A/N: And this is going to be my Kaleido Stage fan fiction! It begins only minutes after the completion of episode 26, after Sora and Layla complete the Legendary Great Maneuver. Only in my fiction, Layla never comes up to Sora after she breaks the news about her arm. Someone else finds her, instead. As soon as the second season officially comes out on DVD this will be consider an A/U, as it won't follow with that story line at all, except for maybe a few things (Layla going to Broadway, for example.) I hope you all enjoy my telling of the events and what happens after season one.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.

Chapter One - Emotion

They hurt, the sounds of her cries, more then anything he thought possible. With each of the many tears that fell so freely down her face it felt as though someone stabbed a freshly sharpened knife straight into his chest, aiming at his heart. Each time he began to think that the pain had finally ceased, another tear would fall and he would be proven wrong.

"Sora…" Her name, a soft whisper from his lips, full of shocked concern. What had happened between the time she and Layla had completed the Legendary Great Maneuver and now?

Just as soon as he was able he had hurried at a quick jog, bordering on a run, to where he knew she always exited stage left. He wanted to catch her before all the rest arrived, a near impossible task but one he had been sincerely hoping to accomplish. As he had watched she and Layla perform that night, so many different emotions had rolled through him. He had been excited for the fact that tonight was the night, nervous as he watched the two performers rise higher and higher into the air, downright terrified as he watched them swing back and forth so far from the ground without a lifeline, filled with breathless wonder and amazement as he watched them complete the maneuver, and then once again fearful as they separated that one of them would miss their trapeze bar.

For a sheer moment in time, as Layla and Sora launched themselves away from one another, there was complete silence in the large stadium that was Kaleido Stage. Then, just as soon as the girl performer's fingers grasped their trapeze bar it was as if a storm had broken. People were on their feet, screaming, whistling, clapping, making any type of noise they possibly could. He himself had been smiling like a mad man, bringing his hands together again and again until they stung, screaming and calling with all the rest. Around him the rest of the Kaleido Stage cast and crew were in an uproar as well. Anna and Mia had grabbed one another and began jumping up and down, screaming into each other's faces their excitement. Marion had grabbed the seal pup Jonathon by his two front flippers and swung him about in dizzy circles, laughing as joyously as he had ever heard her. Kalos was the only one who had been able to hold onto his emotions. He simply stood a short distance away from everyone else, a smile on his lips, hands clapping almost lazily as if he was witness to an act such as had just been preformed every day. He didn't think anything would ever shake Kalos' cool exterior.

It was while everyone else was so busy in their own personal celebrations that he had quietly slipped away and began to make his way to the stage left wings. As he moved through the familiar backstage area of Kaleido Stage, his heart felt full to bursting. Pride and joy for Sora and Layla's accomplishment, relief that everything had gone correctly, happiness a being able to witness such an act…love for the bubbly, pink haired acrobat girl. All he wanted to do was find Sora and wrap her in his arms, to give her the tightest hug possible and tell her just how proud he was of her, how excited. He had been expecting to find her in high spirits with a smile to rival the sun's own radiance beaming from her face, shining in her eyes. Maybe there would be tears, but they would be happy tears, excited tears.

He had never expected the scene that was before him. To find her so broken.

And why?

"Ken? Ken, where are you?" The show director's voice in his ear, sounding scratchy through the headset he still wore. In the background he could hear the sounds of a party going on. "Ken, they need yo -"

With the flick of a finger he flipped the switch for the telex pack at his belt off, cutting off the other man in mid-sentence. Yes, the director was right. Someone did need him, but it wasn't who the man thought it was. Ken was already where he needed to be. A choked sob broke his thoughts, sending a fierce stab of pain to his heart. Settling his startling blue eyes on Sora, he watched as the seemingly ever-smiling performer slowly slid down the wall she leaned against, curling her body in on itself. She now sat on her heels, body curled into a tight ball of pain. The image was too much, and the young stage manager had to close his eyes against it. Drawing in a deep breath he forced himself to re-open his eyes to the scene once again, and then began to step forward.

"Sora…" His voice was soft, to soft to be heard over the sounds of her despair. Repeating his previous action of closing his eyes and drawing in a breath he tried again, forcing his voice louder. "Sora." The sobbing stopped, he had made himself heard. Opening his eyes again he looked down to find her looking up at him, a slightly startled look on her face. Her wide brown eyes were now puffy and bloodshot, her face was tearstained, her skin blotchy and red. Her lower lip trembled violently, and he watched as she carelessly wiped an arm across her freely running nose.

"Ken?" She questioned, voice scratchy and weak. Nodding he squatted down in front of her.

"Ya."

For a moment she just gazed at him, eyes watery and glazed, reflecting nothing but pure heartbreak. Then she blinked, and he watched as new tears welled up in those twin brown orbs.

"Oh Ken! Layla…She…she…" And that was all she got out before another sob tore it's way out of her throat. Next thing he knew he was struggling to keep from toppling over onto his back. Sora had launched herself at his body, seeking someone to comfort her. She was on her knees before him now, butt resting against her heels, face pressed against his chest, hands grasping at the fabric of his shirt. Already he could feel her tears soaking through the thin cotton, warm and wet against his skin. Carefully he changed his position until he sat with his legs folded beneath his body, his arms wrapped about her back and shoulders. Gently he began to rock back and forth, trying to sooth the girl in his arms.

"Shhh…it's okay. Everything's ok…." He whispered softly into her hair, mind working. He still didn't know what had happened to bring Sora to such a state, but she had given him a clue. Layla. This all had something to do with Layla. How badly he wanted to ask her just what had happened, but knew that she was in no state to answer his question. He would have to find the answer later. For now, he would just be there for Sora, offering what comfort to her he could for a reason he didn't yet know.

He wasn't sure how long he sat with her, simply rocking her back and forth there on the concrete floor, whispering soothingly to her hair. Probably only a few mere minutes, though to him it seemed much longer. When someone finally had come upon them it was, of course, Sora's two best friends. Anna and Mia rounded the corner at a run, intent on finding Sora, and had come to a sudden stop upon catching sight of the pair on the floor. Mia was the first to react, with Anna not a second behind. Quickly she took the last few steps that would bring her to Ken and Sora's side.

"Oh my…Ken, what happened?" Mia asked as she squatted down on the left side of Sora, carefully resting a hand on her friend's back. Anna quickly mirrored the blonde girl on Sora's other side. Each wore the same look of deep concern. Ken shook his head, sending shaggy blond strands of hair into his face.

"I don't know. I came back here and found her like this." He explained as Sora shifted in his arms. Lifting her head she glanced first at Mia, then at Anna, softly muttering each name as she did so. "Do you think you could help her back to one of the changing rooms? I don't think anyone else -"

Before he could finish the thought Mia was already in action, coaxing Sora up with gentle words as Anna turned to Ken.

"We'll get her someplace private, you go find out what happened." She ordered, glancing at the blue-eyed boy for only a moment before settling her eyes on her two friends. "Find us when you find out what happened?"

"Don't worry. I will."

With a nod of her head Anna moved off toward the duo without another word, and then the three slowly made their way down the hall towards the dressing rooms, Sora leaning heavily on Mia. Ken watched them for a moment before turning and heading back towards where he knew he would find everyone else.

He had a question for a certain blue-eyed blonde woman that needed an answer.