I took a little longer with this chapter than I would've liked. Goddamned writer's block. This chapter doesn't seem to flow as well as the last, but still, please enjoy.

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"I am pathetic..."

Sakura could not help but stifle a giggle when she hears the uncharacteristically melodramatic groan from beneath the futon covers. "What makes you say that?"

Despite Sakura and Yukimura's efforts to do what they can to help shoulder her duties, Hinoka still managed to find a way to take the majority of the burdens onto herself. Balancing the needs of Hoshido, the demands of Nohr, and her own inability to hang up her naginata while struggling to prove herself as a worthy monarch in the wake of tragedy to her courtiers has finally taken its toll.

Being bested by the common cold is likely the true source of Hinoka's current misery. At first, she still insisted on continuing her duties, but Sakura had put her foot down in a way that left no room for argument, surprising the older sister into compliance. It is nearing the end of summer and there seems to be an infection going around. Sakura is due to leave for Nohr later that morning to attend King Xander's nuptials, so she wanted to see Hinoka and remind her to rest and take her medicine before she does.

"I've had a lot of time to think."

Sakura kneels next to the futon with a cup of remedial tea, waiting until Hinoka sluggishly sits and takes it with a murmur of thanks before she asks, "About what?"

"About... our brothers." Her lips tighten and her next sip of tea is longer than the usual. "And Azura. And you. A bit of everything, really."

"Do you... do you need to talk?" Sakura can see the hesitation in Hinoka's face. She doesn't want to burden Sakura with her worries, but at the same time, she desperately needs a sympathetic ear.

Finally, Hinoka edges a little closer to her sister. Not so close as that she would risk spreading her malady, but close enough to talk.

"I let my feelings for Corrin cloud my judgement," Hinoka begins after some thought. "When he chose to go back to Nohr after reuniting after so many years, I felt so betrayed, but I would have come to terms with it eventually, I think.

"Then he went and spared my soldiers – all of them – at the Seven-Fold Sanctuary, helped us in Izumo, and then convinced his devil of a sister to spare me after I was defeated." Hinoka sighs deeply. "I deluded myself into thinking that he still cared for us, when in reality I just didn't want to admit that I spent my whole life fighting for nothing."

"Do-do you still dare about him?" Sakura asks carefully. "About Corrin?"

"I think..." Hinoka begins, but stops, backtracking. "Do you remember what I told him at King Xander's coronation? That I will come running whenever he needs me?"

Sakura nods.

"I would like to be able to do that because despite everything he's done, I still think of him as my little brother," Hinoka confesses, ashamed. Sakura wants to assure her there's no shame in loving someone, but she doesn't know how much truth is in that assurance.

"Even though I know I won't be able to follow through on that promise, I wanted to be able to say something like that to him one last time. The next time we met, I was the Queen of Hoshido. I cannot put the needs of a Nohrian prince before that of my people, even if he is the person who made me who I am today.

"What's worse, I was so obsessed with getting stronger to bring him back to Hoshido, I ended up taking you and Takumi and Azura for granted."

"Hinoka..."

"I only wish I realized sooner," Hinoka says, placing her teacup on the tatami floor. Once she started talking about her failures, it is like unblocking a dam. Sakura guesses that as much as Hinoka hated to rely on someone else, the relief that comes with knowing that there is one person to share her turmoil with is too great.

"I wish I paid more attention to Takumi, told him that I love him and he's important more often. I wish I pushed harder for a rescue mission when Azura was taken from us. I wish I had the chance to take the three of you out one day and spoil you all rotten like the big sister I should've been. It wouldn't have made up for everything, but it would've been a start, at least... Now, it's too late. You're the only one left and you don't even need me as much as I thought you did."

"Th-that's not true!" Sakura protests, speaking aloud for the first time since Hinoka started talking. "I don't care if you think you're a failure! You're my sister... I will always need you!"

"You're too sweet, Sakura," Hinoka replies, her expression pained as much as it is proud. "Even though you're hurting too, you really want to make this alliance with Nohr work, don't you?"

"D-don't you?"

"Only because we can't afford another war with Nohr right now." Hinoka's smile turns sardonic as she quips, "It's probably the only thing I can get the feudal lords to agree on."

Sakura says nothing. A solitary female monarch is not unheard of in Hoshido, but a male ruler is vastly preferred. Hinoka ascended to the throne when their brothers died and she knows she has yet to prove herself as a ruler worthy to succeed the likes of their father and stepmother.

