He stared at the sprig of mistletoe between his thumb and middle finger, twirling it around lazily as he stared. Such a simple thing, this mistletoe, but yet such meaning, such symbolism, and such joy was put into it that it made it much more than the simple green sprig.

It could bring laughter, or it could bring tears. It could bring happiness, or it could bring disaster.

"It could bring nothing," he muttered, throwing it on his desk, the red string he attached to it spilling behind.

He sighed as he turned the desk chair around, looking at the door. He cocked his head; he supposed he could hang it over that door, no one ever stopped in his doorway. He wouldn't be forced to kiss someone he didn't want to, and he wouldn't be too hopeful the one person he did want to kiss would stop there.

Standing, he picked the mistletoe up on his way to the door, dragging a chair behind him. Positioned on the chair, he fastened the sprig to the ceiling using a paperclip to secure the string to the tile. Stepping back, he admired his work and rolled his eyes. No one ever stopped in his doorway, he was safe.

Settling behind his desk, he opened his laptop, pulling up an email he was writing for a special someone.

Minutes faded into hours, but he had no concept of time as he worked, taking benefit of the quiet in the house to get more achieved than he initially hoped.

He was pulled out of his work by a knock on his door. Glancing first at the clock, then at the door, he called, "Come on in."

He looked up from his desk to see Orihime in the doorway. As usual, she looked amazing. She was leaning against the doorjamb, covered in a pink turtleneck. Her jeans were rolled at the bottom in typical Orihime fashion, black boots on her feet.

"You almost done?" She asked, pushing herself off the doorframe and crossing the room.

"Everyone's here."

Ichigo nodded, turning off his laptop and pushing it to the side. "Yeah, let's go."He picked his jacket up from the back of his chair, moving to the doorway as he slipped it on.

"Hey, Ichigo." Orihime's voice stopped him at the door.

Ichigo turned around, his hands fixing the collar of his jacket. "Yeah?" he asked absently.

"You're under the mistletoe."

Ichigo's hands stopped their motions. He slowly moved his gaze from the floor up Orihime's body. She was leaning against the edge of his desk, a devious grin on her face.

Ichigo swallowed quickly. "Yeah."

Orihime pushed off the desk, holding Ichigo's gaze as she slowly walked across the room. "You know what that means."

Ichigo felt butterflies in his stomach, and goddamn if he couldn't tear his eyes away from Orihime. "What?" he managed.

"You must be kissed." Orihime stopped right in front of him.

Ichigo laughed timidly, "Really, it's no big deal." He waved his hand, "You don't have to."

Orihime grinned, her brown eyes twinkling, "Yes, I do. I stopped you here for a reason, and I intend on taking advantage of that. Now, shut up, and let me kiss you."

Ichigo couldn't reply before Orihime's lips were on his. He closed his astonished eyes and tilted his head, allowing Orihime to kiss him fully. Orihime brought her hands up and grasped Ichigo's jacket collar, pulling him closer. Caught off guard by the motion, Ichigo steadied himself by holding Orihime's hips.

His breath was literally in his throat, the shock of Orihime's mouth on his still hadn't worn off, even after the slight moisture of the tip of Orihime's tongue licking at Ichigo's lips. He slid his hands from Orihime's hips to her waist, pulling her closer. Orihime's hands moved across Ichigo's chest and around his back, her fingers twisting in the hair at Ichigo's neck.

Pulling away, Orihime looked at Ichigo with hooded eyes. "Merry Christmas, Ichigo."

"Merry Christmas, Orihime," he responded.

Bringing his lips to Orihime's once again, Ichigo questioned why he ever distrusted mistletoe.