Author's Notes: Meant to be a filler chapter of sorts, but no less important. :3 As always, please enjoy, and let me know your thoughts!

Seung-gil descends from the red dais, a questioning expression on his face. Dressed in white Japanese Shinto robes, little black hat perched on his head, the curator's image has changed from that of a stern businessman to a softer, more mystical look – one that is actually worthy of his role as the expert 'contact' for youkai exterminators. His prayers to the Inari gods were also extremely haunting, the long mantras chanted in an oddly melodic minor key. Victor had watched him below the dais, mesmerized and drawn into the arcane performance.

"What do you want, hunter?"

And then, the curator-priest shatters the illusion with that mouth.

Victor smiles patiently. "I wanted to talk about Yuuri."

"If it's about Gumiho's sansetsukon, I have it at my office." Seung-gil removes his hat, tucking it under his arm like a bike helmet. "Sweepers brought it back after clearing up the phoenix carcass."

"That's wonderful, but I'm here about his transformations."

Seung-gil quirks an eyebrow. "Does Gumiho know you're here?"

"No, I told him I had a location shoot. No sense in worrying him when he's still recovering."

"Hm," grunts the curator, narrowed eyes piercing into Victor's. Starting down the gravel path of the shrine, he gestures at Victor to walk with him. "What do you want to know?" he asks over the loud crunches under their feet.

Victor glances up as they pass through a tall, red arch. "Phichit seems to think it's hopeless, but there must be a way to stop his… evolution, for lack of a better word."

"Do you think I wouldn't have tried if I knew?" Seung-gil scoffs. "I might pray to Gumiho's youkai species, but I happen to prefer his human side."

That's as close to 'I like him' as Seung-gil is likely to say about any person. Victor is relieved to know that the curator is on their side for this matter. "Regardless, I want to help him search for, well, anything that could help. Where could I find the resources for that sort of information?"

"The Exterminator Society."

Victor stares at Seung-gil. "But Yuuri said the Society hates half-youkai."

"Not exactly," Seung-gil stops in front of a building that looks like a large business center, people in suits coming and going through the entrance. "The Society has always been divided on what to do with half-youkai: half of them feel they should be left alone, on account of having some humanity in them; the other half feel they should be exterminated along with the rest of their youkai brethren. The Saga branch head and his minions just happen to fall in the latter half." The curator shrugs. "Long story short, the Society has the resources to help Yuuri – and the resources to destroy him."

"So then," Victor frowns, digesting the new information slowly, "You're suggesting we convince the other half to help Yuuri?"

"The only way to convince Murase is to kill him," Seung-gil sniffs. "No, hunter, I'm suggesting you lay low, or better yet, leave this country altogether. Something's brewing in that cesspool of an organization; there's no need for you to get involved."

Yuuri's despaired expression flashes through Victor's mind, his chest tightening at the image. "I'm not leaving Yuuri, nor am I giving up on finding him a cure. Not now, not ever."

Seung-gil rolls his eyes. "You've known Gumiho for what, a couple of months? What is it with you foreigners and your irrational sense of passion?"

"We call that love," Victor says with a smile.

On the instagram picture, Yurio is flipping the bird at the camera, Otabek looking stoic as ever by his side. Victor Nikiforov is dead, screams the angry caption, but Victor doesn't miss Otabek's hand on Yurio's shoulder, or the Japanese amulet dangling from a bracelet on his wrist.

Yuuri will be pleased to know that Yurio's making use of his gift.

Beaming, Victor scrolls upwards. Christophe's trying yet another new flavor of beer; Mila attended some after party for a runway show; JJ's national solo tour is now in Toronto…

Victor stops at the next picture, eyebrows furrowing, just as the bathroom door slides open to a cloud of steam.

"Yuuri?" he calls as the Japanese man crosses the dining room to the fridge, a towel draped round his neck.

