AN:  Wee, here's the next chapter =)  Hope you guys are enjoying this ficcy as much as I am.  I seriously love it.. way better than Never which I am seriously not like at the moment. 

Just a note, the ages are all likd 16-19 in this fic.. with Kenny, Tyson Max and Emily being the youngest and Michael, Spencer, Robert and Lee being the oldest =)  If you have specific age questions… just ask ^^

Disclaimer: I always forget these.. I think it's obvious I don't own Beyblade.

"WHAAAT??"  Tyson screeched, scrambling over Max to shove his face in Emily's.

Emily lowered the beige piece of paper to her lap and shoved Tyson away from her.  Their group had been shoved out of the plane some twenty minutes after the Demolition boys and Liika.  Upon landing –it was a miracle no one was hurt- they all scurried toward the cave that could be seen from their drop point, not wanting to stay outside in the dark.  Emily pitied the Majestics, Lee and Michael who had to land in almost complete darkness, she wondered if any of them, besides Michael, actually had experience in skydiving.  She had just finished reading the letter Mr. Dickenson had addressed to her and Mariah out loud to their group and it looked like they would be stuck out here in the Russian wilderness for sometime, months even.  The idea didn't seem to appealing to any of them.

"You heard just as well as the rest, Tyson.  It looks like we're here for the long haul."  Emily sighed, folding the letter neatly and putting it back in the envelope.  She had already noticed the color coded packs and assigned each person to their bed. 

Tyson was on the end closest to the cave entrance because he snored so loud and he moved around a lot.  From Tyson it went Kenny, Max, Emily, Mariah, Rei, and Kai, choosing to put Kai on the end opposite from Tyson, lest Kai kill the chubby boy in his sleep.

The Bladebreakers' cave was significantly bigger than the Demolition Boys' cave, there was also who more people in it.  Other than the size difference, it was laid out the same.  Heavy drape across the opening, three trunks on one side of the fireplace, curtained alcove at the back. The bedding was all in a row across from the chests and seven packs lay neatly leaning against the rock wall.  The cave looked as if it had been blasted out of the rock, rather than naturally occurring.

"Aww man, I so do not dig camping!"  Tyson muttered flopping down on his assigned bed.

"Well get used to it Tyson, because no one here is going to baby you."  Kai stated flatly, joining Rei and Mariah who were opening the first chest.

Tyson pouted and turned away from Kai, who cared what the sourpuss thought anyway!  Max smiled down at his pouting friend and patted him on the shoulder.  "Hey look on the bright side Tyson!  At least we don't have to go home and do homework!"  He said brightly.

"I happen to like homework much better than camping!"  Kenny chimed, clutching Dizzi to his chest.  "Just how am I suppose to keep Dizzi running if there's no where to plug her in?"

"I believe I have the answer to that Chief, with these!"  Rei said holding up a couple spare laptop batteries in one of his hands.  "There is about eight of them in here.  You'll just have to limit Dizzi's use."

Kenny sighed sadly and set Dizzi down on his bed.  He would miss spending long hours just chatting it up with his bit beast, she was his best friend. 

"Well at least you get spare batteries for your laptop Kenny, I don't even get my computer!  I left it on the bus."  Emily exclaimed frowning.  It wasn't fair!

"Emily's right, Chief.  We'll need your help to survive out here, you'll be so busy you wont even have time to lament not talking to Dizzi!"  Max chirped, grinning.

At this Kenny looked mortified.  "What do I know about camping??  I've never slept outside in my entire life!  What if we starve?  Or get attacked??  Or get eaten by bears?!"  Kenny rambled, he was starting to panic.  How could Mr. D. just leave them out there?

Max and Emily glanced at each other and sweatdropped, Kenny sure knew how to over react!  "Calm down Kenny… We don't know much about camping either, but I'm sure we can learn."  Emily said.

"Emily's right you guys," Mariah said, coming over and leaving the two boys to the rifling through chests.  "I think this will be a good learning experience for all of us.  Mr. Dickenson was right about us all needing more training in teamwork.  And you know what they say, dependence is the most important step in becoming a team."  She finished, plunking down beside Emily and Max.

"I'm hungry!"  Tyson moaned rolling over to face the group that was now gathering in the middle of the bed mats.

The group rolled their eyes at the blue haired teen.  "When are you not hungry Tyson?"  Emily asked, pushing up her glasses.

