Chapter Text
Ever since Yuuri Katsuki could remember men and woman would come into the hot springs, once or twice a year depending. He would go to his room for the rest of the night, and his older sister Mari bringing him dinner. Whispers rose from the floorboards under his bed, along with the occasional scream if there was a “mistake”. It was a secret to him, the meetings, for ages till he was around the age of eight, when he found his love for ice skating, and for his idol of Victor Nikiforov, that he was told the truth of those nights. When he was told he would be the Heir of Hasetsu, a Yakuza member, a part of the most powerful mafia in Japan, and would learn what to do in case of an emergency. He simply nodded, knowing if there was a mistake there would be screaming.
His family told him of how Yu-topia Akatsuki was set up to be a place of meetings, where the higher leaders of Yakuza and those who would be blackmailed, would come to their small and homely springs for a night. Then when morning came the Katsukis had more money, the Yakuza had more money, and the business that was blackmailed knew their place. Though when witnessing these meetings it was all polite, he never understood how this was blackmailing when it was formal and not threatening, like he had seen in the movies or read about in books. His mother explained it was all in embarrassment and harassment, where the tickets to get into Yu-topia Akatsuki were very expensive but only to the victim, that if they declined they would be harassed, then while at the Sokaiya the victim would be blackmailed, sometimes bribed but that was rare. Yuuri asked about the screaming, why did he hear screaming those nights. Something dark flickered in his mother’s soft and kind eyes, to where they hardened and did not seem like his mother but more like a demon. “When there are mistakes there are screaming. Often blood as well more than wine.” She would reply in a cold tone before turning back to her smiling and pump self. It was like a light switch being flipped, but Yuuri understood the statement.
“Don’t ask unless you want to be the one screaming” He thought. “ Keep your nose clean and follow what we say or else it won’t be pretty.”
After that Yuuri didn’t have any more questions. He didn’t ask about the drugs that would be passed under palms and thumbs, he didn’t ask about the beautiful women who would stay in some of the rooms at night when there were more men in the springs, he didn’t ask about why he needed to clean the curtains again, or why there was an ominous wet spot that was a color off of the red fabric. He kept his head down and followed what his parents and the others wished.
As the years went by he no longer needed to ask, or ponder why certain things were, for his parents looked at him with pride and gave him a decision, to become the next Yakuza Heir for Hasetsu. He asked for some time to think of it to which they agreed, they understood what a choice this was to Yuuri, and they also understood if he did not take it.
That year Yuuri got his first tattoo for Yakuza, being more prominent in the meetings and after the initiation of sake. He got his first tattoo, at the age of twenty. His family wished for him to get it earlier and illegally but he didn’t want suspicion to come his way and refused. He got it when he was studying abroad in Detroit, having sent pictures to his family, they gushed over it for hours, it was simple for he would let it heal then add more as he went back to Japan. For he still had his first Grand Prix Final to look forward to and he didn’t want to stop practicing due to the tattoo needing to heal. His closest friend and roommate Phichit had begged non stop after the appointment for that once it healed to post pictures of it on his instagram.
It was something beautiful, it was done by an old Japanese parlor they had found weeks before, who knew what he wanted and showed him styles. It had a background of waves that encased his left shoulder blade, setting the scene for the main piece, a black and white dragon against the dark blues curled up his arm resting his head on his pec. It’s whiskers lazily hanging off his face down Yuuri’s collar bone, the dragon looking as if it was sleeping but had one eye open, always aware of those around him. To his family it would be pleasing seeing such strength in the symbol on the lookout for those who would do the gang wrong. On the inside of his forearm next to the curling tail of the black and white dragon was a bright orange and red koi fish looking to be following the dragon up his arm. The tattoo ended at his wrist where it could be hidden easily by his jacket, the soft waves acting like a bracelet there to have a finished look. The bright colors popped out on Yuuri’s pale skin giving it a beauty, that not many people could see with the tattoos from the gang, yet he knew one thing, no matter the answer he gave his parents, he wanted to be happy with the tattoo. He wanted to show the strength and hard work he would put into the Grand Prix Final, to show he wasn’t wasting time in Detroit, that he didn’t need the Yakuza to be something.
