How's it going, guys and gals?
It's been a strange few days and the result of a toll it had on me is visible in this chapter. If you can call it that, because I certainly can't.
Remember, how in the Author's Note below previous chapter I mentioned what a bad idea it was to make a stop there? Yeah.
This little something is a continuation of Chapter 9, rather than a full Chapter 10. Recently, my parents have started to limit my access to the Internet via smartphone (my only current source).That's why this update is one day late. But no need to worry! Right now I'm working on a foolproof plan how to keep regular updates without raising any suspicion. For this system to work flawlessly I'm going to need a lot of patience, stealthiness and calculations worth of Seung-Gil Lee but I'll manage!
I'll understand if you'll crowd outside my bedroom window with torches and stakes.
Disclaimer: Yeah, right.
I stared at a blond kid, contemplating what he just said. Sure, Viktor's loss of inspiration would help to explain why he was here in the first place. In a way, Viktor was just like me, running away in desperate attempt to find something we lost. Creativity or sense of purpose. Inspiration, or a place under the sun.
"If he's going to take next season off, I wonder if he'll let me use his program. I know I can surprise people more. I need Viktor's help if I'm going to make my senior debut and win the Grand Prix Final." Yuri continued to pour his heart out, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"It's not that simple." I shook my head before directing a calculating gaze at him as Yuuri turned to look at his namesake, a bit slow at processing and catching up.
"Huh? Win?"
But it was my comment that got Russian's attention because soon enough his greatly irked expression greeted me, light sea-green eyes clashing against my similar ones.
"What do you know about anything, hag?!"
"I know that every program a performer does is personalized and for you to be able to use one, it would have to be changed to fit your individual style and physical stats, such as stamina, strength, flexibility, agility and, of course, level of experience and technicalities that your body would be able to do perfectly without a touch of beginner's luck." I explained monotoniously, in my best matter-of-fact tone. "Don't sell me so short, Shortie." I grinned, noticing that indeed I was good five centimeters taller. Yuri growled, about to retaliate something back but then, to my surprise, he decided against it. Was it possible that my logic managed to put a lid over his clearly way too short temper? Nah. Not likely.
Instead Yuri grasped safety wall with both hands and leaned back, taking in an exasperated gulp of air and I had to hold in a snicker at his drama queen antics. Yuri looked like he just mentally groaned for being surrounded by idiots. However, all these assumptions were pushed aside the moment he leaned forward, shouting all the way across the ice rink.
"You look like you're doing great, Viktor!"
The man in question stopped skating and turned at our direction. But what surprised me the most was that he didn't seem to be even the least startled. I suppose, years of having this loud and obnoxious teenager as his rinkmate had prepared the older skater for literally anything.
"Yuri, you're here? I'm surprised Yakov let you come. What do you want?" Based on Yuri's mortified expression, Viktor's jovious greeting was not the right thing to say. And the older skater noticed. "Judging from that look, I'm guessing I forgot some promise I made."
I took in Viktor's laid-back posture, his carefree smile and one finger, raised in a very cheerful manner. Even though I made a mental decision to stay out of things, seeing as they had nothing to do with me, words 'some promise' made me scowl in disdain. Even though I was yet to hear a full story, to me it sounded important and Viktor's dismissive attitude rubbed something inside of me the wrong way.
I mulled things over, ignoring everyone around me. And it was probably a good decision because I didn't miss anything. Viktor finished his little skating session and stepped off the ice, putting on blade guards and warm black winter jacket.
"Sorry, sorry." I watched as Viktor scratched the back of his head sheepishly, laughing. "I totally forgot. But you know I was the forgetful type, right?"
My attention shifted to a teen, trying to gauge his reaction to such light-hearted response, and I was not disappointed. Yuri stood with his head down, shaking with anger. I was more than sure that his hands, even though kept in pockets of his jacket, were balled into fists.
"Yeah, I'm painfully aware of that." Came his voice out of the hood in a bitter growl before he lifted his head abruptly. "But a promise is a promise! You'll choreograph my new program, Viktor!"
I watched as he outstretched his left arm in front of Yuuri, as if to stop him, and furrowed my brow in thought. That little gesture seemed to be possessive, yet strangely protective too.
"Let's go back to Russia!"
Five simple words were enough to elicit a soft grasp from Yuuri and my head immediately snapped in his direction. Chocolade brown eyes widened before moving to look at Viktor, a shadow of fear crossing his innocent features.
Viktor himself hadn't been spared by a weight of Yuri's demanding words. That much was obvious from his shock-still stance and mouth, hanging slightly ajar in surprise. But his mind worked in the same intensity as mine because soon he cupped his chin with his fingers and looked down, deep in thought.
"Okay, I've decided!" A cheerful exterior and new fire of determination in blue eyes made me hold my breath in anticipation. That sudden announcement earned him full attention from both Yuris. "Tomorrow, I' a program for both of you to the same music I'm using in my short program."
Okay, so, our minds worked in two completely different directions.
These news shocked a man and a teen in front of Viktor because they wasted no time in showing their displeasure.
"What?! With the same choreography?!" exclaimed Yuuri, pointing his finger at a teen beside him.
"Huh? The same music as him?!" Shouted Yuri, mimicking his namesake's gesture. But Viktor only shrugged, unfazed by reactions his decision caused.
"No, this piece has several different arrangements. I was trying to decide which one to use. I'll think of a different program for each of you, of course." Viktor raised one finger dramatically and I had to resist the urge to slow clap. "I'll reveal the programs in one week! You'll compete to see who can surprise the audience more!" He lowered his finger to point at two newly announced opponents for Viktor's attention.
"Whoa! Let's take a step back here." Yuri frantically shakes his head, blue with mortification. "I don't want to be punished for losing..."
"Viktor will do whatever the winner says!" Yuri stepped forward with a creepy grin on his face, having none of his namesake's objections. "If those are the terms, I'm in!"
Now that clearly was the answer Viktor was looking for, because a wide smile spread across his lips, icy blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Great! I love that kind of thing!"
Sure you do, Viktor. Sure you do.
I pinched a bridge of my nose, a bad feeling setting in a pit of my stomach and getting stronger and stronger with every word that transpired between the three skaters.
A movement behind Viktor caught my eye and a headache between my temples intensified at least tenfold. Oh, come on!
"Wait just a minute!" A wild trio of six year old girls appeared and I groaned as soon as I noticed an expressions on their faces.
"Will you let us organize the event?" The middle one, Lutz, pitched an idea and I already knew where things were going. "A face-off between Yuri of Russia and Yuuri of Japan! Let's throw-"
I caught my breath as she purposedly let the tension to build up, not anticipating to hear the end of sentence at all.
"-a huge party!"
I buried my face in my palms, already picturing the entire thing.
And that's how preparations for Hasetsu Exhibition "Hot Springs on Ice", presented by Viktor Nikiforov himself, started.
See? This is were I should have ended Chapter 9. But alas...
I don't know. I'll try to write and see if I can cover the rest of Episode 2 with only one chapter or if I'll have to split it in two. I have written down a few chapters in advance but they are all around Episodes 6-8 and I just want to scream. Because in my head I'm already finishing this season, but in here I had only started it.
If everything goes according to my plan, I should be able to post next chapter this weekend.
Oh, before I forgot! Can you believe that this story got over 5.5k views? Because I'm having a problem to comprehend it! Thank you all, you guys are amazing!
Do I even need to remind you about leaving a review at this point?
See you in the next chapter!