Author's Notes: In Italy, gift-giving usually happens around Epiphany, January 6th. As with the earlier oneshots, I've taken great artistic liberties with Sakura Taisen canon for the universe this collection happens in.

Tigron: Initially, I did intend to limit the themes to Christmas alone but quickly found it difficult; both in keeping each story interesting and different, and also interesting for me to complete (this is quite the project, after all). The oneshots actually all have several themes I won't explicitly state here.

January 6th, 1913 (Taisho 2)

Rome, Italy

Orihime eyed the mound of presents underneath the massive tree. Her mother, together with her grandparents, were waiting for her there.

"Come, bambina, open the presents Babbo Natale gave you." Carino patted her knee.

"Where's Papa?"

The sudden question had the adults start. "... What Papa, Orihime? You have no Papa," said her grandmother haltingly.

"I do! Rossio has a Papa! Ferruicia has a Papa! So I have a Papa too!"

"Orihime – "

"Your Papa abandoned you and your Mamma!" The commanding voice of the Soletta patriarch cut through anything else they wanted to say. "He left you and went back to Japan!"

"My Papa... abandoned us?"

"That's right!" The man glared down the length of his nose. "Japanese men are absolute swine, unwilling to accept responsibility!"

"Papa..." began Carino fearfully.

"Carino. I am preparing your daughter for the real world. Better she grow up angry, and strong."

He had said the wrong thing; the young woman's eyes hardened. "This is too cruel, Papa. Seiya – "

Vincenzo sighed heavily. "We do not need to bring this up again, daughter. That boy was not a noble, not even in his native country; a penniless artist! He ruined you for a respectable marriage, left you with this child to bring up."

Orihime's mother strode forward, standing up to the old man. "Do not say such things in front of my daughter, Papa."

"I speak the truth. Someday, you will understand that I did what I must for both your and Orihime's sakes." The older man knelt down and rested his hand on Orihime's head. "Do you hate me, child?"

She furiously wiped away the tears that were threatening to spill over. "... I do not, Nonno."

"Good girl." He unbent, picking up the little girl and sitting on the sofa. "... Orihime, you must understand. You do not have a papa, but you have Mamma, Nonno and Nonnia."

"... Yes, Nonno."

December 22nd, 1921 (Taisho 10)

(Classified Location), Germany

"Christmas?" frowned the young girl. "It's a little soon, don't you think?"

"Soon? Christmas is on the twenty-fifth of December, Orihime." Ratchet exhaled sharply; the throwing knife embedded itself off to the right of the wooden target. "Missed again."

Orihime stared at the quivering knife. "Haven't you recovered yet? It's nearly a year to the day – "

" – that's enough for one day, I think," interjected the captain. "I'm tired."

"I'm afraid you'll have to put that off, Captain." Fujieda Kaede walked into the leisure room. "There is an important visitor waiting in the command centre for all of you."

"Yes, ma'am."

Orihime looked troubled. "All of us? But – Reni won't come out of her room – "

The vice-commander nodded. "I understand. I'll speak with her, but the two of you should go now."

Without a word, Ratchet spun on her heel and strode off towards the command centre. Orihime trailed behind.

"Ratchet – I'm sorry for what I said – "

"Apology not accepted. You're right – I am weak. I should have been fully recovered, now it's been a year..." The American girl glanced down at her right hand; it clenched into a fist. "But even before that, I was weak."

"You can't blame yourself for her death!" burst out the younger girl angrily. "Nor for Reni!"

Ratchet rounded on her, blue eyes flashing cold fire. "And, pray, who is, if not the commanding officer on the field? I was lax in planning the attack and commanding our deployment. My injury forced Hilde to take desperate measures. Reni has every right to hate me for sacrificing a powerful ally."

"That's not what – "

" – that is enough. One more word out of you, Orihime, and I will not hesitate to discipline you. Young as you are, you are still a soldier. Is that clear?"

"Who do you think you are, Ratchet? You're only a year older than I am."

"I am captain of the European Star Division, your commanding officer and your senior. You will address me as Captain."

Both refused to back off; the deadlock was resolved by the command centre's door opening. "... If you are finished with your discussion, the general is waiting," said Subaru.

"We are done here. Thank you, Subaru." Ratchet entered, followed closely by a still-fuming Orihime.

Their commander stood at the head of the table, accompanied by Kaede and a stranger dresssed in Japanese military uniform.

"Just in time, Captain. Lieutenant-General Yoneda, this is Ratchet, Captain of the European Star Division. Star Division, this is Lt. General Yoneda of the Japanese Imperial Army."

"An honour, sir."

Orihime's eyes narrowed in instant dislike – a Japanese man. The first one she saw for herself.

"Good, good," Yoneda grinned. "Now, to business."

"General Schwartz has been kind enough to let me talk to you all. But first I must commend you on the splendid work done with regards to last year's operation – Japan cannot begin to express her gratitude."

Reni's dull eyes flashed once.

"In the light of this event, my superiors are beginning to see the growing importance of having a similar force of spiritual warriors. I have been charged with heading this new division."

