Redemption

Summery: Siegfried left his old band to try and start a new life. Upon finding out he'll never be able to get music out of his system he now starts a new band with a new look and new gear. But how long will it be until his old band comes back to haunt him?

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Calibur or the song lyrics in this chapter.

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Chapter 5: More than Just A Little News

After spending a few minutes calming down Cassandra was ready to for her try out. She just had to wait for Hilde to change the CD in the stereo.

"Sorry about this." Hilde said now with a different mind toward the blonde. "I like to know the songs. So if you don't know this song, just listen to it. I have it on repeat." She said explaining how she had it set up.

"Thank you." Cassandra said with a slight smile at the red head.

"We'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." Hilde said walking into the kitchen, where Siegfried and Yun-seong were, while the song was playing.

As Siegfried and Yun-seong sat at the kitchen table they both stared at Hilde wondering the same thing. "What song did you pick for her?" Siegfried though beat Yun-seong to the punch and asked first.

"Broken Wings from Alter Bridge," She answered plainly. "I just thought it fit the mood best."

"Oh, isn't that that one band that Mark Tremonti formed after Creed broke up?" Yun-seong asked curiously. He heard the name of the band, but didn't really remember it.

"Yeah, it actually has all the older members of Creed, except the vocalist." Hilde said stating a small fact that she knew.

"Hm, yeah that's right…" Siegfried said slightly hearing the song in the background. "It is a nice song. I think I work it out if I get a different guitar."

"Well, yeah. It would be hard to get even close to a high tuning on a baritone guitar, right?" Yun-seong asked even though he already knew that baritone tuning was three steps below standard tuning.

"… That's right…" Siegfried said not really paying attention to Yun-seong, but still listening to the song. Then, he heard something he didn't expect, a female vocal in the second verse. "Wait! Do you guys hear that too?" He said standing up from the shock.

"Oh yeah, we do." Yun-seong and Hilde said at the same time.

Cry ourselves to sleep,
We will sleep alone forever,
Will you lay me down in the same place with all I love,
Mend the broken home,
Care for them they are our brothers,
Save the fading light in our souls.

That voice had a bright side, but it still sounded aggressive and angst. Could that voice really be coming from Cassandra? The girl they were just talking to? One way to find out, they ran into the living room.

My opinion seeing is to know,
and what you give will always carry you,
and whose to say we wont survive it too

As Siegfried stared in amazement at what he was seeing and hearing, it really was her that was singing.

On broken wings I'm falling,
And it won't be long,
The skin on me burning by the force of the sun,
My skinned knees are bleeding,
And it won't be long,
I've got to find that meaning,
That I've searched for so long

They were all just stunned. She matched the song perfectly. She was exactly what they needed.

"Well," Hilde said to Siegfried in a whisper. "You made a good choice."

"I guess so…" Siegfried said still stunned by Cassandra's voice.

Cassandra stopped singing as soon as she noticed them staring at her. "Was it bad?" She was afraid of what they were going because there faces didn't say if they were pleased were disappointed.

"What are you talking about?" Siegfried said with a slight smile. "You were amazing!"

"Really?!" She asked with shock in her voice and a smile across her voice.

"What's the earliest time you can make band practice?" Siegfried asked her out of curiosity.

"You mean?" Cassandra was a little confused on why he was asking.

"You're in." Was all he said for her to jump up and try to hug him again. "Okay, okay, not another hug. You just met me." He said partly joking and also he just didn't want to get hugged again.

"Oh, okay." She said putting her arms down. "I'll just talk to Sophitia about switching over to the breakfast shift and get out of work at noon. Does that work?"

"Perfect." Yun-seong said beating Siegfried this time. Now they were even. "So now we can get as much practice as we can."

"Except Saturdays," Siegfried said interrupting everyone's fantasies. "I teach guitar on Saturdays. I still need to contribute to the rent somehow." Good thing he remembered Talim and Amy though all this madness. He would've gotten into some trouble with not only Raphael, but also with Talim grandmother if he forgot.

"Okay, we have that day off." Yun-seong said feeling a little relief that he'll get a little break.

"Alright, well I need to get going." Cassandra said out of nowhere. "I didn't tell Sophitia I was coming here and I was out running an errand for her." Why did she forget to mention that again?

"Alright, then…" Siegfried said writing down the phone number to the apartment on a piece of paper. "Here," he said handing it to her. "Call if anything comes up."

"Oh, thanks." Cassandra said looking at the piece of paper and walking towards the door. "I'll see you guys later." She said smiling and walking out the door.

