Author's Notes: So, this chapter... I hope I did justice to it. Love you, guys. And glad to know that there are newcomers here who are loving the story. Yes!

Miwaku: I don't own Yuri! On Ice. (FF, I'm beginning to get tired of you ignoring this. Why are you ignoring this?!)

WARNING (more like surprise): There will be animals talking (like legit talking) to each other and they could understand one another. Humans can only hear them as animal sounds. And I know all of us love the animals in YOI.

Chapter 9

After eating their lunch, Viktor and Yuuri let Makkachin and Aprichin play in the pet-friendly restaurant's play room. It still amazed them how the two poodles got along so well. But when their time was up, it was already 6:00 PM and so, they decided to usher the dogs out of the restaurant with little whining. They were all tired anyway.

That was why Viktor and Yuuri decided that the last part of the date will be watching the sunset at the beach-a typical and cliché ending for the date but very much effective for a romantic atmosphere.

Yuuri took out a huge blanket from his tote bag and laid it down the sand, Viktor helping him smooth it out. Once done, he and Viktor sat down with their feet stretched out while Makkachin and Aprichin sat by their feet.

Taking a deep breath, Yuuri smiled wistfully at the smell of the sea and the sound of crying seagulls. He understood how Viktor saw St. Petersburg in Hasetsu. It reminded him of home, warmth, and a sense of belongingness.

He missed his family, Minako-sensei, and the Nishigoris. He could only visit them twice a year (and that is excluding if he has a competition in Japan) since his schedule was hectic with training and competing. It was difficult when he first moved in with Viktor in St. Petersburg. Anxiety and homesickness did not go well together and he had countless days and nights of crying and yelling for his family. And all through out that phase, Viktor was beside him, never yielding and always there for him. It only made him fall in love more for the silver-haired man.

And here they were now, four (almost five) years from that, and they were still together. They had their ups and down but the one thing that is constant between them is being together. And Yuuri could not ask for more.

"Thinking deeply, lyubov moya?" Viktor murmured, nuzzling at his neck.

"Just reminiscing." Yuuri then frowned when a question popped in his head. "Viktor, what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, what are we gonna do after we retire?"

Yes, they talked about retiring after the Worlds this season but not explicitly what they will do after. They never talked about that now that he thought about it. And it worried Yuuri.

"Well, why don't we think first on where we want to live after retiring." Viktor laced their hands together. "I prefer Hasetsu, to be honest."

"What?" That statement shocked Yuuri to the core. "But Viktor, love, Russia has always been your first home. St. Petersburg is where your friends and family are."

"True but I rather just visit them than stay here with them. Hasetsu, meanwhile, is much more of a home than St. Petersburg will ever be. I love how it's just a small little town with good people in it. They don't care about world-famous-figure-skating-champion Viktor Nikiforov. They just see Viktor, a foreigner who also figure skates and is the lover of their very own Katsuki Yuuri. But of course, there will always be the random rabid fan somewhere."

Yuuri blushed and ducked his head in embarrassment. Viktor just smiled and pulled him up for a sweet and gentle kiss on the lips. "Don't be embarrassed, lyubov moya."

"Viktor, are you really sure about this?"

"One hundred percent positive, Yuuri."

'He really is serious, calling me by my first name.' Yuuri pulled Viktor again for a longer kiss though it was still soft and chaste. He never expected that Viktor would want to live in Hasetsu but he felt the sincerity in Viktor's words and he was happy as long as Viktor was happy.

"What about jobs?" Viktor asked after they pulled away from the kiss.

Yuuri bit his lip, thinking hard on his answer. He never voiced out what he really wanted to be, except once to Phichit back in their Detroit days, and that was an off-handed comment. He was not even sure if his Thai best friend even remembered that. 'Surely, Viktor would not judge.' He steeled his resolve and said, "I want to be a ballet teacher."

Viktor's eyes widened at that, very much suprised. "Really? Not a skating coach?"

"No." Yuuri shook his head. "My first passion has always been ballet, and still is. Yes, figure skating has been my priority in my career but ballet never left me. I love ballet and I always wished to have a successful ballet studio like Minako-sensei. I want to teach everyone, any age, any gender, any race, that ballet is fun for everyone." When there was only silence, Yuuri felt his heart sink a bit. "Is that...bad?"

"Oh Yuuri, of course not." Viktor smiled and cradled his face in his hands. "No matter what kind of job you want, I'll be by your side supporting you and taking care of you. It just surprised me that you would rather teach ballet than skating. I've always imagined the two of us coaching kids at Ice Castle. Though I guess that's presumptuous of me."

"It is actually." Yuuri could not help but tease. Viktor pouted but it disappeared when he giggled. "Who knows? We might teach the same kids. Figure skating and ballet work well together after all."

"And you're the personification of that." Viktor kissed him on the cheeks repeatedly, making him giggle more.

Viktor was really touchy these days and though Yuuri still sometimes felt flustered, it reassured him that Viktor still loves him and cares about him. He did not mind anymore and reiterated with touches of his own, making Viktor even more delighted.

