Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Shadow Hearts characters including those in the sequel. However the ones that I add well obviously I own. So suing would be a real waste of time.

Note: I have played both games but it was shortly after the second one came out so it's been a while. So if anything that happens in this story doesn't fall into the story line please forgive me and consider this an Alternate Universe piece. This story takes place three years after the end of Shadow Hearts the Covenant.

Fragile Reunion Chapter 1 Train of Suspense

Nika gazed out the window of the train and sighed, she really didn't want to be on this stupid train. Her parents had died in an epidemic and she was forced to sail to China and move in with her Aunt. Some aunt, Nika thought with a smirk, her aunt Karin wasn't much older then her. Nika hadn't even known she had an aunt until the day her parents had died.

Flashback

"Nika, my daughter come closer." Her father whispered his pale sweaty face contorting with the effort it took to talk.

"Yes father?" Nika asked as she obediently leaned over so she could hear him better.

"Check under the loose floorboard after we're gone. You must go once we're gone, you will have nothing left for you here." He said as a sudden fit of coughing racked his already frail body. Once her father had been a strong, brave man but the sickness had robbed him of everything.

"Yes father." She said again confused about what he was telling her but didn't want to cause him any grief. Nika stood and turned away from her dying parents, the pain it caused her was too evident on her face and she didn't want them too see it.

End Flashback

Nika wiped her eyes and looked around, there were very few people on this part of the train and she was suddenly very glad.

Flashback

Her parents had died two days later and she had found a long silver box beneath the floorboards. She opened it and lifted out a long sword, the handle had a crest surrounded by Japanese symbols inscribed in the middle but her Japanese was slightly rusty and she couldn't read it.

The handle was black but it the sunlight it was tinted almost a deep purple. The sword itself seemed very old and valuable. She touched the tip and drew her hand back when it pricked her finger. 'Well that was dumb.' She had thought, wiping the blood on to the skirt of her long dress. She set the sword off to the side and picked up a folded piece of paper and opened it in interest.

Dear Nika,

If you are reading this then it's truly time for your story to begin. The sword in this box was my mother's but it belongs to you now. Take it along with the money inside the velvet bag. You will find more then enough money to get you where you're going. The picture you hold in your hand is one of my little sister and myself. She's just a few years older then you, and I love her dearly. I haven't seen or heard from her since you were about four and a half, but I know she's still there in China. I want you to go and live with her. She'll take good care of you and you'll find the answers you've been looking for there. Please no matter what happens always remember that your mother and I love you dearly. We always did the best we could and we hope you will grow to understand that. Goodbye my darling angel, my sunshine, my life.

Signed,

Your loving parents

P.S The necklace is a gift from your mother. She says it will bring you the good fortune of your Irish heritage. We can only hope that it is true.

She had sat there for what seemed like years just staring at he paper. She had an aunt? And they wanted her to find her? Nika had packed the things inside the box and headed for the train station. She had traveled to New York and then gotten on a boat to China, hoping her aunt would be easy to find.

End Flashback

Nika shook her head and looked around, she jumped in surprise when she found a man sitting next to her. "Did I startle you?" he asked with a smirk.

"Yes you did." Nika said firmly watching the man carefully.

"Ahh don't worry 'bout me kid. I ain't the one you should be worried about." He said as if he had read her mind. Nika followed his gaze to the chair a few rows in front of her. Someone in a dark green robe was sitting there his face covered by the hood.

"Who is that?" Nika whispered unable to take her eyes off of the hooded man.

"Not sure but he doesn't look friendly." The man said nonchalantly. Nika nodded and turned back to the window as she pulled her long silver box closer to her body. It was standing upright on the floor so she could keep it in the seat with her.

"So what 'cha got in there?" the man asked.

"Just a few things." Nika said thinking it was none of his business.

"Your not from around here are you?" the man asked.

"No I'm not and if your going to go through with this inquisition don't you think we should exchange names?" Nika demanded her eyes flashing.

"Whoa sorry. Just trying to make conversation." The man said putting his hands up in surrender.

Nika blushed, "I'm sorry." She muttered embarrassed at her outburst.

"My names Yuri." The man said watching her with a smirk.

"Hello Yuri, my names Nika Koenig."

Yuri nodded, "So where are you from?" he asked watching the hooded man again.

"America, although my father is originally from Russia. My mother is Irish." Nika added as though an afterthought.

"What a weird combination." Yuri said looking around the train.

"There's nothing weird about it!" Nika said defensively. He opened his mouth to reply but the hooded man had decided to make his move. He shot up and made his way to the front of the train.

Yuri's eyes followed him, "Stay here." He whispered. Nika watched him leave the compartment and fought with the idea of following him or doing as he said. Something about the whole situation called her forward thought and she grabbed her box and left the compartment in the direction the men had taken. No one had seen the other man in the back of the compartment and he waited for the girl to leave and then he followed them as well.

Nika followed Yuri through the train until she reached the second compartment, suddenly she was grabbed from behind and a gloved hand was placed firmly over her mouth preventing her from screaming. She blanched when she felt cold sharp steel at her throat.

Suddenly she felt the floor of the compartment leave her feet as her captor jumped on to the roof of the train. She saw Yuri standing behind the hooded man a few yards away and she tried to scream but the hand tightened on her mouth and she couldn't get the sound out of her mouth.

She watched as the hooded man turned to face Yuri and caught sight of her. He smirked and beckoned his partner forward. Yuri turned and caught sight of Nika. "Oh man not this again!" he said with a groan.

Nika widened her eyes and desperately wished for her box but it had fallen from her grasp when she was grabbed. "Okay who the hell are you and what do you want with the girl?" Yuri said as if he had done this a hundred times.

"Who said we wanted the girl?" the hooded man said with a sickening smile.

"We're just going to kill her because she was too nosy for her own good." The man holding Nika growled, tightening his hold on her arms making her gasp in pain.

"Okay well that's new." Yuri admitted. Suddenly the hooded man attacked him and they began fighting. Nika watched in amazement as Yuri fought the hooded man and suddenly realized the man behind her had loosened his grip while watching the fight.

In one quick motion she broke free and shoved past him. She made a run for the ladder, just as she reached it she felt a pair of hands shove her over the edge and she fell off the roof of the train.