"Hey," Yusuke rasped out, staring the medic standing beside him. "Got water?"

The medic stared at Yusuke, as though he had never seen him before. Maybe he hadn't. There were a lot of soldiers here, after all.

When the medic still didn't move after several of moments, Yusuke sat up. Instantly, his body protested, although not as loudly as before. The medic gasped, instinctively moving to help -stop?- him. "Please don't move," the medic said, his hands hovering indecisively. He swallowed. "Your wounds were severe and not yet completely healed, even with Lady Yukina's potions."

Yusuke took a second look at him. Lady Yukina, he said. "You a god?"

The formerly thought medic shook his head. "I'm Lord Kurama's assistant. He asked me to watch over you and tell him- Oh!" The assistant swirled around. "I need to tell him you're awake."

"Yuki," a familiar, soothing voice called and instantly, the assistant stopped his panicking.

"Lord Kurama!" Yuki bowed, hesitantly looking up when Kurama touched his shoulder. "Yes?"

Kurama smiled softly and Yusuke recognized something was different about Kurama. "It's alright," he said, and then suddenly everything was, just because he said so. Yuki looked bewitched, nodding absentmindedly at Kurama's words, his gaze still on that smile. "Would you wait outside for me?"

Yuki went without another comment, and then it was only Kurama and Yusuke.

"You look better," Kurama said, approaching Yusuke.

Yusuke held up a hand, causing Kurama to pause in mid step. "Stay there, and don't come any closer with that smile," Yusuke said gravely. He shook his head. "I swear, Kurama, that smile can turn everyone and their aunt to Kurama-sexual or Kurama-ism."

Kurama tilted his head as though bemused, then chuckled. An amused and devious smile spread across his face, a dangerous combination. He stepped toward Yusuke again, and this time, Yusuke didn't bother stopping him. "I'll tell you I have no idea what you're talking about, but you wouldn't believe me, would you?"

Yusuke eyed at Kurama warily, wary of his strange mood. "That was some good sex with Hiei, wasn't it?" he asked, throwing out a random guess.

Kurama's eyes widen slightly, before the smile was back. "Well, if you put it that way..." Kurama moved even closer to Yusuke, entering his personal space until Kurama's lips hovered over Yusuke's, just short of touching. Yusuke's mind flashed back to the kiss Kurama gave him on the field, and something hot stirred within the pits of his guts. "Should I show you?"

Yusuke took a moment to swallow, captured by Kurama's green, green eyes. "I-" Kurama looked at him expectantly, inching even closer. Yusuke cleared his throat nervously, and never felt as unsettled as now, even compared to the time he served on the battlefield. "You want to get me killed, don't you?" Yusuke croaked out accusingly, referring to Hiei. "Just when I came back alive."

"Well," Kurama said, sounding unconcerned. He took a pinch of Yusuke's longer hair and slowly twirled it. Yusuke's eyes followed the motion, unwittingly. "You could always join Hiei and me for a threesome afterwards." Yusuke choked in disbelief, sending a shock of pain through his body as it jarred his wounds, and an air of concern manifested around Kurama. "Yusuke, are you alright?" Yusuke couldn't speak. "I'll get you some water."

Kurama stepped back, letting go of Yusuke's hair. Something lifted.

"No thanks," Yusuke said as soon as he could speak. Kurama glanced over at Yusuke, a glass of water in hand.

"You don't want water?" Kurama asked, his voice sounding strange. Yusuke couldn't think of any reason why, for Kurama, the thought of Yusuke's refusal of water would merit such a response.

"I want the water," Yusuke clarified. He unknowingly paused for a second, before saying, "No thanks to the threesome."

Kurama unexpectedly smile. "I see," he said, handing Yusuke the water. Kurama let go too quickly, or maybe Yusuke did not reach out and hold it soon enough, and the glass landed against the sheets, spilling its entire content. "Ah, what a mess." Kurama picked up the glass. "I'll get you another cup."

