Pairings: Viktor/Yuuri. Phichit/Tamaki

Warnings: AU Universe. Non-canon. Gender bend. Canon pairings. Same sex relationships. Some character bashing. Nicer Yurio. Little brother Yurio. More confident Yuuri

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke and Yuri on Ice or any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me


Chapter Seven: For There is Hope

"So the Grand Prix Finals, huh?" Aida Riko grinned at Akashi Seijuro in the Rising Sun restaurant where she, along with the rest of Seirin were having their usual after training meals. It was a Saturday, and thus, Riko had only scheduled for full morning trainings, as her athletes are all still growing teens, and over training could really hurt them. "How's Tamaki-chan looking really? I still don't know much about figure skating as we don't have many figure skaters coming into my dad's gym for training."

It was well into the Winter Cup tournament for the basketball season in Japan, and Seirin's progress has been looking really good. They were even aptly named the 'dark horse' by the reporters at Basketball Monthly; a new team that was just formed two years ago, and yet, taking down famous teams, with even teams that had a member of the famed Generation of Miracles falling to them.

Seirin had ended up facing Touou for their first match in the Winter Cup after progressing through the qualifying rounds. And to say that Seirin has more than the motivation of moving onto the next round of the Winter Cup is a severe understatement.

Kagami for one is royally pissed when Aomine had taunted him during their match. None of the Seirin players were able to hear what he had said, but to say that it had only succeeded in enraging Kagami more to the point that he's even able to overwhelm Aomine is a severe understatement.

Riko had however suspected that Aomine might have used Tamaki to taunt Kagami with, as very few things can get beneath Kagami's skin ever since Tamaki had beaten the fact that 'winning is not everything' and that 'winning alone is not a real victory' into Kagami's rather thick skull after their first match against Shutoku. Tamaki is truly the only person that Kagami listens to and respects as both a fellow athlete (despite the fact she no longer plays basketball) and a best friend.

Even still, despite everything, Seirin had just managed to beat Touou by the skin of their teeth. It also helps that Tamaki had been in Russia for the Rostelecom Cup at that time, and Kagami wanted to bring news of their victory to Tamaki once she returns to Japan.

Their matches against Yosen and Kaijo went about as well as could be expected.

Those were tough matches, as both teams were National-level teams for a reason, and not to mention that they each have a member of the Generation of Miracles, but Seirin had managed to pull through.

And like how they've promised Tamaki, they did indeed kick the Generation of Miracles off their high thrones. Now, it is just their final match against Rakuzan left. And unlike the rest of that famous team, Akashi isn't as arrogant as them.

In fact, Seirin had met Akashi a few times over the course of the year whenever he is back in Tokyo for the weekends. He reminds Seirin of Tamaki, only much more ruthless whenever it comes to matches—Hell, they've seen first-hand of how Akashi had tore down Touou at the Inter High, easily tripling their score.

Even Tamaki isn't exactly that innocent either.

Seirin knew perfectly well she can be extremely harsh and ruthless on the court—they've seen enough videos of her during her time in Teiko to know that; and she has a rather infamous reputation as well.

There is a reason why no one wants to go against Teiko in middle school, and why Akashi Seijuro and Kuroko Tamaki have started leading them since their first year—and under their leadership, had brought Teiko victory after victory.

"She's looking well." Akashi answered with a smile, with a notepad in hand as he got ready to note down Seirin's orders. During weekends, he always helps out at his mother's restaurant if he's not playing catch-up with his cousin or his best friend (both whom were coincidentally out of the country this week). "I don't think that Tama thinks that she will win gold; but she is hoping to stand on the podium at least."

"Why not?" Kagami enquired, curious, even as he looked through the menu to decide on what he wants. "She's really good."

True, he doesn't know enough of figure skating to decide that, but he knows enough that Tamaki is good. Good enough to bring even the Viktor Nikiforov down to Japan every two weeks just to train with his chosen Japanese pair skate partner.

