"Yuushita! We can talk about this!" he called out to the vixen, before ducking the next spear she lobbed at him in answer.

"Please..?!"

Shoulder rolling, Kurama came to his feet, Rose Whip snapping out to catch Yuushita by the ankle. It twined and he pulled, dropping the other Kitsune to her back, with a thud.

"Never, you bastard!" she snarled, as she flung her hands wide, seeds sprouting instantaneously into wickedly-thorned, twining vines. They spiraled about the red-haired boy, and he twisted desperately to avoid their painful grasp. His efforts availed him not. He sucked in a hissing breath, as they wrapped tight about him, drawing blood from dozens of scratches and pricks.

Rising triumphantly to her feet, Yuushita eyed Kurama coldly and -- hands still spread wide, vines sprouting from her claws -- she screeched out a barely-intelligible incantation.

The vicious tendrils glowed with crackling energy -- the demon-human held fast at their nexus -- and tightened still further, threatening to crush the life from his stolen form. Wide-eyed, as the breath was forced from his lungs, Kurama managed to choke out a strangled scream. Pain burned through him, searing his nerves, his body feeling as if it were being torn apart and haphazardly re-assembled, in that instant.

"Kurama!"

The Fox heard the familiar voice on the edge of consciousness, though that was slipping quickly away, as the jagged pain continued. As his body arched sharply in protest of its torture, he caught a flickering glimpse of steel in his periphery.

Hiei's diminutive form rocketed towards Yuushita, sword in hand, and the blade flashed out, severing the pulsing, deadly vines.

The Youko howled in rage, spun about by the shock of the broken connection, before she turned to meet the Fire Demon's furious rush. Again, the blade danced out, drawing blood from her shoulder, hand, and jaw.

With another howl, Yuushita herself became barely more than a flickering dream... and was gone.

With her departure, the vines crumbled to dust, unceremoniously dropping Kurama. He staggered and fell to all fours, scarlet locks shielding his face, as his head dropped to the ground. Panting, he took in great, ragged gulps of air, the tang of ozone on parched lips and tongue. His entire body was wracked by a painful shudder, and he groaned, fighting to remain conscious.

Satisfied that the Fox-bitch was gone. Hiei quickly resheathed his sword, and rushed to his cohort's side, dropping to a crouch and placing a steadying hand on his lightly-smouldering shoulder.

"Kurama?"

"Hnn..?"

"Can you stand?"

"Hn"

Snorting faintly, to hide his concern, Hiei helped/hauled Kurama to his feet. The Kitsune swayed dangerously, and blinked to clear his head, which ached horribly. The majority of the bleeding had stopped, but his clothing now hung in tatters about his slender frame.

"Are you all right?" Hiei asked evenly, still carefully forcing any signs of anxious concern from his voice. True, they had shared a bed -- on more than one occasion. But, he had nearly convinced himself it was naught but carnal comfort shared with an intellectual pseudo-peer. Nearly.

Kurama blinked again, and slowly straightened, with a shaky nod.

"I... I believe so. I just..." his voice trailed off, as he met the look of astonished bewilderment and horror on Hiei's face. Brow creasing sharply, he frowned at the demon. "What?"

Hiei merely continued to gape, his flickering eyes trailing erratically up and down Kurama's superior height.

"Hiei?" his tone had become gruff with annoyance, as his question was apparently ignored. "What?!" he demanded again, a tinge of fear creeping into his voice. Hiei's jaw worked ineffectually, and his head bobbled a touch, as he cast about for words.

Very slowly, Kurama dropped his own gaze, and allowed it to follow the path Hiei's had taken.

And promptly, he passed out.