A/N: Here, at last is the first instalment of the last instalment, of the Vilikosto series. Yea, that's what I said :P I've edited this story so far and combined what used to be chapters one and two into one chapter. Hope you guys like it and please leave a review to let me know how I'm doing so far. Much love and happy reading :)

Disclaimer: As we all know, I own nothing but my OC's

Demetra Nakamura hoisted her bag over her shoulder as she left the Russian airport behind, and as she exited the building, several children stopped and gawked at her. As per usual, the brunette easily ignored them as she continued on her way, her mind firmly set on her destination.

"Wha- That's the Captain of Vilikosto!"

"No way!"

"It totally is! They kicked butt in America last month!"

"Yea but they got their butts kicked by the Blitzkrieg Boys too!"

Suddenly the Captain brought up solid. The bag she was holding over her shoulder dropped to the ground and as she slowly, calmly, reached for the launcher and blade on her belt, the raucous laughter of the cluster of children behind her quickly died down as they watched.

Wordlessly and with practised ease, quick fingers fixed her blade to her launcher and turned around.

The group of young boys all blinked at the Finnish blader as she slowly turned to face them, her face set in an emotionless expression. They watched, transfixed as she lifted her launcher, and with minimal effort, she launched her blade, making the group jump back in fright. The blade hit the ground and spun a few feet in front of her.

"Trea." She said lowly, her voice toneless. "Rise."

Anticipating a brilliant demonstration, the boys relaxed a little and huge grins lit their faces as they leaned forward to get a better look. Little eyes widened in awe as the top of the black, white and red blade began to glow a brilliant crimson colour. Almost immediately a massive black beast rose from the blade, towering well over them. The boys stared in awe and admiration at the massive black wolf. Heat radiated from the huge beast and it appeared to be on fire; its entire body engulfed in wicked-hot flames. On its head sat a heavy crown of writhing molten hot gold set with a brilliant ruby that seemed to glow from within. Its eyes themselves were like two hot embers, a swirling mixture of oranges, reds and yellows; and looking into them gave one the impression they had the ability to sear your very soul.

"Woah…." One of the boys cooed in awe, his head tilted back as he stared up at the monstrous creature towering over them.

"Trea." Demetra said again, her voice a low and cold; polar opposite of her bitbeasts heat. "Hunt."

The beast lowered its head, and crouched as if to pounce, and its lips curled back in a vicious snarl. Hot molten seemed to drip from its jaws and the ground sizzled as it fell.

The boys grabbed a hold of each other and screamed in terror before turning and bolting in the opposite direction as fast as their legs could carry them. The brunette let her bitbeast chase them a good few yards before lifting her hand to call it back. Obediently, the wolf sunk back into the blade and shot back towards its master's open hand.

Smirking in satisfaction, Vilikosto's Captain closed her hand around her blade before replacing both it and her launcher back at her belt, bending to pick up her bag and once more turning to continue on her way.

"Now then, where was that hotel?"

Demetra lifted her cell once more to look at the map on her screen. Just then it went black and a phone number appeared in it's place as the cell began to vibrate and ring. Moving her thumb to answer, she placed the cell to her ear and waited silently for the familiar voice to come through.

"Demetra?" A low, smooth and masculine voice questioned. "Have you reached Russia yet?"

"I have." The brunette replied. "I just landed. Where are you, Breal?"

"I'm at the Russian BBA headquarters. Don't bother finding the hotel or unpacking, just make your way over here immediately."

Demetra furrowed her brows in confusion but didn't argue. She never argued with her brother.

"Alright. I'm on my way."

Closing her cell, she quickly plugged in her new coordinates, double checked the map and turned around to head in the opposite direction.

"I'm here to meet with Breal Nakamura. Where is he?"

The secretary at the front desk of the BBA looked up at the brunette and blinked at her for a minute before looking back to her computer. There was a succession of rapid clicks before the woman looked back up at the young blader again and smiled.

"Ah yes, you must be Demetra." She said with a heavy accent. "Mr. Nakamura said he was expecting you."

She leaned forward in her chair and looked around the corner where there was a long hallway. Pointing she proceeded to give the brunette directions.

"Just head down that hall and turn left. The room you're looking for is the second one on your left."

Without another word to the woman, the brunette turned and headed in the designated direction.

After a few minutes walking, Demetra reached her destination and didn't hesitate as she reached up to push open the heavy metal door. As soon as she entered the spacious room, a familiar handsome blunette stopped talking to the man beside him to turn and look at her. Beside him, Mr. Dickenson smiled cheerfully.

"Ah! Demetra! So nice to see you again!"

Demetra didn't acknowledge the short, stout man; instead she made her way around the long table they were standing before to take a seat at her brother's left hand side. Doing so, she dropped her bag beside her feet.

"Breal. What are we doing here? Why did you-"

Suddenly she froze and her sentence halted abruptly as she finally spotted another group of familiar faces across from her, not having noticed them before over the high backs of the chairs they were sitting in. Immediately her face contorted into a mask of rage and disgust as she suddenly jumped to her feet, her hands slamming down on the table in front of her.

"What the hell are they doing here!?"

From his seat across from her, sitting casually in his chair with his arms crossed, Tala Ivanov smirked wickedly at her.

