Eclipse

Chapter 23

Kenma's POV

"Hey... Kuroo??" I said, Kuroo walking over to me. I pointed down into the water, seeing what looked like two mermaids. Kuroo leaned over the edge a bit more, cursing his eyesight since, well, your eyesight declines when you go blind in one eye. 

"Ah, I see now. It's Eclipse. And someone else with her, slow the ship!" Kuroo shouted. The others pulled the sails, the ship slowing as Kuroo had them lower some nets. Eclipse reached up and situated herself in it and helped her friend into it as well. We hauled the two up, helping them onto the deck.

Once they were on the ship's deck, both of them took a few moments to turn back human so they wouldn't risk drying out. Eclipse stood up and introduced her friend who seemed shy. Eclipse smiled happily and gave me a hug, and then Kuroo.

"It has been a while since we have seen you." I said, Eclipse nodding.

"I know, you guys should have come to the port more often!"

"Sorry, we were a bit busy." 

"Well, I know you guys are always off adventuring. Say, you guys been in any good fights lately...???"

"Not particularly, why." I asked with curiosity. After quite a lengthy explanation from Eclipse and her friend, Kuroo and I looked at each other. I was personally not a huge fan of fights, but I know that normal pirates live for it. Kuroo seemed more than happy to join the fight. Especially for Shoyo and Tobio. 

Eclipse thanked us before asking what we had been up to. Kuroo led her to the captain's quarters to show her some of the new maps and treasures we found, Akihiko staying behind to look around. I offered to show him the deck. There of course was not much up here, but he seemed interested. Especially when I took him up to the crows nest. 

"Woah, we look so high up." He said with a smile. I smiled faintly and nodded as he looked over the edge.

"Careful kid, don't fall."

"I won't. So. You guys go out and explore all the time?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Do you ever get scared though? I mean, surely there are a lot of dangers out there and monsters and stuff."

"No, it's not that scary."

"Really?

"Well, I also have Kuroo with me."

"Is Kuroo your like..."

"Boyfriend or husband? No."

"Then.. what is he?"

"As a pirate, it is very complicated. We aren't exactly the marrying type."

"Oh, I see. So. You aren't afraid though, because you have someone you care about with you?"

"Mhm. And he cares about me. We protect each other." I said, the boy nodding in thought. I smiled faintly, knowing he clearly was having his own struggle with a relationship but I didn't know him, so I wouldn't ask. 

After a bit, the two said they should return to the water to not concern their other friends or family. Kuroo and I nodded and lowered them back into the water and made sure they didn't get too tangled in the nets before resuming our trip.

"Well, I'm quite excited for our fight upcoming, aren't you Kenma?" Kuroo asked me with a grin. I shrugged. As I said. Fighting isn't my thing, but Kuroo has been in countless ones and he was going to have far more fun than you think. Kuroo patted my head when I turned around, pulling him down by the collar of his captain's coat and kissed him, not caring if the other's saw us.

"Oo, what has you like this Kenma." He asked with a smirk. I mumbled a shut up and kissed him again until he picked me up and took me to the captain's quarters.

Akihiko's POV

"So, what'd you think of Kuroo and Kenma??" Eclipse asked as we headed back towards that underwater city. I smiled faintly with a shrug.

"Kuroo is, interesting. I liked Kenma though." I said, Eclipse laughing with a nod. I listened quietly while she talked about the things Kuroo had shown her. It sounded like a lot of treasure and maps. Which sounded just like what a pirate would hoard.

Once we were back at the city, we went back to where Grant and his dad were. I think his name was Akaashi, waited patiently for us before wanting to talk to Eclipse too in private about this whole thing. Eclipse nodded and quickly followed him while Grant swam over to me.

"Did Eclipse show you around?"

"Mhm."

"Do you like it here?"

"It's cool.. so you were raised here?"

"Yeah, honestly though, the human world is far more interesting if you ask me." He said with a small smile and a whisper. I laughed faintly as we both waited in the room, I guess 'sitting' on the floor while waiting for Akaashi to finish talking to Eclipse. 

I was getting bored, glancing over at Grant who I just was beginning to realize was, well, shirtless. I bit my lip and inched closer, Grant catching me staring at him.

"Having fun?" He asked, making me blush. Without thinking, I just stupidly nodded. Grant laughing and glancing around before kissing me softly. I pressed a hand to his bare skin, kissing him back. A shiver ran down my back when his hands touched my bare waist. I took in a breath when Grant moved his lips from my lips to my neck.

"Hey you two, not in my home." Akaashi said as he swam over. I turned redder than a tomato while Grant just smiled and rolled his eyes, still holding onto me.

"Tell that to dad."

"What?"

"Hey, you and dad 'play rough' in the house." He said, Akaashi furrowing his brows before grumbling.

"...I'm going to kill your father. Anyway... Eclipse has spoken to me, and you have spoken to me about it. I will help you, but I have told Eclipse that we are staying here. We will only provide healing. I am not risking our people being captured." Akaashi said firmly. Grant nodded in understanding, letting go of me and getting up to hug his dad.

Eclipse soon returned to the room as well, helping me up as we all thanked Akaashi. I was relieved he was going to help some too. Grant talked with his dad a bit more before telling him that we need to hurry to our next location. Akaashi handed Grant a seashell and said to use it to help us to the surface quicker.

After another hug between the father and son, we all headed out and away from the city. Grant held the shell, holding it upwards towards the surface before breaking it. A strong water current pushing in that direction, which definitely helped us surface faster.

Finally back on the land, I nearly fell over, Eclipse and Grant laughing as they helped catch me.

"So.. where to next?"

"The Dragon's Nests."