A/N: I actually updated this? Never fear, I sometimes lose track of my stories, but I rarely permanently abandon them. The less conventional ending won by a landslide in your votes, so here it is, the first part of ending one.
Chapter Six, Version One"I can't tell you," Kurama reiterated miserably.
"Shuichi, if it's a secret I swear I'll take it to my grave," Kenrin said solemnly. "But I need to know. You... you're one of the better things that's happened in my life, one of the best things, and if I'm going to lose you then I need to know why."
Kurama was still. "You won't believe me if I tell you."
"At this point I'll believe anything you tell me. I promise."
Kurama took a deep breath. "Alright then."
Kenrin settled down with his arm around Kurama's shoulders, and Kurama haltingly began to speak. Kenrin didn't speak except to say yes or no when Kurama briefly explained to him about the three worlds, asking if he believed in heaven and hell, monsters and demons, and telling him what he knew to be true. Kenrin nodded, looking skeptical, but also looking like he knew this wasn't the real blow, that something was coming. Hiei would say this for Kurama; he looked his human partner straight in the eyes when he told him about actually being a demon, about being hundreds of years old and a reformed criminal, about the narrow escape and his possession of Shuichi, and his reentrance into demon affairs. Hiei's name came up, as did Yusuke and Kuwabara's.
Kenrin didn't interrupt. He waited until Kurama was clearly done speaking, and an awkward silence lingered in the air. "Shuichi, I don't know what to say."
"Say you think I'm crazy."
"I think you're making up this story to see if I'll pretend to believe you or not. I don't know why, I don't know if you mean to be cruel or why you would hide your real reasons for breaking up with me behind this fantastic story..."
"Allow me to demonstrate."
Kurama stood up and held out his hand for Kenrin. Kenrin went with him willingly. Hiei followed from the treetops as Kurama led Kenrin into a secluded area of the park. He had a pretty good idea of what Kurama was going to do.
Sure enough, after they were encased in a small clearing Kurama produced a rose from his hair. "Do not be alarmed," he said. "I will not harm you." Then he proceeded to change the rose into a whip.
"Neat trick, Shuichi. How'd you manage it?"
"I changed it with my demon energy."
"You don't expect me to believe that."
"I don't expect you to believe any of this. I'm telling you because you asked to be told. Name something that will make you believe me, and I will do it."
Kenrin studied him for a few moments. "I can't think of anything. I mean, I don't know what--what demons could and couldn't do, if there are demons. I don't even understand what you've said enough to guess whether it's true or not."
Kurama looked at him with sad eyes. "At least you are trying to believe."
"I'm trying to because I can't believe any other reason you would tell me these things, Shuichi. But I really don't..."
Kenrin trailed off, staring. In place of the redhead he had been speaking to, there stood a tall, silver-haired fox.
"Don't be alarmed," Kurama said softly. "It's only me." And then he returned to his human form.
Kenrin was trembling. Hiei could taste his fear in the air, and he knew that Kurama could to, and that it was probably hurting him. "We have a few options now," Kurama said, calmly. "I can make you forget all of this. I can make you forget that you ever knew me, as well as everything I've just told you. I think that's the best option. Or you can try to go on with the knowledge of this other world. In the past I have deadened many people's eyes to the demon events happening around them; but I find I have to give you the option. You may tell me what to do, Kenrin."
Kenrin was still shaking, but his tone was firm. "If I forget all this, then I loose you."
Kurama turned his head away. "Kenrin... we can't continue to be together, no matter what."
"Why not?"
"Because I am a demon, and you are a human. It's not fair to involve you in all of this."
"The hell with that, Shuichi," Kenrin said angrily. "What's fair is letting me make my own choices. What's fair is for you not to run away from me simply because we're different."
Kurama stared at him. "You can't possibly still want to be with me. I lied to you; I'm a criminal on parole. We're not meant to be together."
Kenrin crossed the clearing to Kurama. "For someone who gets the grades you get, you can be remarkably stupid," he told him. And then he kissed him.
Hiei shut his eyes against that kiss. But his third eye was still open, and he could sense if not see Kurama stiffen with shock, then slowly respond. The response was death to Hiei. Kurama was willing. And Kenrin was not going to let go without a fight.