3.

After taking the time to gather themselves the weary trio set foot outside the miraculously unscathed car. There was not even a scratch! How that was even possible was anyone's guess but there were more pressing matters to attend to.

The air outside was frigid, a crisp chill settling upon them. The young girl from the pet store shivered uncontrollably and so Rukia wrapped part of her coat around the child to shield her form the freezing wind. Ichigo could have tried doing that but the results probably would have turned out quite badly so he let Rukia do it instead.

Together they marched through the ankle-deep layers of snow that coated the ground and made their way up to the great sliding door out the front. They practically fell through the door and with dreadful slowness they made their way to the receptionist's desk looking like a bunch of survivors at the end of an action movie.

"Yes, how may I help you?" the middle aged attendant at the desk asked in a soothing voice that could put toddlers to sleep.

"Um, hello. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki from the Kurosaki clinic," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card and the attendant nodded, "So, we transferred some patients to you yesterday, from a car crash. I was wondering if I could see how they are doing. You see this is their daughter." Ichigo gestured to the little girl and waited for a response.

The attendant checked a computer and then stared at him. "Okay, please wait over there. I'll get someone to meet with you shortly."

The trio all bowed in thanks and collapsed into the row of chairs along the far wall. The waiting room was crammed full of coughing, crying and cold civilians, far too many. After Ichigo and co had sat down there was only one spare seat but that was taken up mere seconds later by a wheezing old man.

The girl shied away from a dishevelled and emaciated man beside her and curled up against Rukia. Ichigo felt oddly jealous. It didn't make sense. She had no problems with Rukia and yet she still despised him for the whole bunny fiasco two years ago. Why the Hell couldn't she let that go? And Rukia was the one who put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her! All he had done was jumble up a few words that were misconstrued and led her to believe he wilfully participated in bestiality.

Ichigo slapped himself in the face to curb that unsettling train of thought. Besides why in the world was he getting agitated over a little girl he doubted he would ever meet again unless he desperately wanted a pet bunny (Which from experience was very unlikely)

All he had to do was stay here until her parents are well enough to leave and then that's it. She can go home with her family and he can relax for the first Christmas in a long time! Too easy, he thought to himself.

Eventually a man dressed in the sterile green uniform of a surgeon approached and waved Ichigo aside. The girl instinctively followed but the doctor held out a hand in signal for her to stop.

"Sorry, I just need to have a word with Ichigo at the moment." His face seemed rock solid, not a single movement at all. He was dead serious. Ichigo's eyes narrowed but he didn't dare she any sign of panic around the girl. He slowly turned to her and patted her shoulder, surprised that she didn't recoil from him at his touch.

"Don't worry we just have to sort out some business, doctor to doctor. I'll be right back."

The girl smiled and returned to her seat, chatting excitedly with Rukia. From a distance they almost looked like siblings.

Stone faced and anxious, Ichigo set off with the doctor. They passed through the crowds in the hall and moved into a long empty corridor, away from the others. The lights there were dim, casting a weak white glow over the two.

"Mr Kurosaki, I don't know how to tell you this, but..." the doctor struggled to find the words, "That girl, her parents...They were pronounced deceased last night. I'm sorry."

Ichigo just stood there, seemingly unfazed. But slowly it sank in and he fell against the wall. "What? No, no you can't be serious!"

"I'm afraid it's the truth Mr Kurosaki. Mrs Satomi was pronounced dead at the scene, her husband Mr Satomi was placed in intensive care but he did not pull through the night. The driver of the other car was also-"

"No..." Ichigo wasn't listening anymore. He held his head in his hands and grit his teeth fighting the urge to smash the doctor through the wall. "Why didn't you call? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you let me know so I wouldn't bring her here! Now what am I supposed to do? She's waiting to see her mother and father!"

"I apologise but there was nothing we could do. We have been working all night with no rest. This has been the first time I've been out of the emergency ward since yesterday morning."

"But what am I supposed to tell her?" Ichigo cried.

"If you wish, I can handle it-"

"No! Doctors are scary, especially when they are delivering bad news. I'll do it. Just..." the downhearted young man trailed off and stared down at the floor. He sat there in silent contemplation for some time until he finally took a deep breath and turned back the way they had come through. "Very well, thanks doctor. You can go back now. I'll handle this."

"Once again, I'm truly sorry Mr Kurosaki."

Ichigo walked off.

Rukia and the girl were waiting eagerly for Ichigo's return. His figure soon emerged from the crowd and headed towards them, drifting along aimlessly like a ghost. The girl sprang up from her seat and bolted over but Ichigo barely took notice of her until he was back with Rukia. He glanced at them both and then nodded to the door.

