He slept so peacefully, on his side in the moonlight. Was that really him? No, it had to be or else he wouldn't be there. He'd waited a long time for that… but was that really him? He knew Kurama had changed, heard he was different, but this was so different.

But it had to be him, didn't it? Who else could it be? He knew the feel of Kurama's plants. They just moved different. He knew that the ones near the window moved instantly when he came in, but relaxed when they touched him. Their master didn't even wake up. Of course they wouldn't, they hadn't when he'd worked with Kurama. They still recognized him, he still recognized him.

For a man who was so paranoid and who woke so easily that Kurama had always stayed asleep when he entered had always been gratifying. It was how he now knew that this was Kurama, and not some imposter. No person who had demon or spirit energy would have let a stranger into their rooms, at least not ones who had their plants set to identify anyone who entered.

Of course it was him, had to be, but he looked so different. Gone were the white hair and the white skin. Gone were the tail and those hilariously twitchy ears. And the eyes, those terrifying gold eyes would be gone too, wouldn't they. He wondered what color Kurama's eyes were now. This Kurama was so different, so human. Still beautiful, still the same fox (he hoped), still probably cocky and annoying and powerful. But it wasn't his Kurama, his friend, his companion, his partner.

This should have been a stranger, the human body and the tanner skin and the red hair and that innocent peaceful expression. Kurama shouldn't look that innocent, he wasn't. He was cold and cruel, and brilliant, and hilarious for all that he was pompous and jaded. But innocent, no he wasn't innocent. But this was Kurama now wasn't it? This wasn't just a human shell, this was Kurama.

He leaned down, his black hair falling around his face as he looked at his old friend. "I am sorry," he said softly.

Then Kurama shifted and he bolted.

"Dammit Hiei," Kurama muttered, yawning as he woke up. Hiei visited occasional, very occasionally, really very rarely, but it happened. That was the only way Kurama knew how to explain his always unlocked window being open, especially when his plants hadn't reacted and he hadn't woken up at all. But really, did Hiei have to come in and not even say hello, just wake him up and leave. That was hardly polite.

He yawned and got up, going and closing the window, locking it for once just because he was annoyed. As a general rule it was not a good idea to wake Kurama up unnecessarily, especially not when he had a test in the morning.

He stayed perfectly still against the wall until he heard the door shut and the lock click. Even then he didn't move for a while, and then he kicked off. He flew up, trying to get high enough that people wouldn't notice him, or would assume he was a human flying contraption.

He was angry, of course he was. Who the hell was 'Hiei'. Kurama had replaced him with another partner, hadn't he?

Well of course he had, it wasn't like he hadn't been gone for hundreds of years. Kurama would have found someone else to work with. No matter what the stupid fox said he really didn't like being alone for anything.

But he still felt angry. You go to hell and back and you hope that the person who mattered most in your life wouldn't forget you, no matter that you betrayed them first.

Goddammit!

He flew higher and faster to escape the ugly thoughts circling his mind.

Kurama had the strangest feeling the next morning, and the next day, one he couldn't shake. It was a familiar feeling, like someone he knew was nearby, but he couldn't identify it. There were few demons that could get close to him without setting off his alarms, mainly Hiei, Yusuke, and Yukina. The rest he never really let his guard down around. He wasn't even that close to Yukina, simply the knowledge that she didn't even want to hurt people who hurt her, combined with knowing that Hiei would try to set him on fire if he ever did hurt her made Kurama keep his guard lowered around her.

Hiei, Yusuke and Kuwabara were his allies, people he relied on, who knew many of his secrets (though not all, never all). They were powerful, yes, but they wouldn't betray him, and they wouldn't cause him harm. Only with people who he trusted would he sleep through them entering his room, and only Hiei came in through the window, so he'd been so sure it was Hiei.

But it wasn't. Hiei didn't run in and leave. If he came it was either to escape Makai for a while before going back to Mukuro, and Hiei would definitely speak to him if that was the case, or he came to borrow something, which Hiei probably wouldn't be able to find without talking to him. All evidence pointed toward Hiei, and all evidence pointed to someone else.

