Author's Note: I do not own the canon characters of Kaleido Star though I do own, Kaori, Adrian, Stefan and Kate (Hopefully more to come!)
Chapter 1: An Amazing Beginning
A little girl with long black hair and crimson eyes sits in the audience with her mother and father on either side. A grin graces her face as she watches the stage. Aladdin is the production. And the star? Princess Jasmine of course. The little girl giggles with astonished delight as Jasmine floats upwards performing a series of spiraling flips, the red and gold of her costume sizzling. "She's like a fire..." the girl murmurs aloud as Jasmine twirls in a manner similar to the Diabolo she had once mastered. And indeed Rosetta Passel was.
Eleven Years later...
"Look at him go.." Rosetta sighed as she sat back in her seat. Adrien Oswald flipped from bar to bar effortlessly. It was mind boggling really. He was just like his father. "There's nothing that I could teach him, Sora." A glowing Sora Nagenio smiled wistfully watching her son.
"He's just like Leon used to be. I can't seem to make him understand..that it's the audience he's performing for. Not anything else."
"Ahh...so he is a bit cocky." Rosetta said as if confirming a thought. Sora chuckled at this and glanced at her friend. In her mid twenties, Rosetta was stunning. But she had been waiting for a successor a long, long time. Maybe her Adrien would become just that.
"He needs to be surprised I think." Rosetta caught Soras' chestnut gaze and raised an eyebrow.
"Surprised?" Sora nodded and looked up to her son once more.
"Surprised. He needs something–or someone to push him. Off the edge, on the edge..I'm not really sure where..but he needs a good shoving."
"Like you gave Leon?" Rosetta asked innocently. Sora turned bright red and scratched her head. "Well yes...but not exactly."
"Ohhh.. So he's still mommys' little boy..even at sixteen?" Sora nodded, a hint of a smile crossing her lips.
"I wonder what Leon would think at Adrien finding a lady friend. He'd probably think it's about time!"
"The unattainable type eh?"
"You don't know the half of it. Goodness how those girls cry...but..enough about Adrien..how have you been?" Rosetta took that opportunity to yawn.
"She's been working hard." came a voice. Sora turned and was pleasantly surprised to find Marion sporting a white sundress.
"Happy Birthday, Marion!" Sora exclaimed as she rose to embrace her.
"I'll say." Marion sighed. Sora rose an eyebrow and to explain Marion rose her left hand.
"Omigosh." sputtered Sora, returning her old antics. "He proposed?" Marion beamed, her smile spreading from ear to ear.
"He did. I still can't believe it."
"Well believe it." Rosetta laughed. "Congratulations."
"Well I figured that I've had my time to shine on the stage." she murmured wistfully staring at the stage. "It's about time I settle down..though I don't think I could ever really abandon this place." Rosetta heaved a sigh of relief.
"That takes a load off. I was worried you would never come back after your honeymoon."
"Don't jump to conclusions. I just might not." Marion teased. The three women laughed together, catching up on old times until Adrien flipped down from the trapeze and graced them with his presence.
"The auditions are going to start soon. Rosetta, Marion, we should probably get going." Turning to his mother his face softened. "I'll see you later, okay mom?" Sora merely nodded, a motherly smile in her eyes.
Ken Robbins watched his daughter as she jumped around striking comedic posses.
"Oh Kate.." he sighed, laughter in his eyes.
"Mama!" cried the ten year old. Anna smiled as she passed through the curtain.
"Having fun, honey?" Kate giggled, nodding her head. "You're not jumping around too much are you?" Kate shook her head, proud that she had obeyed her mother. "Good girl!" Anna shouted softly as she planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Now keep you're end of the bargain, Mama." with nothing more than an "Mmm?" Anna's face contorted into the funniest mask of confusion he had ever seen. He and Kate laughed outright, until Kate spotted Sora.
"Aunty Sora!" she shrieked. Anna let her go and Kate rushed to Sora jumping up to squeeze her.
"Katie! How are you!"
"I'm good!" Kate responded emphatically. Ken blew a kiss to Anna and Kate and waved in friendly to greeting to Sora before he disappeared behind the curtain.
"Kalos has him working day and night now." Anna sighed, running her fingers through her longish purple hair.
