Chapter 2
The cast was preparing for the new production of "Beauty and the Beast." "Swan Lake" was only supposed to be played for a limited number of performances in celebration of their most popular show. The angel's maneuver still lifted the spirits of the audience and left them speechless every time. "Swan Lake" was only going to be performed for one more night and it was time to prepare for the next show.
Sora was cast as Belle and Leon as the beast, though it would be hard to make him look beastly or monstrous. May would be the witch who put the Prince under the curse, turning him into a beast until the rose withered. When the last petal fell he would die unless he could love somebody other than himself and be loved back.
As they were warming up Leon noticed that Billy was staring at Sora and for some reason he found it very irritating. He glared at Billy, who looked unaffected, which was unusual considering Leon's glares could very well cause the next ice age. The young man confidently sauntered up with a confident gleam in his eye.
"Sora," he started, the young starlet looked up.
"Oh, hi Billy." She had a surprised smile on her face. She stood up and asked, "Is there something I can help you with?"
Billy just smiled and said, "As a matter of fact there is," he said quickly glancing in Leon's direction. "I was wondering if you were going to Kalos's party tonight."
Kalos and Sarah were throwing an engagement party at the Grand Cape Hotel that night. Leon was getting annoyed with the blond who was interrupting their practice time, but mostly because of the look he was giving Sora. "Yes," She answered, "are you?"
"That's why I was asking." He answered. "I was wondering if you would like to go with me."
"Oh!" She yelped, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks, was she really blushing for him? Leon fumed. Billy actually had the audacity to keep his partner from practice over this? Be he wasn't sure what he was more mad about, Sora not practicing, or Billy pestering her. What was happening to him?
Sora on the other hand was taken complete by surprise and blushed because she was put on the spot. She and Billy had become pretty good friends in the short amount of time that he had worked at the Kaleido Stage but not close like May or Anna or Mia. She may even be pretty close to Leon, although he keeps to himself mostly. But she didn't see the look he was giving Billy.
"You see Billy, I…" but she didn't get to finish.
Leon snapped and stood up. He grabbed Sora by the elbow, interrupting her mid-sentence. Who knows, maybe he was just dreading the answer she might have been giving Billy.
"Sora, quit wasting time, we need to practice." Leon said in a harsh tone. Sora could tell that he was unhappy and it was probably her fault, but he still saved her from having to give Billy an answer, probably one that he didn't want.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly avoiding his eyes as he led her to the swings.
"Just don't waste too much time when we need to practice." He said in a softer tone.
What Sora didn't say was who she was hoping would ask her to the party.
"What about this one?" Sora asked, hoping that the dress would be adequate, because it was the last one she had. She looked to Fool in the flower print dress she was wearing. It made her look like an overdressed kindergartener.
"Still not right." The spirit stated. Sora gave an exasperated groan as she walked to the bathroom to take off the dress, she couldn't even change in her own room with the lecherous spirit there. She came to a disappointing realization; she had nothing else to wear. Just then there was a knock on the door.
"I'm coming!" She called.
May looked down at her and said, "Why aren't you dressed?" The Chinese acrobat was wearing a strapless scarlet dress made of silk with a black beaded flower on the hem, which stopped at mid-thigh. She wore black lace fingerless gloves. Her black hair was elegantly pulled into an up do showing her heart-shaped face.
Sora was looking rather sad in her shorts and T-shirt. "I don't have anything to wear!" She groaned.
"Come on." May said, dragging her by the hand to her apartment next door.
They arrived at the hotel about 30 minutes after the party started. The reception hall was full of Kalos and Sarah's friends and family, business partners and the like. It was nicely decorated and people were waltzing in the middle of the floor.
Layla and Yuri weren't able to attend; they were still on their own honeymoon. They had gotten married and honeymooned in the Caribbean and still hadn't returned, must be one hell of a honeymoon.
Sora's eyes scanned the crowd for familiar faces but instead of a face she saw a broad back. The lean muscles showed through his black silk dress-shirt. His silver hair was tied up in a ponytail and he was dress simply but he still would make Milan models jealous.
She walked up and tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned to see who was behind him and was frozen speechless. A young woman with purple hair, his partner, was standing there, stealing the eyes of the crowd.
Her black cocktail dress was fitted perfectly against her petit frame, the neckline dipping low; he fought not to let his eyes wander. The hem of the dress barely made past mid-thigh and was split up the side. Her hair was pinned up and a few stray curls fell. Her strappy sandals adding a few inches to her height… she looked divine. His eyes connected with hers. They stood silent.
"Sora!" Yelled a happy voice. Ken Robbins came to greet her. He was dressed in a simple black suit and tie. "Glad to see you made it!" Ken was one of Sora's best friends and probably her first friend since joining the stage. His blue eyes sparkled. Leon knew that Ken had had a crush in Sora in the beginning but his interests seemed to lie elsewhere at the moment.
