Chapter 23: The Carnival

Naminé hummed to herself happily as she swept her brush, tinted with hazel powder, across the thin skin of her eyelids. She felt great. In just an hour, she would have her first official date with Roxas! It seemed strange that they hadn't gone a real date until now, but Naminé didn't care. She was on cloud nine and nothing could bring her down.

One of the maids, Lucille, peeked her head into the bathroom. Her wrinkled face broke out into a smile at the sight of her young ward's serene expression. "Hot date tonight?" The old woman teased.

Naminé blushed but nodded. "Yeah, we're going to the carnival tonight."

"Have fun then," Lucille encouraged, "and make sure he treats you like the lady you are."

"I will," Naminé promised and finished applying a layer of pink dust across the apples of her cheeks. Lucille left Naminé's room, leaving the blonde in a blissful silence once again as she finished the final touches of her ensemble. The outfit she wore was simple, but stylish. A pair of dark washed skinny jeans, brown sandals, and a billowy red blouse with capped sleeves. Naminé decided to leave her jewelry at home lest she accidentally lose it while being twirled and rocketed by the carnival's vast array of rides.

"Perfect," Naminé murmured to herself before grabbing her leather purse and slinging it over her shoulder. The blonde practically raced out of her room and down the stairs as she made her way to the marble tiled entryway.

Mrs. Misaki, who had been careening through the family's living room to admire her crystal children, paused momentarily and watched her daughter's elated expression with bemusement. "What's she so happy about?"

The staff around her, however, only smiled knowingly as they watched their young mistress enter the cool, star lit sky.

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"So…," Cloud cleared his throat awkwardly, "the carnival, huh?"

Roxas leaned his head against the window of his father's rustic pick-up truck (one of the few assets that they had managed to keep) and nodded distantly. "Yeah…"

"That's nice. I took your mother there once when were dating," Cloud said and gripped the steering wheel tighter as if waiting for his son to broach the initial nature of his relationship with his mother.

"Was it fun?" Roxas asked curiously but didn't lift his head from the glass.

"I think so. I mean, what's not fun about a carnival, right?" Cloud answered with a light chuckle. Roxas only cracked a small fleeting smile that prompted Cloud to voice concern. "Something wrong?"

Roxas abruptly jolted upright and hastily shook his head. "No…I mean, nothing in particular. It's just I guess I've been thinking a lot lately…"

"A dangerous pastime," Cloud commented flippantly, but when his son didn't offer a clever response, added quickly. "What about?"

"Just…this whole trying to be 'normal' thing I guess," Roxas sighed. "I'm getting a little tired of it and I know people are figuring it out because yesterday, a few kids saw one of the teachers asking me if I wanted to borrow one of extra the canes they stored in the classroom."

"Then, why not just tell everyone?" Cloud prodded and veered around another street corner.

Roxas rubbed his face in exasperation. "It's…It's just not that easy Dad. If I tell everyone my secret, then…then…" The blond couldn't even force the words from his mouth.

"You might lose her," Cloud finished softly and still no words left Roxas' mouth.

The rest of the car ride was silent until they came upon the glowing chaos of the carnival. Helping his son out of the car, Cloud guided the blind boy through the entrance and patted his shoulder affectionately. "Stay safe."

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Gripping her bag tightly, Naminé walked through the carnival entrance in search for her boyfriend. They agreed to meet up towards the entrance of the carnival, but as her blue orbs scanned the surrounding area, Roxas was nowhere in sight.

"Is he even here?" Naminé said to herself and pulled out her iPhone. No new texts or missed calls. "Huh…Well, maybe if I wait over here and—Roxas!" Naminé's lips broke out into a grin as she spotted her boyfriend sitting on a nearby bench. His eyes were closed and with the headphones nestled over his ears, it was clear that he had not heard the blonde girl. Naminé giggled and rolled her eyes at his lack of response before lifting one of the headphones and slipping a simple greeting into his ear. "Hello, Roxas."

Roxas, startled, bolted upright and nearly smacked his girlfriend in the face. "Huh? What?" Out of habit, he began trying to locate the familiar voice that had pulled him away from his reverie.

Naminé giggled again. "Over here, silly."

Roxas relaxed. "Oh, there you are," Roxas said even though his orbs filtered in nothing but darkness.

Naminé grabbed one of his hands and smiled affectionately. "Here I am."

"You're certainly in a good mood today," Roxas noted, lifting himself from the bench.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Naminé asked cheekily, "I'm out here with you, aren't I?"

Roxas chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Very true. So, what do you want to hit up first? Games? Rides? Food?"

