Similarities

"You really should let me help you wrap and unwrap your bandages. Give Sarah a break every now and then." Sora glares at Fool. "Just offering." Sora continues to prepare for bed. "So, how is it? Being a man."

"It's a lot harder than I thought. I've partnered Rosetta on the trapeze, but she's a lot lighter than Layla-san. Layla-san and I have partnered before, but only one stunt, not a whole show. The training with Yuri-san has been rigorous, but I won't give up." Fool pulls out a card.

"Be careful this time Sora. It seems this will be one of your hardest stages yet." Sora looks at Fool and nods. "Now wake me up early so I can help with your bandages." Sora grabs Fool and throws him in a drawer. "I was kidding! Sora! Soraaaa!" Sora lays and bed.

Layla's House…

*Knock Knock*

Who would be coming here this late? Layla opens the door to be faced with Cathy.

"Layla! How's it going? Have you missed me?" Cathy let's herself in, hauling a suitcase in behind her.

Layla shuts the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Mia called me up about the next production. Sounds right up my alley, so I thought I'd offer my services", Cathy says dropping her suitcase and plopping down on the couch.

"I see…But what are you doing in my house?", Layla asks sitting in the chair across from Cathy.

"You don't want to offer your old partner a place to stay? Ohhhh how cruel the world has become." Cathy feigns sad. Layla just sighs at her antics. "Since you have Sora back, I'm being tossed aside. I understand."

"Of course you can stay. This house is too big for one person, and Sora will not be my partner in this production."

"Ohhhh….", Cathy questions, now very interested leans in and rests her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands.

"Sora is on vacation. I will be starring with Yuri and this newcomer."

"Newcomer?" Cathy sits up and puts her arms on top of couch and crosses her legs.

"Yes. His name is Riku Takahashi. He will be the Phantom. Yuri has been conditioning him for the role. He is kind of small and doesn't seem well suited for long term partnering."

"Why would Kalos choose a newcomer?", Cathy wonders out loud.

"I don't know, but I feel this familiar connection with him, but I've never met him until yesterday."

"Does our Layla have a crush?" Cathy laughs.

"Don't be ridiculous", Layla huffs.

"Right. Our Layla's heart belongs to only one lilac haired leading lady."

Layla blushes, "S-stop spotting nonsense and go to bed already. We both have long days ahead of us. Good night." Cathy just laughs, watching Layla leave. I've never heard her stutter before.

Next morning…

Layla arrives at Kaleido Stage extra early to warm up and practice. She's been practicing at her training room at home, but the atmosphere at Kaleido Stage makes her feel better. As Layla walks down the hall, she notices the light already on in the rehearsal room. Who else would be here this early? Layla walks into the room and sees Riku again hanging upside down, but this time there are weights instead of a partner in his hands. His eyes are again closed in concentration. This time he isn't wearing a mask, so she has a better view of his face. He has a handsome, feminine look about him. I wonder how long he has been here. Layla sets her bag down and begins stretching. After some time, she hears grunting and looks over at Riku.

"Uggghhhh…." Riku trys hard to pull the weights and himself back up. His body is noticeably shaking from the stress put on his body. "Come on!", he encourages himself. He is finally able to pull himself up. "Yes….hahaha", he sighs and chuckles to himself. He then falls off the bar. Layla gasps as he falls in the net, the weights bringing him down quickly. Layla walks over to check to see if he's okay. His eyes are shut and his breath is coming in pants.

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard. It's still early, and there is much to be done. I don't want my partner to fall behind for not knowing their limit", she says sternly.

He opens his eyes and peeks at Layla and chuckles. "Limit?" She's one to be talking about limits. "I just want to be prepared. I need more upper body strength to be able to last a whole show partnering you. N-n-not saying that you're heavy. I-I'm just….ummm…" He blushes. Cute, Layla thinks, but still keeps a stern face. "I really don't want any mistakes. I never want to see you fall." Layla-san will not be hurt again, because of me.

