Kasumi and Momiji kissed slowly under the mistletoe while holding hands in front of their house. It was the holidays and both were dressed for the occasion in their Christmas dresses, gloves and socks.

"Happy holidays, Kasumi-chan." Momiji said, cupping her ginger's cheek with a smile.

"Happy holidays, Momiji-chan." Kasumi replied, cupping Momiji's cheek in return with her own smile.

The two kunoichi started walking into town holding hands to see how the villagers were doing. But before they could go down the stairs, they saw another Kasumi sitting on the bench crossing her legs across their house in her own Christmas attire. It was Phase-4, the last surviving clone of Kasumi.

She was relaxing, taking in the cool breeze with a calm, closed eye smile. The tragic weapon didn't have any time to rest usually, but she was lucky to find some time to herself in the village.

"Wh… Why is she here?" Kasumi whispered to her beloved.

"Oh… I invited her." Momiji replied nervously.

"But… why?!" Kasumi exclaimed before Momiji covered her mouth, hoping Phase didn't hear them. Somehow, she didn't.

"Look…" Momiji started explaining as she uncovered Kasumi's mouth with her hand. "This is a time for peace. She may be a copy of you, but she still possesses the gift of life. She has every right to celebrate the holidays as you or me." The shrine maiden kept going.

"How do you know she won't try to kill me?" Kasumi worried.

"If she is your clone, then she might possess the same heart that you have." Momiji reasoned, rubbing Kasumi's arm. "We should at least try. She hasn't hurt anyone yet."

"…Okay…" Kasumi caved. "But, I'm ready to fight if she gets hostile."

Momiji tilted her head, giving Kasumi a closed-eye smile. "Great! Let's go greet her."

"WH-Right now?!" Kasumi asked.

"Yeah. We might not get another chance." Momiji replied.

Kasumi was still worried, but she nodded her head. Momiji led the two ninja girls over to the content Phase. The clone was still taking in the breeze, sighing contently, when she heard footsteps approach her.

"Please go away. I don't wish to talk right now." She coldly said.

"Uh…hi." Momiji greeted with a little startle at the clone. "I'm Momiji… the one who sent you the invite."

Phase opened her eyes and looked at where the voice came from. She saw the shrine maiden with a tiny smile and Kasumi doing the same holding hands bending over.

"Oh… my apologies." The clone said. "I wasn't aware it was you. The breeze felt… so good." The clone closed her eyes and took in the wind again, but opened them quickly before she got lost in her thoughts.

"Uh, hello… It's nice to meet you, Momiji…. Thank you for the invite." Phase introduced. She looked at Kasumi, who looked away nervously. Momiji squeezed her hand, reassuring the ginger things would be okay.

"…Kasumi." Phase greeted politely.

"Oh!" Kasumi said in surprise, not expecting the clone to speak with her.

"…Hi. I wasn't informed you would be here."

"I wouldn't have unless I wanted to hurt you… but Momiji told me all about what this "Christmas' was… It sounded… pleasant. I was looking forward to spending some time with her to learn more about it." The clone answered. "…But if I'm making you uncomfortable, I'll take my leave."

"No! Please don't!" Kasumi quickly responded.

"I… didn't know you wanted to learn about Christmas. Momiji-chan and I love this time of year. It's a time where neither of us nor any of our loved ones have to worry about fighting. We're able to spend quality time together." Kasumi explained, looking at her beloved. Momiji giggled looking back at her beautiful companion before turning her gaze back to Phase.

"It is a beautiful time, indeed. I was wondering if you were still up to experiencing it with us…" She said, tucking some hair back behind her ear. Kasumi did the same thing hoping the clone would be peaceful.

Phase looked from left to right between the girls and gave a sweet smile.

"I would love that." She accepted. "And if I may add… you both look beautiful today." She finished, slightly blushing.

The girls turned bashful, not expecting the compliment. Momiji giggled after and patted the clone.

"That's very sweet of you to say. Your dress is lovely. The color suits you… Uh, not in a violent way." Momiji assured. The clone's eyes widened a little. She never considered black to mean things other than darkness and evil.

"I think it's a natural color for you." Momiji added.

"Th… thank you." The surprised clone said. "…I never thought black could be beautiful."

