Thanks for everyone who read the first chapter of this story, though I didn't get any reviews. (sigh.) There are no lemons here, I'm really not the type who'd just put sex scenes without a story. I make sure the lemon is part of the story. Anyway, hope you'll still read the succeeding chapters. Also, do read Just Play the Melody. It's already in chapter six and I'm planning to end it in twelve or so more chapters. Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: No, FY is not mine.
Chapter 2: I Think It's Hotohori
By Slavedriver2008
"You wouldn't believe it Miaka! I was face-to-face with the Prince!" I told Miaka over the phone. I couldn't hide my excitement after the incident. How can I not? Everybody only knew the royal family by name. They never actually saw them much. They were a quiet bunch for royalties. Japan was, after all, no longer a feudal country. But the encounter still made me excited.
"Yeah right Yui. How can you see him? Isn't he supposed to be in a palace or something?" Miaka answered. There was a hint of boredom in her voice; I bet she wanted this topic to end so she can tell her story. I have a feeling she has loads to tell as well, and she couldn't wait to start. She was with Taka, of course she has something to tell.
"I'm not kidding! Aki said they rented out the place earlier but I didn't know." I lay down on the couch in my apartment and placed by feet up—it still hurts from the new skates. "I arrived earlier so they couldn't ask me to leave. And the weird thing was that I never noticed him! He was so discreet, suddenly he's behind me!" My voice sounded eager and happy, I hope she didn't notice. Miaka can be really stupid if she will it.
Miaka growled on the other end. "Wait up Yui, I'm getting another serving of ice cream. Five minutes," my bestfriend said. I heard her drop the phone and walk away from the receiver. Knowing Miaka, this will probably take more than five minutes. She couldn't resist eating another serving aside from what she put in her mug. Oh well.
I spend the next minutes imagining his face. Yes, the prince's face—his hazel eyes that seemed to lighten when I look into them, his angular face, his kissable lips. He seemed a bit of a jerk but I wondered what he looked like when he smiles. I blushed at the thought of being so close to him. He looked so calm and peaceful and familiar. Where the hell did I saw him? I'm sure it's not somewhere public like magazines or billboards. Aki said it must have been in the television. But I don't have TV at home so that's impossible.
Yeah I know, my apartment sucks—I don't have television and stereos and all that stuff. I do have a computer, though, and that seemed enough. "Miaka?" No response. She's still not back on the line. An idea came to me and I rushed to my room with phone in hand. I hastily opened my laptop and got it connected to the net. I immediately typed his name in the search engine. Seishuku Saihitei.
The result? I got thousands of web searches—news sites, fan sites, and all that stuff. I added 'Images' and thumbnails of his face appeared on screen, dashing, handsome, perfect. But none pictured him smiling. He always has that stoic look, like he was a military general. But he was quite popular. Well, he was regarded as one of the most eligible bachelors of our time. Bachelors? I laughed. He's only 21, for God's sake. It's too young to call him a bachelor. Twenty-one? I didn't realize I smiled. He was only three years older; he's just a year older than Taka. This should be interesting. My eyes caught another picture—a group shot, everyone wearing traditional Chinese garb.
Curiously, I clicked the image and it sent me to a familiar site. With my heart hammering, I clicked the image and it covered the screen. The Prince was there—and so was Miaka.
"Yui?" a familiar voice called on the other end. My bestfriend's back from ransacking the fridge.
"I'm still here." I said, trying to figure out how to share the gem of truth I found out—without sounding disappointed or anything. I'm not really into him right?
"What were you saying again? About your Prince?" Miaka asked, I can tell her voice was full, with ice cream perhaps.
"He's not my prince, ne." I corrected. Oh God, I'm sounding defensive.
Miaka laughed. "If I knew better Yui, I'm sure you're already daydreaming of him. And knowing you, you're probably lurking in the web right this instant!"
"Shut up Miaka!" I said. "I don't like him! I just think he looked familiar." I sighed. "Miaka-chan…" I began and I can tell my bestfriend was listening intently. "…I think I found your other seishi…"
Miaka screamed. "Who?!" I heard something fall on the floor in the other end of the line, Miaka cursed. "Don't mind me, who? Yui? Who?"
I looked at my screen intently, at the name Miaka herself put on her site. I let out another sigh. "Hotohori. I think its Hotohori."