"Let's go outside for a second. I need some fresh air."

The girl shrugged and obediently shuffled past the crowds and out the door. It was still a chilly morning and so Ichigo took off his jacked and draped it over his young companion. Without a word he headed over to a small bench near the garden. The girls followed without question, at least until they sat down.

"So what's going on? Are they bringing mum and dad out for us?"

Ichigo made a face as if he had just been jabbed with a needle. Every nerve in his pace pinched and spasmed into a painfully obvious wince. "About that...Uh...Hang on, I'm sorry, I never asked your name?"

The girl just stared up at him, her cheeks turning pink. She averted her gaze and mumbled, "Yumi..."

"Yumi huh? That's a nice name. Anyway, Yumi...Your mum and dad are...Well..." He looked over to Rukia for help but she was just as confused. She didn't understand either. He glanced up at the sky but there were no answers to be found in the clouds that spread like a thick blanket over the grey sky.

"What's going on?" Yumi asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

Shit! She can tell I'm uneasy! She'll piece it together herself in a minute if I don't-

"Are they still asleep?" Rukia asked, unsure of herself. She was just guessing, taking a shot in the dark. But it wasn't that far off. In fact it helped.

"Uh...Yeah, they are asleep, kind of..."

Yumi's face fell, "Oh, I get it..."

Ichigo choked on the fresh, chilled air and sputtered like a broken down car. "W-What?"

Yumi looked up with a frown, "I understand. They're asleep and we have to wait until they wake up, right?"

For a moment that failed to register in Ichigo's mind. He spaced out for a second and lost his footing, stumbling backward like an idiot and falling into the garden. He quickly scuttled out and jumped up to his feet, "Uh...Um...Yeah, that's right!"

Yumi sighed and sat down on the bench, her gaze cast out towards the large tree on the other side of the path. It was fully decorated with tinsel and baubles and lights and stars and all sorts of ornaments. Even in the morning light it shone with an otherworldly radiance. A familiar, comforting warmth emanated from it, like an open fire on a cold winter day.

Yumi sat there, mesmerised by the tree, unknowingly muttering to herself.

"Last Christmas...I was almost killed. A psychopath with a gun tried to steal from the pet store. They put a gun to my head and threatened to end my life. When everything was over I was so scared, so, so scared. I felt like everyone was out to get me. I was too terrified to move away from the police."

"Then my parents arrived. They both had to leave work and rushed over to the store to see me. As soon as I saw their faces, as soon as they hugged me and spoke to me, I was reassured. I was safe. All that fear just washed away and I felt so happy. That Christmas they were so relieved that I wasn't hurt by the accident, but they were still worried so they stayed by my side the whole time. I even slept in their bed at night. Dad snored but I didn't mind. It kept me awake so I thought I might be able to catch Santa."

Yumi chuckled to herself, a charming little laugh, so unlike the irritating little creature in the pet store. In this moment she actually seemed human. All of Ichigo's bad memories were eclipsed by her gentle, sweeping laughter. But that wasn't helping. He couldn't take it any longer. The truth was begging to come out but he forced himself to bite his tongue.

Yumi continued, "I still ended up falling asleep. I never caught Santa in the end. But that didn't matter. That Christmas was the best day of my life. We don't have many relatives. Most live overseas or they passed away, so it was just me and my parents for the whole day. It was wonderful. This time around I want to do something special for them, to repay them for making me feel so safe, so calm, so happy."

She smiled a beaming smile and her eyes lit up like candles, "As soon as they wake up I'm gonna give them a great big-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGH!"

Yumi and Rukia both jumped at the sudden outburst from the young boy with fiery orange hair. Ichigo had rocked forward on the bench and was tearing away at his hair in frustration, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Ichigo..." Rukia began, reaching out to comfort him, but he swatted her hand away and cursed.

"Why me? I thought it was gonna be different this year? Why do I have to do this? I'm used to having a fucked up Christmas, but I don't want to ruin this day for someone else!"

"What are you talking about?" Rukia asked, "You've done nothing wrong."

"No, but I'm about to!" Ichigo snapped back. He turned on Yumi and stared deep into her eyes. She looked uneasy, but Ichigo couldn't restrain himself any more. The truth flowed from his mouth uncontrollably like a busted tap.

"Yumi, your parents are dead."

Silence followed.

Such tragedy, but there are still a few days till Christmas! Can Ichigo and Rukia turn this upsetting holiday around? Find out in the next few chapters!