Of course he took the sabbatical in Nestra. He wasn't one to deny himself opportunities, and he just had to see this girl again.

She was performing again that night, and he had taken a general admission. No need to bring attention to himself, and in his lighter armor he wouldn't be recognizable really.

He sat in one of the boats, glossing over the program. Nothing different stood out. Songstresses and dancers came and went, and then the final act: the koto player.

Her attire hadn't changed and neither did her performance. Her dress was a white silk gown, off the shoulders, with long sleeves that tapered to her middle fingers, giving her room to pluck the strings. Around her neck was a collar in gold with strips of turquoise chiffon hanging off, clinging to her chest and being wrapped in a golden belt, from which it hung loosely like small zephyrs. Her hair was down, long and pink as cherries, and a veil hung on the back of her head, trailing behind.

Leo was closer this time and watched earnestly as her face contorted in different expressions as she played her song. It was the same but it was all the more captivating. Seeing her so up close and personal, Leo felt his heart in his throat. She was just so beautiful

Before he knew it, the performance was over. He disembarked his boat, pushing past another patron he shared it with, and dashed to the flower stand. The man manning it seemed to recognize him, and gave a sly smile, offering the roses for free. Leo denied the generous offer and gave the man quite the amount of gold, asking for no change. Before the man could thank him, he had run off, searching wildly for the performer.

He saw her this time and she did too. Her eyes widened in what Leo assumed was fright and she ran off. He searched for her in the wings and behind the curtains but could not find her. Well, she knew the place better than him, so she must have known a hiding place.

He sighed and handed the bouquet to a random songstress. She blushed and tried to thank him, but like with the flower man, Leo was gone.

Just another disappointment in his life.

The time he spent in Izumo was a waste.

Going as fast as he could because he felt guilty for taking the rest in Nestra, he arrived, but what awaited him was nothing he expected.

Izana had claimed he had a vision for the future of Nohr recently and had wanted the entire royal family to attend the banquet he organized for this vision and was disappointed that Leo was the only Nohrian to attend. He was most hurt.

"I would expect the royal family of Nohr to have better manners than this!" He sniffed. "To send not just one person, but the sullen brother is of the utmost disgrace I've ever faced, and that is saying something!" He held the banquet anyway and still managed to have a good time, and Leo wondered if the noble was just giving him a hard time. He was still gracious to Leo, and Leo said his thanks and then promptly left that evening. He didn't even want the chance to impose on Izana further. The situation was incredibly embarrassing.

Izana had strange parting words, something along the lines of "beware those whose voices are sweet, lest you succumb to their ire." Leo scoffed. He had no time for this nonsense. The vision itself was ridiculous.

"My, Prince Leo, though I hoped to have talked to your brother, I suppose you will do, as the vision concerns you" Leo had resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You see, the gods have told me that a great adventure is awaiting you, though what they did not tell. I suppose you'll just have to see." Izana then held the banquet, leaving Leo confused and a bit paranoid, but that was neither here nor there. It was ultimately still a waste of time.

He decided once he got there, he would try and seek out Nestra's opera house again. Surely, after this ordeal with Izana, Leo could find peace in the opera house. He deserved it.

Treat yourself, he thought to himself, but he figured there was enough self-indulgence with the last time he went. Still, it would ease his nerves.

This would be the final time he would go. No more after this.

But he wasn't prepared for what was to occur that night, despite the warning Izana had given him.

He arrived after two days' time. The night went as per usual. Songstresses, dancers, musicians. The koto player. He was enraptured as usual and decided he wouldn't visit her this time as clearly she was put off by him. He shrugged it off. He didn't want to come across as a stalker.

For some reason, he decided he'd go the scenic route of the exit, that is, the area with artwork done by artists and sculptures and the like. He was admiring one in particular when he heard someone step behind him.

Instinct told him to turn around in a fighting stance and he was glad he had practiced some hand-to-hand combat, as a man with a knife had come at his throat. Leo managed to deflect the knife, but it still cut his hand, spraying droplets of blood on the wall. The assassin cursed and went for the knife, but then a girl wielding a staff knocked the man out with a severe blow to the head, and Leo looked up to see her.

