This is my own soulmate AU I made up awhile back, it's more or less explained through the fic so you shouldn't be too lost.

Growing up, Yuuri was always aware of the...well he wasn't sure what it was, either some big cat or dog like creature, since he wasn't sure he just thought of it as a beast. It was always there in his dreams, out of focus but there, every dream he could recall.

Of course, it wasn't long before it was explained to him, it was the animal companion, the familiar, his soulmate would have. Like his parents and their small birds, he'd find his own some day, and then when he finally saw his soulmate's he'd be able to make it out in his dream.

He'd be lying if he said he hadn't imagined Victor as the one with the beast at his side, he spent hours daydreaming about it. He had no idea what his own animal would be, but he was sure it'd be smaller than Victors, sometimes he picked one, a bird like his parents, a dog maybe, a cat possibly? It was impossible to know for sure though, they weren't dependent on personality or anything like that.

He knew it was highly probable Victor had met, and missed, his soulmate. Being surrounded by people and their familiars, he wouldn't be surprised if he'd caught a glimpse but never knew whose it was.

There was a popular theory that his dog, Makkachin, was his familiar, and it was hard to disprove it as he said he'd found him out on the streets and took him in. Of course there were the counter theories that he wanted people to think that. The part of him that refused to give up on being Victors soulmate clung to those ideas, sure Victor loved the dog, but it was also convenient. But then where would his real one be? They didn't normally move far away, keeping an eye out, and nobody had seen hide or hair of another.

He was staring to get to that age where it was awkward to be known as 'the kid without an animal' himself, and every passing day just made him more anxious about it. What if he never found his? What if he didn't have a soulmate out there? The blurry figure could be his own mind making it up. He was 12 and hadn't found it yet.

He kicked at a loose rock on his way back from a practice session at the ice castle, he was spending more time there trying to use up his restless energy but it was never enough. It was only a matter of time before the teasing became bullying, he could feel it, and that was just because of not having his animal yet.

Something ran across his path, small like a cat, and he fell over directly onto his face before he could react.

He laid there stunned for a moment, then just slumped further onto the sidewalk. Of course some small animal would trip him. Of course. Why not?

There was a small weight at his back, and then a bit more, and then something warm just...sitting there. He sighed, and now the animal thought he was dead or something. He laid there until his ribs started to ache and slowly started to sit up, giving the animal plenty of time to hop off without getting hurt. He pushed himself to his feet, looking around.

There was a small noise and then he found himself with an armful of rabbit.

He blinked in confusion at it, and it twitched it's nose at him.

"Oh." he said, finally realizing he'd finally ran across his own animal. A bunny. A pretty bunny, sure, but still just a bunny.

It was cute though, and he couldn't help himself from lifting it up to his face and nuzzling its fur with a giggle.

"I thought they were supposed to look out for us, not...this." Yuuri complained from the floor, where his rabbit had once again tripped him. It'd been years now but the rabbit continued to trip him at least once a week.

Phichit laughed, his hawk flying off his shoulder around the room. "I think it's just trying to keep your life exciting."

He sighed, accepting Phichit's offered hand up. "It's not exciting at this point to be tripped so much."

"Hmmm maybe it wants to sit with you more? It always hops up on your back, or tries to."

Yuuri startled slightly, looking down at the rabbit at his feet. "You think so?"

Phichit nodded, "Some of them are more needy than others. Is it not common in Japan?"

"Not where I'm from at least…" he bent down and picked it up, petting it. He'd never heard of them wanting affection, maybe it was common but everyone just did it naturally so it didn't become an issue.

Or his rabbit could just be a little, adorable, jerk that loved to trip him.

Phichit reached out and pet it for a moment as well, "It's so soft."

Yuuri nodded with a small smile. "It's always been comforting, just petting it."

"You have a dog too right?"

"Y-yeah, Vicchan." he blushed, hoping he wouldn't connect the dots.

"A poodle like Victor right?" he grinned, "I bet it's full name is Vict-"

"SHHHH!" he put a hand up to his mouth. "Don't-don't say that. Someone might hear you."

Pichit laughed, "Yuuri, everyone knows you love him already."

"I-I do not!" he objected, shaking his head.

"You do! You copy his routines instead of practicing your own and you have so many posters, just the ones you bought here! I bet you have so many at home!" Phichit laughed.

Yuuri turned redder, "I don't! I….have...a small crush okay. Just a small one!" he insisted.

Phichit laughed even harder, "If you say so Yuuri," he replied as his hawk came back and landed on his head.

Yuuri pouted at him.