246 24 The Show

Vera woke up from the sound of her alarm going off. "Show time..." she smiled. "Vera," a voice called out. "Get out here, breakfast." Vera nodded. "Coming!" She called out in response. As breakfast progressed, Vera looked at the clock. "Any minute now..." Marx, reading the newspaper looked up. "I gotta go..." He quickly got up, his stomach gurgling. "It's a good thing we're not performing today huh?" One of the members chuckled. "Hey, Vera, where are you...?" Vera shushed them, and gave a wink. "To perform on my own!" She waved. Truth be told, I'll never be seeing some of you again, thanks for some good memories... She smiled sadly, as she ran.

"I hate you." Keren glared at Norio. "Vera better be worth all of this ha.s.sle, and embarra.s.sment." Norio smiled, as he finished nailing a sign in.

"Norio!" A voice shouted. Norio turned around greeted by Vera. "Ya ready to do this?" Vera nodded. "Mm! I'm a bit rough, but I've had some practice!"

"Come one, come all!" Norio shouted on a megaphone. "Come to the thrilling, wonderful show, that is the Takeshi family circus!" He cried out. "H-how much...?" A lady came over to question. Norio grinned. "It's for free!" As he gave a wink. "It's a one time show." He bowed, reaching behind his back. He then pulled out a bouquet of flowers. The lady was amazed. "I'll be there...!" She blushed. "Isn't there already another circus in town...?" A man asked, walking away. Keren jumped in front of him. "That's right, but this circus is free, free, free!" She cried out. The man jumped. "I'll...think about it." He replied, continuing on his way. "Nori?" Emersyn asked. "Hah?" Emersyn looked at him. "How do we know if people are actually gonna come...like for sure?" Norio smiled. "False hope." He answered, petting Emersyn's head. "Just keep pulling that flower c.r.a.p, the chicks are diggin' it." Keren giggled.

Norio clapped his hands together. "'Kay, are you guys ready?" Keren looked up from her phone. "I guess..." Norio turned to Emersyn. She in turn pouted. "I'm not even allowed to do anything!" She folded her arms. Norio ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Would letting you sit on a canon please you?" Emersyn quickly turned. "Yes!?" She cried. "You better hold on tight then." He grumbled. "Oi, Vera," He turned to her. "Ya ready?" Vera looked up. "Mm, I just...get a bit of stage fright usually, b-but I'm fine...!" She smiled. Norio nodded. "'Kay, lets do this." He grinned.

Keren peaked her head out from a curtain. "Waah...there's a lot more people who showed up than I expected..." she sighed, turning to Norio. "You ready to bulls.h.i.t this...?" Norio nodded. "Don't mess this up." The pair said in unison, smirking at each other.

The lights dimmed. "Yahoo!" Emersyn cried, as a canon she sat on top of fired out purple, and pink smoke. "Ladies, and gentleman, boys and girls, and none'a the above!" A voice called out in the shadows. "Are you ready!?" The audience looked around in confusion. "Let's get it!" Norio came backflipping out onto the stage. Music began playing, and the audience roared. Norio whipped his whip. "I'd like to thank you all for coming, we have a fantastic show for you guys today!" He grinned. "Now introducing, our lovely Acrobatics, Keren, and Vera!" The audience cheered. Vera stood on the catwalk nervously. "Just remember," Norio had told her. "Keren will be doing most of the acrobatics. All you have to do is catch her, and she'll pull you to her side of the catwalk." Vera gave a nod as she remembered. Because I have my eyepatch on, I can't see what happens next, but I trust you, Norio! Keren waved to the audience, and struck a pose. "We got this..." she whispered to herself. Keren then did a flip into the air, grabbing the swing. I did it...! "Oh thank G.o.d..." Norio whispered to himself. Emersyn looked up in amazement. Get ready...! Now! Vera twirled around, waving to the audience. The audience kept cheering. As Keren came over, she extended her arms, Vera quickly grabbed on. "How's it goin'?" Keren whispered. "Y-you did amazing Keren...!" Vera whispered, amazed.

As the two landed back onto Keren's side they waved to the audience, with Keren blowing a kiss.

"Give it up, for the amazing, Keren and Vera!" Norio cried out. The audience roared.

As the show came to an end, the four members bowed to the audience.

"How the heck did we do it..." Keren looked around at the now empty building. "Don't know, but my bank accounts crying." Norio sighed. "Renting this place out last minute probably wasn't the best move..." Vera giggled. Suddenly a voice boomed out, from the entrance. "You!" They all quickly turned. It was Marx. "Who is that old baldy...?" Keren pointed. Norio glared. "Show's over, 'm afraid." Marx came barreling down the steps in a rage. "Why did you do all of this!?" Norio smiled. "Oh, you know, for funsies." Marx gritted his teeth. "Wh-" Norio quickly cut him off. "I think you know why, Marx." Norio gave a glance towards Vera. "For that!?" Marx cried out. "Fine! f.u.c.ks sake, take her!" He shouted. "She's no use to me anymore!" Marx shouted. "Under one condition!" Norio raised his eyebrow. "Hoh...? Care to tell me what that one condition is?" He smirked. "Never! Pull this s.h.i.t," he gestured to the room. "Again!" Norio closed his eye, and nodded. "I see, I see, noted, sir!" He smiled. Marx glared at Vera. "Ungrateful little..." He muttered as he stormed off. Norio waved.

"Ok, well, I'm starving." Norio began. "We probably can't afford anything decent now." Keren grumbled. "Oi, I'm not that broke, dummy." He frowned. Vera giggled. "I like you guys." She beamed. Norio smiled. "Ah, that's good." As they reached the exit, they noticed a pink haired man standing outside. The man began clapping. "That was quite the show!" He smiled. Norio smiled. "Thanks, I mean, it's been over, but I'm glad you stuck around to tell us that." The man smiled. "I'd love to see you perform again one day!" The man laughed. Sorry, But that's not gonna h-" Before Norio could finish, the man began walking away. "My favorite part was the clown by the way!" Emersyn pointed at herself in astonishment, and grinned. Norio ran his fingers through his hair. "Anyways," He said as the four of them continued walking together.

The next morning, Rick flipped the page of the newspaper. The column on that read, 'One time circus success.' Rick studied the picture for a few moments. "There's no way..." he chuckled, getting up.

The picture displayed a man dressed up as a ringleader, with dark blue hair, and a bandage over the left side of his face.