Chapter Seven

A couple of weeks after Yuri's mother's visit, Kaleido Stage held their annual try-out for new cast members. Though Kalos was the one who ultimately decided who was hired, he had asked Layla and Yuri to sit on the judging panel, along with Sarah.

"A good turn-out this year," Layla commented as the four of them entered the room where the auditions would be held. "More than last year?

"Everybody wants to be the next Layla Hamilton," Kalos said, "especially since you two won the International Circus Festival last year."

Yuri tried not to bristle at the fact that Kalos didn't mention anything about anyone wanting to be the next Yuri Killian. He was used to being treated as an afterthought, after all. Besides, the less competition for his spot as the top male star, the better. Glancing around at the forty or so hopefuls warming up, he was pleased to see that most of the people trying out were women. There was a handful of men, but Yuri doubted they would pose much of a threat.

Not like Leon Oswald… Yuri immediately pushed the thought away, not wanting to be reminded of the lengths he had gone to in order to keep Leon's superior talent undiscovered.

A blond stagehand who Yuri remembered as the one who had accidentally walked in on him and Layla in a compromising position climbed up on stage and blew a whistle, getting everybody's attention. "The auditions are about to begin, so everybody, please take your seats," the young man announced.

The participants stopped what they were doing and sat down on the metal folding chairs provided, along with Yuri, Layla, and Sarah, who had seats reserved for them in the front row.

"Er, welcome to Kaleido Stage's annual audition," the stagehand continued once everybody had settled down. He seemed a little nervous now that he had the group's undivided attention. "I'm Ken Robbins, one of the stagehands, and this man is Kalos Eido, the founder and owner of Kaleido Stage. I'll be assisting him with conducting the audition. Um, Mr. Eido, would you like to say a few words before we begin?"

Kalos joined Ken on stage, clearing his throat as everybody clapped politely. "I wish you all the best of luck. The road to becoming a true Kaleido Star is tough and arduous, and most of you will never achieve it, but today you take the first important step in achieving that dream." He glanced over at Yuri and Layla sitting in the front row. "Speaking of Kaleido Stars, I'd like to introduce you to our current headliners and reigning International Circus Festival trapeze champions, Layla Hamilton and Yuri Killian. They've taken time out of their busy schedules to help judge these auditions."

On cue, Yuri and Layla stood back up and turned around to face the audience. As they bowed, they received a louder round of applause.

"Good luck, everybody!" Yuri called out, slipping into his usual "nice guy" role. He was well aware of the fact that his popularity at Kaleido Stage was due more to his good looks and charisma than his only slightly above-average talent on the trapeze, so he was always careful to maintain his image in front of fans.

From the back of the room, a group of teenage girls shouted, "We love you, Yuri!" Yuri grinned and winked at them before sitting back down with Layla.

"You're such a flirt, Yuri," Layla muttered, crossing her arms.

Yuri arched an eyebrow. He wasn't acting any different than he usually did when he was in the spotlight, playing the fanservice role everyone expected from him. It never bothered her before. "It's just harmless fun," he said. "They have a little crush. I think it's cute."

Back on stage, Ken called for the first participant. "First up will be Piper Tillman. Piper, please come forward."

It was a long day of auditions. As Yuri thought, there wasn't anybody on his and Layla's level, although some had the potential to make a name for themselves at Kaleido Stage. He was particularly impressed by Kira Voronova, an eighteen-year-old Russian juggler who happened to be one of the girls who had called out to him earlier.

Layla leaned toward Yuri. "She's quite good," she said in a low voice.

His eyes focused on Kira's mesmerizing performance on stage, Yuri nodded his agreement. "Yeah, she is."

"Pretty, too."

"I suppose so." Petite Kira wasn't really his type, though. He preferred curvier girls like Layla.

As he continued watching Kira juggle a bunch of knives, Layla reached over and placed a hand on Yuri's upper thigh, her fingers just inches away from the fly of his jeans.

"Layla, what the hell are you doing?" he hissed, using his clipboard to cover his lap. It wasn't like her at all to be so blatant in public.

Even she seemed surprised by her actions. "Oh, sorry," she said, pulling her hand away and sitting up straighter as she turned her attention to the next performer who Ken had called on stage.

An hour later, the try-outs finally ended, and after a short meeting between the judges and Kalos, those who passed the audition were announced. Kalos and Sarah left soon afterward, but Yuri and Layla were quickly surrounded by adoring fans wanting their autographs.

