Disclaimer- I don't own Negima.

Hello for the last time! Thank you, Michaluna, for reviewing. The rest of you suck. I mean I love you. No, you suck.

I have a really good time writing this fanfiction, and I hope you enjoyoed it as much as I did. I worked hard on this last chapter, and I hope you enjoy it. :)

Chisame knocked on the large, imposing doors impatiently. There was no dragon anymore- Albireo had long since released it to have fun in the newly Masquerade-less world. It was a big day today, although Chisame was keeping her excitement to herself as to what a big day it really was.

The huge stone doors opened, and Chisame trod in, following the well-worn path to Al's mansion. She wondered if this was the last time she'd ever see these beautiful gardens.

Albireo was reading on his porch, as usual. He looked completely calm and the same as usual, sans his mage's cloak. His black turtleneck and skirt served to make him look pale and tired, but his expression was content.

"How can you be so patient?" she marveled. "After twenty years I'd be climbing the walls to get out of here."

"Patience is a virtue." replied Al absent-mindedly.

"That's bullshit. Are you ready, or you going to be a complete pussy and put on some makeup?"

"I'm ready." Albireo stood and put the book away, brushing his hands free of dust.

"Aren't you going to bring anything?"

"No, I have everything I need in here," Al patted the pocket of his vest, which, if Chisame thought about it, probably contained two photographs and a hand-made doll.

"You're so weird," she grumbled. "Get with the times, old man."

He didn't reply, so she took her arm in his and led him out of the mansion, down the cobbled pathway, right to the edge of the doors. He stopped, shooting her a wry smile.

"Did you know that I haven't actually been on these steps before?" commented Al, his heavy-lidded eyes gazing down past the door.

"Never? Not even when you first came here?"

"Konoemon asked Lucciola-" -That was the dragon's name- "-To fly me here the first time. Funny, isn't it? I've lived here seventeen years and I've never even been on the front step."

"Sad," grouched Chisame. "I shouldn't be spending my time with an old man like you. It can't be healthy."

"My age is past the point where it matters, darling," drawled Al, a glint of amusement in his eye. "Now please, I've been waiting seventeen years for this."

Chisame grudgingly smiled, looping her arm through his again and taking a full step with him outside the doors. Al smiled lazily back at her, not throwing up or otherwise indisposed, a feeling that must have felt liberating for him. They walked up the long staircase, Albireo keeping up with her easily, practically bounding up stairs in his floor-length skirt.

They traversed the library as quickly as possible, Al marveling at the sights he hadn't seen since he'd built the library. He hitched his skirt slightly when they dodged the booby-traps, allowing Chisame a glimpse of hairy ankles. She smiled at the sight, as it felt vaguely nostalgic of the times when Albireo would tell her, Konoka, and Asuna stories about his past.

That reminded her. "Konoka and Asuna came to town for this, by the way. They want to meet you later today."

"The Princesses of both worlds? I am a lucky man today, aren't I?"

Chisame blushed with embarrassment. Compared to them she probably wasn't much of a prize.

Al caught her look and smirked. "Don't worry, Chiu-chan, you're a princess too."

"I am?"

"Yes, a princess of the virtual world."

She smacked him on the head. "You're a dick."

"But it's true, isn't it?"

Chisame grinned sheepishly and didn't reply. They reached the main floor of the library, where Collet Farandole and Bookstore-chan were talking with another demi-human about the practicality of broomsticks in libraries. The world sure had changed since Al had last lived in it.

Al took no heed of this fact and waved cheerily at the girls, whose eyes widened as he passed. Collet shrieked, "Is that Albireo Imma? From Ala Rubra?"

"Yes," replied Nodoka nervously, waving to him.

Al leered at them and continued walking. Chisame had to jog to keep up with his quick pace.

"What do you plan to do now?" she asked, panting a little. She was out of shape from staying inside on the computer all day. The life of a hikikomori sure could be tough sometimes...

Al shrugged. "Maybe travel, as I used to. I've done enough reading lately, ne?"

"For sure," agreed Chisame. "I'm surprised you haven't burned out your eyes."

"How do you know I didn't?" he said teasingly.

She crossed her arms. "Now you're just being stupid, dumbass. Teasing like that doesn't make me laugh."

"That's why I do it."

"So being so...incorrigible."

He winked in reply, aggravating Chisame even more.

They finally made it to the front door, and a hint of hesitation crossed Al's face, as though he couldn't quite believe he was doing this. Chisame knew it must've been miserable to live alone for ten years, with only two people when even knew you were alive, rarely visited and rarely remembered. Even when he'd participated in the Budokai, it had only earned him the rights to occasional visits from barely pubescent girls. That loneliness that had driven Albireo to share some of his most private memories with students he barely knew, girls who had no right to know Albireo Imma's personal sufferings. Chisame respected Albireo all the more for coming through "sane"- although she'd never tell him that.

