"Uryuu," Ishida's father's voice came in through the hallway.

"What is it, Ryuuken?" Ishida never addressed his father properly. He didn't see the need when the man was barely a father figure. He kept his eyes on the morning's paper as he ate breakfast.

Ryukken's dark eyes didn't falter from his son's rude attitude. "This came for you," he said flatly, tossing an envelope on the glass table in front of him. The paper slid towards Ishida's dish and stopped directly in front of him.

His brows came together in confusion. "I already picked up the post this morning."

"It didn't come with the post." Ryuuken sipped his coffee and retreated to his office. Ishida looked up to see his father's white hair leave the kitchen. His eyes moved to the envelope sitting in front of his breakfast plate. Ishida-kun read the text written on the front. It was her handwriting.

He took a breath before reaching for a letter opener and cut the top of the envelope. He shook out its contents and was surprised at what he found. Two people smiled back at him. A small grin crept across his face. He flipped the photo over and saw a note.

I'll see you there. -- Inoue Orihime

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"Oh, Kuchiki-san, you look beautiful!" Orihime exclaimed as she opened the door of her apartment. "Come on in, Tatsuki's already here." The ginger-haired girl tugged the petite Shinigami through the doorway.

"Thanks," Rukia responded, "Nii-sama gave it to me." She did a double take when she noticed what Orihime was wearing to the festival. "Inoue…that is…stunning." She couldn't find the words to describe the modern take on a yukata, but it completely trumped anything she had ever seen before. "Where did you find it?"

Orihime hid her face down, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "Ishida-kun made it." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She smoothed down the white embroidered obi that matched the pattern on the dyed fabric. She felt confident and beautiful in this yukata. At the last second before her friends came, she tied her hair halfway up in a messy bun, suddenly nostalgic of the time she and Ishida spent together in Sereitei. She smiled inwardly, knowing that she would see him again tonight.

"So what should we start with, Orihime? It's your festival, after all," Tatsuki playfully nudged her best friend out of her thoughts.

Rukia was slightly confused. "Tanabata," Tatsuki explained, "Is about two lovers who can only meet once a year on this day, the 7th day of the 7th month in the lunar year. The princess's name in the story is Orihime. I've been trying for years for her to get her prince." She added the last part with a wink.

"Tatsuki, please," Orihime was starting to feel embarrassed. In the past, Ichigo had been the prince Tatsuki had hunted for her friend, but Orihime knew that wasn't her place anymore. She didn't know what Tatsuki would try now that she knew about her developing feelings for Ishida. Her friend could be relentless when she put her mind to it.

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"Oi, where's Rukia-chan?" Isshin poked at his son getting ready to leave for the festival.

"She already left to meet up with the girls." Ichigo batted his father's hands out of his face. It was bad enough he had been suckered into wearing a traditional yukata—although he had to admit it was about as comfortable as the robes he wore as a Shinigami. The dark blue fabric wasn't too loud and held a tasteful white pattern. If Yuzu hadn't have made it for him, he wouldn't have bothered to wear one in the first place.

Karin didn't look too happy in a girl's yukata, but her twin stood next to her with a big smile on her face. Yuzu had done well, picking out patterns for everyone and making them all yukata's for this year's festival. Even though Ichigo would run off with his friends when they got there, at least they looked like a family.

"We will see her there. Let's GO, Ku-Ro-Sa-Ki family!" Isshin pumped his hand in the air like the leader in a parade. Yuzu followed behind him with the same actions, a large grin plastered on her face. Karin rolled her eyes and fell in line, while Ichigo held up the end as a straggler.

The walk to the festival grounds wasn't that far, not that anything was a great distance in Karakura. The girls' eyes widened and sparkled when they saw the glow of hanging lanterns. The largest crowd gathered on the last day, writing down their wishes, spending time with loved ones, and looking forward to the fireworks. Ichigo stayed with his family, touring the grounds until the others showed up.