She looked fierce, like a warrior princess, and when the man went down, she turned her attention to Leo. She blushed, realizing it was him, and instantly went to heal his hand.

She was masterful in her healing prowess, and Leo couldn't help questioning it.

"I find it hard to believe a simple koto player would know how to wield a healing staff," he stated bluntly.

She looked away, his hand nearly healed. "I…helped out in the war. I was quickly trained in the ways of a h-healer, and helped citizens here."

He looked at her, intrigued. "You didn't fight for your home country?"

"I… I wasn't born in Hoshido, if that's what you're referring to…" She finished what she was doing and let go of his hand. He didn't realize how tense it was.

"You were born here? Interesting… But your accent is clearly Hoshidan." He flexed his hand. It felt normal. It reminded him of being injured and Elise coming to his aid. This girl brought about an innocence that made him remember his little sister, but currently he was still annoyed at his siblings' teasing.

"W-well, I… I do speak Hoshidan. But we don't have much time. Th-there are more coming." She made to run off, but Leo stopped her.

"Wait a moment. What do you mean 'more coming'?"

"Exactly as I said. Now come." She grabbed his hurt hand and he flinched. She held him all the tighter as she led him back to the opera house and into the wings.

They hid behind some curtains as Leo caught his bearings. He pulled Brynhildr out of his satchel. "I see we must fight. Might I ask what is going on?"

"Th-there's been some sort of rebellion. The p-people are displeased with Nohr's conquest of Hoshido, as are the songstresses..." She stated plainly. Leo wasn't entirely convinced.

"Nestra is neutral country though…" he mused.

"If…if that's what you want to believe," she said ominously, almost resentfully.

Before he could question her, another would-be assassin came at them. She prepared to hit the man with her staff but Leo was quicker. A tree erupted from the floorboards of the stage, engulfing the man. The girl pulled at his shoulder, indicating to follow her.

"I'll t-take you to my home. It should be s-safe." She led him down a winding pathway outside the theater that wasn't occupied by any rebels. It was a windy night, and Leo found it hard to withstand it. He wished he could find his pegasus so he may fly out of the city, but currently that was impossible. She was a smart animal though; she'd escape.

Leo was led to a small little hovel in the side of a building. It looked like many rooms were stacked on top of each other, like someone sandwiched living spaces into a single building. Kazahana's place was incredibly small, though cozy.

She locked the door once he was inside and she shut the curtains. He saw a bow brimming with magic in the corner of the small room. There was also a table with two mismatched chairs and a bed. Leo would think a performer of her caliber would have finer things.

"Why do you live in squalor?" he asked rudely, and the girl hushed him. She made a gesture indicating that there was someone outside. Leo kept his mouth shut. Of course. The city was under siege.

When the commotion seemed to have died down, the girl spoke. "The rebels caught word that a Nohrian prince would be here tonight, and planned their siege…" She looked upset. "The stage is my home… To see it taken over by those…"

"You are fine…er… I never caught your name." He went to grab her hand to soothe what he thought were frayed nerves, but she pulled away.

"That's neither here nor there…" She got up and summoned an arrow in her bow. It was a Shining Bow. "I… I think they're near…"

Leo didn't hear anything, but he readied his tome all the same.

They both heard talk outside and they kept close to the walls so the bandits or rebels or whatever they were couldn't see them. The girl's curtains were threadbare at best.

But then the talk died and they waited as they counted their breaths, realizing that there would be no break in.

"It… It seems we're safe now." She lowered her bow.

"Please, miss. Your name." He said it in a way that was so pitiful he winced. Get a hold of yourself. It was now or never. He would demand it if need be.

She was silent a moment before she finally answered him. "It's… Kazahana." He found it odd that a girl who looked Hoshidan yet born in Nestra would have a Hoshidan name, but he didn't question it. He accepted her name as it was. Weirder things had happened.