With the next (and their final) season coming, the fluff and sweet touches were minimal, either because training was eating them up or because they were too tired and they had to take care of Makkachin and Aprichin.

"I love you, Katsuki Yuuri." Viktor smiled, genuine and sweet and full of love.

"I love you, too, Viktor Nikiforov." Yuuri smiled back and snuggled on Viktor's chest. When his eyes turned towards the front, he pulled on Viktor's shirt to get his attention. "Love, look at Makkachin and Aprichin."

Viktor glanced at the poodles and grinned. "Aren't they cute?"

"Very." Yuuri agreed with a big smile.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Makkachin rotated once then twice until he plopped down by their owners' feet. Aprichin sat beside him and they both stared ahead at the slowly becoming orange sky.

It was the last part of the date and the most crucial part. This was supposed to be where it goes out with a bang and boom and sparks. Lots and lots of sparks. Romantic sparks that is. It gave Makkachin the jitters.

'Why am I so nervous anyway?' Makkachin tried to laugh it off mentally but it was of no use. 'This is just a friendly date. But what's with the romantic sparks? What? What? What, my heart?!' He felt that his owner, Viktor, rubbed off on him the dramatics. But anyway...

He discreetly looked at his side and saw Aprichin with her eyes closed and her head on her paws at the sand. He also saw the small smile curled on her mouth. And all he could think was, 'She's really beautiful.'

The light brown color of her fur, the way her eyes sparkled whenever she was really happy, and her laugh-that was all what Makkachin wanted for Aprichin, true happiness.

"You've been staring at me for a while now." Aprichin noted with a small smile.

"It's because you're really pretty." Makkachin blurted out. 'Whoa, dog, what?'

Aprichin could only blink and suddenly, buried her face in between her paws. Makkachin whined at that, going closer to the apricot-colored poodle. "Are you embarrassed?"

"Of course I am!" Aprichin glared at him. "Why say that anyway?"

"Put that glare away. It makes you look tense as hell." Makkachin joked and poked his nose on her forehead.

"You're really clingy, aren't you?"

"Only for you."

"A flirt, too. Answer my first question."

"I don't even understand my feelings anymore." Makkachin told her honestly.

"Feelings?" Aprichin's eyes widened.

'I think I'm being too straightforward here.' Makkachin tried to calm himself down. No use in pressuring or something. "Uh, never mind that."

"Wait, let's talk about this." Aprichin said with an embarrassed face. "What's this about feelings?"

Lots of emotions swirled in Makkachin's system that his mind cannot process them all. All he could think about was how beautiful Aprichin is and how he would like to make her happy always.

'Is this...love?' Makkachin made eye contact with Aprichin and slowly murmured, "I like you. And I'm really sorry that I can't explain it in words because I'm really confused and..."

But he was shocked when he felt a wet nose on his own nose and a tongue moving at his cheek. He just stared at Aprichin as she pulled away and ducked her head.

The apricot-colored poodle glanced at him and tried to sass her way out of what she just did. "That was just to shut you up. You were rambling."

And all he could think about was, 'Typical Aprichin.' So, he moved closer and gently licked her on the face. "You're so cute, Aprichin. And I really like you."

"I..." Aprichin tilted her head away from the licking, her eyes downcast. "...this is such a surprise, Makkachin. I don't really know what to say."

"I'm not pressing you or anything." Makkachin slightly moved away until they were still close but not too much. "I want you to know that I'll be here and I'll wait for as long as you want me to."

"Oh, Makkachin." Small tears appeared at the corner of her eyes. He only placed his paws on hers. "Can you touch me? Just soft and gentle touches? Please?"

Makkachin's eyes softened, inwardly thinking that something happened to her that made her scared of affection. 'I want to help her cope with that. I want to see her loved and loving in return.' "Alright, soft touches. I'm not gonna go fast, okay? We'll take puppy steps."

"Puppy..." Aprichin chuckled at that. "Yes, alright." She made the first move, placing her head on Makkachin's paws.

Makkachin placed his own head on hers, sighing in contentment. They were silent, basking on the comfortable atmosphere they were in. 'So much for the booming sparks.' He snickered quietly and nuzzled his nose in Aprichin's neck, breathing in her natural scent mixing with the smell of the sea. It was lovely and intoxicating. 'I like this.'

They never noticed a camera clicking away and the photo getting posted in Instagram, almost flooding the notifications with likes and positive comments. They only stood up when they were called by their owners (the sun has already set) and followed them to Viktor's apartment.

Yuuri and Viktor had a quick dinner before their lust consumed them and clothes were thrown off, leading towards the bedroom. Makkachin and Aprichin just ignored that and cuddled again at the sofa. And all was well with everyone.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: Fuck yeah, finished this shit. And I almost screwed Makkachin's POV. Damn my inspiration for leaving me in the dust.

Expect in the next chapter: Best Friend, Training, Talk

See you next time!