Yuuri felt his fingers around the device go numb while soft tremors began to make their way through his body. It was as if the world suddenly chose to turn on its axis to turn the other way from then on. He had never imagined he would lose his family and certainly not like this. Losing everyone at once was a kick to the gut. He could comprehend the words coming from his ballet teacher, but there was a small spark of hope of still having someone. "Minako Sensei. Where's Vicchan?"

The other side went silent as the woman was faced with the heartbroken whisper of her pupil. She couldn't tell him a lie even if it would help him now it would break him further afterwards so with a heavy heart she answered truthfully. "We don't know." sighed the dancer. "We haven't seen her in a while." The dark haired skater felt himself lose what little hope he had even though the answer hadn't been a real negative one he couldn't hope. His mind went blank and his fingers ended the call then switched the phone off. Looking towards his suitcase where he knew his ticket to Japan lay in a pocket safe from everything his eyes filled with tears. He had planned to go back home for some time, he hadn't told anyone about it meaning to surprise his loved ones. Not seeing his family daily had taken its tool on him, but fought on every day not letting it beat him for he didn't want to lay down in the face of problems. Though his couch and teammates were helping as much as they could it wasn't enough. Phitchit helped the most, but even that was barely anything in the face of his homesickness and anxiety. It got to the point where the only things keeping him moving forward were the daily skype calls from his family and constant practice which led to his injury, but that was beside the point in his mind. Without skating and dancing he would have succumbed to depression a long time ago. The Japanese skater didn't feel the tremors running through his body or the tears tracking down his face as his mind couldn't move forward from the news. He wasn't aware of crying for hours nor was he able to feel when he slipped into a deep dreamless sleep right there on the floor of his hotel room in a sitting fetal position.

Morning came in the early hours the next day bathing the city in the soft glow of the morning sunlight marking the new day. The contestants of the figure skating event woke up early and fresh ready for the new day ahead of them, all but one. Yuuri Katsuki came to slowly with his mind muddled. Mechanically raising from the floor and going through his morning routine. He couldn't… no wouldn't accept his family's passing. He had worked for them for so long they can't just up and leave him on his own now when he needed them the most. It must have been a trick of his tired mind surely that is what it was he just has to call Minako and she will tell him what a moron he was to think his parents and sister died. Nodding to himself he turned his phone on and dialled her number. It rang only twice before she picked up, but before he could open his mouth to ask something from her she began a long never ending apologies for telling him the terrible news yesterday in such a bland and hurtful way and constantly apologising for not being more considerate. The young man only picked up two things from the ramble first it hadn't been something his mind conjured up it is real and second his beloved dog is still missing. Needing something to focus on he decided he rather lose himself in depression if it breaks than be depressed when he gets Vicchan back if she still alive. "Sensei!" uttered the brown eyed man feeling his eyes fill up with moisture and successfully silencing Minako. "Vicchan has a couple of hiding spots throughout Hasetsu. I can give you the whole list right now. Can you write it down?" after some rustling came the reply from his teacher to list it. It took some time for his beloved poodle had quit a few hiding places. The last one on the list had been his room. "We already checked your room." answered Minako. "No you didn't. At least not the right way. Vicchan likes to hide in various places in my room. Basically anywhere she can fit in is a hiding place for her there." there was stunned silence on the other side meaning they hadn't known that. "We will begin right away. You just skate to your own best in this situation." were Minako's parting words.

Yuuri looked around his room. He didn't know what to do. Feeling empty in a way he hadn't a long time and not to this extent was scary, but not enough to penetrate the emptiness in him. Leaving his room behind he went into the city to pass the time. He had only pulled on his training clothes and team Japan jacket before he left with his phone and wallet in his pockets listening to his favourite tunes while walking aimlessly. Walking by his fellow skaters silently without any form of recognition as he was deep into his music he didn't realize the looks he got. They were full of concern for him. The black haired man left the hotel behind not even looking back his thoughts far away from him. Walking was usually a good way to clear his mind. Though it seemed to not be the case today. No matter where he went, how long he walked he couldn't pull himself from the black inky emptiness that was taking hold of him.