"Good to know. Now take a break before Yuri comes. We're both expecting a lot from you. You have some big shoes to fill for the partner I was expecting."

Riku smiles and rolls out of the net. "Hai."

Layla continues to warm up as Riku, lays in a corner, resting and watching Layla. Layla gets on the trapeze and performs many stunts flawlessly. Layla will always be a phoenix. She still has that flame burning inside her. Her moves are so graceful.

About an hour later, Yuri arrives. "I see you two beat me here." Yuri puts his stuff down. "Layla will you help me with his next training." Layla drops from the trapeze, falls into the net, and walks towards Yuri. "Alright, Riku, put your mask on." Riku goes into his bag and pulls out a black mask that covers the top half of his face and puts it on. "You will be doing the same as yesterday, but you will be holding Layla." Riku nods and begins walking to the bar. "Not that bar." Riku looks back. "You will be using the higher bar today and with no net." His eyes widen.

"But…but…"

"If you have no faith in yourself, how do you expect us to have faith in you?", Layla asks walking past Riku and begins climbing up the ladder to reach the bar. Yuri begins removing the net. Riku shakes out his arms and starts climbing after Layla. This is too soon. My hands are shaking and sweating. I won't drop her! I won't drop her! I won't drop her!

Layla and Riku slide out to the middle of the bar. Layla looks into Riku's eyes and sees his determination. Those are the eyes I like to see. They're the same as Sora's, that time during the pirate ship test. Riku extends his arms out to Layla. She grabs them. "I want you to hang there, until I tell you to stop. Once you're through, you have to pull her back up." Riku takes a deep breath. "Begin!" Riku hangs by his legs and Layla swings down below him. Layla-san lost weight for me. Now I am gaining muscle for her. I want to be on stage with Layla-san again. We're going to be equals. Sora begins to think of the conversation with the boss a week before Yuri arrived.

2 Weeks Earlier…

"You called for me Boss?"

"Sora, have a seat." Kalos gestures towards the chair opposite his desk, and Sora sits down nervous about what the boss would want to discuss with her. "You've heard about Leon going to travel?"

"Hai. I'm very happy for him. I can't wait to see what he does with his next stage!" Sora says excitedly.

"Yes, well with him gone, you will need a new partner." Sora nods. "How would you feel about bringing back Layla?"

Sora's eyes widen. "Really? That would be great! Great! Great!" Sora shouts jumping up and down, then she thinks and calms back down. "But what about her shoulder?"

"I have spoken with her. She says her shoulder is better. She will mostly likely be joining us for our next production." Sora has a big grin on her face. I get to perform with Layla-san again.

"What are we putting on next?"

"I have decided to go along with Mia's suggestion of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. She is currently writing the script; however, you Sora are going to be on a little 'vacation' during this performance."

"What?", Sora asks, a confused look on her face.

"I have other plans for you to increase your performance ability. It's true. You are amazing on the trapeze and other elements, but I want to see you act. Let's see you capture the audience without them knowing it's you."

"I'm not sure I understand." There's a knock on the door.

"Come in." Sarah walks in the door.

"I brought the stuff. This should be fun", Sarah laughs carrying a bag.

"Sarah-san?"

"We will be disguising you Sora. No one must know who you are, not even Layla or Mia. Are you ready for your next test Sora?" Sora nods. "Good." Kalos looks into Sarah's bag. "This color should do nicely for our Phantom."

"I thought so too." Sarah smiles. "Even the name of the color "midnight blue", sounded mysterious. It fits our Phantom well." Sora watches their exchange.

"Phantom?"

"Yes. In the next production, you will be playing the part of the Phantom. Now go with Sarah. She will change your hair."

"My hair?"

"You sure do ask a lot of simple questions Sora. Don't worry. I'll take care of you. We need to change your hair, so you won't be as recognizable. Now follow me. We have a lot of work to do." Sora stands and begins to follow Sarah to the door.

