A/N: Anime series always have this 'fanservice' type onsen/hotspring episode (as well as the obligatory beach episode), so I decided to jump on the bandwagon (as my gift to you ;)

Included in this chapter:
Emperor Katsuki discovers that King Nikiforov is adorably prudish (teasing ensues)!
Emperor Katsuki is a sneaky flirt!
King Nikiforov gets the 'full' fundoshi experience.

_line break_

Chapter Text

Cleanup didn't take very long, the two powerful monarchs making quick work of things. Emperor Katsuki worked with Yuuko to purify the stronghold and the surrounding area. King Nikiforov summoned a cloud of about a hundred perfect little icy spheres and sent them out toward the stronghold. They embedded themselves at strategic sections of the building and when the King clapped his hands together, they shattered, causing great cracks of ice to form in the building's façade. The cracks grew and expanded until they met up with one another and the whole building exploded in a rainshower of ice crystals. The rays of the midday sun reflected off the ice crystals, rendering them into a million little prisms and filling the sky with a burst of shimmering little rainbows. As they fell to the ground, they grew red hot in color before dispersing into little blue embers as they were consumed by the purification magic. Yuuko and her husband Takeshi worked in tandem to bless the land and make it suitable for things to grow and sustain an ecosystem.

Once the blessing was complete, Minami had immediately prostrated himself before the Emperor, begging for forgiveness and demanding punishment for his gross negligence. The Emperor tapped his chin pensively with his fan as he eyed the young man groveling at his feet.

"Kenjiro, were you the only one who did not notice that last demon?"

"No, Emperor Sama."

"Was anyone injured as a result?"

"No, Emperor Sama. But the Princess…"

"Was the Princess injured, Kenjiro?"

"No, Emperor Sama."

"Kenjiro, please rise."

The young man stood up, but his head still hung low and he did not look up at the Emperor.

"I have decided on your punishment."

When Minami's head snapped back up, the Emperor promptly flicked him on the forehead with his index finger and thumb.

"Let it be known that I have deemed your punishment for your perceived transgressions fair and complete."

Minami's hand flew to the little red circle that had formed on his forehead and his eyes lit up with such love and adoration that you'd think the Emperor had just made him king for a day.

"Thank you Emperor Katsuki Sama! Minami receives your divine punishment with honor and pride! Minami won't let you down again!"

"That's good to hear, Kenjiro. I have faith in your words to me. Now please mount your horse so that you may take the Princess back to camp with you."

The young man bowed deeply to the Emperor and floated away on a cloud of happiness. The King hummed contemplatively to himself as the scene played out in front of him. He had been just off to the side and had witnessed the entire exchange. The Emperor always managed to find some new way to surprise him. In Occidentis, such an act would most likely lead to a public dressing down and removal of certain privileges. The Emperor did not seem overly upset or bothered by what had happened and had meted out a minor 'punishment' mostly for the young man's peace of mind than any other official reason. He looked around to see if there was any discord among the members of his court, but saw none. No one seemed to have an issue with or had contested the method the Emperor had chosen to discipline his subject. Hmm, interesting. To the untrained eye, it would seem that the Emperor was too 'soft' on his subjects. But based on the amount of sheer respect his subjects seemed for have for him, he doubted that they saw his mercy as weakness.

Once everything had been taken care of, all gathered together and prepared to head back to camp. Two royal guards rode ahead of the pair of monarchs and two rode behind them, forming a wall of protection around them. The Emperor pulled his horse closely alongside the King's, and subtly initiated a hushed conversation.

"Please meet me at my tent at sundown. I know a place we can go where we can be alone to discuss certain things."

The King's heart skipped a beat at the mention of being alone with the Emperor. They would finally get a chance to address all the strange and mysterious things going on with their swords and the electricity that passed between them. He dipped his chin and nodded at the Emperor.

"Understood."

…

Camp erupted in a flurry of activity as soon as the battalion returned from the raid. Horses were rubbed down, watered and given grain before being taken to the stables. Those who received injuries were treated by Yuuko and Squire Plisetsky using the potions they had brewed earlier or in the day. The young Squire had not been at all pleased at having been left behind, but he knew that he was on a lot of shit lists at the moment and decided not to make a stink about it. The raid had obviously been a success, and he was dying to know the specifics of the battle. He would have to pick Mila's brain about it later.

Weapons were cleaned, sharpened and oiled appropriately as tables were set up to serve lunch. The Phoenix clan soldiers sat down with freshly brewed pots of green tea while the Ice Dragon clan soldiers preferred to drink water. A few curious dragons inquired about the tea and there was soon a happy contingent of foreign tea drinkers among the Phoenix clan. As the dishes were placed on the serving table, the air at the camp filled with the rich scent of shellfish. Two boats had gone out on a fishing expedition while the battle was being fought and fresh seafood and fish were both on the menu. A mixed pack of hunters comprised of both clan members was currently out in the forest foraging for fresh meat for dinner. Dinner preparation would begin as soon as the lunch service was finished and the meat arrived. Tonight's celebration would be a big one and the cooks would soon be quite busy preparing enough for everyone.

