TOPIC: KATSUKI YUURI

It’s hard to write dog… especially a time-travel dog lol. I even researched how to write animal but I couldn’t get any good advice. So please excuse me if I fail at it. Let’s just believe that animals are as self-aware as humans, I guess. Also, damn tenses! Maybe if I started this fanfic in present tense, I wouldn’t be this fucked right now! Argh! So yeah, please ignore whatever grammar mistakes you see. My brain is fried. Let’s leave that work for the future me.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 33: Meanwhile in Russia

Makkachin was a happy dog, pampered by everyone he met but most especially by his two humans.

His earliest memories were of other little pups the same size and fur as he . They all slept , fed, and played together . Like him back then, they didn’t have what he later on knew as name , but they smelled same . He also remembered another one but it was much bigger than him and a lot warmer . They used to chase each other around the bigger one, wanting something Makkachin could no longer remember what.

Ah, he wasn’t Makkachin then. No.

There were humans too. They were so big and tall that he often found himself toppling back whenever he wanted to look at them clos ely . They smelled good but that’s about it.

For many light times and dark times , that was all there was . He played, he fed, he chased, he slept.

One light time when the bright ball was high up there, humans came. Suddenly, one pup was no longer there to play.

Since then, whenever humans came, pups stopped playing. Eating time became quieter. Dark time became colder.

He didn’t understand. It was only him now and the bigger one that felt warmer.

Then, just like those light times, but colder than normal and the outside was full of this cold wet something that came from up there where the bright ball was, he found himself looking at a human eye to eye.

The human gave a paw so he nosed. The human smelled cold and wet, good and warm - goodest and warmest . The human also smelled what he would later know as flowers .

The human had eyes like t hat big place up above them all and a long fur that was brighter than other toys around. He was captivated . It was so different from his own fur.

The human’s pawing was hesitant but warm , sounded soft but excited.

He knew then that on this light time, it was he who would stop playing, eating, chasing - in this place at least.

He gave a final lick to the bigger one that felt warm.

And so he was named Makkachin and his time with Vitya started.

Vitya was very good and he played with Makkachin a lot . He never forgot Makkachin's food and water. He always took Makkachin for walks and let him chase after these animals that flew to th at place above that Vitya called sky . He would let him play with other pups in this really huge place where they could all run and bark until they couldn’t anymore . Vitya was never angry at Makkachin . He always hugged and kissed Makkachin. He sometimes even took him to this place where he could see people playing on what they call ice . Vitya seemed to really like the cold, but Makkachin thought that Vitya was warm.

H e was a very cherished pup .

If there’s one thing Makkachin wasn’t happy about though, it was that sometimes, Vitya would be gone for many light times and dark times. During these times, Makkachin often found himself with other humans that were not Vitya in places that were not his together with other pups.

While it was fun to play with other pups, if Makkachin had his way and if Vitya really had to go, he’d prefer those places with the more familiar angry but soft human , rigid but soft human , loud but soft human , or, in later years, even that small angry but soft human who had a kind and calm animal with different scent would do.

He really missed his Vitya when he wasn’t there so he often wished he didn’t have to always leave, that he would come back soon. Sometimes Makkachin sulked, and if Vitya was gone for a longer time, he couldn't help but be upset – something that would quickly be forgotten the moment he sniffed Vitya's scent in the air.

As Makkachin grew bigger, his understanding of the world and of humans , most especially of Vitya, continued to expand.

I t was some many light times later since they first met that Makkachin noticed a change in Vitya. His human was still as loving and as soft as before, but a few times , he notice d Vitya looking out the window or out far where the sea and land met the sky. On these times, his Vitya gave off a scent Makkachin understood to be not really bad but bad . Makkachin would start hearing the word sad from Vitya, sometimes lonely .

A few times became sometimes. Sometimes became constantly. Heavy sighs and empty sounds, paws lacking in strength and walks without direction ... Vitya’s eyes were indeed the same as the sky… Not those times when he could go and play outside but those times that trapped Makkachin inside .

It came to the point that his Vitya, who used to talk with him a lot, barely said anything and if he ever did, he talked in the most no life sound.

Makkachin was worried , so he tried his very best to be there for his human. He put more effort into being cute and obedient. He tried so hard not to chase small animals as not to stray too far from Vitya. He let his human paint his claws and put as many sparkly furs on him as he wanted. Makkachin never whined . Anything to make his Vitya happy.

But even that was not enough. The sadness in Vitya, Makkachin could feel, grew rapidly with every light time . Vitya was a lot worse by dark time . He went to bed as dark as the sky outside. He knew that he only needed to be by his side, but just as Vitya had gotten worse, Makkachin only got even wiser.

Makkachin was not going to be there for his Vitya forever.

So, it brought him much relief when Vitya showed him photos of another human in this thing that he often looked at in his free time. Vitya talked more than he usually did, sounded more excited than usual, felt a lot more than usual. There was life in him that Makkachin had not sensed for a very , very long time.

Who was this human? Makkachin needed to know this human who could make his Vitya smile in a way he had never seen before.

Many light times and dark times passed without him knowing the answer to his question. The initial elation he felt slowly wind ed down as dark began to gather around Vitya again. Makkachin could only sigh. Sometimes, he wished he could do beyond barks and whines. He was smarter than a normal dog, but in the end, he was just a dog.

Then, one light time , Makkachin found his Vitya hastily throwing things around. For a moment, he worried that Vitya had finally lost his humanity . He barked in alarm, but the face that turned to him was one filled with joy.

“Makkachin! We’re going on a trip!” Vitya said then . Before he knew it, he found himself in his traveling kennel, stationed with other animals, and well, went on this trip Vitya was talking about.

It had taken some time. Makkachin was bored, but Vitya wanted this trip. He could only hope that he could play outside again soon.

After a flurry of activit ies , of different scents, and of different strange humans, they finally arrived at their destination.

And the rest was history , or so Vitya often said whenever he talked about that time.

He met the human Yuuri who was very warm , very good and very soft , who had a family as very warm , very good and very soft as he was, and who had friends as very fun and very good as he was. Yuuri, who was as sad as his Vitya, found, much to Makkachin’s joy, the same life in his human .

“M-Makkachin…”

He weakly opened his eyes to lock gaze with the eyes of his sky. Vitya was hurting… But it should be fine now. Makkachin looked at Yuuri standing next to his Vitya. He too was hurting. They both hugged Makkachin softly .

They spent many , many light times and dark times together. They shared a warm home together. They shared a life and love together. And while Makkachin knew that it couldn’t last forever, feeling himself getting weaker and weaker, watching Vitya and Yuuri getting more and more worried… He was just happy because he knew he was a good est boy and was the luckiest boy in the world for having these two goodest humans .

Makkachin did not want to leave them too, but he knew they were going to be fine. Dogs like him, they were not meant to stay too long. Dogs always had a purpose and Makkachin’s had long been done. Vitya was not going to be alone now. He didn’t need to rely on Makkachin to feel better anymore. Vitya had Yuuri and Yuuri had Vitya. And both of them had their family and friends to live their long lives together with. Makkachin had done what he needed to do.

He could no longer keep his eyes open. Sounds, scents, warmth… they all were starting to fade away.

He was an old dog now. Vitya and Yuuri, soon enough, they would be ready to welcome new pups in to their lives, pups with their own purposes as they accompany his two favorite humans into many more light times and dark times . As for Makkachin, it was time to go…

…

But if Makkachin had his way…

He wished he could stay with them longer.

He wished he could go back to them.

He wished he could stay with them and leave this world only when they too were ready to go.

He wished…

And Makkachin’s wish was somehow, somewhat granted.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

He yawned and threw a glance at the human who was sitting in the living room with him.

“What’s wrong, Makkachin?” loud but soft human asked as she scratched his chin. He could feel his tail whip fast at the attention. His family really loved him. He wondered if small angry human was with Vitya. Was angry but soft human also with Vitya? Makkachin hadn’t seen them for a while.

