Man I'm sorry this took so long. I really didn't want to force it out though, as my chapters tend to not be as good as they could be if it was forced out.

Roxas felt beyond stupid when he thought way longer than a second that he was going to this carnival alone with Sora…

"So what do you feel like doing first?" Riku asked as he and Sora swung their arms that were connected by their hands.

Although Roxas will admit that its way better than being a third wheel…

"I want to ride that!" Kairi pointed at what looked like a giant spinning wheel.

Still, while Kairi is the only other addition, it didn't make it THAT much better for Roxas…

"Yeah! Me too!" Sora nearly bounced like a little kid and the small group headed for their ride with Sora taking the lead. As the visiting friend, the blonde easily felt out of place due to him unable to contribute to most of the small talks that came up in lines of any sort; whether it was getting snacks, waiting for their ride, or waiting to get more tickets to use. The worst feeling of all though was Riku and Kairi both hogging spots next to Sora if the ride had more than a pair fit in one area. Sometimes he'd get lucky and get a spot next to Sora if he was fast enough or if Kairi plopped down next to the other side of Riku. Still that longing feeling of being with Sora, and only Sora, lingered and taunted him to no end as the day dragged on…

"Ooh! That game looks fun!" Sora pointed with his free hand as his other was holding his cotton candy, "And easy!"

Soon the quartet was standing before a ring toss with dozens upon dozens of bottles to aim at.

"You know Sora, you say that to almost every game," Kairi stated and the boy scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Although…I really would like that penguin," Kairi pointed at the little stuff toy on the shelves.

"Let's all try to win it for Kairi!" Sora announced enthusiastically that not even Roxas could say no to that. They got their bucket of mini-rings and began tossing. Sora thought throwing a bunch of them at once as if you're throwing rice helped…well either he's wrong or he's not throwing it right as the boy wasn't fairing very well in this game. Kairi on the other hand took a long time on just throwing one and even then they still won't land on their mark. Roxas wasn't sure how Riku was throwing it as he didn't look like he was trying to concentrate on a toss but he wasn't being careless about it either.

As Roxas's fingers played with the rings he held, his mind went into thought. Just not to fall behind on Kairi, he did the occasionally toss but without the effort. His eyes kept glancing at Riku and his rings. It didn't take long for him to notice how he gets the closest to getting them around a bottle's neck. That was enough to fuel Roxas's fire in him.

With plenty of rings left, Roxas repositioned himself and threw his rings but added as much spin as he could with his wrist. He kept repeating his throwing technique until finally, one secured itself around a bottle. For once in a long time, he found multiple pairs of eyes land on him while the Carney announced they had a winner. Roxas wasn't sure if it was that fire that Riku started in him, or his own need to show off at the moment, but his eyes went straight to Riku who he found was staring back and at that moment, the blonde knew he sparked something in the silverette too…

"What do you say? Try again and then exchange for a bigger prize?"

The question snapped the boy out of his thoughts. He glanced at Sora who gave an encouraging nod and a pleading look from Kairi.

"…Sure."

Roxas repeated his tossing technique but paused for a moment when he realized another's was also being tossed in. Taking a quick glance he saw Riku took over Kairi's bucket…then saw how the taller man snapped his wrist as he tossed, just as Roxas had done. Ignoring him for a moment, as he tried to focus, he couldn't help but growl when their rings collided with each other as they decided to toss at the same time. Before long though, Roxas got another one looped around one of the bottle's neck.

He heard Sora and Kairi cheer at his accomplishment but instead of accepting his bragging rights, he kept watching Riku who continued…until he witness the man's ring snatch itself around a bottle's neck as well.

"Oh, that's how you wanna play huh? Okay, this is now war!"

They agreed to move on from that game, with Roxas walking away with the giant penguin and Riku with the smaller one. Though both were given to Kairi, they still ended up carrying it…

Soon though, Roxas found himself carrying more and more stuffed toys every time Kairi or Sora pointed at a game they wanted to try or a prize wanted…and then he and Riku would compete until one of them walks away with a prize or both agree the game was cheating...

"Okay…I need a break," Sora stated that made both Riku and Roxas sigh of relief as the two were getting tired of dragging bags of prizes around. The party stopped at a picnic table under some shade and all started to settle down, "Does anyone want ice cream? My treat! I'll get your usual, RiRi!"

The man gave a smile before ruffling with Sora's hair,

"For once huh, Sora? Should I come with you?"

"Hey! I've paid on our dates before! And no way! You should take a break after playing all those games! Kairi can come with me though! You can never pick your flavors until last second anyway."

Kairi only gave a sheepish grin of silent agreement before Sora turned to Roxas.

"Anything you like, Roxas?"

"Erm…" Roxas almost forgot what Sora was asking as the blonde was too busy sending daggers at Riku, "Uh…strawberry is fine. Unless they have Sea Salt."

"Okay no problem! We'll be right back!"