When she closed it behind her and was sure she was gone they all looked at each other with relief. They have help someone with their self-esteem and found the piece of the puzzle they were looking for. It was the perfect win-win situation.

"Well, so what do we do now?" Yun-seong asked curiously not really sure what to do now that it was that they had every member they needed.

"We still have that song to work on." Siegfried said reminded Yun-seong what they were doing earlier that day after breakfast.

"Let me grab my bass and amp." Hilde said walking towards her room. "I'm still involved with all of this." She said thinking she had to remind them that she was still was still in the band.

-

After about half an hour of practice they were completely align and playing at the same pace. More than just that; they found the tuning that worked for the song for each of them and found a way to make their own styles work together. Siegfried would've wanted to play longer, but he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Of all times…" Siegfried muttered to himself putting down his guitar and standing up from his seat. It didn't really bother him back when he was with Nightmare when someone interrupted him during band practice, but at that time they were building up chemistry.

But when he saw that it was Raphael, he calmed down a little. "Hey Raphael," He said welcoming his friend into his home. "What's up?"

"A lot has happened." Raphael said looking around and noticed Yun-seong and Hilde. "But I need to tell you in private." Hearing this from Raphael hinted that it either involved Nightmare or something in his personal life, so it couldn't be good.

"Let's go outside." Siegfried told him knowing that it was more private than the small apartment. As they walked out Siegfried noticed Raphael just staring out at nothing. "So, what's going on?"

"A few things…" Raphael said looking at him. "First thing though, your song sounds pretty good. I over heard it while finishing a cigarette." Siegfried knew that Raphael smelled like cigarette smoke. At least he didn't try to bring it into his home. "But, I need to get straight to business. We found a replacement for you in Nightmare."

Siegfried was amazed they found one already. He figured it would take a little longer. "I'm actually surprised. What's his name?"

"I was in the bathroom during the interview part and no one would say after." Raphael said confusingly. "But, the thing you need to know is that he somehow got the helmet you threw away and he's taking up the name of the Azure Knight." Raphael didn't want to tell him, but he just felt the need to tell him.

"What?!" This news scared Siegfried. He didn't even want to see that helmet again, but seeing it on someone else… "How can people even tell the difference between us!?"

"Don't worry, he has red hair and is right handed." Raphael said hoping that that news would assure him. "Although I would warn to avoid him and his friend."

"His friend?" Siegfried was curious about avoiding both of them.

"Yes, his friend is a teenage girl that seems to have split personality." Raphael said recounting from meeting her. "Anyways, from seeing your hair cut and your change in gear, you want to hide you past." It was just a guess but Siegfried nodded in agreement since he was right. "They've seen your face and are big admirers of yours. If you encounter them they will blow you cover."

"I see…" Siegfried said nodding in agreement. He will have to tell the other members eventually, but he doesn't want to tell them any time soon. "You do have a point."

"Also, you might need to avoid him for another reason. His temper is just as bad as yours was." Raphael said with resentment. "It makes me glad I'm joining another band…"

"You're joining another band?" Siegfried asked showing his full confusion. Raphael was in Nightmare before Siegfried even joined.

"I guess it slipped." Raphael said scratching the back of his head. He really meant to keep it a secret. "I guess it's because I don't see Nightmare getting anywhere. Seriously, Cervantes is almost fifty and Astaroth has been kicked out of Massachusetts, Colorado, and Kentucky." Raphael didn't even know the reasons why Astaroth got kicked out of those states. That was one subject they just avoided. "Now I'm with some other members that have a future and I actually see myself with these guys."

From what Siegfried was hearing it seemed Raphael was already playing with them behind the other's backs. "Who are these other guys?" Siegfried asked curiously. He was wondering this now, because if they could keep up with Raphael's bass rhythm they might be really good.

"Oh, they're not new to our world." Raphael said with a smirk. "I bet you remember the underground instrumentalist, Taki."

"Taki!?" Siegfried did remember Taki. In fact, she insulted his guitar style and called him a joke to music back when he was in Nightmare. Of all the people in the underground world of music. "Why did you ask her?"

"She asked me." Raphael admitted and putting his hands in his jeans' pockets. "She's forming this band with her co-guitarist, Setsuka, and she's not doing instrumental stuff anymore."

Siegfried also knows of Setsuka. Too bad she was famous for wearing kimonos and other Japanese clothing instead of actually playing guitar. She wasn't even Japanese, she was American; she was adopted by a Japanese family and took up the name Setsuka.

