Ugh...I'm sorry about the long wait. And the sucky-ness you are about to read. School finally got out, so I have more time and all, but I just didn't really know what to do with this chapter...So It's kind of suckish. sorry!
Today was a fairytale
I wore a dress
you wore a dark grey T-shirt
you told me I was pretty when I looked like a mess
today was a
F a i r y t a l e
Chapter 7
Kairi ran down the endless hallway, passing portraits of what Namine assumed was Roxas' family members, their feet stomping loudly on the plush carpets. She curved into a separate branched hallway and finally yanked the poor blonde into a secluded room filled with shoes, make-up, masks, and various so on that most girls enjoy playing with.
Namine was not one of those girls.
"Ok, Give me your dress," Kairi started. Miraculously, Namine had managed to cling to the garment through the entire ordeal. She handed the black bag to Kairi silently, watching her eagerly rip it open and hold it out.
"It's so beautiful…ugh, I'm jealous!" she joked, laying it on a conveniently placed arm chair.
"All right. I need to make you look fantabulous, So sit here, lean back, and relax. Let Kairi work her magic." she said with a grin. Namine did as she was told, but she was scared out of her wits. What was Kairi going to do to her? Would she ever make it out of this room alive?
She closed her eyes, feeling the slight tickle of a sponge brush across her cheek and the light stabbing of a pencil at her eyes. She even felt a silky smooth substance wipe it's way across her lips; she knew Kairi was going to drown her in makeup. After all of the small pinpricks and tingles left her face, her attention went straight to her hair. Kairi was running a soft bristled brush through her uneven locks, gently massaging her scalp to lessen the pain. Namine sighed contently, enjoying the cooling sensation of mist as it coated her hair. She barely felt Kairi styling her messy platinum locks into a tidy side ponytail, curls bouncing off of her shoulder as Kairi rubbed mousse into them. In what felt like minutes, she was done.
"Alright, open your eyes!" her friend cheered in excitement. Hesitantly, as if afraid of what she would see, she peeked through her lashes of one eyes, gasping as she stared at a beautiful stranger in the mirror. Her normally pale face was flushed and twinkling, her eyeliner making the blue in her eyes pop. She brought a hand to her face in wonder, poking her cheek.
Kairi twirled away, picking up something she couldn't see. As Kairi danced back, she noticed the tiara from the wedding dress shop, veil-less. She set it down softly on her head, admiring the way it sparkled in the light.
"Ab-so-lut-ly beautiful!" Kairi squealed, pumping her fist in the air. Namine blushed, but gave her friend a cheerful smile.
"Now, go change into the dress while I get ready, ok?" she instructed, pointing to the dress that was still draped over the seat's edge. Namine nodded, approaching it.
It really was beautiful. Black silk mixed with white silk, just like night and day. Just like Roxas and Namine.
Without another word, Namine slipped her casual clothes off and stepped into the skirt portion of the dress. Slowly, not wanting to damage any part of the beauty, she pulled it up onto herself, fastening the straps, smoothening out wrinkles. She called Kairi over, and the red head zipped it up. They stared into the mirror.
"You're really gonna impress him, you know that, right?" Kairi murmured from over her shoulder. Namine shrugged. She was more impressing herself.
"What abut you?" she asked quietly. Kairi shrugged, returning to her vanity to apply some makeup.
"Roxas and Sora's parents have already met me dozens of times, so I don't have to look super sexy," she started, snickering as a blush formed on her partner's face, "And you, being poor and - no offense - a nobody, need to make a big impression."
"Why? Are Roxas' parents that powerful?" Namine asked curiously. Kairi just smiled and pretended to zip her lips closed, applying some blush to her own face.
"My lips are sealed. You'll just have to see for yourself." she sang, pushing the blonde away. "Over there, across the hall, there's a bathroom. Inside the bathroom, there are like, thousands of masks of many different colors. I want you to go find a black one. Kay? We only have twenty minutes left, so hurry, too!"
Twenty minutes? Namine thought in a panic. Ten minutes ago, I had two hours! She quickly scurried into the hall, lifting all of the layers of the dress off of the ground, her bare feet having some troubles dodging the fabric. As she entered the next room, her mouth dropped in wonder and dismay, staring up at all of the masks placed around the room. All four walls were covered in masks. Indian witch doctor, Halloween, Voodoo, and of course Masquerade.
