An IchiHime Night Before Christmas

by Sariniste

A/N: A holiday gift for the FLOL forum and the IchiHime fanclub on Bleach Asylum! :D
With much thanks to VirgilTheart who beta'd this for me.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Las Noches
Not a Hollow was stirring, not even in shadows.
My stocking was hung by the window with care,
With dreams beyond hope that help would be there.

Now I was curled up by myself in my bed,
While visions of red bean paste danced in my head.
Ulquiorra had left me alone in my cell
To just settle down and to sleep for a spell.

When out on the sands there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew, grasped the bars,
And lifted myself to look out at the stars.

The moon on the breast of the shining white sand
Gave the luster of midday to all of the land.
When, what to my wondering eyes should attack
But a bright-colored serpent with five on its back.

With an orange-haired driver who was so like a knight
I knew in a moment 'twas the love of my life.
More rapid than flash step his bankai it came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called me by name.

"Inoue! We're here now! At last we broke through.
Chad and Ishida, Nelliel, Pesche too.
We'll climb to the roof! To the top of the dome!
Then dash away, dash away, dash away home!"

As my fairies before wild reiatsu do fly,
When they meet with a challenge, they mount to the sky,
So up to the dome-top my nakama they flew,
With a shield down below, and the serpent now too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The stomping and growling that gave me sure proof,
That my love of five lifetimes had come here at last.
Through the ceiling it roared, a huge kido blast,

Then down through the hole slid a scowling young man,
His clothes were all ragged, of course he'd no plan.
But save me he must from that villainous traitor,
As well stop the man from becoming dictator.

His eyes – how they flashed! His mouth like a berry!
How I wanted to kiss him, this man I would marry!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had no more to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Scooped me up with a flourish, then turned with a jerk.
Then raising a finger and scratching his nose,
And giving a nod, through the ceiling we rose.

He sprang to the serpent, to his team gave a whistle,
And away we all flew like the down of a thistle.
Then I heard him exclaim, "Now we've ended the wars!
Merry Christmas to all, and to Aizen up yours!"

A/N: Please let me know if you liked my first attempt at poetry on this site. Thanks and Happy Holidays!