Author's Note: Greetings, everyone! This is my first attempt at Shadow Hearts fan fiction. I intended to create my own from Covenant, but when I read LizzyRebel's story, Empire Falls, I asked permission if I could write a sequel. When that permission was granted, I went to work. Now, here is a note on the first chapter. For those who read the epilogue of Empire Falls this chapter is something of a prologue to that chapter. It discusses Anastasia and Kurando's wedding, which I have take place in January 1919. With all stories that I write, I ask all of you to read and give critical reviews.

When the sun sets over cherry blossomed skies.
And the twilight fills the air.
You can see the snow on the mountaintops,
through the veil of old Japan—

"Benzai Ten"—Blackmore's Night

Life in Japan

Chapter I

"Sis, are you ready?" asked a smiling Alexei. The fifteen-year-old former tsarevich had grown that same number of centimeters, since he was forced from Russia. Alexei was dressed in Western attire, but to his side was a katana.

Anastasia returned the smile. She was happy how her little brother had grown in Japan—an apprentice swordsman under Kurando.

"Now, Alexei," replied Saki, "these dresses take time." Saki straightened Anastasia's wedding dress. "But she should be ready soon. Why don't you grab her coat? It doesn't look like this snow is going to let up."

Alexei nodded, and returned with his sister's coat.

"Just place it on the bed," Anastasia said. "If you're bored, you can read the prayer that I wrote for you to say."

Alexei smirked. "No thanks. I'll just have a glass of wine and wait outside."

After the door shut, Anastasia stared at the descending snow. Each flake formed a memory. It was her wedding day, but it also had been six months since the incident at the Ipatiev House. "I wish that Mother and Father were here. I wonder how they'd act." Anastasia giggled. "I bet Daddy would cry." Anastasia placed a hand over her mouth.

"What is it, Anastasia? What's so funny?"

"Oh, sorry—I was just thinking."

"What about?"

"Just the way Alexei acted."

"Oh! All right."

But then more memories formed. "I wonder what Olga, Tatiana, and Marie would say? None of them ever married. It's ironic that I, the little sister, would be the first to marry. I wish Edgar could be here. I wonder what happened to him? Does he still live in Petrograd, or did he leave the city after the revolution? I've been tempted to write him, but I know that I can't. It's the same situation with Aunt Olga and Grandma. I know that they escaped, and are safely living with our relatives in Denmark. But I can't write to them. They wouldn't believe me. Plus, it would reveal where I am. And unlike them, I don't have government protection. I guess after that, I wish that the gang could be here: Yuri, Karin, Gepetto, Lucia, Roger—but at least Joachim and Blanca will be here. It's a good thing that Joachim stopped into the village, while on a wrestling tour of Japan."

"It looks like we're done, Anastasia."

Anastasia turned to her soon to be mother-in-law.

Saki smiled. "You look beautiful!"

Anastasia returned the smile. "Thanks! Shall we go?"

Anastasia and Kurando's wedding was to be held at the small village temple. In terms of religion, Kurando considered himself to be a combination of Shintoism and Buddhism. Anastasia, however, wanted some elements of Christianity in the service. However, Christianity was an underground movement in Japan—and that form was predominately Catholic. But even if Anastasia could have found an Orthodox priest, it is doubtful that he would have performed a joint-religious ceremony. On this day, Alexei would have to assume the role of a priest.

Anastasia entered the temple, accompanied by her brother. Not only would Alexei act as a Christian priest, but he would also act in the role that his father would have fulfilled.

Kurando waited at the altar, with the village priest and Naniwa Kawashima, who would serve as Kurando's best man. Kurando and Naniwa were dressed in formal Japanese attire.

After some traditional Shinto and Buddhist prayers, Alexei discussed the Christian sacrament of marriage. Because a Bible was not available to him, he had to paraphrase Jesus' words. Then Alexei recited Anastasia's prayer:

Lord, it was you who stated that one-day a man and a woman would marry and become one flesh. On this day, may your grace be upon Anastasia Romanov and Kurando Inugami. And may the prayers of the saints—particularly Anastasia's parents, Nicholas and Alexandria…

Alexi's lip quivered, when he recited the names of his parents.

