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Post by Angela on Jan 25, 2009 23:09:25 GMT -5
From St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Post by Angela on Jan 25, 2009 23:36:13 GMT -5
Danil strode into the rink with exchange student Kyo Suzuki, and Danil's coach, Parker Janson. They had been in Petersbgurg for a day already, just to rest so Danil could get his wits about him. Now it was time to focus as he had his first practice. Peter was at home, working on his schoolwork.
Danil had blown the house apart with his performances at his earlier event in France, making a powerful statement with a decisive victory. He was skating his short program to Itzhak Perlman's performance of "Meditation" from Thais. His free skate was to Tchaikovsky's 5th and 6th symphonies. His programs were not only more classical than in the past few years, but also much more personal. His free skate was dedicated to his husband, his short program was dedicated to his father, Andrei.
"All right," Danil said, as Parker had left for a moment to check with the officials who were attending the practice, "you had best find your seat. I'll help you to it, but can you wait for just a few moments? I just want to set my things in the locker room."
Danil left Kyo alone. Perhaps that was a mistake, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. A tall, lanky man with black hair was around the corner, distractedly talking to his student before ushering him off to warm up. Disgusted, he stormed out to the hallway where Kyo was patiently waiting. The man stopped and looked at him.
"I don't believe I've seen you here before," he said, for the moment letting his disgust be overshadowed.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 26, 2009 0:30:08 GMT -5
Kyo was feeling rather privileged, being able to travel even further abroad with his talented caretaker, Danil. In fact, once he had seen Danil's success in France, he had personally made a goal for the man to win in his next venture! Danil had already seen a great deal of success, so he imagined the goal was very possible to reach! Kyo had a couple of Daruma dolls--the Japanese, traditional dolls which encouraged one to make goals, as well as good fortune--and on the one he had brought with him, he had filled in one of the eyes for Danil's goal. If Danil met that goal--if he did win the Cup of Russia--Kyo would fill in the other eye and officially bestow the gift to his caretaker and friend. He knew he would like it.
Kyo was nervous to be at the Cup now, perhaps even a little homesick, given that Japan wasn't too far away. But all the excitement had thankfully kept his mind free of that sort of thing most of the time. He was looking forward to Danil's performance, but he was nervous about it. He wasn't the one skating, so he wasn't sure why...he just was!
"All right," Danil said, as Parker had left for a moment to check with the officials who were attending the practice, "you had best find your seat. I'll help you to it, but can you wait for just a few moments? I just want to set my things in the locker room."
Kyo nodded. "Of-a course." Danil was so busy, and probably more nervous than Kyo could imagine. He watched Danil disappear into the dressing room, then leaned back on the opposite wall to wait. He could hear the crowd from where he was standing.
"I don't believe I've seen you here before."
The voice came quickly and unexpectedly. Kyo turned his full attention to the man now waiting in the hallway with him. He was tall and imposing, in a way Kyo couldn't quite figure out. Kyo did what came naturally to him and bowed low, assuming the man was someone of important status. Even so, he knew he couldn't avoid being rude with the language barrier. The man was speaking Russian. Even though Japan was practically neighbors to the country, Kyo had never spoken a word of Russian, except, of course, what Danil had taught him.
"I don't speak Russian," he simply replied in the man's native tongue. His face flushed. What if he was insulting one of the Cup's executives? What if he was ruining Danil's chances? Kyo swallowed hard.
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Post by Angela on Jan 26, 2009 1:14:00 GMT -5
(the following is written with Marissa, aka Kyo)
"Oh, I'm sorry," the man replied in English, with a gentle smile. He too bowed. "My name is Ivan Alexandrovich Shotsky. What is your name? I take it you speak English?" he asked.
Kyo was a little taken aback. The man seemed friendly enough. He would try to be as polite as he could, without going as far as mooching. Deppeyes: "I speak the English. But, I am sorry I do not speak Russian." He bowed his head. "I am Kyo."
"Well, Kyo, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am one of the coaches here." He showed him the credentials around his neck. "So, you are here to watch the skaters practice? Do you skate yourself? Who is your favorite skater here?" he asked.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 26, 2009 1:57:46 GMT -5
"Well, Kyo, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am one of the coaches here." He showed him the credentials around his neck. "So, you are here to watch the skaters practice? Do you skate yourself? Who is your favorite skater here?" he asked.
As Kyo took a look at Ivan's credentials, straining to see just who the man coached for, now that he knew he was a coach and not an executive, he realized his brain was spinning with all the questions the man was asking him. Not to mention that, though his homeland was not too far from Russia, he was having a bit of a hard time understanding the man's thick Russian accent. Still, Ivan seemed very friendly. If Kyo wasn't already rooting for one particular skater, he might have cheered this guy on.
Kyo tried to respond as best as he could. "I am here with my-a friend, the one and only Danil! He is my host in the Americas and a super skater, so he is my favorite." Kyo smiled. "He is good person, but I am sure you are a good skater too!" Kyo looked to the door of the dressing room as if doing so would summon Danil out in some kind of stage-like entrance.
"I do not skate so well. I am just a beginner."
