The Circus

Dent felt a little electric thrill when she touched his hand. Then he realized she had asked him something.

"Uh...wait, what?"

"What's your act?"

Dent snorted. "Rusty keeps me away from the ring. Don't ask me why, he just does. I clean up. What about you?"

Kaiya

"Well, I..here! Let me show you!" She jumped away, and sat down. She pulled her legs up, and put her ankles behind her head, before rolling to her hands, and walked on her hands with her legs behind her head.

"And..soon...I..will..start...helping clean..!" She said.

Dent laughed as she paraded on the packed dirt in her strange, physically impossible position. He offered her a hand to help her up, partly because he genuinely wanted to help her, but mostly because he wanted to touch her hand again.

Kaiya unfolded herself and accepted the hand, and Dent pulled her to her feet. His grip lingered a bit longer on her fingers.

"Do you need anything?" he asked. "You know where your tent is, where costumes go, where...everything is? Anything at all?"

Kaiya

Dent helped her up when she un-wrapped herself.

"Do you need anything?" he asked. "You know where your tent is, where costumes go, where...everything is? Anything at all?"

"I think not, I believe I've figured it all out. There are so many different people and acts! All under command of one very lazy person." She said, before adding "It seems like a waste of talent."

Dent smiled and nodded. "A shameful waste, yes. We all deserve something better than this place." he sighed and looked around at the ragged tents. "We can't get out, though. No bars, no locks, but we're all trapped here."

Kaiya

She shrugged her agreement.

"Well, I best go get some rest." She said. "Bye Dent!"

Dent waved as she went, quietly swearing under his breath. He couldn't remember exactly what he had said to her, but whatever it was, he was sure it wasn't smooth or witty or graceful. She probably thought he was the biggest idiot she had ever met and would be laughing at him as soon as she turns the corner.

"Dent!" a voice chouted behind him. A voice horribly familiar.

Dent spun around, to see Rusty coming towards him, almost fully dressed, black-grey hair stubornly sticking out in odd angles.

Teeth set on edge in hate and disgust, Dent lowered his head a fraction of an inch. "Good morning, Master Red. Sleep well?"

Didn't look like it, he decided silently. The man looked hung-over.

"None of your business," he snapped.

Yes, definately hung-over.

"What are you smiling at, boy?"

Was he smiling? Dent wiped it off his face in an instant.

"Nothing, sir. Sorry."

Rusty sniffed. "The Gunner's tent floor needs leveling. See to it."

Dent ground his teeth in frustration. The Gunner, who shot and played with guns for his act, probably kicked up the floor on purpose. Heaven knows the man hated him.

"Now," Rusty growled. "Did you hear?"

"I heard," Dent growled right back, rasing his head defiantly. "Sir."

"Then go," he said, dangerously low, pointing a finger in the direction as if he was lost.

Dent seriously considered resisting, but decided it wasn't worth it. Rusty would win in the end, anyway, so what was the point?

Lips pursed, Dent set off towards the Gunner's tent. That son of a...he couldn't find an insult bad enough. Both of them were sons of...

Dent snagged one of the younger children. "Spread the word," he whispered. "Rusty's up and around."

The boy nodded and started off, but Dent pulled him back. "And if I hear that you got in his way, there will be nothing left for Rusty to break when I'm through with you."

The boy nodded again, fully understanding the purpose of the empty threat, and left. Dent let him go.

Cowboy-

He shoved what little belongings he had into a sack, still debating in his head. He didn't want to leave Jewel, he didn't want to kill her either. He wanted to talk to her, he wanted to hold her and kiss her. He leaned against the post the horses were tied to and made a decision. He would go back and talk to her, there had to be another way. He loved her so much. He couldn't just leave her, not the way she tried to leave him, he just couldn't.

"What are you doing there boy?" Rusty's slurred uneven tone came from behind him. Cowboy turned to face Rusty, who eyed his bag, "Leaving are we?" a malicious smile spread over Rusty's lips.

"No sir." He wasn't sure if he was lying or not.

"Get to the big top, set up the lights." Cowboy folded his arms across his chest, "NOW!" Rusty screamed. Cowboy stood up straight and brushed past Rusty and headed to the big top.

He ran into Jewel along the way, some of her make up was streaked down her face. She had been crying.

"Oh God Jewel, I'm sorry. I freak-"

"I know, I saw."

"You saw?" He took her hands in his.

"Yes, I saw the gypsie, and everything else that you saw." Cowboy heard a whip snap behind him and he turned to see Rusty walking towards them.

"I have to go," he said leaning in to kiss her on her cheek, but she pulled away, he looked down at the ground, "Can I talk to you later?"

She nodded and pulled her hands away. He had to restrain the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. She was smart to stay away from him, after what they both saw. He set up all of the lighting for the show in silence, trying not to think about anything.

"Why are you still here?" He turned to see her again.

"Kya, go away, I won't let you do this."

"Do what? Save you? That is all I am trying to do." She framed his face with her hands and looked at him with a mother's worried face.

"No, I'm stronger than you give me credit for. I won't become that that..thing again. I won't! I can't leave her."

"Don't be so stupid Christian!" she slapped him across the face, "you could ruin everything, everything we worked so hard for."

"We? WE! I was the one who killed those people, I was the one who was cursed for the rest of my life. You did nothing! And that is where your mask falters. Don't you remeber that you and Sima, you were the ones who did this to me. You took my soul."

