A/N: So yeah, this was one of the boring 8027 ff I told you… But it has some really sweet fluffs though! And it's still 8027 so yeah… I have to upload it! . I hope by doing this you guys will be more inspired to make 8027!
The Line of My Heart
By ilYamaTsunali
Chapter 1 – The Play and Characters
"Okay! Okay!" Hana called out at the class. "I want everyone's attention!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Hana Kurokawa who was in front of the class.
"What is it Kurokawa-san?" Yamamoto called out cheerfully from the back of the class. Gokudera glared at Yamamoto for shouting.
"Oi baseball idiot, the class is already noisy as it is, so don't shout." Gokudera hissed at the guardian.
"Gomen… gomen!" Yamamoto said grinning. Hana cleared her throat and Yamamoto and Gokudera refocused their attention to the girl.
"Okay before I begin, can someone please wake Sawada up?" Hana said as she looked around the class and noticed the brunet sleeping on his desk.
"Oi! Stupid woman! Don't you dare disturb jyuudaime's rest!" Gokudera shouted angrily. Thanks to his shout Tsuna began to stir and he looked up sleepily.
"Hn?" Tsuna said looking around while rubbing his eyes. Gokudera gasped and covered his mouth.
"Thanks Gokudera. It saved me the trouble of going there myself." Hana said smirking. Gokudera glared at her before approaching Tsuna and apologizing profusely. "Now, back to what I was saying. As you all know the Namimori festival is coming up, and our class has been assigned to do 'entertainment'. Right?"
Many people nodded as they began talking to each other about what of entertainment it should be.
"Since not many of you guys know how to dance or sing here, we decided to hold a play instead." Hana said over the heads of her chatting classmates. "If that's okay with you guys?"
Most nodded while others contemplated a bit about the decision.
"Good." Hana said ignoring the people who were unsure. She pulled Kyoko in front of the class as she spoke the next words. "It's good that you guys agree because Kyoko has already made a script for the play."
Kyoko blushed slightly as she smiled. Many of her classmates clapped their hands in awe.
"Kyoko-chan's amazing for being able to make a script." Tsuna said with a slight smile.
"Che, you're more amazing than her, tenth." Gokudera said proudly.
"That's right Tsuna. You're amazing too so believe in yourself more." Yamamoto said smiling kindly at the brunet. Gokudera popped a vein.
"You idiot! I was about to say that!" Gokudera said angrily.
"Oh really?" Yamamoto asked chuckling.
"Yes really! You just didn't let me finish!" Gokudera said threateningly.
Thanks for saying that, Yamamoto and Gokudera-kun. Tsuna thought looking at his two guardians.
"Quiet! Kyoko's going to tell us about the script and we'll vote if it's good." Hana said. "After that we'll list the characters and you guys will pick the one you'll play in this box. The rest will be on stage duty and props."
Kyoko cleared her throat and everyone's attention were immediately drawn to her. "The story's settings are that of medieval times in Japan." Everyone nodded as Kyoko continued. "As you know back then we had princesses, emperors, noble men and women, and samurais. And I know how you guys love action and how girls love romance so I think you'll like this story."
Everyone's attention was pinned to Kyoko as she began to explain.
"The story is about a normal village girl who was often bullied by kids her own age. She was clumsy and a coward so nobody liked her. No one wanted to be her friend and no parent wanted their son to marry her so she was destined to live a life of loneliness. However despite the fact that she was no-good at anything she did and despite the fact that she was constantly bullied, shunned, and hated she had a very kind heart. She loved her mother and the whole village even though they were cruel to her."
"However one day a traveling samurai came into their village. The samurai was well-known and loved by the people of the village. The samurai had come to the village in hopes to train his son who was also a kind-hearted and handsome boy. The son soon became very popular in the village and the girl could only glimpse at the stranger in envy from far away. But these 2 were fated to meet because one day while the girl was picking herbs she saw the samurai's son being attacked by 5 grown men."
