Thanks to my lioness sister Rachel Tooley for helping me!
Chapter Seventy-Four - P is for Past and for Present
George knew Percy was upset. It was stamped on his face. But what was the fun in making a surprise to his family if there was no surprise in it? Obviously, the fact a dead man, his twin, would attend his wedding would be enough of a surprise, but that's beside the point.
The Disillusionment charm was in place, hiding him. Fred has his hair perfectly combed to hide the fact he had both ears. The prank would work either if they realize it wasn't George with them or not.
The dinner happened on the same day of Mrs. Higurashi's arrival. After a stressful morning came an uneventful afternoon dedicated to plan and prepare for the upcoming event. The schedule was tight and Percy suggested to just open up to the whole family at once. For some cosmic alignment, or Easter Holidays, all the members were available that same night. Also, Mrs. Higurashi calming presence and Souta's chaotic one would help to lighten any moods.
"Do you want to give mum a heart attack?! I never agreed to help you with a prank!"
"It was a democracy!" rebounded the twins.
"And who in the bloody hell agreed with this?"
"George and I, of course," said Fred.
"Souta conceded it's a great introduction," added George.
"Mama H chose to abstain."
"Kagome didn't want to be involved."
"Majority won!"
Percy removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. George knew he was rethinking his decision to help them to smooth their mother but it was too late now. He also doubted Percy wouldn't hold his promise. He might have teased his older brother all of their lives but if there's something they could never say about Percy was that he wasn't truthful to his word, even when he was wrong, but that George preferred not to mention or remember.
"Mum's going to kill us three before the night ends. Why do I always get myself in these situations?" Percy murmured to himself but loud enough for the others to hear.
"Isn't that what people always cry about? Not being able to say goodbye to their loved ones? It's the perfect opportunity to do so," said Souta, who, until then, was only a spectator. The other three looked at the teen. "Everyone will eventually die, the only difference in this situation is that they will know how and when. Isn't it better this way?"
There was an unconformable silence in the room followed by the burst of laughs coming from the dead man himself. Fred couldn't control the tears coming from his eyes and he had to sit down before his knees failed him. Soon, Percy joined him.
George sat by Souta's side and whispered, "Thank you." When Souta only raised an eyebrow, he completed. "Percy was there with him in his last moments, it's to him he said his last words. We had to fight him to make Percy let go of his body so we could treat his injuries. He was never the same after that and this means a closure to him more than to anyone else."
"When Kagome graduated from high school," said Souta without context. "She spent several days sitting in front of the Bone-Eater Well. One day, mom asked me to clean the well house and I saw in the bottom of the well several letters she send to her friends in the past. She told them how was her life in those three years and how much she would miss them but she couldn't wait for the magic to come back to life. Kagome never looked back after that. My sister had to tell goodbye to the wind because she had no other option. You have a chance very few ever had or ever will have. Don't let them waste the opportunity with grief and regrets."
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