And still he felt that flash of familiarity over the next week, someone he knew and was comfortable with was nearby, but it wasn't Kuwabara (couldn't be when he saw him around campus), and it wasn't Yusuke or Hiei who were pretty distinctive in their scents. What worried him was that he should have felt on edge, because something was wrong with his normal status quo, and someone who wasn't revealing themselves was nearby. What worried him the most was that he didn't feel worried at all.

Somehow you can wait a thousand years to see someone with all the patience bestowed upon a thousand monks and yet a week seems too damn long. It wasn't that he hadn't seen Kurama, he'd seen a lot of him, but there wasn't really any communication at all.

He just couldn't get it. When did Kurama's friends become so tacky… actually when did Kurama have friends; aside for him, that is. That annoying human with the orange hair had even called him Kurama, though most called him Shuichi, a human name. But the orange haired human had known who Kurama was, what he was, and yet he was human. Human and loud and ugly and tacky and what was Kurama thinking?

He didn't get it, couldn't understand it. Kurama didn't steal anything. He didn't seem to be planning anything. He went to classes, he studied, he acted just… human. If it has been anyone else he wouldn't have stayed around, but it was Kurama and he couldn't go before he'd apologized to Kurama's face. That was most important. In fact that was all that mattered.

A week passed, he was only able to wait that long before he came back to Kurama's building, and came to Kurama's window, entering and waiting for the plants to stop touching him so he could go in further without waking their master. Really this was a stupid idea. Waking Kurama up like this could get him killed, or at least seriously hurt. If anything the way he crept around suggested that he didn't want Kurama to wake up. If Kurama wasn't awake than he couldn't speak to him.

Maybe it would have made more sense to approach him during the waking hours, but he'd never been able to get up the nerve to do it. Whenever he'd resolved to his fear of his once-friend finding out the truth would stop him, or a self conscious feeling that maybe this human wasn't really Kurama even given so much evidence to the contrary. The only thing that kept him close was that very certain guilt. He hadn't died before, and frankly he wasn't sure how strong Kurama still was, but he wasn't sure that he could fight back. Not with how much the guilt consumed his strength. No, he wouldn't be able to fight back.

When the plants finished their check he silently moved to the bed, watching the gentle movement of the red head's chest. This was Kurama, Kurama who hated being woken up. No, he couldn't wake him up and he couldn't be the first thing Kurama saw either, that would be too shocking. It would be better to leave now before waking him. And yet it seemed just a waste to have snuck in and to do nothing.

Once more he found himself leaned over the human vessel, looking down Kurama, and it had to be Kurama. Who else could it be? "I am sorry," he said softly, just watching the face. This was practice, just practice for when he finally would tell him. A face to face practice. And maybe this time he'd really get up the nerve to say it Kurama, to confront him. Yes, maybe this would work.

He took another look at that beautiful face. Of course the stupid fox would find a beautiful vessel. He was too vain not too. Show off, finding someone with such rare red hair, such irritatingly perfect skin, such long lashes, such startlingly green eyes.

It took him a moment too long to register what seeing those green eyes meant, but it was too late by then anyway, even as he jumped back he felt constricting vines wrap around him. Kurama sat up, looking cold angry, that deep anger that he'd only experienced twice in his life before now and was not happy to see a third time. This cold was reserved for Kurama's greatest anger, and most people didn't survive it. He knew didn't he? He knew already. He was going to die, and his old friend was going to kill him.

Kurama was angry, beyond simply angry. He was furious, livid, and worse than that he was cold. It had nearly ripped him apart to see his old friend before, or at least to see someone masquerading as him. But another this time? Kuronue was dead and gone and probably rotten past bone already. The body's break down didn't survive so many hundreds of years. It angered him to see another use Kuronue's image, especially to try and get to him. How dare they?

He had gone to bed with the idea of catching the stranger, or at least waiting up a little longer to see if the stalker would come, as he had for the past three nights. Awake he had more control over his plants, and even though the scent seemed familiar he had considered attack. Yet for a moment he had stayed his hand, curious as to who exactly had entered his domain.

It had taken the imposter a lot longer than he'd expected. At the time he hadn't known what to expect, accept to keep his plants at the ready just in case. He hadn't even known the person was an imposter until they'd spoken. He wondered if this was supposed to be a normal (though highly skilled) assassin, or if Yomi was trying to find a new way to test and bother him.

