WARNING! This chapter is not relevant to the plot at all, some might say it's just a filler. I went to New York this summer and thought it would be cool to let you guys experience what I did while there by making the guys experience. There's a lot of just historical facts in this chapter, if you are not into this kind of stuff then please go on to the next chapter that will be plot relevant, the next chapter will be up soon after this one. Thank you!
"Welcome to Ellis Island, the gateway to America," a cheery voice said on the over-head speakers as the group's crowded boat slowly docked at the island.
The group were the first ones off the boat thanks to Yuuri's wheelchair.
"At least you're good for something," Yurio muttered under his breath.
Everyone chose to ignore him, instead choosing to take the time to marvel at the large building surrounding them on the island. Quickly making their way inside to avoid the rush of people coming off the boat, they are greeted by a large room filled with people all attempting to talk over each other.
The group decided to split up and tackle the exhibit as they wished, agreeing to meet back up in an hour.
Yuuri enjoyed the sight of Viktor's excitement over the history. He smiled along with his husband as he allowed himself to be pushed along through the rooms, listening to the Russian speak.
"Wait, I know this picture!" He exclaims suddenly after having spent the past five minutes staring at a picture that had seemed a tad bit familiar. "My Babushka showed me this picture once, it's in a family scrapbook. This is of one of my great babushka's, and her sister. I was told her sister ran away not too long after this picture was taken, no one had ever seen her since. They spent years looking for her … It says here her name was Aldona, but I was always told her name was Alyona."
Remembering seeing research computers for rent at the other side of the exhibit, Viktor quickly pushed Yuuri away from the picture, much to the Japanese man's amusement.
Viktor parked Yuuri's chair next to his at the computer, and quickly got to work, leaving Yuuri to watch over his shoulder as the pages quickly flew by much to quickly for the younger man to even begin to comprehend what was being said. Finally, Viktor stopped on a page and sat back in his seat, allowing Yuuri a chance to attempt to read the words on the screen. The Japanese man wasn't the best at comprehending texts written in English, but he knew enough to get a pretty good understanding of what the article was saying. The young Aldona had managed to get access to a boat heading to America, from somewhere in Germany. She had lied to get access, she said she was eighteen when she was still only fourteen. She never explained what made her leave, from Germany or from Russia. But the article did explain what she did upon arriving in America, she had followed the wandering flow of immigrants coming into the country until she ended up somewhere in Central Tennessee. That's where she settled down, and started a family that is still living there today.
"They're still there," Viktor said quietly, still staring past the screen, "there are people still alive that might know why she left! We need to find them! I have to know, the mystery must end with me !" The Russian man excitedly turned on his husband, only to be pulled up short by the look on the younger's face.
"We can't go searching for them Viktor. I know you want to know what happened to Alyona, but the truth of the matter is that they probably don't know either," Yuuri said, feeling bad as he watched Viktor's head droop forward in disappointment and defeat. Slowly, Yuuri pulled Viktor's head onto his shoulder and held him like that, gently rubbing his husband's back, before reminding him of their promise to meet back up with the others.
oooOOOoooOOOooo
"Look at it, it's so large!" Chris gushed from his spot directly next to Viktor as the two stared in awe at the woman towering far above them.
"Big deal, they have like ten of these statues in Paris alone," Yurio complained with his arms crossed across his chest. He turned away, saying, "Beka and I will be in the gift shop when you losers are ready to get off this boring island." Otabek shrugged his shoulders, and after sparing only the slightest glance of confirmation that Yurio had been heard, he turned to follow the younger man.
"Hey, did you know that all the water surrounding the island is actually technically apart of the State of New Jersey," Minami exclaimed after looking up from a book he had had his nose in since they left Ellis Island.
"But, I thought the island is a part of New York," Pitchit says, confusion filling his voice. Yuuri nods his head in agreement.
