Chapter Text
With Haschwalth’s grave report lingering in the forefront of his mind, Uryuu arrived at the circus just after dawn.
He was not surprised to see that the stage hands were already up and preparing for that evening’s show, busying themselves with sweeping fallen leaves from the path and stitching up holes in vibrant clothes. There were a lot more people than he remembered, having now emerged from their tents, spread across the site like some sort of infestation. An eclectic mix of oddities, all as strange in appearance as the stars of the show. As he had been the night before, Uryuu found himself ignored as he made his way into the main marquee in search of the horned man who had promised him an audition.
It looked a lot less enthralling in the daylight. He could see the tears in the fabric of the walls, covered by big pieces of patchwork to keep out the cold winds. The circle was no longer a stage but a floor of dust and dirt, with trails of boot prints stamped across it. The seats were nothing more than empty chairs for ghosts long departed, the only evidence of their existence being the ticket ends that carpeted the floor.
It was a sad sight indeed.
In the centre ring stood the boy and the girl from the trapeze act, who were quite clearly discussing their latest performance, gesturing wildly as if trying to recreate the motion of flight. Hiyosu sat watching them from a seat in the front row, stuffing a piece of crusty bread into his mouth. There was no sign of Akon or Kurotsuchi to be found anywhere.
I wonder where she is.
Cautiously, he approached the duo, who broke off their conversation and turned to face him.
“I’m looking for Akon?”
“Oh!” The boy beamed as he registered who the man was- a genuine look of happiness, with a slight blush appearing on his cheeks. “Are you Mr Uryuu?”
The Quincy nodded.
“I’m Rin Tsubokura!” He stuck out a hand which, when Uryuu took it and shook firmly, he found to be remarkably sticky. A number of wrapped boiled sweets and lollipops were bulging out of the boy’s shirt pocket.
“My name’s Kuna!” The girl piped up, giving a small, awkward wave. She was shorter than Rin, with thick rimmed glasses that framed her pretty eyes. A chain was wrapped tightly around her head as if she wore a crown, with soft violet hair that fell down to her shoulders in a neat bob. Like her male companion, she seemed to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, although both seemed reasonably mature for their age.
“You were all anyone was talking about last night!” Rin smiled. “We haven’t had a new member for such a long time!”
“He’s not in yet, Rin.” Hiyosu had joined them, his words slightly slurring together as he waddled. He even sounds like a toad, Uryuu shuddered. “Not until Mr Kurotsuchi says so.”
Uryuu still had not worked out how he was going to win the harlequin’s favour. The brief conversation of the previous evening had not gone smoothly and he very much doubted that Kurotsuchi had forgotten it, let alone forgiven him. As far as he was concerned, the man had made up his mind the moment he’d been challenged, perhaps even the moment they’d first seen one another. It was going to take a miracle.
That’s if he even bothers to show up at all.
“Ah, you’re here.” Akon appeared abruptly from outside, a gently smoking cigarette stuck between his yellowed teeth and dark circles under his eyes. He looked as though he hadn’t slept all night. “Give me a minute to set up.” With long strides, he crossed over to the other side of the room and disappeared again behind a heavy curtain, evidently in search of something.
“So, you saw the show last night? What was your favourite part?” Rin continued as if they hadn’t been interrupted. “Normally when I ask, most people say-”
However, he stopped suddenly in mid-sentence, as a chill filled the tent. Uryuu turned to look as the flap was drawn back by a pale hand and Kurotsuchi slipped in.
So you did bother to come.
He was back in the full body make-up- and it really was full, covering every inch of visible skin- although he was not in costume and his hair was left loose and limp. His lip curled as he spotted Uryuu. To the Quincy’s surprise, the performers honoured him with a low bow as he sat in the front row and folded his arms, tapping the finger with the elongated nail impatiently.
“Does he really wear that make-up all the time?” Uryuu whispered to the trio through gritted teeth.
“Pretty much.” Kuna mumbled back whilst straightening up.