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Post by Angela on Jan 26, 2009 2:24:12 GMT -5
Ivan chuckled at the irony. "Well, he is certainly the skater to beat here, but I daresay there are some upstarts ready to challenge him. I am coaching one of them, as a matter of fact. So, you are an exchange student? How interesting. The world loves Danil, that's for sure." When Kyo referred to his skating, he grinned. The look was in fact similar to the Grinch's smile when he decided to steal Christmas. "I bet you could be magnificent... with the right training, of course. That's where it all comes from. Come over here, for a moment."
Ivan took Kyo's hand and led him away from the locker room, to one of the mats in the warm up-area. It wasn't far from the locker room.
"Now, stand with your feet together, like this." He put his right foot in a point behind his left, which set on the floor, turned out a little. He put his right arm at his side, and his left in a graceful position out to the left, fingers curled in an elegant position, as if reaching out. He moved his head as if to gaze in that direction. When Kyo had taken that position, Ivan moved behind him. "Very good. Now," he said, moving his hand along Kyo's outstretched arm, "You have lovely line. That means you have a very nice pose. Now, lift your leg, like this, and turn slightly to the left, so it looks like you are in the direction you are reaching out to." Kyo lifted his leg just a little bit, afraid of losing his balance. Ivan took his ankle and raised it higher, until he was in a classic spiral position, then turned his hips and moved Kyo's right arm behind his leg. "Now point your toe," he instructed. "Think of it: you are soaring on the ice, skating for your country. You are flower in a garden of skaters, and you must make yourself stand out." As he spoke, Ivan ran his hands along Kyo's thigh... seemingly it was to help with his position...
Kyo might never have held his balance for so long. Because he was not used to standing on one foot, in such a graceful position, he only lasted a few seconds before collapsing onto the soft mat.
"It's all right," he said, helping Kyo up. "That will get better with time. Wasn't that lovely?" he asked. "I tell you, I can teach you things like that on the ice, I can have you skating magnificently. You just give me a call when you like."
"Kyo! I was looking for you," Danil said. He was not angry, just relieved... until he saw who he was with. Ivan smiled his Grinchy smile again to Danil, who wasted no time. In the span of five seconds he had come between the teenager and the older man, his arm protectively in front of Kyo, across his chest. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" His words were to Ivan.
"I was just giving the boy an invormal lesson is all," Ivan said nonchalantly. "There's no need to be so defensive."
"The only thing he will be taught from you is something he does not need to learn," Danil hissed. He was speaking in Russian, while Ivan was still speaking in English. Kyo could only follow one half of the conversation. "You listen to me," Danil continued, "if you ever come near him again, you better pray there's a hospital nearby because I guarantee you will be needing their services when I'm through with you."
"Oh, really Danil, why the threats?"
"Ivan Alexandrovich?" a voice called. Another young man, some years older than Danil, came over to them. Danil never let his protective stance drop for a second. But he was shocked at who was speaking. "I've finished my off-ice warmup."
"Good, go onto the ice, then, I'll be with you in a moment." Ivan turned to Danil as Maxim Kovalev smiled arrogantly to Danil, then went off, with a pair of taped-up skates in his hand. "Oh, you didn't know? I'm coaching Maxim. Now if you'll excuse me, some of us have work to do." With that, he stormed off.
It wasn't until he was out of sight that Danil let his arm down and he faced Kyo. He did not look angry, merely worried sick. "Are you all right?" he asked, putting his hands on his shoulders.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 26, 2009 2:58:02 GMT -5
Ivan chuckled at the irony. "Well, he is certainly the skater to beat here, but I daresay there are some upstarts ready to challenge him. I am coaching one of them, as a matter of fact. So, you are an exchange student? How interesting. The world loves Danil, that's for sure."
Kyo liked Ivan so far, but he got the feeling that even if he did try to say something, the man would talk right over it. He certainly liked to talk. He talked so fast, Kyo wasn't even quite able to answer all of his questions. Still, he found it interesting that Ivan was also a coach. He wondered if he and Parker were friends--though seemingly different, they were both pretty pleasant. Even if Ivan had a, well, odd smile.
"I bet you could be magnificent... with the right training, of course. That's where it all comes from. Come over here, for a moment." Ivan took Kyo's hand and led him away from the locker room, to one of the mats in the warm up-area. It wasn't far from the locker room.
Kyo was so pleased with the man's comment, that he just allowed himself to be pulled from the hallway and into another area. He almost forgot that he had been purposely waiting for Danil, to find his seat, to watch Danil practice--he shouldn't go wandering like this! When Ivan had finally released his hand, Kyo opened his mouth to tell the man that he really ought to go back, Danil was waiting for him.
