Everlasting (ch7)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY HIGH-PLEDGING PATRONS! THANK YOU!

After the Samhain Festival, this fic become a little challenging to write, only because I've been focusing on Akko's and Diana's relationship, and haven't really mentioned much if anything about Akko's quest for the Words as well. Even that is put on the back-burner in this fic. The Words are the main point of the anime, but the girls' relationship is the main point of my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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													Chapter 7. Parting

After the Samhain Festival, things in Akko's life started to gradually become more and more hectic.

First, there was the workers' strike, where she and Diana had to confront one another for their classmates and teachers to see. Akko had thrown a few verbal jabs at her in the heat of the moment, and privately apologized later once it was all over.

After that, she was occupied with Professor Croix and Professor Ursula for a time, learning new things about Chariot and the Shiny Rod.

Then she visited Lotte's family, then she snuck into Appleton Academy with Amanda, and then she helped Constanze with the Wild hunt.

All in all, she didn't see Diana for a while. She'd only heard Professor Finneran mention the Cavendish family having a crisis of some sort, but Akko never imagined it would be anything that Diana wouldn't be able to handle.

And Akko was right. Diana would be handling the situation.

Just not in a way Akko – or anyone else at Luna Nova – would expect.

. . .

It's been over a week since Akko has seen Diana privately, outside of catching the usual glimpses of one another inside the classroom or in the hallway here or there.

Part of the reason why Akko is wandering the halls by herself so late at night is because she's searching for her girlfriend, hoping to conveniently catch Diana on her night patrol duties. The other part is because she's hungry.

"Uhhhh I'm starving... I hope they still have some leftovers..."

/Guess I should probably eat first before wandering around the campus more looking for her.../

So she makes her way toward the mess hall. And she's just limped her way through when the unmistakable sounds of crying reach her ears.

"Huh?"

She hurries over to the banister and peers over the railing to find Hannah and Barbara alone together down below, clinging to one another and sobbing softly. Akko forgets all about her hunger and hurries down. She can't simply let them be when they're crying, even if they are bullies. It's in her nature to try and help.

"Hannah! Barbara! What's the matter?"

The pair look up at her with waterlogged eyes, sheer misery painted into every feature on their faces.

"I...It's Diana..." Hannah rasps.

Akko's gut clenches on the spot as she makes her way forward.

"Wh... What about her? What's going on?"

Hannah and Barbara stagger to sit themselves down as they begin explaining. Akko listens with her heart in her throat.

/What... What is this...? She... She can't be leaving! She can't! She never said anything to me!/

Even before Hannah and Barbara are completely finished speaking, Akko's already whirling around and tearing off back through the hallways.

Seeing Professor Ursula gives her a grain of hope, as it always seems to do. But not even she can help ease Akko's mind. She only has the sad truth to tell her. Diana's made up her mind.

But Akko won't accept it.

"That can't happen."

She hurries off, bound straight for Diana's suite. She doesn't even bother to knock before pushing the door open. But she finds the lights off and the room vacant.

Still, she doesn't let that stop her. She knows several other places Diana might be. After all, the two of them have a secret code referencing different locations around the school.

Akko doesn't even need to think twice about which one to head for now.

/If Diana is planning on leaving, she's gonna go up someplace high./

And there's only one place on campus that's higher than any other where students are allowed to go.

Akko sprints to the New Moon Tower like her life depends on it, and in some aspects, it really feels like it does. There's an ache in her chest which becomes stronger with every jarring step she takes. Her heart is pounding, and she can feel a sting behind her eyes, but she fights it. She can't allow herself to break down now, before she's even seen Diana.

/I have to hurry. I don't know how much time I have left. She might already be gone-/

As soon as Akko reaches the New Moon Tower, she dashes inside and begins climbing the stairs as quickly as possible, skipping two at a time.

By the time she reaches the top, she's sweating, panting, and nearly crying. But as she staggers toward the doorway that leads to the platform at the very top, she finds she isn't alone up here.

A figure stands before her with her back turned to Akko. There is a broom in her right hand, illuminating her path with a sprite lantern. All down her back, her wavy white hair flutters in the wind. She's standing near the edge, staring out over the campus, and at the sky.

She looks so lonely.

What Akko wouldn't give to see Hannah and Barbara here with her right now.

What she wouldn't give to see Professor Finneran standing next to her, just so she wouldn't be there alone.

/But it's okay... because I'm here with her now./

Gasping, Akko cries out for her.

"Diana!"

She watches as her girlfriend's shoulders jolt at the sound of her voice.

Akko knows she's the last person Diana wants to see right now. This is why she hasn't been arranging to meet Akko alone as of late. Because Diana had been aware that she'd need to leave Luna Nova soon.

So she'd started to put distance between Akko and herself, hoping that she'd be able to leave without having to see her anymore, hoping it would be easier that way, to just leave without breathing a word to her.