He turned the doorknob and stepped out into the air for the first time in seventeen years. He seemed to be in a daze at first, his precious facade cracking for the first time since she'd met him. He breathed in deeply, smelling grass and sky and manure and every good and bad thing about nature. She saw him close his eyes and angle his head upward, as though he were afraid of looking at sky for fear it would disappear.

"Where do you want to go?" she asked, a tad impatient.

He held up a finger for silence, relishing in the feeling that he was free, free to do what he wanted and to go where he wished.

"The World Tree," he decided. "Then a restaurant. I've been cooking my own meals for too long. I can't eat with my hologram projection."

"Sounds good to me," agreed Chisame secretly cackling. Albireo was playing right into their plan. She quickly sent Konoka a text telling her so and trooped on with Al, who was walking very slow, taking in the sights and sounds of Mahora.

"The campus is so different when it's not festival time," he murmured. "Almost a different place. Magical."

Chisame tried to squelch the soft spot in her heart that wanted to hug Al. Think of nasty things...Rule 34...internet standards...

He turned to her, smiling. "It's funny how much more you appreciate when its been this long. I must look rather foolish."

Chisame shook her head, noting with sadness the deep bags, pallid skin, and shaking hands of Albireo. He may not share his body with the Lifemaker anymore, but he was still weak from his extended battle with him. Chisame could see it in his eyes. He was fragile porcelain, easily shattered into a million pieces.

That's why they were planning to hand him over to the proverbial bull in the china shop.

This plan rocked, Chisame had to admit it.

She brought her mind back to the present and walked with Al to the World Tree. She forced herself not to talk, as Albireo was obviously enjoying the sights he was seeing. When they reached the World Tree, Albireo smiled. It wasn't a tired smirk or a perverted grin or a leer, it was a smile, plain and simple. Chisame had never seen him look so at peace.

When they reached the World Tree, Konoka and Asuna were there. Konoka was wearing a gorgeous red kimono, a flower in her long brown hair. Asuna was dressed extremely casually, a halter top over ripped jeans. Chisame knew this wasn't disrespect but proof of how comfortable Asuna was with Al, having spent the last few years in stuffy evening gowns convincing Politician so-and-so to do task X and Y.

"Sanders-kun!" called Konoka, running towards him in her kimono. Al didn't wince at the name and actually returned the hug when she embraced him. She also noticed that he was taller in memory, the tales of his exploits throwing him a large shadow. Asuna smirked at him, and he winked. All very Albireo-like.

"How have you been?" asked Albireo. "Your final battle with the Lifemaker was very awe-inspiring." The girls shot each other glances at that comment. Albireo had been present, but the battle with the Lifemaker to free Nagi's soul had involved a very painful process of extracting him from the seal that bound Nagi, the Lifemaker, and Albireo. In order to save Nagi, Al had had to take the brunt of the stress and pain. All in all, it had been a terrible thing to watch, and Albireo was obviously more comfortable than they were on the subject.

"Thanks," grumbled Chisame. "But you helped too, you modest dumbass."

Konoka giggled and changed the subject. "Boring, boring, boring. Lots of stupid politics and we keep having to kick Secchan's stalker's butt."

Asuna nodded in agreement. "I hate having to be smart..." she growled. "All this learning makes me angry."

Al raised an eyebrow in response. "Strange."

"Shut up, book man."

"The World Tree is pretty, isn't it?" he hummed.

Asuna stuck out her tongue, finding it impossible to hate him. "You sure you're healthy enough to be out and about?"

With the recovery of Nagi, most people had been too concerned with his health to think about Albireo, who was quietly recovering from even more severe injuries in the depths of the library. Chisame and Konoka (and Jack, who'd split his time with Nagi and Al) had made sure to be there for him, and Eva had stopped by more than a few times when Al had been unconscious.

Speaking of which, Chisame checked her phone. Almost time. "Wanna sit in front of the tree for a bit?"

Al nodded slowly, and lowered himself into the grass gracefully. He eventually laid down onto the grass and closed his eyes. Perfect.

Konoka met Chisame's eyes, and Chisame reluctantly smiled. Albireo Imma looked so peaceful lying there that she almost didn't want to disturb him. There was no way to repay him for what he'd done for them, both in telling them his stories and in saving their and Nagi's life.

Chisame reached down and squeezed Al's hand. He kept his eyes closed but twitched an eyebrow and smirked, a little puzzled. Konoka knelt and placed a kiss on his cheek, and he would've most certainly said something about that if Asuna hadn't whispered "Thank you," in a strange voice that sounded as if it came from all of them.

