A/N: Welcome back to sleeping for twenty hours and then rushing to finish the chapter. Good news for those wondering about my lack of sleep. The block hit me hard with this chapter specifically, so it was a very slow process (we're going on a total of seven hours here.) I hope it was worth the wait! Next week is more vampbois.

TheHybridGryph: Indeed, sadly Akko is but one girl, and there are many hungry demons to feed. I'm glad you liked it!

Some Random Dude: Yeaaaaah, I mean becoming the plaything of a vampire is probably preferential to getting massacred by werewolves and demons. The Count will protec her prize.

And... like listen... When there's a ship and one of them has teeth like that, you just gotta man, you just gotta do it.

Magicantix: Thanks bud! I agree, I love that classic Stoker's Dracula and the like, Castlevania: getting really into the creepy horror aspect of vampires that is mostly ignored. Next chapter will assuredly be about the Count's latest catch and her new life.

GeminiAlchemist: Thaaaaaaannk. o7 will do.

Reynabot: Thanks friend!

Void: I CONCUR.

Raphael Antonello: Wow, thanks friend! It's always really gratifying for me when I can get in the right state of mind for descriptions; I can just write for hundreds of words about the most inane shit. Don't tempt me, I already have a fullblown story going but I really want to do more vamp shit.

SamuraiGunner: Next chapter boyo! Look forward to it!

HELLO? I'D LIKE A BURGER EXTRA CHEESE.

Akko regaled the elderly alchemist for what felt like ages with tales of friendship, magic, and an almost endless amount of japes. She spoke of the Cockatrice, of the broom relay and Sucy's resulting theft of the prize, of the Cupid Bee incident, and of every other incredible thing she had experienced since that day she fell off the bridge.

It felt so strange teaching a mother about her child, even if they weren't blood related; having to be the third party- the one to talk about Sucy's daily life, it felt wrong.

"Does she really not talk to you about this stuff?" The brunette murmured, fidgeting with her finger tips as she shifted from sitting on her heels to cross legged on the floor.

The old woman glanced towards the door her two children had disappeared through, the older among them tossing a couple of snarky orders behind her as she left. "Granny, don't die till I get back. Akko, don't touch anything."

"Sucy has... always been reserved." Ramzan explained, scanning a few of the pictures hanging on the walls, the red eyed little girl in each smiling with her lips and teeth but never her eyes. "To weather those storms alone as she has... impossible without a few dings on the soul."

"I do all I can, but she keeps to herself. 'People are dumb' or 'I'm fine' but nothing more."

Akko nodded in agreement with the witch, her own experience with Sucy was similar; analogous to a snapping turtle. It took time and effort to coax her out of her shell, and once she was vulnerable, you had to be incredibly careful about your actions and words. A slip of the tongue at that point would scare the girl off: retreating behind more walls than when you started, angry for even giving you the opportunity.

"Which makes you being here all the more interesting." The old woman half-grinned, giving the brunette on the floor in front of her a once over. "Never in her life has she brought a friend home to meet me."

The sudden realization made Akko's eyes widen ever so slightly. It wasn't that surprising all things considered- Sucy readily admitted to not having or wanting friends until her guinea pig and Lotte raised the bar -but in the heat of the moment as she finessed her way into the alchemist's heart, the brunette never spared a thought to the long standing barriers she must have shattered.

"Well I- uh-" She stumbled bashfully, playing with the hem of her skirt; suddenly feeling incredibly self-conscious under the ancient witch's eyes. "She seemed worried about something..."

"We're best friends... I wanted to support her; shoulder some of the burden. "

When Akko looked back up from her legs to see if her words were satisfactory, Ramzan had her eyes closed, her head moving up and down in a continuous nod.

"I understand." She suddenly declared with a cryptic smile. "I see it now: the raft has been long abandoned, the sails taken far away but the map left to rot in the sea."

There it was again, those vague words alluding to sea travel of some kind, except... not anymore? Sucy had taken on many of this woman's traits; her laughter, her half lidded sleepy gaze, but her vague voodoo speak wasn't one of them, something Akko would forever be grateful for.

"What do you mean?" The brunette pressed, shifting back to sitting on her heels.

Ramzan made no move to suggest that she heard the girl, but continued talking anyway. "Her very own Polaris: A shining guide in the dark, a warming sun in the cold."

She was beginning to get frustrated, and was about to say something before the old woman's hazel eyes snapped open, boring directly into hers. "Thank you, Akko." She said simply, a warm smile settling on her dry and cracked lips.

"W-What? Why?" There was very little the brunette could remember doing that warranted such a sincere acknowledgement, and she could feel her fingers itch for something to fidget.

"Simply for caring about her." Came the response, sounding like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Akko would have objected, would have refused the gratitude and explained that it was just what friends did for eachother, but the topic of their discussion walked in right at that moment, bringing it to a close. The sibling she had called James followed in after her, a light lunch in one hand; a steaming mug of tea in the other, its overwhelming scent awfully familiar to the brunette.

Wet soil and sweet flowers.

"Alright old lady." Sucy began, stirring something loud and bubbly inside of the small clay cup she held. "Just a reaction to the extra magic that's suddenly around now. This should help."

Ramzan accepted the vessel when her adopted alchemist came around the couch to the other side, drinking slowly to avoid spilling any. "Thank you, dear."

Absentmindedly offering Akko a hand, Sucy helped her guinea pig up to her feet whilst keeping her eyes on the ancient witch. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her." She murmured when the brunette's ear came close.

The Japanese girl simply nodded with a bright smile, lovingly squeezing her friend's hand when she made no attempt to let go.

"We have to get back to school now; call and let me know if anything comes up."

James nodded, pulling the coffee table closer to the couch for his guardian. "I'll let the others know you came today. Come back soon yeah?" His tone of voice was hopeful, and yet resigned, like he already knew what the answer would be.

Sucy grunted noncommitally, making his asumptions true.

Akko politely waved the alchemist's younger brother goodbye as she was tugged away, but averted her eyes with an bashful smile when he mouthed a pointed 'good luck' and winked.

"Thank you for letting me come today." The brunette murmured into her friend's back on the flight home, arms wrapped tight around her waist. It wasn't the usual way they flew, but Sucy insisted for some reason- making up some excuse about not wanting her head in the way.

Sucy made a confused noise, probably lowering her brows and squinting her eyes; the thought made the brunette giggle softly. "Wha? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

"I got to see a new side of you. I got to learn more about who you are." She explained further, remembering all the little things about that house, and imagining a young Sucy curled up in all the dark corners.

The alchemist was quiet for a a few moments, taking in the words, before a hand came off of the broomstick to gently touch the arms around her stomach. "You can just... ask me about that stuff y'know."

"Really?!" Her explosion of excitement jostled the broom, nearly sending the pair of witches flying into an entirely different branch of the leylines. Akko flushed, pressing her hot red cheek back against her friend. "Sorry..."

But Sucy didn't seem that irritated, letting out light chuckle instead, tightening her grip on the broomstick. "I'll try my best."

It was in that moment, that the puzzle pieces clicked inside of the brunette's head and she understood.

The storm clouds were far away, the night sky was clear. Sucy had abandoned the map to rot in favour of following a bright north star home.

Akko's entire face burnt completely red.

'Damn that old lady...'

A/N: SURPRISE EEDIOT, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU THE WHOLE TIME. And then they got married and Akko becomes part of the family.