Chapter 22: Performance

"You told her!?"

The tone of his cousin's voice made Sora cringe as he apologetically flailed his arms (not that Roxas could see his actions). "I-I…C'mon Roxas," Sora whined desperately, "I can't lie to Kairi; she's my girlfriend and...and besides, she won't say anything—"

"Except to Naminé," Roxas fumed, his grey marbles narrowing with betrayal.

Sora hastily shook his head and replied. "I made her promise she wouldn't, and I've known her since we were kids. She wouldn't lie to me."

"What about her whole 'mission' thing? Didn't she tell you that she started hanging out with you to collect information on something?" 'Or someone…' His mind silently added.

"We already cleared that up," Sora said before quickly amending, "and it's not like she lied. She just omitted a bit of the truth."

"Which is still technically lying."

Sora moaned with exasperation. "Please Roxas. She won't breathe a word of it to anyone. I know she won't."

"Fine…" The blond sulked, unsatisfied but unwilling to press the issue further.

The boys sat in silence for a moment. The TV echoed voices and explosions in the background.

"Though…I wish you would just get it over and tell her. It's not like you can hide it forever anyway, right?" Sora murmured, his eyes faintly flicking to his cousin before averting to the hands in his lap.

Absentmindedly, Roxas played with his checkered wrist band, slowly pulling it up and down in an almost rhythmic motion. Sora wasn't even sure if his cousin had heard him, but then a small smile tugged at his lips as his veiled eyes became even more distant than usual. "I know. I don't want a relationship built on lies, but I just don't think I can tell her yet."

"But…why?" Sora prompted, "Wouldn't it be better if you just told her the truth?"

"I…I just can't right now, okay Sora?" Roxas snapped, unable to admit the growing anxiety in his chest—unwilling to even entertain the thought that she, the girl he had loved since his childhood, wouldn't accept him once she knew.

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"A lawyer?" Leon balked with a snort, "How the hell are you supposed to afford that? You barely have any income as it is, and it's like I want you staying here any longer than necessary."

Cloud gritted his teeth, indignation flaring until hot anger filled every syllable that departed from his lips. "Yes a lawyer, and there is this thing called a public defender, heard of it?" When Leon gave his scathing reply, Cloud added coldly, "Oh, and don't worry. We'll be getting the hell out of here as soon as we can. Trust me."

Leon barked a sarcastic laugh, stopping himself from entering into the kitchen. "Trust you? That's a good joke."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cloud snarled and roughly grabbed his brother-in-law by the shoulder. Leon instantly jerked away, but wasn't fazed by the blond's outburst.

"What do you think it means?"

Cloud's form trembled with fury and his hands formed tight fists as his blue eyes became chips of ice. "That was nearly twenty years ago. Let. It. Go."

This time, Leon rounded on him, pinning Cloud to the nearby banister until the wood dug into his skull. Squall's eyes were dark, his lips set in a straight, emotionless line that mirrored his brother-in-law's normal expression that was now replaced with a tight frown.

"You ruined my baby sister," Leon whispered harshly and Cloud didn't flinch. "He loved her. He could take care of her. But you...you just had destroy everything. I don't even blame Tifa for suing you—what you put her and Vanitas through…You're nothing Cloud, and if it weren't for my sister and her children, your ass would be on the street by now."

Leon's grip finally loosened, but Cloud didn't say anything. His eyes remained alight with silent fury as he shoved past the brunette and up the staircase. He may not have made the best choices in his past, but was that any reason to be eternally tormented?

KHKHKHKH

"You're going to do great," Roxas encouraged in a whisper as his hands gently glided across the piano's keys; no sound was emitted from the soft caress.

Naminé nervously glanced back at the rows of students behind her, their eyes hungry to spectate. She had reassured herself several times throughout the day that it would go perfectly well. They had practiced after all, but Naminé had never performed in front of people so far (if you didn't count her 'Queen' façade that is).

"Easy for you to say," Naminé murmured back. There was a small quake in her voice that he only caught, and as their teacher gestured for them to begin, Roxas found one of her hands maladroitly and squeezed so that fingers laced together tightly. Naminé gave a fleeting smile and closed her eyes. The piano started, Roxas' hands beginning their elaborate dance. Naminé breathed, set a confident expression on her face and as the introductory notes faded into the first verse of Taylor Swift's Safe and Sound, sang.

