Mwahahahhahah! I have finallly been able to break free of the steriotype! I bet no-one was expecting me to use Yamamoto for this prompt ^^

Yamamoto

Pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

If anyone out there were to have said that Yamamoto was a proud guy, then they probably would have been laughed at. After all, everyone knows that sweet, good natured, friendly Yamamoto was by far to laid back (and perhaps too damn oblivious) to be proud, right? This wasn't Superbi Squalo they were talking about!

The funny thing about everyone? They tend to be wrong a lot.

Yamamoto himself could tell them, if anyone ever thought to ask, that deep down, he were every bit as proud as his questionably sane mentor.

Oh sure, unlike the shark, he didn't let most things bother him – and by extension his pride. And equally unlike the Varia member, when his pride took a blow, he didn't tend to make a big deal out of it, so really people could probably be forgiven for getting the wrong impression. No, when something threatened Takeshi's pride, he didn't shriek and throw a tantrum. Instead he simply smiled as he removed the threat for good.

The guy that out pitched him last year in the school baseball team? Yamamoto had slapped him on the back, complemented his arm and then worked himself stupid day and night until he was the better player.

The crazy loud silver haired nut that kicked his ass with a sword? He had told Tsuna to trust him and went and learned how to actually use his katana until he could put up a real fight. (Okay, so maybe he still had a fair bit to go before he was really at Squalo's standards, but he had won against him in the ring battle, and that counted for something. In terms of pride anyway.)

Yes, there were few things that Yamamoto allowed to bother his well hidden pride.

However, as he watched Mochida-senpai slip his arms around your waist and pull you close to him, through narrowed tawny eyes, the brunette was forced to conclude that this was indeed one of those things.

Pulling a baseball from his pocket, Yamamoto took aim.

"Mochida-senpai, will you please just let me go?" you snapped irritably at the overly familiar senior.

"Now [Name]," the brunette smirked as he invaded your space further by leaning his face down until his lips skimmed yours, despite your disgusted look and desperate craning to escape, "there's no need to be shy..."

You had just opened your mouth to snap a retort, when you were interrupted by a miss-thrown ball from the direction of the spots field.

Your moment of utter delight in watching Mochida-the-creep be smashed violently in the face by the fast flying projectile, was only dampened by the fact that he had yet to release you and consequentially ended up dragging you to the ground with him as he fell.

"Haha! Oh, sorry senpai, I guess I wasn't looking where I was throwing!" laughed a familiar voice, as the beaming face of Yamamoto swam into your line of vision.

'My hero!' You cast your classmate a desperate look from your position under the lout of a sportsman.

On meeting your gaze you could have sworn you saw Yamamoto's eyes soften slightly... before his happy mask slid into place and he offered you a hand.

"Here [Name], let me help you up!"

"Uh... thanks..." you mumbled as you were yanked firmly to your feet, still confused by what you thought you had just seen.

"Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?" A gentle worried tone this time, and a look of genuine apology as he glanced you over, clearly looking for any damage.

For some reason you found yourself blushing. Then again this was Yamamoto Takeshi. As in the most popular guy in your year. Star of the baseball team. Sex god of Namimori Middle... and he was still holding your hand...

"N-no, I'm fine..."

Was his thumb rubbing circles on the back of your knuckle?

"I'm glad."

There! That soft look was back... and he was staring into your eyes and... oh God! Was he going to kiss you?

"Oi, where the hell did you think that you were aiming that thing?" snarled a familiar unwelcome voice, effectively breaking the moment.

You let out an internal wail of despair as Yamamoto turned his head to beam apologetically at Mochida as the jock pulled himself to his feet, a dark scowl twisting his face.

"Haha! Sorry sempai, I don't know what I was doing!"

"Damn right you don't you stupid twerp," hissed the irate senior as he stalked over towards where you and Yamamoto stood and made a grab for your free hand. "Now piss off, me and [Name] are busy!"

Suddenly you found yourself pulled tight against a lean torso. A very nice torso. You were torn between the desire to melt into a contented heap and to freeze up in case the baseball player realised what he was doing and shoved you away...

"I'm afraid I can't do that, sempai."

Wait... was that really Yamamoto speaking?

Blinking in shock at the uncharacteristically cold tone of voice, you tilted your head back to squint at the brunette's face. What you saw sent a shiver down your spine.

You had never seen Yamamoto looking so... dangerous before.

His usual smile remained, but it suddenly looked one hell of a lot less naive and much more... predatory? Could that really be right? Frowning you tried to pin point what it was that looked so out of place.

His grin looked just a bit too sharp around the edges... And his eyes... they were hard and full of warning.

The expression just looked so very anti-Yamamoto... You had never honestly thought that he was ever anything but gentle and happy.

But if the shivers that were running down your spine were any indication, this new sexy, protective Yamamoto was definitely a welcome surprise...

"And why is that?" As he spoke, Mochida moved aggressively towards the pair of you.

Golden eyes narrowed and the grin widened and for a moment, you swore he looked just like a shark before it sank its teeth into a hapless surfer...

Mochida obviously thought so too as the upperclassman abruptly froze in his tacks, his eyes widening in surprise and the colour draining from his face.

And then suddenly, the pleasant, smiling mask was back.

"Because [Name] and I have a date now."

Wait... what?

"You do?" Mochida croaked nervously his eyes flickering between the two of you.

"Yep!"

You did? Since when?

"Ah... sorry Yamamoto, I didn't realise that you two were an item..."

"We are."

Huh?

"Uh... okay then... I'll be going..."

You watched in stunned silence as your tormenter beat a hasty exit.

"Umm..." you began nervously as you turned your attention back to your rescuer. You were taken aback to find him once again, watching you with that strange soft look on his face. "Thank you for rescuing me."

Yamamoto's lips twitched into an amused smile.

"Anytime," he laughed softly.

A soft flush of red coloured your cheeks as you reluctantly made to pull out of the baseball player's hold. Much to your surprise however, the handsome brunette refused to relinquish you.

"So, I guess I better be going...?" you tried as you once again made to free yourself.

"I'm sorry [Name]," murmured the athlete as he responded by pulling you closer, "but I can't let you do that."

Blinking in shock you stared up at Yamamoto's serious face.

"Uh... why not..?" you asked stupidly.

A genuine, slightly cheeky smile spread itself over his face at your question before he tilted his head down so that his lips brushed yours.

"Because you and I have a date, remember?"

Heart hammering in your chest, you let a wide, happy grin break as you slipped your arms around his neck.

"Oh silly me. So we do."

Yes. There was not much that awoke Yamamoto's deep sleeping pride. But when something did he never let it go.

Hmm. Well I'm not too sure about this one. Yamamoto is a bit OOC here, but that's because I wanted to write him when he is somewhere between the lovably oblivious idiot that we know from the series, and his much more savvy, dangerous older self. And yes, I couldn't help but throw in a bit of Squalo's influence there, because I'm certain that Yama-chan would model himself on Squalo a bit when he needs to be intimidating. I say a bit, because as funny as it would be, I don't think he'd go as far as to scream VOOOIIII at them. Which is a real pity, because that would be hilarious.

Did anyone else thing that this one had a bit of a desperate housewives vibe with that narration bit?

-.-; oh well.

Anyway, hopefully people enjoyed it!

Reviews make my day!