[IMPORTANT AN: I re-did this chapter (on March 29, 2013 - 03/29/2013) because I didn't like how much it jumped around originally. The original was up for just over 24 hours I believe, up on the 28th (of March) and exchanged on the 30th (of March). There are changes in the order things happen, and a bit of how they happen too. I'd re-read it, or skim it if you've read the original chapter II. There won't be an AN at the end because it's here. Hope you enjoy this story. Reviews are fun, but obviously not required, although it was a review that showed me that I wasn't the only one who thought the chapter skipped a bit, my thanks to Aimii0.]

Chapter II

Shooting Star

..~*~..

"Sora! You're late!" May huffed.

"Sorry May. Marion and I got caught up. But I'm here now,"

"Well… it's okay, I guess. I haven't really started anyways," May admonished.

"Okay, I'm ready anytime," Sora replied as she finished stretching out a bit.

"Alright, let's go!" shouted a rather overenthusiastic May.

They practiced for a few hours, went through May's routine at least ten times, maybe more, Sora had lost count after eight.

"Okay, I'm done now. Ready to go?" May asked Sora who was just finishing the routine on the swings (trapeze).

"Yeah, sure. I think I've just about got it," Sora smiled and joined May on the floor.

After they had gotten all their things together they left and headed back to the dorms.

"Hey May? Is someone really joining the stage in the middle of the week?" Sora asked about the rumors from lunch. If anyone knew what was going on it would be May, she almost always knew the latest gossip.

"Yeah, some hotshot from France; he starts on Monday I think. I wonder if Kalos will give him a role in the show…" May continued on, but Sora stopped listening to most of the gossip spewing from May's lips.

"What's his name?" May stopped mid ramble and thought about Sora's very simple and should-be-known question.

"Well… I... I don't know?" she replied, although it came out more as a question than a statement.

"Oh, okay. See you tomorrow May!" Sora called as she hurried off to her dorm room down a few doors from May's room.

As soon as Sora entered her apartment she headed for the bathroom to shower. As she walked out after dressing in her summer pajamas, silky shorts and a silky t-shirt, she found herself thinking about how odd it was that Fool hadn't been around. The perverted Spirit of the Stage was nowhere in sight when she had walked in and hadn't popped up in the bathroom.

"A star approaches Sagittarius… I wonder who it could be," said a deep voice from nearby the kitchenette.

'Speak, er think, of the devil and he shall appear!' Sora thought, somewhat agitated.

"Fool," she said curtly.

"Sora, didn't see you there…" Fool trailed off, being uncharacteristically non-perverted.

"Uh huh… I bet you were just hoping I'd come out in a towel weren't you?" she teased him.

"Umm… no? Well, not really," he replied, gulping at Sora's death glare. "Okay, bye!" he rushed out as he flew out of her reach. He didn't get another chance to think about who, or what, the approaching star belonged to as he was too busy running from Sora.

Eventually Sora caught Fool and unceremoniously tossed him out the sliding glass door, slamming it behind her. Before shutting off the lights and sliding into bed.

'Why is a new cast member coming now? Is he going to be in the show? Wait, why do I care?' Sora thought becoming more confused by the minute as she lay on her back in bed.

..~*~..

BZZT, BZZT, BZZZT, BZZZT, BZZZZ–

Sora's alarm clock buzzed for a few moments before her hand came down upon the top with a hard Thwack.

It was only 6:00 in the morning, and she didn't have to meet anyone for rehearsal today since Layla and May weren't practicing for Cathy until Monday. An event which would inevitably lead to changes in choreography, but for now she knew it all.

Today wasn't a work day, in fact it was one of the days she had made sure she had off. Today was the anniversary of the fatal car crash that had ended the lives of both her parents.

Flopping out of bed Sora dressed in a lavender cotton sundress shot through with silvery silk threads making the dress shimmer in the sunlight. It was a favorite since it had been her mother's dress when she was a teenager. She rushed through her bathroom routine, slipped her nude ballet flats on and grabbed her purse and jacket as she left (and locked) her apartment door.

The first place she wanted to visit was the beach. Which worked out fine seeing as the shops wouldn't open for another hour and a half at least.

Her mother had always loved watching sunrises and sunsets, and it was something their whole family would do together on the weekends.

