Chapter 10: PARTY TIME!
"Move that drum over there! Make sure the piano is facing that direction. Those four keyboards go over there! That cello goes over with the other string instruments!" I was busy directing my clones in placing up the instruments for a little later on tonight. I was already in my SeeD uniform. The tailors had done an excellent job with the uniform, and I had filled it out well. The outfit featured a black jacket with gold lining, along with a black belt and a small bandoleer running from the middle of the belt up to his left shoulder. The uniform also included black pants and boots.
Like the rest of Garden, no expense was spared when it came to art and architecture to this room: a pair of staircases, on either side of the balcony, led down to the central dance floor. Two shorter staircases led from the entrance balcony up to the second floor, which overlooked the dance floor. The dance floor itself was brightly lit, and featured a spotless, shining marble floor. On the lower floor, exquisitely designed archways and columns lined the dance floor, leading to many tables and chairs located in the darker and more sheltered area away from the open floor. Like the floor below, the upper level was also darker and more sheltered, and featured a few doors leading to balconies outside the ballroom into the open air, affording a spectacular view of the Garden grounds. Columns of blue light provided illumination on both floors.
It was only maybe half an hour till the start of the party and yet people were already filing in. A few people began to talk amongst themselves but most were watching me guide my clones around the stage area with interest. Among them was Nida.
"Yo Nida!" I called over to him. He seemed a little surprised that I knew his name but he walked over and up onto the stage.
"You know my name?" he asked.
"You graduated with me. Of course I know your name. I'm not Squall," I replied in a friendly tone. He smiled. "People always forget my name, but you're the first to remember on the first go."
I smiled back as I took in his features properly for the first time. While in the game his facial features were unrecognizable, here he looked almost identical to the poster boy on the North American box art for Final Fantasy XIV. Brown hair and sharp light silvery blue eyes with a light bronze shade of skin colour.
"So tell me Nida," I began to say before catching one of my clones going in the wrong direction. "Oi! You with the electric guitar! Not over there. Place it next to the drum kit!" The clone nodded before walking over to where I directed him.
"So as I was saying, what weaponry do you specialise in?" I asked.
"Broadsword and handgun," he replied.
"Nice! Close and ranged combat. How bout your magic?"
"Not too good on offensive. I'm best on healing and support such as elemental argumentation."
"Cool!" I said before looking over at all the instruments. It seemed that they were all there. Most of the songs I was going to be playing used instruments typical in a band but there was one or two orchestral songs that required the more traditional instruments. "Ok guys! Seems that everything is here so get started on testing and tuning the instruments!" I ordered.
"You got it boss!" they chorused before getting to work.
"How are you able to do that?" asked Nida.
"Do what?" I asked.
"Make copies of yourself?"
"Oh that!" I replied. "It's a special technique of mine. It allows me to create a physical clone of myself, but one good hit will dispel it so it's only good for distractions, info gathering or stuff like this."
"So strange," he murmured.
"It is a bit," I agreed. "Gives a whole new meaning to the words 'talking to yourself'," I said, earning a laugh from Nida.
"Well Nida, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you'll enjoy tonight," I said.
"Oh for sure. Especially if there isn't going to be the same two songs looping over and over again," he replied.
"Definitely not going to happen," I grinned before walking over to the set of big kettle drums and testing them out.
It was almost time for me to start playing. I was continuously scanning the room for the people I recognised. Zell, Selphie and Squall were here, as well as Cid, Xu, Quistis and Nida. Apart from them there were bout forty other SeeD and cadets milling around the place. At the moment no-one was paying any attention to me.
'Ready to come out? Got your good threads on?' I asked. There was a unanimous 'yes' from the three inside. I nodded to myself before summoning them. They quickly appeared with no-one noticing them.
Ifrit had black pants and an orange shirt on with a black sports jacket over the top. Amaterasu had a completely white dress on that was modest and adventurous at the same time.
But it was Shiva who blew me away. She had on an ice blue dress that hugged her delicious curves well. Two straps, one on each shoulder, held the dress up but the fabric was cut very low at the back, all the way down to her lower back. The front was more modest but was slightly tight so a generous amount of cleavage showed above the top of the dress. And the dress had two long slits up the side, showing a good amount of very well toned legs. Her arms were clad in long silk gloves of the same colour as her dress. Azure blue high (but supportive) heeled shoes clad her feet and to finish off the image, amethyst earrings and a large deep sapphire necklace hung about her neck.
'Bow chika bow wow!' was the only thought in my head now.
