Hello! After all this time I decided to try my hand at writing again. This time I decided to focus on Gakuen Alice! This is actually a practice set of one-shots (or maybe two- or three) since I need practice on getting their personality/voice/whichever straight. I more than welcome helpful criticism!

This is actually set when they are older. I wanted to do one that was a bit longer but decided to keep this one relatively short. The next one will probably be longer though. For this one I might just make a Moonlight Postlude and just rename this one Moonlight Prelude.

Disclaimer: No! No! I unfortunately do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its settings/characters. Sadly.

Take One: Moonlight

I always wondered how Natsume felt as he jumped over those high walls that separated Alice Academy with the outside world. I would have felt jealous that he was able to taste the outside air if his purpose wasn't to fight. I don't want him to go on those missions and come back injured and less alive.

"Natsume…come home soon…"

I leaned into the sakura tree he loves so much. As I looked up at the moon I placed one hand over the first aid kid I brought. This was all I could do for now. Until he comes back, I can only wait with the silent, waning moon and the tiny stars above the sky.

Moonlight. The moonlight seems so much more real than the star lights do. The moon is bigger and closer. Surely, wherever he is, he'd be able to see the moon even if he can't see the stars. The moon is more real and closer than the stars.

"I guess people don't really wish on the moon, though."

I closed my eyes and clasped my hands tightly for my first wish tonight. I could never have one wish when Natsume was involved. How could I choose between his safety and his return? I learned the hard way that those two wishes were not the same. Since I couldn't choose, I had to wish for both.

"Here goes. I wish for Nastume to come home and come home safely. Please, moon, grant my wish."

"A little late for that, polka dots." I quickly opened my eyes to see him standing right in front of me. He was holding onto his left arm in pain but his face was still trying to smile for me. Or smirk at me. Just in case, I pulled down the edge of my skirt and looked into his crimson eyes. He was, as always, probably trying to comfort me by using his perverted mind. It wasn't right. He was the one who was in danger while I was safe.

"Nastume, you're hurt!" He silently sat in front of me and let me take a look at the wound. He knew that hiding his arm would only make me think the worst. He told me he only allowed my waiting for him because otherwise I would be, as he put it, "crying and making a big deal out of nothing like an idiot."

"Better than last time." He tried to make it sound like nothing so I grabbed my cotton ball and antiseptic. I dabbed at his injury and saw his eyebrows cross together. I looked at him with a knowing face.

'Nothing, Nastume?'

'Nothing.'

'You look like you're in pain. You don't need to try and hide it so much. Let me help.'

'Stop worrying, stupid.'

'Hmph.'

I bandaged his arm up and stood up with the kit in my right hand. I reached out for him with my other arm. He gently moved my hand away and used his own strength to pull himself up. Then he gently squeezed my shoulder before walking towards his own room.

I looked at his retreating figure, only noticeable because the moonlight.

A/N: Honestly, I wanted to work on this more but my busy schedule doesn't let me. I wanted to make Mikan sound more like herself but I couldn't work that in because in my head I have this…well…dark atmosphere. I'll have to work on Mikan sounding like Mikan.