Though this realm seems dreadful and dreary, the sun does shine here. It shined down on a brand new day in Halloween Town. Uryu might be a vampire, but even he had work to do in the day. Carrying a parasol with him to keep the sun off, Uryu made his way over to Ichigo's house. With the ring of the bell, a shriek went off, but no one answered.

"Ichigo! Ichigo, are you in there?!" Uryu called. "We have much to go over! We want to be ready for when the next Halloween comes!" He called for Ichigo, but no answer. "Ichigo, I might be the mayor, but I can't make all the decisions! Ichigo!" No answer, but Uryu didn't know where else he could be. He looked around to see if anyone might knew. "Chad!" Uryu called and hurried over to him. "Do you know where Ichigo is?"

"He isn't home? I saw him last night, he went to take a walk in Haunted Woods, but I thought he would have went straight home after that." Chad said.

"Well, we have much to discuss. Where could he be?" Uryu said. Everyone was wondering where Ichigo could be, and Orihime was worried if he was okay. Where could Ichigo be?

...

Haunted Woods

Ichigo never made it home last night. He was still in the woods and still trying to clear his head. He wasn't even aware he was out all night. All he did was keep walking around with out any idea as to where he should go.

"Oh man..." Ichigo said with a great yawn. "I wasn't aware it was morning already." He started to become more aware of his surroundings, but he wasn't quite sure where he was. "Wait. Where in the woods am I?" He wasn't too familiar with this part of the woods, but then he spotted something a little unusual. He saw seven trees together in a perfect circle. "What is this?" Curious about what he saw, Ichigo stepped closer and took a look. In each tree was a door of a different design. There was one with a jack-o-lantern, that one he was familiar with, but not the others so much. There was one with a heart, a strange bird called a turkey, a colorful egg, a clover, and a firecracker. However, it was the seventh tree that really caught his eye. It was designed like a decorated tree. Something about this one called to him, and he had to know what it was. When he approached the door, he opened it up to see what was really inside. He couldn't see much for it appeared to be empty, but then a wind picked up and he was suddenly pulled inside.

...

Ichigo

Ichigo felt himself fall through the strange place until he came out through another tree and landed in something he never experienced before. He landed in something white, soft, and cold.

"What is this?" Ichigo said as he got up. He looked around and saw he was no longer in the Haunted Woods, but rather something else. Though he didn't recognize snow, he was surrounded by it. It was unlike anything Ichigo has ever seen. Then, he spotted a small town in the distance. Wanting to know more, Ichigo went in to see more of what it was. He moved closer until he spotted a sign. "The North Pole?" Ichigo has never seen anything like this before and wants to know more. Ichigo kept himself hidden from those who were at work. All the lights, colors, and decorations were so appealing. He's never seen anything like it before.

"Let's go! Let's go!" Ichigo heard people coming, so he quickly hid himself. He looked to see little people all at work on something. "Let's go, people! Christmas will be here before we know it!"

"Christmas?" Ichigo questioned as he wondered what that could be. He looked around to see more, and was entranced by all that he saw. It was like a mystical wonderland that brought joy to Ichigo's Halloween heart. There was still much he didn't understand because nothing really seemed scary or anything like Halloween. Rather than making candy, they're making toys. Instead of setting up webs for spiders to drop, they hang metal balls to dangle off a tree. Where they should have bats hanging up, they set up a plant where you have to kiss someone under it. Everything is so new, and it all is in preparation for a day that hasn't come yet. Just artists get struck by inspiration to make their work, Ichigo could feel the same spark in him.

"Keep up the work! Santa needs his sleigh ready! We need to make sure these toys are set for all the children! All has to be ready for Santa by the time Christmas comes!"

"Santa?" Ichigo wondered who that could be.

"Ho Ho Ho!" Ichigo could hear someone giving off a jolly old laugh. Not knowing why, hearing that laugh filled him with much joy. As he looked to see more of what this Santa is like, he believes he might have found what he's looking for.

