Hey, guys! Here's a new Toradora story from me! Came up with this idea while first watching the anime around Christmas time last year - and have only now this Christmas had a chance to write it! XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Toradora!

Christmas Eve was very quiet at the city orphanage.

All of the children were gathered in the main room. None of them were thinking much towards the festive time of the year. Some were drawing pictures, others were stacking blocks and the rest were just sitting in chairs, swinging their legs. Not even the brightly-lit Christmas tree that stood in the corner could lift the atmosphere. Given what time of the year it was. it was far too quiet in the room filled with children,

That changed in an instant, however, when the door to the room opened and a short figure walked into the room.

"Hey, guys!"

Every one of the children perked their ears up upon hearing the cheerful voice that addressed them. They turned their stunned gazes towards the doorway - and their faces lit upon seeing the familiar small person who was standing there with a smile.

"Aisaka!"

Taiga Aisaka beamed upon seeing the young faces that were brightening up at the sight of her. She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. Snowflakes were sticking to her brunette hair as she peered around from one child to another. Already she was filling much warmer from being inside the orphanage, so she took off her winter coat, scarf and hat.

"You guys doing good?" Taiga asked the children, still smiling.

"We sure are!" A boy jumped up and down in delight as he and all of the other children gathered around their visitor. "Now that you're here, Aisaka!"

"We didn't think you were coming," added a girl. "We thought you'd forgotten to come see us!"

"Forget you guys?!" The petite teenager shook her head. "No way! I'd never forget to come see you all!"

Taiga's voice was unusually filled with warmth. Her eyes twinkled as she looked around at the children who were not that much smaller than her. She was determined to bring to them the joy she was always giving out to others during Christmas time.

It was at this time of the year when Taiga was always going out of her way to do kind deeds for others. She would always spend her December attempting to grant wishes and bring happiness for others. Her annual good deeds proved that even someone as brash and hot-tempered as the Palmtop Tiger had a good heart deep down inside. No matter how busy she was kept during the build-up to Christmas, she would never forget to deliver gifts to the children at the orphanage. Seeing their faces light up at the sight of the presents she would bring them always gave Taiga a warm feeling inside.

At that moment, however, the children were looking a little puzzled. They had just noticed that Taiga was completely empty handed. She usually turned up at the orphanage during this time of the year with a sack filled with brightly-wrapped parcels. Where was it this year?

"So, erm, Aisaka..." A girl stammered, trying to word what she wanted to know without seeming rude. "Did you, um, bring anyone along with you?"

Taiga smiled. "Nope."

"Huh?"

All the children's faces filled. They were astonished to learn their friend who they only saw at this time of the year - didn't seem to have brought any gifts for them as she usually did. What was going on?

"What d'you mean, Aisaka?" asked a shocked boy.

"I mean I'm not giving you any Christmas presents this year," Taiga explained simply.

"You're..." Another girl spoke in a trembling voice that was on the verge of cracking. "You're not?!"

"Nope!" The smile on Taiga's face slowly widened as she suddenly swung around to point towards the door she had walked through. "He is!"

At that moment, the door burst open and a large shape marched in. The children all turned quickly to see who had just arrived - and upon finding out, all of them gasped in amazement.

There, standing in the doorway with a large loaded sack slung over his shoulder, was a big brown bear. He was wearing a bright red coat with a Christmas had on the top of his head. A friendly smile on was his hairy face as he waved to the children.

Not a single one of the amazed orphans had any trouble recognising who this visitor was.

"SANTA!"

All at once, the children ran towards the bear ad crowded around him. Taiga smiled as she watched her furry friend looking down with amazement at all the youngsters who were delighted to see him. She was very moved by their reactions. She knew they would all by overjoyed by a visit from Santa Claus.

"Aisaka!" A girl managed to pull her stunned gaze away from the bear to look towards the person who had brought him there. "You actually brought Santa to see us?!"

"Yep!" Taiga nodded. "Santa is a good friend of mine. He really helped me last Christmas when I was feeling very low. I just knew I had to bring him to see you guys this year."

Taiga lowered her gaze. She placed a hand on her heart as she thought back to when Santa had visited her in her apartment the year before. Her smile softened at the memory. It had truly been a wonderful time in her difficult life - and she would forever be grateful to the one who had brought it to her.

"Okay, Santa!" The shorty brunette peered once again towards the bear who was bringing so much in the orphanage that very moment. "You'd better start giving out the kids their gifts!"

Santa nodded silently and took the sack down from his shoulder. He placed it down before him and opened it up. The children cheered upon seeing it was filled with presents. They were pleased Taiga hadn't forgotten to make her annual festive delivery to them. Even better still, she had brought Santa Claus along to personally bring them their gifts.

As Santa handed out the gifts to all of the children, Taiga watched silently. She was deeply moved by how much cheer he was bringing to all of the orphans. It was hardly surprising, for he had brought a lot of happiness to her as well - and not just at Christmas time...

