A/N: I hope everyone is doing well. For those who are about to start school or those that have started, good luck in the new school year! Enjoy the new chapter! I wanted to have that transition chapter and a little alone time with our two main characters.

Chapter 6 – Wishes

That night after everyone had turned in and were well into their slumber, Yui's body refused to go to sleep. Maybe it was habit or because today had been less than perfect, but she had an overwhelming urge to see the moon; and thus, she stepped out of her room, sat down in the cool grass, and gazed up at the glowing moon.

Today it seemed a little closer, and yet, she knew exactly how far away it truly was: a million miles and maybe more. Tears burned her eyes and her heart clenched when she replayed everything that happened earlier in the day. Tsukito saved her a spot because he had been told to do so. Everything he did had been because he viewed it as a duty or task, not because he wanted to, or felt anything for her. It really shouldn't surprise her, she shouldn't feel hurt because this is the way he had been since the day they had met in that other school. Even that seemed like another life, or maybe it happened to a different person. Maybe it was all a dream.

Shaking her head, she rejected that thought. If it had all been a dream, they wouldn't be here now and she wouldn't be worried how the school will react to these new students. Was it wrong of her to wish that would not stand out, that no one would want to know who these men are? But then again, she knew that was a hopeless fantasy.

Maybe in the past she denied why she would be feeling like this. Aloud, she would never admit to anything; however, alone with only her and the silvery moon, she could declare, at least in her heart, that she had feelings for the moon god. It took her a while before she was even ready to admit that to herself though, and after today's events, she couldn't exactly hide it. When she had heard he was saving her a place, her heart had raced even knowing he was probably doing it out of duty. And when he admitted it, her heart cracked. It didn't completely shatter, but it was wounded.

Now as she sat out in the moonlit sky, she was torn. Should she give up now and continue being his friend and teacher, or did she try to win his heart, risking their friendship and her own heart? If she risked it, it would be her duty to teach him about real love…not just what the others (especially Apollo) told him when their hands had been joined. If she could actually teach him, impart the knowledge of emotions and real feelings unto him, then maybe she would have a chance at winning his love…or losing it because he would choose someone else. Could she do it? Could Tsukito be taught that not everything was a duty? The lesson had already started the day they were connected because as they were gathering the grass, he told her that he had always looked at the moon, he knew nothing else, and he had no intention of learning anything else…he just wasn't interested. She argued that the time she spent with him while they were preparing for the Moon Viewing Festival was fun and she enjoyed herself with him. He had given her a funny look; and then at the Moon Viewing, Tsukito told her that he still didn't understand the concept, but the moon had never looked more beautiful before. It was a start.

And that start turned into more. Tsukito learned what it mean to be friends, otherwise his shackle would have never been broken. He fought with the others to save Balder, he comforted Loki when the redheaded god was on the verge of giving up, and he helped to send her home so that she would not perish, telling her that he would never forget the things she taught him. Just as he would never forget what she taught him, neither would she. She would forever remember him and the times they shared in that tabletop garden.

Each one of the gods imparted important lessons she could draw from and use in her life, but there was something about Tsukito that was different from the others. She loved them all, cherished their friendships, but that is all they were – friends. Granted, so was the Moon God, but he was different from the others – her feelings for him were deeper and more than what she felt for the others.

Of course, she also had a feeling that if she had fallen for one of the others then she might have a better chance at love. Tsukito was another level of dense never before experienced. Did that mean she would give up before she even tried? Looking up at the moon, she knew the answer to that. No.

"Kusanagi Yui," a soft voice spoke behind her.

Whipping her upper body around, Yui found out the identity of her intruder, although, with the way he addressed her, she should have known. "Tsukito-san," her voice was quiet and filled with awe, wonder, and surprise. Suddenly embarrassed, she rushed, "Ano, wh-what are you doing out here?"

He tilted his head to the side and responded, "I'm the Moon God. I always look at the moon, regardless if I am on Earth or at home, I always watch it." There was something about her, something about the way she was acting, that was off and he couldn't figure it out.