"You already know mine, as I assume my reputation precedes me." They both chuckled at the statement. He noticed how cute she was in the dim light, especially with a smile lighting her face.

"Yes… I know of you." She went to sit down. "You'll… You'll need to stay here until the trouble dies down."

"I need to find my pegasus. I can't leave otherwise. And I'll be fine on my own."

"There are many dis-dissatisfied with the former king's rule. The songstresses are still bitter about the massacre that occurred here two years ago. It isn't wise, considering you're a prince under Nohrian rule."

He thought it odd she was so knowledgeable on this, as if she understood the inner workings of rebellions, warfare, and nobility. As if she was a part of it… "You know an awful lot for a simple musician."

"War teaches you things," she said mysteriously. "I've grown from it."

He took her answer at face value, though he was still suspicious.

It was then, flexing his hand more, that he wondered why she had a staff on her in the first place back at the opera house. It was as if she knew this would happen… She said as much. But he decided not to think on it anymore. He was exhausted and simply wanted to sleep.

"If I'm to stay here, where shall I sleep?"

She moved towards a small broom closet he overlooked. "I have a futon in here. It isn't very comfortable, but it's good for guests."

"I take it you have guests often," he jibed as he helped her place the futon on the floor, near her bed. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you Kazahana?"

"I suppose so…" She found a blanket and a spare pillow. "If you don't mind, um, I need to change."

"Ah. Yes." He walked towards the door and kept his face to the wall. "Just tell me when you've finished."

It was a few moments and then a breath. "I'm done. You can turn now."

He noticed how she was in a small nightgown that left nothing to the imagination. But he averted his gaze, thinking in his mind that she probably couldn't afford more. Or that she simply liked being simple.

He lay down on his futon and fell into a fitful sleep, saying nothing to her, though there was so much he wanted to say.

Who are you? How do you know so much? Why are you helping me?

But those thoughts turned to dreams.

The next morning his pegasus was found at his door, neighing quietly. The trouble seemed to die down, and he was preparing to mount the beast when Sakura pulled him back. She had woken before him and had dressed in her simple white dress and breeches.

"It's too dangerous, P-prince Leo." She tugged him back inside, shutting the door.

"And what am I to do about my pegasus? She can't just stay there. She'd blow our cover." She was too fine a beast, covered in Nohrian finery and livery. It was obvious she belonged to Nohrian nobility.

"Ugh, fine," she muttered, leading the animal inside the house. "We'll think of s-something."

"Letting an animal in your home… You really are something, Kazahana." The pegasus snorted in agreement.

She sighed. "D-don't worry about it. You seem…attached."

"She's one of a kind really. Not many Dark Falcon riders in Nohr. It's a rare occupation." Leo was proud to be one. It helped with his ability to wield melee-type weapons and he was a strong magic user as is.

"I…I am not familiar with the class," she admitted. "Does it have to something to do with your tome?" she asked, indicating the tome still at his side.

"I was once a Dark Mage at the beginning of my training," he said, "and then I proceeded to become a Dark Knight and even a Sorcerer, bur then… Aerial units were needed at some point during the war, so I trained a while as a Dark Falcon. I quite like taking to the air," he admitted. "What about you? I can sense the magic in that bow. It's a Shining Bow is it not?"

"It is indeed…" she said as she looked away. He wondered why she felt almost ashamed of it. "I…was once a Shrine Maiden and eventually moved up to Priestess." She admitted.

"A simple musician such as yourself?" he scoffed. "You must have been very good at your job if you went to such a higher class." His suspicions rose again.

"I…was determined. I'm not very strong, but I wanted to make myself useful… I doubt I did even that…" she muttered under her breath.

"Come again?" Leo didn't quite hear what she said.

"It's nothing. We need a…way to get you out without being discovered." She stared at the animal. "Perhaps if we took off the livery…"

"She's native to Nohr. They'd smoke us out…" He sighed. "Oh, what a mess I've gotten myself into."

