Kaleido Star and its characters belong to Gonzo and Juni'chi Sato.
Later, in the afternoon, they were all reunited in Kalos's office again. But this time Layla and Sora were also present. Ken too. He couldn't be there before because of his manager work. He was checking the stage cabin with John. Sora's accident, a month ago, changed their security politics.
Kalos talked first. "Richard called me and said you will now manage the foundation?" The Kaleido director was still unsure on how to take this new changement.
Layla was sitting in the long chair, legs crossed. Surprisingly, Sora was next to her. Glued to her arm but Layla didn't protest or gave a sign of disapproval. Yet no one could ignore Kalos puzzle look. It was a one seat chair. Only couple would share so little space. Or close friends Kalos said to himself. He refused to think otherwise.
"Yes but you'll mainly deal with Macquarie when it comes to law details." Layla said.
"Macquarie? Your old maid? When was the last time we saw her?" Asked a surprised Yuri. He was behind the counter bar looking at his laptop with an apprehensive face.
Cathy wondered why Layla made Macquarie back in her life. She really doubt someone could forget their first love so soon. It's hardly been two months.
"She needed some time after her car accident in New-York. Now she'll be my personal assistant. She's viewing some details at Hamilton Corp at the moment. She will fulfill her task in the foundation starting Monday." Layla explained clenching Sora's hand but purposely avoiding Léon guilt stare.
Mia noticed it and asked the Frenchman what was going on.
Léon hesitated while he glanced at Sora. Could he reveal something so serious to Mia before telling the truth to Sora. But maybe she could counsel him, he also thought. "Later." He answered.
"OK." Mia whispered. She sensed it was something serious.
"What about the cabaret?" Cathy questioned eventually.
"Nothing will change." Layla replied.
"That's not what I'm asking." Cathy tone wasn't high but still demanding. She stared at Layla defiantly but the blonde woman ignored it.
"I guess you'll have to find your own star if the concept is successful enough." She announced nonchalantly.
Sora observed Layla cautiously. She was impressed with the way her girlfriend could hide her true feelings in front everyone. But she knew how she was suffering deep down. She tighten her hold in a way to give all of her strength to Layla. The blonde woman needed her now more than ever and she wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt her more.
"Is it definitive?" Yuri wanted to confirm.
"Yes." Layla stated.
He couldn't hide his disappointment while Kalos was more intrigued. "What will you do then? Why did you fired Richard then?"
Layla glared at him with an irritated face. "The business of Hamilton Corp is none of your problem. Same with my free time."
Everyone in the room understood it was a touchy subject. No one dared to ask more.
"Can I ask Sora if she's interested in leading the cabaret?" Yuri scratched his hair while talking. He knew how hard it will be to find an actress able to top Layla or Sora. But the cabaret premiere will feature both of them. It was like asking a simple human to take after some goddesses.
"No." Layla responded before Sora could say anything.
"Maybe we could hear Sora's opinion?" Cathy suggested, ignoring Layla glare.
Sora glanced at Layla and knew how upset she would be if she even thought to accept Yuri proposal. "If Layla doesn't want to then I won't."
Kalos breathed of relief. After Carmilla, Sora participation in the cabaret will be an old memory. People will only see the friendly image she will give on stage.
Sarah didn't miss it but stayed silent. She was pained for Yuri who seemed sadder than a little boy who lost his favourite bear.
"If there is no more questions, we'll take our leave." Layla declared while getting up with Sora.
"Goodbye everyone!" Sora shout enthusiastically near the door.
Ken felt worried and relief at the same time. He was afraid of Sora accepting a bigger role in the cabaret. He heard Cathy and Mia talking about some of their future ideas. One of them implying a sex scene between the main man and woman role. Even if it was a play he didn't want to see or imagine Sora with another man in this position. But Layla's grasp on Sora mind made him uneasy. Anything the blonde woman said seemed like law for Sora. It was getting harder to suppress his jealousy. He wished he was in Layla's shoes.
He left Kalos office too, soon followed by Léon and Mia. Yuri came right after with Cathy leaving Kalos and Sarah alone again. The rest of the troupe was waiting in the upstairs hall. Several sofas were placed between a coffee table. The enormous glass wall gave a beautiful view of the entrance way of the Kaleido. You could observe the spectators enjoying an impromptu show downstairs by Marion and Jonathan, while waiting for the next representational of Mulan. The last of the day.