Makkachin licked the human’s fingers in thanks before jumping down from the couch to walk over the window. Peering outside, he surveyed the streets. Normally, when he stayed in one of Vitya’s friends’ house for a few days, going back home meant Vitya would be arriving soon too. Ah, he really missed his Vitya… but he missed his Yuuri more right now, to be honest.

He didn’t know how or why. He had really believed that he was going away, that he was leaving his two humans. When he closed his eyes in what he had thought would be the last time, the last thing he expected was to open them again and see his Vitya. Of course, he quickly noticed that Vitya’s long shiny fur was back! He had missed those! But then, Makkachin was a pup again!

He had met his Vitya again on that very same day when he was a small pup, and Vitya had long fur, and the outside had been full of what he now knew as snow. Makkachin had been so happy! He got to be with his Vitya again! But… no matter how hard he had looked, his Yuuri was nowhere to be found. When Vitya had brought him home, there was not a single whiff of Yuuri’s scent. Once again, it had just been him and Vitya.

But… Vitya…

Vitya needed Yuuri…

Yet, Vitya with the long hair had been a happy Vitya, so while he missed and longed for his Yuuri, Makkachin endured. And just like before, light times and dark times had passed, and so did Vitya’s joy. The long fur had been cut and the light in Vitya’s eyes had dimmed. Makkachin had been at a loss.

If he waited more, would Yuuri come back to them?

But then, not long ago, Vitya showed him that thing again. Makkachin had finally found Yuuri! He’d recognize that face even when he couldn’t smell him! That’s how much he knew his humans! No amount of time or distance could ever erase his memories of his humans!

But… For some odd reason, things hadn’t happened as they had before. Not that it was a bad thing. It was actually better! Vitya became happier and happier, and Makkachin had even gotten to talk to Yuuri! He also got to meet one special pup who, although he had never met him, recognized him as that little pup in Yuuri’s heart. Vicchan! Vicchan was also here! And Vicchan was such a darling pup! He was friendly and chatty, and he cared a lot about Yuuri and Vitya too! It was amazing to finally meet the pup that Yuuri had loved so much but Makkachin had only ever met through remaining scents and still images!

Makkachin had fervently apologized for stealing his meat buns though…

And here’s one tiny fun fact: Vicchan was the same! Vicchan had told him that when he finished his purpose, he had found himself waking up on that very day that he met Yuuri for the first time! Vicchan had become very emotional because before he had to go the first time, he had not seen his Yuuri for a long, long time.

Vicchan had also told him that around this time, he was supposed to have stayed with tousan, kaasan, and neechan, faraway from his Yuuri. He was supposed to leave after some more light times and dark times, never to see his human ever again.

Then… They realized. Yuuri had noticed. Yuuri had recognized Makkachin! Yuuri was like them! Yuuri was their Yuuri!

Did he also leave? Did he leave his Vitya? That had been the only thing Makkachin could think of. Vitya didn’t seem to remember Yuuri. Why was it only the three of them? Where’s their Vitya? Was their Vitya left alone? Makkachin couldn’t bear the thought.

Yuuri too had been in pain with the realization. None of them understood what this was all about. Vicchan had spent more time here, being the first to leave back then, but he was as clueless as Makkachin and Yuuri were. Now that he thought about it, did Yuuri realize that this was his Vicchan?

Probably not. And Makkachin and Vicchan had no way of informing him.

Makkachin got tired of looking out the window. There was nothing to see, no Vitya in sight yet, and no small animals to chase or even bark at. He padded over to the couch and settled down for a nap. It should just be a nap. He shouldn’t sleep for too long because he could feel his Vitya arriving soon.

It was some time later when Makkachin perked from his couch. Vitya was close. He was so close. He rose from the couch and jumped down.

“What is it?” loud but soft human asked as she uncrossed her legs. Makkachin threw her a look and gave a soft woof.

Vitya was so close! But…

Makkachin rushed to the door and sniffed. His head tilted to the side. Was he wrong? He took a sniff again. No… No! He was not wrong! He took sniff after sniff and as he did so, all his doubts cleared.

That scent! He knew that scent! Even if he hadn’t smelled it for a while except from Viktor’s unwashed clothes from his trips recently, he would never ever forget that smell.

Yuuri! Yuuri was here!

“Hey, what’s wrong?” loud but soft human asked as she squatted next to him, gently scratching his head. But Makkachin was already lost in his excitement and joy. As Vitya and Yuuri’s scents got stronger, so did Makkachin’s barks. He was here! Finally here!

And so, when the door finally opened, Makkachin, like how he had done so many, many light times and dark times ago, launched himself at his beloved Yuuri.

Mila stared at the scene in front of her. Viktor and Yuuri were both hugging and kissing Makkachin as if they hadn't seen him for a long time. They were not just greeting the poodle, they were cryi – no – they were bawling! Even Makkachin's howling was high pitched and he couldn't seem to contain his excitement as he pounced on the two again and again. This... She didn't really understand what was happening, but clearly, the three were overwhelmed with strong emotions. Viktor specifically looked like someone had died.

“Uhm...” Mila started awkwardly. “I'm not really sure what's happening here but...” She shook her head and slapped a smile on her face instead. “Anyway, I'm glad to see that... Actually, forget that. I'm not sure if you are distraught or extremely happy, and I don't understand what's with this drama, but I'm glad to see you again, Yuuri.”

The Japanese skater smiled up to her and gave Makkachin one more rub on the neck before he stood up to accept the reluctant hug from her.

“How are you, Mila?” he asked her in his usual, if slightly shaky, voice.

“I'm good,” she answered. Her eyes went over to Viktor who was still crying into Makkachin's fur. “Crying aside, it seems Viktor is alright.”

Yuuri nodded. “He’s good. Just needs more rest.”

Viktor didn’t seem to have any plans to pluck himself from the floor and off Makkachin. Mila didn’t really have much reason to stay and she was sure the two were tired from their flight. She chose to leave for the day after making sure that the little family did not need any help.

NOVEMBER 1 1 , 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

Yuri Plisetsky, as he watched the ice getting closer and closer, for the life of him, never realized in his innocent worship that he was asking for the devil to ascend on earth.

He hit the ice with an oof.

He had fallen flat on his face hundreds of times, but this one was especially painful…

… mainly because of the humiliation that gleefully wiped the surface clean using his battered body.

This was not fun.

Training with your idol was not fun.

Groaning as he raised his head from the ice, he looked up to see the fires of hell peering down at him through the eyes of the devil.

Correction: Training with your demonic idol was not fun.

“So, what did I say about stamina?” Yuuri asked with an angelic smile as he tapped his own chin with a finger.

Yuri used to think that Yuuri Katsuki was an angel. He could just remember the times he had been so jealous of Phichit Chulanont for having the best luck of training with and being trained by Japan’s Ace. He could empathize with the Thai skater now, not that he would ever admit it. Who would have thought that the skating world’s angelic cinnamon roll was anything but.

The guy was a demon, plain and simple.

“I-I don’t think anyone in Juniors can do spins after landing two doubles,” he pathetically reasoned out.

“Eh? You really think so?” The Japanese skater reached down to dust off the chips of ice clinging to his pants. “And it wasn’t after landing doubles. You have a window to find center in-between.”

Yuri laid his head back down on the ice to breathe. Things were just not going as planned.

It was his mistake to assume that Yuuri would be lenient with him, so when he arrived late this morning, chills had gone down his spine as he found a cold-blooded murde - ahem… an impatient Yuuri Katsuki glaring at him while tapping his foot on the floor.

Then, as Yuri had begun his stretches, Yuuri corrected just about everything he could correct. Sure, Yakov had already corrected them long ago, but Yakov was not always watching whenever he stretched, so Yuri had gotten quite relaxed with his stretches. Yuuri was having none of it, however, and had even recorded everything with the intention of submitting it all to Yakov.