It was an entire year until Yuuri was able to return home after the failure of the Grand Prix Finals. He was ashamed with his performance, anxiety still coursed through his veins just thinking of the incident of how the ice felt beneath him with each fall. There were times when he sat in a warm room and he could feel the chill of the brutal ice hitting his body. He sighed as he got his luggage from the carousel, he just hoped his family wouldn’t force him into the leadership after this. He went down the escalators bag in one hand as he pulled his surgical mask to his chin so he could breathe in the cold air, as he was lost in thought, what would he do now? He retired after his first year of skating on the same ice as Victor, he had nothing else but the leadership to do now. He had no choice other than to be the Boss of Hasetsu.
His legs were on autopilot as he walked, not really paying any attention until his eye caught a familiar looking poster that he remembered a member of the gang made for him and his family. He looked up and panicked seeing himself on the poster around the entire train station. He was about to try and tear them all down and get rid of them completely when he hear a familiar woman’s voice call out his name in a sing song tone. Slowly turning in fear he saw no other than, Minako Okukawa, his former ballet teacher and owner of a bar front. She grinned holding a sign she had made for him the years before.
“What are you sulking around for?” Her pretty face was pitched up in a smirk, knowing how to push all of the right buttons to get Yuuri panicked and startled, even after five long years.
“Minako.” He tried to act calm but couldn’t contain the surprise in his voice, he was about to speak again when she interrupted.
“Welcome back, after five years Yuuri Katsuki!” The other passengers and people around the station immediately fixed their gaze onto Yuuri knowing the last name from the sports news of his failure, and from Yu-topia Akatsuki. He could feel the stares of fear, pride, and something like astonishment. He knew not to be rude and ask why she was there, he didn’t need to see Hasetsu’s drug lord give him a knowing look, so he just stepped up to her with a small smile, trying not to look uncomfortable. He knew she had her sources in finding out when he would return when an unknown voice from his left startled him. Then a chorus of more voices surrounding them began to echo through the station.
“Isn’t that Yuuri?”
“Yeah that’s him.”
“Haven’t heard any news about him lately. What’s he been up to?”
“Remember he lost that big competition last year?”
There were also hushed whispers.
“Do you think he went rogue?”
“Maybe he found a girl from a gang?”
“Could have gone and made another branch for Yakuza for all we know.”
“Maybe he’s back for the throne?”
As he stood in front of her a man walked up to his left side, he turned in curiosity. He was not from the small town.
“Let me shake your hand.” Yuuri panicked and quickly covered his mouth with his mask, pulling up a lame excuse for being in a hurry. He made the mistake of looking up at Minako who practically growled at him.
“You don’t lose anything from being polite, shake his hand.” She whispered a threatening look on her face. Before she used the one thing that would break a small piece of him, “Victor Nikiforov is polite to his fans and you should be to.” She demanded, making any arguments or excuses fall from him and give in. She pushed him around the entire station holding his wrist to shake the other fans and random people who even asked who he was. He just smiled politely and tried not to show how she was moments away from snapping his wrist in half. Once he politely greeted everyone in the station, and he meant everyone, Minako finally loosened her grip, then led him out towards the toward, claiming he was going to greet everyone in town as well, for his absence had been too much. Yuuri was exhausted, not being a real sociable person, it drained him so he tried to steer her away.
“Minako, what about your ballet class?” She replied too fast with,
“We’re closed today. Besides we barely get any students these days.” That made him pause, knowing it wasn’t just about the actual ballet classes. “There are barely any kids skating nowadays. You should cheer things up around here, Yuuri.”
There are barely any members here since you left, seeing you might have more people join. He could read that message loud and clear. Hasetsu’s power was dying away, it was an old town, and with an older presence, and last he heard the old head of Yakuza had switched to a different heir, but then again it could have been lies he had heard of when he was too busy with college in Detroit.
“Sorry Minako, but I’m tired.” She understood but it didn’t stop her with her last jab to try and get him to go with her.
“Everyone’s been dying to see you.”
They walked all the way to Yu-topia Akatsuki, which wasn’t too far from the train station but it was still a walk. As soon as they entered Yuuri offered a bland greeting at the front door, which was unusual to go through for family members and gang members. He was about to question Minako why they did so when she yelled through the lobby.
