"Oh God, this is killing me!" Yuuri said as he throw yet another scroll to the floor. Patience was one of his strong point but after trying to read at least 50 scrolls of wordings all in kanji, he swore he could die from it.
"Calm down and rest first," Victor said soothing him. Something he finally said after Yuuri asked him to follow him to the basement after dinner with the Nishigori.
"How to even calm down?! I've read and tried to understand this grassy language only to find nothing! Not even about an out of body experience! These scrolls are just talking about some deities I don't even know and how we should appreciate them. Oh God, kill me," Yuuri banged his head to the table, letting the dust covered his forehead.
"Yuuri, we still got a few days here, remember? Just, let's go to your room and get you some sleep first, okay? Maybe a nice bath before that, I don't know, just to relieve your stress."
"Yuuri, what are you doing down there?" Toshiya called, peeking up from the entrance before stomping down in panic seeing the mess Yuuri had made. "Oh God, Yuuri, what did you do with these scrolls?"
"Looking for one that actually make sense to explain Victor's situation." Yuuri answered briefly.
"They're in your room," Toshiya sighed. "I know you'll ask for them after hearing Victor's circumstances so I sorted them out and put it in your room. I can't believe you immediately went down here as soon as you arrived."
"Why didn't you tell me?! Oh Dad, I really love you, I really do, you're a life-saver!"
"I know. Now clean this mess up or you won't be sleeping in your room tonight."
"Okay!"
Victor chuckled seeing the father-son interaction. So warm, so understanding, something that deep inside – he knew even if he couldn't remember – was something he was lacking.
"I love your Dad, Yuuri. He is a fun man," Victor said.
"I know, but I thought you love me?" Yuuri covered his mouth as soon as he finished the sentence unconsciously, carefully eyeing Victor who now seemed to put a sheepish grin on his face, emphasizing his heart shaped lips.
"Yuuri!" Victor looked at Yuuri, puppy eyed. "Of course I do!"
"Um, you're not.. mad?" Yuuri asked.
"About what?"
"About just now.."
"It's normal to be confused, Yuuri. I might not remember anything about myself, but I understand that the relationship between two men wouldn't be easy. I won't push you, and I won't do anything against your will."
Yuuri stayed silent, making himself busy with the scrolls, trying to hide his embarrassed face. His heart beat faster than it already had, hearing such care and commitment that the foreigner gave to him. Victor had always been so open to him, showing himself, making him admire the man. And he did fall for Victor, even if he didn't want to admit it.
It was hard, for Yuuri, to admit liking another man. At least since he had never seemed to be romantically interested with anyone ever. Maybe Yuuko, but that was so long ago, before Yuuri realized it was just an admiration towards the older lady.
"Again, you're thinking too much," Victor said as he gazed at Yuuri with the calming blue orbs, cupping Yuuri's cheeks with his hands, sending warmth towards the Japanese.
"How do you even know I'm thinking at all?"
"If you furrowed your brow too much, it will be quiet obvious, silly Yuuri." Victor chuckled.
Ah, how Yuuri loved the sound of that. How the rhythm made butterflies fluttered in his stomach, how the slightly low but clear melody made his heart skipped a beat. Yuuri swore he could listen to it forever. Yuuri reached to caress Victor's cheek before snapping back to the reality and taking a step back, making Victor startled.
"Yuuri?"
"I.. It's nothing, Victor. It's okay."
"If you say so. Well, let's continue cleaning this up, shall we? Then go to sleep, for you."
Yuuri nodded in agreement and he continued to neatly place the scrolls back in order. Some were really old, so Yuuri hoped that his previous harsh treatment wouldn't do any damage to it, or else his Dad would surely kill him.
Yuuri went upstairs as soon as he finished arranging the scrolls, deciding to take a dip in the onsen before resting from the tired day. He soaked himself inside the warm water after cleaning up, feeling comfortable as he soaked deeper. The warm water sooth his anxious heart, making him temporarily forget about everything, every anxiety, every pain, every memories, every people he had met. Except Victor. Despite whatever he did, the spirit he had been with for a mere two days stayed in his mind, occupying his very existence. Maybe he shouldn't have greeted the man that day. Maybe.
But it was too late to regret it now. He was set on saving him first, before everything else. How he feel about Victor came second. First and foremost, Victor had to live, woke up from his deep slumber, so he could meet him face to face and finally decide how they would continue their relationship from then on.
Yuuri closed his eyes, losing himself in his own thoughts.
