For Yuuri, languages were never hard to learn and it was even easier to teach others too, however when it was Viktor. That was another story, teaching Viktor was like trying to teach a goldfish how to fly.

1. It was physically impossible.

2. They had too short of an attention span to actually learn.

3. They have a brain the size of a goldfish.

___

"Yuuri!" Viktor smiled a heart-shaped grin, "Will you teach me Japanese?"

"Viktor, we're in Russia, why do you need to know Japanese?" Yuuri pointed out, but to be honest, he'd gladly teach Viktor Japanese, however there was really no point if they had no plans visiting.

"Well, I can surprise your parents next time we visit Japan!" Viktor said, "I'll even ask Yakov for the day off so you can teach me!"

With a sigh, Yuuri let in, "Alright, I'll teach you, but make sure to clear it up with Yakov. I don't want to get in trouble with him." Yuuri shivered at the thought of their coach scolding them for an entire day.

That day afterwards, Viktor sat down beside Yuuri, a pen and paper already set out on the table.

"Okay Viktor, let's start with vowels," Yuuri said, pointing at a group of Japanese symbols,

あ or ア

"this is aa or the 'ah' sound" Yuuri returned his gaze to Viktor, looking off the paper, only to see the silver-haired man looking off it the distance staring at a wall. Literally just the white wall. "Ahem," Yuuri coughed trying to bring the man back down to earth.

"Huh?" Viktor snapped back, shaking his head, seeing a disappointed expression on Yuuri's face, "Sorry, sorry, I'll focus this time." Viktor sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

Yuuri sighed and resumed the lesson,

う orウ

"This makes the sound oo, as in the 'oo' in hoop."

"I love your long hair Yuuri," Viktor cooed, touching the ending strands of his hair that fell just an inch above his shoulders.

"Viktor," Yuuri said obviously frustrated that Viktor was refusing to pay attention to the lesson he had asked for.

"Aw Yuuri, you're so cruel," Viktor deflated, slumping down into his seat as he continuously poked the nape of Yuuri's neck. Yuuri swatted the man's hand away in reflex.

Yuuri pressed his forehead into the palm of his hand, "Okay," Yuuri calmed himself down from ripping Viktor's head off.

お or オ

え or エ

い or イ

"These are o, e and i," Yuuri pointed out at three different vowels on the paper with his finger. "Got that?"

Viktor nodded enthusiastically showing Yuuri that he was actually listening this time.

"Good, can you tell me which one makes the oo sound?" Yuuri quizzed Viktor, doubting that he was paying attention at all.

"Uh..." Viktor blanked out, struggling to remember what Yuuri had said just a few seconds before. Of course Viktor wasn't listening at all, Yuuri groaned inwardly.

"Okay! How about we try a phrase," Yuuri suggested, "What's a simple phrase that you'd like to learn?"

"How about 'I love you'?" Viktor smiled, pointing his finger up at the idea.

"Alright, 'Hello' it is!" Yuuri said, ignoring Viktor's comment. Viktor frowned, but continued anyway. "There's many ways to say 'Hello' or 'Good ____' depending on the time of day and who you're speaking with," flipping the paper over, Yuuri scribbled down a list of phrases.

おはよう

"This is said as Ohayou," Yuuri began, "It's used for times during the morning, usually from 6 to 11 A.M." Moving his finger, Yuuri pointed to the next set of letters,

おはようございます

"This is the formal version of Ohayou, it's said the exact same however you add a gozaimasu, so it's said as Ohayou gozaimasu," Yuuri tapped the word for extra emphasis, "You try saying it. Repeat after me Ohayou gozaimasu."

"Huh? Oh, oh, okay I'll try," Viktor shook his head, having obviously not been paying attention once again. "Rye. A-ah. To zime at?" Viktor spoke brokenly, his syllables weren't connected and sounded about as smooth as throwing bricks. Which in mind, wasn't very smooth. Yuuri flinched as Viktor spoke gibberish that didn't even slightly resemble to the Japanese, Yuuri had spoken earlier.

"Uh, huh..." Yuuri nodded, faking a smile pretending that Viktor hadn't totally butchered a simple word.

"So I said it right?"

"Sure!" Yuuri smiled, blatantly lying between his teeth. Yuuri had difficult students to teach before, but Viktor was on entire level different to Yuuri's former students. Was Viktor physically incapable of learning Japanese? Probably. As harsh as it was, Yuuri didn't doubt the possibility.