--
It's been a week since I last saw him. Miaka and Taka had been visiting my practices for the last week, hoping to see Hotohori—the Prince—in the rink. Of course, that's not possible. He just visited once. There's no way he'll visit everyday. I'm not his girlfriend. I sighed. After I told Miaka the news, I couldn't help but research on his life, his current life.
He studied in Britain and loves watching polo. He has a younger brother and he's single. Sorry I had to say that. I don't like him, really. I just find him intriguing. He did have a girlfriend in London, a Eurasian beauty queen. I think they broke up last year. Apparently he's back in Japan after finishing a degree in International Relations. That's it, he's a busy guy, prince. He won't waste his time hanging around in skating rinks.
"Your friends are not here today," Ayama said and I nodded.
"They're on a date. Thank God they decided to leave me in peace. I can't skate freely when they're here," I said.
"You have to get over that shyness, Yui," Ayama told me, she was standing at the side of the rink, giving me the whole space. We're doing jumps today. I needed to nail that Axel, desperately. "Or else, it might cost you the Nationals. Have you been doing what I told you?"
"I'm doing something about that." I glided away from her before she could say anything. She's crazy, she wanted me to skate in public rinks and do my jumps there. She said it would help me overcome my "shyness." I'm not shy, I'm just…not used to having people watching me. Attention makes me nervous. Period.
"I won't be nice to you today. Do the Cherry flip, the Salchow, the Ritterberger, the Flip, and then the Lutz. Start with the doubles," she said as I move away from her. She's crazy, all that in—I looked at my watch—one hour? I still have to go through my piece for the competition. Well, jumping was not really hard, it's falling that hurt. And doing all those jumps can be draining. "Don't look at me like that. I have to punish you. For spilling the cheese." She smiled.
Oh God, she knew what happened. I wanted to faint. Ayama-sensei knew the humiliation I went through—and she's punishing me for it. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. But why just now? Why didn't she do it after the incident? Either she learned of it lately or she couldn't punish me in front of Miaka and Taka. Either one makes sense. I frowned. I'm getting a sore body after this.
I slid across the rink, gaining momentum. I plan to circle the rink once then jump on the second round. I did so and prepared my legs for the jump, the Cherry flip, the easiest jump that any amateur can do. Heck, even six-year-olds can do that. I did the three turn and used my toe pick to assist me in the jump. The cherry flip takes off from the back and lands on the same foot. In my case, I landed on my right foot. Not much to be proud of in that one. It's the simplest. I did the triple, eager to move on to higher-level jumps. I can't wait to do the Lutz.
"Okay, do the Salchow," Ayama's voice filled the rink. I was more than willing to oblige. With my arms outstretched, I did a Mohawk and jumped. I landed on my left foot, The Salchow is an edge jump, I don't have to use my toe pick for that, I just have to jump, turn twice in the air, and land on my left. I continued rounding the rink and prepared myself for another jump—this time a triple Salchow. I shoved myself with more force and prepared myself for the jump. I lowered my knees than the usual, I always get a perfect jump when I do that.
I glided across the rink and prepared myself with another three turn. In tune with the beating of my heart, I jumped and successfully landed on my left foot. "Perfect landing! Now do the triple Flip then a double Ritterberger!" Ayama's voice called out again. I glanced at her and nodded. Ayama liked putting those two jumps in combination. I don't know why, she just wanted to. Now I have to start with the hard one, the flip is quite complex, especially since I have to use either a forward outside three turn or a forward inside Mohawk. It's rather technical, in layman's terms, I have to either turn right for the Mohawk or turn left for the three turn.
To cut this short, I chose to do a forward inside Mohawk to prelude my triple flip and landed on my left foot then push my knees up for a double Ritterberger or a double loop. Ayama likes calling it Ritterberger, but it's plainly called the loop jump. This time, I landed on my right. I was heaving, the jumps have been tiring me. "Good. Now do the Lutz. Doubles first, the triple will follow." I don't have to look to know who said that. I don't really care.
Why? I'm in the mood. I swayed toward the other end of the rink, determined to nail that jump. It's my favorite jump, actually. Harder than the Salchow, loop, and the flip, but easier than the Axel. I like this jump because I always land on my back and I rotate differently. Eager, I did a long backward diagonal glide, pushed my toe pick, and jumped. This time, I landed on my right foot. That one was easier than I expected.
