Chapter 24, Two in One

I open my eyes to see me in my room, everyone huddled around my bed. The first thing that registers is the scent of roses and lavender.

"What's going on?" I asked as I yawned.

"Haruki!!" The girls exclaimed and ran for me.

They were hugging me and crying and it seems that I have truly worried them. As I rub their heads Ryu signals me to the side and I nod.

"I'll be right back." I said and went to the bathroom and Ryu soon followed.

"Listen. Takeshi and Haruka have met up. They say that things are getting difficult on their end." He said and I nodded.

"We'll depart for the West." I told him and recalled something. "Let's head back first."

"Something up?" Storm asked when we got back.

"Nothing it's just... we've found Haruka!" Ryu stated.

"Ehhh?!" They all made a dumbfounded sound.

"Where?!" Rose exclaimed excitedly.

"In the West. I'll head there soon." I stated.

"Geez! You only just recovered!!" Bort snapped.

"I may have returned but you do know that I won't last long." I said with a look at Lita and Ryu who n

know what I'm talking about.

"Haruki... what if we use Horologium's power to buy some time?" Ryu asked, he knows it's impossible but still asks.

"It won't work. But right now, I'm still stable, so while I'm still stable. I have to get to where Haruka is." I answered and looked at Tsubaki-san then spoke Aerial Language. "Did you find any?"

"Only one." Taking a cue, he answered in Aerial Language and with a sad tone. "It was found by accident when a member of the search team fell off the ship that had departed Morganite Town.."

"Not far from here. I'll get going then." I smiled and Aria grabbed my hand with a scary smile. "Ummm... Aria-san?"

"Sit down right now." She said woth a horrifying grin and I felt the cold wind blow behind here to see the face of the other fiancées as scary as hers.

I sat down on the bed and as I sat down Yue put a thermometer in my mouth. Rue and Flora left to get something. Asami handed me my clothes which have been cleaned. As I'm about to change, Lita grabs my hand with a scary expression.

"You know what will happen if you teleport away right?" Ella asked scarily so I nodded my head and bathed.

Looks like Lucia had the bath prepared for me. The girls are so sweet. I have to give them a reward later. I soak in the bath and let out a sigh of relief. After my bath I dry off and change.

I wear a black shirt and black pants then slip on the boots I got from Taurus. I wear the coat Leon gave me and wrap around the scarf Aries gave me. I fix Capricorn's glasses before wearing my necklace again. I look at myself in the mirror and tie my hair in a tail down my back. I smile and stepped out.

Outside everyone has started eating and drinking. It seems my room has been turned into a meeting room of sorts. On my bed, my favourite dishes have been laid. I sit down on my bed and eat trying to ignore the frosty glares of the fiancées. I see Neph smirking before I feel a strange energy pulse through me.

Did I imagine it? No. That was real. And whatever it was, I'm certain it's not good. Haruka. My heart is filled with a pang of worry.

I finish my meal quickly and am about to leave when Lita stops me.

"Here. You forgot something." She said and handed me a bracelet. The Moonlet. "Take care."

"I'll be off." I smiled and opened a gate.

In the shores of Morganite Town, I activate Dorado's skill and dive into the water. I see the ruins in a distance. Completely preserved but covered in bits of sea grass and coral. Then my fave starts to worry, this isn't the same as the other three. Something's off. The pillars aren't made from the same thing the others were and the pedestal has two holes. I guess I'll know when I activate it. I see the pedestal and read what's written on it.

"She holds the jar which pours out endless water, he was slain by the Hercules, together, they serve the Hero in their new forms." I have to think for a minute.

Just as I was about to change my mind, that this wasn't a Zodiac, the Aquarius and Leo keys shined. Hmm... Leo and Aqua are sending me a message. I guess I'll try their keys out.

I held the keys and inserted them into the hole and the magical circle activated and when I opened my eyes, a beautiful lake was in view. Crystal blue and to the left, a forest green and lush. Fir and juniper and pine, towering high. At the center of the lake, a small island with a willow tree. The lake is dotted with lily pads and lotuses. To left side, I see a mansion, made of what I can only tell to be spruce wood. It looks like it's two or maybe three stories tall. There was another thing, to the otger side of the island island, there was a strange area. A cube shaped structure. As I step off the magical circle. A girl greets me.

She had deep blue hair let down her back. Crystal blue eyes and white skin. Dressed in the same dress Yuri was in. On her ribbon the Aquarius Sign. When she opens her mouth she speaks in a clear, singsong voice.

