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Player Info
Player Name: Isaac
Player LJ: electroplay
Player Instant Messenger Type and Handle: aim; ThisismyJirou
Player Email: CaptainEcksDee@gmail.com
Are you 18 years of age or older? Y.
Character Info
Character Name: Takeshi Yamamoto
Character’s Age: Twenty-four [ 24 ]
Fandom: Katekyo Hitman REBORN!
Timeline: During his fight with Nosaru - while switching places with his younger self.
Appearance: Takeshi is an unusually tall man for someone of Japanese origin. Well over six feet, he’s solidly built - well defined from training in swordsmanship and his days as an athlete. His hair is dark and messy, cut short all around and he bears tanned skin with but a single noticeable scar - across his chin. His eyes are a warm mocha in color and perhaps the only part of him that betrays his cheerful nature at times. He’s forever seen smiling, proving to be a deceptive cover for his Mafioso nature. He’s usually seen in a black suit with a turquoise dress shirt under it; his tie is forever loosened around his neck and the top buttons on his shirt undone. Across his shoulder, he carries his katana and his rings bare a few silver and blue rings; his trademark weapons.
History: Takeshi Yamamoto on KHR Wiki
Takeshi Yamamoto is the son of the sushi chef, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto. His father runs the sushi shop Takesushi that presumably doubles as his home. It is unclear about his relationship with his mother or even if she’s still living. At school, its said that he was chosen to be a starting player on the Namimori baseball team as a first year and that ‘all the other kids in school completely respect’ him.
His first appearance in canon was in phys ed, during the torturous process of picking people to play on different teams. As usual, Tsunayoshi Sawada was the last to be picked and neither team was willing to take them on their side without some game of chance to decide - presumably rock paper scissors. Seemingly out of no where, Takeshi steps forward and asks Tsuna to join his team, though his team members try to convince him that loser Tsuna will only cause them to lose. Takeshi doesn’t seem to mind this, however, and insists that if he doesn’t give up any hits that it would be alright.
As the game begins and progresses, it is revealed that Takeshi can hit one-handed. Unknown to both Takeshi and Tsunayoshi, the infant tutor Reborn had been watching the whole time and decided they needed Takeshi’s athletic prowess and popularity in the Vongola family. Regardless of how amazing of a player Takeshi proved to be, it wasn’t enough to keep his team from falling victim to Loser Tsuna’s reputation of causing any team he plays on to lose. In their anger with him, Tsuna was left to clean up on his own, though Takeshi quickly arrived - cheerful as ever - to help him out. While cleaning, Tsuna apologizes to him for causing the team to lose, though he brushes it off - insisting it’s only PE - before going on to tell Tsuna how he had been watching him and how ‘awesome’ he had been as of late. He went on to tell Tsuna that he’s only good at one thing - baseball - and lately he had been slipping; his batting average had dropped and his fielding had been getting sloppier. Worried he would be dropped as a starting player, he asked Tsuna for advice. Tsuna replied by telling him that he should try harder and in response, Takeshi laughed and told him they would be good friends - after noting that he’d stay later that day to practice harder.
It turns out that in the midst of his practices, something had gone wrong and caused him to fracture his arm. The next day at school, Takeshi appeared on the roof, claiming he was going to jump because the baseball gods had forsaken him. It’s then that Tsuna shows up, trying to persuade him not to jump. Takeshi counters that Tsuna of all people should know how he feels before Tsuna replies that Takeshi is confused. Misunderstanding Tsuna’s word, Takeshi snaps at him - asking Tsuna if things have changed now that Tsuna is a ‘big shot’. Tsuna insist that’s not the case, claiming that it’s because he’s a loser that they’re different and that he could never invest his entire identity in something like Yamamoto had. Tsuna then attempts to flee before Takeshi attempts to stop them - causing both of them to topple over the edge of the rooftop, seemingly to their doom. Reborn was on top of things as usual, however, and shot Tsuna with a combination of special bullets that enabled him to save Takeshi and himself from a violent meeting with the ground below. Safe on the ground once more, Takeshi told Tsuna that he had been right about what he had told him. He would give things his all. He went on to tell Tsuna that there’s no telling what a fool would do when depressed.
Takeshi and Tsuna become friends after the whole of the incident on the roof. In the background, however, Hayato Gokudera has been observing Takeshi and comments many a times that he does not approve of Takeshi. In response, Reborn agrees to give Takeshi an entrance test to see if he’s worthy of becoming part of the family before sending Gokudera to bring Takeshi to him. It was then that Takeshi met Reborn for the first time, laughing off his introduction of being a hitman and the talk of mafia he brings up - telling Tsuna it was like playing cops and robbers as a kid. Completely misunderstanding the whole of the situation, Takeshi tells Reborn he made a good choice picking Tsuna as a boss for their game of Mafia and asks to join the family. Reborn tells him if he can pass the entrance test, he’ll be a member of the family and if he fails, it means his death. Oblivious to the truth behind those words, Takeshi comments on how he’ll have to do his best and then the test begins.
To pass the test, he simply has to avoid all of Reborn’s attacks. At first, Takeshi does well - narrowly dodging knives while going on to comment on how ‘real’ the toys seem. Reborn then comments on how Tsuna should set the example and Takeshi eagerly tells him that they should make it a competition, to which Reborn seems more than willing to allow. Despite the many close calls, Takeshi thinks it all to be a game and a fun one at that. During the test, Lambo shows up intending to kill Reborn but Reborn ignores him and eventually, Gokudera joins the test to make it even harder on Takeshi. Between Lambo, Reborn and Gokudera, they ‘accidentally’ push the limits and they cause a massive explosion. Once the smoke cleared, it was revealed that Takeshi had put himself in harm’s way to save Tsuna from the blast. Reborn thus ends the test. Afterwards, Gokudera reluctantly compliments Takeshi for saving Tsuna before the two ‘argue’ over the position of Tsuna’s right hand man.
Various smaller events happened many atimes after these events, though Takeshi’s involvement in them was minimal at best. They included meeting future allies and witnessing more instances of Reborn’s borderline Spartan training rituals with a few notable instances.
The first was an accidental encounter with Kyouya Hibari, the future Vongola Decimo Cloud guardian. Reborn appeared to Tsuna, Takeshi and Gokudera one day, claiming they needed a base within the school, to which they all agreed. Reborn insisted that he knew a place and the three unknowingly went along with it. Upon reaching the room, though, they met Hibari and Takeshi recognized him instantly, fully aware of his reputation. His attempts to warn Gokudera were futile, as Gokudera attacked Hibari after Hibari attacked Tsuna. Hibari turns on Takeshi and Takeshi manages to evade where as the other two had failed to do so. Hibari notes that Takeshi is protecting his arm before knocking him out as well. While he was knocked out, Tsuna recovered only to try and save them. Inevitably, Reborn stepped in to save all three of them, revealing the whole of the incident to be yet another test.
The next was during Tsuna’s meeting with the tenth generation Cavallone boss. In an attempt to test Tsuna’s ‘family’, Dino and Reborn staged a ‘kidnapping’ of Tsuna that was seemingly carried out by a prominent Yakuza group in the area. After Takeshi and Gokudera fled to attempt to save Tsuna, it was revealed by Dino that he had been the one to kidnap Tsuna and that he was in no real danger, as the kidnappers weren’t supposed to be real. Reborn revealed, however, that Gokudera and Takeshi were in fact going to face off against a real Yakuza group, causing Dino and Tsuna to rush after them in an attempt to save them. Upon arriving, it was revealed that Gokudera and Takeshi were able to beat down a majority of the group on their own, but more showed up after Dino and Tsuna’s arrival. When reasoning with the Yakuza failed, Dino attempted to save them - though accidentally beat all of his comrades instead. Reborn - as if on cue - appeared to shoot Tsuna with more special bullets to protect his family and Takeshi along with Gokudera rose to cover his back.
