Author's Note: Fuck chemistry and fuck my life. (And fuck that this iisn't even 1000 words). You guys are really lucky that this story is my haven from all the shit in my life. (And so, I apologize that this is very late). Let's get to it!

Miwaku: I don't own Yuri! On Ice. (And FF is another shitty thing in my life.)

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 10

The days after the double date, Makkachin still felt like he was floating in the air from the happiness inside him. Aprichin finally warmed up to him (and even said that she likes him. He was like, 'OMG!') and their relationship was slow but steady. Puppy steps after all.

Their owners, however, were having the annual training extravaganza where all they do was wake up, eat, train, eat again, train again, eat again, and lastly, sleep. Rinse and repeat. Not much fluff anymore (although it is in-between the eating and training) but mostly, it was only about skating for the competitions in the Grand Prix Series.

Currently, they were in the ice rink once again for the training. Makkachin and Diana (Yurio brought her with him so that the cat will not feel neglected) sat by the benches, watching their respective owners arguing about choreography or jumps, the two animals were not sure. Aprichin was asleep by the heater, a bit far from where they are.

"There they go again, shouting obscenities at each other." Diana drawled out.

"You mean, your owner is shouting obscenities while Viktor argues back and Yuuri is trying to calm them down with Yakov just shaking his head?" Makkachin cheekily said.

"Haha, very funny and eerily specific." The cat then became silent and still. Makkachin worried that something was wrong and so, he poked her with his nose. "Ew! Damn you and your wet nose!"

"Your nose is wet too." Makkachin pointed out.

"Ugh." Diana rolled her eyes and then made contact with the poodle. "You see, I noticed a change in you. It's subtle but it's there. You're like...buzzing."

That was when Makkachin remembered that he has not told anyone yet about his and Aprichin's new relationship. He wanted to tell Diana at that moment but then, he did not know if they were supposed to tell anyone else about it. Was it a secret? Or were they not ready to tell the others?

He decided on saying the best thing: the half-truth-half-lie. "It's because me and Aprichin are becoming closer and closer."

"Close? Really?" Diana took a quick peek on the still-asleep Aprichin and looked back at Makkachin. "I think that's pretty great. Wasn't she all depressed and shit?"

Makkachin thumped her with his tail lightly. "Shush, don't be mean."

"Sorry, sorry. But anyway, how is she? Is she alright?"

"Well..." The brown poodle remembered the past months of Aprichin crying and always muttering about not being worthy but then, there were also good times where she was really happy and playful and confident. And he wanted all of those adjectives to be with Aprichin forever. He decided to be honest with his answer. "She's doing alright but there are still bumps down the road. It will take a while before she really opens up but I'm willing to wait for her. I want her to always be happy, no matter what."

Diana was surprised but in the end, chuckled and curled up beside Makkachin's warm belly. "You've always been a mainstream hero, idiot."

"I'm good at it, huh?"

"Very." The black and white siberian forest cat frowned a bit. "But Makkachin, remember to not be frisky with her. It's too soon."

Makkachin whined and hid his snout under his paws. "Don't say things like that! I'm not ready!"

"But it's true! All male dogs always want to hump the nearest animal or object."

"Not always! I have more self-control than that!"

"I'm trying to say that you should be careful!" Diana huffed. "This is a new beginning for the both of you. And I know you don't want to regret this."

That shut Makkachin up. It was true after all. He did not want to screw things up, not with how fragile ('I'll probably get smacked when she hears me say that.') Aprichin is.

"So, chill, okay?" Diana said in a low voice but there was a rare genuine smile on her face.

"Yes." Makkachin nodded seriously and grinned widely in joy.

There was a companionable silence between the poodle and the siberian forest cat that was broken by a very loud curse from Yurio, a very loud laugh from Viktor, and a very sorry Yuuri with Yakov grumbling at the sidelines. It was all too typical that Makkachin and Diana shared a look before laughing out loud. And all was well.

Well...almost all.

Because at the place where the heater was, Aprichin whimpered quietly at the bad feeling churning inside her. It gnawed her and she was wishing that it was nothing but her paranoid ways.

And so, it begins.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: As short as a premature...okay, this is rated T, almost forgot that. Sorry about that. At least a chapter right? And awkward endings are awkward.

Expect in the next chapter: France, Hotel, Start

See you next time!