Karen Fukuhara In Animation:

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what do you mean this guy is turning 35

Fic Recs (March 2025)

And now for more fic recs! (See my January and February posts here and here).

After 4.5 years of accumulating way too much stuff (and incidentally, getting rid of most of my books and plants was sooo painful, omg), I had to move out of my apartment at the end of last month, so didn’t get to read nearly as much as I wanted to in March, especially in terms of longer fics. That being said, below the cut are 5 Yuri!!! on Ice, and 2 Fruits Basket stories that I think deserve more attention.

As a reminder, I'm using these monthly rec posts to prioritize spreading the word about authors that are not already on Tumblr (or who appear inactive), with a focus on 1) WIPs/recently written stories (updated or completed within the last year) and/or 2) NSFW fics, because those could always use more love! 

If something is a WIP, I've noted that in bold/purple next to the author, and if something is NSFW, I've noted that in bold/red, also next to the author.  

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Yuri!!! on Ice recs

1) These Violent Delights  (12K, by butterbeerbitch) - NSFW 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Alternate Universe - Escorts, Age Swap, Pining Victor Nikiforov, Angst and Smut and Fluff

Do you ever read a fic where the writing style and depth of feeling conveyed catapults you onto an emotional rollercoaster that you weren’t even fully aware you were on, and then you have to stare at the wall for a bit when you get to the end?

Lolol, that was my experience reading this story, which, while more angsty than I tend to read, is fucking BEAUTIFUL. 

This is an AU featuring Viktor as an escort and Yuuri as his businessman client. I absolutely adored butterbeerbitch’s writing style. The sex was exquisitely intense as well as painful to read about at times, given Viktor’s pining and Yuuri’s seeming determination to not admit to having true feelings for Viktor beyond a transactional nature. There are ups and downs between them, naturally, but ultimately this fic gives them a hopeful ending (which also happens to be one of the sweetest I’ve come across in awhile).

Excerpt:

He was so unfurled like this. Carefully cracked open. "I'm so sorry."

Victor never thought Yuuri had the guts to say the things you were not supposed to say out loud.

"I know." Because maybe there was nothing for Victor to give either. Because maybe for so long, he'd kept giving and giving without thinking about how much he'd have left for himself in the end. "I know," he said again, because maybe he did.

The silence that fell was louder than the stuttering buzz of the fridge, the TV. Victor fisted Yuuri's shirt so hard his knuckles cracked.

Maybe this wasn't the right place, the right time. Maybe they weren't even the right people.

"Tomorrow's my last day."

Victor could feel the question looming above their heads.

Will you come with me?

It felt like such an unbelievable thing. And in your head, that was what you did, those unbelievable, awful, perfect things, but outside of it, you knew better.

Come with me.

He couldn't. He wouldn't. And maybe that was okay. There was only so much you could understand about someone when you didn't even know them outside of a bed. Maybe this was all they were supposed to have.

Victor couldn't look away. Yuuri's pain. He looked lifetimes older than anyone was built for.

And he couldn't stop thinking about that wilted letter. That same last name. Katsuki. A cousin, maybe. An uncle. A grandfather. Or maybe someone even closer. A brother. Did Yuuri have a sister? Was he an only child?

Who did you lose?

2) Why can’t you just stay close to me? (7.5K, by Cielsolos) - WIP

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Alternate Universe - Historical, Blood and Injury, Time Travel 

I love time travel stories (see further along in this post for my own time travel fic/series), and this one has such an inventive premise: Yuuri as a Detroit-based archaeologist – the best in his field, whose research focuses on the late Tsar of Russia, Viktor Nikiforov – being sent back in time to the Tsar’s home, the Castle of Korolevskiy. When the story begins, Yuuri is lamenting how even as all of his hard work as an archaeologist seems to have paid off, the constant demands on his time with his career (“At first it seemed like a blessing, all his hard work had paid off! He was winning prizes, meeting world leaders and getting requests from everywhere! But soon, the requests became suffocating, a large box full of expectations and anxiety already filled to the brim and tipping over the edge, the title soon overused and exploited”) are wearing on him.

When he is informed that his excavation team has come across a collection of Korolevskiy remains, including jewels – with one in particular catching his eye, as it looks similar to the sapphire famously part of Tsar Viktor’s crown – Yuuri is shocked to realize that he has been assigned examination of this very sapphire. Shortly after accidentally cutting himself on the jewel, he awakens to find himself in a bleak, dimly lit prison cell. When he is interrogated by Christophe Giacometti, first nephew to the King of Switzerland, Yuuri starts to realize the very unusual and nerve-wracking circumstances he’s wound up in. 

