Shimmer

"He's only twelve. Surely something like that can develop over time."

"I'm afraid it won't, Mr. Katsuki-san," the doctor replied, shaking his head. "Yuri presented seven months ago and the organ has shown no further growth the past three. As you can see by the X-ray, the womb is there but is underdeveloped and after this amount of time-"

"Male Pearls happen all too rarely," Yuri's father protested. "What if it just grows slowly?"

"Your son will continue to have the reoccurring stomach pains which I don't recommend," the doctor finished. "While we can continue observing the womb, I fear for Yuri's mental health the longer we wait."

"He isn't a weak boy."

"I understand, sir, but the mental constitution has been recorded fragile in Pearls."

"But. To live healthy, and alone…"

Hiroko looked at her frustrated husband. "Toshiya?"

"I...understand the law seems harsh, sir," the doctor replied quietly and sat up in his chair. "On paper, it sounds like no Diamond would want a barren Pearl but I have cases where that is simply untrue. Such Pearls still create healthy bonds with their partners, everything else will be the same save for some daily medication to even out the hormones as he goes through his teen years. To remove this organ is not as though we are removing all libido, sexual attraction. While I believe its never possible to remove all need for intimacy, for a concrete reason, its because he still has his penis. I would still prepare for heats down the line even though he will be sterile because he is a Pearl."

The office fell silent.

Mr. Katsuki gripped his knees. "I…I only want what's best for my son."

"Then remove what is causing him pain. I have no desire to scare you, but long-term pain tends to have lasting, psychological effects on Pearls. I've seen cases where girls conclude prolonged pain as their fault and I don't want to see that happen."

Mrs. Katsuki raised a hand to her mouth. "I've recently endured short panic attacks with him already over his pain. Is it too late?"

The doctor looked at Yuri's mother. "No, but this does concern me."

Toshiya nodded. "I won't have my son in pain…and we will work with him to make sure he knows he's more than fine the way he is."

"Very good, sir, I'll recommend a surgeon for you."

Yuri's father nodded. "Thank you, I have a few more questions too."

"Of course, I'll be happy to answer."

When the parents left the doctor's office it was a solemn taxi ride home in their small town.

Hiroko shook her head. "What are we going to do? How are we going to break it to him after his homeschooling?"

Toshiya took his wife's hand. "We simply explain the surgery needs to be done. His pain is distracting him close to daily and I'm sure he'll be a strong boy and understand."

"But, to remove it and still suffer heats without ever being able…its almost cruel…" Hiroko's voice trailed off as she held back a sob.

"My dear, I understand it has been tough as we were unprepared, but what would you have me do?"

His wife fell silent for a long while, looking out the window in thought.

"I would make sure he was happy," she finally murmured.

"And that's what we will do. The world has done Yuri no favors," the Diamond businessman shook his head, "but we can only do our best until he finds his place in it."

Hiroko nodded. "Of course."

Toshiya squeezed her hand and smiled. "And we know the world is also it's big. I am positive someone will love him just as much someday. We've got this."

"Hai," Hiroko nodded.

Just over two weeks later, Yuri groggily stared at the fine line of stitching across his abdomen in his hospital room.

'My womb is gone…okaasan says I'm not but…am I broken? Did I let my parents down?' Yuri wondered before he quickly covered his stomach and gripped his covers. 'Why couldn't I be a Ruby? Am I stuck inside forever?' Yuri started to tear up. 'What if I'm…not good enough now?'

-Knock. Knock.-

Yuri looked over at the door with a start. "M-Mari?" He rapidly wiped his eyes.

She smiled and walked into the hospital room. "Hey bro."

"Y-You're back in town already?"

Mari nodded. "Yup. The senior trip to Tokyo was boring."

Yuri rolled his eyes as scooted up a little in his half-reclined bed. "Yeah right."

She ignored her little brother's remark and pointed over her shoulder with a smile. "Besides, I brought a friend."

"Hi!" A girl with brown pigtails came bounding in.