Another note worthy event was Takeshi’s training with Reborn. One day after his morning practices at the bating cage, he finished up to find Reborn waiting for him - claiming to be there to help him out of his slump. During their training, Reborn gave Takeshi micro hammers - small baseballs that sprout spikes when thrown, apparently capable of destroying boulders with their force. He was then given a baseball bat. It turned out to be a strange telescope, though in his first look through it, Dino and Romario began an assault from overhead - an assault Gokudera quickly joined in on. Tsuna was forced into the training with him and despite the distractions and having to guide Tsuna; he was able to dodge sniper bullets. His final test began with Reborn pointing a gun at him and with a swing of the bat he was given, it changed into a katana - or more appropriately, Yamamoto’s Bat. Reborn went on to continue training Takeshi by shooting at him and Takeshi was able to block all of the shots with swings of his sword. The next day at the batting cages, Takeshi hit the home run target each time.
Of course, time after retrieving his weapon was spent watching Tsuna go through even more tests at the hand of his merciless tutor. Though he visited Italy briefly with Dino after Gokudera refused such a trip.
Takeshi had little to worry about for some time. Not until the mysterious attacks on Namimori students began. A group of escaped convicts posing as Kokuyo Middle School began launching attacks on students of Namimori and taking their teeth according to their ranking on Fuuta’s ‘Strongest in Namimori Middle’ list. It was a mystery for some time what place Takeshi had on this list until one day, Chikusa attacked Gokudera - the third strongest student. Preparing to finish the final blow, Takeshi stepped in to cut the strings on his yo-yos and in response, Chikusa claimed he had no business with Takeshi, as he was Ken’s target - implying Takeshi had yet to come down on this mysterious list.
Takeshi along with Tsuna, Gokudera, Bianchi and Reborn all set out after the attack on Gokudera to face off the one responsible for these attacks. They headed to the remains of Kokuyo Health Land, relying on Tsuna’s poor memory to maneuver through it to find the attackers. It’s there that Takeshi noticed a strange animal print and the others noticed various other strange things - broken cages and teeth marks on trees. No sooner than they did, Takeshi was attacked by a large canine but Takeshi was quick to note that the attacking animals were already dead. What attacked Takeshi next, however, was the furtherest thing from. Ken Joshima - one of the escaped convicts - attacked him and caused him to slide back across the ground before Takeshi fell through it, revealing that the area they were walking on was a buried rooftop.
Ken followed him down and once Takeshi recovered from the drop, his idiotic person was replaced by something much more serious. Ken began his attack quickly and Takeshi was able to evade his initial attacks before drawing his sword in defense. Ken broke it easily, however, and Takeshi replied that playing Mafia met he couldn’t hold back. Ken, on the other hand, revealed his powers to Takeshi before beginning a more serious fight. Again, Takeshi continuously evaded, ever mindful of his body despite taking a few hits. Without a bat and in a position where his friends couldn’t help him, he was faced with a decision to risk injury by directly engaging Ken or to make their fight a battle of endurance. During their fight, Takeshi admitted he had to keep himself from getting hurt not because he was scared but because of the fall tournament coming up. Tsuna - feeling guilty about what could happen to Takeshi - was kicked into the hole by Reborn. Ken eagerly whirled on Tsuna, claiming to be bored of his fight with Takeshi.
This didn’t sit well with Takeshi at all and he flung rocks at Ken, telling him they should finish their game first. Ken took the bait and attacked Takeshi once more. In response, Takeshi threw up his arm, seemingly in defense and Ken bit into it. It was a diversion it seemed, as Takeshi used his broken sword to slam it into Ken’s head, knocking him out. Tsuna felt horrible over Takeshi sacrificing his arm, to which Takeshi explained that he’d never put baseball over his friends.
After the ordeal with Ken, they able to leave the area they’d fallen into and Bianchi tended to Takeshi’s wounds. Takeshi apologized for breaking the bat he was given but Reborn brushed it off and gave him a spare. The group went on then to encounter M.M. and then Birds, both of which fell to the force of their allies. After their encounter with Birds, they were finally able to meet Mukuro Rokudo - or rather, Lancia, the fake Mukuro Rokudo. Takeshi and the others stood up to fight him and while Takeshi was able to discover the secret behind Lancia’s attack, he inevitably fell to his powers. Takeshi fell unconscious for the remainder of the fight with Lancia and remained that way until some time after the fight with the real Mukuro. He and the other wounded parties were taken care of by a special Vongola medical crew. Takeshi went on to play in the Fall Tournament that year with the other’s there to cheer him on.
Some time after the incident at Kokuyo Health Land, yet another threat rose to confront the Vongola family. Takeshi and the others were having a friendly outing together when a strange teen by the name of Basil fell onto the scene, followed by the volatile and obnoxiously loud Squalo Superbi. Takeshi and Gokudera both stood to fight Squalo, though both were easily defeated. After the incident, both were dismissed by Reborn with the reasoning that they would just be in the way if they tried to stay and help the situation. Takeshi - sore loser that he had proven himself to be - took the loss hard.
The next day, he appeared at the hospital Basil was being treated at to meet up with Tsuna. When they met up, he showed him the strange half-ring he’d received and even tried to give it back - claiming he didn’t wear jewelry because of sports. He promptly changed his mind, though, when Reborn explained the rings and the danger that was to follow those who held onto them. Determined to meet up with Squalo once more, Takeshi kept his half of the Vongola ring of the Rain, explaining that he doesn’t like to be beaten.
Takeshi returned home that day, a few seconds late to see a strange display on his father’s part. He was quick to ask his father to teach him swordsmanship, to which his father agreed. After agreeing, Tsuyoshi showed Takeshi to a dojo to teach him what he had asked - but before they could begin, Tsuyoshi revealed a side of himself his son never knew. He explained he planned to infuse every bit of his knowledge into the other because his skill with the sword was an equivalent of Takeshi’s skill with a bat and ball. The training had been quick - he was shown the forms of Shigure Souen Ryuu only once and asked to perform them afterwards. Once he had done so, his father informed him that he was finished teaching him and that the rest was up to him. Confused, Takeshi tried to explain that all he did was copy what he was shown. Tsuyoshi replied that if his son were worthy of learning such a style, he only needed see it once to learn it.
Between the beginning of his training and his actual battle with Squalo - Takeshi is present for all other Ring Battles. He says or does little, appearing mainly as support and voicing concerns with the others as different things happen. It isn’t until the end of the Storm Battle that Takeshi does anything of notable importance. The Storm Battle took place within the halls of Namimori Middle School and left a large mess - something that had inevitably drawn the attention of the volatile perfect Hibari. Angry about what had happened, Hibari moved to strike one of the Varia before Takeshi stepped in - easily moving fast enough to grab and stop Namimori’s strongest fighter’s attack. This comes as a shock to many and it is one of the most noteable signs of improvement to his skills. After the battle, he found himself troubled by the information Dino had chosen to reveal to him about his opponent Squalo. Squalo was the swordsman emperor, having defeated a seemingly endless of amount of sword styles. He was told the only way to win would be to transcend sword styles.
After this incident, Takeshi prepared for his own battle - the Rain Battle. It was the day of his battle that his father gave him Shigure Kintoki, something that was seemingly a harmless practice sword. He even proceeded to explain it as such before swinging it and revealing its transformation into a katana when used with the Shigure Souen style. It was during the explanation that Tsuna explained to Tsuyoshi that Yamamoto couldn’t use the sword as it wouldn’t transform if Yamamoto transcended sword styles. Enraged, Tsuyoshi shouted that their style was invincible and there was no way for it to be transcended - the Shigure Souen Ryuu is flawless and invincible.