"Yes?" says Yuuri, glancing over his shoulder, damp hair clinging to his cheeks and nape.

Victor squashes the urge to crush Yuuri against the fridge; push away the stray strands with his mouth. (It's getting harder every damn day, especially with the way Yuuri keeps tormenting him with those innocent, wandering hands at night.) "Who is this man who tagged you in an instagram picture?"

Retrieving a bottle of chocolate milk, Yuuri pops the lid. "Oh, that's Leo! He's one of the models in the last assignment I had." He takes a swig, smiling. "He's really friendly, and he's a dog youkai."

Victor holds up his phone, studying the picture. It's clearly a human male, fairly handsome, with brown skin and an amiable grin. "He's also a half-youkai?"

"No, full youkai." Yuuri joins Victor at the coffee table, flopping down onto the floor chair. "With practice, some youkai can shape shift, so lots of them live among us. He figured I wasn't a regular human right away, so we got to talking."

"And taking selfies." Victor flashes a megawatt smile. "You know, we haven't taken a selfie."

Yuuri wrinkles his nose. "But I'm not anyone famous."

"You could be if you put on the apron I got you – "

"Let's take a selfie!" Yuuri slides in, pressing warmly into Victor's side – he can smell the tangy fragrance of Yuuri's grapefruit shampoo.

Lord, give him strength.

Leo, as it turns out, is an international model working at Victor's very agency. ("There's only one agency in this tiny town," Christophe shrugs.) Victor hasn't paid attention to his colleagues beyond an exchange of polite smiles in the hallways, and he wonders now just how many of them are actually shape shifting youkai in human form.

Obviously, he has see this Leo for himself now; the instagram-savvy youkai could be a danger to Yuuri.

It doesn't take long to find Leo. All the models have a favorite hangout spot that is a little café two blocks down from the agency, and sure enough, Leo is there – sitting at a corner table, listening to music through his earphones.

Leo is indeed very friendly when Victor approaches him, tugging out his earphones and offering the Russian a seat without hesitation.

"Yuuri's told me all about you," Leo says cheerily as Victor sinks into the seat. "I've seen your movies, too."

"The good ones, I hope," Victor laughs. Waving down a server, he orders an expresso.

"Trust me, they're all good as far as my mate is concerned."

Victor arches an eyebrow. "Your mate?"

"Guang Hong," Leo nods. "Takes the form of a cute little Chinese guy. You might have seen him around; he runs about assisting the agency photographers at shoots."

"I might have." Victor hasn't, but he's feeling extremely pleased with this news. "So Guang Hong is also, ah…"

"He's a cat."

"A dog and a cat?"

"Opposites attract, right? Isn't that what humans like to say?"

"Sometimes." Victor nods as the server places his order down. "If I may ask, how do youkai claim another as their mate?"

"Not like humans with your fascinating rituals, though we're keeping up as best as we can." Proudly, Leo holds up his left hand, revealing the shiny gold band on his finger. "Otherwise, we mark with scents. Pheromones. You know, little touches here and there."

Victor takes a sip of his coffee. "Interesting. It's quite different from demons; they breed, but are rarely monogamous."

"Oh, very different then. We youkai mate for life." Leo grins widely. "But you'd know that, wouldn't you?"

"Why would I know that?"

"Well you're marked. Quite heavily, in fact."

Victor chokes.

When they return to the agency office, Victor has never been more elated to see his angel stepping out of a meeting room, briefcase in hand.

"Yuuri~"

Yuuri lights up as soon as he sees Victor, and Victor's heart soars. "Victor! I was just having a meeting for my next assignment…" The corner of his eyes crinkles adorably in delight. "I see you've met Leo."

"We've met, all right." Clapping Yuuri on the shoulder, Leo looks like he's holding in his laughter. "I'll see you around, you sly fox."

Yuuri blinks owlishly behind his glasses. "Oh, sure."

