Yes... I am aware it has been a veritable eternity since I last updated and for that I appologize. (Please don't kill me!)
Disclaimer: I think it's pretty well known that Masashi Kishimoto and not I own's Naruto.
Claimer: On the other hand... Azami, Lord Kaemon and anyone else, not present in the original manga and anime are mine and mine alone!
A half hour later, two convertibles pulled into the carnival parking lot. One was bright yellow, and held Ino, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Naruto. The other was dark red, and held Tenten, Azami, Sakura, and the three ice cubes. (Aka, Neji, Sasuke and Gaara.)
The five girls jumped out of the cars talking animatedly about their favorite carnival rides, while the young men stood silently, (Yes, even Naruto was momentarily stunned into silence) taking in the strange sights around them.
Gaara blinked at the thousands of bright colors and lights that covered everything in sight.
Naruto was staring wide eyed at the hundreds of colorful booths that dotted the park. One booth in particular caught his special attention. Ramen!
Neji looked around in awe at the huge, strange looking structures that people were riding on and somehow not falling off. They're insane! He thought as he watched some people ride a roller coaster.
Shikamaru winced at the loud music that was playing all over the park. Troublesome…he thought. All this noise makes it hard to sleep.
Sasuke glared at the many people milling around in distaste. He didn't like to be in places with a lot of commotion and crowds especially bothered him; of course, that might have had something to do with the fact that the only times he'd ever been in a crowd were the times when he was being put up for sale at an auction.
The boys didn't have too much time to stand about gawking however, for the girls wasted no time in purchasing the carnival bracelets and dragging them inside.
Once inside however, the five girls began to argue about what they wanted to do. Azami wanted to go on the big roller coaster; Tenten couldn't wait to get in line for a ride called "The Screaming Eagle". Sakura, on the other hand, was excited to go ride the water rides, while Ino argued that she wanted to go on the spider. Finally, Hinata wanted to play some of the games at the carnival booths.
"Alright! Alright!" Azami finally exclaimed. "Why don't we split up and then meet over by the picnic tables for lunch. And after that…" she wiggled her eyebrows, "…it's bumper cars time!"
The suggestion won the approval of the group and the boys, having no clue as to where, or even what, anything was followed their respective owners to different sections of the park.
(With Gaara and Azami:)
Azami rushed up to a roller coaster with a slightly breathless Gaara in tow. "This is one of my favorite rides." She told him. Gaara glanced up at the monstrous heap of metal bars, cables and poles that twisted and interweaved to form the ride appropriately named "The Twister".
Gaara felt his stomach twist in into a knot and he sweat dropped. "This ride?"
Azami nodded. "Yep! It's soooo much fun!"
Gaara gulped. He wasn't really too keen on the idea of hanging upside down several stories above the ground. I, of all people, would have to get a daredevil for a mistress. He thought.
Azami noted the uneasy look on Gaara's face and quickly said, "Of course, we don't have to go if you'd rather not."
Gaara looked at her in surprise. Glancing back at 'The Twister', he took a deep breath and shook his head. "No, it's okay, I'll go."
"You're sure?" Azami inquired. He nodded and she smiled. "Okay then, let's go!"
five minutes later…
Azami buckled herself in and then showed Gaara how to strap himself in to the seat. The protective bars locked down over them to keep them from falling.
Gaara glanced about him wide eyed. Everywhere he looked, peopled were laughing and joking; no one seemed to share his sense of alarm. Then he felt a gentle hand on his arm. Looking to his right, he saw Azami smiling at him. "Don't worry Gaara. Everyone is scared at first." She reassured him. "But after the first time, you'll see how much fun it really is." He nodded and tried to look unconcerned.
A moment later the ride started. Gaara gripped the bar tightly as the car climbed the steep incline. They reached the top and Gaara felt a surge of panic right before they began the initial descent. Before he had a moment to think they plunged downward. Gaara found himself clinging to the seat for dear life as the roller coaster zipped to and fro, twisting and turning, rising and falling. Then, at the climax of the ride, Gaara felt a rush of exhilaration and his fear was suddenly forgotten. Wow! Gaara thought to himself. This is amazing!
The ride finally came to an end and they got off. "Well?" Azami inquired. "What did you think?"
A smile appeared on Gaara's face. Azami cocked her head to the side. It was the first time she had seen him smile. It was a nice change from the wary, suspicious look that he usually wore.
"You were right, Mistress." Gaara murmured. "It was fun."
Azami frowned slightly. "Gaara, please quit calling me mistress. It makes me feel cruel and heartless. Just call me Azami, okay?"
Gaara shot her an undecipherable look but nodded. "Hai, Azami Sama."
Azami noticed that he added the honorific 'Sama' to the end of her name, but decided not to press the matter. He would drop the honorifics when he felt ready.
"Come on!" She exclaimed grabbing his hand. "There's another great roller coaster over this way!"
(With Neji and Tenten:)
Neji was silent as he followed Tenten to the back of the line for the "Screaming Eagle". The ride resembled a huge bird's claw. People would sit in the talons, their feet hanging in midair, and the claw would begin to swing back and forth while rotating. Neji watched in awe as the claw swung higher and higher, picking up speed as it went. At it's highest it went straight up so that the people seated in the 'claw' were completely upside-down.
Tenten's voice broke through Neji's thoughts. "Neji? Neji, it's our turn to ride!" He looked up to see that they were, indeed, at the head of the line. He nodded and followed her onto the ride. Tenten showed him how to buckle himself in to insure that he would not fall out. Someone came around and checked to make certain that everyone was securely strapped in, and then it was time for the ride to start. Neji felt his anxiety level mounting as the claw began to swing. Then he felt something touch his hand. Looking down, Neji saw that Tenten had unconsciously taken hold of his hand. Before he had a chance to say anything, the momentum of the ride picked up abruptly and the claw swung up into the air.
Neji felt a thrill shoot through him as the ride picked up speed. Beside him, Tenten let out a whoop of delight.
Neji felt a slight smile tug at his lips. She was so different from his previous owners. Actually, she was crazy! But somehow, he kind of liked that…
(With Shikamaru and Ino:)
Ino pulled Shikamaru up into the seat beside her. "What is this thing?" he asked. Ino glanced over at him, her eyebrows arched in surprise. "You know, that's the longest sentence I've heard you say yet." He shrugged. Ino smiled. "This ride is called the Spider. It used to be called the Octopus and I think that was more fitting, but Spider works too."
Shikamaru gazed at the large, black contraption that did indeed resemble an octopus. He and Ino were seated in a bench, located at the end of one of the long, tentacle-like arms of the machine. "Troublesome…" He muttered to himself as he close his eyes.
Suddenly, as though it had chosen to come alive, the Spider began to move, swirling around, flailing its arms about and jolting Shikamaru into sudden and complete awareness. The bench in which he and Ino sat began to spin like crazy! Shikamaru hung on for dear life. Ino, on the other hand, threw her arms up in the air and started laughing her head off. Shikamaru shot her a baffled look. What is wrong with her? Troublesome woman!Okay so... how was it? I know the whole amusement park thing is kind of cliché but it makes it easier to have them bond a bit...
Anyway, reviews are greatly appreciated as always. (no flames please.)
~Yaruhi