"Colors can mean many different things. They don't specifically represent good or evil." Momiji explained.

"Mm-hm!" Kasumi joined in, nodding. "Take our red colors for instant. It doesn't have to represent only blood. It can mean other things like beauty, apples, strawberries, Christmas… love." Kasumi ended, blushing. Momiji brushed her hair, showing Phase what Kasumi meant and calming down her lover.

"And both your hair fit into what she's saying. Also, it may not look totally red like our clothes, but colors come in all sorts of shades, too." Momiji said. She stuck her hand out as permission to touch Phase's hair.

"…May I?" She asked in her sweet voice. Phase nodded a little, a little worried.

"Don't worry. I won't trick you. I promise." Momiji assured her, touching her chest.

That made Phase more comfortable as she nodded again, but a little livelier than before. Momiji smiled and scooped a few strands of Phase's hair in her hand and brushed it down with a light touch. She did this a few times to illustrate Kasumi's point.

"See? Your hair is just as pretty as hers… And just as soft." Momiji said, looking a little bashful. She stopped her action and put her hand on her knee. Phase took the hair Momiji was scooping and copied what the maiden did.

"I see… I think I understand." Phase slowly said. She looked at the couple, admiring their outfits once again.

"Yeah, your dress looks pretty. And I love your hat. It's so cute!" Kasumi said. Phase touched her hat and looked up. She smiled and looked at Kasumi.

"Thank you, Kasumi-san! I thought it would look well with my outfit." She said, playing with the ball at the end of it.

She looked at the two girls again before saying," I can't explain why… but I think your outfits look cute, too… and not in a romantic way" She admitted, trying to understand the feeling she was experiencing.

"Awwww, thank you!" Momiji replied with a wide grin. "It's okay to feel that way."

"That's… very nice of to say." Kasumi added in, holding a fist to her chest.

"Cute" things don't have to equal romance. If it makes you feel happy in a fuzzy kind of way, that might be what you're feeling!" Kasumi explained. Phase nodded slowly, understanding what Kasumi was talking about and smiled.

"So… this is happiness I feel?... It's surreal, but I like it." The clone admitted, putting a fist to her chest.

"Maybe she's not completely evil…" She thought, starting to feel bad of judging the clone before. She smiled at Phase.

"Your smaller hat looks cute, too." Phase said, slightly pointing at it. Momiji touched it in delight.

"Thank you! I thought it would look nice, thought I wish it was a little bigger." Momiji admitted. She shrugged, saying it was still nice to have. Phase giggled, thinking the size was adorable on Momiji's head.

Kasumi slowly extended her hand to Phase, surprising the clone.

"Would you like to come with us? We'd love to show you around." She offered.

Momiji stretched her hand out, too.

"Plus, we can teach you more about what Christmas is all about."

Phase put her hands to her chest, mouth slightly opened at the two of them. She didn't expect them, let alone Kasumi, to act so nice to her. Maybe it was the holiday spirit that was causing this.

She nodded at them, taking their hands and the couple helped her up. Their hands were still together as Phase loved how soft their fingers were. The couple loved the clone's gloves' softness in return.

Something hit Momiji before the three of them could head to the village.

"I meant to ask since I never got an answer in the invitation… What's your name?" Momiji asked.

Phase's expression darkened a little as she turned her gaze away to the ground. She didn't have an answer for it.

Momiji studied her face before asking," Wait… you don't have one?" She asked sadly. Phase sadly nodded.

"My creator… never gave me one." She said quietly.

Momiji put a hand to her mouth, hearing how sad Phase was.

Kasumi explained to her girlfriend how Phase was made and why she looked like her to start with. She also explained how long Phase was on the run from her creators, too.

"If I had to guess… you were going to be given an Alpha codename, right?" Kasumi asked.

The clone nodded, thinking the same thing with the knowledge of her other clones in mind.

Momiji's hand went to her chest. "I… I'm so sorry. I didn't know." She apologized.

"You wouldn't have believed me." Phase said sadly, starting to shake.

Momiji's hand went to Phase's arm and she lightly rubbed it.

"It's okay. You don't have to run from us." Momiji said soothingly. "We won't hurt you."

