#abaki

   It was a beautiful day in the large port town of Dolle. Hardly a cloud in the sky as the sun shone down bright and strong atop the crowds of people that congested the streets below. The sounds of so many going about their daily business were accompanied by that of natural sounds of the surrounding area. Gulls would cry out while fish salesmen discussed prices of the day's catch and draft animals would low as the wheels of the carts they pulled crunched along the ground.

   Several ships would come and go throughout the day bringing in and shipping out an unimaginable variety of both goods and people. Ships would even bring in entertainment. Entertainment such as "Moritonio's Traveling Circus''.

   The troupe consisted of amazing acrobats, wise fortune tellers, brave beast tamers, and mystifying magicians; just to name a few. They were all led by a mysterious man, Moritonio, whose skills in the performing arts left countless avid yet baffled fans. They had traveled throughout most of the lands of the Esanian Continent, gaining the reputation and funds they needed to travel to the Yorubian Continent. There, dreams of making it big in the pleasure capital known as Glam Gas Land appeared to be just within reach.

   The crew of the Ebon Pearl scurried about their routine to make sure their ship was ready for docking. The captain's first mate barked orders and issued threats at some of the more lazy crew members. High up in the crow's nest a young man in his mid-teens was watching the activities below with alert and curious eyes of amber.

   Having only been taken in a little over two months ago, the teen is one of a few young trainees in the traveling circus. Morintonio and a few of the members found the poor boy half-dead on the side of the road. Feeling sorry for the unfortunate lad, the ring leader ordered for the boy to be brought back to their temporary site. There he was cleaned up, bandaged, and fed.

   Thanks to the aid of another trainee, the boy had recovered quickly enough to be back on his feet in nearly a week's time. It was a good thing, too, since by that point the troupe was ready to be on the road again. A few days travel and the young man found himself sailing south on a ship with the others.

   Movement from the shrouds just below the crow's nest drew the young man's attention. Looking down he saw a girl just a couple years younger than himself climbing up the shroud ropes with impressive ease and grace. Not all too surprising seeing she was an acrobat trainee.

   As if she felt his eyes gazing down at her, the girl suddenly looked up. Her violet eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight and she flashed him a warm smile.

   "Hey, Hisoka!" she greeted him kindly.

   Within moments the girl was up the last bit of ropes and jumped over the edge of the crow's nest. Placing her hands on her hips she turned head this way and that to have a look about.

   "Quiet the view, I can see why you're up here so much. Guess I should have come up here sooner as well."

   "Well, you can't say I didn't invite you up, Abaki. ♣" Hisoka replied nonchalantly. The girl smirked and tilted her head to the side.

   "Yeah, I know, but being alone up here with you might get people talking. And last thing I need is Jasper to get jealous and have more reasons to try and hit on me." Abaki shuttered at the thought of the fire-breather trainee that was always trying to get her to go out with him.

   "You know,~" Hisoka replied coolly; a sly and knowing grin forming on his face, "you could have brought that friend of yours. What was her name again? Camilla? ♢"

   Even though Abaki's warm caramel skin had darkened under the sun's rays while out at sea, Hisoka could still make out the blush forming on his friend's cheeks as she looked away from his taunting amber eyes. Causing Abaki to blush over her crush had become an amusing little game to Hisoka.

   "I.. hadn't thought of that," the girl mumbled admittedly.

   Hisoka chuckled and looked back down to the deck below. His soft raspberry hair fluttered in the sea breeze as he leaned against the edge of the crow's nest.

   "I take it the reason you came up here is to tell me that Morintonio wants us to be ready to leave the ship soon? ♢"

   "Oh!" Abaki jumps and whips her head back around towards her friend, "Yeah, I nearly forgot the reason I came up here in the first place! I was told to get you to come down and help make sure everything is ready to go. The boss wants us all of the ship within an hour of docking."

   The plan had been to have plenty of time to get stocked up and ready to head out the next morning. All the while allowing enough time for most everyone to work the streets in the evening with little side performances to make some extra travel money. Performances such as small fire shows, juggling, and tumbling acts, as well as a little magic talent. Minute street sideshows that wouldn't need a license to put on nor a full set up to get things ready and going.

   "Oh, is that all? And here I was thinking you were wanting to hang out with me for a bit, ♣" the red hair boy playfully pouted. Abaki wrinkled her nose and gave him a playful shove before she started to climb over the edge of the crow's nest again.

