Disclaimer: I don't own Kaleido Star

Broken Promise

Chapter 21

- Thank you Leon…and Rogue…I know you will be successful – she said with her last breath.

- And those were her last words. She closed her eyes once and forever, Sophie was dead. Leon began to cry harder and harder and couldn't let go Sophie's hand. I was sitting there, crushed on the inside. Probably, I had a soulless gaze, and I couldn't let her go either. Something was taken away from me, and my body wasn't responding anymore. After a while, the doctor came into the room and asked us to leave. I had to take Leon's arm and drag him outside, since he didn't want to leave. We were on a waiting room again, but this time…Leon was shattered. I also felt really broken, but I couldn't cry. I think my attitude helped Leon a bit; given that he needed the support of someone "emotionally stronger". However, that was a total lie, I wasn't like that…but it looked like I was.

- That's too sad… - said May looking down.

- When I was back home, my aunt asked me if Sophie was okay and if she was discharged from the hospital. I don't know if she asked just because she was polite or if she was genuinely interested.

- Sophie's dead, she's not coming back – I said coldly.

Hearing those words with my voice was too painful.

- Really? Well, I'm not surprised. It must have been her brother's fault.

- Shut up! It wasn't his fault! She did not deserve to die, and her death proves that life is random and f*cked-up and arbitrary – I said as I slammed my room's door.

- I went to my room and took some of my things, I was planning to move with Leon for a while…or at least until he… - I made a pause – Until we were better. My aunt didn't say anything because, well…she must have thought it was not the time to scold me.

- She said mean things also! – said May annoyed.

- Since the day Sophie died, I couldn't sleep anymore. First, I thought it was because I was staying in Sophie's room. But after moving to Leon's room, it was the same. Leon couldn't sleep well and had nightmares, but he did sleep. For me, it was impossible. I developed very dark bags. Leon seemed worried, but I know he was unable to help me.

- SOPHIE! – yelled Leon as he woke up.

- Another nightmare? – I asked rolling to the edge of the bed.

- Yes, again. Did I wake you up? I'm sorry – replied Leon from his floor "bed".

- No, I was awake…Or not? I don't know…with insomnia, you're never really awake...but you're never really asleep.

- Rogue…you haven't sleep in days. Have you been taking the sleeping pills? – he asked.

- Yes, they won't work…

He sighed.

- Who called Sophie? – I asked.

- Don't worry about it, try to sleep…please – he replied taking my hand.

- There were times when he didn't go back to sleep, just because he knew I was awake. So, there we were…cooking, eating, talking, painting, reading, etc in the early morning. Sometimes I played songs for Leon… - I sighed - Leon quitted his job for a while, so most of the times we were in the apartment. Whenever we had to go out, we went together. Without the other, we were just soulless bodies wandering aimlessly into the darkness.

- It was too much for you to handle… - she said dispirited.

- Maybe we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?

May took a deep breath.

- You had no one else to support you. And despite what anyone could say…you were still young. How old were you? – said May.

- I was just one year younger than you! 16!**

- Oh, well. I haven't encountered death yet. I don't know how I would face it if I was alone…

- Those were difficult and sad times. But after some time, Leon could recover to some extent. He was still very sad and sometimes angry…maybe more angry than sad, but he was much better that before. He even returned to his job. For me, well…nothing had changed. Luckily, I finished school some days before the Festival. So, I didn't have any responsibility. I felt alone in the apartment thus I began random strolls around the city. Somehow I always ended up in the place where Sophie had the accident or in the cemetery. I just couldn't control it.

- You had to bear it alone...Rogue, you are very strong – said May taking my hand.

- No, I wasn't. Actually I was too weak.

- But…

- One day, Leon asked me if I wanted to leave France and go around the globe with him, trying to find the person for the maneuver.

- I know you are supposed to return to Iowa…maybe I'm asking you too much. Don't worry about the promise you made to Sophie, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. But…I would like to this with you – he said.

- He said that we didn't have anything to lose. And…it was for the sake of Sophie. I agreed, we were leaving in a week. Even though I had agreed, I couldn't avoid thinking about it in a usual sleepless night. I had family and friends in Iowa that could have been expecting my return. But, I was willing to do anything for Sophie…and also I thought it could have been exciting.

- You were returning to Iowa after you finished school, right? You said you finish it. Did your parents or your aunt…called you or something to make you go back?

- I'm not sure if my parents knew anything. I was amazed, because my aunt didn't call or went after me. It was as if she wasn't responsible for me anymore and she was probably enjoying it.

- She wasn't a good person – said May coldly.

- And that's not the worst.

- Why?

- Finally it was the day we were leaving from France. I had to wait until Leon returned from his last day on the job. While I was waiting, I decided to wander around the city. I noticed I was getting again to the place where Sophie had the accident. Even thought I didn't see the accident, I couldn't avoid shivering there. Suddenly, I began to feel very sick. My head ached so awfully, I had to bend on the ground. The pain was too much. Then...

- And then? – asked May questioningly.

- Okay, here it gets interesting! There are two stories from here on.

