That was how Hiei found him, twenty minutes later. Cocooned in the forest and brooding. He was glad for a moment that it wasn't Yuusuke, but that passed when he realized Yuusuke might have been easier to deal with than his partner.

"You're sulking." Hiei accused.

"So I am."

"Stop it, it's disgusting."

"I want to sulk."

"This is stupid. Get up and fight me." Kurama let out a startled laugh, but stood as he had been instructed. Hiei always knew how to deal with him. Not sparing a moment, the red-head lashed out with the whip still hanging from his belt.

They ended the spar before it could get bloody, because they were in unfamiliar territory and weary of being hurt if something happened, but it was good anyway. Kurama mentioned the boy possessed by his mother off handedly, Hiei retorted with a remark about mothers and the myth that they cared for their offspring. Nothing more was said on the subject.

Yuusuke showed up after they finished, looking amused and vaguely worried. He said something about meeting Kuwabara's double, and then told Kurama that the old hag wanted to see him soon.

"Yuusuke, where are Keiko and Botan?" Kurama asked curiously.

"Oh, them? They dragged Shizuru off to those baths we ran across earlier. Now that was a sight to see."

"I'm sure." Hiei grunted and flickered, before disappearing all together. Yuusuke turned serious.

"Hey, do you want me to watch him for you?"

"Watch him?"

"You know, with Hiei being here…" Kurama laughed and shook his head in amusement.

"However do you find these things out Yuusuke?"

"I'm Genkai's student. What, did you think I spent all my time with that hag training? I have ears you know." Yuusuke tried to look offended, but failed. "I didn't say anything to Hiei because I could tell it was a touchy subject, but it's got to be real bad with him being here."

"It is. He won't admit it, but it's bothering him very much. He also doesn't like being away from Yukina for long periods of time." Kurama looked the Spirit Prodigy over carefully. "Watch him, but do nothing more. He'll take it as an insult, instead of an act of friendship." Yuusuke nodded. But as Kurama turned to seek out Genkai, the teen called out one more time.

"And what about you Kurama? Should I be watching you too?" Kurama turned to Yuusuke and smiled.

"Sometimes I wonder how you're still a Genin." And then he was gone. Yuusuke sighed.

"Sometimes I wonder too. Damn hag."

I do not own the characters and settings and plots and whatever of Naruto and Yu Yu Hakusho. Yes, I know that the Kyuubi is commonly thought of as a male, but I really don't remember it ever being specified in the series. They always call it 'it.' And honestly, I'm not the first one to refer to it as female. Thank you to all of my reviewers; hope you liked my latest chapter.

TS