"Wow..." was all I said as I took in Shiva's appearance. She grinned slyly at me. "Like what you see?" she asked sexily.
"Like? It's fantastic! You all look great!" I covered quickly.
"Thanks!" said Ifrit. Amaterasu just smiled brilliantly at me.
"Well, let's get this show on the road," I said before taking up the microphone.
"Good evening and welcome to the SeeD Inauguration party," I began with applause from the crowd. "Tonight is going to be a little different as I'm going to be playing 20 plus songs for you! For those of you who don't know me, I am Josh Ryu Kitsune, made SeeD this afternoon. Now I'll introduce to you some special people. Now as you all know GF's help us in battle, but I have been given a very special honour of summoning them in their human form. I'd like to introduce you to Shiva, Ifrit and Amaterasu!" I announced, pointing to each of the GF's in turn.
There was a great deal of murmurings before someone decided to clap. Soon, everyone was applauding loudly for the three. They bowed and we waited for the clapping to die down.
"They will be helping me sing tonight's songs. We will now begin playing the first one which is a style of song you've never heard of before," I finished up before I nodded at my clones stationed at their respective stations. We waited for the crowd to die down before we began to play.
[Cue song Zion by Fluke from The Matrix Reloaded]
The song started out soft but grew into something that the audience had never heard before. Then the kettle drumming began in tandem with the electronic music. The song reached a crescendo before continuing on.
The people began to dance, seemingly to like this new type of song. Soon, they were all either bopping their heads to the beat or dancing on the floor. In the corner I saw Squall with his arms crossed, but his finger was tapping to the beat. Zell was enjoying the song immensely, as was Selphie. Cid, Xu and Quistis were sitting apart from the crowd, talking about something but their feet were tapping to the song.
All too soon the song ended. When the last chord was struck, a massive applause sounded out through the room.
"Thank you! Thank you!" I said as I waited for the applause to die down. "I'm glad you all enjoyed that song. The next one is something different, but I hope you all enjoy it all the same. In this song, my good friend, Ifrit will be singing along with me." I then turned to Ifrit and whispered the name of the song we were going to play before telling the clones, who reorganised themselves at the drums, electric guitar and bass, and keyboard.
"Ready?" I asked everyone. They all nodded back. "Ok. 1, 2, 3, 4,"
[Cue song In My Place (New Album Version) by Coldplay]
The song started up with a heavy drum beat before the electric guitar, bass, and keyboard kicked in.
("singing" = Josh. "singing" = Ifrit. "Singing" = Both.)
In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change.
I was lost, oh yeah
I was lost, I was lost,
crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed,
I was lost, oh yeah.
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Yeah, how long must you pay for it?
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Oh for it
I was scared, I was scared,
Tired and underprepared
But I'll wait for it.
If you go, if you go,
And leave me down here on my own
Then I'll wait for you
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Yeah, how long must you pay for it?
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Oh for it
Singing please, please, please
Come back and sing to me
To me, me,
Come on and sing it out
Now, now,
Come on and sing it out
To me, me
Come back and sing
In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
I was lost, oh yeah
Oh yeah.
There was another eruption like applause for the song. As we were singing, there wasn't much dancing this time. More like swaying side to side.
"Thank you! I myself am going to take a break for a while as I am part of this party but we'll continue to play for you so enjoy tonight," I said which was met with cheering from the crowd. As I stepped off the stage, my clones started up a new song, an instrumental one so Ifrit, Amaterasu and Shiva joined me as we walked over to the food table and got ourselves a few hotdogs and other assorted items.
[Cue song Syvelleve by Aleks Svaensson]
Along the way we were thanked and asked questions by the crowd. And more than a few guys tried to ask Shiva and Amaterasu out. However they were all politely declined.
"Hey guys! Awesome performance!" called Zell as he walked over with two hotdogs in one hand.
"Thanks Zell. We're glad everyone likes them," I replied as Zell looked Ifrit up and down.
"W-what is it?" asked Ifrit, a little unnerved at Zell's scrutinising. Zell just smiled and stuck out his hand. "Nice to properly meet you in person!" he said.
Ifrit smiled back and gripped the brawler's hand in a firm handshake. "Same here!" he replied.
"Heyyyy!" called a familiar voice and we all turned to see Selphie walking over to us.
"Hey Selphie!" I greeted.
"Hey Josh. Great music!" she said. "Would you like to join the Garden Festival Committee?"
"Already got plans for the Garden Festival in mind. It's going to be a big concert like this, only way better. A lot more songs too," I said, hoping to wrestle command of the Festival from her.
