Karneval (カーニヴァル)

Karoku.

Hey, Nai. C'mere.

Yeah?

You'll be all right. I promise.

No, wait.

Tell me where you're going.

Cat got your tongue, love?

You're on my tummy.

Please--it hurts. I can't breathe.

I hope you are not implying I'm overweight!

Please, ma'am. It's not mine.

Fantastic; a Circus ID. Damn it. Am I busted?

Crap.

We've got an intruder! Everyone stay calm!

Seriously? Nothing worth a damn?

Uhh, 'scuse me.

What?

Um... Are you... gonna go outside?

Come again?

I wanna go outside.

Except I...

Ah... Nice bit o' bling you got there.

I'll break you outta here, if you want.

Really?

Thing is... I ain't cheap.

If you want out... Give me the bracelet.

Sure thing! It's not mine to give away, though.

We'll have to get Karoku's permission first.

You got a deal.

Ugh. This is the last thing I need.

Are you with Circus?

No. Stupid question.

You're too disheveled.

Fledgling cat burglar, I presume?

Looks can be deceiving.

Oh, indeed. Yes, they can.

What?

How about a nice game of tag?

Let's see... how far you can make it before I devour you!

The hell?

Haul ass! Follow me!

Forgive me, Tsukumo.

I had my tea without you.

Sir, please! We're out in the open!

Yes, darling, I noticed. Camouflage is second nature.

You remained unseen though?

Of course.

Excellent. And your report? Concerning Miné?

It's as we suspected.

Then we'd best make haste.

Damn! Give it up, punk!

Clip, clop, plip, plop, your knees give way.

Chip, chop, slip, slop, your intestines splay.

Your Ladyship!

Everything's under control; the intruder has been cornered!

No need for watercress; no need for brie.

You'll be eaten...

Uh, Lady Miné.

...'ere the clock strikes three.

That's better. Always play... with just enough

in your belly to give the ol' legs a kick start, eh?

What the hell is she?

We're not sure yet, sir.

Come, don't be dull; this is tag, not hide-and-seek.

The whole point, darlings... is to run.

Um, 'scuse me.

That woman... Where did she go?

Life always boils it down to one of three choices.

Enemy. Obstacle. Or easy mark.

Mostly.

The name's Gareki. What do I call you?

Oh, Nai!

How do ya like steerage, Palnedo?

Not exactly first class, but we do our best.

There's no open bar. But hey, it is cozy.

What do you intend to do with us?

That's gonna leave a mark. Damn teenagers.

Oh, my.

Hellooo! Fancy meeting you here!

Just look at me! No makeup, house in shambles.

If you had simply done things more quietly,

we would've let you live indefinitely.

Get the lead out, kid!

Not good.

This is grand. We have been beaten to the punch.

Another lead; another blind alley.

At least we know she was involved, but...

that only makes the whole scenario more... regrettable.

Talk to me. Yes, but someone else had the same idea.

A hijacking?

Right under their noses? Don't worry. We're on it.

Give me a break.

Bastards don't waste any time, huh?

We clear on that end?

Guess that clinches it. Son of a...

We've gotta get outta town.

'Course, I say that... Every way in or out

of this hellhole is probably crawlin' with fuzz.

Moment of truth. Be ready to jump when I give the word, okay?

O-Okay.

Let's go!

Karoku.

Should've been easy pickins.

Didn't plan on the crazy bitch bein' a...

whatever the hell that was.

'Scuse me.

Thank you for getting me out of there.

So what, you were like her prisoner or something?

Maybe. I was looking for Karoku.

Oh yeah? Suppose you tell me a lil' something about this guy.

He'd been around as long as I can remember. But then...

He went away, and didn't come back. I got lonely.

He left this weird kind of trail in the sand.

Little red splashes in a row, all the way to the ocean.

I followed them and found this.

What's with you? Just say puddles of blood.

Look, I hate to tell you this.

But the dude's probably not comin' back.

Sounds like he got in a scuffle.

His attackers got the drop on him

and dragged his body out to sea;

let the tide clean up their mess.

Lady Miné recognized the bracelet, right?

Said it was from Circus.

Not to say this guy's pal was with them or anything,

but still... Might be a connection.

That trinket's gotta be worth something, even if it's bunk.

Either way, I'm in the market for new stomping grounds.

Can't help feelin' like I'm owed.

How long has it been since the last time I saw Karoku?

What am I supposed to do about food without him?

My insides are burning. Karoku...

What are you doing? Hey.

There's a sound that doesn't belong.

What sound? I don't hear anything.

But suddenly... I'm weirded out.

Gareki. Where are you going?

Something's up with this train. I'm gonna go nose around...

You just stay put, I don't need you--