While part of his reasoning was simply that he wanted to relax for a bit, intentionally keeping his distance was meant to give Hiei the freedom to do as he chose. Kurama is still a fox, extremely aware of the fire apparition's wariness and how any unpredictable move can set them off in the wrong direction. They seemed to be back on unsteady ground, which was not his goal.

It wasn't as if he anticipated anything between them to be easy. Perhaps easier than it was proving to be, but he'd be lying to say the majority of the experience wasn't expected. Both in knowing that Hiei was hurt and would act accordingly, and his own inner conflict over perhaps deserving the majority of it.

The retort catches him by surprise, expression shifting with the confusion as he tries to puzzle out what exactly Hiei is even getting at with what seems to be accusation. As if he'd tricked him into coming out here.

“I never said I was checking on them.” He watches the fire apparition carefully as he speaks, head tilted just slightly. Kurama didn't want to admit he was frustrated by how little he'd accomplished in the garden, that he didn't want to continue standing there through whatever conversation this had become. He wasn't sure that Hiei couldn't somehow make that his own fault if he said as much out loud, either. If he said he'd needed a break, would the fire apparition assume it was from the conversation itself?

The redhead glances away, as if peripheral movement caught his attention, before adding the rest. “You could have declined the invitation.”