Set my Heart on Fire
Chapter 1: Missing You
This is my pitiful attempt at interpreting what episode 9 could be like hahaha. I hope you like it. Hopefully, if I get enough inspiration from the anime, my story will progress, basing it from the canon. So, hopefully. Meow!
xxx
The crowd's roar was defeaning inside the Megasport Arena. By the sound of it, it looked like one of the crowd favorites was performing.
The 2nd round for the 2016 Rostelecom Cup was currently being held at the grand Megasport Arena in Moscow. At the moment, Yuri Katsuki was in the waiting room, along with the other skaters, waitng for their turns.
Focus, Yuri told himself. He was alone in his battle tonight. Well, technically not alone, since last night, when Viktor had to go back to Japan to check on Makka-chin, Viktor asked Yakov to be his temporary coach.
It was a very surprising idea, and all three of them: Yuri, Yakov and Yurio, had a hard time believing what kind of craziness Viktor proposed. But it was done. Unfortunately, the legendary figure skating world champion had to go home to check on his beloved dog. Poor Makka-chin, Yuri thought, I hope everything is okay.
Since last night and this morning, Viktor had not really sent him an update. At lunch Viktor had sent him a private message on facebook that he was at the veterinary, but that he did not know the result yet of the examination on Makka-chin. It appears that Viktor was also completely anxious about his poodle.
Yuri thought that, no matter what happened, he would do his best tonight, even if Viktor was not there to motivate him. And that he hoped everything back home was okay. He knew how painful it was to lose a beloved companion, he did not want it to happen to Viktor. Especially in the middle of a competition.
"Can you make it not so obvious how gloomily pathetic you are?" a voice sniped from behind. Yuri turned to see an annoyed looking Yurio glaring daggers at him.
Yuri heaved a sigh. "Hi, Yurio!" he managed to squeak. "I think you're up next, huh?"
Yurio was still glaring at him. "Just because Viktor isn't here doesn't mean you'll wallow in self pity. You look like you already lost or something, you fatso!"
Yuri flinched.
"Uhm - ahh - Yurio, I - I -"
"You forget that you got Viktor all these months and I didn't. Do you see me hiding away in a corner, looking like the world has ended?"
"Uhm -"
"So lift up your head and stop looking so crushed, you pig! If you're going to skate in the same ice as me, you better show that you deserve to be on it! Hmmpphhh!" Yurio lashed out at him.
At that moment, Yuri finally found his courage to smile in earnest. Maybe Yurio did not realize it, but it was just the kind of push he needed tonight. "T-thanks, Yurio. You're right, I can do this, right?"
Yurio made face. "Tsk! Hard to see what Viktor finds in you! Out of my way, it's my turn now!" And with that, Yurio stomped angrily away.
Yuri, still with a bitter sweet smile on his face, watched the blonde lithe boy almost gliding on the floor. He was so graceful even as he walked.
"He's right." Yuri told himself. "I shouldn't feel so down to the point that my performance will be affected. I'm not doing this only for Viktor, but for my self. My family. For my love of this sport... "I need to do this..."
Coach Yakov and his ex-wife were now walking in their direction, to follow Yurio outside. Yakov tilted his head towards Yuri. The young man, who had just found his first smile of the night, was quick to lose it again. The old Russian coach was unsmiling as always.
During their warm up exercise, he stoically watched Yuri's mediocre performance, which he fumbled in miserably. He fell a few times during the warm up and he could almost see a tic deforming the formidable looking coach's face.
At the end of the practice, Coach Yakov was kind enough to pinpoint some weaknesses in Yuri's movements, especially when his free leg would become sloppy in the middle of the performance. Coach Yakov was pure business. He did not allow any ill feelings towards Viktor to affect his mentorship to Yuri.
But still, he just gave basic tips. ANd he wasn't exactly the friendliest person as well. So Yuri's anxiety was not shaken off.
Coach Yakov solemnly nodded at Yuri. "We'll talk again later before your performance, boy. I honestly hope you show me something better than what you did at the warm up."
"Y'yes, Coach," Yuri squeaked.
"Hn. Later, then."
Yuri watched the ex-couple walk out. His shoulder slumped again. He knew he could do this. He'd been doing well these past couple of months.
Granted that yeah, Viktor was always there to encourage him, but now, Yuri knew he should all the more perform at his best.
He should be brave enough for himself and Viktor, because that was the only way to go.
xxx
"It's time, boy," Coach Yakov's husky voice rang out.
Yurio was standing at the back, arms crossed, looking at Yuri up and down. Yurio's performance had gone so well, now he was at the top spot. The one who was at the second spot was Chris.