"You don't know enough about figure skating tournaments, do you, Kagami?" Izuki was really amused. "The Grand Prix is one of the worldwide tournaments that pit the best skaters in the world against each other. The fact that Tamaki could actually make it to the finals is extremely impressive, considering that it's also her senior debut. Depending on how well she does there, she might also gain a ticket to the World Championships or even the Four Continents."

"You got me lost there." Kagami admitted. "I don't even know what that is. I'll just ask Tamaki when she gets back."

Akashi grinned. "So, are you ready to order?" he enquired.

"Yes, I'll have—"

"I've told you, she isn't here!" An annoyed voice caught Akashi's attention just then, along with all of Seirin's. As one, they turned their attention towards the entrance of Rising Sun where one of the waitresses was standing at the door, looking really annoyed. "Yuki-san gave me explicit instructions not to let you in—even as a customer. Please leave."

"I know that she's here. Let me see her!" An extremely familiar voice reached their ears, causing Akashi's eye to twitch dangerously, and for Kagami to growl. "I just want to talk to her."

"Talk or threaten?" The waitress was beginning to lose patience due to how often Aomine Daiki comes by. "Kagami-kun told us of how you'd manhandled her that day. Tamaki-chan isn't here. Please leave before I call the police."

"I'm not leaving until I get to talk to her!" Aomine's voice is starting to get louder, thus attracting the attention of the rest of the patrons of the restaurant. "Hey Tamaki! I know that you're there!"

"Like I'm saying—"

"Himiko-san, I'll handle this." Akashi cut in between the annoyed waitress and a stubborn Aomine. "Please tend to Table 4; they're ready to make their orders."

"Akashi-kun!" Himiko, the waitress looked relieved for a moment before she nodded. "All right. Let me know if it gets out of hand. I'll call the police."

Akashi nodded before Himiko headed towards the table where Seirin is seated all—with all of them looking concerned, looking continuously towards Akashi's direction. The redhead looked particularly angry when he faced Aomine.

Even after nearly a year since the entire fiasco at Teiko had gone down, it hasn't lessened Akashi's temper any. It only seemed to have made it worse, especially after the Rakuzan versus Touou match during the Inter High; and then Seirin's match against Touou during the Winter Cup.

"Akashi." Aomine nodded to his former captain. "I know that Tamaki is here. Let me talk to her," he demanded.

Akashi rolled his eyes. As always, Aomine always demands. He never asks. Always demands, and thinks that it will be given to him. The guy is nearly sixteen; almost an adult, and yet, it seemed to Akashi some days that it's like he still doesn't know right from wrong. Probably, Momoi Satsuki isn't helping any matters by catering to him all the time.

"Tama isn't here." Akashi said through tightly clenched teeth, resisting the urge to throw his notepad at Aomine's head. Too bad that his mother forbid the carrying of any potentially lethal weapons in her restaurant if you're not working in the kitchen. "She's not even in Japan! Have you even been paying attention to the news?" If Aomine had, he would have realised that, as the announcements about the finalists for the Grand Prix Final has been all over both Japan and international news for weeks. "Besides, can you read or not?"

Akashi pointed to the sign pinned next to the door that an exasperated Yuki had put up less than a week after Tamaki's victory at the Japan Regionals. The sign read 'Reporters and non-paying customers will be turned away or reported to the police. You have been warned.'

