Chapter Text
More than a week has passed and many things already happened in his hometown. First, him coming after five years of absence to his home and family, skating in front of Yuuko to forget his lost on the Grand Prix Final. Second, the visit and offering of his idol Victor Nikiforov to coach him and win the next Grand Prix, while saying this naked on his house onsen. He was first amazed, surprised, scared why Victor has come from Russia, just from seeing him on video doing his choreography, and just decide right there, that he will be his coach, bringing all his things and dog to stay on his family hotel. At first, Yuuri hesitated about Victor's offering, sincerily, he didn't know what Victor was truly thinking, but when Minako told him "Victor came because he chose you, you bring him here, that's amazing!" Yuuri wanted so badly to believe those words, that Victor chose him for his skating skills. Yuuri desired that was the case, that he was still good enough to be coached by Victor, a legend on skate figure. Because, that give him back the reason to skate again, a determination that fullfilled his mind and body, not only to impress Victor, it was to reassure him that skating was his thing. However, nothing was the way he wanted.
Third, the visit -intrusion- of a certain russian, Yuri Plisetsky, that he had encountered on the bathroom a year ago. Telling him that someone who cries over a loss didn't have the guts to participate in a sport like this, and that they didn't need two Yuris on the same rink. Yuri or Yurio by his sister, was like a tornado, screaming, always wearing a frown, and indifferent to other people, he was- is totally different from Victor, who was kind, always smiling and laughing. Yuri was a like a bucket of cold water, that wake up Yuuri from the dream and illusion that he had created. Yuri was confident and strong, he knew what he wanted, but Yuuri wasn't like that, always over-thinking, on his skills, on what he wanted to do. He sometimes wondered, if it weren't for Victor, would he be skating now? The though always made him depressed.
Before Yuri came, Victor's eyes were always watching him, his voice always reaching Yuuri's ears and the slight touches that he received, before he shyed away from it. Yet, the difference was clear as water with Yuri, he talked with Victor casually, glared and screamed at him even. Yuuri couldn't think about doing that, the familiarity was obvious. When, the two of them where chatting, Yuuri felt like he was intruding on something... personal. Like that time, when Victor was teasing Yuri, and then laughed at his heart content, a true laugh, not some of the facade expressions that Victor always gave to his fans. To a certain point Yuuri was still scared of Victor, not because Victor was mean to him, but because his childhood idol was here because of him. Yuuri just admired Victor, and that's why he didnt want to disappoint him.
Now, with Yuri here and an upcoming event, The Onsen Ice event to be certain. Yuuri was feeling more insecure than ever, not even the Grand Prix made him felt like this. Sure, he totally screamed that "I will give all the Eros, that I have!" to win the competition. Still, that happened in the morning, when he and Yuri, keep listening the new music that Victor gave to both of them.
"First, you two have to made the program yours, and what of a great start by listening to the music!, you have to analize it before midday" Victor smiled and gave them the full song to them "You have to understand the true meaning of love of each song" Victor then explained that they will practice shortly some movements and then head back outside to listen to the songs.
Yuuri now was on his room listening to Eros, his song was... happy, silly, exciting, with differents arrangments and melodies, it was the contrary of Yuuri. Yuuri wasn't like that, adventurous to find his true love, 'Maybe that's why, Victor wanted me to perform it' he keep repeating the song over and over again till it was tattoed on his head. It was almost midday, and Yuuri was getting more nervous at the moment 'Finally, Victor will teach me' he though. He hear the voice of his mother calling him.
"Yuuri!, Vicchan called!" Yuuri, putting aside his headphones and going down the stairs quickly, to face his mother. He still didn't know why she called Victor like that.
"Yuuri calm down, breath" his mom smiled "He said something about a song"
"Ah, yes, did he tell you more about it?"
"Mmn, yes, he said that he first will train with Yurio on the Ice Castle for a couple hours" she clapped her hands, and Yuuri freeze, why Yuri first?, he though, was because he was better, more decisive, more- "Yuuri, are you listening?" his mother asked.
