Chapter 37: Ice Battle

Before the beginning of the World Championship competition, there is a much anticipated interview that takes place just after the morning's public practice. For that interview, Yurio, Yuuri and I are strategically placed at front and center, making clear that the expectations for us are high. Normally, this kind of thing would set off Yuuri's anxiety, but for the moment, he remains calm and quiet at my side. The other senior male skaters sit, arranged around us. Morooka and my old skating friend, Stephan Lambiel, sit in chairs diagonally placed to the front and side of Yuuri and Yurio. A tech person quickly prepares us for the interview, then the red light comes on and the fun begins.

"Welcome!" Morooka says, smiling widely, "Welcome everyone to the World Figure Skating Championships. Tonight, the men appearing here will take part in what is expected to be an epic battle between a talented set of experienced male skaters and an upcoming group of very talented challengers. In the first group, I don't think this man beside me needs any introduction. He is known as a living legend in the figure skating world, and although he has been on hiatus coaching skater, Yuuri Katsuki this season, and was seriously injured in the European Championships and forced to withdraw, he won the Russian National competition again this year and, according to Coach Yakov Feltsman, is competition ready. Please welcome Russia's Prince of the Ice, Victor Nikiforov!"

The gathered audience applauds loudly, then when it tapers off, Stephan takes over.

"Next to Victor, we have Russian rising star Yuri Plisetsky, whose world record short program was choreographed by Victor, and Yuuri Katsuki, for whom Victor has been acting as coach and choreographer. Without a doubt, Victor, you are having a huge impact as skater, coach and choreographer on this year's competitions. Can you tell us, what made you decide to extend your reach into choreography and coaching for Yuri Plisetsky and Yuuri Katsuki?"

"Well, in Yurio's case," I say, making Yurio cringe and scowl by using the nickname Mari gave him, "I had made a promise to him long ago…"

"Yeah," he grumbles, "that you completely forgot!"

"I did not forget," I snicker, "Well, in any case, you reminded me. And the deal was, that if he won the Junior World Championships using no quads, then I would choreograph a program for his senior debut."

"Ah yes," says Morooka, "the Agape program."

"Right. I think we can agree that it really brought out Yurio's flexibility, agility and beautiful jumping style."

"It sure did," Stephan agrees, "It's no wonder he was able to pull off a world record score with a program of that difficulty and composition."

"Hey, I'm the one who performed it!" Yurio snaps.

"And you did it so well," I gush.

"It doesn't bother you that his score eclipsed your own world record for the men's singles short program?" Morooka asks.

"Of course it does," I answer honestly, "and that is exactly why I'm glad that I made the program for him."

"What?" Morooka queries, looking confused, "Why would you want someone…actually two people to surpass your world records?"

"I know it's a little surprising," I laugh, "but I see it like this. I am currently the best skater in the world, and I got to be the skater I am by being constantly challenged to improve. While I was outscoring opponents by wide margins, I wasn't being challenged, and that meant I had little motivation to grow as a skater. It was really bothering me as I ended last season."

"And you felt that these two skaters held the kind of promise that you wanted in competitors?" Stephan asked.

"Exactly," I affirm, "In Yurio, I saw potential, but he needed to nail down his basics…"

"Hey, I dod not!" Yurio snaps.

"..and he needed to develop his own particular flair. Agape is a very complex program that demands precise timing and footwork as well as leaving room for creative interpretation. Through his hard work this season, Yurio did what he needed to do, and he very much earned that world record."

"And what about skater Katsuki?" Morooka asks, "Was it the viral video that convinced you to work with him?"

"It was," I answer, nodding, "but it was also that I already had a little knowledge about Yuuri from last year's Grand Prix Final…especially the banquet, where I got to know Yuuri a little better."

I can see Yuuri practically cringing in his chair at the mention of the banquet, and a few seats over, Yurio and Chris are both snickering into their hands.

"At the banquet Yuuri mentioned an interest in new coaching, and when I saw the viral video of him skating my free program, I knew that it was no mistake. I wanted very much to bring out his best qualities. He is an amazing skater with great potential."

"As he showed in the Grand Prix Finals this year with that world record free skate," Morooka says approvingly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Yurio's angry face and can read his thoughts.

Why the hell do they talk more about the pork cutlet bowl's stupid silver medal and not about the fact I goddamned WON the Grand Prix Finals?

"Well, let's get to you," Stephan says, placing a hand on mine, "Coach Feltsman said that he thinks you are competition ready."

"And it's probably the nicest thing he said to me before this interview," I joke, making laughter sound all around.

"Do you think you are ready?"

I give him a confident nod.

