Karakuri Circus

Sangre y Fuego!

Guy, you coward.

How dare you use a bomb.

I thought we were goners.

He took all 3,000 automata down with him.

What do we do now?

We chase the train. Anybody alive?

Any survivors?

Yes, right here.

Good, it's you.

Go, stop that train!

Am I destined to lose my way?

All I want is to have fun in my life

All I want is to be with those I love

Ready or not Here I come

I don't care anymore

I just don't know anymore

I wish everything would just disappear

There are days when I think like that

But everything is precious to me

And so I fight on

Today was a tough day

I almost gave up hope

But the truth is I don't want to lose anything anymore

I wish everything would just disappear

There are days when I think like that

But everything is precious to me

And so I must fight

#31 Black shooting star

Listen up. The curtains have finally been raised.

The show is about taking the space shuttle on this puffer train to the end of Russia.

There's no pay, no rehearsal.

And we've only got one shot.

But we gotta do it.

Because if we mess up, there won't be anyone left to come see our circus.

Not a single person.

So, let's do this.

And after we reach the launch pad.

Big guy. You take it from there.

I don't know much about you.

But Fou relies on you, and he knows best. We're counting on you.

Leave it to me.

Gather around. Want something that'll make automata stop dead in their tracks?

Vilma's special knives. Come get 'em.

What? You mean that?

I heard from Fou that your blood is really poisonous for automata.

Well, yes.

And I remembered.

About when you and I fought.

I had these checked, and these knives had a bit of your blood left on them.

Thanks.

We can give them a taste of their own medicine.

But why is Shirogane's blood on so many knives?

That's a little secret. Right?

Okay, big guy and Shirogane go up to the first car.

We should split up so they can't attack us all at once.

Hold on, I'm going to fight with you. Why do I have to be with her?

He's right. Why just us?

I've fought automata for a long time.

How dense can you get?

You're going up on that space shuttle to the space station.

Well yeah, but I...

What, are you saying you're stronger than us?

You're so special, huh?

No, of course not.

Then leave this to us and save your energy for later.

You need to learn how to fly the space shuttle, too.

Shirogane, you've got a point.

You're the most experienced in fighting those automata.

And that's why you're going with him. You're the strongest.

Protect him.

Damn it, I don't want to put her in the same room as that bear guy either.

I wish she'd fight alongside us.

But jeez...

Guess it can't be helped.

Why not? You can come back to fight if something comes up.

Until then, go spend your last moments with the man you love.

Vilma!

Go on.

Okay.

We'll be going then.

Call us if anything happens.

As if we ever would.

That naive little girl.

"Nouveaux enfants de la balle," people born outside the circus are so gullible.

Fine, you want to stay with Shirogane, right?

Go on to the second car.

Chin up, Master.

We're gonna reach the train to protect Shirogane, right?

Yeah, but...

Guy...

That handsome man played out his role.

Yeah, you're right.

So...

Guess we're faster than this brat's puppet, eh Anoss?

Yeah, Keniss. Even with the heavy loads we're carrying.

How rude, referring to a lady's weight.

Oops, sorry.

There were survivors!

We can't let them go.

Too bad.

Wild West Jane is always first to arrive, just like a bullet.

You're one lucky brat.

I'm in a hurry. I'll shoot you down later.

Now, Anoss. Your job is to take me to the train.

Stop fooling around.

Well of course, Lady Spider.

It won't take but a second.

Not so fast!

That idiot, he never listens.

You look happy.

We could be attacked any minute now. Aren't you scared?

Scared?

Only memories are capable of really scaring me.

They keep replaying, over and over. My deepest regrets.

But anyway.

Have I ever told you that I come from a railroad circus?

You mean, your circus traveled around the country on a train?

Right.

I was born to a family of knife throwers.

With one little brother.

So you're of royal circus blood.

I ended up choosing a job other than the circus for myself.

But ever since I joined Nakamachi Circus...

It's been such fun.

I got to meet you all and Shirogane.

And here I am, on a train, as a member of a circus.

It was a dream of mine.

To be in a circus like this with my little brother.

You never know where life takes you.

My brother and I were abandoned as kids.

Abandoned?

Yeah.

An orphanage we knew of had their hands full.

So my wife took these two in.

You had a wife.

A circus is a tight-knit community.

It's like a lot of families traveling together.

So it was no big deal taking these two in.

But they had a hard time opening their hearts to Fusae.

Hiro didn't eat the rice balls Mom made for us.

Nori went and sold the clothes she made for us.

Well, you know.

It felt awkward. And it was like we'd been kidnapped by the circus.

Yeah, I thought Mom was just acting nice to try to fool us.

But you made up with her, right?

-Yeah! -We sure did. I was faster.

No way, I made up with her first.

-What did you say? -You little...

Back then, the circus drew large crowds, and we made good money.

Fusae was into pottery.

She treasured a vase that cost quite a fortune.

I was scared out of my wits.

I knew I'd never be able to pay it off no matter how hard I worked.

I thought my only choice was to run.

But...

Why are you running away?

Silly boy!

Things break.

When they do, we can just buy another.