As soon as the door closed behind them, Ichigo and Orihime both breathe a sigh of relief. That was close. Last thing they needed was to have everyone offering them thanks for being tonight's entertainment. Everyone's advice on how to kiss was still ringing in their ears. Matsumoto even offered to show them a demonstration of what a girl wants in a kiss. He stopped listening at the mention of breasts. Orihime was beet red by then.

Still holding Orihime's hand, Ichigo led her to his bed so they can sit and relax. Orihime was a little reluctant to sit down, but acquiesced after a gentle squeeze from his hand. Ichigo wondered why she was still nervous. It was just the two of them now. No one was watching them anymore. He then noticed her stare at the spot between the window and his bed. He was about to ask her what was wrong, but then realized why she was tense. She was recalling her first visit to his room. It was the night she confessed her love for him as he lay sleeping. It was the night she said goodbye before she left for Hueco Mundo. It was the night she said goodbye thinking it was forever.

He didn't say word. Instead he gently squeezed her hand again to get her attention. She looked at him with somber eyes.

"I'm here." He whispered quietly, repeating the same two little words she had spoken earlier to comfort him.

Her eyes widened with understanding and then she nodded. Slowly, his face descended until his lips were almost touching hers. He hesitated for a moment, wanting to make sure that this was what she wanted. She closed her eyes. That's all the confirmation he needed. He was about to seal their first kiss when he heard familiar voices coming from his closet.

"Are you sure I'm going to fit?"

"Of-course you'll fit. Just angle your legs up a bit more."

Both Ichigo and Orihime just stared at the closet. Ichigo cursed under his breath, stood up and headed determinedly towards the closet.

"You'd better be right. This is going to hurt, you know."

"Well, it's not my fault you're so big?"

Ichigo felt a vein pop in his head before he shouted, "RENJI! RUKIA! YOU BOTH BETTER BE DRESSED, OR ELSE I'LL THROW YOU BOTH OUT OF MY ROOM NAKED!"

Renji opened the closet door and shouted back, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

Ichigo stopped talking. He wasn't sure if he could. He felt his face grow warm instead. There in front of him was Rukia sitting astride Renji. Both of them were fully clothed. But that didn't stop him from thinking the worst.

"What are you guys doing? There better not be any stains in my closet! I'm not cleaning up any mess you guys leave!" Ichigo said, with his arms akimbo.

Ever protective, Ichigo made sure to block Orihime's view to prevent her from seeing Renji and Rukia in such compromising position. Ichigo then glared at the two shinigami, neither of whom made a move to get out of his closet. Exasperated, Ichigo decided that desperate measures were required. He relied on the power of one name.

"Byakuya! I'm glad that you can come to our Christmas party!" Ichigo said with feigned enthusiasm.

"Byakuya? Where? It's not what you think, Captain!" Renji said in a panicked voice as he scrambled to get out of the closet. He ended up falling, inadvertently taking Rukia with him. They both ended up on the floor, this time with Renji on top of Rukia.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. Just when he thought it was safe to allow Orihime to look, this happens.

"It's okay Ichigo-kun. I think Kuchiki-san was just trying to see if Renji-kun fits in your closet." Orihime said, peeking from behind Ichigo.

"Finally, we hear a voice of reason! Thank you, Inoue. By the way, Ichigo, I thought you said Nii-sama was here." Rukia said, looking around.

"WHAT?" Renji yelled as he too looked around. Seeing no sign of Rukia's over-protective brother, Renji sighed in relief.

"I was wondering why I didn't feel his reiatsu…" Rukia said while trying and failing to push Renji off her. She sighed loudly.

"Will you stop fidgeting?" Renji asked, still not getting the hint.

"I'm trying to get you off me because you're too heavy and the floor is hard. If we were on Ichigo's bed, it would be more comfortable." Rukia protested.

Ichigo's mouth dropped open. He could not believe Rukia just asked Renji to take her to bed, HIS bed. Ichigo realized that Renji was also staring open-mouthed at Rukia, probably not believing his luck. Still Renji didn't budge.

"That didn't work." Rukia said under her breath.

"Are you in need of assistance, Rukia?"

"Nii-sama!" Rukia said, blushing furiously.

Renji was off Rukia before she even finished speaking.

Byakuya definitely knew how to make an entrance, Ichigo thought, shaking his head in disbelief. He watched the captain of the 6th division help his sister up from the floor then asked her if she was alright. Rukia nodded, still blushing. Byakuya turned his attention to Renji who was standing some distance away from the adopted siblings.

Ichigo wondered how none of them felt Byakuya's reiatsu. It was either they were too distracted by Rukia's proposition to Renji, or Byakuya was hiding his reiatsu. Ichigo decided it was a combination of both. He was just glad he wasn't at the receiving end of the deathly glare from Byakuya.

"Well, I guess Orihime and I will leave you three to sort this out." Ichigo said cheerily as he grabbed Orihime's hand and led her out of his room.

"Ichigo-kun, should we stay nearby? Renji-kun might need some healing." Orihime said worriedly.

"He'll live. Rukia won't let Byakuya hurt him too much." Ichigo said with a smirk. It felt good to know that someone else was finally having a bad night.

As Ichigo and Orihime descended the stairs, they both noticed that the lighted garland that was once covered in stringed pop-corn and marshmallow snowmen was now bare. They both grinned when they saw the pink haired culprit sleeping soundly on the last step of the staircase. They tiptoed past her and then made a run for the front door. They were giggling by the time they stepped outside, not paying attention to where they were going. They promptly bumped into the formidable captain of the 11th division.

"Kenpachi, uh, we didn't see you there." Ichigo said, slightly embarrassed.

"You're losing your touch Ichigo, can't have that happening. We still have a battle to finish. Killing you will be too easy if you're too distracted." Kenpachi said gravely.

Ichigo didn't say anything. He couldn't anything. Kenpachi's reiatsu was slowly rising, that can only mean one thing. He wants to fight Ichigo and he's not taking no for an answer. Ichigo's shoulders slumped in resignation.

"Kenpachi-san, if you are looking for Yachiru-chan, you can find her sleeping at the bottom of the staircase." Orihime said quickly, knowing all too well where this was leading.

Kenpachi stared at Orihime briefly before nodding with understanding. Before he left, he gave Ichigo a look that said he'll be waiting for him. Tonight, he was given a reprieve. Their battle can be fought another time.

Ichigo let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding. His shoulders relaxed. He faced Orihime and said softly, "Thanks for saving my life."

"No. It's you I have to thank, Ichigo-kun."

"What are you talking about? This night hasn't gone as planned. The Christmas celebration was only supposed to be with family, but we have our friends and nearly half of the Gotei attending instead." Ichigo said with frustration.

"Well, they all are sort of an extended family, even if they are a little strange." Orihime said in a wistful tone. "It's always been just Sora and I together. When he died, I didn't have anyone to celebrate with until Tatsuki-chan came along." She paused then looked into Ichigo's eyes and said, "But now, because of you, I finally have a big and wonderful family I can celebrate Christmas with."

"Orihime." Ichigo said quietly, all complaints forgotten.

"This is our first Christmas together, Ichigo. Thank you for making it perfect."

Overwhelmed, Ichigo did the first and only thing that came to mind. He captured Orihime's lips in a sweet, tender kiss. It was new, it was a little awkward, but it was just as he always imagined it would be. Just like their first Christmas night together, it was perfect.