Chapter Three

Viktor hadn't been back to Lilia's studio in almost four days and he was starting to feel worried. His routine was mediocre at best and an absolute travesty at worst. It was far too late to make a new program, so he was stuck with the one he had. Viktor groaned and let his head thump against the wall he was sitting against. Makkachin looked at him from his spot, sprawled across Viktor's legs, and whined at him. Viktor smiled at his constant companion and ruffled the fur on his head.

"What do you think I should do?" Viktor asked, Makka tilted his head to one side and stuck out his tongue.

"I think you should get back to the studio and work out the program." Someone said. Viktor glanced up in shock and saw Lilia standing in the doorway of his room.

"Lilia?" He said, shocked to see her.

She rolled her eyes at him, "Get your dance bag Viktor, we are going back to the studio." She commanded, then turned to leave leaving Viktor with his mouth gaping wide open. Viktor wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and was quick to scramble after her. He gently shooed Makka off his lap and retrieved his bag from where it was collecting dust in his closet.

Viktor scurried after Lilia but he was feeling a little brave, more like stupid, so he asked her, "I thought you weren't going to help me?"

She stopped walking suddenly and Viktor squeaked when he almost ran into her. She turned around and faced him with a light scowl, "I said that I would not teach you, not that I wouldn't help you." She said, then continued striding down the hall.

"But- but how are you going to help me if you aren't going to teach me?" He stammered. "You are the only person I know of with enough knowledge of figure skating to be able to help me with my program. She turned to face him again, this time pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"Viktor, did you completely ignore what Yuri and Yakov said to you? Your program is fine technically, it is the artistry that is nonexistent." She said, Viktor looked down at his shoes as he tried to control the shame and anger he was feeling, he just didn't understand.

Lilia sighed, stepped closer to Viktor and gently tipped his chin up to look her in the eyes. "Viktor you are a beautiful, powerful skater however, this piece doesn't need a powerful, masculine skater. This piece requires femininity and grace, something I cannot teach you. So, I have found someone who I believe can help you." She said, Viktor felt himself warm at her words. It felt nice knowing she hadn't abandoned him.

"Lilia," Viktor said tearily as he wrapped his long arms around her tightly. "Thank you," he murmured. Lilia hesitated at first then, gave in and wrapped her arms around him in return.

"You are more than welcome." She said as she stepped out of the hug. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and clicked her tongue.

"But now we are going to be late meeting your new teacher." She said and started down the hall again, Viktor being quick to follow.

"Do I know who they are?"

"You may know them by reputation, but I doubt you have seen them before." She explained, they finally arrived at the practice studio and Lilia paused before the doors. She looked back at him, nodded then eased the doors open.

To say that Viktor was surprised to see who his teacher was, was a bit of an understatement. Lilia crossed the room to shake the hand of the smaller man.

"Mr. Katsuki it is a pleasure to meet you," She said. "I have been meaning to see you perform for a while now but I've been too busy."

"The pleasure is all mine Ms. Baranovskaya, you have been an inspiration for me ever since I was small. It is an honor to finally meet you." The small man said sincerely almost gushing.

"Viktor, this is Yuuri Katsuki a senior member of the National Ballet of Japan. Mr. Katsuki will be helping you with your free skate." She said, the man next to her bowed in greeting.

"It is very nice to meet you Mr. Nikiforov." He said.

Viktor extended his hand in greeting, "Please call me Viktor, it is nice to meet you as well. Thank you for your help."

"Then you can call me Yuuri, it is no trouble at all."

Viktor took a moment to examine the other man, he was quite a few centimeters shorter than himself maybe just a handful taller than Yuri. Viktor took stock of the slight roundness in his face and guessed that he have just a couple of years younger than him. His hair was the color of ebony and his eyes were a dark brown behind dark blue glasses. Over all Yuuri was handsome, not drop dead gorgeous like people said Viktor was but, still very handsome. But Viktor was still feeling confused as to why Lilia got a danseur to help him, he figured that she would have gotten a ballerina or something.

Lilia nodded approvingly, "Mr. Katsuki I will leave Viktor in your capable hands. I will come back later to see how things are going." She said and left the room closing the door behind her.

Yuuri scratched the back of his head nervously, "Before we do any dancing I guess we should learn a little about each other." He said then sat down on the floor gesturing for Viktor to join him. Viktor decided to humor him and sat on the floor across from Yuuri.

"So tell me about yourself." Yuuri instructed.

"What do you want to know?"

Yuuri thought for a minute then said, "Your likes, dislikes, any ambitions you have. Your favorite color, things like that."

"Why don't you go first, give me an example." Viktor said becoming intrigued by the small Japanese man.

Yuuri nodded then said, "Well, I really like Katsudon or pork cutlet bowls."

"What is that?" Viktor said, tilting his head to one side.