“Why?”
His companions shrugged and dispersed, as Kurotsuchi’s eyes bore into them, the glint in his pupils expressing his irritation at their idleness. However when the trio did begin to warm up, it was blatantly obvious that their efforts were half-hearted, as they were observing the unfolding scene with their peripheral vision.
Akon approached them once more, carrying a large bag that rattled ominously as he walked. For the first time since he had woken up that morning, Uryuu began to feel nervous, clenching his fist tightly in silent determination.
“Ok, so first I’m going to have you try out a number of different acts and then, if you’d like, you’ll get a chance to show us some of your own skills.”
Akon pulled open the bag and drew out a baton decorated in ornate red and gold, similar to the ones Hiyosu had used in the show. Uryuu heard the toad man chuckle unpleasantly from the other side of the tent as he stared concernedly down at it.
“You ever breathed fire before?” Akon pushed the stick into his hands. Uryuu held it cautiously between three fingers, like he expected it to burst into flames without warning.
“Absolutely not.” He adjusted his glasses with the other hand.
“Well, it’s never too late to start.”
The horned man then pulled out a small bottle made of a murky brown glass, filled with what Uryuu could only assume to be some kind of fuel. He began to wriggle the cork out, eventually releasing it with a slight pop. A heavy, pungent smell rose into the air. It flooded Uryuu’s nostrils, making his head spin and the room dance ever so slightly. Akon held it out to him.
“Put this in your mouth. Then I’ll set light to your baton and you can begin.”
Uryuu stared at him in horror, almost dropping the stick as a wave of nausea fell upon him. He could feel his mouth blistering already, bulbous sores breaking out on his tongue and cheeks. If the wind was wrong, the flames would scold his flesh; dry it out, peel it off, melt his skin…the fuel could scorch his throat, as it poisoned his lungs, filling them with thick, black smoke…
It took a moment before he realised Rin and Kuna were giggling behind him.
“I’m joking.” Akon said with a deadpan face, before snatching the baton back and replacing the bottle’s cork, setting them carefully on the ground. “Only Hiyosu was ever mad enough to try it. This is the one thing I won’t have you do today.”
Relief washed over him.
It didn’t last long.
Akon smirked as he held up a thick cord with a harness attached.
“We’ll try the tightrope instead.”
*
“Hurry up! I haven’t got all day!”
“Shut up…” Uryuu hissed under his breath so there was no chance the harlequin could hear him. The rope that Kuna was tying around his waist was getting tighter and tighter by the second, like she was fastening a corset. He was thankful for it though. He was not afraid of heights but the view he received as he peered over the edge of the platform was not one he cared to look at for too long. The thought of falling into it only made his hands quiver more violently.
At least they’re not trying to kill me.
Is that a good sign?
“Alright, I’m done.” Kuna said, taking a step backwards and signalling to the group below with a thumbs up.
“When you’re ready!” Akon called.
Uryuu took a slow, deep breath before sliding one foot out. The rope bounced uncontrollably beneath his weight. His body shuddered like he had broken out in a fever, the lack of supports to hold on to disconcerting. However, summoning his courage, it only took a moment before both feet curled around the rope and he was out in the open, a single step closer toward the end.
He tried to recall how Nemu had stood the night before, outstretching his arms as she had done, despite his lack of parasol. He also attempted not to think of how ridiculous he felt and looked to his observers, a few of whom he could hear laughing again. However, he found that it did greatly help his balance. Silently, he thanked the notably absent woman and made a note to thank her again if he somehow made it through.
Three steps in.
A bead of sweat fell from his hair onto his nose. Every inch of him seemed to itch. A scratchy cough was building up in the back of his throat. The shoes they had given him were far too small, painfully crushing his toes and rubbing against the backs of his heels.
Another step forward.
His confidence was growing now, building with each passing moment. Surprisingly, he was beginning to feel quite comfortable, settling into a rhythm that allowed him to stay upright. A glimmer of hope flickered in the back of his mind.
