History Protection PreCure

Chapter Nine: Pictures For The Family! What makes Rina happy!

Saint Petersburg; November 1894

"My dearest Alexandra..." Andrei dragged his hand across the woman's chin, gazing intently into the set of eyes that glistened into the light of the chandelier. He stepped back, placing his hands against his abdomen and back. "The Count Kuzenetsov requests a dance with the Tsarina."

Alexandra hummed, taking the man's gloved hand into the dance floor.

Tatina and Olga in their stunning sense of formalities sat in their thrones while Nicholas conversed with another noble.

Prosperity stared through the window in the winters of November. She widened her eyes, jerking her head towards the Andrei beside her. "The Tsar's wife?!" She screamed while also attempting to keep her best at a whisper.

Andrei smiled as his shoulders lifted with a giggle. "Oh, that woman was so shy."

"You're telling me that Li Hua could've been a Duchess of Russia?" Prosperity scoffed, shaking her head as she stepped away from the window.

"It rarely went beyond a dance... Olga, however..." Andrei teased, shaking a finger in the air between them.

Prosperity's jaw dropped. "Oh... You playboy!" She slapped his arm, throwing a hang against her mouth. "Olga Romanov! How old was she?"

Andrei folded his arms behind his back as he took in a deep breath. "Perhaps... Early twenties?" He answered, briefly looking at Prosperity. "Call me a harlot, but perhaps... Then I could ask about your still being dressed up." He stopped in the snow, sneaking once more glance at the window and adjusting the bejeweled hat over his head.

Prosperity grabbed her time amulet. Once they were back in the comfort of her loft and her pajamas, Avery sighed heavily. "You're crazy." She ran her hand through her hair, walking back downstairs.

Andrei grabbed Avery's waist, pulling her close.

Li Hua raised her head from the TV show she was watching to the duo nearby. "Father."

"You can fool everyone else with your acting, but I've never really liked you..." Andrei whispered into Avery's ear before pulling away and returning to Li Hua. He removed his hat, plopping it on top of Li Hua's head.

The Chinese-Russian woman flinched for a moment, taking the hat from her head. She had long removed her mili, leaving her with a face veil that was still transparent to some extent. "How is it our Master took you in?" She wondered, removing the hat. Her fingers ran across the gem in the middle of the ornate garment.

Andrei's smile flattened into the moment of questioning himself.

"Ooh, now that's a story I'd like to hear! Granted, I'm over your love story with Cuifen," Avery groaned as she unpacked her bottle of wine. "You had us going back and forth!" She amused, shaking her wrist as she gestured towards another drinking moment.

"Perhaps the Cures hated it," Andrei settled.

Leningrad, Russia; 1923

Gunshots rang through the darkness, and suddenly that was all people would need to realize opposition was suppressed.

Andrei ran through the streets of old memories, trucking through them in the name of survival. He rushed through, hiding behind a pile of crates. He grew still, barely breathing as the sound of heavy footwear, firearms, and multitudes of men gathered just a heartbeat away.

"Any sign of that Count?" One soldier asked.

"No, sir, but we'll keep an eye out. A fast runner, that one..." Another soldier returned.