...

Later

"Ichigo! Ichigo, where are you?!" Orihime called as she searched around for him. He's been gone for ours and people are starting to get worried about him. Orihime was most worried that Ichigo is troubled since she understands how he must be feeling. As she looked around for him, she looked and soon found him emerging out of the woods with him trying to drag something through them. "Ichigo!" She called as she hurried over to him.

"Orihime! Thank goodness you're here!" Ichigo said. "Would you mind giving me he hand?"

"Sure." Orihime said and managed to pull off her own hand. "Here." She literally handed over her own hand to him. He couldn't help but laugh from that.

"You always knew how to make me smile." Ichigo said. Once Orihime placed her hand back on, she helped him out by dragging whatever he had.

"What's in here?" Orihime said.

"I'll explain once we get to town. I'm calling for a town meeting because there's something everyone needs to see." Ichigo said. "I believe I might have discovered something that could revolutionize everything." Hearing the joy that was in his voice, Orihime trusted Ichigo with this and was glad to help him.

...

Halloween Town

When Ichigo returned to Halloween Town, he called for a town meeting like he said. Everyone gathered to see what this was all about. Gathering in their town hall, all the monsters listened to what Ichigo might have. Uryu placed the lights on him and everyone wanted to know more.

"Thank you all for coming. I believe I might have discovered something incredible." Ichigo said. "It's a chance for us to change everything. I want to tell all of you about something called Christmas." When he said that, they were all curious as to what he was talking about. "It turns out Halloween isn't the only holiday. Inside Haunted Woods are seven doors. One is for us, but the others passageways to places of other holidays. I've only seen one so far, and this one is of a holiday called Christmas. While I was there, I was amazed by it. Just look at all of this." He pulled back the curtains and showed what he brought back. Christmas stuff like an actual tree with ornaments, decorations, presents and more.

"Ooh..." Orihime said as she and everyone was amazed with it.

"Okay, here's one thing." Ichigo said as he held up a box. "It starts with this. It's called a present."

"Does it come alive?"

"Does it bite?"

"No. It's just a box wrapped in some paper and topped with a bow." Ichigo said.

"Looks ugly."

"What about what's in it?"

"Does it hold a severed head or maybe a still beating heart?"

"Well, that's sort of the idea. You're not suppose to know what's in it." Ichigo said. "It's suppose to be some sort of surprise." They all liked the sound of that because a surprise to them means a scare. "Often, it's usually a toy or something, but there's more." He said as he held up a stocking. "Now, they also take these red socks and hang it on the wall or over a fireplace."

"Does it have a severed foot?"

"It has to go with some pretty big feet."

"Hanging that over fire sounds dangerous."

"It's not for a foot. Oddly, what they do is fill it with candy or smaller toys." Ichigo said. "That's no different than taking your buckets for trick or treating." They were all starting to get fascinated by this. "Now, I should mention that all of this is done by a man. This man seems to inherit all the magic that comes with this holiday. He uses his magic to ride a sleigh and fly through the sky like a vulture at night. He's the one who delivers all of these things to all the children in the world. He somehow can see them all and enters their homes. They call him Santa Claus." This all sounded fascinating to them and were curious about more.

"Ichigo, where are you going with all of this?" Uryu questioned.

"There's still much I have to learn, but this could be a golden opportunity. Since it's a holiday like Halloween, this could be our chance to change things." Ichigo said. "It could an opportunity to revolutionize it all. Why should our Halloween fun come only once a year? If Christmas is a holiday, we should be a part of it. We don't have to wait for something that happens only once a year anymore. Our fun can happen even more." They all loved how that sounded. They don't get the whole thing about Christmas, but they do love the chance to have something like Halloween much more. They all also trust Ichigo, so they will go along with it. "Now, there's still much I have to learn. Since they do things differently, we'll have to play it by their rules. I'll let you all know when I know more and can plan this all out." All of them loved that they could do this and trust Ichigo to handle things. With that, he pulled back the curtain and went back behind stage. "What I didn't tell them is that Christmas will be here soon. There's so much to do and so little time."