"What, you think you're special?" He taunted. "You're not the only one the BBA is interested in. Believe it or not, there are bladers much higher in demand than you. Now why don't you sit down and at least try to act like a civilised human being?"

Demetra felt her blood boil and wanted nothing more than to shoot across the table and throttle the obnoxious redhead.

"Demetra." Breal said calmly, tonelessly. "Sit."

Her teeth bared in a vicious snarl, the brunette reluctantly sat back down, leaning back in her seat and aiming a look of hatred at the redhead.

"Nice accessories." Tala taunted, gesturing to the bandages around her throat and twisting down under her shirt.

Demetra scowled as she remembered their last encounter such a short time ago, a battle that had left them both a little worse for wear and had completely demolished Vilikosto's training room, forcing them to split up and train elsewhere.

Despite his cockiness, the brunette knew for a fact that the redhead himself also had bandages hidden under his turtleneck and heavy jacket.

"Thanks. I thought I'd wear them so you wouldn't feel too pathetic." She countered with a glare.

"Enough." Breal said.

Demetra gave the redhead one last scowl before turning towards the front. Tala snorted humorously and smirked again before doing the same.

"Right then." Mr. Dickenson said, deciding to get down to business before something got started. "Now that everyone is here, let's discuss the reasoning behind it! After much talk and consideration, Mr. Nakamura and I have come up with an idea between us. We've both come up with a plan to help both your teams… shall we say, learn to get along. A way to help you both learn to understand one another as well as learn from one another."

Getting a sinking feeling in her gut, Demetra scowled again, knowing what was coming.

"Don't say it!" She growled in warning. Giving her a somewhat weary look, the man ignored her and continued.

"We've decided that during her stay here, Demetra will stay with the Blitzkreig boys."

Releasing a furious growl, the brunette uncrossed her arms and reached out to slam her fist down on the table.

"Are you insane old man!?" She roared furiously. "Do you have any idea what happened the last time that arrogant snot and I were put in a room together!?"

Without waiting for a response, the Captain stood up again, pulled up her shirt – which earned a few flustered looks from some of the boys across the table – and partially pulled aside the bandages on her stomach and chest to reveal a deep and angry set of slashes running at a slant down her abdomen.

"Does that look like a good idea to you?!" She snarled. "Does that look like something someone ready to understand each other would do?!"

She moved the bandages back into place and yanked her shirt down before lifting her hand to point an accusing finger at the redhead across the table.

"And I can tell you for damn sure that he's got an exact duplicate marring his back! Why do you think he's sitting away from his chair?!"

A deep scowl creased Tala's face now as he glared at the Captain across him.

Mr Dickenson was frowning deeply, looking very disturbed.

"I know all about what happened at your New Years party Ms. Nakamura, which is exactly why I am so for this idea." He sighed and offered her a warm, patient smile. "Beyblading is all about fun and sportsmanship. It's a way for bladers to unite, help each other, enjoy themselves through a healthy release of battling and competition…. It's not meant to be used for such colossal and violent displays of power… By following through with this plan, we hope to eliminate the possibility of anything like this happening again."

"The hell it won't!" Demetra exploded. "I won't do it! I refuse to spend one night with that cocky, ignorant, self-centred a-"

"Yes, you will." Breal interrupted calmly, levelling a stern and demanding look on his sister.

Positively livid and indeed looking ready to explode, the brunette turned an incredulous look on the blunette.

"You can't ask this of me, Breal!" She exclaimed, her eyes pleading.

"I can and I will." His expression softened ever-so-slightly. "This is for the best, Demetra. And it will turn out alright."

Her chest heaving with overwhelming emotion, Demetra stared at her brother as her white-hot fury tore through her body. But, being one of the only handful of people she actually respected in the world - him being the most - as always she was subdued by his will.

"Fine." She hissed through clenched teeth.

From his spot at the other side of the table, Tala smirked in amusement.

"Is that the sound of a whip I hear?" He taunted. "Yes, I believe it is. Just look at that, boys! The mutt has bowed to it's master."

The others in the room almost expected the brunette to start foaming at the mouth as she seemed to glare a hole through Tala's soul, but it was like water off a ducks back for the redhead. However, the sinister glare he got from the girl's brother quickly wiped the smirk from his face and sobered him up.

"Keep talking, Ivanov. That's all you're any good for." She seethed through gritted teeth, her hands clenched in tight fists on the table before her. She turned then to look at the Chairman with fire in her eyes. "I'll go along with it, don't think for one second that this ludicrous plan is going to somehow make us best friends."

She turned then back to Tala, a look of pure and unrefined hatred in her eyes.

"Him and I will never be friends." She hissed spitefully. "Just stay the hell out of my way, Ivanov!"

That said she reached down, picked up her bag to sling over her shoulder and stormed out of the room.

Several pairs of eyes stared after the fiery young blader in stunned silence as Breal released a heavy sigh and reached up to rub the bridge of his nose.

"Damn Tala…" Ian said, still staring at the door the girl had nearly torn from the hinges on her way out. "She makes you look like a harmless puppy!"

"Yea." Brian said, a dopey grin on his face and pinkish blush on his cheeks. "I think I'm in love!"

Tala made no comment as he too stared with crossed arms at the door the brunette had stormed through. Finally he smirked again.