Sara made a beeline for Michele's tent as soon as she made it back to camp. She knelt down by his cot and took one of his hands into her own. She was disappointed that he still hadn't regained consciousness, but he had been through a lot in a relatively short period of time. She brought his hand to her lips and sent a silent prayer up to the Gods. She was extremely thankful that the foul demon had been pushed out of his body and that he had lived through the ordeal. Michele was the only family she had left, and she could not imagine a life without him. She stroked one his cheeks before running a hand through his brown hair.

"Ritorna da me, fratello"

…

The rest of the afternoon passed by quickly. The mood around the camp was jovial and relaxed, gone was all the pre-battle tension from the previous night. The King made his way to the Emperor's tent, and when he arrived, he saw that the Emperor was already outside waiting for him.

"Good evening King Nikiforov. I hope this evening finds you well."

"Good evening to you as well, Emperor Katsuki."

"I have requested that both our horses be saddled. They should be waiting for us at the gate."

The King was immediately intrigued.

"We're going to need our horses to get to wherever we need to go?"

"Yes, but worry not...we won't be going too far. The horses will just make getting there easier and faster, especially with the diminishing daylight."

"I see. Lead the way then, Your Majesty."

...

The two men rode mostly in silence, choosing to quietly drink in the setting sun as they rode. The king had noticed that there was a satchel attached to his saddle and it had taken all his available willpower to refrain from peeking inside it. He saw a matching satchel hanging from the Emperor's saddle and his levels of curiosity grew exponentially with each passing second. A short time later, the Emperor's horse started slowing down until finally coming to a full stop and he dismounted. The King followed suit, copying the Emperor when he tied his horse to a nearby tree. The Emperor held his lantern high and motioned to the King.

"Follow me."

Confused, but still incredibly curious, the King did as he was asked. They walked a few more meters and then pushed through some foliage. Upon coming out on the other side, the King's eyes widened in surprise at what he saw before him. There was a small clearing with an irregularly-shaped pool in the middle, but there was something odd about the water, it was smoking.

"What…is…that?"

The Emperor turned to look at him and smiled.

"Allow me to introduce you to one of the best geological features the earth has to offer; the onsen."

The King stepped in a bit closer and waved his hand over the smoke emanating from the water.

"It feels hot!"

"Correct. Underground water sources become heated by the earth and bubble up through cracks and faults toward the surface. It's hot, but perfectly safe for soaking. Visiting the onsen is a national pastime of Orientalis."

The King stared at the water and marveled at how something so amazing simply happened haphazardly. When he turned around to ask the Emperor a question, his jaw fell open and the words froze in the back of his throat. The man's torso was completely bare, divested of its previous cloth covering. A handsomely svelte yet sinewy torso, with muscles that rippled and…The King's cheeks burned red with color and he was caught between wanting to turn away to give him privacy and continue gawping at him like a fish out of water. The Emperor reached for the sash holding his pants up and the King just about fainted.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing?!"

The Emperor paused in his actions and cocked his head to the side, looking up questioningly at the King.

"I'm disrobing. One does not wear clothing when taking a bath. Well, at least not in Orientalis. Are bathing customs different in Occidentis?"

The King coughed and sputtered as his brain fought to remain in functioning order.

"No, of course not! But…bathing with another man is not…we don't….I've never…"

The Emperor smirked as he stepped in closer to the King.

"Oh? Is the great King Nikiforov scared of sharing a bath with me? I assure you, you'll be perfectly safe in my presence."

The King swallowed thickly, his mouth having previously gone dry. He cleared his throat and stood straightened his back as he placed his hands on his hips.

"I'm not scared. Of course I'll be safe in your presence, you're a damn ninja."

The Emperor threw his head back and laughed, and the King felt some of the tension drain from him.

"I suppose you're right, dear King. I would still be able to handle myself quite well in any battle, even while not wearing any clothes."

The tension came flying right back at him, along with a slew of images of a naked Emperor, and the King let out a surprised little yelp. The Emperor laughed again and waved his hands defensively in front of him.

"Worry not, I'll keep my fundoshi on out of respect to you, so I won't be fully nude."

"What's a fundoshi?"

The corner of the Emperor's mouth lifted, forming a covert little smirk.

"Oh, it's an undergarment. Usually we remove all clothing and use a small towel for modesty. Your satchel contains all the items you will require for the bath."

The King picked up the satchel and opened it. Inside it was a bottle of something scented and what appeared to be a few towels.

"I'll finish disrobing and wait for you in the water. I'll have my back turned to you so as to protect your…royal virtue."

