Chapter 25: Passing the Torch
[September 3, 1998]
--- --- ---
Ron Apparated back to the Burrow, Tracy and Ryou on either side of him. Ryou had just woke up when they came for him, and hadn't even bothered to put on any more clothes before heading back to the Burrow with them, so was only wearing a pair of jeans that he had slept in. Ron's eyes widened as he saw the scene before him. His brother Fred was kneeling on the ground, holding George's body, which appeared to be glowing a bright silver light. Two of the demons that the strange girl had brought with her were fighting two people Ron had never been officially introduced to, although he vaguely recognized the girl wielding an oar. Hermione was occasionally shooting arrows at the demons from her spot in the doorway. Soon, Tracy and Ryou had jumped into the fray, easily disposing of the two demons.
Fred opened his eyes as the light around George faded and his twin moved in his arms, slowly sitting up. "George?"
Except that it wasn't quite George. He looked like George, but there were differences. His facial features were the same, but his hair was a dark auburn instead of his normal bright red, and he had a silver fox tail and ears. One of the fox ears looked to be partially missing. He slowly opened his eyes, which were silver in color instead of the usual hazel. He looked up at Fred. "Hiru?" he whispered, his voice sounding similar, if a bit deeper than George's normal voice. He turned to Mimi, who was staring in shock at the scene.
"Demons?" Mimi asked in a hushed tone. She glared over at Koenma. "You recruited demons to be my successors?!"
Koenma looked to be in a state of shocked disbelief. "I didn't…" He shook his head. "I checked… There aren't any demons in their lineage…"
"Of course there aren't," Tracy said, smiling slightly. "You wouldn't know, since not even they knew… Strange, how fate works out sometimes. Right, Yoru?"
George -- or the fox demon in George's place -- looked over at her. "Kuroi," he said, curling his lips into a twisted smile. One of his short fangs glistened in the sunlight.
She shook her head. "Tracy now," she said. "Just as you'll be George, once this is over and you're you again."
Mimi made a war cry. "Enough of this! You're in a battle here!" She began to make the weird hand gestures again. "Power of the wild that flows--"
George suddenly stood up, and wrapped a hand around her throat. "Try me, human."
"Let her go!" Fred called, moving to his brother's side and trying to get George to release her. "George-- Yoru-- Whoever you are! You're not a killer! Don't give in like this!"
George looked over at Fred lazily, his silver eyes meeting Fred's hazel eyes. "She tried to kill you."
Fred nodded. "I know, but there has to be some other way," he tried to reason. He pulled George's hand off Mimi's throat. The teenage girl coughed, holding a hand to her throat. Fred glanced to her. "Why did you come after us?"
Mimi glared at him, and moved one hand in front of her. A wave of Reiki blasted the twins away from her. "Fools," she growled.
George tried to go after her, but Fred held him back. "George, no. We're not killers," Fred said.
'Yes, we are,' a small voice in the back of Fred's mind said.
George narrowed his silver eyes. "Why should her life be spared?"
'It shouldn't,' the small voice said.
Fred tried to ignore the voice. He couldn't think of any good reason, so just shook his head. Despite everything, his instincts were telling him there was something incredibly wrong about the situation, and that nothing would be gained by killing her. Besides, he wasn't a killer.
In their distraction, the twins were hit by dual blasts of Mimi's Spirit Gun, knocking them down to the ground. "Pay attention when someone's fighting you!" she yelled.
Fred picked himself up off the ground, only to be hit by another Spirit Gun before Mimi rushed at George and hit him with a Reiki-infused punch.
The demon that George had previously knocked unconscious with a Spirit Gun got up off the ground, only to be encased in ice by Ryou. "Looks like we weren't really needed," he said, glancing to Tracy as George and Mimi exchanged punches. "Unless you feel like jumping in to help him, that is."
Tracy shook her head. "This isn't our fight. I doubt he would accept our interference," she said. "Yoru never did like anyone interfering when he was fighting, and it seems like he's in control right now."