I can do this.
He managed to take five steps before his foot slipped.
Dammit!
Thankfully, the fall was short. The jolt winded him as the harness and ropes strained to keep him from smacking his head on the ground and cracking open his skull. He could feel the straps rub against his skin, leaving red burns that stung as the fabric of his shirt brushed against them. Resigned to his defeat, he wrestled to free himself and jump down to the floor.
This was not necessary. Gently, he felt himself being lowered the last few metres to the ground. Kuna was calling out her concerns from the platform above but he couldn’t quite hear, the rush of the air still lingering in his ears. As he found his feet once more and doubled over, trying to gain his breath back, a pair of dusty brown shoes moved into his vision.
“I don’t suppose you’d be up for the trapeze either, then?”
“No, I want to try.” Uryuu gasped. “It’s not the height, I just lost my balance.”
“Well, if you’re sure.” Akon replied, holding out his hand for him to grab and pull himself up. He twisted his head to look over his shoulder. “Rin! Your turn!”
“Yes sir!” Rin squeaked, reluctantly pulling the lollipop from his mouth and casing it back up in its wrapper. Handing it to Hiyosu for safekeeping- which received a subtle look of disgust in return- he tottered over to Uryuu and rubbed the back of his head with a nervous giggle. “Shall we?”
Uryuu didn’t even want to look at Kurotsuchi as he was led back towards the ladder and began the ascent once more.
*
“Well…”
Akon stood rubbing his brow, almost speechless, clearly wondering why he had pushed for the audition to happen in the first place. Even Rin, Kuna and Hiyosu looked unsure. Kurotsuchi on the other hand...Uryuu couldn’t figure out if he was fuming from having his time wasted or rather enjoying watching him make a fool of himself.
After his fall from the tightrope, he’d attempted the trapeze. It had been a slightly more successful experience but not by a large margin. He had strong legs so staying on the trapeze itself had not been an issue. But when his hands had met Rin’s and the sugary coating of his palm had wiped against his skin…well, his immediate response had been to let go. Which, of course, had ended in winded lungs, more burns and an extremely bruised ego.
They’d even convinced the snake charmer- whose name he’d discovered was Kageroza Inaba- to bring in an emerald green python by the name of Nozomi for him to work with. That had been by far the worst activity of the day; if contact with Rin hadn’t been bad enough, the serpent’s scales had made him feel oily and dirty, slime laced around his throat like a noose. Even the thought of it made him shudder.
Inaba had told him to simply talk to the snake, to whisper hushed commands and let her do the rest. But the fact that Nozomi appeared to have no ears had thrown him and, in the end, he’d just awkwardly cried out a rather impolite request, almost losing his temper at how ludicrous the whole activity seemed.
He had smiled to himself though. No ears. Just like Kurotsuchi. Fitting, really.
Akon’s slowly spoken question brought him out of his memories.
“So…what exactly can you do?”
Mentally, Uryuu ran through a list of skills, scouring for one that he could apply to such a situation. “Well, I’m a decent shot…”
Kurotsuchi interrupted by scoffing from the corner, throwing his hands up in exasperation. Akon looked a little happier though, nodding his head and rubbing his palms together.
“Good aim…that’s a start. Here, try this.” With that, he pulled out a scalpel from his own jacket. “Think you can hit that target?” He indicated to a large wooden board that was propped up against the furthest wall, with three white circles that resembled an oversized eyeball painted on it.
As he took the blade, Uryuu felt the weight of it in his hands. It was certainly different to that of his precious bow and arrow; somehow heavier, despite its size, as if weighed down by some burden.
Seele Schneider.
His grandfather had taught him the ancient technique. Whilst it could still be used as an arrow, Seele Schneider was an edged weapon, the closest thing to a sword in a Quincy arsenal. He’d even been allowed to test and train with one as a child- blunt of course. To run his finger gently along the edge, to feel just a fraction of the true power that the Quincy wielded in battle. To learn about the famous Sprenger pentagon formation, in case the time came for him to fight for king and country.
