Limitless

Chapter 25: The Fun Fair

Maki looked up at the scene in front of her. The bright lights shined down on her and Kaito as the sound of screams and laughter filled the air. Spinning rides, a small rollercoaster, a Ferris wheel, a helter skelter, bumper cars and many other rides were the source of the bright lights. Many stalls were also set up, half selling food and drink or housing games to play. The faint smell of food made itself known to Maki's nostrils, reminding her a little but that she was starting to get hungry. She didn't know if Kaito was going to treat her to a meal or not, so she took a risk in not having something to eat back at the apartment. She didn't have much of a chance to eat anyway, since the girls took their time to get her makeover looking perfect. People were on the rides and queuing up to get on them. They also waited to play games and get food and drinks. People came in and out of the illuminated gateway. There wasn't that many people, probably because it was a school night and they didn't want to stay out too late.

"A fun fair? Seriously?" Maki asked, looking up at Kaito.

"Well, yeah! What better place to have fun than at a fun fair?" Kaito grinned like an idiot. Maki looked back up at the fun fair. Kaito's grin vanished as he watched her shift with uncertainty. Maybe this was too soon for her. "If you don't want to be here, I had other places in mind. I don't want to make you uncomfortable tonight." Maki was glad that Kaito was giving her a choice, something that was rare for her to be given by anyone. She couldn't remember the last time that she had been to a fun fair to enjoy herself. The only times that she ever went to the fun fair was to do a hit for her job. However, that was the past. She didn't have weapons, or intentions to use her powers to hurt people. And she was with Kaito, someone that she started to consider a friend. He did whatever he could to make her feel welcome and like she belonged somewhere. He went out of his way to celebrate her birthday and do his best to make it as fun as possible for her. He was making sure that Maki was herself, with no mentioning of her past and what she was. Maybe...she'll give this a chance. And if she didn't like it, Kaito said that he had other places in mind for her.

"I'll...I'll give it a try. Just don't be too disappointed if I don't feel comfortable or want to leave early." Maki finally said after taking a deep breath. Kaito smiled again. At least she's giving the fun fair a chance. Wrapping an arm around her, he carefully led her to it. After paying the fees, they went in. Maki eyed at everything around her, as if she had stepped onto another world. Some of the rides she had recognised before she was locked away. Others however, she didn't even know had existed or could be made. Times had changed, the outside has changed. While time had been frozen in the Facility to her, the world kept on spinning. It felt so alien to her. She just felt glad that Kaito was next to her to help her out if she needed it.

After asking Maki for what she wanted, Kaito got them both some hot drinks to have before they got on any of the rides. A tea for Maki and a coffee for Kaito. Kaito wanted to see if Maki was comfortable and give her a chance to look around first. That way, if Maki wasn't comfortable, they could leave without having any problems. However, a game caught Kaito's eye as he handed Maki her drink. It had large buckets tilted at an angle and various plushie animals hanging on the wall at the back. Gesturing for Maki to follow him, Kaito went up to it. He knew that it was rigged, but he still wanted to give it a go.

"Hey, could I have a go please?" He asked, grabbing the attendant's attention

"Sure, kid!" The attendant smiled, probably excited for another person to fail at this game. After Kaito paid for a game, he was given two balls that were quite heavy. "Get both balls into the bucket and you win a prize." As Maki held his drink, Kaito weighed one of the balls in his hand. When he was sure that he got it right, he threw them ball into the bucket. However, he seemed to have put too much force into it. The ball went in, however it bounced right out of it since the bucket was at an angle. Wondering if he might get a small prize, Kaito tried again with the second ball. However, the throw was too weak, making the ball bounce on the floor.

"Damn it. Oh well, these things are always rigged anyway." Kaito hissed, ready to go for something else.

"Try again." Maki whispered, causing him to stop in his tracks. Kaito looked at Maki questioningly. "Try again." Kaito wasn't sure, but he decided to humour Maki a bit. Maybe one more try won't hurt.

"Hey, could I have another try please." He said, getting out his money again.

"Of course." The attendant smiled, greedily taking Kaito's money. Sighing a little out of determination, Kaito threw the ball again. Like the first time, the ball went in the bucket and looked like it was about to bounce out of it again. However, before it reached the edge, it was like something had stopped it. It rested at the bottom of the bucket, causing the attendant to whip around in surprise. Kaito looked at Maki. Was she using her powers? Just to be sure, Kaito threw the second ball with the same amount of power that he gave the first. It just wanted to make sure. Again, just as the ball looked like it was about to bounce right out, an invisible force stopped it. It rested at the bottom of the bucket with the first one.

"I believe that I'm owed a prize." Kaito smirked, just able to hold back a laugh as he looked at the baffled look on the attendant's face.

"Oh...um...yes...take your pick, kid." The attendant said, just barely able to get the words out. Kaito scanned the wall carefully. He wanted to pick out a good one.

"I'll take the cheetah." He said, pointing at the said plush. The attendant hesitantly grabbed it and passed it over to Kaito. Kaito smiled gratefully as he and Maki walked away, Maki giving him back his hot drink. When they were far enough away from the stall, Kaito suddenly offered it out to Maki.

"I know what you did. Besides, I was trying to win it for you anyway. Happy birthday." Kaito grinned as Maki looked confusingly at the toy. He wanted to win it for her? That was...really sweet of him to do that. As far back as she could remember, no one had ever done that for her before.

"You didn't have to do that." Maki said, looking up at Kaito

"I know, but it's the thought that counts right?" Kaito shrugged, still holding out the plushie for Maki. After a moment's hesitation, Maki gently plucked the plushie from Kaito. As Kaito carefully took her drink from her, she looked down at the plushie's cute little face, it's stitched in black and yellow eyes looking back at her, as she felt how soft the fur was. She couldn't remember the last time she had a toy to play with, or if she ever had one. Feeling an uncontrollable urge, she held it close to her chest and gave it a tight hug. She was unable to hold back a smile. It was small, but noticeable. Kaito smiled himself. This was the first time that he had ever seen her smile. Maki was finally starting to be more like herself. Her old self. The person she was long before she became an assassin.

"Come on. Let's pick out a ride to go on after we've had our drinks. Your choice." Kaito smiled as Maki loosened her hug on the plushie. After passing her drink back to her, he continued to walk Maki around the fun fair.

"Okay." Maki said, still holding the plushie close to her like it was a lifeline for her.

"Just don't pick the Ghost Train." Kaito grumbled, suddenly spotting the dreaded ride that he knows that he won't like.

"Why?" Maki asked, her eyebrow arching in confusion.

"Ghosts and I don't mix." Kaito grumbled again, rubbing the back of his neck. He suddenly heard something. Something highpitched and very close to him. He looked down, seeing Maki burying her face into the plush cheetah. She was shaking a little, but it wasn't from the cold. Was she...? "Maki Roll? Are you...laughing?" Maki's head snapped up in surprise as Kaito asked that. Her cheeks went a light shade of pink. She suddenly sped on ahead of Kaito. "Hey, where are you-Maki!" Kaito sped up his walking to keep up with Maki. As he did so though, he couldn't help, but laugh himself. He hoped to see Maki smile or laugh tonight. Getting both was a blessing in itself. Maki was finally more like a normal girl, not a weapon that the demons in human skin made her to be. And that was all that mattered to Kaito at this moment.