Chapter 23: Hope and Despair

Princess Sango

"That movie was so good, wasn't it Tohru-chan?" Kagura asked, looking at the younger woman, who seemed to be thinking off into the distance.

"Yes…that was a good movie; I love the shows, so the movie was just like it! Wonder how the other people would fair out against such people like Edward Elric?" Tohru answered, her attention being turned elsewhere.

Kagura nodded, "What did you guys think about the movie?" No answer came from the two, as they had excused themselves to the bathroom five minutes ago. "Oh yeah, I forgot, they aren't back yet."

Tohru nodded and saw the two come back to the table, "Here they come!"

Yuki and Kyo-san both sat down next to their respective dates and looked away from each other. "Now what happened Yuki-kun?"

Kyo-san looked at the rat and sighed, "Damn rat, spoil the mood will ya?"

"Stupid cat, you're the one that's giving me a headache. Kagura-chan, would you like to go someplace a lot…quieter?" Yuki asked, taking her hand in his and started to get up.

"Okay…" Kagura answered, standing up to leave too, but gave an apologetic look over to Tohru.

Kyo-san covered his face in his hands, "We might as well go on home now, and the mood is ruined."

Tohru looked at Kyo-san, a slight frantic look on her face, "No…um…it's not ruined, and we could just go somewhere else."

Kyo-san looked over at Tohru and smiled, "Are you sure? My "stupid cat" instincts might ruin the mood."

Tohru placed a hand lightly on his shoulder, "You're not stupid Kyo, you're just not used to being around people anymore, that's all."

Kyo-san looked up at Tohru's eyes and smiled, "I understand you, where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere we can both be happy," Tohru answered gently, stroking his cheek fondly. Kyo-san couldn't help but oblige.

With the kids…

Kyo-kun sat down at the table, looking at his sister who sat across the table, "How long must we hide this secret, from daddy?"

Kyoko looked up at her twin brother, her eyes no longer the color they once were, but plain white, "Until he comes home."

Kyo-kun looked up, his eyes black, his hair black, and the robes of eternity around him black, "Okay Hope, but I'm glad this only lasts for a day."

Kyoko, or Hope, as she was now called looked at her brother, "Why Despair, you enjoyed it when we were kids."

Despair looked at Hope, "That's because I could fly, now our wings are too big to get through the front door." Despair leaned back, "Being a member of the Elite Zodiac is hard enough."

Hope looked up at her brother, "Yes, I believe it, since we are the Elite Zodiac, who holds the secret to the curse." Both the twins laughed, and Hope continued, "The zodiac could be easily destroyed by you, and saved by me. We've already accepted this fate with open arms Despair, and only one will remain alive, to tell the tale."

Despair looked away, "I'm not looking forward to that day Hope, I will despise that day."

Hope sighed, "Let the best emotion win."

TBC…