CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE

Yuri was only allowed to doze for as long as his new puppy, and that new puppy would only nap for about an hour before he woke up again and started wanting to move around. Yuri rubbed his eyes and sat up with the squirmy bundle in his arms, looking over his shoulder to see his husband quietly watching him.

"Morning again." Viktor said, stretching his arms and legs forward as far as they could go, "Did you get a good nap?"

"Mnnn...I'm not sure..." He answered hazily, "I had a really weird dream...but I'm forgetting what it was already... Something about how the RSF fired you because they actually wanted to get rid of me...somehow...I don't know how that makes sense..."

"Sounds more like a nightmare then."

"I thought of a name for our new puppy though." Yuri went on, the dreamscape already dissolved from his mind, "二郎 Jiro."

"Jiro?" Viktor repeated, yawning slightly, "Does it mean something?"

"Second son." Yuri explained, rubbing the pup's head, "To mark the second dog we've had together." He glanced back over his shoulder to look for the Russian's reaction, but Viktor just gave the same sleepy smile he had before, and raised a hand to rub the back of his shoulder.

"It's a perfect name."

For the moment, it was enough to allow Yuri to feel better than he had been since arriving in Kyushu. He twisted in his seat and reached for one of the many bags of gifts that had been given to him, pulling one in particular and rummaging around in it. Jiro was already wiggling out of the jacket Yuri had wrapped him in, but before he could flop to the train-car floor, Yuri grabbed him up again, and backed up in his seat so he could cross his legs.

"Governor Yamaguchi gave me all the supplies Jiro would need for the first few weeks," He started, pulling up a harness and leash from the bag before setting the rest aside, "He'll outgrow this in a month or two, but it'll work for now. Until Makkachin teaches him the ropes and he walks with us and doesn't wander away."

Viktor glanced over towards Yuuko, who was waving a finger at the puppy, but then looked back to his partner. The harness went onto the pup easily enough, and Yuri clipped the leash to the small triangular loop of metal on the back of it before setting the tiny Akita on the ground to walk a bit. He seemed a bit skittish though, and for every two waddles forward, he took three back, until he was under the bench and behind Yuri's legs.

Yuri just laughed quietly, leaning back against his husband's arm, and glancing out through the windows just past him, "Looks like we're just about home."

"There's still nothing on social media or the RSF main-page about their decision to sanction Viktor." Yuuko explained, looking down at her phone, "I wonder what's taking them so long?"

"The time difference." Viktor explained, "It's only just about 6am in Moscow right now. We may have another 2-3 hours of peace before people start finding out, unless we tell them ourselves."

"Do you want to...?"

Yuri looked down at his knees, and the leash where it moved back and forth. The top of Jiro's ears poked out from the edge of the bench, looping the length of cord around Yuri's legs.

"No." Viktor answered, "I expect that the triplets will be the first people to find out about what happened. If we can keep them off their phones, maybe we can last the rest of the day before everyone else finds out. This is supposed to be a fun time, for celebration and enjoying ourselves. I don't want to ruin things."

"It's not your fault." Yuuko pointed out.

"Maybe not, but I can't help that it's about me." He went on, weaving his left arm under his husband's right and finding his hand, "Today should be all about Yuri's achievement, not my punishment. The longer we can go before everyone finds out what happened, the better. Preferably after we go home, because then I can stay inside and build a fort so no one can bother me until everything finally blows over."

"Can I come into the fort?" Yuri quipped, an eyebrow raised skeptically.

"You're the only person who can come in!" Viktor mused, giving a dramatic kiss to the man's cheek, "It'll be our love-cave."

Yuri's face went red. Yuuko's nose was threatening to explode with the same color.

.

When the train finally pulled into the station in the middle of Hasetsu, Yuri could feel himself starting to get nervous. The last time they'd come through for a victory walk was just after NHK only a week before, and he recalled rather clearly how that went.

"STOP THE CAR AND LET ME OUT."

"V-Viktor!?" Everyone called in shock.

