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 have no idea what I own, but it's definitely not Beyblade.

Chp. 10 and 11 are done, people, so...um...read and review so I can put them up!

And the chapter title...um, my guy friend says that a lot about his friend's dog. "I hate that dog...hate him with a passion." okay? Good.

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!"

Mariam had no idea what she was supposed to do, let alone think. She just bumped into Ozuma…who now seemed to hate her… 'hate her with a passion' as Dunga had said before. What was she supposed to say to him? She knew Ozuma was hurt, but Mariam was just doing what she thought was right at the time. And in his hurt and anger, he hated her, hated her with such a passion right now that he would be easily persuaded to kill her on the spot.

Before, he was just saddened that she did that to him, now he was so angry at her that he'd do anything to be rid of her. But it wasn't his fault… The last time they talked about it, Ozuma ended up leaving her at the pond on her own.

Flashback

"Stupid rich, conceded little asshole!" Mariam yelled, picking up and rock and skipping it along the pond.

"I take it that you don't like being kicked off the team?" Ozuma asked, walking up from behind her.

"Ozuma!" Mariam exclaimed in a shocked tone, turning her head to see him. She quickly turned her head back around, away from him. "What do you want?"

"I just," he began, peering over to see her face, "wanted to see if you were alright."

"What does it matter to you?" her voice sounded exasperated.

"I'm your friend." Ozuma hated saying those words.

Mariam scoffed silently. "And as my friend, you've got to let me do this…on my own."

"But---!"

"Don't even, Ozuma." Mariam warned.

"Mariam, if you'll just---"

She whipped around to face him. "Ozuma, that was years ago…it was a mistake and I'm sorry for it. I tried to tell you but…I didn't wanna hurt you then, okay?"

"It was only two months ago." Her former leader said flatly.

"Same thing!" Mariam grunted, annoyed. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"For you, maybe. But it's still there for me." Ozuma sighed, turning away.

Mariam stared at her reflection for a while before breaking the silence again. "Ozuma, I…" she turned around, finding the red and black hair-colored boy was gone. "Never mind."

End of Flashback

Mariam shook her head. Why did she let herself get fooled by him? He was obviously hurting and she just disregarded it as nothing. This is the trap that Mariam fell in with Ozuma, and she didn't want to fall into another one, especially not with Kai.

The two remained silent, staring at each other as innocent passing people walked around them. There was something they wanted to say to the other, but the words couldn't form, or it wouldn't come out correctly. The two were so silent that you wouldn't be able to tell that they were breathing.

Both pairs of emerald eyes were glaring hard, with an intention of killing the other, as if glares could kill. After a while, Mariam's softened to a sympathetic look.

"Ozuma…" she said in a tone that was pleading for something, but at the same time, it was soft… as though, if she were to say his name louder, he would run away like a deer at night being caught by headlights on a passing car. Ozuma gave her a look that told her to continue with what she was saying.

"You were my best friend…" she sounded like she was saying a eulogy. Her eyes pleaded with his for a while, as if asking him to forgive him. All she did was…follow her gut feeling. Her jade eyes had no affect on the Saint Shields leader. Now, they quivered in some kind of imploring sadness that seemed to have an effect on him; like her, his glare softened to a considerate look.

"And I can't live in a world where we must fight like this…" she continued gently. Ozuma used to mean so much to her, although she was sure he didn't know it. He was the only person she could talk to about…anything, the only reason why she didn't go mad, the only person who understood that there was so much more to her than a pretty face and a spunky attitude…the only person who knew who she really was.

"If you really hate me, then go ahead…do what you will."

Ozuma's expression softened even further, down to one of just… either pure pity or just pure concern. "Mariam…" like her, he said her name softly, as if she would run away if he used a tone even the slightest bit higher.

Mariam raised a light eyebrow curiously. What more was there to say? What did he have left that he could say to her? Was he just saying her name just for the heck of it? Or saying it because he pitied her little line she said earlier? Because he just wanted her to feel…better? Not like the idiot that she already did feel like.

"Mariam!"

The girl turned around, seeing the infamous Hiwatari boy walking over to her, briskly making his way through the heavy crowd.

Mariam bit her lip, then faced Ozuma again. She nodded silently, for she felt there were no words left to say, urging him to continue.

Ozuma didn't respond with words; he kept a softened glare focused on her, until the efficient steps of Kai Hiwatari got over behind Mariam.

The slate-haired Russian placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "Mariam." He said gently, to get her attention. Still, her eyes remained on the red and raven hair-colored leader. So…what was she supposed to be feeling right now?