"Welcome, my name is Beta Aquarii, Zodiac No. 12, please call me Riri." She smiled gently. "I'm the caretaker of the Lake House of the Moon."

"Hello. My name is Haruki Morganite Tsuki. Nice to meet you, Riri." I answered her gently and her eyes fastened on my wrist where the Moonlet was.

"Master, you have collected three of the fifteen Zodiacs. I shall hand mine over gladly." She smiled and handed me the piece of the moonlet.

"Thank you." I answered.

"As of now, ownership of Lake House of the Moon as well as Zodiac No. 12 codenamed Beta Aquarii has official been transferred to Haruki Morganite Tsuki." She said. "Allow me to show you around."

The lake was beautiful, and inside the waters were fishes, mostly coy, but truly beautiful. The lake house was even more so. The first floor has plush coaches and a fluffy rug that you'd think you'd sink when you stepped on it. Bookshelves and dressers were present as well. A fully furnished kitchen and bathroom. Plush coaches and a fire place with books and bear skin rug was the thing that greeted you when you entered the second floor. There were curtains maid from material so soft and silky I can't describe it. It's diferent from our silk, that's for sure. The third flooor hosted bed rooms and baths. The top, the forth floor was an observatory. You could watch the whole island from above. There were railings to prevent you from falling and they were decorated with flowers of pink and red and blue hues. It's so beautiful.

As I turned my head to the area on the other side I heard a loud yawn and turned my head to see a man with deep red hair with scarlet eyes and tanned skin dressed in the same attire Ray and Gin were dressed in walk over from underneath a tree.

"Oh. Rin, you're awake." Riri smiled.

"Oh? Riri, who's this?" He asked, his voice was a little playful.

"The person who now has ownership of my Lake House. Haruki Morganite Tsuki." She answered gently.

"Hmm? Four Zodiacs including the Lake House." He looked me up and down then smiled brightly. "Alright then!! I hereby transfer the ownership of Hangar of Cancer as well as Zodiac No. 4 Codenamed, Beta Cancri to Haruki Morganite Tsuki."

"So quickly?!" I exclaimed.

"I'm sure fate brought Master here." He said.

"Let me show you around!" He smiled and pushed me towards the Hangar.

It was huge inside! There were large gates and inside according to Rin are lots of ships and vessels that Tohru-jii-chan made. The greatest is the Hero's Ship, Argonaut which according to Tohru-jii-chan when he talked to Rin was a 'ship that crosses borders'. I don't exactly know what it means but according to him it also sails across the skies so I immediately ask how to activate it. If I can activate it, I could use it to get to the West.

"That's the problem. It requires the three Familiars which are Carina, Vela and Puppis in order to function properly." He stated. "It also requires Pyxis to navigate, the three said Familiars are here, only Pyxis isn't."

"Then there's no problem. I have Pyxis so we have everything necessary to set sail." I answered.

"There's also the issue of the ship require a key to activate it." He stated.

"What kind?" I asked him.

"Tohru-sama said it was the Twelve Gates." He said. "That's all."

"Then we don't have any problems." I answered as I waved the twelve keys infront of him. "Rin, can the ship be readied now?"

"Y-yes!!" He answered. "I'll have it redied immediately!!"

"Now then. I have to ask." I turned to the two. "Why are the Hangar and the Lake House joined?"

"They joined around five hundred years ago, the area where the Hangar's Teleportation Circle was located was destroyed a rather powerful magic." Rin answered. "By sheer luck, I met Riri and we joined the two and changed the Teleportation Circle."

"I see." I looked around then recalled. "What happened to the Familiar that guards the Hangar and Lake House?"

"The one who guarded the Hangar was Leo Minor but something happened and his Medium was damaged. I have it here." He offered me the Medium. It was a ring with a lion head.

"Here is the Medium for Cetus, the Whale." Aqua handed me the medium which was a whale fashioned on a necklace.

"It'll take some time but I should be able to repair the Medium." I said and changed the Cetus into a key. "Meanwhile, please join the Hangar and Lake House with the other Zodiacs."

"We understand." They answered.

It'll be hard to fix a broken Medium but I might be able to fix it with some time. Let's hope the ship's ready by then.

As we headed for the coordinates of Arena, Library and Warehouse, my thoughts turn to Haruka and Takeshi. I hope they're doing fine.