The scene immediately changes to Tsuna, Takeshi and Basil heading towards the battle destination and it was apparently still unclear what Takeshi intended to do. Squalo then appeared, claiming he was going to defeat Takeshi. In response, he reveals the true form of Shigure Kintoki and explains he’ll beat Squalo with that katana. The Corvello judges appeared afterwards, ordering them to the battle sight so they could begin. Upon arriving, the field was revealed to be inside one of the buildings of the school that would rapidly begin filling with water. Only the winner would be able to exit and the loser would drown or be devoured by the beast dwelling under the waters.
The match itself was surprisingly fast and deemed a sight worth seeing by many of those watching. Takeshi was able to blend the styles he’d learned from his father to defend against Squalo. Squalo was ruthless, though, and came at Takeshi with everything he had. Many chances for Takeshi to end the match with a single strike were given up as Takeshi turned his blade - refusing to strike with the sharpened edge of his sword. That had proven to be his biggest downfall and as the match went on; Takeshi was seemingly close to falling to Squalo’s blade. Severely injured and able to be struck down a final time, Takeshi told Squalo his sword style was perfect and he would win with the last form of Shigure Souen. Squalo claimed to know it but when Takeshi revealed it - it was different from the one Squalo had defeated. The match wasn’t over, though, and even though Squalo was ready to believe Takeshi had nothing left, Takeshi revealed his own form of the Shigure Souen Ryuu - the ninth form - and defeated Squalo. Even as the match ended, Takeshi refused to allow Squalo to die. Upon hearing the Corvello explain that Squalo’s survival after his defeat was of no concern to them, he set out to attempt to save him. Squalo refused to be saved, kicking Yamamoto away and to safety before he was ‘devoured’ by the beast within the water. The next match was then announced.
As with the battles prior to his own, Takeshi attended both the Mist and Cloud battles - even in his wounded condition. It wasn’t until the final battle - the Sky Battle - that he was brought in to fight once more. All guardians were assembled from both sides and then poisoned - the only way to save themselves being the use of the Vongola ring to inject an antidote into their systems. Takeshi was rescued - surprisingly - by Hibari before he went on to attempt to save the others. He met up with Gokudera in time to head to the sight where the Mist Guardian - Chrome - was being held. When they arrived, the two were faced by Belphegor and Mammon - the Storm and Mist of Varia, respectively - and were ordered to trade their Vongola rings for her life. Takeshi agreed and made to hand over the rings. Upon doing so, however, he ‘tripped’. In truth, he was performing the third form of Shigure Souen, kicking his sword at the others before hurrying forward to catch it and restrain Mammon. Afterwards, Mammon revealed it was an illusion and the situation had been reversed. They were captured within Mammon’s illusion and without hope when Ryohei appeared to destroy the gym, saving all three of the other guardians from possible death. Even though the Vongola survived that particular encounter, the rings were still taken by Belphegor and Mammon.
The rings were all brought together and given to XANXUS - though he’d been frozen by Tsunayoshi. The rings were able to unfreeze him but inevitably rejected him, as he was not the true successor. Everyone was surprised by this and then, XANXUS and Squalo (who turned out to be very alive, much to Takeshi’s relief and surprise) went on to explain the truth of the situation, finally granting them all with the answers they had sought from their first encounter with Varia. After the explanation, XANXUS went on to order his subordinates to kill the Vongola so no one would be able to succeed the ninth Vongola. Takeshi and the other guardians took a stand at that, refusing to let harm come to Tsuna or the others. Before any serious fighting could be had, Lancia appeared as a savior to Vongola, easily helping to end the conflict with the help of the rest of Vongola. With the situation taken care of, Tsuna and his friends were deemed the victors of the battle, keeping their rings.
The next time Takeshi is seen, Tsuna has been transported to the world of ten years later due to a mishap with Lambo and his ten year Bazooka. Takeshi looked similar to his younger self - with the exception of more height and a scar on his chin. He appeared in time to save a younger Tsuna and Gokudera from an attack by a Gola Mosca before leading them to safety and a waiting Reborn. Along the way, he explained what had happened over the years and the conflict with the Millefiore family. He seemed to have matured greatly in that time, understanding the whole of the mafia as being more than just a game. During his explanation of the events of the current time, though, Gokudera attacked Takeshi after finding out Tsuna had died in the future. Takeshi made no effort to stop him, only apologizing. Reborn warned them of the dangers in the current time and during so, revealed Takeshi’s father had been killed by the Millefiore. In an effort to save the Vongola of the future, they were ordered to find all of the guardians to stop the threat at hand.
The first guardian they sought out was Hibari and it was during their venture to find him that Takeshi further explained the future world. He explained the weapons and Vongola’s achievements, what had been lost and what had yet to be done. He promised to train them in the ways of combat in the future, equating it to intensive baseball camp. When Tsuna goes on to question Takeshi about how baseball had been for him over the years, an explosion happens in the distance. It’s revealed that Lambo and I-Pin are near it, attempting to protect Haru and Kyoko from the threat posted by the Millefiore. And just as one of the black spell - Nosaru - goes on to launch an attack, Takeshi intervenes.
While battling with Nosaru, Takeshi explained the box weapons to Tsuna and Gokudera after revealing the power of one of his own. He proceeded to order Tsuna to find Kyoko while he fought Nosaru. Gokudera remained with Takeshi, attempting to fight as well, though Takeshi insisted he stand down. Upon throwing his box weapons in the air while speaking to Gokudera, Takeshi is then switched with his younger self as many of the others are switched with their younger selves as well.
Personality: Takeshi comes off to many as being quite linear - no real depth beyond what he shows to others. In their eyes, he’s very much the star athlete everyone likes; he smiles and gets along easily with everyone and has no obvious faults. His world seems to revolve solely around baseball and the life he’s built around it; he has, after all, worked for years to build his identity around baseball. Purely a nice guy, he’s the one everyone admires and wants to date; the guy everyone genuinely respects for his cheerful nature and easy-going persona.
As someone who is quite popular with both genders, it could be said that he’s strangely charismatic. When around others, he knows the right things to say to ease the mood or what to say to give someone a last minute boost of confidence. Of course, he’s not the most eloquent or sensible person all the time, but even when he’s not, his attempts often follow through with success. With such a seemingly natural allure, he’s been shown to be respected and well-liked by not only his closest friends but his schoolmates as well. It’s very rare to find someone who genuinely dislikes him and those who do often base it off some particular aspect of him - such as his position as the Rain Guardian or his alliance with the Vongola - rather than his actual personality and skills.
His charm comes from, perhaps, the innocent aura he radiates to most people. At times, he can be quite gullible - buying into simple explanations that when paid more thought could easily be dismissed as incorrect. And playing further to such a front, he can be a bit naïve. He finds many things to be nothing more than a game, even when their obvious severity has come to light. It is very likely this is his way of coping, of facing things he doesn’t fully understand with a positive outlook. He does, after all, possess a streak of blinding optimism that some people may find a bit unsettling or perhaps fake; truthfully, it’s just the way he is.
Even as far as people are concerned, it is very rare for Takeshi to find someone he dislikes or doesn’t trust. He’s quick to greet people and befriend them, to show them a kindness and welcome that others may not. Even if they may seem rugged or ‘scary’ on the surface, he can easily look past it in favor of extending a hand of friendship to them. To this extent, he may be a bit too trusting of other people. Unless given a reason not to trust someone, he’ll be one of the first to place his faith in them. Likewise, many people are quick to place their trust in him as he’s dependable and more than apt at keeping secrets - particularly those that are not his own.
With such a positive outlook on virtually everything, Takeshi is easily described as being a very relaxed person. There isn’t much that shakes him and the things that do, he’s quick to bounce back from most of it. Whenever something goes wrong, he’s always the first of the group to put on a smiling face and hold his head up high - you just have to keep on trekking when things get bad. So long as there is hope in a situation, he’ll very well hold onto it with everything that he is. So determined to look at the good rather than the bad, it’s how he stays calm when everyone else is loosing their cool. After all, there’s no reason to get worked up about things if you know you have a chance.
