Chapter 23
To the Future
Derek Maison rolled over in his bed, pushing the covers over his head to block out the sun light that was shining through his bedroom window.
Too…early… He thought to himself.
Before he could fall back asleep, he was attacked by a silent figure. Derek reacted perfectly; he wrapped his bed sheet around the attacker and tickled his sides, causing the attacker to laugh hysterically.
"Daddy!! Hahaha! Stop!!"
Derek grinned and stopped his attack and pulled off the bed sheet, revealing the seven year old Cory Maison, grinning up at him.
The boy had grown so much in the last four years. He was standing a little less than four feet, with a toned muscle structure. His short brown hair was spiked up, and he wore a white bandana over his forehead. He was wearing a black training Gi with a white sash around his waist.
"Daddy, wake up! It's time to train!" Cory demanded, shaking his father.
Derek, who had fallen back onto his comfortable mattress, shook his head, "It's too early to train, Cory…go back to sleep…"
Cory frowned. "Da-addy! Come on! You gotta get up! Aunty Liz is coming to visit, remember? You said we were gonna train early today! You said!"
Derek sighed, but couldn't help but smile, "Alright, alright…" He rose from his bed and stretched, "Go eat breakfast and I'll be out in a minute,"
"Yay!" Cory ran out of the room and into the kitchen, leaving Derek to shake his head with a smile.
Four years…where has the time gone?
The day after Corey's funeral, Derek, Liz, and a few others took Corey's body to the spot where Jade was buried, and buried him next to her. Derek had claimed this spot to be the Maison family burial site, and wanted Corey to be here, as well. Corey's sword, the Ragnarok, was placed right behind his tombstone.
During the next year, Derek helped Liz and Kurama set up a new order in the world: The Peace Keepers. It was an organization to help keep the peace between the humans and the demons that were now mixed as one. It was too late for the Human and Demon World to go back as two separate plains, so it was decided that they would remain as one world.
Liz was elected president of the Peace Keepers and to be the representative for all the humans. She, Derek, and all the other rebel warriors helped create a new city, one that would hold the headquarters for the Peace Keepers. It would also mark the new territory for the mixed human and demon companionship. She was happy doing it and glad that she could make a difference.
Kurama was elected as the representative of the demons. He had wanted Derek to do it, but Derek respectively declined. He wanted to raise his son in the home that he and Jade and built all those years ago, and being a political figure just wasn't going to do it.
Koenma also helped out as much as he could. Most people knew of Spirit World's existence now, but they had closed off the area gates to the world so that no one could enter unless they were either invited or dead. It had to be done. Humans and demons alike shouldn't know what the afterlife would hold.
After a few months of living with the rebels, Derek had gone off to his old home and rebuilt. Time had done a number on the cabin, but after a few months of hard work it was back to being livable again. He took Cory there and the two were living happily; training everyday and teaching Cory the ways of the world. Liz would also stop by as much as she could, helping with Cory's education, but those times were few and far in between.
Today, however, Liz had managed to get some time to herself, so she was coming to visit the Maison home. That was going to be in the afternoon, so Cory had insisted they do their daily training early in the morning.
Derek looked at himself in the mirror after his morning shower. He looked just as he did four years ago…a couple grey hairs, but nothing too noticeable. After a quick shave, he changed into his own black Gi and walked into the kitchen, where Cory had already made some toast. Derek smiled at his son and started cooking some bacon and eggs, and after a quick breakfast the two were outside.
Derek picked up his shinai and swung the bamboo sword a couple of times and then looked at his son, who had picked up his own.
"Ready, Cory?" Derek asked, holding his sword at ready.
"Yep!" Cory replied, doing the same.
And the two began their morning practice. Cory's improvement grew dramatically every day. Derek knew he would be a powerful warrior, and probably end up joining the Peace Keepers soon enough. Until then, Derek would just prepare him the best he could for the inevitable battles he'd have to face. It would be too good to be true if every demon decided to live in harmony with humans, but one day…maybe. Just maybe.
