Disclaimer: I do not own any Klonoa characters… The others are mine, though.

Chapter 6: Happy and Unhappy Reunions

"All right, that should do it! Ready to go?"

It was early the next morning. Luckily, Nikki had off on Mondays, but that didn't mean she usually wasn't busy. Chris was there with the tickets for the circus. Nikki had asked him to buy two more after confirming with herself that she wouldn't be able to disguise Guntz and Klonoa as pets.

"You sure sheets are going to work?" Chris asked after examining the cloak covered Guntz and Klonoa. "They're not just sheets… It'll make them look like homeless people. They go to circuses a lot," Nikki replied. "Yeah, to work there," was all Chris said in reply. "What's so bad about homeless people?" Klonoa asked, picking up their tone of voice and probably recalling the times he had seen homeless people on the sidewalks.

"Well, nothing. It's just… they're kinda looked down on here." With good reason, Nikki added silently. "I don't like this place more and more every second I'm here," Guntz remarked, shifting the black cloak that was a bit too big for him. That one and the one Klonoa had were actually costumes to some play Nikki couldn't remember the name of. Luckily Klonoa's was a bit smaller.

"But being homeless is easier, isn't it? You can go where ever you want, do whatever you want… You don't have to clean up after your house," Klonoa began.

"You don't have to pay taxes."

"No curfews."

"No home insurance."

"Cleaning your room."

"Thieves."

Nikki looked back and forth as Klonoa and Guntz talked in turn. She almost wanted to laugh at how opposite they sounded. Despite probably being only a little older than Klonoa, Guntz sounded like an adult, and Klonoa probably acted a bit childish for his age. "Well… You have to worry if you'll be able to eat every day," Nikki said.

"Only an idiot becomes homeless when they have no money," Guntz replied simply. Well, some people don't have a choice Nikki thought. New York certainly was no place for these two. Chris, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up. "The circus starts soon. If we want to get there early…"

"Right! Let's go," Nikki said quickly. "Why so early?" Klonoa asked as Guntz began yawning, as if to agree. "No one goes to the circus when they first open. Honestly, nowadays the first hour they open is just to set up since no one's there," Nikki explained. Guntz and Klonoa exchanged glances. "I still don't know what a circus is…" Klonoa said quietly.

"Oh! This is a circus!" Klonoa said loudly when the four began walking toward the various large tents. "I've been to one of these—" He quickly turned to Guntz, "—in Joilant!" He had on a big, excited smile. "Joilant itself is a circus!" Guntz replied. Nikki could only wonder what this "Joilant" place was.

The cloaks covered most of their bodies, but if they kept looking around like they were, someone would eventually notice, Nikki thought. The two boys stared wide-eyed as a man led an elephant past nearby. They staggered slightly when they saw a few clowns, muttering something to each other about a "joka." And last, but not least, they stared incomprehensively at the food.

"It's popcorn," Nikki said, slightly annoyed, as the held the butter-smelling bag. "It smells bad for you," Guntz remarked. "He's right, you kn—" Chris began, but Nikki elbow him. The last thing she wanted right now was people telling her she was eating fatty foods. She always wanted snacks when she was stressed out.

The four then started strolling around the attractions. They past cages with lions and tigers in them. Nikki had to wonder if Guntz and Klonoa could understand them as they so fiercely roared at them. It seemed unlikely, though. Then they reached an area where several performers were practicing their talented tricks.

"This is a waste of time," Guntz said for probably the third time that day. "He's not gonna be here." Klonoa suddenly stopped and pointed ahead. "Ah…" he said quietly. Guntz followed his gaze and, once he saw what Klonoa was seeing, gaped in disbelief. Nikki and Chris didn't know what was so strange until the large figure they were pointing to turned around.

"P-Pango!" the two boys yelled at once. "Hmm?" With a bit of scrutinizing, Nikki then recognized the pangolin-like man as the one on TV, though he was wearing different clothes. "Pango!" Klonoa hugged the man with delight as Guntz only stared at his ridiculous clown clothing and makeup.

"Klonoa, Guntz! How did—Where did you come from?" Pango asked in a quite shocked voice. "From Nikki's home. She's helping us!" Klonoa looked back at Nikki, who smiled sheepishly at their gazes. In all the excitement, Klonoa's hood had fallen off. Guntz tightly pulled it back over his head. "Don't be so loud, you're causing a scene," he warned.

Indeed quite a few people were staring curiously. "Then let's go inside," Pango suggested, pointing to a large tent behind him. Inside the tent were more performers and people setting up for the show. Pango led them to a room where they were alone and could take their costumes off.

"So, Pango, know if anyone else is here?" Guntz was asking. "No. I didn't even know you guys were here. Sure is a relief, though. I thought I was in this strange place all by myself," Pango smiled. "Well… then what was the last thing we were doing before we came here?" Guntz asked, crossing his arms thoughtfully.

Klonoa watched the two, as if he had no part in the conversation. Nikki and Chris were again watching from the back, near the door of the small room they were in. "We were… making an oath, weren't we?" Pango said. Guntz looked at him as he slapped his hands together with satisfaction. "Yes, we were making an oath!"

Pango put out his hand. "We were about to go our separate ways after defeating Nahatomb. So we made an oath that we'd always be partners, and if one of us were in need, we'd be there for support." Guntz blinked before reaching out a hand and putting it on Pango's. "Right, I remember now."

