Black Lion Nation General Kaoruko Hanayagi/Bond Story

*General of the Black Lion Nation. Broke away from the Sun Nation, and because of her overwhelming strength, ascended to her position in the blink of an eye. Has her own sense of justice.
- From "A Wartime of Farewells"*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Princess Kaoruko

 **Kaoruko:**Huff... I'm beat...

 **Claudine:**Oh, welcome back, Kaoruko.

 **Kaoruko:**Hello, Clau-han... I made it back...

 **Claudine:**Your family was visiting, right? Looks like it really tired you out.

 **Kaoruko:**You have no idea.

 **Kaoruko:**There was my grandma, mom, the students... They just kept pouring out of the bullet train...

 **Kaoruko:**Prattling on about how they wanted to see how I was doing, while in reality all they were interested in was sight-seeing in Tokyo!

 **Kaoruko:**I should have asked Futaba to come along...

 **Claudine:**You told her not to come, though. "I'm going to impress my grandma with how much I've matured," you said.

 **Kaoruko:**Y-Yes, I suppose I did.

 **Claudine:**So it was a pain in the neck?

 **Kaoruko:**A horrible one!

 **Kaoruko:**First Ginza, then Asakusa... They kept dragging me around like a tour guide, complaining about the prices, the cold weather... Ugh!

 **Claudine:**So they're just like you.

 **Kaoruko:**You be quiet! \*sigh\* I'm exhausted.

 **Claudine:**That was it?

 **Kaoruko:**Huh?

 **Claudine:**They dragged you around town and that was the end of the visit?

 **Claudine:**That's great, then. That means they weren't worried about you.

 **Kaoruko:**What?

 **Claudine:**They all came here to check up on you.

 **Claudine:**But in the end, they went back without grilling you about anything, so that means they were confident you were doing all right.

 **Claudine:**When my maman came to visit, she was driving me crazy asking if I'm eating well, if I'm not bullied at school, and all kinds of things.

 **Claudine:**I think your family decided to just have fun sight-seeing because they could see that you've grown.

 **Kaoruko:**Maybe... Well... If that's what it was, then it's okay.

 **Claudine:**Heh heh... You've had a tough day. Why don't you go and get Futaba to help you relax?

 **Claudine:**She's been very worried about you. "Will Kaoruko be okay without me?"

 **Kaoruko:**Hmph... Futaba worries too much.

 **Claudine:**Come on, go see her.

 **Kaoruko:**Oh, fine. I'll see you tomorrow, Clau-han.

 **Kaoruko:**Futaba-haaan! I'm baaack! Rub my feet for me, will you?

 **Claudine:**Heh heh... Some things never change about you, Kaoruko.

Making Roles

 **Kaoruko:**So this play focuses on the bonds between people torn apart by war. Karen-han, do you understand this?

 **Karen:**Um... Yeah!

 **Kaoruko:**Do you think that's good enough?

 **Karen:**But I said I get it!

 **Kaoruko:**Listen, I've got the main role for this play, and that makes me the troupe leader.

 **Kaoruko:**That's why besides practicing my own role, I have to make sure supporting actresses such as you do well, too.

 **Karen:**I'm taking it seriously, so don't worry about me!

 **Kaoruko:**Shall we go over the characters we'll be playing? I believe you'll find it very informative, Karen-han.

 **Karen:**Kaoruko-chan, are you even listening to me...?

 **Kaoruko:**I'll be playing the captain of the knights from the Black Lion Nation.

 **Kaoruko:**He defected from the Sun Nation, outraged by their corruption. He's a noble, righteous knight.

 **Kaoruko:**He and the knight played by Tendo-han have been friends since childhood, and grew up together.

 **Kaoruko:**But on the battlefield, they're enemies. It's such a tragic story!

 **Kaoruko:**I try to convince Tendo-han to defect to my side, but she's determined to stay.

 **Kaoruko:**And they finally meet face to face on the battlefield...

 **Futaba:**There you are, Kaoruko! Oh, poor Karen. So she was your next victim.

 **Karen:**Victim?

 **Futaba:**Kaoruko was just so overjoyed over landing the leading role that she got a little too overzealous. She's been going around lecturing everyone.

 **Futaba:**But we're not first year students any more. It's a waste of everyone's time.

 **Kaoruko:**How rude! I was doing this for Karen-han's sake, you know!

 **Futaba:**Yeah, yeah. We're all fine, so don't worry about us. Just focus on your role!

 **Kaoruko:**You sure?

 **Futaba:**Anyway, you promised Tendo you'd rehearse the scenes you have together. She's waiting for you in the practice room.

 **Kaoruko:**What, already? She's 14 minutes early! That's Tendo-han for you...

 **Kaoruko:**Karen-han, I'll finish explaining the characters to you later.

 **Futaba:**No, she doesn't need that! Don't mind her, Karen.

 **Karen:**Hahaha! See you later!

 **Kaoruko:**It's nice to play a person in a powerful position. This experience might come in handy at some point.

 **Kaoruko:**Futaba-han looks awfully happy practicing over there...

 **Kaoruko:**I need you to go scout out what's going on. Intelligence gathering is vital to strategy, after all.

 **Kaoruko:**As for your reward, you'll see what it is when you succeed. Now go. Good luck.