Victor Nikiforov was getting ready for his last minute morning practice along with the other skaters who had clawed their way into the finals. It was always a big deal when the Grand Prix Finals were there seeing the new and old faces made it almost worth all the work, but now even that couldn't make him forget missing what the others had, a solid relationship with someone he loves. Don't get him wrong he loves Maccachin, but he wants a family of his own, one he could protect and nourish with all he got. He wanted to have someone to wake up next to, someone he could pull close to feel their body, warmth, breath, and most importantly their heartbeat. It was lonely as well as cold with only his beloved poodle in his enormous apartment.

The Russian star skater's best friend understood it to a certain extent, but not well enough to really help because he had his own boyfriend back at home. Sometimes it felt like drowning with many people around and nobody noticing.

This morning the silver haired man was looking forward to see every one's free skates. They always gave him ideas and when he was lucky they even gave him inspiration to go on. Though that hadn't happened in quit a while he still hoped it will happen next time only to be disappointed.

After the skaters ate their breakfast they were herded towards the hotel lobby to get back to their rooms and gather their things for the competition. As they were walking towards the elevators the Japanese skater walked by without acknowledging anyone. His face was void of any kind of emotion, but what shocked them the most were his lifeless, empty eyes. The finalists looked after him with concern as he went by because it was clear he hadn't realized they were there for they had known him to be a polite young man who would always greet everyone.

The skating champion felt as if someone had kicked him in the gut full force for the expression on the younger skater's face was how he felt like more and more in the safety of his mind and only showed his beloved dog this feeling with behaviour and facial expression. He never thought he will see this kind of emotion mask the face of such a young man at the beginning of his real senior career as a figure skater. He had seen many people come and go since he began, but this man had so much before him and it looked like he wouldn't be able to get to have everything he was capable of if his current state is anything to go by. This thought solidified his resolve and the Living Legend turned around to reach out towards the younger verbally and if he let him emotionally and physically, but by the time he got to that point the man was nowhere to be found making Victor deflate. He had felt some kind of kinship for the black haired omega. Being an alpha had always been looked on as something that would be the best thing to be. Victor knew it isn't like that. Being an alpha is only good if you have a significant other you could take care of otherwise you feel miserable every waking moment of your life when you can't physically tire yourself. He had been acting like a playboy for so long no one thought he was capable of a serious relationship. What they all forgot was that he was an alpha before anything else and it had its perks, one of them was that he was able to tell who has real feelings for him and who comes to him for money and fame, most came to him with the intentions of the latter. Because of that he developed the defence mechanism of acting like a playboy. He looked after the sad omega wistfully, but having lost sight of him he went up to his room packing his bag for the competition.

Katsuki Yuuri walked around aimlessly. He didn't know where he was or where he was going neither did he know which way he turned the last time. Being unfamiliar with the city it wasn't a wise choice to get lost, but he couldn't help himself. Losing his family was a blow he never thought he will have to endure guess he had been wrong. He thought he will begin to cry soon, but he didn't have tears only an all-encompassing emptiness which made him long to feel something, anything. Since he had gave Minako the list he hadn't heard from them. He was desperately clinging to that last thread of hope he had that at least his beloved poodle is still alive for if she isn't he didn't know what he will do.

The first claws of depression were beginning to get a hold of him without him noticing. He had always been prone to depressive thoughts he got better after he got his dog for she always looked at him with the same unconditional love and prompted him to be more active even when he felt like he didn't have any energy. She was the epitome of kindness and it helped Yuuri accept himself and his flaws. No one had been able to get him to do that before her so his family welcomed the small pup with open arms and hearts. Vicchan had always been the happy go lucky type of personality which moved Yuuri out of his comfort zone for he had to take her on exciting walks and lessons for she was a really bright little dog too. He had to constantly train her to keep her mind occupied so she wouldn't chew on things in the Onsen. He had to teach her many things and take her on daily walks and jogs to reduce her energies to a manageable amount with which she could sleep and rest with him at the end of the day. She had been the best dog Yuuri could have asked for he had so many responsibilities with her he had no time to feel depressed or let the bullying get to him.