Among them was Kira. "It's such an honor to meet you, Mr. Killian," she said, handing Yuri a 8X10 glossy of himself in his Romeo costume to sign. She spoke excellent English, albeit with a heavy accent. "I'm a huge fan of yours."

Yuri smiled as he signed the photograph. It wasn't often that he got the chance to autograph one of his solo stills. Usually fans gave him pictures of him and Layla together to sign. "Just Yuri is fine," he said, handing the picture back to her. "Congratulations on passing the audition. You were wonderful."

"Thanks!"

Beside him, Layla reached for his elbow. "Yuri, I think it's time to leave," she said. "We do have a show to get ready for."

He glanced down at his watch. "Yeah, you're probably right," he agreed, surprised that it was already so close to show time. Yuri signed one more autograph before apologizing. "Sorry, but that's it for now. We have to run, but I hope you all will stay for today's show."

There were some groans of disappointment from those who hadn't a chance to meet them yet, but with Ken's help, they managed to get away. Upon exiting the auditorium, Layla grabbed Yuri's hand.

"Come with me."

"Hey, where are we going?" Yuri asked as she pulled him in the opposite direction of their dressing rooms.

Layla suddenly stopped in front of a supply closet, opening the door. "In here. Quick."

She entered the closet and pulled Yuri in with her. With his back pressed against the door, she turned the lock.

"Layla, what –"

Before he could even finish asking his question, she kissed him full on the lips. Yuri responded at first, returning her kisses with equal fervor, but when he felt her untuck his shirt from his pants, he pulled back.

"Here?" A supply closet was hardly his idea of an ideal location for sexy times.

Layla unbuckled his belt. "I need you, Yuri."

"Now?" He grabbed her hands, preventing her from unzipping his fly. "The show starts in twenty-five minutes. We don't have time for this."

"It'll just be a quickie."

"Layla, what is going on with you today?" he asked. The Layla he knew would never risk the show beginning late just to have sex.

"I… I don't know," she admitted, lowering her hands back to her sides when he released his hold.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, we can pick this up later, after the show."

"Your dressing room."

"Fine," he agreed, moving to the side to tuck his shirt back in. "You go out first. I'll wait a couple of minutes in case anybody is watching."

"Okay."

As Yuri watched Layla leave, he wondered what had caused her to act like that.

Upon returning to her dressing room, Layla sat down at her vanity and buried her head in her arms.

"Why did I do that?" she asked herself aloud, mortified by her behavior. It wasn't like her at all.

Was this what it felt like to be jealous? Layla had never really experienced jealousy before. She was beautiful, talented, and rich – there was never a reason to be jealous of someone. Yet just because Yuri showed a little bit of interest in that pretty Russian girl, she had tried to jump him, as if to claim him as hers.

But he wasn't hers. Yuri was free to sleep with whoever he wanted. She had made that perfectly clear when they had started their arrangement, so she had no reason to be upset.

"I'm being ridiculous," she said, raising her head back up. She grabbed her brush and began brushing her long hair, yanking with more force than necessary. "Forget about Yuri and Kira. I have a show to do."

After she changed into her Rapunzel costume, braided her hair, and put on her stage make-up, Layla closed her eyes and went through her usual pre-performance ritual. I am Rapunzel, I am Rapunzel, I am Rapunzel. It didn't help as much as it usually did, but it would have to do. The show was about to begin.

Layla headed backstage, her eyes narrowing when she saw Yuri chatting with a certain pretty red-haired juggler in the wings. What was she doing there? Though Kira had passed the audition, it would be a while before the new trainees were allowed on stage.

And Yuri… Her hands clenched at her sides. Yes, she had given him free reign to sleep around, but that didn't mean she wanted to see him flirt with other women right in front of her!

She shook her head. Calm down, Layla, she chided herself. All they're doing is talking. You're jumping to conclusions, so stop acting like a jealous harpy.

She inhaled a deep breath and relaxed her fingers before walking over to Yuri and Kira. Regardless of any jealousy she may or may not have held toward the juggler, Kira was breaking the rules. Since none of the stagehands wanted to do their jobs, she supposed it was up to her to enforce them.

"Excuse me, but trainees are not allowed backstage," Layla said, tapping the girl's shoulder. "If you're here to watch the show, you need to go find your seat. We're about to begin."