Offhandedly, while drinking the water of the second cup, Yusuke recalled the spark of something akin to satisfaction in Kurama's eyes -and when did they become so sharp and no longer playful- after Yusuke said no thanks to the threesome. Yusuke rubbed his finger absentmindedly over the glass, thinking about Kurama's strange tone as he certified what Yusuke said no thanks to the first time around. He paused abruptly, and glanced down at his dry fingers. If the glass had fallen, wouldn't its outside be wet, making the fingers of the glass holder wet as well? Kurama didn't have time to wipe down the glass, he returned too quickly for that.

Kurama gave Yusuke another glass, different from the first one. Kurama also -accidentally? purposely?- spilled the content of the first glass. After Yusuke told Kurama he had no interest in a threesome. In Kurama. Or Hiei.

Yusuke froze, and the glass began to slip. Kurama steadied it. "Be careful," he murmured softly. Kurama caught Yusuke's eyes, and frowned. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern radiating from him.

Yusuke stared at Kurama, scouring for any hint of deception. He found none. "Nothing," Yusuke said, looking away. It was as though Kurama could see through him. "It's nothing."

xxx

"So you and Hiei's all chummy now?" Yusuke inquired and Kurama couldn't help but be in slight awe at the resilience of the mortal. Kurama could easily read Yusuke since it was not Yusuke's character to bother hiding anything, but even when Kurama could read Yusuke, Kurama could not easily predict him. He didn't think Yusuke would realize the test Kurama had set in desire to see if Yusuke was a threat to Kurama and Hiei's newly reformed relationship, and yet he did. Kurama could tell by the way Yusuke suddenly froze and then stared at him moments ago, eyes scanning his countenance in a manner that was definitely seeking. His eyes darted too quickly back and forth for him to be admiring Kurama's beauty. He definitely suspected, took a shock, and yet was still willing to interact with Kurama. Fascinating.

Kurama allowed a mysterious smile to appear on his face. "That's a way to put it." His gaze flicked to Yusuke. "Now thinking about it, I should thank you."

Yusuke gave him a puzzled look. He took another sip of water before speaking. "Thank me? Why? If anything, I should thank you, right?"

"Oh, but it was thanks to you that we reconciled."

Yusuke blinked, appearing more and more bemused by the minute. "What do you mean, Kurama?" and it was said casually for most part, but the way he ended it... his tone was hard, implying that Yusuke knew Kurama was playing and Yusuke was willing to continue to play, but Kurama must get to the main point soon because he was not a patient man. How interesting.

"We... made a bet of some sort," Kurama 'admitted,' his tone giving no indication that the slight pause was deliberate. "If you were to win the fight against Hiei, you would be allowed to live. Consequently, Hiei would be willing to give our relationship another chance." Kurama smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile. "As you see, you've won and we got back together. Truly, I cannot thank you enough."

Yusuke took a moment to comprehend the information, before grinning. Kurama stared. "I knew it was you," he chortled. Yusuke looked at Kurama, his eyes shining brightly. His soul was blinding. "You see, for all his badass acts, Hiei is really that kind of fair guy, don't you think? The kind that treats most people equally, even if it is with only contempt or scorn. I doubt Hiei would so easily give me the chance to come back alive if you weren't part of the equation. So really, I should be thanking you, for giving him a reason to give me a chance."

Yusuke paused and frowned, and something inside Kurama shifted unpleasantly. What could make such a radiant soul -radiant person- feel down? "That was way too wordy," Yusuke continued, completely unaware of how Kurama would have fallen at the sheer ridiculous and unexpected reason if he was the type to do so. As it was, Kurama ended up staring at Yusuke incredulously.

Yusuke's gazed back for a moment, then blinked. "Seeing something you like?" Yusuke asked jokingly, his grin lingering.

The question made Kurama all to aware of Yusuke. Kurama licked his lips and his staring turned into something more... intimate. Yusuke's grin slowly fell as the moment stretched, then shifted, appearing more uncomfortable the longer that went on.

Kurama inwardly frowned, and made an effort to stop his staring. He didn't mean to make Yusuke feel uncomfortable, however fascinated Kurama was by Yusuke. He chose to change the topic. "May I ask how did you win a battle against Hiei, whom, I might add, is a god?" Kurama asked, smiling his least lethal smile. Kurama thought discussing a battle would make Yusuke less tense, seeing as Hiei told Kurama Yusuke always loved a good fight, and just what man doesn't enjoy bragging a little?

