The Cranes' Queen
Disclaimer: I don't own Kaleido Stage. The characters are owned by the creator of the story, Yoshimasa Hiraike, Junichi Sato and Reiko Yoshida, and to the publisher of the story, Gonzo Digimation Holding
Author's Note (AN): Dear friends, this is my first attempt at writing a Kaleido Star fanfiction. More chapters and probably a longer story will follow. This is just the first chapter. I wish you to enjoy this rather short chapter and hope you will visit again.
Chapter 1: The Angel's Act
Warmth encompassed his heart while he performed the Angel's Act with Sora, his cherished partner. His initial aversion that he had felt towards the redhead due to her imperfections and flaws had turned into something entirely different which vestiges he was yet not ready to investigate further for the inner, resiliently inside of him dwelling fear that it would only lead to more heartache and tears. He had to admit that he, Leon Oswald the infamous Grim Reaper, was scared, terrified of something other people would take joy from. He was indeed running away, trying his best to escape from the emotions that were blossoming throughout his whole being. His cold heart that he had kept wrapped in ice of hate and indifference as one of the positive emotions jumped every time his eyes landed on Sora.
Another feathery touch of his partner as she came close to him only to be hauled away for a different figure of the Angel's Act caused memories of him meeting Sora the first day flooded his mind, remembering the moment when he had left the stage telling Kalos, the owner of Kaleido Stage, that he is leaving the utility. Sora had tried to convince him against doing something like that, acknowledging her inappropriate skills by saying that her name is not strong enough to attract as many people as Leila had done with hers. Sora had then played the second part by herself and despite the fact that he could barely withstand her poor attempts at auditioning he could not avert his eyes from the Japanese girl.
Sora's return from her intricate figure enticed a response from Leon, their hands touching for a second before Sora became airborne again. Sora ascended higher and higher, defying physical rules of gravity while Leon had to admit at least to himself that he indeed harboured deep feelings for the petite girl. The initial distaste he had felt for her had dissipated in the past few weeks, and behind was left a man anew able to smile, trust, even love. She had pulled him out of his misery of being dead inside and had shown him the worth of life, true vivacity and not only the empty shell he had become ever since Sophie's tragic death. Her demise had been an accident that could be blamed on the stupidity of one young artist called Yuri Killian, but as Leon had learned from the blond haired artist, it had never been Yuri's intention to kill the girl. All he had wanted had been for Sophie to be late, miss hers and her brother's performance at the competition. It had never crossed Yuri's mind that she would run back and be hit by a car in the process of trying to make it in time, thus saving the situation and standing up to the hard work her brother had endured in preparation for that one fateful day, nor had he forgiven himself the cruelty of having not visited the dying girl in the hospital for the sake of wining the damn tournament. However, too much had been at stake back then for him and Layla. After having received the news, Leon had understood the situation, and even though not being able to completely forgive the blond guy, it was a start if nothing more, enabling Leon to accept his new partner Sora Naegino.
The Angel's Act ended, an echoing applause breaching the serene atmosphere that was created by Sora's performance. The correctness of his late sister's and Sora's words hit him like a ton of bricks, having seen himself the unification of the people's hearts through the flawlessly performed Angel's Act.
'Receive the greatest ovation with me, using the real Angel's Act.' Leon reminisced Sora's words as he stood there, hugging the shell-shocked girls, who was currently embarrassed as hell, to his broad chest. The previous confrontations experienced with his audience had always been anticipated with tension, awaiting the enemy, as he had used to call them, to strike. The standing ovations were far from what had considered while entering the stage today, comparing the old times to know could be seen as holding a match against the sun, so vast was the difference. Never again did he wish to leave a stage as he had been used to previously, feeling like he had just to suffer for the few minutes or the hour while auditing for the people. Today he had wished for the first time it would never end, that he could stay on the stage forever. Leon Oswald, a person who considered people his mortal enemy now wished to go back there and perform for the people time and time again, even going so far as not to realize that the performance was over and he should go off stage.