Author's Note: GETSUYOU WA KIRAI! (This is just my inner weeaboo screaming.) Anyway, this is a foreboding chapter. Let's go!
Miwaku: I don't own Yuri! On Ice. (While this is a foreboding chapter, you, FF, are forebading the exclamation points to appear!)
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 25
Viktor sipped on his cocktail and closed his eyes, savoring the flavors of the drink. Beside him was his lover, drinking orange juice and talking to Phichit.
December has arrived and the Grand Prix Final was about to begin on the next day in the ice rink in Goyang, South Korea. Viktor planned a pre-competition party for all of their skater friends (and their significant others because the more, the merrier) in a small, quaint bar near their hotel.
He loved the bar not only for its warm atmosphere but for being pet-friendly. All who have pets brought them and they were gathered at a small alcove where they could see them. The puppies were also there, and although Yuuri was unsure if the puppies should really be interacting with other animals, he assured that the others' pets were all healthy. He might be hearing things but he swore he could hear cooing squeaks, angry meows, and some clicking sound from a phone taking pictures.
"Viktor, Yuuri, have you caught the culprits for the dognapping?" Chris asked.
"We're not the police." Yuuri said cheekily then sighed. "But to answer your question, no. We couldn't identify them because they were wearing masks and their clothes covered their whole body."
"That sucks." JJ grunted. "Because seriously, why would people go to all that just to kidnap some pups? You could practically buy them anyway."
Viktor nodded at that. He was suspicious of the motives on the dognapping. It did not really make sense that a person would go all through that just to get a puppy. It was just plain stupid and irrational. However, there was this nagging feeling inside him that he knew just who would do such a thing. (And it was not just his memories of 101 Dalmatians.)
"Maybe stalkers?" Otabek suggested.
Viktor considered it. "Probably. Yurio, what did they look like, body-wise?"
"Big. Like big round balls." Yurio clicked his tongue in annoyance. "And they remind me of the two fatties in that movie with the purple cat."
"You mean Alice in Wonderland?" Yuuri raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly!"
JJ snickered. "Figures you'll remember a kids' tale by its cat."
"Hey, fuck you! You have a kid yourself!"
Viktor stifled a laugh. The smol angery kitten never failed to amuse him.
All of a sudden, Phichit gasped and snapped his fingers. "OMG, I just remembered something." Everyone stared as he took out his phone and scrolled. "Remember back in the Trophée de France, my hamsters posted a picture of a stalker." He showed the picture of the blonde woman with red lips, sunglasses, and hat.
Viktor looked hard at the photo, especially at the clothes of the woman. The style was too unique and he knew he had seen it somewhere. And when his eyes dropped to the script 'KV' embroidered on the blazer, his mind remembered then. "Klavdiya Vasiliev!"
"Do you know her, love?" Yuuri asked.
"She's a fashion designer who uses poodles as her models. I bought magazines with her works because I loved looking at the cute poodles." Viktor raked his fingers on his hair, agitated. "But then, there were these rumors that she abuses her dogs. I stopped following her because of that."
"You're right about that." Seung-gil muttered. "There were reports about abuse but she always denies it and then, the news go down. Probably paid or something...shit."
"What is...oh, fuck." Yurio gawked.
Viktor's breath hitched when he saw a photo of a familiar apricot-colored poodle wearing an obviously too tight corset with a tulle skirt. It might look beautiful to others but he could see the pained expression behind the fake smile for the audience. It was, in simple words, horrible.
He started when he heard Yuuri choke out a sob and was whispering, "That's just wrong. That's just wrong. That's just wrong."
"I know, lyubov moya." Viktor placed an arm on his lover's shoulders and a kiss on the forehead. He could also feel tears well up on the corner of his eyes but he wiped them discreetly.
He always loved poodles. The curly fur, the different colors and sizes, and their friendly personalities...what was not there to love? And to think that someone would hurt one of them, even abuse...it was unforgivable.
"Wait, so that Klavdiya bitch wants to get the puppies?" Yurio growled out.
"And maybe Aprichin, too!" Phichit exclaimed.
The thought of someone taking their poodles just for their own gain and to hurt them made Viktor see red. "We will not let her. Over my dead body."
There was a shocked silence where the others stared at Viktor with wide eyes. Yuuri then smiled. "Same."
"Maybe we can scare her off?" A meek voice said, which came from Guang Hong.
"Wow." Seung-gil managed to get out.
"That's Guang Hong for you." Leo chuckled and ruffled Guang Hong's hair.
There was another silence in which they turned to stare at the Chinese. Then, twin smirks appeared on Yurio's and Phichit's faces.
"I love some good bashing. What's her Instagram and Twitter?" The blonde was already searching.
"Found her Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even her LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Friendster." Phichit rapidly tapped on his phone.
"Who's the stalker now?" JJ joked.
"Her Instagram sucks. Like, she uses the same damn filter."
"Her tweets are boring."
"Ugly. Selfies. Everywhere."
"I'm scarred for life."
Viktor smiled at the sight of their friends actually bashing someone. It was unexpected but he was thankful that they had friends like them.
'And my life and love, in the same room.' Viktor pulled Yuuri close and nuzzled his neck.
"I'm so worried though, Viktor." Yuuri quietly said. "I feel like something bad is going to happen."
Viktor could also feel it, that ominous gut feeling. However, he assured, "It's going to be okay. We won't let it happen."
"But what if it does?"
"Then that's not our fault, is it? We'll make her pay. No one hurts their pets and gets away with it."
They sat in silence, watching their friends become more ridiculous with their bashing.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Makkachin listened to the humans and held in his laugh as the bashing continued. Inside, he was seething.
'Aprichin's former owner abused all of her dogs?! That's just sick!'
"Calm down, Makkachin, or you will agitate the pups." Seo-joon murmured.
Makkachin let out a long exhale and calmed himself down. "Thanks, Seo-joon."
"I heard." Seo-joon cocked his head at the direction of their owners. "So that was why when you found her..."
"Yeah, it's because of her." The brown poodle could not bear saying the name. "Why are there people like her? We haven't done anything wrong."
"There are humans who think that animals are below them. They are not considerate of the well-beings and feelings of animals." The siberian husky shook his head slowly. "We are lucky to have owners who love us and care for us. Think of Aprichin's case in the positive light. Are you not glad that she is out of her clutches and is loved and cared for right now?"
"Well, yeah." Makkachin huffed and laid his head on his front paws. "But again, she is still out there, probably hurting other dogs and now, she was after our pups."
"Then we'll keep an eye on them!"
"There ain't a bitch-not you, Aprichin, darling-who will get their grubby hands on these pups."
"Nicely said, Mongkut."
Diana rolled her eyes. "Well, when I see those culprits, I'll be the first one to scratch their faces off."
"I'll second that." Schatz grinned and rubbed his body on Diana's, who attempted to claw him.
Makkachin smiled and looked at Aprichin, who also looked at him. They stared for a while before they both smiled at each other. But then again, it was only a front. Somehow, they could feel that something bad will happen soon.
Makkachin would not let it deter him though and would make sure that their puppies are well, safe, and happy.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's Note: Told you it's foreboding...somehow. Anyway, I'm getting excited for this story!
Expect in the next chapter: Anger, More Foreboding Feelings, Fire
See you next time!