Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII © under Square-Enix. "Life is Like a Boat" written/sung by Rie Fu, © from the manga/anime Bleach. Everything else under their respective owners.
Seasonal Quartet - Spring Cantata
Jason M. Lee
Yuffie sat morosely on a stool by herself, nursing a slowly cooling cup of green tea. The dim surroundings were ignored, people chatting amongst the tinkling of glass and fired clay. The mahjong tables clacking loudly occasionally.
Bitter taste, like how she was feeling at the moment.
"Problems?"
Looking up, she shook her head at the barkeeper.
"Nothing really, just the usual stuff." 'Idiotic bimbos...'
A smirk, the now clean tumbler setting down with a loud clink.
"I suppose that the upcoming Spring Gala wouldn't be far too off the mark."
/"How can she marry that type of a man?"
"I heard that he used to work with 'them'."
"What I can't believe is that they actually got invited!"/
The young Wutaian ran a circle around the ceramic with her finger.
"You could say that."
Faintly, a single note resonated.
Cleaning another tumbler, the older man nodded.
"Ano sa..."
"Yes?"
"Is that karaoke machine still working?"
"Help yourself, hime-sama."
"Ugh. Don't call me that."
Soft chuckling, coffee eyes watching as the petite lady walked over to the stage. Inquisitive looks from her fellow Wutaians and tourists were disregarded. Yuffie scrolled through the electronic list slowly before finally making her choice.
Grabbing the mike and concentrating on the tempo, she never noticed some extra patrons.
/"Nobody knows who I really am,
I've never felt this empty before.
And if I ever need someone to come along,
Who's gonna comfort me and keep me strong?
We are all rowing the boat of fate,
The waves keep on coming and we can't escape.
But if we ever get lost on our way,
The waves will guide you through another day."/
A cat that lived in the bar twitched its ears, listening for a moment before resting her head back on her paws.
/"Tooku de iki o shiteru (I know we have so far to go)
Toome ni natta mitai (Within the connections I see)
Kurayami ni omoeta kedo (Thoughts of darkness, and so)
Mekaku shisareteta dake (I adjust my mask of serenity)
Inori o sasagete (I offer up a prayer)
Atarashii hi o matsu (And wait for a new day)
Azayaka ni hikaru umi (In the brilliance of the shining sea)
Sono hate made e (Until there is a shore)"/
Two small voices were on the verge of piping up but then gently silenced by larger hands. Curiousity peered up from their faces, a mysterious smile only in return.
/"Nobody knows who I really am.
Maybe they just don't give a damn.
But if I ever need someone to come along,
I know you will follow me and keep me strong.
Hito no kokoro wa utsuri yuku (People go fishing in their hearts)
Mukedashitaku naru (And have become deceitful)
Tsuki wa mata atarashii shuuki de (Again a new cycle of the moon)
Mune o tsureteku (Brings someone into my heart)"/
Three pairs of similar eyes focused on the female singer, now fully into the song. While the music was originally sung by that of a female with a slightly deeper pitch, Yuffie's higher tone did quite well.
/"And every time I see your face,
The oceans heave up to my heart.
You make me wanna strain at the oars,
And soon I can see the shore.
Ah, I can see the shore?
When will I see the shore?"/
Slender fingers touched her ring, thinking back to other memories. She could still remember the heavy white silk worn on her wedding day. Quiet words from Godo told Yuffie that it once belonged to her mother, preserved with the utmost care. Even the sakura petals pressed into the formal kimono retained their famous pink shade and scent.
The move wasn't missed by the largest of the trio. He mimicked the gesture, fingering a matching earring.
/"I want you to know who I really am,
I never thought I'd feel this way towards you.
And if you ever need someone to come along,
I will follow you and keep you strong.
Tabi wa mada tsuzuiteku (Still, the journey continues on)
Odayaka na hi mo (Even on a gentle day)
Tsuki wa mata atarashii shuuki de (Again a new cycle of the moon)
Mune o terashiasu (Sends a shine into my heart)"/
On the other hand, Reno hadn't really thought much of Wutai customs on ceremonies. Until he caught sight of what a Wutaian groom traditionally wore, then the redhead quite nearly bolted. Cloud and Vincent had to wrestle the Turk back in order for the servants to get Reno into the black and white garments. White under kimono, black silk kimono, striped hakama, white tabi, and another black haori was fitted onto the Turk without any further fuss. The red hair was left in its usual ponytail under the threat of a Mastered Ultima, compensation that the sunglasses stayed off.