And now, Akko's found her anyway.

She doesn't budge.

Akko has a million things she needs to say to her, but she just lets the most pressing thoughts express themselves first.

"Are you serious about leaving? But why? It isn't like you to leave something unfinished! I heard your family's having some trouble, but does that really mean you have to go back yourself? Let your parents handle it. There's no reason for you to quit! It shouldn't be too late, even if you wait until your school years are over. Won't you change your mind?"

As she speaks, Akko begins advancing on her girlfriend's unmoving form, her footsteps as loud and determined as her voice. But that soon softens into a much more fragile tone.

"Diana... why... why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell me...?"

Still, Diana is silent. A breeze passes through and ruffles her robes, lifts the ends of her hair, but no sound comes from Diana's lips. Akko sniffles deeply, still trying to fend off the tears.

"You should have said something. You should've told me as soon as you found out! So what, this is it? You were just gonna leave in the middle of the night without even telling me? You were gonna let me wake up tomorrow morning and just hear the news that you were gone and I wasn't ever gonna see you again? That's awful, Diana! I'm here for you! I care about you! So let me help you!"

Akko reaches out to grasp for Diana's left hand. But her girlfriend turns to face her at that exact second, causing Akko's fingers to miss making contact.

Diana's eyes are fierce, but Akko knows her. She knows it's only a front Diana is putting up. In her heart, she wants to cry as badly as Akko does. But her acting skills are as impeccable as ever, for her voice remains stern.

"Those who depart Luna Nova are to do so secretly, in the dead of night. That is our custom. Even speaking to you like this is against the rules."

Akko's jaw drops for a second.

"Who cares about customs?" she snaps. "Diana! Don't try to change the subject! Don't try to avoid what I'm saying!"

Akko narrows her eyes and seeks Diana's. But her girlfriend is adamantly avoiding her gaze, probably because she knows if she meets Akko's eyes, her resolve will start to crumble.

All the more reason for Akko to get Diana to look at her.

"Diana! You can't just leave like this! I won't let you!"

Now is when the tears begin to drip down, one by one. Akko doesn't even bother to wipe them away. She hopes that if she lets her emotions out, Diana might feel comfortable enough to do the same.

Akko stays focused on Diana as she turns away, unable to bear the sight of her crying. Akko sniffles again.

"Is this... really what you want, Diana? You know coming to Luna Nova has always been my dream. I idolized Chariot, so it was my dream to go to the same school as her."

She puts every ounce of feeling into her voice now, praying something will get through to Diana.

"But now that dream has grown. Everything I experienced and all the people I met here are important to me. I love everything here just as much as I love Chariot!"

She realizes her voice has gotten loud again. Akko wipes her eyes now and lowers her tone.

"Don't you love Luna Nova too, Diana? Can you really throw it all away so easily?"

She's put everything she has into that speech. But it's almost as though Diana had anticipated Akko's words, just as Akko had anticipated where she would go tonight. Diana has a response prepared.

"This is a place of learning. Everyone must leave the nest eventually. My time simply came sooner." Her voice tapers, just for a split second, but Akko doesn't miss it. Even so, Diana recomposes herself instantly and turns back to her, this time looking Akko directly in the eyes. "I am the heiress of the long-standing House of Cavendish. And it is my duty to protect it."

"But why do you have to go so far?!" Akko cries.

"Instead of worrying about me, should you not be putting more effort into finding the Words?"

"...Eh?" Akko's voice is tiny now. "You... knew about the Words? Even though I never told you..."

"Yes. I learned of them by way of my own research. The Grand Triskelion, sealed by the Nine Old Witches..." Once again, her tone lowers into an almost helpless melancholy. "I must admit, I wanted to know exactly what it was. If I were to acquire its power, I could save a great many people, not to mention restoring the dignity of the magical world. Just as my mother wished..."

"Diana..." Akko wipes her eyes once again, trying to take everything in that she's just heard. "W-What do you mean "instead"? So you're saying I can't worry about you? That the Words are more important than you are?"

Diana's tone becomes sharp once again, as if she's trying to chase Akko away, so her leaving will be easier for the both of them.

"Reviving the Words that will ultimately unlock the Grand Triskelion and revitalize magic is immensely more important than my personal hardships."

"Th-That isn't true, Diana! Why don't you look for the Words, too? You can look with me!"

"Because-" Diana snaps. "Only the person chosen by the Shiny Rod can do so!"

"Huh...?"

"Akko! You are the chosen one!"

Her borderline vehemence has Akko moving back a step.

"The... one...?"

She's so absorbed in talk of the Rod and the Words that Akko has failed to realize she's falling into Diana's trap. Diana coaxes her back, step by step, until Akko is too far away to touch her.

"Tia Freyre!"

All in one swift motion, Diana mounts her broom and ascends before Akko can do anything to stop her.

