CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT

The familiarity of Japanese subway lines was all Yuri could focus on as the JR Line from the airport connected at Shin-Sapporo station. No matter how comforting or reassuring Viktor had been about the presence of his father, the hulking man-bear had the affect of the shadow of Death itself, keeping the young skater on edge and looking over his shoulder every few steps. Just leaving the one train car and finding their way over to the Tozai Line platform where their next train would leave from, felt like an obstacle course...but with the obstacles coming from behind. Every step he heard was like the killing-charge of some prehistoric predator.

He held firmly to his partner's hand as they walked; he could tell Viktor was still secretly apprehensive about the whole thing as well, even if he played along like he was all for it. Yuri supposed the man would unburden only once they were truly alone. He hoped it wouldn't be so much that he could no longer focus on the reason they were all in Sapporo to begin with.

Viktor kept the group together for the next leg of the trip; the train that would get them closest to the event hotel would drop them off at the Nishi Juitchome station. That would be the last common point between the travelers though. The Sapporo Prince Hotel was, after all, only really for participants and event staff, which meant only 2 of the 6 would be staying in it.

"So where are the rest of you staying anyway?" The younger silver Russian asked, turning his head to the right where Minako was walking alongside him.

"Just down the street," She answered, pointing to the east, "The Leopalace Hotel Sapporo. It's okay, but it's no Ritz-Carlton."

"Guess I should be grateful for that then." Viktor laughed dryly.

Mikhail continued to sulk in the background, walking several yards behind the Main Four as he stayed back with Konstantin. It burned him severely to see Minako taking his nephew's arm and being quite pleasant and content there.

The event hotel was just across the street by then, barely a 5 minute walk from the subway station. Yuri adjusted where he held onto Viktor's carry-bag, and when he lifted his head again, it seemed like all the skating fans in the world had suddenly spotted them. People screamed from all sides of the road, though mostly from the entrance rotunda in front of the hotel, cameras flashing like ball-lightening from all angles. The younger skater looked up at his partner, knowing most of the adulation was for him, and was relieved to see some of the life bubble back up into the man's tired eyes.

"These guys all seemed to know Viktor was going to be here." Yurio commented quietly, scratching the side of his chin as he watched the growing mob gathering in front of the hotel, waiting for them to cross, "I wonder who tipped them off?"

"Maybe they just got lucky." Yuri suggested, "It's not like they didn't know Viktor was going to be here."

"No, but how many of these people would really be waiting around the event hotel at this hour unless they did know someone was coming?"

"It's not like this is the first time this has happened." Viktor quipped, seeing the lights change and pulling his husband and Minako along to cross, Yurio following quickly alongside, hands stuffed into his hoodie's pockets, "Minako-sensei knew when Yuri would be home when he first got back to Hasetsu. He wasn't even skating anymore back then. Fans just find these things out."

"Would be nice to know how."

Crossing from one corner to the other, and then from that corner to the hotel-front, the fans' cheering and excitement grew. Signs started coming out welcoming Viktor to Sapporo, but the more Yuri looked, the more he realized the fans were holding up Viktuuri signs, some sourced as recently as their Exhibition performance from Bordeaux. Even though he'd let go of Viktor's hand by then to let him get his dose of fanfare, it wasn't long before he felt hands pawing at his back to push him into the throng. Viktor quickly gathered him up again with an arm over his shoulders, and the next 15 minutes was spent inside the almost protective bubble of mass-hysteria and flash photography.

Being shorter than most people when they had their arms up to hold their signs and cameras, Yuri had almost let himself forget the presence of the Russian man-bear standing just beyond the crowd. It was Yurio who forced the reminder though, pulling Yuri out of the crowd just far enough to point out that they all had places to be.

[Is it always like this?] Konstantin wondered quietly, standing way back with Mikhail near the road, [Seems excessive.]

The smaller Russian just looked on indignantly, [Yeah. Always. Viktor's the King.] He said, almost sarcastically.