Fred picked himself off the ground once more, narrowing his eyes at the fight. While reverting to his demon form seemed to have given him renewed strength, not to mention partially healed his wound, George was still badly injured, and looked to be losing the battle. George doubled over as Mimi unleashed a flurry of punches to where her previous blast had hit him in the stomach.
Fred took aim, focusing as much power as he could, and fired a Spirit Gun at Mimi. If it had any effect on her, she didn't show it as she sent George flying.
'This is ridiculous,' the small voice said.
Fred took aim once more, and then froze as a golden light surrounded him. He tried to lower his hand, but quickly realized that he no longer had control over his body. As the light faded, he realized that he must have regressed to his demon form as well. His golden fox tail swished behind him, and one of his ears flicked as the light cleared. Mimi turned to face him, a look of surprise on her face.
He felt himself smirking cruelly as he unleashed the Spirit Gun. While normally the Reiki attack looked to be a vague soft blue, it had a decidedly golden hue to it.
Mimi shrieked as she was hit by the attack, flying a few feet before falling to the ground. Fred felt himself advancing upon her.
'Stop,' he tried to tell himself, struggling to regain control over his body.
"Shining Inferno!" he shouted. Golden flames shot from his hand before becoming a raging tornado that swept Mimi in its path. After a few seconds, the tornado died down, and the former Underworld detective fell to the ground.
Fred took a couple steps closer, preparing another Spirit Gun.
'Hiru, stop!' Fred tried to tell himself. He didn't want to win the battle like this. He didn't want to kill her. No matter what she might have done, there had to be another way. Everything about this was completely wrong.
For the briefest of instances, he hesitated before firing one last Spirit Gun at the battered girl's prone body. She coughed up blood as the attack tore through her.
Fred could hear himself chuckle coldly as he took a few steps forward. Not wanting to do any more damage, Fred concentrated on forcing himself to stop. He froze in his footsteps, and his golden eyes widened as he regained control of his body. "Not like this," he muttered, going over to Mimi. He couldn't have killed her… could he?
George picked himself up off the ground, Tracy right by his side. He had reverted to his human form, and she was trying to help him get closer to the house. Hermione had approached, and was trying to heal him using the Reiki healing techniques Karin had taught her almost two months ago. Koenma was still trying to prevent Karin from interfering.
Mimi coughed up some blood, opening her eyes painfully. "Figures… Had to be… demons…" She struggled to stand.
"I'm not a demon," Fred said. He was aware that he was still in his demon form and had a tail, which was flickering behind him as he stood in front of her. "I don't understand what it is you have against us, but there's no reason to fight."
Mimi glared at him as she staggered to her feet. "You're weak…"
Koenma gave up on trying to hold Karin back and walked over to them. "Mimi, they were chosen for a reason. Your time is over."
"Tell them…" Mimi said, looking over at Koenma. Her eyes narrowed. "Why… fighting…"
Fred glanced to Koenma. "What is she talking about?"
Mimi chuckled briefly before coughing up some blood and sinking to her knees. "Had to… make sure… strong enough…" She hissed in pain, and clutched her hands to her bloodied stomach. "Refuse to… go to Underworld…"
Koenma sighed. "That's not up to you, Mimi. When you die--"
"No!" she protested. She looked to Fred. "Bastards… used me… just like… using you."
"She was recruited even though it was known by the Underworld that she was dying," Karin said from where she was helping Hermione to heal George.
Koenma looked over at her. "You're not supposed to divulge information like that!"
Karin shook her head. "Don't you think they deserve to know why all of this is happening?" she asked, moving over to Mimi and bending down by her. "Even if I heal you now, you'll just die in a few weeks anyway."
"Don't…" Mimi said. "Rather… die fighting…"
Fred looked from Karin to Mimi. "Dying? Why would she die anyway?"
"Tumor…" Mimi said, coughing up a bit of blood. "Doctor said… three weeks… Had to make sure…"
"You had to make sure we were strong enough to take your place," Fred said.
Mimi shook her head as she let herself fall to the ground. "For nobody… to take yours."
George, whose injury had been healed so that it was no longer life threatening, staggered over to Mimi. "Why did you blow up our shop?"
