A/N: Hello, everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that something a little different is going to happen in this chapter. You see, I have an O.C. that I like to include in a lot of my stories. Her name is Elodie Kumari (that sounds familiar!) and this is a chapter where I feature her. Jaden kind of explains her character to Jack so I won't say too much about her, and this is actually before she actually meets the gang anyway. If you want to know more about her after reading this chapter, there is a character descpription on my profile. You can also read her story, The Crow and The Dove, which can also be found on my profile. Elodie is not a huge part in this particular story, since it's more centered around Jack, but her role will become more clear towards the end. This chapter is also a bit of a clue to future stories and it brings another sense of the Christmas Spirit. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!
Stave Three Part Three: A Present for a Stranger
As Jack stepped out of Martha's house, he found himself in the middle of the market street in Satellite. The atmosphere seemed a little more cheerful than normal as the people bustled about. As Jack moved through the crowd, he saw bright smiles all around and heard a shout of "Merry Christmas!" more than once. He was surprised that such merriment existed even in Satellite during this time of year.
Jack found Jaden in the middle of the street, throwing his dust over some of the passerby. A lot of Satellites were getting blessings this year, it seemed. Jack headed toward him, and the Spirit looked up at him with a bright smile.
"This is such a good place to find some Christmas spirit and good will!" he exclaimed. "Even the hopeless in Satellite have hope on Christmas day."
"What are we doing here, Spirit?" Jack questioned, gazing about him. "Is there someone here you want me to see?"
"Yep," The Spirit answered as he pointed into the crowd. "Here she comes now."
The crowd parted momentarily before them, and Jack saw a girl hurrying down the street with a basket of groceries on her arm. She was small, about half of Jack's size, but she was probably about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing dark blue jeans and a rather raggedy coat with a red scarf. She had thick, chocolate brown hair pulled back in a ponytail that hung down to the middle of her back, and her bangs shadowed her intelligent hazel eyes. By her quick pace and the way her eyes were constantly on the alert, Jack assumed she didn't like being in a crowd of so many people.
"Who is she?" Jack asked in a slightly awed voice; the girl was really quite pretty.
"Watch and you'll see," Jaden replied mildly, smirking at Jack's reaction to her.
"Kumari!" a loud voice rang through the crowd, turning many heads in its direction. Jack saw the hazel-eyed girl close her eyes for a moment and grind her teeth in frustration before turning to face the man who had appeared just behind her. He was a man of large stature with jet black hair and cutting blue eyes. He leered at the girl, his stance intimidating and threatening, but she stood her ground, her eyes shooting daggers at him.
"I don't have time for your crap today, Damian," she snapped icily. "Get out of here."
"My, my, you might want to watch that temper of yours," the man sneered as he came closer, towering over her. "It could get you into trouble one of these days. I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas."
Jack didn't even know either of these people or what was between them, but he didn't like the way Damian was looking at the Kumari girl. The champion was starting to feel a bit concerned for her, but she didn't seem the slightest bit worried. Her expression showed nothing but irritation and loathing as she merely snorted at him and said, "Whatever."
She stepped back and was about to continue on her way when Damian made a grab for her arm. Many of the people who were watching cried out, and Jack stepped forward with an angry shout rising in his throat, forgetting that he couldn't intervene. But the girl pulled away from him with surprising strength, dropping her basket and spilling some of its contents.
"Don't you EVER. Touch me. AGAIN," she snarled before kneeling down to retrieve her basket and food. A small crowd was gathering now, watching the scene. Jack angrily wondered why people weren't trying to help.
"Really, Elodie, there's no need to be so catty. You're making a scene here," said Damian in a mocking tone, gesturing towards the watchers. "I don't see why we can't be friends."
"I can think of several good reasons," Elodie snapped, still on the ground, gathering her groceries. As Jack watched her, he thought he saw her slip a hand into one of her boots.
"Oh, come now, Elodie," Damian crooned. "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be trapped in a house surrounded by a bunch of whiny brats. Why don't you come with me to my place? We can have a proper Christmas celebration, just you and me-"
Suddenly, Elodie lunged at Damian with the speed and accuracy of a cobra, shoving him into the wall of a nearby building. Many people gasped, including Jack. There was a thwack of metal on wood, and Damian yelped as he found the blade of a knife stuck in the collar of his leather jacket, just an inch away from his throat. The owner of the knife had her hand on the hilt, her other arm pinning him to the wall, and she glared at him with vivid hatred.
"I would rather die than be stuck in your company," she hissed through her teeth. "I'm not an idiot, Damian, I know you have no interest whatsoever in me. I've dealt with too many of your kind already, and I'm not about to let you or anyone else take advantage of me again."
