Disclaimer: Never owned Bleach, never will.

Warnings: Slow paced, extremely mild language, early Xmas, OOCs esp. on Rukia's part, serious tone(?)

Pairings: hitsuxkarin, ichixruki. Perhaps more in future chappies

~Begin Chapter One~

No one in the universe is selfless. This included the only and eldest son of the Kurosaki family – Kurosaki Ichigo. He never considered himself possessive of his younger sisters. At least till he showed up.

He – Ichigo still referred to him as such – walked, or rather waltzed into the Kurosaki household the night before Christmas – Christmas Eve. He was not amused when the crazy head (i.e. Isshin) announced that he could temporary stay in their 'humble little home'.

He argued his case, of course. But no one – not even the 'mouse' that inhabited his wardrobe – would take him seriously. He did not relent on his case. He did not trust him to not take advantage of his precious sisters. So he formulated a plan – a plan to get rid of Hitsugaya Toshiro once and for all.



"Are you nuts?!" Rukia cried out in exasperation. She couldn't believe that he – usually sensible Kurosaki Ichigo – would plan to take out the captain of the 10th division.

"I'm not,"

"Then why?!" she was getting frustrated, "couldn't you see how happy those two are?!"

Oops, wrong reply…

"What do you mean by 'those two'?" he demanded, narrowing his eyes.

Rukia rolled her eyes. He couldn't be that dense could he?

"Ugh! I'm going to hit the sack now…literally," she added. How she wished it could be technical instead of literal.

As she lay hidden in the wardrobe, she let her mind wander. Hitsugaya taicho is in love with Karin, and nothing but love is the strongest emotions of all…strongest…which meant that Ichigo is going to be beaten by… she smirked and drifted of to sleep. Oh, she couldn't wait to watch this! Too bad Matsumoto vice-captain won't be around…perhaps I should inform her…?



Kurosaki Ichigo sighed in annoyance. Whatever he did, it would not work. He secretly suspected that someone – probably Rukia or his dad – was out to remove whatever he had done to complete Mission: Eradicate the white haired bastard.

Well, he could wait. He'll postpone the eradication mission till after Christmas.



"Hey Ichi-nii,' Karin greeted him, "what are you doing?"

"Something…"

"Okay then," she replied. She has no interest what so ever with whatever her brother was up to. Or rather, she was confident that her relationship with the 'guest' would not be found out.



"Morn' Yuzu," Ichigo grunted out as he took his seat at the table.

"Good morning!" she chirped cheerily, setting the dishes on the table.

Ichigo narrowed his eyes as his recalled what Rukia had mentioned the night before.

'Out of curiosity, how do you know him?" he asked.

"Hmm…I think it was via Karin, she mentioned something about playing soccer. Why don't you – "

"Okay, thanks" the chair scrapped on the floor noisily, interrupting her. Is he in a hurry? Yuzu wandered, it's a Saturday…



"Karin!"

"Yeah?" said girl replied, turning around to face a rather disturbed Ichigo.

She looked so…innocent.

"Um…never mind," he answered. Ashamed that he even suspected her of being with him.



Ichigo returned to his room shortly after and did not mention any more about 'Mission: Eradicate the white haired bastard'.

Rukia smiled.

She was glad he decided not to pursue the matter.

"What are you smiling for?" his question popped her happy bubble.

"Oh nothing," she breezily replied, "just that Karin and Yuzu will be so glad that we prepared a surprise party for them."

He smirked.

"I can see the annoyed expression on Karin…"

"The tears of joy from Yuzu…" she continued for him.

"…And the dumb hi jinks of the old man…" he cringed.

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Ichigo."

"As long as the retard don't make a fool of himself…but otherwise, let's start the preparations!"



:i:i:i:(Incoming call – Matsumoto Rangiku):i:i:i:

Rukia answered the call.

"Hello, Rangiku-san."

"Huu-hoo, Rukia-chan! How're you? Wait, wait, tell me everything about those two!" she squealed.

"We're having a party."

"Ooh~ the mistletoe?"

"Bingo!" both sniggered.

"Alrighty! I'll be there to help out soon! Later!"

"Later."

:i:i:i:(Call ending):i:i:i:



"Yoo-hoo! I'm Matsumoto Rangiku!"

"Hi!" a grinning Yuzu greeted.

"Hey," Karin greeted, noting that Toshiro does not seem happy.

"So now that all introduce—"

"Wait, my son! How could you not introduce me to your friend?!"

Ichigo kicked him in the face.

"Matsumoto, meet crazy dad. Crazy dad, meet Matsumoto." He received a thumbs-up from the K.O.-ed parent and continued.

"It's late, but it's family tradition to décor the house a day before Christmas." Ichigo explained.

"Wow! That's a wonderful tradition!"

"Of course it is, for a lazy bum," Toshiro added, voice laced with annoyance at his vice-captain.

"He-he!" she grinned.



~End Chapter One~