Eclipse

Chapter 12

The Next Day: Grant's POV

"Dad, I'm-" Before I could finish my sentence, my dad grabbed me in a hug. He squeezed the air out of me for a moment before letting go. I laughed, punching his arm and ducking before he could try and attack back.

"Aw no fair you're only faster than me because you're younger."

"Sorry old man."

"Hey!"

"You're the one who implied it!"

"No! I implied you're YOUNGER than me I did not imply that I'm OLD!"

"Sureeeeeee. Anyway, I'm going with Eclipse to the palace again."

"Again? Are you sure that you should be doing that?"

"Worried?"

"Well, of course I am how can I not be? Shoyo and Tobio told me about all of this. And what if you or Eclipse get caught or questioned? Doesn't it look suspicious that the prince is letting you two in?"

"Well, I was worried about that too. But the king and queen don't know who we are. So for all they know we're just friends with him."

"...Still doesn't sound like a good idea but, I couldn't stop you two if I tried, huh?"

"Nope, sorry dad."

"You better come back tonight or I'm getting the whole ocean to drown the village."

"Dad.."

"Just be safe." He said, making me chuckle slightly. I gave him a reassuring hug before heading out to the inn room Eclipse and her dads were in. I knocked, waiting patiently until Eclipse opened the door with a smile.

"Grant! Ready??"

"Mhm." She grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the palace. The guards were looking annoyed that we kept showing up each day the past few days, but they could do nothing but let us in. Eclipse and I were a bit surprised Akihiko wasn't nearby to greet us, but maybe he wasn't expecting either of us today. 

"Hey Grant, why don't you go find him while I go talk to Asahi?" Eclipse asked me. I nodded in approval as she ran off. She's been busy talking with the servants, and I knew why. I just hope they were all trustworthy.

Once Eclipse was out of view, I wandered to try and find the prince. I passed by a servant and asked where he was, just being told his bedroom. Okay that didn't really help. This place was giant and I had no idea where his bedroom was. After coming across another servant, I was finally taken to the right room.

"Hey Akihiko, you in there." I asked, knocking on the door. I waited a few moments before hearing a sniffle. Was he crying or something? I opened the door, looking around the Giant room before seeing the prince curled up on the bed. I stepped in and closed the door, walking over to him slowly.

"Hey... you alright..??"

"Grant??"

"Yeah, it's me.."

"Hi... is uh, is Eclipse here too?"

"Mhm. But she went to talk to Asahi or something."

"Okay.."

"Are you okay?" I asked since he was curled up on the bed with his back facing me. He just nodded slightly, which made me sigh. I sat down on his bed, reaching out to touch his arm to try and roll him over. But when I touched him, he flinched.

"S-sorry, you startled me." He mumbled quietly as I pulled my hand away.

"Seriously, are you okay."

"Mhmm.."

"Then sit up and look at me." I said sternly. Akihiko stayed still a moment before slowly getting up, looking like he was in pain. Once he was fully sat up, I noticed the shirt he had chosen to wear was much less sheer than the normal dress shirts he had.

As carefully as I could, I grabbed the bottom of his shirt and slowly lifted it. Seeing heavy bruises lining his side and across to his stomach and back. A large cloth patch over something on his back too.

"...What's this."

"Uh.. I fell."

"Liar. Come on."

"What??"

"We're going to fix you up." I said, Akihiko struggling to get up. I don't think I've ever had bruises to that degree, so it must really hurt to move. I sighed, picking him up and trying to make sure I wasn't holding him where any bad injuries were.

"W-what are you doing I can walk myself ya know.."

"Okay, then do it."

"..."

"Thought so." I said, carrying him outside to the gardens and by the fountain. I sat him down so he was sitting on the edge of the fountain. I asked him to turn his back to me, and he slowly did so. I pulled his shirt back up and removed the cloth patch. Frowning to see some sort of terrible scar trying to heal, and looked like it was still bleeding.

I decided to not question what it was, and just dipped my hand into the fountain's water before gently pouring it over the wound. My eyes watched the water trickle down his back, the scarring wound healing quickly and disappearing to almost nothing.

"Woah woah wait what are you doing-??"

"I'm cleaning up your injuries." I said simply.

"...You, how- I don't--???"

"Calm down or the magic will repel."

"...Magic?"

"Yes."

"You aren't some kinda witch or whatever. Are you?"

"No."

"....Then.. How are you using magic."

"Mermaids and mermen have magic. But we use it for healing purposes."

"....I- mermaids... YOU'RE A-"

"Shh!" I shushed him quietly by reaching around and putting my hand over his mouth so he wouldn't shout it loud enough for any guards nearby to hear. I slowly removed my hand and resumed helping him as he spoke in a quieter tone.

"S-sorry sorry! But I just... I thought you guys were just like.. myths!"

"No, we're real."

"Wow... that's.. incredible."

"Maybe once this is all over. You can live with my people."

"Huh?"

"There is a way to turn humans to mermaids. It'd be somewhere safe and somewhere the king and queen cannot reach you. You'd be safe."

Eclipse's POV

"Yamaguchi..??"

"Mhm..?" 

"Sorry... are you sleeping?"

"Yes, but it's okay. Come in, just be quiet." I slowly crept into the room. Walking over to Yamaguchi who sat up, being careful to not wake up Tsukishima who was asleep in the same bed next to him. I spoke in a whisper to avoid waking him up.

"Sorry, I'll be quick since I know you must be exhausted and I can see you two were uh... busy." I muttered, noticing a new 'bruise' on Yamaguchi's neck. I may only be 16 but don't think I haven't accidentally walked in on my dads or noticed the marks they left on each other... yuck. Yamaguchi blushed and smiled.

"Yeah yeah yeah hey our business, Eclipse."

"Of course it is I was just, noticing."

"Mhmmmmm."

"So. What happened yesterday?"

"...Well, remember I told you I'd talk to that guy?"

"The weird one who sees the future?"

"Yeah, him."

"Did you get to talk to him?"

"Yes."

"Perfect! Did he tell you anything??"