"Shall we head home?" Victor slips an arm round Yuuri's shoulders as Leo saunters away, snickering to himself. "Unless you have another meeting."

"Done for the day," Yuuri turns to smile at Victor. "Let's go."

With the sun out, they decide to walk home along the scenic route, past the meadows and the ladies in straw hats hard at work in the rice fields. Green stretches as far as the eye can see, with sunlight reflecting off the fields, waters sparkling and rippling with every breeze.

As Yuuri gazes out at the fields, wind ruffling his hair, Victor snaps a quick shot on his phone.

Hash tag: wingless angel. Hash tag: eighth wonder of the world. Hash tag: my obsession.

Instagram will explode and Yuuri will kill him later, but he can't help it – his angel is just so, so beautiful.

After uploading the photo, he clears his throat. "So, Leo told me a little bit about youkai relationships."

"Did he?" Yuuri turns back. "What did he say?"

"That youkai leave scents on their mates to mark their territory."

"Huh. Very much like animals then," Yuuri notes absently.

Victor breathes in. (Is Yuuri not aware?) "He also told me that…" The Russian trails off, realizing that Yuuri's squinting at a point past his shoulder. "Yuuri…?"

"There's… there's something…" Gold creeps into the brown, before suddenly, Yuuri's flying at him, tackling him hard into the dirt.

A humanoid shadow appears above, dark and threatening, somehow looking miffed despite the white paper mask over its face.

"Shikigami," Yuuri hisses, rolling off Victor and making a beeline for the briefcase that has skid down the path.

Before Victor can react, the shadow is speeding after Yuuri, black arms reaching for him. A second shadow manifests in front, stretching out ominously. Snatching at his briefcase, Yuuri evades both shadows and darts back to Victor, undoing the clasps with deft fingers.

The case drops open, and papers covered with Yuuri's neat, meticulous writing scatter haphazardly across the ground.

"Your notes – "

"Never mind." Yuuri shoves a wad of sheets into Victor's hand. There's calligraphy on the top, hastily scrawled with a thin brush. "Put this charm on their masks. Don't let them touch you; they'll drain your strength."

Not the time for questions, clearly.

Once the initial surprise has died away, the shadows are not quite as menacing as they appear. They're fast but nowhere near the speed of some youkai; they're flexible, limbs twisting and bending as they glide through the air, but almost pointlessly so.

They also completely ignore Victor, lunging noiselessly for Yuuri and only Yuuri.

Free to move as he pleased, it doesn't take long for Victor to find an opening and stick a charm on a shadow, just as Yuuri manages to slap one on the other. A bright glow emanates from the writing on the charms, before the shadows seem to collapse into themselves – or more accurately, fold with terrifying squelching noises into their masks. Within seconds, their attackers are reduced to white paper, fluttering harmlessly to the ground.

And that's exactly when a small boy runs up behind them, screaming in rapid Japanese.

He's a high school student, judging by his school uniform, but his far more distinguishing feature is his hair – a rebellious streak of fire engine red standing out amidst the bleached locks.

All Victor can catch in the boy's words are Yuuri's name, "youkai", "how did you do that" and "stop".

Yuuri has his hands up in a defensive pose, and appears to be telling the boy to "calm down".

Then, as abruptly as he appeared, the boy turns and runs off, still yelling like a foghorn all the way down the path.

"What happened?" asks Victor, wishing there was a faster way to pick up foreign languages.

"I'll explain as much as I know along the way," Yuuri sighs. "We'll have to contact Seung-gil for the rest."

"What's the boy's name again?"

"Kenjiro. Kenjiro Minami."

"So his family name is Kenjiro?"

"No, Minami."

"Again, I fail to understand why we have to converse in English all the time now," Seung-gil says wryly over the speakerphone.

"Because Victor's part of this conversation," Yuuri says patiently.

"Can't you translate for him later? You are an interpreter."

"For people who can't speak the target language. Which obviously, you can."