No voice dared be raised during the piece. Even the chattering gossips sealed their glossed lips in awe as the duo performed. From her seat, however, Selphie frowned, unimpressed by melodies echoing throughout the room.

When the last few words escaped Naminé's lips, Roxas' hands soon desisted their rhythmic writhing. Naminé's heart felt like a volcano and the blood racing through her veins like molten quick sand. She had done it, but now what? No one was saying anything. She heard Roxas push back the piano bench, but wasn't aware of anything until he whispered under his breath, their hands entwined again.

"It's time to give a bow."

Naminé's consciousness jolted awake again, and on the count of three bowed with her duet partner. The class finally erupted into applause and excited cheers. Their music teacher beamed and offered several verbal praises while other students offered their amazement and awe at the execution of the performance.

Naminé was truly standing on the pinnacle of popularity.

KHKHKH

"That's not fair! You cheated!" Hayner exclaimed, cheeks on fire as he pointed a sweaty finger at the victoriously giggling perpetrator.

"Don't be a sour sport Hayner," Olette chided, "I won fair and square and you know it, right Pence?"

The raven haired boy adjusted his white sweatband and chuckled. "She won fair and square Hayner. I saw her."

Hayner childishly smacked the steering wheel of his race car console and sulked. "Stupid game…can't believe I lost to a girl…"

Olette snorted, "You act like this is the first time this has happened."

"Shut up," Hayner grumbled. Olette merely stuck out her tongue, savoring the freedom she found from being with her best friends. A freedom she never should have given up in the first place.

"How about we get some pizza before we begin a new game? I'm hungry," Pence suggested, his stomach vouching for him as it gurgled audibly.

"No way!" Hayner protested, "Not until I beat her!"

Olette rolled her eyes but gripped her steering wheel with determination. "I guess we won't eat for a while then."

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Hands intertwined. Happy laughs intermingling. Incredibly annoying couple-y comments.

Of course Xion had to behind them in obnoxiously crowded hallway. Of course. Her life always worked out that way.

The obsidian haired girl watched for a moment longer, her eyes flashing from their hands to her head nestled on his shoulder before inwardly gagging. What would Naminé do when she found out about him? Queen Naminé would scorn him, but was Roxas right…? Was she changing? Was there a chance that the Naminé she had been friends with as a child was alive again in the pit of her shattered soul?

"Whatcha drawing Nami?" a younger Xion asked, attempting to peer over a little Naminé's shoulder during an all-school picnic.

Naminé gripped her array of colored pencils tighter and spread her arms over her sketchbook protectively. ""I can't show you yet. It's not finished."

Xion pouted and Naminé mirrored the look before both girls broke out into smiles. "Just wait a few minutes." Naminé instructed softly. Xion complied and soon Naminé raised her completed drawing.

Xion's eyes grew wide with awe. She touched one of the figures residing on the page. "Is that…me?"

Naminé nodded and gestured to the girl beside her. "And that's me."

"Wow," Xion breathed, her eyes lingering on the well-crafted depiction before flickering back to the blonde artist, "It's so good."

Naminé tucked a lock of hair behind her ear modestly and mumbled shyly. "Y-You can have it…if you want?"

"Really?"

Naminé nodded and gently tore the page from her sketchbook, offering it to the raven haired girl. "We're…best friends, right?"

"Right!" Xion beamed.

"But she…she can't be changing," Xion muttered underneath her breath vehemently, "that Naminé is long dead."

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"Something wrong Kairi?"

Kairi's heart nearly stopped beating, but she forced a cheery smile on her lips. "Nothing." Except that I know a huge secret about your boyfriend that I can't tell you. Nope, nothing at all.

"Okay…" Naminé said glancing back at Olette and Selphie who merely shrugged.

A sigh escaped the red head's lips once Naminé went back to chattering with a gaggle of cheerleaders, but there was still a pit of anxiety in her stomach. She knew she had to keep the secret—Roxas' secret—but it was killing her. Naminé was the Queen. Naminé didn't forbid her from dating Sora. Naminé was her friend.

