It was a gesture that made Kuronue's smile slip, wavering at the corners and pulling tight. He leaned forward, wincing, his movements stiff and haltingly careful, and reached out with his free hand to try and touch. His fingertips could just barely graze the fox's, extended as far as they could. "Yeah," he managed, then slipped back to cover his mouth with the hand, bending a bit with another cough. His palm came away wet, and he curled his fingers around it quickly like a secret in the hopes his fox didn't catch it.

"Got some kind 'a ward on this thing, and can't get my hand t'unlock enough to get free of it yet."

He couldn't meet the kitsune halfway this time. As unfair as it was on Kurama to come all this way, he'd have to do all the work while the bat spat useless apologies for the trouble. In the distance the guards were shouting again - this far underground it echoed and sent the bat wincing, ears twitching back in reflex. "Not trapped, far as I can tell. Don't think they 'xpected you to really show, ne ...?"