On The First Day of Christmas - Part 5

Rukia was excited.

"So we got our lights up outside, our presents bought and wrapped…" Rukia said, delighted that she was having fun. "Is there anything else we have to do to prepare for Christmas?" She turned to Ichigo, who was lying on the sofa watching TV.

"Yeah, just one thing missing," Ichigo said, cocking his head to face Rukia. "We need a Christmas tree."

"Eh? Tree? Why does Christmas need a tree?" Rukia asked, confused. Ichigo thought for a bit, then shrugged, sitting up.

"I don't know."

"You don't know anything."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Why are they all the same kind of tree?" Rukia asked, muffled through the scarf around her neck and mouth.

"It's just like that. Don't ask me," Ichigo replied, strolling around the lot of evergreen trees. After everyone bundled up, the Kurosaki family along with Rukia went out to search for a Christmas tree. Yuzu and Isshin were running around the yard like little children while Karin watched, actually looking and picking out trees that she liked.

"So you just put this tree in the house and then what?" Rukia asked.

"You decorate it, and put the wrapped presents underneath." Rukia looked at the boy in front of her.

"That's it?" Ichigo nodded. "What a waste!" Rukia muttered. Ichigo turned to face her, amusement in his eyes.

"Well, it's the fun that matters," Ichigo laughed. "I'm just letting you know – the decorating part doesn't come easy in my family."

"Huh?"

Rukia found out what Ichigo meant soon enough.

"No, Dad! Don't do that!"

"Karin-chaan! That's my ornament!"

"As if, old geezer!"

"Stop fighting! You're going to break the ornaments!" Crash. "Ugh!"

"See what I mean?" Rukia turned to see Ichigo walking up to her. "I've never really gotten into it before, but it seems like they like to see who can finish decorating the dumb tree first."

"Uh…huh," Rukia blinked, watching in fascination the Kurosaki family duke it out – for a tree.

"Come on," Ichigo tapped Rukia on the shoulder. "There's something I want to show you." Ichigo led the way to his room, stepping in. When Rukia stepped in, she smiled.

"So this is your private tree?" Rukia laughed.

"Well, yeah. You saw how my family is," Ichigo shrugged, walking over to the little foot-tall evergreen tree between his desk and the closet. "I've been hiding a little tree in my room for about three years now. Wanna help me?" Ichigo offered Rukia a little ornament. She nodded, and kneeled down to hang it on the tree. Ichigo took some colorful pipe cleaners from out of a bag, much to Rukia's amusement.

"Eh? What are you going to do with those?" Rukia laughed.

"It's the garland!" Ichigo defended his little tree. "Normal garland wouldn't fit!"

"Oh," Rukia turned her head back to the tree. "That makes sense." Ichigo kneeled next to Rukia to hang the length of 'garland' onto the tree.

"Well, isn't that cool," Ichigo muttered, looking at their finished product.

"Yeah," Rukia agreed. She turned to look at Ichigo, jumping and hitting her head on the closet door when she saw how close they were. "Ow!" Ichigo turned suddenly at the sound of Rukia 'owing' , hitting her on the head again.

"Sorry," Ichigo said hastily, standing up to help Rukia out of the corner of the room. "A little crowded…"

"Well, at least we finished it," Rukia quickly changed the subject, a little flustered.

"Yeah," Ichigo muttered. "So you have anything to put under the tree yet?"

"Oh yeah!" Rukia went to her closet and pulled out three boxes. "Can I put these under the tree?"

"Three? Who are they for?"

"One for Renji, one for Nii-sama, and one for you!" Rukia said excitedly as she dumped the boxes unceremoniously on the floor under the tree.

"Byakuya? Does he even know what Christmas is?" Ichigo snickered. Rukia was about to reply, saying of course he does, but then remembered that she didn't even know what Christmas was.

"Uh…"

"Thought so."

A/N Sorry about the rough ending - didn't know how to end it well.
So, Christmas is almost here. Definitely one more chapter tomorrow, and somehow end it soon. I'm leaving on Christmas day for vacation, so I would have to finish it anyways. I may add an 'epilouge' after I get home on the second of January - you know, gotta see Byakuya and Renji's reactions to those presents! XD

So - thanks for reading and review please!