Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. If I did, Karin would've become a main character a LOOONG time ago.

Hello again everyone! Sorry this took so long, but school is a bitch, pardon my French. Without further ado, here we go!

First Thanksgiving

XX

A week before Turkey Day in America, a group of kindergarteners sits in a circle around a white-haired man with a soft voice and an ever-present smile. Ukitake clears his throat and smiles at his students, "Does anybody know the holiday that will happen in a week?"

Silence. Big eyes stare up at him, from teal to brown to green to blue.

"It has to do with turkey…and pie…and food…?"

More silence. "For goodness' sakes, children! It's Thanksgiving! The day where we all give thanks for all the blessings that we have. Now," he claps his hands, "what are you thankful for…Momo?"

A petite girl with huge brown eyes blinks and says softly, "I'm thankful for the sun!"

Ukitake smiles, "Yuzu?"

"For cooking and Mama!" says the pale dirty blonde with a bright smile.

"Izuru?"

Sensing he probably won't be able to get any more out of the children out loud, Ukitake says, "Now everyone go to your tables! There is paper and pencils and markers. I want at least three things, okay? Go for it!"

The kids move to round tables in groups of three and four and kneel or sit cross-legged. One of the tables includes Yuzu, Momo, and two other children: a boy with shockingly white hair and teal eyes too old for a kindergartener, and a girl with black hair and eyes and hair so black they're blue.

Yuzu and Momo immediately got to work with crayons, their small faces crunched in concentration, but Toushirou and Karin looked at their own paper and frowned. Eventually, Karin wrote 'Ichigo,' 'Yuzu,' 'Mama,' 'Papa.' Suddenly inspired, she took a green colored pencil bent her head.

However, her orphan friend feels slightly helpless as he looks around at his friends, who have everything compared to him. It has only been four months since his parents were killed in a home invasion robbery, and he misses them very much every single day. Catching Ukitake's eye, Toushirou feels himself blush, and quickly lowers his head to write 'my dog Hyourinmaru,' as he can't think of anything else.

Karin looks up and, seeing her friend uncomfortable, whispers to him, her eyes serious, "Shirou, you okay? If you're stuck, you can look at my list." She pushes it towards him, and Toushirou sees in an organized list, 'sunshine, green grass, soccer, Mama, Ichigo, Yuzu, Toushirou, smiles, laughter, hugs."

He pauses, and then looks back. It is indeed his own name scrawled in Karin's neat handwriting (well, for a kindergartener). Unable to stop himself, he asks in a whisper, "Why is my name on there?"

She looks at him like it's obvious. "You're my friend. I'm thankful for you. That's what this list is, right?"

Suddenly, he feels tears sting, and he nods quickly before turning back to his own paper and rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand, takes up the crayon. The first thing on his list, after Hyourinmaru, is 'my best friend Karin.'

XX

Sorry it's so short, but I think it's pretty cute. Do let me know what you think. I've actually got another one-shot on my computer, "First Song," but it's still in the works. Should be up within the next few days.

Also, anyone excited for the new Bleach movie? WE GET TO SEE ULQUIORRA AGAIN!

Hope everyone had an excellent Thanksgiving, and by all means, leave a review.