Which, of course, it did.

Albireo wasn't entirely sure why the girls had gathered together to meet him if they were just planning to leave, but that sounded like what they were doing. He pushed a pang of loneliness away and didn't bother to open his eyes. Maybe they were just trying to give him privacy.

He suddenly let out a very undignified "oof" as someone sat on his stomach. He opened his eyes to see, instead of the sky and the looming World Tree, the back of a very pink, very frilly dress. Some of the frills were poking into his face, making him want to sneeze.

"Nice to see you, Eva," he said dryly. "Why aren't you with your precious Nagi?"

"Oh, shut up," she snapped, shoving her ass farther up his chest, practically capsizing a lung as she did so.

"Nice to see you're using your real form."

He was rewarded for his comment with a very painful squeeze to the crotch.

"Aw, didn't know you cared to touch me there."

This time it was a kick to the shin.

"Eva..." he wheezed. "If you wouldn't mind, that does hurt..."

"That's the damn problem!" she yelled, her shrill voice suddenly very loud to his ears. "Why can't you take care of yourself? I was actually worried about you, you idiot!"

"You were...worried...about me? Why? I can't die. Not for long."

The smack she gave him was half-hearted at best. "Don't give me that bullshit. When the Lifemaker was pulled out of you, you almost died. He tried to take you out with him. You can't leave me, idiot, now that that stupid Zecht is dead, you're all I've got left!"

"You have Nagi," Albireo pulled himself up into a sitting position, and Eva sank into his chest, her body tense and her arms crossed. "You've been searching for him for years and now he's back. Shouldn't you be with him?"

Eva huffed angrily." Even if he wanted me there I don't think I'd want to be with him. Memories can be a lot sweeter than reality, and there was nothing sweet about him to begin with."

Al shook his head sadly. "You don't want him to die. It hurts, knowing you'll outlive your lover, but there's nothing you can do."

Eva pressed her face into his vest. "Yeah...but..."

He stroked her long hair with a coarse hand. "The only reason I'm even on your radar, Eva, is because I'm immortal."

"Al, listen..."

"If I were just a normal man you wouldn't even notice me," continued Al. "So don't give up on Nagi. Even doomed love is-"

Eva head-butted him. It was the only way she could think of to get his attention, and it worked. Al fell back onto the grass, groaning.

"Stop being so self-sacrificing!" shouted Eva in annoyance. "What I was trying to say is, do you like me?"

"Excuse me?" he said cautiously, rubbing his forehead.

"Do you like me? I can see how you would, considering how gorgeous and wonderful I am. Hordes of men over the centuries have wanted to lick my feet, all for the glory of just being near me..."

"I'm not interested in your foot glory, Eva," chuckled Al.

Eva turned up her nose at him. "You don't know what you're missing."

"I'm sure."

"Do you like me?" The tone of Eva's voice was uncertain, revealing the fear in her heart. The fear of being hurt, the fear of being abandoned. He had it too, it was just buried deep inside him.

He hesitated slightly, just enough to let Eva know he meant his next words. "Yes, I like you. You're the person I consider most precious to me."

"Why haven't you ever said anything?"

"I thought you knew."

"I can't read minds, you know."

"You're not a very good vampire."

Eva frowned at him and tugged his hair out of his ponytail in revenge, letting it fall around his shoulders.

"You look like a girl." she snickered.

Al batted his eyelashes at her. "Am I a pretty girl?"

"You're all right," admitted Eva. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm in pain," said Al truthfully. "But I'll live."

Eva took his hand in hers and laid on the grass next to him, staring at the sky through the thick branches of the World Tree. "They say if you confess your love here it will last forever."

"Forever is a long time, especially for us."

Eva smiled at him, a very tiny smile she'd rather have not let him see.

"I'm okay with that."

"Are you saying you love me, Eva?" Al, for the first time in a long time, was speechless.

"It took you five hundred years to realize that, moron? You are so thick sometimes." Albireo would never know how much bravery it took to say those words.

"Hmmm. I might be able to deal with that."

"Jerk."

His large hand tightened around her small one. "Thank you, Eva."

Something shifted, and Albireo got a feeling he'd had before. It was the feeling he got when an event had occurred that would change history, like when he'd gotten involved with America's war for independence or the French resistance in WWII. He wondered how this could affect history.

Maybe not world history. Maybe just his history.

With a wry turn of his lips, he wondered if he'd ever tell this story.

Thank you for reading this and extra thanks to the few who reviewed it. I had a great time writing this, and I hope some of you come back to reread it someday.

Reviews are love!