Slate-blue eyes narrowed slowly at him, Mikhail's choice of words forcing a certain memory to bubble back to the surface uninvited.

[I thought I could forgive you for wanting to be a dancer instead of a man...since you had apparently done so well, and become King of all the Fairies for 5 years straight. But this...this is unforgivable. This is exactly what I said you'd become if you skated. You shame us all.]

Viktor had apparently told the crowd something, which made them all roar with excitement again, even as he had started to pull Yuri through them towards the hotel doors. All the signs went up at once as the mass of people were giving their farewells and cheers for the weekend's event.

[Is this the hotel we're staying at or not?] Konstantin wondered, more impatient than before.

Mikhail just shook his head, [No, we're down the street.]

[I'm going to get my stuff!] Yurio suddenly called out in Russian, getting the elder's attention, [We'll be back in a few minutes.]

The two older Russians watched the two younger Russians disappear into the hotel with their Japanese entourage, the fans still cheering as they went, and only then slowly starting to disperse.

[He was Russian this whole time?] The bear asked, a little surprised, but trying not to show it.

[Who, Yuratchka?] Mikhail wondered, looking back up at him, [Yeah, the whole time...you didn't know? He was there with us when I brought Yuri and Viktor back to deal with Tat's insurance thing. Since we got here, he's been translating what you said to Yuri and Minako.]

[He's been speaking English at them. Do you think I understood that he was translating?]

Grey-green eyes just blinked at the huge man skeptically, but then turned back to look at the hotel, and started stepping towards the big, frozen-over water fountain to the left of the entrance. Kon followed slowly after, watching his smaller, grumpy counterpart take a seat on the ledge of it and grumble to himself.

[I told you this was a bad idea.]

Mikhail glanced up, one eye visible past the edge of his cap, but then turned back down again, [I knew it was a risk. But I think Viktor needs this. He went back to make peace with Tatiyana's ghost, but I think he went there knowing it was you had had to make peace with. I tried to point that out to him by reminding him that a grave can't hear him.]

[You were always one of the cruelest men I knew.] Kon shrugged, looking around the foreign land like a fish out of water...but one that wouldn't be arsed to flop around in a panic, simply lying down and resigning to its fate, [These people may hate me for the worst 15 seconds of either mine or Viktor's lives, but they don't even know what you can be like.]

[Used to be like.] Mikhail corrected immediately.

[Old habits die hard.] Konstantin retorted, [The fact that you even bothered to remind Viktor that a corpse can't hear him was the old you, still wanting to be selfish over her.]

[How can I be selfish over someone who's dead? She can't play favorites anymore.] The younger Russian growled, putting his elbows on his knees and his chin in his palms roughly.

[You've spent more time talking in front of Tatiyana's grave than anyone else I know. I wasn't even asleep yet when you got up from the couch to sneak outside and sit there in the cold for half an hour. I wouldn't be shocked if you said that you knew she'd died before I ever even called to let you know about it.] The bear explained, much to Mikhail's chagrin, [Deny it all you want, but the more you learn about what happened after you left, the more you blame Viktor for the fact that Tat died at all, just like I do. Subtle as it was, telling him that going to Tat's grave was pointless was kind of your revenge, sabotaging his efforts to get resolution by saying he wouldn't get any.]

[I was being rational. I didn't want him to get his hopes up that sitting in front of a statue was going to give him what he was looking for.]

[Telling Viktor that his mother can't hear him when you've convinced yourself she can hear you is not rational. It's vindictive.] Konstantin said flatly, [I might've hit Viktor's body, but you're cutting deep into his heart and soul, ripping it up without him even knowing.]

[I find it horribly ironic that you're the one giving me grief right now, of all people.]

[Viktor and the rest look up to you. If you don't even know what kind of advice you're giving, who else would?] The Russian bear looked around again, but then down on the silver man well below, [You're a bitter old man with a habit of abandoning people when they don't do what you want or confront you with uncomfortable jabs at your behavior. If these people ever find out what kind of man you really are, will you abandon them, too?]