Ivan apparently hadn't heard him: "Now, stand with your feet together, like this." The coach began moving Kyo around like he was some kind of doll, but Kyo could tell, even from his first-person point-of-view in this, that Ivan was making him take a position similar to those of Danil's while he was on ice. He really was very artistic. If Kyo wasn't so caught up in the moment, he might have been a little embarrassed. "Very good. Now," he said, moving his hand along Kyo's outstretched arm, "You have lovely line. That means you have a very nice pose. Now, lift your leg, like this, and turn slightly to the left, so it looks like you are in the direction you are reaching out to." "I will...tell...Danil I have very lov-eh-ly line, Mr. Ivan. Maybe he will...teach-eh...me more." Kyo was struggling with his balance. Ivan was moving him around into a more uncomfortable position, something he wasn't used to even with the little bit of martial arts he had taken. Even as Ivan instructed him further, comparing him to a flower, someone skating for his country, Kyo was thinking not about the glory of those words, but about how he was in the process of falling very fast and very hard, and how something, something he didn't understand, given Ivan's generous and tender nature, didn't seem quite right.
Then Kyo tumbled over. "It's all right," he said, helping Kyo up. "That will get better with time. Wasn't that lovely?" he asked. "I tell you, I can teach you things like that on the ice, I can have you skating magnificently. You just give me a call when you like."
Kyo was still a little confused after all that had happened--it had happened quickly--but shook his head. "Ie." No. "That is-a so nice of you, I am honor--"
"Kyo! I was looking for you," Danil said Kyo instantly felt bad. He saw Danil appear in the room looking worried. Kyo knew he was wrong to have allowed himself to follow Ivan. This was Danil's big day, it had just begun, and he was already beginning to let down the kind man.
But what most frightened him was the look on Danil's face when his eyes met with Ivan. Suddenly beyond the realm of confusion and into the land of "totally lost", Kyo looked from one to the other, stunned as Danil leapt in front of him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I was just giving the boy an invormal lesson is all," Ivan said nonchalantly. "There's no need to be so defensive."
Kyo did a double-blink. He couldn't really see what was happening here, let alone understand it. Something had to be seriously wrong for Danil to come rushing in and in front of him like this. But he couldn't understand what...he didn't get why. Ivan seemed nice enough... He knew all his chances of finding out were lost the instant the two men began to speak in Russian.
"Oh, really Danil, why the threats?" Kyo understood that phrase, at least. He backed away, a little, from Danil. Threats? Why was he making threats?
Another Russian man joined them, this one, Kyo guessed, similar in age to Danil. But he didn't seem half as pleasant, in fact he reminded Kyo of some of the sportsmen sometimes seen in movies. He felt like his brain was spinning. Too much at once. What was going on?
Kyo decided to blot out everything. He remained silent and unmoving until, he realized that one of the men--that one being Ivan--had left the area. Kyo was alone with Danil now. His caretaker was looking worried, beside himself with worry, in fact. "Are you all right?" he asked, putting his hands on his shoulders.
Kyo wasn't sure what to think, but he decided that he had been with Danil long enough to know that the man was his friend. He had never meant him harm and never would. He had been so good to him...Something had to have been wrong with Ivan for Danil to have acted this way. He was just confused as to why Danil would make any kind of threat. "I am just fine, Danil. He was teaching me some skating so I could-a show you."
Kyo paused. He had to ask. "Danil, why do you threaten him?"
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Post by Angela on Jan 26, 2009 3:27:44 GMT -5
Danil sighed. It wasn't a relieved sigh, but he seemed grateful that he had gotten there when he did.
"Thank God you're all right," he said, embracing him tightly for a few moments. He put his arm around him and walked with him out of the warmup areas and back into the hallway from whence they came. "That man is a very bad man. If he ever comes near you again, you run away in the opposite direction. Come get me, or Parker, or Zhenya. If you can't find any of us, use the cell phone I gave you to call us. Just avoid him at all costs. Do you understand?" He realized that poor Kyo had no idea why this man was so dangerous. He had to explain somehow. He took a deep breath, and went into the nearby athlete's lounge. They sat on a couch. "I'm sorry. I know I did not explain. So I will try to now. I used to train with him. Zhenya and I, we both trained with him when we were younger. He hurt us, in many different ways. The whole reason I am with Parker now is because he saw Ivan slap me, and I fell to the floor. He then came over and asked if I would like to learn from him. That's how I ended up in America." That of course was an edited "Cliff's Notes" version of Ivan's abuse. But he wanted to spare Kyo from the true horror of what Ivan was really like, while still understanding that he was someone to be avoided.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 27, 2009 0:33:01 GMT -5
"Thank God you're all right," he said, embracing him tightly for a few moments. This most shocked Kyo. He was so taken aback, at first, he didn't return the embrace. But he could see how worried Danil was, how concerned...He hugged his caretaker back and felt a little bit like crying. He couldn't understand what was going on, but was sure that something of what had just happened was eating away at Danil. He was afraid Danil would do poorly in practice or in his performance because of this. So much for trying to avoid that whole thing all this time...
"I am okay, Danil, I am so sorry I worried you, so-a sorry..." Kyo allowed himself to be led from the warm-up area and back to the hallway where the trouble had started.
Danil was very serious. "That man is a very bad man. If he ever comes near you again, you run away in the opposite direction. Come get me, or Parker, or Peter, or Zhenya. If you can't find any of us, use the cell phone I gave you to call us. Just avoid him at all costs. Do you understand?"
Kyo nodded his head eagerly--anything to make Danil feel better, that's all he wanted--even though he still didn't fully understand the situation between the two men. Danil must have read this, because he led Kyo into a nearby lounge and offered him a seat on one of the couches. They were going to talk. So this was very serious indeed...