Mimi smirked and closed her eyes. "Like to… blow stuff up," she said snarkily before falling silent and still.
Koenma glanced to Karin. "Do you wish to wait for Felicia, or will you take her?"
Karin shook her head. "She'll refuse. She knows Mimi well enough to know that she'll blaze her own path." She looked down at Mimi's body. "Not even the Underworld knows what exactly happens when a person dies," she said quietly. "I suppose you could say that we just sort the dead who can't find their own way."
Ron cleared his throat from where he stood by the house. "Will somebody please explain to me what the hell just happened? Why were Fred and George glowing, why did George have a tail, and why the hell does Fred still have a tail?"
"That's what I would like to know," his mother said from the doorway.
Ryou glanced to them. "You're better off not knowing." He sneezed. "Bloody hell," Ryou muttered as he took female form.
Ron's eyes widened as he got an eyeful of the female Ryou wearing only a pair of jeans and no shirt.
Fred glanced back at Ryou. He had a feeling there was a lot of explanations ahead of him.
--- --- ---
Sitting around the kitchen table at the Burrow, explanations were passed around. Koenma needed to leave back for work, but before he left, he gave a theory of what Mimi was after. She had recently been diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor -- something the Underworld knew she would die from before she was recruited as an Underworld detective -- so had gotten a bit desperate. She had expected to be the last Underworld detective needed, because she knew what needed to be done and was highly efficient. The presence of demons in the human realm could only lead to humans discovering the existence of demons someday, which would launch a wide-range panic and possible war.
Most demons kept to themselves, maintaining low profiles and policing themselves. An Underworld detective was sometimes needed to help police demons, but for the most part wasn't really necessary at all. That ticked Fred off immensely when told that he and George weren't really needed by the Underworld.
He also had not been satisfied with Koenma's explanation that Mimi was 'testing' Fred and George, trying to make sure they were up to the task ahead of them. He couldn't quite explain it, but he had a feeling that there was more than that going on. Truth be told, Fred was liking the Underworld less and less. He made it quite clear that while he understood he owed a debt for being brought back to life, he was not going to be called upon for every little thing that came along. Only if it was important and something that truly needed his intervention would the Underworld darken his doorstep.
Before Koenma and Karin left to go back to the Underworld, Karin handed Fred an envelope addressed to him that had been found on Mimi's body. Representatives from the Underworld had been called in to clear the bodies of the demons and former Underworld detective. Fred hadn't looked at the letter in the envelope yet, but planned to as soon as he had the chance.
He was rather grateful that he had reverted back to his normal 'Fred' form, though. He didn't particularly enjoy sitting around in his demonic 'Hiru' form. He didn't consider himself a demon, for one. And it was very hard to sit in a chair properly when his tail was wanting to wave around.
Tracy explained that sometimes when a demon reincarnated as a human, the human could revert to their demon form in times of great need or by expending a tremendous amount of power. Neither of the twins had done so previously due to being unaware of their demonic background, and having never been in a circumstance that warranted the reversion since realizing who they were. George had obviously reverted to his demon form because he was dying, while Fred had likely reverted to his because some instinct in him knew that he couldn't have finished the job otherwise. Or, as Tracy put it bluntly after Fred looked at her blankly, 'Hiru has a mind of his own and always has been an obnoxious little arse.' They might be able to take on their demon forms in the future if the need arose, but they shouldn't count on it. Hiru and Yoru were different than Fred and George, and it was better to hope they remained mere memories.
"What do you mean, my boys are demons?!" their mother had screeched after Tracy was done explaining about Fred and George's past lives as the demonic fox brothers.
Tracy shrugged. "Reincarnations of demons. They're human now, and will remain as such unless they deliberately choose not to."
"Are you going to?" George asked. "Stay human, that is?"
Tracy paused. "I haven't decided to go back to living as a demon, if that's what you mean. I can't say that I'm in any big rush to go back to the demon plane, at least. There's no take out restaurants, for one thing."
Fred nodded sagely. "Or indoor plumbing," he added.
"That, too," Tracy agreed.
Ron glanced to Ryou, who wore a sullen look on her face. "So how'd you transform into a girl?"
