Chapter 18
The wedding day had arrived.
The three young men sat alone in their dressing room making quick alterations to the regal attire Prince A-Drei had fashioned for them".
"Do I really look good" L-Elf asked his brothers half fearing the answer they would give him. Stress was eatting at the poor young man while both A-Drei and Haruto appeared both calm and collected.
"You look fine" A-Drei smiled sitting back in his chair placing his feet up on the table in front of him.
"How are you two remaing so calm!?" L-Elf asked of A-Drei and Haruto wondering if even they knew the answer.
"It's simple" A-Drei looked L-Elf clear in the eyes "don't think of today. Think of tomorrow; and the next day; and the day after that".
L-Elf seemed puzzled looking to Haruto for clarification of his mentor's advice.
"Do you and Shoko-oneechan plan on getting a house? having children? watching them grow up together? growing old together?" Haruto asked.
"Of course we do" L-Elf answered defensively "we love each other".
"Forget your nerves. Get the picture in your mind of Shoko-oneechan and you, together through all time. Hand-in-hand".
L-Elf began to trail off deep within his own mind's eye. He saw her there holding their first child. Saw her there holding him tight on the swing behind their new house as they watched their children play. The stress left his body until he was snapped out of it by a huge smack on the back.
"Now you're learning" A-Drei chuckled as he put his arm around his protegee.
"When did he get up" L-Elf thought not realizing just how long he was actually lost in thought.
"It's time" Haruto announced with a loving smile on his face as he opened not just the door to the room but the door that would usher them into the next phase of their very lives "let's go claim our futures".
L-Elf and A-Drei happily followed his lead.
There they stood among all the former students and friends they now saw in everyday life. Akira's brother and his new wife, baby in hand in the front row looking on proudly. The energy of the room filling the three young men with a nervous new energy, but a good one filled with hope and love.
The music began to play. The time was at hand. The three men turned to the aisle, looking on to the the double doors just a short distance away. Anticipating the sight they were about to see.
The doors opened. Gasps filled the room.
"They look beautiful" a whisper cut the air of silence in the room.
All three ladies dressed in almost exactly the same dress; almost. A flowing white gown accentuated with light pastel accents; green for Saki, violet for Akira and red for Shoko. The very colors of the Valvrave Units they pilot.
"Camilla is here by my side" Saki thought to herself; here on what she imagined to be the greatest day of her life.
Smiles and gasps of awe filled the room. Those of the three groom brightest of them all as their brides stood beside them taking their hands.
The minister spoke of the great war and the trials and tribulations encountered of creating the Brave New World before them. Spoke of the bravery and service of the six youngsters before them. Heroes not just in time of war but also in time of peace and of 'd go on to speak of the possibilities of the future that they'd face together. Of the new private worlds they'll go on to create together. No longer six separate lives but now three joined lives and in some ways just one. Asking if any would choose to stand out against any or all of these unions the church fell into total silence. All was well this day they thought as the wedding proceeded and the three pairs of lovers spoke their vows.
"I know in some ways it seems we've just met" Akira begins "in others though it seems we've known each other forever". "I've found forever and I choose it easily over yesterday, my Prince".
A-Drei returned the loving gaze of his Akira "When we first met I was afraid" A-Drei almost confessed "afraid of feelings I'd never experienced before; about no one I'd ever met before. It frightened me." A-Drei smiled content "You gave me not only the bravery to face my fears but the realization that the fears were only in my head, not in my heart. You are my heart, my Princess Akira".
L-Elf looked to Shoko "I know I've never been good with words" L-Elf began. "In the past I've suffered all my life. I've never experienced love or family until you came along". He continued a tear forming in his eye "you loved me despite all my failings and even in some ways because of them". "I will always love you for that my darling Shoko and for the hope you've given me; that you give me every day". "I hope to do you proud in your choice to choose me as your husband".
Shoko went off her planned vows. It took her days to write them. Wrote them from her heart but after what she just heard she couldn't answer with stock answers. She had to speak from the heart.
