DISCLAIMER:

I don't own Beyblade: Metal Fight. Just my characters... I think...

Wow, Fanfiction is SLOW this week. And I'm feeling lazy, so sorry that this chapter is only half as long as usual.

Yumiko POV

I was floating aimlessly in a dark void.

"Where am I?" My voice sounded stuffy and muffled, as if I were wearing a mask. I swung my arms, trying to keep myself from flipping upside-down, but I wasn't even sure which direction's up or down. "Somebody? Hello?"

Something flickered in front of me. I squinted my eyes and spotted a tiny dot of light. I started to propel myself towards it - it was probably an exit - but as I paddled my legs once, a searing heat surged through my body and the dot got bigger, making me yelp in pain.

It wasn't an exit. It was an orb of fire. And it was growing bigger by the second.

I tried to kick away from it, but it was like moving through syrup. I screamed as the first tongues of flame engulfed my skin.

I was burning, but strangely, I wasn't feeling anything...

I woke up on the sun-warmed ground and sat up, panting heavily. My skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat. I noticed that Haruki was already gone, probably off to get some grub to last us for the day.

What a weird dream...

I stretched, coaxing my stiff limbs back into normal working condition. I put on my prosthetic leg - taking even greater care fastening it around my thigh - before lighting a tiny fire. I gently blew on it - encouraging it to grow bigger - and watched in strange satisfaction as golden-red flames sprang upwards, devouring the strips of dried grass and wood that I tossed into the fire pit.

It was weird how I wasn't afraid of lighting the fire after that dream, but I wasn't.

Somehow, the fire in that dream was soothing. Like one of my parents' hugs, or Haruki's smile...

I sat down next to the growling, crackling flames and waited for Haruki to return, gently easing the tip of a stick into the amber mini-inferno and watching - mesmerized - as the broken splinters on top caught fire.

Haruki POV

I plucked a ripe Kousa Dogwood berry from the branch dangling above me and stuffed it into my backpack, where the other fruits and gatherings were waiting. There were a lot of Kousa berries that time of year, and I busied myself with choosing the largest slightly-heart-shaped berries from the abundant, heavy boughs and checking the spongy, lumpy red skin for any signs of rot.

I wiped one on the hem of my red shirt and popped it into my mouth. It was nice and sweet, as expected. Hah, and I got here before the animals ate all of the berries.

Snatching a few more of the red fruit from the tree, I hiked further away from camp, keeping an eyes out for the snares that I had set up the previous day.

I spotted a dead rabbit hanging from the thick wire and took it out, carefully resetting the snare. I continued for another hour, picking up more game as I made my way towards the nearby mountains. I was hoping to run into my uncle Hyoma, but I scanned the face of the rocky incline repeatedly and saw no sign of him. I thought of going to Koma Village, but I didn't want to leave Yumiko alone in the forest.

Then, I remembered something that Uncle Hyoma had said about the forests near Koma: "You don't want to get too close to the mountains with fresh kill - the scent of blood's gonna attract the wolves."

Crap.

So, I turned around - feeling more alert than ever - and started walking back to the campsite, careful to hunch over the meat. I picked up the pace, weaving through the trees like there was no tomorrow. There was nothing I feared more than wolves. One time, when I was a child growing up in Koma Village, I spotted a large wolf in one of the alleys; it had gotten through the secure walls that bordered Koma territory. It had growled at me.

... That's... pretty much it.

But seriously, I have major Wolfaphobia. Or Cynophobia, if you want to describe it as a fear of dogs.

Small dogs: I like 'em.

Big dogs: I can tolerate them.

Big dogs with pointy ears and attitudes: I stay away from them.

Wolves: RUN! RUN! RUUUUUUUUUUUNN!

So, yeah. I'm afraid of wolves.

It didn't exactly help when I came face-to-face with three wolves, still sleek and quick with their summer coats. They were too small to be a whole pack, but I was pretty sure that the alpha sent them out to hunt for food.

How did I know? Well, let's just say that it's instinct.

Okay, one of them was burying a dead rabbit at the foot of a tree.

The wolf in the middle was large, with gray fur - probably the oldest. Hey, since I have Wolfaphobia, I research wolves during my spare time. Behind the old wolf were two younger ones - a healthy-looking one with a reddish-brown coat, and one (the wolf that buried the rabbit) with a dark gray pelt and a long, lean body.

Anyway, I was petrified with fear. My mind was telling me to - and I quote from my reaction to wolves - "RUN! RUN! RUUUUUUUUUUUNN!" But my legs refused to respond. My heart was pounding so quickly that I could feel its vibrations through my body. I was sure that the wolves could hear it.

The lead wolf bared his teeth and growled. The other two followed suit.

I wanted to act all Ryuga-like about the situation and stare the animals down - maybe even scare them away with a growl of my own. But instead, I did what the typical macho man like me would do - I screamed at the top of my lungs and ran, waving my arms in the air like a crazed maniac.

The wolves gave chase. I could hear their yelps, snarls, and barks not far behind me... getting closer, and closer.

I didn't care if Yumiko teased me about being a wimp anymore. The only thing that was on my mind was: "RUN! RUN, YOU IDIOT, RUN! RUN, DAMN YOU! FASTER, FASTER - AND DON'T LOOK BACK OR YOU'LL WET YOURSELF!"

