I don't own Kaleido Star.

Chapter One

It was the last day of summer, and the sky was crying blood.

Sora groaned and pulled up her hood over her cherry hair as she dashed the final hundred yards to her house. The raindrops fell on her shoulders and head like little bullets, but she managed to cross the threshold without getting immediately soaked through. Scientists could tell her that it was safe, a completely harmless side effect from the usage of the new coal until they were blue in the face, she would still fear and mistrust it.

Red was not a color one associated with water.

"Sora? Is that you?" her aunt called from the kitchen. Sora took off her cloak and checked the apples before walking in the direction of the voice.

"I made it," she grinned and showed off her basket. "I got here before the storm started for real."

Her aunt tsked and shook her head. "You know you don't have to go as far as the opposite farm for this, Sora."

The girl shrugged. "We need the fresh fruit. And it's only three miles – I like the walk."

The older woman shook her head, but didn't argue any further and rested a hand on her belly, ripe with its third pregnancy. It had been a hard year on all of them – the deceptive weather had destroyed most of the crops, most of the workforce had been employed in the coal mine, and the king's council had raised the property taxes again, which had forced some of the minor land owners, them included, to sell.

She sighed. She knew better than to complain – if Sora was not afraid to walk three miles to and back from their neighbors to fetch some apples, it was ok. And it wasn't like they were desolate.

"Set the table," she said. "It's clear that your uncle won't be arriving today either."

Sora sat in Mr. Grively's study, trying to suppress the urge to bite her nails. The mill owner had been going through the papers for more than ten minutes now, without any other reaction other than a random grunt or sigh.

However, it was important that she maintained her cool. She had to appear calm, indifferent…

"Miss Naegino, I have to say, you have a way with numbers," he commented. "Your penmanship has improved greatly.

She straightened up immediately. "Thank you, sir," she said, before realizing that compliments to her penmanship were the last things she needed.

He nodded and turned back towards the papers, continuing to make random remarks about things he found interesting. Sora felt like she was on pins and needles. "How is your aunt doing?" he asked.

"Very well, sir."

"Her confinement would happen soon, I believe."

"It… there is still time, sir," Sora murmured, not entirely certain whether this was a question that had its place in polite conversation.

"There has been talk that this winter will be especially severe." He looked up from the papers and into her eyes in a way that was supposed to be meaningful. Instead, it looked slightly constipated. "Does she not consider it more prudent to take lodgings in town for the season?"

"I'm sure she has considered it, but it's not a decision that she can take alone."

"Hmm…" he pretended to think again. "Here's the problem, Miss Naegino – while the expected profits of this year's crop seem more than promising for your guardians' farm, the imported grain from the major cities this year will be quite large. Do you understand?"

She bowed her head. Of course she did – even if the price for transportation was no trifle, the access to grain, and therefore – to flour, would not be hindered. Mr. Grively had no reason to buy their crops for a higher price than usual.

The man leaned over the desk and gave her hand a fatherly pat. "I'm sorry, Sora. I have the highest respect for your guardians, and I wish for nothing better than to help them out of this ordeal. But you see, this is out of my hands." He made an elaborate gesture to illustrate. "The price is set by the crown, and unless special circumstances are presented, we cannot deviate. Perhaps…"

"Perhaps?" She looked up, hopeful. The mill owner had been around for as long as she could remember, a good friend of her uncle. If there was any way out of this mess, he would know it. But his face appeared grim as if he knew that the idea would not sit well with her.

"Sora, will you let me be honest with you?" She nodded warily. "Please keep in mind that this is merely a suggestion, but one I believe your guardians should seriously consider selling the farm."

She drew back as if he had slapped her. For once, decorum was the last thing on her mind and her mouth fell open. Sell the farm? Was that man with his wits?

Noticing her distress, Mr. Grively hurried to set his arguments out: "Hear me out. The last few years haven't been good to you. The crop has been bad, and your uncle's business ventures have not been successful. However, the prices on land in the region are growing. If you consider selling now, the family could settle quite nicely in town and leave something to the side. It is not the only way, but please consider it."

Sora could not look at him in the eye when she said, "My uncle is bound to succeed. His business has been having some hard times, but he knows what he's doing."

"I'm sure he does. However, at this moment, he is not doing you or your aunt any favors. He has not returned from his voyage, has he not?"

"We… we expect him to come anytime now."

"Of course, while your aunt expects to be confined any day now." There was a trace of bitterness in Grively's voice and Sora, in spite of her discomfort and mortification, looked up at him curiously. He looked paint. Almost… angry. But before she could analyze this, he spoke again. "His lack of consideration for his family is most unfair. If he had any sense, he would have put your interests before his own."