Yuri had barely managed to finish the first run of his routine for the day. Had Yuuri given him respite? Of course not! Again, Yuuri corrected just about everything he could correct.

And now, here they were at present. Yuuri was adamant in letting Yuri try different combinations to test the limits of his stamina and agility. He was not amused to see that Yakov was just watching in his corner guffawing his bald head off. Even baba and Gosha were watching cheerfully as Yuuri unhesitatingly wiped the ice using poor Yuri’s body.

Strangely enough, Viktor was minding his own business in a corner. Was he deliberately avoiding to face the reality that his Yuuri was a demon disguising as an angel?

He suspected that today was only the start of his hellish life.

One week. One week of tasting hell.

“Are you done sleeping there?”

Yuri groaned as he heard that. Honestly, he was so tired. So maybe Yuuri was right. Maybe Yuri really didn’t have that much stamina… But he was a growing boy! Surely, he would be able to build his stamina over time. No need to kill him off right now.

“I’m hungry…” he moaned as he picked himself up from the ice.

Yuuri hummed. “Well, it’s almost lunch. Shall we get ready then?”

Thank god for that, Yuri thought to himself.

“Yes, please.”

See? Yuri was polite.

One must remain polite in the presence of a demon.

“Yurio, why are you not eating your vegetables?”

Yuri froze, food still stuck in his mouth. He looked up to make eye contact with Yuuri, trying to discern if he was serious. Unfortunately, it seemed like he was. Now, wait just a minute here.

“Yoh noh moh mohwoh - ”

“Manners, Yurochka.”

Now his eyes widened as Viktor looked at him with disapproving eyes. Just what the fuck was the matter with these two?

Begrudgingly, he obliged and swallowed. He grabbed his glass of water and downed half of it.

“I said you’re not my mother!” he scoffed as he slammed the glass on the table.

“Did I say I was?” Yuuri fired back in a tender but firm voice. “Yurio, you need to eat vegetables, too.”

“What’s wrong with just eating meat?” he answered back.

“Eating meat is fine, but you have to put some vegetables in your body. We’ve been through this.”

He paused as he tried to remember a time that they actually talked about his food choices. Sure, there were times in the past when Yuuri ordered for him and he carefully selected Yuri’s food, but he could not remember a time when they actually discussed about vegetables.

“No, we didn’t,” he said almost absentmindedly as he continued to wrack up his brain for any memory he might have forgotten.

The slight frown that stationed itself on Yuuri’s face and the disapproving look on Viktor’s eyes all disappeared as both of them looked taken aback before looking at each other. What now?

Yuuri was the first to look away. Viktor cleared his throat. Yuri frowned as he stared at the two. Ever since China, these idiots had been acting really weird at times. Viktor, especially. Like, right now, Viktor had a strange look in his eyes as he looked to the corner of the dining room. That look… he couldn’t name it but it’s strange.

“Okay, maybe we haven’t talked about it yet,” Yuuri started again. “So now is a good time. Eat your vegetables.”

“Like I said, you’re not my mother,” Yuri stubbornly answered.

“And like I said, I didn’t say I was,” Yuuri shot back.

They stared at each other, both refusing to back down. The food was getting cold.

“The food is getting cold,” Viktor chirped, as if hearing Yuri’s thoughts, now looking cheerful for some reason. “Yurochka, eat your vegetables from now on. If you’re a good boy, we’ll have ice cream for dessert. How about that?”

“Vitya, it’s already nighttime. He shouldn’t be eating ice cream.”

“Solnyshko, it’s fine if it’s just once in a while,” Viktor said as he placed a hand over Yuuri’s own. Yuri wanted to throw up, but that would be a waste of such good food. Who knew when he could eat good food again? Especially one cooked by Yuuri himself. So no, he’d just pretend he was not seeing this.

“As long as I’m allowed to eat ice cream once a week, then fine,” he said. He had to put his foot down somewhere, right?

“See?” Yuuri snapped back to Viktor with a small frown. “Now he’s asking for more.”

“Once a week is fine,” Viktor answered as he dropped a kiss on Yuuri’s cheek. Yuri was not seeing this. He was not seeing this. He was definitely not seeing this. Enough, already!

“Fine,” Yuuri sighed. “A small cup only, okay?”

“I will not ask you to define small,” Yuri said happily although worried that Yuuri would actually tell him just exactly how small. Thankfully, he only laughed and instead stated,

“Just make sure you won’t be bouncing instead of skating on ice.”

Yuri gasped at that. “I would never!”

Yuuri smiled. He grabbed his fork and knife once more and happily declared, “Last one to finish eating will do the dishes!”

Out of laziness instead of competitiveness, all three of them scrambled to finish their food.

Safe to say, Viktor ended up doing the dishes that night while both Yuris chilled in the living room with their ice cream.

phichit+chu

[PHOTO: Phichit Chulanont is smiling widely at the camera even as a haggard-looking Celestino Cialdini stands next to him. Both are clad in fashionable clothes suitable for autumn and behind them is a beautiful arch bridge lined with elegant lamps crossing a river.]

phichit+chu Tired but excited! Finally here!!! #PontDePierre in Bordeaux, France #tropheedefrance #2ndQualifier

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NOVEMBER 12, 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

“Here you go,” Mila said cheerfully as she handed a hair tie and a few pins to Yuuri, all the while snickering at the miserable Yuri standing awkwardly a few steps away mumbling to himself, face half obscured by his golden hair.

“Thank you, Mila,” Yuuri answered as he took the items from her hands. He turned back to the little kitten and beckoned him to follow. Naturally, Mila followed them too.

Yuri’s hair had grown long enough to cover his eyes, but the concept of hair ties seemed to have escaped him. Yesterday, Yuuri had already warned him to tie his hair so it wouldn’t get in the way during training. He had expected him to show up today with his hair neatly tied. Of course, that didn’t happen. Yuuri refused to let him step on the ice without tying his hair.

Mila sat next to the older skater as she watched him gently comb Yuri’s hair.

“How spoiled,” she teased which earned her a growl from the kitty cat.

“Shut up, baba!”

Ah, this kid. It’s obvious that he was enjoying the attention from his favorite skater. His ears were red!

“But it’s true, though,” she pushed on. Yuri tried to get at her but Yuuri cluck his tongue. Just one click of his tongue and Yuri froze.

For a moment, she watched as Yuuri skillfully tie Yuri’s hair to a ponytail. Next, he worked on pinning his fringes and other loose hair. She wondered if Yuuri had taken care of any young girls. He seemed to be used to doing this stuff.

“The princess will be ready soon!” she declared to anyone who could hear her.

“Baba! I swear - ”

“Stay still,” Yuuri snapped. Again, Yuri froze and Mila giggled. He might seek retribution later, but nothing could ever stop Mila from teasing the boy.

“Yuuri!”

They all turned as Viktor came screeching to a halt in front of them, sending chips of ice everywhere. Mila found that strange. Viktor rarely played around on the ice. He used to always display grace whenever he had his skates on, but recently, Viktor had been playing around so much like a kid that Yakov’s screams echoed nonstop inside the rink.

“Go away!” Yuri snarled but Viktor just waved him away with a hand before focusing his eyes on his lover, eyes all shimmery in excitement.

“My Yuuri! It feels so good to be young! I feel so light and so fast!” As a testament to his claim, he even demonstrated an elegant twirl in front of them. “I love it!”

“What the fuck are you even saying?!” Yuri griped.

Yuuri did not chastise him this time. Instead, he finished attaching the last pin on his head before turning his attention to Viktor and smiled.

“That’s good, Vitya.”

“Oh! I missed this feeling so much,” Viktor chirped so happily before throwing a flying kiss to Yuuri and gliding away. Of course, Yuri gagged.

“Is he really, okay?” he asked, disgust written all over his face. “He’s been acting strange since China. You sure his head is fine?”