"That's what everyone thinks, but although the waters belong to New Jersey, and it sits nearby to New York, neither states have control of it. The island became under government control during the 1800s to be used as a location of defense for the harbor. After all the wars ended and the island was no longer needed for tactical use, the government just kept control of it. So, the island belongs to all of the states, and none of the states. You can kinda think of it like a territory. Oh, and Ellis island is in a similar situation, except instead of being a none claimed island, it's actually been split between the two states on ownership, so half the island is in New York and the other half is in New Jersey," Minami finished explaining, a wide smile on his face as the four other men stared at him with loose jaws.
"Wow, you know so much Minami," Yuuri finally said, drawing nods of agreement from the others.
Minami slowly raises the book in front of his face in embarrassment, "it's this book, it has a lot of interesting information in it."
"Tell us more. Please!" Viktor exclaimed excitedly, eyes sparkling with wonder.
"Well…" Minami started off slowly waiting for everyone to nod their encouragement for him to continue, "The book did mention it almost didn't get built. A French politician who has inspired the making of the statue made a deal with America that the French would find the statue of the Americans funded the pedestal it stands on. Of course, there were a lot of French people who opposed the idea, but the man who made the deal had just been elected as senator for life, so they went along with it. The problem was in America. A lot of Americans didn't think they should have to pay for something that was supposed to be a gift, many others didn't like the idea of accepting a gift from the French. It took nearly three decades is what I believe the book said to finally get the needed funding for the pedestal, and during that time the country went through many economic hardships and even a civil war. But they got their part done, and the French held true in their end, and now here we are today."
Five sets of eyes trailed up to the figure of the woman, a new sense of appreciation filling their eyes at her ability to be standing there today.
oooOOOoooOOOooo
"Ow! Be gentler!" Viktor whined as he sat in the front of Yuuri on their bed in the hotel.
"I wouldn't have to worry about being gentle if you had remembered to put on sunblock yesterday," Yuuri lightly scolded as he attempted to gently rub the lotion onto Viktor's face.
"Why didn't you get burned?" Viktor asked while trying not to scrunch up his face in pain, knowing that would just make things worse.
"Have you seen me?" Yuuri asks, pausing a moment to sit back and stare at his husband, "I understand I'm on the pale side compared to most people from Japan, but I'm still better off than you Russian's and your sensitive pale skin."
Viktor pouted and looked away, crossing his arms over his chest in defeat. Yuuri went back to applying the lotion and did his best not to laugh at his husband before him. The tops of his cheeks, ears, and nose were bright red, closely followed behind by the rest of his face that wasn't hidden by his hair. When Yuuri had first spotted the patch of untouched skin that covers part of his husband's forehead, he had busted out laughing, much to the man's annoyance. Viktor's arms were burnt from about midway between his elbow and shoulder, and his shorts left a nice line, but nothing could beat the beauty of the sandal on his feet.
"Could you try not to snicker so loudly?" Viktor asked quietly while still looking away, drawing Yuuri up short.
"I'm sorry," Yuuri said quietly, unsure what to do with this mood that he rarely gets to witness in Viktor.
With his head bowed forward slightly, Viktor turned his eyes to look up at Yuuri.
"Yuuri, Love," he said slowly, drawing the younger man in with his hushed voice, "I… I'm going to look hideous during the wedding."
Yuuri sat back, taken aback by his words. "Viktor, now that's not true in the slightest."
"But it is!" Viktor exclaimed, trying to convince him, "My face is going to be all red and peeling and I'll probably be unable to move very much! No one will want to be seen anywhere near me! Especially you."
"Viktor, I didn't marry you for your looks, although I do believe you are the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on. I married you because I love you, and a sunburn will not change my mind."
Yuuri pulled his husband into a hug, holding him tightly before saying, "now go draw me up a bath so I can relax my muscles before tonight's practice."
oooOOOoooOOOooo
Yuuri and Viktor sat in the back of the unmoving taxi, listening to the sound of car horns blaring all around them as the Russian man bounced excitedly in his seat.
"Viktor, bouncing in your seat like that won't make traffic move any faster," Yuuri said with an exasperated smile on his face as he watched his husband's excitement.
