Disclaimer - I don't own Final Fantasy VII or its characters. I have finally finish Chapter 9! Enjoy my newest chapter everyone!
Recovery plus Active equals Party Part 2:
Zack's REAL Party Plan
Sometimes Cloud doesn't know if he should praise or kill Zack, because the SOLDIER 2nd Class could do the impossible, like sneaked out with the three most famous SOLDIERs out of Shinra without being seen by anyone and arrived at the Slum, to be more specific the Wall Market, without people noticing them, that can be consider as the biggest miracle of all.
'Come on, you guys! We're almost there!' The spiky black hair teen shouted at the small group of SOLDIER as he ran towards a large restaurant.
'Hey! Wait up!' Kadaj yelled back before he broke into a run after Zack.
'Can someone please remind me why I haven't killed either of them yet?' The irritated blond asked aloud as he rubbed his temple with his fingers while Sephiroth did his best to not roll his eyes in annoyance.
'Cuz you love us too much!' Zack and Kadaj shouted sheepishly at the same waving at them from the restaurant's doors.
'Gaia! I'm SO going to kill them one way or another after tonight.' Cloud shouted as he threw his arm in the air dramatically before he stomped towards the restaurant, followed by Sephiroth, who is as irritated as he is, then by Angeal and Genesis who were having a hard time to not smirk in amusement.
When they entered the restaurant, someone yelled out: 'Yo! Took you long enough to get here!'
The whole group turned their heads towards the source of the voice and saw a group of five people in navy blue suit, only one of them were in white. If Cloud had to guess, he is pretty sure that those people are the Turks, who performed black ops in secret for the Shinra Company, mostly kidnapping and assassinations, or non-officially known as the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department. Either way, they are bad news in capital B and N.
'Hey! I was able to bring them here without being spot by some crazy fans once! So I win the first round!' The raven spiky teen shouted angrily at a red hair teen with his hair tied back in a ponytail and two crescent red tattoos on his cheek bones.
'No, I got here with my boss first! So I win the first round!' The red head snarled as he got up to his feet and both of them glared at each other.
'Did we-' Cloud and Angeal started.
'Miss something?' Kadaj and Sephiroth finished the question. A low chuckle was sounded behind them.
The confused quartet turned around to see Genesis with one of his mysterious smile on his face and he looked at them with the face that said don't-you-guys-see-the-deal, seeing their still confused looks, the auburn hair Commander explained it plain and simple: 'Zack and Reno here are having a bet of some kind about getting us here before the other does. Without being seen apparently.'
Angeal placed his hand over his forehead and shook his head exasperatedly, the two silver hair SOLDIERs looked surprised at Cloud, who usually had an innocent look, now had the most murderous look in the whole world, not even the most powerful and insane man could compare to his.
'Come on, Nii-san! I'll buy you a few drinks!' Kadaj said rather cheerfully as he wrapped his arm around Cloud's, who is about to jump on Zack, and pulled him to the bar counter while the three famous SOLDIER settled themselves on a table at the far back side of the restaurant. 'What do you want to drink?'
'How about Zack's blood?' The angry blond replied in a small hiss. He is beyond frustrated, he is burning mad! He couldn't believe that Zack had used him to get Genesis out of his office, which could be dubbed as Mission Impossible, just for one stupid stinking bet!
'Hey! I really want to take you out for a party!' Zack shouted unhappily as he took a seat next to Cloud who glared at him venomously while Kadaj ordered a large glass of cold water for the blond. 'HONEST! It's for the honor of SOLDIER that made that bet with Reno!'
'I'll make sure that tomorrow we have a long and serious conversation.' Cloud muttered under his breath as he took the glass of water that the bartender had put next to him and drank all its content in a second before he slammed it back on the wooden counter.
'Ladies and Gentlemen!' The trio heard the loud voice of Kunsel somewhere behind them and they turned around to look at the small platform where the other Second Class stood with a microphone in his hand. 'Our "Open Night Karaoke" begins right now! And I proudly present to you our first singer, Reno!'
'Good! I'll definitely win round two!' This small piece of information caused Cloud's anger to burn ten times stronger than before.