"...That's why I carry the Raijinto, Sakura. To remind myself of how I failed my duty to my family and my country because of my fixation on the one sibling who was taken from us... and ended up betraying us for the family that raised him."

A journey that would have taken about a month on horseback could be condensed into a mere few days by flight. Since Hinoka was advised to stay in behind in Hoshido, both out of concern for her own health and as to not bring a potentially foreign contagion to Nohr, the party traveling from Shirasagi to Windmire to attend King Xander's wedding is small enough that it was decided that travel by pegasus is simply the most efficient.

Initially, Sakura had thought Leo's reluctance to the idea was that he had reservations leaving his horse behind – despite Subaki's many promises that she would be taken care of in his absence – but she learned otherwise on their first rest stop on Nohrian soil.

"I hate flying."

Caught off guard by this sudden admission, Sakura stammers, "R-really?"

"Camilla took me out on her wyvern once. I hated it and never flew again."

Sakura smiles, trying to imagine Leo as a child, clinging onto his sister as she flew with him. "I almost became a pegasus knight once," she admits, feeling obliged to share a related memory in return.

It is Leo's turn to be surprised. "I have a hard time believing that," he concedes. "May I ask why you didn't?"

"It-it's not much of a story," Sakura says with a shrug as she takes a seat on a dry patch of earth at the base of a dead tree. "It just wasn't the right path for me, though I-I don't mind flying and I w-would've liked to be more like Hinoka..."

"Huh. That's... interesting."

They fall into a relatively comfortable silence afterwards, though it is quickly filled with the still ongoing chatter of their retainers. Ever since Sakura saved Leo's life, Niles has become much more pleasant towards her. He still teases her when he has the chance, but in a way that is much less mean-spirited. On the downside, Niles seems to have decided teasing her childhood friend yielded much more interesting results. Sakura had offered to speak to Leo on her behalf, but Hana, still nursing a grudge for her defeat at the hands of the Nohrian army, had refused, not willing to accept such help over something so trivial.

Keeping an ear out in case today is the day Hana decides it is time to blind out Niles's other eye, Sakura takes a handful of the earth in her palm, rubbing it between her fingers. She is no farmer, but even she could tell it is poor soil for growing food.

"It's not like this everywhere," Leo says, interrupting her thoughts, leaning against the same tree she is. "There are more fertile regions near settlements where crops can be grown and there are many dense forests where there is game to hunt and edible plants to gather."

"But it's still not enough..." Why else would they resort to invading Hoshido and stealing their food?

"Enough for sustain us if we're lucky, and even then most of what is produced goes to the upper classes." He lets her imagine the results for herself. He did tell her once that Xander is making an effort to resolve the issue of poverty and crime that had been allowed to run rampant for too long. "There were more Dragon's Vein points that can be used to coax the land back into fertility a few decades back, but they disappeared with overuse. The ones that remain are only ever activated sparingly during seasons where our mages predict as promising."

"That happens with Dragon Vein points in Hoshido too," Sakura says, "But we don't use them for agriculture except in drought periods." They were very rare, but it had happened at least twice in her country's recent history. "It is said that after the War of First Dragons, the Dawn Dragon gave up its physical form and became one with the land of Hoshido. We believe that everything in nature has a..." She fingers the tassels on her rod as she tries to think of a term in the common tongue that coveys the meaning best. "I guess 'spirit' is one translation and Dragon Vein points are simply the manifestation of the Dawn Dragon's, its gift to mankind."

"I can't say there are such beliefs of spirits in Nohr," Leo nods thoughtfully. "The Dusk Dragon also cast aside its form after the war, that much our history has in common, but there no such sayings of Dragon Vein points being the remnants of our ancestor." He snorts to himself. "Perhaps if we spent less time on the battlefield and more time in the church, Nohr wouldn't be such a 'barren wasteland,' as some call it."

Sakura smiles weakly at his joke, but then sighs sadly. "You told me about Nohr's lands before, but seeing it for myself is so... different." She brushes the dirt off her hands and looks up at him. "It... it makes me realize how easy we have it in Hoshido. Is there nothing that can be done? If there is something Hoshido can do to help... Not just with trade, but something to make the land better...?" Because Sakura can't be certain how long this peace treaty will last. Maybe it can last for generations after she is gone or maybe it will fall apart as soon as either Hinoka or King Xander's reign ends, but either way, Nohr will have to return to its warmongering ways in order to survive.