But…Sora was her boyfriend. Her childhood friend. He wouldn't ask something like this unless he had to, and apparently Roxas didn't want anyone knowing about his condition—his blindness.

Kairi understood he wanted to be normal, but…gah! How had she not noticed!? Was she really that enamored by Sora that hadn't noticed any of Roxas' zany behavior—his lack of coordination, eye contact, caring for physical appearance (he hadn't even complimented Naminé on her looks!).

How was anyone here fooled?

How could Naminé, the person closest to him, be fooled?

It made no sense to Kairi, but she resolved to keep her lips sealed.

'I just hope this gets settled soon…'

KHKHKHKH

Roxas inhaled his cup of coffee slowly, seemingly mesmerized by the rich scent. Forgoing his original plans with Naminé, the blind boy was seated across from Ventus who had asked if Roxas had a little bit of time to kill after school. Roxas sensed the sullen undertone in the blond's voice and agreed to meet, slightly curious as to what could make the normally placid boy upset and also feeling obligated since they had been becoming good friends recently.

Ven shifted in his seat and ignored his own coffee (the same blend as Roxas'), pushing it aside. "So…" Ven began.

"So?" Roxas repeated and breathed in another whiff of his coffee, a swirl of caramel creamer nearly making him sneeze from its intensity.

"Naminé let you come huh?"

"Yup," Roxas chirped, "she had a hair appointment anyway."

Ven looked away awkwardly, regardless of the fact that his companion was unable to physically see him. "Oh…" He mumbled, "that's…good."

Roxas chuckled. "I hope that isn't all you wanted to talk about."

"No…I…" Ven sighed and reluctantly confided to his doppelganger. "It's Aqua…She and Terra are together now. He confessed and now they're going to the carnival together on Saturday."

Roxas was quite for a moment. He felt bad that his advice to Ventus didn't work out, but… "I'm sorry. I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"I guess…"

"Not that you should give up on finding someone," Roxas added hastily, "I'm sure it'll happen one day. I mean you're a really cool guy Ven and…and if you'd like," Roxas was speaking faster now in an attempt to cheer his friend up, "I could ask Naminé to set you up with someone. She knows lots of girls and since we're friends and all—"

Roxas stopped, puzzled as he heard Ven's laughter. It wasn't loud, but a subtle chuckle had escaped from his lips, permeating the air. "What?"

Ven shook his head and smiled. "Nothing. Thanks Roxas." Thanks bro…

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A/N: I feel like this chapter was too short, but the next one should be longer since it focuses on the carnival and we have lots of fluff coming from that. I'm sorry that the update is late as per usual, but hey we're almost at the end of the story! Just 6-7 more chapters left which means by summer this it will hopefully be finished. The story itself is still building up to the climax, and though this may seem filler-ish I tried incorporating important bits that will relate to/foreshadow later chapters.

Thank you as always for your reviews, favorites, and alerts. It's always an awesome little treat for me when I look in my inbox:) I'm super excited to almost be at 350 and will continue aiming for an overall total of 500 once this story's done. Also, holy cow on the amount of favorites and alerts. I mean really. That's crazy too.

Question(s) For Chapter 24:

What games should our favorite blondes play? Rides? Foods to consume?

I've got a few ideas but would love some inspiration from my readers!:D!

Thanks oodles!:D!

Review Replies:

X-blade025: Me too XD. Yeah, she's definitely playing hardball right now, and you'll just have to see what happens with Kairi and the Strife family. Thank you (xs 2). I will continue to hammer away at the story and hope you will continue to enjoy.

musicbox: Not sure either XD. It could be alluding to quite a few things. Which part are you looking at? XD Yes, it is quite interesting. Don't worry; I do that too lol and thank you for the review!:D

Guest: Lol, thank you for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter!:D!

Artism: I know right? Things certainly are messy right now and no one's really innocent with the whole Strife thing. Ugh. I hear you there. College is brutal. I have two papers coming up this month plus a project for Latin which you know, will be boat loads of fun. Yeah, it's getting intense. Everything's preparing for the climax which is slowly coming upon us (chapter 26 probably), Thank you and good luck with your college endeavors as well!:D