I woke up with a startled yell, my hair sticking to my forehead with sweat, and my breathing short and ragged. I took a couple of shaky breaths and with a trembling hand I moved a hair away from my face, I jumped suddenly when the sound of scratching reached my ears, I looked over at my closed door and heard whimpers.

I slowly got out of bed and with wobbly steps I unlocked the door, allowing Makkachin to enter. "I'm sorry Makkachin did I wake you?" I kneeled to the ground and petted his head. "It was just a bad dream, I tend to get them often," I explained and quietly laughed when his tail wagged and his tongue hung out of his mouth. "I don't mind your company though, I like you. You don't make me feel weird like Victor." I got up and plopped onto my bed, Makkachin hopped on and lied down next to me.

I turned over to meet his cute furry face fully but was greeted with a slobbery tongue to my face instead.  "M-Makkachin!" I was grateful that I had removed my glasses earlier. "Thank you for the goodnight kiss." I wiped my face of slobber and cuddled the lovable poodle. "Can you stay with me...just for tonight?" He yipped and lied his head down on my arm. "Thank you." I smiled tiredly.

I yawned, feeling comforted by Makkachin's presence, and pressed my face into his soft curly fur, I pulled the blanket over us and managed to drift off to sleep, happy that I was not alone tonight.

The next day I didn't have the energy to open my eyes, I was in between the dream world and the real world. I heard shuffling and a small inaudible gasp, had I forgotten to lock my room door?

Before I knew it a gentle hand caressed my cheek and then moved the stray strands of hair from my face, I was almost fully awake now, my eyes still shut. I cuddled Makkachin closer.  "Five more minutes mom~" I whined with a groggy voice. "No fair~! Makkachin had you all to himself last night! Bad boy, Yuuri is mine Makkachin." My eyes instantly shot open at the familiar voice.

I quickly sat up to meet sharp blue eyes staring into my own eyes. "V-Victor...what are you doing in my room?" I asked nervously. "I woke up lonely." He pouted and crossed his arms. "I also wanted to see my new student, you were cute when you were sleeping, especially when you were cuddling Makkachin. I may or may not have taken a couple of pictures." He smirked mischievously.

I blushed and sat crisscrossed on the bed with Makkachin sitting up beside me. "Well you're a mother is calling you down for breakfast, after that we'll begin with morning exercises and training." He smiled, I was still shocked, trying to process that Victor was now my coach, the Victor Nikiforov! I pinched my arm and winced at the sharp pain. "..so it's not a dream," I mumbled, Victor, looked at me with a confused expression. "Uhm, are you okay?" He asked. "Then that means..." My heart dropped.

My face became bright red. "The Victor Nikiforov is in my room!?" I burst out. "Haha, you're hilarious Yuuri. You better wake up or I'll use a kiss." He smiled. "N-no need for that!" I exclaimed and hopped off my bed.  "Sorry to keep you waiting." I frowned and with a disoriented mind I staggered my way to the kitchen feeling Victor's presence from behind me. "Yuuri are you okay?" He asked with a worry laced voice.

I jumped and took a shaky breath. "Y-yeah I'm fine," I reassured. "Good morning Yuuri, I hope you had a good night's sleep." My mother smiled at me. "Yeah, I did thanks to you." I returned the smile and sat on the floor where a meal was already laid out on the table, Victor sat beside me thanks for the food and then stuffed his face. "You really are an amazing cook Mrs. Katsuki!" Victor exclaimed with a wide smile. "Stop it~ you're making me blush!" She giggled.

My chest felt heavy with dread when I grabbed my chopsticks, my hands were shaking uncontrollably. "You know..I'm not hungry I'm sorry mom, if dad hasn't had any breakfast why not ask him?" I quickly stood up. "I'm sorry, please excuse me." I went into my room changing into a black sweater and a pair of sweat pants. "Yuuri, are you sure you want to train without eating?" Victor was leaning against the door frame of my room.

I jumped and looked at him. "I had a big meal last night." I forced a smile. "Hmm alright then, are you ready? I want to see what moves you know and what you can do." He took me by the hand pulling me along with him. "That ice rink you skated at, please take me there." He pleaded with his icy blue eyes locking onto me. "I'll show you." I blushed.

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"OMG! It's Victor Nikiforov!" Yuuko squealed happily. "Hi." Victor smiled. "Yuuri, I'm so happy for you! I knew you were depressed and I really wanted to help you, but I didn't know how, but now that you have Victor I guess you feel a bit better." I covered her mouth before she could say more.  "Y-yeah I feel better no need to say more." I stuttered. "Alright let's get started!" Victor exclaimed, with my skates already tightly laced on my feet I skidded on the ice, my concentration was no longer with me.

I was at a loss, so many questions filled my mind and Victor's words entered one ear and came out through the other, when I tried a lutz I flubbed it and fell on my side. "Don't worry Yuuri you got this!" Yuuko gave me a thumbs up with a kind reassuring smile, Victor was beside her his face blank but his eyes holding something I couldn't figure out, was it disappointment? I got up and dusted myself off. "..right," I muttered and once again glided on the ice.