"Although she was shaking and although she knew no fighting skill she rushed to the son's aid just as he was about to be struck down. She used herself as a shield between the son and the men. But then something strange happened as she did this, the men faltered. They took one glimpse at her, dropped their weapons and ran away. From that day on, the samurai's son was indebted to her and he became her friend."
"After that incident, the lowly village girl and the samurai's son were often seen together. The samurai had grown feelings for the girl who saved his life and planned to ask her hand in marriage. However, on the day he was going to ask for the girl's hand in marriage a boy about the girl's age came to her house. The boy kneeled in front of the girl as he introduced himself. He was one of the royal guards of the palace and he had come to take the girl to the castle. It was in shock that the girl discovered that she was the last granddaughter of the emperor. On that day she was taken away from her home. The samurai's son did not know but when he learned of what happened he was shocked. A princess could never become a samurai's bride. That was the unwritten law of their country."
"Meanwhile in the castle, the girl was purified and dressed in a kimono. The boy who took her was shocked of her beauty. Without the usual soot and scratches on her face she was a sight-to-see! Immediately he sought the emperor. Not only was his granddaughter a beauty but her kindness knew no bounds as well! The boy wished to marry the kind princess. Seeing the sincerity and pure love in the boy's eyes the emperor agreed to the engagement. Not only was the boy the top royal guard but he was also of noble stock."
"In the village the samurai and his son were packing up to leave. The news of the princess' engagement reached the village. Hearing this, the samurai's son dropped all that he was doing and took a horse to the castle. He would not allow the person he loved to marry another! And so with determination he rode to the palace and arrived at the day of the wedding. With a burning passion he knocked out all the samurais on guard and rushed in the palace. There he saw the girl who saved him and in a moment he did not know what to do. Why did he rush in there? Why did he shame his family name for a girl he was not even sure loved him back? However all those thoughts was wiped from his mind when tears suddenly filled the princess' eyes. She took off the veil from her head and rushed into the samurai son's arms. The son was shocked and he looked at the groom. The groom was looking at him exasperatedly as though he had been waiting for him impatiently."
" 'Took you long enough.' Was the only thing the groom could say. It seems that the groom loved the princess' so much that he could not bear to see her unhappy. So he rushed the marriage in hopes that the person the princess truly loves will come and get her. And so in the end it was a happy reunion. The emperor who had watched the son battle the samurai guards was impressed and asked him to work in the palace making the son a noble man. With his status heightened, the samurai's son earned the right to marry the princess and with that they lived happily ever after."
Kyoko looked up hopefully after she read the outline of her story. All of the class clapped enthusiastically at her. She smiled brightly and bowed at her classmates in thanks.
"Okay that's majority then. Kyoko's script will be the one used in the play." Hana said approvingly. "With that settled we'll start the assigning of characters. Any questions?"
"Ciaossu." Came a tiny interruption. Everyone looked at the door and saw…
"Reborn!" Tsuna yelled.
"Oh! You're Bo-reen sensei aren't you?" Kyoko asked kindly.
"That's right." Reborn said with a nod.
"Is there something you need sensei?" Hana said looking at 'Bo-reen'.
"I just wanted to ask whether we can change the script in the ending if that's okay." Reborn said with a smirk.
"Of course, if it will make the script better!" Kyoko said brightly.
"Oh and also…" Reborn continued. "Even if a guy picks a female character he must still play that character. Is that okay?"
"That sounds interesting!" Kyoko said smiling. Meanwhile Tsuna looked horrified.
Oh no! I feel like he's planning something! Tsuna screamed in his mind.
"Now that that's settled everyone come in line and pick your character." Hana said. Everyone began to line up. Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Tsuna were the last ones to pick. When they were done…
"Okay we'll open the paper on three…" Hana said. However due to bad luck, Tsuna's paper flew out of the window because of a strong uknown wind.
"Oh no!" Tsuna muttered horrified as he looked out. Suddenly Reborn kicked him in the head.
"Lucky for you I had an extra." Reborn said thrusting the piece of paper on Tsuna's hand. "Don't loose it." He said dangerously.
"Ha-hai!" Tsuna said fearfully. But when Reborn turned around he smirked.