Ryou glared at him. "I was cursed," she said curtly. She was still in her female form, looking none too happy about it. She was wearing a spare shirt of Ron's that was handed to her after being told it was 'inappropriate for young ladies to wander about topless'. It had taken five minutes to calm her down after she was referred to as a 'lady'. "Laugh and I slit your throat."
Tracy raised an eyebrow in amusement and glanced to Ron, who was backing away from Ryou. "She doesn't really mean that. She's just upset because I believe it's that time of the month."
Ryou growled and stood up. "Listen up, Kuroi! This was a complete waste of time and nothing that you couldn't have taken care of yourself! I refuse to be dressed up, dragged around, and otherwise humiliated just for your twisted amusement!"
"We still have that Vallum bloke's notes," Fred said, trying to prevent a fight from breaking out. "From what I could see, he'd gotten a wizard to help him out with some parts of it. I'm pretty sure that I could figure out a way to lift the curse."
Ryou turned to him, glaring. She looked like she was about to say something for a moment before she sat back down in a huff. "Do what you want."
Ron, who had moved as far away from Ryou as he could, looked to Hermione. "How long have you been fighting demons?"
"I don't," she said. "But I couldn't just sit by and do nothing. Karin taught me a few healing techniques, even though I'm not very good at them. I've also practiced my archery since--" She glanced at Ryou, who seemed to be ignoring her. "Well, I just wanted to do something."
"You shouldn't be fighting in your condition," Mrs. Weasley said. She turned to Tracy. "And you're pregnant with George's child?"
Tracy nodded. "According to the test results, at least."
George smiled. "I know she is, test results or not."
"Why would you deliberately try to have a child when you're not even married yet?" his mother demanded.
"Because marriage is just a formality," George said. "And she won't elope."
"She'll be showing when you get married!" Mrs. Weasley protested.
"You were showing when you and dad got married," George reasoned. "Besides, would you rather us have an actual wedding, or should we just elope like you guys did?"
His mother had nothing to say to that. It was obvious she wanted him to have a real wedding, but wanted him to have one before Tracy was showing. The planned wedding date of New Year's Day was perhaps the ideal time for a wedding, as everyone would be available to attend.
Ryou gave Tracy a funny look. "Why would you allow yourself to bear this idiot's child?"
"Flipped a coin," Tracy said.
Hermione glanced to her. "Did you really?"
Tracy just smiled in response, not elaborating any further.
George glared at Ryou. "Would you stop calling me an idiot, cross-dresser?"
Ryou quirked an eyebrow. "You're in no position to refer to me as a cross-dresser. I know you went on that idiotic cross-dressing mission, and I have the pictures to prove it."
George blinked. "What?"
"Where did you get pictures?!" Fred demanded.
Ryou gestured to Tracy.
Tracy smiled coyly. "Didn't I tell you? Janice took a few pictures of you guys once you were all dressed up."
Hermione nodded. "Surprisingly, you guys are more attractive women than I thought you'd be."
Ron glanced between them. "Fred and George dressed up as girls? You've got to show me the pictures."
"Consider it done," Hermione said.
"Ron, please tell me that you have no plans on doing something stupid like getting a girl pregnant before marriage?" his mother asked.
Ron shook his head. "I don't even have a girlfriend. I'd be more worried about Charlie and his 'stripper of the week', though."
His mother frowned. "Yes, I'll need to have a talk with him once he comes home from work. I'm glad he decided to get a job closer to home for now, even if he does plan on going back to play with dragons next summer."
Ryou glanced to Tracy. "Isn't that the name of the guy that you--"
"Yes," she interrupted. "Now drop it."
George narrowed his eyes. "Let's not talk about Charlie."
Fred chuckled. From the sounds of it, Ryou was aware that Tracy and Charlie had a one night stand together. While he could tease his twin about it, he also realized that George seemed to be a bit sensitive over it. He couldn't really blame him. After all, if Hermione had slept with one of his brothers before getting together with him, he might be a bit sensitive about it as well. Then again, Hermione wasn't someone who had multiple sexual partners in her past.