Why would Victor come all this way for me? Did he give up his whole skating fame, his popularity, and his possible luxurious future just for me? My stomach was filled with dread, my heart with anxiety, and my head with self-hatred and doubts. I honestly wasn't worth it, trying a triple toe loop I gasped when I lost my footing and fell once again only this time I didn't bother to get up. "Yuuri! What's wrong are you okay!?" Yuuko's voice was filled with concern. "I'm fine," I called out and forcibly stood on my feet.

I sighed and looked down. It really is useless.." I muttered. "Hmm..okay! Yuuko may I please have a word with Yuuri, alone?" Victor flashed Yuuko an apologetic smile. "Yeah, okay." She nodded and left the rink leaving only Victor and me in awkward silence. "Is something wrong Yuuri? You look troubled." He asked worriedly. "I'm fine," I stated once again. "Fine then show me a proper triple toe loop and a signature quad." He demanded.

I gulped and glided on the ice starting with an outside spread eagle before catching up with speed along the ice, I felt empty though I couldn't feel anything at all. My body was lifted from the ground as I spun in the air, everything just felt so wrong. I landed with a sharp twist of my ankle a cry escaped my lips. "Was that good enough Victor?" I looked at him with my eyes glassy with tears. "Do you find it amusing to see me fail every time?" I forced on a bittersweet smile.

His eyes were wide with shock. "If you came here expecting to see a professional skater then I think you boarded the wrong plane because I can assure you that the only thing you'll find here is a big disappointment." I slid toward the exit of the rink. "I'm sorry I couldn't be the person you wanted." I untied my skates and limped toward the lockers. Victor just stood there, I really had messed up.

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Arriving home I was greeted by my mother and a very hyperactive Makkachin. "Sorry mom I'm a bit tired, I won't be able to join you for lunch." I hid my limp when I walked passed her not wanting her to worry. I slumped on the floor leaning against my bed. "Will Victor leave now? Did he get upset?" I asked myself.

I heard the front door open and close, footsteps patted down the hall and stopped right in front of my door; there was a quiet knock. "Yuuri can I come in?" My heart stopped at the familiar voice, I knew I couldn't say no, he did come all the way from Russia just to come to be my coach. I couldn't disappoint him anymore. "Okay," I called out wearily. He entered my room and closed the door behind him. "It was rude of you to leave you to know, I got lost on the way back." He smiled dangerously.

He walked up to me and kneeled down to the ground. "I'll have you know that I came here because I found an interest in you." He gripped my chin and forced me to look at him. "Whatever happened to the skater who was always motivated and determined?" I mistakenly looked into his eyes. "I lost my motivation.," I answered. "Then please allow me to motivate you." He leaned forward.

His lips pressed against my own.

My face was a deep red, the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy, my chest stirred with that something I couldn't describe, my mind and body were too slow to comprehend what was happening. It finally clicked, Victor Nikiforov was kissing me....the Victor Nikiforov was kissing me!!?? I instantly pulled away and stood from the ground, he looked up at me with a smirk. "Motivated now?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head.

My heart crashed to a stop.

I sniffed as tears pricked the corner of my eyes, I was enraged, angry at Victor for playing with my emotions. "A kiss without feeling is no kiss at all you freaking jerk!" I yelled and stormed out of my room making my way outside, I walked aimlessly not caring where my feet took me so I wasn't at all surprised to see that I was back at ice castle. With a heavy sigh, I entered the building, went to the lockers, laced up my skates, and glided onto the ice rink feeling comfortable that no one else was here.

I attempt the failed jumps from earlier and landed them perfectly, the pain on my ankle got worse, but I wouldn't allow myself to give up again. And as much as I'd hate to admit it, but Victor's kiss had somewhat motivated me, I was angry for letting myself get swooped off my feet like that so quickly, I knew I needed to become stronger. When I finished the small made up routine I was startled by a round of clapping. "Now there's the skater I know!" There stood Victor, a smile plastered on his face.

I frowned and skated toward him making sure to let him know I was upset. "Look Yuuri I'm sorry." He apologized guiltily. "I..I just didn't want you to give up so easily. Will a kiss make it better?" He asked teasingly, I gritted my teeth as a blush filled my cheeks, a mischievous thought suddenly popped into my mind. I smiled at him and leaned over to his ear whispering in a low seductive voice. "Oh Victor, you won't win me over that easily." I chuckled and pulled away.

I laughed at his red face. "Thanks, Victor. I think I really needed to cool down for a bit you know?" I sighed.  "I'm one hundred percent serious now. I...I want to continue skating..so, will you please help me get back up on my feet? Will you guide me, Victor?" I looked at him with a now determined look. His eyes went wide at first but then softened when he smiled warmly. "I've been waiting all day for you to say that..of course, I'll be your coach Yuuri, I'll help you," he paused before finishing his sentence. "I promise."

Those final words made my heart swell and chest ache, those words that no one had given to be spoken by the person I looked up to and idolized. "Now let's take you home, you hurt your ankle didn't you? I can tell by the way you landed." He took hold of my hand and flashed me a kind smile.

This man was going to be the death of me.