And just like that, Roxas found himself sitting alone with Riku…he never felt so awkward. What's worse, Riku decided to sit across from him…meaning he's almost forced to look at the other.

"Okay so next time we play a rifle game, I'll be getting that win."

Roxas looked up after hearing that sense of teasing in the other's voice. Of course it was inevitable to see that confident smirk.

"Oooh yeah right! Bring it!"

But instead of feeling that anger he thought he was going to feel, he felt the urge to tease back.

"I most certainly will!"

"Haha you'll be sorry, I'll guarantee it!"

After a moment, the two found themselves giving away a small laugh.

"That was…fun, I admit," Riku confessed and Roxas gave him a curious look, "When we come to these things, I'm always the one winning everything. Having you around made it a lot more fun to play all these games."

Roxas couldn't believe the other was seeing him as a friendly rival! He practically felt the guilt of having feelings for a possible-maybe-perhaps-friend's boyfriend!

"I…I admit that was fun too. I haven't even been to something like this since…well, a long time."

Last one…was with Sora…

"What's it like at home? Sora always said you were a busy person back in school, studying a lot." Riku asked, striking up a friendly conversation.

"Well…" Roxas almost forced himself to pause. Is it wrong to actually feel a little comfortable in opening yourself up to the person that stole, okay not-technically-stole-but-probably-fairly-courted your ex-boyfriend-that-you're-apparently-still-in-love-with? Even Roxas admitted that was a mouthful even in his thoughts. Still the blonde felt so conflicted even though underneath it all it doesn't seem like Riku was really a bad person, right? So there's no reason to not at least be friendly back?

"Okay so I want um…chocolate chips chunks!" Sora finally decided as he stared through the glass for a good few moments and continuously changing his mind on what he wanted, "So Kairi, you still want that lemo-Kairi?" he stopped himself short when he noticed Kairi's dazed look at the water fountain nearby. But her name didn't even reach her ears when she didn't respond so Sora tried again, louder, and finally got her to at least look back.

"Oh, sorry, yes?"

"You alright?"

"Oh yeah, totally fine!" she responded with a wave, trying to play it casually but only received a pout from Sora, silently telling her even he didn't believe that, "Erm, let's eat ice cream for now!"

Well nice tasting treats were always nice. So Sora paid for his ice cream and walked back with Kairi while trying to pry the answers out of her, not that it really did. Sora dropped it when they approached the other two of their group. Although it was easy to forget about what he was trying to get out of Kairi when he jumped in on the current arm-wrestling match going on. Sora couldn't decide who to cheer for as Roxas and Riku looked at each other intensely, not wanting to give in. Although they all missed the small smirk that Kairi tried to hide, not that she had to worry as they were all focused on that match.

"Riku, don't be so mean," she mentally said to herself as she shook her head, knowing very well the possibility of Roxas having actual equal muscle strength as Riku was slim. It was as if Riku just knew what she was thinking at that moment and without warning, Roxas let out a cry as his arm hit the table. Sora seemed pleased nonetheless at how well Roxas seemed to have lasted but rushed to his old friend's side first to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"You okay, Roxy?"

A pause, a short pause but long enough for both the silverette and the red-head to notice it and notice the slight flinch and the sharp intake, or was it outtake, of breath from Roxas.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied with a small smile.

"Good! And Riku! You shouldn't go around and not knowing how to control your strength!" Sora scolded with a pout, causing Roxas to visibly pout as he looked away which ended up causing Riku to momentarily not realized his boyfriend was talking to him.

"I was just having some fun, Sora. At least he can hold his own for a while."

"HEY! I can totally hold my own against you too!"

"Riiiight."

"Rikuuuuuu!" Sora whined but only causing Riku to smile,

"I'm teasing…you wanna hand me my ice cream before they melt in your hands?"

"Oh…right, hehe…" The brunette handed his treat to Riku and Roxas unexpectedly, and disappointedly, had his ice cream handed to him from Kairi.

"Ooh! Hey guys, wanna take those photos together? The ones that let you dress up?" Sora asked with enthusiasm as he sat himself beside Riku while Kairi took a spot next to Roxas.

"That sounds fun actually!" Kairi piped and Sora responded to her comment almost immediately. Riku took that chance to tab Roxas.

"What do you think?" he whispered, "One more game before we leave?"

"Sure?" Roxas responded with a shrug.

"Winner gets to kiss Sora…"

Roxas felt himself flush before he even realized he did.

"What about me?" Sora questioned upon barely hearing his name.

"Nothing," Riku responded casually, "Just talking about how awesome you are."

"Oh you liar," Sora lightly hit the other with a small laugh. Despite how spontaneous that really was…Roxas wasn't sure how to respond to that. Is it 'right' to accept the challenge? Was Riku even serious about it? Would Riku be okay with it if he lost? Unless he was so confident that he would win? And…would Sora even be okay with kissing his ex-boyfriend if said-ex-boyfriend did win?