   "We could hang out more if you weren't always secluding yourself away from the others you know."

   "I still get the feeling the others aren't comfortable around me,~♠" Hisoka said softly, a seriousness settling in his voice and expression. "Besides, you know I'm shy.~♠"

   "I know, Hiso. But, you're just going to have to try a little harder, that's all. I like being your friend and all, but you really should try and make more." Abaki offered him a warm, lopsided grin before she started her descent back down the shrouds. "I wouldn't take to much longer up here if I was you, you don't want Borizoi to get mad at you again."

   Borizoi was an absolute beast of a man who seemingly had it out for Hisoka from the start. He did not like the circumstances in which the young man had been found and actually vouched for the poor boy to be left for dead. Ever since then, Borizoi always had a cold, unforgiving eye on Hisoka.

   "Don't worry," Hisoka gave his fellow trainee a smile in return, "I will be down shortly,~♣"

   "Alright, see you then!"

   Abaki quickly worked her way down the ropes without a single slip up. Even some of the crewmen paused in their tasks to watch her. Some with envy, others with impressed awe. There were definitely benefits in learning how to become a tight rope walking acrobat.

   Hisoka's smile faded as Abaki climbed back down to the top deck. His friend's words echoed through his head. An all too familiar feeling began to gnaw at the back of his mind. Loneliness, and the sense that he was oddly different than most of the other troupe members.

   Often the young lad would chock the latter feeling to the fact that he was what Morintonio called a "nen user." The ring leader, Abaki, and Hisoka were the only ones in the whole circus troupe that could use their auras to do extraordinary things. And yet, while Abaki made multiple friends and got along with just about everyone in the troupe, Hisoka only really ever associated with Abaki, Morintonio, and his magician trainer, Magikana.

   For reasons unbeknown to him, people often found themselves uncomfortable around Hisoka. Both Morintonio and Abaki just tried to lightly pass it off as the others just feeling uneasy due to his raw potential and ability to learn things quickly. They both insisted the others would get used to him eventually as long as he kept trying to socialize.

   Magikana, or simply Kana, to Hisoka, once told him something on an utterly different level.

                                             ~    *    ~    *    ~    *

   One night, a few weeks back, he had come over and sat next to his teacher only to have the three other members that had been conversing with her stop in mid-sentence. After a few minutes, those same three members rose to their feet and left with hardly a single word more. Despite Hisoka not showing any emotion towards the happening, he had felt dejected. Kana looked down at her pupil and placed a long, boney, yet warm hand on his shoulder. She then spoke to him in her thick, accent rich voice.

   "Sheep vill always be nervous round volves, no matter how convincing vool may be."

   "So, what does that make you then?♣" Hisoka had asked somewhat bitterly. Kana simply flashed him a sly and toothy grin and winked.

   "Is simple, I is fox!" Kana chuckled wholeheartedly. "Small enough to be little vorry for sheep. But! Still dangerous enough to cause problem if see fit."

   Hisoka had smiled at Kana, she seemed to always know what to say when Morintonio didn't.

   "Alright then, sensei, what am ?~♢"

   "Hmmm," Kana hummed in thought. She carefully looked Hisoka over before finally giving him an answer. "I vould say, you are much like volf. But, you is still pup. Could be fox, like me. So," Kana shrugged her slim shoulders, "sheep is scared of vaht you could be."

   "Oh, I see... ♠" Hisoka had sounded intrigued; and yet, sad. "And, what about Abaki and Morintonio? ♣"

   Kana let out a boisterous laugh at Hisoka's inquiries then ruffled his hair.

   "I tink you vorry too much, little one. To answer question, Abaki is like dog. Many people like dog, and dog like many people. Sheep often look to dog for guidance, protection, and friendship. Dog can also get along vith volf. Volf and dog have much in common. Now, Ving Leader..."

   The magician paused in thought for a moment. A far off look appeared in her eyes as she carefully mulled over her analysis of the curious man everyone knew as Morintonio.

   "He is own beast," Kana had finally replied in a distant voice. "Ving Leader is loved by many, yet, he can be very dangerous man. Should alvays keep some guards up vith that man." A puzzled looked flittered across Hisoka's face.

   "What makes you say that? ♣"

   "Call it 'animal instinct,'" Kana chuckled lightly. "Should always listen to gut, gut vant to live as much as you do. Sometimes more so. Vaht you need, little one, is to find more volves. Or even dog, cat, or fox. Find more like you. Vill not be easy, but, vill be vorth it."

