Chapter Text
They sit apart, Kurama leaning against the crates, nursing an injury that was meant to kill Yusuke with a smile on his face. At first, Yusuke doesn’t notice, can’t notice anything other than Keiko. The adrenaline in his veins feels like acid and even he can’t mask the trembling in his fingers as he pours what Kurama assures him is the cure over that hideous eye that is desperately struggling to take over his closest friend. It is only when he sees the damned thing disappear and sees her face finally relax into a more natural sleep that he sits back. The reality that he’d come out of his first mission is still settling in, and Yusuke can feel the euphoria of the thought washing over him, masking the aches and pain that he knows will come back with a vengeance. But for now… for now he feels pretty damned good. He beat them, he really beat them! Yusuke had been fighting all of his life, but nothing prepared him for this week. But he did it! His eyes open, wanting to gloat to Botan, who had seemed all too certain she was going to be carting his ghost around again by the end of it.
But instead of Botan, it’s Kurama’s eyes that he locks onto. The fox is silent, but it appears more out of respect for Yusuke and Keiko than any real pain. He’s still pale and an ever so slight sheen of sweat is forming over his brow, but his expression is still perfectly composed, his eyes carrying some sort of meaning that Yusuke can’t quite suss out. Not that he’s surprised, not once in the past week did he feel like he ever got a good handle on what the redhead was thinking. Kurama had seemed honest enough—at least he’d given Yusuke no reason to believe he was outright lying—but Yusuke still got the niggling feeling that there was far more lurking under the surface of those mild-mannered eyes. Because no matter what expression he wore, Kurama was still a demon, and Yusuke seriously doubted that he’d survived as long as he claimed by being nice.
Something in his thoughts must have leaked to his expression because Kurama leans a little more against the crates, a strange new look passing over his face. His smile widens just slightly and there’s a new gleam in his eye, and suddenly he looks like a predator, laying in wait with his prey in sight. Yusuke can’t help but shiver. He realizes, the euphoria retreating, that he could never have won against Kurama. He has no idea how a being like that fights, and the thought disturbs him. Yusuke has never come across anyone that he couldn’t size up. One of the most amazing things about a fight is that you really get a glimpse into the most basic nature of your opponent. There’s no time to keep up a façade when you’re on the ropes and that’s partially why Yusuke loves it so, it's honest. But Kurama? Something told Yusuke that he could fight the demon for a century and never figure him out… and besides, he has a feeling he’d never get that chance—Kurama’s eyes tell him that he would be cut down in an instant.
And Yusuke believes it.
Then the moment has passed and that predatory gleam is gone so quickly that Yusuke can almost believe that he’d imagined it.
Almost.
Later, he’s escorting Kurama back to his house, and Kurama is assuring him that he really doesn’t need a baby sitter and really he could have managed just fine without Yusuke lending him some clothes. And, of course, Yusuke retorts that he would have made a hell of a scene tramping through the city in a bloodied uniform and Kurama just gives him an indulgent smile and they continue to walk side by side without another word on the matter. Kurama certainly doesn’t act like someone who’d just been impaled hours earlier; he still carries himself with more dignity than Yusuke has ever mustered a day in his life. But Yusuke can still see that he’s hurting, can see by the stiffness in his movements. Yusuke knows that situation that he’s just trying to get home where he can recover far from prying eyes.
“Can I ask you a question?” He asks and Kurama’s smile widens as though he had been expecting this conversation.
“I’m an open book, Yusuke.” Yusuke bites back a snort at that, he seriously doubts that Kurama’s ever been truly open a day in his life.
“Why’d you get involved?”
There is a long pause, and Yusuke's already getting used it, Kurama never seemed to reply to questions about himself immediately. He seemed to prefer dissecting them, pulling them apart, considering how best to respond. So he waits, watching Kurama ponder the question, somehow looking refined despite being clad in a pair of khaki shorts and a plaid shirt that Yusuke had lent him. In a way, Yusuke's relieved that he's taking Yusuke's inquiry seriously. It is an important question—Kurama had warned him about Hiei, had offered insight into his personality, his tactics. But then he also warned Yusuke that he could not get involved any further. While he disapproved of Hiei’s plan, they had been partners. Yusuke didn't understand, but Kurama insisted that he couldn’t betray that bond and the look in his eyes had been enough for Yusuke to leave it at that.
“I suppose I changed my mind.” Kurama glances at him and Yusuke could tell the fox caught the seething look Yusuke had sent his direction. He sighs and shrugs helplessly. “It may sound like a simple answer, but it’s true.”
“So what did it?” Yusuke prompts after another long pause, and it’s clear he’s not going to let the subject drop. “What made you decide your old partner wasn’t worth letting the city burn?”
Kurama looks up, and his face is bathed in last amber rays being cast off by the setting sun. And once again Yusuke is confused by what he finds reflected in those green eyes.
“It’s nothing so grand as that. I didn't intervene for the 'common good'.” There's the barest hint of a smirk on his face as he speaks as if he finds the whole idea amusing.
“Then what?” Yusuke prods, wondering if every conversation with the fox went like this.
“I like you.” Kurama pauses, and he laughs softly at the look on Yusuke’s face, realizing his mistake. “Perhaps I should rephrase—you intrigue me Yusuke. Your actions appear erratic and and you make decisions based on nothing but emotion.. I have never met anyone, human or demon, that is so honest to themselves in every action they take. It takes a great deal of courage to live in such a manner, Yusuke. I’ll admit, that when I thought about Hiei killing you, there was a sadness that I wouldn’t get to see what comes of such a life. And so…" Another shrug, another patient smile. "And so, I interceded. Besides, Yusuke. I owed you one grand sacrificing gesture and I do not like being in anyone’s debt.”
“As simple as that?”
“As simple as that.” Kurama grins and Yusuke fights not to roll his eyes. He seriously doubts that Kurama’s motives were anything but simple.
They walk the rest of the way home in silence.