DISCALIMER: I don't own Gakuen Alice but I own the plot.

Note: Ignore the run-ons and fragments especially the hedging and empty words. I always commit those errors when I write. Please review. Your questions will be answered as the story progresses. Thank you.

CHAPTER ONE

I ran through a couple of kilometres, past mountains and hills and fields but found no buildings. I'm late. No time to lose, not a second to waste. After a few twist and turns, I finally saw the big olive tree in the middle of the vast grasslands. The silhouette of a familiar young boy forming, sitting right beside the mighty tree. He was just about my age, more or less nineteen years old, with his raven hair and tantalizing crimson orbs. I smiled knowing the fact that he indeed waited for me. Every time I took one step towards him, my smile grew bigger and wider. The boy. My playmate ever since I found this peaceful place.

When I was standing right beside him, I patted his shoulders. He turned around, his lips with those same smiles he gave me. Tantalizing and mimicking the very emotion that screamed out of my chest. The very reason of the rapid beat of this stupid heart. He tapped the ground beside him, telling me to sit. I eagerly followed him. We were both silent, taking all the serenity of the place which we called paradise. Our place. Just the two of us.

Minutes later, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I turned to his direction, confused. But he didn't turn to look at me. He just continued admiring the tree while holding my hand, not wanting to let go. Silence engulfed the both of us as we let the air carry all our problems and burdens away. Half-closing my eyes, I heard him utter my name but not the way he usually says it. This time, overflowing with concern and care. Love.

I opened my eyes quickly, sensing something was wrong and turned back at him. My eyes met his and I see unuttered anxiety. I began to worry but he still wouldn't speak back. Unconsciously, I dropped a tear. He gave me his forced smile as he used his thumbs to wipe it away before cupping my cheeks. I stared at him, wanting him to continue with what I expected him to do. I didn't even know what got into me that despite my age, I admit I already wanted to taste something as blissful as that.

Slowly but precisely, he inclined his face until his lips claimed mine. Mixed emotions surfaced out of my inner being, emotions that are both known and alien to me. He nibbled my lips, wanting to deepen the kiss and I decisively let him enter. Unknowingly snaking my arms around his neck and playfully playing with his hair. He slowly slid his strong arms around my waist as he lean down, pushing me against the green grass.

I moaned, half-expecting for him to stop but hoping for him to continue. This boy who's identity I don't even know but his face familiar. His features hunting me but I couldn't care less. Though, with a piece of information missing, I felt as if I knew him my entire life. He kissed hungrily and passionately from my lips to my neck to my collarbone. His body pressing against mine that I could already feel his warmth transferring to my own. I lay there frozen, allowing him what he wanted to do to me. How I wished this time not to end.

…

Sitting, I stared at his half-buttoned shirt. We almost did it but we knew it wasn't the right time. I continued staring at his features as he gave me his cutest smiles but I knew it was forced. Though I could still sense something was wrong but I don't want to invade his privacy. I tried pushing it aside, expecting him to open up. Nothing came.

I leaned my head on top of his shoulder as he wrapped my waist with his hand, making me feel safe and secure. I heaved a sigh. "Such a cute lad to be lonely in such a beautiful day. What's your name, dear boy? You never even told me your name." I said, laughing, already expecting him not to answer. All I ask is to see him laugh a real laugh. He gently planted a kiss on my head as I nuzzle in his embrace. "Do I really have to tell you?" he asked. I did not answer. Something is wrong.

Suddenly, he plucked a red rose nearby, smelled it and gave it to me. Red rose. My favourite. He cleared his throat and I diverted my gaze back at him. He soothed my hair before pressing a long kiss. "Hy-" someone called him behind. But it was too soft compared to the sudden disturbance on a nearby bush. It made the both of us turn around. Then, another familiar voice called my name. We turned but found no other person than us. Curiosity rose until a piercing light covered me all throughout, separating me from him (forever).

...

I woke up. Seeing my smirking brother, my blood started to heat up. Why is it always him who ruins my happy ending? It has been eight years but I still can't get rid of that sweet dream. I heaved a sigh as I started to get up. Looking at my left, I saw the red rose I placed inside a glass jar. The rose I got from my first dream of him eight years back. The rose which amazingly survived all throughout the years. The rose that gave me hope, that it wasn't just a dream. It was real. The rose that made me promise to look for the boy and wait for him the way he waited for me in my dreams. To give him my sweet kiss and one love. Despite my nosy and dream killer brother, a smile slowly crept into my face which made him more curious.