"I'm sorry. I know I did not explain. So I will try to now. I used to train with him. Zhenya and I, we both trained with him when we were younger. He hurt us, in many different ways. The whole reason I am with Parker now is because he saw Ivan slap me, and I fell to the floor. He then came over and asked if I would like to learn from him. That's how I ended up in America."
Kyo was horrified, and if his suddenly wide-eyed expression didn't speak of it, his shivers did. He suddenly realized why Danil would have been so concerned with him being alone with Ivan, he had a good idea of just what Danil meant by the two of them--him and Zhenya--being "hurt" in different ways, even if he didn't want to imagine the thought. He couldn't imagine kind Zhenka or his wonderful friend Danil being abused in any way...
Now that he thought about it, had he allowed Ivan to abuse him in any way? He couldn't recall...he had just thought of it all a part of skating... "Danil, I am so sorry." Kyo bowed his head. "I did not know. I am the stupid one. I allow myself to be pulled away by him and think that if I do what he says, you will get a better chance in the competition. I know it is the wrong thing to do...Gomenasai..."
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Post by Angela on Jan 27, 2009 0:55:17 GMT -5
"Oh, Kyo," Danil said gently, rubbing his back, "you have nothing to be sorry or ashamed about. If there's one thing I learned from Parker with regards to Ivan Shotsky, it is that there is nothing to be ashamed about. He manipulated you. That means he used you, he lied to you." He frowned, recalling what Kyo had said earlier. Good Lord... "What exactly has Ivan done to you?" he asked, trying to retain his composure.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 27, 2009 1:03:49 GMT -5
"Oh, Kyo," Danil said gently, rubbing his back, "you have nothing to be sorry or ashamed about. If there's one thing I learned from Parker with regards to Ivan Shotsky, it is that there is nothing to be ashamed about. He manipulated you. That means he used you, he lied to you."
Kyo understood what Danil was saying, but he wasn't sure how it could remedy the situation. It wasn't that he was concerned about himself, because he couldn't really recall anything but the slightly odd, maybe uncomfortable feeling he had gotten earlier. There hadn't been anything else. Even if he did say that he was fine, that he wasn't really bothered by what had happened, could he convince Danil that he himself wasn't bothered by it all either? Could he get him to take his mind off of this whole thing before his big event?
"What exactly has Ivan done to you?" he asked, trying to retain his composure. Kyo could hear the concern in Danil's voice, even if he was trying to avoid it. He shook his head. "No, no, Danil it is not a problem. He was just showing me some skating technique--not a thing that is serious, so you do not have to worry." He held up a hand in the peace gesture and said, "Honest injun."
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Post by Angela on Jan 27, 2009 1:32:32 GMT -5
Danil frowned. "Listen to me, Kyo. What Ivan says and what something actually is are two different things. I must make sure he did absolutely nothing wrong. I do not trust him at all. He did something to Zhenya and I that he called a 'preperation exercise.' Please, Kyo. Tell me what he did to you. Do not worry about me, it is you I am concerned about."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 27, 2009 13:13:16 GMT -5
Danil frowned. "Listen to me, Kyo. What Ivan says and what something actually is are two different things. I must make sure he did absolutely nothing wrong. I do not trust him at all. He did something to Zhenya and I that he called a 'preperation exercise.' Please, Kyo. Tell me what he did to you. Do not worry about me, it is you I am concerned about."
This was a downhill spiral to disaster. Kyo could imagine Danil on the ice at the time of his performance, worrying about things Kyo said and hadn't said, things he should and shouldn't have done...Kyo was beginning to think playing deaf and dumb to Ivan, or just being plain rude in the first place would have been a better option than this. In a way, annoying a Cup Executive could have been a safer choice than filling Danil's heads with all kinds of concerns and ultimately distracting him from his art. He needed a level head when he went onto the ice to perform. Kyo wasn't a skater, but he knew that such was the key to success in any art. Focus.
Kyo clasped his hands to his head and shook his head. "Oyyyyy....This is not good, Danil. I cannot tell you something I do not know, yes? I do not remember! I just know he maked-ah me take a skating position I have seen you do." He got up and tried to recreate it without toppling over again, but he knew it wasn't as good as it had been with Ivan's assistance. When he was back on the bench sitting down, he sighed. "I do not remember anything out of the ordinary."
And despite that odd feeling of discomfort he had gotten, a feeling that had been only momentary, he really, truly couldn't recall anything specifically wrong.
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Post by Angela on Jan 29, 2009 18:17:38 GMT -5
Danil nodded as Kyo got up to demonstrate the position Ivan had helped him take. Though it was briefly done, and not very good, Danil understood the gist of it. "It's called a spiral position," he said. "In ballet it's called an arabesque." He still did not feel comforted by this. But he put on a calmer facade for Kyo's sake. "Did he do anything, anything at all, that might have struck you as odd?" Before Kyo could answer, because of his supposed lack of attention, Danil continued to explain. "Perhaps I should give a point of reference. Come." He helped Kyo stand up and take the pose again. He pointed Kyo's toe and moved his arms expressively, explaining, "This is how I would teach you. Now, I'm here to spot you, to help with your balance. Keep your eyes focused straight ahead." With that renewed focus lesson, Kyo's balance improved; he became steadier. Other than that, there was only one thing that was different between Ivan's teaching and his: the mysterious caress of Kyo's upper thigh.