"Oh! Ok! That's fine with me, just let me help out, ok?" she asked. I blinked. 'Didn't think she'd give it up that easily,' I thought to myself before grinning at her. "Of course you can. Let's give these people the best night of their lives!" We slapped each other a high five. "You got it!" she replied.
A clone then came and tapped Shiva on the shoulder. "Oh, I guess it's time for me to be the star," she said before waving at us and disappearing over to the stage. There was silence as all the people waited to see how her voice would be. She then began to sing with female clones backing her singing and the band playing.
[Cue song Passion -opening version- by Utada Hikaru from Kingdom Hearts II OST]
(Speaking = Shiva, speaking = female clone backing)
I need more affection than you know
Omoidaseba haruka haruka
Mirai wa
I need more affection than you know
Doko made mo kagayaiteta
Kirei na aozora no shita de
Bokura wa
I need more affection than you know
Sukoshi dake obiete ita
Natsukashii iro ni
Mado ga somaru
Mae wo muiteru no
Mata aemasu ka
Mirai wa
I need more affection than you know
Doko e demo tsuzuiteru 'n da
Ooki na kanban no shita de
Jidai no
I need more affection than you know
Utsuroi wo mite itai na
Hitoshirezu
My heart's a battleground
I need true emotions
I need more affection than you know
I need true emotions
Nido to aenu
Hito ni basho ni
Mado wo akeru
Omoidaseba haruka haruka
Mirai wa
I need more affection than you know
Doko made mo kagayaiteta
Kirei na aozora no shita de
Bokura wa
I need more affection than you know
Itsumademo nemutte ita
My fears my lies
Aozora no shita
I need more affection than you know
When she came to the end of the song, I was blown away. I didn't even hear everyone whooping and clapping around me. All I was focused on, was Shiva.
"That was AWESOME!" yelled Zell over the applauding.
"WooHoo!" screamed Selphie in ecstaticness.
"She's still got it!" called Ifrit to me.
"Huh? What?" I said, looking at him as I came down to earth.
"I said she's still got it. She was always one of the best singers in our little group," repeated the dark skinned man.
"Yeah, she's really good," I mumbled out before another clone tapped both me, Amaterasu and Ifrit on the shoulder. "It's time for the new song," The clone said before disappearing.
"Let's do it!" I said. Amaterasu and Ifrit nodded before we moved back to the stage. I saw the clones set up for a samba like piece and know which song we were going to play.
"Hello again!" I said to the crowd. "The next song is a mixed up samba song so you better get your bodies dancing for this one!" I then turned to everyone, seeing them nod before turning back to the crowd as the first notes of the new song began.
[Cue song Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes Feat. Black Eyed Peas]
(Singing = Listed singer. Singing = everyone.)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
mas que nada
Josh: black eyed peas came to make it hotter
we beat the party starters
bubblin up just like lava
like lava HEATED like a sauna
penetrating THROUGH your body armor
rhythmically we MASSAGE ya
with hip hop mixed up with samba
with samba so yes yes y`all
you know we never stop
we never rest y`all
the black eyed peas are keeping it funky fresh y`all
and we won't stop until we get Y'ALL, til we get Y'ALL sayin'
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Ifrit: peter piper picked peppers but Tab rocked ryhmes
1,2,3, FOUR, several times
heavy rotation PLAYED by every kind
radio stations BLASTING EVERY mind
we crossing boundaries like everyday
TO ROCK YOUR ROBBIE BOBBIE BEAMER ON THE BAY
we got we got tab magnification tab magnified
like every day
Josh: so yes yes y'all
you know we never stop we never rest y`all y`all
the black eyed peas are keeping it funky fressh y`all
and we won't stop until we get Y'ALL, til we get Y'ALL sayin
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Shiva: (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Ifrit: drop hot hot be my daily operation
got to put it work in this crazy occupation
gotta keep it movin' that's the motivation
gotta ride the waves and keep a tight relation
with my team keeping moving and doing it right
i've been in a lab every day til daylight
that's the way things move in this FUNKY business
Josh: we took a old samba song and remixed it
Amaterasu: Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente
Eu quero passar
Pois o samba esta animado
O que eu quero e sambar
Este samba
Que e misto de maracatu
E samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu
Shiva: mas que nada, we gonna make you feel lil hotter
the peas and Sergio Mendes heating up sambaaaa
bada, bada, bada, baaaaaa
Josh: sergio play your piano sergio play your yo yo yo yo piano (echoing)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Shiva: (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Shiva: (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Amaterasu: Este samba
Que e misto de maracatu
E samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu
Este samba
Que e misto de maracatu
E samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu
Shiva: (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
Everyone loved this song. It gave couples the chance to dance more intimately with their partners. After that Ifrit sung Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley, Shiva sung Get It Together by , and Amaterasu sung Prayer by Celine Dion. As the song ended I saw Squall being approached by Rinoa. She sure looked different from being in a game, but that was to be expected.
