Undying Lover, once again, reporting in!
Hello there.
Yeah, I'm not dead. Again. I just feel like death, now that I have to balance work, school, sleep, drama, and the common cold Dx. It's rather, as they say, 'uncool.'
Though I just went to my first concert! Evanescence. So now, I have something to base the chappys off.
And yes, that means I heard the song in this one live. It was kick-ass.
I won't keep you in suspense any longer. On with the chappy.
Disclaimer: Reading this story has been known to cause birth defects in pregnant women. Oh, and I own nothing, so don't sue. And this is a boyxboy story. Deal with it, hetero males.
ON WITH THE SHOW.
Chapter V: The Big Break
The guitar wailed on, drowning out the energetic crowd, as the notes poured down on the masses, like a benevolent acid rain. The notes raced away from the stage, taking refuge in the darkness, craving it, as a child craves chocolate. The guitar and his voice mixed, crating a seductive, decadent environment for the already thriving energy to copulate, to reproduce, to live. Outside, the world was cold, harsh, callous. Inside, one could lose oneself in the cadence. Outside, the skyline bore little light, mainly charcoal black, with the only illumination being the dusty white moon and stars. In the arena, this skyline was nowhere to be found. In it's stead was a ceiling filled with dark color. Red, orange, blue, and white decorated the ceiling, shedding light on the raging scene below.
Lithium
Don't wanna lock me up inside lithium
Don't wanna forget how it feels without lithium
I wanna stay and love with my soul
Oh, but God, I wanna let it go.
Riku looked upon what lay before him fondly, eyes glistening darkly, drawing the audience towards him with a hidden malevolent air. The words he sang came to him easily, rolling off the tongue like a name that's pleasing to hear. He closed his eyes, picturing Sora's face as he had written it, so picturesquely mournful, so un-tranquil. How he wished…
Come to bed, don't make me sleep alone
Couldn't hide the emptiness, you let it show
Never wanted it to be so cold
Just didn't drink enough to say you love me
I can't hold on to me
Wonder what's wrong with me
As the chorus once again rolled around, more and more memories came flooding back. Sora would always pause after writing a few lines, lost in thought, as if trying to summon something from the depths of his mind, the corners long forgotten. Memories returned of him and Sora discussing the tone, which wasn't hard to settle on a heavy, moody, melancholy guitar and piano combination, setting a regret-filled scene. And as more words came back to him, as the concert came to a dramatic, emotional finale, Riku let the words come from the depths of his heart, the sentiments manifesting themselves within, and expressed in the form of rehearsed lyrics.
Darling, I forgive you after all
Anything is better than to be alone
And in the end I guess I had to fall
Always find my place among the ashes
I can't hold on to me
Wonder what's wrong with me
Lithium,
Don't wanna lock me up inside lithium
Don't wanna forget how it feels without lithium
Stay and love with you
I…I'm gonna let it go.
Applause and cheers thundered through the stadium, drowning out any other noise, even Riku's hollered, "We're Blazing Darkness, thank you and good night! Drive home safely, folks!" Riku looked out as the crowd bounced, almost in unison, in ecstasy, the vibrations of the guitars still pulsating through their bodies.
Walking backstage, he was met with the same exhilaration from those who he worked with. Their comments ranged from, "Jesus, I haven't heard you sing like that before," to "so emotional…I love it." Though the comments varied, there never was a negative one among them. Riku grinned sheepishly, turning pink from all the comments. However, the real excitement came when he trudged tiredly backstage. Though the enthrallment was not displayed as usual, as Axel was not bouncing around like a preteen after an excess of Mountain Dew, but instead sitting quietly in a cushy black leather seat, watching Leon talking intently with…someone. Riku, from his perspective, could not quite distinguish this character. He quickened his stride, attempting to get a better view.
The man seated in the chair, previously concealed by the door, Riku had never seen before. At first glance, the man looked rather aristocratic, what with gray hair pulled neatly back into a pony tail, and an expensive-looking black suit, yet upon further inspection, one could find a wild look about him. Perhaps it was a light buried in his sky blue eyes, a light signifying a hint of danger. Perhaps it was his x-shaped scar, the crossing point just as his forehead morphed into the bridge of his nose.
Perhaps it was the fact that he was currently doing a handstand, for no readily apparent reason.
Whatever the reason, the white, neat-looking nametag with an antithetically messy scribbling on it that read "Xigbar" (what a strange name, Riku thought, chuckling lightly) with two crossing guitars signified he was from Xemnas Amps, a noteworthy record company. Credited with making famous bands such as The Gang of Law and Order (with lead singer Seifer Almasy, stereotypical teen heartthrob) and Pencive (lead singer Pence, renowned techno artist, making thought-provoking alternative rock songs with a techno beat), Xemnas Amps easily dominated the music industry. Ergo, when Riku recognized the symbol, his heart rate seemed to increase tenfold. Half-running to the room where they were all seated, Riku prayed the meeting was about what he thought it was.
Xigbar turned, smiling. "Well, here's the man of the hour," he said pleasantly. "My name is…"
"I know," Riku hastily cut him off. At first, Xigbar looked taken aback, but he soon chuckled, landing from his handstand finally. "So, you are an expedient person. Very well, let's cut to the chase. Kid, you got talent. You turn what is usually just the angst-ridden yowling that is the emo genre, into something melodic. And goddamn if that crowd wasn't unruly as all hell. You got something going here. Can you guess what I'm getting at?"
Riku couldn't mask the grin spread across his face. "Yes, but I want to hear you say it."
Xigbar smiled slightly. "Xemnas Amps wants to sponsor you."
And then there was chaos.
Riku jumped around, tackling Axel in ecstasy, who just laughed hysterically, as if told a riotously funny joke. Leon cracked a smile. Sora, who had been hiding in the corner with his twin, beamed at Roxas, and shared a quick, subtle high-five with him.
Somewhere in the midst of the pandemonium and the blur in Riku's memory that came after that, Xigbar had told him that he was scheduled for a meeting with Xemnas himself the next day at eleven AM, given an address, and been forewarned that Xemnas is…a character, to say the least. However, next thing he knew, Riku was walking down 56th Street, laughing, celebrating. And somewhere in that blur, Sora had grasped his hand in congratulations, and apparently forgotten it existed.
Not that Riku minded at all.
-
UL: TT WORST. ENDING. EVER.
Riku: Holy crap, you couldn't think of anything better than that?
Sora: Leave him alone, babe. He's tired and angst-ridden.
Zexion: UL, HOW DARE YOU MAKE FUN OF THE EMO SCENE? GODDAMNIT. WE'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO MAKE GOOD MUSIC!
Roxas: When the hell did you show up?
UL: Seriously, dude. I don't even know if you're in this story.
Zexion: I HEARD SOMEONE INSULTING THE EMO CULTURE.
UL: Zexy, I listen to emo music. Chill. It's good.
Zexion: Really? Then it's all Xigbar's fault for saying that! D
Demyx: -Elsewhere- Zexy, baby! Are you coming back to bed?
Zexion: -Facepalm- Fine, coming! I shall seek vengeance, though…
UL: Riiight. So, reviewers get the guitar Riku uses.
Riku: Hey! I need that! For guitaring purposes!
UL: Until next update! You stay not classy, FF.
EDIT: One more thing. I know, so far it doesn't have a helluva lot of plot. Bear with me here, folks. It'll get interesting next chappy. Promise.