Big Top Blues
Cap'n Coree
Mugen stayed rooted inside the Circus tent. The rest of the show passed in a blur of colors, and he didn't even notice that it had ended. He stayed, and he watched, waiting for Fuu to reveal herself once more. Finally, after what must have been hours, someone emerged from the outside of the tent, delicatley walking towards the center of the arena.
"Mugen." she called, waving her arms over her head, snapping Mugen out of his daze. "MUGEN, we have to take down the tent now." Mugen jumped the barrier between the arena and the seats, and made his way towards her. "Seriously Mugen you haven't changed-" Fuu's breath was knocked out of her suddenly as two hands grasped her shoulders firmly and began to shake.
"WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING!" Mugen hollared, shaking her violently.
"What-- dooo- youuu mean?" Fuu cried out between shakes, confused. Mugen stopped shaking, but kept his hold tight on Fuu's shoulders.
"You could have killed yourself up there, you fool!"
"Pssshh." Fuu rolled her eyes, "Mugen, they wouldn't let me up there if I didn't know what I was doing. I've been trained, duh."
Mugen still wasn't convinced and scowled at her, still holding her tightly, as if he were afraid the moment he let go she'd scurry up the ladder again and plummet to her death. "How long have you been doing this?"
"6 months." Fuu replied nonchalantly, "I might even get to leave the country if I want, you know. Its all up to me really. I'm their best acrobat almost- the woman who trained me retired. Suddenly Mugen was more afraid then before. Leaving the country. The words echoed through the empty tent, and already he could feel Fuu get wrenched out of his grasp, far out of his reach- forever. Even at the crossroads he hadn't been afraid he'd lost her. He felt that he'd have to meet her again- after all he was always on the move, but if she were to escape, if she were to leave the country, well theres no telling where she'd get to and what trouble she'd get into.
But Fuu was still standing there, still in coustume, looking for all the world like a fairy wrapped in skimpy, thin silk that Mugen could have removed with just a gentle tug- and he realized he was touching her bare skin- and while his mind reeled over all the possiable dangers Fuu could encounter, his body began to act on instinct. His arms began to weave themselves around Fuu's body, brushing her bare upper back- he had never thought it would be as soft as it was- while his mind worked over the fact that soon, she would be escaping- and he must do everything within his power to stop it.
He was now cradling her close against him, his hands running up and down over her back. No, he wouldn't let her get away.
"Mugen-" Fuu squeaked, trying to push him off, "Mugen, what are you doi-"
"FUUUUU!" someone called from the other end of the tent, and Fuu forced Mugen away, her face turning the color of plum.
"Valjean." Fuu replied, "Nice show tonight." Mugen recalled the young man approaching as the boy from the show with the animals. He was still wearing the black pants- but the ruffled shirt was gone and his body was covered in sleek sweat.
"You to Fuu, who iz thiz?" he replied, his voice was accented, but Mugen could not tell what region he must have come from. He wasn't Japanese, that was for sure. He had sandy brown hair and large blue eyes- that were now regarding Mugen with obvious distaste.
"An old friend, Valjean, this is Mugen. Mugen, this is Valjean, the animal tamer." As Valjean turned to Fuu the distaste turned to admiration and Mugen found himself wanting to bash the boys head in.
"Fuu, are you not coming to have ze dinner with me tonite?" Valjean asked, pouting, "I have it all ready, are you not coming? You promized me you would!"
"I'll be there, but is it possiable that Mugen might attend with me?" It was obvious from the look on the slender fellows face that he would mind very much if Mugen attended, but he swallowed his pride.
"Yes, there iz enough I suppoze." he replied, kicking the dirt floor of the circus tent dejectedly. At the mention of food Mugen's stomache jumped for joy.
"We'll be there shortly." Fuu said, dismissing him. Valjean left reluctantly, and Fuu turned to Mugen.
"So what brings you here?"
"Feh," Mugen shrugged, "Just blowing in and out I suppose. Maybe I'll find a job here, eh?" Mugen grinned, thinking how upset that would make that little fellow with the whip. Fuu frowned.
"Well I guess we do have some work we could have done, but its nothing you'd want to hang on to. It's honest, and if you stay on, you'd have a hard time getting any women, you know. We're discouraged to mingle with the town folk, and there aren't many women here that aren't already taken." Fuu started heading towards the exit.
"And you?" Mugen called, following. Fuu turned to give him a skeptical look, but her face was once again the color of plum he had seen earlier. Mugen smirked as he followed her to Valjean's lodgings.
The animal tamer, like most people who worked in the circus, lived in one of the smaller tents. As they entered Mugen was over come by the scent of musk and sweat that almost knocked him out.
"Ah, Fuu! Everything is set up. Come sit with me, yes?" Valjean said, ignoring Mugen's presence. Fuu sat on the ground at the low table set with food, and Mugen sat next to her. As they ate, Valjean and Fuu discussed the show- who did what wrong or right- certian parts where they were sure something would have gone wrong- and Mugen sat scuffling food at alarming rates. Eventually Fuu stood up, excusing herself.
"I have to go to bed early, Valjean, Mugen." she yawned, "We have another show tomorrow, and I have to practice in the morning."
"Non, Fuu!" Valjean protested, "You are perfect, stay and eat."
"No, I have to go to bed." Valjean, obviously someone who got their way often, pouted severly and didn't look up as Fuu left the tent.
"Shes not another animal you can tame, eh?" Mugen sneered. Valjean 'huffed' and didn't look up from the food he was pushing around on his plate. "Well, I'm full, I think I'll head out for the night." Mugen stood, exiting the tent, and breathed the fresh air gladly. He strolled idly through the camp, people were busy running through cues- or putting this or that away. Suddenly he spotted a top hat sticking out from the crowd, and headed towards it.
He gained on the short round man quickly, grabbing him by the red collar of his coat. The ringmaster let out a squeal and looked up at his assailant.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for work."
"Ah," the short man sighed, releaved, "well, for just tonight or do you want to stay on board for awhile?"
"For awhile." Mugen replied and the short man 'hmm'd' and 'hah'd' til he seemed to come to a desicion.
"Well, until we find something that you're good at, you're going to have to do grunt work." he said, "Is that alright?"
"Yeah, I s'ppose."
"We don't have any extra tents just yet- is there someone you know you could-"
"Yeah, I know someone, can you show me Fuu's tent? You know.. Madame Ko?"
"Oh, you know our little Fuu, eh? Quite a beautiful young flower. Yes, follow me, I'll show you her tent." Mugen followed the squat man through a maze of tents and came to a considerably large pink and yellow one.
"Right in here-"
Mugen lifted the tent flap and was overcome with the smell of something very familliar, something he had spent a long time chasing.
"I'll come fetch you in the morning."
Mugen barley heard the rolly-polly ringmaster, as he was swept away in a tide of memories.
Sunflowers.. So she hadn't forgot. Her room was lined in sunflowers. Maybe in memory of her father, but Mugen was surely connected to those memories. She slumbered on a small mat, curled in blankets. Mugen smilled faintly and laid next to her, pushing her this way and that to make room on the mat for himself.
He could get use to this.
---------
A.N. Thanks everyone who reviewed. Im not sure if there was a circus back then but whateve whateve. It makes for an entertaining idea. Fuu walking a hirewire. Well, she does remind me of a squirrel.