"Girl's got attitude, I'll give her that." He thought in amusement.

Too bad she was such a stubborn, obnoxious downright loathsome pain in the ass. Otherwise, Brian might have had some competition.

Demetra stood with crossed arms and an intense expression on her face, glaring menacingly at the ground as she leaned against a street lamp. Beside her, Breal was also standing with crossed arms, but he himself was watching the distance, waiting. The silence between them was heavy but the tension was stifling. After some time, the blunette's gaze left the horizon and looked down at his younger sister.

"Demetra." He said tonelessly. "You know I'm not doing this to hurt or spite you, don't you? I truly believe this is for the best."

The brunette snorted moodily and turned her face away from him.

"Hey, look at me."

For a moment, she stubbornly refused. But eventually, as always, she obliged her brother and turned back to him with an angry and defiant expression. However, her eyes portrayed the deep betrayal and hurt she felt inside. Breal's own expression softened and he turned to fully face the girl.

"Have I ever let you down before?"

Demetra worked her jaw for a few moments but eventually she sighed heavily, unable to deny it to herself. No, her brother had never let her down once. Ever since the day he'd pulled her and her team; her sisters, out of the lonesome orphanage, he'd never once steered them in the wrong direction. And even if he was physically absent much of the time, not once was he never there when they needed him.

"No…" She admitted eventually. "Never…"

"And I don't intend to this time." The blunette said firmly. "I know I'm asking a lot of you and I know this seems like a really bad idea to you right now. But just give it a chance, alright?"

Demetra looked away from him and stared at a random spot off to the side.

"Alright... I trust you."

"I know you do." Breal replied solemnly. "And I promise not to break your trust."

She eyed him through the corner of her eye for a long time, debating, before eventually sighing and looking away from him again.

Breal reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, making her look back at him once more. The blunette had never been overly affectionate or touchy-feely, but he'd always been able to comfort the girls when they needed it. Something as simple as a touch to the shoulder could mean a great deal coming from the young man and because of this, Demetra felt herself finally relax.

"I'm proud of you. I want you to know that."

Demetra felt her heart lighten as most of the tension and negativity finally drained away. Looking fully up at her brother, she gave him a rare, warm smile.

"Thank you…" She said softly, reaching up to wrap her fingers around his hand. "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. You never have."

Suddenly feeling on top of the world, Demetra gave her brother's hand a slight squeeze before the distant sound of high-pitched motors reached their ears. The two released each other and turned towards the sound, Demetra much more curiously then the man beside her.

"I never asked before, but where are we going anyway?" The brunette asked, eyes trained on the distance.

Breal was silent for a minute before eventually answering.

"There's a small, secluded village high and deep up in the mountains. It's difficult to get to unless you know the way and they virtually never get visitors. It will be a good place to train without being bothered or having to worry about disturbing anyone."

"I see." She replied simply.

There was silence again and only moments later, a trio of snow mobiles appeared over the horizon, zipping towards them at top speed. Only moments later, the three reached them. One of the riders, mounted atop a bright orange ski-doo with a matching white and orange snow suit, gave his rig a sharp turn as he reached the two bystanders, causing a massive wave of snow to rise up from the ground towards them.

Much to the rider's disappointment, Breal (as expected) casually stepped to the side to avoid the tidal wave. Unfortunately, so did his sister, in the other direction.

The rider reached up to remove his helmet and Demetra was unsurprised to see a familiarly obnoxious redhead grinning at her as she glared back through narrowed eyes.

"Nice reflexes." Tala mocked. "Too bad you didn't have those in the dish."

Demetra's teeth clenched and the hands across her chest tightened into fists but she refused to take the bait this time.

Without a word, the brunette turned away from the redhead and approached Kai and Spencer, who were off-loading a fourth red and white snow mobile from the trailer they'd been pulling. Tala snorted in amusement.

"Sure you can handle that thing?" He taunted. "It's might be a little fast for you."

"I think I can manage." Demetra replied cooly. "Seeing as I've been riding it for the past decade."

"It's her ski-doo, Tala." Kai said wearily, causing the redhead to lift an eyebrow. But he made no further comment.

Tala watched as the boys unhooked the trailer from the rig they'd been riding and instead attached it to Demetra's. The brunette then moved and began shifting and fastening her things and various other supplies to the trailer.

Once everything was secured and ready to go, Demetra moved to retrieve her helmet. She lifted it to put it on but paused when she noticed that her brother hadn't moved from his spot the entire time. Frowning, she looked around him, only now really noticing that he didn't seem to have brought anything with him, and a sinking feeling came over her.

"Where's your stuff?" She asked bluntly, looking up into her brother's face with a frown.

"I've got some things to take care of." The blunette replied tonelessly. "I'll join you at a later date."

Demetra cursed foully under her breath.

"I knew it!" She exclaimed angrily. "You've always got stuff to do! Damn it, I can't believe this! It's not bad enough that you're sending me off with these idiots, but now you're sending me off alone too! What the hell, Breal!?"

Both siblings ignored the offended looks and sputtering from the Blitzkrieg boys (except for Kai who merely looked highly amused), and gave each other a stare-down.

"You're a big girl, Demetra. I'm sure you'll be fine."

