After dinner, they all stretched out by the fire happily.
"Okay, I thought that since it's Dan's first Christmas here, he gets to go with Koga for the tree," Ikkaku announced before reaching into the hat. The kids approved of this heartily and Dan smiled, turning a bit red.
"Now, let's see here," he said looking at the piece of paper he was holding.
"It's Nat!" he said with a smile. After everyone had calmed down, Bess suddenly asked, "Who did you fight in the World of the Living?"
"I was going to ask you that too," Bobby said.
"His name was Luppi," Ikkaku said with a slight frown. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Bess said quickly.
"I don't like Luppi, he's mean. He thinks the Espada shouldn't have kids because it makes them weak," Bobby said darkly.
"I remember last summer when he stole our soccer ball and we had to chase it down the stream," Karin added with a scowl.
"Yeah, we were almost washed away by the current on that day," Bobby said. "Dad was so mad."
Ikkaku sighed, beginning to regret having told them. "Bed time, all of you."
"Since we missed it Saturday, can we have our pillow fight now?" Demi asked.
"Not on a school night," Ikkaku replied.
"I'm glad Demi and I attend school here now," Daisy said happily. After their seventh birthday, Yamamoto had allowed them to start. Besides, with everyone so busy and Momo taking over Aizen's duties, there wasn't really anyone available to watch the twins.
"Nan," Bess asked from her bed after everyone was settled. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Nan said in a closed voice.
"Well, you don't sound like it," Orihime said softly.
"I am...goodnight," Nan said and turned over, facing the wall. In the other rooms, the boys settled down for a long winter's night.
The following day went well and the Christmas play was coming along nicely. By the time the weekend came about, they were thoroughly exhausted. Ikkaku let them take the Friday off so they could prepare for the next day and their two-week break. Last minute preparations were being made and Bess and Nan went to buy Ikkaku's gift, a very nice dummy to fight with.
The next evening, all the parents arrived. Ameil was still trying to get used to Izuru taking his uncle's place, it did hurt a lot.
"I promise we'll have the best Christmas ever," Izuru whispered while hugging him tightly.
It was a great surprise when Soifon, Tousen, and Sajin all showed up. Emily and Soifon sat together and got along spectacularly; after all, they were in a similar situation. Yamamoto allowed the people from Hueco Mundo to attend as well. Because Aizen was unable to come, Grimmjow taped the entire event. They not only sang the 12 Days of Christmas perfectly, but also O Holy Night. The play was perfect, no disasters or even minor mistakes, and Nan enjoyed flying as an angel. Ichigo and Orihime played the perfect Mary and Joesph. Bess was all right with playing a wise man with Bobby and Dan.
The rest were animals or stagehands, except for Karin and Uryu who actually had real animals on a leash.
"You did wonderful, Nan," Nemu said, hugging her sister. Even Ryuuken showed a very rare smile while Isshin and Ikkaku yelled at Karin for letting a caged chicken loose in the excitement. Ikkaku loved his fighting dummy and Yumichika could tell he was holding back tears. Finally, at the end of that lovely December night, everyone said their goodbyes and went to bed wishing it had never ended. That was the last time of the year they saw each other.
It was the last time they would ever see Jinta.