That's it, Narumi!
That's why I scouted you.
When hit with spiritual force,
their fluids oscillate to the point of explosion.
Let me do the rest, Guy.
Before dawn, when the stars paint the sky
I am searching for the thing I lost
With a restless heart Under the sun yet in the dark
I patch together little prayers to light my path
I don't need anything, as my hands are full
My hands are full of emptiness
Please, just once, nod for me
Just once, reach out to me like the mirror
I will live for that single moment, that single second
All the rest can just burn away
What's right for me is for me alone
Whatever the path, I'll follow it to you
This feeling grows and grows, deep inside my heart
For one single reason
I continue to climb up on the stage
#7 Demonic
You're pretty good.
You must be the new shirogane.
Call me whatever you want, before I take away that voice of yours.
Why?
Why am I fighting?
Why am I here?
There's only one answer. To protect the children.
I was given that Aqua Vitae thing.
That means I'm living off the kids' lives.
In which case, I have to fight for them.
Go, Anselmus.
Nice dodge.
But I still got you pretty deep.
It's your turn now.
Go, Paulmann!
Narumi, turn the switch on your shoulder.
Impossible...
My blade stopped by a measly human?
Hear that?
It's the sound of my wounds healing
thanks to that infernal Aqua Vitae.
I'm no longer a human.
I'm the demon that will crush you.
Is that so?
Narumi!
Farewell, shirogane!
Is that possible...?
It sure is.
Anselmus!
I have no choice.
What? My spikes are stuck.
Where are you going?
Take me with you.
He's flexing his muscles.
You're mad. Don't you feel any pain?
You machines will never understand.
Those kids' bright futures were snatched away
and replaced with nothing but despair.
I couldn't do anything for them here.
I just stood by and watched helplessly.
So now...
the least I can do is to feel a fraction of their pain.
Or else I won't even know why I exist.
It's safe now.
I beat them all up.
Damn it.
I scared them.
I...
I'm sorry, kids.
You can't blame them.
Fighting like that in front of the children.
Guy.
About you wanting to scout me,
I accept.
Thanks.
Lucille, can I borrow that thing?
You want to wear it?
Yeah.
I can't scare the kids anymore than I already have.
Dr. Banhart.
Just as you wear yourselves out caring for ZONAPHA patients,
I won't stop fighting the automata.
Even if the children hate me, even if you despise me.
So please.
Find a cure for ZONAPHA syndrome as fast as you can.
Narumi!
Tom.
Thank you, Narumi.
Thank you.
Anything for them.
If I have to become a fighting demon, so be it.
To protect the kids,
I will become a shirogane.
Narumi, it's me, Masaru.
Shirogane and I joined the Nakamachi Circus.
We're off on a trip for summer vacation.
But we don't have enough money to put on a show.
Gotta save up to open the circus. Get to it!
Yes, sir!
"IZU BANANA ZOO"
We rode on Sis's ride, so now it's my turn.
Dear me.
I love watching entertainers do their thing.
I just can't leave them alone.
You're pretty good, Whiteface.
This is out of the blue, but why don't we make a bet?
Let's play a game for some money.
Sure. I'm in.
The first one to hit the other's body with our gear wins.
Okay.
What are you doing? Let's begin.
What are you doing?
The game's already begun.
He still has his back to me.
You'll regret it!
I guess I lost.
You nicked my hair. You're good.
A girl?
Mine didn't reach you.
What circus are you from?
You called me "Whiteface" rather than "clown."
Most people wouldn't know the types of clowns.
I see.
You're quite a girl.
You make me forget about my job. I like you.
You made money by performing on your own?
I want to make money like that instead of construction work.
You don't have Shirogane's good looks or great tricks.
This is the money I've made as a member of Nakamachi Circus.
Here.
I suppose I can't refuse.
Good job.
Hands off.
Did anything fun happen today, Shirogane?
Yes, actually, I became friends with a strange person.
"STRAWBERRY MILK"
I was born into an American circus family.
I had always thought I'd become a knife thrower like my dad.
But I didn't.
Did something happen?
Ever heard of ZONAPHA syndrome?
Ugh, of course not.
It's this strange disease, and my kid brother got it.
Treatments cost money, right? My parents worked to death.
I wanted to make money too,
but I wasn't good with the knife like my dad was.
And your brother?
He died at age 15.
What's wrong?
I knew a man who had ZONAPHA syndrome.
Really? What happened to him?
I see.
What a coincidence.
I feel like we could be good friends.
My name's Vilma. You?
Shirogane.
Wow, that's rare of you to talk to someone like that.
I'm surprised, too.
Before, I only cared about whether people were my enemy.
If they weren't, that was it.
Meaningless conversations were a pain for me.
But since I met you, talking to people hasn't been that bad.
Do you think I'm losing it?
I like you better like this.
Thank you.
Oh?
