Disclaimer: I don't own a thing…ever.

I know I called him Tyson before, but I got so used to calling him Takao. If anyone watches Teen Titans, you might see a similarity in the couples since I think Robin and Ozuma have the same beliefs and personalities. So I kinda based a scene on the scene in the Tokyo movie. Sorry :P (Although it's irrelevant; I'm a Robin/Terra person:D)

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I slouch forward, bringing my hands to rest on my knees. Never has running hurt so much. Maybe it was because I had no clue where the blond was at the moment. Slight whispering of curses steals my attention and I look over, seeing Mariam sitting cross-legged, ripping out grass like there was no tomorrow. Wow, Joseph must've really stirred her up. I think I can see the dirt…

"Mariam, I admire your hopefulness, but I don't think that grass will be screaming in pain anytime soon," I smirk, going over to her. She looks up at me and her eyes widen slightly, standing up and she brushes dirt from her legs.

"O-Ozuma! What're you doing here?" She demands, trying to glare hard at me, "You're supposed to be sleeping!" I notice the faintest hint of a blush appearing on her cheeks.

I sigh, rolling my eyes, "I'm here looking for the blond one and I had…an interesting dream. Does it matter?"

"No…I guess not. What was so interesting about your dream that just had to wake you up?"

"Drigger…" I reply simply, though it was a pure lie, "You took Rei's blade, right?"

Mariam tilts back, her mouth trying to figure out what to say, "Well…he wasn't looking and I remembered what you said about the mission and---"

I cut her off, "So you actually did listen to me and my lectures about the mission?" I fold my arms and Mariam's mouth moves, though no sounds come out, "I thought I was an 'annoying, cruel, egotistical, pain in the ass', remember?"

Mariam blinks frantically, "Did I say that?"

"Yeah, you did," I nod, sneering slightly, "Why'd you take Rei's whole Beyblade, though? You know we just need the White Tiger of Gold…"

"I thought I could…" Mariam fidgets with her fingers, brushing her hair behind her ear, "…maybe kinda…surprise you…"

I lift a brow, "My birthday isn't for two months…"

"I know but…" Her gaze starts wandering and her voice trails. I hate when her voice trails; usually means something bad… "I thought that getting you the whole blade might make you happy…and you could smile…"

I shake my head in shame and she frowns a bit, "I don't really do smiling. Unless it's an evil smile. You want an evil smile?" she shakes her head at me, "Besides, you're going about this all wrong. I'd have to get all four of their blades to smile…"

Her head perks up, "Really?"

Oh god, she really wasn't going to try to get all four of their blades to make me smile, was she? Isn't she with Rei? Why is she so focused on making me happy?

"Mariam's had the biggest crush on you since forever…"

"I know you're hiding something… While you were… talking to Ozuma in his sleep, I went to talk with the blondie…"

See, Joseph wasn't completely useless… So…what I understand by Joseph's words, Mariam still likes me and she's hiding something with her 'relationship' with Rei. And Max knows why.

"Sure," I shrug nonchalantly, "And why are you so bent on making me smile?"

Mariam stares and I notice her eyes blinking worriedly, "Y-You're my best friend…you used to smile all the time. You turned into a grouch when they assigned this mission to you…" her voice sinks after 'my'. I don't understand…

"Well, then aren't you happy? Your best friend is your leader so you can trust him not to give you extra laps since you were on your date, hm?" I say with a content expression on my face.

Mariam foot rubs circles against the ground almost shyly, "I guess…"

"There we go, now drop and give me fifty!"

Her emerald eyes widen at me, "Ozuma!"

"Okay, okay…I'll do them with you, how about that?" I offer.

"Serious?"

I sigh, "If you don't want me to, you can suffer on your own…"

"No, no! It's fine, you can join," Mariam gets down and starts the pushups. I shrug and join her.

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I grunt, standing up. Damn, no wonder Dunga and Joseph always complain when I make them do pushups. I can't feel my arms and I'm all sweaty. How am I supposed to interrogate Max like this?

"Mariam…?" I ask, looking over at her. She's lost in Lala Land. This was just great… I can't leave her like this… What the hell is she staring at anyways? Something behind me? "Mariam!"