"What?" I asked, my happy expression slowly dying down. He just shook his head before exiting my room. I stood up. Today's last school day. I'm eighteen and one year more, my school uniform will transfer into working uniform. Oh, I can't wait to welcome summer. I can't wait another year to graduate. I took a long bathe, changed into my best uniform, dried and combed my hair before going downstairs to eat breakfast with my brother. Mom and dad are not around, they went to America for a business meeting and I'm stuck with my older brother's idiocy. Nevertheless, it was fine this way. Not all the time he stayed in the house for he was always out with his girlfriend who happens to be my best friend, Hotaru.

I smiled again, thinking of the thought that she and my brother are going to be a couple by the end of the summer, after their graduation. It was hilarious, replaying the scene with romantic candlelight and red rose petals scattered on the floor. My big brother knelt down, holding her fingers, proposing, waiting until she finally said yes. Nevertheless, I envy them. They already found the perfect person they wanted to be with for the rest of their lives while the farthest part I got so far was in my dreams. The dreams which were always interrupted in different circumstances.

…

As my heels went TAP! TAP! TAP! on the marbled hallways, people started talking as they give way for me and my brother to pass. In school, we were one of the students whom others termed as the IT!Students. The hotshots. The students with gorgeous features others wanted to die for. I smiled at them and they all melt, not that I care. By the end of the hallway, the both of us were greeted by the rest of the gang; Hotaru and my other best friend Luna Koizumi.

I clapped Luna's hand before doing the same with Hotaru, a gesture of them being part of the group. A sign of our friendship. Ruka, my good old brother, did the same except with Hotaru's. Instead of clapping her hands, he intertwined his with hers before planting a kiss in it. She blushed. We teased them both. She glares. We stopped. She smacked his head. We laughed. Those were the events that would happen repeatedly every day but I never grew tired of it. It's fun teasing them. It's fun being with them.

We turned to our right, the path that would lead us to our rooms. Luna and I were both classmates since I first entered this school when I was ten years old. That's how inseparable we are. Same goes with my brother and Hotaru, that is, since their pre-school years. The school we attended already had one big compound for every level; One for pre-schoolers, one for elementary pupils, one for high-school students and one for college grads and undergrads. Hotaru was my senior. I became close with her first though it was them who were classmates. He rarely goes with her before. The reason? My brother's the active shy type. He's active in terms of going out with different girls every day but shy in terms of expressing his true love to the true girl he cherish every moment of his life. It's funny but it's true. It's reality for some guys. It was always been me who has to do everything to make a miracle for him; for them to be together. And all he does for a payback is wake me in my good sleep.

I came back to earth when I heard a girl squealing right beside me. My eardrums wanted to burst. Her voice was loud as an elephant calling for his mate. I glared beside me only to find the girl or rather girls' gaze landing on a group of boys not far from where we stood. I rolled both my eyes as Hotaru, Ruka and Luna just gave the boys their usual stares. There, in the middle of the huddles, a few steps from here stood the person I despised the most… Hyuuga, Natsume.

His face and expression calmed and composed. A familiar alluring smirk plastered in his face. He leaned on the wall with his hands folded in front of him. He was talking with his gang, the hottest boy group in school also labelled as the IT!Students. He doesn't even care about the girls crowding. Anyway, for what? He already had another girl clinging around him. Wait, what happened to the blondie he went out last week? I sighed. With his widest smiles, he just stood there as if nothing's wrong. What a conceited fellow. Playboys are really playboys.

My brother used to hang out with them. How pathetic is that? Luckily, he quit the group the moment he and Hotaru were hanging out. How nice for one girl to completely change one person with just a single 'yes.' But honestly, I'm happy for it, for them. But no matter what, the only connection he couldn't break up with him is their friendship. And I hate it. He and his stupid loyalty. Hotaru always tells me to get over it but I totally can't accept their friendship. Not that something happened between me and him. I would puke if something does. It's just that I don't want my brother to be anywhere near playboys. Not to mention he was one long time ago.

Natsume, like I said, is the play-est playboy ever to walk on Earth. He doesn't care how many girl's heart he would break. He doesn't care about their feelings or how many times does he have to let them cry. For short, he's a heartless jerk. Ruka and Hotaru are his batch mates, allow me to add, classmates. Heck! The three of them were classmates since the day they first entered this school. Funny, right? I, myself, can't even believe it but that's the reason why he and my brother are so close.

After class, I decided to walk towards the five-star restaurant our family owns. It was not far from school. I and my brother are supposed to be there to manage it while mom and dad are away. But he excused himself for this day. I was about to get mad at him until Hotaru, personally, begged me. I let him go. I sighed. Why can't I say no to her? But, anyway, I think I could manage by myself so maybe its fine this time. Luckily, school's over. I don't have to worry anything about sleeping late.