"What are you guys going to do about the shop?" Ron asked tactlessly.
"Owl order, for now," George said, looking a bit grateful for the subject change. "After that, we're going to try to re-open in Hogsmeade."
Ron nodded. "Are you keeping on the same employees?"
George shrugged. "Haven't decided yet, but I'd start looking for a different job if I were you, Ron."
Fred chuckled. "We might let you clean up after the owls, though."
Ron frowned. "You guys suck."
"Ron!" his mother chided. "Watch your mouth!"
Ryou stood up. "As entertaining as this inane drivel may be, I fail to see how this concerns me, so I'll be heading out." She paused. "Where am I, anyway?"
Fred chuckled. "We're kind of on the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole. I doubt that you've heard of the village, though."
"That's where Lari lives. She owes me about fifty zeni," Ryou said.
"Er, you're still wearing my shirt," Ron said. "How long are you stuck as a girl?"
Tracy smirked. "Why don't you kiss her and find out?"
Ryou glared at her. "Go to hell, Kuroi." She walked towards the door that led back outside.
"You do realize that zeni can't really be used in the human realm, right?" Fred asked before Ryou left. "I suppose some places will take it, but for the most part it's used in the demon plane."
Ryou flashed a rude hand gesture at him before leaving.
Hermione glanced to Fred. "How do you know that?"
Fred shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. It's probably one of those things I knew as Hiru."
His mother turned to him. "If you're a demon, then what happened to the real Fred?"
"He is the real Fred," Tracy said on his behalf. "Many people have lived lives in the past. His past life just happened to be that of a demon."
"Are the four of you going to be staying the night?" Ron asked.
"I have work at the diner tonight," Tracy said. "I'll need someone to take me back to London before I do."
"Call in sick," George said. "Stay with me."
Tracy looked torn for a brief moment. "If I keep calling in sick, I'll eventually be fired."
He turned to her. "So? Claim you're having a bad bout with morning sickness."
Tracy sighed. "Except I haven't had any morning sickness. And my boss does not know that I might be pregnant, and I would prefer to keep it that way until I have another job lined up."
George held one of her hands in his. "You have a job with us, remember? We can give you more hours if you need them. Just please stay with me here tonight?" he pleaded.
"You will be in separate rooms, you realize," his mother said, her mouth pursed into a frown. "I won't have any… immoral behavior going on."
Fred chuckled. "Too bad for you, George."
George made a face. "That means you and Hermione won't be sharing a room, either."
Fred shrugged. "Yeah, but we can spend five minutes in the same room without having sex."
"We've been here for over half an hour and I haven't had sex with her yet, have I?" George protested.
Hermione shot him an odd look. "Yes, but your mother's in the same room, in case you've forgotten."
Ron glanced to Tracy. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear anything that hinted at a sex life between my best friend and older brother, but there is something that's been bothering me for a while. Weren't you in school with me? A Ravenclaw?"
"Slytherin," Tracy corrected. "But yes, we were in the same year together." At Ron's incredulous look, she added, "I kept to myself, wore spectacles, and wore baggy clothing. I tried not to attract notice."
"And I made it a point to know who all the Slytherins were," Fred said. "Had to know who the best targets were, you know. Although it's pretty sad that you had classes with her for six years and didn't realize what house she was in."
Ron shrugged. "Yeah, well, the Slytherins were a bunch of slimy gits. I made it a point not to talk to them or notice them if I didn't have to."
Tracy nodded. "Our year was particularly vile. Sharing a dorm with the likes of Pansy Parkinson was a test of self-control and patience. It still surprises me that I didn't smother her with a pillow while she slept."
"You would have been awarded a medal, I think," Fred said.
"She tried to sell out Harry during the final battle," Ron muttered.
Tracy nodded. "There's nothing wrong with looking after yourself, but not to the point of alienating others. It's better to just stay neutral, or at least have the appearance of neutrality. Go with the flow, keep your mouth shut, and don't get involved if you don't have to. If you must get involved, always keep people guessing."
George looked to her. "Should I be worried about you?"