Such qualities easily make Takeshi an ideal Rain Guardian. Calm and easy going as his dying will flames imply, he lives up to the expectations of his role. He’s the force his family and friends can count out - the reliable one. When given a task or presented with a mission, Takeshi will carry it out to the best of his abilities. He’s often the one who shows up when situations look grim, somehow managing to turn the situation around or save his comrades. He’s proven time and again that should the need arise, he’ll sacrifice himself or something important to him for someone else; he’ll do what he has to in order to protect others whenever he can.
This could all be considered a clever ruse in its own right; though it’s very unclear if it’s intentional or otherwise. Truthfully, Takeshi Yamamoto is nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Only his intentions aren’t to blend to cause harm but a genuine desire to be someone he may not truly be. The happy-go-lucky nature and blinding optimism only runs so deep, acting as a deceptively brilliant cover to a kindness that could truly kill.
On the surface, Takeshi plays the role of your typical jock - seemingly a bit on the slow side and not at all academically capable of performing well. This is actually hardly the case. He’s strangely observant, able to learn something after only seeing it a single time. Likewise, he’s shown a capability to find and point out things others may not notice. Which such observational skills, he’s able to find weaknesses in his opponent and use it to his advantage.
Beneath all that cheerfulness and dependability, Takeshi has a serious side that not many get to see. When he or his friends are in danger, that idiotic guise is pushed aside in favor of something so much more serious - something that could be considered a little dark in its own right. While he doesn’t get angry often, should you manage to cross those few lines that trigger his temper, it’s not likely to end well in the offender’s favor.
He’s actually quite a sore loser, when it comes down to it. Like any athlete - and swordsman - he is willing to play hard and fair, but losing any kind of game or battle is simply unacceptable. For these reasons, he often succeeds in what he does, but when he does not, the grim turn his personality makes is quite disheartening. He’s known for becoming fixated on his losses, pushing himself to new extremes to exceed the expectations and to better himself in preparation for an inevitable rematch. Whenever he fails, nothing else seems to matter except the loss he suffered; all he can think about is becoming better, no matter the cost to him. Failure simply does not sit well with him - leading him to doing drastic things. There’s no telling what a fool might down when depressed, after all.
To this extent, Takeshi can seem more than a little obsessive. Whether it’s a loss or bettering himself, that is all that seems to matter to Takeshi outside of his ‘family’. He refuses to give up and pushes on with a ferocity that can be terrifying to some people but helps him become stronger. No matter the problem or the situation, once he has something in mind, he never quite lets it go. Whether it is a rematch or protecting someone else, he always aims to fulfill all of the goals he sets for himself.
With such strong emotions, it’s a wonder more people aren’t aware of them. His carefree guise is always up and ready, even when he has something on his mind. He’s quite secretive for someone who seems so open with other people. When something is bothering him or has him upset, he’ll just as easily smile and dismiss any concern as if it were any other day. He keeps what he feels to himself and shoulders his own burdens alone. When something goes wrong for him or he makes a mistake, he chooses to shoulder the burden alone no matter the effects it may have on him. Beyond happy situations, it’s rare for him to outwardly to react to many things in noticeable ways.
All of this makes him the perfect hitman, when it comes down to it. He easily blends into crowds, making it easy for him to blend and gain trust. Being able to keep his outward emotions under wraps helps to ensure that a mission will get carried out without fail. And with such a degree of secrecy and skill, it’s a wonder he hasn’t become a hitman of some degree already. To those who seek the answer as to why, it’s simple: he refuses to harm the innocent and will avoid harming others unless the need arises. He’s more than a little merciful - going so far as to turn his blade when attacking - and he can forgive people within reason.
To others, Takeshi may seem like a simple person with only one thing on his mind but when it comes down to it, he’s quite the piece of work.
It's unclear how much or little he has changed over the years, but one thing does remain clear. He has, to some extent, matured in a way that seems befitting for him. He's described as still being cheerful and the every reliable force the family can fall back on. He carries himself in much the same way - laughing and brushing things off, treating them as if they were still a game. But there is a certain calmness about him, one fitting of the title of Rain Guardian.
He proves that he has matured to some degree, enough to be a mentor of sorts during his brief time with Tsuna and Gokudera and opting for a more forward and practical way of teaching opposed to his former silly and playful ways. Still protective but more so now, Takeshi has proven that he's willing to jump to the defense of his friends and family with a ferocity that had previously been unseen beyond the rain battle. During that brief conflict, he was shown to have a certain darkness, a willingness to harm - if only to combat - to protect and perhaps to win.
Powers/Abilities:
Player Info
Player Name: Isaac
Player LJ: electroplay
Player Instant Messenger Type and Handle: aim; ThisismyJirou
Player Email: CaptainEcksDee@gmail.com
Are you 18 years of age or older? Y.
Character Info
Character Name: Takeshi Yamamoto
Character’s Age: Twenty-four [ 24 ]
Fandom: Katekyo Hitman REBORN!
Timeline: During his fight with Nosaru - while switching places with his younger self.
Appearance: Takeshi is an unusually tall man for someone of Japanese origin. Well over six feet, he’s solidly built - well defined from training in swordsmanship and his days as an athlete. His hair is dark and messy, cut short all around and he bears tanned skin with but a single noticeable scar - across his chin. His eyes are a warm mocha in color and perhaps the only part of him that betrays his cheerful nature at times. He’s forever seen smiling, proving to be a deceptive cover for his Mafioso nature. He’s usually seen in a black suit with a turquoise dress shirt under it; his tie is forever loosened around his neck and the top buttons on his shirt undone. Across his shoulder, he carries his katana and his rings bare a few silver and blue rings; his trademark weapons.
History: Takeshi Yamamoto on KHR Wiki
Takeshi Yamamoto is the son of the sushi chef, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto. His father runs the sushi shop Takesushi that presumably doubles as his home. It is unclear about his relationship with his mother or even if she’s still living. At school, its said that he was chosen to be a starting player on the Namimori baseball team as a first year and that ‘all the other kids in school completely respect’ him.
His first appearance in canon was in phys ed, during the torturous process of picking people to play on different teams. As usual, Tsunayoshi Sawada was the last to be picked and neither team was willing to take them on their side without some game of chance to decide - presumably rock paper scissors. Seemingly out of no where, Takeshi steps forward and asks Tsuna to join his team, though his team members try to convince him that loser Tsuna will only cause them to lose. Takeshi doesn’t seem to mind this, however, and insists that if he doesn’t give up any hits that it would be alright.
As the game begins and progresses, it is revealed that Takeshi can hit one-handed. Unknown to both Takeshi and Tsunayoshi, the infant tutor Reborn had been watching the whole time and decided they needed Takeshi’s athletic prowess and popularity in the Vongola family. Regardless of how amazing of a player Takeshi proved to be, it wasn’t enough to keep his team from falling victim to Loser Tsuna’s reputation of causing any team he plays on to lose. In their anger with him, Tsuna was left to clean up on his own, though Takeshi quickly arrived - cheerful as ever - to help him out. While cleaning, Tsuna apologizes to him for causing the team to lose, though he brushes it off - insisting it’s only PE - before going on to tell Tsuna how he had been watching him and how ‘awesome’ he had been as of late. He went on to tell Tsuna that he’s only good at one thing - baseball - and lately he had been slipping; his batting average had dropped and his fielding had been getting sloppier. Worried he would be dropped as a starting player, he asked Tsuna for advice. Tsuna replied by telling him that he should try harder and in response, Takeshi laughed and told him they would be good friends - after noting that he’d stay later that day to practice harder.
