Fallen Phoenix

A/N: I just started watching this series on the Anime Network on Demand and I just fell in love with it! I have only watched the first 2 episodes so far, but I'll do what I can to make this fanfic work. It is SoraLayla, meaning...shoujo ai! Splee!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kaleido Star or any characters used.

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Sora looked down nervously at the crowd below her. Some of the people were cheering, and others - mostly the jealous girls, Sora observed - stayed silent, watching the pink haired girl critically. She gulped, blinking. "Thank you all for coming." Sora called to the crowd. Looking back down, she could clearly see Layla, arms folded across her chest as she stared back.

This is it, Sora. This is what you practiced for. The girl thought, clutching the bar tightly between her hands. The Golden Phoenix. Her future rested on this one routine. Would she stay, or would she go?

At this, she jumped. Just get it over with now. But do your best! Sora realized that she hadn't gathered enough momentum to successfully complete the Golden Phoenix. She hung above the et for a moment, before weakly letting go of the bar. "I'm sorry." She whispered as she fell. Her back hit the net, but she didn't care. She had no future of working at the Kaleido Stage. She would have to go back to Japan. "I'm sorry."

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"G-Goodbye..." Sora whispered weakly to her friends. Ken shook his head.

"I can't believe you're leaving already." The blonde boy murmured. "I'm going to miss you, Sora."

"I'm going to miss you too!" She wailed, wrapping her arms around him and crying into his shoulder. Ken patted her gently on the back.

"Don't feel bad, Sora. The Golden Phoenix is one of the most advanced moves..."

As Sora walked sadly from the Kaleido Stage, she heard a voice call her name. "Sora! Sora, wait up!" She turned, suprised. Layla?

"Come to rub it in my face, I suppose?" Sora inquired coldly. She felt her shoulders shake, and she choked back tears. "That you're a performer, and that my dream ends here? I don't even want to hear it, Layla. I just can't believe..." She turned from the blonde girl.

"No! Nothing like that!" Layla sounded suprised. "I just never got to say goodbye, Sora. And to tell you that you're a great performer. Don't give up yet." She placed a cold hand on the pink haired girl's shoulder. "Sora...I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're leaving now. And I needed to say that...I don't want you to leave!"

Here was Sora, a short 13 year old girl, trying to comfort the taller, older Layla. "No, Layla. You were right...The stage is no place for a girl like me. I belong home in Japan with my family."

Layla raised a tear stained face. "Only if you promise to write me every day, Sora."

Sora felt tears stinging her own eyes. "Every day." She made a cross motion over her chest with her hand. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

Sora was suprised to feel Layla kissing her. She was even more suprised to feel herself kissing back. Layla slipped an eager tounge into the younger girls mouth, claiming her first real kiss. Sora pulled away, hugging Layla tightly.

"Remember, Sora..." Layla whispered before Sora had to leave and catch her plane, "A fallen phoenix can always regain it's wings."

END

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A/N: Whatcha think? Read and review please!