Hey! I'm back! Sorry for the update. I fell out of both these fandoms for a while, but seeing as it's the two year anniversary, I couldn't not put up a new chapter! So here it is!

Reviews:

Milye6: I'm glad you found Kanda and Allen's parts interesting, that's a relief. And I know right?! All the exorcists are totally cut out for the circus. You'll be finding out codenames this chapter ;)

Maya5392: Your support is very appreciated! Your comment really made my day!

Sinfulangels: thank you so much!

DeeRoseWalker: oh yeah, there's definitely a story there ;)

Kosho-rinnnn: thanks, and hmmmm. I wonder ;)

I love pink: I'm glad, here it is.

YokaiAngel: thanks!

Guest #1: update; yeah, soon; nah.

Nadianazar31: thank you… I think? Dontkillme

Kanna Raimi: thanks!

Guest #2: thanks

Esmereilda: thanks, and will do ;)

Devil Wolf Girl: thanks, and he passed out because he had a panic attack and hyperventilated at the sight of Joker. Sorry I didn't make that clear -_-'

Amelia Loves Anime: wow, thank you. That really means a lot.

MnMsRoK: yup, I will see this through.

Pikaree 1: I will.

Tokyoghoul11: I will, don't worry.

XxXFoxieXxX: it is indeed going somewhere, it is indeed.

Guest #3: well, buckle in, 'cuz we still have a long way to go ;)

Thank you all for the reviews and support! I'll quit holding you up, and get to the chapter!

Good luck, stay safe, and have a nice day!

-Vetus

Lenalee praised Kanda and Allen for their hand in infiltrating the circus, but only after scolding them for pulling a disappearing act and making her worried. The two had barely gotten away from the lecture without an ass kicking. Allen shuddered at the memory, Lenalee certainly didn't need Komui to protect her.

The four were on their way to the circus, Allen and Lavi still shrugging off the effects of sleep, Lenalee seeming as chipper as ever, but really she was on a hair string trigger aggression wise, and Kanda, well, Allen was convinced he'd combust anything his glare landed on for too long. Allen was staying out of his line of sight.

When they had gotten to the circus, Kanda was annoyed to notice that the man from before, Sebastian Michaelis, was already there, a young boy standing next to him with a sour look on his face.

"Oh!" Joker cried happily. "O'er here! We've been waitin' fer ya!"

"You didn't have to do that." Lenalee smiled sweetly.

"It was no problem." The over excited man beamed. "Why don't you all introduce yourselves?"

"Of course." Lenalee bowed slightly. "I am Lenalee Lee."

"Lavi Bookman." Lavi smirked next.

"Allen Walker." Kanda noticed the idiot's mask was back in place.

"Kanda." He scoffed last, not bothering to give his full name.

"Great!" Joker smiled. "These 'ere are Srbastian and Finnian. You six rookies will be workin' together, that is, if ya pass o' course."

"I'm sure we will." Anyone who knew Lenalee well could see the evil glint in her eye.

"First off, lookin' good isn't enough to be in the circus. Ya need the proper skill sets." Joker nodded. "What are you three's special talents?"

"Well, I'm good at balance, agility, and flexibility." Lenalee started, raising her pointer finger to the side of her face as she thought.

"Ooo! Try the tightrope first!" Joker ordered.

Lenalee smirked, crouching low to the ground, before forcefully propelling herself into the air. She landed neatly on the platform at least thirty feet into the air, performing one aerial flip before touching down.

"Show off." Lavi chuckled, shaking his head, as Joker and Dagger, who had come to see what all the fuss was about, were left speechless.

"I just have to walk across?" Lenalee called down, brushing her short hair off her shoulder.

"Y-ya." Joker stuttered.

"That's easy." Lenalee squared with the line.

"Wait! We need ta fit ya with the safety line!"

Lenalee scoffed. "Are you going to give me one during the shows?"

"No, of course not." Joker looked confused.

"Then it wouldn't make sense to give me one now." She smiled that terrifying smile of hers. "I don't need one."

She strode confidently out onto the rope, not even looking down. She shot one last smile to the crowd below, before springing forward, executing a handspring and the cartwheel, before finishing with a neat flip. Joker and Dagger just gaped. Then, she slipped. Or that's what it would seem to the untrained eye.

"Well that didn't last long." Finnian, the brat, scoffed, rolling his uncovered eye.

"Just watch." Lavi said, grinning. "It's all part of her act.

And, just as Lavi predicted, Lenalee had hooked her foot around the line, twirling herself through the air, before landing daintily on the rope. She bowed, before leaping off to land at Joker's feet.