“Hiroko! I brought Yuuri home!” It sounded almost childish with joy, which made Yuuri relax, knowing that meant they were safe and the gang wasn’t visiting at the moment. He looked towards the main dining room where his mother was running out of with joy on her face. It brought a smile to him knowing she was well, after all running a crime ring was not easy. She thanked Minako as she nearly slipped into him in her excitement on welcoming him home. He was shocked there was no immediate disappointment or wanting to put him on the throne on the spot so he treaded carefully.
“Thank you, I’m sorry it’s been five years. I..I didn’t even call to let you know about my scores.” He says mournfully. To which his mother just brushed off with a smile, telling him it was alright.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your graduation. Would you like a pork cutlet bowl?” She asks, Yuuri didn’t know what to say he was so stunned, he watched as Minako and his mother chattered and happily exchanged gossip, all he could hear was static, did he do that bad in the competitions that she wasn’t even going to push him for the Head? It was only when he heard his name that he snapped back to reality. Minako was saying something about the station and his gut? Oh, she thought he gained weight again. It was true he gained weight so easily but he had kept it down in case his mother, who was rather pump and where he got that trait from, would've scolded him for it. He felt her hand on the back of his jacket and froze in fear, knowing not to fight it as she stripped him out of his winter clothes till he was in just a long sleeved shirt. It was at that moment his father decided to put his two cents in.
“Wow, I thought you’d look just like your mother by now.” He laughed. Mianko for once didn’t scream in horror or yell at anyone just stood in shock.
“I thought you would gain it back in a day.” She says simply before catching the color on his skin at the bottom of his wrist. “Wait! We haven’t seen it in person!” She yelled excited stripping him of his shirt making Yuuri feel more exposed than anything not use to people stripping him. His parents immediately looked over the tattoo with impressed hums poking and prodding at certain parts. Minako grinning in pleasure at finally being able to see it in person. As soon as they had their fill of messing with Yuuri he took his luggage to his room and pulling his sweatshirt back on with a sigh. He still needed to pay his respects to Vicchan, his dog that had died during the time he was away at college.
As he sat on his knees lighting the incense he took a deep breath sending a gentle pray up to the heavens in hope that his late dog was doing well. I’m sorry I couldn’t see you one last time, Vicchan. He was about to get up and leave when his older sister Mari slid open the door.
“Yuuri, welcome back.” She says calmly with a small smile. Yuuri smiled back.
“Mari, it’s been a while.” He said it in a way of apologising knowing she was filling in for him as the head of Hasetsu while he was gone, and might completely take it over if he isn’t forced into it.
“How long are you staying in Hasetsu? Will you help with the hot spring?” She asks as she pulled out a cigarette placing it in her mouth and lighting it. He knew what he meant behind those words though.
Will you take the position?
She paused to exhale some smoke, “If you wish to keep skating, I’ll support you, but…”
“I think...I need some more time to think it over.” She smiled at him respectfully,
“Okay. Well, go soak in the hot spring and relax.” She says turning to leave before looking at him over her shoulder with a fond look, “I like the tattoo.” Before disappearing off into another quarter of the home.
He got up and went to head to the hot spring thinking it over. How this little town was just a tourist attraction. Nothing really special with history, just a facade with a ninja dojo that was fake up on the mountain. How the hot springs, and inns were the only thing keeping it alive. Yet most went under until the Yakuza took over most of the failed businesses, the tourism was still spotty but it kept people in town long enough to spend some money. His family’s spring the Yu-topia Akatsuki was the last one that was really making business and that was because of their position in the gang.
Once done he got out seeing in the lobby his father and a frequent member of the Yakuza fighting with Minako over the remote between watching soccer or ice skating. He was going to stay when three knocks were heard on the back door. Everyone turned to look knowing that was the sign. With a sigh Yuuri left not wanting to just be back and have to deal with Yakuza stuff right away. He changed into his jogging sweats and grabbed his back heading out the front door, where his mother was grabbing wine out of a stock van. She was about to stop him and ask for him to stay but noticed the look in his eyes and let him go. There would be other meetings.
He didn’t run, there was no reason to run, he wasn’t in a rush to where he was going, but he didn’t walk slowly either, just a light jog to carry him there peacefully. Pass the bridge and almost a mile away, not including the stairs, was his piece of mind, his own castle. The one place Yakuza wouldn’t touch because it was Switzerland. He finally got up the stairs and past the door with a deep breath he looked up to see a close friend with the same burgundy hair and light eyes. She hadn’t even noticed him yet, too busy with putting up skates. When she did she was going through the motions of someone showing up past closing.
