I do not own Yuri on Ice or its characters, nor do I own 'On My Own' by Ashes Remain...enjoy!

I touched down in the airport of my hometown of Hasetsu. I dragged myself down to the lower level to collect my luggage, my mind numb.

After collecting my luggage, I left the airport, ready to hail a cab to take me home to the firestorm that was awaiting me.

It was a silent ride home, at least on my end. My driver, a kindly older man, chatted animatedly as he drove. "You were fantastic, Yuri! We all cheered our hearts out for you!" he said, looking in the rear-view mirror. I was silent, my eyes burning as tears formed and silently rolled down my face. I pulled my hood up, to hide my emotions from the kindly driver.

"Here we are, Yuri! Things will get better, don't you worry! Say hi to your folks for me!" he said as he took off.

Taking a deep breath, I walked through the gate and up to the main door of our family's hot spring. "I'm back," I mumbled as I took my shoes off and left them at the door.

"Ah, Yuri! Welcome home my son!" my mom cried as she wrapped me in her arms and squeezed. "Why don't you go and say hi to Vicchan and go soak in the hot spring?"

Silently I nodded, stopping to take my luggage to my room. My eyes burning, I went to the back of the house to say hi to an old friend. "Hi Vicchan, I am so sorry I have been gone so long. I'm so sorry I wasn't here to say goodbye," I said, as tears poured down my face. I sat there in silence for a long time, tears running down my face, before standing and wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

I slowly walked back to my room to gather my backpack, needing out of the suffocating house even though I had just arrived home.

"I'll be back," I said, slipping my shoes on and walking out the door.

My mom smiled, knowing exactly where I was headed. "Take all the time you need. You'll be ok, son," she whispered as she cleaned the glasses behind the counter.

At the rink

"Free skate was closed an hour ago," said a bored voice as I walked through the door.

"I'm sorry Yuko-san. I'll come back," I mumbled, staring at the floor.

The girl behind the counter looked up. "Yuri! Why didn't you say something?! You always have free range here! And, for the record, you can call me Yu-chan!" she said, smiling.

"Thanks Yuko-chan," I mumbled as I headed to the locker room.

In the locker room

I took my skates and my Ipod from my backpack before stuffing it unceremoniously into my locker. I sat in the silent locker room stretching, lost in my thoughts.

Once I was loosened up, I made my way to the practice arena.

In the arena

As it had been for a while, the arena was silent and empty, just what I needed.

I hooked up my Ipod to the speakers, searching for one song in particular, On my Own by the American band Ashes Remain.

I glided to the center of the ice, as the music filtered through the speakers.

I got lost in the music, my eyes burning as I skated.

There's gotta be another way out

I've been stuck in a cage with my doubt

Ever since the Grand Prix Finals last year, I have been in a slump, doubt clouding my abilities, I thought, as I skated.

I've tried forever getting out on my own.

But every time I do this my way

I get caught in the lies of the enemy

I have tried desperately to break free of this doubt, but each time I do, I get caught up again in the fear of failure, I thought as I launched off the ice, landing a Quadruple loop like it was nothing.

I lay my troubles down

I'm ready for you now

Maybe if I had…no! he would never come here! Why would he want to bother with someone like me, I thought, as my mind fluttered to one person. I mentally slapped the idea away, knowing that it would never happen, even in my wildest dreams.

Bring me out

Come and find me in the dark now

Viktor, someone…anyone, please! Come and rescue me from the darkness! Show me the light again, and help me find my love of skating again, I silently pleaded to my idol, knowing that he would never hear me and I would never find the light again.

Everyday by myself I'm breaking down

I don't wanna fight alone anymore

Tears cascaded down my face, I was unable to hold them back anymore. I'm sick of being alone. I don't want to fight the loneliness anymore, but each day I fight, I can feel myself breaking down more and more. Soon, there will be nothing left, I thought.

I launched myself off the ice again, landing the Triple flip combination that I was unable to land during the finals.

Bring me out

From the prison of my own pride

My God,

I need a hope I can't deny

In the end I'm realizing I was never meant to fight on my own

What am I thinking? I haven't really been alone! I have my family, and the great friends that I have made through skating! They have always been behind me, supporting me all the way, even though I failed the finals, I thought, an idea suddenly hitting me.

Every little thing that I've known is everything I need to let go

You're so much bigger than the world I have made

So I surrender my soul

I'm reaching out for your hope

I lay my weapons down

I'm ready for you now

I need to let go of everything that happened at the finals. All I can do is turn my eyes to the horizon and pour my soul into what could potentially be my last season. I am ready for whatever is thrown at me, I thought, renewed determination coursing through my body.

I launched off the ice, landing a perfect Quadruple toe loop, something I never used to be able to do.

I don't wanna be incomplete

I am sick of feeling incomplete. Skating is my life, and I will not let a devastating defeat crush me, I thought.

I remember what you said to me

I don't have to fight alone

Flashback

"You aren't alone, Yuri-kun. You have your family, your friends…and you have me," my coach said gently, his arm around me as I hung my head, having just received my results.

Silently, I stood, unable to listen anymore. My mind and body were numb, knowing that I had not only let down my family, but also the people back home that were counting on me to bring home a victory for Japan.

I shook the memory from my mind, determined not to let it knock me down anymore.

I glided to a stop, my heart thundering in my chest as the music faded to a close.

"YURI, THAT WAS AMAZING!" shrieked Yuko-chan, tears pouring down her face. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had attracted an audience while I was skating.

"Where did those emotions come from? I thought you were depressed about losing," she said, as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

"I just channeled the defeat from the finals. I was sick of being depressed and used it to fuel my only creative outlet," I shrugged.

"Yuri, that was awesome!" Lutz said, popping up from behind the railing.

"Thanks again Yuko-chan for letting me come after hours. I definitely owe you one," I mumbled as I took off my skates and stuffed them into my backpack.

"Nah, you know you have free reign here. You can come whenever you need an escape," she said softly, hugging me.

I smiled sadly and set off for home, feeling a little better than I did when I arrived at the rink. Little did I know that my emotional release had been posted for the world, and, for that matter, my idol, to see.

At Yuko's home

"What in the world were you three thinking?!" shrieked Yuko-chan, as Lutz, Axel and Loop covered their ears.

"Mom, what's the big deal?" Lutz asked, not taking her eyes from the laptop screen.

"'The big deal' is that Yuri came to the rink to be alone and to let off some steam, and here you film him and turn around and post it for the world to see!" shrieked Yuko-chan.

"The world has to see that he is still skating, even after the devastation at the finals," Axel said casually.

"What am I going to do with you?! You three had better take that down before Yuri comes unglued," Yuko-chan warned as she stomped out of the room, leaving the girls to their doings.

"Are we going to take it down?" Loop pondered.

Grinning, the girls shook their heads. "Nope!" they whispered quietly.

In St. Petersburg

Viktor was lounging on the couch, scrolling through social media, when a video popped up.

"Hmm, I wonder what this is," he muttered, clicking on the video entitled, On my Own. He watched as the young man in the video skated to the music, his emotions poured onto the ice.

"My god, this boy has talent," Viktor mumbled as his eyes began to burn, watching the boy with rapt attention.

Right then, Viktor sat up, his mind made up. I will train this boy, and take him all the way to the Grand Prix Finals, he thought as he booked his flight to Hasetsu, making arrangements for his home and belongings.

Read and review...let me know what you think. This may turn into a collection, as I have so many new ideas bouncing around :)