"A-ah, no, sorry" he blushed, he was thinking to much again "Don't worry Yuuri" his mom take his hand, he didn't if she was saying just now or because she knew, but either way Yuuri feel more relaxed "Well, Vicchan said that after Yurio finished, you have to go there, with all your things and the song too, okay?" Yuuri nodded "Vicchan also said that you two will be practising on different times, until the event is over, for better results he told" Yuuri sighed, of course, it was so obvious that they practice on different hours, to have full use of the rink and concentrate on the steps and spins they made, of course he had worried for nothing like always.
Yuuri, more secure, went to retrive his things and said goodbye to his understanding mother.
---
While Yuri was receiving the finals intructions of Victor, Yuuri was changing on his clothes and preparing to enter the rink. Putting on his gloves, he stand up, to see Yuri enter the locker room, with a solid expression. Yuuri wanted to ask "How was the program" or "How much did you advance on it", but he was shy and only looked aside and passed the russian boy.
"Oi" Yuuri stopped and turned back his head "If you're questioning, I will start doing the program tomorrow" Yuuri tilted his head, confused. Yuri give a sigh irritated "It's because Victor wanted to see how well my spins and timing was" Yuri sat down taken of his skates "He said that I have to be on level" He put his things inside his pack "And I, clearly, made to that level" the boy looked at Yuuri, and he feel intimidated "He was strict, but that is nothing to me, my spins, axels, lutz, shallows, were perfect" Yuri stand up and walked to the exit door "He said it was perfect"and he was gone, leaving a trembling Yuuri behind. 'He' , Yuri was talking about Victor, as always.
Yuuri saw the entrance of the rink, always icey and calm, he felt insecure, his heart was beating hard, but he had to show Victor, he was worth of his coaching. Yuuri, went to the rink with slowpace. Victor, who was inside it, looked at him and smile a bit. Yuuri worries washed away. This was his moment and he wouldn't ruin it.
---
Though it was more easy saying it than really doing it. It wasn't like his Lutz or Axels were bad, but the face that Victor made while watching it was not amused or surprised. He even gave them some instructions to Yuuri to do a better performance. Victor told him that it was more than enough today and they should be heading towards home now. Yuuri just nodded and retired to the locker room, he was about to burst in tears, but he couldn't do that in front of his idol. He tried to distract himself, murmuring the name of basic moves.
"Yuuri?" a hand reaching his shoulder, surprising him "Are you feeling okay?" Yuuri turned, fully facing Victor "Victor... I'm fine, everything is fine" Yuuri give him a tiny smile, hoping that Victor didn't notice his increasing anxiety "I was just thinking about the movements, that's all" Victor keep watching him, getting closer and closer to Yuuri's face, as he felt more exposed than before.
"V-Victor? " Yuuri felt a warm hand on his head "You did well, Yuuri" Yuuri wished he didn't blushed "we can't ate katsudon for obvious reasons, but I hear that there was a festival tonight, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?" Yuuri felt more self conscious now, was Victor really offering that? "We will go with Yurio and your family, of course" Victor put his hand on his hip, Yuuri missing the feeling.
Well, that's how far the dream went, getting his hopes up and going alone with Victor to the festival, would never happen. Yuuri nodded slowly, seeing a pout of slight disappointment from Victor "Aren't you excited for the festival?" he asked.
"I-it's not that" Yuuri said quickly "I am just.. tired? " Victor looked at him and shrug it off "Then, we have to go the hotel and get some rest right?" he smiled. Yuuri couldn't still believe his luck, he thanked the triplets for it.
---
It was almost evening and Yuuri was truly tired now, rejecting a bath with Victor wasn't easy, the russian was too persistent. After finishing dinner, Yuuri went up to stairs to his room, and with a thud, embraced his blankets. They decided to go two hours from now, so that they can rest a little. Yuuri picked his phone, putting on headphones and begin to listen to Eros.