Jack didn't think he had ever seen a guy so terrified of a girl in his life. Damian eyes were wide and panicky as they flickered from Elodie to the knife in his coat, and he shook as sweat dripped down the side of his face. It was really kind of pathetic, but Jack couldn't say he blamed him – if he had been in his shoes, he would be scared out of his wits too. He had never seen anyone attack with such agility and speed, and he had never seen such fire behind an attack – especially from a girl.
"Now," Elodie continued, her tone still low and dangerous, "if you know what's good for you, you're going to stay well away from me and my kids. If I ever see your hideous face again, I swear I will psychic-duel your butt to Kingdom Come!"
Elodie pulled her dagger out of his jacket, grabbed the front of his shirt, and threw him into a pile of wooden crates sitting next to them. Damian cried out as the landed in the splintered wood with an almighty crash, and before he could get back on his feet, Elodie turned, retrieved her basket, and walked briskly out of the street, not saying a word or making eye contact with anyone. The crowd hastily moved out of the way, whispering to each other as they watched her go.
"Whoa," Jack breathed, and Jaden gave a low whistle.
"She's some girl, ain't she?" the Spirit said in amazement. "If only I was a mortal..."
"She can definitely hold her own," Jack agreed, not really paying attention to what the Spirit was saying. "I didn't think she was even close to capable of what she just pulled."
"Don't let her hear you say that," Jaden warned. "I think Damian might have gotten off easy this round."
"Really, though," Jack continued as he looked back at Damian, who was still clambering out of the pile of splintered wood and cursing under his breath, "I've never seen anyone handle a situation like that the way she did."
"She should be able to by now," replied Jaden solemnly as he headed down the street after the girl. "She wasn't kidding when she said she's deal with a lot of people like Damian. Elodie Kumari has a dark past, filled with many enemies and dangers, a past that still affects her today. Many people have betrayed her and she has hardly seen any good in other people. It's very difficult for her to have any hope in a brighter future."
"Shouldn't you Spirits be visiting her this Christmas?" Jack asked as followed the Spirit. Jaden laughed once.
"Nice try, Jack. But that's why I'm here; if anyone needs my blessing, Elodie and her kids do."
"What kids, exactly? She doesn't look old enough to be a mother."
"She isn't. She has eight orphan children that she picked up off the street she's taking care of. She's a lot like your foster mother, Martha, or your friend Crow. And for a sixteen-year-old girl, she handles the job pretty well, despite everything she's been through. And she always manages to find some cheer in the season and celebrate Christmas with her family."
"So why are you showing her to me? I've never even met her before."
"Not yet, you haven't," Jaden replied with a cheeky grin. "But she will play a very big role in your future, Jack."
Jack noticed Elodie glancing around and looking back constantly as she left the market and made her way through the deserted streets. It was about a couple of miles before they reached what appeared to be her destination: a block of apartment buildings. Jack and Jaden followed her as she entered one of the apartments in one of the more inhabitable buildings.
Elodie took off her coat, revealing a red, form-fitting jacket that buttoned at the waste over a blank tank-top, and hung it up on a hook near the door. She set her basket down on the coffee table in the living room and stowed her knife back into her boot, where Jack assumed there was a hidden pocket or sheath for it. The apartment was fairly clean and orderly, and there was a fake pine tree decorated to make a Christmas tree and nine, ragged-looking stockings hanging from a nearby shelf. Elodie collapsed on the couch with a small, tired sigh, kicking off her boots. She looked incredibly worn-down for a sixteen-year-old, and it was obvious she had lived a hard life. Jack couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Just as the poor girl started to relax, Jack heard voices and loud, clattering footsteps coming down the stairs. Following the noise came eight bright-eyed, smiling children.
"Elodie!" one of them yelled as they all gathered around her, hugging her tightly.
"Hey, kids," Elodie greeted with a smile. "Sorry it took me so long to get back. Did you all play nice while I was gone?"
"Of course we did!" replied a girl with red hair. "We've all really enjoyed the presents you gave us! Look, I already put pictures in my locket!"
The girl opened the worn, heart-shaped locket around her neck and held it out to Elodie, who took it into her fingers to see the pictures inside. Jack leaned around her shoulders to get a look: one of the pictures was of the girl with another one of the children who looked like her enough to be her brother, and the other was of Elodie herself.
"You put my picture in your locket?" Elodie said, looking up at the girl with a touched smile on her lips.
"Of course! It lets me keep you close to my heart for ever and ever! I'll never take it off!"