"Interesting…" Siegfried said thinking that it might actually be a pretty good band. "Who is playing drums?"

"You might not remember that time Astaroth was with us in recording, but the guy that took over for him, Maxi." Raphael said bringing back a memory and reminding Siegfried that he just met Maxi. "The guy that you didn't even talk to…"

"I remember." Siegfried said just realizing that Maxi was actually a famous drummer in the underground world. He was always available for other bands when their original drummers were unavailable.

"Well he's finally committed to this band and they asked me to be bass and vocals instead of back-up vocals like in Nightmare." Raphael said feeling a little prideful. "And it feels good. I got a new bass; I'm wearing clothes that I want to wear. It's like a brand new start, but I will still be with Nightmare."

Oh, well wasn't sure if staying with Nightmare was a good idea or not, but he will still support him. "You replaced your Axl?" Siegfried asked him. Raphael did mention that before when he dropped off Amy last time, but didn't say anything else about it.

"Yeah, I got a Washburn Bantam." Raphael said pulling his hands out of his pockets. "It sounds so much better and it works for both bands. I still owe Setsuka one for finding it for me."

"Something's not right. She found it for you?" Siegfried was really confused. How could she have gotten it for him the day after Siegfried left the band? Something wasn't connecting… Unless the other band was forming before Siegfried left.

"We got together and started jamming before you left Nightmare." Raphael admitted and covered his head in fear that Siegfried might freak out and attack him.

"Better early than not at all." Siegfried said assuring him that he was fine with it. He's been actually calm with some things ever since he started raiding Hilde's CD collection and used that music as his therapy.

Raphael was actually shocked that he was okay with it. "Wow!! It has been more than your appearance that changed."

"I had a little therapy." Siegfried remarks with a smirk referring to the music he's been listening too.

Raphael though knew exactly what he was talking about. "I see… You made a good change." Raphael said just seconds before his phone rang. "Man, I got a text message…" As he read it he realized it was from Amy. "I need to pick up dinner for Amy." He said putting his phone back in his pocket and walking out towards the parking lot. As he waked out he looked back towards his friend. "Good luck with your new band." He said as he continued to walk and wave good bye to Siegfried.

Siegfried smiled and waved back to him. "Same thing to you, Raphael." Siegfried said to him as his watched his friend walk away towards the parking lot. But, as Siegfried walked towards his door, he did remember Maxi helping Nightmare in recording when they were getting some songs up on a website.

In fact he didn't recognize him before because he had blonde hair when he helped Nightmare and it was longer. (AU: Maxi's 2P costume hair.) So, it was no wonder Siegfried didn't realize it before. Also, Siegfried barely talked to him during that time, so he wasn't able to recognize a voice either. He was also very lucky Maxi didn't see his real face back then either, because then he would've been in some trouble and Kilik would've changed his mind.

But that thought left his mind as he entered his home and saw Yun-seong and Hilde waiting for him. Although Yun-seong had to know something before they got back to song writing.

"Hey, how do you know Raphael Sorel?" Yun-seong had to ask that because he did see Raphael perform with Nightmare and Raphael had a good reputation for his bass work.

"Well…" Siegfried said thinking of something to say. He didn't want to tell him his secret right now and he wasn't really able to think of any excuse right at that moment.

"Raphael helped me with my rhythm." Hilde said speaking for Siegfried. Good thing she was better liar than he was. "Siegfried and him also jammed and bonded during that time."

"Oh! I see…" Yun-seong said believing every word. Siegfried and Hilde both thought that he wasn't the brightest boy, but that did work to their advantage. "Well it's good to see that he still visits every now and then. Now let's get back to song writing."

Siegfried just smiled as he grabbed his guitar and turned his amp back off from standby. As he sat down and started playing with his new band mates he started thinking about how long he could keep his secret. Now that someone has replaced him it just might be harder than it originally was. Not to mention that him and his so called friend saw his real face. So, now he has two issues, hide the truth, and avoid the ones who could exploit the truth.

End of Chapter 5

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Author's Note: This one is short, but this chapter exposes that Cassandra is officially in the band, and to bring back Raphael (I'm planning on making him a big character in this fic.) and hint some coming character that will be coming soon in this fic. As for the song, I didn't really like any of the suggestions I got, so I went through my play list and found that song. I believe I used in a fic that I deleted I think last year or so. Anyways, I'm going to finish this boring note by saying I'm sorry for taking so long and please just bare with me, I've got a lot on my plate right now.