Kasumi's face turned serious. Seeing how sad her clone was filled her with a new resolve for Phase. She wanted her to live a life as peaceful as her own. She understood her clone wasn't evil… just lost. Lost with no meaning, purpose… or love in her life. No one to care for or cherish.

"This won't stand!" Kasumi stated strongly. The two girls looked at her suddenly.

"We're going to help you start over. And we can start by giving you a name. One that you can be proud of." Kasumi said.

Phase looked at with hope in her eyes. Momiji nodded, agreeing with the idea.

"But… what can we name her?" The maiden asked.

The couple looked around, trying to find something as inspiration. Kasumi's face brightened as a suggestion came to her.

"How about 'Sakura'? "She proposed. Momiji rubbed her chin for a moment and agreed.

"If you're a clone of Kasumi, surely you must like cherry blossoms." She said to Phase.

The clone looked at the sakura trees around them and saw a few petals flying across the wind. They were pure… free. Something she wished she could be. One landed near her foot and she picked it up. She looked at it, contemplating the name. The ninja couple looked at with anticipation for her answer.

The clone looked up at them, smiling and nodded happily.

"I like it. It's a beautiful name." Phase finally answered.

She let the petal get carried off by the wind and backed up slightly before crossing her hands and bowing deeply at the kunoichi girls.

"Allow me to introduce myself…I am Sakura. It's nice to meet you both." She said with a newfound pride.

The two girls smiled and bowed back at their new friend. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sakura-chan!" They replied.

The three straightened and shared a laugh together, honoring the newly-christened Sakura.

The ninja couple then explained one of the traditions of the holiday season: greeting people by saying "Merry Christmas." They explained why people say it and the meaning behind the phrase. Phase nodded her head in understanding.

"It's lovely." She said, putting a fist to her chest. "Christmas is a beautiful thing."

The couple nodded in agreement. They looked at each other and nodded slightly as if reading each other's minds.

"May we do something else that people do with their loved ones?" Momiji asked. Sakura nodded.

"The best part about this is you never have to wait until Christmas to share it with someone. It can be done as a way to greet someone, make them feel better or show someone how much you appreciate them." Momiji explained.

She moved a couple steps to stand in front of Sakura before extending her arms.

"May I?" She asked, just in case Sakura was comfortable.

"Is this… a hug?" Sakura asked. Momiji nodded.

"The two of us love giving hugs. It's one of the best things we can gave to someone or each other. Is it okay with you?" Momiji said.

Sakura nodded. "I would like to know what a hug feels like…" She admitted.

Momiji smiled as she slowly approached and put her arms around Sakura's neck. Sakura was surprised at how warm Momiji's body felt. She felt… happy… safe… Loved. She closed her eyes, taking in the warm feeling.

"Merry Christmas, Sakura-chan." Momiji said softly near her friend's ear. "I'm happy you showed up."

"…Merry Christmas, Momiji-chan." Sakura responded happily.

Kasumi moved in wrapped her arms around Sakura's midsection. Sakura opened her eyes and saw Kasumi hugging her, too.

"Merry Christmas, Sakura-chan." Kasumi said softly near the other ear.

"Merry Christmas, Kasumi-san." Sakura replied happily.

The couple let go of Sakura and she opened her eyes. Just then, Momiji had another idea and whispered in Kasumi's ear. Kasumi was surprised for a second, but nodded to her like she gave Momiji her blessing about something.

The maiden took Sakura's hand and led her under the mistletoe. She pointed at it and explained what it was and its purpose.

"You've heard of what a kiss is, right?" Momiji asked.

Sakura nodded, but was unsure about the idea.

"But… you love Kasumi-san. Is she okay with this?" Sakura asked concerningly. Momiji nodded and the two looked at Kasumi, who nodded back with a smile.

Momiji and Sakura looked back at each other and Momiji took her friend's hands.

"Don't worry. It's normal to feel nervous about your first kiss. But, better me than her right?" Momiji said.

Phase did admit Momiji had a point.

