Too Close To Tell You
AN: I don't own any of the characters for Shadow Hearts, Midway does.
I just think that Kurando and Anastasia are the perfect couple. If you haven't played shadow hearts covenant… DO! It rocks.
CHAPTER 1 -AGREEMENTS
1917 – Petrograd
The Hermitage…
The moon hung brightly in the night sky, and the tune of the ball wafted through the palace. Ladies danced and giggled and men drank and laughed. However there was one young girl who was not amused. She stood in the corner, quietly contemplating a young swordsman on the other side of the room.
'And then I cordially ended it.' Prince Yupsov ended making fierce arm movements.
She felt her lips mutter. 'How nice.' Her mother stood there upon the dais watching her daughter. The Tsarina fought every urge to go and throttle her daughter and yell. 'Yupsov is a fine suitor and will make you very happy.'
Yupsov started on another story, no doubt realizing that the young princess had no interest in what he was saying whatsoever.
'Please excuse me Prince Yupsov, I feel faint and require some time to catch my breath.' She muttered turning and walking away from the ball.
'Princess!' A familiar voice called after her. She turned to see her beloved Kurando striding towards her.
'How many times have I told you? It's Anastasia. Just Anastasia.' She answered brushing back a bit of stray brown hair. 'I hate these balls; all they ever do is repeat the same old stories over and over again. I'm sorry I shouldn't complain.' She said.
'…Anastasia I don't mind hearing you complain. In fact I agree with you. At least you don't have little kids laughing at you because they think you're wearing a dress.' He answered smiling at her.
She laughed at the remark. 'I think it suits you, walk with me?'
'I will follow you where ever you go.' He said.
She grabbed his wrist. 'No not following, beside me. Walk with me?'
He smiled his answer. Ever since the Asuka Stone Platform was destroyed they had been all over Europe and Japan. Exploring the world before coming back to Anastasia's Mother Russia. But her return had not been a happy one. Alexei had fallen ill again and the Tsarina had no time for her beautiful daughters any more. The Tsar also had trouble. The war was ever more brutal and Germany and France threatened to shatter it from both sides. Kurando walked beside her, his hand on the hilt of his sword the Mumeiro matching her pace to get away from the ball room. The reached the courtyard, the winter breeze very chilly on her bare shoulders and arms. Kurando moved to cover it with his own coat, but she motioned for him not to worry about it.
'It's fine. I find it… Refreshing.' She said sitting on the edge of the fountain careful not to get her beautiful dress wet.
'…Do you miss Japan?' She asked solemnly.
He looked at her with his large ruby eyes. 'A little. But I have a great purpose here, I can protect you. That's all I want for now.'
'Kurando… My parents won't speak of it, but Russia is falling. It's only a matter of time before the people of this land turn against us. My family is in danger and there's nothing I can do to help. I feel helpless and yet… Soon my family will be taking a train to Siberia. Your mother told me that if they do, they'll die. And if they don't, they'll die too.' By now the tears in the young princess' eyes had spilled down her porcelain cheeks.
He kneeled in front of her. 'I will always be here, with you. I'm not going any where, only where you go.' He answered wiping the tear from her face.
'Oh, Kurando. I don't want you to get hurt. This is your chance to leave Russia. To go back home to Inugami village. To live a life of peace that will never be for my family.' She whispered to him.
He sat beside her and pulled her into his warm embrace. 'I swear my princess, that where ever you are, I'll be there with you.'
She cried into his shoulder. 'Kurando.'
The Tsar watched from the window as his youngest daughter cried into the shoulder of a young man. He had asked Kurando Inugami to stay in Russia and protect his daughter. Ever since Rasputin was defeated the government had all but turned against him. Even the people of his own country wanted him dead. And he would gladly die for them, but he would not willingly sacrifice his own children for the mistakes he had made. His only chance was to get his daughters married off to wealthy suitors and his son and wife sent to another country. He had succeeded with his oldest three daughters, now married or engaged and leaving Russia for their husband's dwellings, yet Anastasia. His youngest daughter had flatly refused any of the suitors. Her head resting on Kurando's arm was an indication to him that she did not want any of the other suitors. Kurando pulled her in close to his chest and touched her hair with his hand in a loving fashion. The Tsar sighed, 'If it's what you want my daughter you shall have it.'
She pulled away reluctantly and looked him in the eyes. 'Thank you Kurando.'
'For what?' He answered.
