I DO NOT OWN YURI ON ICE NOR DO I OWN OWARI NO SERAPH!
I DO NOT HAVE A BETA
A revised version is out, called "Submerged."
Everyone's pitying stares made the whole event carry more weight than Yuuri needed.
He knew he didn't have enough mental strength to fully tame his demon, but every time he and everyone else thought he was ready, he would find himself and four others in enemy territory, with only capital orders and their demon weapons at their sides. In training and practice he was fine, he could protect his team without difficulty. But when he left the confines of the city and its protection charms, the vampires and horsemen of the apocalypse always were too strong for him.
Time after time he left with five teammates only to return with three or less.
This time was no different, only bringing back one; his longtime friend Phichit that has stood with him through each failed mission.
Phichit Chulanont was far stronger than Yuuri in terms of mental and physical capabilities. He has kept each of their teams pushing forward when Yuuri had no desire to continue, never letting his friend give up his dream.
Yuuri didn't see how he could keep a smile when they have so many of their comrade's deaths embedded in their memories.
A break was what Yuuri was supposed to be having. Instead, he has accepted that at 5:15 every morning he would wake up and train for ten hours with minimal resting periods.
He had told Phichit and Celestino, their mental and physical trainer, that he was quitting, but they both were quite adamant that all he needed was some time off.
Though he knew he couldn't see himself failing for much longer.
Yuuri sets down his black and translucent katana to rest on one of the stands, exhaling, and letting his thoughts return to him.
He can still see his teammates' last looks of panic and despair before the lights in their eyes dulled to nothing, their lives sucked out of them in quick succession. They had squirmed in a vampire's unrelenting arms until they lost all of their will to fight and their painful screams weakened until they were just an echo in Yuuri's ears.
Yuuri rapidly blinks and grabs his water bottle, trying not to think more on the subject. He leaves his mind abandoned so he can keep his mentality from losing itself into self-pity and from his demon's sneaking grasp.
The slam of the door into the practice room has Yuuri's mind switch into defense. With practiced moves, Yuuri quickly grabs his katana to hold it easily in a block position between himself and the intruder. A grating clash buzzes in the air and vibrates down his arm.
He is expecting to find himself staring at Phichit's over dramatic disappointed expression, but where his friend's face should be, there is instead someone with blonde hair and fierce blue eyes that burn in irritation.
Yuuri hasn't seen someone with such features since the annual Demon Army Tournament, taking place to see which country's fighters are the strongest.
He claims it safe to say the opponent is a foreigner, though he doesn't understand why someone he's never met before is looking at him like he's garbage.
"Ano—"
With quick movements and a strong force, the unknown person easily strikes against Yuuri's weak hold on his sword, swinging up and to the side only to level their blade at Yuuri's neck.
It seems that the stranger is unsatisfied with how little effort he has used, as they let out a 'tch' sound and their eyes narrow. "I'll be competing in the next Demon Army Tournament." The boy states in heavily accented English. "We don't need two Yuris in the same bracket. Incompetents like you should just retire already. MORON!"
The stranger drops their sword to their side and turns around, sheathing the weapon on their way out.
Yuuri is left to wonder what had just happened.