Claps filled the air and my eyes caught Aki and Aya at one side of the rink. I smiled at them. "Concentrate!" I almost jumped at Ayama's voice. She doesn't look like fun today. I turned to my friends' direction and saw him, standing far behind the twins—my Prince. I mean, Miaka's seishi, Hotohori. He was standing there watching me. "Yui! I said concentrate!" I'm trying, I really am. But he's watching, how can I possibly do that? Not that I care about him, I just. I don't know. He makes me feel uncomfortable. I looked up again and saw him, still there. I looked away, my heart hammering hard, I closed my eyes. Cold wind brushed through my face. I breathe slowly. In. Out.
I shifted direction and the blades sank deeper into the ice, sending ice crystals in the air. I pushed my legs harder and glided with speed, preparing for my jump. I dug the toe pick and threw myself up, circling three times then landing with precision. Air went out my mouth, my eyes still closed. It was a perfect jump, I told you I love the Lutz.
"Perfect! Now do the Axel, start with the double." I halted. What? She knew I haven't perfected that one yet! I don't want to fall on my butt in front of him.
The Axel was the only jump that took me more than six months to perfect. And I still haven't gotten it right. Sometimes I get it right, most of the time, I don't. Not getting it meant hitting the ice—hard. I only landed it three times and Ayama said it was not technically polished. In short, it's useless to jump it if I can't get it right.
It's a complicated and highly-masculine jump. Or at least I think it was. I should jump from the front but land on my back, meaning, I have to stay in the air longer than the usual to do two or three turns. It's the hardest jump listed for competition. Few skaters have perfected the Axel in competition and those skaters are now winners, with names in the Hall of Fame.
"I'm not using that for my routine, Ayama-sensei," I told her. "Can we, uhm…practice my piece instead?" I smiled sweetly, I seldom do and I'm wondering why I did so.
"Who told you it's for your routine? This is for the sectionals," she said firmly. Surprised, I skated toward her.
"I'm not even sure I'm going to sectionals," I whispered, I have a feeling everyone heard it.
"Just do what I say, Yui. I want to know how much you've improved," she told me, bored. I glided away, rolling my eyes. "And I'll let you off tomorrow if you nail one."
"Really?" I could have jumped for joy. Yes! Of course I wanted a free day tomorrow. At last, a Saturday to myself! Ayama nodded. "You got a deal." I slid happily away. What do I do tomorrow? I couldn't remember ever going out on a Saturday. Maybe I should watch a movie or do some shopping.
"Don't get carried away. You still have to jump," Ayama reminded me but I couldn't care less. Tomorrow, I'm free. I skated away, forcing momentum. I needed as much power in my legs as much as possible. For my Axel to succeed, I needed to jump high and turn with speed. Or else, my face hits the ice. I glanced at the Prince's direction, he was still there, still watching. The twins still didn't notice him. No one did I guess, just me. Maybe he was not even there to begin with, maybe I'm just imagining him too much.
I pushed him away from my thoughts and focused on the ice, my skates, my impeding jump. A double. I have to nail a double. I crossed my arms on my chest, swished my right leg against the ice and jumped. I closed my eyes, I always do when I'm in the air. It alleviates my fear of falling. When I opened my eyes, I was already on my right foot skating across the rink. Ayama looked satisfied. She was smiling. "Now, do the triple!"
She doesn't have to tell me twice, I knew I wanted to do that hideous jump. I wanted to get this over with, so I can go home and prepare for tomorrow. So I can check if it really was him standing there, watching me. God, I wanted to know. Maybe I should tell him about Miaka, his miko. Or maybe not. I shook the thought away. Stop thinking of him, Yui. He's a prince and you're a poor not-so-beautiful skater who couldn't even nail a triple Axel. Wait! I'm not supposed to be thinking of him.
I missed the timing and I could almost imagine Ayama frowning. I skated again, eager to revive the lost momentum. The thumping of my heart filled my ears, this was it. I have to get this right or else. I pushed harder, harder. In a heartbeat, I threw myself up and let myself turn. And then I fell, on my right foot—successfully. Aya and Aki were clapping like crazy. But I couldn't turn and smile at them. A little after I landed, I lost balance and hit the side of the rink. The force was too much and I landed face down on the other side.
Voices were calling my name. I heard footsteps but I never knew who they were. My vision faded, my head hurts like hell and I lost consciousness. I remembered looking at a pair of beautiful hazel eyes. But it somehow faded, another image replaced it, a blonde-haired shogun with cold crystal blue eyes that I always melted in. Not him, anyone but him.
"Nakago…"
A/N: Please leave reviews!