"Kairi, why are there so many?" She shouted, quickly making her way to a small black mask hanging above a fireplace.
"Oh, it's Sora's collection," Kairi called back. Namine lifted an eyebrow and shook her head, sighing as she returned the mask to the wall.
For ten minutes, the small blonde flitted around the room, jumping from mask to mask and cringing away from the scary voodoo ones. She continuously tried to match a mask to the silky context of the dress, and always came up empty. After another two minutes of looking, she gave up.
"Kairi, I can't find a good one!" she cried, watching the red head step into the room.
Kairi was amazing. Her face had little makeup, but she still looked like a runway model, especially with the beautiful sky blue gown that fit more of a summer theme. It traveled down to her calves, and had a large white bow winding around her waist. The straps were also tied on, matching the silk blue. Her shoes were classic open toed wedges, white with small flowers imprinted on them. Kairi grinned while Namine gawked, performing a curtsy.
"Of course you can't find a good one, silly. All of the masks in this room are just freakishly creepy. The mask you want is in the other room," Kairi explained, jerking a finger into the hallway. Namine stared at her in disbelief.
"You had the mask I wanted the whole time?" she asked, pouting and placing her hands on her hips. Kairi grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah…Sorry. I just wanted to surprise you and show you what I meant by 'no-need-for-me-to-look-sexy'."
Namine pretended to be mad at the red head, but she cracked a smile instead, walking past Kairi and wandering back into the guest room.
She noticed two masks lying on the chair that once held her dress, and she looked at them curiously. One was white, very simple, with only a few black stitches weaving in and out around the eye holes in a pattern. The other was black, more elaborately designed, with a velvet center and white lace, all leading to a large black and white bow that sat on the corner with beads streaming down. Namine sighed.
"The black one is mine, huh?" she mumbled. Kairi came up from behind and nodded. Silently, she placed the mask on and stared back at her red-headed friend.
"Beautiful. Simply beautiful. You are my best work yet." she joked, putting her own mask on. "Alright, now your shoes, and then we're off. They're over there," she said, pointing to the conspicuous pair of black open toe wedges(the same kind as Kairi's, just the opposite color). Namine sauntered over, put them on wordlessly, and the duo leaved together, Kairi bouncing in excitement, Namine sulking dejectedly.
~*~*~*~*~(J)~*~*~~*~
"Oh, thank god," Roxas sighed in relief, watching his date and his 'future sister in law' walking towards them in the hallway. Sora grinned, taking Kairi's hand and kissing it lightly.
Sora and Roxas were both wearing fancy tuxedos, but they were similar to Kairi and Namine's; complete opposites. Sora's Tux was completely white from head to toe, and his mask matched. Roxas' was completely black, with - of course - a black mask. Roxas and Namine narrowed their eyes at the innocently whistling couple.
"You planned this." Roxas accused, pointing to his brother. Sora shrugged.
"Maybe." he replied, drawling out the word. Namine frowned, but said nothing. Why was Kairi trying so hard to make her stand out?
"Uh…Guys, we're on in five," Kairi said quietly, changing the subject. It seemed to work because both Sora and Roxas stiffened; Namine huffed.
Kairi peeked her head around the corner, turning paler and paler the longer she stared, and returned with a devastated expression.
"There are so many…" she murmured. Sora took her hand.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the annual Shinra Winter Masquerade. If I could please have your attention, for we will be presenting the hosts for this evening."
Namine gawked at Roxas, completely blown away by this new piece of mind boggling information. Roxas was a Shinra? As in, the Shinra? The Shinra that was the most powerful family in all of Twilight Town, Destiny Islands, and Radiant Gardens put together? Namine was at a regal, fancy party with the Roxas Shinra?
"What?" Roxas mumbled irritatingly, squirming under Namine's flabbergasted gaze. She tried moving her lips to form words, but found herself unable.
"You…Him…Both…Shinra?" she managed to choke out, pointing a finger from Sora, Roxas, and the brightly lit hallway. Roxas growled under his breath and nodded.
"Yes, I'm Roxas Shinra. Is there a problem?" he hissed. Namine quickly regained her composure, standing up straight and blushing. She shook her head, turning to look the other way.
