Katsumi's Point of View

Yuuri and I bounded into the building, with Yuuko waiting for us at the desk. "Yuuri, Katsumi. Viktor released a new video, grab your skates and let's go," Yuuko giggled. We followed her into the rink and gathered around to watch the new video, "wow Viktor looks elegant." All three of us marveled at the talented, Russian skater. "I can't wait to skate on the same ice as him." I continued to daydream while Yuuko and Yuuri glanced at me with a worried look. "Well why don't we start practicing?" Yuuri replied, skating to the middle of the rink. Yuuko and I joined him, as we circled the rink letting our bodies flow with the music. "Now a triple axel," Yuuko said, when the music began to climax and she glanced back at me. Yuuko didn't know I could land a triple axel, then again she also didn't know I could do quads either. We jumped in unison, the sound of our blades scuffed against the ice. Yuuko seemed to be smiling and I wore the biggest grin, has skating together always been this fun? It felt like something new had been born inside me. The music continued and we kept on skating, even though sweat beaded on Yuuri's and Yuuko's faces. I didn't want the song to end because I was enjoying this moment, while Yuuko, Yuuri, and I skated along with the music. It began to grow quieter and then concluded with each of us striking poses. "That was amazing," I cheered. While Yuuko and Yuuri fell back onto the ice panting. "It was Katsumi. You've really improved," Yuuko said between ragged breaths.

I pulled Yuuri and Yuuko up once they gained their breath and we went to the edge of the rink, "I wish we could always have days like these." A day like this only comes around every so often, then again I couldn't see things clearly because I was too focused on everything that was wrong. "Me too," Yuuri laughed, "but have you thought about what you're going to do with your life?" The question intrigued me. I haven't really thought much about my future, my mind typically stayed in the rut about my accident and how I couldn't make anything out of my life. But Rose showed me moping around didn't solve anything, also she showed me that there was hope and I had friends, family, and her to support me. "Well I guess I'll continue skating and go to college on the side," I responded, glancing down at Yuuri and our eyes met. "Are you going to continue skating, Yuuri?" I asked coyly. "Of course." We continued to lean against the edge of the rink discussing a future that had yet to come, "let's make a promise." I locked my eyes with Yuuri, "I want to go to grand prix and win with you." I declared, a smile spread across my face similar to one of Roses. Yuuri couldn't remove his eyes from mine and then he jerked forward, "of course I will."

Rose's Point of View

[The Next Morning]

Looking at my watch, I could tell Kat was late but that was okay, I needed to talk to Yuuri anyway. He was lacing up his skates as I walked in. "Hey, I need to talk to you for a second," I said to Yuuri and he looked up at me. He started to blush and said, "Sure. What do you need?" I sat down next to him and smiled shyly at him. "So, Kat's leg came in yesterday and I was wondering if you could have a small get together so that we can give it to her?" He looked at me as I was smiling. I was hoping he would say yes because it was for Kat but I could understand why he wouldn't. "Yeah, I will do it. Tonight at 6:00pm at my parent's restaurant. Does that work?" Yuuri said then with a smile. 'God that was adorable. Why is his smile so cute?' I thought then as I looked away. Both of our heads turned as I heard a scared cat run in. Yuuri and I both turn to see Kat standing there huffing and puffing. "I am so sorry I am late, I know you wanted me to come here at 7:00am to figure out our workout plans," Kat was saying breathlessly. I smiled at Yuuri who nodded and left us there. I looked back at Kat who was still catching her breath. "You are late and you should be punished for it but I guess I can let it slide for today since it is the first day but be warned, I will beat you with your prosthetic if you are late again," I said then. She looked scared and then grateful but also tired as can be. 'How late did she stay up last night?' I thought. "I am so sorry, I will not be late again. I will work super hard to make it up to you." Kat smiled at me.

