A/N: I'm dying to find a fanfic about Aiza Takeshi and Arima Kousei because I want to see them bonding with each other more, but since I can only find one fanfic about Kousei and Takeshi - thanks for writing one btw, Officially Vocatrash - and Yuri! On Ice isn't helping much in calming my heart, I started writing a crossover fanfic to spread my love for them!

Warning/s: Shounen-ai, grammatical errors galore, a bit OoC, and lack of music and figure skating knowledge (so please notify me when I wrote something wrong about these subjects).

Disclaimer: I don't own these amazing anime shows – Yuri! On Ice, Your Lie in April and Nodame Cantabile.

Summary: Invited to participate in the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition after failing to perform in a local competition, Kousei is determined to win it as he flies to St. Petersburg to learn more from legendary pianist, Nodame. Along the way, he reunites with rival Aiza Takeshi and meets the Russian Fairy, Yuri Plisetsky. Unexpectedly, these two will bring more color to his life.

In his entire 22 years of life, Arima Kousei already experienced lots of trials and hardships that weren't recommended as a way to mature and to continue playing the piano as a pianist. And failing to perform in his last local competition (that would have given him the chance to study abroad the previous month) because of influenza was one of those examples. For some reason, unprecedented situations like this seemed to like to come to him as if he was a magnet for ill luck. When would the Lady of Misfortune give him a break for awhile?

But Watari Ryota told him that everything that happens in their lives had a reason. Well, it was true for his childhood friend since Ryota got the chance to join the strongest university soccer team after his preferred one refused him back then. Kousei wondered when such lucky opportunity would jump to him like that after a depressing setback.

As he went back to the apartment complex that he was staying at after classes, he tried to check his mailbox nonchalantly, contemplating whether he would cook or just buy his supper outside. When he thought that there was nothing in his mailbox, his eyes widened up in surprise when he found an air mail inside it. Urgently, he grabbed it to find out who sent it.

"Eh?! From the International Tchaikovsky Competition Administration?!" he read in shock.

Hoping that it wasn't a joke, he tore the edge of the envelope and slid out the paper from it with shaking hands. After reading the contents of the paper, he gaped. He was invited to participate in a prestigious competition that was only held every four years, and he didn't need to go through the qualifying round and auditions…

"You got to be kidding me…"

Chapter 1: Too Good to be True

After winning first place in the Eastern Japan Piano Competition and graduating from middle school back at his hometown, Kousei managed to go to Okutsu College of Music Affiliated High School with Tsubaki and studied music there seriously under the guidance of a renowned concert pianist of international recognition, Sun Rui. He participated in 6 domestic competitions (where he won 4 first prizes and 2 second prizes) and 2 international competitions (where he won first prize in Sendai and third prize in Hamamatsu) that were held in his home country. Whenever he had time, he would offer his help to musicians who needed an accompanist in their recitals or competitions.

After graduating from high school and hearing funny yet interesting stories from Rui-sensei about two musicians and friends of hers who studied at the infamous Momogaoka Music Academy, he decided to study there for college. He wanted to find and meet the golden pair who made big names around the world of music with their brilliant skills. Unfortunately, he found out that the married couple was living overseas, but he was lucky enough to find their former teacher, Etou Kouzou, who let him be his last pupil before retiring. He participated in 4 domestic competitions (where he won 3 first prizes and 1 second prize) and 2 international competitions, which were the International Franz Lizst Piano Competition in Utrecht, Netherlands (where he won second prize) and the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Hamamatsu again (where he finally won first prize). He even joined an orchestra and had fun performing with his fellow musicians in several local concerts and cultural festivals.

Before graduating from college, he planned to win one last local competition in order to obtain a full scholarship that would enable him to study in France under a famous piano instructor, but he caught influenza from an ill foreign performer during the first round so he was already out of the competition. In the end, his female rival, Igawa Emi, won it easily. Just when he thought that he would wait for a year or two for another competition like that, he received an invitation from the International Tchaikovsky Competition Administration. Plus, Rui-sensei called him the next day, telling him that she managed to meet with the married couple in Paris and shared their contacts with him.

He told Etou-sensei about all the miraculous things that happened. Happy to hear that Kousei got invited and his former pupils were happily married and living in St. Petersburg, Russia, Etou-sensei suggested to him that it was better to seek their tutelage in order to win one of the most prestigious international competitions in the world. Following his instructor's suggestion, he contacted one of them through Touchbook nervously, but after chatting with the wife of the Chiaki Family about the competition and his background, she was very eager to have him as a pupil and for him to stay over their house in St. Petersburg until the competition was over.

After getting their approval, he accepted the invitation from the Russian Administration and arranged all the needed application and visa requirements with the help of his former instructors and friends before March. After he sent his application requirements, graduated from college with flying colors and bid his farewells to everyone under the cherry blossom trees, he left Japan aboard an airplane to Russia on March 18 with enthusiasm.