Mila nodded to herself in agreement. “He talks a lot about being young again. He’s only what? 30 years old?”

“He’s 25,” Yuuri laughed. “And he’s fine. Don’t worry about him.”

“Who says I’m worried?” Yuri fired back, a vein popping at his temple.

“Whatever you say,” Yuuri laughed again.

Mila turned her eyes to find Viktor doing jump after jump on the ice to the cheers of the onlookers at the bleachers. The man had always been strange, but she felt like he became even stranger these days.

It wasn’t bad though. She smiled.

As long as her friend was lively and happy, then it was fine to be strange. It was better than the gloomy Viktor that she had trained with for years in this rink.

phichit+chu

[PHOTO: Phichit Chulanont is all bundled up as he lays on his bed, a big fluffy pillow cushioning his head. The only visible part of him is his face - a face that looks so horrible with the thick dark eye makeup running as if he has been crying. It is obvious enough to be fake, as fake as the sad pout on his lips.]

phichit+chu Missing my #SmallSon my #SinCinnamonRoll my #SweetBean Come home to papa +katsuki_yuuri #YuuriWithdrawalSyndrome v-nikiforov Give my son back!

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“Oh, he fell asleep.”

Were they referring to him? Yuri couldn’t muster the energy to open his eyes or to even move a single finger. All he knew was that he was so sleepy, sated, and comfortable. Dinner tonight was really awesome. He knew that Yuuri could cook, but he never knew just how awesome his dishes were! Now here Yuri was, in coma from eating too much. He didn’t think he’d have the energy to get himself off the couch, what more to walk all the way back to the dormitories.

“Let’s let him sleep then,” he heard Viktor say. The two older skaters seemed to be standing before the couch. Creepy fuckers seemed to be watching him sleep.

“What? Here on the couch?” Yuuri answered with a slight pinch on his voice. “Vitya, you know this is bad for his back. I can’t believe you still don’t have his room ready by now.”

Room? His room? Were they referring to him?

“Oh, come on, solnyshko. You know I just got back.”

What were these two talking about?

He heard Yuuri sigh.

“You better work on it the soonest.”

There were some shuffling sounds and it took all in Yuri not to barf at the idea that the two were flirting right in front of him.

“Yes, solnyshko. Will be on it.”

He heard the two walk away and Yuri sighed to himself. He didn’t really understand what they were talking about. Room? Had Yuuri asked Viktor to prepare a room in Viktor’s apartment for Yuri? As in, him? Why? Why would he want a room in Viktor’s apartment? Probably a guestroom? Maybe that was what Yuuri meant? A guestroom for anyone who stayed overnight? But had anyone actually stayed overnight at Viktor’s apartment? He didn’t really know, but Yuri did come over whenever he wanted. So far, he hadn’t been denied because someone else was visiting.

Well, no use thinking about it. If Viktor wanted to arrange a guestroom, then that’s his business. What was important was that Yuri was currently full, comfortable, sleepy…

Very sleepy…

He vaguely felt the soft material placed over his body.

NOVEMBER 13, 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

“Solnyshko, what are you looking at?”

Viktor walked up next to his other half and followed his gaze to… Gosha?

“I’ve been wondering what to do about him,” Yuuri said pensively as he stood behind the boards.

Out on the ice, Georgi was busy trying to chat up an ice dancer who Viktor remembered as… Oh, he forgot her name. Didn’t matter. What was so interesting about them anyway that Yuuri was ignoring him now?

“What do you mean ‘what to do about him’?” Then, Viktor gasped. “Are you cheating on me, my Yuuri?! Wait, this did not happen before…”

“Baka,” Yuuri grumbled. “Don’t you remember? That Anya’s gonna leave Gosha for another man. ”

Viktor quickly scanned his memory. Ah! That’s right! He laughed as he remembered.

Gosha had been so theatrical about it, he even actually put on dark eyeshadow and dark purple lipstick for his short program back then. He had looked like a poisoned racoon, or, from Yurio’s more accurate comment, a clown that had gone dark, as if being colorful wasn’t horrifying enough.

Later on in life, Gosha had admitted that that was the most embarrassing moment of his career and hated reliving it. Of course, it had become a running joke in the rink whenever someone was heartbroken. Showing them a video of that performance had often helped skaters get over their heartbreak in record time. Nobody had wanted to be that skater. (No offence to Gosha.)

“Well, should we just let him be?” he asked.

“That’s what I was thinking about,” his Yuuri answered. “Maybe it’s not a good idea to change history too much? But Gosha was so hurt back then… And was even more hurt whenever he remembered that short program of his… What do you think?”

Viktor shrugged. “Well, I mean, you’ve already changed a lot of things so…”

“That was different! I was risking it all to have you back by my side again!” Yuuri countered indignantly. Viktor gasped, wanting to cry at his love’s declaration. Yuuri. His precious Yuuri. Before he could glomp him however, Yuuri continued, “And anyway, look at who’s sitting at the bleachers.”

Viktor followed Yuuri’s gaze again and found… a girl with light brown hair, dark blue eyes, and… a very familiar face.

Viktor inhaled sharply. “Isn’t that Marina?! Fuck Gosha, you’re so dead!”

His husband had the gall to elbow him hard on the stomach.

“They don’t have any relations yet. He first noticed her almost a year after breaking up with Anya.”

“How did you know?” he asked in a hush.

“He told me, duh.”

“Really? But Marina joined the rink years before Gosha got on with Anya.”

Yuuri sighed heavily. “That’s the thing about Gosha. He always looked for love in the wrong places!”

Viktor thought about it, remembering as many memories of Gosha’s relationships before Marina as much as he could and… Yes, Yuuri was right. Gosha indeed was prone to that.

“So, what now?”

“On one hand, Gosha’s already had many heartbreaks by now to learn anything new from his relationship with Anya,” Yuuri stated quietly. “She isn’t the first to have dumped him. On the other hand, that breakup with Anya became the inspiration for his routine.”

Viktor thought about it. “Nah… He didn’t win anyway.”

Yuuri elbowed him again. “Even so!”

“But love, think about it!” Viktor insisted. “We both know Gosha’s career is basically at a dead end, especially now with us both coming from the future and Yurio stepping up with you basically already training him ahead of time. Don’t you remember what Gosha had always been lamenting about? That if he had known Marina early on, they could have skated together as a pair! And what does Russia not have right now? Excellent pair skaters!”

Yuuri hissed at him as his voice got louder and louder in his excitement.

“I understand your point but one, how are you going to transfer his attention to Marina? Two, even if they did become partners, what if they would only stay as partners? How sure are you that they will fall in love again?”

“Oh, trust me. They will.”

“Proof.”

Viktor sighed as he eyed his husband. “Do you know how Gosha fell in love with Marina?”

“No,” Yuuri answered with a shake of his head.

“It was the cliché bump-into-each-other-and-stare-closely-into-each-other’s-eyes type of shit.”

“Well, that speaks for Gosha.”

Viktor asked again. “Do you know how Marina fell in love with Gosha?”

“She found his romantic side adorable?”

“Exactly,” Viktor nodded sagely. “I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but that girl loved all the cringe Gosha did. The only one we need to work hard on is making Gosha look at Marina closely. They had been in the same rink for what, four or five years, before he actually noticed her! And it was when they bumped into each other! From there on, it would be smooth-sailing.”

He could see his husband think things over for a moment before he tentatively nodded.

“How are you going to make Gosha look at Marina closely then?”

“Oh, leave it to me, darling,” he said pompously.

“I don’t trust your ways.”

Viktor gasped in shock. He was about to launch a complaint when, both he and Yuuri, perked at the distinct sound of high heels echoing in the suddenly quiet rink. Slowly turning back to look, what Viktor saw was…

“YUURI! IT’S A MONSTER!”

Viktor tried to seize his husband and make a run for it but,

“Stop it right there, Nikiforov!”

