Prompt: "please don't cry…"
Warning: Dark implications

It was an accident. He wasn't supposed to be at the practice tent that day, having a sprained ankle from a foiled attempt. It was much of a bad luck of how the poor fella died.

Convulsion, bloodshot eyes, and white foamy drools, for long and miserable 5 minutes, before finally stopping and the (low ranking) entertainer's body completely limp.

What a terrible way to go.

Of course the snake charmer was sympathetic and looking guilty. He couldn't always control his little friends, rest of the circus trope knew that—they were still wild animals, through and through. He knew she wouldn't hold him accountable.

Had the boy been more attentive to his surrounding, he wouldn't have step on a tail of a runaway snake and got bitten right on his sprained ankle. It was already too late by then, the doctor arrived just in time to see the poor boy's body slacking. But his poor girl witnessed it all, from the moment she came to drag him back to his home tent and saw the snake slithering away and puncture wounds oozing from the foot.

The poor thing hadn't stopped crying since, unable to take in foods or water from her grief.

Despite her grief many were also relieved that the boy was gone, his undeserved death aside.

The girl, one of many acrobats among the circus trope, was someone the miserable piece of flesh shouldn't have. Everyone knew and dreaded the match, not liking how he treated the said girl. She was considered one of the sweetest gals in the circus, always willing to help and befriend just about everyone she could meet.

Her name was Kagome—Feather was a fitting name for someone like her, always light on her feet.

How the bastard managed to worm his way into her heart still remained a mystery.

As far as Snake was concerned, he took care of the problem. Kagome will see soon that she is better off without the said bastard. Sweet thing tries to see the good in everyone, rendering her blind to her own abusive relationship.

That and he hated the fella for ever getting his hands on her.

Good riddance he'd say.

"Thank you Dickerson," he murmured to a long sleek black snake with an noticeable injury on the end of its tail, as it was coiling around his neck, "and I am sorry about your tail. I'll apply medicine soon."

His only reply was a hiss.

"Yes," Snake agreed easily, "you'll have your rabbit. Don't fret." He then unwrapped the animal from his shoulders and settled it upon his warm bed. He glanced apologetically at the rest of his pets scattering about all over his large tent, "I must attend to Kagome, and I do not think she'd desire to see you or any of my friends right now."

Pausing for a beat he nodded at them and then hurried out of his little home.

Tugging worriedly at his sleeves, Snake powered through the maze of tents. He ignored glances from other entertainers on his way to Kagome's home. That she shared with the bastard.

He stopped before the homely little shelter, and stiffened when Freckles slipped from it. She stopped and blinked her one good eye at Snake's approaching, "Oh, Snake." Freckles sighed, rubbing an elbow, "She's ain't doin' well. Might quit circus."

Ice cubes fell into his belly and he slowly slipped, "I…see…"

Furrowing her brows, Freckles reconsidered, "You should talk to her 'ough, I know how much you like her. She isn't gotta hold ya accountable, so maybe you'll change her mind, ya?" Despite the tragic event that happened barely an hour before, she brightened and patted his arm, "Good luck."

Without further ado, she flashed a grin and bounced away hurriedly.

Snake flustered at her implications and rubbed his arms. He started at the entrance flap and caught few wheezing of grief. There were few bites of guilt of being the cause of her grief, but as quickly as they came jealousy stole their places. They were enough to propel him to push aside the flap.

There she was, curling tight into a ball on the dirt still wearing her tight outfit for her earlier practices. Loud sobs subsided not long ago, but ugly, husky wheezes were the only sound Snake could hear from his little feather, "Kagome." When she didn't respond, he kicked at the ground, before he close the distance and dropped onto his knees. His cold hands jolted Kagome out of her pathetic state.

Blearily rubbing an eye from dryness, she murmured, "'nake?" Her voice was rough. A loud sniff followed.

She didn't look pretty, but that was alright with Snake. Grief does that to people. "Kagome, I am so, so sorry." Snake started. He didn't feel guilty about her beau's death, but he felt guilt for being the cause of her tears.

He hoped it'd be temporary.

She shook her head, her words slightly slurred, "No, no, tis' not your fault." A hic interrupted Kagome's thought, before she resumed, "First thing we're taught: don't bother Snake and his friends. Not your fault." She almost sounded as if she was trying hard not to blame him.

She buried her face into her knees, a moan took all clarity she could've kept.

Snake wasn't used to offer comfort, but she didn't reject his touches. He pulled her into his embrace, and sighed when she relaxed under his arms. "Please don't cry."

Kagome's shoulders shook.

Snake prayed her grieving will be quick and short.