(Megumi's Point of View)

Two days past since Victor learned who I was, the constant threat looming over me like a sword. His secretive smiles and glances filled with amusement, I sighed as he glanced over me once more from the side of the rink.

"Come on Meg-Chan, skate with me!" He gave me a closed eyed smile his face almost childlike, Yuri stared at him filled with...anger? I smirked to myself realizing why Yuri had wanted to talk to his coach alone.

My need to keep my walls up was trumped by the urge to annoy Yuri just a teeny bit, I didn't need him to be all protective. I refused to be the tension between the pair, at the end of the day I would eventually go back to America and Victor would be with Yuri. My heart shouldn't be the one he worries about, it's his.

"As long as you can keep up Victor." I made my way onto the ice spinning around while Victor skated behind me. He held out his hand while I stopped spinning, I took it hesitating for only a moment before we went off.

The air was crisp against my face, I allowed myself to close my eyes hoping that Victor wouldn't lead us straight into a wall. His hand was the complete opposite of the air, warmth enveloping my entire hand.

I felt myself pulled against his chest as we went through a turn with his hands wrapped around my stomach, he whispered into my ear, "Spin Snow Leopard." He whipped me from his grasp and I went spiraling in front of him once more.

I heard him begin to circle around me with his hands like he was worshipping me, I end my spins his hand finding mine once more. I skate backwards while he steered us straight, my leg around his waist.

One look into his eyes made me realize what I was doing, I was treading onto stormy waters with only a small canoe. I began to break away from him skating back to the exit, a little joke was alright but that kind of skating. The passion and intrigue I had found in his eyes should be reserved for more than a petty joke.

"Meg?" Yuri came towards me having watched Victor and I's performance, I smiled slightly my voice turning teasing.

"I don't need you to protect me Bro Biscuit, I'm in no way attracted to Victor." I didn't even look at Victor who stepped off the eyes just moments later. I walked almost past Yuri stopping where only our eyes met in passing, "Go practice."

He nodded heading towards Victor who I glanced back towards for a single moment regretting it instantly. His face seemed to freeze as our eyes met, blue clashing against blue my heart drumming in my chest.

I turned away leaving the ice skating rink but not wanting to head back home either, I walked around for an hour before ending up at the beach. It was sometime after five, the tide was beginning to go back and the sun had lost its sting. The ocean calmed me, for once my thoughts were stilled as I watched the waves crash onto the sand.

I heard footsteps approaching me, assuming it was my brother I turned to come face to face with a dog. He sat down next to me with his tail wagging, I smiled brightly he had reminded me of Viichan. I really missed the little baby, even if he was more of Yuri's dog then mine.

"Hello Makkachin?" I questioned my answer be revealed as the dog licked my face happily I laughed not pushing him away.

Of course I knew that Victor would eventually be coming to look for the dog, and while I really didn't want to face him I couldn't will myself to push the dog off. Nor could I really leave him alone, what if something bad happened during my absence?

No one deserves to lose their pet, especially if it can be prevented by one simple choice. So I stayed petting the dog watching as the sun began to set. Victor was nowhere to be seen nor anyone else for that matter.

"Makka." The dog automatically began to wag it's tail at my voice, "Do you think that I can succeed as Katsuki Megumi, as a skater?" I looked towards the dog who continued to wag his tail in response.

"The last time they kept talking about how I could be the next Nikiforov Victor, how do you live up to that?" Still the dog made no other movements or sounds other than the sound of his tail thumping against the sand.

"I don't think I can do it Makka, facing everyone again." I paused slightly feeling the tears beginning to well up, "It would be like letting them down all over again." The dog sensing my despair began to lick my face rapidly, laughing I began to ease him off of me.

"I'm not good enough to be compared to Victor, Makkachin." I sighed wrapping my arms into his fur, letting just a few tears slip by my defenses. He sat wagging his whole body happily, but staying within my grasp.

"That's not true you know." I froze hearing the voice coming from behind me, Makka's head jerked up looking towards his owner with his whole body shaking even harder.

Slowly I turned with my tear filled eyes locking into his, they were sorrowful as he began to walk towards me. I felt like bolting, after all I wouldn't have to worry about Makka now with him being in his owner's care. Still I stayed as he sat next to me in the sand with Makkachin in between with us. For awhile neither of us said anything, the only sounds were our own breathing and the waves crashing on the sand.

"Yuri is just worried about you Meg." I turned my head slightly looking towards him through my peripheral vison. He was watching me with those ocean eyes of his, sighing I turned towards him fully his eyebrows raising.

"He doesn't need to worry about me." I spoke simply hoping to avoid a certain topic, mostly because the words I had uttered to my brother were rubbish.

"You worry about him." I cursed under my breath he knew me far too well even though we barely knew each other. It had only been a couple days of a formal meeting between the two of us, yet he knew that I was always constantly worrying about my older brother. Especially since I was away for so long.

"It's been five years since I've been home Victor and I have nothing to show for it because I can't tell him who I am." A little bit of my frustration slipped through my voice, my hand clenching into a fist while my eyes squeezed closed.

"Why don't you unmask yourself, Meg." My eyes opened slightly my face turning solemn, my hand slowly unclenching itself to lay on the sand flat.

"Because I don't know who Katsuki Megumi is as a skater." I replied shrugging my shoulders and looking out onto the waves. The pull of the ocean and the now dark sky, the beauty of nature in its purest form.

"Then find her." My eyes turned sharply towards him widening in shock, he sounded so confident that I could. That I could be-

"Wroof!" Makkachin barked happily almost as if he was agreeing with his owner, Victor smirked slightly his head nodding towards the small dog.

"See Makkachin agrees with me." I chuckled shaking my head, this man, how could anyone compare me to him. I smiled my eyes softening at the duo, I knew I would regret my next actions one way or another.

I leaned over smushing the pair into a hug with a smile, I was glad that they were here for me. Even though I barely knew them I felt like I could grow to get used to having them around. A dangerous emotion considering my career choice.

"I'll see you around Victor." I slowly got up leaving the man and his dog on the beach. I turned my head to look at him saying, "Thanks."

It wasn't but a minute and Makkachin was at my heels walking with me, I shook my head slightly with a laugh. He sent the dog to walk me home, it was almost charming. So with Victor's dog by my side the two of us walked back home with the stars as our company.