"…ri! Yuuri!" A sound could be heard, clearly worried for his well-being.
"Yuuri!" Another voice could be heard.
"Wha-" Yuuri opened his eyes to see the ceiling inside his room. Mari was there beside Victor, both looking worried. "What happened?"
"You fainted in the onsen. I think you soaked for too long, stupid brother. If I didn't sense the heavy air your spirit friend was omitting, I wouldn't even know," Mari scolded Yuuri for being far too careless. Yuuri smiled apologetically at his sister. "Well, now rest. I put a compress here, you do it yourself, I want to sleep, okay?!" Yuuri nodded, still managing to let out a soft chuckle.
Yuuri turned his attention towards the worried aura beside him. He smiled weakly at the foreigner who looked like he wanted to cry any second.
"Sorry to make you worried, Victor," Yuuri reached out to gently 'touch' his hand. He slowly got up and sit, seeing Victor eye to eye, brown to azure blue.
Victor looked down to the floor, shoulder slumped, even as a spirit, he looked like a mess. Yuuri felt really bad for making Victor felt worried, but he couldn't seem to get himself stopping from touching the spot on Victor's head, making the Russian surprised.
"I.. Is it that thin?" The Russian finally looked up to Yuuri, worried for something else, apparently.
"Huh? No! It's okay!"
"I'm old, aren't I? Is that why you didn't want to be with me?" Victor whimpered like a kid. Yuuri panicked, although he had to hold himself back from giggling watching a childish Victor.
"No! Victor, you're perfect! Flawless! It's not because you're old! I.. I really like you!"
"Really…?" The Russian suddenly sounding so hopeful, "You like me?"
Yuuri blushed at the realization of what he just said. Hell, he had been blushing non-stop since he met Victor.
"I… Yeah, I like you. We're friends, aren't we?" Yuuri answered, knowing fully well how to avoid Victor's next question.
"Eeh~ Just friends huh~" Victor pouted. He was so adorable that Yuuri wanted to just pinch his cheeks and kiss them..
No. He shouldn't.
"Let's rest?" Yuuri asked, smiling, unwilling to continue the conversation. In another way, he also to distract himself from his own desire to monopolize the Russian.
Victor nodded and let Yuuri lay back again, softly caressing the black hair and planted a kiss on Yuuri's forehead.
"Rest well. Let me see you skate again, tomorrow, okay?"
"Mhm. Let's skate together tomorrow," Yuuri mumbled softly before going to a deep sleep.
Victor smiled softly at the Japanese fore lying down, hugging Yuuri in his sleep.
"Hnggh.." Yuuri groaned, lazily opening his eyes.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," he heard as he rubbed his eyes before fully gathered his own soul, and strength, to wake up. "Good morning," Yuuri was greeted with the wide grin of the Russian, making him remember again how utterly beautiful the other man was.
"Morning, Victor," Yuuri smiled, his gaze soften as he saw Victor accompany Vicchan playing around in his room.
"Morning, Yuuri," Victor kissed him again on his forehead, making him blushed again. What did he just realized the night before? Oh, Victor will surely be the death of him.
Yuuri sighed, contemplating between the reasons of his unwillingness to refuse Victor's kiss, either because he actually wanted it too, or because he was sure that Victor would be putting again and sad and looked at him with those pair of puppy eyes, which in the end making him unable to refuse and just let Victor do whatever he wanted. He already knew too well what those pairs of blue eyes could do.
At least those pairs of eyes got effect on him.
Oh well.
"I think I'll take a quick bath first, before going through the scrolls, and books, apparently. I'll be back," Yuuri quickly get up and tidy up his bed before going to the bathroom. He would like to dip into the onsen and take his time but he didn't have time for that. He had to go through the scrolls, saving Victor would be the first priority.
He quickly came back, grabbing some bread and milk for breakfast before holing himself up in his room, trying to depicter what had seemed like a code, an ancient writing or so. He was glad he had learnt all those complicated language when he was a kid.
It was afternoon before he knew it, time passed fast as he spend it in silence, the foreigner seemed to be unwilling to disturb Yuuri from his serious 'study' and played with Vicchan instead. He put down his glasses massaged his temples. Few more books to go. He was lucky he loved reading, shuddering at the thought of what his Thai best friend would do when they shoved mountain of books towards him. Well, Phicit might really die.
Yuuri frowned at the scrolls and slumped himself to the short table. His notes were messy, he would need time to arrange them later, but he got the overall conclusion. There wasn't that many of them to begin with.