There's a heavy sigh on the other end. "Fine."

Victor leans across the coffee table. "Love you too, Seungie~"

"Ugh."

"Anyway," Yuuri stifles a laugh. "It's clear that this boy's an exterminator… or at least, has ambitions to be an exterminator. He's adept enough to manipulate shikigami – paper dolls," Yuuri sweetly adds for Victor's benefit, "But not experienced enough to give them more complex orders like a command to attack multiple targets."

"And you're calling me because…?"

"He knew who I was. He even called me an 'evil force to be purged from this earth'."

Victor feels prickles of irritation. "He called you a what?"

"Just a typical day for Gumiho," Seung-gil snorts.

"That doesn't make it right."

Yuuri flashes a sad smile, and Victor's chest tightens painfully. "We really only had a rash of such incidents after sensei disappeared. It sort of quieted down, and there hasn't been a single one till today."

Seung-gil makes a contemplative noise. "So you think the Society might have something to do with this?"

"I was hoping you'd find out."

"They're good at covering their tracks, but I'll see what I can dredge up."

"Thank you." At Seung-gil's non-committal grunt, Yuuri hangs up the call and rises to his feet. "What do you feel like for dinner, Victor? We've got tuna, and bamboo shoots, and – "

Victor grasps Yuuri's wrist. "This has happened before?"

"It's nothing." Yuuri gently pulls away, chewing on his bottom lip in his telltale sign of anxiety. "Just a typical day."

"Yuuri – "

"We'll just have to be more vigilant, that's all." Yuuri bustles to the dining room, making a great show of meal preparation with loud clangs and bangs of pots.

That explains why Yuuri is so nonchalant about his own blood; he must have had so much of it spilt. Victor understands hatred – a feeling born all too easily out of jealousy – but he can't imagine what it must feel like to be hunted by one's fellow human beings.

How could his dear angel have possibly doubted his own strength, when he has been so brave for so long?

Victor clenches his fists. If they run into this Minami boy again, he's going to upturn the insolent kid over his knee and give him a hard spanking.

Minami doesn't show up.

And Seung-gil's silent about the matter, which means the curator hasn't found anything useful or relevant.

So their routine continues without interruption: working; going on occasional missions in the evenings; lying together and enduring Yuuri's little caresses at night. (When Phichit asks for a description of Minami so he can "whip the kid good", Victor is more than happy to acquiesce despite Yuuri's disapproval.)

They're kept busy enough that the shikigami incident soon fades from their minds – or at the very least, Victor's mind.

"Have you seen Leo's instagram picture with his mate?" The hunter smiles at the loving photo: the two youkai pressed cheek to cheek, beaming at the camera. Leo's mate has chosen petite, boyish features for his human form, and Victor can see why Leo had described his mate as 'cute'. "They make a fine couple."

"I haven't," Yuuri chops the onions with swift motions, lips curved. "But I'm sure they do."

Victor runs a hand through his wet hair, reaching for his shirt.

He will never forget the comically endearing way Yuuri had shuffled backwards and tripped over the coffee table, very nearly fracturing his spine, all because he stepped out of the bathroom at his most comfortable that day.

("Pants." Yuuri's still on the floor, hands covering his face, "At least wear pants."

"I'm quite comfortable in briefs – "

"Pants.")

It takes a while longer for Yuuri to fully overcome his embarrassment, but the Japanese man can now look and interact with a shirtless Victor without imploding into a mortified mess.

Hash tag: ever closer to domestic bliss.

Eyes on Leo and Guang Hong's photograph, Victor's hand halts midway in its reach for the shirt. Speaking of bliss and youkai mates…

He looks up to see Yuuri on his tiptoes, stretching for something on a high shelf. The rumpled T-shirt rides up just so beneath the apron, exposing an enticing patch of skin.

Victor sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose - Yuuri's going to drive him insane at this rate.