'Round two? Round two?' The blond empathized as he glared at a cowering Zack. 'What. The. Hell. Is. So. Important. That. You. Have. Win. Oh. So. Badly!'
The black hair boy let out a nervous laugh as he stuttered: 'Well... Reno and I had a bet last night... That whoever's group wins, the other group will have do everything the winner group said for a whole year. So... Euh... I kind of decided that since you and Kadaj were discharge today, I thought you two will be interested to help me to win this bet I had made and have a small party at the same time...'
'I am not interested and I won't help you even if you beg me.' Cloud hissed angrily before he turned around to watch the red hair guy who had greeted them stepped onto the platform as the music slowly started up and then he shouted the lyrics more than singing them:
Kizutsuita nukegara wo tada dakishimeteita
Furisosogu ame wa shizuka na kimi no namida
Wake me up
Wake me up
Wake me up
Kono yume kara
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Oshietekure Maria!
Koroshite...
To hohoemi nagara hoho ni fureta
Mienai me ni namida wo tamete kieteyuku
Take me Out
Take me Out
Take me Out
Kono yume kara
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Kotaetekure JESUS!
God said when you die,
Your life will pass before your own eyes.
If you want to feel it right now,
Just do it, do it, do it!
Wake me up
Wake me up
Wake me up
Kono yume kara
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Oshietekure
Take me Out
Take me Out
Take me Out
Kono yume kara
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Real or dream?
Kotaetekure JESUS!
After he had finished his song, people applause for Reno, but most of them, which include the group of SOLDIER, were glad that the torture to their ears is over.
'Man, does he know that he is a little too loud for our ears?' Kadaj asked angrily as he rubbed his ears.
'Why don't you ask him personally?' Cloud replied with the same tone as the silver hair teen when he saw Reno was walking towards them.
'Can you top that Zack?' The red head asked cockily with a wide grin.
The black hair SOLDIER scoffed as he got up and told Reno sheepishly: 'Watch and learn from the pro man.'
As Zack took the microphone and walked towards the performance stage, while Reno returned to seat with the rest of the Turks, Cloud put his hands over his ears and told Kadaj: 'Tell me when it's over ok?'
The blond was sure that Zack is going to broke his eardrums one way or another, seeing that whenever the hyper-active SOLDIER was excited or getting a little cocky, his voice could become the most deadly weapon of all times.
Zack smirked arrogantly at his spectators as the music started, one of his favorite tunes.
Sake ta mune no kizuguchi ni
Afure nagareru PAIN IN THE DARK
Kasane ae ta shunkan no
Tsunagaru omoi tokashi te
Same nai netsu ni unasare te
Saigo no koe mo
Kikoe nai
DON'T CRY
Koware sou na hodo dakishime tara Kimi ga furue te i ta
Sotto kazasu tenohira ni
Fure te mise te
NEVER UNTIL THE END
Cloud blinked in surprise as he slowly removed his hands from his ears, because he couldn't believe that Zack could sing so smoothly and a glowing aura emanated from his body making looks a lot like an angel.
Koboreochiru suna no you ni Hakanai negai o CLOSE TO THE LIGHT
Toji ta kimi no omokage ni
Kare nai namida nijin de
Hodoi ta yubi no sukima kara
Inori ga fukaku tsukisasaru
DON'T CRY
Hate nai itami to kanashimi kara Kimi o sukue ta daro u
Motto tsuyoku tenohira ni
Fure te mise te
EVER AND NEVER END
Tokihanatsu SO FAR AWAY!
Kizamu inochi no tsubasa de Umarekawaru toki o
Machikogare te
DON'T CRY
Koware sou na hodo dakishime tara Kimi ga furue te i ta
Sotto kazasu tenohira ni
Fure te mise te
Kitto sagashi te i ta n da
Iroase nai
Kimi toiu na no kiseki
Motto tsuyoku tenohira de
Boku ni fure te
EVER AND NEVER END
Cheers and applauses erupted in the whole restaurant as the raven hair man strode towards the young dumbfounded blond with a big wide grin plastered on his face.
'So what do you think?' Zack asked Cloud as he sat next to him.
The blond had to blink three times before he regained his composure and turned his gaze away from Zack as he answered nonchalantly: 'Yeah, great. I guess.'
