The Truth

Rating: K
Warning: ShizuruxKurama. Not-so-happy-ending.
Spoilers: About Sakyo, about Shizuru, and about the end of the Dark Tournament.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or The Truth (by Good Charlotte).

--

He wants to tell me something, I know. I know, I know, I know. I can read it in his very motions. The way that he will look anywhere but straight in my eyes.

He's tired of lying to me.

I don't want him to lie, either. I love him with all my battered and broken heart, but you know what they say.

'If you love a person, let them go.'

Well, are you happy? I'm letting him go, dammit.

There's that one side, that selfish one that says, 'No! Every time you find a guy, you have to give him up! Not this time!'

And then there's that other half, that nice side that arises only once in a blue moon, and it says, 'But he's lying. He doesn't love you. You've got to move on, girl, and it's best for you and him.'

I hate that side because I know it's right.

God, this is going to hurt.

"Hey, there. Listen, Kurama... I wanted to talk to you. Why don't we go somewhere?" I ask.

"Sure," he says, breaking out into a nervous smile.

"How about the café?"

"Sounds good."

We get a table and this waitress comes to serve us. I don't know what her name is, don't care, never will. I just care... about this.

"Listen, Kurama..." I don't know what to tell him. I'm not usually the one to break up with the guy. Heck, I never even really dated.

"Uhm..."

I stare at the table a minute to clear my thoughts.

"Shizuru? May I ask a question?"

"Oh. Yeah."

"Are you happy... with us?"

Now's your chance, idiot! You can tell him 'no' and then just... break up with him!

"Yes."

No point in lying. I love him, don't I? I'm not trying to lie to him. He may be lying to me, but I will not return the sentiment.

I find myself wondering how it was that this entire relationship began.

Ah, yes. I was still broken up over Sakyo. He was there, ready and willing to comfort me. And I fell in love, gradually, slowly, ever so thoroughly.

After this, I'm swearing off love.

Permanently.

That's it. I've had enough.

"Listen, Kurama, there's something that you want to tell me, so just say it. I don't care if you think it'll hurt me; just say it. I need to know the truth."

He just watches me.

"What?"

"Shizuru..."

Heart breaking.

"You mean a lot to me..."

That's enough, isn't it?

"...but..."

The moment of truth.

"...I just can't keep lying to you."

I nod and smile.

"It's all right." So what if it isn't? I'm only lying to myself.

And that's the truth.

--

Author's Space:

Sorry. My muse and alter-ego wouldn't allow it to end any other way. I suggested that Kurama might be proposing to Shizuru. Cliché is the word they used, I believe.

Drake: You're damn right.

Not all break-ups are messy, either. Shizuru and Kurama are adults. They solve things rather well.

Finished at 12:30 AM on a school night.

Review, tell me before you use this in a C2, and have a wonderful life.

--(revamped on 6/29/05 to comply with anti-songfic rules)