Subaru's fan opened with a flick.

"My deputy commander is currently engaged with recruiting some members to begin with and naturally, I thought I should at least contribute." Yoneda paused to sip from a hip flask. "... General Schwartz, have you informed them?"

"... No. I felt you should be the one."

Ratchet's face tightened.

The Japanese general became grave. "European Star Division, your unit is to be dissolved as of the thirty-first of December, 1921."

"What?" burst out Orihime and Ratchet simultaneously. "Commander – !" Subaru remained impassive, as did Reni.

"Forcing girls this young into battle has been a mistake from the start. This unit will be decommissioned, though you will continue to carry out small missions in secret," said General Schwartz.

"As such, if you wish to continue your military careers, you are welcome to join the Teigoku Kagekidan. If not, you will be honourably discharged or will be assimilated into the regular army. Of course, you will be given proper training and allowed into battle when you have reached a degree of proficiency deemed acceptable to Lt. General Yoneda."

"This is an outrage!" stormed Ratchet. "You cannot just dissolve a unit to create another one! I refuse to join!"

"Ratchet!" called Kaede after her.

"Subaru is not convinced that the combat capability of a fledgling unit will be sufficient to efficiently complement an experienced squad member. Additionally, Subaru does not know of a person competent to serve as captain of the unit." She rose to leave as well. "Perhaps when the Teigoku Kagekidan has acquired sufficient experience, or a competent leader."

That left Orihime and Reni in the command centre; Orihime with a look of disgust on her face, Reni's a emotionless blank.

The commander rubbed his temples. "And you, Orihime, Reni? What is your answer?"

"Certainly not! I will not go to a country full of scoundrels and filth! Please excuse me, Lieutenant-General!" She stood on the threshold of the door. "Come, Reni! What do you think of his offer?"

"... I do not wish to enlist in another unit..."

Schwartz watched helplessly. "I... I do not know what to say, Yoneda. I did not expect them to take the news this hard; this should have been expected, given the disaster of last year."

"The death of a comrade is hard on any soldier," said Yoneda quietly. "There is nothing to explain, Schwartz. But if I could have one favour..."

"Anything, my friend."

"What is your professional evaluation of the girls?"

"Well – since this unit is to be decommissioned, I see no harm in revealing their full names. Their full files, of course, will be given to you."

"Thank you."

"... They are young, though."

"I know. I plan on transferring them in later, when the force is more established. In the meantime, everything is up to you."

"I understand. You can count on me."

18th April, 1925 (Taisho 14)

Imperial Theatre Courtyard, Tokyo

It was nice weather, Orihime reluctantly conceded, but the company left much to be desired. Against her will, she had been posted to hateful Yoneda's Teigoku Kagekidan.

She scowled. She should have known earlier (it was highly suspicious when the commander sent her and Reni to learn Japanese, saying it was for a top-secret mission in that country). But then again, Reni was the master of espionage, not her.

"Japan is a lousy place de~su." Yes. She was finally getting the hang of that alien language. Orihime wondered what she had done to be stuck in a low-level unit, and how she was going to get herself out of it...

"... Uh, I don't think it's that bad, Orihime-kun."

Her eyes widened.

A sheepish smile on his face, Ogami Ichiro took a seat on the bench beside her.

"... I did not say you could sit here, Shou'i-san."

"I won't take long, I promise."

Orihime folded her arms, sticking up her nose. "Well, say what you have to say, and then leave me in peace. Honestly, Japanese men are the worst."

"... Orihime-kun, you don't have to like me, but I hope you can get along well with the other Hanagumi members. We are, after all, teammates."

She sniffed. "Well, it's not like I wanted to be a part of this team. There's no way you all can support me adequately. And secondly, what other members? There's only Cherry-san – Sakura-san, and that little girl... plus a Japanese low-life male Taichou I can barely tolerate the company of!"

With that parting shot, she stalked away.

"Oh boy... this is going to be quite a problem..."

30th December, 1926 (Taishou 15)

Imperial Theatre Lounge, Tokyo

"Chuu'i-san!" Orihime leapt to her feet and took his arm.

"Orihime-kun – it's nice to see you again."

"Ah, it's been too long!" Abruptly, her eyes narrowed. "... You didn't bring back any of those French girls with you, right?"

"Eeeh?" Ogami visibly paled. "O – Of course not!"

"That's good – nice to know you can be trusted unlike most Japanese men, de~su! You've raised my expectations of you."

"... We Japanese men aren't all that bad, you know." He was smiling as he said it.

"... Yes. That I do know now."

"Is that all you have to say?" he teased. "What happened to the old Orihime-kun that despised the thought of being in the same room as a Japanese man?"

She had the good grace to blush. "Chuu'i-san! Teasing me, like this... how contemptible!" They shared an easy laugh, before she continued in a serious tone. "A lot has changed since then... you helped me find Papa, and brought Mamma and Papa back together."

"... and you were there for me, Ogami-san..." she whispered under her breath.

Ogami blinked. "Hmm? Did you say something else, Orihime-kun?"

"Of course not!"