Chapter Fifty-Nine - Surprise

George felt a wet cloth on his temple. With his eyes still closed, he heard Kagome shouting at someone. She was clearly trying to talk in low tones but failed miserably. The cool breeze and the tatami mat told him he was still at Shippou's. The memory of what transpired before everything went dark came back with full force.

George's eyes snapped open and he saw Kagome's worried face hovering over him.

"Johji, Koibito, how do you feel?" her small hand was combing his red hair, calming his spirit. "I told them it was a very sick joke."

"I've already apologized, what else you want?"

George quickly put himself in a sitting position after hearing the voice. It just wasn't possible. He saw his body, he mourned for over a year. Hell, Percy still can't look at him in the eyes for more than a few seconds. His head was spinning, he felt nauseous.

"What- How- I- I-" he tried to formulate a coherent question but failed. He was still facing his wife, not daring to look to his right. He didn't want to found out it was only his imagination, that he cracked just a few days before his 'wedding' party.

Kagome pecked his lips, bringing George back to reality. Her hand rested on the back of his head and she was looking at him straight in the eyes.

"It wasn't my idea but I can't say I didn't have a finger on this. He had been eager to talk with you too, you know? He has been bugging me and Shippou for weeks. Thank Kami I have put those charms around our house. I still have to find how he managed to cross the gates between this and the nether world." She frowned, wondering about the question.

"Being a war hero has its perks, sister. Tricking some lesser Gods into a wager, too." the owner of the voice chuckled. "Come on, Gred, it's me. I missed you, mate."

George finally turned to meet the face he missed more than anything in the world. He was exactly like he remembered, from the bright red hair to the toothy smile. He wore a gray robe and he understood why Kagome asked him to bring some spare clothes. George was speechless, not knowing what to say, how to act. He tried to fight the image of his dead body in Percy's arms from flooding his mind but it was hard.

He raised his hand and touched Fred's face. His skin was warm. All the freckles were in the right place. The hair was wrong, however. A bit longer than it was almost two years ago, not quite like he was using now, but very close.

"How?"

"Some crazy dark magic, mate, I don't even want to know what they did it. It was weird enough to see Shippou digging my grave. Do you know how wrong it felt?"

"Oh, Fred, I can't believe you are here. This is the third best thing ever." George hugged Fred tightly, fighting the tears that were menacing to fall from his eyes.

"Third? Why am I so low on this rank?"

"Some dead bloke can't compete with my wife and unborn daughter. Sorry, mate. Why you came back, why are you here? Not that I'm complaining, but since you didn't show up like Nearly Headless Nick I assumed you just made the passage, went to wherever dead people go."

"I did. I mean, I lived my life the fullest, I had no ties to keep me around, but when you die there are some ways to keep tabs on your loved ones, at least until it's time for your reincarnation. It's not easy and you can't do it all the time, something about interfering with the living, I don't really know. I met a monk that have been dead for so long he forgot his own name, he that was checking on his friends and called me. Imagine my surprise when I saw the friend he was checking was clearly interested and giving you not so subtle hints and you didn't even ask her out?! Have you learned nothing from your handsome twin?"

"I think I did a pretty good job by myself, thank you so much, Fred. Don't you think, love?"

No answer. George turned and found Kagome's seat empty.

"She left a couple minutes ago. To give us privacy, I think. She's great. And crazy, for dealing with your rubbish for so long."

"I'm sorry if I felt your death!"

"You would have done better by living, not moping for a year like a little girl who lost her cat!"

Siblings who don't argue aren't real siblings.

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