CHAPTER 1: So Close


"And when I'm with you, so close to feeling alive."


As I got into the car, and its door slammed and drove off, I took one final look of our family's inn. Home. My family was standing by the entrance… with my soulmate.

Viktor looked at me, ocean eyes brimming with tears as he held Makkachin back. The poor dog was whining.

As their figures began to blur, I cried. It was hard to breathe.

I knew I was not going to see them again.

I'm Yuuri Katsuki, a dime-a-dozen Japanese figure skater. Twenty three years old…

…at least, I used to be.


It all started about a year ago, during the Grand Prix Final. Vicchan had just died.

It was just a small sign. A warning of what was ahead.

Knock knock knock.

"Yuuri," Coach Celestino peered into my hotel room. "Are you alright? I'm coming in." Stepping inside he quickly closed the door.

I was lying down my bed, covered in blankets. My face was flushed, and I was hot all over. The sheets were being soaked in sweat and tears. "Sorry…" I gasped. "I really…uh… can't go… ha… to the banquet with you."

Coach merely gave me an understanding look. He sat beside me and placed a hand on my forehead. I leaned into his touch.

Thankfully he's a Beta.

"It started early this month?" He turned to the bedside drawer and retrieved my pills.

I just nodded my head as he grabbed a glass of water and placed it beside me. "It's really bad this month," Tears began to flow from my eyes.

Something… anything please.

He placed my heat satchel next to the pills and glass. Coach stood up and fixed his tie. The room was getting warmer and warmer. "Well, I'll be informing the staff then," he said as he headed to the door. "Don't come out, alright?"

"Thank you…"

Click.

I breathed out. The silence in the room was suffocating. I moaned, "Viktor…"

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Someone was yelling outside. "Stop that!" I heard my door being forced open with a bam!

I jumped up and whimpered. Who—

Two male Betas in black suits came barging in to my room. Their cold eyes immediately locked on me. I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Stop!" Coach grabbed one's arm. "He's going into heat—" Coach was sent back due to the force of the punch.

"Yuuri Katsuki, right?" the man asked me as he approached. He held out a gloved hand. "Please come with us."

"… Ha?" I asked, dizzy. I backed away. What's happening?

"We won't cause you any harm Yuuri-sama," the man told me, his voice was clipped. "As long as you obediently come with us."

"Yuuri, you sit right there," I heard Coach say as he was kicked in the stomach.

"Shut up!"

"Come now," the Beta cooed, moving closer.

No. No. No. NonononoNO!

I slapped his outstretched hand. "Leave me alone!" I shouted. My chest was heaving. It's starting… my heat. Sweat beaded down my forehead.

Badump. Badump. Badump.

So dizzy.

He frowned and forcefully grabbed my arm. "Please reconsider, Yuuri-sama." He pulled me towards him.

"No!" I slapped his face. My hand left a red mark. His eyes only darkened, grip tightened.

"Don't test my patience, you fucking Omega," he growled at me. I felt my blood run cold.

"No, please!" I tried to break free. He dug his nails into my skin. "Coach-!" Tears began to form in my eyes. "Coach, please help me!" The man dragged me out of my bed.

Celestino grabbed his assailant's leg and stood up. "You-!" He tackled him, hitting the back of a wall. Coach kneed him and the man fell on the floor. "Yuuri!"

I bit down the Beta's arm and he screamed and let me go. Celestino grabbed my hand and we ran through the door.

Celestino and I ran, ran as far as could. We barged into a random room. There were a lot of gasps. I collapsed.

We were able to get help from the security guards, but the strange Betas were no longer there when they checked.

For the rest of my heat, I was put in heavy security.

The news was everywhere, but only for a short while. A year passed, I slumped the nationals. And with a heavy heart, I returned to my hometown in Hasetsu, unsure of my future.

Minako-sensei greeted me with much enthusiasm. There were some things that changed, but it was as beautiful as I remembered it. The castle by the sea was still as enchanting as it was familiar.

After months of depression, I decided to get my love for skating back. But…uhm, let's just say the triplets were quite happy about that.

"I'm sorry, Yuuri. My kids uploaded the video, and it went viral."

I passed right out.

The following day, I woke up to my mother asking me to help. As I headed out, a familiar face greeted me.

"Vicchan?" The poodle pounced on me and I fell to the floor. He was big, it couldn't be Vicchan. But… I kind of remember his face from somewhere.

Viktor's… Makkachin? Don't be silly, Katsuki.

"Yuri," my father called from behind me, "isn't he just like Vicchan? He came with a really good looking foreigner guest!"

Waitwaitwaitwait wait!

"He's in the hot spring right now."

I quickly dashed over there. Where is he? It really can't be. It's impossible!