She analyzed Roxas in her peripheral vision. The way he switched his footing every other second, scratched his unruly hair, and stole quick, nervous glances at her. He was seriously freaking out, and it was causing Namine to panic as well. Why was he so on edge? She wanted to know.
"Roxas…what's wrong?" she murmured sincerely, stopping him from taking another swipe at his scalp. He turned his fearful eyes to her, quickly trying to look calm and failing miserably.
"Nothing…" he mumbled pathetically. Namine stretched her fingers out and placed them lightly on his arm in comfort. Roxas smiled in return, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Honestly, I'm ok."
"Are you sure?" she whispered back. He looked so vulnerable; an emotion she had never even thought existed in Roxas' world. Was the discovery of his real name that bad?
"Please presenting Sir. Rufus Shinra and his lovely wife, Scarlet Shinra," the announcer bellowed, and Namine curiously peeked past Sora's massive spikes to get a glimpse of the infamous Shinra power couple.
Rufus Shinra was very handsome, high poised, and smiling kindly to all the spectators in the room. He was wearing a normal white tuxedo, although it looked like more of a lab coat than anything. His wife was clinging lightly to his arm in a possessive manner, a beautiful brunette with glowing emerald eyes glaring through the holes in her mask. Her wine red dress was astonishingly beautiful, and a feather boa wrapped itself around her shoulders. The two descended the stairs slowly, listening to the audience clap.
"Presenting the heir to his father's manufacturing company, Sir Ventus Shinra and his lovely fiancée, Shizuka Ichikawa,"
Namine immediately noticed the blonde tousled spikes that were so alike to Roxas', and smiled as Ven came to the top of the stairs. He was wearing a formal while tuxedo, his glasses lost for a mask, bright blue eyes shimmering as he held an arm out for his date. This was the first time Namine had ever seen the famous painter Shizuka Ichikawa; she was at a loss for words. Her idol was going to marry her date's brother. Shizuka was actually an average looking brunette with short cropped hair hanging plain and straight down her back, ending just below her shoulders. Her eyes were a liquid amber, glowing radiantly in the bright lights, a warm chocolate brown hiding deep within. Her dress was plain and white, similar to Kairi's. The couple made their way down the stairs.
"Now presenting the stars of tonight's events, the troublesome twins, Sir Sora Shinra and his future fiancée Miss Kairi Mochizuki, and of course, Sir Roxas Shinra and his date for the evening, Miss Namine Saito."
All was quiet as the four teenagers stepped onto the stairwell. Sora and Kairi had gotten a handful of applause, but as soon as the invisible blonde wearing the best dress in the history of the world became visible, time had stood still.
"Roxas found a date?"
"I wonder who she is."
"I've never heard of the name Saito, though."
"What nonsense! Roxas has finally found himself a lass, and she's beautiful!"
She blushed as she heard some of the many whispers that erupted around the room. She was still amazed by the number of people who had managed to fill the entire front area; all dressed in light, winter themed colors, unlike the dark duo that was Namine and Roxas. She gaped at first, but smiled bashfully as all eyes traveled to her. Sora and Kairi quickly flew down the stairs, and Roxas followed after, keeping a safe hold on Namine's arm. She blushed, but tried her best to ignore it.
"And finally, last in the Shinra household, little miss Xion, and her babysitter, Sir Zidane Tribal."
Namine turned her head slightly to catch a rather tall servant holding the bubbly five year old on his back. Xion's hair was pinned back with snowflake hairclips, and her white dress and mask matched the theme perfectly. She sat up on Zidane's back and waved to the crowd, causing most to laugh at her cuteness. Namine smiled a little, turning to face forward as she continued declining down the stairs.
"Thank you, and please enjoy your evening." the announcer called, just as she reached the foot of the stairs and was staring straight back at Mrs. Shinra herself. She seemed cruel, glaring down on her, as if questioning why she was there. Namine shrunk slightly.
"Mother, Father, this is Namine." Roxas introduced stiffly. Rufus Shinra held a cheery, lopsided grin on his face as he stepped forward to shake her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, miss. You do look lavishing." he said kindly, causing the girl to blush. "I do wonder how my Roxas discovered such a beautiful white rose."
Namine, building courage, replied. "Please, Sir. You flatter me too much."