- Two stories? Why? – she said standing up.

- You will see. I guess I will tell you first the story I believed for years.

- Go on…

- I had a blackout, I don't know what happened. But I woke up in a hospital, next to a boy. Well, he seemed older than me.

- Comment te portes-tu? – asked the boy.

- Who are you? Why are you speaking in French? – I asked very confused.

He got out of the room and a few moments later, a doctor came in. My head ached a lot.

- Good morning Miss– said a doctor with a heavy French accent.

- Why am I here? – I said looking up and down analyzing my surroundings.

- You don't remember what you were doing before you arrived here? You have been here for about three days – he said smiling.

- No, I can't remember…three days? How come? – I said touching my head.

- We will talk later. Do you have written somewhere…or do you remember your parents' phone number? Or maybe a relative or a friend?

- My parents' number, I remember it.

- I gave the doctor my parent's number in America. Luckily, they still had that number. So, the doctor was able to contact them. But, well…they were on America and I was in France. I wasn't aware of that. About an hour later, my aunt came rushing.

- Rogue! What happened? Your mom told me they received a call from the hospital! Why you didn't call me first? – she asked as she got in the room and took a sit.

- Aunt? What are you doing here? When did you come back from France? – I asked startled.

- "Come back from France"? What do you mean? We are in France!

- Impossible! We are not in France! I have never been to France – I said trying to get up from the bed.

My aunt got out of the room immediately. I was left alone and confused. Later, my aunt and the doctor arrived. Also the guy from before came to the room. The doctor had some sheets and he gave one to my aunt and kept the other.

- Miss Carroll, can I ask you a couple of questions? – asked the doctor.

- Sure.

- Your name – he said reading from the sheet.

- Rogue Carroll – I said with firm voice.

- Your age.

- 13 years old.

- Your birthday…Current year…The name of your parents and if you have any brothers or sisters…their names and ages…Your address, phone number…last school you attended…school friends…

- My answers belonged to the time when I was 13 years old, still living in Iowa and before my parents were arrested. Well, at that time I didn't know about the arrest. My aunt, the guy and the doctor got out of the room. I was very tired so I fell asleep. I slept half of the day. When I woke up, I noticed I had bandages on my head. My aunt was there and she called the doctor.

- Miss Carroll, how do you feel? – asked the doctor as he got in.

- Better, I think… - I answered.

- We have to explain you a couple of things…If you feel pain, tell us.

- Why would I feel pain?

After that, the guy came in.

- Hi, Rogue. My name is Jack Evans – said the dazzling guy.

- You know English! Well, nice to meet you – I said.

- Three days ago, I was walking through the city…Suddenly; I saw a girl walking through the middle of the road. She was going to be hit by a motorcycle. So, I jumped and saved her. But, I was careless. The girl banged her head with a rock. She fainted and I took her to the hospital… - he explained.

- Cool story, bro… - I said uninterested.

- That girl was you! – he exclaimed pointing to me.

- Oh, really? So that's why I am here? I don't remember that – I said looking away.

- Yes, Miss. You were in coma for three days – explained the doctor.

- In coma? Oh my… - I was surprised.

- That's not all…You have traumatic amnesia – he said.

- Amnesia? You must be kidding me!

- Rogue, we are in France – interrupted my aunt – You have been living here with me for three years.

- What kind of joke is this? – I asked angry getting out of the bed.

The doctor turned on the TV and brought me newspaper. I couldn't believe it, my head was aching. I approached to the window and saw France…I knew it was France. I stood in the window for some minutes. The noise from the TV slowly turned into comprehensible words.

- You are right, this is France… - I said still staring at the window.

- Miss Carroll, your amnesia is temporary and you will remember things by yourself or with the help of your family or friends. You injury wasn't really severe…so you will recovery your memory quickly – the doctor clarified.

- But, why? – I asked turning to him.

- The blow on your head caused this traumatic amnesia, but don't worry – he said.

- Wait, wait! The motorcycle thing didn't happen, right? Why did he say that? What happened with Leon? You were on the hospital for three days, right? – asked May standing up.

- I told you there were 2 different stories. The truth and the lie…I began with the lie, since is what I knew first…

- Okay, I'm sorry… - said May shyly.

- I was discharged from the hospital almost immediately. Of course I went back to my aunt's house, where she began to help me with my memories. She helped me remembering French, some places and a few of the neighbors. Also, she told me why I was living with her and where my sister and brother were. Actually, I got to remember those things quite fast. Just a couple of days…and that was it. However, I was having difficulties recognizing people. Whenever she introduced me to someone I knew since my arrival, my head ached too much. As if it was too difficult for me to make any connection between that person and my life.

- Did you saw Leon?

- No. My aunt never said a thing about Leon or Sophie. Just as if they never got in my life.

- Nothing? How cruel! They meant a lot to you and she never mentioned them! Yet, it makes sense. She never liked them, so why make you remember them? – she said walking in circles.

