Hiei is acting particularly strange and it's especially concerning after how he'd been acting since Kurama's return, almost as if all of the posturing about not wanting him around had never happened in the first place.

He's about to instinctively reach to check Hiei's temperature - a habit ingrained in him from a lifetime of humanity - when the fire apparition finally speaks.

“Hiei..." The fox is prepared to call bullshit on that claim when he realizes that it may overstep. This situation had created a false sense of intimacy he was no longer allowed, and the last thing he wanted was to turn the little peace between them into another argument - especially if he wanted to keep an eye on the other demon.

Green eyes search his face again as he trails off, exhaling softly before pushing himself to his feet instead. “Don't move, I'll get something to properly dress that wound-”

Kurama froze as the stone swung back against his chest with the momentum, only now realizing it wasn't safely tucked beneath his shirt as he typically kept it - especially during the fire apparition's visits.

There was no possible way he'd missed it, with the fox so close this whole time.