His vines snaked around the imposter, binding well his legs, arms, and wings. He had to hand it to the imposter; the look of distress on his face when the wings were bound at least seemed genuine. Demons who naturally had wings hated having them bound and were known to have panic attacks under the right conditions. This assassin knew at least a little something about those with wings, but that wouldn't save him. Kurama's vines had already wrapped around his throat and mouth, squeezing on the throat especially hard. This was a threat, and he wasn't stupid enough to allow the imposter time to think of a lie.

"I can't tell if you're either very good or very stupid," he said, watching the imposter panic and try to twist out of his vine as he sat leisurely on his bed. "You're obviously good enough to trick my senses, but not smart enough to kill me when you had the chance," he said. "So why don't you tell me who you're working for and we'll make this a lot easier."

Damn, damn, damn, his wings were bound. Of course Kurama would know that would make him panic: he'd used it against him before the second time he got cold angry at him. After all he'd been through he almost thought that he wouldn't still have these attacks, but he did. Damn, damn, damn.

"I can't tell if you're either very good or very stupid," Kurama said, leaning back in his bed and speaking with perfectly miffed nonchalants. If he had any doubts about this being Kurama before he had none now. "You're obviously good enough to trick my senses, but not smart enough to kill me when you had the chance," he said. Shit, he knew. Kurama knew what he'd done, and now he was going to make him pay for it. At this rate he wasn't even going to get a chance to explain. "So why don't you tell me who you're working for and we'll make this a lot easier." What?

He felt the vines loosen around his mouth. "I don't know what you mean," he said and suddenly felt the vines tighten around his throat.

"Wrong answer," Kurama said. Shit, shit, shit. This was an interrogation. He couldn't just play stupid. He needed to pretend like he knew something long enough to get the vines loosened or he was going to die. "Try again."

"I wasn't sent by anyone, I came on my own," he said quickly.

"A personal grudge then," Kurama said, watching him with those hard green eyes. Somehow the demonic coldness in something that should have been human was far more terrifying than Kurama's golden eyes.

"No," he said.

"Then someone must have sent you," Kurama insisted. The vine around his neck tightened, just a threat. If he made it out of this alive his windpipe was going to be half crushed.

"No," he said quickly. Why was Kurama doing this? Asking these questions when he had to know.

"You can't have it both ways," Kurama said. Kurama was going to kill him if he couldn't get his act together. This was an interrogation, and he knew how to handle such things, he just had to not be stupid. He could think about the why of the situation later.

"I'm not," he said quickly. "I didn't come to kill you, I came to speak with you," he said. He thought that might have made Kurama relax, but instead he only seemed all the more tense.

"You came to talk to me while posing as an old friend. That's not a good way to speak to me," Kurama said, the ice in his voice increasing in volume. This was rapidly becoming worse. How could Kurama think he was an imposter?

"I'm not an imposter," he said and the vine tightened around his throat until he wouldn't have been able to speak if he wanted to, or breathe for that matter.

"Wrong answer," Kurama said, and leaned back against the headboard of his bed. "I'll give you one more chance not to lie to me. Tell me who you are."

The vine loosened and suddenly he could speak. "I'm Kuronue," he said. His name felt rusty on his own tongue. Had it been that long since he'd actually said it? The vine tightened around his throat again but he expected it to. What he didn't expect was that angelic smile. This new Kurama was scarier.

"Alright then, tell what happened the night we were separated?" the vine loosened and Kuronue took a huge breath, desperately needing the air. "I'm waiting."

"We were stealing a mirror, one that was supposed to have a god trapped in it," he said, saying quickly what he remembered, though really he remembered everything. He'd relived it so many times he couldn't not remember every little detail, but he didn't have time for every little detail now. "The guard chased us, and the chain broke on my pendant. You'd been warning me to get it fixed for ages but I didn't listen. You told me not to, but I went back for it anyway. I got caught." He wasn't going into the details of being captured, not now.

"Do you still have the pendant? The one that was so important you have to go back for it?" Kurama asked in a mocking tone that surprised Kuronue. He had to go back; he thought for sure Kurama would have understood.

"Yes, of course," he said. Kurama was suddenly very close to him. Maybe someone else, someone less intelligent would have found Kurama's look sexy, but Kuronue just found it terrifying.

