Disclaimer: I do not own +anima. I am clearly a normal girl who writes things. Ok, maybe not but still.
Chapter Two
Mr. Ruzuki pulled the young +anima by her hand across the market place. Duke, her father, looked at a distance and then realized he himself, was scammed. He could have gotten 7000 gillah but only had 4000.
Memoir groaned as the man who held her whipped around. She was thinking of a way to break the news to the man that she wasn't a +anima, but could not find a way. Finally, the rush slowed and they stopped moving.
"Keep note: this is where you're going to work, little girl," Robert said to Memoir.
There was a large, purple and yellow tent that had a sign that read: Circus. People of all ages swarmed around it as if they were flies around an open honey jar. Robert pulled on her hand again and they pushed themselves into the crowd.
Once they reached their destination, which was the inside of a tent, which no one was inside, they stopped again. Robert then said, "Now, show me your anima."
Memoir looked around then at her feet and she said, "I'm sorry sir, but I don't th-" she was interrupted by a man who just happened to have black ears and a tail, a black cat +anima. He also had overalls on and yellow sweeter.
"Sir, since your absence all of our customers have been antsy! They think we're taking their money by fraud! One was even about to sue!" the +anima yelled looking over his back. "Please, we must start the show now!"
"Don't worry. Here, take care of the girl for now, I'll start the show," Robert said leaving the tent.
The +anima looked at Memoir and asked, "Why are you here?"
"I was sold to him. What else?" she grunted softly.
"You, you mean that you're a p, plus anima?" he looked more closely ay her. "But you're so young."
"So? What if I am? Who cares? I'm probably gonna' get hurt when that guy returns." Memoir mumbled crossing her arms.
"Why? Why would you get hurt?" he asked with a concerned look in his eyes.
"Isn't it ob, obvious?" she had trouble pronouncing that last word. "I'm not a +anima."
"You're not?" he said cocking his head sideways.
"Yes. I am not a +anima." She said sitting down. "At least I think I'm not…"
"What made you think you are a +anima?" he asked also sitting down.
"My dad, he put a sign on me and sold me," she looked down at her shoes which were torn on the bottom. "He wouldn't do something without a reason."
He sighed and said, "Let's start over. I'm Benjamin, Ben for short."
"I'm Sa- Memoir." She stated, stuttering. "You work here?"
"Yes, I'm one of the acrobats. I'm very good at it." He smiled, stood, and did a back flip to show Memoir. "See?"
She clapped and said, "Wow! That's amazing! Ben, that's wonderful!"
"You should see me on the trapeze." Ben smiled.
"Are you good at it because of your anima?" Memoir questioned.
"It helps, but I was born in a circus family." His smile dwindled away. "It was also the place I became a +anima. One day, when I was practicing by myself, I wanted to try the trapeze without a net. When I was in the air, my hand slipped and I fell. That's when I suddenly became more agile and flexible, so I was able to land on my feet."
"That's sad." She frowned, "How did you get here?"
"I didn't want to be a slave, so I ran away. However, some slave hunters found me, and sold me to a merchant. He got tired of me, so he sold me to a restaurant owner. I wasn't the best at that and most people disliked me, so I was sold yet again. Now here am I, working at the circus." Ben explained. "It's been what? Two years? Yeah that's it. I've been here two years."
"That's quite a story." Memoir simply said.
"Quite." He sighed, changing the subject, "Do you remember being a +anima?"
She puzzled at the thought for a moment then said, "Now that you mentioned it, maybe. I remember yelling at my mom then, then what?" she searched her memory banks for an answer but could find an easier answer with a puzzle box. "I don't know. After that my dad strung a rope around me."
"Hmmm…," his eyes were looking up and he was stroking his chin. He snapped his fingers and said aloud, "What were you feeling at the moment?"
"Umm, when I was talking to my parents?" Ben nodded. "I was angry at them. They were being mean to me, so I must have been angry."
He leaned back and looked up again. "I would like to test my theory, but I'm not sure of the outcome." He looked back down at Memoir, "Maybe if you are angry, you might let loose your anima."
"I don't know about that. It sounds stupid." She screwed her face up.
Just as Ben was about to explain, Robert entered the tent and beckoned for Ben.
"Yes sir?" he asked standing up.
"Come. The other acrobats need you to do their routine. Now!" Ben bowed to me and Robert then ran off. "Come girl, I'm not leaving you out of my sight." He seized her hand and ran to the bigger tent.
After the performance, the ringmaster yet again grabbed her hand and led Memoir into the smaller tent. "Show me your anima, girl."
"…" was all she said.
"Will you answer me? I know you aren't mute. Talk." He commanded.
"…" she shuffled her feet.
"Talk, damn you!" he yelled, slamming his open palm on Memoir's tan face.
The impact left her on the floor; a single tear left her blue-green eyes. A spark appeared in her eyes as she sprouted midnight wings and grew terribly sharp claws.
She growled as she sprang up and slashed a claw at the man. By reflex, he dodged, calling for help.
Ben came running and gasped as he saw the monster that Memoir had become. The circus master yelled for him to protect him so he did as a good slave should, and he stepped in front of Robert and let his anima go. She sped toward him and he flinched as she swung her arm at him. Her claws scratched his eyes and he let out a blood-curling scream. With one hand, he lashed out blindly at his attacker, and with the other hand, covered his wound.
Rather the scream or the slash, stunned Memoir and she stumbled back, falling down. Ben opened his eyes and screamed again. His eyesight was gone; all he saw was the black sheet that spread across his eyes. Again, he lashed out. In the thrashing, he succeeded to kick Memoir in the stomach. She got the wind knocked out of her and blacked out.
"With a +anima like that I could be a millionaire!" was all that exited Robert Ruzuki's mouth.
Teddie: I'm so violent! But I love the action!
Ben: That's all you can think about? I was just blinded! What's with you?
Teddie: Do you want the toy-toy? I know you want the toy-toy. *waves toy in front of Ben's face* go get the toy-toy! *throws toy*
Ben: I'm not that chi-
Teddie: It has catnip~.
Ben: It does?! Where it is?! *runs of to find toy*
Robert: He is such a child…
Teddie: Hey! When did I let you in this?!
Robert: You didn't. I picked the lock.
Teddie:*glares*
Robert: *glares back*
Ben: I found it! It smells so~ good! *gnaws at toy*
Robert: *stares blankly*
Teddie:*stares blankly then shakes head* um, at that note, please comment. Thank you loyal readers! *smiles* Hey, give me the toy-toy, Ben. *tries to grab toy*
Ben: Nuh-uh! *growls*
Teddie: *backs away*
