[For a breathless moment, she's spellbound, caught by the look in his eyes as he takes her in. She can't remember the last time he looked at her like that, completely open, like the child she'll always remember no matter how many times the young man he is now picks himself back up before the ten-count. The tightness in her chest, the building wetness in her eyes all stills at the rarity, the precious pricelessness of him, right now.

Kurama said they'd been there for months, hadn't he? Yusuke's the one who's been waiting for her, this time. He's the one looking at her like she's the Christmas Day he thought would never come.

So when he inevitably decides to ruin it, Keiko's smile wobbles as she tries--and mostly fails--to block a laugh. She can't manage to be indignant when he was looking at her like that. Mock-annoyed, she swallows her previously-welling emotions, balls her hand into a fist, and bonks the crown of his head with the gentle force of a wet sock. Just so he knows he won't get away with a line like that next time.]

Wow. Maybe whoever fished you out should throw you back, so you have some time to come up with new material.

[It's real. He's real. His skull's as hard as it ever was and his hair as stupid (and he's warm and alive, alive alive alive, she'll never forget), and Keiko blinks quickly to get rid of the last of the almost-tears as she looks him over. Her joy turns quickly to concern.]

Are you okay? Yusuke, what happened to you?