After a good amount of all that maddening stretching, and that shirt climbing higher and higher up the narrow waist, Victor has had about enough. "Would you like some help with that?" he asks sweetly.

"Oh, yes, actually," Yuuri laughs sheepishly. "Could you get the cardamum powder on the top shelf? I'm not even sure how I managed to get it up that high in the first place..."

Crossing over, Victor reaches for the small bottle easily. Smiling, Yuuri twists round to accept the condiment - and it's only then that Victor realizes how close they're standing to each other, how he's pressed up against Yuuri, how Yuuri has also come to this realization, a deep flush sweeping like wildfire across his cheeks.

Right, now's as good a time as any.

"Yuuri, how do I smell to you?"

Yuuri blinks several times. "Um… nice?"

Chuckling, the Russian drops both hands to the edge of the counter, effectively pinning the smaller man in place. "I'm asking what scents you smell on me. Mine?" He brushes his lips on a spot below Yuuri's ear. "Yours?"

He feels Yuuri shiver in his arms, and his control starts to unravel. "I don't... I can't tell unless I tap into the youkai's abilities. But we share futons, so I guess my scent would mix in with yours?"

"Leo says it's different, the scent of a marking. He says I've been marked. With your scent." Victor's voice drops, low and deep, "Have you marked me as yours?"

"I don't know." Yuuri swallows, adam's apple bobbing nervously, "I didn't know I could mark you like that."

"Hmm." Victor's gaze flickers down to pink lips. "Do you wish you could mark me like that?"

There's a pause as eyelids lower over brown eyes, turning hazy with an emotion that Victor can only hope mirrors his own.

"Yes," Yuuri whispers then, barely audible, and Victor's breath comes out in a rush of joy. He leans down to finally claim those soft –

"Katsuki Yuuri!"

Oh, fuck him; fuck him hard.

"That sounds like Minami," Yuuri says, eyes wide – and no longer hazy, fuck fuck fuck. "How did he get our address?"

"Yuuri," Victor says calmly, as his angel, predictably, attempts to wriggle out of his arms. "This is just like the last time with Yurio. Ignore him and he'll go away."

There's more incoherent shrieking from outside, and the doorbell abuse begins.

Yuuri throws Victor an apologetic look. "We'll get complaints from our neighbors."

Closing his eyes in defeat, Victor drops his arms and backs away.

As far as he's concerned, these bloody high schoolers are the bane of his existence.

It's an odd development.

One moment the kid's yelling blue murder at them at the door, the next he's in their dining room, fidgeting in a chair.

It might've had something to do with Minami freaking out so hard that he fell on his ass when Victor showed up, shirtless and looking angry enough to commit murder.

It might've also had something to do with Minami's stomach growling very loudly in the middle of his screaming.

Apparently this is their pattern now: feeding hungry teenagers after they've injured Yuuri or made death threats on their doorstep.

"Surely he has parents to go home to." Victor shoots a glare at Minami, who shrinks in his seat.

So the kid's cowed by the presence of half-naked foreigners – good.

"He lives in an orphanage, so I suspect he doesn't." Yuuri sets down plates of tuna salad and curry in front of Minami.

"You asked him that?"

"Well I asked if he had dinner waiting for him at home."

"You're too nice, my angel," Victor sighs, just as Minami starts squealing, gesturing wildly at the dishes.

Something "delicious" something something "amazing".

"Thank you," Yuuri answers in Japanese, smiling. "He says it's been really long since he's had a home cooked meal and it's very good," he translates smoothly.

"Tell him it's more than he deserves."

"Victor," Yuuri chides.

"He tried to hurt you." And interrupted their kiss, damn it.

"Exterminators who rely on shikigami to fight their battles are usually lacking in skill themselves," Yuuri points out. "He's harmless, I'm sure."

Mouth bulging with food, Minami glances at them, eyes darting back and forth nervously.

