Love Conquers All

Chapter 12

Author's jibberish: Almost done!

The room sat 20 or more people. Eriol sat in the back corner, watching the actors introduce themselves. This movie had come so far in such a short amount of time. It started off as a whim, when his muse was drowned in Tomoyo; it was until the very last page. He loved this story and hated it…this was like his life story.

A pale man stood from his seat at the table. He had dusty light brown hair and light hazel eyes. This actor was from the United States but spoke beautiful Japanese. "My name is Clark Akira and I will play the role Moon Eli," he said and sat down, carefully saying all last names first.

Then, Tomoyo stood up, tossing a stray tendril aside. "My name is Daidouji Tomoyo and I am Tomoko, the Plum Blossom."

Indeed you are, Eriol mused silently. He looked down as he noticed her glance at him.

"Great," the director, Kuminara Sei beamed, and then looked to Fujisawa. "I think we should start now."

"Of course," the producer agreed. He took a seat next to the director.

"Excuse me," Tomoyo interrupted. "I'd like to say something."

"Sure," the director said. "Be my guest."

"Thank you." Tomoyo looked up as she stood. "Hiiragizawa-san?"

Eriol looked up, surprised.

"I, and I assume many others, think this is a beautiful story," she began. "It's truly a remarkable piece."

"Thank you," he responded hesitantly.

"But I also think it needs work," Tomoyo blurted. Everyone was quiet.

He allowed a smirk to appear on his lips. "There will most likely be some re-writes--."

"Not that. I mean, as in character development."

"Why would you say that?" Eriol asked.

"Because Eli's character fully believes in love, correct? It's evident throughout the beginning; he even says more than once that 'love can conquer all'."

"Um, Daidouji-san, perhaps…" Kuminara began.

Eriol held his hand up to stop her talking. "It's alright. Go on, Daidouji-san."

"He committed suicide. Eli gave up so easily; how could he be a believer in love?"

"Eli believed he had lost it all. He thinks it's impossible to live without love," Eriol defended.
"Maybe he shouldn't give up so easily," Tomoyo suggested.

Eriol knew right away that this was more than just the script. He could see the way her eyes glowed as she spoke. "What do you suggest?"

"Maybe Eli shouldn't die so quickly. Besides, there is no indication on Tomoko's feelings--."

"And how does Tomoko feel?" Eriol queried.

Tomoyo was silent. This was the moment of truth. Her eyes fell to the script and then she quickly opened it to near the end of the volume. "After Layla tries to seduce Eli, Tomoko walks in. That night, she abruptly leaves with the diplomat, Henri Pierre. Tomoko was hurt by what she saw because…she must have been ready to love Eli…"

Eriol clicked his pen.

"So, perhaps a few weeks later, Eli is called to Paris to write a play. There he re-meets with Tomoko, by pure accident, of course. He tries to talk to her but due to Tomoko's absurd stubbornness, she tries to pretend he is no longer important," Tomoyo, who was looking away from Eriol, finally pulled her eyes up. "But she was lying to herself. Although it hurt to see him with his past flame, and although he tried to explain how much he loves Tomoko, she was scared to show her real feelings: her pain and her love. She was scared to show her true self because she was scared to admit she loved him with all her heart and soul…"

Eriol's eyebrows lifted slightly.

Tomoyo looked down, hiding her blush from him. "So…after their distressing talk, Eli does not appear to the Opera House for a week or more. This worries everyone, especially Tomoko. At the night of her engagement party, she hears that Eli is sick. She wants to leave. Pierre is jealous, obviously, and demands her to choose between him or Eli. She leaves to go to his apartment.

"When she arrives, she finds him lying on his bed, deathly pale. He drank poison…he concluded that he would rather not live at all then live a life without love. Then, Tomoko tells Eli she loves him; he soon dies in her arms."

Soft sobs were heard throughout the room.

Even Tomoyo was getting slightly teary-eyed. "Tomoko realized that she made the biggest mistake of her life; she threw away her one chance of happiness…and she wished she could take it all back because…in the end…she still loves him…"

Eriol dropped his pen on his notebook. The room sat in heavy silence, in awe of the tragic tale.

Tomoyo shook her head and sat down. "It's…only a suggestion…"

But Eriol nodded. "It's…a very good suggestion."

"All right everyone," the director instructed, wiping tears away form her face, "let's at least run through this first without tears and figure out alterations later, ok?"

When Tomoyo looked up, she saw him mouth the words 'Later, we'll talk.' Tomoyo nodded and looked down to the script. The cast had begun reading the first few scenes. Soon, Tomoyo would have to face Eriol…and her fear.

…to be continued ^_^

Author's jibberish (again): Hang in there! One more chapter!