Chapter 22, Haruka's Brides

I sleepily open my eyes to find myself in my bed. I get up and when I do, I hear a scream of joy and I turn my head to see Aishea-san, Elsha-san, Rosa-san and Linlin-san running for me, their eyes filled with tears.

"Are you alright?" Aishea-san asks.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Elsha-san asks.

"Are you hungry?" Rosa-san asks.

"How do you feel?" Linlin-san asked.

"Etto..." I was taken by surprise and completely speechless.

"He'll be better with you four away from him." Elias-san stated. He was sitting on the sofa with Eugen-san and Klaus-san. "Maybe give him space to breath?"

"Yo, finally awake?" Jason asked as he talked with Ryusei-san on the sofa.

"How's Takeshi?" I asked as I propped myself against the frame of my bed.

"Still alive, thanks to you." His voice ran from the door and I saw him standing there, covered in bandages.

He sits down beside my bed and holds out his hands to me and I take them in my and grip them tightly, which tames him by surprise but he must know what's coming.

"If you dare to scare me like that again... I'll personally kill you myself!" I snapped at him. "Besides! I believe you promised Lillia you'd marry her right? So how good are you to her dead?!"

"No need to bring up Lillia..." He said somewhat defiant but apologetic. "I'm not leaving her, you, Haruki, and the others that easily."

"You better not. If Charles finds out you nearly died... well, let's say it'll be a fun show to watch." I said letting go of his hands and leaning my back against the frame.

"Yeah, yeah." He sighed. "So how are you doing?"

"I'm still alive." I answered. "But... it's obvious that the Titans are targeting Hermes Town. For what reason?"

"That's probably because of the thing that your ancestored buried here." Hermes answered as he sat perched at the windowsill.

"And that would be?" Klaus-san asked.

"A Gate. I think it was called the Planet Gate." He said and Takeshi and I nearly fell off the bed.

"A Gate is here?!" We exclaimed.

"Yes. It's under my town in a sealed room." He answered and I almost run off to go there.

"That explains everything. They want it? For what? To get to the Aerial Isles? To go somewhere in time or somewhere else?" Takeshi exclaimed.

"What is a Gate?" Priscilla-baa-san asked.

"The Gate is a bridge between places." I answered. "There were a few of them. The Gate in the Royal Capital of the Crystal Empire connected worlds and generations."

"It was called the Star Gate, this one is called the Planet Gate?" Hime-san asked.

"Hermes, what does the Planet Gate do?" I asked.

"I have no idea. All First Master said was that it connects one and all of the same line." He answered.

"Then it literally connects all who are born to the same family." I said as I tried to think and then it hits me. "The Planet Gate is probably special in the same way the Star Gate is. There must he a deeper meaning to it."

"But one things for sure." Takeshi said and I knew what he meant.

"It won't open for anyone who doesn't bare the blood of the Hero." We said.

"It also means it must be made from materials from another world." I said. "Meaning, this one is just as dangerous as the Star Gate and mist be destroyed."

"Can you do it?" Takeshi asked and I nodded.

"Hermes, take us there." I said but I couldn't move.

"For the rest of the day you are sentenced to bed rest. Both of you." Miyu-san said. "You haven't recovered enough yet."

"I guess we have no choice. I'll rest for a bit." I said as I laid my head down on the pillow and suddenly have to stiffle a laugh.

"Oh, is something wrong?" Linlin asked and I shook my head.

"I'm just thinking, if Eve was here, Takeshi would've been sent flying." I giggled.

"Oh? You think Charles wouldn't send you flying first?" He asked witha teasing tone.

"If Aria was here you'd have both been thrown pretty far." Ryusei said and suddenly the six of us laugh out loud. "I-if... it was D-Dia or Storm... you... both would be... dead by now! Hahahaha!!"

"T-that's..." I can't retort since I'm laughing my head off too.

"Are they your friends Haruka?" Aishea-san asked.

"Dia and Storm are, Aria is... Aria is my fiance." I answered bravely and Takeshi hugged me. "Hey, let go!!"

"You've finally grown up!" He exclaimed.

"Haruka... you were engaged?" Jason asked with an angry expression.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"Why you!!" He left crying and Veronica and Misa laughed.

"Excuse him. He has been rejected by every girl that asked him out." The two laughed.

"S-so, Haruka... was engaged?" I turned ny head to Elsha-san who was mumbling something underneath her breath and Linlin-san, Aishea-san and Rosa-san who were walking loops.

"Aria, Yue, Ella, Asami, Lita, Lucia, Rue and Flora. That makes seven right?" Takeshi asked and I nodded my head. "You both have seven fiancees. Only six more."

"Haru is supposed to have fifteen after all." I said and the four turned my direction.

"Haruka, if yoy don't mind. Can you take Linlin's hand in marriage?" Elias-san asked and I turned my head to see Linlin nodding her eith sparkly eyes.

"C-can I think it through first?" J asked and Takeshi slapped my back.

"Why think about? Haruki took the hands of his fiancees without thinking because he felt their love. Even if you don't love them yet being together with them will help." He said and I was really hesitant about it.

"Haruka, I'll wait for you to love me back so... please take my hand. No! Our hands in marraige." Linlin-san said.

"Ours?" Aishea-san tilted her head and I realized what she meant. Hmm... what should I do?

"Accept it dummy." Haruki's voice rang in my head and I was about to ask why when he answered. "Love grows over time. Even if you don't love them yet, the time that will pass by will help you. Just do it."

"Okay then." I answered and stood up and got out of my bed.

I kneeled down infront Linlin and spoke in a gentle tone. "Linlin-san, will you be my bride?" I asked and her eyes got teary.

"Y-yes." She answered and hugged me and as she hugged me my attention turned to the three other girls.

"If you wish, I'll gladly take yours too." I said and I offered them my hand. "I'll try my best to make you happy. If it's okay with you."

"Haruka!" The three came running with tears as they hugged me.

As the room was filled with warmth the first thing that came to mind was that I will protect them with all I have.