CHAPTER 9

The next day, the sound check went smooth as they planned and a few minutes before the performance. "And everyone give it up for AVALANCHE!"

There were only shouts and screams could be heard in the hall as the AVALANCHE members entered the stage. Tifa stood behind the curtain and saw they were ready to perform. Cid gave the cue to start and a small sound of piano played in the background.

The stage was suddenly filled with lights as the music turned energetic and there was along a steady scream that was given out by Cloud, 'YEAH! ARE YOU READY!?"

Tifa had never seen him so energetic as he was at the moment and realized maybe this was a part of him that he refused to show to everyone else when he was the original Cloud.

masshiro na sono hada wo kawaita kaze ga kusugette iru

nagareru nagai kami ni hitomi wa sarawarete...

The parched wind tickles that pure white skin

And your long, flowing hair catches my eye

kasoku sareta jikan no hari wo

itsumo doko ka sameta mede nagamete ita kedo

I always watched from a distance,

Never caring as the hands of time went swiftly by

But this world's gonna collapse

asa ga otozureru made kono sekai wa ochite yuku kara

odori tsukareta ato mo kimi wo daite itai...

Until the coming of the dawn

So even after dancing ourselves senseless

I want to hold you close

Cloud was walking around the stage and teasing with Zack as he continued to sing naturally.

gareki no ue awata dashikute

tomare nakute itsu no mani ka wasurete ita kedo

Scurrying about

On top of the rubble

I couldn't stop it

Before I knew it

I'd forgotten all about it

kimi ga warau to ureshikute

asu ga nakute mo kama wanai

But I love it when you smile

I don't care if there's no tomorrow

caress of venus

sunao na mama kuchizuketara

saa oki ni mesu ga mama ni

CARESS OF VENUS

Open, honest

If we kiss...

Do whatever suits your fancy

Cloud blew out a flying kiss to the crown who turned hysterical before he grinned to Vincent who just grinned back.

yubisaki made nani mo kamo ga

mawatte yuku afurete yuku mienaku naru made

All the way to my fingertips,

Everything is spinning,

Overflowing,

Until I can't see anymore

kimi ga inai to kurushikute

nani ga okite mo hanasanai

It hurts when you're gone

I won't let go no matter what

kimi ga warau to ureshikute

asu ga nakute mo kama wanai

kimi wo KIREI na ano basho e

tsurete iketara suteki da ne

I love it when you smile

I don't care if there's no tomorrow

It'd be wonderful if I could take you

To that beautiful place

kimi no subete ga... kimi wo dare ni mo...

kimi no tame nara... kimi ni ageyou...

Your everything...

(CARESS OF VENUS)

I won't let anybody...

(CARESS OF VENUS)

If it's for you...

(CARESS OF VENUS)

I'll give it to you...

(CARESS OF VENUS)

kimi ni hitomi wa sarawarete

You catch my eye

The last beat of the song died off as the lights turned dim and the stage was engulf in darkness once again.

"Fuh, that was tiring. I've started to forget how thrilling it was to be up there," Cloud looked enthusiastic though he was sweating. Tifa gave each of them a towel and a bottle of mineral water.

"Yeah, it's been a while since we last perform," Cid agreed, he looked very alive also though he couldn't let go of his cigarette even when he was on stage.

"Good job guys! You have 15 minutes break while the other bands perform and after that you're up again. Don't wonder too far," Yuffie briefly explained to them and the guys just nodded. Tifa just admired Yuffie though sometime she might act a little childish. She could handle this managing thing quite well.

"Just one more performance and after that we're free!" Yuffie said in excitement and Tifa just smiled at her. Everything went smooth as planned before.

XXX

"You've got to be kidding me," Cloud said as he widened his eyes at Aerith's request. "Please, let's give it a shot once," Aerith half-begged him. Cloud looked around the empty place.

Aerith asked Cloud to help her practice with her first acting debut where she played a seducer at a night club and she had a kissing scene with the main actor. She needed to practice that kissing scene because the director said she didn't have the feeling for that scene.

That was why when she was suggested she should practice the scene; the first person that popped out in her mind was Cloud. She couldn't think of anybody else except him and she made a special visit to their studio for this. Luck on her side when she found that Cloud was by himself at that time.