                                                   ~    *    ~    *    ~    *

   Hisoka found himself smiling a little whenever the memory of that conversation found its way through his train of thought. Somehow, it helped ease some of the lonely feelings.

   He gave a little shake of his head to bring himself back to the present. In one smooth movement, he leaped over the edge of the crow's nest and landed onto the shroud. With agile grace and speed that would even make Abaki jealous, Hisoka made his way down to the top deck where he found some of the other troupe members who were quick to put him to work.

~   ~   ~

Next Chapter:  Bubblegum Blood Prologue Pt. 2 - A Glimpse of Darkness

~   ~   ~

Hisoka

   The sun had nearly set by the time the circus troupe had everything prepped and ready for tomorrow's departure. The entirety of the troupe was settled into an inn that was accustomed to taking in large groups of people who would come in with the ships. Located near the docks, the inn had numerous rooms ranging in sizes to suit the needs of a single person or a large group.

   The majority of the troupe were in the massive common area. Numerous tables and chairs were occupied causing the large room to become noisy with many boisterous conversations.

   Hisoka had taken up a quieter spot in an out of the way corner of the room. With his elbows set upon the table he rested his chin atop his slender hands and surveyed the crowd, a barely touched plate of food next to him. He was enjoying the relative piece when a sharp movement caught his sharp eye. It was Abaki.

   The motion had been her retching her hand away from the tall, lanky boy that was practically on top of her. The short, oily, dark brown hair combined with the outfit of a fire-breather trainee made Jasper instantly recognizable to Hisoka. A frown formed on his mouth as he watched the two carefully.

   Even though he couldn't hear what the two were saying, Hisoka could see that Abaki was clearly agitated. It seemed that Jasper was up to his antics again. He kept reaching over and touching her only to have his hands slapped away quickly. A swift glance around the room and Hisoka could see that everyone else was heavily preoccupied with their own meals and conversations. No one seemed to be aware of what was unfolding. That, or anyone that did notice didn't care enough to do or say anything about it.

   Hisoka's golden amber eyes became dark as he slowly picked up the dinner knife sitting next to his plate. He carefully held the knife out of view as he returned to his resting position and waited, watching his friend and her assailant carefully.

*        *        *         *        *         *         *         *         *         *         * 

Abaki

   "Come on, Abaki," Jasper persisted, reaching out a hand to stroke the side of her face, "there's no reason you can't join me after the sideshows tonight."    Abaki sneered at the scent of flame propellant oil lingering on Jasper's fingers and slapped the hand away again.

   "I do have a good reason. A very simple reason. I. Don't. Want. To. Besides," she huffed, "I've already told you countless times that you're not my type."

   The smile fell from Jasper's face and was replaced with a scowl.

   "Do you honestly think I am dumb enough to believe you're into girls when you hang out with that red headed weirdo all the time?" he snarled. He reached his hand towards her once more and began to step forward when a sudden object whipped passed between Jasper and Abaki, embedding into the wooden post they were standing next to with a loud thunk.

   The two of them turned and saw that it was a dinner knife. It had been thrown so hard the knife's blade was lodged nearly half way into the solid wood. Anger flickered across Jasper's face and he whipped around to see who could have possibly thrown the knife.

   "Who threw that?!" he demanded loudly. A few people looked up yet paid him little heed. His eyes scanned faces for a suspect. Jasper's hands balled into tight fists upon seeing Hisoka sitting alone in the corner eating his dinner.

   "You!" Abaki's heart jumped into her throat as he shouted at the red haired boy and stormed up to him. "Did you throw that?"

   Hisoka didn't answer or even acknowledge the hot tempered young man, he simply continued staring down at his plate as he chewed what was in his mouth. Jasper slammed his fist down on the table causing Hisoka's plate and glass to jump.

   "Leave him alone, Jasper!" Abaki shouted and attempted to pull the arm used to slam the table back. The boy ignored her, yanking his arm from her grasp he glared down at her young friend.

   "Hey! I'm talking to you!"

   "Hmmm?~ ♣" Hisoka casually looked up at Jasper.

   "Pay attention when I'm talking to you, weirdo!" he spatt then pointed over to the embedded knife. "Did you just throw that knife at me?"