"Y-Yuuko-chan?" Yuri stammered in surprise.

"Hey!" She waved. "It's so good to see you!"

"Heh, I'm surprised you recognize me," Yuri replied albeit a little sarcastically.

Mari tilted her head. "Why's that, bro?"

Yuri frowned. "It's been…how long?"

"Seven months," Mari replied.

"Right, anyway, I don't even look like me anymore."

"Of course you."

"Pretty boys are cool too, Yuri," Yuuko assured, still smiling. "Our class thought so when the principal came in and told us you had presented. Did you know you made the news as a rare Pearl?"

Yuri's eyes blown wide. "Eh?!"

Mari pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yuuko-chan…"

"Is that true?" Yuri asked.

His sister returned her hand to her side. "Yes. Otousan tried to shelter you from it, but some of the former staff of our house had spilled the beans to the media." She folded her arms.

"Well, I think it's great!" Yuri's classmate defended. "Being a male Pearl makes Yuri special and unique. I think he's lucky."

"Lucky? Yeah right." The known Pearl held out his arms. "Look at my skin. Okaasan told me my body is going through a Pearl's puberty, but my skin practically shimmers these days."

His sister slapped a hand over her mouth. "Pfft! Yuri…this is different. Okaasan may have gone overboard in switching out your body wash. Pearls don't become that ethereal, come on."

Yuri groaned. "M-Mari~" he wailed and gripped his blanket with both hands. "Can't you tell her to stop?"

"What? You don't like smooth skin?"

"Not if it makes me look like your glitter bath bombs."

Gomen, bro." Mari swallowed back a giggle. "I'll see what I can do to save your boyish looks, heh heh."

Yuuko stepped forward to take her friend's hand. "But still! To see you as a Pearl before I changed. It's so cool," she nearly squealed. "Just think about all the wonderful things you get to look forward to," she continued, "as a pretty Pearl, I bet you will have a choice of working in entertainment when you're older. Modeling, acting, you'd be pretty in anything, Yuri."

"Yay," the Katsuki son deadpanned. "No need for a brain at all…wahoo…"

Yuuko rolled her eyes. "You do to need a brain silly."

"Whatever, I'm useless while waiting for Charming," Yuri pouted.

"You're not useless. Pearls are never useless," Mari reminded with a sigh.

Yuri held back his tears and sniffed. "I am. Don't know if okaasan told you-"

"She did," Mari interrupted. "Gomen, Yuuko-chan, but family matter."

"No worries!" The girl gave a thumbs up.

The eldest sighed and folded her arms. "Anyway..."

Yuri rung his white blindfold in his hands. "I'm still useless."

"No, you're not. Stop it," Mari clipped.

"But I'm stuck inside until I bind with someone!" Yuri grumbled and then shuddered as looked away from the girls with folded arms. "Ick, I'm not ready for kissing anyway."

"You know I'd drag you to the beach if wandering around unbound wasn't against the law, bro."

Yuri pouted and looked at his lap. "Yeah, laws I bet some dumb Diamonds made."

"Public safety, kid, deal with it." Mari made a face. "Besides, you are a kid, this grown-up talk can wait, right?"

Yuri's shoulders drooped. "H-Hai…ano, what if our parents get picked on because of me?"

Mari walked over to the bedside. "Oh, well, that's easy. Your big sis will kick their butt and our parents won't stop me." She winked.

"Pretty sure a Diamond can whip your butt first," the twelve-year-old poked fun. "The gym teacher said they're the strongest."

Mari slyly smiled. "Oh yeah? Even if I were to tell you us ladies are off to train later today?"

"Eh?"

Yuuko innocently joined her hands together excitedly. "I want to get a head start learning to protect you before I present!"

"Eh?!" Yuri cried. "But-!"

"Mom says the whole family's been Rubies forever!" Yuuko bubbled. "This way we can remain close friends and- what's wrong?"

Yuri's tears had started to fall. "B-But, why?" He turned sister. "Y-You told me you wanted to travel, Mari. Why stay?"

