Chapter 12
Cloud awoke the next day, getting ready for school, while thinking over about the main headache in his life, The Farron sisters. Cloud knew that Claire is in love with him, if that kiss a few weeks ago was anything to go by, and he also knew that her sister was completely jealous. The day when they Left the Jenova manor, was evidence that the two sisters are after his love. When Lightning saw Serah hold Clouds hand, the look on her face was shock, while Serah had a smug look on her face, and took that chance to hug Clouds arm. Cloud simply raised a brow and let it continue, but Lightning started to become a mini boss, considering how the mood around her changed from normal to pissed off, Cloud was sure if they were in a game the ominous battle music would have begun. The other's in the group stayed there distance as they prayed that the sisters won't brawl each other anytime soon.
Cloud sighed, after making sure he was dressed properly he quickly ate his breakfast of hot pocket, and left his house, riding Fenrir to school. 'The tournament is coming soon; I need to find myself two more members.' And with that thought in mind he drove to school.
Lightning once again woke up without the help of her sister, and once again had to prepare her own breakfast, luckily she didn't manage to burn the cereal this time. 'Well maybe Serah not making me breakfast is helping one thing out.' Lightning tried thinking on the bright side. She woke up around the time Serah walked out the door, so she still had plenty of time to get to school. Lightning then thought about how her sister held hands with Cloud so easily, and the blonde bastard had the nerve to look like he liked it, Lightning imagined the smile on Cloud's face when in reality he just didn't show any facial expression.
"Stupid Cloud, I know we agreed to pretend it didn't happen, but how could you." Lightning looked a little depressed as she thought that she and Cloud were on good terms, but as she went to put away her bowl she just thought of one thing, 'I am so going to kick his ass today in gym.' And with that thought in mind she grabbed her bag and headed straight to school. When Lightning arrived to school, she noticed Cloud, but he wasn't alone. Once again her sister was hanging by standing a little too close to the blonde, while the idiot was talking to someone.
Lightning stormed up to the two and placed herself in between the two pushing away her sister, Lightning was going to greet Cloud when she noticed who he was talking to. "Squall," Lightning glared at the younger upper classman. "Cloud why would you talk to him."
Cloud sighed, "Lightning I thought new talked about this before. In order for us to take part of the tournament we need three more people other than you and me, Squall just so happened to agree to join us, and I already asked Serah." Squall gave a smirk towards the pink haired freshman. Lightning was about to insult the brunet when Cloud interrupted, "Squall will also be joining us during our after school training, so be nice. If we are going to be a team we at least need to be able to cooperate.
"Of course we can work together, but just because were on the same team doesn't mean I'll go easy when we spar." Squall smirked, causing Lightning to clench her fist as she tried to calm her anger. "But I heard from Cloud you stayed strong till the last second of the Mako injection. An impressive feet, you may even have more potential than me." Lightning snapped out of her anger and was surprised, "Oh so you admit I'm better than you now." Lightning said getting a little smug. This caused Squall to laugh, "I only said you have more potential, I can still mop the floor with you, while showing you how to properly use a gun blade."
"Come on now you to you can settle this after school." Cloud said, Lightning calmed down but noticed her sister was joining the team to, "Wait when did Serah join." This caused Cloud to sigh again, but before he could reply Serah answered for him, "Cloud asked me when he gave me a ride to school." Lighting then saw Serah clinging onto Cloud's back as Cloud drove the motorcycle to school, the image slowly fading away as she felt a pang of jealousy.
"First of all , I didn't give you a ride you hitched one while I was pulling out of the gas station, and there was no way I was going to pull over when you somehow managed to get that truck driver to chase u, and I don't even want to know how you made him mad." Cloud said, leaving Lightning confused.
"Aw come on Cloud it's not my fault he had a bad temper, plus if I didn't get on your bike you couldn't have asked me about joining the team." Serah then made a move to try and hug his arm, but hugged nothing but air as she realized Cloud had disappeared to the class room, causing Squall and Lightning to sweat drop at the younger Farron sister.