"Ah, Uryuu-kun," Isshin called, spotting the young Quincy. Ishida walked over to the Kurosaki family, addressing the group with common respect. Even with casual clothes, his traditional yukata was adorned with Quincy colors. The white fabric was trimmed with blue, a Quincy cross humbly displayed in light embroidery across his left breast.

"Kurosaki-san," Ishida simply responded to the older man. He and Ichigo exchanged mutual silent greetings. Isshin smirked inwardly, seeing the similarities in friendship between Ryuuken and himself.

Chad joined the group shortly after, followed by Keigo and Mizuiro. Isshin patted his first born on the shoulder. "Now you don't have to hang out with your lame family anymore," he grinned.

The corner of Ichigo's mouth went up. "Not all lame, just you."

"Oh, my son! That hurts!"

"Bye," Ichigo waved as he walked off with the guys. When the group was out of earshot, Isshin turned to Yuzu, the gears in his head spinning. "Did you bring the video camera?" he asked with devious eyes.

"Of course," Yuzu chirped with the same look.

"All right!" Isshin propped his hands on his hips. "Let 'Operation: Spy on Ichigo's Group Date' commence!"

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Ishida was trying to enjoy himself but his thoughts kept going back to Orihime. She hadn't said she forgave him, but she did say she would meet him there. Would she be wearing the yukata he designed for her? What did the picture of them together mean? From across the fair, he spotted her. She and the other girls were writing down their wishes for the traditional offering. He swallowed the hard knot in his throat when the group started to make their way in that direction.

Orihime was writing her wish to sail into the heavens. She had thought of something earlier and decided it would be best. She would ask for forgiveness from the feelings of jealousy, the courage to move on, and hope for happiness. She wanted to set things right and was determined to get her two friends together, even though it broke her heart. Perhaps if it was not too late, someone would be there to catch it.

Rukia was immersed in writing her wishing note and didn't notice the large carrot-top looming over her shoulder. "Yo," a voice suddenly said in her ear. She jumped at the sound of his voice. "What the hell, Ichigo!" she shouted at him and reached up to slap him across the back of his head. After a year of knowing exactly how she would react, Ichigo's responses were quick, so he dodged her little hand as it came swooping through the air, catching her wrist with his hand.

Ichigo chuckled, "I thought you weren't talking to me."

"That wasn't talking, it was scolding." Rukia narrowed her violet eyes at the Substitute Shinigami. Ichigo smirked as he towered over the petite warrior. He was looking at her with renewed eyes, and he started to notice the little things about her that he loved. Her high cheeks flushed with anger and her eyes shined whenever she was annoyed. She would huff a breath up, moving the ever-staying long bang that hung between her huge orbs. Even with a scowl, she still looked like a Kuchiki Princess, standing in her elegant pale yellow yukata with embroidered cherry blossoms.

"What?" Rukia asked with an odd expression on her brow. The way he was looking at her made her stomach flutter. He was still grasping her wrist and his touch made her heart race.

A glint of light on Rukia's arm caught in Ichigo's eye. She was wearing his bracelet. He shook his head with a grin. "Nothing." He dropped her hand but kept his eyes locked on hers.

Keigo's annoying voice cut through their non-verbal communication. "Oi, it got really windy all of a sudden, didn't it?" He covered his eyes to shield them from dust rising around them.

Keigo, Mizuiro and Mizuiro's twin dates looked around the area, blinking against the rising gusts. The others searched the skies, knowing something was coming. Keigo could sense that hollows were near, but he didn't want to raise any alarms. Instead, he motioned for Tatsuki, Mizuiro and the blonde twins to find shelter from the impending attack. He looked back at his group of friends, knowing they would handle whatever came near.

The empty screams of hollows filled Tatsuki's ears, but she didn't follow Keigo to get inside the shrine. Instead, she made her way to Urahara's booth. She looked Renji in the eyes and they had a mutual understanding.

Something was definitely coming.

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Update Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday!

I hope that clears up some of what Tanabata is about. If not, I just used Wikipedia for a reference. ;)

Sorry I left you on a cliffhanger ;) But you're going to have to get used to that until the end of the whole story.
Looks like you'll have to wait until Friday for the beginning of the climax!