The brunette clenched her teeth angrily as a chorus of snorts and snickers erupted from behind her. Whipping her head around to shoot them a deadly glare only managed to shut one of them up and she turned back to her brother with narrowed eyes.

"You owe me, big…." She seethed angrily. Breal raised an eyebrow at this.

"I'll give you an extra Christmas present next year." He replied sarcastically.

This again earned an eruption of snickers but this time Demetra ignored them as she reached up to angrily yank her helmet down over her head.

"You should get going." Kai spoke up from the group, still looking highly amused. "There's a storm front moving in fast from the west."

Demetra's head snapped to cast a glare at him this time.

"What? So I'm riding by myself now too?" She answered angrily.

"No." The blunette replied, a small smirk creeping up his face. "Tala's riding with you. Spencer and I are riding back with Breal to get more stuff and bring his rig back."

Demetra took a deep, calming breath as she cast her gaze upwards towards the sky.

"Very funny." She thought, feeling her blood begin to boil.

With a deep and heavy sigh, she lowered her head again and closed her eyes, attempting to regain control of her rapidly rising temper.

"If you're ready, your highness, we need to get going."

Demetra's teeth clenched again as she heard Tala's voice, sounding greatly amused, much to her disdain.

"Turn on your mic so you can hear each other." Breal instructed. "They've already been synched up so it should work fine."

"Must I?" The brunette muttered irritably under her breath. But despite this she did indeed reach up under her helmet to flip the switch on.

"Testing, testing. Can you hear me you're royal pain in the ass?"

Demetra resisted the urge to throw something at the redhead and instead proceeded to settle herself in.

"Yes. And I'm debating dropping your arrogant ass through the first lake we cross." She replied bluntly as she connected the wire on her jacket to the kill-switch. "Fair warning."

Tala snorted in amusement as Kai once more spoke up from the side.

"Just shut up and get going." The blunette said in mild annoyance now as he mounted his own snow mobile. "Spencer and I will go grab the rest of the stuff and meet you there."

"Fine." Demetra replied, starting her rig.

Tala mimicked her and revved his engine as he flipped his visor down. He turned then to give her a wicked smirk.

"Try your best to keep up huh?"

Demetra sighed in annoyance as the redhead shot forwards in a cloud of snow and debris.

"Just be careful." Breal said from the sidelines. "And don't actually kill him, at least not until you get there. You'll have a hard time getting to the village without him."

"Deal." The brunette muttered, reaching up to flip down her own visor. "I'll wait til we get there."

With nothing more than a lift of the hand as a farewell to the young men, she too shot forwards after her obnoxious redhead guide.

Demetra's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the scene before her. It wasn't easy to make her nervous but the seemingly endless blur of white was beginning to make her a little uneasy. There was absolutely no reason to let on to the redhead how she was feeling, but she had no doubt she'd have been completely and utterly lost miles ago if not for Tala. It was truly amazing that anyone could find their way in this mess. The land was nothing but an expanse of shimmering white crystals, no landmarks, no visual aid whatsoever to assure you were going any way let alone the right way. Demetra frowned, she was beginning to wonder if they were even moving at all.

"How much further?" She felt like a child for asking. She had to swallow a growl as the sound of Tala's taunting laughter came through the speakers. But to her surprise, he made no comment.

"We're making decent time. We're already about half way there."

Demetra groaned inwardly. Normally her patience reigned supreme but honestly, riding to the middle of nowhere with nothing to look at and only Tala Ivanov for company (just as well she'd been alone for all the talking they were doing), it was downright the most painful torture she could imagine. Really, if they were only half there then she wasn't sure how she was going to survive the rest of the journey.

Setting her gaze forward, Demetra tried to focus on the horizon.

It had seemed like they'd been travelling for hours when eventually Demetra finally noticed that there was rapidly becoming much more white and much less blue – or any other colour for that matter.

"It's getting pretty bad... are you sure we're almost there?" Again, she felt her insides clench at seeming weak and impatient to the redhead, and indeed anticipated his response. However, she'd much have rathered his childish teasing over the response she actually got.

"We've only gone about three miles since you last asked." He replied, trying to sound annoyed, but there was a slight edge to his voice and Demetra's stomach knotted when he spoke again. "But it is getting a bit rough... I don't think we'll make it..."

Demetra felt her panic spike and had to bite her lip to keep from a less then desirable outburst.

"He better be joking!" She heard her inner self demand. "I will NOT die in the middle of Russia's damn wasteland with the last person on earth I wanna die with!"

Suddenly Demetra found herself hoping desperately that this was just the redhead messing with her again.

After a few tense moments of no response from her guide, Demetra, shifting nervously in her seat, finally broke the silence.

"Do you really think we won't make it?" She asked, trying to sound casual, but she mentally cursed as she heard her own voice in her ears. She sounded nervous and she knew Tala would pick up on it.

As expected, Tala's voice was quick on the reply.

"What's wrong Nakamura, afraid of a few flurries?" He mocked accusingly.

Dametra growled.

"No." She replied as calmly as she could through clenched teeth. "But I'm smart enough to know that a whole lot of flurries at once can be hazardous to one's health."

Fully expecting another snide remark, Tala once again surprised her when his voice once more filled her ears.

