Author Note: Christmas eve...what a wonderful time! Christmas eve is also a time of reminiscing. In this chapter, you'll read about one of Meiko's past Christmas.

Chapter Three
Christmas eve
"I can't believe what happened yesterday, Miki! Satoshi was standing outside his house with only a towel wrapped around him." Meiko was frantic about the incident. She called Miki for support.
"I'm sure he has a good reason for being almost nude." Miki was picturing Satoshi without a shirt on. "I haven't even seen Yuu shirtless yet! I'm sure Satoshi isn't that big of a playboy to showoff his nude body!"
"Good point. It was pretty cold last night, I wonder if he's ok. Oh! It's two already! The library is closing early today and I'm only about half done with my report. I'll talk to you later! Bye, Miki!" She put down the phone and got changed.
"Wow! It's snowing! I better get a warm coat. Ah, here's one!" The coat that she picked out was a gift that Nachan had given her. Meiko flinched when she remembered.

--Flashback--
"I wonder if he's home today." A young Meiko, holding her purse and a large bag, stood infront of a door as she rang the bell. "I hope he likes the gift that I got him." The door started to open.
Nachan stood there. "Oh, Meiko! I wasn't really expecting company. Come in. How are you?" Nachan took Meiko's worn out jacket.
"I'm fine. I was thinking that you must be really lonely during the Christmas season. I could keep you company!" Meiko took off her shoes and went to the couch. "I also got you a gift!" Meiko took out a wrapped box from the bag she was carrying.
"You shouldn't have! Let me make some hot chocolate and we can exchange gifts!" Nachan went over to the kitchen and started to boil some milk. "Make yourself at home, Meiko."
"He got me a gift too?" Meiko thought to herself. "I hope he didn't spend too much money. I really hope he likes my gift." Meiko held the box tighter, as though the box could get up and walk away.
"The drinks are ready! Here you are Meiko." Nachan put a cup of steaming chocolate on a coaster in front of Meiko.
"Thank you. Oh, here's your present." She handed the box to Nachan. Meiko was nervous. She was having second thoughts about whether she got him a good gift.
"Let me get your present." Nachan went to a table on the far side of the room and grabbed a neatly wrapped box. "Here you are! I hope you like it." Meiko started to open her gift as Nachan started to open his gift. Nachan finished opening his gift first. "Wow! A snow globe of Hiroshima. Thank you, Meiko!" It was quite expensive, but Meiko didn't care.
"Your family is in Hiroshima, and I know you can't always go back to see them. So, I figured I could bring Hiroshima to you!" (AN: Couldn't think of a better way to say it.) Nachan smiled at Meiko. She smiled back.
Meiko was finished opening her gift. It was a lovely coat that was very expensive. Meiko saw the price tag."Oh my!" Nachan didn't remove the price tag incase it was too small for Meiko, she could return it. "You shouldn't have bought something so expensive for me. Thank you."
Nachan leaned in and gave a light kiss on Meiko's forehead.
--End of flashback--

Meiko glanced at the clock and knew she had to get going. As she was walking to the library, she noticed it was snowing a lot harder now. Meiko didn't want to get too wet from the snow. She walked a little bit quicker. "Strange weather. I really like this jacket too." When she arrived, no one else was there. She thought it was the perfect atmosphere to research.
"Done!" Meiko was finished with her report on Updike. "Wow, it's pretty dark already." She grabbed her stuff and head home.
The snow was slowly stopping, but the ground had become slippery. "I need to watch my step. I can end up seriously hurting myself." Meiko didn't want to fall and hurt herself. But the real reason was because she didn't want to get the coat dirty. Meiko was almost home when she slipped. Her back was heading towards the ground, until Satoshi caught her.
"Hey, Meiko! You ought to be careful." Satoshi was helping Meiko balance herself.
"Thanks, Satoshi. But why were you behind me?" Meiko saw that no one else was in the street.
"I was going to your house to explain to you about what happened yesterday."
After a lengthy conversation about the blackout and shower, Meiko wasn't as freaked out. They were both actually laughing. "So, that's the story. I don't go prancing around naked you know."
"You could've gotten really sick if you stayed outside to long, but I'm glad that you're ok. I have to head home. See you around, Satoshi."
"Ja ne!" Satoshi was happy that Meiko wasn't freaked out. Now, all Satoshi had to do was give Meiko her present.
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Legal stuff: Nothing of Marmalade Boy belongs to me.

AN:CHAPTER 3-finished! Now on to the last chapter! --Sees Qab with a fortune cookie slip-- Oh, man! Why'd she have to get that cookie! Ja! --Runs away as fast as possible--