By the time Welf arrived, Mikoto had started to nod off herself. Her eyes shot open at the sound of red hot embers scattering across the stone floor as the blacksmith landed, followed by the sounds of stomping and Welf muttering under his breath. Mikoto hoped that Haruhime didn't notice that Welf sounded more like a sailor than Santa.

Mikoto half rolled over for a better look before remembering she was supposed to be asleep. She ended up awkwardly lying half on her back, her knees still facing Haruhime. She closed her eyes as the renard began to stir with a cute little yawn. Meanwhile, Welf clad in his full Santa outfit, wig and beard, was rapidly removing presents from his pack and placing them under the tree.

Mikoto felt Haruhime awkwardly try to crawl over her to get a better look. Mid action, the still woozy renard lost her balance and collapsed. Something soft enveloped Mikoto's face. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into her friend's ample bosom.

She quickly shut her eyes once more. The renard shakily rose onto all fours and crawled around the "sleeping" Mikoto. She gingerly stepped onto the floor.

"Master Cl-"

Her knees wobbling, Haruhime collapsed to her ground.

Mikoto turned her head to get a better view of the action, just in time to see Welf's eyes nearly pop out of his head as he turned and saw the renard.

Haruhime stared at him blankly, then looked down. With horror, she grabbed the edges of her now loose kimono, which had exposed her shoulders and which was threatening to expose much more.

Mikoto watched with bated breath. Having been raised in the far east and then knowing only Orario's red light district, Haruhime was not in the habit of wearing underwear under her kimono. Mikoto knew this from her extensive observations of Haruhime. For reasons she couldn't quite put her finger on, she found it endlessly fascinating to watch Haruhime dress and undress, to the renard's occasional chagrin. She could only assume it had something to do with how everything fit so nicely around Haruhime's tail.

Welf averted his eyes. Haruhime quickly pulled her kimono back onto her shoulders, then stood and began to secure everything into place. Mikoto was impressed by the renard's deft handling of the garment despite her drunken state.

Then, the renard got back on her knees, stretched her hands out before her, and leaned forward.

"W…Welcome Master Claus. P…please forgive my shameful display." She bowed her head.

Welf opened and closed his mouth but no words came out. Finally, Haruhime looked up, her eyes pleading, and the blacksmith forced himself to speak.

"H…Ho ho ho! If it isn't little Miss Haruhime!" Welf's delivery was enthusiastic but awkward. "How's my favourite little renard?"

Haruhime's ears and tail rose in surprise. Then, she squirmed in embarrassment, clasped her hands in her lap and looked at the floor. "I am not exactly little anymore, Master Claus."

"No, I guess you aren't." Welf laughed nervously. "You can just call me Santa, by the way."

"Yes, Master Cl… I mean, Santa." Haruhime blinked.

"Is something wrong, Miss Haruhime?"

"No… well, I guess you aren't exactly what I expected."

"How so?"

Haruhime fidgeted. "I don't think I should say."

"Are you surprised I'm not fat?"

"Well… yes." Haruhime looked down. "P… please don't hate me for it, Master Claus." She had already slipped back into a formal mode of address.

Welf laughed. "It's okay. A few years ago I decided to loose some weight because it was getting hard to get down all those chimneys. Well, without even more copious use of my magic, at any rate." He looked down at Haruhime. "Why don't you stand? I'm not angry with you."

"Yes…" Haruhime rose to her feet and swayed a little, her face red. Her tail flickered back and forth "I… I'm so glad you came to see me."

"And I'm glad to finally have the chance to meet such a lovely, sweet girl."

"Yes…" The renard glanced at Welf, then at the floor. She clasped her hands together again, seemingly lost in thought.

"Is something wrong?"

"N…no."

"Haruhime, I won't force you, but you can be honest with me. I won't get angry."

"Yes." The renard paused. Her gaze again flickered between Welf and the floor. "I… thought you hated me."

Welf grimaced and bit his lip before replying. "Is it because I didn't bring you what you wanted your first Christmas in Orario?"

Haruhime nodded. "That, and all the other years as well."

Welf looked nervous. "Ah… so you figured out your subsequent gifts were really from your big sister."

Haruhime nodded again. "Lady Aisha has always very kind to me."

"Yes. The way she treated you was the reason why I could never only think of her as a naughty one." Welf gave her a sad smile. "It hurt you, didn't it? I'm sorry I couldn't make it."

Haruhime nodded. "Afterwards, I realized that if you had brought Mikoto to Orario to see me as I had asked for, it would have put her in great danger." Mikoto's eyes shot open as the renard continued. "I shudder to think what might have happened had Ishtar taken an interest in her. But it still hurt that you didn't visit me at all. Tears started to form in the renard's eyes. "I thought you must be punishing me for eating my father's guest's offering."