"Yea, I really do think we won't make it." He said bluntly. "Actually, I know we won't."

Demetra once more felt her panic spike but before she could comment, she noted Tala change course and veer harshly to the left. Furrowing her brows in confusion, Demetra made to follow him, admittedly a little nervous and weary of becoming separated.

"Where are we going?" She blurted again, chiding herself for her constant childishness.

"There's a safe-house for times like this." Tala replied swiftly. "Storms are pretty bad here so there are little shacks like this one scattered along the route... this is the last one before the village and honestly if we make it we'll be lucky."

Demetra tried to take a few deep breaths. This wasn't happening. What was wrong with him, couldn't he at least try to say something comforting? Sure, she hadn't really expected him to be sweet and accommodating but the least he could do was not be so morbid and negative!

So much for chivalry! Demetra snorted, she doubted the boy even knew what the word meant.

"There it is." Tala's voice suddenly cut through her panicked thoughts. "Pin it."

This time the brunette's blood pressure spiked in anger. No more than a few minutes could have passed, tops. How dare the redhead have her all panicked and nervous for no reason! He clearly knew exactly where they were and that they would make it.

Once again, Demetra growled and this time she listened to the redhead; she pinned the throttle to the max and shot after him, just as he was cresting a massive snow dune. She shot past him, flying the jump with a smirk as she sailed through the air. However, her smirk was quickly wiped from her face as she suddenly noticed the decidedly not-so-small 'shack' looming directly in front of her. Landing with a harsh thump, the brunette cut her handle bars hard to the left and both the ski-doo and trailer whipped around to do a one-hundred-eighty degree turn, narrowly missing side-swiping the building, and eventually came to a smooth stop perfectly beside the front step.

Demetra's eyes were wide and wild as her chest heaved, heart thundering like a caged animal inside it. Just then the sound of Tala's snowmobile cut through the heavy storm and a second later his light appeared, and both the redhead and his rig materialised out of the snow to stop beside her. Hurrying to compose herself, Demetra sat back casually on her seat as if she'd been waiting for hours. Through his visor she noted Tala's eyes narrow ever-so-slightly.

"A little old for showing off aren't we?" He said humorlessly as he shut off his rig and got off to collect his gear.

Demetra almost choked. If that's what it looked like from the outside, then far be it for her to burst his bubble. Besides, much better for him to think she was showing off then that she'd almost accidentally put her rig right through their so-called safe house actually being cocky.

"What can I say?" She drawled cooly. "Some things you never tire of."

"Right." Tala said bluntly, moving for the front door. "Well, if you're that desperate to be cool, princess, you can spend the night out here."

Demetra straightened and made a sour face.

"I'll pass." She mumbled, getting up to collect her things as well. "Hey, what about our rigs?"

She waited for a response but none came.

"Tala?" Demetra asked, pausing in her efforts a moment. "Tala."

Looking over her shoulder, she noticed the door to the 'shack' open and through it she could see him moving around inside, helmetless. Rolling her eyes, the brunette collected her things and proceeded to follow the redhead.

Once inside the building, Demetra closed the door behind her as she surveyed the room. The shack wasn't quite as big as it had seemed from the outside but it was still a fair size. There seemed to be one large main room, the room they were standing in; which consisted of a large table and eight chairs, an island with a few stools, two long couches, a love-seat and two armchairs with a large coffee table centred between them, and a large fire place against the back wall. There were three rooms towards the back of the shack which she could see through the open doors were a kitchen, bunkroom and the bathroom. Looking around it was obvious that the place had been decked out with many luxuries of home, and she had no doubt the Russians had indeed furnished for comfort. After all, in a place like this, who knew how long one might be stuck there.

With that thought, the idea of being stuck there was a little unsettling, but the idea of not technically being stranded with no contact with the outside world was at least some comfort.

"There's food in the kitchen." Tala's voice rang out from the back of the room. He was busy flipping switches in a large breaker box, which in turn made more and more noise as things came to life all around the building. "Go find something you want. When I'm finished with this, I'll light the fire and-"

"Why should I have to get the food?" Demetra asked with crossed arms and a stony expression. "Because I'm a woman?"

Tala stopped what he was doing for a moment and turned towards her as if she were crazy.

"What?" He asked incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"What?" Demetra mimicked. "Don't tell me that's not what you were thinking. It's practically your mantra."

She changed her voice to attempt to mimic the redhead's deep tone. "You're playing with the big boys now, girlie. What else can you expect from a bunch of girls? You don't stand a chance against us, girlie! Do you honestly think you can win against the big boys, girlie?"

She rolled her eyes in disgust and crossed her arms as she levelled the redhead with a challenging look.

Tala smirked.

"I may have said something like that once or twice." He replied in amusement. Then he sobered up. "But I didn't-"

"How about I light the fire, hot shot?"

Tala ground his teeth and turned back to the breaker box. After violently flipping one switch forcefully to the side, a loud roaring sound was heard before all the lights finally came on. Slamming the door shut, he turned to a nearby shelf and grabbed something.

"Fine." He said as calmly as he could. "You light the fire and I'll get food."

Demetra reached up and caught something out of the air, which turned out to be a large pack of matches Tala had tossed to her. She watched as the redhead stalked towards the kitchen muttering irritably to himself, then turned to face the fireplace with a frown.