"Sora. If you have any problems, go to Sarah. She and I will be the only ones that know. From tomorrow on, you will be known as Riku Takahashi, so have a nice 'vacation', Sora?"

"But that's a boy's name!"

"Exactly. Good luck, Sora."

"I never know what to expect when you offer me a 'vacation' Boss. It just seems to get worse and worse." Sarah just laughs.

"Let's go Riku!" I wonder if it's just me, or did Layla-san go through all these challenges too.

"It's just you", Fool says to Sora, which makes Sora jump. "Your face says it all." Sora sigh. Guess I should resign to my fate.

Back to the Present…

Layla-san is always protecting me. First on the pirate ship, I almost fell twice then. At the amusement park, she saved me from running into the supports on the rollercoaster. She lost all that weight for me during the Legendary Maneuver training. She helped me fully overcome the Angel Maneuver. I owe Layla-san so much. It's the man's job to protect the girl. Well, I'm technically a man now.

Layla looks up at Riku. An hour has already passed and hasn't wavered yet. Impressive. His eyes have been shut this entire time. I wonder what he's thinking about. After another hour, Layla feels slight pressure in her arms. Riku is beginning to feel the full effects of holding Layla for so long.

"So how did Kalos bring you to Kaleido Stage?", Layla asks, wanting to find out more about her partner.

Riku opens his eyes and looks at her. "Mmmm…Well he sort of found me out of the streets and said I had talent, but he wanted to see more. He suggested I join Kaleido Stage." That's not lying technically. "I really like making the audience smile." Layla smiles.

"You're just like Sora." Riku chuckles. He would nervously rub his neck if his hands weren't occupied holding Layla.

"Yeah…well, he said I could do more, have the audience show me more of their feelings. I really want to do that. I want to be the best I can be. Even if the person doesn't believe so, I still need to catch up to them", Riku says determined.

Once another hour has passed, added up to a total of three hours, Yuri orders Riku to pull Layla up. Riku tightens his leg hold on the bar and begins pulling Layla up. Layla can feel the veins in his arms bulging out and his muscles working overtime. He begins raising his upper body along with lifting Layla. They slide a little bit on the bar, but Riku keeps form. Riku looks up at the bar, noticing his legs aren't securely wrapped around the bar. Kuso! My legs must have sweated from holding the position for too long. If I don't pull Layla up fast we're both going down. With new profound determination, Riku begins using his adrenaline to lift Layla faster, all the while feeling his legs sliding from under him. Come on! Come on! Come on! Layla's feels his change of mood and looks up to see the bar nearing. A few more inches and I'll be able to grab it, Layla thinks. She looks over and sees Riku's legs sliding. Oh no. Layla looks down at Riku and sees his eyes watching his legs. His face is sweating profusely. Faster, faster, lift her faster. Layla sees Yuri on the ground, rushing to put the net up. Then she feels coldness on her knuckles and notices the bar just in her reach. She grabs it and pulls herself up. She made it… As soon as Layla's hands reach the bar, Riku's legs finally lose their grip.

"Ah…" He looks up into Layla's eyes.

"Riku!", Layla and Yuri shout. Layla drops down holding the bar with one hand and grabbing Riku's hand with the other.

"T-t-thank you, Layla-san." They both sigh a breath of relief. Layla's eyes widen. Déjà vu. Layla pulls Riku up on the bar. They both sit there and look down at Yuri.

"Well done." Riku gives Yuri a confused look. "You finally pulled your partner up and learned rule number 1. Always save your partner first. Why don't you take a break, while Layla and I get some practice in."

"Hai. Thank you very much." Riku doesn't look at Layla as he comes down from the bar and exits the room. He leaves against the wall once he's out of their site. That was too close. I need to try harder.

"You okay Layla?", Yuri asks as Layla walks up next to him, looking where Riku just left.

"Yeah…I just had a flashback." Yuri looks at her. "He reminds me so much of Sora, it's scary, his eyes, his beliefs. It's all her."

"Maybe he's a big fan."

Layla nods. "Yeah…maybe…"