Predictably, for this once, Yusuke smiled. He glowed, before attempting to contain his enthusiasm, probably so he wouldn't look the part of a kid allowed free reign in a candy store. Kurama smiled. Sometimes, it was so easy to forget Yusuke was still very much a kid, having only lived sixteen years of his life. Which was too short in the eyes of the immortals. Way too short.

"Damn, did you know that the first time I fought Hiei, he kicked my ass so thoroughly into next week?" Yusuke laughed as he recalled the memory, and for a split-second, Kurama felt envious. Of a mortal. Or was it the immortal? another part of Kurama asked, and then he didn't have any time to ponder on that question because Yusuke was speaking again. While Kurama was more than simply apt in the art of pretending to be an attentive listener, for one reason or another, Kurama felt reluctant to do so.

"It feels so weird to know that I actually won against Hiei now. I mean, I've been losing for seven years, ya know."

Kurama's eyes unwittingly widened. "Seven years?" he asked. That was considerably longer than Kurama had imagined Hiei and Yusuke had known each other for. He wondered how he should feel about it.

Yusuke mistaken Kurama's concern and brought a hand to rub the back of his head, almost abashed. "Yeah, seven years. I've lost a lot, I know. Probably shouldn't have mentioned that."

Kurama took a moment to examine Yusuke's face, before shaking his head with a laugh. He reached out and placed his hand on Yusuke's empty one. "You are probably the most honest person I've met, after Hiei," Kurama told Yusuke sincerely. "Very few people would tell me about their losses, and instead, would make it seem as though beating their opponent was excruciatingly easy." Most people strove to impress him, after all.

Yusuke coughed self-consciously. "I would, Kurama, really, except Hiei would probably beat my ass to the floor when he hears about it and I'm not suicidal enough to accept another challenge when I'm not ready yet." Yusuke stretched his arms a little. "Besides, winning against an opponent once doesn't guarantee that I'll win again and there's no way in hell fighting against Hiei was easy, especially since I just opened billions of possibilities for him to defeat me."

Kurama blinked, a little confused. "What do you mean?"

"You know how I began fighting against Hiei when I was a kid right? Sometime after sparing against him became a habit, I learned that Hiei was always holding back. He never uses spirit energy against me, even when he could. When I confronted him about it, he told me I wasn't worthy enough for him to use it. My pride took a serious blow and I vowed to make him regret not going all out against me one day."

"So it's about pride and an unspoken promise for him to fight against you seriously once you become worthy enough," Kurama summoned up.

Yusuke leaned forward and grinned. "It's a little more than that. You see, the only reason why I won against him was because of two things: me changing the Dream Room's surrounding and Spirit Gun."

"The Dream Room is where soulmates may meet without any outside interference, correct?"

"Yeah," Yusuke answered, not realizing just how intimate the Dream Room could be. That was a level Kurama could not reach with Hiei. At the realization, something within Kurama clenched painfully.

Kurama blanked his features before Yusuke could realize his answer was affecting him. "Go on," Kurama said indulgently, if not a little less than casual. Yusuke didn't notice, enraptured in retelling his story. Yusuke told Kurama how their battle started just like any one if their spar, until it came to the point where it became obvious that although it would be another close match, Hiei would win by a little thanks to his speed.

"If it was just another spar, I guess I would have just let it be and continue to fight in the same style until I lose. I mean, as sad as it is for me to say this, I got used to losing after seven years of sparing against Hiei. Another one wouldn't have meant much to me. This time was different though, mostly because my life was on the line and I really wanted to live. That's when I thought of using Spirit Gun."

At Kurama's request, Yusuke explained that Spirit Gun was basically a blast of spirit energy that he uses offensively. Upon hearing the explanation, Kurama made a move to ask where Yusuke learned it from, but then Yusuke continued the story.

"So I used Spirit Gun as soon as I got the chance. Problem was, it missed. I really hated Hiei and his speed's guts. He was surprised that I knew how to use Spirit Gun but still have the time to recover from the shock and dodge." Yusuke shook his head at that, a small smile that spoke loudly of Yusuke's respect for Hiei as a fighter lingering around the corner of his mouth. Kurama suddenly felt like tasting that smile.

