Sangre y Fuego!
Guy, you coward.
How dare you use a bomb.
I thought we were goners.
He took all 3,000 automata down with him.
What do we do now?
We chase the train. Anybody alive?
Any survivors?
Yes, right here.
Good, it's you.
Go, stop that train!
Am I destined to lose my way?
All I want is to have fun in my life
All I want is to be with those I love
Ready or not Here I come
I don't care anymore
I just don't know anymore
I wish everything would just disappear
There are days when I think like that
But everything is precious to me
And so I fight on
Today was a tough day
I almost gave up hope
But the truth is I don't want to lose anything anymore
I wish everything would just disappear
There are days when I think like that
But everything is precious to me
And so I must fight
#31 Black shooting star
Listen up. The curtains have finally been raised.
The show is about taking the space shuttle on this puffer train to the end of Russia.
There's no pay, no rehearsal.
And we've only got one shot.
But we gotta do it.
Because if we mess up, there won't be anyone left to come see our circus.
Not a single person.
So, let's do this.
And after we reach the launch pad.
Big guy. You take it from there.
I don't know much about you.
But Fou relies on you, and he knows best. We're counting on you.
Leave it to me.
Gather around. Want something that'll make automata stop dead in their tracks?
Vilma's special knives. Come get 'em.
What? You mean that?
I heard from Fou that your blood is really poisonous for automata.
Well, yes.
And I remembered.
About when you and I fought.
I had these checked, and these knives had a bit of your blood left on them.
Thanks.
We can give them a taste of their own medicine.
But why is Shirogane's blood on so many knives?
That's a little secret. Right?
Okay, big guy and Shirogane go up to the first car.
We should split up so they can't attack us all at once.
Hold on, I'm going to fight with you. Why do I have to be with her?
He's right. Why just us?
I've fought automata for a long time.
How dense can you get?
You're going up on that space shuttle to the space station.
Well yeah, but I...
What, are you saying you're stronger than us?
You're so special, huh?
No, of course not.
Then leave this to us and save your energy for later.
You need to learn how to fly the space shuttle, too.
Shirogane, you've got a point.
You're the most experienced in fighting those automata.
And that's why you're going with him. You're the strongest.
Protect him.
Damn it, I don't want to put her in the same room as that bear guy either.
I wish she'd fight alongside us.
But jeez...
Guess it can't be helped.
Why not? You can come back to fight if something comes up.
Until then, go spend your last moments with the man you love.
Vilma!
Go on.
Okay.
We'll be going then.
Call us if anything happens.
As if we ever would.
That naive little girl.
"Nouveaux enfants de la balle," people born outside the circus are so gullible.
Fine, you want to stay with Shirogane, right?
Go on to the second car.
Chin up, Master.
We're gonna reach the train to protect Shirogane, right?
Yeah, but...
Guy...
That handsome man played out his role.
Yeah, you're right.
So...
Guess we're faster than this brat's puppet, eh Anoss?
Yeah, Keniss. Even with the heavy loads we're carrying.
How rude, referring to a lady's weight.
Oops, sorry.
There were survivors!
We can't let them go.
Too bad.
Wild West Jane is always first to arrive, just like a bullet.
You're one lucky brat.
I'm in a hurry. I'll shoot you down later.
Now, Anoss. Your job is to take me to the train.
Stop fooling around.
Well of course, Lady Spider.
It won't take but a second.
Not so fast!
That idiot, he never listens.
You look happy.
We could be attacked any minute now. Aren't you scared?
Scared?
Only memories are capable of really scaring me.
They keep replaying, over and over. My deepest regrets.
But anyway.
Have I ever told you that I come from a railroad circus?
You mean, your circus traveled around the country on a train?
Right.
I was born to a family of knife throwers.
With one little brother.
So you're of royal circus blood.
I ended up choosing a job other than the circus for myself.
But ever since I joined Nakamachi Circus...
It's been such fun.
I got to meet you all and Shirogane.
And here I am, on a train, as a member of a circus.
It was a dream of mine.
To be in a circus like this with my little brother.
You never know where life takes you.
My brother and I were abandoned as kids.
Abandoned?
Yeah.
An orphanage we knew of had their hands full.
So my wife took these two in.
You had a wife.
A circus is a tight-knit community.
It's like a lot of families traveling together.
So it was no big deal taking these two in.
But they had a hard time opening their hearts to Fusae.
Hiro didn't eat the rice balls Mom made for us.
Nori went and sold the clothes she made for us.
Well, you know.
It felt awkward. And it was like we'd been kidnapped by the circus.
Yeah, I thought Mom was just acting nice to try to fool us.
But you made up with her, right?
-Yeah! -We sure did. I was faster.
No way, I made up with her first.
-What did you say? -You little...
Back then, the circus drew large crowds, and we made good money.
Fusae was into pottery.
She treasured a vase that cost quite a fortune.
I was scared out of my wits.
