FALL PLAY
by Daidouji Tomoyo
DISCLAIMER: (gotta love these! = P) Card Captor Sakura/Cardcaptors
© CLAMP/Kodansha. "Fall Play" is a fanfic written by----- ME! This
story takes place sometime during the series (or maybe an alternate scene..?)---
Meiling and Eriol are present in this, both are students along with Sakura,
Syaoran, Tomoyo, and others at Tomoeda Elementary School.
To the readers/reviewers: Dude.... didn't know that would give me tons
of reviews... j/k! =P Don't worry, more mush (yeah right... I'm not good at
mush =P) coming right up.... ^^;;
Here's a little Japanese lesson concerning how you write people's names... =P
(someone actually emailed me telling me how "wrong" I am when I write
the characters' names ... welp, for someone who studied Japanese for four years,
I might as well write this down--- this little Japanese people's names rule
of thumb thing... or whatever you call it):
+ if you're Japanese and when you write your name in Japanese script AND when
you mention it in the everyday Japanese language, LAST NAME goes first before
the first name.
+ if you're Japanese and when you write a foreign name in Japanese script AND
when you mention it in the everyday Japanese language, FIRST NAME goes first
before the last name.
+ if you're Japanese and when you write a name that has a FOREIGN FIRST NAME
and a JAPANESE LAST NAME in Japanese script AND when you mention it in
the everyday Japanese language, FIRST NAME goes first before the last
name.
+ if you're Japanese and when you write a Japanese name AND when you mention
it while speaking in English or in some other language, it's acceptable to have
either LAST NAME going first or FIRST NAME going on first--- though most likely,
FIRST NAME would go first.
In other words, to that person who emailed me my "mistake," Eriol
Hiiragizawa's name is mentioned with his FIRST NAME first before his last name.
Thank you.
Also, I've gotten kinda lazy looking for people with good S + S fics so I can
host 'em on my site.. if you have a really good S + S fic and would like it
to be part of my little S + S fanfic archive, go visit my site Cherry Blossom,
Little Wolf at http://kinomoto.nu/cblw. I know I plugged this already
at the bottom but then again... please visit...? ^^; Thanks much! In addition,
I made up a mailing list form in the site too, so go visit and sign up
if you want to have email updates regarding my fics and the site. ^_^
Thanks for the reviews, minna-san! I really do appreciate it. ^_^
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAPTER 9: All The World's a Stage
Tomoyo came over my house tonight to pick me up so we can head to the school
auditorium for our final meeting. And as usual, she always had that worried
look on my face.
I know that I haven't been completely honest, but I have been trying to avoid
the Syaoran-Meiling kissing subject ever since that horrible day. I avoided
Tomoyo and the others everytime they tried to bring up the subject, plus I even
tried to avoid making any personal contacts with Syaoran or Meiling as well.
Everything else ever since was strictly to rehearsals. I'm the director, they
are the actors, the actors must follow the director, and that's it. Sure, I
was still on my usual happy self but then again, Tomoyo and those who knew me
closely felt that I was being a meanie-poop--- even meaner than Syaoran too,
they said. But then again, how can I be that mean when all I did was do what
I was supposed to do in the fall play project. I stood up to everyone, especially
Syaoran and Meiling and their little kissing scenes. I did not let their little
kissing fiascos get to me--- why? Because all I am to them is their director.
That was it.
In fact, I was even strict at my directing as well. I had troubles with Syaoran
who still kept staring at me everytime he was about to do a kissing scene with
Meiling during rehearsals, it was like his eyes were completely focused towards
me instead of her. I told him that he shouldn't be staring right at me when
he does all his kissing scenes but he always complained at me that he still
wasn't used to kissing without seeing me. For some reason (and I still am puzzled
by this up to now) that looking at me while he does his kissing scene with Meiling
made him feel comfortable and at ease whenever he does the kissing thing. I
still don't get it. I mean, Meiling is one of the prettiest girls I know around
and yet Syaoran's dazzling eyes (yes, I still admire and dream about his wonderful
brown eyes...) were still looking right at me. Weird, I thought.
"Sakura-chan!" I heard Dad calling me from downstairs. "Tomoyo-chan's
here! Are you ready?"
"Anon, Father, anon!" From out of nowhere, I started busting
out my words in Shakespearean English. Maybe I was either excited for the meeting
or that I was getting used to hearing and speaking in Shakespearean English
all this time that I have forgotten that I'm a Japanese-born girl with the mind
of Shakespeare. I heard Dad and Tomoyo laughing downstairs as I dashed down
to meet with them. "I meant... uhh..."