"Hmm…," Naminé tapped a finger on her chin, "I think we should do rides first since I don't want to be throwing up either during or after any of the rides."

"Good point," Roxas agreed. He fished for his wallet and pulled out a twenty. "Here, we should go get some tickets."

Naminé took the money from his hand, but added. "Just so you know, I'll be paying for some of the expenses too. I don't want you to feel like you have to pay for everything just because you're the guy."

"But—" Roxas began to protest.

"I insist," Naminé said and pulled her boyfriend towards the ticket counter. He sighed but smiled at his girlfriend's antics.

'She really doesn't seem like the girl everyone's been making her out to be.'

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After purchasing their tickets, Naminé and Roxas headed over to the tilt-a-whirl. The line wasn't excruciatingly long since most people went to vacuum up plates of funnel cakes and mini donuts, but it was, of course, annoying to wait, especially behind two screaming kids and their exasperated mother.

"See?" the mother hissed, "We're next. Now, for the love of God, be quiet." The two children squealed obliviously, however and plopped themselves into the nearest open sphere. Naminé and Roxas sat in the one beside them.

"That poor woman," Roxas remarked, tugging the safety bar further down. Obviously, he couldn't physically see the woman and her two children, but even the high pitched wailing was enough for him to cringe.

"I wonder where her husband is?" Naminé wondered aloud, but Roxas' reply was caught in his throat as the ride began. It was definitely weird to go on a ride now that he was blind. He hadn't since the accident and Roxas was surprised he felt so calm. The sharp turns, the rapid circular motions felt like nothing unexpected. But maybe that was because when he was little, he had always closed his eyes during rides. They always seemed less scary with his eyes closed.

Naminé screeched happily as the ride began to pick up and pushed her side up against Roxas' to increase their weight and thus, the speed of their sphere. It kept spinning and even Roxas allowed a loud whoop to escape his lips before the ride slowed down again and the passengers were instructed to leave.

"That was so fun," Naminé said with a grin, "I think we should drive the bumper cars next or maybe the octopus?"

"The octopus would be fun," Roxas hastily agreed in an attempt to avoid the bumper cars. God only knows how bad that would go.

Naminé nodded, "And maybe we could go on the roundup after that? I haven't been on that ride in forever."

"Roundup?" Roxas asked uncertainly.

"You know, the ride that has you standing up while you spin around?"

"Is that safe?"

"They strap you in Roxas."

"Tightly?"

Naminé rolled her eyes. "Of course they do, so let's go now. I don't want to be waiting eons in line." Releasing a heavy sigh, Roxas complied with his girlfriend's wishes. They went on the octopus first, an enormous metal aquatic creature whose tentacles Roxas could barely remember riding within as a child. The tentacles spun them round and round and even dipped them upside down once or twice. It was probably more exhilarating than the tilt-a-whirl but not nearly as heart stopping as the Roundup. Since he couldn't see, Roxas wouldn't even attempt to step into the open sphere, especially with the empty middle offering broken bones and bruises, but Naminé managed to coax him onto one of the colored platforms before standing next to him.

The blind boy had held on for dear life while that ride had spun, flipped, and dipped. It made him wonder how contraptions like this were even legal, and when he had gotten off (with Naminé having to literally pry his hands away from the grated walls), Roxas vowed never to endure that ride again.

"I'm sorry you didn't like it," Naminé apologized again, "I thought it was fun, but um…how about we just get some…" Her voice trailed off as her blue eyes darted from one concession stand to the next until her eyes found a particular turquoise tent. Naminé's eyes gleamed. "Let's go get some Sea Salt cotton candy! That'll make you feel better."

Predictably, Roxas perked up instantly. "Sea Salt cotton candy? I've never had that before."

"Well," Naminé grinned, "now you can say you have." They walked towards the cotton candy stand, weaving through bushels of families and couples coming to enjoy the carnival. The carnival lights strung along the tents and rides gleamed brightly and Naminé almost lost herself in the fantastical glow if it hadn't been for ecstatic voice of her red haired friend.

"Naminé! Roxas!" Kairi called from a short distance; her arm was linked with Sora's. Naminé waved the other couple over.

"You two came to the carnival too?" Naminé asked but the smile on her face didn't damper in the least, and Kairi found her own lips stretched into a happy grin.

"Yeah, I mean might as well, right? Oh, and you two are next in line," Kairi said and gestured to a man waiting impatiently inside the tent. Naminé cast the man an apologetic smile and quickly paid for the Sea Salt flavored cotton candy.

"Here," Naminé said and handed her boyfriend the stick of cotton candy before taking his free hand.