"Are you okay? Tired? Maybe a juice would be good for you?" Victor finally said something after a while.
"Hmm, orange juice sounds nice. To freshen me up. I'll get some," Yuuri got up and went to the kitchen before getting back carrying a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in his hand.
"You seemed to gather a lot of information here," Victor said as Yuuri sat beside him.
"Hmm, information, yes, mostly records about out of body experience. There was one where the monk actually experienced it himself, so he wrote it down, I guess his condition would be like yours. And I guess that would mean you wouldn't lose your memories as a spirit," Yuuri said, gulping down the orange liquid greedily. "They mentioned a lot of cause, a comatose state was one of them, or a shock after an accident. Something like that."
"That's great. I'll remember you," Victor smiled, relieved.
"The problem lies there. There wasn't much about how to get you back in. The priest only mentioned he remembered someone calling him back. When he woke up, his wife was crying beside him. That's all. Some tried exorcism, which resulted in nothing. So I figured maybe I should go visit your real body in the hospital, trying to find out about your family, and maybe ask them to call you back?" Yuuri said.
"Maybe you could call me back," Victor said.
"How is that possible, Victor? I'm nobody."
"Well, not anymore. You're the person I love, remember?"
Yuuri sighed. Not that again.
"Well, I doubt that I'll find anything at the rest of the scrolls. But I really do glad that we get back here. I trust these records more than any random comment from a stranger in Wikipedia. It could be a fake information, or just a rumour. Seriously, they should handle spirit matters more seriously. It could shatter a person soul for God's sake."
"We'll see. I trust you, you'll help me," Victor grinned widely, making Yuuri's heart melt. If he were to be exposed to such a smile every day, there'll be no doubt that he would betray his own principle. He might as well turn gay for real. Well, he might already, since he had admitted to himself that he was falling for Victor.
"Of course I'll try my best to do so," Yuuri said.
Yuuri spend the rest of the day reading the scrolls and considering what he should do, before keeping his promise to Victor to skate again that day. They were welcomed again by Yuuko and this time the triplets as well.
"Yuuri!" The triplets immediately swarmed around Yuuri.
"Hello, girls. Have you been good today?" Yuuri ruffled each of their hair, spoiling them, making the three, Axel, Lutz and Loop giggled with joy.
"Of course!" They replied together.
"Yuuri, Yuuri!" Axel said, tugging his jeans.
"Hm?"
"Show us more of your routines again!" Lutz, this time, said excitedly.
"We want to see!" Loop added.
Yuuri sighed in defeat. Well, he had to follow what the triplets wanted before skating in peace with Victor, or else they wouldn't stop bugging him to skate 'that'.
"You wanted me to skate 'that'? Really? It's just my original choreography, you know. It's not as good as Yuri Plisetsky's."
"No! You're much much better!" The triplets said in unison.
"Well, if you insist, okay," Yuuri smiled seeing the anticipation in the triplet's eyes.
"What's 'that'?" Victor asked curiously.
"You'll see," Yuuri whispered back.
Yuuri remembered creating the routine for Yuuko, not long after he knew Yuuko would marry Takeshi. A desperation, a plea. It's been so long since he skated that, he only let the triplets watched for a few times, but it seemed that they still loved that.
Yuuko joined beside the triplets to watch Yuuri's performance with Victor at the other end. Yuuko started the music.
Yuuri stood in the middle of the rink after a warm up, mesmerizing, albeit the lack of sparkles in his outfit – a plain black V neck and a black jeans, looking contrast with the ice. The music started and he concentrate on the song, knowing fully well the meaning of each word despite it being a foreign language.
I hear a voice crying in the distance
Perhaps you, too, have been abandoned?
Strangely, the song didn't remind him of Yuuko anymore. It remind him of Victor, and the first time they met. Yes, he truly looked like he was abandoned.
Is that why I couldn't ignore Victor? Because he remind me of myself?
Yuuri continued moving along with the song. Skating, gliding gracefully on the layer of ice.
Come, let's quickly finish this glass of wine
And I start to prepare myself
Now, be silent
With a sword I would cut those throats that sing of love
I would enclose in ice the hands that write those verses of fiery passion
Glide, jumps, turns, Yuuri took a peek at Victor.
How is it possible that a stranger that I barely knew fill up my mind?
He silently thought in his head, knowing fully well that the song sings about love, passion. A plea. Did he want Victor to stay?
