I would just like to say that this chapter is on the 16th of December, the day that my family and I always put up the tree. So, if you haven't gathered, they are decorating and putting the tree up today, YIPPEE!

And I'm very sorry as people spell Hanukkah in different ways, sorry if I offended you by spelling it wrong.

Now, ON WITH THE STORY!

The Best Time of the Year
Chapter 2: The 16th

Rukia was wearing a Christmas hat on her head – the red one with a strip of white around it and a pom-pom on the end. It was flopped over on the side of her face. She looked comical.

Ichigo almost laughed out loud when he had woken up that morning, I mean, he would of, had he not been so tired.

-Flashback-

"Ichigo," Rukia whispered to him early in the morning, "what's this?" she was holding up his Christmas hat,

"It's a freakin' hat, you freakin' idiot. Now freakin' leave me alone," he mumbled, still half asleep.

Rukia inspected the hat closely, then put it on, "So," she paused, thinking, "like this?"

"Yes, like that," Ichigo lay, face down, on the bed, not wanting Rukia to see his smile.

She narrowed her eyes at the back of his orange fluff of hair. Then she kicked it.

"OW!" he yelled, sitting up now, then realizing that the family was still sleeping, he whispered at her, rubbing his head,

"What the fu – Rukia, are you mentally challenged or something?"

"No, I'm not!" she replied indignantly, crossing her arms,

"Well, it sure seems like it."

Rukia fought the urge to hit the teenager. Her fists were scrunched into tiny balls.

"Have you never celebrated Christmas before?" he asked her with disbelief in his words and eyes,

"I don't know. I mean, I must of, but I don't remember anything…"

"Oh," Ichigo felt bad for Rukia, although she was old, she had the body of a kid, and it was horrible to be a kid without the experiences of religion.

"I'll tell you what, you, as well as spending Christmas with me and family, I'm going to introduce you to the family as an exchange student who was staying with a family who has left on holiday and I was the only one that could take you in. And then, you can also prepare for Christmas with us,"

Rukia was silent for a moment,

"I mean, that's only if you want."

She smiled widely at him and hugged him, that was what she wanted, she would love that,

"O.k, er, Rukia," Rukia looked up at a blushing Ichigo. She quickly let go of him, embarrassed.

---

"You don't have to hide it from us Ichigooooo!" Ichigo punched his father in the face. Isshin kicked him back. Soon they were rolling on the ground, beating each other up,

"Come," Rukia looked down at Yuzu's hand, which was held out for Rukia to take,

"Where are we going?"

"Will you help me with the food for lunch, Kuchiki – san?" Rukia smiled and nodded an affirmative.

-End flashback-

Rukia was helping get the decorations down from a cupboard now, and later, the whole family and her were going to go get a tree.

She was holding a long piece of soft, green tinsel,

"This object that I have the pleasure of holding in my hand is by far the best thing so far!"

She then took a box of lights from Karin, who was passing it down to her,

"This object that I have the pleasure of holding in my hand is by far the best thing so far!"

Yuzu smiled at Rukia, she was weird, she was now holding the angel for the very top of the tree (or star, whatever you want),

"This object that I have the pleasure of holding in my hand is by far the – oomph,"

She had just got elbowed by Ichigo, "Shut up," he said between a smile, clenching his teeth, then, "Oh, sorry, Rukia, I didn't mean to, are you o.k? I feel so bad now,"

"I'm fine," she said with equal fakeness, "Don't worry about it," she laughed.

Isshin, Karin and Yuzu stared at them, dumbfounded,

"I think you overdid it,"

"Me, hell no, you're the one with the extra fake laugh,"

"O.k!" Karin said, interrupting the two who were about to bite each others heads off, "Time to go and get the tree!"

"YAY!" Isshin and Yuzu shouted, excited, they started to dance around in a circle.

"C'mon," he said, grabbing Rukia by the upper arm, "let's go before these two get high on their own mentalness."

---

Rukia stared at the rows of pine trees, waiting to be sold. Itching to touch one, Rukia grabbed the person nearest to her, which happened to be Isshin, and pulled him in amongst the rows,

"Kuchiki – san, I didn't know you liked me that way," he said to her, turning her around to face him, "YEEOOWWWW!"

Ichigo seemed to be flying through the air, kicking Isshin away from Rukia. (You know how he does it)

"You pervert,"

"Now, now, don't make such accusations," Isshin said back, wagging his finger. This action was rewarded with a punch in the gut.

Karin rolled her eyes at the bickering father and son,

"Let's go find a tree while they beat the crap out of each other. They should be done by the time we've picked it."

---

Rukia was tired out from decorating the tree. She flushed as she remembered what happened.

-Flashback-

Rukia held the sparkling angel in her hand, to put on the top of the tree. It was the last thing to be done, but she was too short,

"Here, let me help," she turned to Ichigo's voice, and smiled.

"How?"

"Well, Yuzu usually climbs on my back," he patted his back, proudly, "or on my shoulders."

Rukia raised an eyebrow at the adolescent.

"Sure," she shrugged.

"There we go, AAGH! I'M GONNA FALL!"

"Too late," Karin told her.

Rukia had fallen on top of Ichigo. It wasn't his fault that she had fallen. It was hers. She had leant too far forward.

"I am so sorry," she squeaked, blushing red. She jumped to her feet but tripped back onto Ichigo as she slipped on some tinsel.

"Oomph," he uttered as she fell on top of him. Rukia was grabbing at Ichigo to regain her balance (he was now sitting up),

Ichigo swallowed hard as Rukia began, unknowingly, to explore his chest.

"Rukia," he whispered frantically as his family watched, "Rukia!"

"What?"

He looked down at her hands,

"Wha - oh!" she blushed once again.

-End Flashback-

Rukia looked at her hands as Ichigo fought a hollow. How could he fight after the tiresome day they had just had? It must have something to do with his muscles...

Rukia shivered with delight as she remembered the touch.

"Oi! Rukia! I'm done!" Ichigo stood before her, sword over his shoulder.

"Good, because there's another one coming."

A/n: Sorry this chapter took so long…now review!