Tyson stuck out his tongue at her.  "I'm not hungry all the time!  But I haven't eaten in hours!"

"Well you will just have to wait."  Kai snapped.  "We do not know yet what supplies we have.  Why don't you guys make yourselves useful and build a fire.  It will get colder, the early Russian spring is not what I call tropical."

Tyson, Max, Kenny and Emily stared at the tall blue haired boy blankly.  He expected them to do what?  "Uh… excuse me?"  Tyson muttered dumbly.

Kai let out a huge sigh and ground his teeth together.  Why did he get stuck with all the lame brains that knew nothing about camping?  Why couldn't there have been a group of those who knew what to do and a group of those who didn't!  At least he knew Liika would be with people who did know what to do.

"Don't worry Kai, I'll do it."  Mariah laughed softly getting up and heading over to the kindling.  "I trust he sent matches and such?"

Kai snorted and handed her the items she needed then turned back to the four teenagers that were still sitting across the hearth from him.  Glaring at them he said, "You start training tomorrow.  I refuse to be stuck babysitting four perfectly able people!"

The four nodded silently, not wanting to incite Kai's wrath any further.  However, a part of them rebelled slightly, after all was it their fault they didn't know anything about camping or wilderness survival??

"I can't believe Mr. D forgot to give us kindling!  Geez… and why'd I have to come??  Why not Robert… he wasn't doing anything… stupid… rich…"  Enrique continued to whine and he and Jade made their way through the darkness, both pulling their new parka's closer around their faces, on their search for dry kindling to start a fire with.

Their land had also gone surprisingly well, apparently most of them had been sky diving before.  They landed not far from a shelter of some sorts.  The shelter was not really a cabin but more like a subterranean lodge, built of a wood frame with thick earthen walls covered with blankets on the inside and a waterproof clay sealing on the outside.  It was large enough to sleep the seven people it would have to and was sectioned off into two sections.  A small back section was walled off, with a doorway leading to the main room that was curtained off.  It was used as a washroom and/or change room.  The ground had been covered with thin wood planking, except for a medium sized circle in the middle of the floor that had been circled with rocks and prepared as a fireplace.  The beds had been lined up against one wall to the right of the dwellings entrance, while tools and shelves were lined up against the opposite wall.

Jade sighed as she grew annoyed with Enrique's whining.  He wasn't the only one of course.  Robert, Johnny and Oliver had taken one look at the lodge and sneered in disgust.  The rich boys seriously needed to get out more.  "Enrique, in case you haven't noticed, you're just as rich as Robert."  She said picking up a few sticks that proved to be dry.

Enrique stuck his tongue out at her and continued wander around in a circle not doing anything constructive.  "Yeah but he doesn't have to be so stuck up about it!  Why couldn't he be out here?"

"Because, he and the others had other things to attend to.  I mean its not like we have a hard job you know."  Jade picked up a few more sticks until it looked like they had enough kindling for the night.  "Come on, let's head back.  Thanks for all the help." She said bitterly.

Enrique grinned and started to skip back down the trail towards the lodge.  "No problem!  Glad to be of service!"

All of a sudden they heard a twig snap somewhere in the bushes and both teenagers jumped a few feet in the air.  "Uh Jade… what was that??"  Enrique said nervously eyeing the bushes around them.

Jade stepped closer to Enrique so that her full arms brushed against the lanky blonds back.  "How should I know?  You're the guy, aren't you suppose to be protecting me?"  She whispered back, also eyeing the surrounding wilderness.

"Wh-what??"  Enrique choked, turning red, his body tightening up until it was stiff as a board.  "What do you want me to do??"

She shot him a look and giggled.  "Well if worse comes to worse you can always sacrifice yourself so I can flee to safety."

Enrique eye's widened and became glassy with tears and his bottom lip quivered.  "But Bella!  You would actually sacrifice me to save yourself??"  He wailed.

Jade rolled her eyes and pushed at him.  "Just go, if we leave now no one will have to be sacrificed!"

Laughing nervously, Enrique shot off down the trail.  "You don't have to tell me twice!" He called behind him.

"Hey.. Wait!  Don't leave me back here alone!  Coward!"  She yelled running after him.  Some man he was!