Yuuri was really contemplating on just ending their Japanese lesson early so he could prepare material that would help Viktor understand clearly and perhaps even add colours so Viktor would stop getting so distracted until suddenly Yakov bursted through the door. Beet red, Yakov looked absolutely furious and Yuuri was beginning to think that he wasn't going to live through to the end of today.

"Viktor! Yuuri! Where have you two been? There was practice today, if you didn't know! I expected this from Viktor, but Yuuri?" Yakov yelled, spit flying out as he screamed.

"I thought Viktor told you that we were taking the day off!" Yuuri blurted, raising his hands above his head, surrendering so he wouldn't be murdered by his coach.

"I never heard of any of these plans!" Yakov screeched. Immediately, it hit Yuuri and Yakov both, as they threw Viktor a dirty look.

"I thought you said you told him..." Yuuri growled menacingly, his eye twitching in frustration.

"Viktor... How dare you taint this child with your actions..." Yakov snarled, looking as if he was about to snap Viktor in half that very second.

Viktor obviously hadn't even noticed Yakov or heard any of the screaming up until now as Viktor turned to Yakov with an surprised look on his face, "Yakov! You're here! Yuuri's teaching me Japanese, do you want to join too?" Viktor grinned content with himself, ignoring Yuuri and Viktor's previous conversation.

"Teaching you Japanese..." Yakov's forehead creased and eyebrow quivered in irritation, "You skip practice to learn Japanese? You already know the language with full fluency!" Yakov shouted, sending spit splattering onto Viktor's face.

"Yakov! You're no fun, Viktor complained, as Yakov sighed in annoyance.

"I expect to see you up and early tomorrow Viktor and Yuuri! Make sure that man gets a proper scolding!" Yakov trudged out of the house, grumbling "I'm too old for this..." and slammed the door shut.

Waving goodbye to the grouchy Yakov, Viktor returned his gaze to Yuuri and grinned, "That was fun. Let's return to the lesson then!"

"Viktor..." a glint appeared in Yuuri's eyes that read that he was going to kill Viktor with his own two hands, "So, what's this about you about knowing Japanese already?"

"Oh! About that!" Yuuri smiled, evidently proud of himself. "I actually know 5 languages! I just wanted to spend more time with you! You know, 24 hours a day isn't nearly enough when I have to share you with everyone!" Viktor pouted, making puppy dog eyes.

Yuuri sighed, he understood how Yakov felt after taking care of this man for 27 years, being how it was now Yuuri's job to do. It was frustrating to teach Viktor anything at all and how Viktor could learn anything was beyond Yuuri. Still, it was difficult to be and stay mad at Viktor, period, be it because Viktor made some of the most foolproof puppy dog eyes ever to be seen on this Earth or that Yuuri just loved Viktor that much.

"You know, if you wanted to spend more time with me, you could've just asked."

"Where's the fun in that though? Besides I like it when you try to teach me new things, remember trying to teach me how to cook?" Viktor gave Yuuri his signature heart-shaped smile.

"I do and you almost burned down the house," Yuuri looked down, still remembering the memory thoroughly, "I still don't know how you managed to set fire to cereal..."

Viktor shrugged, "How was I supposed to know you weren't supposed to put it in the microwave?"

"It's eaten cold! Also metal explodes in microwaves! And you put it in for 40 minutes!"

"This is why I have you teach me!" Viktor grinned. Yuuri groaned, he swore if he didn't love Viktor as much as he did, Yuuri would have left long ago. Though that was a lie, Yuuri had no intention of ever leaving Viktor's side. How was Viktor supposed to live without him? Besides, Yuuri somewhat liked when Viktor did sappy things, like he did just now. "Well, since you taught me, I'll have to return the favour then," Viktor picked up a pencil and scribbled down a few letters on the sheet of paper.

Я люблю тебя

"Lesson one! This is Ya lybublyu tebya,"  Viktor pointed at the group of letters, smiling as he waited for Yuuri to recognize it. Yuuri laughed, his face forming a smile after realizing what the set of letters read as. Quickly Yuuri stole the pencil from Viktor and wrote a few letters directly beside Viktor's writing.

愛してるも

"This is Ai shiteru mo," Yuuri stated, "It means," Yuuri felt his words being stolen away as his voice was silenced by Viktor's lips.

"It means I love you."