“Our regular hours are over.” She called over her shoulder before looking at him properly.
“It’s been awhile Yuuko.” He says shyly, she was once his crush before he noticed he was out of his league and that he preferred males more than females.
“Yuuri? Oh come on!” She practically floated over to the front counter in excitement, “Call me Yu!” Yuuri mumbled out an apology before she spoke over him, “You came to skate, right? Go ahead.” She paused before continuing. “There’s a meeting going on right? You just want to skate alone for now right? I’ll protect you.” She winked smiling, though she was teasing for right now, he knew she would kill a man, she has before.
Smiling back he nodded and went to get his skates on. As he laced them up he realized how Yuuko, or the Madonna of the Ice Castle in Hasetsu, had showed him how to enjoy ice skating and how he could do other things besides waiting out the screams in the basement. She also showed him of Victor Nikiforov when he was just starting his own career winning all gold in the Juniors Championship. He sighed and stood up once he was done lacing them up, he had to show her it.
He was already on the ice as she stood next to a small speaker sitting on a barrier, she held his glasses as he handed them to her. “Um..I wanted to show you to see this, so I’ve been practicing it since the competitions ended.” A small shimmer of chill went down his body at the memory of the ice. He looked sad for a moment before thoughtful the next, lifting his head to meet her eyes though he wasn’t sure if he was meeting them correctly, “Please watch.” He asked softly before moving to the center of the rink facing her.
He stood in the middle of the rink for a second taking a deep breath as he got into position. He could hear Yuuko realize what he was going to perform.
As the music started he lifted his head to the ceiling slowly almost solemnly, before starting with the melody his right wrist almost meeting his forehead in a soft move then his body language shifted to what the judges claimed was his skating persona. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he felt the ice below him greet him like an old friend allowing his actions to have a grace to them that normally would be shaken with nerves. The lyrics began as he prepped for the first quad, a quadruple Lutz, executed perfectly. As he went through the emotions and feelings of Victor Nikiforov’s free skate called, “Stay Close to Me”. He couldn’t help but feel an answering call somewhere out there. He didn’t understand what it was, but he knew one thing. He didn’t want to be the head of the Hasetsu Yakuza. He lunged into his right leg before performing Victor’s signature move the quadruple flip, landing it as well. He was lost in the program and the music, for once his mind becoming silent with peace as he went into a combination spin, relaxed and nothing like the failure he had been the previous year. He landed the flying sit spin, noticing how he had missed this, enjoying ice skating, it almost brought him to tears just now understanding why he wanted to retire so quickly. He pushed them away, he had to a performance to finish and it wouldn’t do him any good thinking about stuff like that now. As the music finally climaxed to where he was finishing the last combination spin his eyes went wide in shock, he didn’t fall on any of the quads, he didn’t mess up anything. It was all perfect. There was a part of him that was wishing he had done that well in the competitions when his thoughts were pushed back to the sound of an inhale, it sounded like Yuuko was crying. Yuuri looked over concerned, though he couldn’t really see, she seemed fine. Then she began to yell, yeah she was fine.
“That was so cool! A perfect copy of Victor’s!” She began to pound on the barrier confusing Yuuri to why she was beating up property but didn’t comment. “I thought you were depressed or something!” Now that surprised him, seems like he hasn’t changed if she could read his mind like that still.
“I was. But then I got bored of being depressed, but I also didn’t want to resort to the Yakuza, so I got to thinking. “I wanted to get my love for skating back,” I thought I could remember how it was when I copied Victor with you. Yu. I don’t think I should be the Head of Hasetsu.” He confesses. When the triplets of Yuuko popped up startling him as they asked a barrage of questions. He could barely get a word in when Nishigori skated up behind him welcoming him home before teasing him with the girls. At least here he wasn’t put up to the pressure of Yakuza which was refreshing, after saying good byes and promising to be back, Yuuri put his skates away heading back to the Hot Spring.
As he walked back he had a feeling he would need to replace the curtains, he wasn’t sure why but he knew something probably went down while he was away. He took the long way back to Yu-topia Akatsuki, wanting to avoid it as much as possible. As soon as he got home, he knew his feeling was right, just by seeing the two guards at the door. He nodded in greeting to them as they bowed, he waved it off, they knew he didn’t like the attention like that. Walking through the base floor in search of any answers, he couldn’t help but notice the extra members. There were more than when he arrived hours before, much more. He knew it wasn’t time for a Sokaiya, so why were there so many members?
