Yo! What's up ma peeps. We have now moved into the final stages of our tale. Please enjoy and relax for the time being. See ya at the end! (^-^)/))

Acronon slowly opened his eyes to an unfamiliar room. Startled, he tried to sit up but found his strength significantly diminished. He stopped struggling after a few more attempts, and used the rest of his energy to look around the room. This seems...familiar somehow, the man thought as his eyes fell upon an unusual sight. Sitting in a chair beside his bed, head dropped in sleep, sat his younger brother. Ritsu looked dead tired to the man, and he wondered why he was lingering in the presence of his enemy. Just as the mer-prince was about to call out to the mer-king, in swam Masamune with a tray of food.

"So I see you're finally awake," the Catalin said mildly.

"Where am I?"Acronon asked, somewhat acidly.

"In the castle. Ritsu said he didn't want to leave you lying on the sea floor, so we dragged you back," the older man replied. He then set the tray of food in the merman's lap.

"Eat up. You've been out for three days, so you'll be hungry for sure."

"I am no-"

Just before Acronon could deny this statement, his stomach decided to pipe up with a Godzilla level growl. The black haired merman looked down at the food, and began to eat it grudgingly. Masamune just stood by Ritsu and watched the man eat, a smirk on his face. Once the man was finished, the Catalin took the tray away, and handed it to a servant waiting out in the hall. It was then that the mer-king finally stirred from sleep. He looked up into the eyes of his brother and smiled so broadly, even his lover had to do a double take.

"I'm so glad you're finally up. I was so worried you would stay like that forever," the brunet said brightly as he stood and placed a gentle hand over Acronon's own. The merman quickly pulled his hand away, as if the touch from his brother burned. The man stared at the mer-king in shock as Ritsu laughed at his reaction.

"I suppose acts of kindness have become unfamiliar to you. Sorry for not taking this into account. Acronon you may stay here as long as you like. You'll always be welcome here, so please remember that," the younger brother stated kindly as he swam out of the room in high spirits. The two men still left in the room, stared after the mer-king in shock.

"Well, that's that then," the Catalin said quietly as he snapped back to reality.

"Why?"

"No idea. But isn't it nice to see that your brother loves you despite what you've done?" the older man asked as he left the former evil merman alone in the room. What the hell?! Why would Ritsu have any reason to love a brother like me? And just what is that Catalin's deal? He acts all high and mighty, and then goes all obedient for my younger brother. Why? Why would Ritsu be with someone so completely different from him?...Come to think of it, why did Ritsu forgive me in the first place? Acronon continued to think as night began to fall. As the moon began to rise, the brunet returned with the council in tow.

"How are you feeling brother?" Ritsu asked kindly as he swam over to him and the council stopped by the door.

"Better then I was," the man replied sullenly. At his tone of voice the mer-king's face went from happy to worried in a flash.

"You don't sound as though you mean that."

"What else can I say? That I'm better off dead? Because that'd be right after all that I've done. No even death is too kind of a punishment. May-"

"You would have me kill my own brother?!" the brunet shouted in anger. At the sudden outburst, the merman looked up in shock to see furious eyes and a love that lay deep inside them.

"Why? How can you forgive me after all I-"

"Because I know you did them in anger and fear not out of malice or hatred," Ritsu said in his kingly voice. Acronon was doubly shocked by how quick his brother could regain his composure.

"Clara told me all about what you did. Asking about who the new king would be, and it set off a badly placed statement about you wanting to be king. You were just asking a question, yet because of your tail, you were harshly reacted to. I find fault lays with our father, not with you and so, I forgive you of all charges. And I reinstate you as a prince of the mer-people. Does anyone have any objections with my proposal?" the mer-king asked turning toward the council.

Not one of them raised their hands in objection. Rather, they looked like they felt ashamed and had just gotten a harsh scolding. Acronon couldn't help but smile at the sight, as relief filled his chest. He then began to laugh merrily causing everyone, but Ritsu, to stare in shock. What was the mer-king doing you ask? Why he was laughing along with his older brother, happy that he wouldn't have to fight him ever again. Then when he saw the mer-prince break down in tears, he truly felt that everything would be fine from then on.

"Welcome home brother," Ritsu said gently as he hugged Acronon. And who do you guess was smiling the most? It was none other than Masamune. Now you may be wondering why such a man as him was smiling at that moment. But that's a story for another time.

Well, now that you know how it all turns out, I guess this story is finished. Thanks for staying with me all this time guys. See ya in the next fanfic. Peace! (^o^)V