When Yuuri turns back to him, the teenager leaps off his seat so fast, the chair topples with the sudden movement. Instantly, Victor is also on his feet, tugging Yuuri behind him.

As Minami yelps out his words like a yippy Chihuahua, Yuuri provides a simultaneous interpretation with impressive ease. "He says he won't be bribed by delicious food. His parents were killed by youkai when he was a child, so he won't let me off so easily. He says the next time we meet, he won't be as merciful."

Then, with his speech made and his stomach filled, Minami bolts out of the dining room and to the entranceway.

"Wait," Yuuri calls, but the door slams, signaling Minami's departure. "Oh, I was hoping to find out who told him about me."

"Why did he even come here?" Victor mutters irately.

On their next mission, Seung-gil has an update.

According to his sources, the Kenjiro clan's reputation is small, barely a blip in the history of exterminators. Their powers have grown weaker with each generation, and many of their descendants no longer engage in youkai extermination, choosing to lead normal, regular lives. Some are still able to see youkai, but most have lost the ability decades ago.

"Even so, youkai can be vengeful creatures," Seung-gil concludes with a shrug. "The mate of an exterminated youkai must have sought out Kenjiro's parents and killed them as revenge. Either that, or they unknowingly enraged a youkai at some point."

"And now Minami's after me," Yuuri sighs. "Full cycle."

"He doesn't sound like the brightest crayon in the box," Phichit snorts. "For all we know, his parents could've died in a car crash but the Society brainwashed him into thinking otherwise."

"There's no proof of the Society's involvement," Seung-gil shakes his head. "Not that I can find."

"He's more of a nuisance than anything else," Victor grumbles, ignoring the smirk Phichit tosses his way.

"What's our target tonight?" Yuuri asks a little louder than necessary.

Seung-gil takes a glimpse at their expressions then rolls his eyes to the ceiling.

It's a fairly routine mission, with a simple C-ranked youkai that's terrorizing the local farmers and their livestock. The youkai put up a valiant fight, and they'll have to call in the Sweepers for thrashing about in some poor farmer's rice field for a bit, but whole thing is over in a matter of minutes, with Yuuri's sansetsukon remaining in its spear form the entire time.

They're walking away from the little white lights rising into the night sky, when Phichit spots them first – dozens upon dozens of white paper masks bobbing up and down in the distance.

Yuuri stares at the army of shikigami, mouth agape. "How many are there?"

Materializing charms, Phichit tosses them to Victor and Yuuri. "Does it matter?"

The manmade beings are just as single-minded as before, pushing past Victor and Phichit in their attempts to get to Yuuri. Though they're easy enough to defeat, the sheer, endless number this time is enough to wear out even the most tenacious of fighters.

"You weren't kidding about him being a nuisance." Phichit flings out multiple charms at once, ripping his sword through any shadows that get too close. The shikigami reform swiftly, only to resume their path to Yuuri as though they were never cut down at all.

Arrows clacking in the quiver, Victor slams a charm into a mask with such vehemence that the shadow flies back, bowling over its companions. "Just wait till I get my hands on that kid," he promises savagely, every ounce of suppressed anger bursting out like a punctured balloon.

"Not if I get him first," Phichit huffs, booting a shadow away from him.

"Someone must have put him up to this," says Yuuri, fending off several shikigami with his weapon, "Someone's fed him information – "

"Begone, youkai!"

Yuuri whirls round just in time for Minami to slap a charm onto his face with a triumphant shout. In that instant, every shikigami in the vicinity collapses back into their masks, and the ground turns into a sea of white as papers scatter across the field.

There's a long, long pause, broken only by Phichit's stifled sniggering.

Then, slowly, Yuuri peels back the sheet to reveal reddened skin, gold eyes narrowed with irritation. "The charm only works after I've turned," he says flatly, while Minami stares at him with all kinds of horror.

The next thing the boy says in Japanese cuts Phichit's amusement short, the Yaksha striding over to jerk Minami up by the collar.

