It's only a school night. Chapter 1

I wonder what he's doing. Rangiku thought to herself while approaching the school he now goes to. She looked at the buildings and their windows looking down the street.

She stopped facing the closed gate and bit her lips. It's almost time for the end of the day. She didn't know why she ended up here on her early day off from school. She should've just gone home.

She was worried about him. She still is. Hisana left the country only few days ago and she bets Byakuya is all alone, sulking all by himself, unable to express his feelings. Just like he always does. The only reason she knew that Hisana was gone, was because she called her to say goodbye. She exhales loudly in frustration.

He's always cool, solemn, uninterested and brisk, as if nothing ever matters to him. But that's what he is normally. And when he didn't even mention Hisana's departure on the phone, it made her worried. Maybe he's trying too hard to be strong. Hisana was his first girlfriend after all. She frowned at thinking that he might be hurting inside. She imagined him sitting next to an empty desk in an empty room with Hisana's name written on it, sighing in secret.

She was thinking about coming to see him for a while now, but he lives so far away. She never has the time, and somehow it never happens after school, cheerleading practice, netball practice, swimming practice, shopping and everything else. Although he never forgets to call her every few weeks and she loves her chances of blabbering on about anything and everything. A silent, understanding listener like him is hard to find. But that's not the only reason she loves him.

All that later. Right now, she's here, an hour out of her way, standing in front of this posh school full of rich kids, absolutely unsure of what to do. She could trying knocking.

Surely, they are not going to let her in if she tried to simply walk in.

It's almost the end of the day, the bell might go off any minute. She needs to hurry before she misses him.

Her past experience of wagging school has taught her many lessons. Taking her blazer off and shoving it down the bag pack, she threw her it over her shoulder and started climbing the gate. White shirts are easy to blend in in crowds.

Now where would third year classes be? She wondered around the empty corridor, the classes are still in progress. She found a map on the wall and remembered he once mentioned that his class was on the top floor of the south building. Which way is south again? He never mentioned a room or a building number.

She bit her lips and rushed through the corridors.

The bell rang. And in an instant waves of students in all shapes and sizes flooded the corridor.

She walked upstream. She pushed and shoved and made her way through while panicking that he might leave too. She might not get to see him after travelling an hour on the train. But that's not why she needs to see him. She needs to hurry before he leaves.

She squeezed and ducked and wormed her way through the wave of students and finally arrived at the large opening leading to the inner field that is at the centre of the huge school. The ground has various sporting facilities around the side and other form of recreational facilities for student in one corner along open spaces allocated for various festivities. Various buildings surround the opening like a great square or a rectangle. And she doesn't know which building he should be in.

"Hey what are you doing here "? An irritated voice pulled her out from her reverie. She turned around. A girl looking very elegant and very irritated in her prestigious uniform is staring at her.

"Do you know where the third year class rooms are?" She asked honestly.

"Why?" She eyed her suspiciously.

"I need to find someone."

"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear the bell? The classes are done. They probably won't be there anymore." The girl was beyond irritated. Rangiku needs to swallow this and beg.

"Please tell me which building."

"Building J I think". She said after giving it a little thought. "You're from a different school. How did you get in?"

"That's a question for another day". She ran.

The door to building J seems to be locked from the inside. Oh no. She pulled the handle few times.

She looked up to see the open windows. And the flowing curtains. There might still be some people inside.

She walked around towards the back of the building. Three stories. She can't climb that far.

"Oi" she looked to see a young boy looking at her through the window. It's on the ground floor, not too far from where she was standing. She wondered if she could snuck in through one of these open windows.

"What are you doing here? You don't go to this school." The kid smugly retorted eyeing her skirt. She figured he's in first year. Even then he looks too young to be here.

"I'm looking for someone. He's in the top floor and the door's closed".

"The schools done. He has either left or doing his club duties" he boredly looked away.

Club duties? Does he have any club duties? He probably does. She sighed in relief, it means he would still be here.

"I don't know if he has any club duties." She bit her lips in confusion and panic. She doesn't want to give up after coming all these day.

"Do you know which room he's in?"

She bit her lips. "No"

The boy rolled his eyes. "You're not a crazy stalker, Are you?"