They didn't have much time thought Mia. She let Ken explain the situation to everyone while forcing Léon to follow her downstairs. They found an empty lodge and locked themselves inside.
"OK, tell me everything." The Netherlands girl said while sitting in a sofa.
Léon preferred to stand. He quickly narrated the New work events and shared his worries about saying the truth to Sora.
"Oh my…" Mia wasn't so surprised to learn about Macquarie love for Layla. But the way Layla dealt with the situation disappointed her. She didn't like to see Sora in the dark. Yet at the same time when they tried to give some advice to Sora it backfired. "Grrh! We have to tell her" She finally concluded.
"You sure?"
"Yes. But after their Vegas trip. Sora is really excited about it." Mia didn't want to ruin it.
"I agree." Léon said, still apprehensive.
That night, Layla was lying on the side, enveloped by Sora's arm, in their bedroom. The Japanese girl was comforting her, stroking her hair, giving her slight kiss on the head from time to time, whispering nice words on her ears. The blonde woman felt at peace, her face against Sora's breast. She wished she could stay this way forever. She wished they could forget the world surrounding them. Be selfish. After all, she hadn't much to lose.
She slowly fell asleep. Sora wait a few minutes before leaving their bed. She went downstairs with her phone and called Richard. She needed to know the whole story to understand everything. Lays wasn't in a state to talk, so she had no other choice.
"Good night, Sora. I guess Layla is not near you?" Richard didn't seem the least surprised by Sora's call.
"Yes. She's sleeping. I'm in the living room. I- I'm-" She hesitated. She actually didn't know where to start.
"Just take care of Layla. My past mistakes are my own problems." Richard voice seemed neutral but Sora could hear a hidden sadness.
"But they're not anymore. Layla became a performer to bring back a joyful memory. The one when you all got to see Alice in the wonderland at the Kaleido stage." Sora explained.
"Alice in th-." A realization hit Richard. He remembered too. Hamilton Corp was growing slowly, too slowly at his taste. But his wife persuaded him to forget work for a while and follow them for a family show. "So that's the reason. She never told me." He made a pause, lost in his thoughts. "But I don't see how I can make up for the past. Edward already won. It was foolish of me to think he would summon the assembly without a master plan."
"Edward?" Asked a lost Sora.
"Layla's maternal grandfather." Richard revealed. "Edward Spencer."
"Wait? Spencer? Like Arch-"
"Yes. Archibald and Layla are distant cousins." Layla's father admitted.
"I don't understand. I just don't understand why a man would hurt his granddaughter in the worst possible way." Sora sat loudly in the sofa to digest the new information.
"It's a long story." Richard stated.
"I'm listening. It's for Layla. I want to know everything." Sora didn't want to dig on Layla's life without her knowing but she hadn't any other choice.
"Fine." Then Richard started to narrate their story.
A young man and his father were gardening some sheeps in a beautiful green prairie. But the blond youngster seemed unsatisfied.
His father sighed and hit the ground loudly with his cane. "Stop this Richard. We already discussed that. You're my only son. I need you to take after the domain!"
The young man had enough and let it go. "So you want me to be stuck in those lost lands just because our ancestors decided to settle here centuries ago! I'm not! I won't let the past imprisoned me!"
"This land is all we have left. How can I face my ancestors if I sell it just so you can study in some american university." Conrad was tired of the same discussion. He didn't understand why the campaigns lost their young force in favour of bigger towns. What's wrong with taking of your family legacy? They may not be as rich as some other aristocrats but they still had their name and history. No one could steal it from them. No money could buy it. And yet his son seemed obsessed with money and power.
Richard stared at his father through the eyes. "So it's still no?" He asked one last time.
Conrad looked puzzled by his son tone. "No. We can't sell the land. No matter what."
"Fine." The young man simply said while looking at the sheep. "You can go back home. Mother has probably finished the dinner. You know she likes to share it with you while it's warm."
"What about you?"
"I'll wait until the sheep finish their own meal."
Conrad tapped his son's shoulder as a thankful gesture. "One day you'll understand why I did this." He then took his leave in his slowly pace.