At the beach the sun had already begun to rise, bathing the sky and the beach in pinks and oranges. Sitting down on the sand Sora pulled her jacket tightly around her shoulders and watched the sun rise higher and higher in the sky. The sky slowly turning to a clear blue form the orange and pink hues it had first been.

'Mom, Dad I wish you were here. Kaleido Stage is amazing. Everyone is so kind and we all have so much fun together. But I love seeing the audience smile. Like that time we saw Alice in Wonderland and everyone was smiling,' Sora thought as she looked out at the ocean.

'Do you remember that time we went to France right before the accident? I got lost at the circus and a girl helped me get back. Do you remember? It was so scary, but she told me some really interesting things. I was dreaming about her earlier this week. I've been researching the Angel's Maneuver that she talked about, but I can't find anything on it. It's as if it was all a dream,' Sora thought as if she were talking to her parents. Sitting and watching the sunrise she remembered countless things she did with her parents, or things she wanted to talk to them about. Some were happy, others made her cry. But after a while everything just stopped, all the memories, thoughts and feelings. Everything was peaceful.

After a while of just enjoying the sun Sora's stomach decided that breakfast was in order and growled loudly. Sighing Sora stood and brushed off the loose grains of sand that had stuck to her clothes.

As she strolled back to the dorms she stopped in a little bakery. The bakery sold some of the best pastries Sora had ever had; both Parisian goods and American goods lined most of the shelves, but off to the side were a small assortment of Japanese sweets. The bakery had been here when her parents had brought her to see Alice in Wonderland at the Kaleido Stage.

A light tinkling sound alerted the shop's owner, a kind older woman, to Sora's presence.

"Sora! It's nice to see you again," she called from behind the counter and waved.

"You too Mrs Roux," Sora replied as she made her way over to the counter. She had come here almost once a month since she had joined Kaleido Stage. Originally it had been for sentimental reasons, but she had grown to love the sweets so much overtime.

"What would you like today?" Mrs Roux asked as she reached for a container to put Sora's order in.

"Umm, I'd like two wagashi, a croissant, and a bag of the rose flavored hard candies, if you have them," Sora requested.

"Yes, of course. Here are your croissant, wagashi, and bag of rose flavored candies," she smiled as she handed Sora her order as the latter paid.

After a cheerful goodbye Sora continued her walk back to the dorms. The sun was shining brightly and more people had started their day.

Nearing the dorm she noticed the florist on the corner of the street had already opened for the day. The slight breeze was carrying the scent of the fresh flowers through the streets. It was a floral but almost fruity smell that drew passersby in with open arms.

Today the shop had tulips of all kinds on display, as well as some roses farther back and their usual stock of mixed flowers in their usual places around the store.

'Maybe they have some purple tulips like the ones we used to buy for mom,' Sora thought as she crossed the street and headed towards the shop.

The scent in the shop was light and gentle, although one might think it should have been stronger due to how far the fragrance was carried by the wind.

After purchasing a bouquet of purple tulips, her mother's favorite, and a single white rose she, once again, headed back to the dorms.

Back home she would have gone to her parent's grave and left flowers and some offering of food. She, her aunt and uncle did that every year since she had gone to live with them. They would be taking Yume with them this year to pay their respects.

Since Sora was in California this year she wouldn't be able to place offerings on her parent's grave, so instead she settled for placing the flowers in an elegant vase on the windowsill with some of the sweets she had bought.

'Mom, Dad. I hope you're doing okay. I miss you guys,' Sora thought as she finished placing some of the candies in a little dish on the windowsill with the flowers and wagashi from earlier.

..~*~..

After eating the croissant Sora had hung around her apartment reading. Mia had recently gotten into reading the classics, and wanted to produce shows based on some of the stories. Her most recent idea had been sparked reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and wanted to reproduce the show. As a result she was trying to convince the cast and crew to read the story and give her their thoughts.

Growing tired of Alice and her rather curious thought patterns Sora started to drift off into her own world. At first it was just thoughts about the current production, then about her parents, and then about her friends. But in between each new subject she kept coming back to what Sophie had said. She couldn't shake the Angel's Maneuver/Act from her mind, or the sense that it was important.

'Maybe I'll find something at the library this time… although I haven't before, so why would I now?' Sora though frustrated, yet determined to learn something, anything about the elusive maneuver.

Deciding there really wasn't anything else to do she headed for the library. They opened early on Saturdays so even though it was only 10:00 they would be open.

