(A/N: If you haven't noticed by now, I wasn't too happy with the way I did things... So here is a continuation of The Wave. It will be ending here and a proper sequal will be up. But until then, ENJOY!)
"Cloud, are you sure you are ok to be doing this?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"But you just got out of the hospital!"
Cloud looked at his friend sternly, "Look, Vincent. I'm ok." He did not seem convinced, and shot a glance to Rufus. The two friends were concerned, but unsure of what to do. Usually when Cloud had said he was ok, he meant it.
Cloud stood there with an annoyed look on his face. "Look, there is only a couple hours before the Battle of the Bands, and we need practice, ok?" They looked at him and both nodded.
"It's true, but are you sure you don't need to rest before?" Inquired Rufus.
Cloud just sighed. He threw his guitar strap over his shoulder. It was an ebony colored Ibanez, with 7 strings. It felt good to hold a guitar again after all these weeks being cooped up in the hospital. He plucked a few strings to make sure the instrument was in the tuning he wanted. A few strings turned into a few chords, and the chords turned into a solo.
"Well at least my skill didn't leave me." He chuckled to himself remembering how the five weeks in the hospital felt more like five years. He shook the thought from his head with a frown. He searched his pockets for a cigarrette. Found one, lit it and inhaled.
"Same old, Cloud." Said a sweet voice. Cloud whipped his head around seeing it was Tifa. He smiled.
"You made it!" Cloud said trying to hide his excitement.
She ran up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Are you-.." she was interrupted Cloud, "Yes, I am ok for the last time..." He sighed wondering how many times he was going to be asked. He didn't mind it coming from her though.
"So are we still going to do the same song we decided on before?"
Cloud looked to Rufus, and thought a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think we should..." he started. "I think we should do something else. Something a little more complex." He nodded.
"If you want peace... Prepare for war." He folded his arms and waited for their approval. After some time they agreed.
(scene change)
"Ok seriously, don't kill anyone, or try to kill anyone." Kadaj said to Zack.
"We can't afford to have something like this over our heads, especially since we just got signed." Added Sephiroth. Zack stood there frowning. He knew he went overboard, and was lucky he didn't get thrown in prison for killing someone, or attempting to.
"I'm fine now, I've cooled down. Ok?" Zack snapped. "Can we just stop lecturing me already?! We still need to pick a song for the battle..."
Kadaj chuckled. "Let's not do something talentless, like last time." Sephiroth shook his head, remembering how the last band leader made them play a song so terrible it cost them the battle. "We also can't have it too chaotic for Mr. crazy over there." He said pointing to Zack, who gave a sarcastic chuckle.
At that moment, Sephiroth's phone rang. He grabbed it off of his guitar amp and held it up to his ear. After a few "yeah" and "uh huh's" he hung up the phone. He didn't look too happy.
"Our record label has provided us with some material to play... It's not very complex or anything, but they swear we will win with it." He sighed.
"Let's just get this started." Said Zack angrily.
(scene change)
"I'm gonna go back to my dorm and take a break now." Cloud said, running his hand through his sweat glissening hair. "I feel like I need to shower."
"Why don't you take Tifa with you?" Asked Rufus jokingly. To which she just looked at him slyly.
"Not a bad idea." He replied with a smile. He grabbed her hand and lead her off to his dorm.
Cloud felt the cool air flow over him as they stepped out of the campus music hall. He looked around noticing it was already dark. 'Not too much time left before the battle.' He thought to himself. His eyes wandered over to the dark haired beauty that was Tifa. The light of the moon illuminating her milky white skin, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into him. She smelled of roses.
"I never thanked you for coming to see me everyday while I was out of commission."
Cloud buried his face in her neck, giving her small kisses.
"Not here!" She giggled pushing him away. "Save it until we get back." She smirked, grabbing his hand and practically pulling him.
(scene change)
"Do you think Cloud and his band will still enter?" Asked Kadaj, pretending not to be nervous.
Sephiroth shot him a dumbfounded look, like trying to ask if a bear shits in the woods. "There is no doubt about it. They have been our number one rival since we were all freshmen in Highschool. He wouldn't pass up this chance to try and show us up."
"But what if they win?"
Sephiroth punched Kadaj in the arm and said, "Quit being such a baby. So what if they win? We are the ones with a label backing us. Besides, he has never won against us in the crowd favorite vote."
"Maybe it's because you never wear a damn shirt." Zack chimed got him a glare.
"Just sayin'."
(scene change)
KNOCK KNOCK kNOCK
"Ugh..." Cloud grumbled as he got up from his bed and shuffled to get his clothes.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Hold on! I'm coming!" He hastily threw on his black ripped jeans and his Asking Alexandria tee shirt. Slid on his DC shoes and headed for the door. He flung it open.
"Dude! Cloud! Hurry!" Rufus and Vincent both stood at the door yelling at him. He pulled out his phone to check the time. It read 8:00pm.
"Shit we have to be there in thirty minutes!" Cloud ran off to grab his gear and to notify Tifa.
Vincent placed his forehead in his palm.
"Hey.." Cloud started as he bent down to give his woman a kiss. "I gotta go. I'll see you there." She smiled as she hid her naked body under his blankets.
"Alright, I'll be over soon." She replied as he flew out of the bedroom, racing to the front door.
