Chapter Two: The Invitation As she promised her parents, Yume turned her focus to her schoolwork, only going to the rink three times a week to keep in shape, instead of every day as she had done while in training. Coach Hasegawa had not been happy to hear about her decision to turn pro but agreed to help Yume find a tour to join. “Your best bet is to go to America if you want to make a real living off of this,” her coach advised her one day after practice. “There’s plenty of work there for professional skaters, even for ones like you, who never won a world or Olympic medal. I know some people, so I’m sure I can pull some strings whatever you decide. Just let me know.” “Thanks, Hasegawa-sensei,” Yume said, flipping through the folder of material the coach had given her on the various tours and ice shows. “This will be a big help.” “I really wish you would reconsider giving up your eligibility, though, Naegino. Maybe I never told you it enough, but you really do have talent. So what if you don’t have the toughest jumps in your arsenal? You could skate circles around the Miyako Kazamas of the world any day.” Yume smiled, appreciating the kind words from the usually gruff coach, but she knew in her heart that she had made the right decision. “Thank you for saying so, but, no, I won’t be reconsidering. Turning pro is something I need to do.” “Can’t blame a coach for trying,” she chuckled before changing the subject. “So, the pairs competition starts tonight in Russia. Will you be watching?” “I haven’t decided yet,” Yume admitted with a slight frown. She had been debating with herself for over a week on whether or not she would watch the Olympics this year. “I always look forward to the Olympics, but I’m not sure if I can handle watching the figure skating events this year, knowing I was so close to actually being there myself.” “It’s supposed to be a fantastic competition tonight. Mikhail Vladimirov and Tatiana Pekrovskaya are rumored to be attempting a quad throw jump.” “In a short program? Talk about risky.” “Well, Vladimirov and Pekrovskaya are the best there is when it comes to technical ability. If anybody can pull it off, it’s them. There’s a reason why they are called the Ice Prince and Princess of pairs figure skating, after all. It should be exciting to see. You should really check it out. This could be history in the making.” “I’ll think about watching tonight,” Yume promised. “For now, though, I need to get home and study. Graduation exams are coming up soon.” “Okay. I’ll see you Sunday, then. Look over that info I gave you.” “I will. Bye!” Yume stuffed the folder into her already bulging book bag, then left the rink, catching the 5:00 bus back to her house. Neither of her parents were home when she arrived, which was unusual since her mother was a full- time housewife, but a note on the refrigerator revealed her mother had gone out to the store to buy some things for dinner. Grabbing an apple to tide her over until then, Yume headed upstairs to her bedroom and started on her math homework. In the middle of one particularly difficult problem, the phone in the hallway began to ring. Yume ignored it, assuming her mother would answer it, but by the tenth ring, she remembered her mother wasn’t home, so she gave up trying to solve the problem and went to answer it. “Moshi moshi? Naegino residence.” “Yume?” a familiar voice replied. “It’s me, Sora.” “Onee-chan!” Yume grinned, happy as always to hear from her older sister. “How are you? It‘s been a while since you called.” “Sorry about that. I’ve been so busy lately with Kaleido Stage’s new show, but I finally feel like I have time to breathe now that it‘s over. The last show was today -- well, I guess technically yesterday now, since it’s almost one in the morning here. The show was a huge success.” “When are they not?” Yume teased. “Every show you star in does well.” “It’s not just because of me,” Sora modestly insisted. “Kaleido Stage has many world class performers.” She paused. “In fact, that‘s why I’m calling. I want to talk to you about something.” “Me?” “Yes, you. Tell me, have you ever heard of a pairs skater by the name of Mikhail Vladimirov-san?” Yume nodded, even though she knew Sora couldn’t see her over the phone. “Hasegawa-sensei and I were just talking about him this afternoon. He and Tatiana Pekrovskaya-san are the reigning world champions for the third year in a row, and they are supposed to be attempting a quad throw jump in their short program tonight. Why do you ask?” Sora, despite being very supportive of Yume’s skating, did not usually pay much attention to the world of figure skating, and especially not pairs, which Yume didn’t compete in. How in the world did she even know of Mikhail Vladimirov? “I can’t tell you why just yet,” Sora said mysteriously, “but you do plan to watch the competition tonight, don’t you?” “I haven’t decided yet. I do have a lot of homework to do, since exams are coming up soon…” “Yume, you *need* to watch tonight,” her sister insisted, surprising Yume with the intensity of her voice. “Even if you don’t want to watch the whole competition, at least watch Mikhail Vladimirov-san and his partner in the short program.” “But why? I don’t understand.” “Just trust me. I’ll explain it all tomorrow.” Though Yume was beyond confused by Sora’s strange request, she was definitely intrigued. “Okay, okay, I’ll watch their program,” she agreed. “Can’t you at least give me a little hint of what this is all about, though?” “I promised Kalos I wouldn’t say