The Ruby grinned. "Hey now, I'm not giving up anything by doing the right thing, bro. You need those who know you by your side. You're one-in-a-million and we love you."

"O-Oh…"

Mari raised an eyebrow. "Yuri?"

The young Pearl lifted only to shake his head and gave a small smile. "Nothing. Thank you, it means a lot you guys."

'One-in-a-million? So…there's no one like me? Who will understand?'


"And that's why you have this?" Victor traced Yuri's old scar.

Yuri watched the gentle fingers while flat on his back. "Hmhm~…I've always been self-conscious about it."

"Understandable…but you know me." Victor winked.

"Heh, you don't think its ugly."

"Yup," Victor replied with a popping sound of his lips. "It faded so well, I hardly noticed," he softly assured.

"I see. That's good then." The Pearl moved to his side, facing Victor on the mattress. "God… I feel sluggish."

"Welcome to hangovers, sweetheart," Victor yawned and lifted his right arm. "Come here."

Yuri nuzzled in closer until his nose was close to Victor's chest. "It's too bright."

Victor draped his arm over Yuri's side and closed his eyes. "Da~ I don't wanna move."

"Heh, me either…"

Cuddled, safe, and warm, who would want to?

"Hmm~ yup. Not moving," Victor confirmed after a good while later with an airy chuckle.

"Neh, Vitya?"

"Da?"

"Why," Yuri extended his legs for a quick stretch, "do you love me?" He drawled half-asleep.

The Diamond peeked his eyes open, looking right over the black head of hair. "Well…why do your parents love you?"

"Victor~"

"Humor me."

The Pearl thought for a moment. "Because…they brought me into the world, I suppose."

Victor pulled Yuri's waist slightly closer. "Right, and I 'suppose' I love you because you're in it, hehe."

Yuri snorted when he felt Victor kiss his crown. "Goofball…"

"That's me, heh. Thinking about it too hard, I don't like that sort of thing." Victor took Yuri's right hand. "All I care to know is if the love is there, regardless if there's a reason or not." He pecked the back of it. "Sometimes one just does, you know?"

"Hai." Yuri held onto Victor's hand and shifted back, away from his Diamond's chest just enough so their eyes could meet when he looked up and returned the pair of hands to rest between them. "And there is... my love I mean..." Yuri whispered as blushed tinged his cheeks.

Victor smiled. "We're leaving soon, by the way. Are you excited?"

Yuri looked at their hands with a sheepish smile and nodded. "Hai. Nervous too, but I am."

"To a new life too then." Victor grinned and leaned forward to-

-Knock. Knock-

"Yuri?"

"Mari?" Her brother whispered, looking over his shoulder.

-Knock. Knock-

"Sorry, but can I come in? It is eleven by the way. The kitchen never got a call so I brought food."

"Hai!" Yuri started to scramble out of bed. "Um, give us a few! We'll let you in soon!"

"Okay!" Mari replied. "Please hurry the thing here is heavy."

"Will do!" He called back over his shoulder. "Toss me my robe, Vitya," Yuri, next, requested quietly as they both whipped on their pajama pants.

Once ready in five minutes, Yuri opened the door. "Good morning."

His sister gave a short nod. "Morning. May I come in?"

"Sure, are you eating with us?" Yuri asked, taking note of the tray she was carrying.

"Is that okay? I got to talk you both so I brought up eggs on rice and juice for all of us."

Yuri nodded and stepped aside for her to come in. "Hai, by all means."

Mari went through the door and turned to her left, walked around the couch, and put down her tray. "It's freezing in here."

"Ah, Victor just closed the window."

"I see. Take up the couch, you two, I'm fine kneeling here at the table."

Yuri took a seat. "You said you had things to talk about?" He yawned.

"Food first? I haven't eaten yet either."

"Sure."

Bowls were empty by the time Mari set down her finished glass. "Now then, as to why I'm here." She crossed her legs. "That is, are you even with the land of the living? You two look half-awake still."

Victor tilted his head. "Da, it's fine. Everything okay?"