"I'll bet." Sora agreed quietly as she stroked Kates' blonde hair. "If he's going to take Kalos' place as head manager and partner up with Yuri, it's to be expected." Anna laughed.
"Since when were you the rational one?" Sora considered that question, stroking her chin.
"Since Adrien, I suppose." Anna smiled warmly, gazing upon the little girl that Sora held.
"Yeah. The same goes for me and this little one." she said as she mussed up Kates' hair. Anna glanced up at Sora.
"Something wrong?"
"Hmm? Far from it!" Sora said in protest. "It's just..today's the auditions and...I feel like something special is going to happen. I'm not quite sure what..but I'm sure of it." Annas' gaze became more like that of an awestruck child. "A new star will be born today."
"Kaori Akibara." Adrien called out.
"Yes!" exclaimed a girl in the back. She rose quickly her long black ponytail bobbing as she did so. She was excited, Rosetta could tell. As she made her way up, with a wide grin, she decided to try somersaulting up and ended up on her bottom. The entire room roared with laughter and the girl sheepishly smiled, rubbing the back of her head. Rosettas' heart warmed a bit as she laughed. This girl was already entertaining. The surrounding performers, realizing that the girl was clowning around, laughed with her rather than at her, though they themselves could not say why. The only one who remained silent was Adrien.
"Eh heh...sorry about that.." she whispered. Adriens' face remained deadpan as his steely cerulean eyes froze her where she stood. "You will perform the flaming diabolo maneuver on the trapeze." Adrien responded mechanically, referring to Rosettas' famous maneuver in the Aladdin production. The girl was suddenly nervous glancing at Rosetta and then Adrien. The room hushed, except for the murmurings of those surprised.
"That's impossible."
"Why would he make her do that?"
"No one else had to...
"Will you perform or will you go home, the choice is yours Miss. Kaori." Rosetta had half the mind to smack Adrien across the head, but when she saw the fire flicker in Kaoris' eyes she held back. This might be interesting.
"So you're asking me to perform the legendary flaming Diabolo, without any preparation, without even asking if I've seen the maneuver, right now?" Adrien raised an eyebrow, a not so kind smile crossing his lips.
"Is there a problem?" Kaori held his chilly gaze.
"I'll do it." A gasp swept across the room as Kaori walked right past a dumbstruck Adrien to the trapeze. She climbed up the ladder, shaking a little and once at the top she seemed to forget everything she knew. I'll do it. She thought bitterly. Closing her eyes, she recalled that day. The last time she had been with either of her parents. Before Mama had gone to Paris; before papa back to Nigeria. Rosetta still performed and the show was Aladdin. She was Jasmine and was stealing the show. You're Jasmine now. She thought to herself. You are that ethereal flame. And without another thought she ran forward, off the platform and into the air.
Rosetta watched terrified as the girl jumped off the landing. Her eyes are closed! She'll never reach that bar! And Kaori did miss. Opening her eyes, Kaori flipped the lower half of her body backwards and caught the bar, setting it into a swinging motion. Comfortably swinging, she flipped off the bar and caught it in her hands, changing her position. And without hesitation she spun to the next bar. Rosettas' jaw dropped as she watched Kaori. And she kept wondering; How is she going to get airborn? Her eyes refused to budge as Kaori spun and flipped and seemed to sparkle. Like a spit fire..not quite burst into flame. She watched as Kaori used the arch of one bar to shoot her self upwards. Her movements from then on were as wild and unpredictable as a May's demon spiral. Like a spark, she kept flickering around, not blazing but flashing. It was a different sort of maneuver, Rosetta realized impressed. This girl has managed to take my move and make it her own..though she does need to make that flip a little tighter...and that twist could stand to be a bit snappier. Without warning of any kind, Kaori plummeted, feet first to the net below and flipped off to the ground before Adrien. She landed with a bow, much to Rosettas' amusement and she watched as Adrien tried to quickly collect his thoughts.
"Alright then, Miss. Kaori. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." he maundered, trying to sound as professional as possible. Rosetta could already tell that Adrien hated her.
"You mean I passed?" Kaori exclaimed.
"Well judging from Ms. Rosettas' face, you did a decent enough job to pass, for now." The threat in his voice was obvious but Kaori was oblivious as she bounced and hugged him tightly.