"O-Oh, Miss Layla!" A light blush colored the new girl's cheeks as she turned around. "I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't be back here, but I got lost on my way back from the restroom. I'm afraid I have a terrible sense of direction."

Layla arched an eyebrow. A likely story.

"It's easy to get lost when you don't know your way around this place," Yuri said. "I remember back when I joined Kaleido Stage, I was ten minutes late for my first ballet class because I took a wrong turn and somehow ended up at the cafeteria instead."

"Really?" Kira giggled. "I hope I don't make the same mistake. Maybe you could give me and some of the other girls a tour after the show?"

"Yuri already has plans for later," Layla said, answering for him. "Besides, there should be a map provided in the handbook you were given at the auditions if you need any help finding your way."

"Oh, there is? I didn't realize," she said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Um… I should probably get back to my seat now. Good luck with the show!"

"Was that really necessary, Layla?" Yuri asked once Kira was out of earshot.

"What? Don't tell me you actually believe her excuse about getting lost." Did men lose all their brain cells whenever a pretty girl was involved? She thought Yuri was a shrewder judge of character than that.

"No, of course not. I know she snuck back here on purpose, but I seem to recall a certain blonde trapeze artist doing the same exact thing after our auditions, or have you forgotten?"

"H-How…I mean…That was…" It wasn't often that Layla was struck speechless, but how did he even know about that? She never told a soul about it, and she had been extra careful not to be caught, not wanting to get in trouble right after she achieved her dream of joining Kaleido Stage.

"I saw you, that day," Yuri said, answering her unasked question. "I happened to be leaving the men's room right at the moment you slipped through the door leading backstage."

"Well, that was different," Layla insisted with as much dignity as she could muster. "I kept myself hidden and didn't distract any of the performers from their preparations. I was just curious to see what happened behind the scenes. Kira snuck in specifically to see you."

Yuri frowned. "You don't know –"

"I do. She obviously has a crush on you."

"So what if she does?" he asked with a dismissive shrug of his shoulders. "Is it that big a deal? I have a lot of fans. We both do."

"I know that, but…"

Layla pivoted around and closed her eyes. She had to stop acting like this. Yuri wasn't her boyfriend. What he did with other women wasn't any of her business.

"Layla…" Coming up behind her, Yuri gently placed his hands on her upper arms. "Hey, is something bothering you?" he asked. "You've been acting strange ever since the auditions. Are you je–"

"Oh, Miss Layla, there you are," one of the stagehands said, interrupting Yuri before he could finish asking his question. "We're on in two. You need to get in position."

"I'll be right there," she said, straightening her posture as Yuri released his hold on her arms. "I'm fine," she added in a softer voice that only Yuri could hear. "Just forget about it. We have a show to do."

After the show, Yuri returned to his dressing room. Layla had yet to arrive. Assuming she planned to stop by her own room to change out of her costume and freshen up before coming over, he decided to take a quick shower while he waited.

As he lathered up, Yuri thought back to what had happened at the auditions and Layla's strange behavior afterwards. If he didn't know any better, he would think that Layla was jealous, but that was ridiculous. While Kira Voronova was a pretty enough girl with some talent, when compared to Layla, there was no contest. Kira was not a threat to her in any way.

Besides, even if he was attracted to Kira, he and Layla were not dating. She made it perfectly clear that he was allowed to sleep with other women if he wanted, so why would she care if Kira had a crush on him?

Sighing, Yuri squeezed a small amount of shampoo in his hand and rubbed it in his wet hair. If Layla was jealous, that could spell trouble for their arrangement. He hadn't slept with anybody else since he agreed to her "friends with benefits" idea, feeling no need to look elsewhere when Layla met almost all his desires, but what if the opportunity arose and he took it? Would Layla honor their agreement, or would she go to Kalos, demanding he be fired?

Maybe this was a sign that it was time for them to end things before things got too complicated…

"Yuri? Are you here?" Layla's voice called out from his dressing room, interrupting his thoughts.

"In the shower!" he shouted back. "Just wait there. I'll be out in a couple of minutes."

Yuri stood under the running water, closing his eyes as he rinsed the shampoo suds out of his hair. He was about to turn off the faucet when he heard the glass door slide open, someone joining him inside the enclosed stall. A pair of familiar arms wrapped around his waist from behind, her bare breasts pressed against his back.

"Mind if I join you?" Layla asked, her lips brushing his shoulder.