This story that has no meaning
Will vanish this night along with the stars
If I could only see you, eternity would arise from hope
I do. I want Victor to stay. I want to meet him as a human.
Yuuri lost in his own thoughts, continuing the intricate movements that he created on ice.
Stay close to me, do not leave
I am afraid to lose you
Victor.
Yuuri finally looked at the foreigner, gazing him with a longing he couldn't explain. The foreigner seemed to notice the gaze from the man on ice, unable to take his eyes off the black haired man.
Your hands, your legs
My hands, my legs,
And our heartbeats
Are blending together
Victor.
Yuuri called his name again and again in his heart.
Let's leave together
I'm ready now
Please don't leave me. Stay with me. Forever.
A silent plea was made as he strike his final pose. Tears pooled in his eyes, which he hide from everyone. The triplets, Yuuko and Victor stood together, giving Yuuri a standing applause. The claps brought him back to the reality. Yuuri chuckled, taken a back from the reaction and bowed to his audiences, thanking them.
"Yuuri that was amazing! It was so different from what you showed me last time. It's was.. more.. you know. Filled with love?" Yuuko was the first to open her voice. The triplets still clapping at Yuuri.
"Really? I don't think it was that different," Yuuri replied, blushing a little.
"Yuuri, Yuuri! Teach us how to skate that!" The triplets finally said, swarming around Yuuri again as he got out of the rink to get a rest for a while.
"Maybe when you girls get older, I'll teach you," Yuuri ruffled the triplet's hair, chuckling at their adorable reaction.
"Because Yuuri should teach me first, right? Victor hugged him from the back, earning an angry reaction from the kids. "That was amazing, by the way."
"Ojii-san, don't hog Yuuri for yourself. He is ours!" The kids whined at Victor, giving him an angry look. Victor just stick out his tongue at them, which earned a chuckle from Yuuri.
"Victor, don't tease them too much," Yuuri said softly.
"Yuuri, is it possible that you're in love?" Yuuko suddenly ask.
Well, yeah, but I'm not gonna say that.
"Maybe?" Yuuri smiled, full of meanings, making Yuuko groaned.
"Really? You're going to keep that from your sister?"
"It's a secret, Yuuko."
"Just tell me who's the lucky girl!"
"Secret."
"Stingy.." Yuuri smiled at the sudden voice of the Russian who was resting his chin on Yuuri's shoulder. Yuuri put his index finger on his mouth, telling him to stay quiet. He smiled wider noticing the blush on the Russian face.
"Mom! Yuuri loves us, right?" The triplets asked. "Right, Yuuri?"
"Yeah, yeah, I love you three equally," Yuuri chuckled.
"What about me?" Victor asked again.
"Secret," Yuuri whispered. He patted Victor's hand, asking him to let go.
"Wanna have dinner together today? My treat, for letting me see such a beautiful performance," Yuuko said. "Takeshi should be here soon."
"Sure. Is ramen okay? I'm craving for some noodles," Yuuri requested.
"Ramen sounds good. Let's wait for Takeshi first. Do you want to skate some more?" Yuuko asked. Yuuri took a glance at the hopeful Victor and nodded.
He entered the rink again and glide the ice with ease. Victor joined him, walking on the ice as normal, watching closely as Yuuri circled him and giggled.
"Is it fun?" Victor asked.
"What? Skating, or teasing you? Both are fun, though." Yuuri giggled again. "You see, ballet and ice skating are what accompanied me as a kid before. I had more time than the rest of my classmates since they tend to ignore me. I've been alone for as long as I can remember, only a few people accept me anyway."
"Hmm~" Victor hummed, interested in Yuuri's story.
"Speaking of ballet, I should visit Minako-sensei's studio before we go back to Kyoto," Yuuri said. "She's my mother's close friend."
"Is this sensei the one who taught you ballet?"
"Basically the one who made me fell in love with ballet. She was the best, you see. She taught me everything I knew about ballet. No matter what kind of dance, I will always incorporate some ballet movement into it. That's just how much I love it," Yuuri explained, smiling.
"Well, I love your dance, Yuuri. On or off the ice. I'll be sure to thank that Minako-sensei when I woke up, for teaching you something so beautiful."
"You're exaggerating, Victor. I'm just average," Yuuri chuckled, but happy with the compliment.
"Average wouldn't even describe you. If you take ice skating as your carreer, I'm sure you'll be the cover of that magazine in your room by now," Victor said it like it was the most obvious thing. "You're beautiful and breathtaking."
