Chapter One
Story Takes Place Following Finals in Barcelona
Japan
The excitement from the final was dying down. Yuuri sat looking at the silver medal hanging on it's ribbon, cold against his bare chest. He traced his finger around the medal's surface, lost in thought. Viktor wandered in and lent against the wall, watching.
"It is still not gold Yuuri", he teased, a half smile on his lips.
Yuuri started back to reality and smiled.
"I know, Viktor but I will try harder next time. I will get you a gold to kiss if it kills me".
"Don't be dramatic", Viktor laughed, "Are you packed? The plane will not wait for us. Yurio is meeting us at the airport. Once he says goodbye to Otabek".
"Is there something going on there?" Yuuri asked, one eyebrow raised?
Viktor laughed, "There should be but they are both oblivious to how the other feels. Some people can't see what is right in front of their faces at times." He raised an eyebrow back at Yuuri who blushed. "Get dressed Yuuri, we have a plane to catch and I might be tempted to change my mind and have to kiss that medal and what it is sat on". Yuuri blushed again as Viktor strolled out of the room laughing to himself.
The Airport
Less than an hour later, Viktor and Yuuri made it to the airport to meet Yurio to fly to St Petersburg. Viktor nudged Yuuri in his ribs to draw attention to the fact that standing next to Yurio was Otabek, complete with traveling bag. Yuuri scowled at Viktor,
"Don't you embarrass him Viktor, he is still young. Even if he likes to pretend he is tough".
"Ok, ok, I'll be good!" Viktor pouted.
Yuuri blushed as he looked at Viktor's pouting face. Following the kiss on the ice, Yuuri had been longing to kiss that face again but they had not seemed to have had time with training and preparing for the final. Yuuri had struggled with his confidence to bring it up and they never seemed to be alone anymore. And when they were, Viktor seemed distracted ever since they had decided they were going to go to Russia. Viktor waved at Yurio to get his attention. Yurio looked over but did not wave back as Viktor and Yuuri walked over to join him and Otabek.
"Hello Viktor, hello Piggy", Yurio said. "Otabek is coming with us, his trainer told him to have a break so I said he should come with us." Yurio had a look on his face, almost challenging someone to argue with him.
Viktor grinned, "You remember we said we would be training, right? But that's great, you two are so cute together.". Yuuri shoved Viktor on his ribs as Yurio's face turned red and angry.
"What the hell does that mean?" Yurio yelled, "Anyway, I don't know what you are so smug about. What is Ari going to say about your little piggy, huh?"
The smile dropped from Viktor's face and he turned and walked away from the group.
"Viktor?" Yuuri said, confused with Viktor's sudden mood change.
Yuuri looked at Yurio, "What on earth is going on?" Yurio smirked, "You will see when we get to Russia, Piggy,"
Yurio pulled on Otabek's arm "Let's go get coffee, the flight is not for a while yet"
Otabek looked as confused at Yuuri felt at the sudden change in mood between the two Russians but he followed Yurio towards the coffee shop, with a last backwards glance at Yuuri who now stood alone with his bag, looking more confused than anyone he had ever seen.
Viktor splashed water on his face and stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Damn Yurio and his mouth, he thought. But deep down he knew Yurio was right, he had not given Ari a thought since he had come to Japan to coach Yuuri. He had been so caught up with getting Yuuri to the finals and his complicated feelings toward Yuuri, that he had put his life prior to his spur of the moment decision to come to Japan behind him. He took a deep breath and realised Yuuri would be wondering where he had gone. He pulled himself together and walked back to where he had left Yuuri. Viktor opened his mouth but Yuuri beat him to it.
"Who is Ari?"