"Alright then, give it to me and I'll let you live," Kurama said.

Kuronue looked at him dumbfounded. Who was this? This wasn't Kurama, this wasn't his friend, his partner. Who was this cold and cruel human who had replaced him? Kurama would have known, would have known why he couldn't live without that pendant, why it was so important that he threw his life away for it, why he had to have it.

"Well?" Kurama asked.

"I-i can't," Kuronue said. "You can kill me, but I just can't give it away. I'd die without it," he said.

"Why can't you give it to me?" Kurama asked.

Kuronue blushed. Really? Did they really have to go into this? "I just can't," he said, wishing he could look away from those green eyes. He felt the vines restrict on his whole body as a warning that if he angered Kurama too much what was happening to his neck would seem comfortable in comparison.

"Tell me," Kurama ordered. Kuronue felt himself blush deeper and he mumbled something he knew Kurama couldn't hear. "What was that?" Kurama asked, leaning in.

"It was my first gift," Kuronue said. He hung his eyes. This was too embarrassing. Kurama knew, why did he have to say it again?

"What?" Kurama asked, and Kuronue noted that this wasn't an interrogatory tone.

"It was my first gift; you gave it to me," Kuronue said. He hadn't just given it to him; he'd bought it for him. Okay it was damn useful, and it was shiny, which he liked, but that wasn't why he'd gone back for it. He wouldn't have been able to survive separated from it. How could he lose the first gift anyone ever gave him? Especially when it was his partner who gave it to him?

He expected the vines again, but this time rough fingers touched the bottom of his chin. Figures, stupid fox would do his own gardening. He felt the hand gently tilt his head up, and he found himself looking into those incredibly cold green eyes. They didn't look cold any more, if anything they actually looked a little scared. Kurama reached up with his other hand and moved Kuronue's hat slightly, making his ears twitch. Annoying bastard, did he always have to do that?

"It's a very good illusion," Kurama finally said and Kuronue near panicked.

"It's not a damn illusion, I'm not an illusion!" he snapped. Why wouldn't he believe it was him? It was unbelievable, but he'd gone and hid himself in a human body, why couldn't Kurama believe that his old partner was back.

"A protest in hopes that I'll let you go, but I'm not so stupid about assassins," Kurama said, back to the cold, but somehow it seemed even worse.

"Oh Inari!" Kuronue groaned, they'd been separated for a thousand years and somehow the fox's favorite expletive was still the first thing he reached for. "No, I would never, why would I? Why would I do that when I just came all this way to find you?"

"Because that's what assassins do," Kurama said. Okay, maybe not the smartest response ever, but this imposter was messing with him too badly. The last one had made a fatal flaw by throwing away the pendant, but this one knew too well. Kurama was just getting angrier, because it either meant that the demon was digging into his mind to get this information, or Kuronue had been alive and they'd gotten the information from him, although the ear twitching was such an odd thing to know about.

Either way it was sick, and he didn't know why he wasn't just killing the assassin. Well, he did know: it would be too hasty. This imposter was very good, and it would be a bad idea to simply let him go without figuring out how he did this. There was also the tiny little hope he had in the back of his heart that maybe this was the real Kuronue, but he knew that couldn't be true… although he did look a bit older than how Kurama remembered him… no it was just wishful thinking, or some kind of sick masochism. He didn't want the image of his dead friend to go away so soon.

"Tell me, just tell me what I can do to make you believe me," the imposter said.

"Nothing," Kurama responded. The imposter looked so crushed. He was good at his act, most demons wouldn't have thought to act like that.

"Then can I at least tell you why I came?" the imposter asked.

Well, it was probably some mind game, but it might help him figure out something about the imposter. "Ok."

The imposter went silent for a moment, and Kurama got the distinct impression that he was screwing up his courage. "Okay, alright, okay," the imposter said, seeming nervous. Whatever he had to say it would at least be interesting. "I am sorry," he said. "I came to apologize."

Kurama blinked, surprised. That wasn't at all like what he expected. "What would Kuronue have to apologize for?" He was the one who'd left his partner behind to die.

