((Author's note: Hope you all enjoy. I've always found Kurama and Yusuke's interactions some of the most entertaining in the series and one that deserves attention. For me it's also the one that's hardest to pin down and so this little series came to be. I hope you all enjoy it as much I enjoyed writing it.))

They sat apart, Kurama leaning against the crates, nursing an injury that would have killed 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 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 red-head 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, the realness of it. But Kurama? Something told Yusuke that he could fight the demon for a century and never figure him out… and besides, he had 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 Yusuke retorts that he would have made 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. Kurama certainly doesn't act like someone who'd just been impaled hours earlier; he still carries himself with more dignity than Yusuke had ever mustered in his life. But Yusuke can still see that he's hurting, can see by the stiffness in his movements 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 forthcoming a day in his life.

"Why'd you get involved?"

Kurama ponders that for a moment, somehow looking refined despite being clad in a pair of khaki shorts and a plaid shirt that Yusuke had lent him. It was an important question—Kurama had warned him about Hiei, had offered insight into his personality. 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 and Kurama couldn't betray them 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 him. He sighs and shrugs. "It may sound like a simple answer, but it's true."

"So what did it?" Yusuke prompts, and it's clear he's not going to let the subject drop. "Decided 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," he replies softly, turning back to him.

"Then what?"

"I like you." Kurama pauses, and he laughs softly at the look on Yusuke's face. "Perhaps I should rephrase—you intrigue me Yusuke. Your actions appear erratic and 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. 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… I interceded. Besides, 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 smiles and Yusuke fights not to roll his eyes. He seriously doubts that Kurama's motives were anything but simple.

They don't talk the rest of the way.