The maiden moved her hands to Sakura's face and held her. She slowly leaned in, tilting her head and kissed Sakura's lips. Sakura's eyes widened for a second before closing, moving her hands to hold Momiji's waist. The two kissed while Kasumi looked on, smiling that her new friend getting to experience this dose of affection. She then went up behind Sakura and hugged her lightly from behind, resting her head near Sakura's shoulder.

Momiji parted her lips with Sakura's after a while and smiled.

"So soft… and tasty. Like her's." Momiji said quietly enough just for Sakura to hear.

Sakura placed her hand on her lower lips and rubbed them for a bit before smiling.

"Yours were just as soft… Thank you, Momiji-chan." She said only for the maiden to hear.

She then turned her head to see Kasumi behind her and smiled. Kasumi lifted her head up and Sakura turned around to look at Kasumi, wrapping her arms around Kasumi's neck.

The two looked deeply into each other's amber eyes with loving smiles.

"Thank you for showing me what love is, Kasumi-san." Sakura said.

"Thank you for not hurting us, Sakura-chan. I'm glad we can embrace like this." Kasumi said in return.

The two twins hugged tightly, loving that they could finally put their painful past behind them. Momiji smiled with her eyes closed at the loving sight. The two gingers broke their hug and Kasumi went over to Momiji's side.

"Sakura… did you know that her lips aren't the only place you can kiss a loved one? If so, can you help me?" Kasumi asked.

Sakura paused for a moment, then her face lit up and smiled as what Kasumi was saying.

Momiji was confused all the while, and her face went from confusion to stunned when Sakura moved her head by the chin to face straight ahead. The two gingers kissed Momiji's cheeks under the mistletoe, making the shrine maiden squeal with joy. After her cheeks got pecked, she put her hands to them, blushing and smiling at the affectionate redheads. Kasumi and Sakura giggled at the adorable sight between them, hugging Momiji from both sides.

The three of them sat down on the doorstep with both gingers resting their heads on Momiji's shoulders, holding her from the waist and stomach. Momiji kept her hands on the embracing arms and left a kiss on each ginger's head. She laid hers on Sakura's while she placed their hats on her lap. The three girls sat and enjoyed their cuddling for a while, thinking the villagers can wait.

After 10 minutes, the three heard footsteps. They were surprised to find Ayane rising up the stairs.

"Hey, you two! What's taking so l-?" She began yelling before realizing there were two Kasumis around Momiji.

The butterfly kunoichi pulled one of her swords out from under her dress, surprising the girls. Ayane thought her apprentice was in danger and knew Kasumi never wore black Christmas attire.

"Why is SHE here?!" Yelled Ayane.

Kasumi and Momiji tried to warn Ayane while a frightened Sakura hid behind them.

"Ayane! We know it looks bad, but she's not here to hurt us!" Kasumi warned, with her hands sticking out in front of her. Momiji did the same to try stopping Ayane.

"I invited her here! She's nice! Honest!" Momiji joined in.

"How do you it's not a trick?!" Ayane yelled back. "She could be looking for the right moment to kill you two!"

"No, she was just lost. I wanted to show her that there is love for her!" Momiji said.

"Ayane, you have to trust us! We even gave her a name!" Kasumi tried reasoning.

"She's a weapon, for crying out loud! Who knows how many people she's killed already?!" Ayane replied moving closer to the trio.

That struck Sakura's heart. Being called a weapon is what made people fear her before. But she didn't like it. It made her feel like an outcast. But rather than feel mad… she felt something else.

Whatever it was, it made her push aside the two girls blocking her from Ayane and urged them to stand back. She picked up her hat and dusted it off before holding it close to her chest.

Sakura walked toward Ayane, who inched towards the clone brandishing her sword. Sakura stopped and stood in front of the butterfly kunoichi. She had a look of fear and courage on her face. Ayane stopped and recognized the expression. She saw it on Kasumi far too much when she used to chase her.

Sakura shocked everyone by going onto her knees. She almost looked like she was going to beg to Ayane when she lowered her head and deeply bowed at Ayane's feet, her hat under one of her hands.

"Please… I don't want to fight anymore." She said solemnly. "For the first time, I learned what love is… what it felt like. Those two showed me more kindness than anyone I ever contacted with. But if you wish to kill me… do it."