She smirked with amusement. "I don't know. Should you?"
George paused, and then smiled. "I'm better off not worrying, aren't I?"
"You'll definitely be happier in the long run if you don't," Tracy said.
Fred stood up, and held out a hand to help Hermione up. "We're going to head up to make sure Moonshine hasn't trashed my room. Not like there's much there to trash, but still."
His mother frowned. "No hanky-panky in there, understood?"
Fred frowned. "Mum, we're married!" he whined. At the look his mother gave him, he sighed. "Fine." As he and Hermione left the kitchen, he whispered to her, "We're not going to be staying here long."
Hermione chuckled. "Somehow, I didn't think so."
--- --- ---
To my successor,
If you're reading this, that means I'm dead. Probably at your hands. Maybe at the Underworld's. Either way, I hope that I won't end up being taken to the Underworld once I die.
You're probably confused as to why I would seek you out. I have no doubt that you were given some bullshit story about me from the Underworld. The truth is, I wanted you to see things aren't as simple as they first appear. I was used by the Underworld, just as you're being used by the Underworld. But unlike you, I was prepared to fight even though I knew the truth.
Demons are used by the Underworld just as we are. Some higher-ups in the Underworld would capture low-level demons, brainwash them, and send them back into the human realm with instructions to harm humans. And then they would send detectives like us to deal with the demons, as well as any other demon that annoyed the Underworld in some way. Sometimes a demon might do nothing more than commit a petty crime like shoplifting, and we'd be sent after them.
It gets worse. A lot of the demons we capture aren't even sent to any prison in the Underworld once transported there. They're taken straight to an execution chamber. I doubt that your assistant knows the truth about that. It's something my assistant Felicia didn't know until she saw it for herself. I think Koenma suspects what's going on, but doesn't have the power to do anything about it currently. I think he's tried to save some demons from execution, but don't count on someone else to save those that you believe should be saved.
His father, King Enma, is the one responsible for this vendetta against demons. I'm not sure why he wants demons exterminated, except maybe as viewing them as a threat to his power. The human realm would be easy to get under his control if demons weren't in the way. Don't let the term fool you. Demons aren't inherently evil. They're wild and animalistic. Chaotic. I suppose that when you're trying to keep a world under strict order, chaos just won't do. Maybe it doesn't really matter why.
For every one human killed by a demon in cold blood, a thousand humans die by human hands. Demons aren't the threat against humanity that the Underworld would have you believe. Humans are the greatest threat to themselves. If left alone, most demons would happily live and coexist amongst humans. Most instances of demons killing humans have been as a result of them being manipulated into doing so, or by the request of some human. Why get your hands dirty and your conscience stained when you can get someone else to do it? Still, I would kill demons knowing that I was the villain. I wanted to be the last Underworld detective, because I knew the truth. I could be the villain, and willfully engage in what amounted to genocide against an entire race. I could do the bare minimum, waiting for the day when things would change. I believe that someday Koenma will stage a coup against his father, but until then I would continue to dirty my hands with the blood of innocents. Someone has to do it, and it's better that it be someone who knows the truth.
I don't know if you're capable of doing what has to be done. That's why I went after you. I had to make sure that you were capable of carrying on the mission. If you couldn't fight a human vilified as some sort of psychopath, how could you possibly fight a demon you might feel sympathetic towards? Knowing that every demon you capture likely faces death, and that many of them are innocent of what they're accused of, can you continue working for the Underworld? If you don't, the Underworld will find someone else to take your place. And the Underworld won't tell them anything about what's really going on.
Don't let anyone take your place. Play the villain because you'll have to, but don't forget who you really are in the process. If you have a successor of your own someday, choose them yourself and let them know why they're fighting. They're not fighting to protect humans from demons. They're fighting to prevent an entire race from being wiped out through blind ignorance. If a handful of lives have to be sacrificed to save thousands, be prepared to make that sacrifice. Ours is a disgusting job, but who else is there who can do it?
When I die, I hope I'll be reincarnated as a demon. I doubt that will happen, but it would be cool. Maybe we'd face one another again someday. I'm sure I'd kick your ass.