The song now familiar, sootheed him. It was five o clock, they were going till eight, so he did have time to rest. He begin to doze off on the tenderness of his bed, until a sound wake him, someone has entered the room, when he saw a tail he knew it was Makkachin. The dog wailed to be around him, to sleep with him. Makkachin was almost charming as his master, so Yuuri didn't have the heart to deny it.
"Come up here, Makkachin !" he made space for the dog, and happily the puddle jumped, rubbing against Yuuri. He returned the gesture by petting Makkachin until, both of them fell asleep.
---
Yuuri felt a tug from his sleeve "Makkachin, Just five more minutes..."
"Oh, I didn't now my name was Makkachin now"
Then, Yuuri touched, not a fur as he expected, instead was a hand rubbing circles against his sleeve "Vicvictor-! " He put his glasses on "I'm sorry I didn't noticed and-"
"You don't have to worry ~!" he sat down beside him "I was searching Makkachin, with no result, until I entered here! you two looked so cute together, I never seen Makkachin slept with another person before, so I was surprised!" Yuuri just give an awkward giggle, feeling a little special of what Victor told him.
He saw the bed, not finding the dog "Makkachin left a few minutes ago" Victor said as reading his mind "Yuuri it's time to go at the festival, we are almost done, you are the only left" Yuuri didn't realized, but then he saw Victor with a gorgeous black yukata, with a few decorations that went from his torso and ended on his waist. Almost envolving him. Victor could wear a trash bag and still look stunning. Yuuri closed his mouth not realizing that he open it, he prayed that Viktor didn't saw, but Victor was in front of his closet searching God knows what.
"You don't have that much clothes, do you?" Yuuri saw Victor bring out some clothes "Well, I didnt go out that often, practice and ballet took all my time" He didn't get invited either, just a few times with Yuuko and Takeshi, but that was all "That would have been a problem, but luckily I buy you some clothes, just in case"
Yuuri was surprised, Victor buy him clothes? But why?. He saw Victor ruffling on some bags that Yuuri didn't see before "As your coach, I want to know everything about you, Yuuri, what you like and what not, so..." Victor seemed to struggle with the bag, "So, I bought you this!" and then Yuuri saw, a grey yukata, with white impressions all over it, a black belt "I went with Yuuko, so I'm sure it fits you well"
Victor offered the yukata, Yuuri took it, seeing that the white impressions were birds, flying through the cloth and it was so soft to the touch" Victor, I, I can't take this..."
"Nonsense! I bought it as a gift, and you can't refund a gift" Victor gave him a big smile "Please, Yuuri" Yuuri was still distressed, but accept it nonetheless "Good! I bought as pair, so we will look alike" Yuuri froze, pa-pair? He said pair?. Yuuri noticed the decorations of Victor were little birds of white color and a white belt. Was he so distracted that it escaped his senses?. Victor leaving the room with Yuuri still on a state shock. Did Victor did that because he was going to be his coach or just because he was like that? Or...? Yuuri grasped the yukata, no this was only a friendly gesture, but couldn't deny that he feel happy about it.
---
When everyone was ready, they went to the place, it was at the foot of the mountain, hundreds of people went. Chatting, laughing, playing the games of the fair. They arrived at the peak of the celebration. They stayed together for a while, but then the triplets wanted to go more afar and their parents couldn't deny them. That only left Yuuri, Victor, Yuri, Minako and the puddle. They walked for a while chatting, well more like Yuri and Victor chatting in russian, Yuuri feel a little jealous of that, speaking with someone so famous without holding back. He speaks to Minako-san instead, the two of them discussing about the choreography and spins, then carrying the conversation when Yuuri was little and failed all the moves, both of them laughed, not noticing the look from both russians.
"Yuuri" his teacher touched the yukata "Your yukata and Victor's one match? or it is my imagination?" Minako grinned "It's, it's, because I didn't have nothing to wear and Victor buy me these.." he said murmuring.