******
"Don't you ever stop for one day, Derek?"
Derek and Cory stopped their training and looked over to see Liz, smiling over at them with her arms crossed.
Derek laughed, "Not with this kid around,"
Liz had matured even more over the past four years. Being the representative of all humans was a tough responsibility, he was sure, but she handled it with perfection. She wore her long hair in a braid, and she was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt, unlike the last time Derek saw her. Last time she had on a full business suit. It was nice seeing her the way he remembered, back in the days before Darkine had come along.
"Aunty Liz!" Cory cried out with glee, dropping his shinai and running up to her. He jumped up and Liz caught him, giving him a tight hug.
"Hey there, kiddo! You're looking tough," She grinned and looked over at Derek, "And you haven't changed a bit, of course."
Derek shrugged, "Gotta keep in shape…otherwise Cory there will be teaching me a lesson or two."
Liz laughed, "That's right. You better watch out," She smiled and put Cory down, who was running around now, showing off.
"Aunty Liz! Aunty Liz! Look what I can do!" He called out. He held out his hand and suddenly a blaze of fire erupted around his fist, "Fist of the Mortal Flame!" He jumped into the air and shot down to the ground, punching the hard soil and causing a small crater to appear. He jumped back up and looked back at Liz, who was clapping,
"Wow, Cory! That's amazing!" She said, smiling wide.
Cory nodded with pride and looked over at Derek, who was also smiling and nodding with approval.
"Go wash up, Cory. I'm going to go and start lunch." Derek said. It was already noon. He hadn't even noticed.
"Okay!" and the young boy ran into the house.
Liz chuckled and walked over to Derek, giving him a hug, "How're you doing, Derek? It must get quiet around here with just you and Cory."
Derek smiled. "I like quiet…not that I get much with Cory." He laughed, "But things are good. Those academic books you dropped off are paying off with Cory's studies. Thanks."
Liz nodded, "Not a problem."
"How're things going in the city?"
"Not too bad. The construction is almost complete with only a few setbacks but nothing to substantial. The Peace Keeper's Tower is almost done, too." Liz replied, walking back to the cabin next to Derek.
"I see," said Derek with a nod, "No demons giving you too much trouble, is there?"
Liz chuckled. "Nothing we can't handle…oh! I forgot to tell you!" She started digging in her pocket, and pulled out a letter, handing it to Derek. He read over it and his jaw nearly dropped,
"Evan and Ellen are getting married?!"
Liz laughed. "Yeah, isn't it amazing?"
"I thought Ellen hated Evan!"
"You need to pay more attention, Derek Maison." Liz smirked, "After the war, Evan finally worked up the courage to ask Ellen out on an actual date, and one thing led to another, and a month ago he popped the question."
Derek grinned and pocketed the invitation to the wedding, "Good for them. I'll be there for sure,"
Liz smiled, "Good. I'm going to be her maid of honor."
"I'd hope so! She is your best friend, after all,"
The two shared a laugh and walked inside. Cory was taking a bath, so Derek began preparing lunch. Liz sat down and the two chatted for a little while longer. Ten minutes later, all three of them were sitting down at the table, eating sandwiches.
As they ate, Derek couldn't help but remember his time in the strange forest when he and Corey were searching for the mystical ore that would help re-forge Corey's sword. In a time when Jade and John were still alive, and Corey had never gone into the future. Had Darkine never come, all three of them would still be here, probably enjoying a lunch similar to this one.
"Derek?" Liz asked, snapping Derek's attention back to reality.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright? You started zoning out,"
Derek cleared his throat and smiled, "Yeah I'm fine Liz. Don't worry about me,"
The rest of the day passed by quickly enough. Derek and Liz caught up on events in the city and what was happening with all of the rebel fighters. Logan had retired from military life and settled down. He was now the father of a pair of twin girls. Frank was now ranked a general and was one of the first commanding officers of the Peace Keepers. Evan and Ellen were both busy with their own wedding plans, as well as the construction of the new city. They were both still in the military, but not doing nearly as much as Frank, who was also to be Evan's best man at the wedding.
