted.

Mariam looked away.

"How do you explain that, huh!" Joseph shouted at her.

The violet-haired girl looked back at her fuming brother. "Joseph, you have to understand--"

"No!" Joseph yelled back at her, "Ozuma told me the whole thing; I understand it perfectly." he crossed her arms and faced away. His eyes fell shut, to hopefully block out his sister.

Mariam clasped her hands behind her. "I bet you don't know why I agreed to go out with Max, do you?"

"Because you liked him, and just pushed away Ozuma." Joseph stated angrily.

Mariam smiled lightly, and then crouched down to Joseph's eye level. "Not quite."

Joseph's eyes widened. "Then what?"

She let out a sigh. "Truthfully," she tried holding onto her smile, but failed, "I pitied him."

The olive-haired boy faced her. "You what?"

"I pitied him," she repeated.

Joseph looked at her with suspicion. "I don't believe you."

Kai was still looking at the emerald-eyed girl. It was his fault Ozuma hated her now, and Kai knew it. So then why was Kai so mad at Ozuma before? Was he mad at Ozuma because of something that he, himself, did? Ozuma let her go, just like that… The crimson and raven haired boy seemed to want nothing to do with her.

The slate-haired boy folded his arms over his chest, staring at the girl talking to her brother. Why did he suddenly…care? He recalled feeling like this before…with Hilary, if he remembered correctly. Then it seemed kind of apparent that she was quite fond of Tyson, so Kai just…moved right along.

And now there was this thing with Mariam? Why did he let himself fall into another trap again? He wished he could feel like crap for allowing himself to be taken like this, but he couldn't bring himself to. It was Mariam…

NO!

Kai clenched a fist by his side. Love was a weakness. And he couldn't afford to be weak. That's what happened to Tyson…Kai assumed. That moron had his little infatuation with Hilary and that proved as his weakness.

And Max…he ditched the team to go out with Mariam. Instead of practicing to become stronger, he spent his time with Mariam, proving his weakness.

Then there was Rei… Kai was certain that the neko-jin had a liking toward the Team Psychic girl, Salima. But then there was that issue with Mariah that threw Kai off.

But that wasn't the importance right now.

Kai was arguing with himself over…feelings.

Tala would've never have fallen into such a stupid situation. So why did Kai?

Mariam just shook her head. "Why don't you believe me, huh, Joseph?"

"Because you… Ozuma told me how you were acting around Tate!" the boy replied, firmly throwing his arms by his sides, and stomping a foot to the ground.

Mariam tilted aback and mumbled something under her breath.

Joseph raised a confused brow at her. "So, were you acting dumb for Tate, or were you serious?" he crossed his arms, his eyes were hinting at something…

Mariam shut her eyes tight, and then glared knives at her brother. "All right!" she said under pressure, "I was acting dumb, but I was using Max…"

"To do what, may I ask, dear sister?" Joseph hissed.

She turned her head away. "To get to…" she paused for a moment, thinking about what she was trying to say, "someone…"

Joseph glared on. "To get to, whom?"

Mariam opened her mouth to speak, but she suddenly closed it, as if saying 'never mind' in a hard way. "Forget it."

"Y'know, I'm never gonna stop until you tell me who." The boy said stubbornly.

Mariam growled at him.

Max sunk into a chair inside the dojo.

Tyson's grandfather came in, and then glanced at the blond. "Yo, little man, what's up?"

Max looked up at the man. "Nothing much, gramps."

Said gramps grinned. "Oh, you can tell me, dude."

The blond shook his head. "Nah…"

"I swear, you kids today are so stubborn…" Mr. Granger crossed his arms.

"Fine…" Max sighed in annoyance, blowing his gold hair strand from his forehead. "It's about Mariam."

"Ohh!" the man exclaimed, and a few seconds later came "wait, who's that?"

Max rolled his eyes. "Y'know, the girl…" no response from the man, "the one with green eyes…" still no response, "and the blue-ish hair?"

"Ohh! Okay." He grinned, holding a thumbs-up, "what happened?"

Max turned his head away, so that the elderly man couldn't sense anything by the hints in the blond's eyes.

"Ya got rejected, didn't you, boy?" the man assumed.

The movement that Max gave signals that 'Gramps' has assumed correctly.

