Chapter 7

Send The Pain Below

hello again! it's your favorite girl, Ari and welcome back to the realm that is LPM (note: that's short for Love's Painful Music and i've decided to call it that since I have freedom of expression). i know i'm supposed to have fun during the summer but…I ALWAYS GET SO DAMN BORED!. There's nothing to do at my house unless you count cleaning, watching TV, or babysitting as fun (if anyone considers all of the above fun is on Oxycontin or other drugs). speaking of TV, i saw a music video today by yet another favorite band, Avenged Sevenfold, called "Seize the Day". it was a very sad music video talking about a couple and how the dude got arrested for robbing a store and went to jail plus, the girl died in a car accident after she argued with him. In the end, you see the guy, after he got out of jail, visiting his girl's grave and he had his son with him since the girl was pregnant and her kid survived the accident (it made me cry! I'm for real, dudes). so, i'll add the song to this chapter and hopefully, you'll like it. well Cloud and Leon's part of this wonder orchestra masterpiece i call a story deserves to get some recognition which is why took a brief break from writing about Sora and Riku…well, a tiny break. anyways, here's Chapter 7.

before i go: if you ever try to rescue breathe on a car, especially a radiator, be sure to get a CPR face shield or mask (rescue breathing means giving one breath every five seconds to someone or something shudder) ;P. also, townhouses are three stories high.

Riku was walking down the street with Cloud, Axel, and their band mates. Cloud, Riku, and Axel were a few years younger than they were and were completely different in every point of view. The way they dressed to the guitars they had on their backs distinguished them from the rest of their group.

They were talking about teachers they hated and making rude jokes about them. After the group got to a certain street, the trio said their goodbyes to their friends and went down the other street.

They were still laughing and joking around as they kept heading back to their homes. Suddenly, a small group of people in black cloaks went up to them, which made the boys stop laughing.

"What do you dudes want with us," Cloud said, icily. "To make a deal…," said one of them.

"Oh yeah? What type of deal," Riku said, defensively. "Hmm, we want you two--," said another, pointing at Riku and Cloud. "To join our group." "And what if we refuse," Riku said.

"We don't take 'no' for an answer…there will be a price to pay if you refuse," said a female voice. The woman who spoke took off her hood, revealing sinister-looking honey eyes. "I always get what I want and I want you two to join our Organization."

"What makes you think that we will voluntarily enlist to your side," Cloud said, coldly. "For the record, my brother and I don't do gangs…not even religious groups."

"I see that," she replied. "I'll ask again: will you join us?." "Why them," Axel said, furious. "Why not any other person? I mean, there are plenty of thugs you can use over in Twilight Town and they have more experience with this."

"They satisfy the requirements the most," she said. "Plus, why should I even bother mentioning this to a traitor like you? Beating the shit out of you didn't even satisfy me…not one bit."

Axel was about to say something but Riku said, "Shut up, Axel, it's between them and us." "I'm definitely not going to join them," Cloud whispered to Riku. "No way in hell."

"I don't want to join either," Riku muttered back. "It's even worse than joining the Army and I'm not going to tattoo their stupid mark on myself. She must be on drugs."

"Before we give you our answer…who told you about us," Cloud said. "I did," said a voice. Another person took off their hood. Riku started to tremble out of anger when he saw Ansem's face.

"I fucking knew it," Riku said. "It's nice to see you too, my delicate flower," Ansem said. That asshole, Riku thought. I knew he was a part of that stupid bunch of pansies.

"Well, will you give us your answers," said the woman. "Fuck you and go burn in hell," Cloud said, flicking her off. "That's our answer." "You'll be sorry," she said.

The group started to leave. Before Ansem could turn around, Riku punched him twice in the face. Ansem was about to strike but received a shake of the head from the woman who had already put her hood back on.

"Later…I'll have some fun with you," he said, putting his hood back on. He walked away. "Do you think he'll even do anything to me," Riku asked. "Knowing that punk, he won't even dare to harm his 'delicate flower'," Axel chided.

"Shut up, Axel," Riku said. "Just because Natsuki doesn't want to give you the time of day doesn't mean you should be getting into my business." "C'mon, you know its true," Cloud said. "You even know how badly he wants to get into your pants." "Not you too; stay out of this, Cloud," he said.

When it became dusk later that day, Axel and Riku were driving back to Riku's house after they had already stopped by Axel's house to get his car. "Dude, why don't you just live in our house," Riku said. "You basically come over almost every night to sleep over."

"My Mom doesn't even care," Axel said. "But I'm not so sure that she will accept me living at your house." "Whatever," Riku said. "That's why the whole world calls it 'tough love'." Axel laughed and gave his friend a noogie.