[I'm not like that anymore.] Mikhail growled, [I didn't even realize what a hypocrite I was with Viktor until after I told him Tat couldn't hear him. You make it sound like you think I planned it all on purpose.]

[Maybe not consciously. In the end, we never truly stop being the people we were when we were younger.] Slate eyes watched as the silver man pulled his hat off roughly and buried his face in it, [You and Tat used to always say you were both the same person, one mind, one soul split into two. With her gone, what does that leave you?]

[Half of me is dead.] Mikhail said quietly, voice muffled by the hat, [The best half.]

.

Yurio quietly gathered up his assortment of things from around the hotel room, the final item being his phone charger. As he wrapped it up into a small ball and shoved it into his studded backpack, he cast emerald eyes on Yuri, who was trying to clean up a bit, apparently having become hyper-aware of the mess they'd made since arriving. He stepped over and poked the older skater's shoulder to get his attention, "I have all my stuff. We're gonna go."

"Okay." Yuri nodded, rising back up to his full height before turning a little so he could hug the teen, "I don't know what Mikhail's plans for Viktor's father are...but please be careful."

The blonde returned the gesture with one arm, "He always pretends to know what he's doing, so I'm sure he has something in the pipe. The way he moped around after realizing he couldn't go to China, I doubt he would've sabotaged himself by thinking that wooly mammoth would be staying with them."

"If it gets bad, just call us... I'm...sure we can figure something out." The skater said.

Yurio pat the man's back before pulling away again, "Well, by the time it gets to that point, I'm sure you two will be done with the night's events. Just open the windows for a little while." He teased, though being entirely serious in his own way.

Yuri's face just went pink and he looked aside, eyes going over to where Minako had been whispering things to Viktor almost since they'd gotten into the room. She looked rather serious, which made him a bit nervous. The pair had noticed him looking at them though, and the mood quickly shifted.

"Guess you're going to kick us out now, huh?" The ballerina mused, looking curiously perky considering how dour she'd been a moment before, "Did you find all your stuff, Yura?"

"Da."

"Alright." She nodded and moved to pat Viktor's chest as she stepped off, only to stop as he wrapped both arms around her and pull her back for a moment. The Russian whispered something into her ear briefly before letting her go again, and stepped out of the way to let them get to the door. With a sigh, Minako stepped over to her student and hugged him in turn, "Maybe you should take Viktor down to the hot-spring later. It's not like Yu-Topia, but I'm sure it's decent."

"I was planning to." He answered, hugging her back before letting her go.

Viktor opened the door quietly, and Yurio shuffled out quickly enough. Minako lagged behind a little, patting Yuri's hair and then touching her hand to the Russian's arm before finally nodding and taking her leave as well. When the door finally clicked shut, and a calm quiet settled on the room, both men seemed to draw in a tired breath at the same time.

"You look exhausted." Yuri pointed out, stepping forward and reaching for his partner's scarf, "Do you want to sit in the onsen for a little while first?"

"There's only one thing I want to be in right now." The Russian mused, feeling his scarf come loose from his shoulders, and reaching to pull his husband closer by his own, "I've been looking forward to it since before I got off the plane." One hand came up, and careful fingers reached for the younger figure's blue-rimmed glasses, gently pulling them off before folding them and putting them into his coat pocket with his phone, "Yuri."

"I have been, too." The skater said, finally letting himself relax a little bit, sliding his hands into the Russian's coat to push it off his shoulders. He lifted his face up a little to nose his partner's lip before turning slightly to put the coat away properly, only to feel Viktor pulling him back again as soon as he was done. Hands went into his own coat as well, but instead of rising up against his chest like he'd just done to push the coat off, they went down and behind. He felt both palms and all ten fingers grab a handful of his backside, pulling up and forward to draw him in closer as the Russian's mouth went to his neck eagerly. Yuri shrugged out of his coat on his own after that, letting one arm slide out as the whole garment slid down the other, swung lightly to the edge of the hall so at least it would be out of the way. Viktor was still pulling on him, kissing and licking at his neck as insistent hands groped for all they could. Yuri felt a knee go between his, just before the man's right hand slid down his left leg, pulling it around him as he pressed back in turn, "Viktor..."

