Note of caution: some mild mention of attempted rape occurs in this chapter

Time would not keep still, no matter how much Yuuri wished for it to go just a bit slower, for the lone candle in the room to burn just a little while longer. Victor's steady breathing was audible in the dimness. In the corner, Minami had dozed off to sleep as well and Yuuri had to quirk a small smile.

So much for having a chaperone , he mused.

But then, he was not even sure if Victor wanted him in that way—a physical meeting of their bodies. He was not sure how much of the sexual tension he felt earlier was a mirroring of Victor's own. It could have just been his own imagination, his own pent-up desires finally catching up to him.

How amusing was it that one of the most sought after in Shinmachi, Yuuri, the untouchable, now wants to hold someone who is way out of his reach.

Maybe Yuuko was more to the prince's tastes , he thought deprecatingly.

In the red light district, it was not difficult to find something to cater to one's tastes. Men and women were available aplenty. And Yuuri was just one of the many faces - bodies - to choose from.

In a way, he was lucky. Minako teased him that after his mizuage, the requests for him would surely be even more full than it was now. But he still could not stomach the thought of spreading his legs for filthy pigs to rut and sate their lusts in him.

Victor stirred in his sleep and turned to his side, his hand clutching a fistful of Yuuri's sleeve. It took Yuuri's breath away again, looking at the sleeping man, his hair spilled around him like moonlight, effectively distracting him from his dark thoughts. His free hand twitched and inched closer. He snuck a glance at the sleeping Minami and finally, finally, gave into the urge to touch a stray lock lying innocently by his knee.

He twirled the strands around his finger and tested the texture with his thumb. It felt as soft as it looked and Yuuri wondered what would happen if he sifted his hand through the length of it, as if petting Victor. And then what would happen if he grabbed fistfuls of those platinum locks and held Victor in place as his mouth would descend and—

The sound of voices approaching from the hallway cut that line of thought short and Yuuri dropped Victor's hair as if caught doing some unspeakable act. Victor's nose scrunched up and he groaned as the shoji slid open a couple of inches.

Yuuko peeked in through the gap. "Is—?"

And Yuuri was so, so sorry because Victor was waking up, and had let go of his sleeve. He was rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair spilled in wild abandon over his shoulders. Yuuri swallowed hard as the robe slipped off one shoulder.

"Yuuri?" The prince's voice was thick and clogged with sleep and Yuuri had never heard his name sound more erotic.

"Victor-sama, Yakov-sama is waiting outside in the carriage," Yuuko said from the doorway.

"We'll leave you to get dressed." Yuuri gathered himself up and it took a tremendous amount of willpower for his gaze not to linger on Victor looking so warm and inviting on the futon.

They waited in the corridor until Victor stepped out, dressed once more in his gold and reds, a little bit disheveled with the top buttons of his shirt undone, but all the more appealing to Yuuri. He had not bothered to tie his hair up and Yuuri kind of wished that he has offered to do Victor's hair for him. God knows how many times he had done the same thing for Yuuko, and it would mean he would be able to feel those gossamer-like wisps against his fingers one more time

Yuuko led the way to the main entrance with Yuuri, Victor following behind him. As Yuuko turned the last corner, Yuuri felt a slight tug on his scalp and he half-turned to see Victor hanging on the end of his braid. A bright flush spread on Yuuri's ears as he saw Victor copying his earlier actions, running the dark locks between his thumb and fingers, twirling the midnight strands with his forefinger.

Yuuri's tongue tripped over words as he sought to give a decent excuse for what he did in the room, his frazzled brain unable to come up with anything but the honest truth—that he wanted to touch and feel . And before Yuuri could embarrass himself further by giving a pitiful and implausible excuse, all words died on his lips as Victor asked, "May I?"

Yuuri thought that Victor can do anything he wanted to him, anything, just, please . Victor's voice made his defenses weak.

All that Yuuri could utter was a weak croak at the back of his throat and Victor seemed to take that as a yes.

And then the handsome prince with the bright blue eyes brought the tip of his braid to his lips and kissed the bound strands. Victor held his gaze as those pink lips grazed fondly over his hair, the contrast between the dark lock and the pale skin highly pleasing to Yuuri.

Victor might have caught him earlier but he was showing Yuuri that it was okay—that it was more than okay—and that he might just possibly reciprocate what Yuuri was feeling, if just to a certain extent.