"What is wrong with me lately?" She asked herself, shamed. "Why am I acting so childish? What is it about him that makes me so….. stupid!"

Shaking her thoughts aside, Demetra stripped off her gear, leaving only her boots, jeans and sweater, and hung them on some pegs alongside the fireplace. She then approached the fireplace and knelt down on one knee before it. However, she gave pause after pulling out a match and stared unblinkingly at the hearth.

"I don't know what to do." She thought in horror.

Sure, there was wood and matches but how to make a fire? Should she just throw a log on in the hearth and hold a match under it until it caught? Should she rub two sticks together to create a flame? Should she go get some gas from her snowmobile and toss a match on it? Where the hell was she supposed to start?

After staring, debating and chewing her cheek for a long time, Demetra finally decided nothing was going to get done with her staring at the stuff, so she might as well try – and quickly before her obnoxious tour guide came back.

Demetra grabbed the smallest log she could find – which was still rather large – and put it in the hearth. She then struck a match and held it under the log. She waited for the log to catch fire but nothing was happening. Finally the match burned down and she had to strike another, but this time a draft of wind from the chimney blew out her match and she had to yet again light another one. This went on for some time and Demetra quickly realised that she wasn't going to start a fire this way. She was just debating on exploring the gasoline idea when a snort from behind her made her stop and seethe in dread. Turning slowly to look over her shoulder, Demetra cast a weary glare on the redhead.

"How long have you been there?" She asked irritably.

"Long enough." He said with a smirk. "That has got to be the most pathetic thing I've ever seen."

He was leaning one shoulder against the wall with crossed arms and a cocky smirk as he looked on in great amusement. Demetra immediately wanted to throw one of the logs at him.

Uncoiling himself from the wall, Tala stalked towards his companion and her poor attempt at a fire and leaned down to slip the pack from her hand.

"Gimme that before you waste them all." He said, crouching down then in front of the fire.

Demetra watched with involuntary interest as the redhead grabbed a few sheets of paper from a stack beside the wood and shredded them. He then put it in the centre of the hearth and grabbed a few smaller sticks and twigs from a pile beside the logs, threw them on the paper and made a small tee-pee around it all out of smaller logs.

"Damn, you really are spoiled aren't you?" He asked rhetorically as he reached for the matches again. "You've obviously never done this before. I bet you've never had to worry about a fire or the cold once in your life have you? Always had someone to light your fire and keep your spoiled self from freezing, put hot water bottles in your beds, draw you a hot bath when you come in from outdoors. You probably don't even know the meaning of the term frostbite so you?"

Grinding her teeth, Demetra's eyes narrowed on the Russian. Though she was loathe to admit it (and no way in hell would she ever admit it out loud), the redhead was right – except about the frostbite, she obviously knew what that was. Not once, not ever, even in the orphanage, had she ever had to worry about lighting a fire or keeping warm – there was always someone else to take care of that.

Demetra frowned deeply, wondering now just how many other things she took for granted that were always handed to her. She'd always prided herself on being independent and learning everything about her surroundings, but then how had she never learned such a simple task? Just what else had escaped her radar?

Fuming now, Demetra watched in extreme annoyance as Tala struck a match and inserted it into the opening of the tee-pee he'd made. In seconds the paper had caught ablaze, and the fire began to roar to life. Once more the brunette felt an uncomfortable sensation deep down, but try as she might she could not hold it back, and it spewed from her mouth on reflex.

"Congratulations, Ivanov. You've finally found something you're better at then I am. I suppose that compensates for some of the things you're... lacking."

As soon as it was out, Demetra screwed up her face. Why had she said that? It was so juvenile and stupid. Why did she bait him so? Why did she let him bait her? Sure, she despised him and everything he stood for, but that had never gotten in her way before. After all, Tala Ivanov was not the first person to ever have gotten on her bad side. She was Demetra Nakamura! Feared far and wide; calm, cool, collected, patient, intelligent, wise beyond her years, master of her own emotions, a bloody monk when it came to keeping herself together! All of these things normally described her but Demetra was disgusted to admit that around this infuriating individual, she just wasn't herself – whatever the hell that meant.

Thinking of the redhead, Demetra turned her attention back to him, but she was a combination of relieved and a little miffed to find that he seemed to have absolutely no reaction to her bait at all, and instead continued to tend the fire as if she hadn't spoken.

"Well why should he have a reaction?" She scolded herself. "No mature being would respond to that, except perhaps to laugh."

Admittedly, she was glad the redhead hadn't turned lest he see the state he'd indirectly put her in. Damn it, he even caused her emotions to go all haywire without even saying anything. Demetra sweatdropped and placed a hand to her forehead.

"Oi... this is going to be a long bloody vacation." She thought with slight embarrassment. "Alright Demetra, grow up! Stop acting so immature, you don't need to stoop to his level."

Just then a movement from the direction of the fire caught her eye and the brunette turned to see Tala very slowly rising to his feet. She watched him suspiciously for a moment but when he turned slowly around, the intense expression and heated look in his eyes made her breath catch and a hot wave suddenly and unexpectedly wash over her.