She touched his face gently with her slender creamy fingers. 'For being my dearest friend.' She stood up and shuddered. 'Is it me or is it getting colder?'
He laughed. 'It's not you. It is definitely colder, let's go inside.'
Together they walked inside the door and opened it to see the Tsar standing there his hands on his hips.
'Anastasia Romanov! Come and see me right away.' He boomed. 'Kurando, you too.'
They stared blankly at each other before looking at the Tsar. 'Daddy what's wrong?'
'Not here, to my chambers.' He said quietly.
The couple solemnly followed the emperor up to his chambers and stood there, with no idea of what was the matter. He closed the door firmly behind them.
'Kurando, do you care for my daughter?' The Tsar asked a hint of aggression in his voice. 'Answer me truthfully now.'
Kurando looked at Anastasia. 'Of course I do. I would think it was obvious.' He answered.
The Tsar nodded. 'And you Anastasia? Do you really care for Kurando? Think carefully daughter.'
She looked at Kurando standing tall and meeting her gaze. 'Yes daddy. I do care for him.'
Again the Tsar nodded. 'Anastasia you are a smart girl, you know what is going on in the government right now. No matter how much your mother and I try and keep it from you, you still manage to find out. I know that Russia isn't safe any more, and so do you.'
'Daddy…' She tried.
'No let me finish. I want you and Kurando to get as far from Russia as you possibly can with my blessing for any thing that you wish to do in the future. Japan should be far enough away from here. I have a small favor to ask, Master Inugami. Protect her with your life and let her have the life that she would never have as Princess Anastasia Romanov.' The Tsar finished.
'I already agreed to protect her with my life. You can count on me to keep my word.' He answered seeing the tears form in her eyes. 'But I am a little confused as to why you have asked this of us.'
The Tsar shook his head. 'It will be obvious one day soon, but for now just trust me.' He strode away from the chambers leaving to two teens staring at one another in utter confusion.
'…Daddy…?'
'Did you hear? The princess is finally asleep.' One guard said. 'Well better return to our posts.'
Kurando had a sudden bad feeling he strode towards the princess' bed chambers. The guard outside her door scoffed. 'What do you want?' He asked abruptly.
'I need to go and see Princess Anastasia.' Kurando answered quietly. 'Something's not right.'
The guard poked him in the shoulder. 'Damn foreigner what makes you think that you are better than any of us here? You think that you're the only one that can protect her don't you?'
'Stand aside.' Kurando ordered. 'The Tsar himself has given me the freedom to give that order and if you do not stand aside I will make you.' He touched the hilt of his sword reassuringly. The guard stood up straight.
'Go ahead, foreigner. Make me.' He laughed when Kurando hesitated. He suddenly found himself pushed to the floor and the samurai flew into the princess' room. The clang of steel against steel rang out down the hall. Suddenly the princess' scream echoed along with it. A man in a black suit fled out the window and with a swift leap to the trees he was gone. Kurando thought about giving chase, and decided he was not equipped for it.
'Anastasia, are you all right?' He asked sitting on the edge of her bed.
'Kurando!' She answered throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing softly into his shoulder. The guards looked at the samurai as he held the princess with one arm. The ruckus had woken the family and soon they were all standing at her door.
'Anastasia what happened?' Her mother said clutching little Alexei to her shoulder.
Kurando answered. 'An assassin. She is unhurt, just shaken.'
The Tsar sat next to his daughter. 'Anastasia, get some rest and think some more on what I have said.'
She nodded and pushed her face into her protector's chest and sobbed a little longer. The family turned to leave and she called out to her father. 'May Kurando stay with me? I-I don't want to be alone.'
The Tsar nodded his approval and pulled his wife away before she could voice her opinion on the subject.
He sat with her still holding her close to his chest until she finished crying. 'Thank you.' She whispered looking up at him. Her eyes puffy from the crying.
'You're still shaking.' He answered helping her to rest and covering her over with her blanket. He turned to walk away and sleep on the couch in the corner. Her hand flew out like lightning. 'Stay with me?' She asked pleadingly her eyes still full of tears.
'What would your parents say?' He asked.
'I don't care Kurando, please stay close to me?' Her eyes shone in the faint moonlight, that brilliant emerald colour. He nodded and slipped into the bed with her, still holding her. Her head rested on his chest, listening to the steady pace of his heart beat, his arms keeping her safe. It wasn't long before they both drifted off in pleasant dreams.
Okay that was chapter one, what do you think. If you guys out there liked it you can email me anytime Give me your thoughts!