Broken Fragments

Chapter 29: Blue Moon

"Okay. Let's shoot the final scene," Takada Pinau announced as everyone got ready.

The last scene they wanted to film was the movie's actual last scene. They were all excited to film the last scene because Yuuhi was going to play the piano, which was a talent she has never shown anyone. It was actually a talent that nobody knew she had until she was willing to play the piano herself, instead of a double.

"Are you ready, Yuuhi? As soon as the sky starts turning orange and the sunset is coming, we're going to film this final scene," Cloudy said, looking out the school window.

"Of course I'm ready," Yuuhi determinedly smiled.

Pinau just commanded all the staff and crew to get ready and walk to their positions. Before Cloudy walked away, he gave Yuuhi a 'good luck' hug, shocking her.

"Let's do this thing," he whispered in her ear, making her excited.

The classroom got quiet after everyone made it to their designated positions. Yuuhi and Cloudy were into their characters, prepared to start. All they were waiting for was Pinau's signal. Just before Pinau could announce the start, Hiroto made it in time to watch from behind the cameras.

"Action!"

The cameras started rolling as the birds flew back to their nests. The sun was setting, shining the music classroom with a majestic orange light. The grand piano was shiny and elegant even if Yuuhi hasn't even touched it yet.

"Hayami, why are you doing this to me?" Cloudy asked as Makoto.

"What do you mean?" Yuuhi, as Ayuna, coldly reply.

"I thought we're friends. You've been kind and friendly towards me in this past few weeks, but all of a sudden, you've been cold towards me. What exactly am I to you?" Cloudy exclaimed.

"What am I to you?" Yuuhi returned, clenching her fists.

Silence lingered between the two of them, with Cloudy portraying a confused look. Tension was building up between the two of them, just how Pinau wanted it. The strong atmosphere from Yuuhi and Cloudy's acting was so great, that even the staff members could feel it.

"What am I to you, Makoto? Am I just an acquaintance? Just a friend? Or am I your lover?"

"No!" Cloudy roared.

"As much as I'd want you to be…you're not my lover!"

Cloudy was holding his head, trying to get his thoughts together. As Makoto, he knew that he shouldn't have said that to Hayami, but he didn't know how else he could say it to her.

"You should've just said so," Yuuhi turned away, getting ready to leave.

"Wait!" Cloudy stopped her as he extended his hand.

"It's not you…it's me," Cloudy said.

The room was silent once again as they built up more tension. The staff members, including Hiroto, were all amazed at Yuuhi and Cloudy's acting. They could all feel their emotions, even being able to relate to Ayuna and Makoto.

"The truth is…I'm still in love with my childhood friend," Cloudy revealed.

One of the cameramen was able to shoot Yuuhi's slight shock, which was hidden from Cloudy. Yuuhi continued listening as she lightened up her fists.

"I left the country because I wanted to get better…for her. I wanted to be like her, who was able to write a song for me. She was great at playing the piano…she was kind, caring…and beautiful. A person like me was nothing, compared to her," Cloudy painfully continued.

"When I got here...I never got any replies from her. I knew that was coming because I promised to her that we would go to the same high school, but obviously, I broke that promise, and now she's mad at me, surely. I thought she had forgotten about me…and that was fine with me…because she needed someone better. I needed someone, too. So…I tried dating other girls. I only dated one girl since I moved here, but I broke up with her right away…because only my childhood friend was in my mind."

Cloudy's confession felt and looked real. Pinau could already tell how the scene was going to look in the final product. He would show Makoto's flashbacks with the extra clips he took of Yuuhi and Cloudy. While he watched the scene in front of him, Pinau still felt the chills of how he imagined the final product would go.

"Ever since I met you and became my friend when you transferred to my class…my heart felt a little lighter than usual," Cloudy said as he placed his hand on his chest to feel his heartbeat.

"I admired you for the way you beautifully played the piano that one day…because I could feel your heartbreak. It felt similar to mine…but ever since then…you've grown cold towards me. Then…slowly…I felt as if I needed you…that I loved you…but I knew I was lying to myself…because I was only in love with the way you played the piano. The way you played the piano reminded me so much of my childhood friend…the one I really love," he continued.

Cloudy paused once again to collect his thoughts. The breeze from the window was starting to get stronger, just in time to dramatically match Cloudy's next line. The curtains started fluttering as Cloudy spoke up.

"I'm sorry, Hayami…but I'm only in love with Ayuna," Cloudy unraveled.

After the curtains flapped with the refreshing breeze, Cloudy looked up to see Yuuhi's reaction, which was a part of their acting. Cloudy thought she had left because she wasn't standing in front of him anymore, but as the last curtain relaxed again, he found Yuuhi sitting at the piano.

