Airports are torture chambers if you're claustrophobic. It's not just the looming threat of the ride ahead being stuffed into seats like sardines and then catapulted through the air in a narrow metal tube but also the terminals themselves, the press of people, the blur and spin of the place.

This is just the one of the many things that Rukia's trying not to think about as she stands helplessly before the ticket counter. The light outside was starting to disappear and she can feel something unraveling, like the slow release of air from a ballon. Part of it is the impending flight and part of it is the airport itself but mostly, it's the realization that she'll now be late for the wedding she didnt even want to go to in the first place and something about this miserable twist of fate makes her feel like crying.

It had been her own idea to skip the rehearsal dinner and arrive in Tokyo the morning of the wedding instead. Rukia hasn't seen her father in more than a year , and she wasnt sure she can sit in a room with all the important people in his life. If it had been up to her, she wouldn't even be going to the wedding itself but her mom kept reminding her.

"He's still your Dad..If you dont go, you'll regret it later. I know it's hard to imagine when you're seventeen but trust me. One day you will.."

Rukia isnt so sure.

The flight attendant is now working the keyboard of her computer with a kind of ferocious intensity, punching at the keys and snapping her gum. "You're in luck, I can get you on the ten twenty-four. Seat eighteen A. By the window.."

Rukia's almost afraid to ask but she did anyway. " What time does it get in?"

"Nine fifty four, Tomorrow morning.."

Rukia pictures the delicate calligraphy on the thick ivory wedding invitation,which has been sitting on her desk for months now. The ceremony will begin tomorrow at noon, which means that if everything goes according to schedule , she's still have a chance for making it on time.

"Boarding will start from this gate at nine forty-five.." the attendant says, handling over the papers. " have a good flight..''

She props her backpack on top of her carry on suitcase and digs for her phone then scrolls through the contacts for her Dad's number. Her heart quickens now as it begins to ring, though he calls often ,she's probably dialed him only a handful of times. He finally picks up.

"Rukia?"

"I missed my flight.." she says.

"What?"

She sighs and repeats herself. " I missed my flight.."

"Well.." Dad says. " did you get another one?"

"Yeah, but it doesnt get in till ten.."

"Tomorrow?"

"No, tonight." she says. " I'll be traveling by comet.."

Dad ignores this.'' That's too late, its too close to the ceremony. I wont be able to pick you up. he says, and theres a muffled sound as he covers the phone to whisper to his fiancee.

"I'm seventeen," Rukia reminds him. "I'm pretty sure I can handle getting a taxi to the church.."

"I dont know.." Her dad says. It's your first time in Tokyo..." He trails off and then clears his throat. "Do you think your mom would be okay with it?.."

"She's not here.." she says. "I guess she caught the first wedding."

Theres silence on the other end of the phone.

"It's fine dad. I'll meet you at the church tomorrow, hopefully I wont be too late.."

"Okay.." he says softly. "I cant wait to see you.."

"Yeah," she says, unable to bring herself to say it back to him. "See you tomorrow.."

For a long moment , she just stands there like that , the phone still held tightly in her hand , trying not to think about all that awaits her on the other side of the ocean. When she spots an empty seat , she hurries in that direction and wedges herself into a seat between and older man and a middle-aged woman.

She readjusts the backpack on her lap, realizing a moment too late that she didnt zip it up all the way and a few of her things tumble to the floor. Rukia reaches for the lip gloss first then the magazine but when she goes to pick up the heavy book that her father gave her, the boy across the aisle reaches it first.

He glances briefly at the cover before handling it back and Rukia catches a flicker of recognition in his eyes. She smiles then turns towards the window, just in case he might bee thinking about striking up a conversation.

Because Rukia doesnt feel like talking now, not even to someone as handsome as he is. But she can feel it, he's staring at her and its sending little shivers all over her body. She starts fidgeting and hugging her backpack. "Three more hours.."

Rukia cant take it anymore, deciding to find another seat, she begins to gather her things ,tucking her book under her arm and swinging her backpack up onto her shoulder. When she gets to the end of the waiting area, her book slips from under her arm. When she stops to pick it up again her sweatshirt flutters to the floor as well.

"You've got to be kidding me.." She thinks. blowing the strand of hair from her face. But the time she gathers everything and reaches for her suitcase again, it's somehow no longer there. Spinning around she's stunned to see the boy standing beside her, his own bag slung over his shoulder and Rukia looks at him, really looks at him for the first time. His orange hair is a bit long and there are crumbs down the front of his shirt, but there's something striking about him.

Her heart dips unexpectedly when he looks at her. Her eyes travel down to where he's gripping the handle of her suitcase.

"What are you doing?.." she asks, blinking at him.

"You looked like you might need some help." he says and smiles.

She raises her eyebrows and he straightens up a bit. It occurs to her that perhaps he's planning to steal her bag, but if that's the case, it's not very well planned, pretty much the only things in there are a pair of shoes and a dress. And she would be more happy to lose those.

She stands there for a long moment, the crowds are surging around them and her back pack is heavy on her shoulders and the boy's eyes are searching hers with something like loneliness, like the last thing he wants is to be left behind right now. And that's something Rukia can understand too and so after a moment, she nods in agreement and he tips the suitcase forward and they begin to walk.

A/N:

This story is kind of cliche and predictable but it's fun and cute and entertaining.. and it happens in Twenty four hour so..its fast but its just sweet..

but that's my opinion..heh.