A/N: SORRY! SORRY! SORRY! I'm really, really sorry for not updating for several days! I've been busy with Student Council work and organization works… and oh projects for all of these things! SO SORRY! I'll update the other fics today as an apology!
The Line of My Heart
By ilYamaTsunali
Chapter 3- The Play has Begun
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Eh? Did you hear that?" Tsuna asked as he looked around, he was escorting Yamamoto to the door.
"Hm?" Yamamoto said straining his ears. "Hear what?"
Tsuna shook his head. "Nothing. Anyway, take care on your way home okay?"
"Sure." Yamamoto said smiling as he waved at Tsuna as he walked away.
"Oh! And thanks again!" Tsuna shouted. Yamamoto gave him a thumbs up and before long he was gone. Tsuna closed the door his mind thinking back to what he heard earlier.
"Maybe it was just some strange bird?" Tsuna mumbled to himself while shrugging.
The next day…
"Okay that's good Sawada!" Hana said. They were practicing the last part of the play. Tsuna was currently running towards Yamamoto who was extending his arms ready to receive the brunet.
When Tsuna fell into Yamamoto's arms, the whole cast clapped.
"Brilliant!" Hana said as she clapped along.
"Wait Hana, didn't Bo-reen-sensei say that he'd like to change the ending?" Kyoko asked.
"Oh yeah, he told me that the final scene will be told at the day of the play." Hana said shrugging. "That way it'll be more exciting. So we should just be ready for any type of scenario."
Kyoko nodded. Meanwhile Tsuna who was too busy blushing at the fact that he was hugging Yamamoto while supposedly crying (it was just some eye drops) did not hear anything.
"Maa… maa… Tsuna the scene is already done." Yamamoto said as Tsuna looked up still embarrassed. "You don't have to be embarrassed anymore."
Fake tears slid down Tsuna's cheeks as a dark blush spread across his face. Oh, why must he be embarrassed like this?
Meanwhile, Yamamoto was stunned as he looked at Tsuna's tearful face. He momentarily forgot that Tsuna wasn't really crying (on the outside, but on the inside he was wailing for loss of manly pride) as he brushed away Tsuna's tears with his fingers, frowning.
"Tsuna, don't be upset." Yamamoto said worriedly as the fake tears continuously slid down Tsuna's cheeks. Yamamoto leaned in, worry etched on his face. "Tsuna?"
The blush on Tsuna's face darkened as he wiped the tears staining his cheeks. "I'm fine Yamamoto, and I'm not really crying you know?"
This time it was Yamamoto's turn to blush as he backed away. "O-oh yeah… I-I know, it's just that you seemed really upset so…" Yamamoto said scratching his cheek. They collapsed into an awkward silence. After a few seconds they suddenly noticed that they still had their arms around each other (thanks to a certain someone named Gokudera clearing his throat) and jumped apart.
Yamamoto laughed while Tsuna looked down embarrassed.
"Okay, so tomorrow is the day of the play." Hana said as she looked around the room. "The characters can go home for this afternoon but the people in charge of the props and costumes must work on the last minute things for tomorrow."
Most of her classmates nodded, the props crew gathered up the remaining props in the classroom to transfer them to backstage while those in charge of the costumes rushed to the next room to do some last minute sewing before transferring the costumes in hangers and into boxes.
Tsuna gathered his things and waited for Yamamoto and Gokudera to join him as he stepped outside the classroom. A heavy wind blew as Tsuna's stomach did a nervous flip. He had a very bad feeling about tomorrow.
You see, Reborn had never interrupted the practice even once and that was what made Tsuna uneasy. To him it meant that Reborn was going to do his 'thing' during the play. Somehow Tsuna felt that this scene, whatever it was, would end up in him being humiliated… And being humiliated in front of hundreds of people was the last thing Tsuna wanted.
"Jyuudaime!" Gokudera waved as Tsuna turned around.
"Sorry for the wait Tsuna." Yamamoto said from behind Gokudera.
