CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR
"Tadaimaaaaaa~!"
Half the resort had already shambled into the main entry-way when Lutz hollered that she could see the car pulling up. To the (albeit forgiving) chagrin of the resort owners, Viktor pulled right into the main courtyard in front of the doors, too excited to go around the back and park like other guests, especially since when he and Yuri got out, the resort's front doors were open and people were half-way spilling out into the snow to greet them.
Makkachin was as excitable as ever, jumping and whimpering, barking and wiggling, his tail-wagging so hard and fast that his back end might've come off if he wasn't careful. Viktor was quick to corral his fluffy buddy, nudging the driver's side door closed with a knee as Yuri closed his side as well, coming around the front with a nervous smile on his face and Jiro in his arms.
"I told you we shouldn't be parked right here." He whispered anxiously, trying to play along anyway.
"You did?" Viktor laughed, the dumb-happy look on his face concealing whether or not he'd actually heard the warning previously, "I forget."
"I said it less than 10 seconds ago, Viktor!"
"...I guess it's okay if it's just this one time..." Hiroko reassured, though staying well within the warmth of the inner part of the doorway, "Okaeri~!"
Mari waved politely, wearing regular clothes instead of her YuTopia uniform, still looking a bit rough around the edges from her own flight.
The triplets were more eager to get outside than she, and they practically tumbled out on all sides. They, of course, noticed the new little fuzzy bundle almost immediately, and were practically hovering around Yuri with their smartphones flashing and recording, "Yuri has a puppy!" They chanted excitedly.
"This is Jiro." He introduced, looking down happily at the pup, "Saga Prefecture's Governor gave him to my at the airport. I hope it's okay that we brought him here. I...honestly don't know how house-trained he is, if at all."
"Just keep an eye on him." Toshiya suggested, backing up to make a path from the outside, "Let's all get back inside before all the heat gets out."
"You boys must be exhausted." Hiroko added, following the much-taller duo towards the sliding doors and onto the cow-hide rug that lined the first part of the entry-way, "I'll bet you want to soak for a bit. Or do you want to eat first? Minako-senpai was supposed to call when you two were on your way here from the train station, but she didn't."
"She left her phone in the car." Yuri grinned, holding the device in his hand before stuffing it back into his borrowed jacket, "We'll go soak, but I want to do something else first." He nudged his sneakers off with the toe of each opposite foot, bending down to grab them and stow them in the nearby cubbies as his partner did much the same.
"Something else?" Viktor wondered, having to practically dance around the foyer with Makkachin weaving in and out between his legs, "You haven't mentioned anything else until just now."
"It won't take long." Yuri nudged his head in a gesture for them to go, and Viktor followed.
Within a few moments, the rush of excitement for their homecoming was chilled to the calm of a certain solemn room. Jiro glanced around, looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the trees outside. He whimpered quietly as Yuri put him onto the floor, the jacket sliding off of him, though the pup stayed in its warmth a little while longer anyway.
Yuri pulled out two cushions, setting them side by side in front of a certain shrine before kneeling on one and lighting some incense, putting the stick of lightly-smoking scent into the jar just ahead of him. He glanced back to see Viktor still standing in the doorway, unsure whether to follow or to stay behind, but he pat the second mat and then turned back to the shrine.
The framed photo of Vik-chan was in its usual place, the gentle stream of incense smoke rising like a ribbon in front of it. Viktor took a nervous seat on the right, with a much-calmer but still excited Makkachin padding alongside, hopping up against the man's back to drape both front paws over the Russian's shoulders. Everything seemed rather quiet for a few moments.
Yuri had his head bent down, hands pressed together just in front of his nose, "Vik-chan..." He eventually said, his voice barely above a whisper, "This is Jiro."
Fuzzy triangular ears twitched, and the puppy looked up, perhaps more from listening to the only noise in the room, but Yuri let himself think it was because the pup was starting to recognize his name.
It was quiet again for a few seconds. Viktor watched in nervous silence, looking from his partner to the framed picture of the man's much-younger self, posing with the toy-poodle that bore his name. Makkachin panted softly next to one ear, distracting him enough that he didn't notice Yuri moving before his hand was taken and gently pulled closer.
"I never really considered getting another dog after I failed Vik-chan before." Yuri admitted sullenly, "When you said at the airport that you didn't mind taking time off to coach me because it also meant you got to spend more time with Makkachin...Vik-chan was all I could really think about. I always thought I'd have more time."
The poodle pulled off his human's back and came around in front of the two men, curiously starting to sniff at the bundle in front of Yuri's knees. Jiro seemed reluctant, staying put where he was, though his tail swayed a little bit, signaling his willingness to participate in the meeting. The much larger dog slowly wiggled closer, until he could stretch his neck out and get the tip of his wet nose as close to the Akita as he was willing to get for the moment. Jiro was suddenly much more curious, getting up from the bundle made from Yuri's coat and started to wobble closer. Makkachin immediately pulled up and back, sitting on his haunches in surprise, but lowering again as the smol pupper got between his front paws...and flopped there. The poodle lowered his head again, smelling at the lil' dude curiously.