Victor bent down and teased the lock of hair he held against Yuuri's lips, as if painting them with the color of Victor's own. A delicious shiver ran down Yuuri's spine. He had never kissed his own hair, the idea ridiculous in itself, but it seemed so intimate, knowing where those wisps were just before touching his skin. The flush in Yuuri's ears has spread to his cheeks and neck, coloring him in a deep cherry blossom shade. His only consolation was that Victor was also blushing brightly himself, the pink dusting had crept to his nose and down his neck and into the vee of what Yuuri could see of his chest.

Yuuri's eyes snapped back to the prince's face, eyes wide. In slow motion he saw Victor's face descend as his whispered in Yuuri's ear, his voice low, accented, and reaching deep in Yuuri's gut.

"May I see you again, Yuuri?"

"Ye- Yes," Yuuri breathed out in a rush. He did not even have to think about it at all, the answer automatic and heavily loaded with what his heart desired.

And just like that, he was gone, their minute of privacy ending with the footsteps of Victor walking away from him.

It took a few seconds for him to get his bearings and then Yuuri hurriedly rushed to the gate after the man, but the carriage was already pulling away into the street.

"Are you okay?" Yuuko asked behind him.

Yuuri still felt flushed and hot but he nodded. His heart was still pounding in his temples and there was a slight stitch at his side.

"Yuuko nee-chan. He was… He was—" He paused, unsure how to describe Victor and these feelings that were too much for him to take in all at once.

"Interesting? Different?" Yuuko hedged. "Beautiful?" There was a teasing tone to her voice now and Yuuri inwardly groaned, knowing that Yuuko might not let him hear the end of it once she finds out about his not-so-little crush.

He was…," Yuuri trailed off lamely once more, the influx of adjectives dying on his lips and making their home in his chest.

He was perfect .

oOo

Yuuri turned the corner, meaning to drop by Minako's quarters before he returned to his room. He stopped in his tracks, voices leaking from within the thin walls and reaching him where he stood, unnoticed.

There was a loud bang on the wooden table and the clatter of porcelain and Yuuri winced, deciding that he didn't want to get involved in whatever was going on right now.

"Are you keeping Yuuri from me?! How dare you!" A familiar masculine voice shouted. A sinking feeling settled in the hollow of Yuuri's chest as he realized who Minako's guest was. He sank further in the shadows, afraid to even move from the spot lest the two people in the room notice him.

Minako's soft voice floated towards him. "Matsudaira-sama, I'm not keeping Yuuri away from you on purpose. He is just too popular and he has already been requested for the entire week while you were away with your father." There was a pregnant pause while the other man assimilated this information.

"Tsk. I"m still not happy about this. Father will still hear about it."

There was a rustle of papers in the silence that followed. "I'm pretty sure there are far more important matters for Matsudaira Sadahiko-sama to occupy his time with and he will not trouble himself with lowly matters at Shinmachi," Minako murmured in response, the bite in her words thinly veiled. "Has the issue with the foreigners been settled?"

"How do you even…," The surprise in the young man's tone was evident and then he laughed, highly amused. "They say never to underestimate you, Okukawa-san, and the rumors may just be true."

"Hmmm?" Her response was noncommittal, if not bored.

"We are still awaiting word from Edo. Those Russian bastards better not get it into their heads that Japan will agree to enter into a treaty with them. One word from the Shogun and we will drive them out of our shores immediately and with force if necessary." There was unmasked pride and a tinge of violence in his voice that grated on Yuuri's nerves.

Yuuri worried his lower lip with his teeth. This was probably classified political information freely exchanged right in front of him and he was not sure what to do with this tidbit of knowledge. Only the young prince came to mind and he fervently hoped that wherever Victor was and whatever he was doing now, he was fine.

"Anyway, Okukawa-san, about the mizuage, we both know who won the bidding right?"

There was another long pause in the room as Minako took long drags on her pipe. When she spoke, her voice sounded teasing to the untrained ear.

"Matsudaira-sama, I don't think there is anyone in the whole of Osaka who can outbid your family in anything."

The condescending tone was lost on Yuuri as well. A cold sweat ran down Yuuri's spine and he walked away without hearing another word. Here was definite proof that it was indeed that bastard who bidded the highest for him—that bastard who two years ago had relentlessly courted him, had been all but gentlemanly, and in one drunken breath had pushed him down and ripped his robe open, eyes and hands and mouth hungrily devouring him until Yuuri's screams had alarmed everyone within hearing distance and had pulled the man away from him.

It was the same bastard who had apologised profusely after the incident and persisted in requesting for Yuuri's company—who was helpless and unable to refuse—trying to buy forgiveness back with lavish gifts and trinkets. It was the same bastard who had opened Yuuri's eyes on how truly disgusting the sexual act could be.