"At this point, I doubt it," Leo replies. "Princess Galswinth, one of my predecessors as Brynhildr's wielder, spent her entire life searching for a way to magically alter the properties of Nohr's soil to make it more suitable for farming. Though her research led to the creation of many powerful spells and laid the groundwork for our understanding of magic today, she never accomplished what she wanted because magic... even a divine tome like Brynhildr has its limits."

Sakura sighs in understanding. There is so much one can do with magic. One of the harshest things the temples stressed to young shrine maidens and monks is that death is a natural part of life. They would be taught to heal bodies and soothe wounded souls, but they will not be able to save everyone. Lives are fragile and easily lost. The sooner they understood that, the better.

"But Brynhildr..."

"Hm?"

"Oh, uh... never mind. It's kind of silly."

"Princess Sakura, I have heard you speak your mind many times over these past months and I assure you, I have yet to hear anything that would constitute as 'silly.'"

"T-then maybe this will be the first," Sakura says, only half-joking because it really does seem silly to think about bright, verdant trees in such a way. "Because I was just thinking about the trees it summons. They... they're alive aren't they?"

"Yes... they are," Leo replies slowly. "I can see the irony in it. Brynhildr creates life to take it and then disperses soon after. A fitting metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, I suppose."

The remainder of the journey passes with little mishap and their arrival in Windmire is received with very little fanfare. The princesses of Nohr, Elise and Camilla, are the only ones who came to the castle gates to greet them. Leo is the first to dismount from his pegasus and approaches his sisters with a smile. "Camilla, Elise. I'm home."

Astride her pegasus where she had fallen back with her retainers as to not intrude on a family reunion, Sakura watches, hearing bits of the questions they had for him – how was the journey here? Did he bring them any presents? Has he been eating properly? No, exclusively tomato salads don't count. Is the food as good as Corrin says? – nostalgically thinking back on the times when she waited for her own siblings to come home from battle. Once the wedding is over, it would be her who will be met with a sister awaiting her return.

All seems to be well until she hears Princess Camilla ask, "Those Hoshidans didn't give my precious little brother any trouble did they?"

From the corner of her eye, she sees Hana place her hold on her blade hilt for comfort. While Subaki makes no such movements, Sakura knows him well enough to know that he too, is on edge. They're not quite sure how far word of the attempted assassination traveled in Nohr – or how wildly it diverged from the truth – and they are rightfully wary of Princess Camilla after experiencing her ferocity in battle.

Leo shakes his head, ducking out of reach in case Camilla decided to start smothering him in public. "Nothing I couldn't handle, sister," he says smoothly. "Might I remind you that we have guests?"

Princess Camilla looks unimpressed when she turns to Sakura, not bothering to hide her disappointment when she doesn't see Hinoka. "Welcome to Windmire, Princess Sakura. Wherever is your sister? I was so looking forward to seeing how she has grown into her crown. Nothing bad has happened in Hoshido, I hope?"

Despite her own unease, a feeling of protectiveness washes over Sakura as she imagines this beautiful, deadly woman holding an axe to her sister's throat. For once, Sakura is glad that Hinoka had been unable to come to Nohr with her. It would be bad enough to see Corrin when she is not ready to face him again, but to have Princess Camilla hanging over them both is the last thing Hinoka needed.

"Th-thank you for your hospitality," Sakura says with a bow when she dismounts. "I-I'm afraid Hinoka is sick, Princess Camilla. I-it's nothing serious, but w-we don't want to it to spread."

Camilla hums, but says nothing. Princess Elise approaches the Hoshidans, grinning widely as though she had no cares in the world. "Sakura! I'm so happy you came!"

"O-of course I did," Sakura says, finding it easier to relax around the younger Nohrian princess. "H-how could I r-refuse when King Xander was so thoughtful to invite us?"

Elise dimples and takes her hand. "Can you come with me? There's something I want to show you!"

"Um, but..."

Leo comes by to take the reins of both his pegasus and her's. "Niles and I will show your retainers to the stables, Princess Sakura," he says. "Please, feel free to go with her."

Elise leads her down many corridors and up three flights of stairs before reaching her quarters. Sakura stands by as Elise searches for something in her closet until she finds it with a triumphant, "Ah-hah!"

