The snow bit at her face and tugged in the folds of her clothes. Yuki screwed up her eyes as the flurry of snow, sleet and hail whipped her face.

The snow storms on Akillian were famous for their ferocity, Yuki began to wish that she had chosen a better time to run away.

"Hey Thran, do you know where Yuki is? I can't find her anywhere," Micro-Ice asked Thran as he entered Thran and Ahito's shared bedroom.

"Looking for your girlfriend are you?" giggled Thran. Micro-ice punched him on the arm, but only lightly to show that Thran was right.

"I wonder where she could be?" muttered Micro-Ice to himself.

"Don't worry, she'll be around somewhere. After all its our match against the Red Tigers today."

"The Red Tigers? They don't stand a chance." Giggled Micro-Ice. He headed towards his room to see if Yuki was in there.

She wasn't.

But Micro-Ice did notice a scrawled note lying on his bed. He picked it up and read the scribbled message, gasping as he went.

Dear Micro-Ice,

Tell the others I'm sorry,

I'm not good enough to be a Snow Kid.

I hope to see you all on TV some time.

Good luck and good bye.

Yuki

"Thran!" Yelled Micro-Ice hurrying into his friends room again. "Read this," he demanded, shoving the note into Thran's hand. Thran's eyes scanned the paper and they widened as he realised what it said.

"Yuki is gone?" Gasped Thran.

"I know, it's terrible!" Moaned Micro-Ice, "Has she broken up with me as well?"

"That's not why I'm worried," snapped Thran, "Have you seen the weather?" Micro-Ice looked out the window and saw the chaotic flurry of snow that was cascading to the surface of Akillian.

"Oh God," mumbled Micro-Ice, biting his bottom lip.

"What if something's happened to her?" Asked Thran, concerned.

"We've got to go find her!" Decided Micro-Ice.

"What?" Shrieked Thran, "There's no time, we've got to play the Red Tigers."

"We can go find her and be back in twenty minutes," retorted Micro-Ice, "There's plenty of time.

A few moments later Thran and Micro-Ice pushed open the doors of the Akillian stadium and made their way out into the snowstorm. Wrapped up warm; gloves, scarf, coat, they peered through the sea of white in search of Yuki.

Micro-Ice and Thran stepped up high onto a snow shaft, looking across the landscape for a streak of ginger hair. Suddenly they felt the snow crumble beneath them. The two boys screamed in unison as they fell into an abyss.

"Rocket? Where are Yuki, Thran and Micro-Ice?" Asked Aarch looking thoroughly concerned.

"I don't know sir," replied Rocket apologetically.

"Where could Micro-Ice be?" asked Rose, looking worried.

"How dare they be late for this match!" exploded Aarch, filled with anger.

"I'm sure it's something important, they wouldn't be late for just anything," consoled Mei, but Aarch wasn't having any of it.

"There is nothing more important than this match!" Barked Aarch, "Don't any of you realise that if you don't win this match, it's over. You lose the cup, you lose everything."

"Sir, we can still play without them," insisted Mark.

"It looks like we're going to have to," moaned Aarch. "Alright I'm going to have the move the formation around a little bit.

"In goal: Ahito

Defence: Mei and Derek

Midfield: Tia and Rocket

Attack: D'Jok and Rose"

"Aarch," began D'Jok, "I don't think I can play today."

"D'Jok I know you've been having a tough time at the moment, but being part of a team means playing matches," growled Aarch.

"I can't!" D'Jok yelled back. All the others fell silent, no one had yelled at Aarch before.

"D'Jok you listen to me," began Aarch.

"No Aarch, maybe I don't want to be a part of this team anymore!" D'Jok roared, storming out of the locker room and slamming the door, leaving them all in awkward silence.

"Well…" sighed Aarch, he looked as though he couldn't go on. His team was failing him.

"Ok," said Clamp, taking Aarch's place, "Mark you go at midfield, Tia you'll have to play up in attack."

The players all nodded, eager not to get Aarch any angrier than he already was.

"The day is here!" Screamed Callie Mystic into her microphone, "today the Red Tigers and the current champions, the Snow Kids, will face off to see who will represent Akillian in this years Galactik Football cup!"

"That's right Callie," agreed Nork, "the bookies are giving odds of 30-1 against the Red Tigers winning! The Snow Kids are sure fire winners of this match!"

"Yes, but Aarch is playing a new and very different line-up compared to his old team! No Micro-Ice, D'Jok or Thran and new, untrained, players in their place. It's a risky move by Aarch!"

"And the players are all on the field now," continued Nork, "and kick-off is in ten seconds!"

The ball shot into the air and Rocket instantly took it from his red clad adversary. Rocket dribbled around an unskilled defender and shot the ball across field to Mark.

Mark took the ball on his chest and continued down an unmarked wing. At the last second he skidded 90 degrees and chipped the ball up into the air. Tia sprinted to underneath the ball and then launched herself into the air leaving her defender trailing. She contorted her body in mid air, blue flux swirling around her. She swung her foot round to connect with the ball.

The ball shot into goal, leaving the Red Tigers goalkeeper standing, completely shocked.

"Wow a goal by the Snow Kids already!" Shrieked Callie, "clearly the Snow Kids are just leagues ahead of the Red Tigers!"

Rocket grinned as he took the ball from the kick-off again. His worries had been for nothing. Rocket dribbled around the first defender and then moved on to the second one. He was surprised when the ball was tackled out from under his feet.

"Rocket, don't get overconfident! Get that ball back now!" Roared Aarch.

Mei obliged, taking the ball back and heading back up the pitch. She sprinted all the way down the line, dribbling past countless Red Tigers. She moved into the centre of the pitch and took the shot.

The ball flew at goal, blue flux crackling off the back off it. The ball smashed into the crossbar, leaving a dent and flying back off it.

