Party Members

While the pool of playable characters in Shadow Hearts is about what you'd expect from an RPG (six), Covenant cranks the number up to eight. And because none of them cross between games, the parties are totally unique with the exception of Yuri. So, some of his relationships are more developed than others, particularly when comparing ones with characters who appear early in the games versus those who appear later.

Shadow Hearts

Alice Elliot: Though Yuri met Alice with the intention of rescuing her, it became obvious very quickly that she was going to be the one doing the saving. They spend the beginning hours of the game bickering and being uncomfortable about their differences but by the end they come to know, respect, and love each other. I think Alice tuned in to Yuri's weaknesses pretty quickly and never shied away from them because she just as quickly recognized his strengths. Yuri didn't expect much from a naive little nun, but he quickly changed his opinion and knew Alice was tougher than she looked. There's more about Alice here.

Li Zhuzhen: You would expect Zhuzhen and Yuri to have a grudging master-student relationship given their age difference. Instead, they acted more like frat boys most of the time and brought out the worst in each other. Zhuzhen might have been polite had Yuri not been such a rude little upstart, and maybe Yuri would've respected the old codger if he wasn't so full of himself. But there is a genuine friendship between them that usually only rears its teary head when one of them is in mortal danger.

Margarete Gertrude Zelle: Margarete was the blonde bombshell of the game and hit it off with Yuri. But instead of mad flirting what we got was pretty much just madness. They shared this kooky sort of friendship based on their shared inability to shut up during important scenes. Margarete was always more of an older sister friend to Alice but she and Yuri definitely had their moments.

Keith Valentine: Yuri and Keith ended up being one of those relationships that didn't get fleshed out much which is a little depressing. There was definitely something missing without Yuri making rude noises and Keith, elegant vampire that he is, trying to ignore them like a gentleman.

Halley Brancket: Halley introduces himself to Yuri on the streets of London by picking his pockets and taking his wallet. As you can imagine, they get off on the wrong foot. In a lot of ways, Yuri saw himself in Halley, who was a rough street rat without parents and harboring a special power. Yuri was the first person Halley began to trust and I think Yuri was aware of that. He equal parts inspired and annoyed him as any good older brother figure should.

Covenant

Karin Koenig: Karin and Yuri always had a very comrades in arms friendship, even from their beginning. Yuri needed to find Nicolai and get his curse removed, Karin needed to find Nicolai and was stuck since she had left the German army -- they were useful to each other and got along. I wouldn't say they bicker, not the way Gepetto and Yuri would, but they tease each other. Karin would occasionally give Yuri a good smack for checking her out or making lewd eyes at Lucia. I kind of always figured this was less about embarrassment or jealousy than it was about her sense of decency. There's more about Karin here.

Gepetto: Though Yuri and Gepetto would like everyone to think they hate each other, it's obvious they got to know each other before the game began. Gepetto is the one who tells Karin about Yuri's history and Alice. Honestly, they're probably a lot alike but will never admit it.

Blanca: Blanca is Yuri's partner and definitely the brains of that chicken outfit. He's also a dog. As you can imagine, that makes writing this a little difficult. Yuri and Blanca are a team, regardless of what other people may think, and Yuri refers to him as his partner. They also tease each other like friends, which is pretty impressive when you consider the language barrier.

Joachim Valentine: Joachim is Keith's younger brother and is a little more involved in the story than the first Valentine. A little dense, melodramatic, and kind of a blockhead, Joachim is the gentle giant of the party. Yuri mostly seems to stare whenever he espouses the use of mailboxes in combat. I've always had this mental image of Joachim tossing Yuri over his shoulder whenever he passed out at inopportune moments as all main heroes are wont to do.

Lucia: Yuri and Lucia honestly don't talk much beyond their initial meeting. And even then I think Yuri's attention was focused more on Lucia's uh, physical attributes than what type of Crest magic she came equipped with.

Princess Anastasia Romanov: Yuri seems to have a weakness for kids with stupid parents. He and the group give Anastasia the manpower she needs to save Russia from Rasputin and Yuri is usually the one sticking up for her to her parents. He just can't help but stick his nose in other peoples' business, I guess. He and Anastasia antagonize each other throughout the game, though she soon gets distracted by Joachim and the ever-pretty Kurando.

Kurando Inugami: Kurando is Yuri's younger cousin through his father's side. He is polite, well-spoken, patient, and respectful. Which is really everything Yuri is not. They still get along; I think they do share that daring fighters' spirit and a sense of justice so common among their family. They never discuss being family or what either thinks of it but Yuri takes to Kurando quickly. Maybe not as quickly as Anastasia but...