She sets a box down on her bed and opens it. Sakura peers at the contents inside. "A kimono?" Sakura asks, surprised that a Nohrian would have a Hoshidan garment and such a finely made one at that. She examines the needlework more closely and notices how some of it are the same as the ones in Takumi's clothing. "Wh-where did you get it?"

"Big sis Azura."

"Oh." She was my sister first. Sakura's thought is more out of resignation than resentment. Everyone in Hoshido grieved for Mother, for Ryoma and for Takumi, but it felt like she and Hinoka were the only ones who cared that Azura is gone as well. "Princess Elise... i-is it alright if I ask you something?"

"Hm?" Elise tilts her head, "Sure. What is it?"

"Was... did Azura seem happy when she came back?" Leo told her Azura said she didn't hate anyone from Nohr despite her unhappy childhood there, but it isn't the same as knowing whether or not she was happy during her last days.

"Oh..." Elise's brows furrow as she thinks about Sakura's question. "I think so?" she answers at last. "She seemed pretty happy whenever she was with Corrin at least, but she mentioned you a lot too."

"D-did she?"

"Uh-huh. She kept comparing me to you at first. It was so frustrating!" Sakura doesn't know if she should apologize or not, but then the blonde princess adds thoughtfully, "But now I think it's just because she missed you. Remember when I brought you food and blankets and stuff during the war? Azura wanted to know how you were doing and I told her she should go see you herself."

This is all news to Sakura. "S-so why didn't she?" She is sure that even in her state of mind at the time, she would remember if Azura had come to see her.

"She..." Elise hesitates. Though her expressive eyes, Sakura catches a glimpse of the conflicts their enigmatic sister kept so well hidden. "Azura said something about how she 'made her choices' and how you probably didn't want to see her..."

That's not true, Sakura thinks. She would have liked to see Azura at least one more time, even if it's only to say a proper goodbye. She missed her chance in Izumo. She should have said something then.

"I'm sorry..." Elise turns somber once she notices the change in Sakura's mood. "Azura gave this kimono to me. She said she got it from Queen Mikoto so I can wear it when our kingdoms are finally at peace. She helped me put it on once, but it was so long ago I don't remember very well. I was hoping you could show me how to put it on, but maybe it's not such a good idea after all..."

"N-no," Sakura replies, shaking her head, touched by Elise's concern for her. She thought the blonde princess childish, but she is more intuitive than Sakura gave her credit for. "P-Princess Elise... You are very kind. I-I will be happy to show you how to put on the kimono."

"You will? Oh, thank you!" Elise hugs her tightly. "I'm sure Azura would be happy to know we're getting along like this! Maybe we can even be friends?"

Surprised, Sakura awkwardly hugs her back. "F-friends..." she repeats, warming up to the idea more than she would have anticipated.

A low chuckle, followed by a soft knock on the door makes Sakura back away. She didn't mean to push Elise away from her, but that is what happened. Hurt briefly crosses the other young princess's face before she sees the newcomer, practically tackling him in her enthusiasm.

"Corrin! You're back!"

"Oof! Haha, Elise. I'm happy to see you too."

When the albino prince finishes greeting Elise, he turns his attention onto Sakura. Whatever feelings of happiness Elise gave her seems to drain out when Sakura sees Corrin. He seems to be doing well, appearing older and more mature than when she first met him in the northern valley, but there is a spark of happiness and contentment in his eyes that Sakura hasn't seen in Hinoka's since the war ended.

"Hey Sakura," he says warmly, straightening as though he is expecting a hug from her as well. "It's been a while hasn't it?"

She doesn't know what to think of him. Sakura always wanted a chance to get to know the sibling her father died protecting. When she first met him and saw how Hinoka had cried in his arms that day, she thought she finally had the chance. She only spent two weeks with him in Hoshido, but she could understand why Ryoma and Hinoka always spoke so fondly of him.

But now... she can barely stand to look at him.

"H-hello..." Sakura replies with a quick bow. "H-Hinoka sends her regards. S-she was going to come, b-but she caught a c-cold at the last minute. She's doing fine, though. S-she'll get better v-very soon."

"It's alright, though I was hoping this would be a chance for me to get to know her better," Corrin says, disappointed. "We didn't really have much time to talk before... everything."

It takes all her self-control to not start screaming. You have no right! You have no right to want that after you betrayed her! Sakura knows how much Hinoka is hurting because of him, how much she is hurting because of him, so she cannot help but be struck by his sheer audacity to think their desire to be a family with him again outweighed what he had done to their beloved Hoshido. Did he really think she held no grudges?