"Eh…" Welf gave a nervous laugh. "It's true that was a bad thing to do. But I don't think you meant to do it. And by the time you got to Orario, you had already gone through so much because of it that I wasn't going to hold it against you. I simply couldn't make it."

"And you couldn't make it in the years that followed either?" Haruhime asked. She absentmindedly dabbed at one of her now red eyes with her sleeves.

"It was, yes. I never thought of you as a bad girl."

"I… I thought for sure you did." The renard's voice wavered. "First for the offering. The next year, for all the times I level boosted members of the Ishtar familia when they were up to no good… when I learned that Aisha and the others had been attacking other familia using my power, I was devastated and felt like an idiot for not even considering why they wanted to use my power outside the Dungeon."

"They took advantage of you."

"Yes. I am a slow witted girl. Haruhime gave up on trying to hide her tears and lowered her arms. "After that, I just hoped that I'd finally been good enough that you would take me to see Mikoto. Even if it was just long enough to deliver presents to her and the other children at the shrine, because I'd have to be back before Ishtar could organize a response. When you still didn't come the year after, I thought, maybe what I did was so bad that I was still being punished."

Mikoto watched Haruhime's back. Even from behind, the renard's dejected posture was obvious. While she was able to avoid making a noise, Mikoto found herself unable to hold back her tears.

"And then…" Haruhime continued, her head down, her hands fidgeting. "Then I was 14 years old and it was time for me to start my training. When you didn't come for me that year either… I… I thought you hated me because I'd become a harlot."

"Haruhime." The renard's head snapped up as Welf said her name. "I wouldn't hate you for something like that. I only held it against your goddess for making you do it."

"Eh? You keep track of whether gods and goddesses are naughty or nice too?"

"Yes. Ishtar was very naughty."

Haruhime looked at him blankly.

"The naughtiest." Welf stated emphatically, nodding for emphasis.

Haruhime nodded back. "I see."

"And so were many members of her familia." Welf gave a nervous laugh. "You must understand, little Haruhime, that I didn't not visit you and the other prostitutes by choice. It was simply too dangerous for me to visit your familia's home."

"Why? Did they want to attack you?"

"It was okay back when I was still fat. But once I slimmed down, all of these amazons would try and chase me if I went to the pleasure quarter. I barely escaped more than once. And I'd get these creepy letters that would say things like "Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is you in my sex dungeon"."

Haruhime blinked. "That sounds like something Phryne would write."

"Phryne. Right. That was her name. She was VERY naughty. Almost as naughty as Ishtar."

"I see." Haruhime nodded again.

"If it weren't for all that, I gladly would have taken you to see your friends in the far east. Or Orario, once Mikoto came here."

Haruhime looked lost in thought for a moment, then bowed her head. "It makes me very happy to know that you didn't hate me, Master Claus."

"And I'm glad I can finally meet you and tell you the truth." Welf smiled at her.

"Do you mind me asking another question, Master Claus?"

"Go ahead."

"My big sister… Aisha…" Haruhime trailed off.

"You're wondering if I thought she was naughty or nice?"

Haruhime nodded, her shoulders tense.

"Both." Welf laughed. "She certainly did many bad things for Ishtar, but I was always delighted when she went out of her way to care for you." Welf hesitated for a moment. "I'm not sure I should be telling you this, but I did grant Aisha's Christmas wish once."

"Eh?!" Haruhime ears shot up.

"After the first killing stone, Aisha asked me to help you escape. Being charmed by Ishtar, she couldn't do it herself. So I started to look for someone who could help you. But I wasn't sure who to trust with such an important task. Even with all my knowledge of who was naughty and nice, I wasn't sure who to trust to make sure you didn't end up in the hands of another power hungry god or goddess. But then I realized the choice was obvious. It would be most meaningful to you if I sent Mikoto, and I knew I could trust her."

Mikoto's entire body tense as she listened.

"Yes. To this day, it still pains me that I wasn't happy to see her. That I rejected her." Haruhime bit her lip. More tears trickled down her cheeks.

"You sweet little fox." Welf laughed. "You should tell her that. I'm sure she'll forgive you. When Aisha first asked, I knew Mikoto wasn't strong enough to confront Ishtar, but over time, she grew in skill and met new allies. And eventually, when I learned of the second killing stone, I knew I had to act if I wanted your big sister's wish to come true. Have you ever wondered how Mikoto learned you were in the pleasure quarter, Haruhime?"