"What man?" Phichit demands. The green mask on his head seems to move, its lips pulling back to bare sharp teeth. "What man?"

"Gently," Yuuri frowns as Minami's large eyes fill to the brim with tears. "You're scaring him."

"What did he say?" Victor asks, stepping across the white papers littered on the ground.

"He said some man told him the charm would work if he pushed Yuuri past his limits," Phichit growls. "This reeks of Exterminator Society." The Yaksha drags Minami in close with startling force, and Victor is once again reminded of how little he actually knows of Phichit. "Who told you about Yuuri?"

Squeaking in terror, the teenager shakes his head vigorously, trembling.

Yuuri lays a hand on Phichit's shoulder. "Let me talk to him."

"Yuuri," Victor and Phichit protest in unison.

"We'll just be over there, where you can see us," Yuuri assures. He offers a hand to Minami, speaking softly in their shared language.

For a beat, Minami stares at the hand, hiccupping, as though he expects snakes to emerge. Then, hesitantly, he slides his hand into Yuuri's. The older exterminator leads Minami to some spot near the side of a farmhouse, talking in a soothing tone the entire way.

"He's too trusting," Victor remarks, clutching his bow tensely.

"Always has been," Phichit swings his sword restlessly, gaze fixed on Yuuri and Minami in the distance. "His best and worst trait."

"Can't you talk to him about it?"

"If I could, you wouldn't be living with him right now."

"What?" Victor turns to Phichit, eyebrows knitting in bewilderment.

"No offense," Phichit shrugs, "But we didn't know anything about you beyond your roles in movies and magazines. I'm all for dinner dates, but I didn't want Yuuri to have some psychopathic murderer in his home."

"But you seemed so positive about it."

"Once Yuuri makes his choice, I'll always support him for it." Phichit grins impishly. "Besides, that one disastrous fight aside, it sounds like Yuuri's the one putting you through the wringer."

Victor sighs; bloody Christophe and his runaway mouth. "I just… don't want to frighten him."

"Yuuri isn't as innocent as you think – ah, they're done." Phichit hastens to Yuuri before Victor can ask what he meant. As his angel approaches, Minami trails behind with a thoroughly chastised expression.

"Minami has promised to stop with his attacks," Yuuri smiles. "Isn't that right, Minami-kun?" he transitions into Japanese gently.

Mutely, the teenager nods.

"And he understands that Murase can't be trusted."

"I knew it," Phichit hisses, while Minami flinches.

"Murase promised to let the Kenjiro clan regain membership in the Exterminator Society if Minami succeeded in getting rid of me. He even gave Minami advice on where to find me and how to bring out the fox."

Victor raises an eyebrow. "Why on earth would Murase assign such a mission to a rookie?"

"He's using the kid." Phichit shoots a piercing look at Minami. "Done it before with other exterminators, years ago. If by some miracle Minami succeeds, all's well that ends well. If Minami fails and dies, the Society has grounds to hunt Yuuri down for manslaughter. If he fails and survives, the Society will still have gathered new information about Yuuri and his transformations."

"The question is, why is Murase starting it up again?" Yuuri frowns. "What is he up to?"

"That's up to Seung-gil to find out."

Eyes soft, Victor moves closer to rest a hand Yuuri's shoulder. "Until then, we stay vigilant."

Yuuri smiles up at him, and his stomach clenches – so beautiful.

Minami mumbles something under his breath.

"What was that?" Yuuri probes softly.

Minami swallows. "Sorry," he repeats in English, eyes downcast.

Victor and Phichit exchange looks.

"Just so long as you stop attacking Yuuri," Victor says kindly.

"What he said," Phichit flashes a friendly smile.

Yuuri beams, and Victor knows his angel is happy to see everyone getting along. "I think we should all go home and have a nice, long rest."

"Man," Phichit stretches as they start down the path, "I can't wait to go home to Taeyeon and Harold and Chakrii and – "

"Um!"

