A CRIMINAL DESIRE

A/n: Hear Me out People! The first chapter is a bit of a filler. Just to set the scene, so to say. You can skip through it a bit, not much, a bit. It's just to get the right atmosphere. The conversation picks up in the second chapter and then we have some breaking and entering by our very favourite Black Cat -muffled by muse before giving all the details away-

Edit: This is important. It is mentioned in the author's notes of chapter two that there will be full blown omakes. What I meant was that you get to choose the pairing and the plot for one chapter which will be a filler of sweet fluffy goodness or whatever you want (restricted to rating) and will affect the plot. It's a nice way to let the reader be involved in the story too right? The plot lines are flexible enough for this to work, don't worry. And it helps increase the number of chapters too as well as relationship developement. I really want to try this out. Help me? ^^

Disclaimer: You think I own Gakuen Alice? No? Well, I disclaim all rights to it anyway, cuz I know you all are a bunch of clever little lawyers in suits.

The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
I can't do the little things I hold so dear
'Cause it's all those little things
That I fear

-I'm Just A Girl by NO DOUBT

CHAPTER ONE

Prologue

The Party Prelude

It was a cold night. The wind was like the sharp edge of a knife, carrying with it hints of the coming rain. Streetlamps shone like inviting beacons through the damp fog, the restless mist shattering the steady light into a thousand angles of flickering gold and white. Mikan Sakura wrapped her old coat tighter around her thin form and shivered a little. She'd never liked the cold. Not many did but then, her reasons went far deeper than most. Wishing she had worn something a little thicker and offering more protection against the numbness, she almost walked right past her destination. So wrapped up in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed the large stone gargyles flanking the massive glazed glass doors out of which warmth and laughter spilled out in a steady stream or the flint-faced doorman standing like an alert sentinal before them.

Taking a moment to gather herself, she bit her lip irresolutely. Things were changing. The future was in constant flux. A series of events had led her tonight to this pace, and a bit whimsically, she decided it was straight out of a scene in a movie, where a choice had to be made. A choice that had the power to create an entirely new path to walk down, whether good or bad one didn't know of yet and found out only after that first step had been taken.

A choice that could determine where one lived or died, she ribbed herself. Take a hold of yourself, dummy.

Stuffing her gloved hands into deep pockets, she fingered the hole in one, an action that had lent comfort to her many a time. Picking at the loose threads, she stared dreamily at the large front facade of the Tokyo Blues, a high end hotel this side of the rich and upscale neighbourhood. She sighed a little. She didn't belong here. She probably looked completely out of place in her somewhat worn dress and overcoat with clackitty shoes that had seen more than half a dozen years of service. She must seem like the proverbial bull in a china shop. So out of place and liable to create havoc with her manners and dress. So far from the style of the rich and glamourous.

But she had a purpose and a choice to be made.

Taking her courage in her hands, she stepped forward. The doorman's expression didn't change, though he must probably be thinking what a person like her must be doing at a place like this. But Mikan reserved her opinions. He was broad shouldered and tall, with a shaved head and a multitude of people must have broken that nose in the past for it was as crooked as a witch's nose. She stifled a slight impulse to giggle. With all that, his eyes were large and the colour of dark chocolate, not disdainful or snobby. She trusted the impression peoples eyes gave her the most and it seemed that here was anothe case where the canvas seemed brutal but the paint bright and vivid.

She offered him a smile as he held the door open for her, something he seemed slightly surprised by. Nevertheless, the mask of formality didn't slip from those blunt features, and Mikan walked into the foyer, only her iron will kept her from turning back and running away.

Behind the receptionist's desk waited a steryotipical bored blonde (Mikan smothered a snort, what was it with glamorous places like these and bored blondes?), hair pulled into a sleek chignon and dressed fashionably in a black off the shoulder gown. She eyed Mikan's clothing and general air of friendly amicability with disfavour as Mikan approached her. Blue eyes raked over her appearance with unconcealed snobbery "May I help you?" The woman intoned with an exquisitely arched eyebrow, clearly telling Mikan she considered her to be at the wrong place with that one single action.

"The Nishida party," Mikan said smilingly, refusing to be daunted. "I have an invite."

"You..." The blonde was at a loss for words as Mikan handed over the gilt edged scented card. "Well," Recovering her poise, she shot Mikan a polished icy smile. "First floor, first hall. You can deposit your coat with the attendants in in the cloakroom."