She is only stopped by the fact that despite however he changed, Corrin still wears his heart on his sleeve. When she looks into his eyes, she can tell he meant no offense to either of them. Still, her loyalty to her sister makes Sakura tell him that she will be sure to let Hinoka know what he said while making no promises that she will oblige his request. Hinoka sacrificed enough for him. She doesn't owe him anything.

Oblivious, Corrin beams. "That would be great! I mean, I'm happy to see you too, Sakura, don't think I'm not. I'm going to be occupied with last-minute wedding preparations, but let's talk some more later okay?"

"I..." She's not sure. She doesn't want to, but she finds it hard to deny him when Elise, who loves him so much is standing nearby. "O-okay..."

Not even an hour in the walls of Castle Krakenburg, Sakura is already wishing she could go home.

Sakura remembers how much she first disliked the dancing lessons as part of her shrine maiden training. It wasn't that she didn't like dancing itself, but it was the prospect of having so many eyes on her while she was performing that was too frightening. Someone like her was better off staying in the background.

However, to refuse to learn the ceremonial dances is to quit the training altogether. Sakura may be a princess of Hoshido, but in the temple of the Dawn Dragon, she is on no higher standing than the peasant girls who trained alongside her. Sakura had spent her nights awake pondering her options. She didn't have it in her to be a warrior like her siblings, so she turned to the temple instead. If she couldn't be a healer, what could she be?

On the verge of setting her sights on the path of a sky knight like Hinoka, Sakura had come across Azura dancing by the lake on the castle grounds. She remembers watching the princess of Nohr's fluid, graceful movements, singing joyfully to her heart's content, thinking how her adopted sister could have been a spirit of the water herself.

She was quickly found out. She remembers being afraid that Azura, who was still cold and aloof to her at the time, would be angry that she had been spying on her, but she wasn't. Before Sakura knew it, she was telling Azura everything – her stage fright, her fear of being a burden to her family, how she didn't want to give up becoming a full-fledged priestess even though she could never hope to dance as confidently as Azura.

Azura had listened to every word and said it might help if she danced for an audience of one right there and then. Though she didn't understand how it could help, Sakura did as she was asked and unburned by her fears and anxieties, she had thrown herself into it. She remembered how she had lost her footing when she had spun too quickly, causing her to fall into a laughing Azura's arms.

In the aftermath of a blunder that would have earned her a fierce scolding from the head priestess, Sakura felt more light-hearted than she had been for a long time and ended up falling into giggles as well because Azura's laugh was as contagious as it was beautiful.

When Sakura had calmed enough to form coherent sentences again, Azura asked if she felt better about her dancing. Upon hearing that she was still uncertain, Azura suggested that she could come to the lake every night with her to practice until she doesn't feel scared to perform anymore because that was how she had overcome her stage fright.

Azura was right about her advice. Sakura isn't scared of dancing anymore, but at this Nohrian ball where finely dressed lords and richly gowned ladies twirl in synchronized pairs on the dance floor, she finds herself at a complete loss.

She stays at the sidelines, content with marveling at the unfamiliar customs and intrigue of a foreign court and politely declined Elise's offer to share a dance with her, using the excuse that the formal kimono she is wearing is not suited for such an activity. As the night passes, however, she starts to regret it.

Alone in a crowd, Sakura feels more like an exotic animal to be stared at and whispered about than a guest. Whatever King Xander may claim about Hoshido and Nohr being equals, it is clear not all his people – if any – share the sentiment.

She's not sure how much longer the ball following the wedding would last and she is too afraid to ask. Sakura is distracting herself with the refreshments on display when she hears a quiet voice – just loud enough to be heard over the orchestra – from behind her.

"Lady Sakura?"

Startled and finding herself face-to-face with the King of Nohr himself, Sakura is reacquainted with why she never liked attending these "highfalutin stuff," as Takumi once phrased it. As comfortable as she is around Leo, as much as she likes the idea of being friends with Elise, Sakura cannot say the same about the Nohrian king they both called brother. When Xander speaks, all Sakura hears is his voice echoing off the walls of Fort Jinya, promising safety to her soldiers if they surrendered, but failing to follow through on that promise when they did.