Yuuhi, whose eyes were closed, started moving her hands and pressing the piano keys with her nimble fingers. The room was beginning to be filled by a sad, yet lovely melody that no one has ever heard before. Yuuhi was really playing her own song on the piano, which surprised everyone, especially Hiroto. Cloudy stuck to his acting, but he was actually captivated by Yuuhi in reality. Everyone, except for Hiroto, knew Yuuhi was going to play the piano, but they didn't think she was going to sing, until her voice accompanied the melody she played.

Hoshi wo kakushiteru utsumuita hitomi ni
Tomadou dake nani mo dekinakute
Te to te kasanete mo dokoka gikochinai ne
Yume no naka mitai ni waratte yo

Yoru no kanata hibiku senritsu
Atsui mune wa sawagidasu

"Yuuhi," Hiroto quietly gasped to see glimmering tears on Yuuhi's cheeks.

As Yuuhi sang, unexpected tears started falling from her eyes. Even Cloudy was surprised to see the tears, which matched how he should act because Makoto was supposed to be shocked to find out that Hayami is actually Ayuna. The film crew were also stunned at her graceful acting and playing, but only one person realized that Yuuhi wasn't acting anymore. Takada Pinau could tell that Yuuhi was singing from the bottom of her heart, not as Ayuna or Hayami, but as herself.

Sasayaku Blue Moon te wo nobashitara
Sugu ni todokisou na no ni
Itsumo yasashiku hohoemu dakede
Oikakete wa kurenai ne

Just as the melody ended, Pinau hoped that Cloudy would keep acting even though he had been captivated by Yuuhi and her beautiful song. As expected from a professional, Cloudy was still in character and was able to continue.

"Ayu…na?" Cloudy asked, his face shaken.

"I thought I was never going to find you…Makoto," Yuuhi answered as she stood up and walked away from the piano, tears still flowing from her eyes.

Cloudy ran to her and embraced her in his arms. He started crying, which was a part of their acting. Yuuhi also hugged him as her tears kept flowing. To formally confess to her, Cloudy looked into Yuuhi's blue eyes while he wiped her tears away.

"I love you, Ayuna," Cloudy said, holding Yuuhi's cheeks.

"I've always loved you, Makoto," Yuuhi replied with a gentle, joyful smile.

The two leaned into each other's faces, their eyes closed and their lips touching. Their lips were interlocked and passion could be seen on their blushing red faces. They still embraced each other in their arms, and their hearts felt as if they were beating as one. Behind them, the curtains flailed with the wind from the setting sun, making the scene look more gorgeously and romantically dramatic.

Everyone, especially Hiroto and Pinau, were speechless and dumbfounded at what the two had done. Their kiss wasn't a part of their script because Pinau didn't want to shock Yuuhi with kissing someone on her first movie. They were all waiting for them to stop kissing, but their passion never ceased and their lips continued to touch.

Sweat dripped down from Hiroto's brows as he clenched his fist. Hiroto wanted to turn away, but his eyes seemed to be glued on Cloudy and Yuuhi's kissing scene. He kept waiting for them to stop and continue what they were supposed to do, but he realized that it was the ending of the scene. Stealing a glance at Pinau, Hiroto realized that the director, too, was shocked at Yuuhi and Cloudy's actions.

"Cut!"

The crew, despite their being staggered, was able to perform their job and stop the cameras from filming anymore. However, they realized that they had taken orders from some person, not Director Pinau. When they looked at Pinau for reactions, they found him looking at Hiroto, whose eyes looked horrified and stressed.

Yuuhi and Cloudy slowly moved their faces away from each other, still feeling their rapid heartbeats. They both knew that it wasn't Pinau who ended the scene, so instead of looking at the director, Yuuhi and Cloudy turned to Hiroto for an explanation.

"Thank you for helping out and saying 'Cut,' Hiroto-kun, but I'm certain that I can properly do my job and do that myself," Pinau stated, embarrassing Hiroto.

The room was quiet, their eyes all on Hiroto. They waited for a reply, but he ran away as an answer, instead. Not wanting to waste any more time, Yuuhi and Cloudy complimented each other before walking to their makeup artists to dress out for the final time. As they entered their respective dressing rooms, the crew began talking about Yuuhi and Cloudy's kiss.

"Are they a couple or something? Because I don't recall the kiss being a part of the movie."

"They've been a couple, stupid. That kiss was so romantic, though."

"They're a beautiful couple in my opinion."

Just as the sunset ended, the crew had finished putting away the equipment, finally ending the filming of the movie.

