Chapter Thirteen: Opening Ceremony And "Going Under" With A Little Change
~*Cady's POV*~
"Yo!" I said to my friends. "You girls ready for a quick review?"
"Yeah!" Uo said. "I can't wait to see this."
I showed them the video on my phone that I'd composed.
It ended.
"So what song is it going to be too?" Tohru asked.
"Sailor No Fuku." I said simply.
"I love that song!" Some random voice said behind me.
I turned to see four girls. There was one right in front of me. She had blonde hair and big blue eyes. She looked adorable. Like an actual girl version of Momiji.
"Hey, sorry bout her." The spunky one said. "She's a total dork for this kinda stuff." This girl had brown hair and grayish eyes. She was adorable and clearly the street girl of the group.
"Excuse me but…" One girl with purplish hair said. This girl's hair was short and cut neatly.
"We were wondering if…" The other girl said. TWINS!
"We could join your cheer routine." The twins said in unison.
I stared at them. They all wanted to join. I put my chin in my hand. "Ya know," I said, turning to Uo, Hana, and Tohru. "It could do well. Backup dancers will add more to the appeal. And if you think about it, we'll be subjecting to male approval through using different varieties of girls and SHIGURE'S RUBBED OFF ON ME! UGH!"
Uo just cracked up laughing. "Yeah. I figured that would happen to one of ya. Now back to the first topic. I think you're right. We could use the extra help, Cady."
"All who agree the first years should join us," I began. "Say 'I'."
"I!" Uo, Hana, and Tohru said.
I turned to the girls. "You're in. Here's the routine." I showed them the video.
For the next week, we practiced for hours after school. I learned that our music loving girl was named Miyuki. The twins were Yuko and Naga. The spunky one was Kogame. They were good girls. I liked Yuko. She seemed to be a little more mature in the group but I liked Kogame too. She was more of a street smarts kinda girl.
For an hour after everyone left, I'd stay after school to rehearse my song on the piano in the band room. I was ready. I had to be.
~*Kyo's POV*~
I sat next to Hatori in the auditorium. It was the opening ceremony for the Arts Festival. Yuki stepped up to the microphone before the huge stage curtains.
"As Student Council President, I welcome you all to the Kaibara High Arts Festival!" He announced. The crowd applauded. "Now, we have a lot of events. We'll have performance by a local band from the Yukito Club, Asylum's Insanity-" Cheering then. Yuki just chuckled. "A few games. A Cosplay café, and much more. For the opening ceremony, I'd like you to all give a round of applause to first years: Miyuki Asahina, Yuko and Naga Chunin, and Kogame Fujioka; and second years: Arisa Uotani, Saki Hanagima, Tohru Honda, and Arcadia Rhinestone." More cheering. "They will be doing a cheer routine to get us all in the mood to enjoy the festival."
Everyone cheered as the curtains opened to reveal the girls all wearing matching uniforms. Cady and Tohru stood by each other. Hana was at Cady's other side and Uo was on the other side of Tohru.
Cady put her hands on her hips and the pompoms shuffled. "All right! Let's do this!"
"Sure." Tohru said.
"Okay." Hana.
Uo scoffed. "Quit screwing around and start!" She mockingly snapped. A quick comedy skit.
They started the dance. I watched Cady the whole time. She was amazing. They'd kept their routine top secret. Now I get why. They even taped black cloths to the windows before each routine. No access allowed.
They finished the routine. It was quiet for a moment.
"WAY TO GO, RHINESTONE!" Some random guy cheered. Everyone was cheering wildly. The girls themselves cheered. Finally, Cady took a breath. She stepped forward to the microphone.
Yuki nodded. "Hello, Kaibara High!" Cady said. Everyone cheered. "I hope you enjoyed that little piece! So, I now officially declare this Arts Festival…" She took a huge party popper. "Open!" She shouted as she pulled the string. Confetti was everyone.
I couldn't stop myself from laughing. She was trying to keep steady.
I found her backstage, drinking some water. I clamped my hand on her shoulder. I slipped her favorite piece of candy in her mouth as she opened her mouth to reprimand me. Green Shocker.
Cady stared at me. I looked at the outfit she was wearing.
It was a black, gothic Lolita dress. The hem of the skirt came to her knees and it was sleeveless. She wore converse low tops with it. She wore a black choker with it. Her gloves were laced and came to just below her elbows.