I knew I'd never be able to pay it off no matter how hard I worked.
I thought my only choice was to run.
But...
Why are you running away?
Silly boy!
Things break.
When they do, we can just buy another.
But not you, Hiro.
You...
Nothing could ever replace you.
That's when I finally realized that this woman was my mother.
With Nori, it was marbles.
Marbles?
There's a game Japanese kids play.
Our teacher taught it to the class, and everyone played it.
But I was awful at it.
I kept losing, and the other kids made fun of me.
All right, let's train!
She was so serious about it.
She didn't even change out of her costume.
We practiced every day. She really meant it.
Don't force it.
Once you learn to spin it, you'll be invincible.
By that time, she was the only mother to me.
I came home one day after winning a game, and she was just as happy as I was.
I'm sure your mother had her reasons.
So you don't have to call me "Mom."
Your real mom is sure to come for you someday soon.
Mom always said that.
But she used to get so happy whenever we called her "Mom."
If you like to be called "Mom" so much, why don't you just ask them to?
No, they didn't join this circus because they wanted to.
When somebody comes for them, they're free to leave.
And when that day comes, I don't want to hear them say, "Bye, Mom."
It'd hurt too much.
Fusae was more of a mother to them than anybody else ever could be.
Until that day...
Mom, you have a fever?
You should sit out today.
Of course not. Fevers are nothing for entertainers once we're out on stage.
She was so beautiful.
Like a goddess straight out of a picture book.
The crowd was bewildered.
We ran towards Fusae. And she said...
Hurry, carry me out.
The audience will worry.
Dear...
Start the next act. Hurry.
Carefully, easy now.
Hiro, Nori, come back.
No, we're going with Mom!
We're staying with Mom!
No.
You two still have the unicycle act for the finale left.
But...
The circus...
must never...
stop the show...
Mom!
Mom...
"Mom," huh?
When I come back...
maybe I really will become your mom.
Mom never came back.
What a kind woman she was.
So, how's your little brother?
You're going to put on a circus together, right?
Sorry, but my story is the same as yours.
He's already passed away.
I see.
Enough looking back. We have guests.
Found it.
I'm Wild West Jane, a champion with a rifle.
But I'm even better at throwing knives.
And spreading ZONAPHA throughout America.
What...?
Seems like this villain is my personal archenemy.
I used to shoot ZONAPHA bullets up and down the country with these guns.
You're not the only one with firearms.
So you were the one who did that to my hometown!
Ladies and gentlemen.
The reincarnation of a knife master from the great pioneer days.
Black Vilma!
Amazing! You're so great, Sis.
You bet I am.
I have bad news.
Jim has contracted a rare disease called ZONAPHA syndrome.
You bastard!
Why, you're quite worked up.
Yeah, seeing your face has made me go a bit crazy.
She really has gone crazy!
I understand what this journey is for now.
It's to defeat you. To avenge Jim.
I will never forgive you.
I heard you changed jobs again.
Yeah, but this new job pays really well.
My treatments cost a lot of money, huh? I'm sorry.
That's none of your business now.
You just work on getting better.
We're gonna do that knife show together, right?
That's right. We were supposed to do it together, Jim.
One down.
No-one can outshoot our Jane.
Jim...
When I get better...
You said we'd do a show together.
Jim and Vilma's Wild West Knife Show.
Don't worry.
Black Vilma's Shooting Stars...
Are faster than a bullet.
Jim!
Our show, with the two of us.
It would've drawn crowds.
You can't rely on guns.
All I need are my knives.
This half-dead woman still wants to fight.
Oh dear, in that condition?
Can I rip her apart then?
Sure, go ahead.
Too bad.
What...?
What am I...
What am I doing...?
It's over now!
Who is he...?
There's something I have to do.
But I can't remember what.
Die!
What?
Let go of me!
Vilma!
Jim...
Oh dear, an interruption.
Not that it matters. You're going to die soon.
I'll just kill that brat afterwards.
Brat...?
I won't let you.
Who are you?
Get out of my way.
I have to throw my knife...
into the apple on Jim's head!
You fool! I told you I'm even better with knives.
Please God.
May this knife hit its mark...
The crowd can't wait to see us, Sis.
All right, let's get Jim and Vilma's Knife Show started.
That's right. Black Vilma's Shooting Stars...
Are faster...
than a bullet...
Pathetic weakling humans!
Vilma!
Vilma...!
A past that can't become a memory plays on repeat
In my mind is a forgotten thing that I still remember
Questions remain unanswered but I must go now
I walk in the dark, making a promise to my footprints
So many similar beings leading similar lives
Was there a reason for me to be born at all?
The world lost all sound but for the ticking of a clock
A missing heart keeps shouting
A meaningless life was shaking
All because of your unique existence
If the reason for the pain is revealed someday
If you find a home for those tears someday
You shall sleep with the whole universe in your arms
I know it still plays in your heart
The melody that brought you here