   Completely unphased by Jasper's attitude, Hisoka finishes what's in his mouth at his own pace. He looks from the trainee over to the knife and back.

   "No, I did not throw that knife at you, ♠" he replied coolly.

   A snarl curled Jasper's lips and he grabbed Hisoka by the front of his shirt.

   "Liar! If you didn't throw that knife at me then where is your knife you cut your food with, huh?"

   Hisoka smirked and opened his mouth to reply only to be interrupted by another voice cutting in.

   "Vaht is going on here!" Magikana was at the scene within a few strides of her long legs. Jasper instantly released Hisoka's shirt and threw his hands up defensively, wincing at the fierce expression the magician glared down at him.

   "Hisoka tried to attack me!" Jasper quickly accused and pointed over to the dinner knife, "He threw that knife at me!"

   "He said he didn't do it!" Abaki defended, shoving Jasper aside, glaring at him angrily.

   Magikana scowled as her gaze moved from Jasper, to the knife, back to Jasper, to Abaki, then finally landed on Hisoka. She and Hisoka locked eyes for a moment as she paused in thought.

   "Vell, little one? Did you throw knife at Jasper?"

   "No mam, I did not throw a knife at Jasper, ♣" Hisoka answered calmly while retaining eye contact. An eyebrow slowly arched upwards on Magikana's forehead and the corner of her mouth twitched ever so slightly. She watched Hisoka for a moment longer before turning back to Jasper.

   "There, you see? Hisoka did not throw knife at you. You can go and leave him and Abaki alone now."

   Jasper's jaw dropped in disbelief as he looked back and forth between the magician and her trainee. After a minute anger flared in his eyes and a snarl curled his lips.

   "This isn't over," he said in a low, menacing tone. Before leaving, he looked back over his shoulder at Abaki, glowered at her, then turned and stormed off.

   Abaki shuddered and released a breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. Magikana grimaced and nodded as if agreeing to some unspoken statement from Abaki.

   "Zat one is trouble," she muttered, "is best to keep eye out for him."

   "Tell me about it," Abaki shuddered again and rubbed her arms as though she were chilled. "He just doesn't stop..."    "Perhaps you should speak to Drake?" Magikana proposed, "Is Jasper's trainer, yes?"

   "It won't help," Hisoka interjected with a shake of his head, "Drake is worse. He actually encourages Jasper's behavior telling him Abaki is just playing hard to get. ♠"

   A dark look now harbored in Hisoka's eyes. He shoved his cold food aside and rested his folded arms on the table, looking in the direction Jasper had gone before he continued.

   "I almost wish I had hit him with the knife, it would have been one less thing to worry about.~♢"    "Wait!" Abaki's head whipped around to her friend, "Are you saying you did throw that knife at him?!"

   "No,~" Hisoka smirked, "I threw the knife at the very pole it's now stuck in, not at Jasper. Although, had he taken a larger step towards you when I threw it...~ ♢"    Hisoka's words trailed off, leaving the rest to Abaki and Magikana's imagination. The two ladies exchanged glances before Abaki hugged herself tightly and gave the magician's trainee a concerned look.

   "That's not funny Hisoka," she said sternly, "Jasper is an awful jerk but he doesn't deserve to die."

   "Abaki is right," Magikana scolded, "Killing is no joke. Should only do so if there is no other choice."

   Hisoka's eyes moved back and forth between his friend and trainer. There was an uncomfortable silence when he suddenly cracked a huge grin and waved a hand dismissively in the air.

   "Of course I wasn't serious,~" he laughed lightly, "I would never wish any harm on a fellow troupe member. ♣"

   "But still," he dropped his hand back down to the table and looked up at Magikana, "something about the matter should be done, wouldn't you agree? ♠"    The magician's face was still stern but she nodded in agreement.

   "I vill speak vith Tonio about this." She then pointed a long boney finger at her trainee, "In meantime, you must eat and get ready for show! Meet me by docks in vun hour."

   "As you wish, sensei,~ ♣" Hisoka said, looking up at Magikana with a friendly smile. She held his gaze for a few more seconds before she turned on her heels and went up a flight of stairs that led to the rooms.

   Abaki hugged herself a little tighter as she continued staring at her redheaded friend. The smile was still on his face, yet there was something off about it. It seemed a little too friendly, and it didn't reach the amber eyes that now seemed to smolder with a deep, seething anger.