"Ohhh Thank you!" she shrieked. Then she proceeded to bounce away. Rosetta followed Kaori with her eyes. Maybe she could find out from Sara what her dorm assignment was to be.
The lunch room was already buzzing with news of the auditions and the daring "Miss. Kaori."
"She was pretty good." Rosetta answered honestly as those who surrounded her bombarded her with questions.
"But still an amateur." came a clear voice. The entire room hushed as Adrien made his entrance. His now glacier eyes scanned the room and not finding what he was looking for he sat down beside Rosetta.
"Didn't find her?" she asked, eyes closed in nonchalance as she pulled her spoon from between her lips. His gaze quickly flicked to her face.
"I don't know what you mean."
"I bet you can't wait to let her have a piece of your mind. To let her know just how much you dislike her." He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.
"Perhaps."
"She was awfully cute too wasn't she?" Rosetta teased. Adrien raised an eyebrow.
"You know I don't pay attention to such things. I hardly remember what she looks like now."
"True..True..and isn't it interesting how she seemed to spark, even though she was wearing blue?" She asked in praise of Kaori, clearly comparing her skills to his own.
"She was wearing red." Adrien defended snappily. Then with a blink he realized his blunder as Rosetta faced him with a grin.
"I was only teasing, Adrien." she said dryly, "No need to be..jumpy."
"Are you suggesting that I feel threatened by that little..girl?" Adrien knew Rosetta well enough to know that was exactly what she was suggesting. Rosetta, however, said nothing and returned to eating her stew, opting to change the subject. The change was welcome and in what seemed minutes a couple of hours had passed. Rosetta looked around a tad perplexed. Kaori hadn't come in for dinner yet and the kitchen closed in an hour. As if to answer her thoughts, a girl backed out of the kitchen front door, tray in hand. Her back to the rest of the room she placed the tray down and stretched a little. She performed a series of flips, eyes closed, and nodded herself as she picked up the tray again.
"I still need to be a little fas– her words were cut off by the sight before her. The entire cafeteria was full, contrary to her prior belief and had fallen deathly silent as she did her little maneuver. Kaori gulped a little and laughed hesitantly. "I thought that the cafeteria would be empty by now..." The entire room erupted in laughter, save Adrien and Rosetta. Kaori responded with a sheepish smile, a flush rising in her cheeks. Rosetta put a finger to her chin. Where had Kaori been this entire time? And what was with the impromptu practice?
"Only an amateur would show off so blatantly and then cover it up so badly." Adrien said loudly. Kaori blinked and caught his gaze, as if seeing him for the first time. There was confusion in her eyes, and something like hurt, but not quite. Pleased, a smile reached his lips. Standing he turned in his tray and swept past her out of the room. The cafeteria had grown silent once again. Rosetta rolled her eyes. It was like Sora and Leon all over again. Except, she realized as she watched Kaori, that this girl was yet to prove her worth to herself. Kaori, shaking a little and looking down at her food, suddenly wasn't so hungry anymore. She dropped her tray on a nearby counter and fled. Rosetta rose as did Marion who sat a little ways off. The two made eye contact and left the room together.
Kaori was nowhere to be found. Marion, as her dorm advisor, was worried, and Rosetta had to admit, so was she. They entered the auditorium and stopped short. There she was, on the trapeze..had she been hiding when we last came in? The two sat slowly, watching her as she floated only to flick her body about in a twist, listless and without direction. Something like pity tugged at Rosetta as she watched Kaori. She spiraled, flipped and jumped, desperately. Striving, pushing, and getting no where. Carelessly she spiraled through the air and reached out for a bar, a bar that wasn't there. With her heart in her throat, Rosetta watched as Kaori plummeted to the net far below with a loud grunt. In the silence that followed the girl let out a little wail.
"Why, Why–damnit why?" she hissed. Rosetta furrowed her brow as Kaoris' tears spilled over. She knew very well the place that Kaori was in now. It had been the same way with her when she had first tired to learn the trapeze. Rosetta watched Kaori shudder and retracted that statement. At least I had diabolo...she only has the stage. And she isn't trying to learn..she blindly throwing herself against a wall, struggling to better herself; but she has no idea how. She doesn't have a Sora or a May like I did. Her thoughts froze as she heard a voice singing. Realizing it was Kaori she leaned in, interested.