"Oh! Right you probably wouldn't know what that is," Yuuri said sheepishly. "Katsudon is a dish from my home country, Japan. It is a dish where they fry breaded pork in a sweet but kind of spicy sauce they take the fried pork and put it over a bed of rice and then the put a whisked egg over the whole thing. Finally they put a cover over it to let it steam a little bit. For garnish you can put some sliced green onion on top or sweet peas. I like the peas." Yuuri gushed, his eyes lighting up in excitement.

How cute! Viktor thought.

"My parent's run an Onsen, an inn with a hot spring, in Hasetsu, Japan. My mother's Katsudon is the best." He said proudly, and Viktor just stared at him for a moment.

Yuuri's face turned beet red when he realized he was gushing about food.

"A-anyway," Yuuri stammered blushing hotly. "I also enjoy dancing, of course."

"Do you do just ballet, or do you enjoy other forms of dance?"

"I primarily focus on ballet but, I also have experience in contemporary, ballroom," He said, ticking them off on his fingers, then blushed again. "A-and a uh few other types." He stammered. Viktor made a mental note to ask about these other 'types' later.

"I don't like flying internationally, I always get super jet lagged. Don't get me wrong I love seeing other countries but after a long plane ride I always need at a day of rest before I can function properly. I actually arrived two days ago but I needed the sleep to catch up" Yuuri explained.

"I've never had that problem, but I too greatly enjoy seeing other countries."

"I don't have any real ambitions at this moment in time. Lastly my favorite color is blue, now your turn."

"Well my favorite thing would have to be my poodle Makkachin, he is a good boy. He is almost eight, even though he is getting to be an old man, he still likes to act like a puppy." Viktor said, smiling fondly at the thought of his precious fur baby. "I love skating too, of course."

"Have you only done Men's Singles or, have you done ice dancing or pairs skating before?" Yuuri asked, leading an elbow onto his knee and resting his chin on a fist.

Viktor chuckled, "I did, actually, believe it or not I participated in pairs skating when I was much younger. Not for long though just for two season then I realised my true passion was in men's singles."

"What about your dislikes?"

"Well honestly, I don't care for the cold."

"What?" Yuuri chuckled despite himself, "But you live in Russia, It's almost always cold here." He said trying to stifle his chuckles.

"I know, tell me about it, some days it can be awful. I always have to wear so many layers in the winter Yuri makes fun of me. He says that I'm not a real Russian because I can't handle the cold." Viktor said morosely his eyes watering as he sniffed dramatically.

"Yuri?" Yuuri asked confused.

"Ok right you probably don't know who that is. I meant Yuri Plisetsky," he explained, "Yuri is a younger rink-mate of mine, he is making his senior debut this season. He is only 15 but he is a two time consecutive Junior World Champion and Junior Grand Prix Final Champion." Viktor said feeling proud of his younger rink-mate.

"Wow, that is very impressive," Yuuri said smiling at Viktor's obvious pride. "I look forward to meeting him."

Viktor chuckled nervously at that, "The only problem is that Yuri isn't the most sociable of people. He is more likely to say something rude to you and then brush you away… He can be like a feral kitten some days, cute but so so vicious."

"What about any ambitions you have?" Yuuri asked.

Viktor paused his expression became contemplative and serious. "I don't really know if I have any ambitions right now."

Yuuri tilted his head to the side in confusion, "What about your ambitions as a skater? In this upcoming season what do you want to achieve with your programme? Do you want to win again?"

Viktor groaned, leaning back so he was laying on the studio floor throwing one arm over his face dramatically.

"Of course I want to win again," he almost whined, "But I just don't see how I can win with this program. Technically this program has the points to win gold but artistically not so much."

Viktor sat up and rested both elbows on his knees and plopped his chin in between his hands. "My goal has always been to surprise the audience and I certainly will surprise them with this program but, I can't skater it the way it needs to be skated."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not a woman so how could I possibly skater like one?"

"Isn't that why I'm here?"

Viktor have him a working look, "I mean no offense to you or Lilia but, I do not understand how a man, danseur or no, could possibly help me dance like a woman."

Yuuri thought for moment then said, "I think I should reintroduce myself." He got to his feet and Viktor was quick to follow. Yuuri bowed formally to Viktor, "Hello, my name is Yuuri Katsuki Primo Donno and Prima Ballerina of the National Ballet of Japan. It is very nice to meet you."

Viktor tilted his head to one side confusedly and said, "Eh?"

Hey all Renee120 here thank you for reading this newest chapter! It means a lot to me that you read my story. I want to thank all the people who liked and commented it means so so much to me. I'm so glad I was able to post this chapter so soon I hope you all enjoyed it. Please let me know what you thought! :3 I will post the new chapter sometime this month. See you soon thank you again -Renee120