Shadow Hearts: Chapter 2-Yuri

Plains of South Manchu”That same night

The young man and the girl had landed in an open field near a small stream and the railroad tracks from where the young man had jumped off the train with the girl. The girl is asleep and the young man was standing nearby with his back turned on her. As he turns around she begins to wake up.

"Yo there. Finally comin' to, huh? If you're looking for the train, it's long gone said the young man. The girl began to look around the field. "Heh heh¦pretty exciting, huh? You getting a tingly feeling? He reaches his arm out towards her. "Right around here? The girl jumps back.

"N-no¦Stay away! shouted the girl.

"Stay away?! I haven't done anything¦yet.

"Stay¦stay back, please¦I¦I can't. No¦I¦I can't do anything, I¦ says the girl, who then runs off.

"Huh?! Uh¦Where do you think you're going? I'm telling you, it's not safe that way says the young man, shaking his head. "Aw, give me a break¦Hey, girlie! Don't run off like that! He begins to run after her, but falls to the ground after a short sprint. Where he heard a mysterious voice enter his head.

"Dark¦and Ligh¦reun..ed¦Prote¦a¦find yo¦reas¦fo¦living¦ crackled the mysterious voice.

"AARGH!! That hurts¦! Not that damn voice again...! says the young man as he returns to his feet. "Stupid voices! Okay, I got it¦I'm supposed to protect her, right¦? He then runs off to where the girl had had gone.

"Eeeek¦! screams the girl in the distance. When the young man finds her he sees her lying in a clearing.

"Heh heh¦huh? Hey! What are you doing? Wake e up! Were you attacked or something? I TOLD you it was dangerous, didn't I¦Looks like I'm the one getting all tingly inside. Maybe I should make the move says the young man, who then moves closer to the girl. "Um, hello?

"¦

"Wonder if she'd mind if I¦ says the young man, kneeling down next to her.

"¦ the girl remains unconscious. The young man then gets back and starts to walk away. Then he turns around again.

"Hey! Girl! Don't just lie there like a dead fish! Get up! shouts the young man. He manages to wake the girl, since she stands back up and begins to back away from him. "I bust my hump savin' you, then you take one look at me and run off¦then you faint? He then points to her. You got no manners, y'know that?

"A¦a monster just suddenly¦ stuttered the girl.

"Yeah. There's lots of hungry wolves and bloodsucking bats around here. You're probably attracting them. You smell pretty good, y'know?

"¦ as the girl looks around the plains. But she fails to see anything, besides the young man.

"Anyway, don't run off like that, okay? Cause if I don't do as the voice says, my head's going to split open! says the young man.

"¦Huh?

"¦Don't 'huh' me. Someone, or something, is pretty damn insistent that I protect you.

"Protect¦me?

"That's right. It's always 'Go protect that person!' or 'Go to that town!' Stupid voice jumps into my head all the time. And now it's orderin' me to protect you. Anyway, at least I'm never bored. Wherever it tells me to go, there are plenty of monsters.

"So that's why you were on the train? asked the girl.

"Yup. But thanks to that voice, I'm changing from ordinary bad-boy into a real psycho. What about you? Hey, are you a psycho, too? Do you see weird things? said the young man.

"¦Maybe.

"Well you don't seem quite like me, but¦whatever. We can't just chat all day. First, we've got to find a place to rest. And I'm getting hungry. Says the young man, who begins to walk away. The girl hesitantly follows him, when he turns around. "Whoa, almost forgot. My name's Yuri. You can call me Yuri.

"Yuri¦I'm Alice Elliot. Please, call me Alice.

"Heh heh, Alice, huh? Even your name's cute.

"¦ Alice begins to back away from Yuri, yet again.

"Okay! I got it! I won't touch you! Right, we're off says Yuri, who begins to walk away. This time Alice follows him.

The plain remained empty except for the two of them. The wind was still diving down through the plains. Yuri and Alice kept walking trying to find a place where they could keep warm for the night. They kept walking until they find a path covered with water. The path of water was uncrossable at the moment so the two continued further along until they find an old sluice gate. "¦Tsk. Dead end says Yuri, who then promptly kicks the gate. "Damn! That hurt!

"Um, maybe if we do something with this sluice gate, we'll be able to cross the river says Alice.

"Huh? Ah, of course! Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.

"¦

"Er, anyway, let's have a little search, then says Yuri, who promptly marches off to find something to open the gate. Alice shakes her head once Yuri has turned around. He inspects the gate to find that has become rotten down. And the only working lever was placed on the solid gate. He then pulls the lever and the water begins to drain through the gate slowly. "Okay! Perfect! A little rusty, but I ain't complaining. Looks like it'll take a while for the water to drain¦Hey, I say we take a rest over there. Pointing his arm to a circular clearing near the draining river.