"Makkachin, this is Jiro. Jiro, this is your new big brother, Makkachin." Viktor explained, trying to break up the awkward silence. He reached his free hand forward to rub the puppy's fuzzy back, and found the small creature rolling onto its back for his first official belly-rub.
Yuri smiled to see it, "Looks like those two will get along. Hopefully they'll be friends soon."
The big brown poodle was suddenly a ball of energy all over again, leaping up and practically flipping around in the air as he darted around the room, tail a'blur behind him. He was down on his front paws, panting excitedly, butt up in the air with that tail flailing back and forth. Jiro seemed receptive to the idea and started plodding forward, as graceful as only a puppy could manage, and went after the big fluffer, whine-barking as he scuttled onward and dragging the long leash behind him. When he got close enough though, Makkachin leapt again, darting around the room like a cat with something stuck to its backside, only to lower down to his chest again somewhere else and start the whole thing over again.
Viktor watched them for a moment longer, turning his attention only when he felt Yuri letting go of his hand to lean against his side instead. He returned the gesture with an arm wrapped over and behind his husband's shoulder, resting his hand on the inward curve of Yuri's waist, "You have time again, to do the things you couldn't with Vik-chan."
"...I'll do things right this time..."
.
With the two canines settled in the common area, minded by the triplets, the two tired skaters made their way through the hot-springs changing room and wash area. It was only just after the lunch hour by then, so there were no other patrons in the spring, which was just fine by them. They stepped quietly over the stonework deck and carefully dipped one toe at a time into the bath, until they were up to their ears in mineral-water and steam.
Listening to just the quiet rippling of the pool all around them, the silence was a welcome reprieve from the noise of travel and competition. They each closed their eyes to savor it, towels perched precariously on the tops of their heads as they half-floated next to each other, the back of their heads anchored to the lip of the deck.
"It feels like it's been so long." Viktor commented, opening one eye and looking up into the sky for a moment, then turning it towards his partner on his right, "Hard to believe it's only been...what...5 days? Since we were here last."
"Something like that." Yuri agreed, cracking his eyes open to a slit as well.
The Russian tilted his head a bit, "Can you believe it's been a year since you kissed me that first time, right here in this hot-spring?"
That got a smile from the exhausted younger man, "It was more like a peck, if we're going to be technical. Our first real kiss was at Cup of China."
Viktor settled back to where he was and closed his eyes again, smirking to himself at the memory of it all, "You were so nervous back then. Still such an innocent, even after we came back from Barcelona." He huffed a quiet laugh at that.
Yuri cocked a brow at his spouse, "I didn't really know what was going on still. I saw all the signs and somehow didn't realize what it all meant."
"It's okay. I forgive you." The Russian mused, "I was willing to wait. You were worth it." He twisted over slightly and gave a nibble to his husband's neck, "The days I spent training you to open up to me are some of my fondest memories."
That just made Yuri's cheeks go pink, and he pulled his legs back from where they floated and settled on the under-water bench, "You were a good teacher."
Viktor pulled his legs back as well, joining his partner on the stone ledge and turning side-face to look at him, one elbow going up onto the deck to hold him still, "There's still a lot of things I could teach you...things we could learn together..."
"Really...?" Yuri gave a strange look, "Like what?"
A sly grin crossed his face, and Viktor shimmied closer, sliding his free hand under the water from his husband's stomach to chest, lifting one finger above the water's surface to nudge the man's chin towards him. He looked closely into those hazel eyes he adored so much, and nosed at those soft lips before gently pressing his own to them. He could almost taste the laugh that was about to spring from him, and he whispered the word, "Toys."
Yuri chortled, his face going bright red, "V-Viktor...!"
The Russian couldn't help himself, almost howling as he turned where he sat and pressed one shoulder against the side of his partner's chest, bringing his hands up above the water and placing both index fingers next to one another, "You see, we could both be lined up like this, and then one of us puts a Fleshlight overtop...it'd be like a threesome, but without the trouble of actually having to share each other with someone else."
The water was already rather steamy, but the heat from Yuri's embarrassment might've been enough to evaporate at least an inch of water all around him. He shook his head to regain his focus though, even as Viktor was still grinning rather proudly, and then reached his hands forward.
To the Russian's surprise, Yuri didn't grab his hands to push them back under water again and out of sight...he just nudged one down, so the tip of one finger was at the level of the other's last joint.
"...A more accurate representation."
Viktor smirked and sat a bit more upright, hands going under the water and out of sight, "I love you exactly as you are. I would never wish to change a thing about you."