Turning his head to show off the large grin on his face, Viktor responded, "I realize that, but you should know that I would be less bouncy if I knew where we were going."
A gasp escaped from Yuuri's mouth as he clutched at his chest in mock offense, "You're daring to suggest that this was secretly my plan all along and not Pitchit's? I am wounded."
The smile on Viktor's face softened into a loving one before he turned to look back out the window, his bouncing staying consistent the entire time.
As luck would have it, it took another half an hour to weave through the traffic of the city to get to Pitchit's first planned stop of the day. The taxi slowly made its way past the front side of the New York Public Library, before turning down a side street to stop near a group of tourist waiting outside the handicap entrance. Yuuri surveyed the group while Viktor quickly jumped out of the back of the taxi, complaining about his stiff muscles. The group consisted of Pitchit, Chris, Minami, Yurio, and Otabek, all of whom had walked the short distance from the hotel; it had been by Pitchit's insistence that Yuuri and Viktor ended up taking a taxi through the city.
Yurio was the first one to spot them arriving at the location, and although Yuuri couldn't hear what was being said from the distance, he was sure it was some snide remark about their tardiness. Pitchit turned at whatever words Yurio had said and enthusiastically waved at the vehicle before running over to them, Chris and Minami only a few steps behind him, Yurio and Otabek choosing to trail behind at a slower pace. Viktor, who at this point had finished complaining of his muscles and had made his way around to Yuuri's door, waved back at their friends before turning to help the taxi driver get Yuuri out of the car.
"Okay, I knew I bribed your driver to take you the longer, scenic route, but that was way too long," Pitchit said, flashing a sly grin at the driver, who smiled back with a glint of humor in his eyes.
"Sorry friend," the driver said, standing back while Viktor got Yuuri out of the back, "You gotta realize that here in New York, every route involving a car is the longer scenic route."
Chris, who had been standing back with Pitchit and Minami, watching Viktor work, nodded his head in agreement with the driver's statement, "That's right, the only way to get anywhere at a decent time in this city is by walking. No offense intended to you taxi drivers of course."
"None taken," the driver said, closing up the back of the cab as Viktor fussed over Yuuri who was already comfortably sitting in his chair and trying to swat him away, "You all have fun sight-seeing, and give me a call if you need another scenic route drive."
The group turned and found that Yurio and Otabek had finally made their way back to the rest of them.
"Why did you bring us to a dusty old library?" Yurio complained, while giving a side glare at a little girl who walked past them with her mother, talking loudly about how cool the library was.
"I'm glad you asked!" Pitchit's face spilt with a wicked looking grin as he spun around in place, "Everything today has been planned perfectly!" He stopped and turned to point his index finger directly in the young blonde's face, "I planned it so that everyone has something special for them, and I know everyone is going to love it-"
"Pitchit," Yuuri said, cutting off his friend, and receiving the end of the finger as said friend turned on him in surprise, "You haven't by any chance been watching any anime again lately, have you? Because you're acting like a character from one!"
"You know it," Pitchit said, giving Yuuri a wink that left the Japanese man feeling very confused, and his husband standing behind him slightly annoyed. "Now let's go!"
With Pitchit in the lead, the group made their ways to the doors labeled with a handicap accessible sign. Inside they find themselves greeted by a security check point.
"Please have all bags open and ready to be checked," the security officer said in a monotonous voice, half-lidded eyes barely passing over the large group of tourists.
Things went relatively smoothly at the checkpoint, everyone having their things checked one by one then moving off to the side to chat quietly while waiting for the rest to finish. That is, until it was Yurio's turn to have his bookbag searched.
"Open your bag, let me see inside," the officer told the young man, deepening the scowl already present on the Russian's face.
"Why are all you Americans so insistent in knowing everyone's personal business? There's nothing of any interest in my bag and you should honestly be able to trust me when I tell you that," Yurio practically spit, drawing worried looks from his companions.
The officer didn't even bat and eye lid at the angry man, saying only, "Sir, if you won't let me see what's in your bag then I cannot let you into the library."