"Hey, Axel," Riku said. "We'll forget what happened this afternoon you got me?; I don't want my parents to worry." "Got it memorized, dude," he replied. When they got to Riku's house, they saw a blonde-haired person on the rooftop.

"Cloud! What the hell are you doing," Riku yelled. Riku quickly got into the house and headed toward a room that was close to the roof. He scrambled out of the window and ran over to Cloud.

When he got there, he heard Cloud sobbing. "Cloud," Axel shouted, waving his arms to stabilize himself. He went over to them after he regained his balance.

"Cloud," Riku said. "What the hell is wrong?." "I…it's my Dad," he said, sobbing. "H-he's in the hospital and in life support! That bitch wanted to kill me!."

"What," Riku said. "Just calm down and tell me how you know all of this!." "I was going somewhere with them and I recognized that bitch from earlier," he said. "My dad was trying to defend me since she had a sword in her hand and I couldn't join the fight since I can't use any of his weapons. He didn't see it coming and…it was too late!."

"Go," Riku said. "I have a score to settle." "I'll go with you, Riku," Cloud said. " So don't go right now." "Want me to take you to the hospital," Axel offered. "You look like you can even drive right now."

"Yeah, take him," Riku said. "I have to go tell my Mom and Dad what's going on, too. It's my uncle that we're talking about and Dad will want to know." Riku jumped from the roof and landed swiftly on his feet. Cloud and Axel followed.

Riku began to sprint out of his neighborhood and headed towards the town square. He didn't stop for anything and ignored all the stares he got due to the jingling of the chains on his pants.

He was approaching a building that said 'Sawada Security, Inc.'. Then, a truck had a lot of people pulled up in front of him that came from a dark alley close to the building.

"Hey there," Ansem said, jumping out of the truck bed. Riku tried to get past them but was surrounded by Ansem's cronies. "Now where do you think you're going," Ansem said. "Why should I tell you," Riku said.

"You break my heart," he said, sarcastically. "Like you've even got one," he said. "Now get out of my way!." "I don't think so, love," Ansem said. "Get him." Suddenly, two people grabbed his arm and others began to attack him. Riku moaned and rolled over.

Ansem watched as they attacked him, with a frigid smile on his lips and a look of triumph. After five minutes, Ansem said, "Take him to the alley." They obeyed and grabbed Riku. "No," Riku muttered.

Ansem started to rip his shirt off and had a crazy look on his face. "NO," Riku yelled, waking up. He was breathing heavily and realized that he was dripping with sweat. What the hell, he thought. Why did I dream about that again?.

He looked at his alarm clock and realized that it was ten in the morning. He got up and began to take his shirt off. Why do I always have that dream, he thought. He headed towards the bathroom after he grabbed a towel from a chair.

Before stepping into the shower, he switched on the small radio and put it on full volume. If Cloud were to find out about these dreams, he would flip and become Nero again, Riku though. (A/N: yes, Riku knows about Cloud having MPD after all, he's close to Cloud.)

The water streamed down his back and was very cold. He didn't care and was used to it by now.

I like having hurt,

So send the pain below where I need it,

Strange, Riku thought. It's weird that I can't feel pain if I don't think about it…

But long before having hurt,

I'd send the pain below,

I'd send the pain below.

Much like suffocating,

Much like suffocating,

Much like suffocating,

(I'd send the pain below…)

Much like suffocating,

(I'd send the pain below…)

He began to remember what happened after he left the karaoke bar with Sora. "Hey, Riku! You wanna come somewhere with us?," Sora asked. "Where?," he said. "My band has a gig today at the Fallen Angel club," he explained.

"I guess," he said. Better than going home, he thought. "I just know you'll like it!," Sora said. "But now I feel like you tag along with me because I make you."

"That's not true," Riku replied. "I want to go. Roxas told me about your band so it seems interesting to me." "You're just saying that to make me feel better," Sora pouted. "What if I am and what if I'm not?," he replied.

Riku chuckled when Sora looked at him with doubtfulness. "Chill out," he said. "I was only joking when I said that but seriously, I'll go." Sora flashed a look of triumph as they parked in the parking lot of Fallen Angel.

When the dream suddenly popped into his mind he felt a sharp sensation of pain and despair.

I can't feel my chest,

Need more, drop down,

Closing in.

I can't feel my chest,

Drop down.

He tried to get the dream out of his mind but couldn't. He looked at his chest and saw the scars that were the result of that fight. He's gonna pay! I swear to God that he's gonna pay for what he did, he thought.

(Much like suffocating) I liked

So send the pain below,

(Much like suffocating) having hurt

So send the pain below,

(Much like suffocating)

So send the pain below,

(Much like suffocating)

So send the pain below.

