A/N: Hello all, and welcome to my first Chrno Crusade fic! I know, it's not normally what I do. Usually I write a oneshot or nine first, but I really don't have any ideas for any. (sigh) Anyway, as you can see this takes place in our time, yes, it is an AU and pretty much has nothing to do with the current storyline. (nods) I hope you enjoy.

Positively Criminal

Chapter One

When the bell rang, everyone was happy. Whispers of joy rustled through the classroom, which was immediately followed by the clatter of books and the squeaks of chairs. A blonde haired girl yawned, getting to her feet she collected her books.

"Geez Rosette," chimed on of her good friends Claire. "Were you sleeping through class again?" she asked with a small giggle.

Rosette scowled at her. "No!" she snapped defiantly. "I was resting my eyes for a minute."

Her friend, Claire, and the two behind her, Mary and Anna snickered. Rosette frowned. So, she slept through history class again, they didn't have to laugh about it.

"Rosette Christopher, could you come here please?" Ms. Kate, the history teacher asked.

The whispers of "busted" chimed through the three girls, before they scurried outside. Sighing, Rosette collected her books and turned to Ms. Kate's desk.

As always, the strict teacher was watching her as she approached, and didn't give a hint of a smile. "Yes, Ms. Kate?" Rosette asked, shifting her stance and holding back the urge to roll her eyes. Whatever she wanted it couldn't be good.

"I'm worried about you Rosette," Kate said, as she stared at her. "You're struggling with your schoolwork and final exams are coming up soon. I think it's about time you started getting your act together. If you want, you can come in after school and I can tutor you."

Rosette forced a smile. "Don't worry Ms. Kate. I know exactly what I'm doing." She gave a thumbs up. "I will pass this exam with flying colors."

"I would hope so," Kate said as she rose from her chair. "Because I really don't want to have to fail you."

"You just don't want me stuck in your class for another year," Rosette thought sarcastically. "I'd love to stay and chat some more Ms. Kate, but I really have to go or I'm gonna miss my bus!" she said, before bolting for the door.

Kate sighed as she watched the blonde haired blue eyed spitfire race out the door.

As soon as she was safely out the door and down the hall she stopped running, and took a deep breath, before continuing on.

"Hey did you hear about the...?"

"...say he escaped..."

"He's supposed to be around here? Can't you believe it..."

"...scary..."

Rosette frowned and looked around at the mass of students surrounding their lockers, all talking about something. As she got to her locker, one of the girls in her class approached her. "Hey Rosette, did you hear? They say that serial killer is on the loose. He was spotted around here!"

Rosette turned to face the girl that went by the name of Marie, some girl from France. She blinked in response. "Really? What serial killer?" she asked, as her fingers started twisting in her combination.

"You know," Marie said with a small smile. "The one that killed his entire family. He escaped from jail just this morning. He's all over the news."

Sad to say, Rosette never watched the news. "Oh yeah, that guy," she said with a nervous look. "He's been spotted around here?"

Marie nodded. "Just up not five blocks away from here."

Rosette frowned. "That's not something to be excited about Marie."

The girl giggled. "Yeah, but what if you got kidnapped, and he turned you into his romantic love slave and you fell in love!" Marie clapped her hands together and sighed. "That would be awesome..."

"He's a serial killer," Rosette pointed out with a scowl. "I don't think you'd be alive very long to be his 'love slave'."

Marie merely smiled and shook her head. "Rosette, you know nothing of love." And with that, she disappeared down the hall.

Rosette stared at her, wondering what she meant, before turning back to her locker and twisting in her combo. Just as she grabbed her books and thought she was home free, one of her not-so-annoying friends came bounding down the hallway.

"Rosette! Rosette! Oh please wait Rosette!" Turning, Rosette spotted the albino girl as she hurried down the hall. She stopped next to her and smiled.

"What's up Az?" Rosette asked, turning to face her. Out of all the friends Rosette sort of had, Azmaria was defiantly her best friend. Despite the fact that she was two grades younger then her.

"I was wondering what you're doing tomorrow night?" Azmaria asked.

Rosette seemed thoughtful. "Saturday? Um, nothing yet. Why?"

"I was wondering if you would like to go on a blind date with someone?"

Rosette stared at her. "Dating ninth graders? No offense Az but-"

Azmaria fiercely shook her head. "No, no, no, he's a senior. He's a friend of a friend."

Rosette debated it in her head for a while, then decided she had little to lose. "Sure. Just name the time and place." Azmaria's face lit up.

"Oh that's great! I'll go tell him right away!" she said, before turning. "I'll call you tonight with the details!" she said with a wave, before bounding down the hall.

Rosette smiled, before it occurred to her what kind of men went on blind dates. Unmotivated. Lazy. Fat. Ugly. Jerks. The girl instantly regretted her choice.