There was laughter in the Emperor's voice as he spoke and the King immediately realized that he was being teased. This was an interesting new side of the Emperor he was getting to see. Things had been all business and diplomacy since they'd first met and it was a very refreshing change. The King's lips formed a pretty little pout and he crossed his arms in a huff.

"I can protect my own royal virtue, thank you very much."

The Emperor smiled winningly at the King before removing the pin in his hair. The action caused an ebony cascade to tumble past his shoulders and down his back. The King watched, transfixed by the way the lantern light shimmered off the shiny locks. The Emperor made quick work of his pants and the King was relieved to see that the man was indeed wearing an undergarment of sorts. The Emperor sauntered regally toward the pool, the curtain of hair swinging hypnotically from side to side with each step. Just before getting in, he paused momentarily and bent over to pick up his satchel. The action caused his hair to fall forward and the King was treated to an unadulterated view of the Emperor's smooth and muscular backside. His face instantly burned red hot and he actually felt himself getting a bit faint. That little ябеда! He did that on purpose! His suspicions were immediately confirmed when the ruler of Occidentis turned and winked at him from over his shoulder. He stepped into the pool and lowered himself into it up to the shoulders, keeping his back to him as promised.

The King began removing his own clothes, still feeling a bit awkward and unsettled about bathing with another man. But if he was going to have the experience anyway, he was glad that at least it would be with the Emperor. The hot water would be quite relaxing and definitely help relieve some of the stresses from the past couple of days. He folded his clothes up neatly and placed them on a nearby rock before taking the smaller towel and wrapping it around his waist.

"Introduce yourself to the water slowly. It's probably much hotter than what you're used to."

Without turning around, the Emperor pointed to a small receptacle sitting on a nearby rock.

"You can use that to collect some water and pour it over yourself until you feel acclimatized."

The Emperor's voice was soft as it filled the air, but it still managed to startle him a bit.

"A-ah…thank you."

The King picked up the receptacle and then knelt down by the water. He scooped some of the water up and tentatively splashed some onto his skin. As soon as it made contact, he hissed and nearly dropped the container.

"Дерьмо! Это чертовски жарко!"

"Take your time, don't rush it. It takes a little getting used to."

The King nodded and proceeded to slowly sprinkle the hot water on his skin. Once he felt ready, he placed the container back on the rock and sat down by the pool. First, he dipped his toes in and then slid forward until his legs were in up to the knees. He splashed some water onto his thighs and then lowered himself into the pool. He breathed out slow and measured breaths and he lowered his arms into the water. He walked to the other side of the pool and sat down on a rocky ledge across from the Emperor. Once he was fully submerged, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes as he let out an appreciative moan. The hot water felt absolutely amazing on his tired bones and muscles.

"How is it?"

"Mmmm, it feels fantastic. You have these everywhere in Orientalis?"

"Yes, many hot fires burn under the land."

"It's rather appropriate then that your family was chosen to wield fire. I also see that fire in your eyes, Emperor Katsuki."

"Yuuri."

"Pardon?"

"My given name is Yuuri. Please feel free to use it."

"Very well, Yuuri. Please call me Viktor."

"I shall, Viktor."

King Viktor smiled as he heard his name being spoken by Yuuri's lips. It pleased him greatly that they had finally made it to the point of using their first names.

"In Occidentis, there are some sections in the north that are so cold that a man would freeze instantly if he spent more than ten minutes outside. My family line is cold and we're notoriously frigid and closed off. No other family was so well-suited to wield ice."

"I don't believe that, not for a second."

Viktor's head snapped up and he stared incredulously at the man before him. Yuuri had fixed him with that intensely fiery gaze of his that sent little tremors racing down his spine.

"Our ancestors have certainly contributed to the continuation of the line of succession, but they do not define the individual people within the line. Each person is unique and not bound by the sins or fancies of their forefathers."

Viktor stared, dumbfounded, at the man before him. In all his years, he had never heard anyone say such a thing to him. If anything, everything was always lorded over him and held over his head like the great sword of Damocles. Whenever he'd tried to be his own person, he was beaten down with reminders of how his father had done things, or how his grandfather would have done it. No one ever seemed interested in seeing how HE would do it.

"I have seen into your heart, Viktor. And it's the absolute furthest thing from frigid. You've hidden a deep pain within your heart, but have not allowed it to taint the overwhelming kindness inside. The northern lands of Occidentis may be barren wastelands, but you most certainly are not."

Viktor's eyes widened suddenly as his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't be positively certain, but he may just have fallen in love**.

_terminology

Ritorna da me, fratello – Return (come back) to me, brother.

ябеда (yabeda) - sneak

Дерьмо! Это чертовски жарко! (Der'mo! Eto chertovski zharko!) – Shit! It's damn hot!

** - imagine the scene from the Sochi banquet when Yuuri asked Viktor to be his coach and then dry-humped him.