Disclaimer: I don't own Kaleido Star

Broken Promise

Chapter 16

Cathy and Layla were still around Kaleido Stage, probably they were not returning to Broadway even though Kaleido Stage was in hiatus. They told me that May asked them for a special training during the free time. Cathy said that she felt pity for May...probably she was impossible but they were willing to try anyway.

Apparently, Sora recovered her spirit to perform in the stage; I'm not sure about the things that brought her to that. But as I predicted, she was taking any chance to get into the stage again.

That chance appeared as if it was called. Cathy told me that she introduced to Mia a special show requested by Mr. Kenneth, the investor of Kaleido Stage. It was the chance for Sora to perform again.

They didn't have much time to prepare the show; however, it called for improvising, so it wasn't a problem. I got to see the show; it was car show combining acrobatics and a show of clowns. It was an amusing show, different from what I was used to see in the regular shows of Kaleido Stage. Sora and May had the opportunity to improvise a lot during their act, but perhaps May wasn't too used to that. Sora seemed to have so much fun during her performance, while May was off rate. As the show progressed, she seemed to finally recover and was having fun too. It was the first time I saw her enjoying performing.

I visited Leon regularly, in one my visits I met Sora. I was just arriving, while she was leaving.

- Rogue! You came to see Mr. Leon?

- Hi Sora! No…

- No? Then, why are you here? Are you sick? – she asked worried.

- No! I'm not sick!

She stared at me.

- Okay, you caught me, I came to see Leon – I confessed.

- You are good friends right? – she asked smiling.

Good friends…

- What are you talking about? – I asked.

- I have seen both of you chatting around Kaleido Stage and the dorms…and you don't fight anymore! That's really nice!

- I guess so…

- Rogue, do you know who's Sophie? Leon only told me she passed away…

- Sophie was Leon's partner…

- That's what I thought…but, what happened to her?

- I don't know…I'm late…See you later!

- Huh? Okay Rogue! Byee!

I ran towards Leon's room.

- Sora just left – he said.

- Yeah, I met her in the entrance.

- She brought flowers; she told me again about her dream and their recent performance…Then, she asked about a Sophie…

- She asked me too…

- What did you said to her?

- Nothing.

- Fine.

The Kaleido Stage performers were called by Rosetta's mother to star in a circus in France. Sora, Anna, Mia, Sarah, Ken and May were going to France with Rosetta. May told me that she was trying to change, to smile more and to discover what was "that" which Sora had and she didn't.

I was left alone once again. It was sad that during longs breaks or whenever Kaleido Stage had to close its doors, I had nowhere to go. I never felt there was a place in which I belonged to.

After a few days, May phoned me.

- Rogue! How are you? You should have come with us!

- Hi May, I'm fine and you? I'm not a performer; I was not called for that.

- I'm good…oh, that's right…sorry.

- So?

- I have been realizing some things…I think I have finally decipher what I lacked.

- Really? Congratulations!

- Yeah… - she said apathetic.

- What happened?

- We met a strange man.

- Who?

- Alan Reuben, a man considered the best trapeze coach…he was Leon and Sophie's coach…

- Uh…and what happened?

- He told us the story from 10 years ago. Sophie was Leon's sister, their parents died and they stayed with some relatives, but were "given" to that man. He became their stepfather. They were awesome students, but…Guess what?!

- What… - I asked unmoved.

- He told us that Sophie was way better than Leon, and that he thought that Leon wasn't the right partner for her! He told us that he was trying to make them perfect the Angel's Maneuver. But Leon couldn't do it! He lacked strength to lift Sophie. But, one day…Leon did it! And this man told us, that he began to understand the secret behind the maneuver. So, he put Sophie through a harsh training. Apparently, Leon didn't agree with that, because the training was too hard for Sophie and she was always tired. But Sophie never complained, she was determined to master the maneuver. Since she thought that the maneuver would unite…

- The hearts of both audience and performers alike…just like a great family…

- How do you know? – she asked.

Silence

- Well, yeah…that…that's what the "true star" could do in the stage. He also told us that he believed that only demons could create angels…and he never thought Leon could become Sophie's demon. But, they left him…It was Leon's decision. Years later, he heard that Sophie died…so he stopped believing in the possibility of someone mastering the maneuver.

- He had all his hopes in them? – I asked.