"I could only use Spirit Gun one more time after that because for one reason or another, I could only use Spirit Gun twice a day. So there I was, trying to figure out how to go around Hiei's speed while being kicked around like a sandbag. Then suddenly, there was no time to think because Hiei was going in for the kill. Used Spirit Gun again and guess what? Bastard dodged again and I watched the Spirit Gun sail harmlessly pass Hiei like an idiot." Yusuke's lips quirked."Guess that's what saved me in the end. I was just cursing like hell in my head and thinking, goddamnit, if only it can bounce back or something. Then I realized that it just might can, and concentrated on changing a section of the Dream Room's surrounding to a mirror. Took the hit from Hiei 'cos that took a lot of concentration and fell down. Hiei let down his guard then, and didn't expect the Spirit Gun to go flying back and hit him."

Yusuke looked straight into Kurama's eyes. "Then?" He gave Kurama a grin full of unadulterated pride and triumph, and brought up his hand, his fingers forming a V. "Victory."

Kurama was speechless for a moment, not by the story, but by the breathless scene before him. Injured, bruised, but alive and grinning, Yusuke never looked more stunning. "That was certainly clever," Kurama finally commented, unwittingly smiling in return. The phantom pain Kurama previously felt upon hearing about Hiei and Yusuke's Dream Room dissipated.

Yusuke blinked, as though expecting Kurama to say otherwise, and then unexpectedly flushed. Yusuke quickly turned his face away, then as though that was not enough, looked down. "Fuck," Yusuke said to the sheets on top of him, covering his face with his hand. Kurama was slightly surprised to find the sight before him ... adorable. Kurama could still see parts of Yusuke's red face through his finger gaps.

As though aware of that, Yusuke spoke: "Damnit, Kurama. Your god damn cup!"

Kurama struggled not to laugh. "Is it preventing you from covering your face with your other hand?"

Yusuke's head shot up, unwittingly leaving his shielding hand behind. "Yes!" he exclaimed, then realizing he revealed his flushed face, turned another shade darker. He ducked his head back down and pulled his legs closer to him so he could place his forehead against his knees. He waved the cup wildly at him, almost spilling the little water that was left. "Take it!" he demanded, embarrassment and annoyance coloring his words.

Kurama laughed aloud and took it. Then, to give Yusuke some time, he stood and returned the glass cup to where it belonged. While it was amusing to watch a flustered Yusuke, Kurama had no interest in spending the rest of the time with Yusuke with his head down.

"You shouldn't have complimented me," Yusuke said as Kurama returned. Yusuke rested a side of his cheek on his knees so he was facing Kurama.

"Why?" Kurama questioned as he took a seat beside Yusuke. His cheek was no longer as red, but some color still remained. Kurama resisted the urged to touch it. Yusuke cast his eyes on anywhere but Kurama and mumbled something too low to be heard. "Yusuke, I can't hear you."

"Not used to compliments," Yusuke repeated in a louder voice, his tone tinged with petulance and slight annoyance.

Kurama instantly went cold, his intelligent mind supplying dozens of unsavory reasons as to why. "Your parents neglect you?" he asked without thinking, choosing one of the most likely reason. Shiori showered Kurama with plenty of compliments as he grew up, so the lack of parental care was the most reasonable explanation he could think of for Yusuke to never have heard a compliment.

Yusuke immediately scowled, lifting his head. "It's not like that. Just that ma's not the type of person to hand out compliments easily. She's the tough kind of lady who say stuff like 'not bad' and ruffles your head and then send you on your way. There's war, so it's not like she could constantly pay lots of attention to me. And my dad..." Yusuke shrugged. "I've never met him, so I wouldn't know if he is the sort to dish out compliments."

"... I apologize. I shouldn't have said that, especially since I didn't know about your family situation."

Yusuke waved off the apology, the scowl already gone. "It's not your fault. It's exactly because you didn't know that you asked, right?"

Kurama didn't know what to say to that, so he decided to change the topic. "Your blush is gone," Kurama said, his tone deliberately teasing. He let a smile surface.