The younger skater found himself abruptly being turned around, Viktor's chest against his back, pale hands roaming over his front as they started pulling at his sweater, then at the t-shirt that had been tucked in underneath of it. He could hear the small gasp of excitement as fingers finally got to touch his bare skin. Wanting his partner to have all the access he craved, Yuri lifted his arms up, curling them back to hook over the taller man's shoulders. Hands went crawling up the front of his torso as he moved, feeling every contour, every muscle, pawing at every curve and arch as they made their way up, pulling on clothing as they went. Yuri's fingers went through the man's hair, arching his lithe frame forward a bit as his hips pressed back. He could feel his husband's excitement starting to rouse already, and he turned his head slightly to face him, half-lidded hazel eyes meeting blue before they closed as he drew in a sharp breath.

Viktor had pinched a nipple unexpectedly, forcing Yuri's whole body to twitch, bucking against the front of his hips. The Russian huffed a quiet laugh as his hands moved from chest to sides, slowly turning his partner back around to face him and kiss him properly, gently starting to push him back into the main part of the room.

Yuri felt the back of his knees against the end of the bed when he brought his hands down the Russian's arms and then between them, pulling the thin cream-colored shirt up and fumbling for the front of the man's dark dress-pants. He was leaning back by then, held upright only by his husband, kissing at him eagerly as the sound of buttons clicking open and a zipper going down could be heard between them. Not to be seen as overzealous, Yuri made Viktor wait a moment longer to feel him, moving his hands instead to the man's sides and around his back, sliding his fingers across velvet-soft skin.

Viktor pressed in a little harder, kisses moving from mouth to jaw, then under to the start of his neck, left arm wrapping around the smaller figure's back as he started to tilt him over the bed. The other hand went down to the blankets, but the Russian paused a moment, drawing in a hissed breath as he felt those most-wanted-fingers going into his clothing and taking hold of him firmly. Yuri's other hand had parked itself on his partner's hip, gently stroking his thumb back and forth over the crest of bone. They held there for a moment, Yuri's right arm making the only true movements between them, quietly stroking until the Russian could barely hold himself up anymore, never mind the both of them. With a slow burst of energy, Viktor set a knee against the edge of the bed and started to pull Yuri over the top of it, only setting him down finally when he saw a pillow to place him against. Soft fingers were still pulling and squeezing with expertise, even as Viktor pulled back to hold himself up on an elbow, looking down into those longing brown eyes. Silver-grey hair gently brushed against Yuri's cheek, and he lowered his face to nose his husband affectionately before moving to kiss him again. His excitement grew with each stroke of his husband's careful hand, feeling the eager throb growing with it. He pulled out of the wet kiss and rolled onto his back, kicking off his dress-shoes as he felt Yuri's fingers leaving his center.

The younger figure seemed to know what to do either way, kicking his own shoes off with a toe against each heel, then following after his partner as he saw Viktor moving back against the bed until he was falling into the pillows as well. Yuri was quickly sitting on the man's hips, pressing hard against him, but his hands went onto either side of Viktor's head, grasping to the cushioned headboard as he looked into those azure eyes. He felt the Russian's fingers sliding up the outside of his legs, curving around to grope at him again as they moved further up, thumbs sliding under the back of his shirt and grazing against his skin as they continued their way up. He kissed the man again as he felt his clothing bunching up under his arms, pulling back only long enough to let Viktor pull the garments away and cast them aside, then returning to another long kiss. He took his husband in-hand again just as he felt the tip of his tongue on his lip, opening his mouth for it. Pale hands returned to his sides, caressing his back softly, a few fingers creeping under the back edge of his khakis before sliding and turning as they came around front. For a moment, Yuri had become so focused on the motion of his own hand, and the feeling of his husband's tongue in his mouth, that he didn't even notice when Viktor's fingers undid the button in front.