It turns out that in the midst of his practices, something had gone wrong and caused him to fracture his arm. The next day at school, Takeshi appeared on the roof, claiming he was going to jump because the baseball gods had forsaken him. It’s then that Tsuna shows up, trying to persuade him not to jump. Takeshi counters that Tsuna of all people should know how he feels before Tsuna replies that Takeshi is confused. Misunderstanding Tsuna’s word, Takeshi snaps at him - asking Tsuna if things have changed now that Tsuna is a ‘big shot’. Tsuna insist that’s not the case, claiming that it’s because he’s a loser that they’re different and that he could never invest his entire identity in something like Yamamoto had. Tsuna then attempts to flee before Takeshi attempts to stop them - causing both of them to topple over the edge of the rooftop, seemingly to their doom. Reborn was on top of things as usual, however, and shot Tsuna with a combination of special bullets that enabled him to save Takeshi and himself from a violent meeting with the ground below. Safe on the ground once more, Takeshi told Tsuna that he had been right about what he had told him. He would give things his all. He went on to tell Tsuna that there’s no telling what a fool would do when depressed.
Takeshi and Tsuna become friends after the whole of the incident on the roof. In the background, however, Hayato Gokudera has been observing Takeshi and comments many a times that he does not approve of Takeshi. In response, Reborn agrees to give Takeshi an entrance test to see if he’s worthy of becoming part of the family before sending Gokudera to bring Takeshi to him. It was then that Takeshi met Reborn for the first time, laughing off his introduction of being a hitman and the talk of mafia he brings up - telling Tsuna it was like playing cops and robbers as a kid. Completely misunderstanding the whole of the situation, Takeshi tells Reborn he made a good choice picking Tsuna as a boss for their game of Mafia and asks to join the family. Reborn tells him if he can pass the entrance test, he’ll be a member of the family and if he fails, it means his death. Oblivious to the truth behind those words, Takeshi comments on how he’ll have to do his best and then the test begins.
To pass the test, he simply has to avoid all of Reborn’s attacks. At first, Takeshi does well - narrowly dodging knives while going on to comment on how ‘real’ the toys seem. Reborn then comments on how Tsuna should set the example and Takeshi eagerly tells him that they should make it a competition, to which Reborn seems more than willing to allow. Despite the many close calls, Takeshi thinks it all to be a game and a fun one at that. During the test, Lambo shows up intending to kill Reborn but Reborn ignores him and eventually, Gokudera joins the test to make it even harder on Takeshi. Between Lambo, Reborn and Gokudera, they ‘accidentally’ push the limits and they cause a massive explosion. Once the smoke cleared, it was revealed that Takeshi had put himself in harm’s way to save Tsuna from the blast. Reborn thus ends the test. Afterwards, Gokudera reluctantly compliments Takeshi for saving Tsuna before the two ‘argue’ over the position of Tsuna’s right hand man.
Various smaller events happened many atimes after these events, though Takeshi’s involvement in them was minimal at best. They included meeting future allies and witnessing more instances of Reborn’s borderline Spartan training rituals with a few notable instances.
The first was an accidental encounter with Kyouya Hibari, the future Vongola Decimo Cloud guardian. Reborn appeared to Tsuna, Takeshi and Gokudera one day, claiming they needed a base within the school, to which they all agreed. Reborn insisted that he knew a place and the three unknowingly went along with it. Upon reaching the room, though, they met Hibari and Takeshi recognized him instantly, fully aware of his reputation. His attempts to warn Gokudera were futile, as Gokudera attacked Hibari after Hibari attacked Tsuna. Hibari turns on Takeshi and Takeshi manages to evade where as the other two had failed to do so. Hibari notes that Takeshi is protecting his arm before knocking him out as well. While he was knocked out, Tsuna recovered only to try and save them. Inevitably, Reborn stepped in to save all three of them, revealing the whole of the incident to be yet another test.
The next was during Tsuna’s meeting with the tenth generation Cavallone boss. In an attempt to test Tsuna’s ‘family’, Dino and Reborn staged a ‘kidnapping’ of Tsuna that was seemingly carried out by a prominent Yakuza group in the area. After Takeshi and Gokudera fled to attempt to save Tsuna, it was revealed by Dino that he had been the one to kidnap Tsuna and that he was in no real danger, as the kidnappers weren’t supposed to be real. Reborn revealed, however, that Gokudera and Takeshi were in fact going to face off against a real Yakuza group, causing Dino and Tsuna to rush after them in an attempt to save them. Upon arriving, it was revealed that Gokudera and Takeshi were able to beat down a majority of the group on their own, but more showed up after Dino and Tsuna’s arrival. When reasoning with the Yakuza failed, Dino attempted to save them - though accidentally beat all of his comrades instead. Reborn - as if on cue - appeared to shoot Tsuna with more special bullets to protect his family and Takeshi along with Gokudera rose to cover his back.
Another note worthy event was Takeshi’s training with Reborn. One day after his morning practices at the bating cage, he finished up to find Reborn waiting for him - claiming to be there to help him out of his slump. During their training, Reborn gave Takeshi micro hammers - small baseballs that sprout spikes when thrown, apparently capable of destroying boulders with their force. He was then given a baseball bat. It turned out to be a strange telescope, though in his first look through it, Dino and Romario began an assault from overhead - an assault Gokudera quickly joined in on. Tsuna was forced into the training with him and despite the distractions and having to guide Tsuna; he was able to dodge sniper bullets. His final test began with Reborn pointing a gun at him and with a swing of the bat he was given, it changed into a katana - or more appropriately, Yamamoto’s Bat. Reborn went on to continue training Takeshi by shooting at him and Takeshi was able to block all of the shots with swings of his sword. The next day at the batting cages, Takeshi hit the home run target each time.
Of course, time after retrieving his weapon was spent watching Tsuna go through even more tests at the hand of his merciless tutor. Though he visited Italy briefly with Dino after Gokudera refused such a trip.
Takeshi had little to worry about for some time. Not until the mysterious attacks on Namimori students began. A group of escaped convicts posing as Kokuyo Middle School began launching attacks on students of Namimori and taking their teeth according to their ranking on Fuuta’s ‘Strongest in Namimori Middle’ list. It was a mystery for some time what place Takeshi had on this list until one day, Chikusa attacked Gokudera - the third strongest student. Preparing to finish the final blow, Takeshi stepped in to cut the strings on his yo-yos and in response, Chikusa claimed he had no business with Takeshi, as he was Ken’s target - implying Takeshi had yet to come down on this mysterious list.
Takeshi along with Tsuna, Gokudera, Bianchi and Reborn all set out after the attack on Gokudera to face off the one responsible for these attacks. They headed to the remains of Kokuyo Health Land, relying on Tsuna’s poor memory to maneuver through it to find the attackers. It’s there that Takeshi noticed a strange animal print and the others noticed various other strange things - broken cages and teeth marks on trees. No sooner than they did, Takeshi was attacked by a large canine but Takeshi was quick to note that the attacking animals were already dead. What attacked Takeshi next, however, was the furtherest thing from. Ken Joshima - one of the escaped convicts - attacked him and caused him to slide back across the ground before Takeshi fell through it, revealing that the area they were walking on was a buried rooftop.
Ken followed him down and once Takeshi recovered from the drop, his idiotic person was replaced by something much more serious. Ken began his attack quickly and Takeshi was able to evade his initial attacks before drawing his sword in defense. Ken broke it easily, however, and Takeshi replied that playing Mafia met he couldn’t hold back. Ken, on the other hand, revealed his powers to Takeshi before beginning a more serious fight. Again, Takeshi continuously evaded, ever mindful of his body despite taking a few hits. Without a bat and in a position where his friends couldn’t help him, he was faced with a decision to risk injury by directly engaging Ken or to make their fight a battle of endurance. During their fight, Takeshi admitted he had to keep himself from getting hurt not because he was scared but because of the fall tournament coming up. Tsuna - feeling guilty about what could happen to Takeshi - was kicked into the hole by Reborn. Ken eagerly whirled on Tsuna, claiming to be bored of his fight with Takeshi.
