Beyond the Sound | Yuzuru Hanyu

72.

After telling everything to Yuzu, Maya didn't know what to expect.

He was very straightforward in what he had said. That space in his heart was still hers to take if she wanted it.

There was no doubt that she wanted that, she wanted him, she wanted them to be a family.

But now wasn't the time, not when so many things were still left to figure out.

"Maya... What's on your head?"

"Just how much I want us to have a normal life."

"together?"

"Yeah, of course. Kaiya needs a father, even if I kept denying that."

"We can always take this slow... I'm only staying for another week but now that I know... I can come every time it's possible for me."

"I couldn't possibly ask you to do that... I know how busy you've been recently."

"You keep tabs on me?"

Maya stared at him with a smile. She had to admit that he looked even more handsome than she remembered and seeing him look at her like that, with that teasing smirk was something that never got old.

"I needed to know if you were alright."

"Of course, of course..."

Yuzuru was like a magnet. More than anything, she wanted to kiss him senseless and make up for all of those lost years.

At the same time, she knew they had to be careful and take things slowly, just like he said.

"I want you to be in her life."

"I will do my very best to make sure I'm there for her."

"I know..."

"Can I ask something else?"

"Sure..."

"If I do find that we're safe... Would you just come? Wouldn't it be hard for you to leave after so long?"

"Yuzu... The only thing that I enjoy about Canada is the people that ended up meeting and of course, Cricket Club. Everything else was just me trying to survive."

"So?"

"I would go back to Japan in a blink, especially if it allowed me to have you in our lives."

"And you could always come back sometimes. "

"Yeah..."

"Alright."

All of their conversation was obviously hypothetical. It was hard to tell how things would be until they knew for sure if the threat was still out there.

It wasn't even about Yuzuru anymore but when Kaiya's life was in danger as well, none of them wanted to risk it.

Still, right then, as Maya felt her head naturally fall into his chest and her body cuddle into his like in the past, the future had a better prospect than ever before.

They stayed like that for what felt like a lifetime, enjoying the touch that had been gone for so long.

"You named her Kaiya." he muttered eventually with a smile.

"Yeah..."

"Forgiveness... You never lost hope on me."

"Part of me, the one that stopped being so pragmatic, wanted to believe that we could do this together and figure things out eventually. I wanted to believe that you would forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive, honey... You're the biggest warrior I have ever met and each day you just prove that further to me."

"I love you" she eventually admitted, not making any move to kiss him, not when they couldn't know for sure how it would be.

"I love you too, gorgeous. Always, alright?"

Just as Yuzuru seemed to throw caution to the wind and kiss her lips, the sound of soft running was the only warning they had before Kaiya barged in on the living room.

"I've done my off-ice, mommy!"

Maya immediately placed some distance between herself and Yuzuru. She didn't want to confuse the small girl.

They would have to ease her into the idea of having a father.

"Great job, sweetheart."

"Is Yuzuru staying for dinner?"

"If your mother allows it..."

Maya smiled at him.

"Of course. Kai, sweetie, we can speak Japanese at home, alright?"

"Yuzu speaks Japanese?"

The man was instantly surprised by how easily the little girl shifted languages. He had heard her say a few Japanese words but he guessed she wasn't fluent. Even in this, Maya managed to astonish him.

"I'm Japanese, silly girl."

Yuzuru ruffled her head teasingly and the girl just laughed, loving the attention of the skater.

"Mommy is too. She says we can see Japan someday and I can have my dad!"

His eyes looked into Maya's. She had even mentioned it to their daughter. Maya wasn't lying when she said she wanted to go back to Japan.

He saw the woman allowing them to have some space as she moved into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

"What if you had met your dad, how do you think it would go?"

"He would hug me tight and be very happy. I'm a surprise!"

"are you?"

"yeah. Mom had to run away but we will go back when we can."

Yuzuru couldn't even imagine how it had been for Maya to explain all of this to the young girl. She was so smart and seemed so happy, even if it was clear that their living conditions were far from amazing that he couldn't help but hope that Maya would at least let him help with money until they could go back.

"I'm just you will be able to go back very soon."

"Will you help Mommy?"

"Of course, sweetheart. I will do everything I can."

"Mommy!" Maya called out.

"Yes, dear?"

"I think Yuzu can be my daddy!"