"Ok guys, Rinoa's putting the moves on Squall. Let's get ready to play that song," I said.
"You got it Boss!" she said before organising themselves.
I turned to Amaterasu. "Amaterasu, you have the floor," I said. She nodded before I moved off the stage along with Shiva and Ifrit. She paused before she began to sing.
[Cue song For You by AZU from Naruto Shippuden Ending Theme 12]
(Speaking = Amaterasu. Speaking= Backing only. Speaking = both.)
Koko ni arunowa kimi ga ima made eranda michi no
Kotae tachiyo hora jishin motte susumeba ii
Totemo shizen nano ame agarino
Asufaruto ni niji kakaru yoni
Lonely kaze ga fuite
Feeling kiga tsuitayo
Kotae wa doko nimo nai kedo
Call me wakatteruwa
With you ai wa itsumo
Atae au mono
For you
Kitto kimi wa itsu no hika
Kono sora wo toberu hazu dakara
Nando tsumazuitato shitemo for you
Taisetsu na koto wa hitotsu
Yume miru koto
Kokoro dakewa tozasanai de ite
Kizu tsuitemo namida korae gaman shitetayone
Sonna kimi wo ichiban chikaku de mitekitakara
Nani mo iwa nakute mo wakatteru yo
Donna toki mo gambattetta koto
Lonely mayottano wa
Try again nandodatte
Yarinaosu kotto dekiru kara
I'm here sobani iruwa
If you need me osorenaide
Shinji au koto for you
Kitto kimi mo itsu no hika
Kono sora wo toberu hazu dakara
Nando kizutsuitato shitemo for you
Taisetsu na koto wa hitotsu
Yume miru koto
Hitomi dakewa sorasanai de ite
Kimiga regaku yuki ga homeai
kagera no nai takaramono ni kawaru yo
ima ryoute hirake fly high
Kitto kimi wa itsu no hika
Kono sora wo toberu hazu dakara
Nando tsumazuitato shitemo for you
Taisetsu na koto wa hitotsu
Yume miru koto
Kokoro dakewa tozasanai de ite
As Amaterasu was singing, and extremely well I might add, Squall and Rinoa were dancing quite well. I always had a sneaking suspicion that Squall knew how to dance well thanks to classes that taught this stuff and that he was stuffing up on purpose so that Rinoa would leave him alone, including any fan-girls who wanted to dance with the lone wolf. And that the only reason that he began to dance properly in the middle was that Rinoa somehow caught him out.
But today was different. Squall went all out straight away. And so when the song finished up, the fireworks went up and the two were left standing quite close together, watching the coloured lights burst in every direction outside. Then Rinoa spotted someone, presumably Seifer, and walked off, leaving poor Squall left all alone in the middle of the dance floor. However he pissed off quickly, wanting to avoid all the girls currently giving him hungry looks.
"Well done Amaterasu! That was great. You really have a beautiful voice. I just knew you would be perfect for some of the songs I had in mind," I said. She simply smiled and nodded at me.
"Right! Time for the next song," I said while rubbing my hands together. "Ifrit! You're up!" I said. He nodded and stepped up to the mic.
[Cue song The Fountain by Pendulum Feat. Steven Wilson]
You sure, you're right?
Well no, you're wrong
You don't feel my energy
But it won't be long
I see the sun
Believe the dark
Soon I'll disappear
But I'll make my mark
All these fears
And all this love
All you've given me
Is not enough
All my dreams
And all this stuff
All made real
And it's not enough
Watching, waiting, shaping, faking
Shocking, pumping, mocking, stopping
Falling, stalling, warning, crawling
Rejecting, perfecting, loving, ending
Behind my eyes
Is rage alone
But you don't understand
It was all home-grown
I'm not afraid
I just don't belong
It may be cynical
But it all seems wrong
All these fears
And all this love
All you've given me
Is not enough
All my dreams
And all this stuff
All made real
And it's not enough
Watching, waiting, shaping, faking
Shocking, pumping, mocking, stopping
Falling, stalling, warning, crawling
Rejecting, perfecting, loving, ending
Behind my eyes
Is rage alone
But you don't understand
It was all home-grown
I'm not afraid
I just don't belong
It may be cynical
But it all seems wrong
All these fears
And all this love
All you've given me
Is not enough
All my dreams
And all this stuff
All made real
And it's not enough
Watching, waiting, shaping, faking
Shocking, pumping, mocking, stopping
Falling, stalling, warning, crawling
Rejecting, perfecting, loving, ending
This song received the loudest applause yet. It seemed that the song was the crown favourite so far.