He paused at the hallway before his room seeing the telltale signs of a fight, some of the wood on the windowsills, and exposed rafters on the walls had scuff marks. He went to the open window looking out it curious, not seeing anyone he thumbed at the small lines cut into the wood at the base of it. He looked towards his bedroom door eyes scanning it over to see if it had been open. His steps were silent as he moved close, knowing to avoid the creaky floor panel to the right of his door. Looking at said panel he saw a black line from a shoe, a dress shoe would be the only kind to make that type of mark. It was a startled step by how it went towards the door. Someone had stepped on it and was surprised by the sound. An intruder would have been worried for their location was given away. He stood face to the door, his breathe quiet as his heartbeat picked up drowning out any noise that was around him. He pushed a small panel of wood in the wall to the side, not making a sound as he removed the blade from within. He never liked the idea of having a weapon close to his personal quarters but now he was grateful. His hand shook just a bit as he reached for the door handle, knowing as soon as he turned it, if someone was inside they would notice. His legs hummed with energy as he crouched a bit, getting ready to kill if needed. He held his breath holding the knife in a death grip, he counted down in his head, trying to hear anything other than his heart. In a second he threw open his door and moved quick to attack the person in his room.
It was silent. His eyes scanned the room too quickly for it to make sense in his head that he had to do a double take. No one was there. He didn’t relax though, he stayed quiet in case they were hiding, his heartbeat no longer blocking his hearing. He closed his eyes listening, confused he stood up and rolled his shoulders. No one was there, not hiding or otherwise. His hand with the knife was shaking a bit but evened out as he relaxed his hold. He put his bag from the rink down and took his phone out of his pocket placing it on the bed. Turning he left the room leaving the door open, that must mean they're in the basement. As soon as he thought that, a scream sounded under him.
Nodding he went down stairs to the base floor, ignoring the stares of the other members, or the soft intakes of air at the image he portrayed. He knew what he looked like. The Head of Hasetsu. Yuuri walked with a brisk pace, still holding the knife but not as forcefully, it was loose in his grip but each member knew that was more dangerous. For Yuuri had been trained as soon as he knew about the Yakuza to wield anything that could be used against him, or to harm. His record was not clean, he never killed but he had inflicted a lot of damage to those against the Yakuza. His steps echoed down the stairs to the basement, the door hidden behind a curtain just to the left of the kitchen, looking like a closet as a front but know where to look you could see the stairs.
Getting to the second door, the man guarding it swallowed his fear allowing Yuuri to go through without a word. The basement wasn’t that much different from the house above, looking warm and comfortable. Only difference was the red carpet instead of pale green. Turning to the left of the main room was the interrogation room, the coldest room in the building. Turning to right was a type of hallway with cell doors, the places they would keep people before someone would pick them up in the morning. He turned left seeing through the window was his Mother, that switch flipped with a cold look in her eyes while the smile that graced her features was much more murderous. The guard knocked twice on the door before a pause and knowing three times more. The signal for Yuuri. His father was nowhere to be seen, Yuuri bet he was cleaning up the carpet, seeing how much the man in the interrogation was bleeding. He laughed, something high pitched and a bit broken from the broken nose. He looked straight into the mirror right where Yuuri was standing.
“Has his majesty returned? Will he grace me with his presence?” The man grinned. Yuuri set down the knife peacefully as his mother slapped the man strapped to the chair, she then got up and left the room her arms spattered with blood.
“Yuuri, why are you here?” She whispered.
“I saw the hallway, thought I could help.” It wasn’t a lie but she could see how much he was not into doing the interrogation.
“You don’t-”
“Saw the posters your majesty.” The man laughed, “Who would had knew that Yakuza’s Hasetsu heir was a faggot.” He dissolved to giggles, “That’s rich. And he’s gay for the Bratva.” He laughed louder. Yuuri was confused at that part but rage seared through him as the man started to sing that wretched word at the mirror like he knew where Yuuri was standing. He clenched his fist, protecting his thumbs so he wouldn’t break them when he beat the man’s face in. He then looked calm, his mother knew that look all too well, it was that same look as his father’s. He went to the main room that looked warm, opening the closet near the door he went through first and changed his clothes, after all he didn’t want blood on his workout clothes.