"Mariam, I have to talk to you." Kai said softly, but urgently. His grip on her shoulder tightened.

Mariam placed a gentle hand on the one on her shoulder, as if telling it to calm down. His grip loosened slightly. "Kai, just hold on…" she said without looking away from Ozuma. Again, she nodded toward the Saint Shield leader.

Ozuma shoved his hands in his pockets, immediately projecting 'forget about it'. He slumped his back and shrugged. "I have nothing to say…" he nodded a head to the impatient Russian, "Go…" he stared at her for a while. She didn't do anything but keep the stare right on him, "Go off with Kai, now, Mariam."

"Ozuma…" Mariam said in a voice that seemed slightly pleading, perhaps pleading him to stay. To do what? Just stand around staring at each other without breathing a word to each other? It seemed rather pointless, but Mariam seemed saddened as she watched him back away into the crowd of passing people.

"Mariam." Kai said again, lightly tugging on her shoulder. What did he want with her? He had Tala. So then why was Kai treating her like…

…someone he was flirting with?

She turned around to face him. "Yeah, Kai?" she said gently.

A smirk hung all over Kai's lips. But it seemed shrewd and sly. What was he planning? "C'mon." he took a hold on her hand with his, pulling her through the crowd, in the direction opposing the one that Ozuma disappeared in.

He took her in some small deserted corner. Perhaps to talk… Mariam was relieved when she remembered that Kai wouldn't harass her…or mug her. Che. Rape her? Where'd she think that up? He most certainly wouldn't rape her.

"Mariam…" Kai began, pulling his hand into his pocket. He withdrew his hand, with Mariam watching it carefully, "Why'd you give this back?"

Mariam was confused at what he was saying for a moment, and only a moment before Kai fully withdrew his hand from his pocket, revealing the cobalt beyblade that she had swiped from him earlier.

"Oh…" Mariam sighed softly, looking away from him. Kai noticed her eyes quivering in some kind of fear. Fear of getting hurt perhaps? He wouldn't hurt her, but she didn't know that. She thought he was some stupid conceited asshole who cared about nothing but himself. Kai wished he could still be that sometimes…and he had to change, because of her, "that…"

Was it him, or did she sound dejected? Truthfully, Kai was the one dejected; the fact that she used Dranzer to annoy him was his excuse to fight with her. Without it in her possession, he couldn't do anything but stare.

"Well?" Kai asked, putting the sapphire blade in his jacket pocket.

Mariam refused to look at him; she was gonna give it back to him, to prove to Joseph that she wasn't some fan-girl who'd worship an item of his. She heard him talking to Tala and she figured that she dropped it. "I was gonna give it back to you…" she said, staring at a dumpster a few feet away.

"So why did you leave in the grass? Why didn't you hand it to me personally?" Kai's voice seemed slightly demanding.

Mariam was still staring at the dumpster, not wanting to answer his questions. Ooh, was that a pizza box? She would've hit herself on the head, for seeming so fascinated by a pizza box in the dumpster. Well, she liked food... but she wasn't hungry. Was she just staring at the pizza box to avoid Kai's penetrating eyes?But the thing that she didn't understand was why Kai took her into his small, deserted, secluded corner to ask her about Dranzer. Maybe he wanted something…more.

Should she tell him the truth? Would he understand? "I heard you talking to someone named Tala…" she said, her eyes wandering the ground. Oh, cool, the cracks made a happy face.

Mariam then felt his maroon/violet eyes scanning her own jade ones. For what reason? Was he so determined to discover why she just left the azure beyblade in the grass like that without a word? Why did he care?

"What about Tala?" Kai asked when he figured she wouldn't say anything more.

Mariam closed her eyes tight, as if something pained her so much, she didn't want to see anymore. "You were talking to her like she wanted you to do something…"

Kai let out a stifled laugh. "You think that Tala's a girl?"

Shit.

Mariam finally looked up at him.

Shit was right. If Tala was a guy, then Kai could be gay for all she knew. Damn…why'd she have to fall in love with a gay guy who liked a guy with a girl's name? She'd never live this down. If she just stayed with Max, this never would've happened. But that would be living a lie, wouldn't it? She didn't really like Max…he was just there to catch her if she ever got rejected.

He could sure come in handy right now…

But that blond American boy was never there when she needed him, was he?

Highly doubtful.

Finally, Mariam nodded.

If Kai were someone else, like Tyson perhaps, then he would've burst out laughing, rolling on the floor in fits of laughter, unable to control himself…stuff like that. But he was Kai, Kai Hiwatari, and he wasn't like that. Instead, he smirked. What the hell was he doing? Was he trying to seduce someone like that? Moron…

Mariam tried so hard to send him a hard glare, and failed. "Okay, I get it; Tala's a guy."

