Ninja and Arkadi

Chapter 1: Ghosts
Ninja looked at the new man, the man wore a Soviet Red Army uniform, his rank was Private.

Like her, he had dark hair and the same complexion.

She went towards his right leg and tried climbing up on him.

" (Need help?)" He asked her

He helped the little girl up and she sat on his knees.

She had an Anastasia picture book.

"What's that you are reading?" He said.

Arkadi spoke with a soft Russian accent.

"Oh, about the last Imperial family of Russia before Soviet time?" He asked.

Ninja nodded.

She loved Arkadi, she thought the Soviet's soft Russian accent was absolutely charming.

"Did you know Alexei, the little boy in that, he was actually 13 when he died." He said.

Despite his communist stance, Arkadi couldn't help but feel empathy for the deceased 13-year old Alexei, 80% of the Soviet men born in his year, 1923, didn't survive WWII, including himself.

His father was an abusive drunk and his mother died when he was only 15.

Marci came to the two, Arkadi was bouncing Ninja on his knees.

" (Higher!)" She said in Russian.

"Arka, can you go and take a shower?" She asked him.

"Yes, be back soon." He said.

He went upstairs to the shower, he took off his uniform, he gave it to Jane.

"Wash it, please." He asked.

He went to the shower and Jane proceeded to wash his uniform.

Arkadi decided not to wear modern day clothes because he thought they were uncomfortable, but in an attempt to look more modern, he only wore trousers and the buttoned shirt he wore.