I forgot to return the balloons to the zoo.
I'll be right back.
Later.
This is the last one.
Forgive me, Jim.
I'm so glad Shirogane said that.
Maybe she's been able to forget about Narumi.
-I'm back. -Oh, hi.
Where's Mr. Masaru?
I thought he went to get you.
Sorry, kid.
But I have to kill you.
You must think that's unfair, but some people just don't get to live.
I knew this would happen someday.
So I'd made up my mind
not to cry when the time came.
Mr. Masaru!
You!
Arlequin!
What?
A puppet?
Are you okay?
Yeah.
Vilma. It's you, isn't it?
I'm surprised too
that the clown from earlier is my target's bodyguard.
And a puppeteer, no less.
Target?
So you're an assassin. Did Mr. Masaru's brothers hire you?
Strictly business. I can't say.
Is this the person you made friends with at the zoo?
-But she... -Stand back.
Too bad. I thought we could be friends.
Funny, though. He doesn't have anybody backing him up.
So who's paying you?
It's not for free, is it?
Shirogane!
Black Vilma's Shooting Stars are faster than a bullet.
You can still move?
-Shirogane, no! -I'm fine.
As long as you're in danger, my knees shall not touch the ground.
Your showtime is over.
Time for you to sleep!
Shi...
Nobody shall lay a single finger on Mr. Masaru.
You... You can't be human.
-If you're going to kill, kill me! -Mr. Masaru!
At first I thought you didn't really mean to kill me.
You're such a good knife thrower, but you missed me twice.
It was to scare you stiff to keep you from escaping.
You wouldn't do that if you were going to kill me.
That's why I thought you were actually a good person.
But you are a bad person after all.
Don't look at me like that.
Jim!
Why aren't you dead yet?
You asked who was paying me.
I'll tell you.
I need no pay.
As long as I can protect him.
As long as he's safe, my body will not even hope for a tomorrow.
-Shirogane, don't die! An ambulance... -Look.
Your wounds. Why?
I have a special life within me.
Well, what do you know.
A monster is protecting my target.
But I can't back down, either.
Arlequin!
Don't, you'll die!
I don't mind.
If it's to protect you, my life is nothing.
No! I want you to live.
You said you'd protect me and become human again.
So you can't die until you do.
Live!
What are they talking about?
He's saying the same thing as Jim.
Jim is in pain.
We pay you good money but you do nothing to save him!
Vilma.
Remember what Dad said?
Entertainers shouldn't show anger.
Not in front of the audience.
So do your trick.
Let's entertain them.
No...
When I get better...
you said we'd do a show together.
Jim and Vilma's "Wild West Knife Show."
I want to see it too,
before I go.
Don't worry.
Black Vilma's Shooting Stars...
they're faster than a bullet.
Jim!
You can't die, Vilma.
Live on...
This is the last one, I promise.
Sorry, Jim.
I missed again.
If you try anything funny, you die.
Mr. Masaru wished for you to be brought here.
-Is this your circus? -That's right.
We told them we found you unconscious and had them take you in.
What a joke.
I tried to kill you.
Quiet.
An 11 year-old boy saved you, who came to kill him.
You know, I'm a professional.
I understand. That's why I'm here.
You are my target.
If you want to stay alive, leave now and never return.
Is he that important to you?
He is my everything.
You monster.
But you know what?
A monster's teary face must be sexy.
Ooh, scary.
You must've tried to kill me when I became unconscious.
Yes, but...
Don't, you're not a killer.
Even if it is for me.
But this woman...
How could you understand how precious life is if you don't care for your own?
You're right.
What are you doing?
-I can't just leave her here. -But...
What if she tries to kill you again?
Sorry.
But I'll become stronger, too.
Then will you do one thing?
Will you drink my blood?
Your blood?
It will protect you from injuries and diseases.
Would you rather not?
I'll drink it if that'll make you feel easier.
People often told me that I was like a cold puppet, warding people off.
But I met Mr. Masaru and other people and learned much.
And now, I've come to think
that I want to change.
I've come up with an idea. Something more fun than killing people.
So honey, will you ask them for me?
You want to join our circus?
We might be a tiny circus, but we won't let just anybody...
Ladies and gentlemen. I'm a knife thrower.
She's one of us!
And so, we gained another member.
Narumi, the circus sure is great, huh?
Fly up high, Marionette
Turn to ash, gracefully
My only purpose in life was to fight
Why am I so angry even I dump my humanity
Without you, I can't smile anymore
I assume that I am to be blamed
Like a puppet that can't smile naturally
I feel like someone is pulling my strings
What am I even living for?
I was hurt, and thought that nobody would understand
But you came along, and took me in your arms
I felt my tangled arms and legs
become free
Fly up high, Marionette
I think now I can reach you
Before I met you, I was empty
Now I have something I'd give my all to protect
You taught me how to feel, the feeling of sorrow too