Lilia Baranovskaya was in the house y’all!

Like a nightmare or, better yet, a trauma that paralyzed one’s body, Viktor froze mid-run upon hearing Lilia’s voice, a hand still on Yuuri’s butt who was on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Put Japanese Yuri down, Vitya!” Yakov barked behind Lilia.

“I think he’s frozen,” Yuuri said almost nonchalantly. “Vitya, let me down.”

Viktor unfroze and reluctantly put his husband back down. “You’re gonna be taken away, solnyshko…”

Yuuri just huffed at him before walking up to Lilia and bowed in courtesy.

“Madam Baranovskaya, it’s nice to meet you,” he said warmly. “My name is Yuuri Katsuki.”

“How polite,” Lilia hummed in approval. “Call me Lilia, my boy. How is Minako?”

“She’s doing well and has been talking about coming over to Russia for a visit,” he said with a smile.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Then, I could interrogate her about losing her black swan.” Yuuri chuckled shyly in response. “Please, come over to the studio and dance for me, will you?”

Viktor snapped from his stupor and immediately made a grab for Yuuri before getting himself kicked in a way only a ballerina could ever do.

“Lilia, no!”

“Why are you so against it, Vitya?” Lilia snapped at him. “I only have this afternoon before I have to wait again for next time.”

“B-But…”

“It’s okay, Vitya,” Yuuri said soothingly. Actually, contrary to Viktor’s reluctance, his husband looked quite excited. “I’ll be back soon!”

And there they went. With Lilia guiding Yuuri away with her hand on the small of his back, Viktor was left all alone with his coach.

“Why did you tell her, Yakov?!” he cried out.

“Shut up!” Yakov grumbled. “As if I can hide anything from that woman…”

“Admit it. She got you on a chokehold.”

He got another kick for that.

lilia_baranovskaya

[PHOTO: Yuuri Katsuki is, for some reason, wearing tights instead of his usual training clothes for skating and effortlessly doing a perfect arabesque penchée in front of walls made of mirrors. The light-orange illumination of the room gives him an ethereal look with his eyes looking serenely ahead.]

lilia_baranovskaya This! This is art that we must bring on stage! My beautiful black swan +katsuki_ yuuri

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Jelsee+Kirkland please reconsider, darling swan +katsuki_ yuuri

gillianemurphy +katsuki_ yuuri please reconsider

AnnaFonteyn consider +katsuki_ yuuri

mikhail_nureyev consider +katsuki_ yuuri young blood must be offered to the stage!

kalinalonseo my sunshine, please do grace the floor with your presence +katsuki_ yuuri

ballerinawannabe oh my god! (๑ʘ∆ʘ๑) Oh my god!

gillianemurphy that’s one morbid way to put it mikhail_nureyev

ballerinawannabe OH MY GOD!

minako-okukawa hey, leave my student alone!

prima_ballerina_dreamer Σ(゜ロ゜;) AM I SEEING THIS CORRECTLY?!

v-nikiforov Yeah! Leave +katsuki_ yuuri alone!

lilia_baranovskaya minako-okukawa tsk tsk tsk losing a student to the ice… the blasphemy!

ballerinawannabe IKR?! ⊙△⊙ prima_ballerina_dreamer

lilia_baranovskaya Shut it v-nikiforov

IcePrince_YuuriK as much as I like watching +katsuki_ yuuri do ballet, I love seeing him on the ice more

minako-okukawa hey the kid wants to do what he wants to do lilia_baranovskaya

macujalisa Oh my god! Please reconsider, love +katsuki_ yuuri

lilia_baranovskaya the blasphemy! minako-okukawa

It was getting colder in St. Petersburg and while Yuri could say that he was used to it, he wondered just how colder it would only get each year. Sometimes, he really just wanted to wear a shirt. Ah… He really wanted to go to the beach.

He, Yuuri, and Viktor were currently exchanging small talk as they traversed the busy early evening streets of the city. They had finished early at the rink and had just gathered up all the necessary ingredients for tonight’s meal after picking Yuuri up from the studio. He had planned to disappear on the two and just show up at Viktor’s place later for dinner, but was caught and dragged by the stupid silverhead all the way to the supermarket with a nonchalant smile on his face.

“It’s really getting colder now…” said Yuuri as he shivered, prompting Viktor to throw an arm over his shoulders. Yuri visibly gagged at that. The two never seemed to get tired of grabbing every chance to flirt and flaunt it on everyone’s face.

“Well, it’s November so…”

Yuri was just about to open his mouth to retort when Yuuri suddenly perked and turned to him. He frowned.

“What?”

“Yurio, aren’t you cold with those shoes?”

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Yuri peered down at his shoes. They were old and rather tattered, but there were no holes yet and were still usable. Sure they had lost their color and were rather dirty, but it wasn’t something he was worried about. It’s not like he had the money to buy a new pair anyway.

“They’re fine,” he said.

“Don’t you want to replace them?” Viktor asked. Yuri rolled his eyes at both of them. Unlike them, Yuri was not earning that much yet. In spite of being a famous name in the Junior circuit, his sponsorship and price money were nowhere near their level. He was also sending much of his money to his grandpa. He couldn’t just go and buy new ones when his priority was to keep his skate shoes in perfect condition. The last thing he wanted was to pay for hospital bills just because he got into an accident while skating on dull blades.

“Still usable,” he quipped with a pointed frown.

He relaxed as the two turned away from him. For a few minutes, they continued their walk, all the while talking about random stuff with Yuri occasionally chirping in for his usual contribution of snarks.

Just as Yuri began to wind down, he was surprised when Yuuri and Viktor suddenly stood on either side of him.

“W-What?” he demanded, unsure of the sudden intrusion on his personal space. The two merely smiled before grabbing his arms. “What the fuck?! Oi!”

They pulled him to the side and Yuri was horrified to see that they were aiming to bring him inside an apparel shop. Oh fuck! He did not have the money for this and he sure as hell would not be admitting to the two demons that he was financially strapped.

“Let’s buy some things for you!” Viktor sang jovially.

“L-Let me go! You idiots! Lemme go!” he yelled out as he tried to struggle as much as he could.

“Shopping! Shopping!” Yuuri chanted as happily as Viktor did.

“LET ME GO!” he roared, sadly with only as much effect as a mewling kitten to the two adults.

“Yurio, it will be winter soon,” Yuuri tutted seriously. “You need new clothes and shoes.”

“My clothes and shoes are none of your business!” he griped angrily.

They have now entered the shop and Viktor had already dumped his side of Yuri as he went galloping for the shelves, but Yuri was not free yet. Yuuri had him on a tight hold. The Japanese skater grabbed him by his shoulders to face him.

“Yurio, listen,” he said very seriously that he got Yuri’s attention. “We won’t owe Vitya anything. You understand? We. Won’t. Owe. Vitya. Anything.”

Yuri stared into Yuuri’s brown eyes that were staring back at him with so much confidence, he felt like melting into a puddle. Grinding his teeth while fully understanding what Yuuri was telling him, he snarled,

“That better be the case.”

Yuuri smirked and Yuri swore half of him was already a puddle on the floor.

“Go wild.”

And Yuri did. They all did.

That night, all three of them ended up ordering food delivery as they were so exhausted from the unexpected shopping spree that amounted to a mountain of shopping bags dumped unceremoniously on the floor of their apartment.

NOVEMBER 14, 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

If Viktor could just forget for a moment, if he ignored the changes in his own body, if he avoided looking at the dog the leash in his hand was attached to, or if he did not look at the man walking next to him, then he would think that nothing was strange about the scene around him.

This was Russia. This was St. Petersburg where he had lived for almost his entire life. The ambiance, the smell, the crowd, the weather - everything was how he remembered this place!

Except… Well, that was the St. Petersburg that he had lived in decades ago in his time.