"R-right said Alice, following Yuri towards the small clearing. She sat down and began to doze off as Yuri collected wood and brush to start a small bonfire that quickly grew. By the time the bonfire had grown Alice was fully asleep with Yuri sprawled nearby.

"Zzzz¦Zzzz¦ snores Alice.

"She's asleep. What's that all about?! She's got some nerve¦.Yeah, to hell with it. I'm just going¦ says Yuri, glancing at the sleeping Alice.

"Unh, Uhhh¦Father¦

"Wha¦you talkin' in your sleep?! Don't scare me like that! shouts Yuri, getting back up on his feet. He then walks toward her and looks down on the sleeping Alice. "Why am I stuck protecting this damn girl? He then kneels down next to her.

"Zzzz¦Zzzz¦

"Oh, please. Don't tell me she's dreamin' about her DAD says Yuri, then getting back to his feet. "Whew¦I'm getting a bit sleepy myself. He then walks back to where he was sprawled earlier. He turns towards the fire to notice that has begun to flicker abnormally. "Wh-What the!? This aura, it's¦ He then turns his attention to Alice and notices that man with a large trench coat and a fox mask has obstructed his view.

"Heh. At last we meet said the strange man with the fox mask. Yuri steps back from the man, startled from his presence.

"Father! What¦What are you doing here!? says Yuri.

"I've come to visit, boy. The souls of the monsters you've killed are quite lonely, you see¦

"Souls of the monsters¦?!

"What a lovely face says Yuri's father, looking down on the sleeping Alice. "And yet I must show proper courtesy. It is thanks to this woman's power that I am even here.

"Her power?! What!? shouts Yuri at his father, confused at all that's been said.

"Haven't you noticed? This world overflows with the ghosts of the monsters you've slain. The gate of eternal darkness was closed until now, you see¦this woman is causing it to open! The ghosts sealed inside the darkest depths of your heart¦they call to me, boy. And they demand that I devour your very soul! The man laughs and disappears. He quickly then reappears in front of Yuri,

"Stay away!

"Never says the man. Who then knees Yuri in the stomach causing him to fall to the ground.
***
Graveyard

Yuri is lying in a dark and misty graveyard. It's a small graveyard filled with some large trees and a large iron fence encompassing the exterior of the graves. There are two gates lit by lanterns; only one is open near to where Yuri is on the ground. He then recovers himself and stands back up.

"Unh¦What's goin' on¦Where am I?! This is just like in my dreams!! shouts Yuri to himself, putting up his fists. Huh?! Where's¦?! Where is he?! Heh heh, so he didn't come with me, eh? Damn! I can't believe this. Honestly, this is a pretty lame illusion. If¦if it is an illusion. He walks further into the graveyard and he begins to inspect the gravestones. "¦Yup, this is it all right. The graveyard from my dreams. Aw, man, I don't want to be remembering this! Now's the part I get lost, then wake up in a cold sweat just as a monster's about to eat me. He turns away from a gravestone and begins to look around. "No, no, NO! Nothin' but trouble ever since that freakin' voice showed up! Maybe I've lost it completely. First, Dad jumps out of my nightmare and show up right before my eyes¦and now I'M in my dream! I save that girl and don't get so much as a SMILE. C'mon, aren't they supposed to get all dewy-eyed, 'Ooh, Mr. Yuri! Thank you ever so much! SMOOCH!' ¦Ain't that how it's s'posed to go?...Oh man, now I'm all depressed. In the corner of the graveyard notices a mausoleum with four floating masks in front of it. Each mask is different from one another; one a sword, a staff, one made of gold, and the last one in the shape of a grail. Yuri walks over to the masks.

"That door¦..Now I see. So it was you all along pulling the strings, eh?

"We are pleased to see you, boy¦The dateable young Harmonixer who damned us to eternal hell¦ spoke the sword mask,

"He he, no need to thank me. But to be honest, I really haven't missed you guys at all.

"Ho ho ho¦Your pathetic bravado can't hide your fear said the staff mask.

"Keep laughin'!! I'll slice that stupid mask in two!! says Yuri, pulling back his fists preparing to fight.

"Ha ha ha! Your mind may not comprehend this place, but your heart understands it full well. Yes. This world is a reflection of your own mind's darkness, darkness you have created yourself spoke the Gold mask.

"¦ Yuri then withdrew his fists.