So I did. Run faster, I mean... not look back or wet myself... although I seriously felt like doing the latter. And I jumped up clumsily and dug my fingernails into the rough bark of a tree. I scrambled onto a tree branch, my foot barely missing the dark wolf's sharp teeth. Terrified, I hoisted myself as high up the tree as possible.

Athena POV

I opened my eyes reluctantly and slowly eased myself off the couch... Oh yeah, I remembered. Avery.

"Here's your breakfast." The guy I was thinking about tossed a large rectangular box at me. I eyed it in disgust. "These things are filled with carbs," I sneered, tossing the box to the coffee table in front of me. I stood up and stalked across the room over to the kitchen counter irritably. "Don't you have anything else?"

"No."

I scoffed. "You're kidding."

"No."

I rolled my eyes and snatched my now-dry clothes off the rack and raced Avery to the bathroom. I slipped in before he did and almost slammed the door on his fingers. Not the best way to treat your host, but hey, I'm not an easy person to get along with.

I changed out of Avery's old clothes and put on my own, sliding on my Beyblade equipment and the necklace that held my Cyber Minerva. Then, I washed my face, ran my fingers through my hair, and got out of the apartment, grabbing my bag on my way to the door. "Thanks for the help, Dodo," I called over my shoulder. "Bye."

"You're a feisty one, aren't you?" I heard him say quietly.

I had no idea why I insisted on calling Avery "Dodo" even though I knew his name. I scrolled down in my head about the definitions of "dodo." He didn't look extinct, he didn't look like an old-fashioned person, and he certainly didn't look stupid. So why...?

I think too much on pointless things. Avery. Dodo. The nickname sticks. Get over yourself, Athena.

I stopped to pick up a donut and a cup of coffee from a nearby cafe, then proceeded towards the main road with long, quick strides. I wanted to get to the nearest tournament ASAP.

Haruki POV

"Go away, mangy mutts!" I yelled at the wolves, shaking my gloved fist at them. They kept on snarling and clawing at the tree. I was tempted to stick my tongue out at them, but I decided to do the mature thing - as in, scream for help.

"HELP!" I yelled. "Yumiko, help! I'm stuck up a tree with wild wolves trying to eat me! YUMIKO!"

Yumiko POV

Zzz...

Haruki POV

I have been yelling for about five minutes, and there was still no answer from Yumiko. Gr... I guess that I have to get out of this myself. I furrowed my eyebrows in determination and gritted my teeth. The wolves were still barking ferociously. One of them - the red wolf - had managed to find a neighboring tree with low branches. I knew that some wolves could climb trees; I just hoped that these couldn't.

Unfortunately, my luck wasn't the greatest.

Red Pelt began to grow confident, using knots and gauges in the bark to hoist itself up the tree. I felt something soft rub my thigh and looked down. Crap; the rabbits! That's what they're after! I slapped myself on both sides of my face. Stupid! Stupid!

I unfastened the game from my belt with trembling hands and tossed it down the tree. The wolves clustered around it excitedly and lifted it into their jaws before trotting away. I let out a sigh of relief and slid down the tree. I was glad that Yumiko wasn't there to see me - that would've been embarrassing.

It took me a while to retrace my steps back to camp, but when I got there, Yumiko was sprawled on top of the table stump, sleeping peacefully.

Of course.

I sighed, unpacked the fruits and greens that I had gathered, and set my findings next to the fire.

"Yumiko, wake up!" I said. "It's time for breakfast!" I nudged her fake foot, which wasn't covered with her sneakers. She kicked me in the face with it. "OW! That better've been an accident, Yumiko!" I snapped, rubbing my jaw. "'Cause that really hurt!"

"Go away..." she mumbled.

I sighed. "Then you leave me no choice." I bent over her and started stroking her side. "Tickle, tickle, tickle..."

"GAH!" she shrieked. "STOP THAT! I'M UP! I'M UP!" She punched me in the jaw, right where her foot had hit me. I stumbled back and chucked a Kousa berry at her, which she caught in her mouth. "That's the second time you hit me today!" I yelled.

"Sorry!" she said. "It's not like I ask you to wake me up at like, eight o' clock."

"Actually, you did," I reminded her. Before we went to video-chat with your parents, you told me to wake you up at seven! And..." I scanned my phone. "It's twelve!"

"Well!" Yumiko dug into my bag and pulled out the vegetation. "Where's the meat?"

I glowered at her. "Don't tell me that you're gonna whine about the meat, too! For your information, I was stuck up a tree with three wolves trying to bite my feet off, while you were curled up in the sunlight, sleeping like a baby!"

She snorted and popped a berry into her mouth. "Not my fault you decided to take a hike."

"I was getting food!" I snapped. "The least you can do is thank me!"

"Thank you," she said, rolling her amber eyes.

I felt like throwing a tantrum. "That's not what I meant! You're so ungrateful!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!" And the tantrum began. "You're so selfish and stuck-up, when you can't even win a tournament! You don't appreciate everything I've done to prevent you from dying here, and to become a better blader! You're just like Ryuga!"

"Don't bring my father into this!" Yumiko growled. "I don't need your help to survive! I don't need your help to become stronger! I can do that on my own! We're done here!" She picked up her bag and stormed out of the clearing. I kicked dirt over the fire to smother it, then sat down on the tree stump. "Geez! What's wrong with her?" I clenched my fists. "I'm the one who's doing all the work here!"

Two hours passed, and Yumiko still hasn't come back.

Crud, I thought. Ryuga's gonna kill me.

I packed up my belongings and set off in the direction Yumiko had gone to.