Later on in class Wol was explaining that even if someone was about to die, if you use phoenix down they would be fine, unless it was due to a terminal disease. So While everyone was focusing and taking notes a piece of paper landed on her desk, looking up towards Vaan who sat to her left, as he pointed to some unimportant student who pointed to their left to Cloud, as Cloud motioned her to read the note. 'Odd cloud never wrote notes to me before,' curiosity taking over, Claire opened the folded piece of paper and read what was written. Lightning meet me out side of Luneth Onion's classroom, at lunch, I will need your help.' (Luneth Onion, FF3 main character.) Lightning looked back at Cloud who was just staring out the window; Lightning blushed once Cloud caught her starring to long. Lightning quickly looked back at her notes, thinking about what Cloud would need from her. What she didn't notice was Serah looking behind her, staring at the piece of paper. 'I got to see what is on that paper.
Nothing interesting worth note happened to Lightning till lunch, just the normal school day, plus sparring and defeating her sister all the time. 'At the very least I can best my sister in combat,' Lightning smirked as she walked to where she would meet up with Cloud. When she arrived, she noticed Cloud leaning on the wall arms crossed and his eyes closed. Lightning got closer and leaned on the spot right next to him, "So what was it you wanted to talk about." Lightning said a little nervous, wondering if Cloud was still thinking about the kiss they shared in olive garden.
Cloud stayed quite for a moment, "Lightning" Lightning turned her head to look at Cloud and was shocked to see him looking back. She felt her heart rate beat faster as she noticed how close their faces were, she got lost starring into his eyes.
"Lightning, do you know if any of your old friends can join us in the tournament?" Cloud said his tone serious, as Lightning finally snapped out of her gaze and sighed 'of course this guy only thinks about training and the tournament.' Cloud waited not moving from his spot, as Lightning moved to the other wall and leaned on that one instead. "I didn't have a lot of friends; the only one in my age that probably hasn't graduated is Vanille."
"Do you think she could be useful to our team," Cloud said an interested in this Vanille character. "Well she isn't the fighting type, but from what I heard she is able," Lightning said. Cloud then stood up from his position, "Then let's goes ask her to join." Lightning smiled and nodded as she followed behind Cloud, but then the bell rung and the two unique freshmen, sighed. "Well ask her after school." Cloud stated, as Lightning merely grunted, 'at least one of my old friends will be part of the team.
Once again it came to the time where the final bell rang, releasing the students, the first thing that happened was Serah trying to court Cloud, but the blonde nearly waved her of and said to go to his place and get ready for training. Serah's friend tried to invite Lightning and Cloud to hang out after school, but the two both said they were busy. Both Lightning and Cloud looked around for this Vanille character, while they were searching Cloud told Squall to go meet up with Serah.
It took them a while but Lightning finally remembered that Vanille was a librarian assistant at the school, and as the two walked into the library building of the school, "I can't believe you forgot, if I knew this we could have gotten this done faster, and we can all be training." Cloud complained. "I said sorry damn it, I'm human I forget sometimes." The two looked like a mad couple, but before they could have continued their argument, Lightning noticed Vanille sorting some books. "But still we need every moment we can if we" Cloud continued, "Vanille, hey it's me Lightning." Cloud's eyebrow twitched that he was ignored but his mood returned to normal once he saw Vanille.
Vanille stopped sorting her books as she saw Lightning, "Ahh Lightning," Vanille ran p and hugged Lightning. Cloud being a healthy teenage boy, couldn't help but notice how small the older girls uniform was, as he walked up to the two friends. "Lightning it's been forever, I thought you were in the guardian corps, what are you doing back in school."