"Mmm, but why do they match? I'm sure he could buy you one with another design..." and he though the same, but Yuuri sometimes didn't understand Victor either "He said that the shop sell it on pair, I think it's that?" Minako keep a thoughfull face, until her eyes sparkled with exciment.
"Look, Yuuri!" the ballet dancer signaled "There's a sake shop, let's have a drink"
"'Sake'? What is that?" asked Victor, Minako grinned and Yuuri had a bad feeling.
"It's a famous drink here in Japan, very traditional to us" Victor has his eyes sparkled "We have it in occasions, like this one, and drink to our heart content!" Minako put her hand, thinking.
"Speaking about that" Minako turned quickly her head "Yuuri, what are we celebrating?" Yuuri exasperated, sighed "We celebrate the repent of Kariteimo, goddess of easy delivery and Guardian of children, Minako-san"
"Amazing!" Victor screamed "We should have a protector like that, don't you think so?" Victor looked at Yuri who rolled his eyes "Hhmp, whatever"
"Then, let's go to the sake!" Yuuri had a bad feeling, but Minako was already taking Victor with her "Uhm, Minako-san, I dont think-"
"Hey!" Yuri snarled and everyone jumped "Victor what do you think you are doing?"
"I'm just going for a drink. Yurio"
" A drink my- " Yuri took a breath "Victor,we're training, and we have to be in shape , there's only more six days till the event" Victor frowned a little "Well, then I guess I have to pass this opportunity, Minako-san"
" Y' all are boring, I'm going for the drink of my life"
Yuuri, with words trapped in his mouth, looked at Victor embracing Yuri "You really are unbelievable"
"Everyone said that to me " Victor smiled, teasing the young russian" Gosh" Victor ignoring him rubbing against the russian and annoying him.
Yuuri felt out of place again, So that's the difference between him and me. It's was unreasonable to be jealous of a child, but Yuuri couldn't help it. He wanted to go home, to the rink, to the ballet studio, but not here, where he feel exposed and alone. He should have gone with his teacher, but he doesn't like drinking. So he does was best for him. They start walking, the russians ahead of him, chatting. When a crowd came, there was a lot of people, but Yuuri kept walking, until he stopped, seeing the two skaters from afar now. He moved towards another direction, to escape, to breath. When, he looked back, no one was following, he felt calm, but forgotten. Dissmising those thoughts he moved to ohter places, watching the shops. He walked so far, that he didn't where he was. He noticed that he was in some crowdless place, there was so much space. He wondered, till he saw a shrine of Kariteimo, a woman holding a child. He suddenly felt nostalgic, remembering the times when he happily practiced on the rink with Yuuko. He didnt have that much friends, but Yuuko and occasionally Takeshi, kept him company and even went to a couple of festivals. He missed that, the feeling of freedom, childhood.
Yuuri took out a coin and offered to the shrine, then clapped his hands twice and wished 'Please let me be at ease, I want to feel free again, like when I was a little boy with no worries' Yuuri sighed 'I want to skate freely again...'. He knew that was selfish, but with his idol here, everything was different. He had to keep the level and train everyday, now with a rival, Yuuri could almost see his tension and anxiety showing. He didn't want Victor to see that side of him, the weak side of him. He finished praying, giving his thanks to the goddess.
He felt a sudden hot air, give quickly by the minutes. Yuuri was taken aback, his glasses were foggy, he cleaned it, but his vision was still blurry. He noticed the hotness of his body, he felt hot, so hot, his breathing agitated. Did he ate something to felt like this? Food? Water? Or was it the pressure? Yuuri could feel a fever coming, he knew that, his legs were shaking. He sat down, trembling, alone.
"Yuuri!" he saw a figure approaching "Bog!" it touched his forehead "You're sweating!" he took his glasses of because he couldn't see.
"Victor..?" Yuuri asked "Yes, that's me, can you stand up?" Yuuri tried but failed.
