Suicidal (Suicidal Book 1)

Chapter Fourteen: The Battle (The Final Round)

Kion grinned as Janja's band, the Death Metal Gang, was kicked out of the running for the final round. Just him and Rani now. Just like always. Friends friends, to lovers, to mortal enemies. Together to the end. Two sides of the same coin. Fitting, huh? Kion chuckled to himself. He heard a bit of muttering coming from behind him, and turned slightly. He saw Rani's father standing there, passing a small thin package to the announcer, who had just left the stage after announcing that Kion's band, Anarchists for Hire, and Rani's band, Children of Cool, would be fighting it out for the title of Best Band in the final round of the Battle of the Bands. 

Kion narrowed his eyes as the small donkey accepted the package and nodded after Rani's father said something. His eyes zoomed in on a piece of green sticking out of the package. He recognized a face on it. His eyes widened. Money. Rani's father was bribing the announcer so his daughter would win. He growled. That sonuvabitch. He'd pay for that. Kion swore. He would crush his daughter in the the Battle of the Bands, so that the announcer had no choice to proclaim the Anarchists for Hire as the Best Band. 

Vitani and Nuka came around the corner and nodded to Kion. "It's our turn," Vitani said, placing her paw on Kion's yellow shoulder. Kion nodded. "Alright. Let's do this you guys." 

Kion walked on to the stage to the massive amounts of applause coming from the crowds and swarms of people below. Their joy and excitement was radiating off of them in waves of passionate heat. As Kion and Vitani and Nuka assumed their positions, the crowds of people and animals cheered as Kion stepped up to the microphone and started singing. 

(A/N: Somtimes People Suck by Sam Tinnesz is blocked for me. Just look it up on YouTube yourselves if you want to listen to it. Thank you for understanding.) 

As soon as he finished, he twirled and spun his way over to Vitani's old spot as the two of them switched their places, Kion taking her place as the backup singer and Vitani going into the spotlight and the microphone as the lead singer. 

When they finished to everyone screaming again, the two of them swapped and Kion stepped back up. "I am extremely loyal to my friends," he spoke into the microphone. "I will be with them forever. Even if it hurts." He then started to sing the song they had chosen. 

As everyone stopped clapping and the cheering died down in anticipation of their final song, Kion stepped up to the microphone for the last time. "This song, originally sung by the great rapper blackbear, is my tribute to the lion I know and love: Kovu!" In the backstage, Kovu smiled a wide smile as Kion professed his love for him. He did love him! He had forgiven him! There might still be hope after all! 

Kion began to sing, softly at first then belting out the lyrics by the end, with many people in crowd swaying their bodies, cheering and chanting Kion's name, and singing along with him. 

(A/N: the video would not appear here, but I posted it at the top. The song is IDFC [which translates to I Don't Fucking Care - @AnimalRights10 ] by blackbear. Thank you again for your understanding.) 

As the song ended, the audience was cheering for Kion, but the announcer walked up onstage and motioned for everyone to clam and quiet down so he could tell them the winner. He grabbed the microphone from Kion and spoke it a loud voice as everyone leaned forward in anticipation and excitement, many hoping for Rani, but a couple of them actually rooting for Kion and his friends instead. 

"And the winner is...." The announcer began. Kion crossed his fingers and hoped as Nuka made the sign of the cross and Vitani stared intently at the donkey. 

"CHILDREN OF COOL with Rani, Jasiri, Baliyo, and Madoa!" The donkey screamed out loudly. The audience went wild, clapping and cheering for them. A few of the crowd members shook their heads and turned, pushing through the crowd as they left. The band members ran up to the stage with thunderous applause and accept the trophy as Kion and the others growled and snarled at them behind the curtains backstage. 

"It was rigged," Kion said furiously. "The donkey was bought off by Rani's little old pops. I'll kill him!" 

Nuka snarled. "That ain't a half bad idea." Vitani nodded. Kovu walked over. "Hey, uh, Kion, I'm, uh, sorry for earlier, uh, can I come back now?" 

Kion turned to him and smiled before leaning forward and grabbing his head and kissing him deeply. Vitani and Nuka  chuckled and grabbed the two of them, hugging them as soon as they broke their kiss. Once they all separated, Kion snarled. "I want to kill them. Especially Rani." 

"I may have an idea," Kovu said. "Y'know the wards ceremony in a week or so?" The three of them all nodded their understanding. 

"What if we did something there?" Vitani asked. Nuka and Kion nodded. Kovu chuckled. "I have the perfect idea." They all leaned in. Kovu had a large dark smile on his face. 

"Let's go bomb a ceremony."