Author's Note: Greetings, everyone! Well, here's my second round of Shadow Heart's fan fiction. This story is a sequel to Life in Japan, and it will feature some of the same characters—and some new ones. As always, please read and give critical reviews.
Comin' out of
nowhere,
drivin' like rain,
stormbringer dance on the thunder
again.
Dark cloud gathering,
breaking the day,
no point
running,
'cause it's coming your way—
"Stormbringer"—Deep Purple
The Red Scare
Chapter I
On the mid-day of 22 January 1924, Anastasia stood in the master room, while Kurando played with Nicky in the nursery. On this day, Anastasia received the news that Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was no more. From her days studying the catechism, Anastasia learned that the good Christ taught her that she must love her enemies. However, Anastasia could not help but celebrate. It was the end of a life that had brought so much pain to her life, and her brother's life. To celebrate, Anastasia decided to perform a dance that she learned from Lucia. While Anastasia danced, she thought she was alone.
But a giggle stopped her.
Anastasia turned.
In the doorway stood her two-year-old son, wearing only a white shirt and a diaper.
And behind the two-year-old, stood his father. Kurando was speechless at the seductive power of Anastasia's dance.
Nicky continued to giggle, and attempted to mimic the moves of his mother.
Anastasia laughed and said, "Nicholas Kurando Inugami, what do you think you're doing?!" Anastasia scooped the child, and blew kisses on his stomach.
Nicky squealed.
And Anastasia placed the toddler on the floor, and continued to blow kisses on his stomach—while Nicky attempted to kick his way free.
Finally, Anastasia stopped, sat on the floor, and placed the child on her lap.
Kurando joined his wife and son, and placed his hands around Anastasia's waist.
But Anastasia could tell that by the way Kurando held her, he had more on his mind than a family portrait.
"Anastasia, where did you learn to dance like that?" Kurando asked, with a kiss on her ear.
Anastasia giggled. "From Lucia."
"From Lucia?" Kurando replied, while he massaged Anastasia's sides and rear.
Anastasia blushed, and placed her head against Kurando. "That's right."
"When did you learn it?"
"Do you remember when we were over at Carla's in Florence?"
"…Yes."
"And you, Yuri, Karin, and Gepetto said you were going to the pub for a little bit?"
"Yes."
"After you guys left, Lucia taught Joachim and I the dance."
Kurando was confused. "You and Joachim?"
Anastasia nodded. "Yep! He's actually a pretty good dancer."
"…Anastasia?"
"Yes?"
"What're your chances of performing that dance again?"
Anastasia giggled. "Oh, you like that dance, did you, Kurando?"
Kurando removed the back of her hair, and kissed her neck. "Very much!"
Anastasia continued to giggle. "Well, maybe later."
Once Anastasia finished her sentence, Nicky stood on her lap. "Can we dance again, Mommy?"
Anastasia smiled. "Sure. Do you want to go to your room, and play for a bit, baby?"
"Yeah!" the toddler exclaimed, while he charged to the nursery.
Anastasia followed.
But after the two entered the nursery, Kurando watched the sky turn black. Lightning flashed, and thunder roared. And then, it stopped; and the sky became clear again.
"What the hell?" Kurando said. "That's not usual. Did you see that, Anastasia?"
"Yes," Anastasia replied, from the nursery. "That was very queer."
A couple hours later Alexei and Yoshiko were at the Inugami home. The adults drank wine, and the toddler drank milk.
"Sis, did you see that brief storm we had earlier?"
"Yes."
"I heard on the radio that was apparently all over the world."
Anastasia's eyes grew wide. "You're kidding me?!"
Alexei shook his head. "No, I'm not. That's what was on the radio, anyway. People are terrified in the West—particularly America."
"Why America?" asked Kurando.
"It has to do with some of the preachers over there. They're preaching Armageddon."
"Armageddon?"
"It has to do with the apocalypse," answered Anastasia. "We don't talk about it much in the Orthodox Church, but it seems to be huge in some Protestant churches."
"Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is a Protestant?"
"It's a Western Christian that broke away from the authority of the pope in the sixteenth-century…Anyway, Kurando, don't you have some kind of end of time beliefs in your religious tradition?"
"…Not really…I suppose if the kami left us that would be the equivalent of the end of the world."
"What exactly are the kami?" asked Alexei.
"They're the gods and earth spirits that protect Japan," Yoshiko responded.
"I see…Oh! I forgot to mention another possibility about the weird events that happened today. This one comes from exiled Russians."
"What is it?" asked Anastasia.
"They think that the weird occurrences that happened today was the Devil taking Lenin's soul."
Anastasia raised her glass. "I'll drink to that!"
So did everyone else in the room—including Nicky, although he did not understand why.
After Yoshiko toasted, she turned to Kurando. "Say, Kurando?"
"Yes, Princess?"
"Do you think your mother could use the Fountain of Sukune to find out what caused that brief storm?"
Kurando placed his chin between his thumb and first finger. "I suppose so, but I don't know how much it'll reveal. Of course, I won't be able to ask Mother for at least another hour—when she comes back from the neighboring village."
At dusk, Kurando entered his home. Kurando was at the Fountain of Sukune—where he, Alexei, Yoshiko, and his mother attempted to find out what caused that brief storm. Anastasia remained at home, with the baby.
"So, did you see anything?" asked Anastasia, from the couch.
Kurando sat beside her and nodded. "We saw Roger."
"Roger?! You mean Roger Bacon?"
Again, Kurando nodded. "Yes."
"Doing what?"
"I don't know. The mirror wouldn't show us."
"…I hope it wasn't bad."
"So do I. But with someone as wise as Roger, he shouldn't have done something stupid."
Anastasia chuckled. "Knowing Roger, it was probably an experiment gone bad."
Kurando smiled. "Probably, but at least it appeared that he wasn't hurt…Anastasia?"
"Yes?"
"What're the chances of you performing that dance again?"
"Kurando!?"
"Yes?" Kurando replied, not even bothered by the outburst.
"I'm not going to dance, while Nicky's still up."
"He's in the nursery."
"Yes, but he could walk out here and spoil the moment." Anastasia patted Kurando's thigh. "Didn't you ever hear the statement, 'patience is a virtue'? Relax. You'll see it sooner or later."