The restaurant mom and dad owns isn't just any boring formal restaurant that only adults can enjoy. A lot of teenagers go there too. We serve a lot of cuisines. And the restaurant is divided into two: the boring formal one and the noisy bar where the good-for-nothing sluts, bitches and the likes hang out. If you were to ask me, I much preferred the boring formal one. I much feel comfortable serving the business old men than the crappy teenagers. I was even against it the first place but mom and dad insisted. They said that it's much better that way for our investment. And anyway, the bar wouldn't allow students to get heavily drunk and it only serves the best juices and drinks, not the ones like vodka. Those who wanted to get heavily drunk hang-out on other bars than here. We make sure that those who stay here, they'll go home sober.

And five years after this was built, I'm happy that not even a single day, a Hyuuga Natsume showed up. I'm lucky, I guess, or does that mean that he really doesn't want to get sober. If only I knew that this was the night. If only I knew then I wouldn't even bother coming here. If only I knew.

As I was helping the other waitresses working at the restaurants, another co-worker from the bar came squealing towards the counter. She was screaming as if she saw a god passed by. Her smile reached her ears. I and the others cocked an eyebrow, curious. Then that's the time she started talking.

"I just saw Kuro Neko on the bar. I was serving him and he suddenly looked up and smiled at me," she said with pure delight. Then the other girls started laughing with her, congratulating her and all. Yapp! I heard of Kuro Neko, all right. They say that his-

"His kisses will surely make you feel like you're in heaven," one of them said. Did she just read my mind and wanted to finish the sentence instead? But that's not what I totally wanted to say.

"Yes. And his smiles melt you all throughout," the other continued. That's not it either.

Though, yeah, sure, that's what I also heard from others gossiping but he's just like other playboys. A monster. Arrogant and feeler and bastard and conceited and all. Yeah, that's the right word. He's a conceited bastard.

After their conversation about Kuro Neko, I ordered them to go back to their respective duties. They obediently followed. They knew I was the owner's daughter so they never dared go against my orders. Besides, I'm good to them so they don't have any reason to act bad towards me.

Another hour of service to my favourite customers and my muscles started to ache. I decided to breathe some fresh air. I went to the rooftop, my favourite place where I could see Japan's busy streets and amazing lights, and people going on with their separate lives. My place was peaceful and serene like the one in my dreams. I went to the edge and leaned on it. I was about to close my eyes when I heard footsteps approaching. I immediately wake up. Oh God, if this person's a maniac, I'm going to strangle him to death before sending him off the building. I don't care whether the car below has stains of blood over it. I'm willing to pay.

"Who's there?" I asked the silhouette. As I was saying, the face was undecipherable since it was dark. But when it started talking, I don't have to look back on my memory to know who it was. It was only him and he alone dared calling me by that name. It's a long story.

"Chill polka," he uttered, making me want to choke him for being here.

"Why are you here? What are you doing here?" I asked him, completely mad.

"So, you worked here, huh?" he went near me before leaning his back like what I did. "I thought everyone's welcome here. Your co-worker even agreed. God, I didn't know that smiling at her would automatically turn her into a feeler little bitch"

"Wait, don't tell me you're Kuro Neko?" I questioned, amazed that the two people I hated the most are just one Hyuuga Natsume. He looked at me and gave me that stupid trademark of his. I couldn't even believe that girls would fall for that.

"I'm surprise you didn't know," he arrogantly stated, making my blood boil.

"What do you want? I swore that I closed the door behind me."

"Well, did you? It was open when I entered," he smirked as he slowly moved towards me. And every time he took a step forward, I take one step back until I could feel myself being cornered. I panicked. Damn it!

He cupped my cheek with one hand and snaked the other to my waist. I jumped in horror. What will I do? I swore that if he kissed me, he'll totally regret afterwards.

"God, you're so hot. Maybe you would be hotter if you're willing to go to bed with me" Yuck! I'd rather die. I wanted to tell that to his face but my mouth went dry. He leaned his head to my neck. I could feel his breath, his warm breath sending tingles to my spine. I stood frozen. My mind went mental block as to what I should do next. He, then, gave a small blow to my neck that I thought he was kissing it. And as fast as lightning, without me knowing it, I kicked his balls with my knee. He rolled and winced in pain. Taking that as my cue, I ran far from him. As I was about to close the door behind me, leaving him outside, I heard him yell.

"You're going to pay for this, Mikan Yukihira!"

I was scared but I can't help giggling. This time, I won. Ha-ha! Take that baka!

To Be Continued