I pushed open the two way door to the onsen. "Vi-Viktor…"I couldn't believe my eyes. Vi-Viktor Nikiforov is… standing buck naked in our onsen!

I think I fainted right over here.


There was something warm beside me. I leaned into it. So good… A chuckle distracted me from my dream. My bed never felt this soft.

Ah… that sounds like Viktor. At that thought I smiled.

A hand brushed away my bangs. Hmn? "Yuuri~," Viktor's voice sang. I'm dreaming. "Yuuri~," he sang again. "I'm hungry, Yuuri~."

Something soft and moist pecked my cheeks, my forehead, and then my noise. Then in trailed down to my neck. Butterfly kisses. So good.

Every time, it felt like electricity, good electricity. Kind of like the ones they described touching your soul mate was like.

It feels so good.

I opened my eyes. Beautiful blue ones stared back at me. They glimmered, like the sea. "So pretty…" I mumbled, reaching out to them. They reminded me of Viktor's.

A hand grabbed my own, sending sparks of delicious electricity into my heart. A tender kiss was planted on my knuckles.

"Hello, myshka," a sweet voice greeted.

My eyes widened, remembering what had happened a while ago. I shot up, too fast, and fell down my bed. "Itaii…"

Viktor laughed. He looked at me, head resting on his palm. "You're quite energetic now, I see."

I looked up at him. Blinked once, twice, thrice. "Vi-Viktor…" I finally accepted reality, and properly sat up. "What-what are you doing here?"

He merely shot me a smiled. My heart raced. His eyes bore holes into my body.

"Vi-Viktor…?"

His face is so close!

He reached out his hand to me. Slowly, it caressed my chin, and then guided me closer to his face.

Our lips touched. There was a brief spark and I inhaled his scent. Rain and… marshmallows?

My face heated up. He pulled away.

Again, he laughed and moved his face closer. Our lips connected once more, and the spark lasted a bit longer.

My whole body stiffened.

Viktor moved away again, this time our foreheads were touching.

"I knew it was you," he whispered, something only for me to hear. "You're my soulmate, Yuuri."

What is he talking about? What is this about me? What, just whatwhatwhatWHAT?

Someone knocked on the door. I quickly moved away from Viktor to get it.

"Dad?" Dad had a grim look on his face. His eyes, a darker shade of brown than mine, were open. "Is it dinner already?" I asked him, opening the door more.

He gave me a small smile. "Yuuri," He grabbed my hand. "We… need to talk."

Talk? I looked back at Viktor. "Of course, Dad," I closed the door, stepping out of my room.

Dad led me to the VIP area of the bath house. Two female Betas were waiting, dressed in black suits. Something awful settled in my throat as I recalled the men that tried to kidnap me last year.

"Yuuri," Dad called me, telling me to sit in the kotatsu. He had a stern look on his face. Mom was beside him, eyes looking down on the table.

We gathered. I felt the women's eyes analyzing me. Disapproving. I tried to hide the fat that gathered around my stomach. I have a bad feeling about this. They didn't look any older than me, but they had this cold, flat stare that made them seem very mature.

"Yuuri, these are Himeyuki-san and Aishihara-san," Dad introduced the females Betas. They gave me a curt nod, which I replied with a quiet 'Nice to meet you'. "They… will be taking you to the main branch's house."

I looked at Dad. Main branch? "What?"

"Toshiya-sama," Himeyuki-san, the one with black hair tied up in a ponytail, interrupted. She had a disapproving look on her face.

"Dear," Mom grabbed my hand. "Just listen to your father, okay?"

Aishihara-san stood. She was a brunette with grey eyes, hair tied up in a neat bun. She looked uncomfortable. "Please excuse me, I shall pack his things."

Pack my things?

"Mom, Dad, what's happening?" I turned to my parents. Mom simply hugged me. "Mom?" I was panicking.

"I'm sorry, Yuuri," she sobbed. "You just came home too."

I gently pushed her away. "Mom, what are you talking about?" I looked at Dad. "I'm not going anywhere… am I?"

Please no. Please no. NO!

Dad held my shoulders. He stared into my eyes. "I'm sorry," was all he said.

My arms went limp on my side. "But… I just met… my soul mate."

Dad hugged me. "I'm sorry."

Sorry…? Just… 'sorry'?

I heard hurried steps and then the door slammed open. Viktor was panting, his scent revealed that he was stressed. He looked at me, eyes widening.

Our eyes locked. Wordlessly, I stood up and walked up to him. He took me in his arms. "Yuuri…" he cupped my teary face. He's worried. I made my Alpha worry.

My Alpha… that has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

I forced a smile. That won't do.

"So close."


"A life goes by. Romantic dreams will stop. So, I bid mine goodbye."


Because I don't speak Spanish and I need Omegaverse in my life. Oue I'll probably regret this story later.

Thanks for reading!