At the library Sora looked through countless circus books and old programs as well as newspapers hoping to find something about the Angel's Maneuver/Act, but turning up empty-handed.

She would have tried using a computer, but the ones at the library were ancient and crashed a lot.

'I guess I'm never going to find anything here,' Sora sighed frustrated that nothing ever even mentioned the move. There was absolutely nothing!

Sighing she stretched and put away the books she had drug out.

'Maybe it's time to take Kalos up on the offer of a laptop,' Sora thought. Kalos, after regaining his company [Kaleido Stage], had offered Sora a computer since she didn't own one. That, and the fact that she and Layla had practically saved the circus. But she didn't really want a laptop, her family had one in Japan, but it wasn't something she had used much.

At the time she had turned down the offer Kalos had told her if she changed her mind to let him know.

'I suppose I'm going to be accepting his offer,' Sora thought wryly.

..~*~..

After settling on her decision she called Sarah, hoping to find out if Kalos would be at the stage. Many of the stagehands were working on Mia's current set design so the stage was open, but Kalos didn't always hang around when there was only construction. Either way Sarah knew, she always knew where he would be.

Sarah being her usual quirky self had chirped Sora's ear off before telling her Kalos was at the stage before rushing off to her latest martial arts class, or whichever sport it was this week.

"Hey Boss?" Sora called as she knocked on Kalos's office door.

"Come in," a voice called from the other side.

"Umm, hey… so you know how you offered me a computer a while ago? Well I'd like to take you up on that offer," Sora said awkwardly as she slid into the room to stand across from the desk.

"I was wondering when you'd ask me. I was almost afraid you never would," Kalos said, the edges of his mouth pulling up ever so slightly into a small smile. Then, turning to his right, he pulled a box from a cabinet behind his desk.

"Wh- you knew I'd ask?" Sora asked slightly confused.

Kalos shrugged. "I knew you'd need it eventually. I was going to have Mia give it to you next week if you never came to ask.

"Anyways, this is a 13" Macbook Pro. It's already got all the programs you should need preinstalled. Oh, and you should get a laptop bag. Here, you're all set. Oh, and the dorms have wireless internet, but I think the laptop can also use cell towers to get a connection. Have fun," he said as he handed over the slim laptop box and shooed her out.

"Um, thanks?" Sora replied not really understanding a word about what kind of computer it was, nor understanding what he meant by cell towers.

..~*~..

Exiting the stage with the computer box in hand Sora spotted Marion and Jonathan.

"Hey Marion!" Sora called as she waved, approaching Jonathan's pool. Marion and Jonathan were playing in the water and training.

"Hey Sora!" she replied waving accompanied by a bark from Jonathan.

"I was looking for you. Do you want to practice for a little bit tomorrow? I'm free the whole day. And Sarah said her friend would be able to finish the dress by tomorrow afternoon," Sora asked as she entered the pool's enclosure ever mindful of the most definitely not waterproof laptop in the box.

"Yeah, sure. Dad comes down around 1:00 pm tomorrow," Marion responded as she tossed a little red ball to Jonathan who bounced it back.

"Okay, I'll bring your costume and meet you at the dressing room around 1:30 pm then?"

"Yeah, I can't wait. But can a costume be finished in only three days?" Marion asked incredulously.

"I guess so? It's hard to believe. I asked the same thing," Sora smiled.

After throwing a few balls for Jonathan and talking to Marion a bit longer Sora picked up the computer box and headed back to the dorms once again, but making no stops on the way.

..~*~..

Back in her apartment Sora unpacked the computer and its accessories. It was all quite simple, the computer and a charger, plus a few manuals/guides.

After plugging it in and pressing the power button the screen came to life in an array of color. Kalos had already had the basics set up on the computer for her. There was even an email account set up for her (sora.n-at-kaleidostage . org) with a preset password she would have to change soon.

Clicking on the internet browser she typed "Angel's Maneuver" in the search bar. About a million hits came back, but none of them were what she wanted. They were all just sites about Angels and sites about different Maneuvers for various things. No trapeze acts or anything!

'It shouldn't be so impossible to find something!' Sora screamed internally.

Closing the internet she decided to try out her email, and send her parents an email. It didn't take long, despite having to create a password, finding their email and then actually writing a message. And before she knew it she was exploring all the programs Kalos had loaded for her.