"Oh, that is so sweet, Jennie." Elodie wrapped one of her arms around the girl's shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "Thank you."
"Joey took the picture of us with his new camera!" the boy from the other picture in Jennie's locket commented, and one of the older boys with long, shaggy blonde hair and brown eyes raised a battered camera proudly.
"There more where that came from, too!" Joey smiled. "This is seriously the coolest gift ever!"
"I named my new doll Melody," said another little girl, hugging a stuffed doll to her chest, "'cause it sounds like Elodie!"
"I really like my toy car!"
"Thank you so much for the book, Elodie! I can't stop reading it!"
"And my new duel disk!"
"And my Dark Magician action figure!"
"I love my new teddy bear!"
Elodie smiled, patting the children on their heads. "Don't worry about it, guys, it was the least I could do. No problem."
"That's the understatement of the year," Jaden cut in, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?" asked Jack.
"I mean every one of those gifts were either hand-made or found in the dump and fixed. She's been working on some them secretly since Thanksgiving, and some even long before then. There's a reason for those circles ender her eyes, you know."
Jack looked at Elodie with renewed admiration. "Did she get anything for herself?"
"Not a single thing."
"Why?"
"Because that's the kind of person Elodie is. She is very caring and will give, and give, and give until she has nothing left, and then she will still find a way to give more. And she never asks for anything in return. In fact, when someone offers her something, she usually turns it away."
"Why would she do that?"
"I told you before that Elodie had a rough past. She's spent years feeling like she was never good enough or strong enough to take care of herself, let alone others. So she proves it by doing everything she can to help others and prove her doubters wrong. Also, no one came to help her when she needed it, and she doesn't want others to feel the way that made her feel. In her mind, accepting a gift shows weakness, like she can't provide for herself. She does not want people to see her as weak and helpless."
Jack frowned. This girl was obviously even more complex then he had previously thought. Jaden's words saddened him, and he wanted more than ever to help the girl. She seemed like a really nice person hiding behind a cold, hard mask. She shouldn't have to hide her feelings like this. She deserved better than this.
Elodie stood and stretched. "Well, don't let me interrupt your play time. I think I'll start on our Christmas feast. I couldn't find much in the market, but that's nothing unusual. It'll be the best thing you guys have ever tasted, mark my words!
She reached for her basket, but a boy with brown hair beat her to it. "Actually, Elodie," he said with a crooked smile. "We're the ones cooking the food today. You are going to relax for a little while."
Elodie blinked in surprise. "What? Don't be ridiculous, Tristan, I don't need to relax. I'm perfectly fine.
"We know you worked extremely hard to make Christmas special for us," said Jennie. "It's our turn to give back to you for once. You're tired, and you need to get some rest. We'll do the work, as a present to you from all of us."
"But do you guys even know how to cook?" Elodie protested as Joey and Tristan started pushing her towards the stairs.
"We found your cook book in the kitchen cupboard," said Joey, "and we all know enough from watching you cook for us every night. Now get out of here and go take a nap or something! We're not taking no for an answer!"
Elodie stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back at the children. She didn't seem very happy that she was being sent to her room by the kids she was taking care of. "Are you sure?"
"We got this, El!" said Tristan with a smile, giving Elodie a thumbs-up. Before Elodie could protest further, they scurried off into the kitchen.
Elodie sighed and shook her head as she turned and headed down the hall. Jack and Jaden followed her into her room. The furniture and décor were rather bland and austere, which was customary for Satellite dwellers; the thing that surprised Jack was the piano that sat by the door across from the window. Books and pencils and pieces of paper that looked like sheet music cluttered the desk at the back corner of the room. Amidst all the clutter on the desk sat a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It literally looked like a pine tree branch stuck in a plank of wood. There was a red scarf wrapped around the base, helping to keep it upright. Snowflakes that were cut out of paper and decorated with markers and glitter, some red and green ribbon wrapped around the pine needles, and a Barbie doll dressed like an angle tied to the top decorated the tree. It was obviously the work of the children downstairs.
Elodie stood in front of the window, her backed turned to Jack. As he watched, she sighed and picked up a picture frame sitting on the window sill. Jack caught a glimpse of two children in the picture, but didn't see the details. He also couldn't see Elodie's expression as she gazed at the photo, but he could see that it gave her deep sense of sadness in the way she stood, shoulders hunched, head bowed slightly. She looked very similar to how Jack had seen his past self mourning over Jessica's grave.
"She's like me," he realized. "She's an orphan, and she's lost someone very dear to her."
Jaden took a step towards the girl. He felt sorry for her. He wanted to reach out to her, comfort her, protect her from any more harm. It was rare for the champion to feel such compassion. He had no idea where this sudden urge was coming from, but there was something deep inside him telling him this girl was important to him.
