Chapter Text
'Yurio! Are you up yet?'
Yuri groaned, covering his face with his pillow to drown out Katsuki's calls, 'yes, stop shouting, piggy'
'Ok, sorry, just remember we have training at 8am', Yuri could hear the slight hurt in Yuuri's voice but chose not to feel remorse for his sharp tongue. He was 15, he was in control of being able to get out of bed in time for training.
Selecting one of his many long sleeved black shirts, Yuri quickly dressed and made his way down to the Katsuki family's kitchen. Hiroko was at the stove, tending to a protein-rich breakfast she was preparing for both Yuri's. Spotting Yurio, she gave him a warm nod. Her english wasn't spectacular but she still tried her best to make the teen feel welcome.
'Ohayo', Yuri yawned, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Hiroko beamed, returning the greeting and placing the plate of yakizakana infront of Yuri. Yuri didn't particularly enjoy the grilled fish served up on training days, but at least it would set him up for a rigorous day- that, plus he didn't have to cook it himself. Soon Yuuri joined him at the table too, thanking his mother for breakfast.
'How are you finding the agape routine, Yurio?' Yuuri asked, sprinkling pepper on his breakfast, 'it looked good yesterday'.
'The routine is fine, it's the theme that is shit', Yuuri was relieved his mother didn't speak English and missed the curse.
'At hot springs on ice you expressed unconditional love as what you feel for your grandfather, right Yurio?'
'Can stop calling me by that name?', Yuri spat, 'besides, I bombed that night, I can't express unconditional love', he groaned, frustrated at Yuuri's unnecessary attempts at conversation.
'Oh, sorry Yuri. Well, love doesn't have to just be for a person, it could be for a passion- like skating', Yuuri suggested.
Yuri ignored the advice and continued picking at his breakfast, 'what, like how for you eros is pork and rice?' he smirked.
Defeated, Yuuri sighed, 'I'll see you at the rink then, Yuri. Arigato, mama'.
Yuri was relieved, he didn't want to have to walk the 15 minutes to ice castle with Katsudon and hear his crappy optimistic view on things. Finishing up and handing his plate to Hiroko, he grabbed his bag and left the onesen.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
'Don't take it to heart, Yuuri', Viktor said reassuringly, 'I've known Yurio for years, he's just... bold in the way he speaks to people- i'm sure he didn't mean to be insensitive'.
Yuri, standing just outside the door to the rink, over-heard the conversation between the older skaters. He pushed down the slight tinge of remorse he felt and kicked open the door.
'Good-morning Yuri!' Viktor called cheerily, keeping up a joyful persona despite the hangover pulsating in his head from the night before. Following hot springs on ice, he spent half the night drinking at Minako's. 'Hurry and get your skates on, we've got a lot to get through today'.
'Hmm', he agreed, 'I need to redeem myself; you'll never beat me again, piggy', he directed himself at Yuuri.
Viktor laughed, 'that's the spirit'.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************
'Yurio, your jumps are far superior to any other skater of your age, I'd say they're better than mine when I was 15...' egotistical bastard, 'however, you're not listening to the music; have you seen how Yuuri becomes one with the music? I need to see that Yuri'
Yuri grimaced, Viktor's favouritism was more than apparent. 'I don't like the music'.
'I know, and that's why I gave it to you. You have to change the person you are based on what music and theme you are given, look how Yuuri...'
'Would you stop using the damn pig as an example?' Yuri bellowed, his voice reverberating around the rink, '...sorry'.
'No, no, it's ok', Viktor sighed, 'perhaps you should take the rest of the day off Yuri, you seem over-worked, take some time to listen to the music, yes?'
Yuri nodded. Usually he'd argue and insist on staying but really, all he wanted to do was get in the hot spring, then crawl back into bed.
Noticing his rink mate removing his skates, Yuuri skated over to Viktor, 'is he alright?'
'Yes, I've told him to go home. I think he needs rest- may explain the outbursts he's had recently', Viktor explained, 'let's continue, we need to improve that quad sal'.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
The hot springs were packed when Yuri arrived back at the onesen. There was no way he'd share a bath with strangers. He mentally thanked the Katsuki family for having an in-door western bath as he added hot water.
Laying down in the bath, the water was so hot it almost hurt- perfect. Resting his head, Yuri let his eyes shut for just a minute. Opening them, his line of vision was directed at his left arm. He sighed- taking in his handy work from years gone by. Teethmarks, jagged lines; some raised, purplish scars that were fading well and a few bruises- they were the most recent. It had been months since Yuri last pierced his skin; looking at the markings reminded him of the relief he would feel once he'd done it; the oddly relaxing vision of blood seeping down his arm and the way his whole body would feel lighter. He shook his head- trying to get the thought out of his mind. He didn't even realise he was digging his nails deep into the flesh of his arm- pulling away, he gasped, noticing the puncture marks he had left. One of the marks dribbled the tiniest amount of blood that dripped down his arm and plopped into the bath water, disappearing on entry. Yuri watched, fascinated, urging the wound to weep more. As another drop of blood dribbled down his arm, he let out a relaxed sigh. It was ok- it was just an accident.