- Exactly. She told me about the school and the ballet. But, she was kind of busy…she was still working. So, she got Jack to get me around the city. Also I went with him to visit some of my school "friends" and to the ballet classroom. I didn't know why my aunt trusted him; he was a complete stranger who casually bumped into my life. I mean, he was a nice person and I got to like him…but I always thought it was weird.

- Well, I guess she knew you had no other friends besides Leon and Sophie. Probably she thought you needed a friend – she said staring at me.

- Probably…and he was from America too. He was in France because he was in some short program for mastering French.

- I see…so you become friends during that time – said my friend taking a seat.

- Yes…I had no one else to support me, only him.

- So, Leon never went to your house or anything? You never saw him in the streets or something?

- I never saw him. However, I didn't stay in France for a long time after the coma. I only stayed for about 2 weeks or maybe a little more.

- You got to remember everything during that short time?

- Yes. Except Leon, Sophie, the fact I was expelled from ballet, the International Circus Festival, my first costume….all the things that were directly related to them – I said looking down.

- How convenient! Just when you were leaving with Leon, you forgot everything! I bet Leon was pretty depressed. His sister passed away and his girlfriend abandoned him.

- I was not his girlfriend! – I complained – I did abandon him when I was supposed to stay by his side…But, it wasn't my intention.

- I know. Hence, when you got back you memories…you went back to Iowa?

- Certainly. My aunt told me that since I finished school and I recovered my memories, it was time to go. She told me she thought it was better for me to be with my parents and back in America.

- And what happened with Jack?

- He went back to America with me – I replied as if that was the most logic answer.

- What? He is from Iowa too? What a coincidence!

- No, he is from Illinois. From where I lived to where he lives it takes…about an hour by car. That's the main reason why we could maintain our friendship. He visited me often and vice versa.

- What did you do when you were back to Iowa?

- I continued my life, living with my parents. While Cathy and my brother stayed in New York.

- She spent a lot of time in New York! No wonder why she became a director in Broadway.

- Cathy and my brother are older than me, so I think it was easier for them…My parents told them about my "accident", so they went back to Iowa for some days to visit me. They told me they were staying in New York to pursuit their dreams.

- You are overdoing it! You are all right! I thought you had at least a broken leg or something! – complained Cathy.

- I didn't ask you to come! – I replied.

- Girls! Don't fight! We haven't seen each other in three years, so let's enjoy this time – said my brother as he sat between us.

- Cathy provoked me! – I exclaimed.

- I did nothing! – said Cathy crossing her arms.

- Enough! – he said - So, Rogue…What are you going to do from now on? – asked my brother.

- Enter to high school, what else? – I answered.

- And after that? – he asked.

- I don't know… - I said.

- You need to be more ambitious! Don't you have a vision for your future or something? – asked Cathy.

- I'm not sure…I can't remember.

- Don't worry Rogue. It's never too late to be whoever you want to be…you are still very young! – said my brother smiling.

- You didn't know? How did you ended up in Kaleido Stage? – asked May.

- When I was in high school, I was in the drama club. But I wasn't an actress. I helped with the set design and later on with the costume design. I wasn't aware of the abilities I got from my aunt. So, it just felt very natural. I enjoyed doing those designs. One day, someone from the club told me that Kaleido Stage was looking for a Costume Designer. After making some research about it, I contact them and I was called for an interview. I stopped going to school and well…here I am.

- Oh, so that's how it was – said May approaching to the fridge - And you continued with your life without remembering Leon and Sophie?

- Right. I got to remember everything until we were in France for this past ICF.

- I knew it! Something did happen there, right? – she asked as she handed me some juice.

- Yes, I lied to you before – I said sniggering.

- What happened?

** According to the official page of the series, Sora is 16 years old, Layla is 18, May is 15 (wtf!), Mia and Anna are 16, Rosetta is 13, Marion is 10, Sarah is 29, Yuri is 18, Ken 18 too and Leon's age is unknown (luckily). But, I don't agree (except for Marion and Sarah...they are fine) hahaha
For this fic their ages are:
Sora is 18 and May 17, Mia is 18, Anna is 19, Rosetta is 14, Layla is 20, Yuri and Leon 21 and Ken 19. That makes more sense!(at least to me) haha And well, to this point of the story Rogue is 20, Hanna and Danna 22 and Jack 23.

Author's notes:

Sooo, before the year ends...a chapter! hahaah Happy New Year! I confess I've been kind of lazy...I'm sorry.

Guess what? This is now the longest chapter! But many things were told here!

Rogue lived with Leon for sometime after Sophie's death. I didn't write all the things that happen during that time...giving you the opportunity to think whatever you want! Hahahaha Well, there will be some things told in Leon's POV.
In this chapter, we get to know the story of the "accident" from what Rogue believed. She narrates to May the things just as they happened to her. In the next chapter...we will see how things ended up that way according to Jack and later according to the aunt. Until then, we will have the wholee story covered. I warned you before! Hahaha

cami(neko-rin): the first year of university...I remember it as if it was yesterday...nah! I already forgot it hahaha Take your time to rest!
Yeah, I hated Yuri for some time...but mainly because he didn't apologized to Sophie! But oh well...