The helicopter landed, propellers whirring gradually to a stop. I looked out at the town of Tasiliaq. It was nestled in a green valley amongst an amazing landscape of steep, dramatic mountains with great lakes nearby and glaciers on the horizon. I could just make out the newly-built Olympic Stadium in the distance. We had stayed in Kulusuk, another town near Tasiliaq, for a short time before flying here where the games were being held.

There was only handful of people milling around. Tasiliaq had quite a small population. Some paused and returned my gaze curiously.

Tyson was out like a shot the second the helicopter door opened. Daichi was with him. They glanced around excitedly, laughing out loud. Their laughs ended in a bout of coughing and sneezing.

"Man, it's like a meat locker out here!" Tyson exclaimed.

"It's freezing," complained Daichi plaintively, hugging himself to keep warm.

The rest of the team sighed in exasperation. You could never take those two anywhere without them making a scene.

"I told them it'd be cold, but no they just had to see it for themselves!" Hilary grumbled, glaring at the duo.

"Don't waste your breath, Hilary," advised Kenny.

"Some people never change…" Ray shook his head.

Growling, Hilary threw two blue BBA jackets over Tyson and Daichi and then slipped on one herself. Max and Ray followed her as she stomped out of the helicopter and I could hear them tentatively trying to calm her down.

The minute I got out of the helicopter the cold hit me. It was not the uncomfortable cold that made you wish you had brought a coat like in the UK but a biting chill that froze to the very bone. It felt like I had just been in a pool of icy water. So this is what arctic weather's like. Even beneath the thick blue jacket I wore, I shivered.

"Alana, are you alright?" Kenny asked worriedly as we walked through Tasiliaq in search of our hotel.

I heard how strained and rasping my breaths were. "I'm just cold," I wheezed, smiling wanly.

"Why didn't you say?" Kai demanded almost angrily.

I was taken aback by the sternness in his voice. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry anyone."

"The last thing we need is someone getting ill before the Olympics," he told me firmly.

I sighed. "You're right."

"Next time tell us, okay?" Ray added.

"I will," I promised, taking the sheepskin coat Hilary held out.

That night, sharing a double bed with my partner like my other team-mates, I lay on my side and placed my hands to my hot face. Thanks to not wearing enough layers in the bitterly cold weather, I had a mild fever. Figures, I thought sourly. My boyfriend's been cross with me, I've got a temperature and now I can't sleep. Just great. I could not lie there and do nothing so I resorted to sneaking outside into the cold air.

I was still cold despite the layers I put on. The town was bathed in moonlight. It was a beautiful night. The wintry breeze caressed my hot skin and I inhaled the fresh air deeply. All was silent and tranquil. My stress had dissolved and was now replaced by a happiness that warmed me from head to toe; I was so relaxed I forgot I was cold.

"What are you doing out here?"

I spun around at the familiar voice.

He stepped outside, his hair turned silvery-blue by the moonlight, his fringe swaying slightly in the breeze. His violet were bright and his face was as serious as ever.

"Getting some air," I replied, glad my fever had gone down. I did not want to worry him again. "I couldn't sleep."

Kai took my hand. "Let's go back inside."

I slipped into bed after I had discarded the layers I had worn outside. I shivered, suddenly cold again.

Kai pulled me close to him. The heat from his body warmed my own. My shivering gradually stopped and I relaxed in his embrace.

"Kai…" I was about to thank him but he hushed me.

"Go to sleep now," he whispered. He gently claimed my lips with his, drawing me from reality and into a peaceful slumber.

Goldflame rebound into my purple-gloved palm. I smiled as Kai caught his flying Dranzer blade, my breaths rising as mist in the crisp, cold morning air. We were up early like usual and others were still asleep back at the hotel. We enjoyed training when it was peaceful and quiet so early mornings were perfect to practice and hone our Beyblading skills.

I slipped my MS Beyblade into my red jacket's inside pocket, pulling my thick BBA jacket which I wore over the top tighter around me. My smile broadened. There was nothing like a good Beybattle to wake you up.

"Tsukamaeta yume wa itsumo, katachi wo kaete shimau kara…kidzuka nai uchi ni subete, nakushiteru koto mo aru deshou. Dakedo kitto, sugita kinou wo furikaeru tabi…" the first few lines of the song Sign of Wish filled the quiet room as I sang softly, my Japanese ink brush sweeping lightly and smoothly across the paper. Shouts and the shrill ring of metal striking metal could be heard from outside. My team-mates were training. They had woken two hours after Kai and myself but Tyson - being the laziest of us all - was still asleep. It was already ten am and it looked like he would sleep until midday. I could hear him snoring in the background while I painted.

It was Saturday, the day the Olympics started. The Beyblade tournament was a few hours away. I felt my heart quicken at the thought. It would not be long before the G-revolutions were Blading their way to the top against the international teams. "Itsumademo kienai…a sign of wish." I sang the last two lines of the tune, putting the finishing touches on my ink painting.

"Nice song," a voice commented.

I looked up to see Ray standing before me, his orange-yellow eyes bright.

"What were you singing?" he asked curiously.

"Sign of Wish. It's one of the Japanese ending themes to Beyblade G-revolution, the third season of the anime I said people in my universe had made about this one," I explained. "It's one of my favourite songs of the anime although I like lots of others like Rise Above The Storm from the English version."

Ray smiled. "They sound like great songs. Maybe you should bring the CDs here sometime or even get the bands to come and play live."

"That's a good idea, Ray. I'll see what I can do in the future and let you know nearer the time."

"Thanks."

"There's even a Japanese song where Tyson's voice actor sings the words," I told him. "It's called Go Ahead."

Ray laughed. "Somehow, I can't see the real Tyson singing any songproperly!"

"Me neither!"

The Chinese teen glanced inquiringly at the painting. He saw how shy I became as soon as he asked to look at what I had done and reassured me he would not laugh at my work. I gave the picture to him and his eyes widened at the detail and precision of the painting.

"That's Kai, isn't it?"

"Yeah…" I mumbled.

"Your picture's really good, Alana. You've gotta show the others show this."

Soon Max, Rebecca, Lee, Daichi, Hilary, Kenny and Kai were gathered around me, admiring the ink painting of Kai in anime style. Their compliments made my nervousness fade and happiness replaced it. I could always rely on my friends to appreciate what I did and that was why I knew I would cherish their friendship always.

Mr. Dickenson, who had arrived at the hotel that morning, laughed jovially when he saw the group surrounding me. He beamed at us, his dark eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "Alright my little Beybladers, let's get ready. I want Tyson up and everyone outside on the double - we've got a tournament to get to!"

"Yeah!" we shouted our agreement.

Not long after, we were walking toward the Greenlandic Olympic Stadium with an annoyed Ray piggy-backing a bleary-eyed, half-asleep Tyson. We stopped and looked up at the vast, dome-shaped building when we reached the entrance. We marvelled at the stadium's sheer size and scope.

"It's huge," a voice piped up.

"So you are awake, Tyson!" Hilary threw her team-mate an exasperated glance.

Tyson grinned. "Yup, now that we're here."

I shook my head. Typical.

Tyson slid down from Ray's back and turned to face all of us. "C'mon guys, hurry up! We don't wanna be late, do we?"

Everyone rushed after him as he pelted inside. "Yeah! Go G-revolutions!" we cheered.