    She had heard others whisper amongst themselves how they picked up on a darkness from Hisoka. That something just wasn't right about him. Even after Morintonio explained to her that he was simply a lonely boy that was down on his luck and that she should friend him, she hesitated. Abaki had always been one to eagerly friend new people, but with Hisoka she was cautious.

   At least at first.

   Abaki had been the one assigned to care for Hisoka after he was found severely injured and on death's doorstep. Even though he seemed so sad and lonely, there was also a darkness in his eyes and his aura. But as time went on and the more her and Hisoka became friends, the less she saw or felt this darkness. He had seemed to become more stable.

   That is, except for moments like this. Moments where Abaki was clearly reminded why she had been cautious in the first place; as well as to why people tend to stay away from him.

   "It really is rude to stare like that, Abaki. I honestly do not like it. ♠" Hisoka's voice had dropped an octave giving it a more threatening demeanor. He hadn't moved a single muscle as he spoke, minus his smile melting away into a slight scowl. Only shifting his eyes towards her, they held a hellish, predatory glow to them.    "Oh! I'm sorry, I- uh," she squeezed her eyes shut and gave her head a quick shake in attempts to straighten out her thoughts. Upon opening her eyes again she had to blink a few times in confusion. It was almost like she was looking at another person.

   The hellfire had left Hisoka's eyes and now seemed to hold a look of concern. His head was titled to the side and there was a faint smile now on his lips. He didn't seem very threatening at all now, all the darkness and anger had simply vanished from her redhead friend.

   Did- ... Did I just imagine it?

   "Eh..?" she hesitated, then flashed a warm, friendly smile to him, "Sorry about that, I was just worried. Are you okay?"

   "Of course I'm okay, silly,~ ♡" he pointed a slender finger at his friend and twirled it in the air a little, "I should be the one asking that question. After all, that creep was messing with you more so than me. ♠"

   "Yeah, I'm fine," Abaki assured Hisoka then shrugged. "As much as I hate to say this, I'm pretty much used to it now. Hopefully once Kana talks to the boss something can actually be done about it."

   "Yes, well, hopefully that something can be done before he goes too far.~ ♣"

   Abaki cringed and shivered a little at Hisoka's dark words. She hugged herself a little again.

   "Do you really think Jasper will do that?"

   "Who knows," the magician trainee replied with a shrug. "I've just noticed his attempts have been getting more and more... desperate.~ ♠"

   He was right. Abaki had noticed what Hisoka was talking about. Jasper's attempts to get her to go out with him were becoming more and more intense. She looked over to where Jasper now stood talking with his trainer, Drake, and a few other fire performers. Among them was a girl Abaki's age, Camilla.

   Camilla must have felt Abaki's eyes on her because she suddenly looked up and over at her. She gave Abaki a small smile and waved. Blushing, Abaki smiled and shyly started waving back. Jasper noticed her movements, looked to see what she was doing then followed her gaze. He snarled and shielded his sister from Abaki's view.

   She instantly stopped waving and pulled her hand to her chest. Camilla reached up and jerked her brother's arm, saying something to him in the process. A look of disgust came across Jasper's face as he turned to face his sister. It looked like they were now arguing about something.

   A pained look spread across Abaki's face. She hadn't meant to get Camilla in trouble with her brother. She felt tears start to prick her eyes and she furiously scrubbed them with the back of her hand.

   "I should get ready for tonight," she looked back at Hisoka who was still watching her. Her eyes fell to Hisoka's barely touched food and added, "You should finish your dinner. You hardly ever eat! Aren't boys your age supposed to, I don't know, be a bottomless pit or something?"

   Hisoka smirked, "So I've heard. I guess I just don't have an appetite tonight. ♣"

   "Yeah, well, you should eat, Hiso, you need the energy for the show." Abaki was aware that her voice sounded how she felt, down and emotionally strained. "And don't forget we're to practice our nen training after the show tonight."

   Hisoka simply nodded yet said nothing more. Abaki sighed, she could tell that her friend was done talking for the time being. So she gave Hisoka a wave and told him she would see him later before turning and heading up the same stairs Magikana had ascended earlier. She made sure to walk quickly and not look at anyone at the fire performers table as she hurried by.

~  ~  ~

Previous Chapter: Prologue Pt.1 - A Circus On The Move

Next Chapter: Bubblegum Blood Prologue Pt.3 - The Show Must Go On!

~  ~  ~