"Thanks." Roxas took a bite out of the turquoise head and grinned like a mad man. "This stuff is amazing!" he beamed. "It tastes just like Sea Salt ice cream."

"I'd hope so," Naminé joked, taking a handful of the cotton candy and popping in her mouth. It dissolved quickly and Naminé smiled contentedly, prompting Kairi to nudge Sora in the side and cast him a furtive glance. Sora nodded and couldn't hide his smile at the sight of his cousin and the supposed Ice Queen so happy together.

"Do you guys want to go play some games?" Sora asked, jerking his thumb towards the row of vibrant tents behind them.

Naminé looked to her boyfriend. "Do you want to?"

"Games would be fun," Roxas replied with a shrug.

"Sweet!" Kairi cheered, "Let's go play the balloon dart game first!"

Both females dragged their boyfriends to the tent filled with various colored balloons stuck to the wall and paid for each of them to take a shot with three darts. The prize for hitting at least two balloons was a small poster, and both Naminé and Kairi gushed at the sight of a Hunger Games poster with Finnick Odair on it. Their boyfriends tried their best to help their girls' conquest but neither was able to hit the two balloons necessary. Roxas nearly took the eye out of the man running the game with his lack of aim, but Kairi managed to pop the two needed balloons and snag a print of her favorite tribute.

"You'll win something next time," Kairi encouraged but Naminé shrugged her words off.

"I can always buy my own poster anyway, so it's not a big deal."

Kairi was too shocked about Naminé's nonchalance to say anything until they approached the water race. "I bet I can beat you guys at this," Kairi said.

Naminé and Sora raised an eyebrow. "Really now?" Sora asked, quickly sliding into the seat next to his girlfriend, "Well prepare to be wrong Kairi, my dear."

"Roxas, aren't you going to play?" Naminé inquired with an expectant look.

"I'm all good," Roxas said and patted his cotton candy, "I'd rather eat my cotton candy." 'And not humiliate myself…'

Naminé shrugged and took a seat next to Sora. Once enough people were seated, the bell rang and the water race was on. Naminé, Kairi, and Sora had their eyes glued to the tiny water hole as they pressed hard on the red buttons of the water gun.

Naminé's tower was rising the fastest, but just as she was about to reach the top, the bell rang again to signal a different winner. Angrily, Naminé glanced down the row to see who had beaten her.

"That dolphin, right Aqua?"

"Yes Terra. Though, I wish I could see what it looked like. I mean I trust your judgment of the cuteness of aquatic creatures but you know…"

Terra chuckled and handed the stuffed animal to his date. "I know Aqua. Now, c'mon," he said taking her hand, "I heard there's a place that sells great funnel cakes."

When the two had left, Kairi let out a sigh. "Man, and here I thought at least one of us was going to win."

"I know, right?" Sora said and rubbed the back of his head, "Too bad, but maybe one of us can win something at the bottle game. I mean all you have to do is knock down a few bottles."

"That are probably glued together," Naminé mumbled dejectedly.

Roxas stopped eating his cotton candy, hearing the saddening tone of his girlfriend's voice. "I'll try to win you something."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Sora repeated, "Really?"

Roxas wanted to glare at his cousin but nodded resolutely. "Yeah, I'll try."

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"So, you know the name of the game, right? Just knock down these three bottles with these three balls and you'll win your lovely lady here whatever prize her heart desires." The carnie instructed, gesturing towards the array of hanging stuffed animals with his wooden cane.

"That white wolf is so cute," Naminé murmured to Kairi who nodded with a hesitant smile. She really, really hoped that Roxas could pull this off.

"Alright," Roxas said and had Sora, while giving him a premeditated pep talk, move the blind boy so that he was directly in front of the pyramid of milk bottles.

"You can do it!" Naminé and Kairi cheered. Roxas picked up one of the balls and threw it. The plastic sphere barely grazed the tops of the bottles.

"Ohhh!" the carnie wailed with false despair, "so close! Maybe another hit will do it?"

"Aim lower," Sora whispered, but Roxas was distracted so that he hit the carnie with his second ball instead.

The man growled, rubbing his balding head. "Watch where you're throwing kid. I don't need any concussions."

"C'mon Roxas," Naminé encouraged, "I know you can do it…"

Picking up the last ball, Roxas could hear his heart thrashing in his chest. Just one hit. If he could just get in one hit. 'Just focus.'

Roxas closed his eyes and threw the ball as hard as he could. An audible clank and tumble echoed through his ears and before Roxas could ask if he'd actually knocked anything over, he felt Naminé's arms wrap around him.

"You won!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"I…did?"

