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#I wrote this sunday because I'd been toying around with would Hao realistically figure skate
sakuranoumi · 3 years
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Fandom: Shaman King
Characters: Yoh, Hao
Word Count: 775
Prompt: Sport (AU)
I was really super nervous about posting this one because its super self indulgent but then Hao himself blessed it so who am I to deny Hao his figure skating career.
The rink is cold, but not so cold he can see his breath. It doesn't matter because he feels like he's slowly freezing to death anyway. He hates this. He hates what's going to happen even if it's for the best. He hates that for the first time in their life their going to be worlds away.
Yoh stands at the boards. Hao hasn't noticed yet that he's there, and that's fine with Yoh. It's better this way. To watch Hao practice with everything he has as if he's dancing on his own on the ice. He watches Hao face forward preparing his entry in the triple axel. He listens to the dull scraping as the blade pushes off the ice followed by the crisp and clear crack as Hao lands. He could listen to the sounds of jumps all day without any music in the background. In fact he has recorded one of Hao's jump practices as he was breaking in new boots one day and his twin had only looked at him bemused. Secretly, he listens to it on loop when he's stressed out.
Next he watches as Hao prepares a quad toeloop. He lands it perfectly and Yoh is relieved. It had been giving him some trouble during the practice skates at Nationals. He'd landed it in competition fine, but it still had Yoh worrying.
Yoh must have let out a cheer or a sigh of relief or something when Hao landed the jump because the next thing he knows is his brother is skating up to the boards.
“Don't let me interrupt you,” Yoh says.
“I'll have all the time to practice later,” Hao replies.
There's a sadness that hangs in the air. Unspoken.
“Switzerland, huh,” Yoh says because the silence is awkward and he has to say something.
“Only until after Worlds,” Hao answers.
“Only for the off season,” Yoh corrects.
Hao doesn't answer because there isn't really an answer. The coaching change is good. It's what Hao needs, but that doesn't make it suck any less.
“I'm sorry,” Yoh states, “I'm being selfish. I'm happy for you, really.”
Hao looks at him not believing him because Yoh has never been able to hid his hurt or sadness from him.
“Hey, if I put your free skate music on while you perform it for me?” Yoh asks already walking towards the sound board. Hao glides effortlessly next to him and smirks.
“Should I do it with the triple axel quad toe combination?”
“You're going to fall,” Yoh splutters.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Hao shrugs. “I've landed it in practice just not in competition.”
“You're crazy,” Yoh answers.
“The base value and points make sense. Besides I know it takes your breath away.”
Hao's right. The base value is monstrous that even with a fall it's pretty negligible in terms of the overall score. Plus it really is a pretty combination. Insanely hard, but breath taking at the same time.
“Fine,” Yoh relents.
“Besides,” Hao says skating out towards center ice, “I know I'll land it. You're watching.
“I watch all your competitions and you still fall,” Yoh teases.
“Semantics,” Hao laughs coming to a stop as he drops his head in his opening pose as Yoh hits play.
The music starts and Hao sets up the opening jump. Yoh can tell he's going for the triple axel quad toe and not the quad salchow he usually opens with. He watches with bated breath as Hao launches himself into the triple axel. He lands it and is immediately back in the air with the quad toe which he lands too.
Yoh jumps arms in the air. He can't believe it.
Hao takes a moment to smirk at him as he continues with the choreography.
Yoh is drawn in instantly because no matter how many times he watches his brother skate it's breath taking. He lands the next six jumping passes just as perfectly as the first before ending in his signature spin element.
Yoh's clapping and Hao's smiling at him before skating over. He meets Hao at the side of the rink handing him his red skate guards as Hao exits the ice.
“It won't be forever,” Hao says pulling his brother close to him.
Yoh wraps his arms around Hao's middle as he hugs his brother like he'll never see him again. With the extra height of the skates, Hao is taller than him and it makes it easier so Yoh can hid his face. So he can hid his tears and his selfishness.
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