"You're doing well," Danil said, and helped him to exit the position gracefully. They sat down once again. "Now, can you compare this lesson to what Ivan Alexandrovich did? What was different, if anything? I'm not saying that he did anything wrong for certain. Only you and he know what happened. He may very well have done exactly what I did, but I must make sure, for your own sake. I'm responsible for your safety and well-being."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 29, 2009 22:26:16 GMT -5
Danil was intent on interrogating Kyo about Ivan, it seemed. Kyo understood what Danil was looking for, oh yes, he definitely got it now, but he couldn't remember anything especially drastic except for the brief sensation he had gotten. Besides, what would happen if he did remember something? What would Danil do? Then again, he got the feeling that Danil wouldn't leave him alone until he was 130% sure Kyo was Ivan-molestation-free.
"It's called a spiral position," he said. "In ballet it's called an arabesque." Danil explained. "Did he do anything, anything at all, that might have struck you as odd? Perhaps I should give a point of reference. Come." Kyo was back on his feet and once again in the uncomfortable position. He felt heavy-hearted. He was torn between remembering to appease his host and "not" to make sure it didn't interfere with Danil's performance.
"This is how I would teach you. Now, I'm here to spot you, to help with your balance. Keep your eyes focused straight ahead." Minutes seemed to pass, minutes where Kyo was unsure of anything, from this whole situation right down to his ability to hold his balance. But Danil had to be doing something right, because Kyo was staying right where he was. And the discomfort of such stretching was slowly beginning to diminish. Kyo tried to angle his head back so he could see Danil, but his care-taker was already helping him out of the position.
"You're doing well," Danil said. And then when they were seated: "Now, can you compare this lesson to what Ivan Alexandrovich did? What was different, if anything? I'm not saying that he did anything wrong for certain. Only you and he know what happened. He may very well have done exactly what I did, but I must make sure, for your own sake. I'm responsible for your safety and well-being."
Kyo looked away for a moment. He wasn't upset with Danil, just drastically confused. He hoped his sudden bout of silence didn't make it look that way... He pondered the two mini lessons. What had been different? Well..now that Kyo thought about it, Danil had been a lot less "touchy" when he'd helped Kyo into the position. Ivan had certainly been more of a hands-on person. Or was he making that up now out of some kind of bias or expectation? Did he really remember what happened? Besides, lots of coaches are hands-on type people. Kyo knew that for a fact because he had been a martial arts student for a short while. His sensei had always been forced to correct his stances.
Kyo gave Danil his big-eyed, but serious look. "I do not think I am so cut out to be a skater like you, Danil." He sighed again. "I am not sure what happened, I am so sorry. I do not want to make an incrimination of the wrong person. If I needed to compare, I would say you did the job faster than he with less hands-on movement. But this is a little unfair to judge, since I have more practice in this position by the time I work with you, hai?" Kyo rocked back and forth in his chair, pondering deeper.
Now that he thought about it, there had been something a little awkward when Ivan had been positioning his leg. But Kyo figured it was possible that it was that way for all beginning skaters. Besides...there would probably be another time to bring it up if it really bothered him. He would prefer to tell a little white lie for now and keep Danil calmer for his performance.
He wasn't very good with lies.
He hoped his face wouldn't give anything away.
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 0:26:31 GMT -5
Danil looked at his friend piteously. "Kyo, you have scarcely begun skating. Do not worry. You could be a wonderful skater if you just believe in yourself. I believe in you," he said, makiing sure Kyo was looking at him when he said this. "If Ivan made you think of this, do not believe him. He is just trying to bother you." He took a deep breath and listened to Kyo carefully, running the words through his head. More hands-on, Kyo had said. More hands-on... Dear God! "Kyo, please tell me what you mean by 'hands-on.' Did he touch you in any way that seemed inappropriate?" He paused. Such a big word might not be in Kyo's vocabulary yet. "Inappropriate means wrong," he explained. "Did he make you feel ashamed or uncomfortable in any way?"
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 1:28:28 GMT -5
Kyo could feel Danil was still carefully watching him. So he did not believe what he had said. Well, so much for the "little white lie." Anyway, there was nothing for it. It wasn't like Kyo could--or wanted to--"get better" at his lying skills. He just felt truly muddled up in this situation now. He was praying for a time machine that wasn't going to come. If he had to, he would have gone back in time infinite times to make sure nothing like this happened again. "Kyo, you have scarcely begun skating. Do not worry. Kyo looked up. Danil was still as serious as before, but now in a more consoling-type manner. You could be a wonderful skater if you just believe in yourself. I believe in you."
There was a momentary pause.
"If Ivan made you think of this, do not believe him. He is just trying to bother you."
