AN:/ Hello, this is my first fanfiction. Please enjoy, and review as well since I need criticism. Thank you for reading.
Circus
Prologue
The ringleader was an old and somewhat simple minded man with a crown of a few stray white hairs. No one quite knew him well, he was simply an enigma in the middle of the enchanting figures dashing and performing on the somewhat lightened stage; moderately irrelevant to the fascinating humans – a questionable term for some – filling up the white-and-red striped tent in the middle of a regular suburban area. Performances were held once a week, with a variety of stunts and talents to show off to a cheering and sometimes jeering crowd. The rich and poor alike filled up the tent to the brim, but yet the ringleader refused to expand the tent for reasons unknown. But when the tent opened its mouth, welcoming the visitor into the depths, when the ringleader boomed out a quick introduction, the truly interesting group of performers was shown.
The Siamese twins were always clothed in a strange patchwork barely considered clothes, one side light while the other dark. Intricate, winding patterns danced upon them, while the twins themselves always seemed to stand out. Not because of their evident disability, but because their eyes held a shade of pain that could not be described in any grays, blacks, or purples, their mouths, although normally closed, always speaking about the other side. Captured by the hopes of having a better life than being gawked at by the general public and their misfortunate past, they created a new sort of twisted religion, one complete with messy and strange rituals. They were connected in not just body but nature as well; they were always in agreement that many considered them to be one being. Sometimes they even spoke at the same time, their voices perfectly together, melted together in an enticing yet dangerous manner. They were called Karin and Yuzu.
The acrobat loved thrills, pouncing through red, reaching tongues of fire and walking unsteadily towards the end of the rope while being held up high enough that she tasted the heavens. She was always bubbly, her short and neatly combed black hair always drifting when she performed one of her many tricks; perhaps a cartwheel, perhaps a flip. They called her Rukia, yet many believed it to be a fake name. Many believed that she was hiding something under her happy façade. But she kept on performing, her normally glittering and loud costume shining in the sparse lights. Yet she always winced whenever she saw the color pink; a rare shine in the normally dark tent. The ringleader had once given her a light pink dress to perform in, and she had erupted. It seemed as if she would have rather been killed than wear the poisonously light color. But the next day, all her anger disappeared and she apologized to the ringleader for her actions.
The snake charmer had small slits for eyes, whose color had never been seen, a chalky pale complexion, and a tight countenance, the small pressed line of a mouth always curled up into a malicious-looking grin, even while conversing. He was always calculating, speaking with a slight accent which only made his presence more intimidating. His words were laced with a comedic sense, biting and taunting. No one knew how he had stumbled upon the circus; he was always there from the start with his snakes, which were always around him, circling around him, twisting around his thin arms and legs. Sometimes, they would hiss at one that dared come to their master. And Ichimaru, the snake charmer, would always laugh that cold laugh when that happened.
The turtle trainer was a unique part of the circus. Normally it was elephants, but the talented trainer had refused. She had only wanted animals that would live longer than her; she didn't want to be lonely and abandoned like before, she had briefly mentioned before continuing with her lengthy daily monologue of her day. While some were afraid of insects and darkness, she was afraid of disappearing into nothing. Her mouth was almost never closed, except for when she was performing, the words coming out sometimes making no sense but she always continued. She wanted people to remember her life, as little as it was. Her warm brown eyes never closed for more than an hour during even the darkest moment of day; sleeping was taboo to her, since many closed their eyes and unwittingly walked into the icy embrace of smirking Death. They called her Orihime, a princess of dancing turtles and living.
The juggler was called Grimmjow. He had bright, light blue hair with strange blue tattoos at the ends of his piercing eyes. Little else is known. He always said he just happened to pass on the circus with nothing else to do, and signed up with his only talent: juggling. He could juggle anything. He didn't enjoy it, though. Whenever he performed, he always seemed to be a little out of it, his hand catching and throwing and catching and throwing but his expression not showing the tiniest bit of strain or concern. He was perhaps the most normal of all the performers, save for the almost unnoticeable clown embellished in an orthodox motley of red and white.
The clown was partially blind in his right eye. His actions were always robotic, as if his heart were protected by some sort of barrier. His bright orange hair, probably natural, was covered by the atrocious red, curly wig on performance nights. A layer of white powder covered his tanned skin, elaborate, varying shapes of red outlined in bold black interrupting the plain of white. His red nose was fake, fitting perfectly like a puzzle piece to his shapely nose. He had no significant talents, so the ringleader assigned him to the boring job of clown. While handing out the brilliant balloons, he always forced on a smile. Smile. Smile, he always reminded himself while he was on the stage. Others found a magic in the circus, but he only saw it as a job. His lean body was covered by the rectangular costume, a fragile paper folded again and again to wrap around his neck to resemble an accordion. It was scratchy, but it never really bothered Ichigo. His name was Ichigo. Strange that such a normally quiet boy would have such a proud name, isn't it?
Curious? Why, welcome to the circus.