Inexperienced as he was, he had seen and heard too much that he couldn't even be considered pure anymore. For in a brothel that specialized in selling pleasure, nothing could remain untainted for too long—his virginity was heavily guarded for the single purpose to be his debut into debauchery. And now, he had first hand knowledge of how it felt to have hands all over his body, pinning him down, searching between his thighs.

And long after the bite marks on his body and the bruises on his wrists had disappeared, Yuuri could still not stomach the idea of lying down with men and allowing them free use of his body.

He reached his room and curled into a ball on his futon, his breaths coming in short painful gasps as he tried to calm the roaring in his ears. His robe was drenched with sweat and he shrugged his arms off the clinging, damp cloth.

One week. He still had one week.

If Minako was to believed, the next time he would be seeing the bastard was at his mizuage. And even while his brain vehemently rallied against the very thought of his debut, he was going to milk the next six nights for what they were worth.

Victor.

Like a breath of fresh air Victor entered his thoughts. Images of the seemingly shy yet beautiful prince flitted through his mind at random.

Victor's pretty smile, blue eyes that reminded him on the ocean back home, silver hair that shone like spun moonlight and felt softer than Yuuko's most prized kimono, Victor saying his name in that foreign tongue—the stress on the R feeling like a lover's trill against his skin—

Victor clinging to his robe because Yuuri would yet to allow him to touch his hand—

Victor asking for permission if he could see him again—

Slowly, his breathing returned to normal, and his heart was beating wildly for an entirely different reason now.

Anticipation uncurled and settled in his chest and for once, Yuuri could not wait for the evening to come.

oOo

That evening, Yuuri was antsy and filled with nervous energy. He loitered in the corridor leading to the main entrance of the brothel as he waited for the night's assignations to begin. Minami passed by him a few times, a teasing smirk on the young boy's lips that Yuuri did not deem worthy of his acknowledgement. His attempts at keeping a straight face only triggered more giggles from the boy.

He was waiting for the sound of the horse-drawn carriage to approach that it completely took him by surprise when Victor stepped over the threshold and they gaped at each other, slack jawed and eyes wide open.

It was pretty obvious from where Yuuri stood that he was waiting for Victor's arrival. He was unable to sit still earlier—he only wanted to know when Victor arrived to satiate the burning need to know —and then he would hide in his room until he was called for.

It was Victor who moved first, taking tentative steps towards Yuuri who seemed to be rooted on the spot. He was wearing a black military uniform with gold buttons and gold linings on the collar and cuffs this time, and Yuuri decided that it was a good color on the pale man.

"Good evening." The small, shy smile was back and Yuuri had to swallow before he murmured a small good evening back.

"Were you…," Victor hesitated and bit his lip, contemplating the question. "Were you waiting for me, Yuuri?"

A deep flush spread on the courtesan's neck and the reply got stuck in his throat.

Smiling sheepishly and a bit apologetic, Victor murmured, "I apologize. I… I did not mean to assume. I just couldn't wait to see you tonight and I thought…" the words trailed off in self-doubt and Yuuri cursed his self-consciousness.

"I- it's okay! I was - I was waiting for you…," Yuuri thought he would die on the spot from his admission. How could Victor look so calm and collected while being upfront with his thoughts?

But the telltale blush on the prince's cheeks told a different story.

"Then, I have to apologize for keeping you waiting, precious one."

The endearment was a little lost on Yuuri as he followed the dusting of pink up those regal cheekbones and it was then that he noticed the dark shadows under the intense blue eyes.

"You seem tired." Yuuri whispered, hoping that this was okay, that this level of comfortable conversation was acceptable between a prince and a courtesan. He had only seen this kind of interaction between Yuuko and her danna and he let himself wonder just a little bit. Maybe—

Victor huffed and Yuuri could barely believe his eyes when those lovely lips curled into a very obvious and very pink pout, effectively shattering the royal facade. "Negotiations that we wanted to settle as soon as possible are not going smoothly."

Victor sighed and added, "We have limited time as it is but there is strong opposition against us. Uncle Yakov is away trying to settle matters."

The conversation he overheard earlier flashed back at the edge of his memory and Yuuri mulled the idea around, wondering if he should mention to Victor what little he knows.

The lapse in their conversation dragged on further and Yuuri lost the opportunity to say anything at all to the prince.

