Disclaimer: I don't own Kaleido Star
Broken Promise
Chapter 7
That night I met May at the corridor of the dorms.
- Why are you smiling in that way? - she said curiously.
- Which way?
- I don't know...you look so joyful
- Really? - I said skeptically.
She nodded.
- May...sorry for what happened earlier. I wasn't mad at you.
- Don't worry...I know...but, don't say that I'm arrogant or egocentric again.
- I'll try...And did you master the technique or the trapeze or whatever it was?
- The screw jump! Yes I did! I'll beat Sora for sure! You must be there to see it.
- Okay...I'll be there, it's going to be on the training room, right?
- 10:00 am!
- 10 A.M? SO EARLY!
- Don't be lazy! But now tell me, why are you so happy?
- I'm not lazy! I'll tell you later - I said as I entered my room.
- Promise it!
- Okay, I promise.
And we took separate ways.
The next day I woke up at 9:30 am. I was late. I took a shower and got dressed as fast as I could.
I arrived to the training room just in time. Everyone was there. Kalos was sitting with Leon waiting for them to start.
- Rogue! You came to see Sora? - asked Marion.
- Of course
- NO! She came to see me! - yelled May.
- May! You have to compete in every aspect of life with Sora?
She didn't reply, I left her and approached to Sora. She looked pretty sick. I didn't get to know if she could practice at all.
- Sora! You don't look very well.
- I'm fine...don't worry - she said trying to smile.
- Sora you go first! - said Mia.
- Why Sora first? - cried May.
Sora failed. She felled before reaching the rope. She was really upset...and sick. I hugged her when she got down. I sensed everyone was looking at me, with bewilderment.
- What? She looks so vulnerable that I had to do it.
- Well...now is May's turn - said Mia.
May did it perfectly and graciously. She would be Mina Murray.
- Congratulations! You did it! But, well...Sora's sick - I said to May.
- Who cares? I WON! - she turned to Leon - Right Leon?
We noticed that Leon was just about to leave the room.
- LEON! I've won right? - asked May excited.
He turned his back to her.
- That was pitiful
- Not again... I said.
- Why? It was perfect! - argued May.
If a glance could kill somebody...May would have been murdered by Leon.
- You just defeated her...why are you so happy?
May didn't know what to say. Her face showed frustration.
Leon climbed to the trapeze. He did just what May did but a thousand times better. I didn't think that was possible. Everybody was amazed.
- That's so freaking awesome! - I said.
Leon approached to May.
- That's how you should have done it - said Leon coldly to her.
May was still shocked and speechless.
Leon was about to leave again, but Mia stopped him.
- Leon! Sora is sick! Give her another chance - Mia cried.
Leon was irritated. He began to insult everybody. Sora, May, Mia, everyone…even Layla and Kaleido Stage. I couldn't tolerate what I was hearing and I couldn't comprehend why no one tried to bring him to an end. Sora made an attempt to make him stop, but she was about to faint. I was perplexed, I approached to Leon and I was about to beat him...
- Rogue! Remember what I said before! - yelled Kalos.
I knew what he was talking about, if I beat Leon I would be fired. I couldn't do a thing and it was certain that Leon knew that, so he just stood there enjoying my frustration.
- I DESPISE YOU! - I yelled as I spat on his face.
He seemed unfazed.
- Rogue! – shouted someone.
- Don't tell me he didn't deserve that! He deserved that and much more!
After that, I got out as fast as I could. It was so frustrating. I was unable to do anything and, again, nobody had the guts to say something. Well, this time Sora was about to face him, but she couldn't. I thought the worst thing was that doubtless, May and Sora still wanted his approval.
I ran and ran until I was far enough from Kaleido Stage. Then I began to wander aimlessly. I was so heated that I began to punch a wall with all my strength. My fists were bleeding.
- I hate when this happens. - I noticed the darkness - its night already…I must go back.