"You do me proud every day" Shoko began "When we first met it was on opposite sides of the battlefield. When we first got to know each other, you comforted me when my father died. Worrying about not only my feelings but of those close to me". Shoko reached up and wiped his tear. "You sacrificed all again and again for my happiness not even realizing that you were the very happiness I needed". "I love you my darling L-Elf. You thank me for making a choice, if there was actually a choice to make it was a selfish one on my part as I can't picture life without you by my side".
Saki Rukino's heart began to pound. She'd confessed a lot to him over the last few weeks but no confession as weighty as this. She took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Haruto, when you first proposed to me I turned you down. When you proposed out of obligation I feared you loved another. You proposed out of obligation and guilt. I couldn't accept that despite all the love I had for you in my heart. I put on a brave face and sent you to her. Then spent the next few hours crying in Camilla's embrace. I promised myself I'd keep fighting to win your love freely. It took long enough but I finally did. I hope I still have it after this confession" Saki began to tear up.
Haruto smiled, tears in his eyes "when I was hurting you lovingly gave of yourself to make me feel alright. When we had our first date, in the cinema, I was about to ask you then and there not out of obligation or duty but out of wanting to take you into my arms and never let you go. When the alarms sounded ending our date I began to think she's an Idol, a Superstar she would never say yes to me out of love. So I asked out of duty thinking it would be an easier way for you to accept me."
Saki snapped to attention wanting to speak but also wanting to hear what more Haruto had to say.
"I was crying as well when you sent me away"."I loved you back then with all my heart and if it's possible I love you much, much more every day. I will always love you and will always keep my promise to you, my sweet Miss Saki Rukino. my sweet Mrs. Saki Tokishima" he corrected himself happily.
Saki didn't even wait for the minister's announcement throwing herself into the arms of her new husband, all her heart and soul in her kiss "and I to you my dear sweet boy" looking deep into his eyes correcting herself too "my sweet husband" she whispered breathily.
The room erupted in applause despite the fact the minister wasn't done speaking. He waited till it quieted down before attempting to speak again.
"In the name of the Kametsuki that gave us hope and freedom. I pronounce you husbands and wives. Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides". The minister never realized he was giving permission to the wrong three. As it would be the brave young Oneechan Thrillogy that would seize their first married kisses from their three young men quite happily.
The celebration would continue all night. Rion-sensei would catch all three bouquets it would suggest she trained hard for it. Through great effort Takumi-sensei managed to catch all three garters. It was obvious to all that this time the tradition was more a premonition than a superstition. There were rumors of the two but this event seemed to prove them more fact than idle gossip. That's a story for another time though.
"We did it!" Akira chimed to her two sisters enthusiastically.
"No, you did it!" Shoko smiled proud of her dear dear "big sister".
Saki continued "It was you who brought Haruto back to me" Saki hugged Akira tight.
"You who brought L-Elf and I together despite our 'obliviousness' as you put it" Shoko giggled.
"And you that brought happiness back to a sad young man" Saki spoke of A-Drei.
"You were always afraid of getting involved with people my dear sweet oneechan, but look at you now. You created six happy lives" Shoko showered Akira with praise.
"Seven" Saki confided confusing Shoko for a moment Before the happy laughter began.
"Eight", slyly added Akira, leaving her sisters first speechless then extremely happy before adding "nine if A-Drei gets me the elephant he promised". Sending her sisters into a complete fit of belly-laughter.
"You better hurry and catch up Shoko-oneechan" Akira added "our kids need another friend to play with".
"I'm working on it!" Shoko laughed.
"Now where are we going on our honeymoon" Akira asked.
"We should ask the guys" Saki added flashing Shoko a concerned look "Should we tell her?" Saki whispered asked her Shoko-oneechan.
"We should let her have this one" Shoko responded "After all we did take the circus from her".
Both laughed as they hugged their big sister tight.
"Let's go ask the boys where we're going" Shoko whispered to her sisters happily".