Meanwhile Gokudera and Yamamoto were arguing again. Reborn kicked them both in the head for being noisy and the two of them dropped their papers. They picked up the paper nearest to them not knowing if they switched or not.
"Che, it's all your fault teme…" Gokudera said glaring at Yamamoto.
"Maa… maa…" Yamamoto said grinning.
"Okay…1" Hana said beginning to count. "2…3…!"
Everyone opened their papers. Most guys screamed in approval while most girls sighed in disappointment.
"Samurai's… son." Yamamoto read and then he grinned. "Cool!"
"Che…" Gokudera said looking at his paper and comparing his with Yamamoto. "Better you than me."
"What did you get Gokudera?" Yamamoto said peering at the silver-head's shoulder. "Oh you're the royal body guard who falls in love with the princess!"
"Hmph! Who cares." Gokudera said frowning.
"That's awesome." Yamamoto said as he turned to Tsuna. "Who did you get Tsuna?"
Tsuna looked pale and didn't answer.
"Tsuna?/Jyuudaime?" Gokudera and Yamamoto said at the same time. They approached Tsuna cautiously and looked at the paper in his hands. The two guardians froze when they saw what was written.
"Okay! Now that we all have our characters let's—" Hana began.
"W-WAIT!" Tsuna shouted as he stood up. "I-I-"
"What's wrong Sawada?" Hana asked.
"I can't be the PRINCESS!" Tsuna shouted. Many of their classmates gasped.
"Eh?"
"I'm a guy! And besides I can't memorize all her lines-!" Tsuna continued.
"Urusai Dame-Tsuna!" Reborn said as he kicked Tsuna. "We already agreed that even if a male picks a female part he'll have to play it."
"B-But-!" Tsuna said in retort.
"No buts!" Reborn said finally. He smirked. Tsuna had a feeling that the arcobaleno was enjoying this. "Continue what you were saying."
Hana cleared her throat as she continued. "Okay so Sawada is the princess and so who's that samurai's son?"
"T-That would be me I guess… Hahaha…" Yamamoto said chuckling as he raised his hands. Many girls in their class squealed in envy at Tsuna for having Yamamoto as the leading man.
"And the royal guard who falls in love with the princess?" Hana asked.
"Che. Me." Gokudera said with a scowl. Even more squeals. A forbidden love triangle! Every fan girl's dream!
"And the samurai?" Hana asked. Mochida raised his hand.
"Ha! Nothing less expected of me the great-" Mochida said but was cut off by Hana.
"And the princess' mother?" Hana asked. Kyoko raised her hand, smiling. Hana nodded in approval as she continued calling the names of the other characters and listing them on the board.
The whole while Tsuna had his head on his desk feeling miserable for himself.
After Hana listed all the characters on the board she dismissed the class.
"You guys should memorise your lines and we'll hold the first practice for tomorrow. The stage crew better get the materials ready and so we could start making them immediately. The one in charge of make-up should find kimonos for the last scene." Hana said to her classmates. Many nodded as they stood up and left one by one. "Those who are characters get your script from Kyoko."
"Tsuna! Hey Tsuna!" Yamamoto said tapping Tsuna on the shoulder. "Let's go to your house and go over the lines okay?"
"Jyuudaime! I'll go too!" Gokudera said pushing Yamamoto out of his way. I can't leave the baseball idiot with jyuudaime! He might take my position as right hand man!
"Here. I got your script for you Tsuna." Yamamoto said handing Tsuna the script.
"Ah! I was about to do that-!" Gokudera said glaring at Yamamoto. Yamamoto laughed.
"A-arigatou…" Tsuna said accepting the script uncertainly. Yamamoto noticed how down the tenth was so he put a comforting arm around him.
"Maa… maa… Tsuna. I know you don't like your character especially since you have to dress up like a girl and you think you can't memorize the lines but…" Then Yamamoto smiled. "But the play isn't about memorizing lines it's about having a good time and making the people who are watching smile. So just bear with it for now okay?"