"Oh! Of…Of course you do!" She wasn't sure why she was expecting more from him.

"What are you doing here?"

Did she dare admit that she too was staring at the moon, looking for answers and courage? "I…I couldn't sleep, so I thought I would come out here to look at the sky."

His eyes drifted upwards, "The sky is clear tonight and the moon is bright. You can also see the stars from here."

A small smile toyed at her mouth as her gaze returned upwards, and her heart raced when he sat down next to her, "Wh-When I was small, I was told that if you see a falling star, you could make a wish on it. Of course, I was also told by someone else that you could also make a wish on the first start of the evening."

"Why?"

Her blush increased and she paused to search for an answer. It took a couple of minutes before she admitted, "I don't know. It is something old people tell the young. Maybe so we will always have faith and hope and believe in magic. Sometimes when I am at my saddest or something happens to me, I come out here and look at the stars and make a wish. Somehow I just feel better."

"Is there a certain spell or incantation you are supposed to recite?"

"No! No! Nothing like that!" She had turned her head and watched as he pulled out a paper and pencil in order to take notes. "Haven't you ever wished for something?"

"Why? I'm a god. I don't have to wish for anything. I have the moon."

"Um. Ano, Tsukito-san, it isn't about magic, it's about having dreams for the future."

"I'm immortal and my life was planned out for me the moment I was born in the waters of Yomi. I am the Moon God and that's it."

If she wanted to get through to him, to make him understand, she needed to approach it differently, "Tsukito-san, what did you feel when we were at the other school?"

"What do you mean?"

"When Balder-san was in trouble and we all had to rescue him, did you want to save him?"

"Hai."

"Did you hope we would be successful?"

"Hai," this time his answer was a little slower.

She had a feeling he was really considering what she was saying. "Did you say a prayer in your heart?"

"Hai."

"Why?"

"We needed to win or everything would be destroyed."

"Is that the only reason?"

"Balder had become a friend. So had the others."

"So you wanted to save everyone?"

"Hai. I did not want to fail in my task."

"That little prayer is like a wish."

"So people pray to the stars?"

"Not exactly, but it is like praying and then giving it to the universe to help with the problem or dream."

"What do people wish for?"

"Anything. Some people wish for love, others for someone's health. Some wish for more money, to win a lottery, or for a better job."

"You cannot get any of that without taking initiative."

"That's right, but it can be scary putting yourself out there, so you make a wish on a star and say a little prayer and it sometimes gives you courage."

"So people don't expect the gods to grant the wish, they are just saying a little prayer in order to hope or dream or get courage?"

"Hai. That is basically it."

Tsukito turned his eyes towards the girl sitting next to him and asked, "Have you ever made a wish on a star?"

Her cheeks turned even pinker and she nodded once, "Hai. When I was little I used to wish on every star I saw."

"And now? Do you still make wishes?"

She looked directly at the moon hanging high in the sky, and told him, "Hai. I still wish on shooting stars and on the first star of the evening."

"What do you wish for?" When they had been separated, he would hear her talking to the moon sometimes and wanted to answer her, but didn't know how. There was always something special about this girl, and he didn't know what it was. The only thing he knew, she never left his thoughts and he longed to see her again. The moment he was able to return with the other gods, he counted it as a blessing and dream come true. Maybe without his knowledge, he had wished upon a star as well.

Flustered, she had to force herself not to run away, "Huh? Um. Ano…I…you aren't supposed to tell others your wishes or they won't come true!" It wasn't the best answer, but it was something she had always been told.

"Why?"

She wasn't sure and had to think about it for a second, "Real wishes come from the heart and they are what you really desire. I was just always told that if you wish on a star, you aren't supposed to tell others what your wish is."

"Oh."

Silence descended between them, but eventually Tsukito said, "Kusanagi Yui, I missed you."

"I missed you too, Tsukito-san."

Nothing else was said between them, but the silence was comfortable, and they remained out there for another hour staring up at the moon and enjoying each other's company. Yui tried not to get her hopes up too far after his declaration, but her heart was soaring. Maybe, the moon and stars really did possess some magic.