Kaleido Star and all of its characters belong to Jun'ichi Sato and Gonzo.
Like any friday night, Vegas was crowded under the lights of the famous Strip in the south of Las Vegas Boulevard.
And at that same moment Layla Hamilton was amused. She was sitting in a stool, drinking some cocktail inside the hotel hall casino, next to the paying machines. But she wasn't the one having fun with it. Her girlfriend, Sora Naegino, was loosing, turn after turn. And yet she didn't gave up. Still believing in her luck.
"It's been half and an hour, Sora. My stomach need real food, not just drinks." Layla said in a tone that couldn't hide her boredom. They enjoyed their hotel room for straight five hours before heading to the hotel casino and be entertained by some games. But now, hunger strike the blond woman.
"You can drink for me too since I can't. But just one more turn, Layla. This time I'll win." Sora pleaded with hope.
"Just once. It's almost 9 pm." Layla allowed. She then got up from her stool and whispered something in Sora's ears, making the girl blush. Satisfied from her effect on Sora, Layla made a smirk before taking a chip on Sora's hand and putting it in the slot machine. "Let's do it together this time." She suggested as she put her hand on Sora's one that already was on the handgrip.
The gesture made Sora smile happily. She wanted to do it since they arrived but thought the woman wouldn't be interested. "At three." She simply said. "One, two, three!"
They both pulled out the handle at three with a perfect synchronicity. Sora was quite content to see they still has it as partners. The result didn't matter. She just wanted to have fun with Layla.
"Oh my- !" Layla started still doubtful.
"What !" Sora didn't believe it either. She looked again at the slot machine after scrubbing her eyes but the result was the same.
An enormous amount of coins got thrown from the slot machines. "We won!" Sora shout. Some other players got distracted by her victory sound and stared at her, a little envious.
Layla was still dumbfounded by their luck and couldn't hide her surprise. "Well, I guess we visit a strip bar tonight."
Now it was Sora time to be startled. She thought Layla was joking earlier with her indecent but exciting proposal. "We're really going there? Tonight?" Sora asked as a confirmation.
Layla sighed while she recollected all the chips in a recipient to exchange it with real money. "It would be bad karma to not fulfil a promise." Yet she had some bad luck lately she also thought.
Sora got up instantly. "Let's go, then!" She said enthusiastically while holding Layla's left arm in a close embrace as they left the paying machines.
"Let's eat something before." Layla was always astonished at Sora's unpredictable temper.
"Can't we just grab something in th-" They arrived at the cash service but it was quite crowded. Sora pouted loudly. She didn't think Vegas would be so noisy. "How long for it?"
"A few minutes. Ten at worst." Layla answered, less annoyed than her girlfriend.
Sora looked around them and recognized her neighbour at the slot machines. He was less lucky than them as his light bag showed.
Sora suddenly smiled at him. The man responded awkwardly and felt a little troubled before Sora took their bag full of chips from Layla's hands to give it to the man behind them. "It's for you, sir. Have a nice night at Vegas!" She told while training a bewildered Layla out of the waiting line. "Let's get some food, then let's enjoy some dancing!"
The man was so surprised he didn't have time to react while the two women already disappeared in the crowd.
Léon and Mia arrived near the Kaleido dorms. They didn't say a word until they reached the Kaleido enclosure. It was slightly quiet. People were sleeping in their rooms or went out somewhere.
"Do you want to go inside to talk?" Mia suggested showing the dorms hall. There was no light as it was unoccupied.
"Yes." Léon answered quietly. He hadn't look at her since they left the cabaret. But he was decided. No matter what he couldn't turn back.
They passed the sliding glass door and entered in the hall while the lights turn on automatically. They sat down on a couch at a social distance yet they were facing each other.
Mia waited until he was ready to talk. She wasn't sure of his feelings since Manami was the one to spill them. But she knew they wouldn't walk until here for nothing. And more importantly, she wasn't sure of her own feelings. She might have dreamt of it but never hoped it could come true. It was some fantasy any teenage girl can have about a mature man. And very handsome added a voice in her head.
"I-" Léon started, staring at her intensely. "I-" He tried again but nothing more came from his mouth. He clenched his right hand furiously. That wasn't him. He may never have been the best boyfriend but he wasn't a coward. He liked this girl and wanted to know her more. Simple. Why couldn't he say it?
He hit the wall the couch was put against in frustration. The gesture startled Mia. He saw it and immediately regretted it.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to- I mean I-" He sighed loudly. He was babbling again.
That's when Mia understood. Light hit her head. Manami didn't lie. Léon really had some feelings her. She couldn't believe it. How was it possible? He had a large pool of choice when it came of women. She observed him more closely and saw his uneasiness. What was he afraid of? Suddenly, Manami's words played on her head again.
She stroked her hair and glanced at him from the side before talking. "Anna and I are not an item. She is my best friend and sometimes it might feel more but I just love her." She then fiercely looked at him. "As a friend." She added with a smile.
The sweetest smile, Léon thought. Nothing stopped him then. Not even his conscience.
It was fast. Mia couldn't react as Leon was over her. He leaned on her and used his weight to lie her down on the couch for a sudden kiss.
But what surprised more Mia was the tenderness of his kiss in contrast of the strongness of his embrace. How many times did she dream of her first kiss with such good-looking man! Never did she hope it would be the man who was staring at her with such lovely eyes.