"You look great, Ken." She smiled happily, as they chatted. She didn't notice Billy behind her.
"Would you care to dance?" He asked. Sora was momentarily stunned. He looked great in his suit and was offering her a hand, and it was rude to refuse.
"Okay." She answered and he led her to the floor. Leon just watched after them, silently fuming. Again he was getting mad for some unknown reason.
"You look great tonight," Billy said.
"Oh thank you, Billy." She answered, turning her face to him. She couldn't keep her eyes off of a particular face in the crowd. She saw her partner look back with a gleam in his eye. What is he thinking? She wondered, he almost looked mad for a moment.
She stepped on Billy's foot.
"I'm so sorry!" She was embarrassed by her lack of attention, the star of the Kaleido Stage unaware of her movements? That was strange.
"Its no problem," he chuckled like it was only natural for women to turn into total klutzes in his presence, who knows, they might for he certainly had his looks working in his favor. He opened his mouth to say something.
"May I cut in?" Asked a smooth deep voice that came from a different set of lips. Sora tuned to see Leon standing behind her, was he really asking her to dance? She looked from Billy to Leon, unsure of how to answer. "Um, okay." She thanked Billy for the dance and turned to Leon.
He put one strong hand firmly, yet gently, at her waist and took her hand in his other. He began to lead her in a waltz. She looked down at her feet to make sure she didn't make the same mistake she did with Billy.
A certain familiar shade of red caught her attention. To her surprise it was May. She didn't seem to be one to waltz but what caught Sora more by surprise what the person May was dancing with.
I didn't know Ken and May were so close, she thought. They were standing pretty close together. She couldn't help but stare.
"It is rude not to look at your partner as you dance, Miss Naegino." Leon stated, drawing her eyes to his face. "Allow me to lead."
"I didn't know you danced Leon." She confessed, "You don't look much like the type who enjoys ballroom dancing."
"I used to dance as a child." He revealed. "My aunt owned a school for ballroom dance." Although he had mostly just asked her to dance to get her away from Billy, he was enjoying himself. Their bodies were close together now. The music slowly changed to a hug-and-sway dance. Leon and Sora unconsciously moved closer.
Sora, suddenly conscious of how close they were, blushed. Leon's eyes were locked onto hers. This only deepened her blush and she forced herself to look away.
The Leon said something that neither of them expected. "You look amazing tonight." Though amazing didn't quite cover what he thought. He was just as much in shock by his words as the one they were directed at. There was a small smile placed on his face, though nobody saw it, and they danced.
Sora stood in her dressing room looking at yet another bouquet of roses. She still wondered who sent them, was it Leon? But he didn't seem the type to send flowers. Maybe it was just a commemoration of the last performance of "Swan Lake." The card only held one word, Congratulations. She was ready.
She unexpectedly ran into Leon in the hall. She blushed at the thought of the previous night. She had never imagined being that close to him offstage. He seemed unfazed. Did he even think anything of it? Maybe he was used to being so close to women.
The thought angered Sora. She shook the thought away; she couldn't go on stage with angry thoughts. Then she looked up and asked "Leon, do you know anything about some purple roses?"
"No." he said. Leon did however see somebody entering her dressing room earlier that day. They seemed to be carrying a package. The man had looked familiar but he was wearing a hat and glasses so the image was vague. He was probably sent to deliver flowers. "We must be going." He added.
"Y-yeah." She sounded more nervous than usual. Maybe it was because this was the last show before a new one. But Sora rarely got nervous for a show. She loved the stage and couldn't wait to perform and see the joy of the audience.
Leon walked around to the other end of the stage. The giant amphitheater was already full of people.
Sora ran out into the lights.
It was almost time for the angels maneuver. Sora looked up and saw Leon ready to catch her. This was always the most emotional part of the performance. She began to jump. The feeling of the air flowing around her was exhilarating. She was flying. She loved the feeling. Her costume flowed around her.
She could feel the tension of the audience as they awaited the fateful reunion of the Prince and Princess. She looked up to her prince, he had a soft, loving expression on his face, but that was only acting, wasn't it? She almost never saw his expressions off the stage. Leon was a first-class performer; acting was second nature to him.
He held her hand for a brief second before pulling her into the air for the maneuver. His eyes caught hers for a moment, his beautiful eyes. She flew higher and the stage opened, revealing the sunrise on the ocean.
Her costume separated, turning to the angel's costume. She came back down to Leon and the real show began.
Sora came down for the almost-kiss they share as prince and princess. They pushed apart and she flew back into the air.
The fireworks began to go off. She reached for a swing. Something wasn't right.
Right as she was about to catch the trapeze, there was a bright flash and a burning sensation. Then everything went black.