[The problem with reaching for Kurama's shoulder is that his shoulder is too close to his neck. Right here, right now, that's bad, because he's remembering Karasu's hands against his throat, hands that he'd thought were the channels for Karasu's explosive power.

Hands that had touched him with far too much twisted intimacy.

Worse, Kurama is not just shaking subtly from watching that. He's also forgetting to breathe. Forgetting to breathe means he doesn't catch Minato's scent before the touch comes. Minato's call of his name isn't quite in time.

He lashes out, fierce and abrupt, hand balled into a fist, green eyes wild and almost feral as he spins with the attack to face-

Minato. It's Minato.

Oh gods no.]