When he was far away, Richard turned back with a pensive face. "Maybe. But not today."
A few years after, he was listening a course from a man he always admired.
"And don't forget. You may be students of one of the best business school of the United-States if not the world but it's only the start. Ambitions, creativity and most of all connections will determine your future as a successful businessman." Edward Spencer scanned the whole amphitheater and felt satisfied. He was unsure when he agreed to make this course but exchanging with youngsters gave him a new challenge. Some of them might be his future opponents. Only some. Only a few gathered the three conditions to succeed among the best businessmen. "That's all for today." He closed his notebook. "Don't forget the garden party, this Saturday. My wife and daughter are unusually happy to welcome you." Edward checked his watch and thought he could take one two more questions. "Ok. I'll answer at some questions until the bell rings."
Immediately a lot hands arised. One his favourite students was among them. "Yes, Richard?"
"Thanks, sir. Could you please explain the meaning behind connections? I'm not sure to understand?"
Edward ignored some laughs from other students. Richard was from Scotland and some american students found his accent funny. They will stop laughing when they will have to beg him for a job, Edward thought. He wasn't a professional teacher but he knew how to acknowledge a brilliant future. "We'll talk about it in my office at home, if you don't mind. Another question?" He said, looking at his audience.
"That's not fair! We want to know too! We payed for the same course!"
"No you didn't!" Edward raised his voice which made an echo with the speaker. "My course is free and optional for all students of the school. There is no test either. We already talk about connections at the start of the school year. I have nothing more to add as speaker. We'll stop the lesson here. Good day everyone." He then left by the door behind his desk.
"An american businessman should help an american student. Not that scottish farmer boy!" Exclaimed one student.
"Yeah!"
Richard ignored them and left the amphitheater, followed by a redhead guy.
"Don't worry about them. They're jealous and racism is the last resort of losers." The man explained with wide smile.
"I don't understand. I'm older than them. I worked five whole years to pay this school. And I still don't understand some definitions." Richard was frustrated. Despite Alistair's words he didn't feel enviable.
"You passed too much time in that little prairie of yours in Scotland. But don't worry. When it comes to connections no one knows better than my sister." Alistair put his arm on Richard's shoulder and force him to follow him to the cafeteria. "Let's eat something. I'm inviting you."
"I'll repay wi-"
"With interests. Yeah, I know." They sat in a little table for two. "My father has taken a liking on you. So has my sister and my mother. That's how connections work."
Alistair made a little smirk while pouring salt in his salad. "Why do you follow my father's course?"
Richard made an upsetting face as if he felt insulted. "Because he is Edward Spencer, from Spencer communications! He built an empire from nothing. I want to follow his paths!"
Alistair couldn't help a laugh. "Well, let me tell you secret. The man you admire is not the one you think. Did you already hear this story?" The redhead man lowered his voice and got closer to Richard. "The story of a young man who drugged a young girl to make her pregnant. And then to avoid any scandal her family forced her to marry him. What does the young man win? A famous name taken seriously in the business world and money to start his project. That's what father intends when he talk about connections." When he finished his story, Alistair took his fork and eat an egg with the same smile, Richard always found strange.
Now he understood why. It wasn't a smile of happiness. How could it be? "I'm sorry." That's all he could say.
"Don't be. Just keep it for yourself. My sister doesn't know and my mother has erased it from her memory." Alistair seemed pensive while playing with his fork. "I just don't want you to become like him. You're a good guy. Never forget it when you'll marry my sister."
"Your sister? I'm not-"
"Yes you will. It's my father plans. He always get what he want. I'm just a failure to him so he's looking for someone to succeed him. And it's seem it's you. Why would he invite you in his private office otherwise?" Alistair stared at Richard without any smile for the first time. "Just don't hurt her, okay? She's my only light in this weird family. My only angel. If you hu-"
"Who are you talking to?"
Sora turned suddenly to face her girlfriend. "Layla? I wa-" She interrupted herself. What could she say?
"Pass her to me." She heard Richard asked.
"Are you sure?"
"Who is it?" Inquired Layla while approaching. It was 10 p.m. Who could she talk to at this hour?