Wordlessly, Yuuri led the way to the assigned room and Victor followed, both a little bit lost in their thoughts. They settled on cushions, a respectable distance from each other, while Minami hovered in the background. The silence between them was thick, though not awkward. Yuuri inwardly groaned berating himself that he was supposed to be entertaining Victor, and maybe divert him from his responsibilities, if just for the night.

But even Victor's presence could not distract him from the anxiousness that had settled in him since morning. That, coupled with the inner conflict between what he wanted to do, what he was allowed to do, and how much physical intimacy he could tolerate has Yuuri's thoughts spinning in a spiral of chaos.

The quiet plucking of the koto pulled Yuuri back to the present. Victor had carried over the instrument to where they sat and he watched the pale, slender fingers ghost over the taut strings wonderingly.

Victor noticed his attention and from underneath eyelashes at half-mast, looked at the courtesan with a gleam of curiosity. "Do you play, Yuuri?"

"I- I do," Yuuri quipped. "I can play the shakuhachi and the shamisen too…"

"That's amazing!" The smile that broke on Victor's face was bright that Yuuri was a bit blinded.

"I want to hear," came Victor's quiet request.

Yuuri realised that here is his chance at showing off to Victor. He stamped down the soft trembling of his hand as he took in the fact that he was going to perform in front of an audience, in front of royalty.

"Yuuko-san is still with other guests." Yuuri pondered this for a few seconds before finally making a decision.

"Minami," he called out to the young boy. Their gazes met and it was enough for the boy to know what Yuuri wanted. It was picture of how much time they had spent together that non-verbal communication came naturally to them and Victor smiled at this show of closeness.

There was a question in the tilt of Victor's head as Yuuri and Minami took the koto from him and Minami took the space behind the instrument.

The brunette felt the prince's eyes follow him as he stood and fetched the shakuhachi from among the other instruments in the room. He settled beside the koto as Minami put on finger picks. The young boy played the beginning notes of the song, his hands playing by muscle memory alone. A burst of pride bloomed in Yuuri's chest as he saw first hand the results of hours of relentless practice.

Yuuri let Minami set the tempo and allowed him a half-minute to get into the music. Satisfied, Yuuri lifted the flute to his lips and started to play the melody, the sweet lilting tune of the flute filling the room. If he kept his eyes open, he would have seen the way Victor's jaw drop as he watched Yuuri, seemingly lost in their little performance.

It was a melancholic and sad song yet beautiful, full of longing and somehow, promise. Yuuri's fingers flew masterfully along the length of the instrument, brow scrunched in concentration. He played and drew out each note with emotion, finding catharsis with each released breath. There was no doubt here that Minami was the accompaniment, a background stage for Yuuri to be the melody, the main show.

He heard Victor take in a sharp inhale as he brought the song to a crescendo, pouring more of his feelings with each blow into the flute. It was almost akin to him singing his heart out from a place deep inside him.

As the final notes died down, enthusiastic clapping filled the room and Yuuri finally allowed his eyes to open, chest slightly heaving with exertion. He was a bit scared at what he would see but he only saw pride, wonder and a reflection of the turmoil he was feeling shining in the blue orbs fixated on him.

"That was amazing, you two." Victor's was still hushed with amazement as if, he spoke louder, the moment might break. "It is such a beautiful song. What's it called?"

"It's called 'Moon Drop'," Yuuri replied softly. "Lovers far apart / Both looking at the same moon /Under the same sky."

"How romantic," Victor murmured just as softly, matching Yuuri's tone.

"Yuuri has the stamina to play the flute the longest," Minami whispered, letting Victor in on the brothel's little secret and earning a glare from Yuuri.

Victor laughed at this, his lips breaking out into his trademark smile, "Of course my Yuuri would be the best at playing the flute!"

The courtesan gasped as soon as he heard the words. He bit his lower lip, checking to see if he was perhaps dreaming, but the pain was real and so this was real and yes , Victor has indeed called him His . And rather than being put off by such show of possession, as he was wont to do with anyone else, Yuuri found himself leaning into the echo of the words, decidedly liking being called Victor's.

Ore no Yuuri.

Minami coughed in the ensuing silence.

Their eyes met and there was an apology waiting to be spoken in the unwavering blue depths staring back at him. Before Victor could speak again and take the words back, Yuuri allowed his lashes to flutter close and whisper in the coyest voice he could muster, "Your Yuuri, Victor-sama?"

It was the prince's turn to gasp this time, and then flush when he realized Yuuri was teasing him.

"I don't... dislike it…," Yuuri whispered with a small smile, already regretting the words the moment they left his tongue, but unable to take them back himself as he saw Victor flush an even deeper shade.