"Because Kuronue," the man started, licking his lips and looking even more afraid. Then he hung his head. "Because Kuronue betrayed his partner and that's the worst thing a partner can do."

"When did you betray me?" Kurama asked, being taken in by the act and he knew it.

Kuronue looked up, guilt evident on his face. "They tortured me Kurama, they kept going until I would have said anything to make them stop, and I did say anything. I knew you'd never tell them, but I told. I told that assassin where to find you twenty years ago. I told her everything."

Kurama's eyes widened for just a moment. Her. Most people assumed that it was a male demon who'd taken him down, but it was a woman, one who would probably like to kill him if she ever found him. He remembered relaxing in one of his dens, not expecting anyone until suddenly a female with a knife tried to kill him. He remembered having to flee, and heading to a new hideout, but she knew everyone didn't she? He wondered how she'd known, because eventually he only went to his oldest, the ones only Kuronue knew about. How did she know where he was?

He focused back on Kuronue in front of him, still unsure, still wary, but not for the same reasons as before. "You didn't come for revenge?"

"What?" Kuronue asked, completely startled. "Why would I ever?"

"I left you," Kurama said.

"You would have come back if I asked," Kuronue said. "But we both knew it was useless, and I told you to go on… and you still hesitated," he said. "That is more that anyone could ask from a partner." In the demon world. "And then I betrayed you. I would expect you'd want to kill me."

Kuronue.

He still wasn't sure if Kurama believed him, but the vines weren't choking him anymore, in fact, he didn't feel the one around his neck anymore. He looked down and winced, his throat hurting badly after the abuse it took. The vines were retreating off of him, and he had to shift his stance so he wouldn't fall over when the vines let his legs. His eyes shot up again, and he once more met those green eyes that were no longer cold. "Do you believe me?"

Kurama didn't answer, didn't have to when he suddenly grabbed Kuronue and pulled him into a hug. Kuronue thought that was very considerate of him: now Kuronue didn't have to think of a response either, he just wrapped his arms around his old friend and squeezed him, feeling the weakness of the human form, but just feeling grateful that Youko Kurama hadn't died, that he still existed.

He wasn't sure how long they stood there, holding onto each other like they each thought the other would disappear. Kurama's hand's stroked his wings, and Kuronue's hands found Kurama's ridiculously soft hair. He had to remember not to disturb the seeds too much, but rather imagined that Kurama's head felt like what petting a kit would. Kuronue knew they were both shaking.

It felt a little like one or both of them had just been spared an execution and they were clinging to their renewed life all over again, and in doing so they clung to each other, desperate for any comfort they could find. Finally Kuronue felt Kurama tugging him, and they both dropped down on the bed.

"I can't believe you're alive," Kurama said, rolling out of the hug and stretching out on the bed. He always recovered first, the bastard.

"I must say I'd rather wished I was dead many time," Kuronue said, feeling ashamed. "I was never as strong as you."

"No, and you still aren't," Kurama said matter-of-factly, but smiled over at him.

"Bastard," Kuronue snarled, but stretched out more on his side.

"Simply telling the truth," Kurama said. Damn, separated for a thousand years and they were still the same as ever, it made Kuronue grin. And then he frowned.

"What?" Kurama was staring at him.

"I hurt you," Kurama said, reaching out and touching the very red and very sore spot where his vine had attempted to strangle his friend.

"You thought I was an imposter," Kuronue pointed out. "Actually, I mean I know I've been gone for a long time, but have I changed that much?"

"No, it's because you were too perfect," Kurama said, getting up to dig something out of his closet.

"What does that mean?" Kuronue asked, sitting up.

"There was someone who posed as you once to try and kill me," Kurama said, coming back with a jar of some kind of salve. "He did a very good job, and he nearly did kill me," Kurama said.

"But he didn't," Kuronue said. What would he have done if he's seen 'Kurama' trying to kill him?

"No, but only because he made a mistake. He threw away his pendant," Kurama said, handing Kuronue the jar.

"I would never do that," Kuronue said quickly.

"No, if you really wanted revenge you would have thrown it away long before, but even then I can't imagine you'd get rid of it," Kurama said with a knowing smile. "You always did take too much stock in personal items," he added.

Kuronue nodded. Yes, Kurama knew him very well. "So, what are you doing? I mean you have to be planning a heist right?" he asked, excited.