A small smile made its way onto her lips, her heart now feeling a little more lighter. Let those floozies say what they want; they'll never understand what both AVALANCHE and the Turks went through.
/"Inori o sasagete (I offer up a prayer)
Atarashii hi o matsu (And wait for a new day)
Azayaka ni hikaru umi (In the brilliance of the shining sea)
Sono hate made e (Until there is a shore)
And every time I see your face,
The oceans heave up to my heart.
You make me wanna strain at the oars,
And soon I can see the shore."/
The several weeks after their marriage was quite... interesting. Reno had to learn quickly on what was expected from a foreign husband marrying into the family. Mealtimes then were especially amusing, as chopsticks replaced forks and knives. The one time Vincent actually dropped by for dinner, he couldn't stop laughing (softly) for nearly the entire night. It seems that the younger Turk had a bit of difficulty mastering on picking up small pieces of food, more often sending them flying.
Happiness shimmered, chasing away most of the darkness she had been feeling as of lately. Other recollections were of the usual arguments, struggling and triumphing over hurdles, and the fun times spent together with the whole gang. Her favorite moments were the quiet times spent with Reno where nothing interrupted them.
/"Unmei no mune o kogi (To the uncertain fate of the heart)
Nami wa tsuki kara tsugi e to (The waves are stages of the moon)
Watashitachi o osou kedo (To us it seems as if)
Sore mo suteki na tabi ne (It's a wonderful journey)
Dore mo suteki na tabi ne (What a wonderful journey)"/
When the song finally ended it was utter silence, save a grandfather clock ticking away the many brawls it had seen.
Sudden applause broke throughout Turtle's Paradise, the cheers and whistles startling Yuffie. Waving them nonchantly, she hopped off the stage, mindlessly listening to the congrats. She then found herself looking upon the faces from three important people of her life.
"S'up, Yuffs."
"Red, what are you doing here with the twins?"
Reno flashed a fanged grin. "Showing them the good spots."
Yuffie shook her head. "Not even five and you're already corrupting them."
Coal hair with a carmine lock shyly looked up with eyes of his father. "Kaa-chan sings real pretty."
Slipping into her business jacket, Yuffie picked up Sora and tweaked his nose. "Is that so."
Crimson bearing a portion of sable bangs nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh! Kaa-chan should sing more often!" He wrinkled his now red appendage where his mother pinched it.
Setting Tseng onto his shoulders, Reno snatched his wife's briefcase. "Feeling better?"
"A little bit. Not stopping us from not going to the Gala, though." Stepping outside, she looked up at the star studded skies. A cool wind carried a hint of flowers greeting the reviving season. "It's like the song's title, 'Life is like a boat.' Let's go, my turn at dinner."
Two little boys cheered happily and the family was soon chatting on the way home.
Warmth he hadn't felt in some time renewed again, the wintry chill disappearing.
'I'll follow YOU, Yuffie, to keep you strong.'
A/N: I haven't done a songfic in years. Not since I first started writing fics in the Gundam Wing section. -cringes at past works- Bleah. At least good experience points for me...
Tseng and Sora, in names, are Square's property. The characters themselves are of my own creation. I know it sounds cliché with using Tseng's name but Reno would probably want to honor the memory of his mentor's homeland. Sora Kisaragi is the older twin, bold like his mother and a bit cocky like his father. Tseng is soft-spoken, a tad formal, and would rather talk things out if caught in a sticky situation.
"Cantata, (Italian for 'sung') a vocal composition accompanied by instruments and generally containing more than one movement." --Wikipedia (dot) org. Okay, not exactly more than one movement but using sonata (Latin and Italian for "to sound") didn't seem right, since it means a piece "played" in musical terms, rather than "sing". Used to play the piano so the musical terms stuck.
hime - "princess," sometimes used as an insult toward spoiled young women