Oh well… Tsuna thought as Yamamoto and Gokudera walked towards him. At least I have these two beside me…
The next day…
All of the students of class 2-A were gathered in their room as Hana gave them a final speech.
"Okay guys… This is the day we've been waiting for!" Hana said fiercely. "I want you all to give it your best okay?"
There were roars of 'yes' from the class as some filed out the room to deliver the last of the props, while the make-up crew grabbed the characters for dress up.
...
A few hours later…
"Hahaha! This is so much fun!" Yamamoto said grinning as he stepped out of the dressing room. Many girls who were rushing around bumped into a wall or else tripped because their eyes were busy admiring Yamamoto who was in an old Japanese style clothes.
The make-up department had powdered Yamamoto's skin into white, and had forced him to wear blue contacts. They placed a pony tail on Yamamoto's hair after they high-lighted it with blue and placed an old Japanese hat on his head. Meanwhile his clothes…
"Ah that's-!" Gokudera said as he pointed at Yamamoto in shock. "Asari Ugetsu!"
"Asari Ugetsu?" Yamamoto said cluelessly. "The first rain guardian right?" Yamamoto suddenly said remembering why the name was familiar.
Gokudera took out a dynamite and pointed it threateningly at Yamamoto. "What are you doing here?"
"Maa… maa… calm down! It's me Yamamoto Takeshi." Yamamoto said grinning as he pointed at himself.
"Wha-? YAMAMOTO?" Gokudera said putting down the dynamite as the baseball fanatic nodded. "But those clothes! They looked like Asari Ugetsu's!"
"Yeah I know right?" Yamamoto said looking down at himself. "Apparently Bo-reen sensei was the one who designed it."
Tch. That sensei is a suspicious character! Gokudera thought. Who is he? (Really Gokudera? XD)
"Oh yeah! By the way…" Yamamoto suddenly said, Gokudera turned to look at him. "Who are you again?"
Gokudera anime-fell. "It's me you baseball idiot! Gokudera!"
"Gokudera?" Yamamoto said his eyes wide. "What happened to your hair?"
"Tch." Gokudera said. You see, right now Gokudera's hair had been dyed red by the make-up department and they also placed red contacts on the bomber. When the bomber tried to protest the make-up department said that it was by the orders of Bo-reen sensei and that if Gokudera didn't go through with it he'll be transferred into another class that Tsuna wasn't in. They emphasized the last part really well. Oh and in additional to that they also placed a tattoo on Gokudera's face that looked really similar to G.'s
"And your clothes?" Yamamoto asked. "I don't think old Japanese nobles wore those types of clothes."
Actually, Gokudera liked the clothes. He was wearing a light red shirt, the top 2 buttons unbuttoned, with a red neck tie, black slacks, and a pair of black leather shoes.
"It was that Bo-reen sensei-guy who did this." Gokudera said looking at another direction. "They said he designed this. Apparently, nobles get to wear whatever they want rather than some tight kimono like yours. He said this was the new-old type of clothing that dated back 500 years ago or something."
(Note: Reborn was referring to the time of the primo and his guardians. He did say it was the new-old type of clothing but he didn't exactly say which country it came from)
"Ah I see!" Yamamoto said grinning. "That sensei is really interesting though you know!"
"Hmph. Whatever." Gokudera said rolling his eyes. "Anyway, where's jyuudaime?"
Suddenly they heard a familiar sigh from behind them and the two of them immediately turned around. A girl with long brown hair that reached to her waist and big brown eyes stepped out of the make-up room. She was wearing a short kimono whose skirt was 5 inches above the knee. The kimono was colored orange but was crumpled and tattered. A dark red ribbon was tied around her waist, ending on a pretty bow on her back. The girl's hands were bandaged and so were her 2 feet and her left knee.
When the girl looked up her eyes widened.
"G-Gokudera-kun? Yamamoto? What the-" A familiar voice said as the person raised a shaking finger at the two.