"I have had medical treatment and I've trained hard, both getting myself back to full strength and refining my short and free skate programs. I have no doubt that I am bringing everything to the competition tonight. I've been feeling deeply motivated by Yurio, Yuuri and all of the other skaters here. I have some surprises planned for the competition."

"We look forward to seeing them!"

The interview moves on to focus, first on Yuuri and Yurio, then on several of the other skaters in attendance with us. When it ends, Yuuri and I head to our hotel, where Yakov and my mother have invited us to their room for lunch.

"You sounded too cocky in that interview," Yakov scolds me, "for someone who ran off and had no coaching."

"I kept in touch with you by video!" I complain, "Lots of skaters do that when they're away from their coaches. And I needed the high altitude practice and privacy. You think I want people knowing what I'm doing to do to surprise them tonight?"

"What are you doing to surprise them?" he asks, "Don't you think at least I should know?"

"No," I answer, earning a scowl and a huffed breath from him, "I don't."

After lunch, Yuuri and I head back to our room, where we give each other a relaxing rub down, then dress and prepare mentally for the short program.

"You are going to be great," I tell him as I rub almond oil into his back and shoulders, "Just skate like you have been and you will do well."

"You're going to be great too," he tells me, sitting up as I finish the massage, "Victor, I feel really bad that I ever doubted you."

"It's fine," I tell him, "I was upset before, but then I just remembered that if you have low expectations, it only means that I can do a better job of surprising you, and anyone else who doubts me."

"I don't doubt you now," he promises, watching as I lay down on my belly, then running warm, oiled hands over my body, "You've looked great in practice. I'm going to have to work really hard to beat you tonight."

"I know you'll give me a good challenge," I chuckle, "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too."

Time passes quickly, and before we know it, it's time to walk down to the ice rink. Maret and Sava walk on either side of us and Stefan is at my shoulder too. Yakov and my mother walk off to one side, and as we enter the skating arena, Mother stops me to give me a hug.

"I'm so glad that I finally get to be here in person to see you skate again!" she says, sniffing, "I know you'll make your father and me proud."

"I promise I'll do my best," I tell her.

Yakov guides her to where families are sitting in a private area of the stands, then he goes with Yurio, Yuuri and me to the skater preparation area. I half listen for a few minutes as he growls out some last minute instructions to Yurio and me, then I take Yuuri a little away from the others to warm up.

"We're all performing in the last group," I tell him, "How are you feeling so far?"

"Oh, fine," he tells me, giving me a little nod of confirmation.

I look at him closely to be sure. He's usually pretty collected before his short programs, and that seems to be true this time as well.

"I want you to close your eyes for a moment," I tell him.

As soon as his eyes are closed, I embrace him and whisper into his ear.

"This is the moment that you and I have been working towards over the past year. You told me that you promised yourself that you were going to skate on the same ice as me again, and tonight, you will. While you are out there, I want you to know that I will be watching you. And this time, I will not just be watching as your coach, I will be watching as your competitor. I will notice any mistakes that you make and I will try to capitalize on that when I skate my program. We both need to put in our strongest performances tonight…you, to show everyone how right I was in devoting the season to training you, and me, to show everyone that I am still Victor Nikiforov, the skating legend they remember."

"I promise I will give you my very best," Yuuri says softly in reply, "Good luck out there, Victor. It's a privilege sharing the ice with you tonight."

"It is a privilege sharing the ice with you," I answer, squeezing him tightly and giving him a long kiss, "Best of luck to you, Yuuri."

We head out to the six minute warmup when our group is called, then we watch as the skaters before us put in their performances. Yuuri is one of the last three to skate, and he makes me proud with the performance he gives by earning a new personal best. He truly radiates Eros now, and his score shows the worthiness of that performance. Yurio gives him an evil look as Yuuri scores dangerously close to his world record score. Yurio's performance is also exemplary, and he just barely holds a little lead over Yuuri as I am called to the ice.

I take a slow breath and as I skate out to center ice, I think of everything that has happened in the past year…the long break I took to coach Yuuri, the struggles I've had with alcoholism and the help that Stefan has offered me. I think of the awful memories that returned to me and the revelation of the longstanding lies about my parents. I think of my mother sitting in the stands, finally free to watch and be proud of her younger son. I think of my brother and sister and their families, who are watching from their homes. I remember the friendships that I have made in my years as a professional skater, and the love I have experienced that has changed my life. I really couldn't ask for more than I have now.

As I take my beginning position, I know that I am lucky to be here, to be here now, and to be with the people who love me. It's for all of them and for me, I will give my very best to my skating. When the music begins, I bury myself in those emotions and bring it all to the ice.

