Okay… guilty pleasure moment time… I love the poly pairing of Yusuke/Hiei/Kurama. I personally feel like the dual nature of Yusuke’s existence, being both demon and human, would cause some part of him to be left behind if he chooses one life over another. Being only with Keiko in the human world would neglect his demon desires and needs. Being only in the demon world would do the same to his human side. 

Which is why I personally have a hc where Yusuke sort of goes off to demon world with his demon buddies every now and then to let loose, to fight, to feel some blood on his hands, and to, ehem. Keiko knows and is alright with it, realizing Yusuke sometimes just needs something more… sturdy than she is. Perhaps it’s a solution to a problem that arises between them in the bedroom, hehe. And of course, whether it’s ot3, or it’s Hiei/Yusuke, Kurama/Yusuke, it’s a good solution for him either way.

Personal hc out of the way, just on the face value of them being a romantic couple, not occasional sexual partners, but actual couple that assumes Yusuke has broken up with Keiko – I personally do not see it.

One, as most of you are likely aware, I am not a fan of breaking up canon pairings. Especially when I like them, and Keiko/Yusuke is a good pairing that I will uphold as a way of doing a “supportive gf for a shonen hero” golden standard.

So, in terms of narrative. Yusuke would have to break up with a partner who is very good for him. They also don’t offer much to the story in that way beyond the “both learn to openly love” idea, which can happen with any pairing.

For each other, I don’t think they offer much. Both are pretty emotionally constipated. I don’t think they can fulfill most of each other’s emotional needs.

I spoke about the idea of emotional needs with a friend recently, actually, in terms of Kurama, Hiei, and Mukuro, and how Kurama fails to support Hiei in the last arc. Hiei’s emotional needs aren’t met by Kurama, as he cannot empathize with Hiei’s struggles, but Mukuro can.

In my opinion, a romantic partner should fulfill most, at least half, of one’s emotional needs. It’s why you love them, after all. But I don’t think Hiei and Yusuke can do that for each other. 

Yusuke is brash, also quite emotionally constipated, uses humor and deflection tactics to avoid talking about his feelings – He needs someone who will understand him without words, and be able to drag his real feelings out. He needs a supportive person like Keiko who will nag him into confessing his feelings, then help him work through it. It’s why Genkai’s yelling works on him. He needs a kick in the ass, then someone to soothe him. Hiei isn’t a terrible choice for this, but he is hardly the best, and is too emotionally constipated himself to be of much help to Yusuke.

Hiei is emotionally unavailable, rather emotionally fragile, and brash, harsh, with a tough exterior and inability to communicate his feelings and wants – He needs someone who can read him well, who has good social skills, who is patient, slow, understanding, and can slowly coax him out of his protective shell. He needs someone, in my opinion, like Kurama, or perhaps Mukuro, or another person who is calm, patient, and intuitive. Yusuke is none of those things.

So, that’s my opinion of this ship. I think as friends with benefits, once they’ve both dealt with the majority of their issues, or perhaps a side fling, would work or even be beneficial. But as a long term, steady relationship? I don’t see it working well.

– Mod Lola