With slightly wide eyes, Demetra stood paralysed in place as the redhead stalked slowly and silently towards her like a wolf stalking its prey. When he was nearly upon her and Demetra could swear she could feel the heat of his gaze, she unconsciously swallowed hard and reflexively took a step back. But Tala didn't back off and in a moment he had her pressed against the wall.

Demetra couldn't breathe as the redhead's body pressed criminally close to hers. His arms were braced either side and above her head, and if his face were any closer she'd have to cross her eyes to see him.

"Trust me, princess, there is absolutely nothing I need to compensate for..." He growled huskily. "And let me assure you, you couldn't handle everything I have to offer..."

A hot wave crashed over Demetra and in it's wake her body seemed to pulse and flutter with a savage heat that would not cease. She felt her skin burning, her vision suddenly foggy, and try as she might she could not tear her gaze from the face shamefully close to hers.

A deeply satisfied smirk crept up one corner of the redhead's face as he took in the girl before him. Suddenly the proud and mighty Finnish warrior didn't look quite as fierce anymore. Indeed, she looked very much human – and all humans have weaknesses.

"Uncomfortable, princess?" He asked lowly. Demetra tried to swallow again but her throat had gone so dry it was no use.

Why couldn't she breathe? Why was her heart threatening to beat itself into an attack? And most importantly; why the hell hadn't she pushed him away already?!

Lifting a hand to do just that, Demetra placed it on the redhead's chest, meaning to push him away, but a fair, firm hand wrapped around hers just as she applied pressure and lifted it over her head. Demetra's eyes widened and Tala's smirk followed suit, extending now to the other corner.

"What's wrong? I thought you wanted attention Miss Nakamura? Isn't that why you wanted to be famous? Isn't that why you're so desperate to get to the top? To have people falling all over you like this?"

"No..." Demetra seethed honestly, though her breath hitched when she spoke. "You're so wrong, Ivanov... you know nothing about me..."

Tala's free hand left its place above her head and trailed brazenly down her cheek, her shoulder, her arm, and soon the other followed suit. Demetra felt her knees buckle slightly at the feel of the redhead's hands roaming hotly and shamelessly up and down her body.

"No?" He asked eventually with a heated expression. "I think I know you well enough..."

Demetra chewed her cheek, desperate to get a hold of herself. Her body was in complete chaos, and not knowing how to identify her current emotions, let alone deal with them, she closed her eyes and tipped her head to the side, hoping to block the redhead out and ignore him until he tired of his game.

But Tala was having none of it.

"I don't think so." He growled, reaching up to snatch her chin. Demetra gasped and her eyes flew open again as he jerked her face to the front to look at him. "I won't let you stand there and imagine someone or something else. You will not block this out. You will not block me out."

The redhead's hands trailed over her body to her hips and gripped firmly. His fingers slipped beneath her sweater and shirt and something between a gasp and a tiny whimper escaped Demetra as his cold, smooth digits brushed the sensitive creases on her hips leading down into her jeans. Biting her lip, Demetra cast her gaze to the side, hoping with everything in her the redhead hadn't heard her.

No such luck.

"What's this?" Tala taunted on hearing the tiny rebel sound. "Enjoying ourselves, are we?"

Demetra felt another hot wave wash over her but this time it was embarrassment. However, it didn't last long before the uncomfortable, suffocating heat returned.

"Of course not." She spat breathlessly, scarcely even sounding convincing to herself. "Get off me, Ivanov."

Tipping his head slightly, Tala brushed his cheek against hers.

"Liar." He whispered hotly, and the feel of his breath dancing across her ear chased a violent shiver down the brunette's spine and made her knees buckle threateningly again. Much to her chagrin, Tala didn't back off, but instead pressed himself as close as their bodies would physically allow as he teasingly caressed the sensitive flesh of her hips and sides. His fingers trailing slow, lazy and sensual circles across her sensitive sides, her back, shoulders, and down again.

Noting the increased pressure to her lip biting, Tala smirked again and leaned down into her face once more.

"You think you know what it's like to want something?" He breathed huskily. "You think you understand what it's like to want something so bad..."

He leaned in until his lips brushed hers, and Demetra felt her eyes flutter half-mast as she stared up into deep icy blue eyes in a trance.

"...you can taste it..." He finished.

Demetra felt like she was going to pass out. Both Tala and her emotions were wreaking havoc on her body and the lack of control terrified her.

But, completely aware of the state the redhead had put the girl in, he continued mercilessly. Tala's hands gripped her thighs and gave them a squeeze, massaging intimately. Demetra took a sharp intake of breath between clenched teeth and unconsciously she lifted her hands to dig her fingers into Tala's shoulders.

Something flickered in the redhead's face for a moment at that, but quick as it had come it was gone and the cocky, confident and steamy expression returned.

"Look at you..." Tala breathed huskily. "So proud, so haughty, so serious... not such a pillar of strength right now are we?"

Despite her state, Demetra managed a growl at the redhead, which only made him laugh. Leaning down again, he once more pressed his cheek to hers and brushed his lips against her ear while his hands spread hot lava up and down the bare skin under her shirt.

"From right here, right now..." He whispered, sending another tremor down her spine. "You look like any and every other girl I've ever had throw themselves at me. All hot and needy and full of want... I could have my way with you right now and I bet you'd just stand there and let me wouldn't you?"