Once he had handed the last present out, making sure one had been given to each child, Santa turned towards the door. He raised up a paw to silently point towards the door.

Understanding what he was trying to say, Taiga nodded, putting her winter jacket back on. "Well, guys, it's time for me and Santa to go?"

"Awwwww!" Every single one of the children groaned together.

"Do ya have to?" A boy asked.

"I'm afraid so!" Taiga nodded as she wrapped her scarf around her neck. "Santa has a busy night ahead of him."

Santa nodded, gazing wordlessly down at all of the children who were gathered around him. His smile remained fixed to his face, never once fading away.

"But don't worry, guys!" Taiga pulled her winter hat onto her head before standing alongside the enormous bear, beaming down at the orphans. "Santa will be back next year - to bring plenty more gifts to you all!"

The children cheered. They were all delighted that this wouldn't be the last time they would see Santa in person. Every one of them was grateful for Taiga for bringing him along to see them on Christmas Eve.

"Thanks, Aisaka!" a girl cried elated.

"Thanks, Santa!" added a boy jubilantly.

Taiga smiled around at all the smiling faces before her. She was pleased to have completed her annual goal to bring happiness to all the orphans. Turning to the bear who had help her accomplish her festive mission, she nudged him as she pulled the door open.

"Come on, Santa! We gotta get you home to prepare for your busy night ahead!"

Santa nodded before taking one last look towards the children. His big black eyes observed all their smiling faces which he had managed to make happen. Raising his paw, he waved towards them, soundless as ever.

"Bye, Santa!" The children all waved as they chorused together. "Bye, Aisaka!"

"Bye, guys!" Taiga beamed brightly as she waved to the children."Merry Christmas!"

The children continued to wave and bid farewells, watching as the girl and bear who had brought their gifts prepared to leave. They kept their wide, shining eyes fixed to Santa for as long as he followed Taiga out through the doorway, then turned to them all and gave them a thumbs-up - before he finally disappeared and closed the door behind them.

For a moment, the children just stood there, as silent as Santa had been during his visit. Then they all glanced at one another, each one of them amazed by what had just happened.

"Wow!" a girl exclaimed heartily. "To think, guys, that we all just got a visit from - the real Santa Claus!"

Outside the orphanage, Taiga stood in the wintery atmosphere. Snow was falling down heavily to cover the city in a pure white blanket. It was extremely cold outside - but Taiga was feeling extremely warm from all the happiness she had just witnessed, brought by the person who was standing alongside her.

"Good job..." she said softly, turning to send her smile up to the tall figure towering over her. "...Santa."

As he looked down at her, Santa placed his hands on the side of his bear head. He lifted it up to reveal the person hidden underneath the costume - who had put it on exactly a year ago to cheer up the small girl on Christmas Eve.

"I can't believe you made me do that, Taiga," Ryuuji said.

"I told you, it's my duty to bring happiness to people at Christmas time!" Taiga looked back towards the building they had walked out of, thinking of all the happy children that were on the inside. "And that includes bringing gifts to all those kids at this orphanage."

"Well, why did I have to come along?" Ryuuji asked. "Why did I have to put this Santa costume on and give those gifts you bought to those kids?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Taiga's brown eyes twinkled as she gazed at the tall boy in the outfit. "Because you made me so happy when you came to see me while dressed as Santa last Christmas. I just knew you would bring the same joy I felt to those kids!"

Ryuuji blinked. He was astonished by how he had made Taiga feel when he had gone out of his way to cheer her up last Christmas Eve. He smiled to learn how happy he had managed to make her feel when he had visited her in the Santa costume. It felt nice to know he done the same for all of the children he had just brought smiles to.

"Right, c'mon, let's go home!" Taiga marched purposely forward across the snow-covered ground. "Like I told the kids, you have a busy night ahead to prepare for!"

"Oh, do I now?!" Ryuuji raised an eyebrow. "What'll I be doing tonight? Delivering more gifts to more kids?! Travelling around the world in a sleigh pulled by sleighing reindeer?"

Taiga stopped and turned around - before making Ryuuji yelp as she threw a snowball into his face.

"Don't be stupid, ya dumb dog! Ya''ll be cooking our Christmas dinner for tomorrow! And remember, I want lots of meat!"

Taiga turned back around and began to head off in the direction of their apartments. Ryuuji remained behind for a moment to wipe away the snow that had splattered into his face, using his hand that was still covered by the paw of the Santa costume - which clenched into a fist.

"Sure, whatever you say..." He muttered bitterly under his breath, his thuggish-looking eyes narrowing at the girl who had thrown the snowball at him, gritting his teeth as he followed after her. "Merry Christmas, Palmtop Tiger..."

Thanks for reading! Hope you guys liked it! Have a great Christmas and stay safe!

See ya! :D