"Why aren't you stopping her, Akashi?" Aomine demanded. "She doesn't belong on the ice! She belongs on the court, playing basketball—"

"With who? With idiots like you?" Akashi said coldly, effectively silencing Aomine. "She might be my cousin, but I don't dictate what Tama does." Like what you're trying to do, went unsaid. "And I know that we've said this more than once. But if it hasn't yet settled into your thick skull, Tama made her choice." Akashi said slowly and deliberately; almost like he's speaking to someone particularly slow. "To begin with, she had been a figure skater before she's a basketball player. She only helped with the club because I asked her to. I would never have dragged her into it if I'd known what is going to happen!" Akashi's eyes flashed murder, and Aomine flinched. "And I kindly ask you to leave my cousin alone before I take up a restricting order against you! Haven't you ruined enough of her life? Leave her alone before I create some extra holes in your body for you to breathe out of!" Akashi thundered. "You've hurt Tama enough. And now that she's found some semblance of happiness, and is starting to smile once again, you're once again threatening to take it away? Don't fuck with me!"

"That's different!" Aomine protested, actually taking one step back due to Akashi's cold rage. "I wasn't going to do that—I've never hurt her!"

"'Never hurt her'?" Akashi echoed incredulously, actually taking one step closer to Aomine and closing the door of Rising Sun behind him to prevent the patrons from actually seeing and hearing their argument. Though if he knows Seirin well enough, he knows that they'll be all trying to eavesdrop. None of them are the greatest fans of the Generation of Miracles (save for perhaps himself and Tamaki) for certain reasons. "Never hurt her, my foot!" Akashi thundered. How many times had he and Shigehiro (and sometimes both of them) have to calm Tamaki down or even try to cheer her up after another one of Aomine's thoughtless and selfish comments since near the end of their second year? "If I ever had it my way, you wouldn't even be going near Tama!" Though if Tamaki had it her way, she'll never see Aomine again. "Leave her alone from now on, Aomine. I won't be warning you again." Akashi almost growled. "You'll be sorry if I hear from Tama that you're bothering her again, or if I even see you near her again."

He then went back into Rising Sun and slammed the door behind him so hard that the door almost trembled in the frame. Akashi then approached the nearest table where four apprehensive looking college students have the menus in their hands.

Akashi forced a smile on his face. "Good afternoon. May I take your orders?"

XXXXXX

Gold. She got gold at the Rostelecom Cup.

On Viktor's home turf. With every single Russia female figure skater (save for the ones at Viktor's home rink) feeling mortally offended, and who felt that their hero shouldn't be partnering with a foreigner on the ice.

It is just lucky for those women that they didn't realise that Tamaki could understand every single word that they've said at the Rostelecom Cup when they've whispered to each other snidely in Russian as she walked past—often with either Viktor, Mila or even Yuri (or Yura as Yuri had insisted she call him during her third day in Russia) with the teal head. More than once, Tamaki had to hold back Mila and Yuri from mauling those women—with the two feeling mortally offended on Tamaki's behalf that those women have called Tamaki a 'gold-digger', and that she's only Viktor's partner just so that she can cling onto his fame.

Anyone who had spent more than half a minute in the presence of those two would know that it isn't Tamaki who is clinging onto Viktor. Rather, it is the other way around. More than one of Viktor's rink mates had wondered out loud just how Tamaki could handle the overgrown child without being driven mad by his antics.

The Tamaki from a year ago would have probably been affected by those taunts. But partnering with Viktor and reconnecting with all her old skating friends and even making new ones had done wonders for Tamaki's skill on the ice and even her confidence in her skating skill.

Mila was still howling with laughter at the closing ceremony when it was announced that Tamaki had gotten gold at the Rostelecom Cup, despite the judges' clear bias for the Russian skaters. Yakov and Izuki Shuji who were both present at the Women's Singles have frowned throughout the entire thing, making a mental note to speak to the ISF about the judges' scoring.

It was just fortunate for Tamaki that half the judges on the panel weren't biased in any way, shape or form, and thus, they've scored her fairly, thus allowing her to score a full ten points ahead of the second placer who also happens to be Russia's top female skater—with this year also being her final competitive year.

With Tamaki having gotten silver at Skate America and gold at the Rostelecom Cup, she had thus made it for the Grand Prix Final, particularly with the scores that she'd gotten.