Liika sighed as she slowly awoke, unconsciously cuddling closer to the warmth she was pressed against.  It had been a very long, very cold night.  Who knew the Russian spring was so frigid?  Japan certainly wasn't!  She didn't tolerate cold well, her thin bone structure wouldn't allow it.

And then there was the whole problem of the extremely hard and lumpy 'mattress', if you could call it that; she certainly didn't!   Grumbling under her breath, she once again wormed closer to the only source of heat near her.  Realization hit her after a few moments that the 'source' of heat was actually another person.

She froze, afraid any movement would make the person she was, in all accounts, molesting.  Cracking her eyes open cautiously she was relieved to note that everyone in the cave was still sound asleep, and judging from the lack of light, a) the fire had died and b) the sun had not risen.  It was then that the full impact of her position hit her.

She was curled tightly against someone's side.  Somehow, during the night, she had managed to scoot out from under her heavy blankets and under his.  Her head was resting gently on a broad, firm, chest her right hand clenching a fist full of soft blue cotton fabric.  Her front was pressed against a well-muscled arm and her right knee rested on top of his thigh in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing in her left ankle.

Liika had never been more mortified in her entire life.  She was cuddling, no snuggling with the mean tempered Bryan from the Demolition Boys.  She was not only mortified, but terrified as well.  What if he woke up?? What if he killed her when he found her??  And most importantly what the hell was she suppose to do?!  Her first impulse was to flee; to escape to her own bed and pretend it never happened.  However, the more she thought about it the worse the idea seemed.  Her movement would surely wake him up and then where would she be?  And what about the others?  What if they woke up and found her there?  She was not at all comfortable with them finding out her weakness to cold, she didn't trust them fully… yet, but she supposed they would find out sometime.

Well, she thought dryly, I must trust at least him, I did after all cuddle up to him.

Biting her lip she decided, after several minutes of deep thought that her best bet was to stay put and go back to sleep.  Maybe he would just push her aside when he did wake, but at least she wouldn't be conscious to witness the embarrassment of it.  Yawning she snuggled closer and slowly drifted to sleep.  Besides, he was warm and he smelled good. ^-^

When Liika awoke again the cave was in full movement, and her pillow –and heat source, was gone.  She could hear the shuffled footsteps the boys moving around.  She could hear the crackling of a fire, which must have just been started as she could not feel the heat yet.  She shivered; with out the body heat of the person beside her, she was freezing.

Shifting, she blinked blearily as she allowed her eyes to focus out of the post sleep haze.  To her surprise she was still laying on the bed mattress next to her own – the dark red pillow case was her tip off – only now she was curled in a fetal position to conserve heat, Bryan's blankets wrapped tightly around her… they still smelled like him.  Figuring it was probably time she got up –the ground was seriously uncomfortable- she unfurled herself and sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning.  She was still tired.

"Well good morning sleeping ugly… or should I say good afternoon!" Ian jeered, smirking at her from where he was crouched across the fire poking at it with a stick.

Liika yawned again and shot him a dirty look.  "Didn't your mother ever tell you that little children shouldn't play with fire?"  She replied with feigned innocence, which earned a snicker from Tala who was rifling through one of the chests.  "Besides I know very well that you all just woke up, that fire is still new."

"Well la-dee-da, looks like city girl may know a thing or two about camping!"  Ian's voice was a sneer as he stood and moved to help Tala.  It was all he could do not to comment about the fact that she was wrapped in Bryan's blankets, on his bed.  Bryan had told him to keep his trap shut about it…and he didn't particularly want to piss Bryan off.  Besides, Tala had commanded it also.

"Heh, I hate to inform you, but you live in Moscow.  Last time I checked, that was a city."  She shot back quickly.

Ian had no reply to that and huffed, turning his face away.  She giggled in her head, wrapping herself –head and all, in a blanket, creating a shawl of sorts around her.  Scooting back, she rested her back against the smooth cave wall and pushed her stocking feet out in front of her, so her ankle sat straight on the bed padding… It was less painful this morning, she noticed.

"Damn your Russian….weather!"  She was about to say winter but then remembered it was mid March and technically spring had begun.  "How can you wear so little and stay warm?"  She asked, her teeth chattering a bit as she spoke.

Tala and Ian looked over –Bryan and Spencer were nowhere to be seen, each raising an eyebrow.

"What's the matter, don't like the cold?  This is warm for this time of year."  Ian smirked.

"Warm?!"

