A/N: Hii everyone ! I'm back with Chapter 5

So like I said at the end of chapter 4, this chapter is continuing Victor's back story on May 6th and also completing May 7th where Yuuri finds out some news.

I have something to remind you guys of at the end, but for now, hope you enjoy !

Wednesday, May 6th, Yu-Topia, 1:50 PM

Everything made sense. Absolutely everything. But it was so unbelievably horrible that Yuuri didn't want to believe any of it.

Victor had lost his mom on Mother's Day and he wasn't there to say goodbye to her. He had gone out to by flowers, unaware of the events that would take place while he was gone as Yakov stayed by her side.

Yuuri had thought Victor was just sad...but it was SO much more than that.

Pain, regret, anger, remorse...and guilt.

So much guilt.

But a throat clear from his phone caused Yuuri to retreat back from his thoughts. He almost forgot that he was still on call with Yakov.

"So...uh...what happened after that ?" He asked. Though the question sounded dumb, he wanted to know.

Yakov gave a short humph, as if he was think about his next words, " Well...ever since day...Victor has never been quite the same. Especially around this time of year. The weeks following her death were some of that hardest times for him."

"Naturally, I took Victor in. He had no other family around to stay with and I knew Elena wouldn't have wanted anything less. I was technically his father figure as he grew up so I didn't see a problem with it. But it was difficult...seeing him so upset. Especially with how much more familiar I was in seeing him happy than sad."

" I would hear him cry in his bedroom at night and wake up with bloodshot eyes that had the darkest bags underneath. He didn't eat much. He wouldn't talk much either. I had thought about getting him counseling but he kept denying any help I offered and said he would be fine on his own."

"One night, I came home from a meeting a little later than usual. I was expecting Victor to be asleep...but I came home to find him in my living room. And it was the worst I'd ever seen him."

Yuuri broke into a sweat after hearing that last sentence, "W-what was he doing ?"

Yakov sighed, "He was sitting in front of the TV, watching the recorded clip of his first interview that I told you about. And he was crying...with a pair of scissors in his hand...cutting off his hair piece by piece. It was then I noticed that it was only a certain part of the interview he was listening too. The part where he said he wanted to be like his mother was put on in a repeating cycle, and each time he heard it, he would cut a piece of hair."

Yuuri put a shaking hand to his mouth.

"It's was almost like those words were a sin. I noticed before that he would sometimes grimace when he looked in a mirror or he would purposely wear his hair in a bun or tuck it into the shirts he wore. He had grown out his hair for Elena while she was still alive and wanted to be like her in everyway possible. But now that she was gone, it was almost like... " Yakov trailed off but Yuuri understood and finished Yakov's sentence.

" ...it hurt Victor to look in a mirror and see so much of her...in himself."

Yuuri had remembered the first time he had seen Victor with shorter hair. He had thought it was just for a new look...but oh how wrong he was.

Yakov hummed in confirmation," I watched him sob and cut off piece after piece. But eventually, I was able to walk towards him and bend down to his level. I turned off the TV and took the scissors away. He looked at me with the same eyes Elena had the day Alexandr died, and simply collapsed in tears into my chest. I'm usually not an affectionate person, but...I knew he needed it."

"Victor slowly got better after that. He returned to the ice, and though slightly rusty, he still delivered everytime regardless of everything that happened. I think he realized that he still had to uphold the promise he made to his mother. To do what she couldn't. And he definitely did so with every performance he gave and each victory he obtained."

"He soon was back to himself. Of course the occasional breakdown occured, but that's normal after losing a parent or any loved one. But nothing is ever as bad then when Mother's Day come around. I always tried what I could, but each year...but the guilt and anguish would just eat away at him until Mother's Day passed. It's supposed to be a day of celebration...but for Victor... it's dark and dismal. And it has been ever since."

Yuuri's brain was running a mile a minute from everything he just learned. But one thing still confused him.

"At the time when Victor's mother died...he was already pretty famous in the ice skating community, but I didn't hear anything about it. Why wasn't there any news on Elena's passing ? Surely the media would have picked SOMETHING up."

