YUZURU HANYU: PHANTOM OF THE ICE

CREATURE OF DARKNESS

September 19, Year 2005, TOKYO

Mira was still afraid of Yuzuru at some moments. It was only because she had seen him at his darkest, that she knew the power he held.

"Yuzu, I-"

"When I came back from the clinic, I asked you many times. Did. You. Find. Anything?"

"I know but-"

"You said no, of course. The fact that I wanted to have a simple reminder of what happened was unimportant to you, wasn't it, Mira?"

"I just wanted you to focus on your new life, not the past!"

"I wanted to remember the past, Mira, I needed  to. But of course, you ignored my request..."

"Yuzu, that's not how it's like. This necklace, I knew it would remind you of your old life. And I know how much it would hurt you!"

Yuzuru's eyes slowly met Mira's approaching her. He sighed deeply, trying to control his sudden outburst.

"I... I know... your intentions were good but... I still need a reminder that I went through all this hell, and that you helped me through it..." Yuzuru muttered, as Mira touched his hand softly.

Yuzuru sighed again and looked at the golden necklace.

So much darkness, pain and sorrow was locked inside it. Such vivid, dark memories haunted his mind at its view...

He opened the locket slowly, as Mira also looked over it, despite already knowing what was inside it.

Inside was an object that made him wince. An object he wished he could discard from his head...

A fragment of his white mask, splashed with blood...

September 2, Year 1995, SENDAI

The moment I started walking towards the rink, I was nervous. Totally nervous. The scene of last night kept replaying itself in my head, like a broken VHS.

Was what I did right?

Could I trust Yuzuru?

Was it true he was one of my father's students?

All those questions without answers haunted me non stop, and I wish I would bring all those feelings out with my skate.

I entered the rink with my head hanging low. Just as I turned for the rink Coach Miyamoto was in, someone touched my shoulder softly, making me turn.

I was in front of Shoma once more, and I managed to smile faintly, momentarily forgetting my doubts and insecurities.

"Good morning, Mira-chan." He said a bit timidly, just as I remembered it.

"Good morning, Shoma-kun."

"Umm, I wondered if you wanted to take a walk with me at noon, catch up and all..." He said with a low voice, making my smile widen.

"Yeah, I'd love to. I finish morning session at 12. We can meet then." I said as Shoma nodded, smiling brightly.

"Great, see you then." He said and waved at me, obviously also going to practice.

My gaze lingered a little longer on him, before turning to the rink. This time no blush warmed up my cheeks and no butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

What was wrong with me? I wondered but I knew the answer; my mind was still at last night's encounter.

I rushed to the changing rooms and put on my skates, exiting them just on time for the warm up.

I nodded at Coach Miyamoto and entered the ice, following the girls in front of me who skated around the rink.