They were playing a dangerous game in which they both could burn. There was no place for possession and exclusivity in Shinmachi. Yuuri knew this, has known it all his life—but maybe he could dream of a time and a place where they could belong to each other—even though he knew that he was only setting himself up for heartbreak. He's now far too gone to talk sense to himself, anyway.

There was a quiet rapping on the door and Yuuko let herself in with a bow to the prince.

"Are you ready, Victor-sama?"

Yuuri remembered that they were to take Victor to watch a rakugo show. He doubted Victor would be able to fully understand what was going on but Victor had insisted that he wanted to see.

Victor's response was to tilt his head at Yuuri to ask him in turn.

And Yuuri would have preened at Victor's honest reaction, but it was then that he noticed Yuuko's stiff posture and her deliberate avoidance in meeting his eyes and all thoughts of gloating fled his mind.

Oh no .

"I'm sorry, but Yuuri is to accompany Matsudaira Sadamichi-sama for the rest of the evening."

oOo

"Yuuri~," the young master Matsudaira whined, "You're too distracted tonight."

"I've been busy," was Yuuri's unaffected answer. His tongue felt like lead and there was a heavy weight on top of his chest that was annoying him more than the clingy man in front of him now.

The young man shifted on his seat and whispered his name once more.

"Yuuri…"

The courtesan flicked his gaze at him, then refilled his tea cup. The man was not allowed to drink sake in Yuuri's presence any longer, which was pretty much useless as far as Yuuri was concerned. Though sober, he could still see the lust in the gaze directed at him. How was he even expected to lie with this man in exchange for the few hundred yen he was going to be bought with?

"Is the tea not to your liking, Matsudaira-sama? I brewed it myself."

Yuuri saw the flash of fury brought on by desperation in the young master's eyes as he took a sip of the green concoction. Yuuri had to remind himself that he should tread carefully with this man who belonged to one of the most powerful families in the region.

He had been getting away with his slight rudeness and cheek simply because the man was still completely enamoured with him but one wrong step and Yuuri would definitely get in trouble.

"Yuuri, of course the tea you made for me is perfect, just as you are."

He dropped his gaze and hid his lower face with his sleeve, pretending to hide a non-existent blush.

"I am pleased to hear that Matsudaira-sama." Yuuri wondered briefly how it was possible for him to continue speaking without retching his guts out.

"About your mizuage…"

Alarm flashed in Yuuri's eyes. He did not want to talk about it now of all times and with this bastard too.

"I'll make it good for you, Yuuri. Won't you forgive me for my past behaviour?"

He sat frozen in place, unsure how to respond without angering the man in any way. All the training he had undergone had not prepared him to handle this conversation.

"I'll get you anything you want, Yuuri. Do you want new kimonos? Some trinkets or jewelry?"

It was bad enough his virginity was to be bought by this man. What made it worse was that he was trying to buy Yuuri's forgiveness too. The last thread of control holding him together snapped. He tried his best to school his features into a calm mask.

"There is no need for lavish gifts, Matsudaira-sama. The others will get jealous."

"But I want to spoil you, Yuuri."

Yuuri did not want any of that, though, and he just shook his head.

He felt before he saw the man try to hold his hand and Yuuri squeaked and clutched his hand to his chest, eyes wide with surprise and fear.

"There's no need to be shy, Yuuri. In a week…"

Yuuri cursed mentally. He couldn't even handle this man's touch on his hand, not now, and not in a week's time. There was a noticeable difference, however, in the way he shied away from Victor's touch and the way he balked at the very idea of being held by the young master.

Yuuri stood up and the man looked at him in surprise.

"That will be all for today, Matsudaira-sama. Pleasant evening to you."

Yuuri all but ran from the room, Minami soon following at his heels after bowing to the man left behind.

oOo

The night was quiet. A lot of the guests have either left or withdrawn to the quarters with their chosen courtesan of the evening.

Yuuri was left alone not knowing what to do with himself so he waited, his fingers fiddling with the edges of his sleeve, wondering petulantly what was taking them so long . His mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of Victor and Yuuko together that it overshadowed any of his current worries and anxiousness. His impatience dragged out each minute longer than it actually was and time seemed to reach a standstill.

The taste of jealousy was flat and bitter on his tongue and Yuuri did not like it one bit. He knew it was pointless to even feel this way but there was nothing he could do to stamp down the itch in his chest.