Yakov's reply was quick, " Victor made sure that didn't happen. During competitions when he was younger, Elena had told him that she preferred for her face not to be plastered all over news articles and TV broadcasts. Victor had remembered this, and privately threatened that if any potential paparazzi, news feeds, of media account reporters grabbed hold of what happened, he would have his lawyer take action immediately. He didn't want any rumours and lies to be spread around about Elena. So he kept her death a secret in exception for a few people. We also held a very small memorial for her with those chosen individuals as well, but nothing too grand to cause a scene or grab attention."

Yuuri sighed, "I...I can't even begin to wrap my head around this. I mean I can see why he didn't tell me, but...why go through this ? All by himself ? The only reason you know was because you were THERE. And yet he was still closed off with you."

"I think," Yakov started, "Victor needs someone who understands. Someone who believes in him. Someone he knows he can always have support from. It's very difficult for him. He lost the most important person in his life in the most tragic way possible. The person who he trusted most in his life. So I believe it will only take a person just as trustworthy in order to truly help him. And...I think that person is you Yuuri. It's certainly not me...I lost that trust a long time ago."

Yuuri was confused, " What do you mean ?"

Yakov sighed, " About a month after Elena died, I was going through some of her things and I found an envelope with Victor's name on it. I had opened it up and there were several photographs of her and Victor inside. Along with a note to Victor that was dated about two weeks before she died. I'm not sure if she was going to give it to me to give to Victor or if she was expecting Victor or myself to find it knew day. But regardless...it was written for Victor so he was definitely supposed to receive it. But..."

Yuuri swallowed, "But what ?"

"I..." Yakov sighed, " I never gave it to him. The photos nor the letter. I kept thinking it was only going to cause him pain and horrible memories...so I kept it instead. Probably the biggest mistake I ever could have made."

Yuuri shook his head even though he knew Yakov couldn't see it, "No. It's understandable. You were watching out for Victor's well being. He was broken after his mom died...and you didn't want to further that break. He had gone through enough."

Yakov sighed, "Yes, but he deserves to see it. The note and photos are the last memories that I believe exist of him and his mother. But there's no way I could face Victor now out of all times and give them to him. Especially after I kept them a secret for so long. It painfully complicated...since I'm almost guaranteed that there must be something important in that letter..."

"You didn't read it?" Yuuri asked.

"No. I couldn't bring myself to. It's for Victor's eyes only. It's none of my business."

Yuuri didn't even need to think, "I'll give it to him."

Yakov was silent which made Yuuri slightly nervous, but he still continued.

"You said so yourself that Victor needed somebody that he could trust and understand him. I'm his husband and mate. I made a vow to help him through anything and everything. I love him with all my heart and I want nothing more than for him to be at peace with what happened 11 years ago. I don't want this to eat away at him any longer. He was a good son and he needs to realize that."

Yakov still didn't say anything, allowing Yuuri to say even more, but his voice was breaking.

"I know I can help him. I NEED to help him. Honestly...I starting to think I know how...but in order to do that...I need those pictures and letter. He'll have to know that they're from you, but with some explaining, I doubt Victor will be mad. This has to be done. I can't see him go on like this Yakov, and I know you don't want to either. Nothing will change unless you agree to this and give me your consent. Please..."

Tears rolled down Yuuri's cheek "...help me get Victor back."

Silence still rang through Yuuri's eardrums, but finally Yakov's voice rose through his phone speaker. His words make Yuuri's heart skip a beat.

"I'll send everything through express mail . You should get them the day before Mother's Day. I trust you Yuuri... and I know Victor does too. Let me know how everything goes."

Yuuri smiled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Of course. Thank you...Yakov."

*beep

Yuuri sighed and laid down flat on his bed, nearly a million things running through his head at once.

He finally knew...everything. And for some reason, he felt super excited, nervous, happy, anxious, and sad all at the same time.

There's doubt that saying about how the "truth hurts" is real. It does hurt...in a lot of strange, different ways.

But casting all emotions aside, he needed to think.

A needed a way he could portray to Victor that he didn't need to feel guilty about what happened. A way to show him that he would always be there for him no matter what. Something that would tell Victor that Yuuri would always keep him promises and that he could trust him with everything.

All the while incorporating Victor's past and the photos and letter Yakov was going to send to him.

How could he connect all of that...?

He then thought about his and Victor's past and their connections. How they grew together and built a relationship that could never be broken.

Well...that happened because Victor saw the video of him skating to...

That's it.

Skating.

Or at the very least...portraying a message through the ice.

If there was anything Yuuri was good at, it was sending a message through his skating. The season when he first met Victor was practically dedicated to that.

But he needed something else... maybe...

Yuuri bit his thumbnail while scrolling through his contacts and phone numbers. The contact he was looking for met his vision and he immediately tapped on the call button. It rang only twice before a familiar voice met his eardums.

"Yuuko...? It's Yuuri...no I'm fine...uhm, I was actually wondering if you could help me with something...?"

Thursday, May 7th, Hatsetsu Shopping Center, 5:15 PM

"Really, Mom it's okay...you don't need to feel bad. I'm almost done here and then I'll be home...yes. Love you too...see you soon."

Yuuri sighed at put his phone in his pocket snd continued walking down the aisle, looking for the right bag of rice that his mom uses to cook with.

To Hiroko's horror, she had forgotten to put rice on the shopping list for Toshiya and Victor the day before and had planned on making Katsudon for dinner. But you can't have Katsudon without rice.

Yuuri didn't want his dad and Victor to go out again, so he offered to go instead. The shopping center was only a 15 minute walk away from the onsen and Yuuri thought it would be nice chance to get some fresh air. Of course Hiroko felt terrible, and Yuuri had to shrug it off more than once to convince her that it was no big deal.

"Here we go..." Yuuri murmured to himself. He scanned the shelves until his eyes met the familiar brand of rice that his mom always had him the kitchen. With a satisfied smile, he grabbed two medium sized bags and placed them in his shopping basket before turning around, making his way to the check out.

As he walked, he began to think.

Yuuri had called Yuuko the day before after talking to Yakov. He gave her a brief description of his situation and she had pushed forth alot of ideas for him in coming up with a plan for Victor for Mother's Day.

This was no where near a celebration, but more of a "Everything is Okay Now/You Did Your Absolute Best" gift.

They had come up with some pretty good ideas...but Yuuri still felt like it was missing something. And Victor had come home from shopping before he could figure out what.

Yuuri temporarily shoved his thoughts to the back of his mind as he reached the checkout, but just he was about to enter a lane, he began to feel...strange.

His forehead had suddenly broken out into a cold sweat and he felt his stomach do a backflip. His head became very fuzzy and...

Oh no.

This feeling was familiar and Yuuri knew EXACTLY what it was as he looked around frantically, his eyes searching for...oh thank God.

He walked as fast as he could without causing attention to be casted upon him with a hand over his mouth straight into the men's bathroom, leaving his shopping basket at a sloppy angle near the entrance.

There wasn't anyone in there and he was glad for that, because as soon as he entered a stall, he collapsed to his knees and gagged into the toilet, his body ridding itself of everything he had eaten that day and probably the night before.

He could feel hot tears leak from his shut eyes with every convulsion of his stomach and painful dry heave. His ears were ringing by the time he was done as he leaned back against the wall of the bathroom stall, ripping off a piece of toilet paper at the same time to clean his mouth off.

After tossing the soiled paper into the toilet bowl, Yuuri slowly and shakily rose to his feet, the world slighty swaying underneath him.

He flushed the toilet, the water returning to it's original clear form and tredged out of the stall to one of the sinks.

He cupped his hands, filling them with water from the tap and moved them to his lips. His cheeked were puffed as he rinsed his mouth of the acidic taste of vomit, before spitting the water down the drain. He grabbed a paper towel and wiped his mouth again, VERY confused about the events that just occurred.

What the hell ? He was totally fine a 5 minutes ago. The last two days even. He thought he'd gotten over being sick...and why was it hitting him NOW ? It had been in the morning before, so why so randomly in the evening ?

Not only that, but he felt sore again. And all of a sudden, very tired. Like his body got the life sucked out of it. His back was tense, shoulders ached, and his head still felt very cloudy.

Maybe he was just having some extreme pre-heat symptoms. Some suppressants and pain pills should do the trick.

Luckily, medicated products were right near the front, so after exiting the bathroom, he simply turned to the right into the correct aisle.

He scanned the shelves, supplies and medication ranging for both females and for omega's. Menstrual products, pain pills, suppressants, masking sprays, and -

Yuuri stopped.

There was a variety of small boxes that caught his attention, ranging in price and quality. The picture and name on the boxes grabbing his attention the most.

He put the pieces together on how he had felt the last few days. The nausea. The vomiting. The aches. The pain. The fatigue. And...how quickly they would come and dissapear.

Now, really thinking about it...were these really symptoms of an upcoming heat ?

Yuuri's eyes were wide as he hesitantly, but successfully, grabbed a box with skating hands and placed it in his shopping basket. He then turned around and walked very unsteadily to the checkout.

No...this was something else entirely.

*Timeskip~~~~~~~

Yu-Topia, 8:00 PM.

Ok, his parents and sister were busy closing and cleaning up the onsen for the night and Victor was in the shower.

Now is the perfect time.

With quick, quiet movements, Yuuri grabbed the small plastic bag he received from the store that he had hidden in one of his desk drawers as soon as he got home. ( Which remarkably did without causing any suspicion.)

He could feel the corners of the small rectangular box against his palm as he gripped it, carefully making his way down the hall to the other bathroom with great haste.

Once he arrived, he twisted the worn golden knob of door and open it, stepped inside, and shut the door behind him. The tips of his thumb and index finger then twisted the tiny middle knob of the door handle into a vertical position.

Perfectly locked.

Now he could finally do his business.

But this was unlike any business he had ever done.

Yuuri didn't think he had ever been so anxious to use the bathroom in his entire life.

He had set the plastic bag on the counter, it's single content still inside.

With an attempted calm breath, Yuuri opened the bag and took out the box on the inside. He then lifted the tabs of the box, taking out an object that was cleanly wrapped in silver and blue foil. He ripped that off as well, a fully unwrapped piece of long, white plastic now meeting his gaze.

After a quick read of the instructions on the back of the box, he sighed, putting his hand on the waistband on his sweatpants.

"Ok...No turning back now."

*Timeskip~~~~~~~ (3 minutes)

Yuuri sat on the ledge of the bathtub with his head in his hands.

Oh how he wanted to go back.

The white stick was practically taunting him as it sat faceup on the counter of the sink, the important part of it not in line of sight.

He had about another minute or two to wait.

Too long? Not long enough? Yuuri had no idea.

He had so many things running through his head that he didn't know what to think.

He honestly didn't know if he was thinking at all.

Was it the anticipation or the results freaking him out more ?

Both probably.

He was scared, nervous, dizzy, nauseated, breathless...

But...laying deep underneath all of that...was curiousity, want, and above all...hope.

Yuuri checked the time.

There should be something by now.

His legs felt like feathers. Like they would blow away from underneath him as he took the few steps he needed to take towards the sink.

Which a clammy hand, he picked up the stick, examining the tiny, circular indentation near the center of it.

His eyes went wide and his other hand went over his mouth.

"Oh my God..." He whispered.

It was strange, but in that moment...the fears and anxiety he had before vanished into thin air.

They were replaced with excitement, bewilderment, shock...and love.

Tiny air filled laughs were leaving his mouth as salty, hot tears of happiness ran down his flushed cheeks.

He was happy. So very happy.

And he hoped HE would be happy too...

But then...Yuuri paused.

This was it.

This was what he needed.

This was what was missing.

This is the the final thing that would put Victor's heart to rest...and let him know he did everything he could. That he did everything RIGHT.

Yuuri wiped his eyes and tear stained cheeks, then immediately after, he fished out his phone from the back pocket of his sweatpants and opened up his phone to his app section.

He entered a browser and typed a few words in the search bar. Then he pressed the forward arrow to give him his search results.

The first option given displayed a phone number. He tapped on the icon with the tiny image of a phone which sent forward a call, quickly putting his phone to his ear.

It didn't take too long for a receptionist to answer.

"...Hello ?...Hi. I was wondering if you had any open appointments ?"

...

...

...

"My name is Yuuri Katsuki."

...

...

...

He smiled, "Tomorrow would be perfect."

A/N: So I'm not sure if you guys can see (or read) but I kept the news Yuuri found out sort of vague in description for a reason so I hope you guys can decipher what's going on.

But another reminder is that there will be no new chapters for the next 2 days ( think of it as Yuuri planning and putting his "surprise for Victor into action ). I will not be going into description of that until the LAST chapter which will be on the 10th of May.

One more chapter to go guys ! I can't believe it ! Everything comes together and you will see what Yuuri has in store 😉.

But for now, thank you all for reading and I will see you guys on the 10th ! Bye Byeee !