The month long break before the Final seemed to just fly by for Tamaki. When she isn't in school or doing her homework or even sleeping, it seems that all that she's doing is just training on her Free Skate and Short Program to the point that she could even do it in her sleep. Viktor had been spending more time in Japan to practice their pair skate routine as well—both of them determined to at least make it to the podium if they couldn't get gold.

As this is their first year as a pair, while getting gold at the Grand Prix Final isn't impossible, it is also extremely difficult.

Tamaki had also been going through her routines, choosing to up the difficulty of her jumps and spins that Izuki Shuji was worried that she wouldn't be able to last to the end due to how stamina draining it had been. And unlike Yuuri, Tamaki doesn't have the insane stamina that he's known for.

Yura (which Yuri had insisted that Tamaki call him when she's in Russia) had made it a point to video call or even emailed her every single day. The ten-year-old seem to adore Tamaki—a fact that Tamaki had found sweet, and in turn, she had adored the younger boy like a kid brother. It didn't stop Mila and Viktor from teasing the poor boy however.

And while the Russian skaters said nothing, it is plain to anyone with eyes that Yuri is waiting impatiently for the winter break so that Tamaki could head to Russia—or even once she'd finished college so that she can train with them on a more permanent basis, as is part of the agreement made with the Russia Skating Federation.

Probably, part of the reason why Yuri had adored Tamaki so had been because she had never treated him as a kid, but as an adult; and that unlike most, Tamaki had never treated him like he's a clone of Viktor, but as his own person.

Viktor did however suspect that part of the reason why Yuri had clung to Tamaki so had been because the kid is lonely. Many might forget, but Yuri is only ten. Still a child. His mother is always busy, and no one even knew who Yuri's father is. By how Yuri had always clammed up on the topic of his father when brought up, by general consensus, no one ever touched on the topic, sure that it's a particularly sensitive topic for the blonde.

Yuri only had his grandfather—and if he's lucky, he could maybe see his grandfather three or four times a year, especially after he had to move to Saint Petersburg when he had started training under Yakov. Such a trip is hard for an elderly man, especially one who had arthritis problems.

Tamaki is likely the first girl who Yuri had openly adored as a sister or maybe even a surrogate mother, and had respected. Sure, he had idolised her for her skating before he truly got to know her. But after that, Yuri had seen her as the older sister he never had.

Probably why the small blonde is always so angry when people insult Tamaki at the Rostelecom Cup. He is also probably the most upset when the Rostelecom Cup is over, and Tamaki has to return to Japan for school and to train for the Final.

Yakov had finally given in due to Yuri's constant nagging, and promised to bring him to the Final that is being hosted by China that year—if he at least manages to make it to the podium for his own Junior event that had the extremely effective method of causing Yuri to train day in and day out.

Yakov even played with the idea of getting Tamaki to train with them every winter break she had if it makes Yuri more motivated as a result.

Mila was laughing so hard until she could barely stand on the ice when she'd overheard it.


Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

Tamaki kept telling herself as she tried not to freak out, with her coach and Viktor on either side of her, murmuring soothing words to her, trying to calm her down.

Here Tamaki was, at the venue of the Grand Prix Final at Beijing, China, just about to step into the rink for her Free Skate. Just like with the Japan Regionals, Tamaki is the last to perform as she had came in first for her Short Program (also beating her personal score, much to Izuki Shuji's delight).

Tamaki had actually called home after her Short Program the previous day, and the screams of congratulations had almost deafened her. Surprisingly, Yuuri had messaged her with a congratulatory message too. As had Hayato and Nanami—both have even stated that Japan sends their congratulations that only added onto Tamaki's nerves.

Yakov actually has to herd a protesting Yuri and Mila to the spectator stands instead of allowing them to stand with Shuji and Viktor, as the Russian coach could tell that their presences and what they assumed to be 'good luck' words are only adding onto the teal head's nerves—and she doesn't need her nerves adding up when she's just about to skate.