His childhood friend was right. Maybe there was a reason, after all, why he caught a dangerous illness that hindered him to win that local competition back then. Still, it was too good to be true. That was why he always made sure to slap himself every morning to know that it was real, not just a dream.

As soon as he got off the airplane, verified his passport and purpose of visit to an immigration officer, and got his luggage, the bespectacled pianist exited the Pulkovo Airport while putting on a beanie in his head and wrapping his scarf around his neck properly as he felt how colder the weather was in Russia than in Japan.

"I'm finally here…," he thought, feeling overwhelmed as he took in the unfamiliar sceneries around him. Being in a country that he didn't know at all was a bit intimidating, but he was going to take his first step as a professional pianist in this place and make sure that his music would reach out to more people. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for another chapter of his life.

"Arima Kousei-kun~!"

Following the unfamiliar voice, he saw his full name written on a white cardboard that was held high in the air by an energetic woman in her mid-thirties. She was probably Chiaki Megumi a.k.a. 'Nodame', his new teacher, and the man, who looked really embarrassed to be with her or had a terrible headache, was probably her husband, Chiaki Shinichi. He couldn't believe it…, but the sensational pianist who closely reached Mozart's level of playing, and the charismatic conductor who trained under famous conductors from Germany and France were now standing in front of him! Pulling his heavy luggage behind him, he approached the married couple with an excited smile.

"Um… Good afternoon! I'm Arima Kousei and I'll be in your care for 5 months! Thank you for accepting me as your pupil, Chiaki Megumi-san, and it's a big pleasure to meet you and your husband!"

After greeting and introducing himself to them in a stiff manner (because of nervousness), he bowed with a red face, causing Nodame to blush and giggle in self-complacency.

"Aw, stop doing that, Kousei-kun~! You're making me blush! I've never thought that having a pupil can feel this good and fulfilling!"

A vein in Shinichi's temple throbbed when he saw her wiggle her butt like an overjoyed idiot. "Stop acting like that, Nodame! It's embarrassing! And you haven't done anything yet to feel fulfilled as his teacher! Take your role more seriously and professionally since you accepted his request! There's no way I'm going to help you in teaching him, understood?"

Nodame's face turned pale instantly after hearing that. "Eh?! No, Darling! Please help me in making him a fine pianist!"

Desperately, she hugged her husband as if her life was depending on it while Shinichi tried to shake her off by pushing her away from him with his hands. "As if! Finish what you've started!"

"Gyabo!"

As Kousei watched them bicker, he couldn't help but laugh at their comical conversation and actions. Rui-sensei and Etou-sensei were correct. The two of them were interesting. However, as he continued to observe them, it painfully reminded him of his quarrels with Miyazono Kaori. He said many times to others and to himself that he had already moved on with Kaori and her death, but wherever he went and whenever he saw couples, his time with Kaori would always pop into his mind. Whenever that happened, it never failed to make him feel sad and lonely…

How could he stop this bitter feeling bubbling in the depths of his heart?

"Shinichi-san, good afternoon!"

A loud, familiar shout disrupted them. When he turned around and glanced at the newcomer, his eyes widened up in surprise and recognition.

"Aiza… Takeshi…?"

When the spiky-haired guy with light blue eyes noticed his presence, he halted from approaching Shinichi while carrying his baggage and stared at him dumbfoundedly while pointing a shivering finger at him.

"Huh…?! W-What are you doing here…, Arima?!"

Kousei was about to ask the same thing. It had been four years since he had last seen Takeshi after the spiky-haired pianist decided to study abroad. He looked more mature now. Was it because he gained more muscles, trimmed his hair a bit and was a lot taller than him? No. It wasn't only about his physique…

His expression… Just looking at it already told Kousei about what happened to him all these years. Takeshi experienced and learned a lot from studying in the famous Paris Conservatoire in France and competing in different competitions around the world. Kousei knew because he, himself, had the same expression when he took a last look at his reflection in the mirror inside his apartment before going to Russia. Both of them were pursuing the piano for many years, so he could see how much Takeshi had improved. It was mystifying how he could understand and sympathize with what his fellow pianist had gone through to make it this far.

As if Takeshi could read his mind, he calmed down and just gave him an amiable nod, which he replied to with the same nod, as well.

It looked like his stay here in Russia was going to be interesting.

A/N: How's the story, dear readers? If you're curious about what happened to other characters of Your Lie in April, their stories might be or not be mentioned in future chapters because this fanfic is centered on Kousei, Takeshi, Yuri and their interactions in Russia. Yuri! On Ice characters might be introduced in 3rd chapter, I think.

If you know interesting facts, events, good places and traditions in St. Petersburg and Moscow, please let me know since I haven't gone there yet and I want to make this fanfic more realistic.

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Hope you'll continue to read this as I update it.