This didn’t sit well with Takeshi at all and he flung rocks at Ken, telling him they should finish their game first. Ken took the bait and attacked Takeshi once more. In response, Takeshi threw up his arm, seemingly in defense and Ken bit into it. It was a diversion it seemed, as Takeshi used his broken sword to slam it into Ken’s head, knocking him out. Tsuna felt horrible over Takeshi sacrificing his arm, to which Takeshi explained that he’d never put baseball over his friends.
After the ordeal with Ken, they able to leave the area they’d fallen into and Bianchi tended to Takeshi’s wounds. Takeshi apologized for breaking the bat he was given but Reborn brushed it off and gave him a spare. The group went on then to encounter M.M. and then Birds, both of which fell to the force of their allies. After their encounter with Birds, they were finally able to meet Mukuro Rokudo - or rather, Lancia, the fake Mukuro Rokudo. Takeshi and the others stood up to fight him and while Takeshi was able to discover the secret behind Lancia’s attack, he inevitably fell to his powers. Takeshi fell unconscious for the remainder of the fight with Lancia and remained that way until some time after the fight with the real Mukuro. He and the other wounded parties were taken care of by a special Vongola medical crew. Takeshi went on to play in the Fall Tournament that year with the other’s there to cheer him on.
Some time after the incident at Kokuyo Health Land, yet another threat rose to confront the Vongola family. Takeshi and the others were having a friendly outing together when a strange teen by the name of Basil fell onto the scene, followed by the volatile and obnoxiously loud Squalo Superbi. Takeshi and Gokudera both stood to fight Squalo, though both were easily defeated. After the incident, both were dismissed by Reborn with the reasoning that they would just be in the way if they tried to stay and help the situation. Takeshi - sore loser that he had proven himself to be - took the loss hard.
The next day, he appeared at the hospital Basil was being treated at to meet up with Tsuna. When they met up, he showed him the strange half-ring he’d received and even tried to give it back - claiming he didn’t wear jewelry because of sports. He promptly changed his mind, though, when Reborn explained the rings and the danger that was to follow those who held onto them. Determined to meet up with Squalo once more, Takeshi kept his half of the Vongola ring of the Rain, explaining that he doesn’t like to be beaten.
Takeshi returned home that day, a few seconds late to see a strange display on his father’s part. He was quick to ask his father to teach him swordsmanship, to which his father agreed. After agreeing, Tsuyoshi showed Takeshi to a dojo to teach him what he had asked - but before they could begin, Tsuyoshi revealed a side of himself his son never knew. He explained he planned to infuse every bit of his knowledge into the other because his skill with the sword was an equivalent of Takeshi’s skill with a bat and ball. The training had been quick - he was shown the forms of Shigure Souen Ryuu only once and asked to perform them afterwards. Once he had done so, his father informed him that he was finished teaching him and that the rest was up to him. Confused, Takeshi tried to explain that all he did was copy what he was shown. Tsuyoshi replied that if his son were worthy of learning such a style, he only needed see it once to learn it.
Between the beginning of his training and his actual battle with Squalo - Takeshi is present for all other Ring Battles. He says or does little, appearing mainly as support and voicing concerns with the others as different things happen. It isn’t until the end of the Storm Battle that Takeshi does anything of notable importance. The Storm Battle took place within the halls of Namimori Middle School and left a large mess - something that had inevitably drawn the attention of the volatile perfect Hibari. Angry about what had happened, Hibari moved to strike one of the Varia before Takeshi stepped in - easily moving fast enough to grab and stop Namimori’s strongest fighter’s attack. This comes as a shock to many and it is one of the most noteable signs of improvement to his skills. After the battle, he found himself troubled by the information Dino had chosen to reveal to him about his opponent Squalo. Squalo was the swordsman emperor, having defeated a seemingly endless of amount of sword styles. He was told the only way to win would be to transcend sword styles.
After this incident, Takeshi prepared for his own battle - the Rain Battle. It was the day of his battle that his father gave him Shigure Kintoki, something that was seemingly a harmless practice sword. He even proceeded to explain it as such before swinging it and revealing its transformation into a katana when used with the Shigure Souen style. It was during the explanation that Tsuna explained to Tsuyoshi that Yamamoto couldn’t use the sword as it wouldn’t transform if Yamamoto transcended sword styles. Enraged, Tsuyoshi shouted that their style was invincible and there was no way for it to be transcended - the Shigure Souen Ryuu is flawless and invincible.
The scene immediately changes to Tsuna, Takeshi and Basil heading towards the battle destination and it was apparently still unclear what Takeshi intended to do. Squalo then appeared, claiming he was going to defeat Takeshi. In response, he reveals the true form of Shigure Kintoki and explains he’ll beat Squalo with that katana. The Corvello judges appeared afterwards, ordering them to the battle sight so they could begin. Upon arriving, the field was revealed to be inside one of the buildings of the school that would rapidly begin filling with water. Only the winner would be able to exit and the loser would drown or be devoured by the beast dwelling under the waters.
The match itself was surprisingly fast and deemed a sight worth seeing by many of those watching. Takeshi was able to blend the styles he’d learned from his father to defend against Squalo. Squalo was ruthless, though, and came at Takeshi with everything he had. Many chances for Takeshi to end the match with a single strike were given up as Takeshi turned his blade - refusing to strike with the sharpened edge of his sword. That had proven to be his biggest downfall and as the match went on; Takeshi was seemingly close to falling to Squalo’s blade. Severely injured and able to be struck down a final time, Takeshi told Squalo his sword style was perfect and he would win with the last form of Shigure Souen. Squalo claimed to know it but when Takeshi revealed it - it was different from the one Squalo had defeated. The match wasn’t over, though, and even though Squalo was ready to believe Takeshi had nothing left, Takeshi revealed his own form of the Shigure Souen Ryuu - the ninth form - and defeated Squalo. Even as the match ended, Takeshi refused to allow Squalo to die. Upon hearing the Corvello explain that Squalo’s survival after his defeat was of no concern to them, he set out to attempt to save him. Squalo refused to be saved, kicking Yamamoto away and to safety before he was ‘devoured’ by the beast within the water. The next match was then announced.
As with the battles prior to his own, Takeshi attended both the Mist and Cloud battles - even in his wounded condition. It wasn’t until the final battle - the Sky Battle - that he was brought in to fight once more. All guardians were assembled from both sides and then poisoned - the only way to save themselves being the use of the Vongola ring to inject an antidote into their systems. Takeshi was rescued - surprisingly - by Hibari before he went on to attempt to save the others. He met up with Gokudera in time to head to the sight where the Mist Guardian - Chrome - was being held. When they arrived, the two were faced by Belphegor and Mammon - the Storm and Mist of Varia, respectively - and were ordered to trade their Vongola rings for her life. Takeshi agreed and made to hand over the rings. Upon doing so, however, he ‘tripped’. In truth, he was performing the third form of Shigure Souen, kicking his sword at the others before hurrying forward to catch it and restrain Mammon. Afterwards, Mammon revealed it was an illusion and the situation had been reversed. They were captured within Mammon’s illusion and without hope when Ryohei appeared to destroy the gym, saving all three of the other guardians from possible death. Even though the Vongola survived that particular encounter, the rings were still taken by Belphegor and Mammon.