"No, actually," Kurama said. He shook his head when he saw Kuronue's excited face fall. "You may not have changed, but I am. I'm human now. I have a family and a job… or at least I will again when I finish this semester of business classes," he said. It wasn't his fault that his stepfather insisted he needed some finance classes before his stepson could work for him again.

Kuronue looked unhappy. "You have forgotten me," he pouted.

"Don't be stupid," Kurama said. "And that salve works better on your skin than in the jar," he added.

Kuronue grumbled and twisted the lid off, taking a bit of the cream on his fingers and carefully starting to rub it into the wound on his neck. "You have a new partner, that Hiei person."

Kurama nearly laughed. "I'd hardly call Hiei a partner. He spends most of his time in Makai working for his new lover," he said with a smile. Well, he didn't think Mukuro and Hiei were new lovers anymore, but as he understood it Hiei was still as awkward about it as when they started.

"You trust him enough that you thought I was him," Kuronue pointed out, actually jealous that other people were now as trusted as he had been.

"Yes, because he's the only one who comes through the window to see me," Kurama said. "Kuronue… I'm not the same as I was before. I have friends now, not just you. I technically still work for the spirit detectives," he said, seeing Kuronue wince.

"How did that happen?" Kuronue exclaimed.

"I'll tell you tomorrow," Kurama said. "It's a very long story. But the point is that I do have other friends, friends that know about me," He said. "Not as much as you know," he added quickly, seeing his old friend's expression. "Kuronue, you're still my best friend, even gone away for a thousand years. Believe it or not, I can fill you in on what you missed," Kurama said.

Kuronue nodded. "You still want me?"

"You're kidding me right, I've been mourning you for a thousand years," Kurama said earnestly. He'd lost his closest friend that day, and the guilt stayed with him for so long.

"Even after I betrayed you?" Kuronue asked, and Kurama imagined that if Kuronue had fox ears they would have been drooping and he had to fight down a smile. Somethings were better left unexplained.

"Kuronue… I am happier here as a human than I have ever been in my entire life. I have a mother who loves me, and friends, and something wonderfully mundane. Really, I should be thanking you for telling her," Kurama said. "And after all, you wouldn't have survived if you hadn't told her, am I correct?" he asked, watching Kuronue nod.

"Are you-" Kuronue started, and Kurama held up a hand to stop him from speaking.

"All I need now is to have my best friend back and I will have the best life," Kurama said and smiled a little, watching his old friend grin. "Now, stop moping," he add, watching his friend scowl.

"You're still a bastard," Kuronue said.

"Guilty," Kurama said, stretching out on his bed. He was still exhausted. His human body had a lot more limitations than his demon one. "Now, I have class tomorrow, and I'm going to bed," Kurama said, pulling the blankets up around him and rolling over on his side. "Take your shoes off if you're going to stay," he added.

Kuronue grinned, pulling off his shoes and climbing under the blankets. "You still hog the covers," he said, smiling through Kurama couldn't see it.

"And you still talk too much. Shut up and sleep," Kurama said. He wouldn't use such gruff language around Hiei or the others, but then Kuronue knew him before the change, and Kurama wasn't always so nice. Besides, having Kuronue back was like getting his brother back. They knew each other too well to be anything by painfully blunt.

"G'night Kurama," Kuronue said, and lay still, waiting until he heard his friend's breathing change. Then he closed his own eyes. Everything hurt from being squeezed by those plants, but his neck hurt worst. He'd nearly been murdered by his best friend. He'd betrayed his best friend. And yet he was there, back with the only man he could consider a friend and a brother, and he was happy. It seemed after he'd been punished for his crimes he was finally being rewarded for whatever good he'd lived before. Life was just funny like that he supposed as he drifted off to sleep.

A/N: What do you think? This was written for brm6 on DA, cause she draws pretty things. Of course I'm not a big fan of shonen-ai or BL, so my Kuronue/Kurama is a lot most Shakespearian/Biblical friendship based.

Also, if you actually know me you'll know I got one of my own characters in this anyway, the assassin. Let's just say that her meeting Kurama ends very badly for him.

Thanks for reading!

Also, yes, I go suppose Mukuro/Hiei.