"I'm sorry for kissing you without your consent. But I'm not a man of words." He explained but still restrained her from moving or escaping his hold. He then whispered on her ear. "I can move or I can show you more of my feelings."
Mia was speechless. How unfair he was to her. As if she has any choice. "It was my first kiss you know? I'm not sure things can work if you want to go that fast. I-"
"I'm not here for here for sex only! I can have plenty of it with other women." He said a little offended but the frown upon Mia face showed him he said too much. "I mean I really like you and want to know you better. I'm not in any hurry." He explained distinctly, more at ease than a few minutes earlier.
Mia glanced at him doubtfully. "That's not what your body is telling me."
"That's a normal reaction from a man close to the woman he likes. I can control it. Don't worry." The French man replied with more self confidence.
"I prefered you before. Now you're too confident. I don't like it." Mia said pouting her lips. "And who said I like you back!" She tried to get up but Léon disagreed.
He grinned at her from his position. "Well, I guess you're stil inexperienced. But I don't want to wait so I'll just have to teach you." He approached again dangerously but instead of the kiss Mia anticipated, he just put his forehead against hers.
The Netherlander girl was lost.
Then Leon spoke. "Mia Guilhem, would you be my girlfriend?"
She opened her mouth in surprise but didn't say a word at first. She didn't see it. But when she recouped her thoughts to finally talk, he stopped her with a finger.
"Before you say yes - and I know you will- we will not hide from anyone. I don't play those games." He said with a over confident smirk.
Mia was about to protest but decided against and gave up. He can have his victory today. But only today. "Just kiss me."
And he obeyed gladly.
The same night, in Rosetta's room, Fool and May were playing a card game in strange conditions. Indeed, unlike the Belgian girl, The Chinese girl couldn't see the spirit stage. But both were bored and choose to play a war card game on Rosetta's kitchen table. Both girls were facing each other with Fool sitting near his deck card in front of Rosetta.
Both deck were at the same size. And yet the game started half and an hour ago. The battle was quiet equal. They settle on this game since Rosetta didn't participate and there was no need to talk to each other. It didn't stop the spirit stage of the Kaleido scene to react too loudly in Rosetta's mind when he won a battle.
Since Sora moved out and with Rosetta recently bad temper, Fool felt quite lonely. Too bad May wasn't chosen by the scene of the Kaleido since she made a better game partner.
"Haha! Battle!" Two eights were drawn, at Fool pleasure. He loved those battles.
"Why are you so happy?" Rosetta asked. She didn't like luck games since lady luck was never on her side.
"Let him be. He'll soon change his tune." May warned while slowly putting a card face hidden on her own eight.
"Tell this presumptuous girl that a fool is glued to luck!" Fool shouted while copying May's gesture, with more energy.
Rosetta repeated the stage spirit words with less spirit.
As a response, May drew her third card and put it face shown with content. It was a spade ace. She could felt her victory. Since they couldn't play forever, it was decided it will be the last battle. "Seem the stage spirit used all his luck."
But Fool stayed serene. He believed in his own chance. He replicated May and drew an another ace. The diamond one. "Yes! No one beat me in this game."
Rosetta was stunned. How was it possible? "You didn't use some magic, did you?"
"Not in my perimeter." The stage spirit replied.
May, on the other hand, was defeated. She quickly drew her two card unconvinced. "Pff. A stupid club jack."
"Why are you unhappy? It's a good card." Rosetta asked when Fool drew his own cards.
He pulled a two. A heart two. "Unbelievable!"
"No way!" May didn't believe in her own luck. "I won! I won!"
Rosetta had to admit the unpredictability of the game was quite fun. Just like life she thought. She took Fool's last card and observed it closely. Two hearts. "Can people fall in love several times?" She suddenly asked.
May lost her victory smile in a whim. Of course it has to go there. "Not Sora." She responded harshly.
But Rosetta wouldn't give up. "How can you be so sure?" She asked defiantly.
Fool observed the exchange between the two girls before sighing. "Let's ask the tarots then." He suggested.
"Good idea!" Rosetta yelled.
"What?" May didn't hear Fool proposal.
"Fool will ask tarots."
"Well, maybe we'll be fixated this way." May hoped.
The stage spirit started to inquired the card as usual and picked the one fate chose. "The Moon Reversed. Things are uncertain. Patience is required. Doubt surrounds everything. A break might be necessary or someone life will be in danger."
"What?!" Shouted both girls at the same time.
"Who?" Rosetta demanded. "Are you saying Sora might die because of Layla? Answer it now!"
May could just wait as she didn't see any action of Fool nor heard any of his words.
The spirit stage face seemed more serious than before. He reflected a long time on the meaning of the card. "I'll ask the crystal ball." He finally decided. But he didn't like the results when he summoned it.
"What is the meaning Fool. I just see shadow." Rosetta inquired, still worried.
"Sora is fine."
Rosetta's heavy sigh of relief could be heard by her neighbors, as she repeated Fool's words to May.
"But what about Miss Layla then?" The Chinese girl requested.
Unfortunately, Fool refused to say more. He actually regretted agreeing in Rosetta's request. Before Rosetta could ask more, he disappeared in the night from the balcony, leaving both girls perplexed by his revelations.
Hi everyone, I apologized for the very very long delay. I let a little message on profile. This is not the full new chapter, just an appetizer. The second part (much longer) will be there in two months.
I hope I answered everyone in PM. PM if I forgot.
I will not answered any guest review from now. Some are unfriendly and suspicious. Please understand. Thanks for reading.