Mikan gave a quietly satisfied smile and thanked her. Feeling a bit of pride swell up at the look on the other girl's features, she squashed it down firmly. She wasn't a guest guest, per se. The invite was just a means to an end. There was someone at the function she was about to walk into, someone special who could help her.

Giving her coat to the attendant, Mikan wished she had something better to wear. The dress was serviciable only, a pale baby blue item with shots of purple at the hem and straps of silk crossing over her shoulders. It had been a gift from her father on her seveteenth birthday. Considering she was now nearly nineteen, it spoke volumes about her financial state.

Squaring her shoulders, she thrust all regrets and worries to the back of her mind. She had a mission and that was what she would focus on. She took the lift to the first floor and paused when her shoes sank into the thick velvety soft carpet. Uncertainity reared its head in her posh surroudings. It was like a lamb foraying into the lions den. If the receptionist had been just bearable, what about the cream of society's youth, forty or fifty,waiting behind those elegant wood doors? This was America sure, but this party was for all those rich Japanese scions who had found it profitable to move to America and expand their businesses. Could she...

"I hope you're not planning to stand out there all night," chirped a cheerful male voice close at her elbows. "If you do, I might be forced to show my chivalrous side and stay here with you, fair lady." The voice was playful, a hint of laughter in its tone. Mikan whipped around in shocked surprise and stared in disbelief as a tall lean adonis dipped into a bow before her, mockingly sweeping low to the floor. He was wearing black dress pants and a charcoal colored coat. Most eye-boggling was the fact that he was wearing suspenders, suspenders over his green shirt. Standing back up, he carded a hand through thick, soft looking, burnished gold hair and threw her a wink. "Though I know of a great place downtown in case you want to blow this joint all together." Those green eyes were smiling at her, inviting her to share some secret joke which she didn't even know.

She blinked incredulously. Her mouth was doing its best impersonation of a fish out of water. Who the heck was this guy?

He frowned. "Or was I wrong and you only wanted to make a dashing entrance. Well, if that's so, why not say so before?"

He grabbed her hand and before she could protest, threw the doors wide open. Throwing her a good natured grin, he yelled out, surprising some of the people standing near the doors, "The wealthiest and most eligible bachelor of this evening has arrived! And I've got the loveliest girl in the room on my arm this evening!"

She blushed red in mortification. Oh god, things couldn't get worse. She hadn't wanted to get any attention, just slip under the radar and try to blend into the designer wallpaper till she got her job done. Now everything had just taken a clean dive out the window. Furious, she snatched her hand back from his grasp and ignored the chuckling she could hear all around her. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed, holding it behind her back in piqued dismay.

He stood back and clasped his heart, looking for all the world as if she had wounded him. "My apologies," he said mournfully. To the room at large, he said "My mistake! The loveliest girl in the entire unive- ouch!"

Mikan had pinched his arm hard enough to leave a mark beneath the superfine material of his coat and shirt.

"One more word," she warned. "I don't even know you, you-"

"Name's Koko." Her self appointed escort informed her with an infuriatingly self-satisfied smile. "Kokoro Yome. I'm the no. 1 eligible bachelor in this room!"

"Well, next to Hyuuga and Nogi, you are," added an amused sounding voice. Turning, Mikan saw an elegantly dressed girl standing next to her, holding a crystal wineglass which she tipped to her lips. A swallow later an innocent look was directed at Koko from beneath thickly lashed eyelids. "Then again, what with Tsubasa and Rui you don't stand a chance, poor dear."

"Cut it out, Sumire!" Koko growled in mock annoyance. He pouted cutely the next , and Mikan's eyes widened. Good God. That mouth should be banished. No way could anyone possibly resist its appeal.

Well, except her and seemingly, this girl.

Sumire eyed Mikan knowledgably. "You don't look like his usual type," she drawled interestedly. "Where'd he pick you up from? A Gap store? No wait, tell me. They were having a sixty sale at Macy's."

Mikan reeled back stung. She'd known the upper class could be rude and biting but she hadn't felt the sting of it first hand to date. And the dress was couture! Or had been, in its heyday.

Koko's back was suddenly in front of her. "Back off, Mire," he chatisized. "She's my girl for the evening. No talking down to her."