I returned to the dorms and rushed to my room. May was there, sitting in front of the window. I closed the door silently.
- So you moved again? - I asked.
- ...yes - she replied mechanically.
- Are you depressed?
- ...Rogue! You are back! Where were you?
- I just...
May looked at me wide-eyed.
- YOUR FISTS ARE BLEEDING!
- You are so noisy!
- Why are they bleeding?
- You are making a fuss!
- You have left a blood trace.
- Are you serious? - I said as I looked back - It's true! Sarah will kill me...I must clean this mess.
- I'll help you...but cover your injuries first!
She went to the bathroom to grab some bandages. We covered my fists. Just when we were finished, someone knocked the door.
- There's someone at the door, you go check while I clean this - commanded May.
- Okay.
I opened the door; Leon was there so I shut the door on his face.
- Who was it? - asked May.
- Nobody.
- Really?
- Yes.
- Okay...now let's go to the corridor to clean.
- No!
- Why not?
- Because there's someone at the door.
- You said there was nobody!
- ...is Leon.
- Oh really? Maybe he's here to say that he accepts me as his partner!
- I don't think so…maybe he followed the blood trace.
- What shall we do?
- You must go and ask him why he is here.
- Me?
- Just go! - I said as I pushed her to the doorway.
May opened the door. Leon was still there.
- Leon, what do you want? Why do you dislike me? - she said desolately.
No answer.
- Why are you here?
He pointed out the blood trace.
- Oh, that...Rogue! It's for you.
- No! I'm not talking to him! - I shouted from the living room.
- She is not talking to you - she made a pause - Will you accept me as your partner?
- She will - he said and left.
- Leon, wait!
May entered the room, she was disenchanted.
- That was strange...
- Yeah
- What kind of relationship do you have with Leon?
- What do you mean?
- You know...you are the only one who dares to face him...you get mad at him and you are always fighting. I bet you are the only one who actually has a normal conversation with him. Also, he goes after you!
- So what?
- I don't know, but it's peculiar.
- Whatever, let's go to clean my mess.
Luckily, nobody beside Leon, saw the mess, we worked as fast as we could. After cleaning, we went to bed exhausted.
- Rogue...tomorrow...I've something planned to show Leon how I can shine!
- How?
- You'll see! Tomorrow, I'll take Leon and you...and anyone who wants to see...
- I can't!
- Why?
- I have to go somewhere - I said with my stupid smile.
- Where? - she seemed to put two and two together - Wait...that's why you were so happy right?
- Yes
- Is it a date?
- What? No way.
- Then?
- Maybe I can introduce him to you.
- I don't get it, you must tell me the whole story. Maybe tomorrow, I need to rest.
That day I woke up early. Even May was still around. She told me about her plan. I figured that I may have enough time to see her.
- Well...come with me! Help me find Leon.
- I don't want to - I cried.
- Rogue!
We searched for Leon everywhere; we even had to ask people about his whereabouts. Finally, someone told us that he was at the stage.
- Let's go! - she said as she pulled me.
May opened both doors.
- LEON!
Everybody was shocked by her random entry.
- LEON! Come with me! I'll show you my true shine!
- Right now? - asked Mia.
- Right now!
Leon, Mia, Anna, Ken, Sora and Marion followed May.
- Rogue, are you coming? - asked May.
- I don't think so; I must be back in 1 hour.
- We could be back by then.
- Are you sure?
- Not really.
- See?
- Okay...fine...see you, good luck on you date!
She didn't wait for a reply. Then, I noticed Leon was besides me. I ignored him and walked away.
I sat at the dorms entrance. After almost 45 minutes, Leon was back. If he was back, it meant that I could have gone too. However, he was the only one who was back. He was coming.
- Are you waiting for somebody?
I nodded.
- I'll wait with you.
I was not on the mood of getting into a fight, so I said nothing.
After 15 minutes, I saw him arriving.
- He's here! - I said as I ran towards him.
Leon stood where he was.