You are like the fast wind
That sweeps across the surface of the ocean
and all the dreams you have are always taken care of
by infinite rays of the sun
And now as I see you
You're back is turned to me but you are reaching
Pointing towards the future
both your wings are broken
so why do you hide your pain?
Softly let me wipe away your tears
and Softly let me hold you in my arms and
Softly let me comfort you
because I want to see you in your glory
I'll give you, I'll give you
If you choose to lay your head down
then the dreams that you dream will live on
I'll give you. I'll give you
If you have a heart that's true now then your love will return back to you
I'll give you my love Lullaby (Magic Knight Rayearth theme)
"Kaa-san." she sighed. "You were right." Marion furrowed her brow and stood.
"You there." she called. Kaori quickly blinked her tears away, an art– Rosetta was sure– she was an expert at, and turned her head with a smile.
"Oh! Marion, hello there!" Marion frowned a little.
"Don't hello there me! Get down here!" Kaori, pretending to be confused scratched the back of her head. Soon enough, though, it became apparent that she wasn't fooling anyone. So, reluctantly, she slid off the net and approached the two women.
"Yes..?" she mumbled like a forlorn child.
"Either shape up or ship out, Kaori, what exactly was that horrid performance you just gave?" Kaori blinked.
"Wha–
"You heard me. Hor-rid per-for-man-ce. " she said as if spelling it out. Kaori opened her mouth to speak but Marion continued as if she hadn't seen. "That wasn't even worth being called a practice for the level of skill I expected from you." Rosetta smiled secretly despite herself. Marion was every bit the diva Layla had been–albeit slightly more adorable. Kaori nodded, a sad smile coming to her lips.
"I know–
"Now don't give me that! I won't have you feeling sorry for yourself–not on this stage. We here–
"What Marion means to say is," began Rosetta, interrupting for Kaori's sake, "banging your head against a wall is not going to strengthen you any." a pregnant pause ensued and Rosetta continued once again. "Tell me, Kaori, what is your dream?" Kaori stood there and pulled out the hair tie that held her ponytail. Her black hair fell to the small of her back, the intensity of color reminding her very much of Adrien's longish silver hair. With a shiver she held her arms together and her eyes took on a dreamy quality.
"I want the kind of applause that'll make my whole body tremble. That'll send pins and needles up my spine. I want the audience to be so overjoyed that they're brought to tears...I want..I couldn't tell you in words..." she sighed. "But..I want a connection...as if we're all being changed simultaneously by the performance. I– she stopped short, frustrated her words weren't coming out as eloquently as she had hoped. "Overwhelming, Beautiful and heart come to mind when I think of my dream...but that's about as clear as I can get with out rambling." she chuckled. Rosetta regarded the girl seriously, a warm feeling she had long forgotten resurfacing. This was the feeling–the one from first time she had seen Sora perform. So then why was it that she didn't get that feeling from watching Kaori perform and yet she got it by simply hearing her speak? Kaori blushed and backed away from the two. "I guess that sounds really corny...and kind of weird, right?" Her laughter was uneasy and Rosetta realized she had fallen silent.
"You want to be a true Kaleido Star." she breathed. Marion glanced at Rosetta and then at Kaori, the full impact of what had just been said settling in. And Kaori's eyes widened as her dreams landed before her and took tangible form. She had a clear dream now.
"I...I want to be a true Kaleido Star..."
Marion smiled. "Now say it with more feeling!"
"I..I want to be a Kaleido Star!"
"Louder!"
"I–I want to be a Kaleido Star!"
"With more confidence."
"I want to be a Kaleido Sta–No..." The enthusiasm was cut off as Marion regarded Kaori confused. "No..I'm going to be a true Kaleido Star!" Marion laughed delighted and clapped her hands together. Rosetta sat back in her seat, unsure of what she had just done. Whatever it was, fate was in motion and she no longer had any control. But atleast... she thought as she regarded the two, I can join them for the ride.
"Now I want you to get up on that trapeze and, shouting at the top of your lungs, perform for me!" Determined Kaori sprinted to the ladder and shimmied up it as quickly as she could.
"I'M." she began once she reached the top, "GOING." she said once she leaped off, "TO BE." she grunted as she caught the bar, "A KALEIDO STAR!"