She knows it was not truly his fault, but she can't help but be circumspect. It shows in the way she bows before him in the most respectful way she knew. "G-good e-evening Y-your M-majesty," Sakura says, internally cringing when she hears the familiar stammer. So much for thinking she is getting better at socializing. "C-congratulations on your m-marriage. I-I h-hope your d-days together w-will be f-filled with h-happiness."

"Please be at ease Lady Sakura," Xander assures, "I merely wished to have a quick word with you about a certain... breach in hospitality towards my brother while he was in Hoshido."

Despite being intimidated by this man, Sakura straightens and tries to make eye contact due to the importance of what she needs to say. He is so tall... taller than Ryoma? "Y-Your Majesty... I-I apologize on behalf of all of Hoshido for putting your brother in danger." She practiced these words with Hana and Subaki during the journey here, just in case. Now, she is glad she took the precaution. "W-we do not deny that the assassin and his accomplice–" Poor Akane. She only wanted justice as a cure for her grief. "–were Hoshidan, but my sister, the queen hopes th-that you u-understand not all of Hoshido feel this way and th-that y-you and yours w-will not c-consider this a violation of the p-peace treaty."

"I assure you there is no need," Xander replies formally, "Leo already explained the situation to me – including the fact that you are the reason why he still lives. I merely wished to thank you, not as the King of Nohr, but as Leo's older brother for saving his life."

"Y-your Majesty, I..." Sakura wonders if he would be so willing to show her such gratitude if he had seen for himself how she had faltered. Whatever she feels towards Xander and his country, Sakura knows what's it's like to lose family and she still believes no one, may they be from Hoshido or Nohr deserves to go through that. "I was... only doing my job," she decides at last, somewhat lamely she has to admit.

"There is no shame in saving lives," Xander's smile appears strained. Perhaps there's more behind the smile that does not reach his eyes the way Leo's did, but she does not expect him to share them with her. "I truly regret my siblings and I were unable to do the same for your brothers."

Why bother. Regret won't bring them back. Sakura is past the stage of lashing out, but it doesn't mean she isn't still angry or hurt. She hides it before Xander though and murmurs her thanks for his sympathies, wondering when she will be able to talk about Ryoma and Takumi without reopening a wound when she does.

There is not much to say afterwards. Any official business they had to discuss regarding the relationship between Hoshido and Nohr will have to wait until after the celebrations are over. Xander is soon approached by a couturier and he returns to the celebration, leaving her alone by the tapestries once more.

"If I may, you don't look like you're enjoying yourself."

Sakura cannot help but be relieved to see another familiar face. "S-sorry... I-I hope I didn't offend," she mumbles, not wishing to be heard by anyone else. "A Nohrian ball like this... It's all just very strange to me..."

Leo chuckles. "I understand. I admit that I felt rather lost in my first few days in Hoshido. I still do at times, but..." His eyes narrow as he meets the curious gaze of a couple walking past, as though daring them to say something about his choice of company. "But I learned to adapt."

There is an unspoken "and so can you," but Sakura is not so sure. She's not as brave as he is. Even after indulging in a bit of childishness with Hana once they realized how soft the beds in Nohr are the night before, Sakura cannot help but be homesick already.

Looking around the ballroom as she tries to think of a different topic to talk about – to keep her distracted, she adds to herself – Sakura catches a glimpse of Corrin and Elise among the dancers. They were both grinning brightly, clearly enjoying themselves despite the pomposity of the affair. Seeing him smile like that, Sakura thinks she can understand why Corrin had chosen to stay despite knowing what sort of ruler King Garon was.

Leo follows her gaze. "Corrin's been meaning to have a word with you," he states what she already knows. "He thinks you're avoiding him."

"I-I know." Had it been any of his other siblings, Sakura wouldn't have dared to speak the truth. "A-and I sort of am." She's afraid of stirring Princess Camilla's wrath, saying anything that may insult King Xander, or hurting Elise's feelings by accident, but she is okay with being honest with Leo because she knows he won't hold her thoughts and feelings against her.

This would, however, be the first time she's opening up to him about something so... personal. "I don't... I don't know if I... if I..." Her throat hitches. "H-he's my brother a-and he's just w-worried, r-right? But I..."

Oh no, Sakura realizes as a tear rolls down her cheek. Not here. She can't start crying here.

Thankfully, Leo saves her from making a scene by quickly ushering her out onto an empty balcony. Sakura shivers first from the change in temperature, before breaking down into sobs. She is so confused. She should be drawing a line dividing Hoshido and Nohr, but how can she when she can't stop herself from sympathizing with her former enemies?