Lightning laughed as she held her shorter friend, "I had to come back so I can get a promotion, anyways let me introduce you tone of my new friend." Vanille looked at the taller boy, "Vanille this is Cloud, Cloud Vanille." Cloud stuck his hand out to shake Vanille's, as the bubbly girl eagerly shook his hand, "I'm glad Lightning made a friend, she didn't have a lot back then especially any male friends, if you're lucky I think you can be more than just a friend for her." Lightning turned red so fast it matched her name, "V-Vanille what are you saying." Cloud simply; sighed realizing this girl would wear him down.
"I'm sorry the only person who could be Lightning's lover is me." Every one turned to a feminine voice. Cloud raised an eyebrow as he noticed it was a woman, with long untamed hair, and bronze color skin. He was confused as to why the woman just said what she said, and before anyone said anything the new woman, appeared behind Lightning in a flash, "This body is the property of Fang Oreba Yun." Said the woman as she groped the pink haired woman. "Oh how I missed this wonderful body of yours Light." Lightning was trembling with anger and embarrassment, as she stomped on Fang's foot and jabbed her elbow into the lesbians face. Fang fell to the ground but got up quickly, "Ouch, not only do you look the same your, just as strong."
'That speed, and the way she shrugged off and pretended that the hit she got from Lightning didn't hurt. This woman is strong.' Cloud thought, his eyes narrowing at the new woman, he noticed she also wore the school uniform, albeit it's obvious she is wearing a size to small. "Fang I thought you already graduated." Lightning said arms crossed starring at the woman with disgust. Fang tried to envelope Lightning in a hug but missed as Lightning avoided the public display of affection. "Lightning you should know that I would fail the exit exam." Fang said with pride.
"Ugh Fang that's not something to be proud of." Vanille said, "Oh hush, you should be glad you can graduate the same year as your older sister." Cloud leaned closer to Lightning, whispering, "There related?" Lightning whispered back, "Half related different mothers."
Fang noticed how Close Cloud got to Lightning, "Hey and who is this chump." Vanille instantly scolded her sister, "Fang, that's not nice. Cloud please forgive her, she doesn't like it when men get close to Lightning." Cloud just nodded understanding, "Anyways, I'm afraid this visit was more than about pleasantries." Cloud said, catching the girl's attention. "You see Lightning and I was looking for someone to join our team, and since you two are her friends we thought you would like to join."
"I'm sorry I don't want to be a part of the tournament, but I can be your teams supporter, I can help you guy's with the non-combat stuff." Vanille said, Cloud accepted the girls response, what he really wanted was this Fang girl to join, the speed earlier was nothing to joke at. "I'll join, only for Lightning." Cloud notice the woman plotting something, "That is if you can beat me in a duel." Fang Said as she went up face to face with the blonde, looking down on the boy who was only an inch or two shorter. "What do you say, you game boy."
Cloud smirked, "Oh I'm game, just be prepared to lose." Lightning and Vanille sighed as they saw the two banter back and fourth after that, each one arguing like kids. Fang then separated from her childish game with the blonde, as she walked up to Lightning, the two stood their staring, until in a sudden movement Fang Claimed Lightning's lips with hers, bending Lightning back, as she stared into Cloud's eyes, in a possessive way. Cloud didn't even flinch but Fang could tell by the look in his eye's that he was angered. Fang quickly avoided a raging Lightning's attack, Vanille holding Lightning back, and Fang and Cloud starred at each other with so much tension, Lightning and Vanille stood their stunned at how serious the two are.
Lightning's eyes were on Cloud, taking in his from, she couldn't help but think how hot he looked when he was serious, not just the normal serious but the serious look he gets when he wants to fight. Vanille just noticed everything and smirked and nudged Lightning in the side, as she whispered in her ear, "Those two really like you if they're going to fight over you." Lightning turned to a new shade of pink when she heard that. But her eyes never left Cloud. 'Is that really the reason he wants to fight Fang.' Were the thoughts of Lightning, before everyone made their way to Clouds house.
