As suddenly as the light had come, it was gone. All the light was gone. The whole building had exploded, and apparently, we had been shot from the dimension we were in and into the inter-dimensional area where we had been before.
Gaito and Mamoru were unconscious from the amazing display of power. They lifelessly floated.
"What should we do with them?" asked Jessie.
"What should be done to all evil," Usagi said. "Just push them into another dimension and close up the portal." She grabbed Mamoru and Gaito by the arms and flung them into another whirlpool. The half-dead bodies swirled around and around until they disappeared. Usagi gathered the edges in the center, pulled her bow from her shirt and tied the whirlpool closed with a double knot.
"Didn't see that coming," I thought outloud.
"Anything can happen in a fantasy," Team Rocket all said at once. I found it odd, them referring to real life as if it were a story but just shrugged it off.
"Well, let's get back to the real world."
--
I leaned against a tree after everyone was gone. I thought about how it had ended. As soon as we had come out of the portal back to the real world, everyone split to reunite with their friends.
Annie was giving a hug to Usagi, who looked like she could barely breath, until Seiya broke in for a kiss. Ash was squeezing Pikachu as Dawn and Brock stood around him and his other pokemon. Team Rocket was there, looking over Pikachu to see if it was a good chance to make a move to catch it. Finally came Yuki, Kyo and Tohru who were sharing hugs, without transforming, for the first time.
Dawn came over to Yuki as I started to walk in their direction. "Yuki, I'm sorry I turned you into a rat before. I didn't realize. Please forgive me."
"It's not your fault at all, Miss Dawn. You didn't know any better. Besides, now the curse is lifted so it won't ever happen again." Yuki flashed one of his beautiful smiles. Dawn seemed to melt into his gaze.
"It's too bad we're from different dimensions," Dawn sighed.
"It is," Yuki agreed. "But I'm sure we'll see each other again. I promsie you that." Was that a hint of affection in Yuki's eyes? Despite that Dawn was another fangirl at first, maybe he was starting to feel differently about her.
"Hey, Tohru, I want to talk to Xini so I'll be right back," I heard Kyo's sweet voice. He came in my direction. "Come with me." He passed right by me and I turned immediately to follow.
He led me far from where the rest were, almost out of their site. "Thanks for saving me, Kyo," I said. "If it wasn't for you, I probably would've gotten pretty hurt."
"Yeah, well, don't expect too many favors like that," he replied. I saw a hint of blush on his face. "Listen, Xini, I...about in the whirlpool...I just...I mean I..."
"Come on, you can say it. It's just me."
"Well, I thought we weren't going to make it out of there and I wanted to show you that...that I...I-"
"Kyo!"
Tohru was running over to us. "Kyo, we're leaving. Annie is reopening the portal and she said it won't stay open for long. Besides, Shigure is probably wondering what happened to us."
"Oh...right." Kyo looked to me again with eyes full of sorrow and happiness. Sorrow to leave and yet happiness about something else. He grabbed me in a big hug. I was again surprised and hugged back. It was the best hug I had ever had and I wanted it to last forever. I wanted to scream 'Don't go! Please don't leave!' but I knew he didn't belong here and I didn't belong there. It was not meant to be.
"Ok, everyone! Prepare to go home!" Annie called. She closed her eyes shut and concentrated. A maroon glow formed and the portal was open again. "Who wants to go first?"
"I will, because I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and I'm trying to be the greatest pokemon master of all time so I need to get back now so that I can keep training on my journey to become the greatest pokemon master of all time!"
Everyone silently stared at Ash who hadn't take a breath throughout the whole sentence. He wore a silly grin on his face as he marched toward the portal.
"Goodbye, Yuki," Dawn said. She sighed and looked up to him.
"Goodbye, Dawn," Yuki said. He stretched out his arms, offering her a hug and she greatfully accepted. They held each other for a few seconds then let go. "Good luck with becoming a coordinator!"
"Thank you!" They must have talked about pokemon while I wasn't listening. The two waved to each other as Dawn stepped into the portal, followed by Ash and Pikachu.
As Ash stepped in, he called back to us, "Make sure you tune in to see when I become the greatest pokemon master of all time!"
"Pika, pika!"
Brock was next. "I'll never forget you, my beautiful Annie." His squinty eyes turned into hearts as he basically floated toward her.
"Oh brother!" she said and pushed him in. "I have a boyfriend!" she called after him.
Last was Team Rocket. "Looks like Team Rocket is leaving the real world for the first time!"
"Wobbuffet!"
Tohru came over to Yuki and said, "Yuki! I just remembered. You called me by my first name back there."
"I guess I did. Well, it might take some getting used to, but I think I can call you Tohru from now on, Miss...I mean, Tohru," Yuki smiled down to Tohru and Tohru closed her eyes and smiled wide.
"We'll go next," Usagi said. She stepped into the portal follwed by Seiya.
"Guys, make sure that you don't let this thing close, because you won't be able to open it again without me," Annie warned. "See ya on TV!"
The only ones left, were the ones I had originally started with, plus one extra. "Well, I guess this is goodbye." I looked up to the three Fruits Basket characters.
"Xini," Tohru said. "I want to thank you for helping Yuki and Kyo and everyone for that matter, to save me, Ash and Usagi. It was really brave of you, even though you didn't have any powers or skills."
I made a funny face. Should I have taken that as a compliment?
Tohru noticed my expression and she started to freak out. "Well, I mean that in the best way possible! I mean, you don't have to be special to be a hero! You can be a normal person and still help!"
"I get it, Tohru," I said. "Thank you. I...I really am going to miss you all."
"I'm sure we'll be back," Yuki said. "And we'll miss you, too, Xini."
"One more group hug, anyone?" The four of us embraced. I couldn't believe it. Just this morning I had never imagined them ever being here, and now that they were leaving, I couldn't imagine life without them.
Once we broke apart, the three regrouped, arm in arm, and walked toward the portal. I noticed Tohru lean her head in Kyo's direction and it became clear. I knew what the end of the manga was, even without reading it. Kyo and Tohru were in love. And the funny thing I realized then: I was too.
"Goodbye...Kyo," I whispered as they stepped through the portal. It closed up and the clearing was dark. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the spot where they had disappeared. "Kyo, no matter what anyone ever says, you'll always be my favorite."
