Yuri!!! On Ice Book 1

Chapter 40

December 7th, 2017- One Week Later-

Yuuri's POV 1st Person

"Victor!" The door closes just as the word parts my lips, my fiancee leaving me behind. I momentarily consider following him but quickly silence the thought. I'd only wanted to say goodbye, and that is no longer reason enough to halt his tracks in the snow. I content myself with watching from the window as he gets in the taxi, his suitcase beside him. As it leaves with Victor inside, I sigh, I wish I could go with him, yet I know it's impossible. No, not impossible, for I'm in an ample position to accompany him, but because he simply won't allow it. God, I sound like a child when I say that, 'Mom won't let me cross the street, I'm not allowed,' but it's true. It was decided, well, not decided, enforced rather, that Victor will be competing alone, save for Yakov, whose company he cannot refuse. Again I wish I was in the cab with him, but as I am not, have to be content that Yakov and Yurio will look after him, the latter of whom assured me he would. 

I leave the window's edge as the taxi fades out of view and wander into the kitchen where I'd been making dinner a moment before. I pick up my stationary knife and continue chopping onions, letting my hands function on autopilot as my mind sets sail for god only knows where. It travels back to our conversation from earlier, a source of distress on my part and, it seems, indifference on Victor's. 

"I don't need to be careful!" There's nothing wrong with me!" Victor snaps and I groan in exasperation.

"I'm not saying that!" I retort sharply, "I'm just advising caution, you've only been on the ice for a week after a month's absence, I don't want you to strain yourself by jumping headlong into one of the most important competitions of the year!" 

"Don't treat me like a child Yuuri, I know my limits!" He bites back,

"I know you know your limits," I sigh, "What I'm worried about is that you might choose to push yourself and break them,"

"Well, you don't need to worry." He replies, "I know exactly what I'm doing,"

"No, I don't think you do. Just-" I pause and run a hand through my hair, "Promise me you won't hurt yourself?" I ask him, and he scoffs, looking away.

"Fine, I promise," He twists away from me as I try to put a hand on his shoulder, "I need to check I have everything." He leaves the room and I stand alone, watching his retreating figure in the doorway.

I hiss and draw my hand back, having nicked myself, preoccupied with my thoughts. I set down the knife and rinse out the shallow cut, making it sting and bringing a brilliantly red drop of blood to the surface. After a band-aid has been placed over the superficial wound I return to work, this time careful not to let my mind wander, and abandoning the idea of using the oven- that could be perilous. 

After dinner, I take Makkachin for a walk, letting him run and play in the freshly fallen snow. I don't use a leash as he's very well trained and comes when I call, plus he gets more freedom to snuffle around tree roots and chase the snowflakes that still fall from the sky. I follow more slowly behind him and laugh as he yips happily, jumping up to try and catch a clump of snow that falls from a tree branch. Successfully biting the soft white powder he looks very pleased with himself, deriving the kind of satisfaction only a dog can from this simple accomplishment. I sometimes envy that he's a dog, no worries or restlessness plaguing his mind- no fiancee to look after against his will. Life must be so much easier that way, then again, dogs can't skate so there are some benefits to being human. I leave our walk there with these thoughts occupying my mind and eventually go to bed with similar ones. 

The next day is spent fraught with anxiety; What if he gets hurt, what if he falls during the practice session, what if he needs me and I'm not there? When, at last, Group 6 of the Men's Singles Senior Division Short Program Warm-up (A mouthful I know) rolls around, I'm actually relieved, the suspense over. I watch with bated breath as the skaters mount the ice, eyes only for my fiancee and ignoring everyone else. He's already stretched out, as they all are, so goes straight into practice. He begins with spins which comforts me slightly, they're all flawless due to his free leg* being his previously injured right. When he begins jumping, however, it is another matter entirely. His singles are fine, which isn't a good sign in itself as never in his career have his jumps merely been 'fine' and he looks like he's going on to doubles but is interrupted. The buzzer sounds, signaling that the two-minute warm-up is over and calling for every skater to vacate the ice. They do this and the competition begins, the first skater on the ice being Minami Kenjiro who made the Series this year and perfected his triple Axel with the words, "Like Yuuri's!" as his enthusiastic motivation. He does well, falling only once on his quad Toe Loop and, although it looks like it hurt, he's up and dancing again before you can see what's happened.