Leo's body is tense and awkward, but his hands on her shoulders keeps her steady. He doesn't try to hold her any more closely, but he doesn't leave her alone either, just staying silent until she is done.

"Feeling better?"

She takes a step back from him and nods, though not without a hiccup. Leo lets his arms drop to his sides and he averts his eyes.

"...Leo? There you are, thought I saw you and–"

It is as though he had somehow been summoned by her thoughts of him. Corrin pokes his head outside first, but when he sees the tell-tale signs of crying on her face, he leaves the festivities altogether, browed furrowed in concern. "Sakura? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Sakura hides behind the draping sleeves of her kimono and aggressively wipes her tears away. She doesn't want pity from anyone, especially not him.

Leo sighs. "Please excuse us for a moment, Princess." He takes Corrin by the arm and drags him back inside the ballroom, leaving her alone in the chilly Nohrian night. Her makeup already ruined, Sakura takes the opportunity to rubs the rest of it off, finding the crisp air against her skin refreshing after letting her tears fall.

She could still hear the subdued voices of Leo and Corrin just barely inside. Curious – and agitated because they were fighting because of her – Sakura moves closer to better depicture their words, feeling guilty for eavesdropping. Neither prince of Nohr notices her as they continue to angrily whisper to each other.

"...I don't think it's wise for you to see her right now."

"Why not? She's my sister! If she's upset, shouldn't I be trying to make her feel better?"

"I'm not saying you shouldn't, but you going out there would not be of any help to her. I daresay you might actually make her feel worse."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Do I really have to tell you? Ought I remind you that you turned your back on her for us, invaded her country on Father's orders, indirectly killed both her brothers, all while giving her no explanation except that 'it was for the best'?"

"But–"

"Corrin, I know you did what you thought was best for everyone in a difficult situation, but I don't think it makes much of a difference to her at this point. Are you so still so naïve to think that she would forgive and forget all you did so easily?"

"I... I had no idea. She seemed happy enough when I spoke with her after Hinoka was coronated..."

"Because she still loves you, I'm sure," Leo's voice becomes softer for a moment before returning to its usual sharpness. "But that is not an invitation for you to come and go from her life at your convince. If you care for that girl as much as you say you do, leave her alone. Let her come to you when she is ready to try being siblings with you again."

"Leo..." Corrin trails off in his rebuttal, unable to deny the finality of his younger brother's words.

Sakura hastily backs away when Leo steps back out on the balcony. He didn't seem all that surprised to see her. "You heard." It isn't a question.

"S-Sorry," she says. "I didn't mean to be..."

"Don't," Leo interrupts. "Have I misspoken?"

She shakes her head, not sure if her ambivalent feelings for Corrin counts against anything he said. "I'm s-sorry... I didn't mean to cause trouble between the two of you."

"Corrin knows his choices have consequences, but he lets his optimism blind him from time to time. He's not the type to hold a grudge if you needed time."

"S-still... th-thank you..."

"Of course."

Fidgeting with her stained sleeves, Sakura reflects on how this isn't the first time she finds herself reevaluating her impression of Prince Leo. Even now, she can't help but find his willingness to stand up for her both unexpected and touching. "I don't... I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but why? Corrin is your brother and I'm just..." – an ally of convenience – "so I don't understand..."

"Because..." For once, Leo seems to be genuinely at a loss for words as he runs his free hand though his hair. "Because I won't deny the things you heard me say to Corrin also applies to myself. In that light, perhaps I have no right to say this, but after seeing your kindness and determination first hand, I have grown to... care for you."

"I..." Sakura swallows another lump in her throat. "I'm not as kind as you think," She doesn't want him to build her up like she is an all-forgiving saint. "When you were attacked, I hesitated because a part of me wanted you to die. I didn't care about the consequences. Sure, I was still hurt and I blamed Nohr for my brothers dying, but it went against everything I stood for... I was weak."

"Except I've seen how grief and loss can turn a good man into a monster, Princess Sakura," Leo counters, his voice almost gentle. "The fact that you still have it in you to be kind to the very people who hurt you... I think you are stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Sakura shakes her head. "I don't... I believe you are telling the truth, but I don't know if I can believe that. I look up to you a lot, Prince Leo. You're so good at everything and you taught me so much, but..."