"I know what it means, sweetie," Dad chuckled. "I studied Shakespeare
in college too, you know." I gave him a small smile as I embraced him.
"Now, you girls take care, okay?"
"Thanks, Dad!" I replied with my happy smile once more.
"Thank you Kinomoto-san," Tomoyo bowed in respect as Dad went back
to his den to work on his lesson plans for his archaeology classes in college.
"Oh Tomoyo-chan," I smiled at her as I headed towards the shoe closet,
"hold on a sec, lemme go get my shoes." I went inside the shoe closet
when I noticed Tomoyo following me from behind.
"Sakura-chan, we really do need to talk..." I heard Tomoyo's serious
tone from behind.
"Sure, what about?" I asked, not in the care of the world at all.
"Li-kun..." Right away I gasped to hear Syaoran's name again that
made me hit my head against the low ceiling of the shoe closet.
"OW!" I rubbed my head gently as I finally took my favorite pair of
blue sneakers that matches my usual blue pair of jeans and my soccer jersey-style
t-shirt. "Tomoyo-chan... I told you never to mention that name around me
again!"
"I'm really serious this time, Kinomoto Sakura," for the first time
Tomoyo actually went against me. Normally she just accepted what I wished, but
this time, it was different. "You're not your usual self for the past few
weeks now, you know."
"I was just doing my job as director, Tomoyo-chan," I frowned as I
sat on the couch, putting on my shoes. Tomoyo followed me and sat right next
to me. "Did I do something wrong...?"
"Sakura-chan, you really do need to know what happened that day---"
"Tomoyo-chan, I don't want to think about it again.. I've seen it all...
Meiling kissed him, Syaoran kissed him back---" Before I can continue,
Tomoyo just shook her head at me. "What? You've seen it before your eyes!"
Finally I tied my shoe strings and we both headed towards Tomoyo's limousine,
where all her female bodyguards have been waiting next to the door. We hopped
in there as the limo drove right to Tomoeda Elementary. We continued our talk
there. What was Tomoyo trying to tell me, I thought. It was bad enough that
those two have to kiss, but the worst part was that they did it in public without
even caring who was ACTUALLY watching! Then again, who am I to talk? I mean
Syaoran doesn't even know how I feel about him in the first place anyway...
"I was there along with you, Sakura-chan, but the only difference was that
YOU ran away. I stayed."
"What are you talking about?" I was getting a little irritated at
her that I wanted to scream my lungs out. I already told her and the rest of
my friends never to talk to me regarding Syaoran and Meiling ever again, but
I guess I realized that I was only being stubborn overall. I promised myself
that I would make both Syaoran and Meiling happy, therefore I decided to be
their director and nothing else BUT the director of the play. I guess there
was something wrong with that one too.
"Here's the story, Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo felt free to tell me the
whole story about what happened that day.
**FLASHBACK MODE**
"I.... I.... I...."
"Sakura-chan?!"
"I forgot, I gotta talk to the teachers about something... I'll meet you
all later in the auditorium... bye everyone!"
**END FLASHBACK MODE**
"I remember that part, Tomoyo-chan... it was the time when I finally
decided to run away so I wouldn't have to watch all of that..."
"We all remember that, Sakura-chan... but then..."
**FLASHBACK MODE**
"Meiling!! Stop it!!" Tomoyo stood up from her spot and was about
to grab Meiling from behind. "Poor Li-kun!"
Ugh... where is it...? Syaoran thought in his mind as he slowly moved his fingers
gently on Meiling's spine. At the same time he closed his eyes and chanted magical
words repeatedly ever since Meiling wrestled him down and attempted to kiss
him. These magic words "shielded" him from Meiling's lips-- even if
it looked like they were really kissing, Syaoran was not able to feel her lips
and vice-versa. It was one of those rare magic spells that he hardly used that
he learned back from his childhood training. There's no way that Meiling is
ever going to feel my lips on hers... no way... ugh, where is it...? He continued
to move his fingers gently on Meiling's spine when suddenly--- Ah! Found it!
Immediately with both his right pointer and middle finger, he touched a certain
point on her spine, causing Meiling to feel pain on her back.
"OWWW.... THAT HURTS.... XIAO LANG!!" Meiling was forced to get up,
trying to search and feel that certain point that gave her that very hard pain.
While Meiling was busy trying to look for it, Syaoran immediately got himself
up and looked around the picnic area.
"SAKURA?!" Syaoran yelled while Tomoyo and Eriol stood up from their
seats as well. "WHERE'D SHE GO?!"
"She ran off to the auditorium!" Tomoyo informed him.
"Oh no..." Syaoran sighed deeply to himself as he dashed off immediately.
"SAKURA?!!!"
"HEY LI-KUN, WAIT UP!!" Tomoyo chased after Syaoran.
"Hmmm.... this could get very interesting..." Eriol smirked and followed
Tomoyo from behind.
"Ooooh, this is sooo cute!!" Rika sighed happily.
"Let's go and look for them!" Naoko told the others as she, Rika,
Chiharu, and Yamazaki followed Eriol and Tomoyo from behind.
"HEY!!" Meiling cried out towards all of them. "WHERE ARE YOU
ALL GOING--- DON'T LEAVE ME HERE...." She tried to get up, but the pain
was still there on her back. "Oww... how could you do this to me, Xiao
Lang...? Don't you want to feel and taste my sweet lips on yours, my love...?"
**END FLASHBACK MODE**
"Hoe..." It was the only word that came out from my mouth. Syaoran
probably got caught off-guard that he wasn't quick enough to get himself away
from Meiling. Then again Meiling is a martial artist after all; she knows when
her opponent is completely off-guard and that's the time where she attacks.
And the surprising part was that Syaoran didn't even bother say sorry or say
anything at all to Meiling after what he did to her back? Whatever in the world
he did, actually...
"Accupressure, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo explained to me. "Li-kun
did some accupressure attack on Meiling just so he can get out of that mess...
plus he did some numbing spell on himself or on Meiling or something
like that so he doesn't get to feel gross and... well, you know..."
"Oh my goodness..." I sighed deeply. Baka Sakura!! Why the
heck did you run away, you moron?! You could've pulled Meiling away, but then
again Meiling would know that this whole thing was bothering me...
"Li-kun also felt your aura or something and led him to the trees nearby
the auditorium... he was too afraid to get through the trees and face you but
he did feel you, Sakura-chan... he said that you were in pain and that you wanted
to cry, but you held your lip and tried not to cry... is that true, Sakura-chan...?"
I kept myself silent, trying not to talk about how I felt. I guess it was already
obvious that I was jealous of both Syaoran and Meiling and their constant kissing
during the play, even if that kiss wasn't for real or not... who knows, maybe
it could be for real and they wanted to show off their love for each other in
front of everyone... but then again, that's what Meiling would do, but Syaoran
wouldn't be the type of person to show off. "Then it is true..."
"Tomoyo-chan..." I murmured softly. "How can I be so..."
"You're in love, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo placed her arm around me and
patted me lightly. "It's part of being in love..."
I sighed and curled myself on my seat. "I... I guess..."
Tomoyo chuckled softly and said: "We're here at the meeting... let's make
the best of it before tomorrow's opening night!"
"Yeah!" I returned my smile to her as the limo finally entered the
parking lot of Tomoeda Elementary. Alright, it's final meeting time...
We had a little celebration during that party. Everything--- the costumes, the
props, the settings, you name it--- were complete and ready to be shown off
for the play. The actors and such were still rehearsing their lines but no script
in front of them, which was a really good sign. Tomoyo and I looked around to
see if everyone was present. It looked like everyone was present except for
one person...
"Meiling," I called out to her when I spotted her talking to Chiharu,
Rika, and Naoko at the first row seats. I ran to them and greeted at them, as
they returned their greetings. My first words to Meiling were "... where's
Syaoran-kun...?"
Meiling sighed deeply and said: "He didn't want to go... he said he doesn't
feel well..."
"OH NO!!" I shrieked shockingly. "THIS IS BAD NEWS!!! HE CAN'T
BE SICK!!! COME ON, TOMORROW'S OPENING NIGHT!!!"
"Calm down, Sakura-chan," I heard Naoko from behind as she placed
her hands on my shoulders. "Li-kun isn't literally sick... he just said
that he didn't feel like going.."
"What?! Why?!" I sighed deeply. I was even looking forward to see
him again too... and not to mention finally talk to him in private about what
happened... I feel so bad for being such a cold, nasty meanie-poop throughout
the rest of the rehearsal days...
"He won't talk to me, Kinomoto..." Meiling whined and pouted right
at me. She looked like she was crying almost, which sorta gave me a little suspicion.
What was wrong with Syaoran, I thought... "Do something, Kinomoto... I'm
so worried about him..."
"What can I do...?" I sighed deeply. "Look... um... I'll try
and..."
"Please, Kinomoto... please...?" Meiling suddenly shed some tears
and from out of nowhere, she murmured: "551-9807..."
"Hoe...?" I blinked in confusion. Meiling suddenly took out her cell
phone from her purse and handed it to me. Then she repeated those numbers again.
"What...?"
"Xiao Lang's cell number... he..." Meiling wiped off some of her tears
and continued on, "... he said for me to... give you his cell number..."
"Hoe...." I gulped and stared at the cell phone. Tomoyo and the others
just smiled at me, nodding at the same time.
"Do it, Sakura-chan!" Naoko cheered on. "Call him..."
"Call him, Sakura-chan!" Both Chiharu and Rika cheered on as well.
I turned to Tomoyo and she just smiled at me. Well, what can I say, I thought.
I guess things may be different tonight, even if he's not around.
"Okay... but it'd be easier for me if I talk to him alone..." I warned
everyone.
"Just... just get him to talk and ask him why he doesn't want to come tonight..."
Meiling pouted. "Ever since we started kissing he's been acting really
cold to me in private... he was only nice to me whenever you and everyone else
is around..."
"Alright, alright..." I smiled a bit at Meiling as I decided to run
backstage and in an empty area. I looked around to be sure that no one as around.
As the coast was clear, I turned on Meiling's cell phone and started dialing
Syaoran's number.
I do hope his phone is on... and I do hope he's around. Come on... please
answer, Syaoran-kun...
"Hai... Li desu... moshi-moshi...? (Hello, Li speaking... hello?)"
Syaoran-kun... oh how refreshing it feels to hear your voice again... I
blushed heavily and deeply crimson red, enjoying the sweet sound of that very
male voice of his. "Guess whoooo?!"
"Oh great... I hate guessing games..." I giggled softly. I haven't
laughed happily ever since our first phone call. Boy, it felt so good...
"You're a poor sap, Li Syaoran!" I decided to tease him a little.
"We've only talked once and you forgot how I sound already over the phone?
You call yourself unforgettable? Yeah right!"
Then from the other line, I heard him chuckle softly. "I miss your sweet,
cute voice, Sakura..."
"Awww..." I blushed even more than ever. I feel like I was completely
happily in love with him once again. "I miss your voice too, Syaoran-kun..."
"Actually... I miss everything about you, Sakura... I thought that you
and I would never---"
"Shhh..." It was my turn to hush this time. I felt as if I wanted
to just stay here at my little dark corner backstage and talk to him all night.
"Let's just forget about everything... okay...?"
"Well... not everything... there are other things that I wanted to cherish
about you and me, Sakura... of course, that would be a secret..."
"Man, I hate secrets..." I frowned but giggling at the same time.
"Now we're even." I laughed even more. Ah, just like the old times
again.
"Hey Syaoran-kun, listen," I was ready to bring up the subject on
why he didn't show up tonight. "How come---?"
"--- that I'm not there tonight?" Man, he probably must have read
my mind---magically. "I have my reasons, but don't worry about me, Sakura...
I'll be ready for tomorrow."
"But you're missing all the fun!" I told him.
"I miss you more than fun itself, Sakura..." Syaoran-kun... gosh,
stop it... this is no time to make Kinomoto Sakura be transformed to Kinomo-TOMATO
Sakura...
"Syaoran-kun..." Now I wanted to escape big time... escape from this
party, run over to Syaoran's apartment, and spend the whole night alone with
him, just like long ago when we spent the whole day in a stormy school day in
our classroom alone, trying to teach him how to kiss. "Syaoran-kun... you
don't know how much I missed you..."
"Uhh... I don't need to guess, right?"
"Oh be quiet!" I laughed once more, trying to regain my usual goofy
self around him. "Anyway, one more thing... about Meiling..."
"I guess I'll have to forgive her..."
"Eh?" Forgive her, I thought. What did she do? She just did what a
dutiful bride-to-be should do to her hubby-to-be, right?
"Personal stuff... I've been avoiding her for awhile now, but of course,
during rehearsals I didn't have a choice, you know?"
"Well.. um... I do hope that you guys work things out--- especially that
tomorrow---"
"I know... but you shouldn't worry. I just didn't feel like partying tonight...
you guys can have fun, but I'll see you all tomorrow..."
"Awww..." I sighed sadly. "Now that Meiling gave me your cell
number, can I call you tonight...?"
"I'd probably be asleep then and my cell would be off... but I'll see you
tomorrow, 'kay?"
"Awrighty then, Romeo," I blushed and chuckled. "You have a good
sleep now... nighty-night!"
"Goodnight, Sakura." We both hung up and skipped back to the party
happily and with a huge smile on my face.
I handed Meiling's cell back to her as I told everyone the news that Syaoran
was not in a mood for partying tonight, but he will be here tomorrow, so everything
is just fine. Later during the night I finally gave my final word speech to
everyone, basically telling everyone the great job that they have done and all
that schnazz. Tomoyo also had her final words in addition to Terada-sensei and
Mizuki-sensei. After all the touching speeches (yeah right...), back to partying
again with food, folks, and fun.
I also talked to Meiling about Syaoran and told her exactly the same thing as
I did with Syaoran. I told them that they should work some things out before
opening night tomorrow, so in that way, we all perform our presentation with
carefree smiles and moods. Not only that it will ease everyone down, but it
will also keep them from getting these stage frights. For the first time Meiling
and I actually got along with no accusations and stuff and Meiling even gave
me a bunch of thank yous for being such a good director--- and just being a
good person all along. She finally apologized for her behavior at me but that
also didn't change the fact that she was still in love with Syaoran. I hated
competition myself, but then again, what's there to compete when she and Syaoran
are the definite couple anyway? I wished they weren't engaged though so both
of them would be free--- then the boys would also get to fight over her while
the girls do the same for Syaoran. Oh well, another one of my weird thoughts
again.
Finally the party was over and the backstage crew and myself decided to clean
up the mess we made. Luckily it was only the table that was placed in front
of the stage and not the stage itself or else our sets and props would be ruined.
Everything else was perfect and ready for tomorrow night. Woohoo, I thought.
Look at all the hardwork that we did... everything was just well worth it.
I was sweeping the floor of the stage and was about to sweep the area near the
curtain when I overheard voices again. This time, I can recognize who these
two voices were, since both of them were boys anyway...
"I have never felt nervous before, Yamazaki..."
"You? Nervous? Whoa, what's up with you, Hiiragizawa...?"
"I can't help myself... could this be love...?"
"How should I know? You practically flirt with every single girl in class
including Mizuki-sensei herself!"
"I'm a growing boy, Yamazaki! It must be my male hormones kicking in already...
I'm growing up way too fast!"
I can hear Yamazaki laughing quietly. "Hiiragizawa, what can I say? You
were born a gentleman... and you're really popular with the ladies... well...
second most popular to Li, of course!"
"Yamazaki, I can't stop thinking about what I just said to her... about
the opening night of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Tokyo... I was just
teasing her at first because I was just having fun but now... what is this feeling
that I'm getting for her...?"
"Whoa, Hiiragizawa, you sure know how to find your way to a girl's heart..."
"I was just teasing around, Yamazaki... it makes me feel invincible when
I tease around like that.. you notice how I always tease Li a lot...?"
"I'm talking about teasing the girls! So.. anyway, about that Midsummer
Night's Dream thing that you asked... how did she take it...?"
"She thought it was for real... I was going to play a mean trick on her
but... I just can't seem to be motivated on doing that anymore..."
"That's kinda mean but sounds fun, Hiiragizawa... so... uhh... how are
you going to face Mizuki-sensei now...?"
"I wasn't talking about Mizuki-sensei, Yamazaki..."
"Wha--- you weren't?!" He wasn't?! So that mysterious girl who was
swooning over Eriol that day when I overheard them talking and flirting behind
the curtain wasn't Mizuki-sensei...? But... that's just weird... okay, now I'm
confused...
"I admit, I have my special fonding of Mizuki-sensei, but that's just a
fling... but this girl... such a sweet, beautiful darling lass... is someone
more than just a girl for me to tease... am I making any sense to you, Yamazaki?"
"Well... let me tell you something... did you know that Shakespeare once
said---"
"'All the world's a stage,' Yamazaki?"
"DARN IT! YOU STOLE MY FAVORITE LINE!" I heard Eriol laughing softly
as I just shook my head. Idiots, I thought to myself. Just wait till
I tell Tomoyo about this!
"So... what are you gonna do now, Hiiragizawa?"
"Tomorrow night--- after performance--- I shall confess my feelings to
her..."
"I still don't know who you're talking about, but... if it's the girl who
I think it is, then... whoa, man... good luck to you!"
"Why thank you... I assure you... my heart is not playing around with me
and I'm sure that this certain princess would be happy when she's with me..."
"Man... I need to be more romantic like you so I can shut Chiharu up from
all her whining and complaining ..." The boys laughed again as I decided
to walk away before they catch me eavesdropping. I wonder who the lucky girl
was? Could it be Tomoyo-chan? But then again if it were Tomoyo-chan, I would
know, right? Ah well...
That night, we all went home and thanks to that night, it feels like good ol'
bubbly Kinomoto Sakura has returned after how many weeks of suffering in sadness
and in anger seeing the boy I love and his fiancee "showing off their affections"
to everyone in public. I felt so blissful and so wonderful after that little
chat with Syaoran on the phone. I'm so happy that there really was nothing drastic
that happened to him that could cause a major problem in tomorrow's show. Eriol
is Li's understudy, but then again, who would be playing Benvolio if that ever
happens, you know? Major problem indeed. Anyhow, Tomoyo brought me home and
I decided not to tell Tomoyo what I heard from Eriol and Yamazaki's convo behind
the curtain. That wouldn't be fair, I thought. I want Tomoyo to find out herself
and see what Eriol's true feelings are.
I'm very sure that I will be having a wonderful sleep tonight. I can't wait
till tomorrow!
Next day came. I had a strange yet somewhat wonderful dream last night. It kind
of related to the Clow Cards that Kero-chan revealed while he was telling me
my love fortune with Syaoran a long time ago. I still remembered them--- The
Sword, The Glow, The Fly, and The Wood. I was right the first time, it marked
some kind of a location. I found myself flying on open air, feeling in total
bliss, then later landed somewhere at the center of a very dark and green forest,
seeing all these strange glowing all around me like fireflies as the stars.
The sight was so beautiful, then later I felt someone's arms placed tightly
around me, holding me comfortably and in a protective way, not letting me go.
I couldn't tell who it was but I gently placed my head against his chest. We
ended up cuddling each other when we sat down underneath one of the trees. The
mysterious person whispered something on my ear but I couldn't tell what he
said since what he said was not very clear to me--- like he was talking to me
in some foreign language or something. Then all of a sudden, I fell asleep in
his arms. The next thing I knew, I woke up again--- an hour before the time
that I had to leave for school.
Could it be Syaoran, I thought to myself. The dream showed the representation
of The Glow, The Fly, and The Wood, but what about The Sword? Could the mysterious
person be The Sword? I don't understand... I hate interpreting dreams sometimes.
I wonder if it's a "precognitive" dream like Kero-chan always talked
to me about--- but then again, that only works on locating the Clow Cards. But
this one that I had was just really weird. But even then, that mysterious person
took me in lovingly and gently and we cuddled lovingly to each other. What a
wonderful dream... what a blissful feeling.
That morning was like the actual opening night. It was our first dress rehearsal,
performing certain scenes from the play that we chose from the play--- kinda
like sneak previews of our play. We will be performing in the morning and in
the afternoon before we can actually get ourselves really ready for tonight.
In the morning, the whole Tomoeda Elementary will be watching. In the afternoon,
only select classes from Seijyou High School (Touya better not be there or I
would be so embarrassed, but I don't mind seeing Yuki-san there!) will be watching
our dress rehearsal. We decided to perform five scenes-- one from each act.
Act One, Scene 1; Act Two, Scene 2; Act Three, Scene 1; Act Four, Scene 5; Act
Five, Scene 1. Everything else, they will have to come tonight so they can see
the whole thing. On our dress rehearsal, there will only be one kissing scene
there, which is the famous balcony scene (Act Two, Scene 2), only so that Syaoran
wouldn't be too nervous kissing in public tonight and another good reason is
very valid--- I was the one who personally chose those scenes.
The dress rehearsal went by smoothly, with a lot of cheers and praises from
both Tomoeda Elementary kids and the Seijyou High people. It was actually jinxed
or bad luck or whatever because in the play itself, I would be the one presenting
the play, since I'm the director. Tomoyo is still playing the Chorus/Announcer
of the play, but I had to present the play, since I'm the director. I saw Touya
right smack at the center of first row along with Yuki-san and Akizuki Nakuru-san,
Touya and Yuki's girl friend (I heard that she's Eriol's cousin or something
like that, but I know for sure that she's one of Eriol's guardians, just like
me and Syaoran having Kero-chan and Yue as our guardians). Touya was actually
snickering at me, trying to torment me or whatever while I was presenting the
play to the audience before we started. Luckily I did not studder while he was
making stupid faces at me, but right after I did my part, I did plan to get
back at him one way or the other for attempting to mess me up. He had better
not do the same thing to me again tonight or he's REALLY going to get it.
After school everyone went home early so they can freshen themselves up for
tonight. I was the last person to leave, since I wanted to be sure that all
the props and such are in proper order and to be sure that nothing is wrong
with them. Tomoyo was supposed to do this, but she had a dentist appointment,
so I told her that I'll go and inspect everything for her. She didn't want me
to do that, but after the wonderful position that she got me in to for this
play, I wanted to return the favor for her. After the inspection I went home
myself.
At last, it was only three hours away from opening night. I dressed myself in
my usual everyday clothing, but I packed my semi-formal dress in one of those
suit bags or something, just so to make this opening night as formal as possible.
Kero-chan actually helped me out on it, since he always informed me more of
Shakespeare's interests and stuff on how his plays should be presented. He wasn't
much of a formal-type of guy, Kero-chan said. Shakespeare was an ordinary commoner
with a lot of talent and imagination, and since his company became so popular
among the common folk that he was often invited by Queen Elizabeth I herself
to have his theatrical company perform some of his plays in the Royal Court.
At the same time I started talking to him about the trip to England, that is,
if the representative guy did choose our class to represent Japan in this summer
camp thing there. Then Kero-chan told me that if we ever decided to meet the
Royal Family and never really have a chance during summer camp (well, what he
meant was that if meeting the Royal Family was not included in the summer camp
plans, that is) that we should bug Eriol about it. I asked him why and he said
that Eriol is close friends with the Prince of England or something like that
and that he can arrange a meeting with at least one member of the Royal Family.
Wow, lucky, I thought to myself. Then again, with Eriol, anything is possible,
you know?
Dad and Touya were all dressed neatly--- not too fancy, but nice enough--- for
tonight's play. They will be heading off to the auditorium three hours later,
but I had to be at the auditorium three hours early to do backstage stuff, you
know? Since it was still daytime I decided to rollerblade my way to school along
with my suit bag and my backpack with my accessories stuff so I can dress up
neatly backstage. I wanted to look nice for opening night, but I wanted to change
back to my everyday clothes during the stage cleanup. On the way I met up with
Chiharu, Naoko, and Rika, who also have their stuff with them for makeup and
things, just chatting along. I decided to join the chatter, being my usual everyday
self, talking about school, the play, and for the first time, boys. Naoko also
talked about her writing. She said that during her spare time she writes a story---
most likely a horror story, to be exact, since she was so obsessed with them.
Rika and Chiharu just talked about boys, with Rika talking about some older
guy that she had a crush on (kinda like me when I had Yuki-san as my first crush,
but I wonder how old this guy is...). Chiharu started complaining about Yamazaki
again, which obviously was nothing new. Then later we started talking about
Syaoran and Meiling, which is obviously my least favorite subject to talk about.
I don't really talk about Syaoran that much to anyone except for Tomoyo, and
personally, I would rather talk to Syaoran himself without any "backup"
from anybody else, you know?
We finally arrived backstage and the actors started doing their last-minute
rehearsing. Again, I ended up helping out Syaoran and Meiling again with their
scenes... luckily I didn't have to suffer watching them kissing in public again.
Boy, seeing that still drove me nuts, even if everything was not even for real.
Goodness, I hope not. And Syaoran still has a problem about kissing, not on
the fact of doing it, but the fact that he wouldn't be able to do it without
him looking at me. I was afraid that Meiling would be whining at me again so
I decided to pull Syaoran out backstage to have a word with him. "What's
wrong, Syaoran-kun...?"
"I know this sounds stupid, Sakura, but... I just can't get used to kissing
without seeing you..." He said. "I don't know how to say this to you
but ever since... well... um..."
I found myself blushing, thinking of what he might say next, but I replied:
"What's on your mind, Syaoran-kun?"
"I'm not nervous, Sakura, if that's what you're wondering. But I do have
this problem... it was really easy when you're around or when I see you... that's
why you always find me looking at you everytime I kiss Meiling..." I blushed
even more, but tried to hide it away from him. How could he be looking at me
and kissing Meiling at the same time? That's just way to weird... unless...
"Let me see..." I started thinking about resolving this little problem.
Then, I remembered the little convo last night between Eriol and Yamazaki that
inspired me to say what I was about to say to him. "There's a famous saying
that Shakespeare said during his time... he said---"
"'All the world's a stage,'" Syaoran immediately interrupted me with
that same quote.
"Dang it, how'd you know?" I frowned at him while he just smirked
right at me.
"Sakura... everybody knows that saying... Shakespeare is very popular,
you know that," he smirked at me as I just shook my head.
"Well anyway, what I'm saying is that... you gotta learn how to picture
everything your way now. What I mean is that... you need to use your imagination
for you to do what you were supposed to do, especially with the kissing stuff.
You have to learn how to do things without something else in your way now."
I glanced out right at the stage and smiled. "The stage is your world know.
There is no one else or nothing else out there except for yourself and the stage.
I guess that's what Shakespeare-sama meant when he said that... you know? The
stage is your world--- there is no props, there is no audience, there is no
director, no nothing! It's only YOU, YOURSELF, and THE STAGE, Li Syaoran!"
He stood silent, probably thinking of what I just told him. He glanced at the
stage with the curtain closed. He scanned around the props that were just waiting
to be shown for the play, plus the rest of the actors all getting themselves
ready and dressed up in their costumes, practicing their roles, and such. Then
he turned his eyes right at me and said, "I won't fail you, Sakura... I'll
do my best... only because you want me to..."
I shook my head and chuckled a bit. "No no, don't do this just for me,
do this for everyone--- for yourself, for our class, the school, the audience,
and FOR THAT DARN SUMMER TRIP TO ENGLAND!!"
Syaoran smiled a bit and nodded. "Hai... Sakura-chan. I'll do my
best. Thanks." We stood silent again, just like we always end up. Again
I started to have this feeling again. Oh I wish I could just kiss him right
then and right now... but then again, I still refused to let everyone know what
exactly happened between the two of us that day before he finally convinced
himself to kiss Meiling in the play.
Besides, Meiling was waiting for him backstage too, watching right behind me.
"Uhh.... um..." Both of us had our sweatdrops falling from the back
of our heads, trying to figure out what we were supposed to say afterwards,
along with our usual constant blushing.
"Well... you'd better get yourself ready," I smiled warmly at him.
"We've only got so much time to prepare before the actual time of the presentation..."
He nodded slowly as I continued. "I wish you and everyone else well, Syaoran-kun."
"Thank you, Sakura," he replied with no studdering on his words. "...
for everything."
I fell silent again, thinking of the right words to reply to that. But since
this was not the time to get all mushy at him, I simply gave him a simple reply:
"You're always welcome, Syaoran-kun!"
At long last, the hour has finally arrived. I dressed up in my semi-formal dress---
a simple short-sleeved white dress with a small cherry blossom print on the
top right of the dress's top. This came along with white knee-hi's and my white
flat shoes. I was to present the play to the audience (and Touya better not
be making any stupid funny faces at me again or I'm gonna smack him flat right
after the play), feeling completely ready to show myself off in front of everyone.
Behind me were the cast, cheering and rooting me on. I looked at them and gave
them my best smile at them. I noticed Syaoran standing there, looking very dashingly
handsome in his Romeo costume. Though he was always dashingly and charmingly
handsome by himself, he always had this powerful aura of a prince that surrounded
him. Sigh...
After the little introduction by Terada-sensei and Mizuki-sensei, I heard my
name, giving me the signal to get up on stage and finally said my words: "Thank
you for coming, minna-san! After almost two months of rehearsing and
researching and preparing for our version of Shakespeare's Most Powerful Tragedy,
Romeo and Juliet, what you are about to see may probably give you a reminder
about how quickly love develops despite of young age. I guess I can relate a
bit to Romeo and Juliet, not just on the fact that they're both from feuding
families or the fact that they're deeply in love with each other, but the fact
that how children can truly make a difference in the ugly sides of the real
world. Parents all have the responsibility to teach their children the true
meaning and the various facts of life, as well as the usual school stuff and
other activity stuff that kids always go through in their lives. The children
learn a lot from their parents, and there will always be a point where children
will take advantage of what they learned to reteach their parents the mistakes
that they have done. I guess although it was unexpected, the tragic deaths of
these two star-crossed lovers resulted in a very high valuable lesson that both
the Montagues and the Capulets learned. As Prince Escalus said in the play,
see how God decided to destroy the innocent lives of your children through your
utter hatred... In other words, parents should also need to learn to listen
to their children's feelings, as much as the children listened to their parents'
feelings..." I tried to be as simple and as honest and as meaningful "Kinomoto
Sakura style" as I can with my little speech, and it looked like I caught
everyone's attention. I also saw Dad and Touya sitting at the fourth row with
Dad smiling and Touya remaining still. Next to Touya were Yuki-san and Akizuki
Nakuru-san, also giving me the same smiles. Finally, I ended my little speech.
"... We all worked hard to make Romeo and Juliet as believable and
as convincing and as powerful as it was in the original script written by the
great William Shakespeare himself... and I do hope you all enjoy the show. Doumo
arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very much)." I bowed down in the usual
traditional Japanese way as I received a lot of cheers and praises from all
sides of the auditorium from the audience to the sound and light crew to the
people at the sides and at the back of the stage.
I glanced at everyone and at the stage all around me... and Shakespeare was
right. "All the world's a stage!"
As the theater folks would always say--- the show must NOW go on...
To be continued...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Woo! At last... the best stuff happens in the next chapter! =P I do hope
this would make up the "evilness" in ch. 8 tho'... ^^;
Comments? Questions? Reviews? Email me--- lucca@rikku.nu---
or just visit my website--- http://kinomoto.nu! Want to have your
Sakura & Syaoran fic hosted? Visit my S&S fanfic archive:
Cherry Blossom, Little Wolf - http://kinomoto.nu/cblw