The cabby did as told in his stunned surprise, and the silver man practically broke the door-handle off in his efforts to get out. Yuri tried to hold him in, but a swift kick to the inside panel sent the door flying open anyway, bouncing back and needing another kick, followed by the territorial skater jumping out immediately after. He took a few angry steps back towards the train station, which was barely across the street by that point, and shook a fist at the doorway, "WHOEVER KISSED MY HUSBAND WILL RUE THIS DAY." He yelled.

"Viktorgetbackinthecar!" Yuri begged, arms around his waist from behind while Phichit and he tried to get the man back through the open passenger door.

"I WON'T STAND FOR THIS!" The Russian went on, being pulled one reluctant step backwards as he lost ground, though he still shook his fist. There were a number of fans who had poured outside Hasetsu Station to see the skaters leave, and they were all looking rather nervous as he yelled at them, "YURI IS MINE, YOU HEAR ME!?" He pointed emphatically at his wedding band, "HE GAVE THIS RING TO ME! I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT GETS TO KISS HIM! IF I EVER FIND OUT WHO PUT THAT MINTY TASTE ON HIS LIPS, I'LL-"

The memory of it left Yuri with a nervous smile. He regained his focus as he felt Viktor nudging him along from behind, trying to get to the exit doors before the train took off again with them still on board. Yuri carried the puppy that time though, while Viktor and Yuuko worked on getting all their luggage out as quickly as possible. They managed to get the last bag off the car just as the doors were starting to close.

Viktor heaved a breath and sat on one of the suitcases, fanning himself in spite of the cold winter air, "Whew! Almost had to make that one a round-trip!"

"Maybe you should've had it all shipped again like last time." Yuuko mused, "Though I guess you did travel pretty lightly on your own...all those gifts practically doubled your load."

"It's going to take a while to sort through it all." Yuri added, looking around and taking in all the familiar sights. He closed his eyes for a moment and drew in a breath, holding it for a moment before opening his eyes and exhaling again, "Kind of gives me a sense of déjà vu, being here again after coming here from Detriot. The last time I did this trip...Minako-sensei was the only one who was here to greet me, and I was a sore sight to behold."

"You didn't really warn anyone you were coming." Yuuko pointed out, "I didn't realize you were here until you were standing in front of me at the Ice Castle."

"Sorry..." He mumbled reluctantly, pressing his nose to the back of Jiro's fluffy head, "I actually only told my parents, and they told Minako-sensei. I didn't want anyone to make a big deal out of me coming home after so long. Thankfully, no one did, even after people started seeing me around town again."

"And then I came." Viktor chimed in, giving one of his characteristic winks, "And half the countryside descended on this poor little town."

"They'll all be here ahead of time now, too." Yuri added, looking around a moment longer before moving to hand Jiro to Yuuko instead, "Here, hang onto him for just a second."

"Oh, sure." She nodded, quickly taking the pup-burrito in her arms. She could feel that little curly tail trying to wag through Yuri's jacket, but she turned her attention to her friend as he stepped off. She watched as he shuffled across the snowy outdoor deck, moving the few paces to where Viktor was still sitting on the edge one of their suitcases.

The Russian seemed perplexed by it, eyes following the man until Yuri was standing directly in front of him. Nothing else happened though, which made Viktor nervous, "...Why do I feel like I'm in trouble suddenly?"

"You're not." Yuri grimaced, "I'm just doing what I do. Worry is what I'm made of, and anxiety is my natural habitat. I see you consciously refusing to react to what happened and I wonder what'll happen when you finally do. Just..." He drew in another breath and sighed its release, leaning down and putting his hands on each of the Russian's cheeks, "When it finally hits you, and I know it's going to...please find me first."

Viktor just gave a nervous smile, even though where his cheeks were squished together, making him look somewhat silly, "...But Yuri, I barely ever leave you alone in the first place... I mean, I'd drag you into the bathroom if I could..."

"That would be weird."

"I know." The Russian huffed, bringing his hands up to gently touch to his partner's wrists, "You're getting cold without your coat." He pulled his hands back and started wiggling out of his own, "I'll give you mine for now-"

"You're avoiding the subject." Yuri pointed out, unable to do anything to stop his spouse from rising up and sliding the long coat off his arms, and throw it like a cape over his own a moment later. He kept his eyes on those slate irises before him, "Viktor..."