"What happened?" another voice "Yuuri! Are you okay?" He hear the worried voice of his teacher. He shook his head, receiving a painful pricking on his head.
"I will take him to the hotel" Victor carried Yuuri carefully, Yuuri was almost unconscious "Tell the others, I will get going!"
"Leave it to me! Take care of Yuuri!"
"Of course!" Victor said in english with determination.
---
"Where did you go, Yuuri?" no response "We were very worried when you disappeared like that" a constant breathing "Yuuri, I know you're awake"
Yuuri was in his bed, laying with a wet on his forehead, he didn't want to tell Victor, such selfish and childish reason behind it. Victor sighed "if you don't want, it's fine" Victor seated on the bed "but as your coach—as your friend, I want to now what's troubling you, and I want to understand it, okay?" Yuuri didn't deserve this (his) kindness. Victor stand up but before he walked away a hand pushed his shirt.
"Can you stay a little bit?" Yuuri voice was shy, but he wanted that, desire it. Victor amused, sat down on the bed again "Of course, Yuuri"
"Until, I'm asleep?"
"Till then, I shall stay!" Victor give a cheerful smile "As a knight that watches his protégé" Yuuri snorted, he really didn't deserve this.
"I never had the chance to thank you, Victor" Yuuri said, maybe the fever was making him all emotional "But really thank you, I appreciate that you came here, from your home, to train me" Yuuri smiled, well all he could smile now "Thanks... Victor" as he dozed off.
"It's nothing, my little piglet, I came here because I felt inspired by you" Victor though about how Yuuri performed, it was like watching another world, just Yuuri and the ice and nothing more "But I want to know, why you put yourself in such restrains..." he said thinking about the perform of Yuuri on the Grand Prix.
Victor put on another blanket on Yuuri and leave the room when he was sure that Yuuri felt asleep. He closed the door and though about the smile that Yuuri give him, pure, innocent, truthful. He had seen countless smiles, adoration, lust, interest, convenience. Even his own smile was a facade to please the public. But with Yuuri, you could read him like a open book. That's why he felt so interested in him, on the ice, Yuuri was like a fairy, but when you met him, sincere and welcoming, Victor wanted to see so badly every side of Yuuri. That's why he gave Yuuri Eros, he was excited about the event.
Laying down on the bed, he though "But that's not all, right?"
---
Victor woke up with the scream of Yuuri's sister, followed by the scream of Yuri about sleeping and shut up.
He dressed, leaving Makkachin on the bed.
"Good morning"
"Oh, good morning, Vicchan" Yuuri's mom give him a tired smile "We're sorry you woke like this"
"No, it's fine!" Victor smiled "Did something happen?"
"Something, something -!" Victor looked at Mari "Everything is happening! I just don't believe it..." she rubbed her forehead "I really don't understand why you're so calm mom" Mari pulled out a cigarette "I need to clear my mind, don't call me if anything happens"
Victor saw her leaving, looking at Yuuri's mom for answers. Hiroko sighed "You will understand it better, when you see it" she said guiding Victor to Yuuri's room. Whatever happened was that bad? Did Yuuri fever went up or something similar?. Victor didn't understand. Hiroko stopped on front the door "Even myself can't believe it now, but Yuuri's my son and I want you to keep support him" Victor serious, nodded "Okay, then..."
She opened the door, both of them seeing a little child on the bed. Victor was confused.
"Mommy!" the black haired boy jumped and run towards her "Why you leave so sudden?"
"I was making breakfast, Yuuri" Hiroko patted the child's head.
Wait.
Mommy?
Yuuri?
"Hiroko-san?" Victor pointed at Yuuri who noted the presence of Victor and hide behind his mother, Hiroko nodded "Yuuri, say hi to our guest"
"H-hi, my name is Yuuri" the child said still on his mother side. VVictor smiled a greeted back, making the child Hide again. Now, the one who needed to calm was him