She folded her arms. "You tell me, Yuri. Are public displays of affection, honestly, ever okay?"

Yuri raised his eyebrows. "Eh?"

"They heard you."

"Eh?" Yuri asked louder. "I-I don't understand."

"Oh boy." His sister cringed. "Lemme guess, you, drunk, lug nuts opened the window?"

Yuri looked at Victor. "Why was that open? I don't remember opening it."

Mari facepalmed. "Oh boy~"

"O-Oneechan, what's going on?"

His sister dragged her hand down her face and returned the hand to her lap with a plop. "Okay, lemme boil it down for you both. Our mother is apologizing to our family and father is being bombarded with calls. Your voice can apparently carry bro."

Yuri covered his mouth and flushed to make cherries jealous.

Mari squinted her eyes at Victor. "Your idea?"

Victor placed a finger on his cheek. "Hmm~ maybe?"

"Maybe?!" Yuri exclaimed and buried his face in his hands. "God, this couldn't be worse!"

"Oh~ but it can," Mari replied.

"EH?!"

"Yuri, breathe," Victor warned before he looked at his sister-in-law. "Don't be suspenseful, what is it?"

"Luckily, according to Father, the news station in this small town will be adults about it, but…they know. Victor Nikiforov, the renown skater, is here in Hasetsu."

Yuri fell to his side onto the couch, still covering his face. "Oyasumi~"

"So…the calls your father is getting…?" Victor eluded.

"Reporters…some complaint calls too." Mari shook her head. "He isn't happy, I'm afraid."

Yuri rolled onto the floor. "Kill me…"

-Thud-

"Why~ don't like the idea becoming the hottest couple since butter on bread?" Mari replied sarcastically.

Victor narrowed his eyes. "Not helpful."

His sister-in-law shrugged. "It's the truth though."

The Pearl turned over and sat up with a jolt. "Ack! Victor's fans are going to be pissed!"

"Why?" The skater asked.

"Why are you so calm? You spent three years off the ice to become prepared."

The Diamond shrugged. "Preparing for a Proving Event isn't uncommon."

"Oh? If it's so common, did you even tell your fans what you were doing?"

Victor didn't reply.

Yuri scrambled back up. "Baka! Your fans are going to have my head! Oneechan they didn't threaten otousan with audio or anything, have they?"

Mari tilted her head in thought. "I don't know…my guess the reporter also spotted you on the beach and took a picture." She folded her arms and held back a devious smile. "Who knows? Maybe recorded a tidbit last night to one-hundred percent confirm the scoop to their boss?"

"Oh…God!" Yuri started to storm away. "I'm never leaving!"

She snorted and relaxed her posture. "I'm teasing!"

Victor stood up and followed after his Pearl. "I'm used to embarrassing press now and then. It'll be fine."

"But this is too much!"

The skater latched onto Yuri's wrist and pulled him into a hug. "Hey, hey, listen to me. Please?"

Yuri struggled for a moment but caved, however, kept his eyes on the floor.

"Listen…we will just ride the wave, all right? This is local news-"

"Not if it's online it's not."

Victor's head fell forward and he turned around before he lifted it again. "What?"

Mari held up her smartphone for a second and started to scroll with her thumb. "I was also right, they have a beach shot for the article…and a café shot…and even an 'at-the-tailor's' shot…jeez, you two did not watch your backs-"

"Onee-cha~n!" Yuri cried. "What the hell?!"

She looked up. "Hey. I didn't decide to get smashed over my birthday yesterday and screw my husband. Don't get me started on the singing I had to listen to for an hour last night- oh," she looked back to her phone screen, "looks like you two are already the last item trending on Twitter as 'Victuri', that is catchy-"

Yuri tore away from Victor, and dove right back into bed. "I'm not leaving!" He buried his head under pillows.

"You are too." Mari rolled her eyes as she stood up and walked over to Victor's side. "Even if this story didn't happen today, you two would be hot news when you landed in Russia. Hell, Victor might've been recognized in the airport."