She fumed. "Stalk? Byakuya? He's my best friend."

"Byakuya! Kuchiki?" the boys large green eyes widened a little as he eyeballed her once again. "He's in the school student committee. I think they might be having a meeting now." There was a spark of interest in his eyes. How does he know Byakuya?

She frowned. "Where do they have their meeting?"

"Usually in random rooms, each time. You need to be a member to know".

"Can you find out?"

"I can. Not that I would though." He turned away smugly. It irritated her but she hid it.

"Pretty please?" she pouted and conjured her puppy face. It always works on boys. Although this one looks too young to know anything about girls.

"Well if you do something for me, I might reconsider." He leaned forward through the window, smirking evilly.

"What do you want?" she stepped forward.

"Pretend to be my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" he can't be more than 12, this boy. She was surprised first then frowns.

"Yes. I need to show the people in my class that do have a hot girlfriend, and I'm not making things up."

She laughed at that. Oh okay!

"But you are."

He snapped. "Do want to know where Kuchiki is or not?"

She sighed. "Fine. What do I have to do? "

He grinned then turned towards the inside of the classroom. "Oi guys. My girlfriend is here. She snuck in to see me."

And in an instant a number of eager looking boys and girls crowded on the window. "Wow Toshiro I can't believe you really do have a hot girlfriend. You weren't making it up? Even if she's a bit too old for you".

"Oi! I'm not old" she fumed.

"She's is also from a public school. Bet she's not very smart either." She heard the kids snicker at him. She watched his face darkening.

She clenched her fist and stepped towards the window. Than standing on the flower bed she reached and grabbed the Toshiro's head and pulled him into an open mouth kiss.

Everyone froze in shock. After a minute of very long kiss she let go of him and looked at everyone else. Her eyes dancing in humour. Now who's old and dumb? Someone whistled.

Toshiro looked disorientated. This must've been his first kiss. She kind of felt sorry for him but not really. She made his day, and she knows he'll remember this for a very long time.

"Now Toshiro, my darling. Can you please find out for me where the school committee meeting is?" She was still holding onto his head.

He shook his head affirmatively, clearly still finding his balance.

5 mins later she was running through the field toward the opposite side. The flight of stairs took a whole lot of stamina. She huffed and puffed and almost broke opened the door.

A room full of boys and girls looked at her wide eyed.

"Byakuya?" She managed to say in between her heavy breathing. Her eyes roamed the room, he's not there.

"He's not here today. He has an exam tomorrow so he said he'd be studying." A moment later one of the stunned girl spoke.

"Where…" She was still panting.

"I don't know". The girl tuned towards other members.

Maybe he's gone home. She slouched in disappointment.

"I saw Kuchiki kun in his class room before I left." A girl spoke up. She turned to look at her.

"Building J. Room 3c." She gave the girl a look of gratitude before turning around.

She ran again.

"Toshiro kun. Can you please let me through?" She was back again, panting.

His smart mouth was nowhere to be found as he blushed scarlet and somehow managed to unlock the main door for her. She snuck inside the building. She ran the corridors and climbed the stairs, few of them at a time.

Please be there, please be there.

Bang.

The door to the Room 3C banged opened and Byakuya jumped up from his books and looked at the huffing Rangiku at the door.

His grey eyes were as wide as they can go. "Rangiku?" he exclaimed loudly.

She was clutching the wall and panting.

"Byakuya…" pant pant pant. "I'm…so glad…" she fell on the floor on her knees and she continued hyperventilating with her hands on the floor to support her weight.

Byakuya jumped and ran towards her. "Rangiku." His eyes were wide with concern, surprise and worry.

"…water…" She managed to say. He quickly grabbed his water bottle and handed to her. She gulped it down her mouth and it spilled all over her face and shirt.

"Rangiku? What happened?" he felt horrified thinking something bad must've happened, his hand was on her shoulder.

His touch calmed her down. It's been a year, no, more than a year since she has seen him last. She was so happy, she could cry.

"Thank … god… you're okay Byakuya." Suddenly she covered her face in her palms and burst into tears.

I missed you, she wanted to scream. Yet only tears came out of her.

...

To be continued