Still no response… Wonder what's so interesting…

"Soo…" I hum, looking into her face, "What're we looking at?"

Mariam jumps back, eyes widened. "Nothing!" came the immediate answer.

I tilt my head to the side, confused, "Really? You were so interested that you wouldn't look away…"

"It was nothing!"

I shake my head, sighing, "Whatever you say…let's go…"

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Joseph grins, walking up to us as we return to the warehouse. Holy shit, what did they do?

"Nothing…" Joseph smiles innocently.

Did I say that aloud? Too bad, "Then would you like to explain this…masterpiece of yours?" I can't see the floor. Oh crap, I can't see the floor. Is Dunga drunk over there? "And is Dunga drowning in his own beer bottles?"

"No?" the green haired boy chuckles lightly.

"Then why can't I see my floor?" I ask, glaring.

From behind me, Mariam crosses her arms, "Your floor?"

I glare at her and sigh, "Whatever. I'm going to change. Joseph, clean this up. Mariam…" I ask, thinking of an order to give to her, "wake up Dunga."

Emerald eyes widen in shock and snickers come from the younger sibling. Mariam stammers, not wanting to do it, obviously; that's why I made her do it. That's what she gets for hiding things from me. I leave them, saying nothing more. I hear Joseph snickering to Mariam, saying "Don't go up while Ozuma's changing, witch."

What do they think I am, some freaking girl?

I shake my head, tossing my shirt into the supposed laundry hamper. Morons… But at least I brought more than one outfit. I smile to myself, getting another one and putting it on.

"I'm going to bother Takao again, who's coming?" I ask, coming down the stairs.

Joseph jumps up, raising an arm, trying to get out of cleaning. Whatever, he's good at sneaking anyways.

"Fine, let's go, Joseph." I shrug, heading out the door. Mariam just stands there uneasily, putting her hands behind herself innocently, "Yes…?"

"Do I just…stay here?" she asks, trying not to be too forward, but I can sense it.

I nod, "Someone has to watch over Dunga."

Mariam looks over at him and grimaces, facing back to us, "Anything else?"

"Yes…" I pause and Mariam smiles, cheering up a bit…

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Ow, my butt…. Stupid Takao and his pointy roof. Has he not heard of simple tiling? I mean…man!

Takao grins, "So what if Mister X is mad at you, Max?" he asks, preparing his blade. Please don't tell me this guy still doesn't know my name. Oh, right; I never gave him the chance to figure it out. Well, it starts with an 'O' and ends with 'zuma', idiot. I scorn silently at Takao from above.

"Well, Joseph just said he was. I don't really know," the blond shrugs, fiddling with the green blade in his hands.

"Just forget him. Be happy that freak isn't after our bit-beasts!" Takao scoffs. Note to self; destroy Takao slowly and painfully.

"Nice of you to think so highly of me, Takao…" I smirk, jumping off the roof. Now it's gonna take a while before I get the feeling back in my backside.

Joseph jumps down with me, sending Rei a dark look. From what I've heard before, he's not the only one who isn't too fond of Rei. Something about his old team back in China.

"All right, talk!" I shout, pointing at Max, "What's going on?"

The blond, currently trembling, shakes his head at me in some sort of fear. I growl going over to hit him when I feel hands clamp onto my arms. I turn, looking at who it was. Damn Hiwatari! Stupid Mr-I'm-the-strong-slient-type-and-I'm-not-letting-anyone-get-away-with-anything.

This is where Joseph comes in handy. Wait…why can't I get out of this? Ooh, look, I'm free! I look over, seeing Rei telling Kai to let go. Huh. So that brunet isn't so bad after all. But Mizuhara's gonna have to die!

"Ozuma?" Shit! Rei knows my name! My world is over. I had fun with the Mister X thing. Ah, it was good while it lasted.

"Huh?"

Rei nods in one direction, stuffing his hands into his pockets. I guess I'm supposed to follow him? He'd better not be creating a distraction so that I'll forget to beat up Mizuhara. He stops at…Takao's pond. Amazing…

"So…" Rei starts slowly, his eyes looking for things to take his attention away from me, "how's Mariam?"