It had been hard leaving Vicchan behind in his family home while he went overseas to learn and work for his dreams. She had been an essential part of his life. So much so that he had nearly fell into depression after getting to Detroit because without his dog most of his day became empty. He hadn't realized how much time he invested in his dog on a daily basis before he left her behind and then it was too late to rewrite his contract. He tried to get it rewritten, but no one wanted to do that for him at the school other than his coach and rink mates who saw what it was doing to him. They helped him with everything though in the end it did not matter for they weren't able to change anything. He was grateful for their efforts and thanked them for their help.

As the young man walked fond memories about his family resurfaced in his mind like his mother's cooking, warm smiles and soft embraces, his father's silent, solid presence which radiated safety, and his sister's reliability and understanding, It was hard knowing he wouldn't see any of them anymore, won't hear their voices or be able to embrace them. He hadn't been able to go home for years now seeing how his earnings kept them financially afloat. He had no money to go home for some time even though he wanted to.

The black haired omega had somehow gotten back to his hotel and up to his room. He didn't know how and didn't really care to know. He sat down on his bed gazing unseeingly before himself. 'Did they suffer? Was I good son? A good brother? Were they angry with me for not coming home even once since I left for collage or for not really having real conversations with them? Was annoying them with my constant need of calming via skype? Was it mean from me to ask about Vicchan first and only remembering to ask them how they are after I heard a lengthy description about her? Were they proud of me? Didn't my selfishness cause them problems? I mean they had to work hard all their lives and I took an opportunity to leave my loving home behind so easily and fast. I must have angered and annoyed them, but they most likely didn't want to tell me so as to not to make me give up. I'm such a disappointment of a son… and a brother. I should have been the one to die not them.'

Yuuri was so deep in his negative thoughts he didn't realize his coach had come in after he hadn't reacted to him knocking. His coach's voice filtered through his brain slowly so when he reacted to the greeting he received Celestino was looking at him in concern. The Italian man walked up to the sitting skater and put his hands on his shoulders feeling the comforting mass of lean muscles under the palms of his hands.

"Are you alright?" asked the long haired man seriously. He was concerned for his pupil. There were days where he was quit depressed and nothing could make him get out of that mind-set other than talking to his dog, not even his family could pull him out of it though not for not trying enough. They too tried at the rink, but neither of them had any luck, they were even less fortunate in their attempts than his family and that's saying something for they could only get him to take care of basic needs with constant prompting. That is why he had fought to this to get the school change their minds about the Japanese skater's dog, but they didn't believe them for those who haven't seen him in that state it was hard to believe he could get to be that un functional and they weren't inclined to come and see him when he was like that or any other time at all. He had tried to get him to see a therapist and he had went to the first meeting only for the therapist to tell him he couldn't help for the young man wouldn't say anything to him because he didn't trust him and even when he was talking he used his mother language or mixed together multiple languages to the point of no understanding. The only thing he had been able to tell him was that the most chance to pull him out of this was by getting his dog to live there with him. To this day he hadn't been able to change it so he had to fight every day to keep his skater functioning.

Yuuri gazed at his coach uncomprehendingly. He knew who he saw, but his brain had a hard making connections. At the moment he couldn't piece together what he heard very easily and it showed in the way his gaze rested on Ciao Ciao for one long minute while his jumbled mind worked on righting itself to the best of its capabilities. In the end he nodded softly then shook his head in a fast manner then after that he only shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't pinpoint what exactly he felt at the moment.

Feeling his pupil's need for a calming order right now he packed the boy's things up in his duffel bag. It had been mostly packed up, but he didn't think the Japanese skater would have been able to remember to bring everything he will need to the arena. Linking his arm through the young man's he lead him out of the room. Going down with the elevator, through the lobby and across the streets to the arena not once letting the young man go. There had been times like this but never to this extent. He knew for a fact that they won't get good points, most likely land in the last spot after the free skate. He had seen the black haired omega skate his free skate so good that he had gotten winning scores on them more than once in competitions. It will be a blow to him.