"You're prodding me about something I don't want to deal with right now." He answered, pulling the jacket more snug over his partner's frame, "It's not important enough. Sometimes...there's a place you can't reach unless you have a dream too large to bear alone, right? We are bigger than me and I'm not going to let something that's entirely beyond my control ruin your victory party. It's bad enough that I've been so worked up about everything that I never kissed your Gold medal."

Yuri just gave a worried look, My medal is sitting on Otabek's shoulders right now...the Gold is yours...

"...If I have a meltdown about this later, you'll be there to see it..." Viktor went on, "But we're basically running down the clock right now. Let's please just try to enjoy today before everyone else finds out what happened, okay? I'm not above begging you to have a little fun while you can."

Yuri sighed and shook his head, "You don't have to beg me. The initial shock of it has passed through me finally... But the more I think about it, and process it, the more I realize how much is going to be impacted by this than just us. Minako-sensei pulled that whole thing with Mikhail because she thought I was going to Nationals alone, but now you can come so it's like that whole argument was for nothing. And the-"

Viktor put his hands over Yuri's mouth to make him stop, and gave a rather serious look, "That's enough for now." He said quietly, watching the confused expression he got back from those hazel eyes over his fingers, "I accept and delight in the fact that you're in charge of things now, but I can still put my foot down once in a while. I'm exercising that privilege right now. I forbid you from worrying about this entire topic for the rest of today. Not one more peep about it. You've already gotten yourself worked up about it enough for the both of us. Okay?"

Yuri's brow furrowed in what could only be described as his wordless way of saying, But-

"But nothing," Viktor went on, "We can talk about it later. I just want to have fun for now. Yu-Topia Katsuki is calling my name and I intend to be in that onsen in 45 minutes or less. Anyone who gets in my way will wish they hadn't."

"Migder..." Yuri mumbled into the hands still over his mouth. He stared intently into those blue eyes for a moment longer, not really sure what he was looking for. All he could see was the desperate pleading of a man making his case for temporary relief from the inevitable. He half-whined to himself, and nodded his head, feeling the Russian's hands finally come away again.

"As your coach, I'm ordering you to enjoy yourself." Viktor started again, stepping forward as he slid his arms over his partner's shoulders, pressing in close, "If anyone deserves to celebrate, it's you. You worked so hard to get your Gold medals in the Series, and whether or not you agree with what I did, you deserved the Gold at the Final, too. In my opinion, you're the rightful winner." He gave a half-smile, "You fought me every step of the way to make sure you got to stay in the competition, so..."

I lost my chance to beat you fair and square because I was hurt. Giving me the Gold medal anyway felt like a pity trophy.

"...It felt wrong to get on the podium at the end." Viktor explained, "By stepping down, I righted the wrongs that were done not just to you, but to Otabek, too. In my eyes, everything that happened at the medaling ceremony was a correction. In a way, it's even kind of fitting that I got to be the one to make that call..."

"I don't understand." Yuri sighed, hands finding their way forward to perch on his partner's hips.

"Because JJ was the one who screwed it up on both occasions." Viktor said simply, "He cost Otabek the podium last year, and took a Bronze medal he didn't deserve. He nearly cost you the entire event this year. With me stepping down, I basically got to give JJ the one-finger salute. I won't let anyone steal that satisfaction from me." Viktor laughed, bangs tousling a bit as he lifted his head, "Not even you, my love." He leaned forward for a kiss, cutting off whatever come-back Yuri might've offered in that moment, and he held there for a few precious seconds.

The snappy cold air was starting to make everyone's ears and noses pink though, and Yuuko could feel herself starting to shiver where she stood. Jiro hid his nose inside the jacket, but his tiny puppy barks and whimpers were enough to get the two skaters' attention finally, and they pulled apart before they got frozen together that way. Without offering any argument, Yuri lowered his gaze to find the suitcases he could carry. He waited for his husband to grab up the rest, and they all started making their way into the train station.

I guess he's right, Yuri thought, hearing the sound of his shoes crunching on the snow even more clearly than he normally would. Colors all around seemed more vibrant; even the snow seemed to shine the sunlight more brightly, I'm so over-tired that everything seems super exaggerated. I should just keep my big mouth shut until after I've had some real sleep in an actual bed. These half-naps I take on planes and trains...I just feel like a phone that was turned off overnight but wasn't plugged in. I'm in no better condition now than I was when we got off that first plane in LA.

