A/N: The final drabble... Why do I suddenly feel completely relieved? XD I don't think I'll ever try to update something once a day ever again - maybe once a week. The story was a lot of work, and a lot of effort and time taken to write and post it.

Thank you to everyone who's reviewed!

This one's longer - maybe the longest one overall. I just hope you like it.

In the morning she wakes up, with excitement and cheer on her face, ready to spread the merriment and fun, on this wonderful Christmas Day. But then the phone rings and he's called her, asking to meet up soon, dazedly she asks when, he tells her at first sight of the moon…

Her breath came out in a cloud of mist, floating in front of her face. She exhaled once, and then once again, but neglected to watch as the white moisture swirled in the air around her. Ichigo's gaze was far too occupied with the enchanting pink Café; it towered high above her, fairytale peaks and turrets rising into the nighttime sky, with the glowing white moon sparkling in the background. The Luna sphere had turned the snow beneath her to silver dust - and her feet caused it to crunch under her weight as she walked up the pathway that led to the arched entrance. But again, even this did not catch her attention - her mind was focused only on the boy dwelling inside, and the small, wrapped gift clutched tightly in her hands.

Ichigo ran through in her head just what she was going to say to him; when she'd tried to exchange presents the other day, he had refused, telling her it wasn't necessary. So what she really needed was some sort of retort - something that would outsmart and baffle him so much that he wouldn't be able to think up a comeback. But she could think of absolutely nothing, and as she grew closer to the doors, her mind went frantic. She needed this witty saying - whatever it was - because she just needed to get one over on him. Just once. Ichigo even went as far as pausing outside for a moment to see if her brain spewed anything at her at the last second. But alas, it wasn't to be, and she only ended up becoming confused.

Finally, with a reluctant sigh, she turned the handle and pushed open the door. Her first thought upon entering was of how pretty the Café looked with all the Christmas decorations. The second was how there seemed to be everything in the room in which she stood - except the one thing she was looking for. Ryou. Ichigo rolled her eyes; he was probably brooding in his bedroom as he always did. Well, nothing else to do about it other than make her way up the stairs and towards it.

It only took her a couple of minutes to reach Ryou's room, and upon doing so she grabbed the handle, before quickly remembering that she needed to knock first. Curling her hand into a fist, she rapped it on the wooden surface three times, swaying her body from side to side as she awaited permission to enter. She didn't have to wait too long; seconds after she had knocked, the door flew backwards and Ryou stood, shirtless, in front of her.

"So you remembered to turn up, did you, baka?" he asked patronizingly, leaning down and giving her a sweet peck on the lips. The blush crept across her cheeks, and she stared up at him with big, wide chocolate eyes filled with surprise at the sign of affection. He raised an eyebrow, smirking proudly. "Well, I just figured that with the way things were going with us lately… that we might as well become an official 'us'. If you're up to it, that is. So what do you say, Strawberry? Be my girlfriend?"

She blinked. Blinked again. And then threw herself into his arms. He was slightly caught off balance, and had to take a couple steps back to steady himself, but he chuckled as he held her, lightly stroking her hair. She snuggled into his chest, forgetting all about the present in her grasp until she felt it come between the two of them, when it brushed over his chest instead of her hand.

"Oh," she gasped. "Ryou, this is for you - if you'll accept it this time. Merry Christmas!"

To her surprise, he took it from her (she had honestly thought he'd turn it down once again), fiddling with the edges of the wrapping paper and rotating it in his hands. The blonde smiled - first at the present, then lifting his gaze to her. He leant down again and gave her a longer, but still sweet and tender kiss. She felt her mind cloud over and spin with the feelings that coursed through her body at the contact; the tingling and pleasant burning sensations that felt like a million fireworks exploding at once. It was wonderful.

Parting, she looked to him expectantly, but he just bowed his head, bidding her goodnight. Ichigo was taken aback, to say the least, and her heart dropped into her stomach at the realization that he hadn't gotten her a gift in return. But… But why not? She balled her hands into fists, glaring at the now closed door - as he'd shut it in her face - and trying her hardest to hold back the tears that were rapidly forming in the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall.

Well, if he wanted to ignore her then she'd give him the same treatment. Yeah, a taste of his own medicine. She couldn't believe that only two seconds ago, she'd been kissing him! Ichigo twisted round on her heel, intent on storming off home-- But a small, fluffy, mewing ball at her feet prevented her from doing so. The kitten was sat in the hall. Outside of Ryou's room. What was this all about? She knew for a fact that the boy never let the kitten out of his arms - much less his sight or his room! So…

She stooped down to pet her, realising as she did that the kitten had a note attached to her collar. Plucking it from her, Ichigo infolded it and read what was written:

Strawberry,

Merry Christmas. I know you love her as much as I do, so she's all yours. Take good care of her, please. And bring her to the Café once in a while - just because I gave her to you doesn't mean I'm never allowed to see her again.

Love, Ryou

And that's when the tears fell. Instantly, all her anger melted away as the salty water slipped down her cheeks, and she scooped up the kitten from the floor. The baby cat mewed in surprise, but quickly settled down into Ichigo's arms as the red-headed girl held her close. She couldn't believe it… but now she understood, at least. This was why Ryou had retreated so suddenly; he was terrible with goodbyes.

Thus, she spared him from it, turning and leaving. As she walked down the stairs, she lifted the cat up to her face and spoke to her. "I'm going to call you Shiroyuki. Because I found you in the snow, and because it sounds a little like Shirogane…" She giggled as she exited the Café, stepping out into the snow and making her way home.

A smile flit over her face as she thought about the events of the past month… Who'd have thought she'd start the month being at odds with Ryou, and end it with him as her boyfriend? Not Ichigo, that's for sure.

…But she had a sneaky feeling that perhaps Mint did…

And so the story ends, on a happy Christmas note, Ichigo and Ryou finally together, and upon each other they can dote. The kitten found a special home, one in Ichigo's arms, and Ichigo found her own new home, right in Ryou's heart.

Merry Christmas!