"How was that?" She smiled sweetly.

"Uh," Joker was still stunned. "Welcome ta the family."

"Oh, thank you!" She cheered. But the three exorcists caught the look she sent them, one of mischief, success, and warning. The three shivered.

"Alright, next up is Lavi." Joker continued. "What're you good at?"

"My strength, eidetic memory, and looks are my best qualities." Lavi laughed, as cheerful as ever.

"Strength?" Joker looked him over, unimpressed with what he found.

"Yup!" Lavi nodded, spinning his Innocence around his fingers. Allen knew that trick would break his fingers if he tried that.

"I don't know if I believe that." Joker frowned.

Lavi got a wicked look on his face. "Get me a hammer."

Joker had one of the strongmen bring one of the circus' heavier ones over.

"That's just mean." Dagger shook his head. "Look at the little guy, he can't lift that."

Lavi sat down his Innocence, and Allen got what he was trying to do there.

Grinning widely, Lavi grabbed the hammer's handle, easily lifting it over his head, before bringing it down with as much strength as he possessed. The ground actually shook, cracks appearing in the ground around them and in the metal of the hammer head.

"That should be enough, right?" Lavi said. "Unless you want to see more, maybe test my memory? That's my real talent."

"N-no, that's fine." Joker said. "Who are you people?"

"Oh, no one important." Allen waved off. "Just ex-members of the church."

"They teach ya that in church?!" Dagger asked, wide eyed. Allen simply shrugged back at him.

"Oooookay." Joker said. "Finny, yer next."

"Uh, I'm good at, darts?" Finnian sounded unsure.

"Great! Daggers it is." He clapped his hands.

"Daggers? The guy's like ten." Lavi said in disbelief.

"Thirteen." The kid snapped back.

"Younger people have done more dangerous things in the circus." Allen spoke up, something haunted in his eyes. Lavi gave him an analyzing look, saying no more.

"Ok! Step right up!" Joker cut in, handing the kid a dagger.

He aimed, a look of intense concentration pulling at his delicate features.

"He doesn't have the upper body strength." Kanda scoffed. "Not to mention the depth perception."

The kid threw the dagger. Halfway across, it fell.

"Said so-" Kanda started, before all eyes snapped back to the dagger, watching in astonishment as it suddenly spun back up towards the target, hitting the second innermost ring. Kanda's eyes narrowed.

The next knife he threw, Kanda scrutinized the knife as it once again fell, and, there! A rock hit the blade, sending it on a path to a bullseye. He smirked, so he was cheating. Kanda glanced over at Sebastian, noting he was leaning casually against a pole, but interestingly enough, he was rolling a pebble between his fingers. So that's how. But why? Kanda really couldn't care less, but he knew the others would, so he continued to watch.

It took thirteen shots before the ringmaster finally accepted the kid's work.

Next, the ringmaster decided that little stunt wasn't enough, and declared the could would have to walk the tightrope, not like he could one up Lenalee. And once again Kanda was right, the kid was being helped by Sebastian, this time using rocks to strike points to fix the boy's balance. Pathetic, why even try something if you couldn't complete it on your own merit?

When the kid was allowed down, Joker went up to him.

"Wow! I didn't think ya could actually do it!" Joker exclaimed proudly. "Now, one more test!"

The boy groaned.

"Give us a smile!" Joker laughed.

"What!? A smile?!" The boy gaped.

"Yup!" Joker nodded. The ringmaster was just lucky he hadn't made Kanda smile, he wouldn't have lived if he'd tried it.

The boy scowled, before breathing in and out to calm himself, he looked up and grinned widely. Most would call it sweet, but Kanda could see, there was nothing but malice in that smile, as if it had long rotted off the kid's face. He had an exorcist's smile.

After that ordeal, the six were ushered off and were forced to change into ridiculous outfits, overflowing with colors and patterns. Only the moyashi looked at all comfortable in the getup, even Sebastian, who had a disturbing air of calm around him, didn't look to happy.

Then they were pushed in front of the rest of the troupe.

"Listen up everyone!" Joker called. "We have six new rookies joinin' us today! Butterfly," Lenalee smiled and waved, "Samurai," Kanda scoffed, how predictable, "Black," Sebastian bowed, "Memory," Lavi grinned, hands behind his head, "Smile," Finnian looked scandalized, "and this 'ere is-"

Allen stepped forward. "Red. I'm Red."

Joker froze at Allen's words.