Sumire shrugged. "Relax, I was just kidding. The look on your face was priceless. What, you think all of us are snobby don't-give-a-damns? I hate to break your bubble, sweetie but,"- she pursed her lips and shot Mikan a dazzling smile which totally transformed her expression- "But I'm just as into chilli and season sales as you."

Mikan could't help it. A gurgle of surprised laughter escaped her.

Koko shot her a smile and slung his arm around her shoulder companionably. "So my little stray," he wagged his eyebrows, "you never told me your name."

"Stray?" she repeated dubiously.

"Yep. You are. I found you looking all lost and scared and took you under my sheltering wing. No doubt about it. I'm your great savio-ouch! Stop doing that!"

This time it was Sumire who had swatted him with an alarmingly sized tote. "Ignore the fool, darling. What is your name, by the way?"

"Sakura," she said, "Mikan Sakura."

Sumire's smile remained fixed but brittle. Koko fixed puppy eyes on her and asked, "So you don't want to be my girl, Mikan?"

He pouted. It seemed to be his weapon of choice.

She laughed, puzzling at Sumire's wierd behavior. Sakura was a pretty common name. Did Sumire know of anyone else who'd given her cause for such a reaction? "For this one evening only," she countered, eyes sparkling. She could have fun, couldn't she? It's not like it was denied her.

Koko shot up his hands into the air and gave a delighted whoop. "I've been blessed!"

A hand rumpled up his hair. "What's this I'm hearing eh? Relegion your next fad?"

Mikan eyed the new arrival with trepidation. Surely all these high society darlings couldn't all be so handsome. She'd had enough with Koko and whoever Hogi and Ryuuga Sumire had mentioned. The new man was extremely handsome with dark clever eyes and a ready humerous smile. Black hair fell in spiky disarray over well built shoulders. A tattoo of a star was inked on one sharp cheekbone. Those liquid eyes turned to her and conducted a thorough appraisal which left her cheeks burning. "I can see why."

"Don't listen to him." A girl with no, really, pink hair came up and kissed him affectionately on the mouth. "He's a total player."

"Only you wouldn't mind your boyfriend being a total player, " Sumire interjected with superiority, having recovered from what ever had her in its thrall. "Careful he doesn't stray."

"Tsubasa?" The girl laughed lightly. "He knows I'd kill him if he did."

Tsubasa grinned. "Quite so, my Misaki can be quite fierce." A small smile flitted over his lips. "In and out of bed."

"Ew!" Koko looked totally disgusted. "Tmi, dude!"

"Really?" The hand was once again messing up Koko's hair to which he was submitting with surprising docility. "Are you not getting up to any such escapades either? That I find very hard to believe. Did your parents fire that french maid yet? The one who claimed she was so good at 'lave-ing'?"

Mikan felt blank. "French maid?" she said slowly. Then suddenly. "Oh!"

Sumire and Misaki laughed at her expression. "If anyone's a player, it's Koko." Misaki flicked her hair over her shoulder and smirked. "The girls seem to like the cute teddy bear type a bit too much." Misaki and Sumire exchanged knowing looks.

Koko protested loudly with annoyance at the comparision to a soft fur toy.

That was the start of a heated discussion between the merits of action figure good looks and soft toy cuddly cuteness. The main debators being Tsubasa and a flushed Koko, being egged on by a suspicious leer on Misaki's face.

Sumire linked an arm with Mikan and pulled her away, surely but steadily. "Once they get started, they don't stop," she explained while making her way steadily toward a buffet styled table. "Koko and Tsubasa are cousins and spent their childhood being homeschooled together. Misaki and Tsubasa have been together since she began attending a school near Tsubasa's favourite jazz bar. That's why they're so secure with ech other. It's sickening."

"And you," Mikan asked genuinely curious. "Don't you have a boyfried?"

"I wish," Sumire deadpanned. "I haven't liked any of the ones I've seen so far and the ones I have well, completely untouchable."

"What?" she asked, confused.

Sumire sighed and picked up an angel on horseback, biting into it with sudden relish. Without saying anything, she pointed to the opposite corner of the room.

Mikan looked and her jaw dropped open.

Dear, sweet Gods in heaven.

A/N: This is just like the beginning intro. It gets much better afterwards, once I just finish fleshing it out. Read and review. No cookies for guessing who Sumire is talking about!