"That's the spirit!" Marion cried up at her. A swell of pride overcame Rosetta as she watched Kaori take command of that trapeze. Her movements ranged from graceful to wild–but all were beautiful and all filled her with excitement, as if she couldn't wait to see what Kaori would do next.
"Well I must say this is a pleasant surprise." Kaori jolted to a stop mid swing and glanced down at the young man that had spoken.
"Stefan!" she shrieked. Without a second thought she dropped to the net, ignored the breath being knocked out of her, and bounded off the net onto Stefan Killian. He caught her with a laugh and spun her around wondering all the while why he was surprised. This was Kaori after all. Her greetings were always energetic.
"Missed you in Japan."came his muffled greeting into her hair. Her arms remained around his neck as she sighed, a huge burden lifted.
"Took your advice.."
"Does that make it my fault?" he asked in amused innocence. She nodded but said nothing. Marion gave Rosetta a look
"Alright love birds!" she called loudly. "Sorry to interrupt but we have a very important practice going on here!" Kaori sprung off Stefan, her face crimson but annoyed.
"ARE YOU JOKING?" Marion tilted her head; Rosetta lifted an eye brow.
"Uh.." Marion began for one brief, ungraceful, moment.
"Stefan is my BEST friend. We do not think of each other in that way AT all!" Stefan shrugged, the spitting image of his mother in his nonchalance. His emerald eyes glimmered as he scratched as his well groomed blonde hair.
"Those where the terms we became friends under." he chuckled.
"You speak of it as if there were a contract." Marion laughed uneasily. Kaori blinked and held out a sheet of paper.
"I always keep this on me...
"ANYWAY!" Marion interrupted. "Back to training with you!" Rosetta watched the group, bitting her lip. Is this how you felt Kalos? Watching Sora train me?
"Get up there, Kaori. I want the heart that you speak with and the heart you perform with to become one. Can you do that?" she asked seriously a challenge in her voice. Kaori's eyes widened as she exhaled sharply.
"The heart that I speak with...and the heart I perform with..?" she glanced quickly at Marion for help until Rosetta snapped at her.
"No one is going to help you with this! This is something you have to commit to doing on your own! Now are you in or are you out?" Kaori's gulp echoed in the silence.
"I'll–I'll do my best!"
"That's not an answer!" Kaori snapped her eyes shut, searching for the right answer.
"God, girl! This isn't some test! Will you or will you not do all it takes to become a Kaleido Star, yes or no? And don't' give me your best because that's not enough!" Marion took hold of Rosetta's arm to calm her, an attempt that was ignored.
"I-I.." shaking her head, Kaori swallowed hard and regarded Rosetta closely. This was Rosetta Passel, the legendary Flame of the Kaleido stage. A true Kaleido star. And before her? Sora Naegino, the Angel. Could she be so presumptuous? Could she shatter the glass ceiling that had held her down for so long and fly into this pantheon that was just beginning to manifest?
"I'll do it." Rosetta's heart beat picked up a few RPM's. Having already given up on the girl she had turned to leave.
"What did you–
"I'm not saying so because I know I'll succeed. Where would the fun in that be?"
"Oh Kaori..." sighed Marion.
"I'm saying so because I don't know. My path is as hidden from you as yours or even Mrs. Sora's must have been. It is not my place now to trifle with gods...but I can promise you this..." Rosetta turned to face the young girl in full, hanging on her every word.
"The title of Kaleido star is at the end of that path, that much is clear. And no matter what I encounter on that bleary path I will reach that point no matter what...even if it kills me." Rosetta let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding in. "You must promise me one thing though..Miss. Passel."
"Yes...?" she replied hesitantly.
"If I ever stray beyond the point of return...you must promise to end me. Crush me, whatever it takes." Rosetta nodded gravely.
"Now all you have to do is make sure I never have to do that." she replied with a relieved smile.
Stefan had excused himself before hand and lay in wait against a wall in the shadows.
Be careful, Kaori... Stefan thought with a slight crinkling of his forehead, What Rosetta sees as your dream and what you see as your dream can be two very different things.
I'm not entirely sure I should continue this story (though I do enjoy writing it!) Please Review with your opinions! Thanks in advance.