The Devil Can Figure-Skate

Chapter 1- Beginnings are the Hardest

I always thought the clouds were like cotton-candy when I was a young girl, that if you touched them it we be fluffy and soft.

Even now, knowing that's false, I wonder what it would be like to touch the clouds.

Mya was daydreaming as she sat on the window seat of a plane, heading to her new home in Tokyo, she felt a knot in her stomach ever since her parents kissed her goodbye and told her to stay safe. She often wondered if this was the right decision after-all. She knew that despite her best efforts, she lacked the motivation at home, Mya hoped the change of scenery may fill her with some unknown determination that she seemed to forget she had.

The plane felt endless, so it was relief when the flight attendant prepared the passengers for landing and told them to buckle their seat belts. Mya didn't just pack her bags and leave all on her own, of course, she knew her best-friend, Charles, would be waiting at the airport for her, where they'd then head to the small apartment they decided to share. Charles was accepted to study abroad a semester before, Mya, or maybe he just tried harder to get in.

The plane finally landed, the passengers all got up at once, pushing to grab their bags and rush off quickly, Mya stayed rather calm, grabbing her bags and walking off with the crowd. She walked around and immediately seen the different culture all around her, the people themselves, the style, and of-course the stores and signs. Mya sighed and realized, she couldn't read Kanji at all, she had to learn to speak Japanese, to a point, however learning Kanji wasn't on her to-do list at the time. Mya decided to just follow the crowds to get her suitcase and walk to what looked like the nearest exit.

"Mya!" A familiar voice called out to her, Mya turned and seen her friend Charles, who looked at her with his light brown eyes, blonde hair falling around his face.

"So glad you're here, I'm afraid I almost got lost just getting here" Mya said with a deep breath, letting her anxieties flow out of her. Charles eyed her and put his arm around her to give her comfort.

"Don't worry, Mya, you won't get lost with me" he said, an arrogant smile forms on his face. Mya rolled her eyes "Lead the way, and don't be cocky, it doesn't suit you" she quipped back at him. With that Charles removed his arm and grabbed her suit-case "Follow me, Princess, your ride awaits" and with that they headed to their apartment, although Mya doesn't remember most of their surroundings, she was in a blur, probably from the jet-lag.

***

The sounds of creaking floor is what woke, Mya up this morning, otherwise she probably would've slept until 1 in the afternoon. She opened her eyes to see Charles already up and dressed, he had a bowl of cereal in his hand.

"Look, I'm not going to judge you, but it's 8am on a Saturday, what's wrong with you?" Mya asked sarcastically, Charles turned around to face her before he spoke.

"I have responsibilities I must attend to" he replied flatly.

Mya stared at him, his style was different than usual. He was dressed very casual, except for the fact he had contacts in, instead of his usual broad-rimmed glasses.

"Are you going to them gym? If so, I'm impressed"

"No, it's a class, a learn-to-skate class, I decided I should get active, and I know a few people who are all into skating, some of the few people I've met that speak fluent English"

"Skating? Mind if I tag along, it might be good for me to meet some people, and to be able to make fun of you when you fall" Mya joked.

Charles rolled his eyes and put his bowl down loudly.

"Fine, although you'll probably just have to sit and watch"

"That's what I expected"

"Also, some of the skaters are assholes, so beware" Charles warned

Assholes? Wow, that's even more intriguing. I wonder how and why Charles got involved with skating in the first place. I can't imagine who possibly talked him into that.

"Hey, if you want to come, get ready, we have a 15 minute walk ahead of us" Charles barked, breaking Mya's thoughts; with that they finally were able to leave.

***

Charles and Mya came up to the skating rink, Mya followed behind Charles warily, she felt like she was intruding on other people's property. Mya could hear the sounds of skates on ice, it echoed throughout the whole building. Nobody else was really there, she assumed all of the people doing the beginner's skate class would already be on the ice.

"Mya, I'm gonna sit and put my skates on, then we'll head out, they probably won't pay too much attention to you there" Charles said, as if she should feel worried or insecure. She nodded and watched as he laced his skates tightly, before long, he stood up "Okay, let's go" Charles said with a sigh. They walked into the skating rink and she quickly sat on a bench close to the ice, she seen Charles remove the covers on his skates and he went onto the ice.

"You're late" A booming voice filled the arena. Mya looked at all the skaters on the ice, nobody looked much older than any of the skaters, she knew the voice was the instructors, however she couldn't tell who that was. She seen Charles standing with a group of skaters that all made their way to the sides of the rink, leaving two skaters skating around with ease.

"Yeah, my roommate was taking a while" Charles commented

"Oh, is that who that is, thought she was your girlfriend" a feminine voice called out, and one of the skaters stopped infront of the group, she had a sarcastic smirk. The other skater was a male and he stopped next to her, his dark hair was longer and clipped back, he wasn't smiling like her.