"And you thought…what? That I was going out with him or something?" Kai did that smirk again, folding his arms and standing dominantly over her. Curse his height!

Mariam tilted her head to the side. "Get out of my head, man…"

Kai just chuckled at her, a mean chuckle that was making fun of her. She wasn't that dumb! Why did he always make her feel like this? But even still, no matter what he did, she was still separated from the Saint Shields, separated from Ozuma. And the only thing she could to was sling insults at the world, perhaps to take her anger out without actually hitting someone. Joseph's been through that enough times…she couldn't keep hitting him. So she insulted everyone. But why'd Kai have to be…so much better at this than she was? He already owned her in beyblading, why'd he have to rule the rebellious department too?

"Because you let me, remember?" Kai smirked. Mariam looked shocked, then transferred her gaze up at him. Did he read her mind or something? That was impossible… Kai Hiwatari was human…and like humans, he shouldn't be able to read minds. Unless they taught psychic mind-reading at the Abbey when he was there. That would've been awkward. The guy in charge must've been a retard.

"He is." The slate-haired Russian smirked.

"Seriously, do you like, read my mind or something?" Mariam asked out of annoyance, putting her hands on her hips.

Kai glanced over and observed her. He smirked. Well, the fact that she put her hands on her hips made it easier for Kai to see her, as her hands pushed down on the otherwise lose fabric of her Saint Shields uniform, allowing Kai to clearly see the outline of her curves. She wasn't as scrawny as Hilary was, and Kai was grateful. And on the other hand, she wasn't as thick as…whoever was, which Kai was also grateful for. She seemed to be like the happy medium.

"Not at all." Kai replied finally, resuming eye contact with her, "your eyes and expression are just so simple to read."

"Are you calling me simple-minded?" Mariam asked, obviously ticked off. Mariam was so close to hitting something at this point. All she could think of was 'Damn him!' and how she was gonna get him one of these days.

Kai gave her a dry look. "No, Mariam, I'm calling you naïve." He said, his voice as dry as his expression. Why did Kai fall for her again? He had no stinking clue, but he did like her… but in a way, he felt like he was trying to push the thought of Ozuma out of her head. He knew she wouldn't be able to trust him like she trusted Ozuma, and she wouldn't be able to talk to him like she talked to Ozuma. Why was he comparing himself with Ozuma anyways?

His gut told him to.

"That's the same thing, dumbass." Mariam retorted, crossing her arms. Seriously, did he think she didn't know what the definitions of some words meant? She could've hit him for that if she didn't like him… She remembered the same thing happening with Ozuma, before.

"Aw, you're catching on." Kai rolled his eyes at her, scoffing. If he were talking to someone else, he would've ended this conversation a long time ago. But it was Mariam… He remembered doing the same thing with Hilary, before. He could've sworn that she dyed her hair brown…most of the time, she was completely clueless to what he was talking about. Why was Mariam different?

"Spare me your sarcasm, Kai." Mariam sighed, looking around, "All right, you know why I left your Dranzer in the grass, can I go now?" she sighed. Why did she want to get away from him all of a sudden? Perhaps she felt…intruding.

Kai stared at her for the longest while, saying nothing, much like what Mariam and Ozuma did earlier. Mariam could've sworn that he was moving closer with every passing second. And then Mariam found that he was moving closer, with the intention of maybe…kissing her?

Mariam almost slapped herself; Kai Hiwatari was not known for going around kissing people, let alone showing his feelings.

But something in her gut told her not to move, that he'd make sure everything would be okay. Her eyelids seemed to be fluttering in possible fear before they covered her eyes halfway. She was expecting him to…

…kiss me. She finished in her head.

Why was he doing his? Joseph probably told him…that jerk. And now he probably pitied her. Enough to kiss her? Unlikely.

Mariam was arguing with herself, whether to move away or let him do whatever.

He leaned closer.

Well, this chapter also sucked monkeys… I'll probably leave this for now (at least until I get more reviews) and even though I don't know what I'm doing (because I think the summary doesn't fit now) I'm having fun (:

And that thing that Mariam says is from Teen Titans...kinda. Where Starfire says to Robin "Robin, you are my best friend. I cannot live in a world where we must fight. If you are truly evil, then go ahead...do what you must..." and I liked it, so I put it in.

I think the summary needs to be changed, and thanks to the reviewers! You rock!

Bye byes!