- JACK! YOU ARE HERE! - I said as I hugged him.
- Yes, I'm finally here. How's my pretty and beloved Rogue?
Leon's POV
- What's the meaning of this? - I couldn't stand it and left.
Rogue' POV
- Let's go to take some coffee.
- Yes!
We arrived at a coffee downtown. I noticed that it was the first time in a while, that I visited downtown. My life had been revolving around Kaleido Stage, the dorms and the path between them.
- Tell me dear, how's life in a circus and without school?
- I must say that is very enjoyable...but, things got complicated.
- Why?
- It's a long story, honey.
- My whole day is for you – he said with his striking smile.
- Okay…
I told him everything about Leon, May, Sora and well, everybody. I detailed my troubles with Leon, my somewhat friendship with May and the dilemmas Sora had. Also about the incident from the day before. Jack listened attentive.
- So that guy Leon loves you but he's a jerk and a weirdo - he concluded.
- I didn't say he loved me!
- He loves you, I'm sure.
- Come on...that can't be.
- But that's what I can tell after hearing all that, darling.
I had nothing to say.
- And...You love him too?
- No way.
- Are you sure?
- Why are you asking that? Of course I'm sure!
- Liar.
- I'm not lying.
- I know you very well and you know it.
- I hate that!
- I know.
- Stop it!
- Sorry Rogue, but your fights with him...
- I know...I felt so bad...but now I'm okay.
- Just after hurting yourself.
- So what? It worked.
- You are so stubborn my friend. Well, let's talk about other matters.
- Which matters?
- High school...you must finish high school!
- But I can't have this job and go to school at the same time! The school is too far!
- Then how are you planning to get into the Accademia Italiana or Istituto Magaroni or Polimoda or those schools?*
- I'll get a scholarship.
- Do you think it would be enough with a portfolio filled with your works?
- Of course!
- Is not that easy, honey. I'm not even sure why you left high school, you were about to finish it. You must finish!
- But how?
- Get an online tutor!
- Oh...the diabolo girl does that...I think it might work.
- See?
- Okay okay...I'll do it.
We talked about other issues in our lives and even about some memories. Time passed by without noticing. The waitress told us that they were about to close.
-It's late; I'll take you home - said Jack.
"Home" I never used that word before to refer to Kaleido Stage or the dorms. But it fitted.
We arrived to the dorms entrance. We stayed there a while, chatting. I could never have enough talking with that man. Suddenly, I noticed Leon coming.
- Give me a kiss! - I commanded.
- What? A kiss?
- Do it!
Jack was confused, but he saw that Leon was approaching, so he seemed to comprehend.
- I see...
We kissed. I opened my eyes to see if Leon was looking. He was, he got inside.
- Thanks Jack, and thanks for coming.
- You have some evil plan don't you? And you are welcome. It was good to see you again. Oh and Happy Birthday!
- But my birthday is in 3 weeks or more.
- But I might not be here. See you darling!
I stood in the entrance waving good-bye until he was out of sight. I sighed. It was time to get inside. I just crossed the door.
- Who was that? - asked Leon
- My boyfriend - I said triumphantly.
- Boyfriend? – he asked shocked.
- That's what I said! Gotta go! Good night! - I said distancing.
- Wait! – he yelled.
Author's notes:
Yes, I know that bleeding fists won't leave a blood trace in all her way back haha but you know, anime exagerates things...so I can do it too!
*This are real fashion design schools in Italy...I don't know much about them, I'm just aware of their existence.
I'm such a n00b! I didn't know I had to moderate reviews hahahaha I just saw them.
cami (neko-rin): thanks for reviewing each chapter! I agree with you! May was very annoying through the series, so I wanted to show another side of her. Also, I know it's coming very obvious (haha) that they met before...through the chapters, you will get clues of what happened...but the wholee story is coming in its own chapter...I haven't wrote it yet haha but it's all in my head, you'll see soon!