Tsuna looked up at Yamamoto's sincere smile and felt better. Yamamoto was right. He should just bear with it for now and just enjoy himself.
"A-ah, arigatou Yamamoto." Tsuna said smiling as he stood up and began gathering his things. Meanwhile Gokudera watched the exchange in silence. Somehow he now knows what the royal guard felt when he watched the princess.
"Oi you guys stop dwadling." Reborn said as he hopped on Tsuna's desk. "Let's get going."
And so with that the 3 of them stood up and went to Tsuna's house.
-At Tsuna's house-
In Tsuna's room the 3 sat down around Tsuna's table and drank the juice that Nana brought up.
"Okay, why don't we start at the scene we first met Tsuna?" Yamamoto said looking at the script. Tsuna nodded, not really committed.
Yamamoto cleared his throat as he began. " 'You saved me. Even though you don't know me, you saved me. I am forever in your gratitude.' "
" 'A-ah n-no… I j-just couldn't stand by and watch you get hurt, sir.' " Tsuna read shakily.
Yamamoto read the next line and seeing that it said to grab the girl's hands, Yamamoto grabbed Tsuna's hands. Gokudera spit out the juice he was drinking. Tsuna gulped uncomfortably.
" 'Hahaha… please drop the formalities. My name is Jiro…' " Yamamoto raised an eyebrow at the name. " 'I am the son of Kojiro the samurai.' "
"'My name is Na-Tsu…' Eh? Na-tsu?" Tsuna said rereading the name clearly again. "These names are the same as our box animals. Gokudera-kun how about you-?"
But Tsuna was cut off when he realized that his guardians were once again arguing. He sweat dropped.
"Oi Baseball idiot what do you think are you doing grabbing jyuudaime's hands like that?" Gokudera said venomously at Yamamoto.
"Well… it said in the script that I had to hold his hands so…" Yamamoto explained.
"Teme! We're just practicing 'to read the lines' not do the actual action!" Gokudera spat.
"Maa… maa… Tsuna doesn't mind. Do you Tsuna?" Yamamoto asked cheerfully.
"No, not at all." Tsuna said. "Anyway Gokudera-kun what's the name of your character in the play?"
Gokudera took his copy of the script and flipped throught it's pages. "The name is… Uri. Eh?"
"I knew it." Tsuna said sighing. "It's all the names of our box animals. Reborn must be behind it."
"Maa… it's just names. Nothing to worry about." Yamamoto said grinning as he patted Tsuna on the shoulder. "Let's go back to practicing."
"I guess Yamamoto's right." Tsuna said as he picked up his script.
"Che I guess the baseball idiot can suggest something good once in a while." Gokudera begrudgingly admitted.
"Hahaha! Thanks." Yamamoto said grinning. "Anyway it's your turn Tsuna."
"A-ah." Tsuna said. " 'My name is Na-Tsu and I already know you. You're very popular in the village after all.'"
" 'Oh am I? Hahaha…' " Yamamoto said as he grasped Tsuna's hands again only more firmly (It said so in the script). Gokudera shot the idiot a warning glare. " 'Then that's good, since you know me we can be friends now right?"
" 'R-really?' " Tsuna asked blushing furiously at the fact that his hands were being gripped by Yamamoto. " 'A-are you sure? Do you really want to be friends with someone as no good as me?' "
At those words Yamamoto's cheerful expression softened and he looked at Tsuna as though he could see through his soul. " 'That's not true. You're not no good like you say. You're a really nice person. And what I said is true. I want to be your friend.' "
Tsuna looked at Yamamoto his eyes widening before he looked down blushing again and he said in a small voice. " 'Arigatou…' "
There was a moment of silence.
"Wow! You did really well Tsuna!" Yamamoto said grinning at his best friend.
"Eh?" Tsuna said looking up confused.
"You played the part of the girl really well jyuudaime!" Gokudera said his eyes shining in admiration.
"Yeah! You blushed at the right parts too!" Yamamoto said pointing at the part of the script that said the girl blushes. "And your stutterings made your lines more believable."
