CHAPTER 4
"Tifa, are we really gonna see Cloud on that stage?" Marlene asked while pointing up to the huge stage in front of them. Her eyes were huge as she looked at the big stage. They were at the debut performance of AVALANCHE that was held by the Shinra Recording. This was their first performance as new comers.
"Yeah, they'll start any time soon," Tifa said a little louder. The crowd was getting enthusiastic. She can't blame them. Every new comer that was produced under Shinra Company mostly is very successful and well-known. Even Tifa was beyond anticipation as she watched the crowd getting loud.
Marlene who was seated next to her was looking around the place. Tifa knew she was looking for Barret. He promised to come tonight to watch them performed.
Then, the dark stage was lightened up by a spotlight. "Welcome everyone to Shinra Entertainment Weekly!" the host of the show greeted the crowd who cheered in respond. "We're your host tonight, Reeve and Shion!"
The crowd cheered once again and clapped their hands. That was when Barret arrived and he quickly took a seat next to Marlene. "Papa, I miss you!" Marlene was happy to see him. "I miss you too little one!" Barret picked Marlene up onto his laps while shuffling her hair.
Tifa just smiled at them happily. "They're not up yet huh?" Barret asked as he watched the hosts introducing the artists that will be performing that night. Tifa just shook her head. After that they just remained quiet while listening to the hosts and the crowd's cheer.
"And as promise, we have a new band that will perform their debut single. This is good news for all the ladies out there since all the band members are all young attractive and single bachelors!" Shion announced and the crowd, which consist mostly the females shouted hysterically.
Reeve just laughed and continued, "And not to waste anymore time, please welcome AVALANCHE with their debut single Jojoushi!"
The stage was dark once again and there was just silence. Suddenly,
kisetsu wa iro wo kaete ikudo megurou to mo
kono kimochi wa karenai hana no you ni yurameite
kimi wo omou…
The seasons will go around many times changing colors, This feeling will not wither like a flower, Wavering, I feel you.
The familiar voice echoed throughout the stage. Tifa shivered as she never had listened to such clear and deep meaning words. The stage was light up as a spotlight focus on Cloud who was standing in the middle of the stage. Gradually, each face of AVALANCHE could be seen.
kanadeau kotoba wa kokochiyoi senritsu
kimi ga soba ni iru dake de ii
hohoenda hitomi wo nakusanai tame nara
tatoe hoshi no matataki ga mienai yoru mo
Playing the meaning, a pleasant melody, You only need to be by my side in order to not lose smiling eyes even the nights where the twinkling stars can't be seen.
furisosogu komorebi no you ni kimi wo tsutsumu
sore wa boku no tsuyoku kawaranu chikai
yume nara yume no mama de kamawanai
ai suru kagayaki ni afure asu e mukau yorokobi wa
shinjitsu dakara
Like the sunbeam streaming down, I will wrap you, That is my strong, unchanging promise. If it's a dream, it doesn't matter while it's a dream, I'll love you. Overflowing with radiance and turning to tomorrow, because my joy is the truth.
The love to you is alive in me. wo- every day for love.
You are aside of me wo- every day.
The one thing that Tifa realized was Cloud never looked directly at anyone or the camera. He just seemed lost in his own world. The look Vincent had on his face was one Tifa had never seen before. He seemed to have feelings.
nokosarete kanashii kioku sae sotto
kimi wa yawaragete kureru yo
hashagu you ni natsuita yawarakana kaze ni fukarete
nabiku azayaka na kimi ga boku wo ubau
I locked away the sad memories, softly, i will relieve you, oh You were stuck happily, blowing in the soft wind. Long, vivid days will take me.
Zack smiled to the crowd with a naughty grin while Cid just looked a little tense though he played the drum looking very relaxed.
kisetsu wa iro wo kaete ikudo megurou to mo
kono kimochi wa karenai hana no you ni
yume nara yume no mama de
kamawanai ai suru
kagayaki ni afure mune wo someru
itsumademo
kimi wo omoi
The seasons will go around many times changing colors, This feeling will not wither like a flower. If it's a dream, it doesn't matter while it's a dream, I'll love you. Overflowing with radiance it colors my heart, Always, I'll think of you.
The love to you is alive in me. wo- every day for love.
You are aside of me wo- every day…
After Cloud sang the last part, the crowd started cheering once again and only screams could be heard, giving the band support. Zack raised his hands in a childlike manner and started waving to the crowd while Cloud just nodded his head a little.
And that was the night that changed everyone's life.
"Hey did you see that?" the girl asked her manager. "What? That AVALANCHE band?" the manager asked her back. "Come on, you're not talking about him again right?" The manager crossed her arms, looking worried all of sudden. She noticed that he was in the band, the one that causes Aerith so much misery.
"No, look at the vocalist," the girl said again while her green eyes never leave the TV screen. "He's full of light," the girl whispered as if she was mesmerized by the blonde. The manager sighs as she turned her eyes to the screen. She agreed that the blonde was quite good looking but this girl has other commitment and she can't distract herself getting involved with men.
"Come on, you have a photo shoot in an hour. We better head there fast, we can't let them wait," the manager said as she took the remote control and turned off the TV. The girl was about to protest but as she saw the look the manager gave her, she gave in.
"Fine, I'll get ready," she said lazily as she rose from her sofa and entered her room to change clothes. "Being a super model sure makes you super tired," she murmured but her manager heard her. She just smiled a little.
"I give you 10 minutes Aerith!" the manager called from the living room. "Fine!" she heard Aerith replied. The manager sat on the sofa and turned the TV on once again.
The channel showed the face of the AVALANCHE members after finish performing their debut single. She studied the face that piques Aerith's curiosity. "He does look a little like him," she talked to herself.
"Cloud huh?" she read the name on the screen. The hosts were interviewing the AVALANCHE members but the person named Cloud rarely speaks. The one who's actively answering the question was Zack, the leader of the band and Aerith's former love. What a small world.
The manager watched as the guy named Cloud responded as the host asked him questions. She didn't pay any attention to the question but more to the respondent. 'You better not get yourself into trouble Aerith. We've been through hell when that boy left you,' she thought to herself and sighed.
XXX
Aerith was feeling happier than she had always been. That fact was noticed by everyone who passed her or just saw her from afar. It was like she was beaming in lights.
She entered a record store and search on the CD rack for a particular band but her smile turned to a frown when she couldn't find any. She went to the counter.
"Do you have AVALANCHE's album? I can't find any on the rack," Aerith said to the man behind the counter.
The man looked at her and answered, "They haven't released any album yet. Usually for a new debuted artist, they will release a few singles and looked at the respond of the listeners first. If the respond is positive then they might release an album."
"Really? Heh," Aerith blew out her breath in disappointment. She wanted to get the album since she first heard their song Jojoushi. Particularly, she wanted to know a little more about that certain someone.
"If it's not rude to ask, are you Aerith?" the man enquired as he looked at her more carefully. Aerith turned with a smile on her face and walked away, "I'm not sure myself," with a wink and left the store before she gathered more people.
A/N – the song that I used in this chapter is by L'arcenCiel entitled Jojoushi. I really think the song is one of Laruku's best singles. Try listening to it to get the feeling...