"Look, uh, ya can't have that name." The ringmaster looked embarrassed, but there was something steely in his eyes.

"Why not?" Allen looked disinterested.

"We already 'ave a Red." Joker was stubborn.

"Oh? Who?" Allen raised an eyebrow.

"W-well, he's gone! And has been for forever! He was important to us, and he's gone now, so you can't have that name." Joker shook his head, a number of the other members of the troupe were nodding at Joker's words.

"I won't work under any other name." Allen said.

"Moyashi, stop being difficult." Kanda hissed.

"Nope, Samurai, I'm not budging on this." Allen crossed his arms, left over right.

"Really? There's no convincing ya?" Joker looked anguished.

"None." Allen said. "And I'm very good at what I do, you won't find anyone like me."

"What is your specialty?" Joker asked, as if weighing if they really needed Allen.

"Why, I'm a clown." Allen said.

Something in Joker's face seemed to shift.

"Fine, Red it is." He relented, not looking happy about it.

"Great!" Allen grinned, and only Kanda could tell it was fake.

"Now, let me give y'all a tour!" Joker was back to being annoyingly cheerful.

The six followed as Joker spewed his inanities.

Kanda motioned the other exorcists over to him while the other three were distracted.

"Yes?" Lenalee whispered.

"Black and Smile cheated to get in the troupe." He stated bluntly. He must really not like bushes, Lavi chuckled to himself.

"So you noticed that too, Yuu?" Lavi grinned.

"Don't call me that." Kanda snarled.

"Why would they cheat though?" Lenalee pondered. "What's here that they want so much?"

"Don't know, don't care." Kanda said. "Just thought you all should know."

After that parting remark, the conversation ended.

The ringmaster stopped them in front of a roped off area, explaining that was the location of the first-tier tents. He warned them to be wary of the tent of as member named Snake, then turned on Smile.

"By the way, I've been meanin' ta ask, what happened ta yer eye, Smile?"

"I-it was lost in an accident." Smile looked flustered, fingers gently resting over the eyepatch the adorned the right side of his face.

"Ya poor thing." Joker sighed. "No one yer age deserves somethin' like that ta happen to 'em."

Kanda glanced over at Lavi, and noticed he was scrutinizing his two temporary coworkers.

"Well, everyone 'ere as their own issues, you'll fit in just fine." Joker smiled.

"You can say that again." Kanda scoffed.

"Oi, cut them some slack Bakanda!" Kanda startled back, Allen was glaring intently at the taller man, anger rolling off him in waves.

"Che, whatever." Kanda looked away, forever denying that he'd bent to the smaller teen's will so easily.

"In other matters," Black spoke up, and wasn't that a much more fitting name than Sebastian. The name Sebastian sounded like it should belong to a devout priest, or a powerful prince, not someone like Black. "Did everyone else join the troupe in its round? Show by show, like us?"

"Not exactly." Joker scratched his cheek. "Most o' the first tier members knew each other from before, then we've picked up rookies since, like Snake! He's still a rookie, genius with those snakes though, and we were down a snake charmer, soooo…"

They moved on after that, until they stopped in a giant tent with a large ring inside it.

"These 'ere are the trainin' grounds!" Joker explained. "All the rookies train 'ere! Hopin' for a chance ta perform in an actual show!"

"Joker!" A women, Beast, Kanda registered, stuck her head through the tent flap, "Hurry up! It's about time ta start!"

"Coming, coming!" He trilled. "Alright all, practice yer warmups, and do yer best."

He left them after that, much to Kanda's relief, the man had been overbearingly annoying.

"Well, we really don't need to warm up." Lenalee frowned, hands on her hips.

"True." Lavi nodded, hands back behind his head.

Kanda glanced at Allen, who was looking a bit… out of it.

"Moyashi. Spar with me." Kanda demanded, already moving over to a clear spot in the ring, swinging his coat off as he went, discarding it by the edge. "Coming, slow-bean?"

"Yes!" Allen responded, storming over. "You're not going to win, Bakanda."

He too discarded his coat, then reached for his wrist.

"Nuh-uh, Moyashi." Kanda smirked. "Not here."

"No weapons then?" Allen stared pointedly at Mugen.

"If you can handle hand-to-hand combat." Kanda smirked, gently setting his Innocence down with his coat.

"Fine, let's do this." Allen nodded

Lenalee sighed in disappointment. Kanda and Allen were trying to beat each other bloody, as-per-usual, and Lavi had wandered off to flirt with some of the circus girls.

"Heeey!" The teen drawled. "I'm Jumpersnicker. Who're you all?"