"O-oh? R-really? T-thanks." Tsuna said uncertainly.
"Now it's my turn to practice with jyuudaime." Gokudera said.
"O-okay." Tsuna said as he flipped the pages of the script to the part where the royal guard came to her house.
Gokudera rearranged his facial expression to that of an expressionless guard.
" 'I have come for you.' " Gokudera said in a deep tone.
" 'F-for me? W-why?' " Tsuna said trying to inject a tone of fear in his voice.
" 'I know this may come as a shock but you are the last granddaughter of the emperor Timoteo-'" Gokudera stopped. "Timoteo? That's Vongola nono's name!"
HIIIIIIIIII! I knew Reborn had a part on this! Tsuna screamed mentally.
"Oh? Really?" Yamamoto saiod curiously but then he grinned. "Maa… it's just a name."
"It's not just any name you idiot! It's the name of the 9th vongola boss!" Gokudera said shooting Yamamoto a venomous look.
"Oi!" Came a voice from the window. The 3 of them turned their heads and saw Reborn on Tsuna's window sill. "It's really late. Why are you still here?"
"Reborn!" Tsuna said shocked at the sudden appearance of his tutor.
"Ah! He's right! It's really late!" Yamamoto said looking at the clock. He and Gokudera stood up. "I have to go Tsuna, sorry."
"Ah, it's no problem." Tsuna said. Gokudera bowed at Tsuna in respect.
"I will come and get you tomorrow jyuudaime!" Gokudera said enthustiastically as he waved at Tsuna before he and Yamamoto left.
When they were gone…
"So how did your practice go Dame-Tsuna?" Reborn asked. Tsuna gulped.
"T-that's-" Tsuna began.
"Hmph." Reborn said. "I knew it. It didn't go well did it?"
I didn't even say anything! Tsuna said in his mind.
"I guess we have no choice." Reborn said jumping to Tsuna desk. "I'll hammer all the lines in your head before tomorrow."
"HIIIIIIIIIII! REBORN!"
The next day…
"Wow, you look tired Tsuna." Yamamoto said as the door to the Sawada household was opened by Tsuna. Tsuna just nodded tiredly as he rubbed his eyes.
"Oi yakyuu-baka! What are you doing here?" Gokudera shouted as he walked towards the door and saw Yamamoto talking to Tsuna. "I knew it! You're trying to replace me as jyuudaime's right hand man aren't you?"
"Maa… of course I'm not." Yamamoto said smiling. But then a thoughtful look crossed his face. "But… being Tsuna's right hand man seems fun though so I might consider taking on the job."
There was shocked silence.
"I KNEW IT!" Gokudera shouted pointing an accusing finger at the rain guardian. "I knew it! I suspected all along-!"
"Calm down, I was only teasing." Yamamoto said laughing at Gokudera's shocked expression and anger.
"The heck you were!" Gokudera shouted angrily.
"Guys can you just please stop." Tsuna mumbled weakly. "Let's just go to school before we're bitten to death for being late."
"Tsuna's right. Let's go Gokudera." Yamamoto said to the still growling teen.
"Che." Gokudera said placing both hands in his pockets.
There was a few minutes silence broken only by a few yawns from Tsuna.
"So Tsuna did you practice last night?" Yamamoto asked the brunet.
"Yeah Reborn drilled the lines in my head before I went to sleep." Tsuna said. "Actually I'm not sure if I did sleep last night."
"As expected of you jyuudaime!" Gokudera said admiringly. "Memorizing your lines and abandoning sleep just for this stupid play! Your kindness knows no bounds."
Tsuna laughed uncertainly at Gokudera's praise.
"How about you Yamamoto?" Tsuna asked.
"Well, I haven't memorized all the lines yet since that 'Bo-reen' sensei did say that he wanted to change the script so… yeah." Yamamoto said.
"I see." Tsuna said giving Yamamoto a side-way glance. The young boss mentally sighed. Why was he the one picked to be the princess? Why couldn't it be someone else? Preferrably a girl?