"It's just a practice and I'm not gonna tell anyone about it. Please," Aerith made a very desperate look on her face.

"A practice?" Cloud repeated and Aerith nodded. "It's nothing more than just a practice. I promise you," she said firmly though the shine in her eyes betrayed her.

"Okay, then. It's just a practice," Cloud said again but more like to himself and looked at Aerith. Aerith smiled and turned serious at once. "I'm supposed to seduce you and when I kiss you, you just return it. With passion," Aerith read her script to Cloud.

Cloud nodded and Aerith rose from his seat. She made her way towards him and stopped in front of him as she looked down at him. "You know I've had my eyes on you since the first time we met," Aerith started. She lowered her face a few inches away from Cloud.

Cloud felt different at once. This was beyond his expectation. Was he supposed to say anything? Aerith breath was on his face as she brushed his hair with her hands.

"And I've been wanting to kiss you since then," her voice was very soft yet strong. She drew her face closer to him. Cloud felt awkward, too awkward. As their lips were about to touch, he quickly evaded her face and stood up at once.

Aerith looked at him feeling puzzled. "What? I thought you agreed," Aerith sounded disappointed. This was the second time she failed at her attempt to kiss Cloud. "Yeah, I did. But I can't," Cloud said quickly.

"Why can't you?" Aerith questioned him again, this time tears in her green eyes. Cloud remained quiet for a while. 'It's now or never.'

"I can't go around kissing people I don't love. Even in practice. Sorry," Cloud said and with that, he turned his feet and left the studio. Whatever he planned for today must be out on hold. He needed to clear his mind.

At the door, he bumped into Zack who was on his way to enter the studio. "What's wrong man?" Zack asked him. "I have to go. You guys proceed ahead with today's plan," Cloud simply said and left him before he could say anything.

Zack thought he was acting weirdly, but as he entered the studio and saw Aerith in tears, he knew something was going on.

"What happened to you?" he asked as he stood in front of the crying Aerith. Aerith just shook her head while trying to clear her tears but failed. "I just got rejected indirectly."

Zack placed his hand on his waist and saw her script on the floor. He picked it up and read it briefly. "So, it's true. You're going to act in a movie," he said.

Aerith just nodded. As Zack read the page, he realized what had happened between Aerith and Cloud. "So you come to him for the kissing scene practice?" he inquired which Aerith nodded shyly.

She suddenly felt embarrassed at herself. She acted like a desperate girl. She cried even more.

Zack looked at his first love and held her shoulders. He looked up at him but then when she saw the same eyes that haunted her for 2 years, she diverted her vision.

"I think I can help you with that," Zack said softly and Aerith thought she was hearing things. He brought his face lower to hers and in just a short time, he kissed her. Aerith stunned for a moment but then she realized he was kissing her.

She felt the familiar sense of longing as his lips touched hers gently. He closed the gap between them as he circled her with his strong arms. She just let him as part of her still couldn't resist him. She responded to him and snaked her hands around his neck.

Zack smiled in the kiss as if welcoming back the first girl he ever loved. After a while, they broke apart. Both were catching their breath but the face was closed to each other. Aerith looked up to Zack who held her cheeks gently.

"See, it's easy once you get the feeling right," Zack said breaking the silence between them. But for Aerith, that moment was more important than the scene she should be practicing.

"I miss you Zack," she said softly. Zack gave her an honest smile and said, "We've let each other go and we came back together again. I guess we can't be separated then."

Aerith nodded, "I feel guilty towards you and Cloud. First I chased him in front of you. Now, I'm kissing you." She shifted her eyes from him.

"I told you just now. I've let you do things you wanted to do and you've let me do things I wanted to do. Even after all that, we always ended up together right? It's our destiny to be together," Zack replied and met Aerith's eyes once again.

Aerith smiled to him and she felt he pulled her closer to him and kissed her once again. She didn't waste any time to kiss him back and inside her, she was thankful Cloud rejected her and made her opened her eyes.

A/N – The song that was used in this chapter is called Caress of Venus by my favourite band L'arc en Ciel…hail Laruku!! Long live Laruku!! Haha…please review okay?