"How should I know?"

"She…!" he begins, but cuts himself off, "never mind."

I glare hard, "She what?" Does he know that she took his blade?

He pauses, scanning the ground as if he'd pounce on anything he saw moving within the blades of the grass, "She likes…ice cream."

Oh wow. Since she likes any form of food, I never would've guessed. Yet she's so skinny…training conquers all!

"Oh…kay…" I shake my head, about to walk away until he calls me back, "What?"

"Nothing…never mind." Rei innocently kicks the ground, "Just don't be mean to Mariam, 'kay?"

Where have I heard that before?

Flashback

"Yes…" I pause and Mariam smiles, cheering up a bit…

"What?" Is it or is she leaning in closer?

Five, four, three, two…

"Get those bit-beasts, woman!" I yell firmly, making her jump back a bit, eyes quivering at me.

I close the door and Joseph looks up at me, "Don't be so mean, man…" he scolds, "you know how she feels…"

"Explain Rei then." I demand, already walking away.

End Flashback

"Why does it matter what I do, Kon?" I ask harshly, twisting my head back to glare at him.

"There's no point in talking to you; you're about as understanding as Kai when he's mad."

I glare downward. What's that supposed to mean?

I nod my head at Joseph, signaling that social time is over. He comes over, hiding something in his hand. I'm not even gonna ask. Probably that stupid brunette 'blonde-wannabe' girl's number. Like I said; not gonna ask. What's Rei so worked up about? Why does it even matter what I do to Mariam? Why does everyone suddenly care?

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Y'know, I just realized that bothering Takao is just not as much fun anymore. I watch as Joseph leaps back into the warehouse, running circles around his sister and then rushes off to where Dunga was …supposedly alive.

"Ozuma?"

I look at the girl, lifting a brow in some annoyance.

Mariam lifts up a sapphire blade. Kai's… "I'll give you this if you let me talk to you…alone." She seems…nervous.

What gave her the impression that I'd fall for something like that? But I guess it couldn't hurt. I nod, "Lead the way then." I give a small smirk.

Eagerly, Mariam drags me out. How many times do I have to back and forth?

So we take a silent walk to wherever Mariam's trying to get me to. I stop in my tracks, seeing her run over to the side of the dock, hanging her legs over the edge. She looks back at me with a questioning look on her face and nods at the empty seat beside her. I sigh, doing what she wants.

"What did you want to talk about?" I ask, staring at the clouds with sudden interest.

Mariam sighs, staring straight ahead of her, "Me…you…this…everything."

I don't like the sound of that.

"So…about Rei and the going out part…" she starts, playing with her fingers in her lap.

"What about it?" I snap.

She's leaning in… "It's just that…you're my best friend."

"I know." Wait, why'm I leaning in?

"And I don't care if you like to stalk people…"

Stalk? Kai? That's it! "Stalk! I've got it! Kai can get those bit-beasts for us! It wouldn't exactly be considered failing the mission!" I exclaim, jumping back and standing up.

Mariam sighs, standing up, "Kai's not exactly eager to do that, don't you think?"

"He will if it involves kicking Takao's butt in the dish."

"Ozuma…"

I turn my head towards her, sensing what was wrong; she didn't get that kiss. "Yes?"

"Can you, for once, not think about the mission?" she pleads, stepping closer.

My eyes narrow, turning back away from her, "Our ancestors assigned us this mission and we've been chosen to carry it out. We have a responsibility and I will make sure it is completed. This is who I am, Mariam. If you don't like it, tough. I'm not going to change just to make you happy."

I glance back at Mariam who was stepping away from me, trying to hide her face from me with her bangs, "But you can change to make the ancestors happy?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.

I gasp lightly, my eyes widening for a second before they narrow again, growling softly towards the ground as she runs away, wiping something from her face.

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I was just in an Ozuma/Mariam mood and those dialouge things just came to me when I was riding that stupid TTC... oh, and Ozuma's cool! . . .Yah. Now I gotta go; my AMV boss expects something "special" from me.