Except that, that shop across the street would catch fire in a few years’ time. Thankfully, nobody would die. Unfortunately, that shop would close down a year after the fire due to bankruptcy and would be replaced by another shop. Viktor had believed it was cursed because a few years later, another fire would swallow the entire establishment and sadly, one person would perish and another would be left with severe permanent injuries.

His eyes turned to a building at the corner. That one would become a famous landmark after it was featured in a film that would not only receive accolades domestically, but would then go on to win prestigious awards after its release to foreign consumption. It would remain as the most famous Russian film to ever exist and to ever grace international theaters.

The lamps lining the streets would be changed to solar-powered ones and more trees would be planted to beautify the entire area.

That park not faraway would remain but it would undergo a major landscape redesigning. It would also become a popular landmark that would be featured in a lot of magazines and travel blogs.

Some of the shops here would close down after a pandemic took the world by surprise. Sadly, a few businesses would stay permanently closed and be replaced by other businesses once things settled down. Even by modern standards, it would still take a while for the pandemic to be fully under control. Who would have thought that the level of technology humans were so proud of would not be enough and millions would still die?

Viktor sighed.

And in the year 2022… He sighed again in sadness.

For the Viktor of this time, it was strange to know these facts from the future. Flashes of memories playing like videos in his head and information flooding in at the most inconvenient times, it felt rather disconcerting and sometimes chilling. For the Viktor of the future, it was entertaining in a way, but saddening most of the time. The nostalgia was almost scathing.

“Feels strange, doesn’t it?”

He turned to give his Yuuri a questioning look although he already knew what he meant. He huffed.

“Honestly, I’m having mixed feelings whenever I see all these familiar places.”

Viktor had once asked his husband if he’d change anything if he could turn back time. It was meant to be a joke, just a topic of conversation on a quiet evening with their dogs by the fireplace. Time travel stories - he was neither a fan nor a hater. Like anyone who deemed himself to be of rational mind, time travel was simply beyond the grasp of humankind, something constrained within the boundaries of fantasy.

And yet, here he was. Back in the past… Or now, apparently, his present…

And it was giving him mixed feelings. On one hand, he grieved the life that he and Yuuri had lived. On the other hand, going back in time and being young again meant more years with his Yuuri and their friends and family. Considering that thought, he wondered if, subconsciously, he feared time. Actually, did he fear time? Or was it more along the line of yearning for more time?

The answer seemed so obvious. After all, tales of turning back time were nothing more than the what ifs birthed by the regrets of the sorrowful and, in Viktor’s case, by the fear of losing everything. The more you have in life, the more you have to lose - and Viktor was a victor who had everything a man could ever ask for and therefore had so much to lose to the passage of time.

Fear.

But now that he was back in time, safely reunited with his husband - cause in the end, that’s all that truly mattered -, Viktor and Yuuri had both still lost so much.

They regained, they had lost. They were now carving a new history for themselves. Time moved forward once more.

“How many people can say that they have literally walked down memory lane?” he asked out of the blue to his husband who, like him, was deep in cogitation.

Yuuri smiled even as his eyes continue to examine everything in sight.

“Only us, probably… Or…”

A minute of silence.

“Do you think there are other people like us out there?” he asked almost in a whisper.

His husband hummed. Then, with a shrug said, “Maybe. I mean, we’re here, aren’t we?”

“True.”

Viktor didn’t really have anything to complain about. As long as he had Yuuri by his side, everything was fine.

“Hey, Vitya.”

He turned to look at his love only to see him pointing at something. When he looked at where or what he was pointing at with that smug smile on his lips, Viktor gasped at what he saw, all thoughts of time travel now suddenly out of his mind.

It was their favorite restaurant that they had missed so much after it closed some years into the future.

“We may have lost some important treasures,” Yuuri said gently. “But everything else is still wonderful.”

Viktor laughed happily as his eyes continued to stare at the restaurant in wonder.

“Yuuri, love,” he gushed excitedly. “I’m getting their recipes this time around!”

He then tugged on Yuuri’s arm as he pushed on toward the restaurant. As Yuuri chuckled at the evident greed in his husband’s eyes, Viktor thought to himself that indeed, everything’s fine.

^o~Oxana~o^

[PHOTO: Viktor Nikiforov who is clad in dark long winter coat is holding hands with Yuuri Katsuki who is bundled up in white parka. Yuuri has his other hand in his pocket while Viktor is holding Makkachin's leash. The standard poodle is walking a few steps ahead of them seemingly fixated at a spot that can't be seen in the frame. There are a few people around them as they walk along the streets. There are several heads turned toward them.]

^o~Oxana~o^ I can't believe I'd see them today! What a lucky day! v-nikiforov +katsuki_yuuri with #Makkachin

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NOVEMBER 15, 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

“This is unfair!”

Both Yuris sighed as they looked up from the floor to the silverhead standing before them.

“Go away, dumbass,” Yuri growled.

Viktor stomped his foot and crossed his arms over his chest while pouting like a child.

“You always help Yurio stretch but you don’t do the same for me!”

“Stop calling me Yurio!” Yuri yowled as he tried to get up from the mat to lunge himself at the older skater, except that Yuuri kept his hands on his back pressing him further down with the full intent of ignoring his own lover. With slight difficulty as he felt the muscles on his back and the back of his knees stretch almost painfully, he continued, “How many times do I have to tell you that only Yuuri can call me by that name?!”

“I don’t care!” Viktor shot back with another stomp of his foot. “My Yuuri doesn’t love me anymore!”

Yuri could hear the Japanese skater sigh and could just imagine him shaking his head as he resolutely ignored the sulking skater.

“Leave me out of that and stop calling me Yurio!” he still demanded.

“Yurio! Yurio! Yurio!” Viktor chanted, obviously riling him up.

Just as Yuri was about to shake Yuuri off to throw himself at Viktor, Yakov, right on cue, came to the rescue, much to Yuuri’s obvious relief.

“VITYA!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STILL DOING THERE?!” came Yakov’s thundering yell.

Yuri turned and watched as Yakov headed their way, looking red in the face yet again.

“But Yakov -”

“Shut up! Have you even started with your stretching yet?!”

“That’s wha -”

“You’re not about to tell me that you’re waiting for Katsuki to help you, are you?!”

“Exac -”

“Because if you are, I’m telling you, Vitya, you’ll do suicides from morning to evening!”

“Oh, come on, Yakov!” Viktor screamed out louder to drown out the upset coach. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop getting angry all the time?!”

“I wouldn’t be if -”

“You should care more about your health, Yakov! You’re not getting any younger!”

“If you cou -”

“What if you get a heart attack, huh? What will happen to us your skaters?!”

“That’s why -”

“And have you stopped drinking beyond recommended amount? Do you want me to bring you to a doctor?!”

“What is -”

“You better take care of your health more, Yakov! Just because you’re a coach now doesn’t mean you get to relax on your exercises!”

“The hell a -”

“Look, see! You get upset just about everything, now I can see that your hair is in its last stand!”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Yuri and Yuuri snickered as Yakov grabbed Viktor by the ear and dragged him away, both screaming - Yakov for all the troubles Viktor had caused and still causing him and Viktor for the pain of being dragged by the ear.

“Viktor is seriously getting weirder and weirder,” Yuri remarked more to himself than to his companion.

“And it will only continue to get worse,” Yuuri chirped cheerfully.

“God have mercy on us all then,” he said before promptly gasping as Yuuri pulled his arm with a laugh.

Sadist.

christophe-gc

[PHOTO: On the podium, Christophe Giacometti stands triumphantly as he kisses his gold medal. Proudly displaying his silver medal to the cameras, Michele Crispino waves blankly to the crowd. The third skater is beaming up to the audience while holding his bronze medal tightly against his chest.]

christophe-gc My #FirstMedal this season! Thank you for the support, you lovely people! #GPFSeries #tropheedefrance #Aim4More #Season1516

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“Vegetables again?” Yuri complained as he scowled down at his plate.