Leave it to Lavi to change his own codename, and to something so ridiculous.

Rolling her eyes, she glanced over at the two mysterious companions that had joined them in the circus. The two had gone off alone, and seemed to be murmuring to each other.

"Innocence, activate." Lenalee whispered.

With her enhanced abilities, Lenalee gracefully leaped over the two, landing gently on a platform about ten feet above them. Crouching down, she remained out of their sight, and in range to hear them clearly.

"-won't kill you. Go see whether the children are here or-" Smile was talking.

"They are not here." Black cut him off.

Lenalee frowned, the children. Were they here for the same reason as Lenalee and her friends?

"Huh?" Smile sounded confused.

"I have not sensed the presence of any children at all in this circus. Not last night, and not during the tour either." Black lectured.

What did he mean by 'sense'? Lenalee bit her lip. She did remember Allen and Kanda mentioning having seen Black here last night, though.

"But we have yet to find proof that the circus has no relation to the missing children. We can't leave until we've looked into all the nooks and crannies of this place." Smile responded.

"Quite." Black acknowledged. "It is entirely possible that they may be in such a position that I would be unable to sense their presence."

"Don't say such an ill-omened thing." Smile reprimanded. "She wishes for the children's safe return."

"Yes sir." Black responded, almost mockingly. "That reminds me… instead of the children, I did sense-"

Lenalee heard the footsteps at about the same time as them. Moving quickly, she propelled herself up to the top of the pole, out of conventional sight, and some place where she could deny having heard anything.

She had a lot to process anyways.

Kanda and Allen stopped fighting when Dagger called them over. Both were staring the other down, trying to get the other to admit defeat. Dagger looked surprised as they approached, both having stripped down to just their pants during the match.

"Why're you two half naked?" Dagger asked, face going red.

"Well, that's obvious. Samurai got hot and took his over-shirt off, leaving him in the training tops we generally wear underneath, so I evened the playing field for him." Allen started.

"Then the Moyashi got hot and took that off, so I did the same. To even the playing field." Kanda finished, hands crossed over his chest.

"Ooooookay then." He said uneasily.

Lenalee joined them then, smacking herself in the face when she saw their state of dress.

"Niiiice." Lavi winked-blinked?-shooting the pair finger guns.

"Shut up." Allen and Kanda growled simultaneously.

Dagger seemed to be focusing his attention anywhere other than at them.

"Are those tattoos?" Black asked, leaning towards Kanda.

"No." The samurai replied shortly.

Black just hummed in response.

"C-can you two put shirts on? Please?" Dagger squeaked.

Once the two were properly dressed once more, they all reconvened by Dagger.

"Alrighty, so y'all need to decide what sort of acts you'll want to do." He smiled.

"I want to be a clown." Allen stated immediately.

"Ok, Butterfly, aerial dance would probably be best fer ya." Dagger added, turning to Lenalee.

Lenalee nodded, a smile on her face.

"Memory-"

"Jumpersnicker." Lavi corrected, shit eating grin on his face.

Dagger shot him a weird look. "You'll probably do some sort o' strongman act."

Lavi gave him a thumbs up.

"And you, Samurai, we were actually thinkin' ya could perform with big sis, Beast! Ya met 'er last night, she 'ad the whip." He exclaimed, as if it was something to be proud of.

"Che, whatever." Kanda scoffed. "Just make sure she's good enough. Wouldn't want to hurt her."

Dagger spluttered as Kanda walked away, going to retrieve his coat.

"Damn, he's got a nice ass." Lavi leered, leaning over to talk to Lenalee.

She giggled, giving it an appraising look, smirking in approval.

"Stop talking about Bakanda's ass." Allen protested. "It isn't that nice!"

"Whatever you say." Lavi shrugged.

By the time the three had tuned back in to Dagger, the man was gaping at Black as he showed off at every skill set present at the moment.

Allen scoffed, he'd hated people like that since he was little, they were always so high and mighty, and tended to be cruel to weaker members, to boot.

"Wow!" Dagger exclaimed, in awe. "Another scary genius? I just can't win today! No matter, I won't let ya beat me."

"Hey, hey, Mr. Knife? I thought we were the only newcomers?" Lavi poked Dagger.

"It's Dagger! And that guy o'er there is new as well, 'e's pretty good too." Dagger corrected. "Said 'e was some sort o' civil servant, 'e's pretty serious, but good. Hey! Come down 'ere fer a bit! Meet the new newcomers, Suit!"

