Love Conquers All

Chapter 10

Author's jibberish: Hello all! Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

All I keep thinking of

Are the memories of our love

That's the way, girl, in my heart

When you left, a part of me just died

I thought we'd be able to live a life…

A life of paradise

            Time had passed. For him, it seemed like an eternity. Eriol sat in his seat; he had just heard the captain say they were preparing for landing. After she left Lanai Moana, he left for England, locked himself up in his room and forced himself to write. After 3 re-edits and 5 bottles of brandy, he was satisfied…with the story at least.

But now you've left

And all I have is gone

A lonely heart and song

I can't live without you

It's the hardest thing

My heart has had to do

He added an extra character: a professor who was once involved with the playwright. She goes after the playwright in Japan and seduces him. The Plum Blossom misunderstands and decides to leave for France with the French diplomat. The playwright drowses in his sorrows and commits suicide. He titled it "Plum Blossom: A Story about Love." Eriol sent it to Fujisawa, and he received the "OK" for production. He was called to come and help with the casting.

Girl, I thought your love was right

But suddenly I find

Cupid shot a hole right through my heart

And empty void

There where you belonged

And now all that's left of me is

I found out right from wrong

            The announcement interrupted the song that was playing in his headphones. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tomoeda International Airport where local time is 11 pm."

            Eriol looked up. He didn't even realize the plane landed on the runway. He had waited for a month to see her. Soon…he said to himself.

            Tomoyo pulled her hair back in a clip as she entered Maruyuku's office. "Am I late?" she asked.

            Riko shook her head as she gestured to a man sitting in front of her desk. "Fujisawa-san, this is Daidouji Tomoyo. Tomoyo, this is Fujisawa Taju, producer from Dream Productions."

            Tomoyo's eyes lit up as she shook his hand. "Oh, wow! It's an honor to meet you, Sir!" She sat down after he did.

            "I'll get straight to the point. Everyone knows about the Tatsuo Mikado stunt," he began. Her eyes fell for a second, and then returned. "But!" he continued, "By doing this movie, you could be bigger than Tatsuo. You could be a household name!"

            "What movie?"" she asked.

            "About a month ago, I asked a writer to write a romance story for me. This will be the new 'Best movie of the year'!" he told her handing her a large leather bound book.

            Tomoyo looked at the script, her eyebrows rising.

            "It's called 'The Plum Blossom'," Taju said, beginning the treatment. "The setting is late 1800's near Edo, Japan. A British playwright attends a geisha house and meets one known as the 'Plum Blossom.' She has aspirations to be a star in the Paris Opera House, so she has been trying to make relations with the French diplomat who knows has an eye on her. However, she meets the playwright, Eli, and they fall in love. However, love triangles ensue and thus begins the epic love story." He took a deep breath. "The writer is absolutely brilliant. He suggested you to be the leading lady and I agree. I read the script and you'll match her perfectly."

            "I…uh…don't know what to say…" Tomoyo admitted timidly.

            "This would be an excellent career move," Riko added. "This movie will appeal to teenagers and adults. That's a broad range."

            Tomoyo's heart pumped. Her fingers grazed over the title. This was her name…written by Eriol. "I don't know if I'm up to it…"

            "Well, Daidouji, all I ask is for you to read the script and give me your answer by tomorrow evening." Taju stood to his feet, extending his hand. "Thank you for your time, ladies," he said, shaking Tomoyo's hand and Riko's. "Goodbye," he then left the office.

            That evening Sakura opened the door to find Tomoyo there at her doorstep. Syaoran had told her not to discuss how Eriol's essence had entered Tomoyo. He advised her to let her bring it up when she was ready. To be respectful, Sakura never brought it up. "Hi, Tomoyo-chan."

            "Hi," Tomoyo smiled weakly.

            Sakura stepped aside to let her in. She led her to the kitchen. "Is that a new script?" Sakura asked.  

            Tomoyo nodded as she sat down at the dining table. "The producer hand-picked me for the lead role."

            "That's great!" Sakura sat next to her, setting down a tray with two mugs and a kettle. She poured out the hot chocolate. "What's it called?"

            " 'The Plum Blossom'," Tomoyo read.

            "What's it about?"

            "A British playwright who falls in love with a geisha…"

            "You already started reading?"

            "No."

            Sakura set the kettle down. "Then how did…?"

            Tomoyo's finger flew to a line written on the 1st page. It read: Written by Hiiragizawa Eriol.

            Sakura's eyes widened. "Eriol-kun? He's a scriptwriter now? That still doesn't explain…"

            Tomoyo ran her thumb through the page corners. "During my trip to Hawaii I met him there. He was writing it during my stay."

            Now Tomoyo-chan's starting to talk, Sakura said to herself. "It's obvious you influenced his writing somehow; the title says so."

            Tomoyo's eyes turned to the script, then to her best friend. Her eyes read fear and confusion.

            "Do you want to read it together?" Sakura suggested.

            The two young ladies sat, reading each page. They finished within 3 hours and finished through one box of tissue.

            Sakura sighed, and closed the script. "It was beautiful."

            "Tomoyo, you have to do this movie!"

            Tomoyo looked at the script, her expression reading confusion. "Why do you think so?"

            "Because the Plum Blossom is witty, smart, beautiful, ambitious…she's so much like you!"

            "I know…that's why I can't."

            "But why?"

            "Because I have to play a role that is a lot like me. No, not a lot; Tomoko, the Plum Blossom, is me." Tomoyo picked up the script, touching the cover. "He captured my personality, my feelings…my emotions…me…how could I possibly share my true self to the world?"

            Sakura's emerald eyes fell, and then looked up at her friend. She placed her hand on her shoulder. "Maybe it's time to stop running away from him." Tomoyo looked up. "It's obvious he put his heart into this," Sakura told her. "And in the end, what happens to Eli…"

            Tomoyo shook her head. "No. He wrote this over a month ago. And in the end, he'll always turn to Kaho."

            They sat in silence until Sakura spoke. "I won't force you to take this role, but you look really hurt from whatever happened. You don't have to tell me what happened in Hawaii…this role could be the way for you to deal."

            Tomoyo just nodded.

…to be continued ^_^

Author's jibberish (more like a disclaimer): The song in the beginning is Kai's "Without You."