"Yes, Rufus. You flatter this nobody much to much." Scarlet Shinra snapped, looking down upon Namine with hate filled eyes. She shrunk again.
"Mom, shut up!" Roxas hissed. Mrs. Shinra just scoffed, scowling at her son now.
"Roxas, you are a boy of high class. Why must you bring this vulgar filth which stands before me and asks for my respect?" she snapped at him. Roxas turned bright red in anger, pulling the dazed Namine behind him.
"Don't talk to her like that. If you have a problem, so be it. I brought Namine because I wanted to bring her." Roxas growled. Namine's eyes widened in surprise; Roxas was protecting her? From his own mother? Mr. Shinra stepped forward, acting as a barrier between mother and son.
"He's right, Scarlet. If Roxas would like to bring a -no offense, dear Namine- low class civilian into our regal party, then so be it. We should not interfere with his love life." Rufus said sternly, throwing Roxas a wink at the end. He smiled back at his father.
"Come on, Namine." he mumbled, taking her hand and literally dragging her as far away from his parents as possible. She was still dazed and confused, wondering how such a beautiful woman could hide a personality so nasty. How dare she call her vulgar filth! Namine worked as hard as she possibly could to support her father. What was so bad about that? Just because she was at the bottom of the social food chain didn't mean she wasn't human. Discovering a newfound hating of Roxas' mother, she scowled as Roxas pulled her through the crowds.
"Wait! Roxas!" Sora's voice called, and the blonde duo came to a slow stop. The spiky mane of Sora's head came into view, and slowly Kairi and Sora came forward, huffing out air.
"What happened?" Sora asked his brother, who still looked a little sour.
"Mom. She's such a bitch sometimes!" Roxas replied, his fist curling in anger. Namine began ignoring the conversation.
"Oh. Did she make fun of her?" Sora asked in a quieter tone. Roxas just nodded stiffly. Kairi, who had remained quiet and held an unhappy expression on her face through the entire ordeal, stepped forward, placing her hands on Namine's small shoulders.
"Nami, don't listen to what that woman has to say. She doesn't know the real you; and she doesn't have the right to critique you. If you're here, you're here. There's nothing she can do about it." she said softly. The boys became silent, listening to the 'girl-advice-exchange'. Namine sighed, looking into Kairi's violet eyes, a little upset.
"Why does she hate me so much?" she murmured. Kairi smiled.
"Scarlet hate's everyone. She even hated me at first, said I was too 'low class' for Sora's tastes. Don't take what she says to heart," Kairi instructed. Roxas stepped forward, taking Namine's hand and giving it a light squeeze.
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this," he mumbled. Namine shook her head.
"No…I'm fine. Really." she smiled.
This was unexpected. She was actually somewhat getting along with Roxas for once. In her imagination all throughout the morning, she visualized screaming, pouting, arguing, some acts of violence here and there, and even a drink or two dropped on his head. She never would have thought they would be having a nice little moment comforting each other. Her grin widened, and she clasped her fingers around Roxas'. he smiled back.
"Well, we can't let the night waste away. Can I have this dance?" he asked, bowing low. Namine, who tried to act cool, giggled in response and allowed him to lead the way.
Of course, when she looked away from those captivating blue eyes of his and stood stricken with fear in front of a massive crowd of dancers and spectators, she wanted nothing more than to run.
Completely oblivious to the distressed maiden he tugged into the crowd, Roxas walked along, bumping into people, making way. Namine shuddered at the contact she kept receiving until tears finally built their way into her eyes.
I can't do this…too many people…claustrophobia…I'm sorry, Roxas.
She pulled her hand away and sprinted off in the opposite direction, shaking from head to toe in sobs and cowering away from the audience, ignoring the awkward stares she received. She could faintly hear Roxas' voice in the back of her mind, calling her name, but she couldn't stop; she had to get away.
Not entirely watching where she was going, Namine collided with a young man about her age carrying a small silver tray of muffins. She cursed quietly under her breath, and the man picked himself up.
"Miss? Are you alright?"
She turned to give him a quick answer, but as soon as she looked up, the emerald view was all she could see.
DUN DUN DUUUUN! *dramatic thunder and lightning in the background*
Song used: Today was a Fairytale, Taylor Swift