"We were trained to endure the elements, to us this is warm, or at least not freezing."  Tala cut in before Ian could make another sneering comment.

"Well that explains a lot…" She muttered to herself.

Tala and Ian stood then, finding what they were looking for.  In one hand Tala held a black sauce pan and in the other a grill like device, that when set up over the fire would hold the weight of a full large pot.

"Ian, go back to the alcove and fill this pot with oatmeal from the small sack next to the small chest."  Tala ordered, handing the sauce pan to the smaller teen.

Liika's eyes followed the blue haired boy that was dressed in his normal outfit and watched him disappear behind the curtain, flashlight in hand.  Funny, she didn't see a sack or a chest when she had been back there the night before, of course she wasn't really looking either.  Her attention turned to the entrance as the drape was pulled back and Spencer walked in, carrying a pot full of what appeared to be water.  Bryan who was also carrying a container of water –a pail this time- followed him closely.  Liika turned her head and pulled the blanket down over her face more, a hot blush covering her face.  She knew he knew she had almost glomped him in the middle of the night, the question was, what would he do about it?  Looking up slowly, letting her long blue hair, which she had taken out of its normal bun the night before, hang over her face, she discreetly checked his response.

He had set the pail down against the wall beside the chests, and other than an indifferent glance in her direction, he completely ignored her.  She sighed in relief, at least he wasn't going to kill her!  Of course he could be waiting for a time when they were alone to strike.  Her eyes widened; that was it!  He would wait until they were alone then strangle her to death O.O!  She mentally smacked herself, Calm down, you're being completely irrational!

She was knocked out of her thoughts when something soft and rather heavy landed on her head, sliding down her face.  "Ow."  She muttered, pulling the offending item off her face.  Looking down she discovered a dark blue parka, trimmed with white faux fur.  It was beautiful!  The outside was made of a dark blue waterproof sued like material, while the inside was lined with a pale blue velvety cotton that was soft to the touch.  It was pretty, but also looked functional and warm.

"Put it on." A low voice commanded from in front of her.

Liika blinked and stared up into the blank ice blue eyes of Bryan, who stared back dispassionately.  "Huh?"

"Put it on."  He repeated.  "These too."  He added kicking her boots –which he had dropped at her feet.

"Why?" 

"Just do it."  Was the last thing he said before stalking away ducking out the entrance.  It was clear he had lost whatever miniscule amount of patience he had, if in fact he had any to begin with. 

Shrugging she did as was commanded, first tying up the right boot, then loosely securing the left one –it was still a tad swollen.  Then taking off the blanket, she zipped up the heavy coat, not at all surprised at its warmth.  Bryan came back in, and stalked –he never just walked- over to her stopping in front.

"Get up."

Liika scowled, everything he said seemed like an order, and it was starting to annoy her.  "You could ask nicely you know."  She retorted dryly.

He merely snorted and crossed his arms, staring down at her, his eyes hard.  Finally after a few moments of an intense staring contest, Liika sighed loudly and made her way to her feet –not an easy task for someone with only one good ankle.  Bryan, of course, did nothing to help.  As soon as she balanced herself, Bryan stepped closer, lowered himself and slung her over his shoulder, his arm wrapping around the backs of her knees to support her.  She was just thankful he was not wearing his armor like shoulder guards.

"Oof!  What the hell are you doing?!"  Liika demanded pounding her small fists on his wide back.  "Put me down!"

Bryan's pale eyebrow twitched.  "Would you rather wet yourself then?"  He asked flatly,

"Umm… no."  Now that he mentioned it, she did have to go pee rather bad.

Bryan carried her a few hundred meters outside the cave and set her down –he did almost drop her- behind some bushes and trees.  "Make it quick." He stated, stalking off.

Liika threw a glare at his retreating back.  Maybe he was angry about the whole morning cuddle thing, but then who could tell?  He was always that way.  Quickly going about her business, she finished up and stood, wondering what to do.  She then noticed the creek was only about ten meters to her left and decided that she really needed to wash her hands, so she began hopping/limping in that direction.  She made it there easy enough, falling to her knees beside the freezing water. –she just hoped the knees to her pants would dry out easy enough.

The day, she noticed, was overcast, as threatening looking grew storm clouds loomed overhead.  Liika shivered at the thought of getting caught in a sudden torrential downpour.  Quickly washing her hands, she all but jumped to her feet really not wanting to get wet.  However, as she jumped up she brought her weight down on her injured left ankle.  Screeching in pain she lifted the foot sending her off balance and straight for the sub-arctic water.