“Yurio,” Yuuri said with an eyebrow raised. “It’s not vegetables again. There’s meat in it.”

Yuri scoffed. “Yeah, teeny tiny bits of meat. That’s not enough.”

“You can hardly call those strips of meat as ‘teeny tiny bits’, Yurio,” Viktor joined in as he put his hands together. “That’s just enough ratio between meat and veggies, you know.”

“You need sufficient nutrients in that body of yours,” Yuuri continued on as he sat down. “You’re too thin for your age.”

Seeing Yuuri put his hands together as well, Yuri followed suit. Even with a scowl on his face, he joined in as the three of them said their sincerest gratitude for the food. For a moment, they were quiet as they picked up their own utensils and began to eat.

“Ah!” Viktor dramatically chewed and swallowed just as dramatically. “It’s so good, Yuuri!”

“Eat lots,” Yuuri said with a smile.

“I mean, your cooking has been good so far,” Yuri said before taking in another spoonful. And it was true. For some reason, Yuuri Katsuki was really an awesome cook. He knew he cooked, but Yuri never knew just how good he was until this visit. Phichit was definitely well-fed. “It’s just that, I want lots of meat and less vegetables.”

“Thank you, Yurio,” Yuuri said after swallowing a mouthful. “But like I said, you need nutrients. What have you been eating before this week? Junk food?”

Yuri gulped and indignantly replied, “Of course not! I ate lots of good food!”

“By good food, you mean?” Yuuri inquired with yet another eyebrow up to his hairline.

Remembering the burger last Friday and the tub of ice cream last Wednesday, not to mention the fatty pork BBQ last Tuesday… Y-Yeah… Yuri chose to keep his head down as he defiantly mumbled,

“You know, good food.”

“I saw Yurio eating some chocolate bars before the flight to China,” Viktor piped up. Yuri glared at him.

“Yurio,” Yuuri sighed. The older skater leveled him with a worried look. “Once I get back to Detroit, are you going to eat garbage again?”

“Those are not garbage!” he yelled out before addressing Viktor with, “And quit calling me Yurio!”

Yuuri shook his head and pinned him with a stare. Yuri backed down and quietly picked up his fork again. He heard the Japanese skater sigh deeply for the nth time.

“Vitya, once I get back to Detroit, make sure Yurio is eating properly.”

Yuri snorted to himself. He got to eat here before because of the favor Viktor owed him several months back. There was no reason for him to agree to this kind of arrangement.

Much to his shock however,

“Okay!” Viktor chirped oh-so-happily. Yuri’s neck creaked as he snapped to look at the silverhead. Was he serious?! What the fuck? What’s wrong with this guy?!

He watched in horror as Yuuri nodded in satisfaction.

“W-Wait a minute!” Yuri protested. “Why does Viktor have to watch over my food?!”

“What? I can cook! You’ve tried it before,” Viktor retorted.

“Sure you can,” he snapped back. “But I mean, that’s gonna be everyday, you know! That’s gonna be a lot of work!”

Viktor tilted his head to the side as he looked at Yuri straight in the eyes.

“It’s just one more person to prepare for,” he said. “I just double whatever I make.”

“It’s not gonna take more time, Yurio,” Yuuri said. “Just let Vitya do it.”

“B-But…”

“I’m gonna prepare your lunch and dinner,” Viktor said as he jutted his chin up. “All you have to worry about is breakfast, and only when you don’t stay over here. Lunch and dinner are on me.”

“B-But…”

“End of conversation,” the older Russian said sternly, eyes glinting in authority.

Yuri snapped his mouth shut, still worrying about it. Was that really okay? How about the cost of the food? Oh, okay, maybe that one he could just pay Viktor every month for his share. However… How about the effort? The time? Was that really alright?

Dinner continued on as Yuri thought about the new arrangement. Viktor had always been known to be somewhat selfish and inconsiderate. He only ever thought about himself and the only other being that ever received much care from him, prior to Yuuri, was Makkachin. While Viktor did help some of the younger skaters, it had always only been about skating. Outside the rink, there were no other people in Viktor’s eyes. While he had been more open since Yuuri came into his life, cooking for someone who was not even family everyday was… so unViktor-like. Was he only agreeing to this because Yuuri was here? Would he really cook meals for Yuri even when the Japanese skater was not here? Yuri would know by next week.

“Has Phichit replied to you?”

Yuri looked up from his plate. Phichit? Did something happen to Phichit?

“Well… he replied to my messages… as long as they were not related to skating, that is,” Yuuri answered, eyebrows pinched together to a frown. “He still won’t answer my calls though…”

Ah… That’s right. Phichit placed fourth in his second qualifier. He couldn’t make it to the finals. He must be feeling really sad right now…

“Then, just avoid mentioning about skating,” Viktor added before taking a spoonful, “You can talk to him about it once you get back.”

“Yeah,” Yuuri sighed.

Yuri kept his quiet. Inside him, he couldn’t help but sigh the same way Yuuri did. While he would never admit to it, he did feel sad for the Thai skater. The next time he saw him, Yuri would give him a good kick. When he said that he was expecting to see him in the finals, he meant for the older skater to be a finalist. He didn’t mean as a tag-along. He would never say it but he did like the guy. Their previous interactions had always been fun and full of excitement. He was also very supportive to all of them and not just to his best friend. Yuri hoped that Phichit would feel better soon.

NOVEMBER 1 6 , 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

“Again.”

Smirking to himself, Yakov leisurely turned his eyes over to a corner of the rink to see the ever-rebellious teenage kitten wordlessly picking himself up as Yuuri Katsuki, expression as cold as the ice he stood on, instructed from the side. Watching Yura all meek and obedient was such a wonderful treat for Yakov that he made sure to imprint this scene on his mind to marvel at in the future.

Yakov was the loud type of coach. He was not shy at giving criticisms when necessary, all for the sake of his skater’s growth. He was relentless, merciless, and more often than not, his words cut deep. He didn’t see the point of beating around the bush, and while he was careful not to go overboard, he was not interested in sugarcoating his advises.

There were skaters before who couldn’t stand his method. There were those who believed that he posed himself as a coach to satisfy his sadistic nature. Of course, those were merely jabbers of the incompetent. Yakov was an effective coach who had successfully raised champions that decorated Russia with medals after medals after medals. So, for someone like him, coaching was synonymous to vocal gymnastics and physical and mental wrestling.

Yuuri Katsuki was different.

Sure, he was a skater, not a coach, but currently, he was acting like one.

Who would have thought that this seemingly harmless, staunchly polite, unerringly docile Japanese Yuri could be as merciless as a tyrant and as cold-hearted as Lili - Ahem. Yakov had never seen Yura so quiet and obedient during training time. Without a word of complaint, something that had never happened with Yakov, he did as Japanese Yuri instructed him without the latter having the need to raise his voice or even a finger. And in spite of the occasional difficulties, Yakov could see that Yura was slowly building up and strengthening his foundations. Was this the power of idols? Could one’s idol really empower a person so much that improvements could be noticed at such a short amount of time? Yakov never knew. He had always had to wrestle with his skaters. Such was his fate.

Having the Japanese skater around wasn’t so bad. So far, the past few days of training at the rink had been quite productive. Japanese Yuri was not only helping out Yura, he was also keeping Vitya focused on his training instead of letting him roam around screaming about how nice it was to be young again - whatever that meant. Yakov had initially thought that the rink would be filled with sugar with the two idiots being in the same place, but thankfully, Japanese Yuri had enough sense to actually kick Vitya around and taunt him about the GPF and Worlds, thereby lighting up the massive idiot’s competitive spirit. As a result, Vitya was now at the other side of the rink diligently working on his routines in preparation for the coming qualifiers.