She wasn't playing fair. They needed to discuss what had happened earlier, but all the blood had rushed from Yuri's head, making it difficult to think of anything but his sudden arousal. Licking his lips, he swallowed, then pressed his palms against the tiled wall in front of him.

"Well, since you're already here…"

Slowly, Layla's hands wandered lower, finding his erection. Yuri sucked in a breath when she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, sliding her fists up and down in a continuous pumping motion. Over the past couple of months, she had gotten better at giving him handjobs – a lot better. She knew the exact amount of pressure he liked, her hands moving in perfect rhythm and giving ample attention to the head.

"Layla…" His voice shook, his breathing becoming uneven as he felt himself nearing the edge. "Layla, I'm—I'm co—"

She ignored his warning. With a shudder, he climaxed, his seed spilling onto the shower floor and down the drain.

"Layla…"

Layla released his cock and returned her hands to their original position, folding them over his stomach. For a long moment, neither of them said anything more, Yuri struggling to regain his breath as he slumped forward, completely spent.

"I-I'm sorry." She rested her forehead against the back of his neck. "About earlier… I-I don't know what came over me."

"It's fine. I was just surprised, that's all," Yuri said, covering her hands with his own. He took a deep breath before adding, "Are you sure this is still okay with you? Our arrangement?" He didn't want to end it, but if Layla was having second thoughts…

"Of course it is." Layla pulled back, letting go of her embrace, and reached for his washcloth. "Here, let me wash your back for you," she offered, rubbing the soapy washcloth over his shoulder blades. "Has there been anyone else, though? Since we started?"

Her voice was so low, Yuri could barely make out what she was saying over the sound of the water pelting down on him.

"Do you really want to know?"

A short pause followed.

"No. Never mind," she said, and he let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.

He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to answer her. A simple "no" would have gone a long way in tempering her apparent jealousy, assuring Layla that he had no interest in sleeping with Kira Voronova – or anybody else for that matter.

But if he admitted that… Yuri frowned, his mother's question from her last night in town replaying in his head.

Are you sure you're not in love with her, Yurochka?

"Yuri?"

The sound of his name startled him. Lost in thought, he had almost forgotten Layla was still there. Her hand reached around to his front side, wiping his chest with the washcloth.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine."

Pushing his mother's words to back of his mind where they belonged, Yuri turned around and took the washcloth from a surprised Layla's hand. He dropped it on the floor with a loud plop, then brought his hands to the side of her neck, kissing her.

"Your turn."

He maneuvered them so that Layla was the one under the stream of warm water and he was standing behind her. Yuri wasn't quite up for another round just yet, but he could at least return the favor. He reached over for the bottle of body wash sitting in the niche and squeezed out a generous portion, which he proceeded to rub over Layla's chest and abdomen. A soft moan escaped Layla's lips as Yuri cupped her breasts in his hands.

The body wash made her wet skin slick to the touch. Yuri massaged her chest, enjoying the slippery, soapy sensation he felt as he fondled and jiggled her perfect breasts. Her nipples hardened underneath his touch, and she arched her back against him, her moans becoming louder with desire.

Wordlessly, Layla's hands moved to cover his own. She pulled his right hand away from her breast, letting the water rinse away the remnants of soap that coated it. She then guided his hand downward, in between her slightly parted thighs.

Water was not the greatest lubricant, yet Yuri's fingers were easily able to slip inside her wet folds. While his left hand continued to play with her breasts, his right hand rubbed at her clit, Layla biting down on her bottom lip in an attempt to quiet the whimpers at the back of her throat. It didn't do much good. Tumbling forward, she braced herself against the wall, Yuri's name repeatedly falling from her lips as if she was chanting some sort of spell. He increased his pace, and soon Layla was crying out in ecstasy, her voice echoing off the tiled walls.

"Oh, God, that was amazing," Layla said, turning back around to face Yuri and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Yuri grinned, resting his hands on her hips. "I aim to please," he said, bringing his lips down to hers as the water continued to rain upon them.

Sex – that's all that was between them.

Right?

DISCLAIMER: Kaleido Star doesn't belong to me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yay, I managed to update on time! With the holidays coming up, I can't make the same promise for next month, but the next chapter is pretty close to done (and I'm super excited about it). If I don't post it next month, it should definitely be up shortly after the new year begins. I promise I have no intention of dropping this! In fact, it looks like it's probably going to be about twelve chapters in all, so we're almost two-thirds through.

Feel free to follow me on Tumblr. My username is kaleidodreams.