She was changing out of her sneakers and sitting down beside me where Yuuri was. "We will start with figuring out our workout regiment. So, Sunday and Wednesdays are the days off. Monday's and Thursday's, we will start off at 6:30am and if you want to eat breakfast, you better eat before you get to the rink. You will start off in the dance room practicing adagio exercises for one and a half hours. Then you will practice on the ice for two hours. Take a 10 minute break and then back to the dance room to practice your routine off the ice for two hours. 30 minutes to eat lunch and then back on the ice. Then you can do what you want after that. On Tuesday's and Friday's, you will start off with aerobics for two hours, then ballet for an hour, then a 30 minute break, then strength training or well, legs. Saturdays will be left up to you, what you feel you need, you do. How does that sound?" I looked at her. It was almost the same as my workout schedule but I had more dance in it obviously. She was reviewing the different little workouts within the days and she smiled up at me. "I love it!" Her voice was enthusiastic and full of life. I loved it. I could not wait to see her face when she opens the box that holds her new prosthetic leg. "Hey, will you be working out with me? You know, since you will need to keep your figure if you plan on dancing still at Juilliard," she spoke softly as if it was a touchy subject for me. I looked away from her and sighed. "Yeah, I guess I will be huh? Auditions are coming up again. I guess I could wait another year," I said with a smile. Kat was getting her dance shoes on and she smiled at me. "I can't wait to see you audition and blow all of them away." Her voice was soft and angelic, almost like it was exactly the voice I needed in my head to keep me going. "Me neither." Kat ran off to do her exercises for that day and I walked out of the room with all the skates. Yuuri was standing there right outside the door.

"You're still a dancer?" I heard Yuuri say. I smiled as I looked at him. "Well, yeah. Dancing is my dream," I said then, not really realizing that it might hurt his feelings. He smiled at me though and said, "That's good. By the way, are you taking Kat to my house? Just tell her you want to go out for dinner with her to get to know her better and chose my parents restaurant okay?" I nodded to him and left for a bit. I had to drop the box off at the restaurant and so I did. I came back to a very tired Kat and Yuuri who seemed to also be doing the workout. I knew Yuuri wanted to get better but I didn't think that these workouts would work for him, they were meant for more balancing and such. However, with the way Yuuri is sweating, it looks like he needed it too. I decided to let them do their thing as I walked to the dance room.

I was standing in the middle of the room as I looked at myself in the mirror. I got lost in my thoughts as I stood there staring at myself. 'I had no idea who I was anymore. I lost myself in self pity and hopelessness when I failed those auditions. When I failed those auditions, I thought I had failed everything but that girl out there. She actually lost everything. She lost her leg and she is still out everyday on the ice, beating it like she owns it. But me? I cry myself to sleep. I show that I am this strong woman who can do anything, but I am not. I am nowhere near that kind of courage and I am trying to coach this girl to the Grand Prix. I guess, I don't have much of a job, I mean, she is talented enough to coach herself. She just needs someone to encourage her and be there for her. I could do that for her but I still had no idea what it was like to be a coach. What if I mess up and fail at this too? I would have failed at every aspect of my life. I mean, I am already failing at the romance department when all my boyfriend wants is sex and I can't even bring myself to do that. What was wrong with me? Why can't I just be a normal person with normal feelings and normal thoughts? I hate myself. The more I look at this mirror, the more I hate myself.' I was broken out of my thoughts as Kat came in and told me it was 5:00pm. I have an hour left to get her to Yuuri's. I smiled at her and said, "Thank you, do you want to have dinner with me at 6:00pm? I really want to get to know you better." Kat smiled at me and said, "Of course. I would love to go out to eat with you. Just let me shower real fast okay?" I nodded as she left. 'Today was the day. Today was the day, her life would turn around.' I thought then. I sat down in the room to stare at myself some more. 'If I can encourage someone else and change her life, then I can do it for myself too.' I thought as I smiled. I heard a knock on the door and I looked to see Kat. Either she was fast at taking showers or I love looking at myself. I got up and we both got in my car. I drove around till I found it and pulled over to park at Yuuri's parents restaurant. I smiled at Kat who knew exactly where we were.

Getting out of the car, we both went in and saw Yuuri's family and Yuuko there too. Kat was so surprised to see everyone and I was so happy to see her face. We all sat down and began to eat the wonderful food that was laid out for us. An hour past as we were laughing and having a wonderful time. I smiled as Yuuri disappeared and came back with what looked to be a box of clubs for golfing. He set it down in front of Kat and she looked confused for a minute. I looked at her and I said, "I hope you like the design. I picked it out with no knowledge of what you liked." Her eyes lit up as she realized what I was talking about and she began to tear into the package. She threw the wrapping paper away and opened the box to reveal her new prosthetic leg that was light blue in color but it had green, dark blue, purple, red, and orange swirls on it. Her mouth gaped open for a minute and then she looked up at me. "It's perfect," she said as tears welled up in her eyes. She put it down beside her and I thought something was wrong. Then, she jumped on me and started crying. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. You becoming my coach, believing in me when no one else did, and giving me this. I don't know how to repay you," she whined into my shoulder. I smiled and wrapped my arms back around her. "You already have," I told her then. It was time we both start making progress towards our dreams.