One after the after, the finalists of the Grand Prix Final went onto the ice, and Tamaki could admit to herself that they are good. Most of them have been in the senior division for years now, whilst Tamaki is just participating in the senior division that year. The fact that she had made it this far for her senior debut is nothing short of amazing, like what Morooka had told her cheerfully when she'd returned to Japan after the Rostelecom Cup.

Seriously, Tamaki now has a good idea how Yuuri must feel all the time before competitions, and she feels for him. She really does. If she crashes and burn here, it won't just be Tamaki who is disappointed. Japan, her country will be disappointed too—as this is the first time in a long while since a Japanese skater had actually made it this far in an international tournament.

Hell, if she crashes and burn here, the Russia Skating Federation might even feel that she isn't good enough to be Viktor's partner, and she didn't want that. She truly likes being Viktor's partner. Being with him on the ice brings out a side of her that she didn't realises she had. He is like the brother that she never had.

Being with him, Yura, and all her skating friends makes Tamaki feel like she doesn't have to hide who she is. She can be herself around them—something that she never could around her former 'friends'. Hell, she knows from Seijuro and even Kagami that Aomine is still in denial apparently—along with maybe Kise. Those two idiots still think that she's 'wasting' her time on the ice. Clearly, they didn't seem to realise that unlike her basketball in Japan, with figure skating, she is actually representing Japan on the international stage as a professional skater.

And before Tamaki even knew what is going on, the announcer is announcing her name excitedly in heavily accented English—stating that it's her turn and that she's the final skater on the ice. Where did all the time even go?

"All right. Stay calm, Tamaki. You all right?" Izuki Shuji sounded odd even as Tamaki handed her coach her Japan windbreaker, and she nodded sombrely, not trusting her voice. "All right. This is it. Win or lose, laugh or cry, there is just this one skate left. You've truly outdone yourself this year. Both of you did." Shuji glanced in between Tamaki and a smiling Viktor. "No one even thought that a figure skater could compete in both pair skating and singles and still place on the podium, but you did. Both of you. You've truly preceded all expectations. Go out there on the ice, Tamaki. Show the world what you could do."

Tamaki nodded dumbly, not trusting her voice, even as she skated out to the middle of the ice, with the loud cheers from the crowd sounding almost muted to her ears. As Tamaki did so, she realised that she not only felt her fear and nerves receding as quickly as it had came, she realised that this is just another competition. Just like the time at the Regionals or even the qualifiers.

She just has to tell her story, that is all.

"And now we have our last skater out on the ice, Tamaki Kuroko, 15, representing Japan. She will be skating her Free Skate program to the song 'Star Sky'."

Tamaki took a bow to the audience before getting into her starting position.

As she did so, she thought that she'd caught sight of Yuri and Mila's excited faces somewhere in the sea of audience, and even Yakov's expectant face.

That's right.

Ice skating is her life now.

Like what she'd promised herself, she will be looking into the future. No more looking back.

Focus…

Focus on the story. One of farewell and abandonment. The story of someone who despite everything—despite all the setbacks, and despite everyone abandoning her at some point, she still gets up and continue getting better. She continued moving forward.

The cheers of the audience sounded almost muffled to Tamaki's ears even as she glided and danced on the ice. What is the announcer saying again? Something about a jump?

Oh. That's right. She's in the middle of a tournament. The Grand Prix Final. She promised that she will get Japan there, and she did. Too bad that poor Yuuri had the worst luck ever and couldn't make it there with her, though he promised that he would someday.

What were the jumps again?

Oh. Right. A triple axel, and a triple loop combination.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

She took off from the ice and landed neatly, nailing her jumps perfectly, with the excited screams and applause from the crowd settling the rest of her worry. It seems like China seems to be quite a fan of her for some reason.

A quadruple double. And a triple flip.