anything until you were on board.” “Eido-san? You mean the owner of Kaleido Stage?” Confusion became downright bewilderment. “What does he have to do with this?” “Oops, I’ve probably already said too much,” Sora said, ignoring her question. “Just make sure to watch Vladimirov-san’s skate tonight. This will all make more sense tomorrow.” “I hope so, because it makes no sense to me at all right now.” “I’ll talk to you tomorrow then. I need to get to bed. Bye!” “Bye.” As Yume placed the phone back in its cradle and sighed, not knowing what to make of Sora‘s vague phone call, she faintly heard the front door open and close downstairs, meaning her mother was finally back from the store. She headed downstairs to help. “Oh, Yume, you’re home,” her mother said, smiling gratefully when Yume took one of the bulging canvas bags full of groceries out of her arms and headed to the kitchen. “I’m still not quite used to you coming home so early nowadays. How was practice?” “It was good,” Yume replied, placing the bag on the counter and helping her mother put the groceries away. “My coach gave me a lot of information on some tours and ice shows I may be able to join. I haven‘t had time to really look through it all yet, but it should really help me decide what I want to do after graduation.” Her mother frowned. “I assume most of these tours are based in North America, aren’t they?” “Yes, but a lot of them tour Asia and Europe, too,” Yume assured her, knowing her mother wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of yet another one of her daughters leaving Japan. “Don’t worry, okaa-san. I’ll come visit as much as I possibly can.” “I know you will, sweetie. It’s just that even though we want to support your dreams, sometimes your father and I wish our daughters could work a little closer to home. First, Sora moved to the States to join Kaleido Stage, and now it looks like you’ll be following in her footsteps as well.” “Nothing’s been definitely decided yet,” Yume reminded her. “Speaking of onee-chan, though, I got a weird phone call from her right before you arrived.” “A weird phone call from Sora? What do you mean? Did it sound like something was wrong? Why was she calling so late, California time?” Yume shook her head, and her mother breathed a sigh of relief. She was always worried they would one day get a call from Kaleido Stage, informing them that Sora had some kind of serious accident. “No, nothing like that. She was just really insistent that I watch the pairs competition tonight at the Olympics, that‘s all.” “That is a bit strange,” her mother said, pulling out a large pan from one of the cabinets and starting on the stew they would be having for dinner. “Maybe she wants you to reconsider giving up your eligibility and thinks that watching the Olympics will reignite your desire to compete.” “I don’t think so. You know onee-chan has never been very fond of competitions.” Yume, without being asked, started chopping the vegetables. “She really wants me to watch this one pairs team, the reigning World Champions Vladimirov-san and Pekrovskaya-san, but I have no idea why. She won‘t tell me until tomorrow. The oddest thing, though, is that the owner of Kaleido Stage is somehow involved with it. He‘s the one who told onee-chan not to tell me anything.” “That definitely sounds mysterious. Well, are you going to watch? I thought you said you didn’t feel up to watching the Olympics this year.” “I promised onee-chan I would, so I suppose I will.” “I’m sure Sora would understand if you decided not to, Yume. You shouldn’t force yourself if you think it’ll be too depressing.” “I’ll be fine, okaa-san,” Yume insisted, forcing a smile. “After all, it’s just the pairs short program. It’s not like it’s the ladies’ competition.” “If you say so.” ***** Later that evening, after Yume had finished all her homework for the night and ate dinner with her family, she turned on the TV in the living room and got ready to watch the pairs short programs as she had promised Sora. The broadcast was just wrapping up their coverage of the men’s downhill skiing, but the figure skating competition was set to begin right after the next commercial break. Her parents also joined her in front of the TV, although Yume got the distinct feeling that both of them were expecting her to breakdown in tears at any moment. She didn’t deny it would be tough watching this year, knowing her Olympic dreams were over, but she thought her parents were being a bit ridiculous, constantly looking over at her out of the corner of their eyes even though the competition had yet to begin. “I’m fine, otou-san, okaa-san,” she finally said in the middle of the commercial break. “Really I am. I’m actually kind of looking forward to watching the competition tonight. I heard Vladimirov and Pekrovskaya may be attempting a quad throw jump, so it should be really amazing if they can pull it off.” “I still don’t understand why Sora wanted you to watch tonight so badly,” her mother said, frowning. “She had to know it might be difficult for you to watch this year’s Olympics.” “I’m sure Sora must have a good reason, Midori,” her father replied. “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow when she calls Yume back.” The commercial break ended just then, so they all fell silent as Takeshi Honda and Yuka Sato, two former champions turned broadcast analysts, began commenting on the night’s line-up of pairs teams. Mikhail Vladimirov and Tatiana Pekrovskaya were set to skate third, so Yume wouldn’t have