Eclipse

Chapter 24

Few Days Time Skip: Grant's POV

"Grant... Can't we stop.. At least for the night."

"You know we have little time left to get all the way to the dragons' nests and then back home."

"But we've already rode all night without sleep last night.." Eclipse complained. Akihiko tiredly nodded in agreement as I sighed and looked down at our map. Well.. We have made good time since we did skip camping the other night. And both of these two would need all the strength they could get. 

"Alright. We'll stop here." I said, Eclipse being quick to slide off her horse and tie the reigns to a tree branch. I climbed off my horse as well, Akihiko just yawning. I smiled and rolled my eyes, reaching up and grabbing him by his waist and pulling him down. Eclipse took our horse as well while I set Akihiko down.

"I'll go find rocks and twigs for a fire." Akihiko said with a small smile. I nodded and watched him walk a couple feet off, not straying too far when Eclipse crashed into me from behind, nearly knocking us over.

"Hey watch it." I said, Eclipse laughing before grinning.

"You and Akihiko have been getting awfully close lately huh?"

"So?"

"SoOoOooO?"

"...I do hate you." I said, Eclipse just giggling as she held onto me.

"Aw you love me."

"Yes, yes I do." I said, pulling her off of me. She smiled and looked up at me with a wink.

"Well, I think you two are cute." She said, making me smile faintly. 

"Why are you bothering me about this?"

"Cause I'm like your little sister, I gotta do it. It's the rules. My aunt Natsu told me so." Eclipse said, sticking her tongue out. 

"Ah hah hah ha. Please stop."

"Heh, I'll bug you guys about it later. But right now... I'm so tired.."

"Then rest, you do deserve it." I said with a small smile, leaning down so Eclipse could give my cheek a kiss goodnight. She headed off to go sleep with the horses, making me raise my brow.

"Hey Eclipse. Do you not want to sleep closer to where we will be putting the fire...??"

"Nah, I like the horses' company better than you. Plus. Who knows what you and Akihiko will be doing over there." She said, making me clear my throat. She laughed and grabbed both one of the thin cotton blankets and the saddle blankets for a bed before passing out and cuddling up to her horse who seemed equally as tired.

I shook my head, helping Akihiko when he walked back. I put the stones in a circle after matting down the dirt, arranging the twigs and getting a fire going. Akihiko hummed contently at the warmth. I stared at the fire before getting lost in thought.

What was going to happen. All that the overseer had told Yamaguchi and Eclipse is that she and her family will live.. But what will happen to my family. What will happen to Akihiko. What if one of us dies.. I knew that what Tsukishima told us the night I tried to hide them was true.

If it happens, it happens, but we can't simply run away from our fates. I looked over at the boy sitting next to me. If we were going to die, I don't want to waste what time I have left. 

I reached over, pulling Akihiko into my lap without warning. He gasped slightly but giggled, holding onto me as I turned him to face me. 

"Guess we really did get caught by your dad huh?" He said with a shy smile. I nodded with a shrug.

"He has little room to speak." I said, cupping Akihiko's cheeks and pulling him in to kiss him. He giggled into the kiss, closing his eyes and wrapping his arms around my neck. Our kiss grew more passionate until Akihiko pulled away, panting ever so slightly.

He took in a sharp breath when I removed my hands from his face and moved them to his behind. I let my hands feel his body as I leaned into the crook of his neck and pressed kisses there. Akihiko stifled a moan when I gently sucked at the spot he seemed most sensitive in.

"G-Grant... what.. what are you doing..?" He asked in a bit of a daze.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"...No.." He said shyly, just holding onto me tighter as I continued to find his most sensitive spots. I noticed him glance over where Eclipse was anxiously.

"Don't worry, she's out cold."

"W-what if she wakes up..!"

"She won't. Trust me, when she sleeps she is a heavy sleeper. You just have to be quiet." I said, unable to contain a grin. Akihiko gave a stiff nod as I let my hands roam his body over his clothing. I glanced at him, receiving a nod before I let my hands untuck his shirt and slip under the fabric.

"Wa-wait... you too.." He said in almost a whisper. I smiled slightly, removing my hands and grabbing his hands, moving them for him. His eyes didn't leave ours as I let his hands up my own shirt.

"Would you like me to remove my shirt?" I asked, Akihiko looking both alarmed and flustered.

"Won't you get cold...!?"

"No." I said honestly. I was used to being shirtless in any type of conditions. And the water could get a lot colder than up here, so if anything, I'd be perfectly fine. After a few moments of contemplation, Akihiko nodded and stared as I slipped my shirt off. I set it aside, not caring if it got dirt on it. 

I smiled when Akihiko, though very shyly, let his hands feel my skin. His hands were warm and his eyes followed as his hands moved from my chest and down to my stomach. Akihiko looked at me when I pressed my hands against his, holding them.

"Hey.. I... want to go all the way with you."

"Y-you do??"

"Yes. I don't know what will happen to either of us in these upcoming days. And, I don't want to waste any of that time. If you don't want to, we won't. But, I... really, really like you." I muttered, feeling a bit flustered for probably the first time in years.

"I.. I want to go all the way with you too." He said, blushing hard. 

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm... b-but, I dunno how we-" He said in a flustered tone. I gently kissed him, waiting to feel his body relax before pulling away and looking at him with a small smile.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you."