She swallowed the candy. "Kyo, I'm a little nervous."
"Why? You've been able to perform before just fine."
"Yeah! But they didn't know me personally! If I screw up (In front of the entire school no less!), they'll hold it against me for life! Kyo, I'm real-MMPH!" She said the last part against my lips. I pulled away and looked her deep in the eye, noticing that her hair was down to her chin now. The more time had passed, the darker it had gotten. Maybe it would just become black. Cady was blushing a little.
"You've got this, Arcadia." I said seriously. "You're a great performer. Just relax."
She stared at me, then looked down.
~*Cady's POV*~
"You've got this, Arcadia." He said it so seriously! "You're a great performer. Just relax."
I didn't know what to say. I stared at his red shaded eyes for a moment more then looked down at his chest. I closed my eyes. I took a deep inhale through my nose then exhaled slowly from my lips.
I looked up at him. I was more motivated than ever before. "Thank you, Kyo-Kyo." I said with a wink. I shoved him the direction of the stairs. He looked at me in confusion. "Don't you want a good seat to see the show?"
He smiled and stole a kiss on my forehead. "Good luck!" He shouted before leaving.
~*Akito's POV*~
So she's performing here? I thought to myself as I slipped discretely into the auditorium. From where I stood, I could see Yuki, Kyo, Shigure, Hatori, and Tohru. They stood, chatting about whatever they were when the audience cheered.
Three of the band members ran onto the stage. One girl took bass, one blonde headed boy took the guitar, and the orange headed boy took the drums. They began playing as strange music played in the background.
"Long…lost words whisper slowly…to me…" A voice echoed as they played. Slowly, I saw a figure walked onto the stage with a microphone in hand. "Still can't find what keeps me here." The voice was whimsical. I saw the light silhouetting her body. She was slender with almost black hair that was down to her chin. She wore a Gothic dress, lacey black gloves, converse shoes, and a plain black choker. The music stopped for a moment. The lights became brighter. It was Cady! "I know you're still there!"
I listened to the lyrics. I thought the song was lovely. She finished and everyone was cheering. She was smiling as everyone cheered.
"Hello, Kaibara High!" She shouted. Everyone cheered louder. "You guys want more!" Even louder cheers.
She was a magnificent singer. I didn't think someone could be so lovely until this point. The pulses surged through my body. My heart began to beat irregularly. I was running another fever. I had enough. I left.
~*Cady's POV*~
I watched as Akito fled the auditorium. I continued my song.
"GOING UNDER!" The audience shouted as I held my mic out to them.
I continued my song. I finished and sat backstage casually on a couch that was randomly there.
I crossed my left leg over my right and rested my left cheek into hand. I was getting bored again. My back started to pulse.
Damn. I scanned my mental calendar. Tomorrow's my birthday… I looked up at the ceiling. It's been a whole year since I started living with Kyo. Weird. The time has almost vanished from us.
"Cady?" Tohru said. I looked up. Tohru, Shigure, Hatori, Yuki, and Kyo all had confused expressions. I blinked. "Cady, what-Your hair. It's pitch black. Did you dye it?"
"Huh? What ya talkin' 'bout, Toto?"
"It's longer too." Shigure said. "Wasn't it at your shoulders when you were on stage?"
"Before the show, it was to her chin." Kyo said.
"Is it…" Tohru began. She mouthed the word. The word that made me run to the nearest mirror as soon as she mouthed it. "Tengu."
I found the hand mirror. My hair was down to past my shoulders. My eyes were glowing deep red too.
"Arcadia," Hatori began. "Your back…"
I dropped the mirror. It shattered. I ran out as fast as I could past them. "I-I'm sorry. I have to go!"
I ran as fast as I could.
A/N: Dun dun dunnnnn! Sorry! COuldn't help it. The cheer routine is the same routine used in Lucky Star. A hilarious anime. Just click this link for the video. .com/watch?v=7UI7WyTI37g
It's hard to see Uo and Hana do the dance. I had to add those other four girls for the balance to work perfectly. If you're wondering who's who and you've watched Lucky Star before, Cady and Tohru would be in Kagami and Konata's places. Uo and Hana would be in Tsukasa and Miyuki's places.
Now, the songs that Cady sung today are not owned by me. They are owned by (The Greatest Band Ever) Evanescence! I listened to their live concert album "Anywhere But Home" while writing this chapter and had to do it.
And breathe! Please review.