"But I only became a mage because I didn't want to walk in Xander's shadow," he states, "I get terribly jealous when Camilla dotes on Corrin more than me, I can be a bit of a jerk, as Elise so bluntly puts it, and... you can call me Leo when it's... just us."

Sakura blushes. "Isn't that a bit informal?"

"Please don't feel pressured to do so," Leo replies, "But you did save my life once. I think you've earned the right."

She appreciates the sentiment and repeats his name a few in her head, with and without his titles. "L-Leo..." It still feels a bit strange, but she isn't bothered by it much. Despite her attempts to keep him at arm's length, she has come to care about him too and she is happy to know it is mutual.

"I-if I may ask, w-who were you referring to earlier?" His invitation to call him by his name gave her the courage to ask him a personal question for the first time because she does want to understand him better. "When you said how grief and loss can turn a man into a monster? Was... was he someone you knew?"

He is quiet at first, making Sakura wonder if she had stepped too far over the line too soon. "I won't pretend I know what you were – what you are going through in its entirety," Leo says, voice dry, "But... you may know my father as a tyrant and conqueror, but I still remember how he used to pat my head or lifted me up onto his shoulders. I would have liked to see that Father again before... he died."

King Garon? She does have to admit Leo is right that she has trouble imagining him as a loving father, but she refrains from saying so while he is so lost in memories of better times.

"Leo..." Sakura never knew her father, didn't know either of her birth parents actually. Her birth mother Ikona died giving birth to her and she doesn't have any memories of her father, but everyone always hold her how while they didn't love each other, they had no shortage of it for her siblings. She doesn't know which is worse – never meeting a father, but knowing without uncertainty that he was a good man or having one, but unable to accept when he no longer was.

Hearing the sympathy in her voice, he looks away, a hand covering his mouth. "I... I apologize. I don't know what came over me then," he muttered. "It's... not the same after all is it? Just forget everything I said. My feelings... you don't need to concern yourself with them."

It only takes a second for her to deny him. "No."

"Princess Sakura?"

"Sakura," she corrects. If he is giving her permission to refer to him without titles, she should do the same. "I-I should be apologizing for thinking you didn't suffer from the war despite winning. R-regardless of what kind of p-person he was, h-he was still your father. I-it doesn't make your loss lesser than mine."

"This is the sort of foolish generosity that may be your undoing one day, Sakura," Leo reiterates flatly. "I don't understand how you can be so kind to me after everything that's happened. Had Corrin chosen differently and Xander or my sisters died because of it, I wouldn't... I can't say I would have said the same in regards for your loss of the late Queen Mikoto."

"I-I don't know about that, Leo," Sakura says, shaking her head. "Y-you had no reason to, b-but you still s-spoke up for me and tried to make me feel better. I-I think... you're a very kind person too. M-maybe not foolishly l-like me, but still very kind."

"D-don't go saying things like that out loud!" He really did look quite embarrassed just now. Sakura can't completely hold back her giggles when she lets a smile slip past her restraint.

"S-so I guess... I guess... whatever the circumstances Leo, I'm glad I had the chance to meet you."

"As am I, Sakura," Leo agrees after a moment's pause. "As am I."

The music from the ballroom drifts out to the balcony. The stringed instruments of Nohr are so different from the ones in Hoshido, but Sakura finds the sounds they create lovely all the same.

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AN: Corrin originally wasn't going to appear in this fic at all outside of being mentioned here and there, but after I posted the first chapter, I decided that he is an issue that needs to be addressed, even if its not necessarily resolved.

Now, I know Conquest!Corrin is a highly controversial figure and the last thing I want is to get into arguments with people who may disagree with my view of him. My choice to make him rather Innocently Insensitive towards his Hoshidan family, post-Conquest comes mostly from a line in the endgame after Hinoka and Sakura leaves: "I'm truly blessed to have so many wonderful siblings in my life. And now I can spend as much time as I want with all of them!"

He's got to be either pretty self-centered or didn't grow out of his naivete as much as the game thinks he did to assume everything is fine and dandy after the war and the Hoshido sisters would not only bare no resentment against him, but also that they would bend over backwards to accommodate him despite the fact that, among other things, Ryoma and Takumi died as a result of his actions. All things considered, I opted for the latter interpretation. Corrin is not being intentionally cruel or selfish here, but his sheltered upbringing surrounded by people who love him (his siblings) or whose job is to take care of him (the servants) made him a little out of touch with people as it it did with the outside world.

Edit: 9/17/2016