"Cheers!"

Takada Pinau hosted a celebratory party that same night for finishing the shooting of his movie in less than the planned time. The cast and crew were all in one room to celebrate and party. Seiji, who had to leave earlier, couldn't come, although. Hiroto was also missing after his surprising interruption, which worried Pinau a little.

Yuuhi and Cloudy came down from their rooms at the same time to join the party. It wasn't very rowdy, actually more formal. After all, everyone was tired and just wanted to drink alcohol or eat the luxurious food that the hotel prepared. Yuuhi and Cloudy socialized with the other actors and staff members, but they never left each other's side, until Pinau asked for Yuuhi.

"Yuuhi-chan, may I please have a moment with you?" Pinau asked.

"Of course, Pinau-san," Yuuhi gracefully replied.

They walked out to an uncrowded area of the hall where the party was being held. The moonlight shone outside the window, helping Pinau get his thoughts together.

"You did a great job, Yuuhi-chan. I'm impressed with all you've shown me," Pinau complimented.

"Especially with your playing the piano," he continued, turning around to have a toast with her.

"Thank you, Pinau-san," Yuuhi kindly replied.

They drank their wine after their glasses' tips clanked, a sign of their celebration. Pinau turned back to the window to continue looking at the magnificent moon.

"Did you write that song yourself, Yuuhi-chan?" Pinau asked.

"Yes, sir."

"For what?"

"Nothing, sir."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I used the wrong term. You wrote that song…for who?" Pinau re-asked, taking a little peek at her reaction.

Yuuhi was a little shaken from Pinau's startling question. She couldn't understand what he was thinking or what he was trying to say, but she knew the answer.

"Nobody, sir."

Pinau softly smiled, knowing that Yuuhi was keeping something from him, not that he minded. After taking another sip of his wine, Pinau looked at the moon once again.

"Do you have a title for that song?" he asked.

"It's 'Blue Moon,' sir," Yuuhi respectfully replied right away, even though the title was off of the top of her head.

"Ah. That's a beautiful name for a beautiful song. Now, do you mind if we use that as the movie's title?" Pinau turned around as he gave Yuuhi his offer.

She was surprised by the director once again, still having no clue as to what he was thinking. Yuuhi could see the shimmering moon outside with the twinkling stars that accompanied it. Pinau waited for her answer, but he was aware that she wanted an explanation.

"Based on your song lyrics that you sang, I think it fits the movie's concept. The 'blue moon' is someone you're wanting to reach, but it seems too far, though it's just right there. Don't you think that's how it went with Ayuna and Makoto? Ayuna was right there in front of Makoto, but he felt as if she was too far to reach."

Yuuhi couldn't believe that Pinau was able to pinpoint the true meaning that her song was trying to tell. Yuuhi didn't actually base her song on Ayuna and Makoto's love story, but it surprisingly matched. She was just glad that Pinau didn't know the song's true origin, or the real reason why she wrote it.

"I'd be honored, Pinau-san," Yuuhi humbly accepted Pinau's agreement.

Giving Yuuhi permission to return to Cloudy's side, Pinau was all alone once again. He returned to look at the moon, enjoying its rays.

"I know that's just a part of what the song really meant to you, Yuuhi-chan," Pinau thought.

"In truth, it's a song too sad to be sung."

Author's note:

The song used for Ayuna's (Yuuhi) final scene was 'Blue Moon' by Nana Mizuki. This song was actually sung by Utau Hoshina from Shugo Chara, but I thought it was a beautiful piano song that Yuuhi could use (since I've been using Nana Mizuki/Utau Hoshina songs for her). To help you understand why Takada Pinau thought that it matched Ayuna and Makoto's love story, here's the translation of the part I used in the story.

I hide myself within the stars in the sky and look down upon you.
I've just become so confused, I feel like there is no longer anything I can do.
I repeatedly reach my hand out to you, but you've gone somewhere which is too hard to reach.
Yet you still smile at me in my dreams.

A melody echoes in the distance in the night.
My heart feels hot, it's going crazy.

I stretched my hand up to the whispering blue moon.
It seemed like I would be able to reach it soon,
but as always, I only saw your gentle smile.
I guess I won't gain anymore from chasing you.

Also, Pinau said that "the 'blue moon' is someone you're wanting to reach, but it seems too far, though it's just right there" meaning was just a part of the "real" meaning of the song and what it really meant to Yuuhi. The real reason why Yuuhi wrote that song will be revealed later on, along with its whole meaning. What do you think? Review, review, review! ^.^

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Nana Mizuki's songs (obviously) or Utau Hoshina from Shugo Chara.