"Tsuna?" Yamamoto asked, blinking in surprise. "Is that you?"
"J-jyuudaime you look like a girl!" Gokudera said also surprised.
At those words Tsuna became depressed. "You didn't have to say it out loud."
"A-ah, g-gomen!" Gokudera said. "B-but jyuudaime! Those bandages- Did someone hurt you?" Gokudera suddenly said becoming fierce.
"Are you okay Tsuna?" Yamamoto asked also getting concerned. Tsuna raised a defending hand.
"I'm fine guys, these are just part of the costume." Tsuna said sighing. "I am playing a clumsy character, you know."
"O-oh right…" Yamamoto said laughing nervously. Gokudera calmed down immediately.
"Anyway those clothes…" Tsuna said looking at them. "Aren't those the clothes of the first rain and storm guardians?"
"Ah." Gokudera said suddenly getting serious. "The make-up department said that Bo-reen sensei designed them. We should be wary of him jyuudaime! I think he knows something! We should tell Reborn-san!"
Tsuna sweat dropped. Bo-reen is Reborn! Why doesn't anyone realize that?
"Maa… maa… Let's worry about that later!" Yamamoto said smiling. "The play is about to start!"
And sure enough, Hana suddenly came to their end, shouting: "Places everyone! We're about to start!"
"Good luck, Tsuna." Yamamoto said winking at the brunet.
"Jyuudaime! You can do it!" Gokudera said.
"A-ah…" Tsuna said as he was dragged to the stage.
"A long time ago there was a normal village girl named Na-tsu 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." The narrator said.
Tsuna entered the stage nervously, carrying a bucket of water. There were cheers from the crowd, Tsuna looked and he saw his mother, Lambo, I-pin, Fuuta, Haru, and Bianchi clapping. Even Dino and his men were there, clapping enthusiastically while Dino held a banner that said 'GO LITTLE BRO!' Shamal and Colonello were also there they were mouthing the words 'we're here to pick up your bones' at him. At the front seats, Tsuna saw the arcobalenos: Viper or Mammon, Fong, Skull, Lal Mirch, Aria, and even Reborn. Tsuna couldn't help but sigh in relief. At least the sun arcobaleno wasn't backstage ruining things. Behind Aria, seated on the 2nd row was Gamma. And also thankfully, although Mammon was there it did not seem like any other Varia members were present, and Verde seemed to be left out of it too.
Or he could just be hiding somewhere nearby. Tsuna thought. Due to his distraction, Tsuna suddenly tripped. The bucket flew out of his hands and the water spilled on stage. Thankfully this was part of the script. And on cue, the village children rushed out from backstage and began stamping on the brunet.
"Hahaha! No good Na-tsu!"
"Stupid! Clumsy! Who would wanna marry you?"
"Ugly! Who would wanna be your friend?"
"You're such a looser!"
Tsuna took this time to look at the crowd once more. Thanks to their regal hairstyles, Tsuna could see the disciplinary committee standing guard around the stadium while Hibari sat in the front row along with the arcobalenos. Tsuna's gaze then shifted to the corners of the room where he saw Ken sneering at him while Chikusa remained as stone-faced as ever. Beside them was Chrome who was looking his way worriedly.
Suddenly the pressure on Tsuna's back lifted as the village children ran away laughing. Tsuna coughed from the dust as he sat up. Just as planned, his kimono was dirtier than before. Tsuna rubbed his eyes as the narrator continued.
"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." The narrator said.
Tsuna stood up dusting away the dirt from his clothes and then he looked at the crowd smiling.
"I don't mind that they hate me." Tsuna said smile intact and his eyes grew soft as he stared at the people who used to target his life (meaning Bianchi, Ken, and Chikusa). "I've already accepted it and to me that doesn't matter. I still love them and this village anyway."
After saying that, Tsuna bent down to pick up the fallen bucket. From his pocket he took a rag and proceeded to clean the spilled water. The lights closed, signaling the end of scene 1. There was a huge applause; many people were touched by what Tsuna said.
