Eclipse

Chapter 37

A/N: Probably last Chapter+Mini Epilogue coming. I hope ya'll liked this sequel <3 If ya'll are interested, I have an Asanoya story (fluffy UwU) and a LevYaku story :D

Eclipse's POV

After Kaito was gone, I quietly walked back home. Both of my dads were overseeing the rebuilding of the castle, of homes, and everything else that was terribly damaged in the fight. 

"There you are Eclipse." Tobio said with a small smile. I nodded with a sigh.

"Yep I'm alright. Just tired. Have either of you seen Grant or Akihiko?"

"Mhm."

"Okay.. so. Where are they."

"The inn." Tobio said. Made sense. The inn was a top priority to repair since a lot of families and people were staying there until homes were repaired. I said I was gonna go visit them, giving both of my dads a hug before walking off. 

The inn was definitely crowded with people who were returning to rest for the evening since the villagers who were able to were also put to work helping repair things or just provide resources. The innkeeper smiled at me and told me where Akihiko and Grant were. I headed to their room. PRAYING they weren't. ahem. "busy."

"Grant? Akihiko, you guys in there." I asked, pressing my ear against the door. I nearly fell over when the door opened, Grant laughing as I caught my balance.

"Yes we're in here. Now what were YOU doing?"

"Uh making sure I don't walk in on you two have se-"

"Okay okay I get it. Come in." He said, making me laugh as I walked in and shut the door. Akihiko was curled up in the bed asleep. His hair looking messed up and he had no shirt on. Okay. Well. At least I visited after they were done.

"So. How did things go with that siren?" Grant asked quietly, climbing back into the bed and pulling Akihiko into his arms. I smiled slightly and took a seat in a small seat I dragged over beside the bed. 

"It went well. Turns out her dads went missing, but we found and saved them."

"Why did she need help from a mermaid, did you find out?"

"She needed a mermaid scale to get onto land."

"I see. Well. Though mermaids and sirens don't exactly get along, I'm glad she found her parents. It'd be awful to lose them."

"I have to agree, and she wasn't so bad. She's actually nice.. Hey Grant, what did she mean when she was talking about you clearly weren't like, in power anymore or whatever."

"Oh, remember the trident?"

"Uh huhhhh?"

"Well.. after I returned home. My dad took me to the trident and asked me to take it. And when I tried to, I wasn't able too."

"So, what exactly does that mean."

"It means that I'm no longer the one chosen to be the ruler after my father."

"I had no idea that that could even happen."

"I didn't either. But, I'm glad. Now I don't have to feel that I've abandoned my people. And I can stay with who I need to." Grant said gently, looking down at Akihiko. 

I smiled slightly at the sight, sighing before I got up. The two were obviously busy, just a cuter type of busy. So I should leave them alone. I headed to the door, placing my hand on the handle before glancing back at Grant.

"Hey, so. Who's gonna be the next ruler of your people??" I asked curiously, Grant shrugging slightly.

"Whoever the trident chooses is worthy." He said, making me nod. I wished them both a good night and left. Once I was home, I looked around at the empty castle hallways. My dads were in a shared room, both quietly looking at some plans. 

"Aren't you guys gonna get some sleep?" I asked, both of them looking over. Shoyo looked ready to go to sleep, but Tobio shook his head and said there was far too much to do. I laughed faintly and nodded.

"Alright, fair enough. But why don't you get some sleep Shoyo?" I asked my dad with a small laugh at his sleepy state. He just yawned and shook his head.

"I'm okay Eclipse.. I'll stay up with your dad.." He mumbled, Tobio smiling faintly as they both went back to looking at the plans and blueprints. I shook my head at them with a smile. I didn't want to disturb their work either, so I left and quietly walked down the hallways.

There was nothing really to do but to go to bed with everyone else. But I wasn't tired. I tapped my fingers against my arm before deciding I was gonna go pay someone else a visit. The guards bowed slightly to me as I walked past them. Humming to myself as I walked down the cold corridor.

"Hello?" I said, peaking into the cell. The strange, yet oddly kind, man looked over with a grin.

"Ah. Eclipse. Are you relieved now that the battle is won?"

"I am.. Um. I want to thank you for telling Yamaguchi about, you know, everything. If you hadn't, he couldn't have told me anything and none of this would've happen."

"Ah, there is no need to thank me. Mr. Tadashi Yamaguchi gave me something I wanted in return for his questions. The one who began all of this deserves a thanks."

"I agree. But, I don't know where he is. He doesn't live here."

"He does not. But he travels. And it just so happens he is traveling through your little village above right now."

"Wait, really??"

"Indeed." He said with a nod. I smiled, saying I was going to go find him. I shouted a thank you behind me before stopping and rushing back over in front of the cell.

"Oh. By the way. I will talk to my fathers about your freedom. You have no reason to be trapped here. It was my grandparents who did this to you." I said, the man smiling gently and thanking me as I turned to run back off. I ran outside of the palace gates around back into the village, looking around. Finally, I found who I was looking for.

"Excuse me, sir..!" I shouted, running over to the stranger. He looked at me. Even though it was dark, I still saw him smile at me.

"Hello, your highness."

"Oh.. I'm not exactly a 'your highness.'" 

"Perhaps not yet. But your father now is king. Which makes you a princess." He said. I giggled slightly and nodded.

"I suppose you are correct. I want to thank you.. If you had never told me that my father was a prince, I wouldn't have been aware of all of this or given my family back what they deserve."

"It is my pleasure. I must be going, I have far to travel." He said with a smile. I nodded with laugh.

"Of course! But, I saw you passing through and had to thank you."

"Before I depart. I have a gift from you." He said, the beads and feathers of his black cloak clinking against each other as he grabbed something from his pocket. He held something up, laying the item in my hand.

"What is this?"

"A gift." He said as I closely examined the gift. I smiled, putting the necklace on before examining the beautiful charm at the end of it. I laughed when I realized what it was.

"It's an eclipse." I said, the man nodding with a smile.

"And it is yours."

"You don't have to give me this, sir."

"I wanted to. I do love stories that have a happy ending."