PROLOGUE:

Blue Roses


The shore tonight was glittering beautiful neon blue. High above, the moon danced happily on the clear sky in this festive evening along with thousands of stars. Both children and parent from the town had gathered in the beach for the yearly Blue Rose Festival. In their hands were baskets full of freshly picked blue roses.

"Why do we do this?" A young Yuuri Katsuki asked. His mother smiled at the little pheasant. Yuuri sat on top of his father's shoulders, holding a little basket of his own by his side.

"Because," she answered, stepping into the water, "we have to guide our other half." Yuuri's face contorted at this, still too young to understand the concept of destined pairs. Still the little boy couldn't help the bubbly feeling inside his chest as he watched the tender way his parents looked at each other from his mother's explanation.

Yuuri watched as his parents and older sister waded in the water. His brown eyes glimmered in wonder at the glittering sea. The glowing balls looked like fallen stars from the sky. It was breathtaking. The waves were gentle tonight as it sang a sweet lullaby. A lonely one, as the waves tried to reach for the moon.

Finally, they stopped when the water reached his sister's chest.

"Place it down now," his father instructed his sister. Mari grabbed the basket she was balancing on top of her head and placed it on the water. "You too," Toshiya grabbed his son and held him by the water. "Place your basket down."

Yuuri did as he was told, shivering at the cold temperature of the sea.

"That's right. Put your hands together," Hiroko instructed, setting an example of her own. She smiled and then added, "Now say a prayer for your loved one."

Yuuri looked at her, confused. "Loved one?" The little boy asked.

"Just like Mama and Papa," his mother whispered unto his ear. His parents looked at each other again and nodded. "The one who is going to be with you forever, Yuuri-kun." The little boy smiled at that, a happy feeling in his chest.

"Just do it," Mari grumbled, wanting to get out of the water as soon as she could. She closed her eyes and mumbled something under her breath.

The little pheasant boy pouted and closed his eyes as well.

For a while there was only the serene crashing of the waves. The sea breeze blew on his face, gentle like a lover's kiss. Yuuri peeked out one eye and saw his mother praying still. Mari was frowning, brows furrowed in determination. What was she praying? Yuuri looked at his basket and gasped.

"Mama—it's floating away!" he tried to reach for it but it slipped from his tiny hands.

The little basket full of blue roses floated away into the sea, along with the bigger baskets from the other families. Large brown eyes sparkled in wonder. The small candles, kept in tiny glasses, tucked between the flowers were a beautiful contrast to the dark horizon ahead, and the moon retreated into the clouds. It was a magical sight, one that little Yuuri was sure to remember as he grew up.

"Well, that's about it for tonight then," his father said, bringing Yuuri closer to his chest. The little pheasant boy's eyes were still glued to the floating baskets.

Mari shivered. "Mama, let's get out of here." Her teeth chattered from the cold water.

Hiroko grabbed her little girl and lifted her out of the water. She planted a kiss on her forehead. Slowly, they returned to the shore.

Yuuri reached a hand out to the floating basket, mumbling a silent whisper.

Ne… I don't know who you are, and I don't know why I have to give you pretty flowers, but… if you're the mama to my papa, then let's take care of each other. Okay?

The sea was gentle that night, singing a sweet lullaby that lulled the little boy to sleep.


Flashes. The sound of cameras going off, taking pictures. Viktor waved and smiled from his position at the podium, sporting a crown of blue roses on his hair. He kissed the golden medal and showed it off to the media who eagerly took their share. A bright smile was on the seventeen year old's face, having won the hearts of the people again through his program. The European Championships was a success.

Lilia clapped, a congratulations to her husband's young prodigy. "Very good, very good, Viktor," she said as the teen took off his skates.

Viktor looked up to prima ballerina and smiled, handing her the golden skates. "Spasibo," he said. The teen stood up and looked around for his coach. "Where's Yakov?" It was weird not having to tease the man right after receiving his medal. The two of them began to walk back to his room. He grabbed his poodle tissue box and began to wipe his nose.

"Stalling the media until we get to the airport," the ballerina offered in explanation, groping for the keys in her bag. The clicking of her heels could be heard down the white corridor. "He said you deserved a little vacation after that win. Although he is still going to give you an earful for disobeying him," Lilia smiled, a small one, but a smile at least, her high cheekbones moving. The two of them arrived to a door where Viktor's name was imprinted on a golden star.

Viktor grinned, playing with the little paws of the poodle tissue box. "Really? Where?" Lilia opened the door with a click and allowed the skater in first. Viktor sat down on a chair and began to look through his fan mail. There were so many. Joy swelled in his heart as he read through the first one. "Ah! They sent some cute Maccachin art! Milyy!"

Yakov forced open the door. "WE'RE GOING TO HAWAII."

Lilia and Viktor looked at each other. The skater laughed and grabbed his poodle. "Okay, arf arf!"


A scenery painted with the roar of crystal clear waters, the bright smiling sun, and morning dew dripping down the petals of bright red hibiscus flowers … a beach of eternal summer.

"Wow! HAWAII! Amazing!" Viktor happily announced as he cheered, coconut drink in hand. Maccachin barked alongside him, happy to partake in his master's exuberance.

Lilia took off her shades and fanned herself. Although it was a February, Hawaii's sun was far from shying into the clouds like in Europe. "Viktor, don't allow Macca to run off now," she reminded the young skater who was taking in the view of the beach from the balcony of Yakov's summer house.

Viktor took out his cellphone and began to take picture. "Da!" He grabbed his poodle and posed. The phone's camera clicked once, twice, three times, until the teen was satisfied. He looked at the pictures and decided that this one was definitely going to be shared online, while other one was going to be his profile pic.

"Vitya! We're going to the yacht, are you coming?" Yakov called from inside.

"Send!" Viktor cheered as the picture was uploaded on the net. Maccachin began to bark at the sea below them. He grinned at Maccachin before heading off to follow Yakov. "Coming!"

Maccachin continued to bark at the sea…

…at the floating body held up by ice covered in blue roses.


Hi, guys! Azusa here ^_^ Welcome to my first YOI story. I hope you enjoyed the prologue!

Erh. Not much to say, except that this is going to be a bit dark with some heavy themes (I think).

And a heads up for the next / first chapter,

-in this story Viktor would be 17 years old (real world time) which kind of explains Lilia being here;

-while Yuuri would be 16 (magic world time) at least in the next chapter.

-So yeah, this story takes place 10 years before they actually met, which I think will work out later for a happy ending.

Anyways, I hope I didn't bore you. See you next level! ;)