The rings were all brought together and given to XANXUS - though he’d been frozen by Tsunayoshi. The rings were able to unfreeze him but inevitably rejected him, as he was not the true successor. Everyone was surprised by this and then, XANXUS and Squalo (who turned out to be very alive, much to Takeshi’s relief and surprise) went on to explain the truth of the situation, finally granting them all with the answers they had sought from their first encounter with Varia. After the explanation, XANXUS went on to order his subordinates to kill the Vongola so no one would be able to succeed the ninth Vongola. Takeshi and the other guardians took a stand at that, refusing to let harm come to Tsuna or the others. Before any serious fighting could be had, Lancia appeared as a savior to Vongola, easily helping to end the conflict with the help of the rest of Vongola. With the situation taken care of, Tsuna and his friends were deemed the victors of the battle, keeping their rings.
The next time Takeshi is seen, Tsuna has been transported to the world of ten years later due to a mishap with Lambo and his ten year Bazooka. Takeshi looked similar to his younger self - with the exception of more height and a scar on his chin. He appeared in time to save a younger Tsuna and Gokudera from an attack by a Gola Mosca before leading them to safety and a waiting Reborn. Along the way, he explained what had happened over the years and the conflict with the Millefiore family. He seemed to have matured greatly in that time, understanding the whole of the mafia as being more than just a game. During his explanation of the events of the current time, though, Gokudera attacked Takeshi after finding out Tsuna had died in the future. Takeshi made no effort to stop him, only apologizing. Reborn warned them of the dangers in the current time and during so, revealed Takeshi’s father had been killed by the Millefiore. In an effort to save the Vongola of the future, they were ordered to find all of the guardians to stop the threat at hand.
The first guardian they sought out was Hibari and it was during their venture to find him that Takeshi further explained the future world. He explained the weapons and Vongola’s achievements, what had been lost and what had yet to be done. He promised to train them in the ways of combat in the future, equating it to intensive baseball camp. When Tsuna goes on to question Takeshi about how baseball had been for him over the years, an explosion happens in the distance. It’s revealed that Lambo and I-Pin are near it, attempting to protect Haru and Kyoko from the threat posted by the Millefiore. And just as one of the black spell - Nosaru - goes on to launch an attack, Takeshi intervenes.
While battling with Nosaru, Takeshi explained the box weapons to Tsuna and Gokudera after revealing the power of one of his own. He proceeded to order Tsuna to find Kyoko while he fought Nosaru. Gokudera remained with Takeshi, attempting to fight as well, though Takeshi insisted he stand down. Upon throwing his box weapons in the air while speaking to Gokudera, Takeshi is then switched with his younger self as many of the others are switched with their younger selves as well.
Personality: Takeshi comes off to many as being quite linear - no real depth beyond what he shows to others. In their eyes, he’s very much the star athlete everyone likes; he smiles and gets along easily with everyone and has no obvious faults. His world seems to revolve solely around baseball and the life he’s built around it; he has, after all, worked for years to build his identity around baseball. Purely a nice guy, he’s the one everyone admires and wants to date; the guy everyone genuinely respects for his cheerful nature and easy-going persona.
As someone who is quite popular with both genders, it could be said that he’s strangely charismatic. When around others, he knows the right things to say to ease the mood or what to say to give someone a last minute boost of confidence. Of course, he’s not the most eloquent or sensible person all the time, but even when he’s not, his attempts often follow through with success. With such a seemingly natural allure, he’s been shown to be respected and well-liked by not only his closest friends but his schoolmates as well. It’s very rare to find someone who genuinely dislikes him and those who do often base it off some particular aspect of him - such as his position as the Rain Guardian or his alliance with the Vongola - rather than his actual personality and skills.
His charm comes from, perhaps, the innocent aura he radiates to most people. At times, he can be quite gullible - buying into simple explanations that when paid more thought could easily be dismissed as incorrect. And playing further to such a front, he can be a bit naïve. He finds many things to be nothing more than a game, even when their obvious severity has come to light. It is very likely this is his way of coping, of facing things he doesn’t fully understand with a positive outlook. He does, after all, possess a streak of blinding optimism that some people may find a bit unsettling or perhaps fake; truthfully, it’s just the way he is.
Even as far as people are concerned, it is very rare for Takeshi to find someone he dislikes or doesn’t trust. He’s quick to greet people and befriend them, to show them a kindness and welcome that others may not. Even if they may seem rugged or ‘scary’ on the surface, he can easily look past it in favor of extending a hand of friendship to them. To this extent, he may be a bit too trusting of other people. Unless given a reason not to trust someone, he’ll be one of the first to place his faith in them. Likewise, many people are quick to place their trust in him as he’s dependable and more than apt at keeping secrets - particularly those that are not his own.
With such a positive outlook on virtually everything, Takeshi is easily described as being a very relaxed person. There isn’t much that shakes him and the things that do, he’s quick to bounce back from most of it. Whenever something goes wrong, he’s always the first of the group to put on a smiling face and hold his head up high - you just have to keep on trekking when things get bad. So long as there is hope in a situation, he’ll very well hold onto it with everything that he is. So determined to look at the good rather than the bad, it’s how he stays calm when everyone else is loosing their cool. After all, there’s no reason to get worked up about things if you know you have a chance.
Such qualities easily make Takeshi an ideal Rain Guardian. Calm and easy going as his dying will flames imply, he lives up to the expectations of his role. He’s the force his family and friends can count out - the reliable one. When given a task or presented with a mission, Takeshi will carry it out to the best of his abilities. He’s often the one who shows up when situations look grim, somehow managing to turn the situation around or save his comrades. He’s proven time and again that should the need arise, he’ll sacrifice himself or something important to him for someone else; he’ll do what he has to in order to protect others whenever he can.
This could all be considered a clever ruse in its own right; though it’s very unclear if it’s intentional or otherwise. Truthfully, Takeshi Yamamoto is nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Only his intentions aren’t to blend to cause harm but a genuine desire to be someone he may not truly be. The happy-go-lucky nature and blinding optimism only runs so deep, acting as a deceptively brilliant cover to a kindness that could truly kill.
On the surface, Takeshi plays the role of your typical jock - seemingly a bit on the slow side and not at all academically capable of performing well. This is actually hardly the case. He’s strangely observant, able to learn something after only seeing it a single time. Likewise, he’s shown a capability to find and point out things others may not notice. Which such observational skills, he’s able to find weaknesses in his opponent and use it to his advantage.
Beneath all that cheerfulness and dependability, Takeshi has a serious side that not many get to see. When he or his friends are in danger, that idiotic guise is pushed aside in favor of something so much more serious - something that could be considered a little dark in its own right. While he doesn’t get angry often, should you manage to cross those few lines that trigger his temper, it’s not likely to end well in the offender’s favor.
He’s actually quite a sore loser, when it comes down to it. Like any athlete - and swordsman - he is willing to play hard and fair, but losing any kind of game or battle is simply unacceptable. For these reasons, he often succeeds in what he does, but when he does not, the grim turn his personality makes is quite disheartening. He’s known for becoming fixated on his losses, pushing himself to new extremes to exceed the expectations and to better himself in preparation for an inevitable rematch. Whenever he fails, nothing else seems to matter except the loss he suffered; all he can think about is becoming better, no matter the cost to him. Failure simply does not sit well with him - leading him to doing drastic things. There’s no telling what a fool might down when depressed, after all.
To this extent, Takeshi can seem more than a little obsessive. Whether it’s a loss or bettering himself, that is all that seems to matter to Takeshi outside of his ‘family’. He refuses to give up and pushes on with a ferocity that can be terrifying to some people but helps him become stronger. No matter the problem or the situation, once he has something in mind, he never quite lets it go. Whether it is a rematch or protecting someone else, he always aims to fulfill all of the goals he sets for himself.
With such strong emotions, it’s a wonder more people aren’t aware of them. His carefree guise is always up and ready, even when he has something on his mind. He’s quite secretive for someone who seems so open with other people. When something is bothering him or has him upset, he’ll just as easily smile and dismiss any concern as if it were any other day. He keeps what he feels to himself and shoulders his own burdens alone. When something goes wrong for him or he makes a mistake, he chooses to shoulder the burden alone no matter the effects it may have on him. Beyond happy situations, it’s rare for him to outwardly to react to many things in noticeable ways.