Before Tsuna, Gokudera, and Yamamoto knew it they were already at school. They noticed that the preparations for the festival were already on the way. They were given 2 weeks to prepare for their play.
The 3 of them rushed towards their classroom as the bell rang.
"Okay, now that all the characters are here we'll begin the practice." Hana said. "The stage and props crew are in the arts room making the props and gathering the costumes. We still lack kimonos for the 'girls-in-waiting' so any of you who has a kimono please lend it to us."
"Now, Sawada, I heard from Boreen-sensei that you practiced the scene where you and Yamamoto already met so we'll skip that scene for now." Hana said. "Come on the front and we'll practice the first scene which shows you being bullied by the kids."
Tsuna nodded nervously. Yamamoto thumped him in goodluck at the back while Gokudera cheered him on.
Tsuna took a prop bucket from the corner of the room. It was full of heavy rocks to substitue water since no one wanted the classroom to get wet when he tripped. Tsuna cautiously carried the bucket in to the middle of the classroom.
"Cue the trip!" Hana shouted through a megaphone. Tsuna dropped the bucket and pretended to trip unto the floor.
"That's not good enough Sawada!" Hana called out. "Make it more believable!"
"Ha-hai!" Tsuna said as he got up.
"Oi you stupid woman! Don't order the boss around!" Gokudera shouted in protest, then he turned to Tsuna. "Don't listen to her jyuudaime! You did really well."
"Thanks Gokudera-kun." Tsuna said to his storm guardian slightly reddening in embarassment.
"You're doing a really good job Tsuna!" Yamamoto called out. Tsuna blushed at the compliment.
"Why don't we place a rock on the middle of the room so Tsuna-kun's accident will be more believable?" Kyoko said suggesting.
"That's a good suggestion Kyoko." Hana said. She took a rock from Tsuna bucket and placed it in the middle of the room. "Okay Sawada, let's try that again."
Tsuna nodded as he carried the boulder-heavy bucket again. This time he really did trip for real since he didn't see the rock because of the bucket blocking his view.
"HIIIIII!" Tsuna said as he fell.
"CUT!" Hana shouted.
"What's wrong this time?" Gokudera said glaring at Hana for making his beloved jyuudaime trip again and again.
Hana ignored Gokudera as she said, "Sawada the trip was good and I admit your shout is girly but you should say 'kyaaa' instead of 'hiiiii'. Got it?"
Tsuna mentally sobbed. His manly pride was going down the drain. "Ha-hai…" He said depressed.
"Well as long as you can remember that let's carry on." Hana said. "Villagers time to do your thing. Sawada just remain lying there."
The people who were playing villagers ran up to Tsuna and began mock-kicking him as they shouted insults. Some villager 'boys' were really kicking Tsuna though.
"Hahaha! No good Tsuna- I mean Na-tsu!"
"Stupid! Clumsy! Who would wanna marry you?"
"Ugly! Who would wanna be your friend?"
"Okay that's enough." Hana said and the villagers backed off. "Sawada you okay?"
"Y-yeah." Tsuna said coughing a bit as he dusted off his shirt.
"Okay let's continue then." Hana said.
For the rest of the morning the whole class practiced the first 3 scenes of the play. They practiced it again and again before they finally perfected it.
"Okay guys that's good." Hana said as she looked at the clock. "This afternoon we'll be focusing on the introduction of the samurai's son. Sawada, I admit you really did good. The part of the princess really suits you."
"T-thanks." Tsuna said uncertainly. "I think."
"I want you and Yamamoto to practice being lovey-dovey during lunch okay?" Hana said. "It's the key point in the play. We have to win the watchers over with your lovey-dovey scene."
"Yeah. Sure." Tsuna said carelessly but then doubled-back when he realized what Hana said, "WHAT?"
Hana ignored him as she called out, "OKAY! Good job everyone! Lunch break!"
And with that, Tsuna was left gapping after her.
A/N: So I've made 45 pages of this one… It's only be 4-5 chapters long since I plan like 10 pages per chapter… Anyway I hope you guys like it and not find it boring! Until next time!