( a/n: not quite the usual voice i use in stories, but i'm trying to keep it away from the tone of Almost, Maine….also this is a REALLY different couple than my usual KuraxXhu, so it feels a little weird writing this.)

"Kurama?"

"Hmm?"

"You've been awful quiet for a while now….Are you okay?"

The fox smiled.

"I'm fine, Yusuke. Just thinking…."

For a long, not altogether awkward moment, the only sounds along the almost completely deserted pathway in the park in the middle of town was the soft, wet rustling of leaves and the patter of rain on the glistening paved walkway.

"I really like the rain….especially in the spring when it isn't very cold," Kurama said out of nowhere. He stopped, there in the middle of the path, closed his eyes and inhaled slowly and deeply.

Yusuke, expecting his friend to start walking again, continued on. When Kurama didn't seem to follow, the detective looked back over his shoulder.

The fox was still standing, as still and perfect, as flawless as a statue, his head inclined to the sky, half-hidden by the trees and their slowly blooming pink petals, eyes closed, soaking in the new life of spring like the plants around him.

Yusuke was shocked as he looked at the fox. Something in him, his heart, swelled, skipped a beat. He had never felt this way before, and had he known this feeling, he would never have expected it to be centered on Kurama, his best friend.

In his lapse of concentration, Yusuke had forgotten that he had still been walking, and tripped over his own feet, falling gracelessly and landing on his backside in a puddle.

The splash jerked Kurama from his trance and his eyes snapped open. When they found Yusuke, sitting, pathetic and wet in the puddle, the fox's look of concern turned to one of amusement.

"What happened?" Kurama was laughing. Yusuke's face burned.

"I….I just….fell?"

"You fell? Well why?" Yusuke looked up at his friend, a look of shock, confusion and fear splashed across his face.

"I think I just fell….in love with you."

Kurama blinked.

"What?"

Yusuke tried to stand, but slipped again in the puddle and fell back down.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think I just fell in love with you!"

"Wait, how do you--….I don't…" Kurama reached out a hand, only half looking at Yusuke as he tried to comprehend what had just been said to him. "How can you—" The fox had reached out and taken the detective's hand to help pull him back to his feet, but overbalanced and fell hard on his backside, just as Yusuke had done. "—tell," he finished softly.

The two stared at each other, not even caring how ridiculous they must look: two teenage boys, sitting in the rain in a puddle.

Fin….?