I recall, as I skate the beginning, the innocent lies that people have told…my mother's lie that nothing happened when my father left her on the side of a cold, snowy road, the lie my parents told, saying that I was Modya's child to protect my mother and to hold back Modya's jealous anger. I consider too, the innocent lies I told myself.

Alcohol isn't bad like other drugs.

I can control my drinking. It's not a problem.

The thoughts and emotions bleed into my expressions and the movement of my feet and I hear sounds of applause as I perform what I hear an announcer's voice call an inspired performance.

"This is a vast improvement on what we saw of his short program in both the Russian Nationals and in his short program before he was forced to withdraw from the European Championships," Morooka says, "Victor explained to me before the competition that while coaching Yuuri Katsuki, he has studied Katsuki's very distinctive ability in the step sequence. It seems that Nikiforov has taken what he learned and improved his own performance quite notably here."

"I have to agree with you," Stephan adds, "I have known Victor for a very long time, and I know he has struggled before to bring life and vibrance to his step sequence. This program highlights the tremendous step he's taken forward in that area."

I move into the second half of the performance and land my triple axel cleanly. I follow with a quad lutz, and a short time later, a quad flip, quad toe loop combination. I finish with a complicated combination spin that has the audience applauding all the way through, and it continues long after the music ends. I take a deeper, more relaxed breath, now that I am done, and it's then that I see people on their feet and cheering loudly. I skate to the kiss and cry and Yakov gives me a grudging look of approval. Yuuri runs in and grabs me in a bear hug. Yurio looks like he wants to kill me.

"You were amazing! You looked so good out there," Yuuri says, all smiles.

"That was a surprisingly good performance," Yakov adds gruffly, "especially since you had so little coaching."

"I told you I was sorry about that."

"Did you notice that Mirra is crying?"

"What?"

I start to get up, but Yakov tugs me back down again.

"Where are you going? Stay here! Yuuri is going to her. She'll be fine. I just wanted you to see that you made an impression. I think your score will be a good one."

But, if I'm honest with myself, I have to wonder if it will be enough to get ahead of Yuuri and Yurio. I created two skating monsters, didn't I?

My heart skips as the scores post, then I breathe a little sigh of relief and surprise Yakov with a crushing hug.

"I think everyone here came with high expectations for these three magnificent skaters. And each of them have risen to the challenge, putting in inspired performances that have won them high scores from the judges," Morooka says approvingly, "Nikiforov's score puts him scant hundredths of a point ahead of Plisetsky and Katsuki. We have a fierce battle on our hands, and we'll have to wait for the free skate to see which of these amazing men will take home the gold!"

All of a sudden, as it sets in that the competition is over for tonight, I feel really, really tired. I yawn as I slip my skater sweater on over my costume and join Yakov, Yurio and Yuuri to walk out. My mother meets us just outside the skater's preparation area and she's still wiping her eyes.

"You were incredible, Vitya!" she whispers, tears coming to her eyes again, "I'm so proud of you!"

"I waited a long time to skate for you," I sigh, embracing her, "Thank you for being here."

"I will always be here for you now, my boy," she sobs softly into my shoulder, "You can have faith in that!"

"I do."

We've planned to go out to eat, but all of the traveling and the pressure of the competition have stolen all of my energy.

"Yuuri, you should still go out with Mother and Yakov," I urge him, "I'm not going to be good company, just falling asleep on you."

"You don't have to entertain me," he laughs, kissing me on the cheek, "I'll be happy holding you while you sleep."

"At least you should eat," I argue.

"You should too," he scolds me, "The free skate is tomorrow. You need to eat to keep your energy up."

"Ah, okay, I'll order in."

"I'll eat with you," he insists.

"It's fine, Vitya," my mother giggles, "Yakov and I can go out alone. It's no crime, and we enjoy each other's company."

"Obviously, or I wouldn't exist," I whisper in Yuuri's ear, making him blush.

We take our leave of my parents and walk back to the hotel, where Yuuri does his best to keep me from falling asleep as we wait for room service to arrive with our dinner.

"You know, you're just so tired because you're not used to being the one competing," Yuuri snickers, "Man, no stamina…"

"I never claimed to have great stamina," I say, yawning, "just great style."

"I can't argue with that."

When our food arrives, I eat enough to win Yuuri's approval, then I crash and fall into a dreamless sleep for the night, with Yuuri's naked body curled around me and Maccachin warming our feet. As I drop off, my heart warms and flickers as Yuuri whispers into my ear.

"Goodnight, Victor. You were amazing tonight! I know you'll make me work my hardest tomorrow to catch up with you."