Elodie stiffened suddenly – then whirled around and stared right into Jack's eyes.
Jack froze.
"Hello?" Elodie called uncertainly. "Is someone there?"
The picture hung limp in her hand at her side as she turned her body so she was completely facing Jack. Her eyes were darting around the room, seeking out the intruder, but they always returned to where Jack stood.
"Who's there?" she called again, this time a little sharper. She dropped the picture frame face-down on the bed and picked up her duel disk. "Show yourself!"
"Elodie is a psychic, Jack," Jaden explained. "She can sense things normal people can't. She can feel there is another mortal presence in the room, but she cannot see or hear who it is."
"You're sure about that?" Jack asked anxiously as Elodie began slowly walking towards him. She was looking directly at him, right into his eyes. Jack found himself mystified by her eyes, how the brown blended perfectly into the green, and their piercing, yet calming quality. It was like being hypnotized. As he gazed into them, he thought he saw a gold light pulse behind the hazel. Elodie slowly raised her hand in front of her, palm facing Jack, and continued coming toward him, feeling the space in front of her.
"Can she touch me?" Jack asked nervously.
"Now that I'm not entirely sure about," Jaden replied with a curious smile. "This could be interesting."
As Jack watched the psychic girl approach him, she cocked her head to the side, curiosity replacing suspicion. Whatever she could sense, she seemed to know it wasn't a threat. As she came closer, Jack raised his own hand to intercept hers. What would happen if they touched?
He never got to find out. Elodie stopped about a foot away from Jack and lowered her hand as slowly as she had raised it. She continued to stare at him, but she seemed to be deciding that she was imagining things. After a minute that felt like hours, she turned away.
"Well," Jaden spoke suddenly, nearly making Jack jump out of his skin. "That was exciting. But yes, Jack, Elodie has psychic abilities. Remember her threat to Damian about dueling his butt to Kingdom Come? That was a legit threat. Her psychic powers are also the reason people have tried to use her in the past. Duel gangs and villains wanted her power for themselves."
Jack's heart was still pounding. He felt another twinge of sadness as he fully realized how hard of a life this girl had lead. His life had been like living in Disney Land compared to hers. He had never really considered how people other than him might be suffering in Satellite before, he realized with a pang of shame. He could have done something to help, but he left them all to rot, just as Crow had said back at Martha's.
Elodie's gasp brought Jack back out of his thoughts. Jack followed her gaze and saw that she had seen the Charlie Brown Christmas tree; apparently, she hadn't known it was there before. She approached the desk, gazing at it in wonder, fingering the branches and ornaments. She looked down and discovered eight wrapped gifts surrounding the base of the little tree.
"What in the world..." she muttered, picking up one of the presents. She turned to the doorway, her eyes bright and a glowing smile on her face. Jack also turned and saw the orphans entering the room. Each little face was grinning from ear to ear.
"Did you guys do this?" Elodie asked.
"Yep!" said one of the younger boys, wrapping his arms around Elodie's waist. "Merry Christmas, Elodie!"
The other children echoed the boy as they all came together and joined the hug. Elodie wrapped her arms as far as she could around the children, a rather dazed smile on her lips.
"Wow, kids, this is amazing!" she exclaimed. "It's the best Christmas gift ever! I... I don't know what to say!"
"Don't say anything, then!" said Joey, pointing at the present Elodie still had in her hand. "Open your presents! That one is from me!"
The children gathered around Elodie as she sat down on the bed with the present and opened it.
"Wow, Joey!" she exclaimed softly as she pulled a crescent moon pendant out of the box. "Where did you find this?"
"I traded it in the market," Joey replied with a grin. "I knew how much you liked looking at the night sky, so I thought you could carry a piece of it with you."
Elodie smiled at him, but said sternly, "I hope you didn't trade anything special to you. I don't want you guys making sacrifices for me. That's my job."
"But we want to give you nice things!" Jennie protested. "You've given so much to us, we want to give back! It's only fair."
"Come on, Elodie open mine next!" Tristan said as he handed her another package.
Tristan's gift turned out to be a new pocket knife. Jack learned each of the children's names as they presented their gifts: Bobby, the youngest, gave her a home made Christmas card; Luka gave her a journal; Xander gave her a surprisingly fashionable brown hat he also had found in the market; Cari gave her a hand sewn scarf that she had been working on all year; Jennie's brother, Danny, gave her a beautiful seashell he had found on the beach; Jennie gave her a new dueling card – the tuner monster Warrior Archer (Atk: 900; Def: 600).