Yusuke let out a frustrated noise and threw up his hands. "It's not my fault!" Yusuke exclaimed, as though blushing was something he needed to defend himself from. "Hiei would have said something like he couldn't believe he lost to me with a strategy like that, Kuwabara would have said he could have done better, Yukina would have smiled, but wouldn't have said anything because Kuwabara loses to me all the time and complimenting me would be like adding salt to wound or something like that. How would I know-" Yusuke appeared to lost the ability to speak and simply gestured uncontrollably at Kurama.

Kurama would have simply watched on with amusement, if he didn't realize something. He reached out and caught the gesticulating hand, surprising Yusuke. "Stop," he murmured, unwittingly leaning closer to Yusuke so he wouldn't extend his arm farther than necessary. "You're going to irritate your wounds."

Yusuke stopped, wincing as he did as though the thought never occurred to him. Yusuke looked down at his body and Kurama followed, tilting his head down to watch as Yusuke's hand carefully prodded his upper torso for any pain. "Doesn't look like any stitches were torn..." Yusuke lifted his head and froze, suddenly finding them to be way too close. Foreheads that were previously some distant away from each other were suddenly inches apart, lips that were far away were suddenly close enough to kiss. They were close enough to literally feel the other's every breath, and became painfully aware of each other's movement and the hand Kurama still had on Yusuke's arm.

There was no question about who made the first move. They both snapped out of their reverie and took action, moving like one to close the distant between themselves.

Only for both of them to stop short simultaneously, the same thoughts on their mind.

"Is it presumptuous of me to believe we're thinking of the same thing?" Kurama asked, very aware of how his breath brushed against Yusuke's lips with every word he spoke at their close distant, however unintentionally it was.

Yusuke made a move to nod and when that caused their nose to bump briefly against one another, he stopped. "Hiei," he confirmed, his breath brushing back against Kurama's lips. Kurama pretended not to notice.

Their eyes met and a silent understanding passed between them. In unison, Kurama and Yusuke backed away from one another. Kurama let go of Yusuke's arm as he stood.

Silence stretched between the two, uncertain as to whether or not they should address what had almost transpired. At last, Yusuke awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Uh-"

The flaps of the tent were pushed aside, revealing Hiei. He paused at the threshold upon sensing the tension in the air, and his eyes darted to Yusuke, imperceptibly checking him for any harm that was not there previously. Any warm feelings Kurama may have had for Yusuke was swiped away, replaced by annoyance at Hiei for thinking he would cause Yusuke any harm. Then he recalled that he did try to harm Yusuke, and the irritation illogically grew. Irritation at Hiei for being right, and at himself for proving Hiei right.

"Hiei," Kurama called out. "Fancy to see you here," he said, making it seem as though Hiei had never came visit during the time Yusuke was unconscious. Kurama logically knew he was being petty, but he felt wounded and needed to lash out at someone. To make someone feel the pain that he feels. Misery loves company, Kurama thought without much humor, and here's evidence to prove it.

Hiei turned to Kurama and he could see the soft frown that decorated Hiei's face. He parted his lips, but nothing came out for a beat. At last, he said, "Your assistant is still waiting for you outside."

Kurama blinked, having completely forgotten about Yuki. Then he realized that while he went to Yuki, Hiei and Yusuke would be alone together, and a thin smile stretched across his face. "How clever," he said, bitterness coloring his every word and recalled how sweet those words were when he said them to another person moments ago as a compliment. His eyes inevitably sought Yusuke's and Kurama read the confusion within them. Kurama looked away.

He also saw the desire Yusuke had to somehow help Kurama and to soothe his pain, if only he knew how to.

"Kurama..." Yusuke called out, almost hesitantly. Kurama would have felt flattered under any other circumstance, if only because he could tell from the little time they've spent together that Yusuke was never the one to hesitate on anything.

Kurama forced himself to present a smile for Yusuke. "Get some rest," he told him and left.

Yusuke stared after him, before turning to Hiei, who was simply standing there, staring after Kurama as well.

"What are you doing?" Yusuke asked. Hiei snapped his head in Yusuke's direction. "Go after him!" Yusuke exclaimed, making the shooing motion.

Hiei stared at Yusuke for another long moment, before his lips set to a sneer. "Don't order me around," he said, and after a beat, went.

Yusuke leaned back against the bed frame and shook his head exasperatedly, before tilting his head back and letting his own turmoil wash over him.