A thin, dark haired man wearing square glasses and a rather ridiculous suit peered down at them from the tightrope. Suddenly the pole in his hand shot down and buried itself in the dirt, inches away from Black, and wait, were those hedge trimmers? Allen raised an eyebrow, exchanging confused glances with Lenalee and Lavi. He seemed to be saying something, but was too high up for anyone to hear anything.

Using his pole-er, hedge trimmers-the man, Suit, slid down to their level.

"What ever did you come sniffing around to devour this time?" He was saying. As he landed, he turned his clippers and aimed them at Black's face. "You devil!"

It was now alarmed glances passing between the three exorcists.

"Allen…?" Lenalee murmured, gesturing to her left eye.

He shook his head. "Too many people." He mouthed back. She frowned.

"In this day and age, when there are rarely enough grim reapers to get the job done, even at the best of times…" Suit continued, "the appearance of a devil means I shan't be able to clock out on time, yet again."

"We have to do something!" Lenalee hissed quietly. "What if they're akuma?!"

"Our hands are tied." Lavi whispered back, "too many innocents."

"Grim… reaper… you…" Dagger looked confused.

"N-no, he's just-!" Smile started.

"That's enough o' that me big fore-'eaded friend!" Dagger finished, chuckling. "Ya said it with such a serious mug, I couldn't tell ya were jokin'! Been shootin' off strange jokes from day on, 'e 'as! 'E's always goin' on 'bout souls and the like… and 'e's fer anythin' ta do wiv 'em ghosts 'n' stuff."

"I am not one for joking." Suit said stoically, pushing his glasses up with one end of his trimmers.

"I'll introduce ya all!" Dagger said enthusiastically. "Tall an' mysterious is Black, shortie is Smile, redhead is Memory-" "Jumpersnicker!" "-shut up, one wiv the messed up face is Red, the beauty is Butterfly, an' Samurai went o'er there somewhere an' 'asn't come back yet. Maybe 'e got lost."

"He didn't get lost." The three remaining exorcists replied simultaneously.

"I love him, but he's an ass."

"Samurai-chan is a total ass!"

"That idiot has no social skills whatsoever."

"Alright then." Dagger eyed them warily. "Don't matter much anyway, but maybe y'all could go get 'im? We need ta assign roommates."

"Sure." Lenalee sighed, noting that Suit and Black had left the tent, and that poor Smile was being dragged off by Dagger.

By the time the three returned with Kanda in tow, Smile, Suit, and Black were re-entering the tent, Smile having apparently escaped Dagger's hold. Joker had come back from tonight's show, and was standing in the middle of the room, holding a piece of paper aloft, and grinning widely.

"Now, 'ere's what ya've been waitin' fer!" He exclaimed as soon as all seven rookies were standing in front of him. "Time ta announce room assignments fer the rookies! Here we go! In tent eight, we 'ave Butterfly and Smile, along with Freckles here!" Lenalee blinked in surprise as a young girl was ushered towards them. She was cute, with shoulder length brown hair that completely covered one eye, and a face sprinkled with her namesake.

"And, Black an' Memory-" "Jumpersnicker!" "W-what?" "Just ignore him!" "Anyway, those to will be in tent nine-" poor Joker couldn't catch a break.

"Seba-Black and I won't be in the same tent?!" Smile exclaimed indignantly.

Dagger laughed. "Smile sure is sweet on Black.

"Th-that isn't what I mean-" Smile protested.

"Ye gotta learn ta be more independent!" Dagger finished.

"Anyway!" Joker practically yelled, drowning out whatever protest Smile had stacked up. "Black an' Memory's roommate will be… Suit!"

Lavi chuckled as his roommates froze up at that announcement. At least he had no problem with the sleep plan. They didn't even have to be conscious simultaneously! What even was the problem?

"An', last, but not least! In tent ten will be Red and Samurai!"

The two teens also froze, horror flitting across their faces.

"WHAT?!" The two yelled.

Lavi burst out laughing, Lenalee face palmed again. She was going to have a red spot soon.

Well, that's all for now folks! I hope to get another update soon, now that interest is stirring for these fandoms again. This fic is a great challenge though, because I have literally zero motivation to write it! But don't worry, that makes it fun.

If anyone's wondering why Lenalee was able to get past Sebastian without him noticing, it was because she's a badass. Or her Innocence blocked his powers. Take your pick.

Also, blame Jumpersnicker on Tyki075. My Gecko-chan is an odd human being. Lizard being? Whatever. Don't ask him for codenames ;) (love ya bro.)

See y'all in the next chapter!

-Vetus