Coming down the escalators was less ridiculous than when he'd done so with Phichit the week prior, since Viktor didn't insist on making a dramatic entrance again. The crowd that greeted them was just as big as he'd expected though. Banners and flags were shaken out excitedly from one end of the terminal to the other. The odd 'overcome' sign was being waved about as well. Yuri was grateful then that the Excedrin he'd been given earlier had finally started working, since he could only imagine how bad it would feel to have all that noise reverberating around in such a closed space. At least at the airport, it was open and airy, so the sound of all the cheering and applause had somewhere to go but straight into his head.

With their hands full, it was easy enough to get through the mob without having to spend too much time acknowledging it. Yuri bowed his head politely to as many people as he could as he dragged the suitcases behind him, occasionally glancing back over his shoulder to spy Viktor and Yuuko pulling up the rear with Jiro and the rest of their things.

To his and Viktor's surprise though, a certain volcano-red Audi was parked out front and waiting for them. So was the ballerina that had driven it there for them. Minako stepped out of the car and twirled the key-ring on a finger before stepping towards them, making a B-line to Viktor to give him his keys back.

"Welcome home, kids." She said excitedly, gesturing then towards the car, "He-who-shall-not-be-named made sure this thing was shipped here as soon as he realized the bear would get no use from it. Hopefully it'll be enough to get all your things inside without one of you having to sit on the roof, too."

"This is great!" Yuri chirped, "Hopefully it wasn't too much trouble for you to get it here." He looked towards the woman, and she shook her head.

"No trouble at all. How many people get to say they got to drive around in Viktor Nikiforov's car?" She laughed, dropping the key-ring into the Russian's expecting palm, and then bowed dramatically as she took a step back, "In either case, your chariot awaits. Yuuko and I will walk back to Yu-Topia."

"Let's get everything packed in and get moving." Viktor added, "There's a bottle of sweet-potato shochu with my name on it back at the resort."

Minako glanced over towards Yuuko then as the two skaters started opening all the doors and moving seats around to get access to the tiny back seat and trunk, playing proverbial TETRIS with their things to get everything to fit. That's when she first noticed the fuzzy lump in the woman's arms, and she jumped in shock, "Is that a new dog!?"

The Madonna smiled excitedly, reaching up one hand to pull back a layer of the jacket to help expose the puppy's head a bit more, "This is Jiro ~! The newest addition to the Nikiforov household. The Governor gifted him to Yuri for a job well done at the Final."

The ballerina fawned over the puppy for as long as she could before Yuri hollered that they were ready to go. Yuuko leaned down to hand the pup over to him, and Yuri cradled the bundle on his lap while Minako pushed the door closed.

"He's adorable." She commented, leaning down to the open window briefly, "Welcome home, little buddy." She boop'd the Akita's nose and pulled back to stand upright again, "Drive save on these snowy roads, Viktor. It's only a 5 minute drive."

"These roads are nothing compared to the ones in Russia." He answered back, "I could drive on them with one eye closed."

"Don't tempt fate," Yuri muttered nervously, recalling how Viktor had done just that very thing once before. He turned his head back towards the two women standing outside, and set his finger on the button to roll the window up, "Arigatou, Minako-sensei. We're probably going to jump straight into the onsen once we get there."

"I expect it! Don't stand on ceremony just for us." The ballerina answered, stepping back and waggling her fingers as the window slid up and closed. The crowd behind her swelled as the crowd of fans got their last photos, and the little red car pulled out of the train-station parking lot.

"We're so close..." Yuri sighed happily, leaning back into his seat, and reaching his free hand across the center console to find its usual perch on his husband's thigh, "I can almost smell the mineral water."

"Me too. It's tempting to blow every red light and stop sign just to get there faster." Viktor agreed, "And the Victory Katsudon~! Food of the Gods!"

"Raooww raowrowr...!" Jiro tried his best to join the excitement, though his howl turned into more like something of a whisper-grumble.

The two skaters laughed at it. For the moment, at least...in the humble presence of the puppy, they gave themselves permission to relax.