"What have I done...?"

---

Rosette arrived at the large theater Azmaria had told her about at six forty-five. She was supposed to meet with some guy and they were going to watch a movie before going home. If worst came to worst, she could always say she had to go to the bathroom and never come back. Rosette tried to keep that escape root in mind.

Her thoughts wandered back to what Marie had said to her the pervious day. The nickname Rosette the Frigid came with meaning. Ever since it had slipped out that she had never gone on a date, or even had her first kiss, everyone had taunted her because of it. Well, Rosette decided. Being frigid wasn't a bad thing. Well, not totally, completely. She shook her head. She was going on a date now wasn't she? Rosette the Frigid would disappear after this day!

"And be transformed into Rosette the girl who goes out with fat slobs on blind dates because she can't get a real guy." She thought with a sigh, before proceeding inside the theatre.

She spotted Azmaria waiting by the ticket booths. As soon as the younger girl spotted her, she waved. Standing behind her, was a tall blonde man. Rosette felt her heart flutter. "He's cute."

As soon as she stopped by them, Azmaria turned to her. "Rosette, this is Ewan Remington. Ewan, this is Rosette Christopher."

"Charmed," he said with a bow.

"It's nice to meet you too," Rosette said with a smile. "Just excuse us for a moment," she said, before linking arms with her friend and dragging her away. "What part of heaven did you get this god from?" she hissed, glancing over her shoulder at Ewan, who stood, confused as to what they were talking about. "He's cute and courteous?" Rosette whispered. "Are you sure he's not gay?"

Azmaria stiffened giggles. "No, no, he isn't. Not all nice and cute guys are gay," she whispered, before turning to walk back over to Ewan.

"Most of them," Rosette said, before joining her friend.

Ewan sighed. "Well Rosette," he said, extending his arm. "Shall we get to our movie?"

Rosette couldn't help but grin as she locked her arm through his. "We shall."

---

Rosette waved to Ewan from his car, before stumbling into her house. That had been the best date she had been on, well, ever! Azmaria really did know her. Then again, she really had nothing to compare it to. As she walked inside, she found her brother seated at the computer, his fingers pounding away at the keys as he worked on his novel that he was planning to send into a publishing company. He stopped and turned to look at her, before smiling.

"Well, you seemed to have had some fun." he said.

Rosette smiled. "It was amazing! He was so nice and... cute." She left the part out about him being as boring as a pile of sticks. "It was amazing."

Joshua smirked and started clapping. "Congratulations." he said. "You've now moved from Rosette the frigid to Rosette the girl who will date anyone and think it's great."

Rosette proceeded to throw her shoe at him.

---

Sunday afternoon Rosette headed down the street. Her mother wanted her to get groceries for tonight's dinner. The blonde haired girl frowned down at the list. "But I hate everything on this list..." she moaned, before continuing to head to the store.

She thought of Ewan. Sure, all he could talk about was school work and Rosette found that the absolute worst thing to talk about on a date, but that proved he was intelligent, right? She was sure that on a second or third date, they would have something far more interesting to talk about.

Moving the list aside, she looked down at the picture her mother had given her. It was an internet print off of the serial killer. Her mother had said since she didn't watch the news, she had to know what the guy looked like in case he tried to attack her.

"Overprotective as usual." she thought sadly, before continuing.

She turned to look down the street as five police cars sped by, their lights blazing and their sirens blaring. She frowned. That couldn't be good. She had to wonder momentarily what they were after.

"Did they find the serial killer?"

As she turned to walk down the street again, she bumped into a rather tall man. She fell back, causing her list to fall out of her hands. "Shoot," she muttered, before turning to look up at him. "I'm so sor-"

She stopped her sentence dead. The man wore a grey hat, and a large black coat, the collar up high. As she gazed up beneath the collar and the hat, she could see his deep purple bangs that hung against his tanned skin. Two red eyes of crimson stared down on her, like small pools of blood. She didn't even need to look at the picture again to recognize his face.

"It's you..." she breathed in horror. She could feel her chest tightening in fear. "You're the serial killer."

As if on cue, the police cars squealed to a stop in front of them, blocking them in. Cops got out of their cars, aiming guns at the man. "Come peacefully," one of the men yelled, "and we won't shoot!"

The man roughly grabbed Rosette by the arm, and dragged her to her feet. He wrapped one arm around her neck, his hand covering her mouth, and the other held her arms back. "Shoot and she dies!" the man yelled, causing the police to pause.

Rosette felt the ball of fear and panic explode inside of her. Never had she been so scared. Never in her life. She stared out at the police that stood around them, wondering what to do. "Help me," she silently pleaded. "Somebody please help me."