After those words left his mouth, the black hair boy jumped on him and gave him a chocking bear hug as he screamed: 'Oh, Cloudy! You are making me blush!'
'AND YOU ARE EMBARASSING ME!' The blond shouted as he tried to get Zack off of him.
'HEY! GET OFF OF NII-SAN!' Kadaj shouted angrily as he helped Cloud to pull Zack off. The trio stopped their mingling when they heard a gentler and softer and more feminine voice rose at the platform.
It's only love
It's only love
Moshimo negai hitotsudake kanaunara
Kimi no sobade nemurasete
Donna basho demo iiyo
Beautiful world
Mayowazu Kimidake wo mitsumeteiru
Beautiful boy
Jibun no utsukushisa mada shiranaino
It's only love
The girl with long curly brown hair who is singing paused to wink at their direction before she continued, leaving them staring at her dumbfounded.
Netemo sametemo
Shounen manga, yume mite bakka
Jibun ga shijyanaino
Naniga hoshiika wakaranakute
Nurui namida ga hoo wo tsutau
Iitai koto nantenai
Tada mouichido aitai
Iitai koto ienai
Konjyou nashi kamoshirenai
Soredeiikedo
Moshimo negai hitotsudake kanaunara
Kimi no sobade nemurasete
Donna basho demo iiyo
Beautiful world
Mayowazu Kimidake wo mitsumeteiru
Beautiful boy
Jibun no utsukushisa mada shiranaino
It's only love
Donna kotodemo yattemite
Sonn wo shitatte
Sukoshi keikenchi ageru
Shinbun nanka irenai
Tannjyun na koto ga nottenai
Saikin choushi doudai
Genki ni shiterunara
Betsuni iikedo
Boku no sekai kierumade aerunara
Kimi no sobade nemurasete
Donna basho demo kekkou
Beautiful world
Hakanaku sugete yuku hibi no naka de
Beautiful boy
Kibunn no mura ma shouganaine
Moshimo negai hitotsudake kanaunara
Kimi no sobade nemurasete
As the music died, the whole crowd cheered and whistled for the first girl singer, some drunks did catcalls, but they immediately stopped when the Turks glared at them.
'Uh-oh, looks like Cissnei got half of the crowd on their side.' Zack muttered under his breath as he stepped away from Cloud and looked at Kadaj with a superior look. 'You go ahead Kadaj and show them who the boss is!'
The silver hair teen nodded before he leaned closer to Cloud and whispered in his ears: 'Nii-san, don't look at anything else, but me, ok?'
Then Kadaj went towards the stage, leaving a confused blond behind. People in the restaurant started to whisper to each other when they saw the appearance of the young singer.
'Is that Sephiroth?' A girl whispered to her friend who shook her head.
'No, his hair is too short. Maybe it is his brother?' Her friend whispered back.
'I never heard that the Great Sephiroth had a brother before.' A man said in a low voice to those who are around him.
All of them fell in silence when Kadaj started to sing.
Nee konna katachi no deai shika nakatta no? kanashii ne
Anata ni shindemo ayamete hoshiku mo nai onegai
Unmei sae nomikomare shizumisou na umi e to
Negai yo kaze ni notte yoake no kane wo narase yo
Tori no you ni My wishes over their airspace
Musuu no nami wo koe asu e tachimukau anata wo mamoritamae
My life I trade it for your pain
Arasoi yo tomare!
Nee hito wa doushite kurikaeshi ayamachi wo kasaneteku?
Shinka shinai dare ni mo nagareru kono chi ga daikirai
Honnou de sabakiau dare no demo nai daichi de
Cloud's eyebrow twitched as he watched Kadaj singing this song from his heart. It's like he is trying to reach out for him, but why? He is always with him. Why did he look so sad? He stared at the deep green eyes that are now filled with a sudden pain and sadness in them, but they immediately disappeared when Kadaj continued his song.
Sumiwataru mirai ga kita nara kusabana mo heiki ni yadoru darou
My wishes over their airspace
Dareka yuriokoshite warui yume kara samashite yo
Kanau no nara My life I trade it for your pain
Dore dake inoreba ten ni todoku?
