So here's the second chapter. I think at some point I'll probably go back through and rewrite all these chapters to make them a bit more detailed. Maybe. Anyway, on with the story.

03/23/2010: Rewritten/Edited

Disclaimer: I still do not own Gakuen Alice. Sadness…

Ruka shuddered as cold air swept through the covers. After tossing and turning a few times, trying to fall back to sleep, he finally gave up with a sigh. Rolling over, he looked for the source of the cold air. It was still dark outside. What time was it? Looking out the window, he realized the source of the cold air. The window was a sliding glass door, and it had been left partially open. Natsume was not on his futon. That must be why the door was open.

The blonde boy stood, stretching, and made his way over to the door. Quietly, he slipped out onto the balcony in search of his best friend. Natsume must be having a really hard time with the possibility of Sakura-san leaving. I hope he doesn't try to do anything drastic. He shivered as the air blew through his clothes. Looking around, he saw no sign of Natsume. Frowning in concern, he turned to go back inside when his spotted them against the wall, just to the side of the door: Natsume and Mikan.

Ruka tried not to let it affect him, seeing his best friend and the girl he was in love with clinging to each other while they slept, but regardless he found his heart in his throat. Even though he had given her up, even though he was happy they were together, it still hurt. Somehow he knew, seeing them there like that, even without them telling him. He knew she had told Natsume her choice. It had already been made, but he was happy for Natsume that she had made everything clear. In truth, he had seen it coming a long time ago. Natsume and Mikan relied on each other, needed each other, in a way that Mikan had not needed him. But knowing it to be true and seeing it confirmed there before his eyes were very different. It was far more painful than he had anticipated. Not wanting to disturb them, he turned to go back into the room.

Natsume woke to the creaking of floorboards. Aware that someone was on the balcony with them, he blinked awake quickly, tense. But it wasn't Persona or any of the dangerous abilities class as he had feared. Rather, he saw the blonde hair of his best friend. Ruka's posture was slumped forward as he walked toward the door, defeated. Ah, Ruka. Ruka, I'm sorry.

"Ruka…"

Ruka stopped, stiffening just slightly at the voice, before his shoulders slumped forward again. He didn't turn around. Natsume didn't need to feel guilty over this. Ruka didn't want him to see how much his heart was still aching.

"Ruka, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Natsume's voice was rough with emotion, barely over a whisper, but Ruka heard him clearly. Finally, he turned around to face his friend, attempting to smile like he had earlier.

"What are you apologizing for? I'm happy for you. Really…" Ruka could feel the tears pricking his eyes again, and he knew Natsume could see them too. Ducking his head, he hid his eyes in embarrassment and shame for not being able to be truly happy for his friend. He wanted to be. Oh how he wanted to be. He wanted to be able to smile brightly at Natsume at this moment and tell him he was glad that he had found love, that he wouldn't be lonely anymore.

The silence dragged on between them for many moments, neither sure how to break it. Never in their friendship had there been such a wall between them, and Natsume feared he might lose his best friend forever. But how to comfort him? How to make him smile, when he knew he was the very cause of Ruka's pain? He knew how hard it had been for Ruka to give her up with a smile in the first place. It must be so much harder now, seeing them so close like this, seeing what he could never have.

Natsume was startled by a strange sound suddenly coming from Ruka. It almost sounded as though he was choking. Alarmed, he was about to move Mikan out of his lap and rush to his friend, when Ruka lifted his face. He was laughing with tears rolling gently down his cheeks.

"What a ridiculous fool I am. Really, I'm happy for you Natsume. You two belong together. I've always known that." He swiped the tears from his eyes and smiled genuinely at Natsume. Natsume continued to watch his friend with concern, but the guilt on his heart lighten just a little. "I'm going back to bed now. The cold air just woke me up." Ruka beckoned to the sliding glass door that was still open. "Didn't mean to wake you. Oyasumi."

With that, he stepped back into the room, closing the door behind him. He walked quietly back to his futon, lay down, and cried silently into his pillow until he fell asleep.

Natsume leaned his head back against the wall. He wasn't foolish enough to think that Ruka was suddenly all better, but he hoped with time that he would be. This time, Natsume couldn't be his strength. Looking back down at the girl still sleeping like a rock in his lap, his eye twitched slightly. His legs felt numb and tingly. He tried to shift to relieve them without waking Mikan, but it was no use. Finally, he sighed in defeat, resigning himself to the discomfort.