Excerpt (from Chapter 2):

”You see, here at the palace, we keep records on everyone,” He stopped at Yuuri’s chair and crouched down to lean his face close. “And i mean ev-ery-one!” he touched each of the syllables with the tip of his tongue.

He couldn’t have felt more uncomfortable.

He pulled back, titled his head to the side and split his face into a cold smile. “You too, Yuuri Katsuki.”

His blood ran cold. He felt his eyes widen as Christophe stretched out the silence thin between the two of them.

He got up from his crouch, and started rambling “Son of Chairman Toshiya and Hiroko Katsuki, brother to Mari Katsuki, adores dogs, one time..”

Yuuri drowned him out, hold on, chairman?? But that’s not it! My father runs an inn! But…is that how it is here?

“…I could go on!”

Yuuri blinked to see Christophe in front of him.

He wasn't in a hurry. He had all the time in the world.

"You know, Yuuri," he drawled, tilting his head, "you didn't even hesitate before lying to me."

Yuuri's throat tightened.

"That tells me one of two things."

Christophe took another slow step, the soft click of his boots against the stone floor the only sound

"Either you are terribly stupid-" he trailed off, his voice dipping lower as he came to stand behind Yuuri,"or you think you're smarter than me."

He didn't dare move, not even when he felt the whisper of Christophe's breath against his ear, as cold as the iron shackles trapping him in place.

"Which is it?"

The question sent a violent shudder through him.

There was no right answer.

And Christophe knew it.

3) The One And Only Flower In The World (17K, by EmHunter) - NSFW 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Teen Romance, Falling in Love

I love “different first meeting” fics especially when it involves younger versions of Viktor and Yuuri, and this fic – that has them beginning to date in their teens – has some of the sweetest relationship development that I’ve come across in awhile. 

The two of them meet when Viktor’s family moves to Japan due to his father’s job in Tokyo. When Viktor’s mother comes to the Ice Castle to request permission for Viktor to skate there from Takeshi’s father, Yuuri steps in to help translate, and is immediately taken aback at how beautiful Viktor is.

Their connection and the friendship between them is immediate, and there were some lines/scenes in the early courtship part of their relationship evolution that had me grinning like a moony idiot as I read; for example, the festival date during which they picnic and have their first kiss. 

You can feel how much love and respect grows between them as the years pass, and how much their lives intertwine (particularly when Viktor chooses to stay in Japan so that he can be with Yuuri instead of returning to St. Petersburg when his father’s job requires him to relocate back home). A big draw for me were the really romantic as well as hot sex scenes (including one that fulfilled my every wish, b/c I’m a sucker for dirty talk, and there’s some top-tier Yuuri dirty talk in this story)

Note: you must be a registered member of the Archive in order to view this work

Excerpt:

Yuuri holds Victor’s hand tight in his and they laugh when they almost slip on the frozen ground, and then they laugh harder as they joke about how embarrassing it would be if two internationally renown figure skaters such as themselves, who practically spend their whole life on ice, couldn’t keep their footing in a frozen over park in Sapporo. They eat popcorn and sausages from the food vendors, and Victor is delighted that it’s getting late and dark enough for them to see the sculptures illuminated and enhanced with classical music from invisible loudspeakers.

The music changes and they burst out laughing again because it’s a slow piano instrumental of the very song they first skated to together with their hands entangled at the Ice Castle all those years ago.

Yuuri reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a blue origami rose he sneakily bought from one of the vendors while Victor was busy cooing over and petting someone’s dog.

“Yuuri!” Victor smiles his heart-shaped smile and accepts the delicate paper rose like it’s the most precious gift ever. “'sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana,’” he says as he looks up, grinning, a tip-off to the song, and Yuuri groans inwardly. He is in love with the cheesiest dork in the world.

“It’s like coming full circle,” Victor says as he pulls Yuuri close into a makeshift dance that is no dance at all because they are not moving and basically just sharing a really long hug. They remain like this for a little while longer, embracing while they look at the illuminated sculpture of an ice castle. Yuuri could stay like this forever. If it wasn’t for, well.

“Yuuri?”

“Mhm?”

“I’m cold.”

“Impossible…” Yuuri mutters under his breath as he leads the way back to their hotel. Victor is clinging to him all the time, complaining about being cold and hungry. Yuuri decides not to mention the fact that it was Victor’s particular wish to come here. He buys him a yakisoba sandwich and a canned hot coffee of in a konbini on the way, and at least hears nothing more about food until they reach their hotel.

4) hide under the sheets with me (3K, by widowmauk) - NSFW 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Porn with Feelings, Fluff and Smut, Mild Hurt/Comfort

Ahhhh, Viktor having insecurities about his skating being the only thing he has to offer Yuuri will never not make me weepy; this fic does such a beautiful job of laying out his fears during his comeback season, and is just the right mix of hurt/comfort as well as emotional sex featuring tooth-rotting fluff/sap.