Catch you on the flip side,
Mimi
--- --- ---
Fred blinked at the dragon curled up on his bed snoring. Granted, it was a very small dragon in comparison to most -- about the size of a human, from what he could tell -- but it was still a dragon. It had light golden scales, and a dark orange ridge that ran down its back. Since Moonshine was nowhere to be found, and spirit beasts were supposedly different from normal animals, he was going to take a wild guess and presume that the dragon was Moonshine.
"You better not break my bed," he said, sitting down on George's bed.
"Where did that thing come from?" Hermione asked as she sat down next to him.
"I'm guessing that's Moonshine," Fred said, rubbing his temples. "I'd say this has been a rather eventful day."
Hermione nodded. "It's been a rather eventful summer."
Fred smiled and turned to her. "Let's go on a cruise somewhere. You don't get seasick, do you?"
"I don't, but--"
"I also noticed your morning sickness is getting a lot better," Fred said. "Besides, we're both overdue for a vacation. George can handle getting the shop re-opened. He may be pants with numbers, but he's always been better with the details of contracts and stuff. He'll probably get Tracy to help him. I know she's got an eye for details and double-speak. So long as they can keep their hands off one another--"
"Fred," Hermione interrupted, chuckling. "I think going on a cruise sounds like a lovely idea, but where would we go?"
"Who cares?" Fred countered, smiling. "We might not have this chance again, so why not go now? We never did get to go on a honeymoon, anyway."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What does that letter you received say, anyway?"
Fred shrugged, taking out the envelope Karin had handed to him from Mimi. "Who knows?" he said as he took the letter out of the envelope. He hoped that it would serve as some sort of explanation for her actions, as he wasn't quite satisfied with Koenma's theory. Unfolding it, he began to read the letter.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked as Fred frowned deeply.
He shook his head and handed her the letter once he finished reading it. He hated being manipulated, and if the accusations in Mimi's letter were true, that meant he'd been severely manipulated. He hadn't liked the way he was manipulated into become an Underworld detective, but this just took things to a new level.
Fred stood up and walked over to the window. "I wonder if there's any way to verify any of that."
"I received a copy of my own," Karin said as she appeared in the middle of the room. She wore a grave look on her face, and held a rolled up parchment in one hand. "I spoke with Mimi's former assistant Felicia, and then checked the booking records for the demons arrested."
Fred turned to her. "It's true, isn't it?"
Karin nodded. "In the last ten years, very few demons were actually sent to the Underworld's prison. Most were sentenced to death upon arrival."
Hermione looked up at the ferry girl. "Does that mean the demons Fred arrested--?"
"It's best not to think about it," Karin interrupted. She walked over to Fred, handing him the scroll. "This is your contract with the Underworld. It states the specific conditions for your term as their detective. If it is destroyed, that would free you from your debt."
Fred stared at the scroll in his hand. "If I quit, someone else will be found to take my place."
Karin nodded. "Correct."
"They wouldn't be told about any of this," Fred said. At Karin's silence, he sighed heavily. "You do realize how sickening this is, right?"
Karin nodded. "Lord Koenma's trying to build a case. Until then, he has to follow his father's rules, as do the rest of us."
Fred looked up at her. "I get to choose my assignments. And not something like having to choose between one or the other. Every assignment is optional. I get a complete and objective report on all the details on what the target has done, what they're after, and why they're considered to be a threat." He glanced to the scroll in his hand and then handed it back to Karin. "You've broken a lot of the Underworld's rules already, haven't you?"
Karin shifted from one foot to the other. "You're a bad influence."
Fred smiled. "I try."
Karin held out her hand, summoning her oar. "The day might come when Lord Koenma wrests control of the Underworld from King Enma. Until then--"
"I'll stay on duty," Fred said. "And when the time comes, I'll choose my own successor."
Karin smiled. "I'll let you know if you're needed." She mounted her oar and vanished.
Fred sighed and sat back down next to Hermione on the bed. "It's been a rather eventful summer, hasn't it?"
She looked over to him. "You're still going to work as an Underworld detective?"
