Kissing was as far as it went with Yuuri that night, but there was a lot of kissing.

I felt nervous to push him, and he seemed content with exploring where we were so I took everything as a moment.

That was my moment to memorize Yuuri's lips. The way they moved, what I could do that he seemed to like. How quickly he would part them for me, the places my tongue could brush that made his body turn to water underneath me.

I was not impatient for that moment to end. I didn't think I ever would be. Moments with Yuuri were precious.

We fell asleep with his head on my shoulder and our arms around each other, and it was the most peaceful I had ever felt. There was something about being with Yuuri… like I was clicking into place.

The next morning I didn't want to leave the bed. Yuuri indulged me for a while. Cuddling and dozing and talking. But eventually we had to gather our things and get ready to check out.

Before long we were on a plane back to Japan, and this time I let Yuuri rest his head on me and he let me borrow his neck pillow.

It smelled like Yuuri and I smiled.

Back in Japan congratulations go around.

Yuuri really impressed everyone. Of course he did. They had a party planned for us when we walked in.

I enjoyed eating and drinking with everyone. Congratulating Yuuri. Seeing that excitement and pride on his face. It was all… so warm and nice. Especially now that I knew Yuuri reciprocated my feelings, at least a little. That we might have a real future together.

Yuuri's sister asked for my help carrying some dishes and I agreed. I should maybe have been more wary, though, because she cornered me in the kitchen.

"So you kissed my brother."

I actually blushed a little.

"I'm sorry. I know that I wasn't always clear about my feelings for Yuuri and I hope you don't feel like I was deceitful in my intentions-,"

She waved a hand.

"I could tell you love my brother."

My eyes widened.

"And I've known for a long time that you were something special to him." She admitted, leaning against a wall. "First as an idol and then something more. I saw the signs."

I blinked.

"Then I'm glad-,"

"Yuuri hasn't had anyone like you before."

I stared and she stared back at me.

"He's always been timid and he was never good at the social things that are necessary to lead to dating. So he's never done any of this."

"I know-,"

"You need to mean it." She said sternly. "You are not some random guy who got caught as his first crush. You were huge in his eyes his whole life, and then you came all the way here, and you made him trust you. So now you have to mean it, do you understand? You seem like kind of an impulsive person. You can't be like that with Yuuri. You need to be stable. You need to be there for him. If you break his heart, a whole half of his life with be taken away. Memories of his idol ruined. He could give up on skating. It could change him. I don't want that."

My mouth gaped, and I was so surprised to have someone put it to me so bluntly. To open my eyes to really how much of an impact I made on Yuuri, some of which without even knowing.

I abruptly pulled Yuuri's sister into a hug.

"Thank you." I murmured. "And don't worry. Yuuri is…" I turned my head to look back to the living room, and smiled softly. "He's…"

Mari watched me, and eventually kind of snickered.

"Oh geez. I guess I sort of underestimated you. You have it bad huh?" she patted my shoulder. "I'm happy for him. For you both actually. I guess I'll be seeing around for a long time."

I laughed a little shakily. "You will, and I'm lucky for that."

She smirked. "That's right, start getting on my good side now." She headed back to the party, and after a moment I followed.

Yuuri's eyes found me immediately and he absently made a spot for me.

I sat beside him, and couldn't stop smiling the rest of the night.

Yuuri snuck into my room at night to sleep with me- embarrassed to do it in front of his family- but we mostly just talked.

We still kissed but that was all, and I still didn't mind. I could tell Yuuri was embarrassed and I wanted him to come closer to me in his own time.

Besides, talking to him was fascinating. There was so much that surprised me about his life and the way that he thought about things. It was nice to just listen to him open up to me.

In the days we were practicing. Yuuri wanted to add the quad flip to his program and I helped him, but he struggled.

Yuuri wasn't the best at jumps and he felt a lot of pressure, with the Rostelecom Cup so close in the future, so I just tried to support him and helped however I could.

He asked me a lot of questions about Russia and my life there and my family.

I told him I didn't really have any family left, and that I didn't live in Moscow so I didn't have much I wanted to show him there.

He seemed disappointed in my bland answers and maybe a little worried about me.

I tried to distract him and keep him in a good mood.

"Come on, Yuuri. Let's try the flip one more time."

Yuuri smirked, "Once more? Already getting tired?"

I frowned at him.

"Are you ticklish, Yuuri?"

"What? No. Hey… Stop! Stop! Viktor, I'm sorry wait- AH! Hahahaha- Viktor! Viktor stop the ice!"

On the plane to Russia we talked more about the cup and what Yuuri would be facing.

He seemed motivated but also nervous. I tried to remind him to just skate his best and focus on what he wanted to say, don't worry about the other competitors.

Yuuri seemed more willing to listen to me, except in one respect.