"We made a mistake, we thought you could handle it, we were wrong."

"You took away my life, my happiness. Not anymore. I am not your son anymore, you killed your son, you no longer own me. Now get it." He snarled the last three words, and felt oddly defiant.

Chase

I shrugged, "I reckon you could handle it. Probably better than I could right now, actually. After all, Rusty only lets me have the bare minimum to live. You'd have a much better chance than me."

I stopped, thinking. I was fairly sure that she liked me, and all it would take was one kiss. I'd decided right at that moment, when one of the children ran up to us, "Dent says Rusty's up, and he's not happy, either. You'd best stay out of his way, Chase." With that, the boy scampered off to find the others.

I smiled almost sadly at Adeline. It was a perfect moment, wasted. "I should go. When Rusty finds me he's not gonna be happy. And if he sees me with you, he'll just take it out on you as well."

Adeline~

I sighed. I knew Rusty would flip if he saw us together but I didn't want to quit talking to Chase.
"Yeah. I guess. I'll see you tonight?" I asked him, hopefully.
Chase smiled at her. "Yeah, tonight." He turned back to go to his tent and waved. I smiled and waved back.
I started to walk towards Rusty's tent. I knew he wasn't happy but maybe I could still talk to him about my costumes and make-up. Hopefully he'll at least let me ditch the make-up. I thought to myself as I walked into his tent.
"Rusty?" I asked, my voice very quiet.
"What do you want, Adeline?!" He yelled. I drew back a little from his tone.
"I had to ask you something." I didn't look at him. He would smack me if I looked.
"Well, by all means, tell me; I'm just dying to know what I can do!" He said sarcastically.
"I was wondering if maybe tonight... I could do my act without the make-up?" I asked him, completely scared. Rusty looked at me as if I'd suggested pushing him down a flight of stairs.
"Why?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well when I'm up there I get nervous and then the make-up drips into my eyes making me unable to concentrate." I lied. He contemplated this a moment.
"We'll try it but I'm still not sure. one night." He said. "Now get out. I'll see you later tonight." I was happy for about ten seconds until he said the last sentence. I hated this man and he didn't even care. I nodded and walked out of the tent. I had won and lost at the same time.

[Sai- Dragon]

"Thanks," Dragon muttered, following Rogue through the camp. It was dark and starting to make him nervous. He wasn't sure how long it was going to take for him to get used to this place, but he hoped it was soon.

Suddenly they stopped and the girl pointed to a vacant tent, "There you are." He glanced up at the tent, relieved, and then back at Rogue. His eye caught something and he noticed that she was bleeding.

"You're bleeding," he pointed out, though he was sure she already knew that.

Kaiya

She sat in her tent, when a child pulled it open.

"Dent said Rusty's awake and he isn't in a good mood!" And with that, the kid was gone. Kaiya left the tent, and walked around a bit. she saw Rusty out in the distance, and began walking in a different direction.

*I have nothing*

Rogue (Robyn)

"Oh, I hadn't noticed." I joked.

"What happened?" He asked, not even looking at his tent, which looked like they had tooken a old quilt and sewed it together.

"Just part of my job."I wipped some blood off with my thumb. "I'll be in my tent..... If you need me." I started to walk away, and then stopped and called over my shoulder, "Welcome to the show Dragon."

I loved doing that to people, they don't tell you their name, well stage name and you just blurt it out. I loved my visions... Great I freaked out the new guy.....

"Wait!" He called over.

I stopped, "Yes?"

He walked up behind me, he stood a good two feet taller. "How's you know my name? Well my stage name?"

"I know alot than just you're names Sai. Lucky guess." I smiled.

~Jewel~

I was completely confused. What had happened to my life? One minute, I was happy enough, playing my music, living in my own world, and then I was swept away into the twisted web that was Cowboy.

I didn't even know if I loved him anymore.

Tossing and turning, I attempted to fight the grief that threatened to push me over the edge. One little tear could send me back into the depression. I thought back on all that had happened recently.

My going head-over-heels over Cowboy, the kisses, the gestures of affection, the night everything went awry, my attempted escape, my return, and now this.... Cowboy: once in love with me, next shooting me hostile glares that I never deserved. Or did I? Had I been that terrible to him? I thought not. I had been kind and understanding, yet he still pulled away, as if I had been the one who caused all of this.

Cowboy had woven this tangled web. He'd have to get out of it himself. I certainly wasn't going to help him!

Again and again, he let his past control him. My feelings for him were now more hate than love in this love/hate twisted mess.

I was resolute. He had broken my heart too many times for me to let this go on. I was tired of my innards being wrenched in two, and then hastily, and make-shiftedly put back together, only to be hurt once more.

I was finished with Christian Neyland--forever.

Dent collected the leveling board, a thick slab of wood with a string of rope tied tightly on one end, then the other. He slung it over his neck and headed for the tent. Up ahead, he saw another newcomer talking with Rogue. He scowled. If you meet more than one person, and the first person is asbolutely amazing, then the next person you meet will be absolutely unbearable. A universal law, like gravity, and just as inviolable.

Nodding cordially to Rogue, he rushed towards the tent and slammed shoulders with the newcomer, making sure the sharp corner of the board jabbed into his arm. Dent refused to meet gazes with him.