THE FALCON AND THE FLAME

This is my first ever Gakuen Alice fan fiction. Hope you like it.

Chapter 1

A New Student

It was a clear sunny day in the Alice Academy. Mikan was sitting in her class looking out through the windows. She was completely bored.

'Mikan?' called Hotaru in her usual life-less tone.

Mikan turned and replied, 'Good morning, Hotaru!' in a cheerful tone. At the sight of her best friend, the little girl returned to her cheerful self.

'Mmm…' was all that escaped our young inventor's lips as she took her usual seat beside Mikan.

Within minutes, Mikan started to talk animatedly to her best friend. As soon as Mikan started about her dinner last night ('the rice cake was completely horrible—'), a dark haired boy with equally dark eyes entered the room. A blonde boy holding a rabbit in his hands closely followed him. At the sight of the two boys, Mikan jumped to her feat.

With her hands waving in the air, she shouted 'Good Morning Ruka! Good Morning Natsume!'

Ruka smiled and a faint 'Good Morning' escaped him.

Natsume didn't utter a word. He just slipped his hands into his front pockets and sat at his seat at the end of the class. Ruka followed suit.

Mikan sat down puffing her mouth in anger.

'Hey Mikan!' called Sumire to the angry girl. (For your information, Sumire is the cat-dog Alice holder and the No. 1 fan of Natsume Hyuga and Ruka Nogi)

Mikan turned.

'I've been meaning to ask you…' she started, 'Not that I care of course…' she muttered.

'What is it?' asked Mikan, curiously.

'You are really attached to Hotaru…'

'Yeah… so?' asked Mikan.

'Well, what about before her?' asked Yue (the Class monitor), cutting-cross.

'Before her?' gasped Mikan.

'Yeah… Who was your close friend before me?' asked Hotaru in a dull voice.

Mikan, with her forefinger on her chin muttered, 'Before Hotaru…'

There was silence for a minute. Then, within seconds, Mr. Narumi entered the classroom.

The class fell silent almost at once. Mikan was still deep in thought.

'We have a new student joining us, class' announced Mr. Narumi.

'I remember!' gasped Mikan suddenly.

'Class, please make him feel comfortable… Come on in Mr.…'

'Taka Kouzuki!' shouted Mikan.

'Exactly right Mikan!' said Narumi.

Everybody in class gasped, 'Huh?'

'Come on in Mr. Kouzuki' said Mr. Narumi.

'What?' gasped Mikan and jumped to her feet as a brunette haired boy entered the room.

He stopped in front of the whole class and with a smile directed towards Mikan, he said, 'Good Morning, I'm Taka Kouzuki… Nice to meet you'

'Taka!' shouted Mikan with a big smile spreading her face.

'Hey Mikan,' he said with a smile, 'I'm back!'

There was a deep silence between the two friends, who just stood staring into each other's eyes. Mr. Narumi decided to break the silence.

'Why don't you take a seat beside Mr. Hyuga, Taka!' said Narumi with a smile. He pointed at Natsume. With the look that Natsume now gave Mr. Narumi, his smile faded.

He stammered with a strained smile, 'Or maybe better to take—'

'I'd choose to sit with Mr. Hyuga' said Taka with a furtive smile.

Everybody started to whisper ('that guy has great guts!', 'What is he thinking?', 'He just doesn't know, man')

As Taka was about to take a step towards Natsume and Ruka's seat, Mr. Misaki came at the classroom entrance.

'Narumi… Gino wants you…' he said.

'Be right there!' said Narumi to Misaki and towards the class, 'Class, why don't you revise yesterday's lesson, I'll be back in a minute'

With that, he left with Mr. Misaki.

'I can't believe this Taka!' shouted Mikan and ran towards him. She got hold of both of his hands.

'Oh! Taka!' she exclaimed, 'I can't really believe you're here! Are you really an Alice too?'

He just smiled. He said, 'I told you I'd never miss you! I'd always be there'

Natsume looked up. So did Ruka and Hotaru.

'Taka…' she said with a smile.

'I guess I'd better take my seat' he said.

'Wait!' said Natsume.

The entire class looked at Natsume.

'Before you take a seat here, tell me…' he started, 'what is your Alice?'

There was complete silence. Everybody now turned towards Taka.

'My Alice?' asked Taka grinning slightly.

'Yeah… What is your Alice, Taka?' asked Mikan.

Taka didn't seem to have considered Mikan's question, for he raised a question towards Natsume, 'And why should I even bother to tell you?'

Several gasped, including Mikan. Hotaru just smiled.

'Taka?' gasped Mikan.

Natsume was about to retort when Taka said smiling, 'Just kidding… Mr. Narumi said I was a special ability type…'

'Wow! You're in my class!' exclaimed Mikan smiling cheerfully.

'Yeah… I know…' he said.

Natsume stared at him. So did Hotaru. Before anybody could say anything else, classes continued for Mr. Narumi returned.

-o0o0o0o-

That Night.

Mikan's Room.

Hotaru was sleeping over at Mikan's room.

'Say Mikan, this Taka person…'

'It's been really a long time since I last saw him…' started Mikan before Hotaru could even finish her sentence.

'We were friends from when we were just 3' she said, 'He was my neighbor. He just moved there. He was lonely staying at the house. His parents left early for work and returned a little late. His nanny usually cared for him. He just used to look out of his window every time I was playing outside.

'One day, I called him to play and he delightedly came forward. I realized he was really a nice little boy and we became friends. He joined kindergarten with me. At first, he started to imitate our classmates and teachers. Later, he was even able to imitate their voice. We were amazed. One day, he came to my place and said some weird stuff:

[There was a light yellow field. A girl facing a boy's back. The boy's face turned. His brunette hair was flowing with the wind. He started to speak in a broken voice.

"Mikan, do you know how much I like you? You are the only friend I have ever had and will always be the best. I would never let anybody take you away from me…I'll always be with you"

[Screen returned to the Alice Academy at Mikan's room

'With that he ran away. Next day, I found out that he and his parents have moved. That was the last that I have ever seen of him, until today of course'

Within a few minutes, Mikan fell asleep. Hotaru stepped towards the window and stared outside into the night. Then she suddenly spoke.

'What do you think?'

'Humpf...' was all that the dark haired flame-caster said.

End of Chapter 1

I appreciate any kind of reviews.

Please feel free to do so.

[P.S. TAKA resembles Shyaoran (from Card Captor Sakura) and Kanata (from Daa!Daa!Daa!) by looks and Eriol (from CCS) in attitude.

TAKA in Japanese means "FALCON"