"On occasion. I knew she learned about me through Chigusa, who had heard a rumor from someone, but I didn't want to pry... I suspected someone from the Takemikazuchi familia saw me in the pleasure quarter, and, well…"

"Not quite. I knew that if I waited until Christmas, you would be gone. So I made a special trip to Orario in disguise, to seed rumours that would make it to the ears of the Takemikazuchi familia, and your friend Mikoto in particular."

Haruhime swayed a little on her feet, awe evident on her face. "Th… thank you, Master Claus. I… I can't thank you enough. I need a moment…"

"Unfortunately, I don't really have one to spare. Lots of homes to visit tonight, you know."

"Yes… perhaps I could offer you a little reward, as a token of my gratitude for everything you've done for me?"

Welf's eyes narrowed. "Miss Haruhime, you aren't thinking of offering yourself to me, are you?"

"No… I wouldn't do such a thing to Santa. It would be too naughty. And take too long. I merely wish to offer you a hug."

Welf's jaw dropped.

"Is something wrong?" Haruhime inquired. "I thought it was tradition for children to hug you."

"No, I just thought you didn't like to hug men…" Welf trailed off.

"That's with clients. That's different." Haruhime took a step forward and smiled. "I'll be fine so long as you don't touch my tail or anything."

"Y-yes…" Welf nodded stiffly.

Haruhime looked up at Welf, then took a step forward and embraced him. A full head taller than Haruhime save for her ears, the Blacksmith made sure to give Mikoto an apologetic look as he awkwardly embraced Haruhime back. Mikoto nodded in understanding.

After a few moments, the renard stepped back. "Thank you, Santa. Everything you've told me tonight means so much to me."

"It's no problem at all. I look forward to meeting with you again next year, should the fates align."

"Yes." Haruhime gave a shallow bow. "Thank you very much for visiting our home tonight, Master Claus."

"I told you, you can just call me Santa." Welf laughed.

"Yes. I apologize. I simply wanted to express my gratitude."

"It's alright."

Haruhime stepped back again and looked up at Welf. "I guess this is goodbye?"

"Yes. I must be going. But I wanted to make time to make sure you understood that you weren't a bad girl."

Haruhime nodded and smiled. "Merry Christmas, Santa."

"Merry Christmas, little Miss Haruhime. Now run along and go back to bed. You're not supposed to be up at this time, remember? And I'm sure you don't want Mikoto to get cold, either."

"Yes… I will do that."

"Take care." Welf waved to her. The renard turned back to Mikoto, who squeezed her eyes shut just in time to avoid the renard realizing she was awake.

Haruhime took a few steps back towards the couch and looked down at her sleeping friend as she advanced. Halfway across the room she stopped. Her shoulders and tail slumped.

Welf tensed, unsure what to make of her reaction.

"Master Claus?

"Yes… is something the matter, Miss Haruhime?"

"Can I ask you another question?"

Welf paused before answering. "You may."

"Why didn't you ever give presents to Mikoto?"

"Eh?"

"She was always so good to me, yet so poor. That's why after that first Christmas, I started asking you if we could go deliver a feast to her and the rest of the children at the shrine. Even if you couldn't take me with you because of Ishtar, couldn't you have granted them that?" Haruhime twisted her body to look back at "Santa". "I never needed anything from you as a child because of my father. But Mikoto had almost nothing. If I deserved anything from you, she deserved so much more."

Welf opened his mouth, then slowly closed it. Then, he looked down dejectedly. "I… I am sorry, Miss Haruhime. I have to admit that I have my limits. I can't solve all the world's problems, so my focus has been on Orario and the surrounding area. Not so much the far east."

"I see." Haruhime turned back to Mikoto, and paused for a moment. "Thank you very much for your visit tonight, Master Claus."

"It… it was a pleasure, Miss Haruhime."

The renard nodded without saying anything or turning back to look at Welf. The blacksmith couldn't see them, but there were once again tears running down her cheeks.

"I'll be going. Merry Christmas, Miss Haruhime." The blacksmith awkwardly turned back to the fireplace, slipped in and grabbed a rope that he had hidden. He tugged it, which was a signal for Bell to help pull him up. A moment later, he was gone.

Mikoto wondered what she should say to cheer the renard up as she waited for Haruhime to return to the couch and once again snuggle up next to her. She didn't register that Haruhime wasn't coming back until she heard the sound of boots on the entryway floor and the door to the Hearth Mansion opening.

Mikoto shot up and ran to the door, then opened it just a crack. Even without her eyes having adjusted, she could see Haruhime's footprints in the snow, leading into the dark.

Mikoto grabbed her own boots and put them on. She didn't bother with anything else. Having lived through far colder winters in the far east, she barely noticed the chill as she stepped out into the cold in her nightclothes. She took a deep breath and set off to follow her friend.