Bianchi's eyes were wide as she clapped silently, and Chikusa and Ken too were dumbfounded. Chrome smiled.
"Good job Sawada!" Hana said patting Tsuna on the back. "Now it's time for the second scene! Yamamoto!"
"Osu!" Yamamoto said grinning as he approached. He patted Tsuna in the back as he passed. "You did really well Tsuna." He whispered softly.
Tsuna's face flushed as she stared wide-eye at Yamamoto who strolled onto the stage. The lights went on again.
...
Meanwhile…
"Nyahahaha! Those kids beat up Tsuna!" Lambo laughed in his seat and then suddenly he jumped down. "Lambo-san wants to beat up Dame-Tsuna too!"
"Lambo matte!" I-pin shouted as she too jumped down from her seat, but Lambo already ran off, laughing.
"Ara…ara… What should we do?" Nana said as Lambo and I-pin ran off.
"Leave them be, they're still children after all." Bianchi said.
"Don't worry mama, Lambo and I-pin can take care of themselves." Futa said smiling.
While in the front seats… Reborn smirked.
"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 narrator read.
"I am the great samurai Kojiro!" Mochida said as he entered the stage while brandishing a sword. The girls (and some boys) playing village girls squealed as Mochida passed.
Backstage…
"HIIII!" Tsuna squealed when he saw Mochida's sword. "Is that a real sword?"
"No." Kyoko said smiling. "They're really well-made copies though, that's what Bo-reen sensei said. They're such good copies that they even look and feel real!"
Then they are real! Tsuna thought, horrified.
"That stupid Mochida!" Hana mumbled angrily. "Why can't he stick to the script?"
On the stage…
"Listen kind villagers!" Mochida spoke in an authorative voice, many of the cast wanted to roll their eyes. "I, the great Kojiro, have come here to this village to train, my beloved son named Asari Ugetsu."
Backstage, Tsuna's jaw dropped. ASARI UGETSU? Even Gokudera spitted out the juice he was drinking. However it seemed it was only the 2 of them who were surprised.
"Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you…" Hana said turning to them, "We changed the characters names. We did it when you were absent from school. Bo-reen sensei suddenly came into the classroom to announce it. By the way Gokudera, your name is G. now."
Gokudera's jaw dropped.
I knew it! Reborn had something to do with this! Tsuna thought.
"It was too bad, I named your characters after your box animals too, Tsuna-kun." Kyoko said sighing. Tsuna's eyes widened.
Kyoko-chan was the one who named the original characters? Tsuna thought surprised.
At the stage…
Yamamoto entered the stage smiling kindly at the villagers and the crowd. Although he was shocked by the sudden name change he decided to just go along with the flow.
"Father…" Yamamoto said chuckling gently. "You do not have to announce it to the whole village."
"Do not mind me, son." As Mochida said this he did a hair flip and smiled a smile that made his teeth shine. "I am just a proud father."
Yamamoto sweat dropped. "Of course." Yamamoto said still smiling. The village girls squealed while the village boys approached Yamamoto trying to shake his hand.
"The son of the samurai soon became very popular in the village." The narrator read. "He was liked by elders and children alike despite the fact that he only just arrived at the village. Meanwhile Na-tsu who had been in the village ever since she was born could only watch in the shadows as the boy who was very unlike her was praised and loved."
At those words, Tsuna stepped onto the stage timidly. He watched with longing as the villagers chatted with Yamamoto happily. Tsuna placed a hand over his heart, and with such a lonely look he ran off.
Although this was part of the script, Yamamoto could not help but look at Tsuna as he ran away with guilt and sadness in his eyes.
The crowd howled their sympathy to the girl while the girls in the crowd squealed at Yamamoto for looking so handsome.
Then the lights dimmed once more and the characters except Yamamoto and Mochida left the stage. When the lights went back on, Yamamoto was now holding the Shigure Kintoki, his father gave him and he was in an attack stance.