It may make you cry (in a good way!)

Excerpt:

Viktor looks out the window. He blinks several times and his eyes look suspiciously shiny. “If I fail, you’ll leave.” Yuuri stares at him for a moment until it clicks. 

“Vitya, no. I’m not going anywhere.” He turns Viktor’s face back to his. “I don’t care what happens! I don’t care if you win every medal or none. I don’t care if…if you don’t want to do this at all, if you want to just be a stay at home poodle dad. Vitya, I don’t care! I love you.” Viktor swallows heavily, eyes searching Yuuri’s face.  

Yuuri suddenly has an armful of weepy fiancee. “Yuuri,” Viktor chokes. “I love you so much.” 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Yuuri insists. He runs his fingers through Viktor’s hair and holds him close. “I’ll never leave.” 

“Promise?” Viktor whispers. Yuuri shifts so he can look Viktor in the eye, watery blue eyes staring back at him. 

“I promise.” 

Viktor draws him into a kiss. It’s salty, Viktor’s tears wet on his lips but he cups Yuuri’s face with trembling hands. “I love you,” Viktor whispers into the space between them when they draw back for air. Yuuri breathes it back and Viktor pulls him close again, Yuuri’s hand cupping the back of Viktor’s neck. He fingers the short hair at Viktor’s nape, twirls the fine silver hair between his fingers. 

Lastly for Yuri!!! on Ice, I’m including my own fic -- take my hand and squeeze -- which is part 1 in a series about 18 year old Yuuri – who is extremely homesick, as he’s mere months into his first year living in Detroit – time-traveling a decade into the future to the 2021 off-season, where he meets his older self (as well as Viktor and Yurio).

Each part of the series will be from a different POV, and first up is Viktor’s; as you can imagine, younger Yuuri is extremely unsure of how to behave around him, and Viktor has a hard time not taking this “rejection” personally. Luckily, Yuuri (older Yuuri, that is) is there to reassure/comfort him 

Excerpt:

(note: ‘Yuuri-kun’ is how Viktor and Older Yuuri refer to 18-year-old Yuuri)

When everything had fallen into place somewhere in the span of the last twenty minutes – as in, accepting that their new guest truly was 18-year-old Katsuki Yuuri, and Yuuri-kun accepting that he truly had time-traveled ten years into the future – Viktor had grown inconsolable, bursting into tears and then proceeding to bawl his eyes out in a way he’d never done before.

Ever, in his entire life.

Because in all of the time travel media he’d ever consumed (and he’d consumed a lot, especially after retirement had given him more free time than he’d ever had), Viktor had seen how it was pretty much impossible for two versions of the same person to exist in the same timeline. 

As such, he’d been fully expecting The Universe to wink his spouse out of existence and had tearfully clung to Yuuri with what he knew to be a painful grip, begging every deity he knew that they be allowed to remain in the same timeline. Even now, the terror of that loss hadn’t fully seeped out of Viktor’s weary body.

Though he, himself, had ending up falling to pieces, his amazing Yuuri hadn’t similarly succumbed to panic. He’d become so preoccupied with comforting him, that Viktor figured perhaps his anxiety just hadn’t had the opportunity to fester. Indeed, his husband had held him tight and sworn over and over that he would never leave him. And, that if The Universe truly did see fit to wink him out of this current timeline, that he would do whatever it took to return to Viktor’s side. All throughout Yuuri’s weepy but fervent promises, they had been distantly aware of Yuuri-kun’s gaze, his eyes wide and undoubtedly unsure what to make of their dramatics.

Fruits Basket recs

1) Time Now Stands Still (6K, by Kekiistar, part 2 in a series)  - WIP

Relevant Ships/Tags: Kyo/Yuki, Post-Canon, Internalized Homophobia, Slow Burn, Enemies to Friends to Lovers

Post-canon Fruits Baskets fics are so interesting to me, and this one in particular immediately grabbed my attention, as 1) it takes place 7 years post-curse break on the cusp of some major changes in the lives of the Sohmas (i.e. Kazuma moving out of the dojo, Akito asking Yuki to take over for her as head of the family), and 2) it’s a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers story focused on the Kyo/Yuki dynamic. More and more, I’ve been coming around to their relationship as being one of the most compelling ships of the series (and, incidentally, if you’re interested in another great Yuki/Kyo fic, I highly recommend this one; I’ve read up to Chapter 13, and it’s excellent so far!).

At this point in time, Yuki and Machi are running a flower shop together in Tokyo, and Kyo is taking a few-week break from his dojo to come back home to visit Kazuma and the rest of the family. There still seems to exist a fair amount of antagonism on Kyo’s part, at least, towards Yuki, and in Chapter 3, this really comes to light, after a conversation with Haru makes Kyo realize how much unresolved feeling he still has towards Yuki.