Slate eyes opened a little as he moved from mouth to chin, then down Yuri's neck again as his hands went back around to start pulling him up a little. Yuri reluctantly lifted off his partner's lap, coaxed up a few inches at a time, until he could no longer reach down far enough to keep him in his grasp. Lips went down from neck to collarbone, then to chest, giving one nipple attention before switching to the other and continuing down, all while those hands kept pulling the younger man further up, right onto his knees. When Yuri was finally where he was supposed to be, Viktor was kissing his navel, fingers working at the front of his khakis and then pushing fabric away to get him free. The younger man's hands were already on the Russian's shoulders when he realized what Viktor was about to do, and Yuri all but buckled when he felt soft lips against his exposed center. Arms went back around to hold him up and keep him close, and Viktor went about his business, gently kissing and licking at the new flesh as it pressed up against his partner's abdomen.

Yuri drew in a gasp, feeling the hot warmth around him, and cried out as he felt the suck that followed. Viktor had to push out against the skater's hips to give him room, but then gave him all he had, bobbing up and down against the man's length. When he was sure Yuri wouldn't sink away again, he pulled his left arm back around to help in front, the right tugging clothing away a little further, pushing it down the figure's athletic legs before coming back up again and going between them from behind. It wasn't long before wandering fingers found their way inside, first one, then two, all while lips and tongue continued at the front. Yuri could barely hold himself up by then, drawing in vocal breaths until his legs practically trembled and he had to sit back down again. Viktor curled his arm to keep his fingers where they were, smirking to himself as he slid them in and out slowly.

"W-Why are you so good at that...?" Yuri asked, voice shaking a little from the sensation of it all, hands clinging to the Russian's shoulders as he looked into those blue eyes.

"I learned what to do just for you." Viktor hummed, leaning in close to kiss at his husband's nose, wrapping his free arm around the small of Yuri's back to pull him down against his chest.

He went easily enough, pressing his face against the side of his partner's neck, feeling the fingers continuing their work as lips teased at one ear. He could feel the course edges of fabric and zipper against his tender flesh though, so Yuri pushed up onto his knees to get rid of it all, throwing his khakis off the edge of the bed before going back to pull the rest of his husband's slacks off to join them on the floor. Viktor cast off his shirt as they went, and slid down a little further to lay more on his back as Yuri came back up to join him, sliding in on top with not but skin between them. He gently set his hands on either side of Yuri's lower back, feeling his partners own hands come up under the back of his shoulders, wedging their way between skin and bedsheets before the man leaned down to kiss him again. Viktor slowly started rolling his hips under his husband, feeling where they rubbed together, and eager for more of it.

Yuri soon lifted his head up again, looking quietly at the man in front of him, even as he felt the slow rolling of the pale body against his own. He pulled his hands out from where they'd been pinned, setting them gently onto Viktor's chest as he pushed up a little bit, knees parting behind him as he brought his ankles up and crossed them loosely above himself. He felt one of the Russian's legs coming up between where his had parted, hands sliding down from his back to his backside, feeling between them again like before. In a moment of déjà vu, when he felt those fingers slide against his skin, Yuri slid forward, and just like in his memory, Viktor gave a vocal gasp and a grin.

"It's just like the first time." The younger skater huffed, sliding back down into place again, looking into his husband's eyes as he went, reaching one hand up to slide his fingers through silver bangs, then resting his palm against the man's cheek, "Remember?"

"Always." Viktor smiled, sneaking those two fingers inside again as he spoke the words, "You've come a long way since then."