"That is right Ugetsu my son." Mochida said as he pretended to be teaching Yamamoto the stance of the sword. "Do some more slashing exercises with these hay dolls using this bamboo sword; I need to go into town for an appointment with an important client."
Before he left, Mochida took the Shigure Kintoki from Yamamoto and exchanged it with a wooden bamboo sword. When Mochida was gone, Yamamoto used the sword to slash. His movements were so fast and so graceful that many in the crowd clapped.
"He has improved, kora!" Colonello said as he clapped.
"Hmph…. That's my son!" Came a voice from behind them. Shamal and Colonello looked around, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto had just arrived. He was looking proudly at Yamamoto.
"That Yamamoto Takeshi… He really is a born hitman like Reborn said." Dino said to Romario as he waved the banner. Romario nodded.
But then the crowd quieted down when the narrator spoke again.
"However, while Asari Ugetsu practiced his swordsmanship with a practice sword, several thugs suddenly came to approach him. These thugs were well-known troublemakers in the village and they were also thieves. They approached Asari challenging him into a fight." The narrator said. Suddenly the tension was high among the crowd.
"Hey!" Came the voice of the thug leader who was actually a girl covered in makeup and wearing a fake mustache. "We'd like to challenge you, samurai's son."
Yamamoto stopped his practicing and looked at the thugs. He gave them a gentle smile before he said "I'm sorry but I do not believe in senseless violence. A samurai fights for what he believes in, not for glory."
The leader girl thug's heart melted at the sight of Yamamoto's smile. She remained there looking dazedly at Yamamoto for a few seconds before her fellow thug decided to say her line for her. Yamamoto just watched the scene, blinking innocently, wondering why no one has said their line yet.
The thug behind the leader cleared his throat before he spoke. "I-is that so? Aren't you a noble one?" He said sneering.
The thugs behind him joined in jeering. "Yeah! A softie I say! You deserve to be beat up!"
"Y-yeah!"
"D-definitely!"
Just then the girl snapped out of her daze. "H-hey wait! I'm the leader here! I decided that!"
The second-in-command thug almost slapped his face. Stupid fan girls and their obsession. What do they do now?
Backstage…
Hana was stage-whispering for someone to take the girl thug out with a sleeping dart or something.
"Wow, Kurokawa's scary when she's serious isn't she?" Tsuna said sweat dropping. Kyoko giggled.
On stage…
"So that's it! We've decided we'll beat you up!" The second-in-command thug said.
"Takeshi! Don't lose to those guys!" Yamamoto heard his father shout from the crowd. Yamamoto sweat dropped.
"Hey wai-" The leader girl thug said but thankfully one of the thugs subdued her and she was pushed to the back of the group.
"So get yourself ready, pretty boy." The thugs sneered. Yamamoto readied his sword, a serious expression on his face. Many of the girls on the crowd fainted from sheer bliss, even the leader thug girl fainted.
"T-the boss fainted!" The thug from behind shouted.
"Leave her be!" The second-in-command said, inventing lines as they went along. "I'm the leader now!"
The thug group cheered while the crowd sweat dropped.
"Oi… oi… is it alright for them to abandon their leader like that?" Mammon asked.
"It's the right decision. The weak should be abandoned." Lal Mirch said seriously.
"Still a Spartan I see, Lal." Reborn said smirking. "Colonello will be disappointed that you haven't become more lady-like."
Lal glared at Reborn with a blush.
Back on stage…
Yamamoto fought the thugs trying to make it seem like he was losing due to their sheer numbers. When Yamamoto was finally knocked down to the floor with his sword thrown away, the narrator spoke. "Suddenly by coincidence, Na-Tsu who was passing by to collect some herbs saw them." The narrator entered the stage carrying a basket but suddenly dropped it when she saw the scene. "And 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 out."
Tsuna hesitated on his first step not knowing how to time it but then… his eyes widened when he saw the thug about to hit Yamamoto with what seemed to be a real club! With an amazing burst of speed, Tsuna ran to Yamamoto and threw himself at the rain guardian trying to shield him from the oncoming blow.