"Ho ho ho¦The more of our brethren roaming about the world will strike you down, the more you shall become saturated with venomous Malice, born of their bitter vengeance¦And when the limit is passed, so then shall HE be reborn into the world of the living. Ho ho ho¦The man, the very thought of whom makes you shrink in terror spoke the Grail mask. The man with fox mask appears behind the masks and laughs, and then disappears.

"Enough! Shut your stinkin' mask face!! I've been hunting monsters for over ten years. I can handle one or two of those guys with the flick of a finger! You got that, you bodiless freaks! shouted Yuri to the masks.

"Ha ha ha¦Don't get so excited. You loved your father so much, that now you're wandering aimlessly in search of him said the Sword mask.

"Stay out of this! Look, I'm just out for revenge for my parents. It's none of your concern!

"Heh. Strange words coming from someone who still desperately wants to believe his father is alive somewhere¦ spoke the Staff mask.

"You¦Now you're really starting to piss me off! Say another word and I'll smash your smirking faces in!! shouts Yuri, clenching his fists.

"Ha ha ha! Slow down, boy. Worry not, we have a proper opponent for you! To sweep away the accumulation of Malice, you must do battle! spoke the Gold mask. The four monsters then conjure up a wolf-like creature in front of Yuri. He quickly dispatches the monster with a punch, and addresses the masks again as the monster lay dead and battered on the ground.

"Hah!! C'mon, at least give me some sort of challenge! Who's next? You guys?!

"Ho ho ho¦Well done. Your victory has swept away the vengeance of our brethren. And it appears the reactions of that cursed talisman you hold have vanished as well spoke the Grail mask,

"Heh heh heh¦It's too early to get cocky, boy. This purification is only temporary spoke the Sword mask.

"What's that supposed to mean?! shouted Yuri.

"Ho ho ho¦When you return to your world, killing our compatriots will only result in increased Malice. Then you will come back here to lower it. No matter how many you slaughter, this hell will continue spoke the Staff mask.

"Ha, ha, ha! Then in due time, HE will be resurrected¦The man you fear more than Death itself said the Gold mask.

"Tee hee hee¦Do you intend to keep running forever¦? asked the Grail mask.

"Ho ho ho¦.How much easier it would be for you id you'd come here in death spoke the Staff mask.

"Enough! Shut up! said Yuri, who then turned to leave.

"Ha ha ha¦Be gone with you, boy! Return to the world of the living! spoke the Sword mask. As Yuri heads to the gate from where he started he notices that one of the gravestones is giving off a strange light.

"Yeowch! Aren't these tombstones thingies freaky? Almost like they're alive. Ha ha! Wouldn't it be hilarious if all the monsters I've killed started crawlin' out of these? Heh heh¦.This one's glowing. Seal of Earth, huh¦? says Yuri, glaring at the gravestone. Which began to emit a flash of light. "Huh? A large tiger monster then comes out of the gravestone and slashes at Yuri. He quickly dodges and throws a punch at the monster. Which is dispatched as fast as the wolf creature earlier. "Heh heh! Yeah, I knew you'd show up! But it didn't go quite go as planned, eh?! Huh?! What the¦? Suddenly I feel awful¦! He says as he begins to fall to the ground. He then recovers himself and stands back up. "A new spirit to fuse with¦Is this my power¦?

He then turns away from the gravestones and heads to the open gate and hears a familiar voice.

"¦ease! Wa¦up! said the familiar voice.

"¦Huh? That voice¦?

"Yuri¦! Please, open your eyes! said Alice's voice. Yuri then falls to the ground.

"Aargh! ¦My head again!! said Yuri, whose vision of the graveyard began to fade away.

"Wake up! Wake up, please! Yuri¦! Please, open your eyes!
***
Plains of South Manchu

The large bonfire Yuri had created has now gone out. He is laying face down on the ground, while Alice is kneeling next to him. Yuri regains consciousness and they both stand up. He turns away from her and begins to talk.

"So¦he's back he says.

"Are you all right? You were having a nightmare¦Mumbling about masks¦and 'Malice' said Alice. Yuri turns around to her after this comment.

"¦None of your business. My head's really starting to hurt. That's all. Whew¦How long was I out?

"Only two or three minutes since I found you. But you seemed to be in such pain.

"Nothin' to worry about. I always have nightmares. Ever since I was kid said Yuri who then began to walk away from the clearing. "¦C'mon, let's go. The two of them crossed the river which was now drained. They found a small path that they followed until they found some lights in the distance. "Hey! Look at those lights! It's a town!