(scene change)
"I can't believe we have to do this song..." Kadaj continued to complain. He had been whining since they got backstage. His band mates trying to ignore him as much as possible.
"Ok look. 'You're going down' Is a crowd favorite. It's sure to get us more popularity... Or at least that's what our label has been trying to tell me.." Said Sephiroth, clearly not too happy about the selection either. He enjoyed hard rock from time to time, but was more of a black metal kinda guy.
"Hey, you guys are on in one minute!" They were alerted by the stage crew.
"Who's on after us?" Kadaj asked, and was handed the list. He thumbed through it and found his band. Next up was Cloud's band.
"At least we are on first." Zack said as he walked out onto the stage, following Sephiroth. Kadaj grunted and followed them out.
Sephiroth picked up his five string bass and approached his mic, Zack followed suit. Kadaj positioned him at the drums.
All they could hear was their band name being chanted, louder and louder.
"Knights of the round!"
Sephiroth started strumming away on his bass, a low steady riff. Playing this for a few counts, when Zack and Kadaj join in.
'Define your meaning of war
To me it's what we do when we're bored
I feel the heat comin' off of the blacktop
And it makes me want it more'
The band playing steadily and in perfect synchronization. Sephiroth grooving out on his bass, he looked over and noticed Zack half assing his part. He glared at him, before returning to his vocalization.
'It's been a long time coming
And the table's turned around
'Cause one of us is going
One of us is going down
I'm not running,
It's a little different now
'Cause one of us is going
One of us is going down'
(scene change)
"This song blows." Rufus frowned. "Why would they pick this crap?"
Cloud scoffed. "Probably to try and win the crowd. It's a big hit right now." He rolled his eyes.
Cloud turned to see the stage crew approaching him. "Is your band ready? You will be on directly after they get off stage." Cloud nodded.
After listening to the buzzing of their outtro, Cloud turned to his band. "Ok guys, this is it." He spun around and ran out onto the stage, followed by his mates.
Cloud took his guitar and flung the strap over his shoulder. He made sure it was in tune and waited for his friends to signal they were ready.
Rufus started a measure count by slapping his drum sticks together. On the third count they simultaniously pounded out the first few notes of the song, followed by a few high pitched palm muted notes by Cloud.
Cloud's strumming increased speed significantly, he walked up to his mic and inhaled, about to belt out a loud scream.
'GO!'
Vincent's bass notes came flying out like a bat out of hell, as Rufus sounded and pounded his double bass drum.
'Pain ain't even really what you wanna be
Five feet under seeing your humanity
The opportunity to divide
the opportunity of being apart!'
Cloud strummed quickly, his fingers hit the notes furiously as his hand glided across the fretboard. Hitting each note with like a professional. He smiled as he started banging his head.
'Get up and fight, release your rage, come on and fight
Smashing your face, it is your fate, calling my name.'
Cloud played his chord's fiercly, and putting as much power without snapping the strings into it, progressing into a fast uprising scale, back into chords.
'Calling me pain, and if you stay, you'll bite the scythe.
Waiting for you I want to just tell you
If you want peace, prepare for war!
FUCK!'
Cloud growled, his voice echoed throughout the hall.
A spotlight shone on Cloud as he stepped forward, belting out a fast solo. Fingers crawling up and down the neck of his guitar. Swift and precise. He made his guitar squeal, breaking into a faster solo in attempts to melt the audience's faces off.
He stepped back as he played his way into the chorus. His voice harsh, and full of rage.
The song started to wind down as the final lines of the chorus were screamed.
'Calling me pain, and if you stay, you'll bite the scythe
Waiting for you I want to just tell you
If you want peace, prepare for war!'
The crowd erupted into a roar as they let their instruments buzz out. Even if they didn't win, they had to have at least beat out Sephiroth and his gang. He smiled feeling invincible.
(scene change)
"We did it! We won! We actually won!" Rufus yelled. Vincent chuckling at his friends excitement.
"Well we at least played something that should have won, not some garbage alternative rock song." He added still chuckling.
"Cloud!" Tifa shrieked as she ran up to him, practically tackling him. " You did wonderful!" She kissed him. Cloud laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and returned the passion.
"Hey, Cloud. Nice job." Sephiroth said to him in a cool voice as he approched his rival.
"...thanks" Cloud was unsure of what to do, and felt on edge. He balled his fist getting ready to fight. Noticing Sephiroth laughing, he took it as a sign of nuetrality.
"I wanted to ask you." He started. "Did you also recieve a draft notice?"
Cloud looked at him puzzled.
"A war broke out in Wutai. I was drafted into Shinra's SOLDIER program. I heard that you were being considered for a position too."
Cloud looked pale. He lost his parents in a war against Wutai radicals. "If I did... I'll show them the meaning of pain." He clenched his jaw.
Cloud saw Sephiroth raise his arm and point past him, turning his head he saw an army offical, who was followed by two lower ranking memebers.
"Are you Cloud Strife?" The man commanded. He nodded, and scowled at him.
"You have been selected for Shinra's SOLDIER program. Report to the base in Kalm for further instruction." The Officer saluted, and spun around marching away, his two chronies followed.
"Damn it." He growled. He turned to Tifa, who was clinging to his arm tightly. Her eyes welling up with tears.
(A/N2: I hope you enjoy this ending. It is going to lead into a better position for a sequal. Review please! And once again, thanks to all my followers and readers. You guys rock!)