Yamamoto was shocked by Tsuna suddenly throwing himself at him. He held the boy by the shoulder but Tsuna refused to let go and clung at Yamamoto trying desperately to ensure his safety.
(It seems that these two seemed to have forgotten that this was all a play but hey, they at least made it more realistic.) The thug who was about to strike them stopped and stared wide-eyed at Tsuna. Tsuna looked-up his eyes tearful (because of irritation to his X-b urner contacts as he ran at full speed) as he shielded Yamamoto.
A blush adorned the thug's face as he looked at Tsuna. But then he was shook back into reality when he heard the thugs around him pretending to gasp at Tsuna and point at him fearfully. The thug dropped the club and together with group of thugs they all ran out of the stage.
Tsuna let out a sigh of relief but then he looked back at Yamamoto who stood up and extended a hand to him. Tsuna looked at Yamamoto as he accepted the hand, his eyes still tearful. Yamamoto noticed this and leaned in to see if Tsuna was hurt, when the brunet stood up.
"Are you okay?" Yamamoto asked as he placed both hands on Tsuna's face. Tsuna blushed but nodded.
Backstage…
Gokudera was biting on a handkerchief which was nearly tearing off due to the force of his teeth.
"Hana, I think they forgot their lines." Kyoko said slightly entranced by the scene.
"A-ah…" Hana said, she didn't notice that, since she was drawn in by the scene.
On stage…
Tsuna was alerted back into the play when he suddenly heard wolf-whistles coming from the crowd. The brunet blushed fiercely before he said through his teeth: "Yamamoto your line."
Yamamoto snapped out of his trance and smiled in embarrassment as he let go of Tsuna's face.
"You saved me." Yamamoto said smiling gently, Tsuna fiddled with his fingers in embarrassment. "Even though you don't know me, you saved me." Yamamoto added as he bowed. "I am forever in your gratitude."
"A-ah no!" Tsuna said as he rushed forward and placed his hands on Yamamoto shoulders forcing him to stand straight. "I j-just couldn't stand by and watch you get hurt, sir."
Yamamoto looked at Tsuna in shock for a moment before his eyes softened and he took Tsuna's bandaged hands into his own. Tsuna's long hair was being blown slightly giving a good effect.
Yamamoto chuckled. Tsuna stared; he really did seem like Asari Ugetsu at the moment. "Please drop the formalities; my name is Ji- I mean Asari Ugetsu." Yamamoto said. "I am the son of Kojiro the samurai."
"A-ah." Tsuna said smiling with a blush on his face, the fact that he was holding hands with Yamamoto in front of a huge crowd made him nervous. "My name is Na-Tsu and I already know you. You're very popular in the village after all."
"Oh? Am I?" Yamamoto said a bit shocked but then he smiled. He pulled Tsuna closer to him and grasped his hands tighter. Tsuna looked at Yamamoto's usually amber (but now was blue because of the contacts) eyes a bit stunned. Yamamoto looked back at Tsuna's brown eyes as he said: "Then that's good, since you know me, we can be friends now right?"
"R-really?" Tsuna said his face shocked. "A-are you sure? Do you really want to be friends with someone as no good as me?"
Yamamoto let go of Tsuna's hands and placed his hands behind his back as he stared at Tsuna with utmost trust and honesty. "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." Yamamoto said his voice full of sincerity, his blue eyes reflecting gentleness. The crowd was so moved that some girls even took out their handkerchiefs.
Tsuna's eyes filled with tears as he ran at Yamamoto and hugged him while closing his eyes. "A-arigatou…"
Yamamoto was a bit stunned but the he placed his arms around Tsuna smiling cheerfully. "No problem."
Then the lights dimmed.
A/N: Ahaha! And that's the part 1 of the play. I'll have to edit the next chapter because I'm not satisfied with it yet! So yeah, read and review! Thanks!