Mei sighed as the Red Tigers began back down the pitch. The Red Tigers passed the ball around Mark and completely avoided Rocket.

Derek was left alone on defence against the incoming Red Tiger. Mark gasped suddenly realising what Derek was going to do.

Derek ran at the Red Tiger, as though about to tackle him and then, at the last moment, Derek turned and fell as though twisting his ankle. The Red Tiger was left alone. Ahito wasn't prepared. The ball flew into the Snow Kids goal.

"And it's 1-1!" Gasped Callie. "The Red Tigers have equalized!"

"You see!" Bellowed Aarch, "that's what happens if you become overconfident!"

"Mei!" Called Mark, sprinting over to the long haired defender. "You have to handle all the defence."

"What?" asked Mei, confused.

"Look," began Mark, struggling to find the words, "I just don't trust Derek…"

"I know what you mean," agreed Mei, "sometimes he acts so weird."

"Well," Mark tried again, "I just don't think he's very good on defence…"

"Alright Mark." Replied Mei, "I'll try and play even more defensively. Now go get ready for the kick-off!" She ordered.

"This match is far closer than anyone could have predicted!" Yelled Callie.

"Although the possession has been 67 to the Snow Kids, it's still one all as we head into the last ten minutes of the first half," announced Nork.

"But the Red Tigers are on the ball once more! And heading for the Snow Kids goal!" Screamed Callie, watching the streak of red race across the pitch.

"However, Mei has been playing very defensively today!" Answered Nork as Mei took the ball back and reversed the play.

Mei kicked the ball down field to Mark. Mark span past a defender and headed towards the Red Tigers goal. He saw Tia and Rose standing in the penalty box. He kicked the ball towards Tia.

Tia ran towards the ball, but stumbled, gasping to the floor. "I can't…play…in…attack…it's too hard" wheezed Tia, on her knees on the floor. The ball drifted past her into empty space.

Rose was ready. She sprinted towards it, leaping over Tia's kneeling body. On her landing, she swung her foot at the ball with all her force and sent the ball spiralling towards goal. The goalkeeper leapt through the air, but to no avail.

"And Rose has scored!" Hollered Callie, "Snow Kids 2, Red Tigers 1! With only a few minutes left till half time, the Snow Kids have pulled away!"

"Nice work Rose!" Cheered Aarch, "only a little bit left, don't let it slip!"

"Here comes the kick-off!" Announced Nork.

Rocket quickly took the ball and sprinted down the pitch, leaving his opposing Red Tiger in a spin. He kicked the ball up into the air and then did a half-somersault, sending it spinning towards goal. But the goalkeeper was ready jumping into the way and clutching the ball to his chest.

Rocket sighed as the goalkeeper threw the ball out to a defender, he watched as Tia struggled to chase him but ultimately couldn't keep up.

"Rocket! Keep your eye on the ball!" Demanded Aarch and Rocket flicked back into his head to see a red flash hurry past him.

Mei raced towards the attacker, committing herself completely to the tackle, but the Red Tiger suddenly crossed the ball, leaving Mei stranded.

It was the Red Tiger against Derek.

Derek charged at the Red Tiger, easily taking the ball and twisting, so his back was against the Red Tiger's chest. Then, suddenly, he slipped, throwing his arms backwards and catching the ball with his foot.

It was flawless. You would have assumed that it was a mistake if you were there, unless of course you were Mark.

Ahito was caught off guard. The ball rolled, almost lazily, into the Snow Kids goal.

"I don't believe it!" Gasped Callie, "an own goal by Derek of the Snow Kids! It's two all at half time!"

"Do you think the Snow Kids are "sure fire" winners then Callie?" Asked Nork jokingly.

"Not at all Nork!" replied Callie, "If the Snow Kids continue to play like this, they don't stand a chance of holding onto their title."

Micro-Ice regained consciousness slowly. He found himself inside a cave, a blanket snuggled around him and a fire crackling in front of him. He looked to his left and saw Thran sleeping soundly, making little noises in his sleep. He looked up and saw Yuki, who was staring right back at him.

"Yuki, did you…?" Began Micro-Ice.

"Did I help you?" She asked, "yes, you took a pretty nasty fall. But you should be alright, although I'm a little bit worried about Thran, I think he might have damaged his leg somewhat." She was being strangely formal, as though awkward about being with Micro-Ice.

"Why did you run away?" He asked quietly.

"I…" mumbled Yuki, "I didn't feel I was good enough to be a Snow Kid."

"Of course you are," insisted Micro-Ice angrily, "everyone has a bad day, stop being so hard on yourself."

There was silence, only the fire crackling filled the lonely cave.

"Did you come looking for me?" Asked Yuki tentatively.

"Yeh," grinned Micro-Ice, "we came to save you from the snow storm." Yuki giggled, the first time she had shown any happiness since Micro-Ice had awoken.

"You think you saved me?" She asked, bemused. "In case you hadn't noticed I saved you two back there!"

"Well," mumbled Micro-Ice embarrassed about being rescued by a girl, "I would have saved you eventually."

"Oh would you?" Laughed Yuki. "Very well, then let me thank you for that." She slunk over to him her eyes locked on his. She slid her hand down his chest and leaned in for a delicate kiss. The kiss turned from delicate to passionate, their tongues dancing together, their hands stroking over one another's bodies.

"Do you mind?" Said an irritated voice from Yuki's left. Yuki grinned as she pulled away from Micro-Ice and went to see Thran. She whispered as she left, "unlucky for you, I never got to really thank you."

Hope you enjoyed!

NEXT TIME:

Will they beat the Red Tigers?

Will Yuki return to the team?

Will Mark continue to keep Derek's secret?

Will D'Jok leave the team for good?