Viktor could feel his heart soar in his chest as Yuuri slowly kissed him, whispering his confirmation against Viktor's lips like a prayer.

"God, yes."

The tingle it sent up Viktor's spine was immeasurable to anything he'd ever felt before. It was heavenly, it was hot, it made him want more. And he got more. Viktor pressed his body against Yuuri's, rubbing his hand along Yuuri's spine and feeling him shiver and buck into him. Viktor grinned, slipping his tongue into Yuuri's mouth.

The moan that tumbled out of Yuuri's mouth made Viktor quake with happiness. He smiled, feeling Yuuri's lips turn up as well.

"I'm so glad you changed your mind," Viktor mumbled, pulling away and speaking against Yuuri's lips. The man pulled away suddenly, looking Viktor directly in the eyes.

"I didn't." Viktor frowned in confusion.

"I was always in love with you," Yuuri pressed himself against Viktor, grinning brightly.

"About time," laughed a loud, high pitched voice as its owner slipped into the bathroom. He stared at the couple happily, a knowing smile curling his lips.

"Phichit," Viktor moaned. "You ruined the moment." His shoulders fell, but his eyes were still shining. Nothing short of murder could get Viktor off that high that he'd been on since Yuuri had kissed him back. His heart was beating almost TOO fast, his breathing was ragged, and his eyes were glistening with unshed tears of happiness. Viktor could see the way Phichit looked at Viktor in surprise, beckoning his head towards the hallway.

Viktor looked back at Yuuri, trying to see if he'd noticed.

"Viktor, can I talk to you for a moment?" Yuuri looked at Viktor in surprise, but also in a sort of understanding.

'Oh, god, does he know?!' Viktor asked himself, his hands starting to shake.

"Nikiforov, NOW," Phichit said roughly, beckoning even harder with his head to the left. Viktor pulled away from Yuuri, leaving a lasting kiss on his lips as he stumbled out the door after Phichit.

Viktor's face turned somber when Phichit grabbed his left arm and dragged him to one of the practice rooms, shutting the door behind them so they couldn't be heard.

"So, are you going to tell him?" Phichit asked, motioning with his hands. Viktor winced, running his long, dexterous fingers through his silver hair.

"Um... I don't know. He... I can't bear the thought of losing him again. If he knows this is all a set-up, then-"

"Viktor, set-up implies that we did something bad. All we did was... bribe one of the announcers a little," Phichit's voice got even higher, as though he was trying to pass the blame onto Viktor, or lessen the blow.

"Oh, come on. It wasn't MY idea," said Viktor, pressing his hands against his chest. He sighed at length.

"Listen," started Phichit, closing his eyes for a moment. "I knew the only way to get you to talk was to get you alone together. I didn't come up with the idea to have him join this competition, bribe the person who was setting up the teams so that you could have Yuuri as your partner, and then decide to NOT TELL HIM AFTERWARDS." Phichit spread his arms wide for effect.

"Well, you did suggest it. You said that he wanted to be the first and only person to ever get to play a duet with me. I agree with that, and so I thought that maybe it would be cool. And... and I really did want to get him back," Viktor whined, clasping his hands.

"Could we please not tell him?" Viktor begged.

"The only problem now, Viktor, is that this is currently rigged against every other team out there. You know that you and Yuuri are not only a match made in heaven, you are both also the two best trending musicians in the WORLD right now." Phichit sighed at length.

"You bribing the announcer basically means that you cheated, Viktor, and you need to tell Yuuri what you did in case the announcer gets discovered. Okay?" Phichit clarified, bending forward and lacing his fingers behind his back. Viktor sighed deeply, groaning. He face-palmed.

"What have I gotten myself into?" asked Viktor. Then he stopped.

"Phichit, this is as much your fault as it is mine. Stop passing the blame! You totally helped me pay that guy. You KNOW that I didn't have 113000 yen (roughly $1,000, or €855) to spare! That would have been too much had you not pitched in!" Viktor shouted, his voice raising in volume quickly.

"But you paid most of it! And I'm doing you a favour. You would be disqualified if they found out what happened, or they would pick new teams! I don't want to have to switch teams!" whined Phichit, and Viktor had to admit; the man had a point.

Their miscommunication was what had ended their relationship before it'd even started before, and Viktor wasn't going to let that happen again.

He wasn't going to lose Yuuri a second time. He didn't think his heart would be able to take it.

..oo00oo..

Yuuri stood outside the door to the practice room, trying to listen to the conversation Viktor and Phichit were having. It was, unfortunately, in vain; they were called 'soundproof' for a reason. However, as he pressed his ear against the door crack, he could make out that they were yelling.