He changed into a simple tank top with sweatpants, a darker color than the pale grey he wore before. A guard offered a coat to cover his tattoo at first knowing how the Yakuza liked to be dramatic. Yuuri just nodded and pulled it on. He handed his glasses to the same guard and pushed his hair out of his face with a sigh, then he went into the interrogation room. The man laughed harder when he saw Yuuri, chattering away to himself, Yuuri didn’t hear anything just static. His eyes turned to the man and the man stopped laughing suddenly, he got quiet. A different guard came in and removed the coat letting the man strapped to the chair show true fear in his eyes, for those who knew of Yuuri as the Heir did not know he got a tattoo. For the tattoos represented their strength, and sometimes their rank. Yuuri’s spoke of the look in his eyes, how he was a resting dragon, but when poked he would attack.
“So what were you saying?” Yuuri asks calmly his voice as cold as the metal biting his victim’s wrists as he frantically tried to escape, “That I am a,” He paused smirking a little to strike more fear into the man, “As you say faggot? Gay for a Bratva? I’d like to know more, sir.” He says taking a few steps forward as the man tried to push the bolted down chair back, wanting to get away from this monster. “Now my family has done a number on you. That’s for sure.” He hummed tilting the man’s face up by holding his chin lightly. He winced as soon as Yuuri touched him, “And now you’re quiet, pity. I was hoping you’d explain more.” Yuuri gave him a moment to speak when he didn’t he lashed out, moving quickly and swiftly, kicking him in the face. The man screamed in pain as more blood dripped down his nose and off his chin. “Let’s try this again.” Yuuri’s voice was as calm as before. “Will you explain what you mean?” He readied to punch the man this time to break his nose beyond compare.
“No! I won’t.” The man shook as he yelled, Yuuri didn’t hesitate and punched him square in the broken nose, knocking him out from the pain.
“Then we’ll have someone pick you up tomorrow and get the answers. It seems we’ve run out of time.” Yuuri knew he couldn’t hear him but he didn’t care going to the guard with the coat and putting it on, “Take him to the cell.” He muttered leaving the room with bloody knuckles. His mother was in pleased shock grinning at him. He put his glasses on and silently went back up the stairs to his room. Every member that saw him was shocked seeing the blood on his hand. Yuuri ignored them like before and went to the bathroom washing off the blood with a sigh. Needing to go to bed, or else the events he just did would haunt him. Once entering his room he paused, did he forget his phone in his sweats down stairs? A blinking light on his bed caught his attention and he knew that he just forgot. Confused at the light he unlocked it seeing five missed calls and almost thirty new texts.
Nishigori?
He opened the first message, his mind dulled from the violence but this brought him out of it immediately.
‘[Katsuki Yuuri] Tried to Skate Victor’s FS Program [Stay Close to Me]’
It was the title of the youtube video that was staring at him from his scene. He quickly called up Nishigori.
“I’m sorry Yuuri. My kids uploaded the video, and it went viral.” Yuuri could hear scolding going on in the background and something about staking otakus. With so much going on earlier his mind finally gave out, all he could do was mutter a good night, turn off his phone, and pass out.
Yuuri woke up to the sound of his mother calling to him from outside his door, something about shoveling snow. But it was spring? Why would he need to shovel snow? He slowly got up and opened the blinds, oh it did snow, and a lot. He was about to check the news on the weather but paused remembering he turned his phone off so he wouldn’t have any calls. With a sigh he got up changing into some warm clothes, he needed to go take care of that before any customers came in. Grabbing his shoes and the shovel he put them on heading outside to start it. It was a good couple of hours until it was enough that people could walk through it easily. Once done he put the shovel up, and grabbed his skating bag,
“I’ll be back.” He called out to his family before going to the skating rink. He needed to clear his mind before anything else. The images from the night before were flashing in his mind still. How could had done that? Was he really going to stab someone for being in his room. Finally on the ice with his skates laced up he relaxed that itching anxiety still squirming in his body. Yuuko had left to go take care of some business still apologizing for the night before. He just shook his head staring at the ice, trying to loosen his thoughts. It was bad enough he swore he could see red on his hand still. He took a deep breath and skated in lazy circles, breathing in the cold air.