Riku stepped out and examined the other scars that were on his back. Cursing himself for remembering that day, he went into his room to change. He got out a pair of shorts that Sora had bought him the other day along with a t-shirt.

After he changed, Riku went downstairs to make himself some breakfast. "Wonder how Cloud's doing over at Sora's place," he said to himself. "Probably suffering from a hangover, that's for sure."

He got a frying pan out of a cabinet and some oil. He raided his refrigerator and eventually had his arms full with eggs, a carton of orange juice, a can of mushrooms, two frozen hash browns, and a green pepper. He started cutting the pepper and opened the can of mushrooms.

When he had diced the peppers and had a small amount of mushrooms in a small plate, he started making himself an omelet. Then, his thoughts slowly drifted back to the dream. "Ugh! Enough," he said aloud. "Riku, it's just a stupid dream…but a very real dream at that."

He started to eat when he heard the sound of the door opening. "Riku," Cloud said. "Is that you?." "Yeah," he replied. "In the living room." Cloud went up the stairs and into the living room. The TV was on and Riku was sitting on the couch, eating.

"Hey," Cloud said, sitting down. Riku swallowed a mouthful of food before he said, "You let yourself go yesterday. Care to tell me why? You've never drank like that before."

"I know, bro," he said, sitting down. "It's just I don't know what I was thinking." He stared at the TV screen in silence. "Did anything out of the norm happen after you left," Riku asked.

"Don't think so," Cloud said. "Even thinking is giving me a headache right now." "Drink some Tylenol," Riku said. "How'd it go after I left," Cloud asked. "To tell the truth, I actually had a bit a fun."

"Now that—," Riku pointed to him with his fork. "Is very rare." "I guess," Cloud said. "Well after you two left, Sora had a huge sugar intake and was hyper for the rest of the night," Riku said. "At around seven, we all left since his band, Point of No Return, had a gig that night so I tagged along to make sure he didn't get into any trouble."

"I gotta admit that it was very awesome," Riku continued, despite the look of disbelief in Cloud's face. "I know I hate crowds and stuff but they let me watch it from the wings. I was also able to get with them as a VIP."

"Sounds like you had a night of luxury," Cloud said. "I was stuck sleeping off my fucking drunkenness here while you got to go to a freaking nightclub." Then, Riku heard his cell phone ring from his room.

He rushed to his room and took it out of its charger that was close to his computer. "Hello," Riku said. "I have some information about Organization XIII's new headquarters," said a voice. "Plus, I can tell you all I can about Ansem's current plans."

"Sephiroth, how did you get my number," Riku said. "That's for me to know and for you to find out," he said. "Do you skateboard or inline skate?." "Yeah," Riku replied.

"Then, Meet me at the Island Skate Park at about twelve," Sephiroth said. "Like I have any choice," Riku said, half to himself. "Fine, I'll go." "See you there," he said. "And bring that red haired friend of yours, too. We need all the help we can get." Then, he heard the sound of the dial tone.

Riku took out a skateboard from his bed and a gym bag. He shoved the skateboard into his bag and headed downstairs. "Cloud, I'm heading out," Riku said. "Where," he asked.

"Axel and I are going somewhere so I can practice my dagger throwing," he lied. "Don't hurt him," Cloud said. "Remember last time?." "Do you ever get tired of that," he said, putting on a pair of sandals. "Nope," Cloud said.

"Well, I'll see you later," Riku said, going downstairs. He was tying his hair as he was heading into the garage. After he had on his helmet and gloves, he opened the garage and zoomed out towards the direction of Axel's house.

"Dude, why are we here at the skate park," Axel asked. "You remember that night when we went racing with Sora," Riku said. "I was talking to Sephiroth when I went over to buy a drink. He told me he and I could take Ansem and Organization XIII down. I agreed to team up with him to take them down."

"You can't be fucking serious," he exclaimed. "We can't trust that prick." "Hey, has my sense of judgment ever gotten me in trouble," Riku said. "I know he wasn't joking. He even agreed to let you help us out."

"Why me," he asked. "Who knows," Riku said. "Let's skate for a bit." "One step ahead of you, dude," Axel said, grabbing his skateboard.

They started to show off their tricks for a bit until they saw Sephiroth approach them. His long hair was tied back and he had on inline skates. "Shall we get down to business," Sephiroth said. "Let's," Riku replied.

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well, this chapter was short. wonder what Sephiroth will tell them. well, stay tuned and i swear i'll update as fast as i can. please send reviews my way. oh by the way, they lyrics for this chapter is "Send The Pain Below" by Chevelle but that would be pretty obvious seeing as I named the chapter after the song. ciao for now!.