Sora wanted to say something, anything, but couldn't find any words in her uncle's defense. In her defense. But it was like he was submerging her in accusations, holding her down without letting her get a breath of air. She wanted to scream, to tell him to stop telling her these things. What did he expect of her? She was still young, a woman just out of childhood. How was she supposed to be qualified to take these decisions? Why did he think that she was in any way capable of dealing with something so important?

"I only say this because I think it is the best way, Sora," he said, gathering her papers up and handing them to her. "I'm sorry."

She was so carried away into her thoughts that she almost missed Ken calling her until the latter almost ran her down. "Ken!" she laughed when the boy threw his arms over her eyes.

"Right as always." He pulled away and a second later she saw his smiling blue eyes. "Why so gloomy, Sora?"

She smiled. "Gloomy? Is that how you greet a girl nowadays?"

"Is that how you greet your friends nowadays?" he retorted, pouting slightly.

Sora laughed and made a half-hearted swat at him. "You're the one who came charging at me like that."

"Only to see your reaction," he said as he started walking next to her. Without a word, he picked up her basket, already full of groceries, and started towards the road to her guardians' house.

Sora loved that – the friendship, the stability. For the last ten years, whatever serious memory she had had, Ken had been right there with her. She loved the fact that she could talk to him about whatever was on her mind. She loved that she could expect him to give her his honest opinion. It was, in her mind, the best thing that a girl could wish for – somebody who took her seriously.

So, like any other time, she told him – of her uncle's travels, of the crop problems, Grively's proposal.

"Can you believe it that he actually suggested we sell the farm, Ken? The farm! The land has been in the family for generations, even before the first Revolution! How could anyone even conceive this?" she went on for a while, until she realized that her friend had gone very silent. Turning towards him, she found him deep in thought. "Ken?"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was just… thinking." He laughed embarrassedly.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she teased.

He shrugged. "I was just wondering… what if he's right?"

Her smile fell off so fast as if he had ripped it off. "What are you saying?"

"Well, let's be realistic," he said. "It seems like the most profitable way."

"But it's the farm!" she gasped. How could he not see the importance of it.

"It's just land, Sora." He looked apologetic, though his words were not. "Whatever you do, it's merely dirt and a house. Is it not more important to be with your family rather than constantly worry about this small patch of Earth?"

"I… it is. But this isn't just earth. It's our home." Not to mention that she was certain that, whatever retailers said, their land was worth more than they offered for it. They'd been getting offers on and off for the last two years now, with some buyers more persistent than others. Call her naïve, but Sora wanted to keep their home where it was.

"Sora, what other choice is there?" Ken asked in his best exasperated voice.

She opened her mouth to answer him, but fell silent. The only answer that came to her mind was so ridiculous she was sure he would laugh at her.

Marriage. Of course, only she was yet of age, with her oldest cousin being only fourteen, but still, if she got a husband, he would help with the management of the farm, at least until her uncle got his feet underneath himself. But who would have her without a dowry? Sora was a very peculiar sort of beauty – with her plum colored hair and wide brown eyes, she was certainly attractive in spite of her modest clothes and negligent appearance. She had gathered looks from the opposite sex ever since she outgrew her girlish pigtails. But what good did only beauty do necessary – she could work on the farm, keep numbers and negotiate, read faster than any girl in town… but those were not qualities that men looked for. Nobody wanted a wife that could be smarter than them.

Growing up, she had entertained once or twice the idea that she and Ken could, perhaps, wed one day. But that was not possible – the Robins' were one of the first people to seriously exploit the coal mines in town when the railroad had been built. Ken's parents had made a small fortune, and expected him to marry appropriately. By that time, Sora had long ago come to terms with the fact that marrying Ken would be pretty much like marrying her own brother, but nevertheless, nothing lessened the sting.

Sighing, she looked down at her feet. "I know it's hard, Ken. But… it's just not right. My uncle…" she paused when she noticed a lone figure on the path. A man who appeared to be of considerable age was trying to climb up the path, but kept tripping over his two legs. Worried, she rushed forward, calling out to him, but was stopped dead in her tracks when he turned around… and recognized her.

"Sora? Sora!" He rushed forward, fell on his knees, grabbed her hands and started sobbing.

"Sir? Sir, are you alright?" she babbled, wondering how that lunatic had found her, before she noticed something familiar about his clothing. As he raised his eyes to hers, she gasped. "Uncle!"

Ken hurried to them, babbling confused welcomes and being generally useless as he tried to haul the man to his feet and carry Sora's groceries at the same time. Numb with shock, the girl went to help them, and after a while they managed to cross the porch of the farm. It wasn't until later, when they had taken the hysterical man to his wife, that Sora realized why she had had such a hard time recognizing her uncle at first.

His hair, usually a deep chestnut color, was now completely and totally white.

A/N - Rather hurried, but I hope to make this better. Thoughts?