A glimmer of that innocence was still there in Yuri's eyes, hidden behind the glow of his reddened cheeks, "I could never bear to share you with anyone, even for the novelty of doing something new."
"That's okay." The Russian whispered easily, "I'm very territorial over my Katsudon. The only one who ever gets to eat you is me."
Yuri's face was starting to hurt from the tension of his embarrassment, and he shook it to regain himself. It helped that he felt Viktor's hand starting to slide up the outside of one of his legs, hooking under both knees and pulling them over his own to draw him closer. Water rushed back up to his neck as Viktor loomed, but as soon as the ripples leveled out again, Yuri let himself relax. Those blue eyes were hypnotizing, and all he wanted was to be lost in them. He felt his husband moving again, his free arm coming around his other side, curving under his back to help hold him up. Knowing he wouldn't sink, Yuri brought his own hands up then, each one pressing lightly to his partner's face as he tipped his head forward, gently touching their foreheads together and closing his eyes. He held there for a moment in silence, listening to the water and the afternoon sky, but then smiled and cracked his eyes open again, "And I you."
.
The Gold medal went on display as the last bits of katsudon were being prepared in the kitchen. Minako and Yuuko finally arrived back as well, with the ballerina frantically seeking after her phone, apologizing rather enthusiastically to Hiroko for not making the call she'd promised. Yuri just huffed a laugh at the woman's expense and pointed to where Viktor's long grey-blue coat was hanging.
Makkachin fell asleep next to his human, resting his head on the man's leg, the rest of his fluffy brown body vanishing under the low table as they ate. Jiro wasn't far off, squished into the small space between the two skaters legs.
When the famed 900 calorie 'Yuri's Pork Cutlet Bowl' was finally put away, and half a bottle of shochu was drunk, mostly by Viktor though, Yuri could feel the weight of his eyelids settling in more than ever before. The adrenaline of returning home and the fanfare of his victory was enough to wake him up for a little while, but not forever.
"You ready for your nap?" Viktor teased, draining the last of his second small glass.
"I think so." The younger man agreed hazily, "The shochu reminded me I was still tired."
"Go take a break, Yuri." Hiroko offered, "If you wait much longer, you'll just end up sleeping through the night and miss all the fun later."
"...Hai..."
Viktor was quick to offer his services and hoisted his husband up into his arms, picking him up off the floor, though careful not to step on the pupper that had suddenly been so rudely awoken, "Gomen, Jiro. I need to take Yuri to bed though."
Yuuko started coaxing the young dog under the table, getting not only Jiro but Makkachin as well, both fluffbeasts flopping against her to snooze some more.
The Russian smiled at her, but quietly made his exit, heading to the stairs that lead to the second floor, and the long hall that went towards his old banquet-hall-turned-bedroom, and Yuri's own former room. Passing the banquet hall first though, Viktor paused and used a foot to slide the doors open, seeing that the bed had been made-up, likely in anticipation of an overnight stay before going back to their own house.
Yuri wondered about the pause though, lifting his head and opening his eyes where he'd leaned against his partner's shoulder, "How come you stopped?"
"I was just trying to think of where I want to take you." The silver legend answered, "My room, since it's right here, or down the hall to yours. That's where we were when we made love for the first time."
"Two weeks later." Yuri pointed out, cheeks still pink in spite of himself.
"We did it in your room again later, when everyone gave us scores." Viktor teased, "Seems that's where we should go, then."
Hazel eyes widened in surprise suddenly, but he could already hear his door being nudged in before he could manage a retort. The door was then pushed closed again, and the two were left in the relative dark of his bedroom, the curtains pulled mostly across his windows, giving only a crack of light for them to see by. Yuri felt his feet turned down to touch the ground, though Viktor kept his arms around him, hands sliding down his back to rest gently on his waist. Silver hair brushed against his face as the Russian leaned in closer, tilting his face slightly to the right, pressing their lips together moments after. It didn't take much convincing to get Yuri to enjoy it, sliding his hands over the green fabric of the spa jacket and over his husband's shoulders, arms sliding against the man's soft skin where the robe slid off one side.
"I'll come wake you up again when it's time." Viktor whispered, "For now...let me help you sleep."
"I don't...know... There's no locks on these doors and anyone in the resort could come up here at any time..."
"I'll be quick. Just something for you." The Russian bargained, "I can ask you to stop speaking about certain things for a while, but I can't make you stop thinking about them. At least let me overwhelm you for just a little while. Maybe I can take your mind off of these new troubles, even if only for a few hours."
Tired eyes looked on, but Yuri answered without a word, stepping into a kiss of his own making.