Yes, Uryuu Ishida was not a novice to edged weapons.
You can do this.
After all, it can’t be much more different?
Standing on an angle to the target, Uryuu raised his arm. There was quite a wide gap between them, but his arms were strong and he had covered more distance than this in his training. The Sprenger technique easily surpassed this in the level of skill required. He took aim, envisioning it landing square in the centre, as if his very willpower would get him through this.
Releasing the tension in his body, he threw it.
The first missed the mark entirely.
“You’re actually supposed to hit it.” Kurotsuchi criticised in his reedy voice.
Uryuu tried not to shoot him a dark glare before taking up his stance again. Akon passed him a second scalpel. Steadying his hand, he breathed in deeply through his nostrils, before exhaling it through slightly parted lips. There was a brief moment of still before he felt himself move- almost automatically- and the blade flew through the air. He barely had time to lower his arm before he heard the dull thud of something hitting wood.
He had hit a bullseye.
“Wow!” Rin cried with a wide smile. “I’ve only ever seen Mr Akon do that!”
“Not bad.” Akon agreed, walking over to the target and pulling the blade out from the board. “Could just be a fluke though. If you hit it a second time, then we’ll talk business.”
He did it a second time. And a third. By this point, the performers around him were electric with energy and excitement, so much so that for a moment, Uryuu almost forgot himself and found he was enjoying it. Proudly, he pushed his spectacles up his nose, the glass glinting in the light as he smirked triumphantly at them.
That showed them. Thank you, Grandfather.
“So, am I in?”
The entire group turned to look at their leader with varying degrees of hope. The expression they received in return made Uryuu want to laugh out loud. Kurotsuchi had an obvious pout on his face, bulging eyes twitching. It was clear he was looking for some excuse, for some reason that meant he could turn Uryuu away but the strain in his facial muscles revealed his struggle.
“Sir, you know I’ve been thinking about getting someone to help me out.” Akon said.
Kurotsuchi glowered at him, clenching his fists. He spluttered a few times, as if trying to force some comprehensible sentence out, but he seemed to lose the war he waged against his own tongue. Eventually and reluctantly, the harlequin stood up, teeth gritted together and lips pulled into a snarl.
“Fine. Whatever. It’s of no interest to me anymore.”
However, before Uryuu could blink, he found Kurotsuchi was in front of him, leering down. Again, he got the distinct impression that he was about to be hit in the face.
“If you cause any problems, if I catch you putting a single toe out of line, you will come to regret it. Do you understand?”
Not if I catch you first.
However, Uryuu simply nodded silently, not wanting to push his luck.
With that small gesture, the clown huffed, turned and stormed out, screaming out murderous curses and insults at a person hidden behind the tent opening. The performers waited until he was completely gone, screeches no longer audible, before Uryuu felt a celebratory hand clap him on the shoulder.
“Well done, kid. You did it.”
“Only just!” Hiyosu chuckled.
“I couldn’t have done it without you. If you hadn’t suggested knife throwing, I’d be out on the street by now.”
“You were amazing!” Kuna clapped her hands together in applause, her companion following suit.
“You could give Mr Akon a run for his-”
“Don’t you three have work to be doing?” Akon said loudly with raised eyebrows, cutting their voices off. Grinning, the trio stood to attention and gave him a quick salute before returning to their practice. Packing all the kit they had used back into the bag, Akon slung it over his shoulder and gestured for Uryuu to follow.
“Come on, I’ll show you round. There’s a couple more people you should probably meet. And I guess I should tell you how it works round here so you don’t give Kurotsuchi a reason to kick you out after one day.”
As they exited the marquee, back into the backstage hustle and bustle, Akon lit himself another of his signature cigarettes and blew a large cloud of smoke, gazing upwards as he watched it disappear into the sky.
“I guess all that’s left to say is…welcome to the Jyuuni Circus.”