The redhead pulled back and looked into her face again, smirking at the flushed cheeks but violent eyes. Leaning down he made a teasing snap towards her, just barely missing nipping her lips and instead grazing them brazenly.

"My hands all over you..." The redhead demonstrated his words with action. "Pressed so close you can't help imagine what I feel like under here. You love this don't you?"

A heated look unlike any other took hold of the redhead then and Demetra gasped once more as he darted downwards, making her heart jump, and only at the last second stop mere millimetres from her lips.

"Look at you, just begging for it..." The redhead stated, reaching down to squeeze the brunette's thighs again. This time a tiny moan escaped her and she quickly bit her lip before forcing a glare on her torturer. "You're not even trying to resist."

"You're a vile breast, Ivanov...!" She hissed, only halfheartedly. She was far too befuddled to put any real venom into it just then.

Tala grinned maliciously now, and his hands left her fleshy legs to trail up her body and cup her neck and the bottom of her jaw. Once more he leaned in and his breath on her lips made her entire body shudder; and lest her legs finally give out on her, she reached up and wrapped her hands around his biceps for support, almost moaning again when she felt the surprisingly lean and hard muscles underneath the cloth. An image flashed in her minds eye of Tala hoisting her up with those toned arms and pinning her the way he was currently, and it made her insides flutter and heat sickeningly, causing her to once more bite her lip hard.

Again something flickered across Tala's face but Demetra didn't notice this time as his lips ever-so-slightly applied pressure so that an electric current passed through them, making the brunette's lips tremble.

"There's a lesson in all this, princess..." The redhead whispered roughly, his own eyes half-mast now as well. Demetra's eyes finally fluttered closed, surrendering at last to the hypnotic allure in front of her, and waited in anticipation for the spell to finish.

"It's time you learn, Demetra Nakamura." Tala breathed hotly, his hands slipping a little now. "What it's like to want something... to really want something..."

His lips grazed hers for a moment and it was all Demetra could do to resist a small moan and keep herself from leaning into him.

"... and not be able to have it."

Demetra furrowed her brows in confusion but before she could question this, the pressure and weight left her and she felt suddenly cold. Opening her eyes again, she turned her head to see Tala already half-way across the room.

"Congratulations, kid." He laughed in great amusement as he receded, not bothering to look back at her. "You passed with flying colours."

The sound of the redhead's laughter rang through the building as Tala disappeared into the kitchen, and it was then that Demetra's head cleared and she finally realised what had happened.

Her fists clenching furiously at her side, Demetra ground her teeth as a long string of curses formed in her head.

"Vile beast!" She thought savagely.

Tala thought he was so clever, so hot. But she'd be damned if she was going to let him get away with it.

"I can't believe I fell for that!" She seethed in thought, glaring at the fire. "Gloat while you can, Ivanov! If you want a war, you've got one!"

Sure, her body had betrayed her, but it was just a moment of lust, nothing more. She wasn't used to such advances and she'd simply been flustered, nothing more. Heaven knew, she didn't actually have feelings for the redhead, nor was she in any way interested in him. It was simply a reflexive reaction.

Convincing herself of this, Demetra finally pushed off the wall and made her way across the room to collect her things. Her nose in the air, she moved through the building towards the room at the back, ignoring the kitchen where the redhead was on the way past, and entered the bunkroom before promptly closing the door behind her.

Tala swiftly entered the kitchen and immediately made his way to the back where there was a large window. It was now relatively dark outside and the storm had subsided a great deal; by morning it would certainly be clear enough to make it to the village.

Throwing open the window, Tala leaned out it and took great, greedy gulps of breath. His entire body felt like he'd spent the last week in an amped up sauna and his breath was coming in short, rapid spurts. Though it was the last thing he'd intended, his little stunt with a certain attractive brunette had gotten to him a little more then he'd anticipated.

"What the hell is wrong with me?!" He seethed through clenched teeth.

It was only Demetra; not like he'd had some super-hott model or sexy vixen under him. Just a spoiled, rotten, brat whom he had no intention of ever seriously taking anything from.

So then why the hell had it left him so hot under the collar?!

Tala clenched his teeth and reached out the window to grab a handful of snow. Bowing his head, he plopped the handful of white powder down on the back of his neck and hissed at the instant relief. The redhead braced his free hand on the windowsill and let his head hang while the snow cooled him down. Staring into the whiteness, Tala's thoughts once again went back to the scene that had just occurred. He had intended to torture his travelling companion, teach her a lesson. But it hadn't quite gone as he'd planned. Admittedly, he hadn't expected himself to be so attracted to her, but he clearly had been; especially when he remembered the scorching look in her eyes as she'd stared up at him, clinging to him, begging him-

He shook his head forcefully to clear it, cursing as he noted that he'd once more worked himself into a foul state, for he didn't want to be aroused thinking of the only woman in his entire life he ever wanted to actually strike.

"Damn it!" He spat, muttering foul curses.

"It's just lust!" He convinced himself. "She's a seriously hott girl, and it's been a while. But Hell will freeze over before I ever give anything to that nutjob!"

Feeling the last of the snow dribbling through his now empty fingers, Tala sighed and reached up to slam the window shut before turning and making to gather up the food he was suddenly in no mood to eat.