Viktor was eager to feel it, holding his partner a little tighter then. He slowly shuffled his husband back towards the bed, hands roaming from back to backside and up again, feeling every contour through the thin green fabric covering that thin athletic frame. Eventually, he pulled his hands around Yuri's sides and brought them up to the man's chest, gently rubbing there as well before fingers found the laces to the robe, letting the folded panels fall away from one another and reveal pristine skin to his eyes. Pristine, except for that one red mark on the top of one shoulder, where he distinctly remembered giving his spouse a small love-bite during one of their last romps in Detroit.
He went down to that shoulder to nibble on that same spot again, hands working their way into the confines of the spa robe, feeling at every inch of skin. He kissed his way back up his husband's neck as one hand went down the back of the loose green pants. Yuri twitched forward a bit as he felt it, but Viktor relished every second, and continued his explorations as kisses resumed. Two fingers pressed between the younger man's legs, feeling at a nubbin of sensitive skin, and gently coaxing that arousal. When he felt the beginnings of a prod in front, he gave one more long kiss, and withdrew his hands to maneuver the man to turn around.
Yuri leaned his back against his husband's chest, letting the robe fall from his shoulders, and tumble lightly off his arms. It fell to the floor at their feet without a sound. The Russian's hands went around his sides again, coming towards the front to explore through the green fabric, feeling at the inside of his thighs and sliding up. Yuri tilted his head back, feeling lips against his neck, and fingers sneaking into what remained of his clothes, teasing all around him without ever really touching. When Viktor did take hold of him, Yuri couldn't help but jerk his hips back, pressing himself firmly against his husband's core. Every stroke and tug made his breaths more needy and urgent. The feeling of each hand roaming over him, one drawing up such exquisite pleasure in him, the other slowly moving up and down the front of his body, was paradise. Just as Viktor had promised, those hands drove the worries from Yuri's mind.
Soon, those hands were also making Yuri's legs too weak to hold himself up anymore, and he gradually sank down until he was on his knees, leaning forward against the edge of his bed. Kisses trailed across his back, and both hands went down between his legs to please him, each one expertly finding their way to his most secret, sensitive places. The added pressure of Viktor pressing his hips against him made it even better.
"...Nh...V-Viktor...I'm cl-close..."
A puff of hot breath passed against his skin, but Yuri found the Russian pulling off of him. He turned his head, cheek pressed to the sheets, looking back at the silver legend as he rose up to stand on his own knees. Eyes met, even as Yuri tried to catch his breath, feeling hands cupped over his hips, pulling him gently back against his husband's lap. Half-lidded slate eyes watched him carefully, savoring every reaction. He unfolded where his arms had bent against the mattress, going slightly limp under the Russian's gaze, and Viktor used the moment to turn him onto his back, and push him further onto the bed.
Viktor moved in closer after that, wedging between his partner's legs and rising up as far as he could go against that pale, bare chest.
Yuri tilted his head back, relaxing under the man's advances, and savoring every kiss that trailed down the front of his frame. Kisses soon morphed to licks, and then sucks, moving up and down on him. Sweet release came soon after, and his whole body trembled from the pleasure of it, waves and pulses of electricity moving through him. Viktor continued on with a few more passes, but then released him, leaving him stretched out on his bed and trying to catch his breath.
"Sleep like a lion, my love." The silver legend whispered, rising to stand and moving the younger man's frame better into the bed, pulling the blankets over him soon after and patting one hip when he was done.
"...You've been...saying that in English recently." Yuri huffed, pulling in deep breaths as he watched in his half-asleep torpor, "...I wonder why...? Don't like 'koibito' anymore?"
"It was fun for a while, but I'm being a little more serious now." The Russian answered, crouching down next to the bed to look on at his partner at a more even level, reaching a hand up to brush a few strands of raven hair away, "I want to be completely sure that what I say is what I actually mean." He explained, then moving his hand down to grasp at the one resting on the sheets, pulling it up to kiss those fingers, "And my understanding of 'koibito' has evolved. It's okay as a tease, but..." He leaned forward then and kissed his husband's forehead, "You mean much more to me than just a lover, but I don't know the Japanese word for 'soul mate,' 'love of my life,' or 'my other half.'"
"Unmei no hito..." Yuri suggested sleepily, "A fated person..."
"Hm...sounds ominous."
"Tamashii no...hanryo..." He went on, even as he was starting to fade, "Other half...of my...soul..."
Viktor waited a few minutes, gently stroking his partner's chest through the thick blanket pulled over him. Once he was certain that Yuri wouldn't wake up anytime soon, he quietly rose up, kissed the man's forehead, and pulled the rest of the curtains to, making certain that the room was as dark as it could be. He grabbed up the discarded spa jacket and folded it quietly, setting it just next to the younger man's pillow before finding his way out of the room.
I wish I could sleep now, too...but I'm just so hopelessly wide awake... I'm afraid I'd just spoil it for you if I stayed here with you.
The door clicked shut. Viktor set his palm against it, holding there for a moment before finally turning away to head back down to the common room.