He nodded. "At my own discretion. The way I figure, if I don't do anything, someone else will just be chosen to take my spot, and they won't be told anything, either. By working for them under my terms, I can maintain some semblance of control." He smiled. "Besides, with the whole 'reincarnation of a demon' thing, it's better to stay in contact with the Underworld. The last thing I want is for a successor to go after me because I'm deemed a threat." He placed an arm around Hermione. "I should ask Tracy or Ryou to show me the more demonic side of London sometime."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you insist on going out on dangerous assignments, don't expect me to just sit at home and wait for you to come back in a bloodied heap."
Fred chuckled, placing a hand on her lower abdomen. He didn't want to dwell on such a depressing topic, and felt that they were lone overdue for a subject change. "So how're Jack Daniels and Captain Morgan doing today?"
"We are not naming our children after alcoholic beverages," Hermione said, smiling slightly.
"They're perfectly good names," Fred said. "Lots of kids are named Jack and Morgan."
She rolled her eyes. "Not ours. And I will be going on the potion once they're born."
Fred laughed. "Did I ever tell you about the dream George had?" he asked, lazily tracing his thumb over the small bump on her stomach. "Aside from him and Tracy having a brood of kids, he implied that we had more kids than just these two. I told him it was probably just wishful thinking on his part, since he was acting like a prat about Tracy… But maybe I should trust his ability to predict things a bit better. He did say that you would marry one of us Weasley boys, after all."
Hermione smiled. "Yes, but I was the one who predicted that I would be carrying your love child."
"So you did violate my body while I was dead," Fred teased.
"Many times," she deadpanned. "You just thought you claimed my virginity on our first date because there's a charm."
Fred raised an eyebrow. "Is there now?" he asked with amusement in his voice.
Hermione nodded, smiling slightly. "Tracy told me about it."
"Now I don't believe you," Fred chuckled.
"And why's that?" she asked.
"Because something like that has several kinky possibilities, so you know she would probably use it with George," Fred replied. "Particularly since she's a masochist."
Hermione laughed. "Yes, but keep in mind that she can't use magic any longer. And how do you know she hasn't asked him to cast it? Magic can affect her if she lets it."
Fred was silent for a few seconds. "Are you trying to imply that we should come up with an adult line that has a product to restore a woman's virginity?"
"'For the woman who doesn't say no, so her current doesn't have to know'," Hermione said.
Fred laughed. "That's just bad. An interesting idea, and one we might end up using if we do come up with an adult line. Maybe we'll have it in the form of a mint. Re-Fresh Mints, or something like that."
Hermione chuckled. "Well, the wizarding community is strangely devoid of the adult industry. Aside from Charlie's strippers."
"Don't forget dirty magazines," Fred said sagely. "George and I did pose for Playwitch magazine, after all. That's how we got the money for the shop."
"What issue?" Hermione asked, smirking.
Fred paused. "Er… July… 1996..." he lied, trying to come up with a date that would have been plausible for him and George to have made a lot of money from to start their joke shop.
Hermione smiled dreamily. "Ah, yes. The special 'We salute the men in and out of uniform' issue. I never knew the wizarding world had the equivalent of firemen. I don't recall seeing you in that issue, though. Not to mention your shop was already open by then. And I'm fully aware that Harry gave you the money to start your shop."
Fred paused. "How do you know what the contents of that issue are?"
Hermione shrugged. "I've been a subscriber since my fourth year in school. Important research, you know."
Fred gave her a strange look. "I'm not going to ask what had you researching porn."
"I was researching human anatomy. The hot naked men were just a bonus," Hermione deadpanned.
Fred laughed as he held her in his arms.
Life was full of twists and obstacles of all kinds. For Fred Weasley, age 20, he had gone through several of those twists and obstacles in a short period of time. Reckless and impulsive, he was a self-proclaimed troublemaker holding little regard for any rules or boundaries. Somehow, though, throughout the second chance that life gave him, he was able to learn that sometimes one just had to roll with the punches and deal with life. He had no idea what the future might hold in store for him, but would deal with it when it came. For the most part, the future was whatever he decided to make of it.