"Thank you all so much for the gifts," Elodie said warmly, gathering her presents together on the bed. "They're fantastic!"
"You're welcome, Elodie!" the children chorused.
"Merry Christmas!" Xander exclaimed, and the children gathered around Elodie once again to share a group hug.
"Those presents aren't much," Jack commented as he leaned back against the side of the piano.
"It's the thought that counts," said Jaden.
"No one ever complained," Jack muttered thoughtfully.
"Of course they didn't. They know how to appreciate what they have rather than long for what they don't. Any member of the Kumari gang would blush at the very thought of complaint. You could learn a thing or two from them, Jack."
Jack felt that was a bit below the belt, saying these kids were better than he was. But he also knew that the Spirit had a point - not that it made him feel any better. He glanced out the window, and he saw time seemingly speed up as the sun sunk lower into the sky at a surprisingly fast rate. He turned again and found that the scene before him changed: Elodie was now sitting on the piano bench, unknowingly right next to Jaden, and the children sat around the room, either on the bed, the floor, or in the desk chair.
"You kids did an amazing job with dinner," Elodie was telling them proudly. "It was the best meal I've ever had."
"We told you we could do it!" said Cari, jumping up on Elodie's lap. Elodie smiled warmly at the girl and smoothed her hair.
"I never doubted you for a second," the psychic praised.
"How about some Christmas songs now, Elodie?" asked Luka.
"Yeah!"
"Play for us!"
"Let's do it!"
Elodie smiled at the children. Cari jumped off her lap so she could turn around on the bench and face the piano keys.
"Okay, which one do you want first?"
"How about 'O Holy Night'?" suggested Xander. The other children agreed; it was apparently an all-around favorite.
Jaden was leaning against the piano with his back to the keys, a tender smile on his lips. As the girl began to play, the Spirit took some of his magic dust and sprinkled it over her fingers and the keys. The song soon filled the room with a feeling of peace and serenity as the light, delicate opening melody flowed through the air. Even Jack felt himself moved by the music, and he was impressed by how skillfully Elodie played without any written notes. She moved with the music, felt it within herself, and let it flow out through her fingers like a river of song. Jack was even more impressed when she began to sing.
"O' Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth..."
What the heck is this girl doing in Satellite? Jack wondered. She should be in Domino City making a booming career as a performer! Her voice was as smooth and rich as chocolate, with a clear, bell like sound and perfect vibrato. How could such talent be left to waste here?
Jack suddenly realized with a pang that felt like a ton of bricks that it wasn't a waste. Here, she was using her talent to bring cheer not only to the children, but to herself. The music was her way of escaping the cold, cruel world around her, and that was worth more than any money or fame she could gain with a record deal.
"A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn..."
As she began the chorus, the children began singing along with her, and though their voices were young and undeveloped, it sounded as if a full choir was singing.
"Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angle voices
Oh, night divine,
Oh, night when Christ was born..."
The children were now gathering around Elodie, climbing onto the piano bench or standing around it. Jaden had to get up to avoid being sat on. Elodie gazed around her at the children, and Jack thought he saw unshed tears of happiness sparkle in her eyes.
"Christmas is very important to this family," Jaden said softly. "To Elodie especially. You see, she has lost any hope for finding good in the world. She's stopped trying to find the light, because she thinks that all she will find is more disappointment and pain. But Christmas brings back a glimmer of her lost hope. On this one day of the year, if only for a moment, she feels as though things might actually turn out alright."
Jack had never thought of it that way. He never thought of Christmas as a time for hoping for a new life, but watching this little family sing of hope and light suddenly made it so obvious; the champion wondered how he had missed it before. Christmas wasn't just the big commercial racket, it wasn't just a fat guy in a red suit and white beard, it was just about giving gifts, although that was also very important. Christmas was celebrating new birth and life, rejoicing in hope for a brighter future. Suddenly, Jack thought about the children he had denied in the hospital and felt a horrible twinge of regret.
"Let's go on."
Jack looked up to see the Spirit walking towards the window. He turned to grin at Jack, and then walked straight through the wall, his body passing through the window and plaster like it was made of water. Jack stared after him in shock for a moment, and then looked back at Elodie and the children at the piano. Suddenly, Elodie looked up from the piano and locked her eyes onto Jack's. A slight frown creased her brow, and she stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head slightly and turning back to the keys. Jack knew this would not be the last time he would see her. They would meet again.
He pushed himself away from the piano and approached the wall where Jaden had gone through. He mentally braced himself, and then stepped through the wall after the Spirit.
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
~ "Grown-Up Christmas List" by Michael Bublé