Why was I chosen to be the head? Mari is fine with taking it over, and I do want to make my family happy, but I don’t know if I can handle all of this. Look at how I handled the competitions, couldn’t even come home for a whole year since I wanted to make it up and failed those too. He sighed switching to figure eights, It’s not like they’re losing a valuable asset. I’m just the errand boy most times anyways.
Yuuri didn’t realize how long he was on the skate till Yuuko called out to him, saying his mother wanted him home. He yelled back that he would get going. He got off the ice a bit nervous, why didn’t she call him or text him? As he was putting his skates in the bag he saw that she did. That explains it. Switching to his running shoes he ran out trying to get home as fast as possible.
Yuuri was panting hard as he got to Yu-topia Akatsuki, and was startled, instead of the two guards like yesterday, there were at least five. He heard a distant bark and was more confused, did a customer have a dog? As soon as he stepped into the front garden he was surrounded the guards muttering things about keeping him safe, they escorted him to the door once inside the building a group of three guards came up surrounding him.
“Okay hold on, before anything, can I get changed?” Yuuri asked shaking a bit in fear, was his family in trouble? Did someone target them? The guards let him change in private in his room. He wore something more professional, a black clean button down, then tight fitting black leggings, his tattoo the only piece of color on him. He slicked his hair back once more before following the guards down to the basement, he left his glasses on knowing he’d need to see this time. Once entering a large beast pounced onto him making him fall back. Immediately guns were out aiming at it, Yuuri waved them away as the dog licked at his face making him laugh before the dog moved away to smell him. This wasn’t Vicchan but it looked exactly like him, just bigger. His father came into view looking pleased instead of the scary cold look he normally had.
“Yuuri, isn’t he just like Vicchan?” He asks smiling, before it shifted, “He came with the guy in the interrogation.” Yuuri’s heart sank and sat up letting the dog moved over to the main carpet and lay down. Standing up fully without the help of the guards he saw him. He was beautiful and graceful just like he remembered. Just like how he would watch, he was suave and crisp, even with a bruise on his lower jaw. Wait. Yuuri went towards the window looking through as Mari talked smoothly with Victor Nikiforov, he was shirtless revealing a mural of tattoos, the first that caught his eye were the twin stars on the front of his shoulders
His branch. He thought knowing of the Brotherhood to have different stars for different prisons,
the left shoulder bore an epaulette that looked extremely similar to his free program’s costume
His Rank ,
on his right collar connecting to his neck was a handle of a knife
A hitman that has killed before ,
on his right forearm it held a single rose
He spent his eighteenth year in jail or in the Brotherhood ,
on his chest there was a monk writing in a book with a dagger
He knew how to handle a blade skillfully ,
and finally below the monk was a chapel with skulls and a coffin but with not many domes on the chapel.
He was a murderer and has spent little time in jail for it.
He was a Bratva.
The words from the night before haunted him and teased him, but unlike the other russian spies he’d seen, Victor was calm and speaking to Mari on an equal level. A guard knocked on the door twice, a pause, then three more times. Mari looked up at the mirror nodded and got up. Victor smiled patiently looking relaxed in his seat. Where is my mother? The thought entered his mind suddenly and he looked around not seeing her.
Mari went up to him, “He’s requesting to speak to you, but he’s a hitman, so I’m not comfortable sending you in.”
“Where’s Mother?”
“She’s upstairs, she was the one who punched him. Apparently he came in asking for you and then she noticed the knife.” Mari says motioning to her neck, the spot where the tattoo was on Victor. “She’s not sure if you should go in either. I know he’s a skater but..” She trailed off taking out a cigarette, “Up to you.”
Yuuri thought about it, he was too shy to even talk to Victor at the finals much less the banquet, he looked at Victor through the window. “I’ll talk to him, maybe he’ll explain why he’s here.”
“Has, says he wants to talk to you and have a break from the Bratva.” She says blowing out smoke, Mari herself was like a dragon, matching her own tattoo.
“I’ll talk to him.” He repeated hesitating at the door before entering the interrogation room and having a seat, finally meeting his eyes in shock, why would Victor want to talk to him? He tried not to stutter, “Victor, why are you here?”
Victor leaned forward with a grin, “Yuuri, starting today, I would like to be your coach. I can get you to win the Grand Prix Final.” He had the gall to wink, while Yuuri could hear the cocking of guns outside the room for flirting with him.
He was a genius who never failed to surprise me.