005: As You Are
Title: Secrets in the Clock
Prompt: Glow
Word Count: 732
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom hearts or any of the Final Fantasy/Disney characters/movies therein, though a girl can dream *sigh*
Chapter Summary: Life goes on, as it always does, and the group of friends once again find themselves at the circus. Some excitement wuld do them good, so says Kairi.
Warnings this chapter: Dark themes, mentions of depression.
It had been a week since their night at the circus. A week since Sora's parents and fifty other people died in the fire. The irony hadn't escaped Sora that on a night when he'd been out having fun, gawking at a pyromaniac and his tricks, his parents had also been privy to a fire show, but hadn't lived to escape it. When the circus show had been through that Sunday night, he'd crashed at Riku's; they'd been going back and forth like that for years, so he knew his parents wouldn't mind.
Riku had driven him home early the next morning for his uniform and backpack. The fact that the car wasn't in the driveway only told him that his parents probably left early for work. He knew now that he had assumed wrong.
A memorial service was held that Wednesday, and Sora had chosen not to attend. He'd told his friends that it didn't feel right, going there just to cry over empty graves. So instead he stayed on Riku's couch.
There was talk of him going into foster care, but Sora hadn't shown enough response to care. His relationship with his parents wasn't the best, but he had loved them, damnit. He locked himself up in Riku's room the rest of the week, only leaving to lock himself into the bathroom and sob in the shower. Riku had accosted him after school once to shove food down his throat, seeing as he had barely eaten a thing. Riku'd gotten kicked in the shins for his efforts.
When Sunday came again, the first week after it all happened, with Sora still being despondent, Kairi knew something had to be done. According to Selphie, Circus Oblivion would be touring the Islands for four weeks, one show every weekend of the month. They made plans to leave and dragged Sora, kicking, cursing and all, to the mainland's fairgrounds.
They gathered early outside the bigtop, waiting to be let in. It would still be a while until entrance would be granted so, til then, they would have to wait.
It was twenty past five when the flaps did open, and the same man from before- Patches, Tidus decided to call him- beckoned people inside. Said something about a nymph, but they were too far in to make sense of it.
Finding seats was a matter of preference this time, though they sat in the same order, sans Kairi who switched with Wakka for a higher view. Or really, for Wakka to keep an arm on Sora at all times, lest he escape and do something stupid.
It was some time before the tent was filled as it was before, and it was good that they had come early, if Riku's face was anything to go by. Tidus smothered a feral grin as Riku elbowed the guy next to him again, before feigning innocence.
The show started, and after a showing of wolves doing tricks- Selphie would forever wonder at how they could stand on each other like that, and jump rope!- the next event began.
Her hair was sleek and pale, like one of those old convertibles she remembered from her grandma's photographs. Still, something seemed a little strange about her. Kairi wasn't sure if it was the smile that seemed none too real, or the huge carving knives she brandished like playthings. The assistant had pink hair, of all things, but she was pretty sure that it was a man.
"Did you see?" Sora's excited not-whisper. His eyes were alight with a growing candle of interest, the first sign of something other than his all-encompassing bout of mourning. "She almost cleaved him in half, Riku. In half!"
Riku's relieved yet noncommittal shrug was all but lost as one particular knife thumped eerily close to the man's low zone. Riku winced.
"Any volunteers?" The woman was saying now. A murmur ran through the crowd, with nervous laughter ripe among them.
Flagging the woman down and gaining much attention, Wakka snickered behind his arm and shoved Sora forward. "Got a vol'nteer right here, miss."
Sora's terrified squeal was only one of many, and he could've sworn that the lady-Larxene, he would later know- had aimed so close on purpose. The real treat came at the end though, when a spectacular display of conducted electricity somehow played a song, and with Larxene weaving in and around the dancing sparks with daring familiarity.
End Drabble
A/N: The last part was inspired by the Sorcerer's Apprentice, which I don't own. Cookies to AlwaysNinja for an awesome first review! I'm glad you're enjoying the ride so far, and hopefully the prompts to come will be equally as satisfying, if not more so. :)