This story is so far at 3 chapters of 5, and I love the writing style and the way each character’s inner thoughts and feelings are laid out. Below is an excerpt from Chapter 3, focused on the conversation between Kyo and Haru. 

Excerpt (from Chapter 3):

Haru pinched his brows, sighing. “Yeah, I know. But, seriously Kyo, just like, relax about Yuki already. Honestly, you haven’t been back in town for more than a day and you’ve already brought him up like eleven times. You don’t have to be friends with him, far from it, but it’s not like you know him all that well, either.”

“Uhh, I know him plenty. I lived with the damn guy for like four years, remember?” Haru looked back, unimpressed.

“When’s his birthday?”

“...Spring?”

“It’s in September.” “Whatever. What does his birthday have to do with anything? I know he’s a bastard, and that’s all I need to know. Just because he’s not as much of a bastard as he was when he lived in the main house doesn’t change anything.”

“Look, point being is if you don’t like him, or even know him all that well, why do you even bother with him at all? Apparently you’d be happier without thinking about him, so why force yourself to go through the trouble?”

The redhead paused, pondering. Quickly shaking his head, he closed his box of childhood nicknacks back up, once again sealing his old things away.

“Because I need to pick up some damn flowers, that’s why.”

2) silent like snow (1.5K, by blue_crabs_from_maryland) 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Haru & Yuki, Depression, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

I’ve been so in my feels lately when it comes to Yuki, and this is yet another Haru & Yuki friendship appreciation rec that really spoke to me in terms of one of the best aspects of Fruits Basket: the way the characters show platonic love and care for one another. There are some really beautiful and heart-wrenching lines in this fic and just be warned that in particular when it comes to mentions of Akito, the “Sohma Yuki Needs A Hug” tag is quite apt.

Excerpt:

Haru could be telling Yuki how to bake bread and Yuki would still listen, each word falling like a drop of water into the depleted well in the center of Yuki’s heart. He feels like, with every word, Haru revitalizes him, returns him back to the sanctuary of his own heart. 

Yuki wonders if Haru knows what a kind word from his cousin would do to him. The gentle way that Haru runs his fingers through Yuki’s greasy hair and continues to talk to him as if this is just another day in the neighborhood, like Yuki and Haru bumped into each other in the hallway at school and stopped to chat, is indescribably precious to Yuki. With every quiet word, Yuki feels a step closer to who he used to be. He feels like he can believe in happy endings, when Haru’s standing near enough to touch, to listen, and to hold.

This is sooo cute!!!!

Mildly late annual Halloween art

i think Laios would LOVE those silly wolf shirts you see in gift shops and fairs, so heres a silly comic about it!

i hope you enjoy, and have an AWESOME day!!

Yo ho yo ho.

💀💀🔪

Amber Glenn, “I Will Find You” LP || Lombardia Trophy 2024

I had to draw Yuuri in Joseph Oda’s clothing from The Evil Within just because 😍💕

They’re so cute!

date!

Hello! Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to five other writers 🥰

Thanks for the nomination, Angela! 💙💜

Since I got started in 2009, I've written tons of fanfictions and I love all of them, but I will only include those I posted on AO3 because I deem the ones from before as no longer relevant (plus the old ones were in my first language lol). That means I only have Yuri!!! On Ice fanfictions on this shameless self-rec list.

Because the Hydrangeas weren't yet in Bloom - a one-shot about Japanese flower language and how it applies to Yuuri's and Viktor's gala costumes

A Song of Fiery Birds and Endless Winter - a cute little romance that explores "what if Yuuri and Viktor meet at the Olympics?" with lots of figure skating including homages to the skaters that inspired the YOI characters, and a sensible presentation of mental illnesses. It's my only non-canonical YOI fanfiction albeit still canon-verse. Ended up in an anti-rec collection because Yuuri was too fanboyish (make of that what you want).

The Instruments are in Harmony - a one-shot about the making of Yuuri's free programme

Beneath the Shine of a Thousand Spotlights - a multi-chapter narration about Viktor fighting depression and creative burnout right before he became Yuuri's coach. Although this story flopped gloriously, it's very dear to my heart not only because Vitya is but because I wrote the whole draft during a time when I contemplated stopping writing for good.

Last but not least, my special extended novelisation Can You Hear My Heartbeat, which is my love letter to Yuri!!! On Ice. Prepare yourself for flirty coaches, hanging out that's actually dating, Japanese culture, fantastic figure skating, awkward actual dates, steamy dancing lessons, explorations of sexuality, kinky!Eros and a loong summer of mutual pining.