Kyo smiled softly. "That is so nice of you, Dan-a-yil. It is not that I lack the confidence or expectation." He laughed nervously. "I think maybe it is too competition-like for me. Does this make sense?" He sighed and leaned back in his seat. "And it was not Ivan who makes me think this way. He said things similar to you. It is nothing to be worried about."
"Kyo, please tell me what you mean by 'hands-on.' Did he touch you in any way that seemed inappropriate?" He paused. Such a big word might not be in Kyo's vocabulary yet. "Inappropriate means wrong," he explained. "Did he make you feel ashamed or uncomfortable in any way?"
So it wasn't over yet. Kyo found himself pondering all over again. Danil was leaving him no choice. How long had they been running this small event over and over in conversation? No, Danil knew something was up. Danil had read Kyo like an open book. Now he was going to get his answer whether Kyo wanted to give it or not. Kyo bit his lip and began to speak as honestly as he could manage, though he was feeling a little timid now.
"Danil-san, you must forgive me. I do not remember anything bad until now, but I did not want to say it because I do not want you worrying over me. This is your competition and a very big one indeed. One small matter is not to get in the way--I am so serious about this. So...what I say next, you must not make too much out of it, okay? Because this is my fault and my problem. I know you are my guardian, but...well, I am sixteen! I can take care of myself and nothing is wrong and...and everything will be just fine if we let this be and do not let Ivan bother us any longer, hai?" He didn't let Danil respond. He assumed his care-taker agreed automatically. "When Ivan helped me into this position, I did not think so much about actions Ivan did, because I was worried you would think I got lost or like I could not keep my balance. But when he was moving my leg, I was a little uncomfortable, I think. I am not sure if this is true, I just know I was feeling a little uneasy and I think it was around the time he touched my leg. But I do not want to say much, just in case this is all result of your questions. You understand?"
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 1:53:29 GMT -5
Danil listened carefully to Kyo's words, every one of them. He certainly seemed too confused to really be a reliable witness. "Did anyone else see this happen, or were you alone?" Deep in his heart, he knew the answer before Kyo gave it. When Kyo shook his head, Danil gave another long sigh and put his arm around his shoulders. There was nothing they could do. With Kyo so confused, or in denial, one of the two, or even both, there was nothing that could be done. It was Shotsky's word against Kyo's. Since Kyo was a resident of the man who six years ago had put him in prison for a short time based on a molestation accusation, yet somehow was set free two years later, he was virtually immune.
But he could not let him get away with it. He almost... or maybe he did - molested the boy Danil was charged with protecting and sheltering. Still, there was absolutely no sense in pursuing the matter. They were defeated before the fight began.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. "I'm sorry, Kyo. There is nothing we can do to Ivan Alexandrovich for what he did to you. I tried to put him in prison several years ago, but because he is so powerful and influential, people ignore his wrongdoings. He's practically immune, which means that there is nothing we can do." He patted his shoulder. "Kyo, don't worry about this competition. It's my non-scoring event. In the grand scheme of things, I don't even need to be here. It's not really an important competition, not as important as other competitions I am in. But Kyo, regardless of the competition, regardless of what my life is like, if something is wrong, I want you t promise to me that you will come to me from now on, even if it may seem like a bad idea, understand?" He touched his cheek. "You mean much more to me than medals."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 2:57:31 GMT -5
The silence was murder. Kyo sat still after admitting that he and Ivan had been alone and said, nor did, nothing. He didn't really feel like doing anything anymore. He could tell that Danil's focus was everywhere but his competition, and Kyo knew who was first on the "blame" list.
"I'm sorry, Kyo. There is nothing we can do to Ivan Alexandrovich for what he did to you. I tried to put him in prison several years ago, but because he is so powerful and influential, people ignore his wrongdoings. He's practically immune, which means that there is nothing we can do." He patted his shoulder. Kyo remained silent, even though it hurt not to defend himself, to let Danil know he was just fine. He knew he couldn't argue with the older man--they had been doing that for the past half hour or so, and look where it had gotten them! No, instead, Kyo remained silent and unresponsive. Danil was probably doing the right thing anyway. Kyo himself had no idea whether or not the memories in his head were real or concocted from some need for a story.
"Kyo, don't worry about this competition. It's my non-scoring event. In the grand scheme of things, I don't even need to be here. It's not really an important competition, not as important as other competitions I am in." Kyo was thinking solemnly about the daruma doll he was supposed to give Danil, after his inevitable success here in Russia. He felt like he was watching that idea flush down the toilet.
"But Kyo, regardless of the competition, regardless of what my life is like, if something is wrong, I want you t promise to me that you will come to me from now on, even if it may seem like a bad idea, understand?" He touched his cheek. "You mean much more to me than medals."
Kyo looked Danil's way, finally, and nodded slowly. "I understand." And he did. Danil was only there to protect him, to keep him safe. Kyo just wished it didn't entail things becoming so...difficult. He wasn't sure how to describe this whole mess. Instead, eager to get both their minds off the subject, he stood up and donned his best smile. "Thank-ah you for this chat, Danil-san. I appreciate your caringness." He bowed low to show his gratitude. "Perhaps we should go find the seats then?"