"Just to see me p-perform…" she giggled softly. "See what you get for stalking me?"

"I… I was not stalking you! I was just…taken with your performance." He blushed and looked away. "I'll just take to the air and be out of your hair."

"No! There are a lot of archers and assassins. You'd… You'd be at risk."

He rolled his eyes. "Then what would you have me do?" he asked.

"Just…stay, for now." She looked away.

"And my steed?" He indicated the pegasus that was still in the house. "As I've said, what am I to do with her?"

She couldn't answer.

"She can stay in here," she finally said.

"Kazahana… She'll make a mess." He couldn't believe the lengths she was going to protect him.

"It's fine. I just…don't want to see you get hurt. This rebellion is stupid. It reminds me too much…" She started sobbing.

He, awkwardly, enveloped her in his arms and she accepted his embrace. The situation reminded him too much of his little sister at home. But this wasn't his sister, and he needed answers.

"Kazahana… How do you know the inner workings of this rebellion?" He asked, genuinely concerned.

"I…I was there for the planning. It's been two years in the making, but the people are so dissatisfied even still. They…they wanted me involved and gifted me with the bow and staff. But I vowed to myself I wouldn't commit an atrocity. I'm sure my defection from the rebels has preceded me… They'll be after me too." She cried harder. "Oh… What to do…?"

"Do they know you live here?" he asked.

"No… I've never told anyone…"

"Then, unless someone has tailed us, they won't harm us." She nodded into his chest and he tightened his hold.

But suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Then, a bang when no answer came.

"Oh no! What-what shall we do?" He felt her shake in his arms.

"We go on the defensive," he said firmly, summoning magic as he released her. His tome, left on the table, was in his hand instantly. War instincts came back. "When they break down the door, I'll release a spell. Amidst the chaos, mount my pegasus and escape."

To Kazahana, this sounded all too familiar. "No. I won't leave you to be killed."

"A mage as strong as me? Don't doubt my abilities." The door broke down. "Now!"

Kazahana grabbed her bow and summoned an arrow. "We'll go down together," she shouted obstinately.

She knocked her arrow and sent it flying directly into a rebel's eye. Leo was impressed, but not for long as he summoned his deadly plants and ensnared rebels and even songstresses alike. They were singing in the background, trying to power the rebels, but it was for naught, as Leo had killed them all one by one.

When the rebels realized the fight would be lost, they started to escape but Leo wouldn't have that. He ensnared one by one, and strangled the life out of them, even the songstresses. War instincts took over and he felt the need to rid the life of everyone who would threaten him and Kazahana.

He heard Kazahana scream as he did so, but soon the rebels had all been rendered to cinders. They defended her hovel.

Immediately, he mounted his steed. "Come, Kazahana, before more come." She mounted behind him, though he saw the hurt in her eyes at all the death around her, and he rushed out, heading to the opera house.

"But… Why?"

"To salt the earth where the rebellion sprouted," Leo said viciously, reminded too clearly of his father.

Well, the fruit didn't fall far from the tree.

They flew towards the opera house, Leo determined to fight every last one of those rebels. It was his duty as the second, no, now first prince of Nohr, to rid this city of rebels, lest more rebellions happened. He was reminded too clearly of the rebellions during the initial conquest of Hoshido. The only way he knew how to end these was to kill, regretfully, every last one of them. He didn't like doing so, and he knew Corrin would personally be offended, but they had come after his life. He needed to fight back.

However, when they arrived at the opera house, no rebels were there. Or at least, none living.

The stage was covered in dead bodies of performers and assassins alike. There were a few Nestrian soldiers still there, tired from the long battle. They looked curiously at Leo. One of them recognized him.

"My prince!" He dropped to one knee. "I apologize for this mess. This isn't for you to see…"

Leo waved that aside. "It's fine. I've done my share of murder." He looked at all the bodies, stabbed, punctured, bloodied, and…dead. It didn't affect him but he felt Kazahana shake beside him.

She wasn't meant for war.

