Dislclaimer: I do not own bleach, nor its characters. Nor do I own some of the songs I will be later quoting. Etc etc.

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In the idyllic town of Seritei of Rukon district, there exist two worlds: the world of the locals, and the walled lives of the Convent students. It is not so much that the school is reallya convent, but rather, the archaic physical structure of educational institution, the air of exclusivity, and surrounding mystery of what goes inside provides a semblance of such religious sites. While the official name of the school is The Royal Academy of Rukongai, it has often simply been referred to by the locals as the Convent.

The Convent, Seritei Town

The school is situated on Rukon's highest peak overlooking the rest of the town, as if it represents the divisive class structure as the Convent attracts the richest students all over the country, or rather, are involuntarily placed by their parents; hoping to dump their children in a place that can give them education and a good head start.

"Or so they think", Soi Fon muses in a somber mood to herself as she walks through the halls of her school surveying the paintings of successful graduates that have donated a gymnasium, or libraries. "This place doesn't give us a good head start to life, it all boils down to who are we connected to. I'd fail all my subjects, and really, my parents or their friends are still gonna give me a job someday", Soi Fon now talking louder to her companion.

"Damn right!" Matsumoto Rangiku readily agrees. "But still, I don't mind being dumped here. Better at least not to have your parents breathe down your neck every minute of the day", continues Rangiku as she rolled her eyes as the word "every" to emphasize her exasperation on her overzealous parents.

"You'd agree to even being dumped in a war zone, than spend another minute with your parents, Rangiku", Soi Fon retorted with a laugh. Rangiku merely grinned at her friend's statement but quickly interrogated Soi Fon, "why? You'd rather not be here?"

"Oh, I'm just bored. It's another year of same old", Soi Fon explains in a more subdued tone, then paused her tracks as they passed by a window overlooking the town. "Don't even dare venture out", Rangiku warns in a tone and posture resembling a mother scolding a child. Soi Fon is taken aback by Rangiku's changed demeanor, but before she could open her mouth for a retort, Rangiku smirked and continued her sentence… "WITHOUT ME!" Rangiku's voice echoed through the halls, as she laughed and roughly wrapped her left arm on Soi Fon's shoulders.

"Oh for heaven's sake Rangiku, I thought for a second aliens have kidnapped you and actually placed brains in your head" Soi Fon chided as she playfully pushes Rangiku to the side. Now in a happier mood, Soi Fon and her friend continued their tirade as they head for their first class of the year.

Soi Fon and Rangiku have been classmates and roommates since, their first year in the Convent. While no personalities could've been more opposite, the two have managed to not just create a peaceful coexistence, but an actual friendship in the three years that they have known each other. They're on their fourth. Even they find it unbelievable sometimes.

Rangiku is your typical legally blonde, who would rather make people think that she does not have the intelligence. But in actuality, she is more than capable of exacting grades that are impressive by all standards. "The lower the expectations they have, the easier I can impress them when I do perform well", Rangiku wisely exclaimed before with a smirk, as if it is a genuine game plan. It has been successful so far, and the fact that she is drop dead gorgeous gives her more elbowroom to almost anything.

Soi Fon on the other hand, had a self-imposed high expectation, and her determination to be the best is matched with a blessed ability to really exceed in whatever she puts her mind into. Like Rangiku, she has a natural intelligence that allows her an easier time in her academics without putting so much effort, which allows her more free time in her hands.

Unlike Rangiku who'd slack off on her free time however, she uses it to take up different hobbies and skills. Before the end of the term last year, she was awarded with a black belt in martial arts. She has also taken up painting. Recently however, her interest had been shifted to photography, and is naturally determined on producing the best photographs worthy of an exhibit.

"So, about the little excursion outside these walls…when are we?" Rangiku wishfully inquires as they head out of their first period class and move on the next, stopping for a few minutes in their room to get books. "Huh? Whatever gave you the idea we would?" Soi Fon frowns as she now realized Rangiku's seriousness in this. "Be-cause, you resemble a caged bird aching to fly" Rangiku dramatically exclaims as she flaps her arms gracefully, imitating a bird going in circles around Soi Fon.

"Ha-ha, well you can quit the skyline pigeon drama, Rangiku. It's just me thinking of places to take good photographs" Soi Fon matter-of-factly explains. "If you want to take a good photo, maybe you should ask me to take a photo of you. Honestly, I don't understand why you'd rather be behind the camera, instead of being the subject of it" Rangiku shrugs as she remembered her and Soi Fon being approached by a modeling agent in a mall. She also remembered how Soi Fon laughed her ass off, in front of the agent, at idea of her modeling, making the agent look like a complete moron for even asking. Soi Fon snorted and laughed at Rangiku's opinion of her beauty. "I'm serious Soi Fon! Hey, where are you going???" Rangiku sighs, and shakes her head as she watched her friend run ahead without so much as a warning.

And thus, another glaring difference between Soi Fon and Rangiku. While Rangiku readily accepted her beauty and takes advantage of it, Soi Fon does not seem to have an iota of idea as to what her effect is on other people in terms of her physical attributes. Rangiku's beauty is obvious: tall, blonde, voluptuous, and an outgoing personality to boot. Her presence is simply something that only a blind person would not be able to take notice.

Soi Fon's beauty, on the other hand, takes on the subtler side: dark haired, porcelain skin and petite body. Everything about her physical features screams delicateness. Her personality though is anything but delicate. Smile seldom appears, but rather than coming off as cocky, Soi Fon has an expression that is hard to read, giving off an enigmatic aura, or to some, an ice queen-like presence. Thus, while it gives of a seductive effect, people have also kept a safe distance.

Only Rangiku has cracked, somehow, the outer shell of Soi Fon, which Soi Fon does not seem to mind. Through out their stay in the Convent, Rangiku has been the silent witness to Soi Fon's tension-filled conversations with her parents on the phone.

Soi Fon appreciates Rangiku's nonchalant nature to these events, and simply offers a warm smile that seems to talk and reassures Soi Fon "I know how it is. We're the same, though it seems we're not". And so, while not getting into serious conversations about each other's personal problems, there is a silent agreement to stick it out together, and remain loyal to each other.

"You really just had to abandon me in the midst of my monologue. Hah. That was a long run", exhaling as Rangiku finally caught up with Soi Fon, "you are soooo fast. Ever think of entering the Olympics?" Rangiku continued as she kept puffing and exhaling the wind out of her. "Good idea, I might just" Soi Fon now in deep thought as she imagined herself running towards the finish line.

"I. was. Kidding. Really, you seem to be only one who take my ideas seriously"

"I'M the only one who take you seriously" Soi Fon frustratingly informed her friend.

"Well, you shouldn't. Unless it's about doing something stupid" Rangiku paused. "Which, speaking of, when are we really going to town to take those 'photographs' of yours"?

"Fine, Saturday, let's go downtown" Soi Fon finally surrenders. "Great!" exclaimed a now beaming Rangiku "I'll tell Toshiro, Renji, Hisagi, Rukia, Kira…Byakuya..ergh no, NOT Byakuya. Momo! Definitely Momo…"

"Oh great, just. Great" Soi Fon thought as she sighed. "I'm really, really serious about photography, Rangiku, I'm not looking for a party. ah, shit, it's useless", Soi Fon shaked her head and just simply listened to Rangiku's enumeration of names as they entered their second period.

"Nanao, Isane…"