…And the prayers of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph be with them." Alexi closed with the sign of the cross and the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Alexei did cry, after he watched his sister kiss the man who was his mentor, and now his brother-in-law.

So did Saki, Naniwa, and Joachim.

Blanca whimpered, and wiped a tear.

The wedding reception took place at the Inugami home. Joachim, dressed in a suit—instead of his traditional wrestling attire—sipped a glass of wine. "It looks as though the entire village is here!" Once he finished, he grabbed a present, and searched for Anastasia

The young bride chatted with her mother-in-law and brother. Kurando stood by his bride, with a hand around her waist.

"Anastasia?" Joachim began.

Anastasia smiled. She left Kurando's grasp, and embraced the pro-wrestler. "Joachim!"

Joachim returned the smile. "Congratulations again." And turning to Kurando, "I am happy for both of you."

Kurando smiled and nodded. "Thank you. I'm glad that you were able to make it. By the way, what is that in your hand?" Kurando gestured.

"This is a wedding gift that I have for Anastasia. However, I would like to give it to her privately—although, I would like it if her brother was there as well."

"Sure!" Anastasia said. "But what's so special about it?"

"It's something of a relic."

"A relic?" replied Alexei.

Joachim nodded. "Yes, but you'll know about it soon enough."

Joachim directed Anastasia and Alexei upstairs to Saki's room. He placed the gift on a dresser, and turned to the former princess and prince. "I want to tell you a story first. I was wrestling in Petrograd about two months ago…"

"Petrograd?!" exclaimed Alexei. "What's it like there now?"

"Some of the city remains unchanged…Some of it has changed."

"What has changed?" asked Anastasia.

"Many of the monuments to the tsars have been removed. A Russian wrestler told me that the new ruler, Lenin, has a strong dislike for your grandfather."

"Our grandfather?" replied Alexei.

Joachim nodded. "The wrestler, I can't remember his name now, told me something about how Lenin's brother was executed by your grandfather. But I do remember him telling me that Lenin has left alone monuments to two tsars, who are called 'great.'"

"That would be Peter and Catherine," Anastasia said.

"And a tsar, who is known as the 'liberator.'"

"That would be our great-grandfather, Alexander II," added Alexei.

"What about Edgar?" asked Anastasia. "Does he still have his shop?"

Joachim shook his head. "No, I inquired about Edgar, while I was there."

"What did you find out?" asked Alexei.

"I found out that Edgar left the city. The people around his shop told me about his loyalty to the tsar. They said that his loyalty made him a buffoon…"

Anastasia and Alexei glared at the word 'buffoon.'

"…They said one night he simply packed up and left."

"I hope that's what really happened," Anastasia said. "Curse you Lenin!"

"But to get back to my story, a couple of hours before a card took place, I was wandering through the arena. While I was there, some of the Bolsheviks arrived. They wanted to know why the promoter had yet to remove a portrait of the tsar from the ceiling."

"Which tsar?" asked Alexei.

"Your father. The promoter said that the tsar's portrait had been there for so long that the arena would seem foreign without it. This answer did not please the Bolsheviks, and they demanded that the portrait be removed…With that being said," Joachim handed Anastasia the gift, "open it."

Anastasia nodded. When she unwrapped the paper, she discovered a beautiful portrait of her father—one that looked to have been painted before she was born. Anastasia's lip and hands quivered.

Alexei's lip quivered as well.

"Joachim!" exclaimed Anastasia.

Joachim smiled. "Yes, I secured the painting. I told them that I was a lover of history, and would love to have one of the few portraits of old Russia to take home with me to Romania. But now I'm giving it to you." Joachim gestured.

A few tears descended on Anastasia's cheeks, as she embraced Joachim. And in a coarse voice she added, "Thank you!"