"Nice job Ifrit!" I said to him. He grinned. "I had fun."
After that the next several songs that were played were a classic jazz piece called Take The "A" Train by Duke Ellington, a slow Neo Jazz piece called Slowride by Obadia, a lively rock song called Nothing from You (Redanka Remix Radio Edit) by Pint Shot Riot. This one was sung by Ifrit and I. Next was CLOSER by Inoue Joe (Fourth Naruto Shippuden Opening) sung by me and a few of my clones. Then Shiva sung To Know the Unknown by Innosense, I sung Forever by Chris Brown with a few clones to back me, Ifrit put on the romantic groves with Fastlove by George Michael, my clones deadly intoned Indigo Children (JLE Dub Mix) by Puscifer and Shiva and Amaterasu pulled off a beautiful duet on Saltwater (Original Mix) by one of my favourite bands of all time, Chicane. The song was the ten minute version but everyone loved it, getting a bigger applause than Ifrit's job on The Fountain.
Then came the moment I had been waiting for all night. I created several extra clones and they moved all the band equipment off the stage so only the orchestral instruments were left. The last two songs would only involve them.
"Hello there!" I said into the mic. "The next song is a special one as I am going to dance now with Shiva. So if you could please vacate the dance floor..." I asked, hoping that they would move.
"Of course!" someone yelled out.
"You've given us a great night to remember. You should get some dancing in too!" said a girl near the front.
"We'll let you have the floor for this song," said a guy from the left before he, and everyone else move out of the way. I looked to Ifrit, Amaterasu and a few male and female clones. "Well, I'll leave it up to you guys."
"You got it!" they replied.
I then turned to Shiva. "Would the lady care to dance?" I asked, stretching out my hand to her. She smiled and took the offered hand. We then walked down to the dance floor and waited for our cue.
[Cue song Riverdance - Bill Whelan]
Amaterasu: Hear my cry,
In my hungering search for you,
Taste my breath on the wind,
See the sky as it mirrors my colours,
Hints and whispers begin.
All: I am living to nourish you, cherish you,
I am pulsing the blood in your veins,
Feel the magic and power of surrender,
To life. Uisce Beatha
Amaterasu: Every finger is touching and searching,
Until your secrets come out,
In the dance, as it endlessly circles,
I linger close to your mouth.
All: I am living to nourish you, cherish you,
I am pulsing the blood in your veins,
Feel the magic and power of surrender,
To life. Uisce Beatha
As soon as the singing finished we began to dance. And dance we did. I uploaded information on the duet Riverdance steps into my and Shiva's minds so the steps came naturally for us. But all I could focus on was Shiva. The way she twirled; her hair flying around her in its own dance, her long, toned legs bending and turning as she cracked her heals on the floor, her swaying hips; mesmerizing to watch, her breasts bouncing as she danced with me. Her wide smile and her eyes, oh my god, her eyes. Glinting and sparkling like a pair of exquisite jewels. I was lost in them; they were tugging at my soul. I found myself wishing this dance to never end as we spun around each other. There was no one else in the room. It was just her and me.
But all good things must come to an end and the song ended much too quickly. We separated, breathing a little hard as the dance had taken quite a bit of energy to maintain. We smiled at each other.
"That was a great dance," said Shiva, her chest heaving slightly.
"Sure was. I loved it!" I said truthfully. For a second I thought I saw her blush, but it must've been my imagination.
We walked back to the stage, not even noticing the roaring applause we were getting. I picked up the mic. "Thank you very much. Unfortunately the party is almost over." The crowd groaned out loud at this. "But we have one more song for you." They cheered at this. "So with this song, I wish everyone a good night."
[Cue song Message For The Queen by Tyler Bates from 300 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
This song was apt for the ending of such a wonderful night. The lilting flute (which I personally played) along with the strings spoke of sadness and new hope. And then Amaterasu added to the feeling with her singing. Everyone simply watched as the band played. More than a few had tears in their eyes. Then the song ended and everyone clapped for us.
(AN: The new chapter is up and I expect some nice reviews to read later on, so go nuts!)
(UPDATE: 19/11/2011: All listed songs in the concert are available online. See the link in my profile for details.)