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 3:42:29 GMT -5
Danil nodded, quickly. "Parker will understand my being late in my training. In the meantime, I would like to personally escort you to your seat. I do not trust Ivan Shotsky any further than I can throw an elephant," he proclaimed. He put his arm around Kyo and they walked out of the lounge. "Kyo, I remember you saying that what Ivan did was your fault. I don't want you to ever, ever think that. I made that mistake, so did Zhenya, and we are both still seeing psychologists for it. I don't want to see you go down that path. What he did to you was not your fault. Whatever he did." He escorted him personally to a seat in the small crowd gathered to see the practice. A few fans immediately stood up and came over to him, asking for autographs and photographs. Danil politely refused but promised that if they stayed the rest of the practice, he would make sure to greet them and give them autographs and pose for photos when the practice was conluded. With that, he headed to the ice, apologizing profusely to Parker.
"I am so sorry. I had a small emergency with Kyo," he explained. He paused, looking to the ice. He saw Kovalev, out there like a tiger, waiting for the deer. He glanced along the boards, and sure enough saw Ivan. "You realize, with Shotsky coaching Kovalev things have just become even more dangerous," he commented quietly. "What are we going to do?"
(TAG MARSHA! *hugs*)
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Post by marsha on Feb 1, 2009 1:18:08 GMT -5
"I am so sorry. I had a small emergency with Kyo," he explained. He paused, looking to the ice. He saw Kovalev, out there like a tiger, waiting for the deer. He glanced along the boards, and sure enough saw Ivan. "You realize, with Shotsky coaching Kovalev things have just become even more dangerous," he commented quietly. "What are we going to do?"
"So you saw, I was just waiting here to tell you that... What are we going to do? We, mostly you are going to have to watch yourself out there. He can't beat you if we are talking about skating, but that doesn't mean he won't try to bring your skating down to his level." Parker said, never taking his eyes off the young man. "What happened with Kyo, is everything okay?" It was dismissive, and he didn't mean it to sound that way, Parker was distracted by this new turn of events.
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 1:24:55 GMT -5
Danil nodded quickly, his eyes also on the ice. He hadn't even had time to properly warm up off the ice. When he asked his question, Danil said, in a quiet tone, "I saw Shotsky with him. He was teaching him how to do a spiral position. But you know how it is with him, and you know no one will believe us if we try to do something. I told Kyo to stay away from him, and if he comes toward him to run away." He sighed. "I had better get out there."
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Post by marsha on Feb 1, 2009 1:34:41 GMT -5
Parker did a classic cartoon double take. "Wait, what?" But sadly this wasn't the time or place to get worked up over this. Parker nodded for Danil to continue his warm up, but ever so often he found himself glancing at that stands to where Kyo sat. His eyes narrowed as he glanced over across the ice at Ivan. Would this man never be stopped. Again he had to remind himself that he and Danil both had to focus on the competition.
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 1:46:31 GMT -5
Danil managed to do a short warmup off the ice before going onto the ice itself. Once he was out there, he stayed as far away from Kovalev as possible, occasionally looking up at Kyo to show that he was all right, by giving a smile. He was doing well, despite a small degree of stiffness in his body. But the small off-ice exercises he did at the boards, while abridged from what he normally did, were helping a lot.
He skated for forty-five minutes. Things were going well, and he was then running through his short program. He skated into his spin combination... Little did he know when he did the cannonball position, that danger was right around the corner... Kovalev had started doing a camel spin right nearby him, and seemed to be travelling. When Danil did the camel position he saw him, but there was nothing that could be done, and he felt the blade of Kovalev's free leg slam into his right hip.
Danil gasped in pain, but did not cry out despite the pain. He would never give Kovalev the satisfaction, he thought, as he collapsed to the ice.
"Bastard!" Zhenya cried, starting to rush to the boards, but was held back by someone.
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Post by marsha on Feb 1, 2009 2:17:36 GMT -5
Parker caught Zhenya around the waist, stopping him from storming the ice and attacking Kovalev. "We can't react," he whispered to Zhenya. It was an on ice accident, no one would be able to prove that this was anything more than that. Parker walked on to the ice, getting strange looks from some. "Okay? Yes?" he asked Danil, trying to appear calm. "I think that's enough for today..." He reached out and helped Danil to his feet.
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 2:26:45 GMT -5
Danil was shaken psychologically and physically. He could barely get up, even with Parker's help it was difficult. He could see and hear the cameras of the news media there flashing and knew that video was being filmed as well. Trembling from the trauma, he hobbled off the ice with Parker, taking deep breaths to control his composure. All he wanted to do was lie on that ice and not move at all.
Ever the devoted brother, Zhenya helped him off the ice along with Parkier. Anything to keep himself from attacking that monster. I'm going to kill him, Zhenya thought angrily.
"Let's get him to the hospital," he said, trying to be calm.
Danil looked at him. As grateful as he was to have his help and support, he found himself saying, "Evgeni Alekseievich Poemerenko, you have a responsibility and a reason for being here. You cannot abandon your work." His words were said sporadically, struggling to get them all out without sobbing from the pain. His hip was already starting to swell. His body was still trembling in reaction to the trauma. His voice was also shaking. He did not want to move. It hurt too much to move in the slightest.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Feb 1, 2009 3:11:06 GMT -5
Kyo was a little more contented when he saw Danil get out on the ice. His friend and caretaker seemed to be doing all right, and he was occasionally casting glances Kyo's way as if to reassure this fact. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. If Danil could warm up properly before his performance, he should be fine. Kyo had more faith in him than he could express.
