Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all related characters are the property of Yoshihiro Togashi and are being used without his knowledge or consent.

Rating: PG for language.

Downtime

Kurama paused in the doorway, fingers curled slightly around the wooden frame, tail lashing softly against the back of his leg. He hadn't expected anyone to be there; Genkai had gone for one of her regularly scheduled disappearances and Yukina was staying with the Kuwabaras for the immediate future. With the temple empty, he'd thought to have some privacy. Well, nothing to do but to smile and bear it. "Hello, Yuusuke, Kuwabara-kun."

The boys were sitting cross-legged in front of Genkai's game system, each gripping a controller and staring at the screen intently while they pushed buttons and manipulated toggles and occasionally elbowed each other in the ribs. Kurama risked a glance at the screen but it wasn't any game he recognized.

"Kurama," Kuwabara greeted absently. Yuusuke grunted in a more-or-less acknowledging way. Neither looked away from the game for an instant.

Well, that was convenient. Perhaps if they stayed as involved as they currently were, his privacy would not be as infringed upon as he had thought. "Have fun with your game, boys."

"Deathmatch," Yuusuke corrected, jamming his thumb against a button fast enough that it was mostly a blur. Kurama doubted the game could keep up with the input he was giving it.

"Deathmatch," Kurama repeated, letting a little of his amusement show in his voice. Still, neither one so much as glanced in his direction so he took the opportunity to cross the room and retreat to the back rooms of the temple. Humans. So wrapped up in their own little worlds at times.

Kuwabara cackled as his player smashed Urameshi's in the face for the third time in a row, sending the bouncy brunette flying to the floor. Really, half the fun of this was watching her skirt fly up when his character got in a particularly good hit; the other half was watching Urameshi's jaw clench every time he lost a match.

"Oh, shut up," Yuusuke growled. "You're just pissy cause you can't beat me in real life. Where it counts."

"It'll count enough when you're forking over my victory winnings. I think you should bow when you acknowledge me as the Ultimate King of Fighters." Kuwabara grinned as Yuusuke growled and started jabbing buttons even faster than he already had been. Eventually he'd figure out that he was giving the game too much input for it to handle. The Playstation really hadn't been designed with demonic speed in mind.

He frowned slightly as he defended against a fresh wave of attacks. "So, is there something wrong with my eyes or was Kurama completely naked?"

"Totally naked," Yuusuke confirmed. "Stop kicking me!"

"It's a fighting game," Kuwabara said. "If you don't want to be kicked in the face you should have challenged me to a dating sim or something."

Yuusuke laughed. "Nah. You always get all the cute boys."

It was true. "Bitch. Do we want to know why Kurama is prowling around the place in youko form without any clothes on?"

"No. God. No."

"Good." He through his controller down as Yuusuke character fell to the mat, defeated. "HA! Who's your king, bitch?"

Yuusuke pouted. "You're my king, bitch. I demand a rematch."

Kuwabara nodded and leaned back on his hands. "A thought occurs to me."

"Poor thing," Yuusuke said, "all alone in that big, echoing cavern you call a skull."

Oh, that was hardly original. "Isn't Hiei back in the dojo?"

They both glanced toward the hallway at the same time, the hallway that led toward the dojo. The hallway Kurama had just walked down. Naked.

"Screw the rematch," Yuusuke said. "I'm getting out of here."

Kuwabara shook his head, trying to dislodge the thought. "Genkai's gonna kill them."

c&c always appreciated