"Somehow," Sora said with a light laugh, "you won."

Roxas broke out into a large smile. "Okay, so where's my girlfriend's prize?"

The carnie grumbled unhappily about having to use stronger glue, but brought down the white wolf he had seen the girl eyeing earlier and handed it to her.

Naminé beamed and kissed her boyfriend's cheek. "Thank you!"

A blush crept up Roxas' neck as he rubbed the back of his head. "It was nothing."

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"Okay, so we've hit up most of the other rides, games and food places. What do you guys want to do now?" Kairi asked. The boys, however, only shrugged as they continued piling cookies, donuts, and funnel cakes in their mouths. Kairi rolled her eyes and looked to the blonde female. "Any ideas Naminé?"

Naminé, stuffed wolf in one arm, glanced around the surrounding area fruitlessly. "I don't know maybe we should just—the Ferris wheel!" Naminé abruptly exclaimed and pointed up towards the glowing contraption reaching up into the night's sky.

Kairi gasped and clapped her hands together eagerly. "Yes! The Ferris wheel would be perfect!"

"And there's not even a line," Naminé added happily before grabbing her boyfriend's hand and dragging him towards the ride. Kairi and Sora followed suit.

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Lurking behind a concession tent, a figure stood with his fists clenched. Several people milling by cast the man curious glances but he leered, causing them to walk faster.

"She thinks she can cheat on me, huh?" the man seethed, "I'll show her." Pulling out his phone, the man snapped a picture of Naminé and Roxas and attached it to a scathing text message. A moment passes and the text is sent. The man smirked, closed his phone and wandered into the shadows.

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On the Ferris wheel, Naminé and Roxas sat beside one another. Her head was on his shoulder as her eyes stared dreamily into the horizon of glimmering lights, brightly colored tents, and haunting carnival melodies that floated from the careening carousal below.

Roxas could only imagine how beautiful the sight was.

"The last time I was on a Ferris wheel," Naminé began quietly, "was when I was little. My dad took me and…I remember being scared at first but then I saw all the lights and it wasn't so scary anymore."

Roxas smiled and ran his thumb along the palm of her hand. "I've actually never been on a Ferris wheel before. I was always too scared when I was younger and even when I got older; I just never went on one."

"So, do you like it?"

"I'm with you, aren't I?" Roxas murmured and ran his hand through her hair. A blush blossomed across Naminé's cheeks at his soft touch. Roxas' hand drops from her hair to her cheek, the heat pulsing underneath his fingertips as he slowly leaned forward.

Naminé's eyes closed and she emptied the gap between their lips as the fireworks exploded behind them in vibrant streaks of red, blue, gold, and green.

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The blissful smile that had planted itself on Naminé's lips refused to diffuse even as she entered the cold foyer of her home. The lights were all off, but Naminé didn't think much of it. She merely flipped the switch for the main chandelier and began to slip out of her sandals.

"So, how was your little date Naminé?"

Naminé's heart dropped and she spun around. Her mother and father were standing beside one another with mirroring glares of disapproval and crossed arms.

"Who said I was on a date?" Naminé replied evenly.

Mr. Misaki held up his iPhone and an angry gasp escaped from Naminé's lips at the incriminating photograph attached to the text.

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A/N: Super proud to have finished this much quicker than I usually do. I was afraid this chapter would get pushed off till May, but I've been able to establish a much better updating schedule lately. Probably because I've gotten myself out of a personal mire I've been in for a few years, but anyway, I'm just super happy to give you the next chapter much sooner than usual.

In regards to the story, I hope everyone enjoyed some fluff even though there's still that cliffhanger at the end. I had fun writing a carnival scene. Lots of things to look up but still fun overall. It was also nice to write Naminé as a much sweeter character here. What do you think?

Random note: I've been dying to post the first chapters of a couple of new stories. With Half Alive coming to an end soon, I need to figure out which ideas are worth scrapping and which are worth writing outlines for. So, in a sense, anything new you see will be like a preview or trailer of what I could write, but you, as the reader, will need to let me know what piques your interest. I'm keeping with other stories I've written too, but I like a variety to write. My brain has a hard time sticking to one story or story type and feeling engaged with it.

Also, goodness! I've been so excited to see all the new reviews, alerts, and favorites! I was just blown away by the sheer amount this story has gotten. I really hope that you guys will continue to lend your support through reading, reviewing, alerting, and favoriting!

Review Reply:

Psycowithespn: It's nice to hear from you again and yes, the obvious became obvious XD Good to hear that this is still a fun read and hope you can find enjoyment with the last some chapters of the story!:D!