A small coo from the girl in his arms drew his attention away from his awkward position. She shifted, yawned, and blinked awake. Stretching, she tried to focus on where she was. It was still dark, so it wasn't morning yet, but why was she outside? It all came rushing back to her as her eyes met a pair of crimson ones staring back just inches away.

"Ah!" She jumped out of Natsume's arms and scrambled back to her feet. Rubbing the back of her head, she apologized as Natsume stood, his legs nearly giving out as they slowly woke up. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. Sorry. Are you okay?"

"Baka, I'm fine." Natsume tousled her hair playfully, smiling at her. Mikan ducked her head, blushing as she remembered everything that she had said before she fell asleep. Not sure what to say, she turned to look out from the railing over the high school division. The stars were clearly visible in the sky above them and a nearly full moon lit up the grounds in a way that looked almost magical.

"It's so quiet, so peaceful. I wish things could just always be like this." Frowning, Mikan remembered the decision she had to make. There were only a few hours left before the high school principal, her uncle, would want her answer. But what would she tell him?

Natsume stood quietly beside Mikan, looking out over the school as well. What is she thinking? What will she decide? He ached to think of her leaving him, but maybe it would be for the best. Maybe that was what was safest for her. Yet, somehow, it just didn't see possible to him that she could be safer away from him, where he couldn't be there to protect her. Without a word, he quietly slipped his hand into hers, needing the reassurance that she was still there and hoping to offer comfort to her as well.

Mikan wrapped her hand around his and tightened her grip, clinging to the strength his presence offered her. Holding his hand in hers reminded her of another time, just yesterday, thought it seemed years ago, when he had held her hand. She remembered so clearly the words he had said then. This hand that brought you out of there…I don't want to give this hand of yours to someone else. If only I had power…in this instant…I want to become an adult so that I can bring you out and run away with you. The words rang in her head as strongly as if he had just spoken them. If only they were grown-up. If only they could run away together. If only…

But why couldn't they? Why did they have to be grown-up? They were Alices after all. There had to be a way to get around it. They wouldn't have to look grown-up all the time, just enough for the important stuff, like finding a place to stay or getting a job. Wasn't there a way they could be grown-up just sometimes? Something like a candy that you could eat that would make you get bigger? Something like…Gulliver's candy! That's was what they needed. But hadn't all of Hotaru's been confiscated? Where would she find more? But if Hotaru had gotten a hold of it once, surely there was a way to get it again. There had to be more somewhere in this school. If they could just find some, they could run away, escape this school through the secret warp hole, like they had before. Her and Natsume.

If they ran away together, then the principal was bound to be focused on catching them. That would be a good distraction for the teachers and senpai to put their plans into action. And with her and Natsume on the run, the teachers should have a fairly easy time protecting the others. She was sure that the elementary school principal would pour all his resources into hunting her and Natsume down. The hardest part would be staying just a step ahead of him, not getting caught. But Natsume was clever, very clever. He could do, she knew he could.

And if Natsume was with her, not here fighting, trying to protect her, constantly using his Alice, then he would be safe. She could protect him; make sure he didn't use it. He wouldn't have to die. It was the perfect plan. All they needed was the candy.

"Natsume, come on! I have a plan." She grabbed his hand and began to pull him to the door, but he didn't move, stopping her in her tracks.

"What kind of plan?" He asked warily. Mikan explained. At first, Natsume was flabbergasted at the idea, but as she explained it, he could see it coming together in his head. He could see how it would work. And it would work. If only they could find that candy.

Nodding, Natsume grabbed Mikan around the waist, and instead of going through the door, he leapt over the balcony rail with her. He covered her mouth as they fell two stories, so she wouldn't scream. Landing carefully, he held her close for a moment longer to make sure she hadn't fainted and then let her go.

"Sorry, but Sakurano said he was guarding the door. I didn't want to risk him catching us."

Mikan nodded, wide eyed and flushed as her heart slowly went back to a normal speed. Natsume reached out a hand to her. She smiled and slipped her hand into it.

"Let's go find that candy."

Ah, kids and their hair brained schemes. This would surely make Narumi rip all his hair out. Ah well, what can you say?

Anyway, read and review please!