"And?"

Mari placed her hands on her hips. "My point is your Diamond is famous. What else did you think was going to happen even if this incident hadn't?"

Yuri pulled himself from under his pillows. "Not happen this way, maybe?"

"Uh huh, and would you handle the cameras in your face any better?"

"How will I know now?"

"Oh, don't gimme that," she rebuked.

Yuri flipped onto his back, sat up at the same time slapped the mattress with both hands. "Look! I'm mortified! I don't know what else to do but stay here for a while longer! Let this blow over."

"I'll tell our parents you're remorseful, but that's not my point I'm trying to ma-"

Victor placed his hand on Mari's shoulder. "No, I think we understand," he calmly interjected, "but thank you for telling us so we didn't find out the hard way later."

Mari scratched the side of her head. "Hai… all right…I'll leave you two alone then."

She walked over to clean up the dishes and Victor held the door open for her.

"I'll talk to him," Victor whispered as Mari exited.

"Thank you, but I knew you will. He's always been a bit of a drama queen."

"I understand, thank you, and see you later."

Victor shut the door behind her, locked it, and turned around. "Well, that was event-"

Yuri, in the meantime, had moved to a fetal position. He rested forehead on his brought up knees, having wrapped his arms tightly around his legs as he continued to sit on the mattress in silence.

"-ful…Yuri?" Victor sniffed the air but smelled nothing as Yuri remained unmoving. "Love, what is it?" He walked forward, but, just when his knees touched the bedside, Yuri visibly cringed.

'Ah. There it is.' Victor thought after he took another whiff.

"Yuri…it will be-"

"Do we need…to end this?"

Victor froze to the dangerous question. Looked at the door and then back at his Pearl. "Wow…that was fast," he, finally, sighed.

Yuri sniffed and peeked just past his knees to see Victor run a hand through his hair.

"You get into your depreciating world all too quickly." The Diamond softly chided. "The world doesn't need to end that fast, you know?"

"But-"

Victor shook his head and folded his arms. "No. We don't need 'to end' a damn thing."

Yuri cringed again. "…Are you angry?" He mumbled.

"For you to suggest we take meds and part ways as though nothing happened, da~ more than a bit. I can't have you giving up so fast."

"It's not like I want to." Yuri slowly lifted his head, his eyes cast downwards. "It's just...tell me why I can see headlines destroying you?" He gripped the front of his robe with his hands. "The idea I could cause you embarrassment or pain hurts."

Victor's stiff expression softened and he climbed back onto the mattress. "And the idea of us not being together anymore doesn't hurt as much if not more?"

Yuri squeezed his teary eyes shut before he nodded. "More. Much, much more."

Victor wrapped his arms and legs around Yuri's crying frame the best he could. "Then fuck the articles and whatever imaginary headlines in your noggin'." He kissed Yuri's head. "Let's not let anyone make us into just a dream."

The Pearl sniffed. "Gomen, I'm not…that strong." He wiped his eyes on his right sleeve.

"You forgo your own happiness often I bet," Victor whispered. "Am I wrong to think you believe we would be happier if we didn't know you?"

Yuri remained silent but looked into Victor's worried eyes as his Diamond rubbed his back.

"Let me help you beat your anxieties, Yuri. Let me stay. The media can stuff it."

"Heh." Fresh tears fell down the Pearl's eyes as he smiled despite it all. "I love you." He sniffed.

Victor squeezed Yuri tightly with his arms and legs all-at-once. "I love you too."

The Pearl clutched onto Victor's sleeve a moment later, after his faint, distressing smell dissipated. "Can we…not leave the bed today?"

"Of course." Victor rocked to the side and took them both to the mattress.

"Can…I feel like yours again…?" Yuri murmured. "Er, I-I mean! Crap, I know its selfish, but I-!"

The Diamond took Yuri's chin and interrupted his Pearl's rambling with a deep kiss.


A/N:

Thank you for reading! Please share and thank you for your support! I'd love to hear some feedback! :D