The further her routine progressed, the more that Tamaki felt her calm settled to the point that she feels like she's flying over the ice again. Her skating gained that edge that she needs—that she had found herself missing ever since her parents have died. Her performances that year have exceeded everything that she'd once believed is the limit.

No more.

She's found what she's lacking.

"The final combination jump." The commentator spoke, even as Tamaki glided over the ice. Her routine had definitely become more polished since her time at Regionals. "A ballet jump. A single flip. A double flip. And a triple flip. She's nailed it!"

Tamaki spun in the air before she landed neatly back onto the ice without hesitation, landing directly in front of the judges, ending her movements together in sync together with the music, her arms spread towards the ceiling.

Tamaki breathed hard, having upped the difficulty of several of her quads and jumps for the Final. She is actually relieved that it's finally over, as she could barely believe that she had indeed managed to pull it all off without falling over a single time.

The stands were silent for several moments before erupting into a thunder of applause, with flowers and plushies being thrown at the ice even as Tamaki took another bow. She smiled contently, before grabbing a cute black and white dog plushie that reminds her of Aoi.

A father holding his small daughter up caught her attention, and Tamaki skated over to them. The small girl—probably not much older than seven smiled at her brightly and placed a flower crown woven with several blue flowers on her head.

"Gong xi ni. (Congratulations)" The little girl squeaked in her native language of Chinese before ducking her face shyly, and Tamaki smiled at the little girl appreciatively.

She then glided across the ice towards the direction of the Kiss and Cry where Shuji and Viktor were both waiting for her. "You did great, Tamaki." Shuji murmured as they sat on the bench at the Kiss and Cry to get her score. "You'll definitely get on the podium for sure."

"With a performance like that, I couldn't agree more." Viktor agreed, seated on Tamaki's other side.

The results then appeared on the large electronic board that is also showing a visual of Tamaki seated at the Kiss and Cry with her coach and Viktor. Before Tamaki could see anything more than the number '2' beside her name, Shuji had grabbed her in an ecstatic hug, with Viktor messing her hair up in his excitement, much to Tamaki's annoyance.

It however didn't prevent Tamaki from hearing the excited announcer from announcing her score, and Tamaki's eyes widened even as she took a moment to comprehend what she had just heard.

"You beat your personal best at the Rostelecom Cup!" Shuji was exclaiming excitedly, acting for all in the world like he's getting his own score, and not Tamaki. "You got silver, Tamaki! You came in second!"

Tamaki smiled even as she stared at the score list of all the finalists at the Grand Prix Final. Well, she wasn't really expecting to win gold anyway, with this being her first year and all. The fact that she'd actually fallen short of just a few points below the gold medallist is good enough for her.

She'll try again for the gold next year.

But she did it. She can hold her head up high as she return to Japan with her silver medal, knowing that she'd made her country proud. And more importantly, she had gotten a good enough score that she's made it for the World Championships for sure.

She did it.

Tamaki smiled amidst her tears an hour later even as she stood on the podium beside the gold medallist—Alissa Czisny, the American skater who had also gotten gold at Skate America when she'd competed against her. On the third place stood the Italian skater. Both women were older than her, and no doubt had competed in the senior division for a few years now at this point of time, but they seemed just as proud and pleased for Tamaki like it's their own achievement.

"Congratulations." Alissa had murmured to Tamaki later after the standard bow on the ice for the gold, silver and bronze medallists. "I look forward to facing you at Worlds and even the Four Continents. Let's compete again." She smiled.

Tamaki nodded. "Same here," she answered in fluent English. "I'll beat you to the gold next time."

Alissa laughed. "I look forward to it."


A/N: I used real people for the medallists in this story, as I'm running out of names to use! Sorry for the late update, people, as I'm a little busy with my own novel of late. Also, as a side note, I've set up a P-a-t-r-e-o-n account to fund my original novel writing process. The link to it is on my profile, under 'Links to Sites', and I will appreciate it if you can show your support and spread the word.

I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!