"Ah-" A gasp falls from her lips and the tears begin to drip again. "N-No... Diana, d-don't-"

"Apply yourself, and become a witch worthy of the Grand Triskelion's Words." She hovers there, just out of Akko's reach, with nothing left to stop her from going.

"Diana-"

Diana's face is shrouded in the shadows of the night sky, so much so that Akko can't see any light in her eyes.

"I did not dislike any of this. Neither the professors I had, nor the friends I made..."

With this, she turns her gaze back to the girl standing beneath her.

And Diana offers her a smile.

The worst kind.

The kind with tears streaming down over it.

Her heart has finally broken.

"And especially not you, Akko..."

Time seems to stop, leaving them suspended, but unable to touch.

Akko can't take it. She'd let Diana trick her. So she could leave in what she'd hoped would be the most painless way possible.

But on the contrary, it's probably more painful than anything else either of them have gone through since joining Luna Nova.

Akko stares up at her, her eyes silently begging.

/I can't even kiss her goodbye. I can't even hug her. I can't even touch her-/

Akko screams.

"Diana! Don't go! You can't-!"

"Farewell, Akko... Take care."

"Diana!"

A cruel gust of cold wind steals the breath from Akko's mouth and carries Diana away on it.

"NO!"

Distraught, Akko watches the first and last person she's ever cared for like this disappear into the night. She vanishes, without Akko ever getting to touch her, hold her, or kiss her again.

She's just... gone.

There are still a few damp spots on the wood at her feet, where Diana's tears had landed. If not for those tiny bits of evidence, and for the echoes of Diana's voice in her head, Akko might've thought she'd never existed at all.

"Diana..."

Akko staggers forward a pace. Her entire body shudders with heaving sobs. Her legs tremble. Her knees buckle.

She collapses in the very spot where Diana had stood just seconds earlier, her tears now staining the place where Diana's had fallen, erasing them. Akko curls in on herself and cries, the suffocating, thick kind of sobs that clog her throat, mouth, and nose.

"D-Diana... Dianaaaa..."

/I couldn't stop her... I couldn't help her... I let her go.../

And then, the most devastating realization of all.

/She's... gone.../

Akko loses track of time. She could've been crying for hours, or for just a few minutes. She isn't sure. She just cries until there isn't anything left.

It's worse when she realizes Diana is crying right now as well, all alone, like always.

/No.../

Akko lifts her head from her lap. The tears have stopped now. There is still pain in her heart, but it breeds conviction.

/Not again. Not anymore... I'm not gonna let her be alone./

She grabs onto the railing and hauls herself to her feet, then turns her gaze up at the moon.

"No," she murmurs. "I won't let her..."

Just because she'd let Diana go-

-doesn't mean she can't go and bring her back.

"Diana..."

Akko doesn't stop. She turns back toward the tower and runs even more quickly than she had on the way here. All the way down the steps and then back up another flight until she reaches her next destination.

"Professor Ursula! Professor Ursula!" The second she's permitted inside, Akko makes her request. "Please tell me where to find the Cavendish family!" She throws herself forward in a bow, her eyes narrowed in her conviction.

Ursula is taken aback somewhat, but not at all surprised. She remains calm for both their sakes.

"What do you plan to do there? Diana has an iron will."

Akko doesn't flinch.

"I know that. Even so, I have to..."

She doesn't finish, because another small swell of tears works its way up.

But Ursula understands well enough. After all, she'd never wanted to see Diana go either. And she's convinced that if anyone can bring her back, it is Akko.

Besides, if she doesn't tell Akko where to find her classmate, she knows Akko will find out some other way to get to her.

Ursula smiles. Akko truly does remind her of her old self.

"They live in Wedinburgh."

Akko reflects that smile.

"Thank you so much!"

She isn't going to waste a second. She'll walk to Diana's mansion if she has to.

She heads for the door right away, with resolve to match Diana's.

Diana might have an iron will. But so does she.

"Huh?"

As she opens the door, two familiar figures are there to greet her.

"Lotte. Sucy..."

"Here." Lotte hands her the Shiny Rod.

"Take this too," Sucy mutters, holding out a packed bag of essentials.

Akko blinks, baffled. Her friends know her so well.

"You're going to bring Diana back, right?"

"Get going already."

Akko feels the tears welling up again. She throws her arms around her teammates in a tight hug before accepting her things.

"Yeah! I'll be back!"

/And I'll have Diana with me!/

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A/N: I wanted to keep as much canon dialogue as possible but I had to add in a few extra lines and things here and there for them. Diana isn't leaving by choice but by obligation, and of course she will miss everyone, but mainly Akko. She is so distraught about leaving her in particular that she can barely look at her. She wants to leave harshly and quickly, hoping Akko might hate her and make it easier for them to part, even though it's the last thing either of them want.