to wait long to fulfill her promise to Sora. The first two pairs to skate were a couple from the U.S. and the reigning Chinese silver medalists from the world championships, Vladimirov’s and Pekrovskaya’s biggest threat for the gold. The American pair, who Yume only vaguely recognized from other competitions, fell on their throw triple loop, but the Chinese duo skated their ambitious short program perfectly, easily earning the top marks out of all the pairs who had skated so far. If Vladimirov and Pekrovskaya wanted to beat them to be in the lead going into the free skate, they would have to do the same. Yume, despite herself, felt her heart begin to beat a little faster as the favorites for the gold took the ice. They were skating to an Arabian -inspired number, and the pair certainly looked the part. Tatiana Pekrovskaya, a classic Russian beauty with white-gold hair and ice blue eyes, wore a belly-baring sequined top and a flimsy skirt, while her partner Mikhail Vladimirov’s costume consisted of tight white leggings -- to wear anything baggier would make it difficult to jump -- and an intricately designed vest, also covered in sequins. Personally, Yume thought they looked a lot like Aladdin and Jasmine from the old Disney movie, but they pulled the look off very well. Once the applause of the audience had cooled down, the current World Champions skated to the center of the rink and got into their opening pose, with Vladimirov standing with his arms circling his partner’s torso, though not touching it, and Pekrovskaya looking down at the ice, her hands pressed together at chest-level as if in prayer. As the music started, Vladimirov began crouching downward, and Pekrovskaya seductively started moving her body like a genie coming out of the legendary lamp, turning around once her partner had risen back up to take his hand. Yume had seen them perform the program a couple of times at other competitions throughout the year, so she knew that if they were going to try the quad throw jump, it would be near the beginning, replacing their already difficult throw triple loop. Since the rival Chinese pair had skated so well, however, Yume didn’t think they would be so reckless as to try it in their short program. She thought wrong. As usual, in preparation for the jump, Pekrovskaya skated on the right back outside edge as if she was about to do the triple loop. Right before Vladimirov launched her in the air, however, she picked into the ice with her left toe pick, turning it into an easier toe loop. At least, it would have been easier had she stuck with three revolutions, but Yume’s eyes widened in awe as the Russian skater completed an extra revolution in the air and landed effortlessly again on the right back outside edge, the first throw quad toe to be successfully performed in a short program at a major competition. “Wow…” Yume breathed, glad that Sora had made her watch after all. The rest of their program was just as magnificent, featuring imaginative lifts, perfectly timed side-by-side triple jumps and spins, an elegant death spiral, and a high-flying split triple twist. Presentation- wise, Yume had to admit something was lacking between the two, although their choreography was top notch, but their technical ability proved again why they were called the Ice Prince and Princess of pairs figure skating and easily put them in first place above the Chinese pair. Though Yume had planned to stop watching once she had fulfilled her promise to Sora, after seeing Vladimirov’s and Pekrovskaya’s historic short program, she couldn’t take her eyes off the TV screen. Once again, she was sucked into the magic of the Olympics. ***** Yume, despite staying up much later than usual watching the rest of the pairs competition, woke up early the next morning, anxious to talk to Sora and find out the big secret. Though it was only about seven in the morning in Tokyo, it was two in the afternoon in Cape Mary, so Yume didn’t feel bad about calling her big sister instead of waiting for Sora to call her. “Yume!” Sora said, surprised when she called. “Hey, I wasn’t expecting you to be up this early. Isn’t it only seven over there? I was going to wait until ten, Tokyo time, to call you back.” “You know me, onee-chan. I’ve always been an early riser. Had to be, to get ice time at the rink,” Yume reminded her. “Are you busy?” “No, not at all. We got the day off today, since the show closed last night, so Ken and I are spending the day with Hana.” “That sounds like fun.” “Yeah, it’s nice to spend some time together as a family.” Sora sighed wistfully. “Ken and I are always so busy at Kaleido Stage, we don’t get to spend as much quality time with Hana as we would like, although she’s become kind of like an adopted daughter to everybody else here. Anyway, she and Ken are playing on the trampoline in the backyard, so you picked a good time to call. I assume you watched Vladimirov-san‘s skate?” “I did, and it was amazing!” Yume gushed. “They actually managed to land a throw quad toe loop! I couldn‘t believe my eyes.” “Then you enjoyed the performance?” “I’ll say!” “Good,” Sora said. “That’s exactly what we were hoping to hear.” “We?” Yume’s brow furrowed in confusion, and she sat down on the living room couch. “What do you mean by ’we’? Are you talking about Eido- san?” she asked, remembering their conversation yesterday. “What does he have to do with all this?” “Yume, what would you say if I told you Kalos and I think you should be Mikhail Vladimirov-san’s new pairs