Epilogue: Infinite connections

When they reached the gate a group of eager individuals awaited them. Usagi ran into Haruka and Michiru's open arms.

Shigure had joined the group and was holding a plastic grocery bag filled with grapes and crackers and a handpicked flower. He gestured the items toward Akito with a sky smile.

"For… for me?,"asked Akito.

"Yes," replied Shigure averting his gazing sideways shuffling his feet side to side. "I wanted to bring so much more… but I froze up as usual. I don't know why I do that… I…"

Akito eye's widened as she clinched her jaw breathing deeply. "Shut up you stupid man… It was always you I wanted, always you.", Akito sighed then. "But like you I couldn't express myself properly. I lashed out - at everyone, but especially you. I .. I want to change. I've a possible future for us, and I want us to have a chance at it. Will you take a chance… with me?"

Shigure's eyes filled with tears and he cocked his head to the side just a giant puppy would. "Do you know how much I've longed to hear you say that?" Shigure replied.

Shigure picked up Akito and swung her around in the air. "I love you, Akito. I want to be with you always. I'd propose but, grapes and crackers won't do for that."

He set her down gently and kissed her ferociously. Akito initially looking surprised relaxed her shoulders and melted into Shigure's warm embrace.

Akito then became acutely aware that everyone was watching them and pulled back sandwiching herself back between Tohru and Usagi where she felt safe. Tohru took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Maybe we should send one of those cell phone messages to everyone and tell them to meet us at the ice cream shop. They'll probably all be feeling their animal spirit fading by now and they'll be wondering what happened," said Tohru.

"Way ahead of you," replied Yuki pointing at his cell phone.

"Wow, thank you Yuki. I didn't realize you were so talented with technology," replied.

"While I have been using my phone often now for student council communications since I asked for one from my mother this was not me. This was Ayame. I simply sent him one text. And he of course acted overexcitedely and messaged everyone. See?"

Yuki gestured his constantly pinging and vibrating phone towards Tohru showing her a steady stream of incoming messages.

Ayame: Everyone! Everyone! Hear! Hear! The glorious day has come! Thanks to my illustrious brother, and others… our curse is lifted! Can you feel it? Come join us in celebration at the First Street Ice Shop forthwith. Make haste. This is a once in a lifetime occurrence. You surely don't want to miss it!

Hatori: Ayame, seriously, one exclamation point would've sufficed. This is great news. Coming.

Rin: Pass.

Hatsuharu: Aw, Rin… really? But I want ice cream.

Rin: No.

Hiro: I'll pass too.

Kisa: Will Tohru be there? If so, I'm coming!

Hiro: Drat, ok I'm coming.

Momiji: This is wonderbar news Ayame! Of course I'm coming.

Ritsu: Me too, I'm so happy. I'm… bringing someone with me too! ::wink::

Kureno: Um… ok. Let me check with Akito first.

Tohru giggled. "Oh I'm so relieved. They all sound so happy. Akito - would you mind calling Kureno and tell him it is okay to come? There's a certain someone I know, one of the girlfriends I told you about, who would love to meet him," asked Tohru.

"Sure," replied Akito, touching her hair as she had before in the past, but this time with nothing but love in her eye. "He deserves that… and so much more."

"Tohru, Usagi," said Yuki. "You two are truly amazing… thank you for helping us all be free from this curse. Now if you'll excuse me, there's someone I need to see and if I'm lucky enough I'll bring her over for ice cream, too."

"Oh Yuki, are you talking about Machi? Yes - I know she'll come! Go get her!," replied Tohru.

Tohru gave Yuki a huge hug and then cast her eyes towards Kyo who had jumped down off the rooftops and had been standing off to the side watching everything transpire. She could no longer stand his silence. Tohru pulled him away from the group.

"Kyo, can I talk to you about something?," Tohru asked.

"Talking can wait," said Kyo, a huge smile erupting on his face. "It's over… I'm not the monster I thought I was… I can … I can… well… heck, let me just show you," said Kyo.

Kyo wrapped one arm around Tohru and gently cupped the other tenderly under her chin and pulled Tohru into a long passionate kiss.

Their audience whistled and awed.

"I love you so much my heart would break in a million pieces being without you a minute longer. I promise to protect you and love you for as long as I live."

Tohru smiled as her eyes filled with happy tears. "I love you, too Kyo! I'll always be by your side, no matter where life takes us!"

"What a beautiful evening. Can you feel it in the wind and sea Michiru, Haruka? A beautiful future awaits us all," said Usagi sandwiching herself between Michiru and Haruka linking arms with them. "Now, who's treating their princess to an ice cream sundae with extra sprinkles.

"You know we will," replied Haruka. "Kitten… it seem's your phone is buzzing too."

"Really- nobody ever calls me… except… Mamo-chan!," said Usagi excitedly grabbing her phone.

She'd missed the call but she had a voicemail. She played it aloud.

"Usako, I decided to end my internship early. The time for work can wait. Our time together is much more important to me. I'm coming home, my plane's getting ready for take off now. See you soon, my love!," said Mamoru's voice into the answering machine.

"Tohru- did you hear that, Mamo-chan's coming home! I can't wait for you to meet him," said Usagi excitedly.

"What a wonderful day for us all," said Tohru squeezing Usagi's hand. "I can't wait to meet him!"