"Poor little dude…rejected by your own girlfriend…"

Swiftly, Max stood up and glared at the aged man. After a few seconds of that, he stormed out.

Mr. Granger scratched his head. "Wonder what's eating him…"

Tyson took another deep inhale, then walked over to Kenny, Hilary and Rei.

"Um…Hilary, can I talk to you?" the midnight-blue haired boy asked.

The brunette looked over at the neko-jin and the 'chief' who were nodding, smiling cheekily.

"All right." She nodded and went off with him.

The voices of Rei and Kenny were heard, singing some weird happy tune.

Tyson sent them a hard glare while Hilary just looked utterly lost.

"Morons…" Tyson muttered quietly and harshly.

Hilary just giggled a bit. "Never mind them…what did you want?"

"Joseph, I swear, if you breathe a word about that, I promise you that I will hang you by your ankles to the ceiling." Mariam warned coldly.

Joseph merely waved a hand up and down at her. "Don't worry, Mar, I won't tell anyone that you like Kai."

Mariam blew out an annoyed breath dryly. "You are so asking for it, Joey."

"Don't call me that!" Joseph snapped.

"And I do not like Kai!" Mariam screeched.

"You're kinda late there, Mar, and you just admitted it five seconds ago." The olive eyed-boy said smugly, smirking.

Mariam shook her head furiously. "Joseph, I swear…" she began.

Joseph backed off. His sister had a temper, and he knew it. Besides, she had smeared mousse all over his face one time when he made fun of her hair. And that was just for that petty thing. Anything worse and Joseph would find himself hurting. "Okay, okay." He smiled. "But why didn't you tell me before?"

"Uh?" Mariam just stared on at him with interest of his words.

Joseph grinned. "Why didn't you say anything earlier? I could've had so much fun setting you up."

"In your dreams, kiddo…" Mariam crossed her arms, refusing to look at her brother, "Besides, he hates my guts, and I don't like him like him, I just…like him."

"Then why do you have this?" with a swift movement, Joseph took Dranzer out of Mariam's pocket.

Mariam's jaw fell open slightly, and her face turned a bit pale. She seemed to be stuttering out 'uh' over and over again. "Fine, I'll give it back to him, just to prove you wrong, Joe." She snatched the blue blade from her brother, then went over to Kai, who was standing on the top of the small hill.

"Kai!" she called, walking over to him, holding the phoenix in her hand.

"…no, Tala, I don't want to…" Kai said. Mariam then realized that he was talking into his cell phone, "…I have no choice, moron. …Yeah, I did, but you never did!"

Mariam felt herself turning pale. T-Tala? I-Isn't that a girl's name? K-Kai is going out with some girl named Tala? And I fell in love with him? Mariam snapped out of it, shaking her head furiously, like a dog shaking water off its head.

She felt so stupid.

She fell in love with him.

But then again, she noticed that a lot of girls did.

But why did she?

She was stronger than the other girls. She didn't fall in love easily, and it just had to be him, didn't it?

She wished she could melt into the ground and disappear forever, but that couldn't be.

Mariam dropped Dranzer in the grass, then solemnly turned around and walked away.

Right now, she'd do anything to get away from him.

Just as long as she didn't have to face Kai Hiwatari again.

The elders were right… 'There's no point in loving someone, because you'll just get hurt'

She'd run away from him, as far as she could. She didn't care what happened; she just ran… that is, until she bumped into someone.

"Ow, sorry…" Mariam said, rubbing her head.

"Hm?" they replied, looking at her.

The lilac-haired girl looked at who she bumped into. "Ozuma!"

Yeah, I know, this chapter's crap… please don't hit me. But really, I don't know why I ended Ozuma's flashback thing so abruptly…

Um…Mariam doesn't know who Tala is because the two were never in the same season, so there.

And really, does Rei like Salima or Mariah? Because I have no skulking clue. The show seemed confusing to me… There's Tyson/Hilary hints in the show, along with Kai/Hilary, Rei/Salima, Rei/Mariah, Max/Mariam, Max/Emily and all these other pairings…

And I'm not really good with the whole…'emotions' thing…

Okay, please review! Bye! (Why do I always say 'bye'? What's wrong with me?)