'This is amazing and all, but I don't get why he gave me a computer. I hardly ever choreograph, so I kind of doubt I'll use even half of these programs,' she thought as she shut down the computer.

..~*~..

The next day Sora was woken by irrationally loud banging and shouting.

"SORA! Open up! Now! Hurry, hurry!" came a muffled, yet annoyingly loud voice from the other side of the door. Not to mention the loud bangs between shouting things.

"Hai! Oh, I mean, I'm coming, don't break my door," Sora accidentally began in Japanese, since she was, after all, half asleep and tended to revert to Japanese at such times.

Hopping out of bed she shuffled to the door, slowly opening it for fear of a fist to the face.

"Sora! Why are you still in your pajamas!? Hurry up, hurry up! I've got news! Let me in," May was there practically bouncing up and down. She shoved her way into Sora's apartment and started pulling clothes out and tossing them on the bed.

"What? It's only… only 7:30 in the morning May," Sora checked the clock as she padded back to her bed and picked up the clothes. Grabbing them she went to the bathroom to change and try and wake up a bit before facing the way too over excited May in her room.

After washing her face with cold water, changing and going through her usual routine she was – sort of – ready to face May.

"Okay May. Now I'm more awake. What has you breaking down my door at this hour on a Sunday of all days?" Sora asked as she fixed herself a bowl of cereal and sat at her kitchen table.

"It's Miss Layla and Yuri! The-" May began but was cut off by Sora.

"Miss Layla?! What happened!? Is she okay!?" Sora panicked.

"Let me finish! They were in a car accident. It's not bad, but neither can perform for the rest of the month. It's awful!" May finished.

"Oh no! No! I can't believe that would happen! And… what about the show? Who's going to do their parts?" Sora asked.

"I don't know. But Kalos just called to tell me to get you and come to his office. So let's go," May said as she stood up getting ready to leave.

"Oh, now? Okay," Sora replied as she rinsed her bowl out in the sink and set it to dry.

..~*~..

"Hey Boss, we're here," May announced as she knocked on Kalos's office door. She had half dragged Sora all the way from the dorms at breakneck speeds and wasn't tired in the least. Sora on the other hand was still a bit disoriented. She had woken up a bit talking to May, but not really enough to count as awake.

Electing an almost monotone "Come in" from the company's director.

"May, Sora. I assume you know that Layla and Yuri cannot perform for a while due to a minor car accident?" Kalos asked as he turned to face the two acrobats. Through his sunglasses his hard stare replaced with a slightly toned down version, showing that he was upset.

"Yes, that's what May told me," Sora replied although almost questioningly and still a bit spaced out.

"I'm going to need you in this show Sora. But as Rosaline and May will play Juliet this time," He said with an air of finality to it reverting to a more normal, all business/no-nonsense Kalos.

"Really? I get to play Juliet? Thank you so much, I won't let you down! But why me? And not Sora?" May replied, quickly getting herself pumped up and then asking what she didn't really want to ask.

"If you don't mind my asking, who is playing Romeo?" It had occurred to Sora fairly quickly that he hadn't said who would be Romeo, the other main character that needed to be around.

"Well, to answer your question May. I need Sora to do a trampoline act with Marion during the party scene. As for who will play Romeo, you'll find out soon enough," Kalos said evading the second, and probably more worrying, question.

"Really? Marion and I get to perform the trampoline?! Thanks Boss!" Sora exclaimed happily. She couldn't wait to tell Marion.

"Yes, you need to show your routine to everyone on Monday, tomorrow, before rehearsal starts at 3:00 pm. You guys can go now" was Kalos's stern reply as he shooed them out.

As soon as they were in the hall Sora turned to May.

"Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I hope you get a good partner. I'm sure you'll do fantastic, May!" Sora said eyes twinkling as she smiled, excited for her friend.

"Thanks. But are you really okay with doing my part instead of the lead?" May asked rather curious to why Sora wouldn't want the lead role.

"Well, I would like to play Juliet sometime. But for now I'm happy being able to perform with Marion. It'll be her debut on the big stage, and I really do enjoy the routine. I know that may sound a little silly," Sora smiled softly as she came to the end of her mini rant.

"If you're sure. I have to go now, see ya!" May turned and hurried towards the lobby of the stage to leave.

..~*~..