partner?” “I’d say that was impossible,” Yume answered without pause. “First off, Vladimirov-san isn’t a member of Kaleido Stage, so neither you or Eido -san have any say in who his partner is. And secondly, he already has a partner, Tatiana Pekrovskaya-san, and from what I’ve heard on the grapevine, they’re partners off the ice as well. He isn‘t looking for a new pairs partner.” On the other end of the line, Sora chuckled. “It sounds as if you’re a little behind on the gossip, little sis.” “Onee-chan, what is going on?” Yume demanded to know. “What do you know that the rest of the skating world doesn’t?” “Before I tell you anything else, you have to answer my question, Yume. If you had the opportunity, would you like to be Vladimirov-san’s new professional pairs partner?” Yume rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Come on, this is crazy! I don’t even skate pairs, onee-chan. I’m a singles skater.” “I know, but haven’t you ever thought about trying it out?” “Well…” To be honest, watching the pairs competition last night had made Yume wonder what it would be like to be a pairs skater. There was so much more two people could do on the ice instead of just one, and Yume imagined it felt almost like flying when a girl’s partner lifted her over his head or threw her across the ice. “A little,” she confessed. “And if you did try it out, you would want a partner like Vladimirov-san, right?” “Of course. He’s the best there is, but that will never happen…” “Never say never,” Sora quipped. “Do you know who Vladimirov-san and Pekrovskaya-san’s coach is?” “Yes, it’s May Wong-san,” Yume replied, remembering seeing the famed coach sitting next to Pekrovskaya and Vladimirov in the “Kiss and Cry“ area while waiting for their scores. “She used to be a performer at Kaleido Stage, didn’t she, before she got injured and decided to go back to skating and coach?” “Yes, yes, yes!” Sora exclaimed, falling into her old habit of repeating things when she was really excited. “Exactly!” “I’m afraid I still don’t know where you’re going with this, onee- chan.” Sora sighed. “Okay, I’ll tell you the whole story, but you have to promise me you won’t say anything until they make the official announcement.” “What announcement?” After a brief pause, Sora said, “Tomorrow’s free skate will be the last for Vladimirov-san and Pekrovskaya-san. They‘re breaking up.” “What?!” “Only a few people know about this, Yume. Promise me you won’t tell anyone until they make the official announcement after the closing ceremonies. Not your coach or anybody at the rink or even otou-san and okaa -san.” “I swear I won‘t tell another soul,” Yume promised, crossing her heart, “but why are they breaking up? They were the perfect pair.” “Evidently not. To be honest, I don’t even know the whole truth about what happened, but from what I’ve heard, it sounds as if Pekrovskaya- san was cheating on Vladimirov-san with another pairs skater. They got into a huge lovers’ spat during practice at the Grand Prix final a few weeks ago.” “I think I heard something about that from one of the Japanese skaters in my skating club who went to the competition. She didn’t know what they were saying, since they were yelling in Russian, but she said it looked pretty heated between them.” “Apparently it was, because the day after the big fight, May called Kalos and asked him if he would like to hire Vladimirov-san at Kaleido Stage once the Olympics were over. They decided to stay together until then for the chance at an Olympic medal, but they aren’t going to this year’s Worlds, and Vladimirov-san wants to turn professional, no doubt so that he won‘t have to compete against Pekrovskaya-san and her new boyfriend.” “Wow…” It was like a figure skating soap opera! “And that’s where you come in, Yume,” Sora continued. “I know you don’t have any experience as a pairs skater, but I showed Kalos the tape otou-san sent me of you at All-Japan, and he thinks the two of you would make an interesting team.” “Really? Even with all the mistakes I made in the long program?” “All I know is that when I showed him the tape, he said, and I quote: ‘There’s something about that girl, something special.’ He didn‘t even know you were my sister since he can‘t read or speak Japanese, so you can‘t say it was because of me.” That was going to be Yume’s argument, but if that was really true… “Eido-san really liked me?” “Well, it’s always hard to tell with Kalos, but he watched hundreds of audition tapes from skaters all over the world, and yours was the only one he asked to watch twice. You must have done something right.” Yume felt her cheeks warm at the compliment. She couldn’t believe the owner of Kaleido Stage, the man who had discovered her sister and gave Sora a chance despite the fact she missed the audition, actually liked her skating. “I’m…flabbergasted,” she said after a long pause. “I don’t know what to say.” “Just say that you’ll come to Cape Mary and try out with Vladimirov -san. He and May will be here the second weekend of March, holding auditions.” “I don’t know, onee-chan. Exams are coming up soon, and I’m sure I’ ll have to learn at least a few basic pairs moves before I can audition…” “You can do it, Yume. Besides, it’ll also give you the chance to audition for other companies while you’re here. Please say you’ll at least think about it?” “Okay, I’ll think about it,” Yume promised. DISCLAIMER: "Kaleido Star" doesn’t belong to me. AUTHOR’S NOTES: Any comments and criticisms can be sent to me at ElysionDream@aol.com.