"Is there something I can do to help?" Ichigo was surprised to hear that voice. Suddenly, in a poof of black magic, the sorcerer of the night appeared before him. Wearing black clothing with a cape and hat, Ichigo was met with another old face.

"Meph? What do you want?" Ichigo said.

"This sounds like it really could be revolutionary." Meph said. "These are certainly strange customs, but I'm sure we can figure it all out." He said as he played around with the decorations. "But even you, the Halloween King, couldn't pull something like this off. Why don't you let me take care of everything. I'm sure you have your hands full."

"No thanks. I've got this." Ichigo said as he grabbed everything back. "I appreciate the help Meph, but this is my idea. I want to be able to see this through." There was one other thing. Meph can be a little sketchy, especially since he's got a bit of a gambling addiction. That's why Ichigo wasn't quite sure he could trust Meph with something important. "I'll let you know if I do need help."

"Very well. Have it your way." Meph said with him turning away from Ichigo. "For now." He said under his breath before he used his magic and disappeared.

...

Orihime

Orihime was glad to see that Ichigo was smiling again, but she still would like to do something for him. She put the last of her stuff together.

"Hello! Kisuke?!"

"Ichigo?" Orihime wondered what he be doing here. She opened up her door just a little to hear what might be going on.

"Ichigo! I had a feeling you would come!" Kisuke claimed. "This Christmas sounds like quite the spectacle. So, what can I do for you?"

"I need to borrow some of your lab equipment." Ichigo said. "I need to run a few experiments to help me understand more of this Christmas stuff."

"I had a feeling that's what you were going to ask." Kisuke said with him more than glad to help.

"Experiments?" Orihime questioned. It sounds like Ichigo is going to be working hard. Still, she feels like she has to do something for him since it sounds like he's going to be stressed. She knows how stressful experiments can be.

...

Ichigo

Ichigo spent the rest of the day studying all the gimmicks that came with Christmas. First, he took a microscope to examine the berries he finds on some holly and other Christmas plants, only to squish it. He stuck a candy cane into a can of acid only to have it break apart. He tried making his own paper snowflake, but somehow made a paper spider instead. He even dissected a stuffed bear and played the melody of some carols.

"All interesting, but what am I missing to understand all of it?" Ichigo pondered. What is Christmas suppose to mean?

...

Orihime

Orihime could see that Ichigo has been working hard all day. Once she got the last piece she needed to cheer Ichigo up, she made her move. What she did was take the thread of a sowing machine and lowered her gift basket down and out the window until it hit the ground. Wanting to be bold and daring yet still too nervous to face anyone about this, she took a literal leap of faith. She jumped right out the window and her body broke to pieces. Anyone that saw that would believe she was dead, but she was a living corpse. Her body was able to put itself back together and heal itself. It was like her fall didn't even happen. Once her body was together again, she just went on her way.

...

Ichigo

Ichigo tried being scientific about finding what Christmas is all about. He ran a series of experiments and equations, but he can't seem to find a clear answer. He feels like he's missing a piece of this puzzle, but can't quite see the whole picture without it. As he was trying to figure all of this out, he heard something tap against the window. He looked to see it was the basket Orihime made for him. When he opened it up and looked down, he spotted Orihime trying to give this to him. He pulled it in and could see it was things he would enjoy with a note.

"I know you've been feeling stressed and miserable, so I'm hoping this might cheer you up." Ichigo read. Ichigo examined more on what Orihime gave him. He even opened a bottle to have the substance of it form a butterfly with it flapping around before disappearing. Ichigo loved what Orihime did for him. He wanted to thank her, but saw that she had already left. Orihime simply took cover behind a wall with her feeling so giddy. This was as close as she ever came to actually being alive, especially since he apparently loved it. Ichigo might not understand Christmas, but perhaps Orihime does.