"Yurio will be there," He murmured. "It's the first time I've gone against him since the hot springs event."

I opened my mouth to reassure him.

"I hope he does will."

I closed it. Thought.

"Me too," I said and smiled. "I have faith in him. He'll surpass us all someday."

Yuuri laughed. "Yeah. He's a terrifying monster."

We chuckled and I wrapped my arm around him, leaning us together against the seats.

I got hounded by interviewers the second we were in Russia. I told Yuuri to go on ahead to the room as soon as we got to the hotel. Yuuri brought me a coffee and I stayed in the lobby to talk to them about Yuuri and about the competition.

Mostly they seemed to want to ask me about my future plans, which I refused to answer.

I didn't know my future. My future was dependant on Yuuri and I'd never been happier for that. I only wanted what would keep me at his side.

We're interrupted when Yurio walks up, and I used him as an escape.

"Look it's Yurio!"

I went to his side and wrapped an arm around him, winking at the cameras.

"Did you see the short program I designed for Yurio?"

He shoved my arm away and my coffee spilled all over the floor. It was so sad.

"You're not Russia's top skater anymore!" He snapped. "I'm going to be the one to win the Rostelecom cup!"

I smirked at him.

He was all confidence on the outside. It was incredible. So different from Yuuri.

He stormed away moodily and I watched him before mourning over my coffee and saying goodbye to the reporters.

In our room that night, Yuuri told me about running into the other skaters, but for once he didn't sound afraid.

He really seemed determined to do his best, to prove himself.

I didn't know what was driving that motivation but it made me feel good to imagine I might have something to do with it.

That night he initiated our kissing and climbed on top of me in the bed.

We kissed for a long time and I had to take a very cold shower which I tried to hide from Yuuri.

I'm not sure it worked because when I climbed into bed with him that night he was smirking.

"Goodnight, Viktor."

"You'll be beautiful tomorrow Yuuri." I kissed his hair.

He hid his face a little.

"Don't take your eyes off me tomorrow."

"I couldn't if I tired."

When it was time for Yuuri's skate the next night, Yuuri looked incredible and the crowd was on fire.

They cheered and I waved and smiled excitedly at them.

Then Yuuri grabbed my tie.

He pulled me aggressively toward him and his lips were close to my ear, his voice low as he spoke.

"The performance has already started, Viktor."

I smiled.

"I know it has."

"Don't worry," He whispered. "I'm going to show my love to all of Russia."

Oh god his words were settling much lower in my body than was appropriate in the moment. Where had this side of Yuuri come from all of the sudden?

Then he was skating out onto the ice.

He was even more spectacular that before, and I shouted to him from the rink how perfect he was.

I waited eagerly to hug him when it was over, but I hadn't noticed Yurio walking up.

He stared us both down.

"Get out of my way, piggy."

We blinked up at him in shock, and he stormed passed us.

"Well…" Yuuri let out a breath. "I guess Yurio found his agape."

I started to smile and me and Yuuri turned to each other.

"Nice!"

And then we both laughed, because we sort of sounded like doting parents. Not that I minded that.

When Yuuri got his score, it was another personal best.

I wanted to kiss him but this was Russia and I didn't want to do anything that could reflect negatively on Yuuri.

So instead I showed another form of pride and kissed his skate.

Yuuri blushed dark red.

We noticed Yurio's eyes on us and Yuuri shouted. "Davai!"

I smiled at that and waved at him before shouting good luck in japanese.

I knew it would needle him and from the look on his face it totally worked.

Yuuri and I watched the rest of the skates together. We get interviewed a lot, and a lot of people are excited for Yuuri, just like I am.

A lot of the other skaters were amazing, especially Yurio even if he started out rough, but I was pleased when Yuuri finished second.

Then I hear Yuuri come up frantically behind me as I'm talking to a reporter.

"Viktor!" He said in a strained voice. "You have to go back to Japan."

I stared at him in shock.

It took a minute for me to calm Yuuri enough to get him to tell what was going on. Once I understand I feel my throat start to close up.

Makkachin was at the vet and things weren't looking good. Yuuri wanted me to go back to be with him, but I would miss the free skate that would determine if Yuuri was going to make it to the final.

I want to be sick.

There was almost nothing in my life that I would put above being there for Yuuri at such a moment. But Makkachin…

Why was this happening? The two things that I loved most… why was this happening?

"I can't go back to Japan," I started to say.

"You have to!"

"I can't!"

I rested my aching forehead in my hand.

Makkachin…

Then I turn slightly and see Yakov.

Oh… oh!

Suddenly I'm running to him. I'm not even sure some of the words that come out of my mouth but I'm holding his shoulders and I'm begging him.

"Please, it will just be for one day, just one day. But will you be Yuuri's coach?"

Everyone in the room was suddenly looking at me like I was crazy.