Yuri, with all the jitters inside of him, stood straight and tucked some errant locks of hair behind his ear. His things were in his locker since the start of the event. So there was possibly no way he could hear from Viktor.
Yuri knew that he would have to skate tonight alone. What he was more scared of was what could have happened to Makka-chin. And if the poor dog would -
Yuri just didn't know what kind of effect it would have on Viktor.
Shaking the negative thoughts away, he clenched his fists. I'll do this for me, Viktor. I won't forget what you told me last time. You knew I have it in me to win. And so I will...
Stiffly, he followed his 'coach' out to the rink.
The announcer's voice was booming above, "And now, from Japan, Yuri Katsuki. Skating to the tune of an original composition "Yuri on Ice" he will be skating without his coack Viktor Nikiforov, who, because of an emergency, is not here tonight."
The crowd was not as boisterous as Yuri was used to. Perhaps they were not as cheerful now as before towards him because Viktor was not there.
And yeah, he knew the feeling. No matter how many times he pushed the thought out of his mind, in trying to make himself stronger, without the presence of his coach, it felt different. It felt empty somehow.
Coach Yakov was beside him, droning out some encouraging words, albeit delivered in a very stiff manner. Yuri couldn't almost hear him.
Please, God, don't take Makka-chin from Viktor. I'll skate with my everything, just please... Yuri was chanting this in his head over and over.
FInally, it was time.
Yuri skated to the middle of the rink.
He was positioning his hands in front oh his body, breathing in deeply...
"WAIT!"
A voice rang out in the stillness of the cold.
Yuri looked up, along with all of the people at the arena at the lone figure coming down the aisle.
Yuri could only see the top of that gray hair. He gasped, and fresh tears stung his eyes.
H-he's here...
"WAIT! WAIT!"
Viktor ran down the aisle as fast as he could, going directly to where the officers of the competition were.
For a second, the crowd was stunned, but then when they realized that Viktor was here, they jumped up their seats to cheer for him. The arena was filled with a defeaning noise.
The announcer was yelling, "What an incredible development! Ladies and gentlemen, our legendary hero Vikto Nikiforov has made it in time to see Yuri Katsuki's performance!"
Viktor was talking to the officers animatedly. Yuri waited with bated breath, hastily wiping his tear drenched eyes.
Finally, Viktor looked at him, and came down to the side of the rink. "Yuri, come here!"
"V-Viktor!"
And with his heart shaped mouth, Viktor urged the younger skater, "Come, come!"
Yuri happily skated towards him. Based from that look on his face, he felt like he could assume everything was good back home.
"Viktor? Is Makka-chin alright? What did the vet -"
Once Yuri was at an arm's length, Vikto reached out with both hands and pulled him close. Close to his chest, wrapping his arms around him. Yuri was dumbfounded. "V-Viktor, ahh.."
"Yuri..." Vikto's voice was so soothing, so breathy, as if he had just caught his breath and was only starting to breathe. "You were so brave... So brave, doing this by yourself."
Yuri visibly relaxed against his coach, and his arms also flew around Viktor's back. "I'm doing this for me. And for you, because I know you beleive in me."
The gray haired man tightened his arms around Yuri. "We only have a minute. I told the judges there's something I want to say to you."
"Is Makka-chin okay?"
"Yes! They had just done a surgery, and I left as soon as I confirmed that he was in stable condition."
Yuri's knees shook with relief. Tears threatened to sting his eyes again. "Thank God..."
"Yuri, you can win this thing, right? I know you can."
Yuri looked up at Viktor, his eyes bright with unshed tears. The younger man had a cheeky smirk, knowing that Makka-chin was safe, and feeling happier than he ever had been in his skating career. "And what if I don't? Gonna resign as my coach now, are you?"
Viktor squeezed him tighter. "No." He put his mouth directly over Yuri's ear. "If you win, I'm gonna give you the best birthday present ever." And as easily as he performed his quads, Viktor kissed Yuri softly on the cheek. "Okay, little Piggie?"
Yuri's face was burning, and he almost couldn't look at his coach in the eye. But he was able to manage a small nod. "Y-yes..."
Viktor finally let him go, squeezing his hands as if trying to prolong the contact.
Yuri beamed at Viktor one last time, oblivious to the cheers of the crowd, and skated to the middle of the rink.
Now, that Viktor was here, he felt that he could do anything.
The music started and Yuri closed his eyes, his whole body buzzing with excitement. He couldn't believe how excited he was to start his performance.
He wasn't afraid anymore. He was going to nail this.
xxx
I can't really give a conclusion to the Rostelecom Cup since Ep. 9 isn't out yet. I'll base my ideas from the series and work my way from there. :-)
Next chapter would be the sweetest birthday ever. I think. Haha...
It's been a long time. And I got my muse back, if only for a while.