Yurio opened his mouth to go off again on the officer when a hand on his shoulder pulled him up short. Looking at the person the hand belonged to, Yurio found Otabek staring at him with a blank look on his face.
"It's not worth it," the Kazakhstanian said quietly in Russian before removing his hand and taking a step back, allowing Yurio to make the final choice.
Rolling his eyes in annoyance, the young Russian swung his bag of his back and ripped it open for the officer to see nothing of interest in it.
"You're clear," the officer barely acknowledges the young man as they turned to check Otabek's possessions.
That angered the young blonde even more and he stomped over to stand with the rest of the group, folding his arms over his chest and looking in the other direction while fuming with anger. After Otabek had joined the group and managed to calm down Yurio with a few choice words in Russian that only Viktor could understand, Pitchit began to lead the group, talking like a tour guide.
"So, it's actually quite convenient that we have to use the handicap entrance anyways because our first stop is actually right inside the entrance here," the tour guide from Thailand turned them down a hall and in the distance they could see a sign that announced the beginning of the children's section of the library.
Upon seeing the sign, Chris busted out laughing, barely managing to choke out, "You must have picked this part out for Yurio, give him a chance for a story and a nap time."
Before Yurio had the chance to snap angrily at the Swiss man, Pitchit spoke up, "Actually Chris, the first stop is for you. I felt it was best seeing as it is your wedding that we are all here for."
Entering the room, Pitchit lead the group past the welcoming desk, and over to the middle of the room where a display case sat with a group of aged stuffed animals sitting in it.
"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to the hundred-acre woods gang; Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, Eeyore, and Winnie the Pooh bear."
The gasp that emitted from Chris was one of pure delight, as he ran on the spot, face split into the largest smile anyone had ever seen on him. He spent easily thirty minutes taking pictures of the animals and having pictures taken of him with them, through the case of course, no way anyone would let him touch them.
For the rest of their stay in the Library, the let Minami lead them around since it was for him and his interest in knowledge that had them staying there. Their next stop was at Grand Central Station where Yurio and Otabek had the opportunity to shop in their underground commerce area while the rest of the group passed the time in the whispering gallery, Pitchit marveling at the acoustics in the area. While at the station an older woman had ran into Minami, then proceeded to yell at him saying it was his fault before storming off, it took Yuuri buying him and ice cream to cheer him up; everyone else got one as well seeing as Minami would not have just him eating one all alone.
By the time they exited the station and returned to the life above ground, the sun was nearing the horizon, and Viktor and Yuuri had yet to see what was planned for them.
"Oh no! We spent way to long in there!" Pitchit gasped in horror, seeing the position of the sun in the sky, "Okay, I'm going to get you guys a taxi," he said, to the couple, then quickly pressed a folded piece of paper into Yuuri's hand, "Do not open this until you get to the next location."
The Japanese man nodded his head through the confusion, and soon enough he found himself back inside a taxi, being sped off to somewhere he did not know. Viktor sat beside him and stared out the window, seeming almost worried about the sunset, even though he didn't know why that would put a damper on the plans for them. Wasting no time, the taxi driver got them to the location and unloaded them. Opening the paper that Pitchit had given him, Yuuri found directions to go into the Highline Deli they had just been dropped off at, there they would be given food and another note on where to go. The second note directed them around the corner to an elevator, which then lead them up to a beautiful garden hidden in the middle of industrial New York. A final note hidden in the food bag:
Welcome to the High Line guys. The last stop was only meant for two, you guys go ahead and enjoy this romantic picnic at sunset. Enjoy yourselves and don't stay out too late, we'll see you tomorrow for the wedding.
Yuuri turned to look at his husband, and they shared a loving smile before they made their way down the walk, taking in the sights of the greenery mixed with the soft glow of lamps and the sun setting in the distance. After a while they found a place to stop and sat eating their food, sitting there talking and enjoying each other's company for hours.
In the distance, Pitchit, Minami, and Chris hid while watching the two for a short time, enjoying the sight of the two in love.