He looked to his side and saw the girl tremble, bottom lip quivering as she stared at the massive amount of the dead around her. Some of the bodies were being removed (some in parts), and Leo saw that she was about to retch.

She managed to calm herself after he patted her back in an uncharacteristic gesture of kindness. Kazahana thanked him.

"Stay outside if you need to," he insisted, pulling his arm back.

"No… I…should be used to it by now…" She sighed. "I'm still useless…"

"Being queasy at dead bodies hardly makes you useless. You just can't stomach death." He rolled his eyes. "Why would you think this anyway?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter now. I… We should go." She turned to leave.

"I can't. This was an attempt at my life. I must make a report of everything and send it back to the king as I solve this problem." Leo turned to her. "You're a prime witness. I'll have to include your input. You knew about this after all." He glared at her. "You knew an awful lot, Kazahana, and you'll need to be questioned."

As Xander's advisor, it was up to him to know as much as possible to advise the king. As the victim of this ordeal, he especially needed any and all information needed to present to Xander.

"I…I refuse!" Kazahana exclaimed. She pulled away from Leo and went to run but he grabbed her arm.

"Refusing a request from a prince is treading treacherous waters, my dear Kazahana," he hissed in her ear. "I take it you know more than you'd like to share…"

He felt her shudder. "It's…it's not that…" She let out a breath. "I'll tell you all you need to know."

"Excellent." He released her. "Okay, we'll go backstage where there is less of…" He indicated the dead bodies all around. "…this."

She led him to the backstage dressing rooms and there he also found some paper and even a quill with ink. How…fortuitous, but he wouldn't question it. Actors, musicians, and performers alike were of an eclectic sort he knew nothing of.

"So, Kazahana…" He began writing in the formal third person variety that any report of military or political ilk would possess. "Tell me everything you know about this rebellion."

"As I've previously told you…" She began quietly. "This was building up for two years now. They seized the opportunity the day you came back from Izumo. A spy, I know not who he or she is, had seen you fly in and purchase a ticket for the performance. Suspicion arose when you came that first night, then the second, and eventually, on your third appearance, they took their chance." She began shaking again.

"I take it you witnessed these meetings." He scribbled down everything she said.

"Yes… It was sort of a nightly thing, planning these meetings before the shows would start. I began to fear if the stress of them would affect my performance…" She admitted.

"You perform well, then, under such pressure." He complimented. "The past three performances I saw were magnificent."

"Th-thank you," she stuttered, a little put off by his sudden display of appreciation. From one moment he was cold and callous like his reputation before him, and the next he was a charming boy looking for a pretty girl. Well, she wasn't sure of that last part.

"The, um, last performance I did I felt the pressure greatest. It was then I decided, playing my koto, that I wouldn't be a part of this rebellion. Blood begets more blood, you know."

"But you had your healing staff," he stated plainly. "Tell me why."

"They, the rebels I mean, know little of my history with the war, but heard I was a talented healer. Though they did gift me the bow, they felt I would be at my best healing our side." She shrugged. "I guess they didn't realize that a staff can be an effective weapon too."

"The way you wielded it, it certainly is." They both chuckled at that. "Is…that all you know, then?"

"That's as much as I can say. You've seen what their planning brought on. You've seen the damage. You were even part of it. The only thing I can suggest now is to question anyone else. But I can tell you their stories won't be much different than mine."

He nodded. "Thank you, then, Kazahana. You have been most helpful." She sat there still, not realizing she had just been dismissed.

"Oh! Um…" She got up to leave, straightening her dress. "Well, I shall leave you to it then…" She left and Leo got up to find others to question. He would finish this official report and send it immediately to Xander. Until then, he would have to stay in Nestra and get to the bottom of this.

Why were the Nestrians still so displeased? What happened between the war and now that relations were suddenly strained? The archduke of Nestra had invited them all the opera house under good terms so why…

The archduke! He must have orchestrated this!

But if he did, then why didn't he act on the night all of the royal siblings were there? Why when just the one was there?

Leo would get to the bottom of that for damn sure.