When Yuuko and Victor came back that evening, Yuuri hid behind a corner unobtrusively, listening to the couple greet each other a pleasant good night. He heard Yuuko shuffle off, maybe to find him, and he only allowed himself to sigh after long minutes have passed. He slumped against the wall, leaning his left shoulder against the wooden partition for support.

He was caught unawares by Victor standing behind him, whispering his name. He turned around, fist against his thrumming heart.

"Victor-sama. Y- you're not supposed to be here."

"I just wanted to see you before I left, and to say good night to you."

"I see." Yuuri kept his gaze on the floorboards. "Good night, then."

He turned his back on the prince, rudeness personified, not wanting the silver-haired man to see the ugly expression he was making right now.

He knew he was being cold and detached and he could feel all his walls coming back up. He just did not know how to deal with this cacophony of jealousy, petty and desire clamouring in his mind.

Victor stepped closer and grabbed a handful of the cloth at his back, voice a little pleading when he spoke.

"I missed you tonight, Yuuri. May I see you tomorrow again?"

There was only an answering silence and Victor stepped closer and rested his forehead against Yuuri's shoulder, his hand still a fist on the shorter man's back.

"I wish you could have gone with me to see the show. I could only understand some parts but Kiku-san was really good. I don't know who the important guest you had to accompany tonight was, but…"

There was a pregnant pause and Yuuri found himself hanging on to Victor's every word.

"But?" Yuuri asked, his voice small and almost inaudible.

"But I was really irritated that you had to see to him instead of going with me."

And Victor was doing it again, being so sincere and upfront with him, without any guise or pretense.

"Tonight would have been better if you were there."

That seemed to push Yuuri over the precipice and he flung himself over the deep end without any regrets.

He spun around and flung his arms around the man's neck and buried his face in Victor's chest and wondering how effortlessly the other man made it seem to put his feelings into words. At first Victor froze, and Yuuri assumed for a panicky second that he had overstepped his boundaries but Victor then visibly relaxed and wound his arms around Yuuri, pulling them flush against the other.

A part of Yuuri warned him that it was dangerous, that anyone could see them like this, but the other part never wanted to leave Victor's arms ever again. He could smell Victor, feel the warm hands splayed gently against his back, tugging him closer. He could feel the soft breaths that were like whispers against his neck and the soft silver strands that were like kisses against his cheek.

When they did pull apart, there was a shy smile on the prince's lips and Yuuri found himself smiling back in return, his insides feeling like mush.

"Good night, Yuuri."

And like that, he was gone again.

In a daze, Yuuri returned back to him room and squeaked in fright when Yuuko greeted him.

"How was the Matsudaira tonight?"

Yuuri shrugged, hoping he appeared nonchalant as he undressed.

"Same as before."

"Victor couldn't shut up about you not being there tonight. It was kind of funny, in a way."

Yuuri turned to look at the woman wide-eyed.

"It was 'Yuuri this' and 'Yuuri that' the whole evening, like, seriously, Yuuri what kind of spell did you put on the man? I think he's even more into you than the Matsudaira who just seems really desperate to get you in bed."

Yuuri flinched at this casual mention of how it was no secret in the brothel how the young master wanted him.

Yuuko observed him carefully, her warm brown eyes shining in the candlelight. "Yuuri, I'm happy that you're finally going out of your shell, and letting someone aside from me and Minami in, but honestly, I'm also a bit worried..." Yuuko bit her lip and Yuuri knew where this conversation was headed.

"Victor mentioned that they were given until the end of the week to leave if agreements have still not been settled between the two empires."

It was the same deadline as his debut. Shit.

"I just don't want your heart broken when Victor leaves. Can you—try not to get too attached? I know you like him so much, Yuuri. But he won't be here to help you pick up the pieces when he leaves."

He knew Yuuko meant well, was only looking out for him like a proper older sister should, but it hurt, god , it hurt so much, to get this talk when he was already half-gone himself, already plummeting headfirst into the abyss.

"Thank you, Yuuko-nee-san" Yuuri choked through the words.

Yuuko patted him on the cheek and left the room.

As Yuuri lay on his futon that night, thoughts adrift, he made up his mind to make the most of what he had left of Victor's time. It was not much, but it would have to be enough to carry him through the lonely years stretching out ahead of him as a courtesan in Shinmachi.

There was no other alternative.

It would have to be enough, he was sure.

A/N: There's a song on YT from which the song Yuuri plays for Victor is based on. I wish there was a way for me to link it up here. If you'd like to have the link please me *at* me on twitter: chiinoiserie

Thank you for reading c: