Love Conquers All

Chapter 2

Author's note: This is a little longer than the first chapter…or maybe the first chapter is just plain short.

            The limo pulled up to the condominium building. Tomoyo stepped out, said "bye" to Mikado and bolted to her condo. She tried to spend minimal time with him in the first place. "Conceited, air-headed, cock-head…" she muttered to herself.

            As soon as she arrived home, she picked up her cordless phone and dialed a phone number.

            "Talk," Riko answered.

            "Is it possible to have a vacation?" Tomoyo asked.

            "Yeah! I found you a nice tropical place!"

            Tomoyo kicked off her shoes and flopped on the bed. "I'm listening."

            "How does two weeks in Hawaii sound? The island is called Lanai Moana, off the coast of Kauai. No one is really there; there's one hotel and the only way to get there is 15 minutes by boat. Nature is at its best there. Tomorrow your flight leaves at 11 o'clock to Lihu'e in Kauai. Got it?"

            Tomoyo smiled. "Got it. You're the best!"

            Riko laughed. "Yeah, I know." As Tomoyo began to set out her clothes to pack, Riko continued. "By the way, I have some messages that came through the office for you."

            "Tell me all the ones that are not business related. That includes Mikado," Tomoyo said.

            "Ok," Riko flipped though the message notepad, "How was the banquet?"

            Tomoyo groaned. "He said the most arrogant thing to me on my way home."
            "What was it?"

            " 'If it weren't for me, you'd never be a star!'" Tomoyo quoted, her voice lowering several octaves to imitate a guy. She threw down 10 pairs of underwear on the bed. "Can you believe that?"

            Riko took a few moments. "Well…"

            "You gotta be kidding," Tomoyo growled.

            "It was he who told the director to ask you to be in 'Street Race.' And when it was learned you would play opposite him, more calls did come for you."

            Tomoyo sighed. "My career depends on him, doesn't it?" she realized out loud. "Do I have any messages?"

            "Yah… 'Call Kinomoto Sakura.' That's the only non-business related one."

            "Hm…I better call her now. Bye, Riko and thanks again."

            "No problem, Tomoyo. Have fun, ok?" Riko hung up.

            Tomoyo hung up, and then turned on her phone. She dialed her best friend's number. It rang twice before there was an answer. "Hello? Kinomoto residence?"

            "Hi Sakura-chan," Tomoyo immediately recognized the voice.

            "Tomoyo-chan! Oh my gosh! It's been so long! I haven't seen you in ages!"

            She smiled. "A week Sakura-chan. It's only been a week."

            "By the way, I saw you on TV! You were so beautiful!"

            "Thank you."

            "Oh yeah! Syaoran and I set a date!"

            "Really?"

            "Yeah," Sakura giggled. "Summer next year."

            "That's so far away…" Tomoyo sighed. "And I was looking forward to making your dress."

            "You can still."

            "That's good. I'm still your maid of honor, right?"

            "Of course! Why would you think otherwise?"

            Tomoyo shrugged. "I'm just joking. Anyway, I'm going on vacation tomorrow."

            "Good! You work too much; you need a break. Where to?" Sakura asked.

            "Kauai."

            "Hawaii!" Sakura gasped. "Hanyaan…how pretty!"

            Tomoyo giggled. Her friend never broke her old habits. "Yeah. For two weeks. Do you and Li-kun want anything?"
            "Oh I don't know. I can't decide…"

            Tomoyo spent the night talking with her best friend.

            The flight was long but eventually, Tomoyo arrived in Lihu'e, Kauai. As soon as she found the boat service to take her to Lanai Moana, she hopped on.

            Lanai Moana was a small island. It was a 15-minute boat ride off the coast of Lihu'e. It indeed was a beautiful place with crystal waters, white sand beaches and tropical vegetation.  It was a secluded resort, usually known to old folks, and no one really knew of it. It was a dream place; her secret hideaway.

            The boat docked in front of the only hotel there. She headed straight for the desk on the lobby floor.

            "Hello," the clerk said. "Welcome to the Ali'i Inn. My name is Mr. Tyler, the head clerk."

            "Hello, Mr. Tyler," Tomoyo greeted in her perfect English. "My name is Tomoyo Daidouji."

            "Ah, yes, your agent called in yesterday morning," he typed her name in the computer. She handed him her passport to check her id. "I'm sorry we don't have the penthouse available for you--."

            "No problem," Tomoyo placed her sunglasses upon her head. "I would be perfectly satisfied with a normal room."

            "Of course…our last one is on the 3rd floor, room 323." He handed her a key with the number on a white keychain. "Enjoy your stay. Do you need help with your bags?"

            "No thank you. I only have two." Tomoyo hauled her bags to the elevator and made her way to the room.

            Mr. Tyler looked down at the rack of keys. "Did I give her the extra one?" he asked himself.

            Eriol stepped out of his hot shower. He woke up with a headache and hoped to get a nice shower to wash it away. He quickly dried his body.

            Tomoyo stepped inside. On the left-hand side were a dining table, living room and balcony. To the right was the bathroom and full kitchen. Straight ahead was the bedroom. Tomoyo kicked off her shoes and brought her bags to the room.

            It was unprofessional.  The bed sheets were scattered as if they had been slept in. Tomoyo frowned. She made a mental note to complain to housekeeping. She also spotted some clothes laid out on the bed. She picked up an article of clothing: Calvin Klein white boxers. "Men's underwear?" she muttered. What was this doing here?
            "Um…hello," came a voice behind her. She turned. He was a very good-looking man about her age. His dark wet blue bangs messily hung over his sapphire eyes. He had a lean physique, with tone arms, chest and stomach. Most importantly, he stood in the bedroom doorway, a white towel wrapped around his waist.

            Tomoyo went wide-eyed. "What are you doing here?"

            "I should ask you the same thing," Eriol responded. "This is my room."

            "Since when?"

            "Since last night," he said, pointing to his set of room keys that sat on the nightstand.

            Tomoyo stared at the ones in her hand. "What the hell is going on?" she asked again, her tone softer.

            "We'll go downstairs and straighten this out ok?" he suggested.

            "Right, let's go."

            "Wait."

            "Why?"

            "You expect me to go downstairs without any clothes?"
            She looked down again and realized, again, a towel was the only thing hiding his manhood. "Of course," she said. Tomoyo gave him an awkward glance and closed the door behind her. Oh how embarrassing. Tomoyo caught herself staring at the naked man. Technically, he wasn't completely naked, but the very thought of seeing a man that good-looking in next to nothing was absolutely breath taking. Tomoyo shook away her blush as the door pulled open.

            He stood in khaki shorts and a white t-shirt. He slipped his key in his pocket and pulled on a pair of thin, oval, wire-frame glasses. "Let's go, shall we?"

            "Yes," she agreed, trying to erase the image of his wet body from her mind.

            Together, they left for the lobby. When they arrived at the front desk, Tomoyo banged on the service bell on the front desk. "Hello! Mr. Tyler!"

            Mr. Tyler emerged from the door past the desk. "Is there a problem?"

            "Yes," she said. "I found this man in my room."

            "Actually, I found her in my room," Eriol corrected.

            "You both are assigned the same room?"

            "Yes," they said in unison.

            "Oh dear…what time did you check in yesterday, Sir?" Mr. Tyler asked.

            "Around 6 pm."

            "Do you remember who checked you in?"

            "He was really tall with blond hair…pretty young…his name was Alec, I think."

            Mr. Tyler sighed. "I'm very sorry Sir. He's new on our staff and he probably didn't check you in correctly."

            "That's fine," Tomoyo fanned herself from the humidity, "do you have any other rooms?"

            "Actually, I checked in his morning and all the rooms are checked in full, even the penthouse. There won't be any vacancy until next week."

            Tomoyo's mouth dropped slightly. "Oh my…"

            Eriol turned. "Well, I guess we better get acquainted, roomie."

            "Just a minute!" she exclaimed as he began to walk away. She stomped after him. "What are we going to do?"

            "Introductions," he said as he stepped in the elevator. "Hiiragizawa Eriol. And you?"

            "Daidouji Tomoyo. Now get back to the subject at hand: what are we to do about the room?"

            "Well," Eriol shrugged. "I have no intention of leaving so we have to share it."

            "I've never shared a room with a man before, let alone a total stranger…" Tomoyo admitted softly. They arrived on the fifth floor.

            "Nor I had with a girl," he used his key to open the door. "And it's not like we're total strangers; we know each other's name. Daidouji, Daidouji…" he repeated. "It sounds familiar."

            "Well, I'm not leaving either," she said, returning to the problem as they walked inside. "First off, about sleeping arrangements--."

            "Simple: you take the bedroom and I'll take the couch," Eriol said matter-of-factly. He entered the bedroom and dug in his bag.

            Tomoyo was slightly surprised. "Really?"

            "Of course." He noticed her expression. "What's wrong?"

            "That's…very chivalrous," she said.

            Eriol smiled at her. "Well, you must be tired, so I'll leave you to rest. IF you excuse me…" he pulled out a notebook with a pen tucked in the spiral.  "I'll see you in a while, Daidouji." He flashed a smile and then left the hotel room.

            She had to admit that he had a nice smile.

…to be continued ^_^