"Okay let's start" He said loudly

The whole time they practiced skating faster, along with stopping and skating back. Mya, didn't keep her attention to Charles though, her eyes kept jumping to the instructors, the girl with long hair tied in a bun, a lean, but toned figure, and the boy, with messy hair and dark-eyes that would probably hypnotize you if you looked straight into them. They would spin or skate backwards, it constantly seemed like they were showing off, however it didn't come off as arrogant, it came off as confidence. Mya wanted to talk to them, she wanted to know them.

"Mya, how's it going" Charles asked her, coming to the edge where she sat.

"Pretty good, the instructors look really young" Mya concluded

"Yeah, they are, not sure what you expected" Charles asked taking deep breaths, he reached over and grabbed his water bottle.

"They look really good" Mya said softly

"Well, I'd hope, they're competitive, there's a small group of competitive skaters that train here, however, those two are probably the best"

Mya looked at the boy instructor, he didn't even look tired. Charles noticed her glance.

"Lots of girls love him, no judging though, he's hot. However please note, he's a giant d**k, and doesn't get close to anyone"

"He teaches a class, can't be that bad" Mya responded

"Doesn't change anything. Anyway, his name is Hotaru Saito, the girl is Mika Sakai. He's 20, she's 19" He answered her main questions, as if he knew she'd want to know. Mya and Charles were both 18 and new to the university scene, she didn't want to think of herself as immature, however she couldn't see herself like Mika, who was gorgeous and seductive by simply gliding on the ice.

"The class will be over soon, so hang in there for a a bit longer" Charles said with a small smile skating away.

I can't help but be completely entranced by the skating of Hotaru, he does it effortlessly. I feel like he himself is a whole novel, full of experiences that I can't dare to match. I want nothing more than to know him. What is it that makes him so bad?

Mya shook her thoughts and looked down at her phone. However she was quickly startled by a voice.

"Hey, what's your name" Mya looked up to see the voice came from Mika, with a big smile.

"Mya-Rose Wilmer, is my full name, however just call me, Mya" she stuttered.

Mika eyed her up like she was investigating her. "That's a pretty name, where are you from?" Mika asked curiously.

Mya could tell that Mika was fully Japanese, her facial features and frame said it all, however Hotaru wasn't, his name was the most Japanese thing about him.

"Charles and I are both from America, we went to the same high-school and everything"

"Are you guys, you-know, lovers?" Mika said with a teasing expression

Mya felt her face burn-up, probably bright red. "No, just friends, I thought of him like that once, when I first met him, not anymore"

Mika shrugged "He's cute, so I wouldn't judge" she winked and skated away.

Before long the class was over everyone, including Charles went to change. Mya stayed and stared at the empty ice, only Hotaru and Mika stay on it, they talked. Mya's mind began to wonder.

Oh, of course, they're probably together. He wouldn't go for a girl like me"

Mika yelled to her "You look sad, Mya!" this caused her face to burn up again, this time Hotaru stared right at her with a smirk.

"I'm not!" she denied, she stood up and came close to the entry of the skating rink.

"Don't even think about stepping on the ice with shoes on" Hotaru said flatly in a loud voice. Even his voice was serious, but it was very nice to listen to, Mya would listen to an audio-book of him just talking if she could.

Mya stopped at the edge and tilted her head to the side "I heard you guys are professionals" she said confidently

Hotaru looked at Mika, with a grin he spoke "I'm alright" and with that be began to skate around, gaining speed, Mika skated near Mya by the edge. Hotaru jumped into the air and look like he defied gravity and landed perfectly on the ice before stopping. "Do you know what jump that was?" he asked taking a deep breath. Mya shook her head, Mika spoke "It was a triple axel, those are hard jumps, however, not to someone as big-headed as Hotaru"

Hotaru shook his head "you're right, it wasn't hard, but I still f****d up the landing" he said seriously

Mika chuckled "It was perfect, mine don't come close to that"

He rolled his eyes "Well, I want to be better than that" his eyes shifted to Mya's wowed expression "I'm glad you still think that s**t was good. Anyway I have to leave, nice meeting you, Mya-Rose" he said with an enchanting voice causing Mya to blush and look away from his hypnotizing stare.

Mika laughed at her reaction "Don't even go there, Mya. He's a d**k to everyone, didn't Charles warn you? He has many girls and hell, even guys falling all over him. He is cold like ice and denies them all. Honestly he breaks hearts for fun" Mika sighed and her playful voice seemed to fade "He's also crazily good at skating, always was, I think he sold his soul to the devil for undeniable talent. Smart move, I wish I thought of that" She said with a sarcastic smile at the end, she then spoke again "People call him the devil of figure-skating, so beware, Mya" and with that lecture she left, and Charlie emerged from the back "let's go now, Mya!"

With that Mya was left with her thoughts as she walked towards Charles. Her mind wasn't clear, she was still under the control of Hotaru with his devilish smile and all-too charming sarcasm.

Already hooked on a guy known as the devil, I wonder what his story is. All I know is that I have a new-found love for figure-skating.

Well, this is going to be a fun semester, as my parents always say "beginnings are the worst"

***