- Yeah! But, why you are not surprised? You knew this? Why you never told me?

- Uhm…

- Well, whatever. The thing is, Sora is now super determined to master the maneuver and to become the true star!

- It would be a surprise if she wasn't.

- Maybe…Now I gotta go, we are having the show in the circus! Talk to you later!

They got to know about it without us telling anything. I wasn't sure if Leon really wanted them to know. But, he couldn't do anything for it. After all, it wasn't a secret or anything.

Some days went by and Leon was finally discharged from the hospital. Also, Sora, Anna, Mia, Sarah, Ken, Rosetta and May were coming back to France. Kaleido Stage was opening its doors again with a new show.

When they returned, they were immediately called by the owner. I was called too but I arrived late. Everyone was there, also Yuri Killan. Mia told me that Yuri returned from France to become the producer of the new show "Swan Lake". Sora was re-hired and she was starring the show. Yuri was there also to become Sora's partner. We all thought that May would get angry, but she didn't. Suddenly, Leon entered the office. He was not starring in the show anymore. Kalos told him that since he was just evading Sora, it was no use. Yuri told Leon that maybe it was his chance to take revenge. No one knew what they were talking about and we all took our leave.

The next day, everyone seemed very happy with Sora's return. But they were saying some bad things about May. Not many liked her. I wondered I she knew it; probably she did…but didn't really care.

That night May told me that she wanted to visit Sora; she wanted me to go with her. She grabbed a bag and we headed to Sora's room.

- Are you alone? – asked May to Sora.

- Oh, hi May and Rogue…no, I'm with Rosetta.

- It's fine, I anticipated it – said May.

She walked towards the balcony and told us to follow her. Then, she got out some cans. She said it was to drink a toast for Sora's return. She wished her good luck and told her that she was willing to give her best and she hoped her to do her best too, otherwise she was going to take the starring away from her. It thought it was a nice gesture from May to Sora.

- Sora, I want to see your performance on the stage now – commanded May.

- Now? Isn't it late for that? – asked Sora worried.

- The rehearsal begins tomorrow! Let's go now! – insisted May.

And we headed to the stage. When we were next to the door, we heard something in the stage. It didn't have sense, since it was very late. We opened the doors and we saw them.

Leon and Yuri were fighting on the stage with fencing swords. We were shocked. They were using the trapezes and everything, but it was a real showdown, they weren't acting. I felt a heavy atmosphere; we didn't know what to do.

Out of the sudden, Sora got in the stage and stopped them. She was crying, she didn't want them to use the stage as a battlefield. She said something about the stage's sadness…using the same words as Sophie.

Leon recalled his promise to Sophie, master the Angel's Maneuver and help with the creation of the true star. He said there was a point when he didn't believe it was possible and it just became a memory.

- Sora is the only one who can make that promise possible– said Yuri – and Leon, no one is going to replace you, you will do it. You are unchanged; you are the same from 3 years ago. I thought that getting revenge on me, could make you react, but I was wrong.

Take revenge? Was he the one who called her? No way!

- That was your intention? - asked Leon to Yuri.

- I wanted to amend my errors…the horrible thing I did to the poor Sophie…and also… - said Yuri.

I couldn't stay there anymore; I got away from the place crying. Yuri was the one who called her, the one who set up the gambit. Leon never told me who was it, even though I asked him many times. I couldn't believe that I worked together with that man. The man who was responsible to some extent for Sophie's death…I was clueless.

I finally reached my room. I needed to be alone, to assimilate things. My room was very peaceful, but suddenly the door was opened.

- Rogue? What's the matter? Why did you left crying?

- I didn't know it… - I said with broken voice.

- Didn't know what? What's wrong Rogue? – asked May as she approached.

When she was close enough she hugged me. I hugged her back.

- It's okay Rogue, it's okay…

After some time, I regained my composure and broke apart from her.

- Are you all right? What happened? – she asked worried.

- I met Leon and Sophie about 6 years ago.

- What?!

Author's notes:

Bam! Finally! The past will be revealed! hahahah
This chapter was somewhat a recap of some episodes on the series....I'll try to avoid writing this kind of chapters, is no fun to just read recaps hahaha

Well, actually the next chapters will focus only in the narration of the past. It's going to be long, sorry xD

cami (neko-rin): That's good to hear. I thought I was the only one who didn't like that pairing