The two looked to the side at Klonoa, who hesitated. Eventually he put his left hand forward. "Didn't you use your ring?" Pango asked thoughtfully. Klonoa flinched slightly and reluctantly switched hands. He put his right hand, which was holding his large ring, forward slowly, as if afraid of what would happen. Neither of them seemed to notice his odd behavior.

"What happened after that?" Pango asked. Guntz frowned, taking his hand back to cross his arms again. "Then there was this big light and all of a sudden I was wet and it was dark," he replied. Pango nodded slowly as Klonoa just stared down at his ring. "So I suppose it should be safe to say that it's just us here, right?" Pango asked. "I guess, we were the only ones there at the time," Guntz shrugged.

"But… how will we learn of how we got here?" Pango asked, thinking. "Um… guys..." The two looked at Klonoa. He was staring down at his ring and fidgeting with it, as if nervous. "There's… something I…" There was a sudden ringing noise that almost made him jump. A pause went by before Pango piped up. "Oh! That's my cue. I have to get ready for the show," he said.

"Show?" Guntz asked disapprovingly. "Yes. You see, I didn't know what else to do. The people around here seemed so shocked by the way I look, for some reason. But here they don't make such a big deal about it—they actually seem to like it," Pango replied. "But you look like Joka!" Guntz objected incredulously. Pango scratched the back of his head.

"That's because this is a circus," Nikki spoke up from behind them. "People come looking for weird things to laugh at." Guntz looked at Pango sharply. "See?! This is downgrading. Let's just go!" he prompted. "But I… signed a contract…" Pango said slowly.

"That won't matter if they don't know where you live," Nikki said, looking as if she were ready to bolt out the door. She jumped back into Chris when it suddenly opened on its own. "Hey, you ready yet? Hmm? Well, lookie who it is," said a strange voice. "Yeah… I was going to mention him," Pango said uncomfortably.

Klonoa and Guntz only blinked, as if not believing their eyes. In the doorway was a round creature with only hands and feet that were unattached to its body. It was colored like a clown, though its eyes and grinning mouth barely changed with every word and expression it made. It was barely bigger than an inflated ball.

"Joka!!" The two finally yelled. "Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!" Joka said, spinning around playfully. Guntz suddenly straightened and went into a defensive position. "Damn it, Joka, why won't you just die already?" he growled. Joka made what could possibly be a frown, though it was hard to tell since he was still grinning.

"Tsk. Well, that's not nice. I helped your friend here get this job, didn't I?" he said. Guntz and Klonoa looked at Pango. "Well… I didn't know what else to do. I thought I was alone, so I couldn't give up the offer," he replied, looking down. "Yep, and now you belong to me!" Joka made a piece of paper appear at his hand in a puff of smoke. "In fact, I'd like it if all of you belonged to me," he said.

It made a fist out of one of his unattached hands and lifted it up quickly. A cut suddenly appeared on one of Klonoa and Guntz' hands. As small drops of blood flew through the air, Joka made two more papers appear and caught them with each. The blood soaked into the paper and suddenly their names appeared at the bottom.

Klonoa and Guntz blinked incomprehensively. "There we go! Now it's time for the show. Chop, chop!" Joka prompted, making the papers disappear again. He suddenly turned to Nikki and Chris. "No guests allowed!" He clapped his hands and Nikki and Chris disappeared with a puff of smoke.

"What'd you do to them!?" Klonoa yelled, which was probably the loudest thing he'd said all day. "Calm down, they're comfortably in the audience, waiting for your performance," Joka grinned. "If you think I'm dressing up like you and playing an act for other people then you've got another thing coming!" Guntz growled. "Well, of course I don't plan you to one your own free will," Joka replied.

He snapped his fingers and the scenery suddenly changed. It was dark. Quiet murmuring could be heard, which was quickly "shushed". "Ladies and gentlemen!" Joka suddenly appeared on spotlight. He looked up at the large circle of seated people surrounding him. "I, Joka the clown, am your host for today's show!"

Nikki and Chris were in the audience, though tied to the chairs they were sitting in and in a secluded area from everyone else. "Please give a warm round of applause for our performers!"

The whole area suddenly lit up, revealing the large inside of a tent. Where Joka was was a large, round area of sand. Objects were placed here and there. "Now, give it up for Pango! Our bomb juggler!" Suddenly Pango appeared, nervously juggling several lit bombs while riding on a unicycle much too small for him.

"Now, it may look easy, folks, but if he drops one bomb, it'll explode!" Joka said to the audience. The people laughed at how humorous the pangolin looked. "Next, give it up for Klonoa, our tightrope walker!" Everyone looked up at a thin rope high above them, where Klonoa was shakily standing, holding a long pole.

"How did I get up here…?" he asked himself quietly. "Now, don't worry, folks. If he falls, he'll fall in a pool of water," Joka said, pointing to the large pool of water below Klonoa. "That doesn't make me feel any better!" Klonoa yelled. The audience made disappointed moans.

"Of course, a pool filled with piranhas!" The large, chomping fish jumped out of the water every now and then. The audience cheered. "And last, but certainly not least, put your hands together for Guntz, our tamed werewolf!" A light shone on a large cage. "Get me outta here!" Guntz growled, gripping the bars. "Oh, yes, and he can talk, too," Joka added simply. The audience screamed in excitement.

"And, without further ado, let's get started!" Joka cheered.

I was in an odd mood when I wrote the ending. I kept thinking, should I add Joka? Of course Joka'll make things more interesting. This is my first time using Pango and Joka, so bare with me. Anyway, stick around for Chapter 7: Circus of Hell!