But just as she was about to topple head first into the icy drink, an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back.  "Stupid girl."  A low voice hissed.

Liika sighed in relief, her whole body sagging against her rescuer.  "Thank you, I really didn't want to get wet."  Liika said, craning her beck so she could look up into the boy's face.

Ice blue eyes glared at her as their owner snorted in reply.  "Stupid girl," he muttered again, spinning her to face him.

"Oh no you don't!" She exclaimed, taking a tentative hop/step back, making sure she didn't fall into the water.  "I will not be slung over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes!"  With that said she turned in the direction of the cave entrance and began to hobble toward it.  She only made it about three meters before she was scooped unceremoniously off her feet into the burly boy's arms.  Emitting a small squeak, Liika flung her arms around Bryan's neck in fear he would drop her.  He cast her an annoyed look, but said nothing.

As they entered the small cave they were greeted with a rather comical sight.  The three boys were sitting on one side of the fire trying to stop a glue-like blob from spilling from the pot into the fire.  Liika stared for a moment trying to figure out what it was they were doing before it hit her.

The oatmeal.

"Oh my god."  She moaned, beginning to struggle in Bryan's arms.  "Put me down before those idiots make any more of a mess!"

Bryan did what was demanded and dropped her on the floor.

"Ow…" She moaned, "Jerk."

The other three still hadn't noticed they had come in and were now poking at the pot with the wooden spoon.  Liika rolled her eyes.  "Oh damn it, just take the pot off the fire already!"  She exclaimed crawling over.

The three boys looked startled for a second and stood still, until finally Spencer removed the pot from the grill over the fire to the dirt beside it.  Ian, who held the spoon, peered into the pot, tilting his head and said, "I don't think it's ready yet."

"Oh for the love of… Gimme that!"  Liika demanded, snatching the spoon away from Ian.

"Hey!"

Liika ignored him, instead pushed him aside and looked into the now calm pot.  The 'mush' –if you could call it that- inside was gluey and stuck together to form a large glutinous ball of stuff, and judging from the smell, it was burnt on the bottom.   There was almost no water left at all.  Liika made a face and poked the gluey ball.

"Please tell me you weren't trying to make something edible…"

Ian huffed.  "As a matter of fact we were!"

She sent him, as well as Tala and Spencer who were watching rather impassively, a look that clearly read, "Don't quit your day job."

"Well if this was suppose to be oatmeal you failed miserable.  Haven't you ever cooked before?"  She asked.

The teens shrugged.  "Our rations were always dried pre-made travel food.  Boris never felt we needed to learn to cook."  Tala answered.

She stared at him.  "Are you serious?  Oh lord.  I suppose once you had taken over the world you'd have slaves to do your cooking…Not even on survival training when you had to fend for yourself??"  Her voice was incredulous, not really believing what she was being told.

It was Spencer this time, that replied.  "The only thing we had to cook was meat."

Liika sighed, muttering a few choice words in Japanese.  "I now see why Mr. D sent me along with you.  Ok then, looks like I'll be doing the cooking –I'd like to live through this experience.

"You," she said pointing at Ian, "Go dispose of that," she motioned at the pot, "wash the pot and fill it with water.  You," this time she pointed at Spencer, "Go fill the sauce pan with new oatmeal.  What a waste of provisions.  Anyway.  You," pointed at Tala, "Fix the fire, your glue put half of it out."

"Why should we listen to you?!"  Ian demanded, glaring.

Liika glared back.  "Do you or do you not want to eat today?"  She retorted calmly.

Tala and Spencer stood.  "Just do as she asks Ian."  Tala commanded, crouching beside the fire.

Ian growled, snatching up the now cool pot.  "Well what about Bryan?  Doesn't he have to do something?"  He insisted, pointing to the pale haired young man who was seating on his bed watching the whole thing with a smirk.

"No.  He saved me from an icy bath.  He gets a brake.  Now go!"  She snapped, finger directed toward the entrance.

"Che," Ian grumbled all the way out, making sure to mutter loud enough for hear.  "Bryan gets off easy just cause you're a klutz.  Who died and made you God?"

"You all did of course!" She called back. "Who can cook here?"