That stunned Kasumi and Momiji. She was willing to give herself up if it meant not blaming them at all for bringing her here. The couple covered their mouths and silently begged Ayane to spare her. Ayane saw the looks in their eyes, then looked down at Sakura. She was perplexed.

"I give myself to you if you wish to execute me… But don't blame Kasumi and Momiji…. I love them with all my heart. Please… only hurt me if you want. But leave them alone!" Sakura begged with tears falling down.

Ayane stood there for a full minute, contemplating what to do. She wanted to strike down the clone, but the tone in her words and voice were something she would hear Kasumi say.

Her face turned determined as she raised her sword up slowly. Kasumi and Momiji covered their faces in horror, not being able to look. Ayane held her arm up for a few moments… then slowly dropped to her knees in front of Sakura, lowering her weapon to the ground with a soft clank.

Sakura heard the noise and looked up to see Ayane kneeling in front of her. She wiped some tears off her face with the back of her gloves, looking at the lavender-haired girl in disbelief. Kasumi and Momiji lifted their faces up, gasping hopefully at the sight before them.

Ayane raised her sword up slightly again, catching Sakura's gaze. She looked at her weapon, then at the girl before her and back at her blade before tossing it aside. Sakura saw the thrown blade, stunned before feeling Ayane's hand on her shoulder. She turned to face the lavender-haired girl.

"They said you have a name now? What is it?" Ayane asked with a hint of regret in her voice.

"S… Sakura." The girl got out.

"Sakura? … That's a gorgeous name." Ayane said, cracking a small smile.

She looked up at the cherry blossoms above them. "Is it because of them?" She asked when shifting her face back to Sakura's.

Sakura nodded slowly.

"They're beautiful… and free. Something I've always wanted." Sakura said with all honesty in her voice.

Ayane rubbed her shoulders as her face turned serious.

"I'm sorry about scaring you like that. I thought… you were here to hurt them." Ayane said regretfully.

Sakura placed a hand on one of Ayane's wrists tenderly.

"It's fine. You're not the first to call me a 'weapon'… but you are the first to stop attacking me. I forgive you, Ayane." Sakura replied with a loving smile.

Ayane looked at her beautiful face. That expression reminded her so much of how Kasumi constantly forgave her during their chasing days.

She raised her hands up to cup Sakura's cheeks, using her thumbs to wipe away the rest of Sakura's tears. Sakura smiled and placed her hands over Ayane's.

"I… like your dress." Ayane said softly.

"Yours, too." Sakura replied sweetly as she picked up her hat and held it to her chest again. "It's like mine."

Ayane couldn't take how precious Sakura was being and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry." She said, letting a couple tears leak out.

Sakura snaked her arms around Ayane's body, holding her hat.

"I forgive you, Ayane-chan. Please don't cry." She responded softly near Ayane's ear. Ayane wiped the tears off with the back of her glove.

"Merry Christmas, Ayane… Thank you." Sakura said softly.

Ayane calmed herself and kissed Sakura's cheek.

"Merry Christmas… Sakura-chan." She whispered back.

Sakura dug her head into Ayane's shoulder, letting more tears out and quietly sobbed. Ayane rubbed the back of her head, smiling.

Kasumi and Momiji approached and knelt down behind Sakura and hugged her from behind. The three kunoichi kept their cocoon of love around Sakura for a while until they heard her stop crying.

Sakura lifted her head and wiped the tears with the back of her glove again. Kasumi and Momiji went over to either side of her (Kasumi on her left and Momiji on her right).

"Ayane… Kasumi…Momiji… Thank you all so much. I've never had a day this peaceful in my life." Sakura said, closing her eyes and holding her hat close again.

"I'm so blessed I came here today." She added softly.

All 4 girls helped each other to their feet, dusting each other and themselves off. Momiji dusted her hat off and put it back on before helping Sakura with her own. She and Kasumi wrapped their hands around Sakura's arms and Ayane held her hands.

"We're glad you showed up. Merry Christmas, Sakura-chan. The kunoichi trio said.

"Merry Christmas, everyone." Sakura replied to them all.

Ayane gently pulled Sakura from her hands while Kasumi and Momiji kept their linked around Sakura's arms. They all walked to the village together to greet the villagers and celebrate the holidays.