The black and white striped tent pitched high pierced the pink orange and pink sky. The crowd surrounding it clamored and murmured about the imposing figure. He looked up at a rectangular sign that was hitched about the tent drapes. It was too faded to make out the whole thing but some of it was clear.

"Le C-i-r…I think that's an r." The brunette boy strained his neck to see over the ever growing sea of heads.

"Kouyou! Hey Kouyou!"  a high pitched voice yelled from behind him. Kouyou turned his head to see a small dark haired girl running towards him waving all the while. He sighed There she is . The girl approached him and lunged into his arms.  His body moved back in response to the girl's sudden motion. The tall male bent in and kissed the top of her head through her hair.

"Hey silly what's up?" She continued staring up at him.

"Nothing much Kyoko just…looking I suppose" Kyoko and Kouyou had been dating for three years and they were already planning their lives together. The brunette moved from his girlfriend's grasp causing the small girl to puff her cheeks in irritation.

"Where'd the circus come from?" She asked mimicking the motion of the surrounding people. The small girl wove her arm around Kouyou's much to his dismay. While he did love this girl he hated Public Displays of Affection. The sun was gone from the sky leaving a dark blue blanket sprinkled with small white hot dots in its wake.

The brunette was about to offer Kyoko a ride home when the clamoring suddenly ceased. The tent was unexpectedly illuminated from the inside. Tiny bulbs, that were invisible before, shone with grass green light.

Firefly lights The brunette noted.

Kyoko gasped. The sign was now visible in its entirety.

Le Cirque de Suicide

"What's it mean Kou?"
"The Suicide Circus" the male responded, his tone flat, blank.
"Ew! Who would name a circus that? It's so gross!" Kyoko stuck her tongue out and clenched her eyes making a very immature face.  Kouyou shook his head and returned his attention to the front.  The small children began to scream and cheer while their caregivers looked terrified yet still slightly intrigued.

" COME ONE COME ALL " A voice buzzed from the megaphone stationed at the peak of the giant tent. " TO THE CICUSE OF… heheheh well I don't wanna ruin the surprise now do I? " The voice was sketchy but it was a deep man's voice. Several other laughters could be heard from the speakers as well.

The tent capes swung open and everyone rushed in. Kouyou even felt himself get excited. His stomach felt heavy with his increased blood flow. His feet moved of their own accord and before he could he could even start thinking clearly he found himself inside. The Suicide Circus didn't look as dastardly as the name conveyed.

The inside was a creamy beige with white firefly lights shining alone the edges. Common to all circuses there was a ring in the center of the tent. It was designed in black and white checkers with sand all around it. Kouyou hadn't noticed before but as soon as everyone stepped into the tent the ground changed from worn out grass to cool sand as well.

The tall boy found himself in the bleachers that rose high from the sandy ground. People filed into the proceeding rows like sheep and Kouyou knew he was part of the herd.

Children whined loudly for popcorn, their complaints failing against their hypnotized parents ears.

"Kou-kun, this place gives me the creeps, something seems off." And she was right. Even with the light and airy color, and small bright lights covering the tent inside and out, something was amiss. Kouyou looked around and could see others felt the same uneasiness.

The children quieted down completely. In this midst of his thoughts the lights shut off. There was a gasp from the audience that was cut short by a spot light centered on a checkered box that was not there just moments before.

Kouyou had to look twice. The sand around the box began to rise and swirl. Kyoko held onto Kouyou fiercely. The sand came closer together, condensing itself into the slightly recognizable form of a small human. The sand morphed into flesh and hair. His facial features obvious first, the tips and finally the rest of his hand next. Then the sand swirled into the fabric that covered his body. A black blazer, covered with glitter that imitated the stars they were under, hid a white shirt and red tie. His hair was a dusty blonde or light brown Kouyou couldn't tell. Even though it was hard to tell there appeared to be rhinestones or some type of jewel tracing the outline of his left eye socket.

The crowd was silent.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls." It was the same low voice that buzzed from the megaphone just a short while ago.
"We are proud to present heheheh Le Cirque de Suicide. A show so good you'd kill to be in it" The crowd, Kou included chuckled nervously at the apparent joke.

"I'm Ruki Takanori, your ringmaster, so sit back, relax and enjoy the dies"