Japanese Yuri was also helping any skaters who came to him for advice, including Gosha and Mila. In such a short period of time, the skater had easily won the favor of everyone in the rink. Then again, he was Katsuki Yuuri, Japan’s Ace. He was known as the most graceful and expressive skater in the world, the one who galloped up the ranks to give Viktor Nikiforov a good kick off the pedestal. Who wouldn’t want to get advice from such a person?

To put it bluntly, Yakov was hella glad the skater was here. Although his stay was short, Yakov could at least say that it was akin to him having a vacation from all the screaming and wrestling that he had to do with the rascals in this rink. He had it so easy this week, he believed it to be a miracle. This stay also served as a practice run for next season, when the Japanese skater finally joined their rink. He could finally have at least one decent skater who wouldn’t give him headaches.

…

Maybe…

Hopefully…

Defintely.

…

Right?

…

Anyway, Yakov was surely going to have happy days ahead of him once Japanese Yuri came over to stay long-term.

She was such an idiot.

Lyanka Sedakova grumbled to herself as she trudged through the freezing night to head back to the rink she had just left a couple of hours ago. To lose the pouch containing her keys… She was indeed such an idiot. How could she have lost it? Now she had to retrace her steps and hope to find it as soon as possible. She still had to wake up early tomorrow. Why of all days did she have to lose it when she had to have dinner with her sister, causing her to realize belatedly how she didn’t have her keys with her? Why? Life was so cruel!

Sniffling, she looked up ahead as her destination came into view. She really hoped the pouch was there inside somewhere because if it wasn’t, she might have to contemplate just breaking the window of her apartment to get inside. The problem was, her apartment was on the 3^rd floor. That would prove to be tricky to do… But seriously, she really hoped the pouch was inside because she really didn’t know where else to look and she was freezing to death. She just wanted to take a hot shower and dive into her bed and sleep.

Minutes later, she sighed in relief as she entered the building, enjoying what little warmth she got from being indoors. It wasn’t much warmth but it was still loads better that outdoors at this time of night.

She immediately headed for the lockers as that seemed to be the most logical place to start her hunt. It wasn’t entirely dark inside the establishment. Places that were not commonly used by skaters already had their lights off while main hallways and, from what she could see from where she stood, she could still see the lights from the rink itself. This would make her search easier.

Some more time later and Lyanka was at her wit’s end. She couldn’t find her pouch in her locker or in the locker room. She had checked the creepy dark cafeteria - nothing. She had checked the rest rooms - nothing. She had checked the hallways - nothing. Her eyes helplessly went over to the door leading to the rink. That was the last place to check. If it wasn’t there, somebody would be sleeping outside her apartment door tonight.

With desperation laced with panic, Lyanka headed for the rink. The lights were still on and, as she neared the entrance, she could hear the distinct sound of blades slicing across the ice. Who would still be at the rink at this time of the night? For a second there, she paused. The thought of a possible ghost flitted across her mind but she immediately brushed it off thinking that she had never heard of this building being haunted, not that she believed in ghosts. Shrugging, she headed straight to the rink and sighed in relief to see not ghosts but just two people skating together.

Viktor Nikiforov and Yuuri Katsuki were on the ice, no music on, no other people around. Lyanka found herself smiling as she watched the two skaters, only to realize that they were not randomly skating around each other. Lyanka stood still as she watched the two skating in sync with each other to music that only the two could hear. She swallowed her gasp as she watched Viktor lift Yuuri up by the waist, spinning a little, before putting him back down. What followed was a continuous interchange of what were supposed to be male and female roles in pair skating and all the while, all Lyanka could see from their faces were love and bliss.

Before Yuuri visited Russia, Lyanka had always thought that the two were not really lovers and they were just pulling people’s legs. She thought the two were just close friends who liked to play jokes on people around them. And if she were honest, last year when this association between the two started, Lyanka had really believed it was just all publicity stunt. Looking back, that actually didn’t make much sense. Viktor was a drama queen but only ever in front of Yakov and the press. He was, truthfully speaking, indifferent to other people. Yuuri was a recluse, a beautiful mess most of the time. Both were not really known to have shown any interest in other people. Just like many skaters dedicated to their art, the two were only ever invested into their own skating. Otherwise, they were stuck in their own heads.

Now knowing Yuuri a little bit more and Viktor being more attentive to people around him, and having spent almost a week being around them, Lyanka knew for sure they were really an item. Nobody could deny the hearts in their eyes as they looked at each other, the lingering touches, the pull that kept the two always together whether they realized it or not. Nobody could ever fake such things.

But Lyanka couldn’t have realized just how in love the two were to each other until now. The way they skate… The way they melt into each others’ arms as they flowed away whatever routine they were doing, it was beautiful and sweet, sensual and intimate to the point that she felt like she was watching something that she wasn’t supposed to be privy to. She almost felt like she was committing blasphemy, her unworthy self gazing upon something sacred. But she couldn’t stop herself. If she were to go to hell for daring to gaze upon this, then she would accept it without a single complaint. She just couldn’t take her eyes off of them.

There was a strange sting in her chest. The two continued to skate, not exchanging a word but their eyes never leaving each other. If they did, it was only ever when they were touching, almost as if savoring each others’ touch. Lyanka’s chest hurt and for some reason, tears began to pool in her eyes.

She had been in love too… Or rather, she was still in love with someone. He was her friend and they used to hang out a lot. He lived in the same apartment building, only a floor below hers. They met by chance one day and surprisingly had gotten along well. At that time, she had thought that it might lead to something more but she was desperate to fulfill her dreams as a skater. She had thought that she needed to focus on her career and she shouldn’t be wasting time chasing after love under these circumstances, so she began distancing herself from him. After a few months of trying to hang out with her, the man also stopped contacting her. Sometimes they saw each other but they both paste a smile on their faces and give each other a cordial nod before going their own way without looking back. It always hurt but she had thought that eventually, the pain that she inflicted upon herself would fade. It never did.

She still believed that she should focus on her career but… did she really have to turn her back to love?

Yuuri and Viktor seemed to be doing well and they were even rivals. Was it possible for her to have both as well? She couldn’t say… But she at least wanted to find out.

Before Lyanka knew it, her feet had already taken her away from the rink and out the building. Looking up at the night sky, she wondered what to do. She came here to find her keys but in the end, she found unexpected resolve instead. Taking in a deep breath while gripping her determination tightly in her heart, she began to make her way back to her apartment building.

She didn’t have her keys so she would have to go a floor down her own.

Who knew? Maybe she wouldn’t need her keys tonight anymore.

NOVEMBER 1 7 , 2015 - St. Petersburg, Russia

v-nikiforov

[PHOTO: The entire team Russia including Yakov Feltsman and are in one long table together with Yuuri Katsuki. They are all smiling except for Viktor Nikiforov who is turned away from the camera as he hugs Yuuri. The table is heavily laden with food and it seems the ambiance of the place they are in is quite pleasant.]

v-nikiforov I refuse to call this a #FarewellParty Instead it’s called #SeeYouAgainSoonParty The furthest distance in the world is not the miles that separate us. It is when I want to touch you but I can’t #FeelingMiserableAlready #YuuriWithdrawalSyndrome #StaySafeLove

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phichit+chu

[VIDEO: The scene opens with Phichit Chulanont, clad in a fluffy light pink sweater, with his face very close to the camera. He blinks a couple of times before grinning. He then steps back as he claps his hands.

“Hello, everyone!” he chirps with a flourish. “How are you?” A pause. “I'm good! I'm fine, thank you for asking!” he says as if in answer to someone. “Oh, you know, just busy training and attending school.” He continues on, “My free time? Of course, I spend it on giving as much headache to Ciao Ciao as I can! Makes my life spicier, you know?” Then, Phichit tilted his head and, with his hands on his hips, he laughs loudly. For a few seconds, he continues to laugh but as time passes by, his laughter becomes less and less jovial, and more and more quiet and empty. Finally, Phichit sighs heavily with a sad look on his face.