Ima asayake ga unabara to watashi wo utsusu
Negai yo kaze ni notte yoake no kane wo narase yo
Tori no you ni My wishes over their airspace
Musuu no nami wo koe asu e tachimukau anata wo mamoritamae
My life I trade it for your pain
Furimukazu habatake kono omoi wo hakonde ano sora wo tondeku
Mirai wa dare ni mo uchiotosenai
Everyone was silent until the last note of the music was over, then they burst into cheers as Kadaj jumped off the stage and headed towards Cloud with a goofy grin, the girls looked after him almost lustfully.
'You definitely rock Kadaj! We're going to win this for sure!' Zack said happily as he ruffled Kadaj's hair before he looked at the table of Turks where they discussed among themselves. A grin slowly made its way on the raven hair SOLDIER's face. 'Oh, looks like they ran out of cards.'
Unfortunately, his grin vanished faster than it had appeared on his face when the man in the white suit got up, he had short blond hair and blue eyes that are similar to Cloud's, but they lacked the warmth that the younger blond have.
When he is on the stage, all the girls turned their attentions towards him than the silver hair teen, some of them continued to whisper, but they all stopped when the man started to sing.
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my world
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life!
People immediately started to cheer and some girls did some dramatic sighs when the music had stopped, while the blond hair left the stage to rejoin the Turks' table where the others were snickering at Zack's attempt to ask Cloud to sing.
'Cloud, please?' The raven hair teen begged with his puppy eyes.
'NO, NO, NO, NO AND NO!' Cloud answered firmly as he crossed his arms over his chest, completely immune to the puppy look of Zack.
'Cloud! You are really my last hope to win this round or I have to suffer the worst humiliation in history!' The Second Class shouted dramatically as he pulled the blond up and dragged him towards the stage.
'Your humiliation?! What about my humiliation?! I have never ever sing anything before in my whole life goddamn it!' Cloud shouted back as he tried to find something to grab on for his dear life, but it is utterly impossible with Kadaj behind him, helping Zack to get him on the stage by pushing him from behind.
'Nii-san! You are going to be great if you just try and beside, it's fun to sing on stage.' The young Third Class tried to comfort the blond as they inched closer and closer to the platform, but Cloud only struggled harder.
You know, you should just do as they say, since I doubt they would let you go without singing at least one song tonight. Moon mused in his head. Cloud groaned exasperatedly, he knew that the black phoenix is right, but he really doesn't want to sing in front of a crowd and he doesn't even have a song in his mind. Not that he had never heard any song before. He had heard his mother sang dozen of different songs coming from the small radio in the kitchen and had sometimes forced him to sing along with her, so he knew a few popular ones.
Cloud snapped out of his trance when he felt a light tap on his back and he found himself standing on the stage with a microphone in his hand, he looked back to see, Kunsel asking him which song he'll pick.
He thought for a second or two before he mouthed the name of the song that he and his mother had sang more than once while he was still at Nibelheim.
Well, here goes nothing. The young blond thought the music started.
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
'Cause there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breath again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When Cloud had finished his song, every single person in the restaurant was silent, which it's not a very good sign, but suddenly the crowd erupted into cheers and asked for an encore.
'Sorry ladies and gentlemen, but this is the last song for "Open Night Karaoke", so please come again every Wednesday and you might have a chance to see one of your favorite singers of today.' Kunsel announced as he took the microphone from Cloud who gave him a small grateful smile, because he doesn't what do in front of all those people.
When he got down the stage, he saw Zack and Kadaj were having an argument with the Turks, probably about who had won the second round of the bet. Using the opportunity, of having the two hyper-active SOLDIERs distracted, he quietly slipped out of the restaurant, with only Sephiroth, Angeal and Genesis to witness his quiet departure.
Angeal was about to get up from his seat to tell Zack that Cloud had left, but the silver hair General stopped him and said: 'No, let Cloud get some rest, Zack had already exhausted him too much. Let him have some peace and quiet.'
P.S The songs that I had used in this chapter don't belong to me either.
Jesus - By Gackt
Innocent Sorrow - By Abingdon Boys School
Beautiful World - By Utada Hikaru
Daybreak's Bell - By L'Arc-en-Ciel
It's my Life - Bon Jovi
Crash and Burn - Savage Garden
Please review and tell what you think about this chapter!