A bit of sad news finally came from Liz. Arthur had passed away. The old man seemed as spry as the rest of the world when Darkine had finally been defeated, but it was finally his time. He had gone peacefully in his sleep. Derek was thankful he was at least able to see the end to the war before he left.
Soon, it was early evening, and Derek and Liz were busy making dinner while Cory got ready for bed. As Derek was just about ready to serve, a knock was heard from his door.
"What the--?" Derek asked aloud, looking over to Liz, who merely shrugged.
"Don't look at me."
The two walked over to the door, but Cory had made it there first and opened it up. There stood both Koenma and Kurama, smiling.
"Good evening, all." Said Koenma.
Derek grinned. "I hope you're not here to tell us it's our time,"
The four adults laughed and Derek invited the two in.
"So this is your home, Derek," Kurama said, "I've never gotten a chance to actually see it."
Derek smiled. "Yeah. It's small, but works fine for me and the little guy over there,"
Cory frowned. "I'm not little!"
Everyone laughed again, and they all sat down for dinner. Derek and Liz served up the pork roast, potatoes, and some wine for the adults. They all ate and chatted.
"So, not that I'm complaining or anything, but what brings you two here?" Derek asked Kurama and Koenma, "Nothing is happening with Spirit World, is it?"
Koenma shook his head, "No, not at all. It's just it's been four years since we've all been together, we thought we'd drop by and say hello."
Kurama cleared his throat and wiped his mouth, "I was told the ambassador of the humans was taking a little break, so I figured the demon ambassador could do the same."
"Why not!" said Liz, smiling.
All five of them talked and reminisced over dinner, then moved into the living room where they would be more comfortable. Derek started a fire, and over a couple glasses of wine they shared stories of the last four years, and of times passed.
Finally, Derek noticed what time it was and smiled over at his son.
"Bed time, kiddo." Derek said.
Cory pouted, "Aww…but everyone's here, daddy! Can't I stay up a little later?"
"I don't know, Cory. You've been up all day. You need your sleep."
"Can I at least have a story before bedtime?" Cory pleaded, walking over and sitting on his father's lap.
"Cory…"
"Pleeeease, daddy?"
Derek glanced around to see all of his friends smiling at him, and finally he sighed and gave in. "Alright. One story then bedtime."
"Yay!" Cory cheered, getting more comfortable.
"What story do you want to hear?" Derek asked.
"I wanna hear about how you, Aunty Liz, Kurama, and Uncle Corey all saved the world!"
Derek glanced over at Liz, and the two exchanged warm smiles. It was a story that had been edged into Cory's brain since the day after the war. Some of the details were edited a bit, but it was mostly all fact.
"Alright, kiddo," Derek watched as Liz, Kurama, and Koenma all got comfortable, and he cleared his throat,
"The story starts eighteen years ago, when your Uncle Corey was transported through time after the Demon World Tournament and into the future…where your mother, Aunty Liz, and I had started the Rebel Army…"
******
After about twenty minutes of the story, Koenma had quietly left the warm cabin and stepped outside. The king of Spirit World then held up his hand and a wave of blue energy appeared in the air. He stepped through it, and then found himself in the middle of the Spirit Palace. He brushed his bangs out of his eyes and started to move towards the throne room.
"How are they?"
Koenma spun around to see a young man wearing a black leather jacket and a pair of fingerless leather gloves. He wore a pair of blue jeans, and even though his back was to him, Koenma could tell he was wearing a brown t-shirt beneath the jacket. His dark brown hair was spiked, and his hands were at his side.
"They're happy."
The young man turned around, revealing a goatee the same color as his hair, with a slight tint of red on the sides. He smiled at the king, and then turned back around and walked off towards the endless plains of the Spirit World…