"That's supposed to be me mentioning you about that," Yuuri blushed a little. Seems like being honest wasn't bad at all.
"Oh~ I never knew you thought of me that way? I'm flattered," Victor chuckled.
"You should be. I rarely give compliments," Yuuri chuckled along with Victor. He hoped no one aside from the triplets, Yuuko or Takeshi to go inside the rink or else they would think that Yuuri must had lost it, and went crazy. But he couldn't care less, to be honest. Hearing Victor's laugh was like excitedly waiting for the first snow to fall, for the spring breeze to carry a new blossoms, for Victor to laugh more-
"I guess I'm not the first one to receive your compliments, right?" Victor teased Yuuri back. "You should teach me how to skate when I actually back in my own body."
"Should I?"
"You should! Definitely. I'm looking forward to it."
"If you insist."
"I insist."
"Okay." Yuuri laughed again, this time together with Victor.
Both played in the rink until Takeshi arrived and they left for dinner together.
"Um, Victor, I want to talk," Yuuri shifted a little, now facing Victor who laid quietly beside him, on his bed. Victor hummed, clearly enjoying the view of the black haired man, satisfied grin plastered on his face after their long fun day.
"What is it?" Victor caressed Yuuri's cheeks. Although it was dark, he could almost see a blush decorating his cheeks. A red tint glisten on Yuuri's eyes, earnestly looking at Victor.
Yuuri, on the other hand, had to swallow real hard to actually blurt out what he had wanted to say after skating his original skating routine, along with the realization that came with it. But instead, he currently found himself lost in the blue orbs, which seemed to be more beautiful in the dark, that looked at him lovingly, sweet and fleeting, as if Victor could go any second, gone from his life. He wouldn't want that.
Yuuri swallowed again, hard.
"I.. I know you asked me to think about it, but.. I should tell you.. No, what am I saying," Yuuri spoke, at lost of words. "Well what I wanted to say is, I think I'm falling for you. No, actually, I love you." Yuuri didn't knew where he finally found the strength to say the words. All he knew that it seemed as if a huge load had been lifted from his shoulder. He felt so free, so true.
"Wha-?" Victor eyes widen, seemed to be unable to believe what he just heard.
"Well, I know I said something about us being both guys, and I said it's impossible, and I don't even know what will happen in the future, but I will surely find a way to wake you up, and, uh, well," Yuuri said the long sentences in one breath. He gasped for air as he felt a warmth seeping on his shoulder.
"Calm down, first, Yuuri. Then tell me. I'll listen to it whatever it is," Victor said, trying to calm him down, but it didn't wash away the happy smile on his face.
"So, what I'm saying is, I'm willing to try. I know it will be hard in the future and-.." Yuuri stopped talking as Victor put a finger on his lips.
"Ssh, you talk too much," Victor whispered. "Can I kiss you?"
"And why are you interrupting me?" Yuuri pouted. "And since when you're asking for permission before kissing me?"
"True," Victor chuckled, but it didn't stop him from leaning toward Yuuri, softly touching their lips together.
It was surreal, the warmth that Yuuri could feel on his lips. But again, Victor was a spirit. They didn't kiss for real, of course, just like how their touch had always been.
The kiss was long, sweet and gentle, despite it just pressing their lips together. Yuuri's very own first kiss, with a spirit nonetheless, yet it made him feel so happy, giddy, as if he could sprout wings from his back and fly to the moon. His heart beating faster than it already did, which obviously didn't help him to calm down. As cheesy as it might sound, it did felt like that for him.
"I'll be sure to claim your lips for real when I got back to my own body," Victor smirked after he pulled back.
"I'll be waiting for that," Yuuri chuckled.
"I swear I'll make you want more," Victor chuckled along.
"Try me."
"I'd love to."
"Victor?"
"Hm?"
"Please stay close to me."
"I will."
"Forever?"
"As long as you didn't dump me," Victor joked, making Yuuri pout at the Russian. Victor took the opportunity to steal a peck from the Japanese's lips.
"Forever." Victor assured Yuuri before they leaned again for another kiss.
And for once, everything seemed perfect for Yuuri.
A/N:
Thank you so much for reading it up to this point. I'll be sure to write more ;;
Been very busy with work lately, and a little occupied in another new story as well.
I hope you enjoyed the short sweet chapter, and let me know what you think in the comment!
Btw, I sincerely thank you guys who had been leaving such encouraging review in my story.
I'm glad you like this story!
-Littlesnow