Standard disclaimer applies.
Author's notes: What, did you think I was dead or something? Certainly not, but I've hit a MAJOR writer's block, sadly. Still, I somehow managed to write a Christmas fic. Second fic related to this holiday, ever (the first being the SasuSaku one I posted today), so treat me kindly. Uh, and let's pretend Rukia knows a bit about Christmas (at least, the gifts part?). I'm trying my best to get over this block-age-thing, I really am trying to complete all my drabbles... ((sigh)) I was going to upload this earlier but I'm not home right now, and my aunt's Internet wasn't working. When I get home I'll try to upload more fics. Until then, see you soon!

A belated Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Do you believe in Santa?
09.December.2006

He heard some rustling inside his bedroom just as he neared the door. Thinking it must have been Kon messing up with his things; Ichigo then decided on catching the stuffed lion on the act and scare the crap out of him. He turned the doorknob slowly, stepping in as quietly as he possibly could, but halted upon what he found inside.

"Rukia?" he wondered out loud, loud enough to startle her. His eyes landed on her form, hunching over the desk, and it sprung the curiosity in him.

"WAH!" she yelped and she fumbled to hide behind her whatever she'd been doing on his desk. "Ichigo!" she hollered angrily, "You friggin' scared me, idiot!"

He ignored her and trudged into his room, closing the door behind him with a soft thud. "So…" he muttered while approaching her, "What the hell are you doing in my room?"

"I'm writing a letter," she informed him as the boy plopped down on his bed. From where he sat, he could see indeed that she seemed to be writing something on fancy paper and with her favorite black ink pen.

"A letter?" his brows furrowed together in confusion. "To whom?"

She looked at him pointedly and rolled her eyes. "It's a letter for Santa Claus, idiot. To whom else would I be writing to?"

"Rukia, you dummy. Are you serious?" he chuckled good-naturedly.

Her blue eyes narrowed at him and she frowned. "What does that ever mean, Ichigo?"

"Santa isn't real, Rukia!" he told her after standing up from bed and walking over to stand next to her.

"What the hell!? Of course he is real!" she argued heatedly, standing up as well and turning to face him, letter in hand. "I saw him standing outside that expensive store two days ago when we went shopping. He even said 'hello' and 'merry Christmas' to us!"

He slapped his face and rubbed his temples. "That was some random guy in a Santa costume, for God's sake."

"Sure…." She swiveled back to the desk and focused her attention on the paper as Ichigo began to read it over her shoulders.

"A new plush Chappy, a set of crayons and sketch pad, a new green dress like the one in that old, lovely lady's shop…' What the hell is this?" He snatched the paper in her hands. The list went on and on complete with doodles and all.

"That's my Christmas list, moron. Give me that back!!" She tried to reach for it, frowning and pursing her lips, but Ichigo raised it over his head.

Glancing up, he read, "Let's see what else. 'A doll for Yuzu and a new football for Karin…' You're even asking things for my sisters? I won't be surprised if there's something for Pops too," then he paused and glared at the letter, "What's this? 'Chocolate-dipped strawberries for Ichigo to sweeten his bitter life'? Is this a joke, dimwit?" he glanced at her, who was still trying to reach the letter from his hand. "Oh, and it goes on… 'A new pair of shoes. A purple, star-shaped music box…' Just where is one to find all of this stuff…" he shook his head.

She finally got hold of her letter and smoothed the wrinkled paper with a frown. "It's Santa Claus, he can get them for sure."

He turned to her, mildly miffed. "Don't you get it? He doesn't exist, you stubborn woman."

Her eyes narrowed at him and she scrutinized angrily him from head to toe. "Tell me one reason why I shouldn't believe in Santa Claus." Her eyes narrowed dangerously some more.

"Well, for one, it was just an invention someone came up with to sell during the holidays," he reasoned. "Look, you should be old enough to know these fantasy things don't exist. Do you really think that there's a Santa, or elves, or even a reindeer with a red nose? Who in their right mind would honestly…"

"You didn't think Shinigami existed before, didn't you?" She cut him off, challenging him to say otherwise.

"What!? But that's a different thing!" he complained loudly. Ichigo looked startled; she had a point… but still. Shinigamis were on a supernatural realm that had nothing to do with 'Santa,' right?

"I don't see how that's really different." She smirked at him triumphantly. Rukia stuck her tongue at him. "Nyaa! You lose, moron."

"Who's the moron, idiotic woman?" he scowled, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the poster on his wall.

"I have to admit that at first, the fact that a fat old man would be sneaking into people's houses in the middle of the night was a bit suspicious," she mumbled, eyes on her letter. Ichigo's eyebrows briefly curved up in amusement. "But think about it, Ichigo! He can't be a mean guy or else he wouldn't be leaving gifts, right?" She paused briefly and smiled softly, "Anyone like that must be really kind."

She had that completely oblivious and contented look on her face, blue eyes bright and naive, and Ichigo wanted to scoff at her but didn't find the heart to do so.

"Sheesh, whatever," he sighed and plopped onto his mattress once again. It wasn't like he could convince her once she was so settled on one thing. And it wasn't like he was going to tell her that at her age, asking gifts from Santa is the last thing she should do.

She slipped her letter on an envelope and wrote in perfect handwriting 'For Santa Claus'. "And now, I'm going to put this on the tree," she grinned slyly at him. "And you'll be ashamed for saying such stupid things when you see all my gifts!"

Ichigo sighed, but couldn't help the smile slipping into his face. "Stubborn woman, indeed."

--

On Christmas morning, a number of presents surrounded the feet of the tree in the Kurosaki household.