Ace hugged the bag of groceries to his chest while weaving in and out of the crowd of people in the bustling street. Specks of grey clouds covered the orange and purple blended evening sky. The rabbit knew the other Loonatics would be waiting for him and the take away meals he had in his arms. Just when he busily tried to dodge another pedestrian, his head glanced to a building for one moment and caught his eye on a giant poster.
"All Items Must Go!"
Ace stopped as he saw a familiar figure through the window of which the poster was stuck onto. He reserved his return to the headquarters and pushed the door open so he could enter.
Once inside, he stood in a half empty shop where some colourful clothes still hung on the rails. But piles of cardboard boxes were scattered on the floor, each with written labels. Disappointed, Ace turned around to exit the shop.
"I'm sorry. But the shop's now closed."
The female voice froze the rabbit. He spun around to find a red-haired girl staring at him. Ace immediately recognised her face.
"Taya? What's going on here?"
"Oh, Ace." The girl seemed suprised to see him. "You startled me."
"Sorry." The rabbit apologised.
For a moment, an awkward silence hung between them. Ace gave a nervous smile.
"I got your letter." He finally spoke. "It was really cute for ya to worry about me. But I'm fine now."
Taya bit her lip and giggled nervously.
"I... I was just concerned that you were going to get yourself in trouble if you weren't careful. I looked for you everywhere that day."
"Ya did?" Ace said with a disgruntled look.
"As I searched for you, I was thinking of how scared you were. I wanted to tell you everything was okay and that you didn't need to worry."
Instead of replying to what she said, Ace scanned the many boxes around them.
"So what's going on here d'en?" He asked.
Taya's face saddened as he eyes wandered down onto the floor.
"Well, the business has been going so well that Betty thought we should expand to New Paris. And..."
As Taya gulped, Ace's eyes widened.
"So you're leaving Acmetropolis?"
"It's a great opportunity to get some of my designs on the catwalk and hopefully, I can become just as successful as Betty Satin." Taya explained. "That's why I quit working for Kawaski. I want to follow my dream of becoming a fashion designer."
"I see." The rabbit said. "So you've made your decision?"
Ace squeezed the bag and gazed down at the floor.
"Ya know?" He murmured. "You've been such a good friend to me. Ya made me feel less lonely when we were on the set. No-one but you stood by me."
Taya blushed.
"But I just wanted you to go along with the director so there wouldn't be any conflict. I didn't want you to get into trouble." She told him.
"And if you hadn't have been there, trouble is what I would have caused." Ace smiled. "I know karate was supposed to teach me self control. But if he had said one more insult to me, I would have knocked him out."
Taya gave a genuine giggle.
"That would have made an excellent scene for the movie." She said.
"Taya! Have you got those jackets boxed up yet?" An anonymous voice called from the back of the shop.
"Not yet! I'll get that done!" The girl yelled back.
Ace smiled again.
"Is Betty as demanding as Kawaski?" He asked.
"She can be." Taya answered. "But she does it more nicely."
"So when will you be leaving for New Paris?"
"Tomorrow."
Ace placed the bag he held onto for so long onto a stack of boxes near him.
"Then I guess this is goodbye." He murmured as he embraced her into a hug. As his arms wrapped around her body, he wished that they would stay like it forever so Taya would never have to leave him. He then felt Taya's arms squeeze around his torso.
"I'll miss you Ace." Her voice trembled.
"Man, this feels like those romantic endings where the couple leave each other for the future." The rabbit choked.
"Yeah..." Taya sighed. "The future..."
As both of them disconnected from each other, Taya turned to pick up a box full of garments as Ace picked up the luke-warm dinner. They both gaze at each other for the last time.
"Well," Ace turned for the door for the second time. "I'll see ya in da future."
As he stepped out of the shop out of sight, Taya's face softened to an emotionless expresson.
"I'll see you too Ace." She choked, hoping that he heard her last goodye before the door finally shut itself.
END OF EPILOGUE CHAPTER 6.
