Safe Haven | Yuzuru Hanyu

6.

Emma didn't understand him at all.

She had been an athlete in this very same sport and couldn't understand why he was so keen on landing the damned jump.

At the same time, it wasn't her job to do so.

The girl couldn't even understand why her mind cared so much about the reasoning behind his actions. It wasn't as if she was trying to make a friend.

Their days were pretty much quiet, with the same routine over and over again.
Time at the rink, then back home. Emma would cook for herself and Yuzuru would rely on his pre-made stuff.
The verbal exchanges were limited to the absolutely necessary and rarely happened.

Emma wasn't quite sure why he changed his behavior towards her and if she was being honest, there were hopes that it would get bet after his asthma episode.

It didn't get better at all.

If anything, he only started ignoring her even more.

The bodyguard tried to convince herself that she hated it due to how bored she became at home. Well, maybe part of her wanted his attention too.

The girl kinda wanted to hear all the rambles of that two-time Olympic champion. He had achieved everything that she dreamt about for so many years, it was only natural that Emma wanted to know how it felt or how the man thought in general.

Meanwhile, the crazy virus that a lot of people had been ignoring was starting to spread internationally, with threats of mandatory quarantine and even cancelation of major events.

Most people shrugged it off, but when it actually started arriving in Europe and the US, the concern started growing.

Emma had been looking at the situation and wasn't optimistic at all. Throughout the course of history, they had seen things like this and it never ended well.

She was in her room reading scientific articles in her nightgown when Yuzuru knocked on the door.

It was surprising because he never went to her during the hours they were at home.

"Yes?"

"Hum..."

Yuzuru was now red and staring at her weirdly, eyes wandering over her form.

"Yuzuru? Are you ok?"

"Do you mind... Huh... Wearing something over that?"

Emma raised her brow in question.

Was he such a saint that seeing her in a nightgown had this effect?

"Never seen a woman's body, Hanyu?" She couldn't help but joke.

He took off his jacket and threw it at her. "Please." That was all he said.

"Fine fine"

She took the jacket and wrapped it around her, nostrils immediately filled with the smell of him.

"So..."

"Yes?"

"They canceled the World Championships."

Oh, shit.

"Really? That was fast, I didn't even hear of that being in the discussion."

"It was fast. Brian called and they're not sure if the rink is going to close too."

"This fast?"

"Yes. It's scary."

This was probably one of the first times Yuzuru was completely straightforward with her.

"I can imagine... "

"And I might go back to Japan."

So this was what it was about. He was going back to Japan. Did it mean that she was going to be dismissed or he expected her to go too?

"Oh..."

"I don't expect you to come." He said before she could say anything. "I'm sure my team would be fine with getting someone there. I'm sure you don't want to be far away from your family right now."

Emma thought about it for a few seconds and the decision wasn't that hard to make.

If the world was really going into quarantine, it meant that she would be completely alone somewhere in the States, with nothing to do or entertain herself.

Yuzuru was very nice to think of her family and all of that, but truth be told, she had no one to go to, even if he didn't know that.

"I wouldn't mind going to Japan." She ended up saying and heard his gasp in answer.

"But...I"

He looked very confused at her words, it was all understandable. While Yuzuru could only think of going back home, Emma was telling him she didn't mind traveling to Japan and being away from everyone.

"Believe me, I would be bored alone. At least I can tease you."

"Alone? What about your family?"

"Huh... Not in the picture."

It seemed like a better thing to say than to admit they were dead.

"Oh...I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine really. So, unless you want me out, which is understandable, I don't mind going."

"Why do you think I want you out?"

"It's alright Yuzuru, I understood soon that you weren't a fan of mine. I know you were mad on those first days."

He seemed confused by her words but just shrugged his shoulders.

"I can handle you just fine."

The confident way that he used to say those words made something inside her flutter. She had never seen such intensity coming from him before.

"Huh?"

"Your personality, of course."

"Yes, obviously."

After what looked like an eternity of looking at each other awkwardly, Yuzuru interrupted the silence again.

"So if I go to Japan, you will come?"

"Sure. I guess it's not the best time to travel, but I've never been there."

"You will like it."

It was weird. The way they talked for those consecutive minutes as if it was the most normal thing ever as if they weren't cut off on non-necessary communication for almost a whole month before this moment.

"Just... Huh... Let me know when you decide."

Emma didn't know what else to say. What she did know was that having him standing at the door with his eyes on her wasn't comfortable for her. His gaze was too intense and too confusing.

"Sure."

But he wasn't moving.

Yuzuru was awkwardly standing as if he was in an internal debate that she couldn't quite figure out.

"Huh, your jacket, of course." She started taking it off but he quickly stopped her.

"Don't. Keep it. Looks better on you."