Yuri gasped a little as he felt it, dipping his head a bit, and wanting more. He closed his eyes to savor his husband's touch for a moment, but then moved to rise up onto his knees, reaching slightly over to the night-stand to retrieve the small bottle of warming lube hidden within the drawer. Viktor had withdrawn his fingers again by then for lack of reach, and instead worked at massaging their centers together, watching quietly as the liquid dribbled down onto them. As it started to spread around, making everything it touched slick and wet, Yuri pooled a little more into the palm of his right hand, then capped the bottle and cast it aside. He let his husband go on for a little while longer before finally rising up, and reaching down with his free hand to place his partner's member behind him instead, then sitting down again where he'd been before. The palm-full of liquid soon went to task as Yuri reached back to slather it all over his lover's length, sliding his hand just as Viktor continued to do to him as well. He then closed his eyes, twisted a little bit, and put his husband into position before sliding back down onto it, feeling it getting inside him just as the man's fingers had been a few moments before.

A few adjusting slides, rising, and falling a little further each time, and Yuri could feel his partner's length entirely within him. He brought his hand back around so both were flat on Viktor's chest, letting himself start to rock against his hips, twisting just enough to give added sensation without letting his partner slip out.

The Russian's hands went to Yuri's waist, holding there without needing to guide him anymore, breathing out a vocal sigh with each movement. He could feel Yuri's hands sliding a bit further up his chest, until he'd gone down to his elbows over top of him, gently pressing the side of their heads together as he continued to rock. He kissed as he could where Yuri's shoulder was closest, and then started to roll his hips as well, gradually picking up speed as he thrust up inside him.

When Viktor reached a fever pitch, Yuri pushed up a bit onto his hands, trying to sit upright again and look down onto his partner. Viktor soon sat up to meet him, wrapping his arms around his smaller frame, kissing him several times, and then turning to put his husband onto his back where he himself had been a moment before, then picking up where he left off. Legs came up around the Russian's pale core, his own knees aside Yuri's waist as he pushed in again. Yuri's hands roamed up the front of his partner's chest before going up over his own head, arching his back into the thrusts, feeling where they pushed him into the pillows over and over again.

It was the best feeling in the world; feeling his husband sliding in and out of him, pressing in on top of where he was on his back. The mutual combination of being wanted, protected, and pleasured all at once.

Viktor hooked his arms around his partner's knees, forcing his hips up a little higher and continuing on, looking onto the man's face for every sign and signal. When Yuri twisted a certain way, tilting his head back to press it against his arm, Viktor slowed and then withdrew. He reached a gentle hand for his partner's waist and pulled up on it, watching as the smaller figure flipped over and presented himself again, reaching to grab a pillow and holding onto it as the rest of him was held up on his knees. The Russian moved in front behind and pressed in, leaning far over his partner's back as he pushed all the way inside, wedging his arms into the crook of Yuri's waist where he could pin the man in and hold his legs apart at the same time.

Yuri cried out against the pillow as he felt it; at that angle, Viktor was pushing all the right buttons. He could feel it almost immediately, the change in pace and pressure sending jolts of pleasure through him with each thrust. He knew his husband was getting close when the man's arms wrapped tightly around his smaller frame, holding him down like Viktor thought he'd pull off for going too hard or too fast, but Yuri wouldn't dare. The more urgent the movements, the better it felt. It even felt good when he noted the hot-spot inside, and the throbbing that accompanied it as Viktor pushed in as deep as he could go, crying out against his back and all but clawing at his skin.

Panting heavily, the Russian sat back again, pulling his husband with him and staying inside as he went. He reached around front to take the man in his hand, continuing a subdued pressure from behind for as long as he could, kissing at the back of Yuri's shoulders and neck until the man's body arched against him with its own release, and then trembled.

Exhausted, they fell to their sides together, Viktor still refusing to withdraw as he clung desperately. Yuri didn't want him to pull out so soon anyway, careful to keep in alignment so they'd stay joined as long as possible, hugging the man's arms where they came around his chest and sides.

To his surprise...or maybe not so much...within a few minutes, Viktor had fallen asleep behind him, hair sticking to his skin where they'd worked up a sweat. Yuri had a feeling, in that moment, it would be the first real sleep Viktor would have gotten since the weekend, and the idea of waking him for anything was unthinkable. He only turned when he felt the man finally slide out some time later, pulled the edge of the blankets to toss it over them, and slid in to hold Viktor's head against his chest.