And Then He Was Gone

Chapter 1

He was gone in the blink of an eye.

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Yuuri had never felt more dejected then after he lost his first Grand Prix Final. Vicc-chan was gone, his skating career was basically over, and Victor, his idol and inspiration since he was young, didn't even recognize him as a competitor. With no other choice he quit competitive skating and moved back to Japan to spend time with his family.

His arrival though, was the opposite of what he was expecting. The Hasetsu airport was flooded with posters of him. Not even different posters. It was the same poster blown up into various sizes and pasted everywhere and anywhere you could see. And there, right in the middle of it all was Minako.

“Yuuuuuuuuurri!!” she yelled. Yuuri cringed and kept his head low as he shuffled towards Minako. “It's so good to see you again!” A crowd had started to gather and Yuuri’s face turned red. Grabbing Minako’s arm he quickly shuffled the pair out of the airport as fast as he could, trying to avoid any more unnecessary attention being drawn to himself.

“Did you really have to do that?” he sighed.

“Do what?”

“The posters, yelling, the twirling, all of it really.”

Minako pouted, “You're Hasetsu’s pride and joy, not everyone can become a figure skating representative of Japan.”

“That was embarrassing Minako-sensei..” Yuuri trailed off as they climbed into a taxi.

She opened her mouth to speak but after seeing the tired look on the skaters face she decided to drop it. Yuuri turned to look out the window at the scenery rushing past him.  

An ache took up residence in his heart, not exactly painful, but just enough so that Yuuri could tell it was there. He let out an audible sigh and Minako reached over to put her hand on his knee.

“You miss him don't you..”

“I shouldn't have left him here, I should've figured out a way to take him with me..” Yuuri had promised himself that he wouldn't cry, but sitting here watching the streets they used to walk together disappear behind him he felt tears streaming down his face. Vicc-chan was gone.

“I know how much he meant to you Yuuri, I wish there was something, anything I could do to make this easier for you. The pain of losing someone you love is unbearable..”

A sob stuck is Yuuri’s throat, threatening to dislodge itself and tear down the wall he built to keep his emotions in check.

“Yuuri breathe, you need to breathe okay. In and out. Can you do that for me? Please?” Yuuri didn't realize that he was hyperventilating. He found himself hunched over, his feet on the seat and arms wrapped around his knees. He buried his head into his lap and let out a choked sob as he fought for control over his breathing. Minako’s hand rubbed circles into his back until he found himself empty. He turned his head to face Minako and let out a shaky breath.

“I-I’m sorry..” he whispered.

“Don't apologize Yuuri, I know how difficult this year has been for you.”

Yuuri was silent for a moment, he regaining the last bit of his emotions before he spoke, “ Thank you..” Minako smiled and ruffled his hair with her hands.

They sat in silence for the rest of the journey, Minako’s kept her hand on his back tracing circles on his shoulder blade. She sighed as they pulled up to the in.

“Yuuri..”

“Mmm...what..”

“Time to wake up sleepy head.”