Sora passed her phone while she made a puzzle look. Yet she took it and listened to her father's voice. She listened for a while without saying anything. She could feel Sora hopeful stare but she crushed her hopes with her only words. "Don't ever call or approach her. That's my last warning." Her tone was low but still menacing.
Layla turned off Sora's phone but kept it.
"That's my phone. Give it back!" Sora said, trying to get back her phone.
But Layla was taller and stronger. She put Sora's arms behind her back and tightened them with one hand in a strong hold. "Who asked you to call him?"
"No one. I don't need any autorisation." Sora said defiantly. She knew Layla was suffering but what Richard told changed the whole story. Layla couldn't trust a rapist's words. Even if she didn't know what exactly happened with Layla's mother, at least she knew richard wasn't the worst monster. She tried to get rid of Layla's hold but she couldn't even move. She started to feel pain. "Layla it's hurting. Please stop."
Layla's eyes grew rapidly as realization hit her. She hastily let go of her hold. "I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you. Especially after…" She stared at her hand and felt horrified.
"It's okay. You listened. I know you didn't mean it." Sora got closer and tried to reach Layla's face with her hand but the blonde woman prevented her from doing it.
She caught her hand and looked at Sora intensely. "Maybe. Maybe it's genetic. I may hurt you to if I stay with-"
"No! No! Please don't say it!" Sora got closer and joined their bodies in an embrace. "We'll get through it. I know it. Don't worry!"
All strength left Layla and she freed Sora's hand. She hold back the Japanese girl and let her tears flow.
They stayed in this position for a while before getting back to bed for a dreamless sleep.
A week passed. They were in the gymnasium. All the crew was training for the new show. Anna was quite excited to play Lumière while Jy Sung will play Gaston. Rosetta couldn't help a laugh imagining him in this perfect role.
"Why are you laughing?" May asked. "Are you that happy to play mean sister number two?"
Rosetta laughed harder. "Probably more happy than you about mean sister number one."
May feigned vexation. "You should be nicer with me, dear sister."
The redhead girl kept laughing, soon joined by all the crew.
"Well, I'm happy to see everyone laughing." Sora said with a warm smile. "Let's stop there for today." She jumped with easiness on the tatami.
"It likes you've never been hurt." Mia said with admiration. "I was afraid we asked you too much."
"I'm perfectly fine. I can manage everything. I'm quite impatient about Carmilla as much as getting back in the Kaleido scene." Sora told while accepting a towel from Ken. "Thanks Ken."
"You're welcome. Take this too." He showed her an energy drink, she gladly took.
"Unfair! What about us?"
"There are drinks and towels in this box." Ken replied coldly while showing a box behind him.
"Aren't you the manager to all of us?"
"That's not my job. Sora is the star. There is no favour here." He simply explained.
Then a cough could be heard. It came from Léon. He seemed quite menacing.
Sora just found the situation amusing. "Thanks Ken for your help but I think I'll do everything myself from now."
"No need to go there. Take that!" Mia took a bottle in the bow and threw it with lot of strength to Léon.
The object hit him right in the in the stomach. He didn't react at first. No one dared to move, waiting. Then he picked up the bottle and played with it a few seconds before aiming to Mia, ready to throw it back with as much strength.
The Netherlander girl didn't think twice before running away from the Frenchman as if her life was in danger. "See you later!" She shouted followed by Léon.
"Was Léon smiling?" Sora asked a little bewildered.
"What! No way! I don't think he would even know how to make a grimace." Jy Sung said while shaking his head. Somehow, the thought of a smiling Léon gave him goosebumps.
"Why is no one working? You're paid to train until 12. There's still five minutes left." It was Layla in her business suit. Since she took the management of the foundation she checked the performers work everyday.
"Yes m'am!" Everyone got back at work for the last five minutes.
"You too!" Layla said staring at Sora.
Her girlfriend just laughed. "You don't have to play the tyrant everyday. They worked hard."
"I don't like to be defy by a subordonnee. In my office now. You need to remember some rules." Layla the left the gymnasium followed by a still amused Sora.
"Poor Sora!" Someone said.
"Yeah." Someone else agreed.
Rosetta, on the other hand, didn't share their view. Training again with Sora was a bliss and she felt quite happy a few minutes before. Why did she feel like losing all of her energy suddenly?
Hi,
Sorry for being a little late. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.