During the wait, Kyo found himself looking for Ivan Shotsky. His skater, who Kyo recognized solely because he had seen him not even an hour ago, was already out on the ice practicing. There was definitely something about him that Kyo did not like. In a way, he felt it might be wrong for him to be so judgmental--he didn't even know the other skater. But there had been something about him, something sly in his appearance, that had immediately alerted Kyo to these feelings. Thankfully, he was nowhere near Danil. In the meantime, Kyo could not find the coach he had run into earlier. Not even along the outside of the rink, where he could see Parker patiently standing. It was odd...He wanted to see Ivan Shotsky again. For some reason, he got the impression he would be better able to tell what kind of person he was if he could just look him in the eyes.
A good while of the practice passed. Kyo had gone from excitedly watching the ice, to gazing around the stands at other watchers, and finally drifting off slightly in his chair. He was only awoken by the sound of the person next to him gasping.
Instantly, he expected the worst. He leaned forward in his chair, taking in the ice with his groggy eyes. "What-ah is it? What happened?" He looked to his neighbor, but they had turned away from him to talk to the person on their other side. He had forgotten that he was in Russia now, and many of the viewers did not speak English. A little desperate, Kyo turned to his other side. "What is happening?"
The person didn't seem to understand at first, then he pointed to the ice.
Kyo looked back down to the ice once more, and this time he realized what had happened. Danil had been badly injured. That was evident by the fact that his coach, Parker, had walked out onto the ice and was helping the skater to his feet. And even from the distance he was sitting back, Kyo could see that Danil was having a difficult time moving.
"Dan-o-san..." He whispered his name under his breath.
He had to get down to him.
"Excuse me, excuse me," he whispered to his neighbor in Russian--it was one of the few Russian phrases he had learned, courtesy of the man who was now lying injured on the ice. He slipped back down the stairs and out through the foyer-like area of the rink. He was fairly certain he knew his way back to the dressing rooms, and it was likely Parker would take Danil there, where all his belongings were.
Somehow Kyo managed to get down to the waiting area he and Danil had talked in earlier. And by the massive crowd of people there--and the blink of hundreds of cameras--Kyo knew he had the right spot. He couldn't help feeling like this was his fault...Ivan's skater--possibly even Ivan himself--had to be to blame for Danil's accident. Maybe they were bitter about what had happened earlier. And if they weren't to blame, it was possible it all came down to Kyo. After all, Danil hadn't been able to actually relax before he went out onto the ice.
Please don't let it be my fault. Kyo was praying to a God he wasn't sure existed.
He barged toward the paparazzi, he knew Danil had to be in the middle of them somewhere, and was no longer aware of the pleasantries. He just needed to get to his host parent. That was more important than appeasing the cameramen's naturally cold hearts. At first, they weren't going to let him through. But Kyo managed to muster up enough strength to force his way in. Weaving through the crowd, he came to a stop when he saw Danil's face through a number of arms.
"Dan-o-san!" he called out. "Dan-o--Excuse me, please!"
He broke through the group and rushed up to his host's side. "Danil, are you all right? What happened?" He turned to Zhenka. "What has happened?"
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 3:27:42 GMT -5
Danil was being shielded by Parker and Zhenya from the cruel eyes of the paparazzi. When Kyo suddenly came into view, Danil immediately looked to him.
Poor kid must be worried sick, he thought, but was in too much pain to speak. They were waiting for medical personel.
"Kovalev struck him with his skate," Zhenya explained angrily. "I swear I'll make him pay." He did not care who heard him say this.
Another skater had entered the crowd, roughly pushing aside the group of cameramen. He was much more agressive. Bradley came into view.
"You okay?" he asked. In his hands he held an ice pack. "Here, man." He handed it to Zhenya, who was surprised for a moment, then placed it on Danil's right hip.
"Thank you," Zhenya said quietly. He was too worried about Danil to remember the fact that Bradley was his skater, and the whole reason he was there.
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Post by marsha on Feb 1, 2009 3:51:46 GMT -5
Parker placed a hand on Zhenya's shoulder. He felt every bit of anger the younger man felt, but a part of him knew that there was very littler to be done, where as if they retaliated, they would be found guilty and be in a lot of trouble. Parker turned to the media, very annoyed but not at all susprised. "Please give us a moment," he said in near perfect Russian, as he spread his arms widely and slowly herded the media out of the room.
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 4:05:03 GMT -5
Danil had managed to wait until all the media had left, then he started sobbing. He'd never had anything like this. He knew it was on purpose, and there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it!
Zhenya dashed about and got Danil's things, helped him with his skates and shoes, and he, Danil, Parker, Kyo, and now Bradley went to the hospital for X-rays and other necessary procedures. Most likely, he would have to spend the night.
"Parker, promise you won't withdraw me until we understand what's going on," Danil whispered in one of his few calm moments since the injury.
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