All of this makes him the perfect hitman, when it comes down to it. He easily blends into crowds, making it easy for him to blend and gain trust. Being able to keep his outward emotions under wraps helps to ensure that a mission will get carried out without fail. And with such a degree of secrecy and skill, it’s a wonder he hasn’t become a hitman of some degree already. To those who seek the answer as to why, it’s simple: he refuses to harm the innocent and will avoid harming others unless the need arises. He’s more than a little merciful - going so far as to turn his blade when attacking - and he can forgive people within reason.
To others, Takeshi may seem like a simple person with only one thing on his mind but when it comes down to it, he’s quite the piece of work.
It's unclear how much or little he has changed over the years, but one thing does remain clear. He has, to some extent, matured in a way that seems befitting for him. He's described as still being cheerful and the every reliable force the family can fall back on. He carries himself in much the same way - laughing and brushing things off, treating them as if they were still a game. But there is a certain calmness about him, one fitting of the title of Rain Guardian.
He proves that he has matured to some degree, enough to be a mentor of sorts during his brief time with Tsuna and Gokudera and opting for a more forward and practical way of teaching opposed to his former silly and playful ways. Still protective but more so now, Takeshi has proven that he's willing to jump to the defense of his friends and family with a ferocity that had previously been unseen beyond the rain battle. During that brief conflict, he was shown to have a certain darkness, a willingness to harm - if only to combat - to protect and perhaps to win.
Powers/Abilities:
- Star Baseball Player Takeshi was a starting player for the Namimori baseball team his first year. He can throw things at incredibly high speeds. This means he can't play a simple game of catch without taking off your arm, though.
In the future, he was said to have been pursuing a baseball career, only to have been lured from it by Squalo and the sword. - Athlete He is able to play other sports well, it seems, and quite well. He has been shown to be a good volleyball player as well as an excellent swimmer.
- Natural Born Killer Many of the characters in the series state time and again that Takeshi has deadly reflexes and over all qualities that make him a natural born hitman. His only problem seems to be his idiot persona and unwillingness to take a life.
- Quick Learner He is a very fast learner - able to learn things after only seeing it once. Those around him comment that he would be a good student if he stopped focusing on sports.
- Shigure Souen Ryuu Successor He was able to learn this legendary and seemingly invincible sword style after seeing the original eight forms only once - becoming the wielder of Shigure Kintoki. He has thus since added his own forms.
- Rain Flames Dying will flames are a form of embodiment of one’s will and determination into a flame. There are various types of flames used by different people, all of which have one of seven attributes and colors. To be able to channel one’s flames, a way to release those flames is required; for Takeshi, that outlet is the power of his rings. His flames are often used in combination with weapons to make them stronger and - in the land of ten years later - open one’s box weapons.
Takeshi’s dying will flames are represented by the Rain attribute - being a blue color in nature. As a rain user, his flames have the property of tranquility, allowing any use of his flames to weaken flames and attacks to make them useless. It has also been proven in canon that rain flames have the ability to calm others - including box animals. - Ambidextrous He seems to have some level of ambidexterity. He is able to switch hands to wield his katana as well as wield three shorter swords in one hand while using the other for a single sword.
- Rain Rings / Vongola Rain Ring To release the power of one’s flames, rings of various ranks [ E being the weakest and S the strongest ] are used to channel one’s determination and dying will into a flame. When channeled, the rings will light with the color of the flames of that particular ring if it user is able to produce those flames to allow it to be used with other things. The rank of the ring will determine the purity and effectiveness of the flames produced.
Takeshi is able to use only Rain rings and his ten years later self was noted to have been able to use A-rank rain rings. - Rondine delle Pioggia [ Rain Swallow ] The first box weapon Takeshi received was a rain swallow who we later came to know as Kojirou. When released from his box, Kojirou appears as a blue swallow surrounded by rain flames. Takeshi uses him to create rainfall that can be used as camouflage and, more recently, as a way to shower calming rain flames onto the opponent.
Both his younger and older selves have both proven to use Kojirou in combination with his Shigure Souen Ryuu. A few specific forms use Kojirou to coat the opponent with rain flames or when charging at his opponent. - Rain Box Box weapons are small cubes that contain various types of weapons, animals or items within. To be opened, the box, ring and opener must harmonize - meaning only a rain user with a rain ring could open a rain box. Some boxes are seemingly only able to be opened through use of certain rings - such as the Giglio Nero boxes and the Vongola boxes.
Takeshi's older self holds two box weapons, both of which are rain boxes. The first he uses is a simple water box that creates a barrier of water when opened. The second contains a Swallow with the rain attribute. - Katana Used exclusively by his ten years later self. He uses a nameless katana as his main weapon in the future. Limitations: Takeshi will be unable to fully utilize his rain flames - thus preventing him from opening his rain boxes. He’ll still be able to use his sword style but they will be limited, due to his weakened flames. His reflexes will also be a bit slower; more ‘normal’ so to speak.
Writing Samples
Third Person Sample: Taken from Here
It hadn't felt like years. Everything around him seemed to be the same - the fresh air, the cool breeze and the calm, if not slightly calming atmosphere that Namimori offered.
"Ah, never changes," Takeshi mused as he moved along the familiar path, one hand stretched out to lightly tap each metal piece of the fence he followed. A part of him was pleased that they hadn't replaced it, even after all these years but the rest of him was too distracted by placing each sight he passed, equating it to its counterpart of years past. Second base still looked newer than the rest of them and the pitcher's mound still sloped more to the right than the left. If he squinted, he could still see where the outline of where the wall near home plate had been replaced and even the child that slept out in left fie--
The dark-haired man paused at that, eyes clipping sharply towards the slumbering figure. What was a kid doing out here, he wondered, crossing the distance silently. His approach cast a curious shadow over the small boy, the darkness mirroring his crouch as he lowered to place one hand on the boy's shoulder, shaking him lightly. "I don't think you want to sleep here, little guy," he offered gingerly with another shake, his lips curling slightly in amusement.
He wondered, idly, who would let their kid sleep out in the field when it was starting to get late.
First Person Sample: Taken from here
[ It's one thing to wake up in a strange place; another to wake up in a strange place with your last memories being in a fight to protect your teenage comrades. The thought sends a dark chill down his spine - or perhaps it's the heavy cold piercing his skin finally. Regardless, Takeshi can't bring himself to move beyond a quick shiver.
Wherever he is, he just knows its cold and if the echo of his breathing is any indication, the space he's in has to be tight. Relax, he tells himself, eyes closing - or maybe opening? He can't tell anymore. But he's trying to keep a hold of himself, sort out what he can of the situation he's in.
Carefully, he moves one hand, feeling the hard bottom beneath him and the seam that seems to lead to one of the shallow walls. It's not much room to move, he realizes, not even enough to fully trace these strange walls. That probably explains why he can't feel the familiar stiff cloth of his suit or the hard press of his katana to his back. His hand lowers back to his side and he fights the urge to wiggle. Instead, he holds his breath - trying to silence the sound of his own breathing.
And just barely he can hear it, the sound of something hitting the ground. The sounds after it, he notes, sound like struggling and like ripping? But he can't be sure. It's not a good idea to call out, he knows, but it might be Tsuna or Gokudera - even Hibari or Sasagawa. With this tight of a space, he didn't know if his air was limited or how long he'd last the cold. If he wanted out of here, he didn't have many options.
Finally breathing out, hearing the too loud echo of his own breathing once more, he calls out- ] Ahhhh, as much as I love the nice winter climate in here - [ he shifts enough to knock his knuckles against the strange walls, hoping to draw further attention to himself ] - I think it's about time for a season change!