The three of them turn back to Minami, who has his hands clasped together, fidgeting nervously.

And then, to their astonishment, he throws himself to the ground on his hands and knees, face planting hard into the dirt, shrieking in Japanese.

"Don't do that," Yuuri gasps, hurrying to coax the teenager to his feet.

"What's happening," Victor says, wondering if his heart can really take any more surprises.

"He just asked Yuuri to be his teacher." Phichit grins. "Seriously, Victor, I'm sending you a link to a device that will make things so much easier for you here. You'll love me for it."

"Wait – " Victor stares as Yuuri says something to Minami that causes the smaller boy to practically wrap his entire body around Yuuri in the tightest embrace he has ever seen.

"Wait, his teacher?"

FROM: Swiss
[HAAAHAHAHA]

FROM: Angel's BFF
[Here's that device I told you about: watch?v=S0X9AVrgyuQ]

FROM: Angel's BFF
[Now you'll know every gushing word of praise Minami says about Yuuri 8D]

FROM: Swiss
[HAHAHAAAHA]

FROM: Grumpy
[LMAO I told Katsudon to spend as much time with his student as he can!]

FROM: Priest?
[Why would I tell Gumiho not to take in a student? How is that any of my concern?]

FROM: Angel
[Why is Yuuko asking about wedding dates? Did you post something again? You know I hardly check instagram…]

FROM: Guard Dog
[Yuri said to text you that it serves you right and he hopes your balls fall off from underuse.]

FROM: Guard Dog
[He also said not to tell you he asked me to text you that.]

FROM: Guard Dog
[... ah.]

FROM: Swiss
[Can't. Stop. Laughing.]

FROM: Angel
[VICTOR]

FROM: Angel
[WHY]

FROM: Grumpy
[Linked Katsudon your latest instagram post. Have fun in the doghouse, asshole]

"You really are a popular one." Leo smiles at the vibrating phone as the make-up artist dabs at his cheeks with a sponge.

"With the worst friends," Victor grumbles, flipping his phone over.

Leo laughs richly. The make-up artist scurries away to touch up another model. "Did you get around to asking Yuuri about you-know-what?"

"I did, but he doesn't seem to know about it." Victor peers into the dressing mirror, absently flicking silver bangs out of his eyes. "Are you sure it's a marking and not just because we share futons at night?"

"Positive. Every instinct is warning me against getting too close, and that's from the scent you're giving off."

"We haven't even kissed."

"You don't have to kiss to mark another. Guang Hong and I didn't start kissing until we joined the human world." Leo does a practice smolder at his reflection. "Has Yuuri touched you in any way?"

"Only at night. He does this infuriating thing where he runs his hands all over me in his sleep – " Victor turns to find Leo grinning at him from ear to ear. "What?"

"Just that I think I've found your answer."

When Victor returns home – their home – he sits through Yuuri's impassioned lecture about personal privacy and social media with the most blissful expression cemented on his face.

Leo's voice echoes over and over in his mind.

"The fact that he's doing it in his sleep means it's entirely unconscious, but the message is clear: he wants the world to know that you're his."

This whole time, while Victor has been trying to show the world his love for Yuuri through silly pictures and hash tags, Yuuri has revealed his love in the sweetest, most subtle, most Yuuri way possible.

To think he was so jealous about a teenager.

" – million followers overnight! Yuuko's even created some sort of fanclub! I'm just not comfortable with – "

"Yuuri."

Yuuri pauses. "What is it?"

"I am always and forever yours, my angel."

As Yuuri is reduced to incoherent stammering, Victor sighs happily.

He can wait; he will wait.

And when Yuuri finally acknowledges his love, it will be the day Victor Nikiforov will officially die and go to heaven.

Notes

Feel free to squeal with me on tumblr: dreaming-fireflies. tumblr. com (remove the spaces).