Though Yuuri already knew that. Windows could be helpful things.

Suddenly, Yuuri could feel the handle to the door turn underneath his hand. He squeaked, falling against the cool metal as he was tugged into the room by firm hands.

"Yuuri," Viktor started, wrapping his arms around Yuuri's waist and tugging him up into a standing position.

"Why were you at the door? Eavesdropping, were we?" He asked, the lilt to his voice returning full force. He laughed, placing his chin on Yuuri's shoulder and looking at him hopefully.

"Wha—you were yelling! At my best friend! I wanted to know what was going on," Yuuri shouted, gripping Viktor's hands. He felt the man go stiff behind him before he released a deep, shuddering breath.

"Yuuri, there's something I have to tell you." Viktor sounded dismal, an expression that rarely described him. He pulled away slightly, releasing Yuuri from his grip but not allowing him to turn around.

"Viktoru?" Yuuri asked, his voice thickening with his usually obscure accent. He felt Viktor quake gently.

"There was... It wasn't..." He breathed in.

"It wasn't an accident that you ended up with me in the competition." Yuuri gasped.

"What do you mean? Of course it was! It was a random drawing-"

"No. Phichit and I... bribed the announcer to get you and I to talk. I didn't know if... I wasn't sure if I should tell you... but if he gets caught I would rather that you hear it from me than from someone else, okay?" Yuuri finally turned around, taking in Viktor's tense body and downcast eyes.

Yuuri's heart started to beat fast with pent-up emotions. He reached out to Viktor, who looked like a kicked puppy.

"Really?"

"Yes. Phichit... Phichit told me how you wanted to play with me. How you *laughs* wanted to be the only person to ever get to play a duo with me. And... and I wanted to make that happen." He looked up at Yuuri hopefully, who just stood there dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open in surprise.

"I couldn't help but think; I never thought Katsuki Yuuri could be such a selfish human being!" He closed his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck with his fingers as he laughed nervously. His gaze flitted everywhere, never staying focused on one space at any time.

That was, of course, until Yuuri stepped forward and took Viktor's chin in his fingers, forcing the man to meet his eyes.

"Yes, I was selfish. But that's not the only time I've been. Viktor, I've made all sorts of selfish decisions on my own, messing up a lot of the previous relationships I've had with many of my best friends because of my selfishness. But I don't think that wanting my boyfriend to play with only me is all that selfish." Yuuri smirked.

"You're mine, after all." Viktor's breath caught at the strong and loving look in his soulmates eyes and he stood shock still. He started into Yuuri's eyes, deep into those brown orbs full of beauty and compassion.

"I have to go, I'm busy... you know... with... other things..." muttered Phichit, winking at Yuuri before opening the practice room door and slipping out. As soon as the door clicked shut, Yuuri's eyes got a shade darker and he grinned at Viktor, his teeth glinting in the harsh lighting of the small room.

"I'm gonna go crazy if I can't have you Viktor," said Yuuri, shoving him towards the wall. Viktor, powerless under Yuuri's grasp, felt his back slam into the wall, and he threw his coat over the small window to the room.

"You already have me, Yuuri," whispered Viktor. Yuuri's eyes widened at the soft smile that shone on Viktor's face, and he felt his heart rate race.

"God, I love you," Yuuri said, pressing his lips against a more than willing Viktor as the clock ticked by, unnoticed by the two lovers.

..oo00oo..

"Yuuri, we should really practice," Viktor started, kissing Yuuri again. He grinned, giggling impishly as the man whined against his lips.

"I really just want to keep kissing you," Yuuri said, his lips running against Viktor's as he spoke. Viktor pulled away, his face pulled down in a small pouty face.

"Do we really have to?" Yuuri whined, tugging on Viktor's shirt collar. He frowned as Viktor pulled away, feeling his body lean back from Viktor as the man reached down for his bow, which had been knocked onto the floor.

"Yes, we do. Or else we'll never win this competition. You know?" Viktor remarked, turning away from Yuuri again and picking up his large, expensive cello. He motioned to Yuuri's violin, which sat leaned against the wall along with his bow.

"Please. I want to show my love to the whole world," Viktor said, smiling. His shining silver hair was pointing in all directions, his shirt rumpled, and his whole body was shaking with excitement, but his eyes were shining. He didn't care about his physical appearance at this point; Yuuri could see that, and smiled at it. The fact that Viktor opened up to him so much, and was willing to show him his whole self, made Yuuri's heart pound with unspent emotion.

"Okay," Yuuri said with finality, a plan already forming in his mind.

Viktor always liked to surprise the audience, didn't he?

Well... it was Yuuri's turn.