Title:Move With Me
Author: Jingy5
Pairing: Emerald (Inui/Kaidoh), Ah-Un and eventual Perfect (main), Golden
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Prince of Tennis unfortunately... or is it fortunately? Either way they're not mine... but Konomi Takeshi's
Summary: Inspired by their teammates, these third time Olympians go all out in synchronized diving as Japan's Dream Pair. When these former gold medal gymnasts make the switch from the platform to the water, will diving bring them to discover the true depths of their hearts? Dream Pair (friendship)
A/N: OC warning! It's the year 2000 in the beginning of the fic just so you know.
"Italics" – T.V.
Italics –thought
Somewhere in Sydney, two 12 year old boys lay exhausted on their beds in some hotel. Though ecstatic that their team won the silver medal in the 27th Olympic Games, they could not get pass the incessant depression that seemed to loom around them. The gold escaped them by mere hundredths of a point.
"I should have been able to stick it. I always stick it. It's the one thing I could do right in that event. What happened to me?"
"It's not your fault Fujiko, we all have bad days-"
"Who has bad days at the Olympics? I was so close to making our dreams come true", the teen whispered dejectedly, cutting off his companion. "I let him down. He didn't even make the team, and I let him down by not bringing home the gold."
"Yuta's proud of you nya. If he could be here he would tell you so himself, I guarantee it. This is our first Olympics. He'll be just as happy that you've made it this far." The redhead ensured, trying to console his friend.
"Thanks Eiji. You don't have to try and cheer me up; I know I let you down too. Damn Pommel Horse" (1)
"Just like I'm weakest on Still Rings (2), you're weak on the horse. Everybody has a weak point. But we're not going to talk about that. We are going to celebrate our medal tonight and get hyped for tomorrow's Individual All-Round competition!" (3)
"Think we'll be ok? We have to compete against each other you know. Though, I would really hate to share the podium with anyone but you." Fuji said, laughing lightly.
"Yosh, 1st and 2nd will belong to team Japan! You better be ready Fuji." The Cheshire cat grin with deadly serious eyes would look odd on anyone else but Kikumaru Eiji.
"I was born ready." Fuji declared, pretending to not notice his friend's sly smirk at the comment. Hmm, Eiji always knows how to cheer me up, he thought.
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"So we're on the news, but it seems we did not make the headlines..." Fuji mumbled. He had just exited the bathroom after a cold shower to see his face on the tube. He was used to being called a prodigy in the world of gymnastics and it was a blow to his ego to hear the harsh criticism on his last performance. He already knew that he cost his teammates the gold, but to hear it on national news being reviewed by those who came before him made the weight of his failure come crashing down on him.
"What? What do you mean?" Eiji asked with a slightly perplexed look, tilting his head to the right in a way only the baby of the family seem to be able to.
"Listen." They turned in time to see a female reporter come on screen. She appeared to be interviewing the winners of some water event.
"This is Nakamura Shi here at the water cube with the very first Olympic gold medalist for Synchronized Diving; Inui Sadaharu and Tezuka Kunimitsu of Japan. These amazing 15 year olds have done it again. Inui-san tell us please, this is both you and Tezuka-san's 2nd Olympic Games, and though we know you enjoy switching your events from time to time, what made you decide to enter a water-based competition?" She held the mic up to the tall teen, as he bent forward. For some reason Fuji doubted it was the indoor lighting that cause the gleam on the boy's glasses, it just seemed fitting that his eyes were hidden.
"Although my main sport will remain Track and Field, and Hurdles, I grew to understand that this event was being added to these games and Japan would be without a team. It may not seem like a big deal but we simply could not let that happen. I have known Tezuka-kun for some years now and knew we would be compatible. His only concern was that it did not disrupt his Tennis. We simply moved forward from there." Inui stated, calmly adjusting his glasses.
"Tezuka-san, what are your plans now that you have discovered this talent?"
It became apparent that Nakamura-chan was a part of his fan club when she began batting her dark eyelashes to the young man. He glanced at her briefly before addressing the question. She was a beautiful woman, but he has seen many beautiful women in his short life and they all seemed to have the same personality; bold, aggressive and greedy. He hated it.
"The U.S. open will begin soon after these games are over and I will continue to pursue my goal of being number one at the Grand Slams." He answered curtly. Behind him you can see Inui murmuring incoherently into a green note book and nodding his head. Tezuka raised an eyebrow in question at the seemingly oblivious man but simply got a signal to continue. "We have set the standard for the next generation of divers, and I wish to be a part of their training so that Japan may continue to dominate this sport." Still eyeing his partner. Sometimes even he finds Inui a little eccentric.
"Oh such compelling words. We look forward to seeing more of you both throughout the remaining events."
"Ah. Yudan sezu ni ikō"
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"That is so cool" Eiji whispered in awe, "I never knew someone could compete in more than one sport. Man I wish I could do that." He headed towards the area they dubbed the 'kitchen' that consisted of a mini fridge, a serving trolley and a small table with a fruit basket on top.
"They both already have gold medals in their respective sports, they feel accomplished. I'm sure when the time comes and you feel that you need something to make Artistic Gymnastics more interesting to you, you'll branch out like they did Eiji. No worries ne?" the tensai replied as he lazily skinned his Mitsu apple. He too was intrigued by the athletes but for completely different reasons. Tezuka Kunimitsu was Adonis reincarnate. Messily stylish chestnut brown hair, chiseled features and the body of a god, all pale in comparison to the steel gaze of hazel eyes. He's on my team yet I've never seen him before. It's Funny how we both have apples named after us, must be destiny. Fuji chuckled at the thought of them bonding over the fruit. He knew for a fact that he would join the diving team just to be coached by that man.
"You know it's not that different from gymnastics Eiji. Diving I mean. You could try that. Oishi might even supervise you. I'm sure he would be excited."
"No way Fuji, I would be too nervous to do that alone." suddenly getting a wicked idea, Eiji grins. "Ne, Fujiko-chan..."
"No. I have too much to do in my established sport thank you." Rudely cutting his friend off for the second time that night, Fuji stated not missing a beat. Eiji looked around the room in dismay.
"What if... What if you reach your goal the next time? Go home with the gold? Would you then?"
"I would think about it…" this time being cut off himself by his friends shout.
"Then let's do it. We could be synchronized like them! All you have to do is get your gold and we can retire and try something new nya!" He exclaimed in excitement.
The enthusiasm rolling off of Eiji in waves seemed to have infected Fuji when he surprised them both with an okay.
"I'll make a deal with you. If you beat me in the Still Rings at this and the next Olympics, I'll try something different with you." Fuji may have been intrigued, but he was by no means convinced.
"No fair Fuji! I'm no good on those and you know it!" When he realized the other boy was not going to give in Eiji decided to accept the proposition with his own twist. "Okay Fujiko, if I beat you on the Still Rings once, you conquer the Pommel Horse, we win gold in team and 1st and 2nd in the Individual All-Around, then we retire from the skies for sure to tackle the waves."
"That's a risky and complicated bet Eiji. I like it." Plus it would give me a reason to see those eyes again. Maybe even have them on me.
A/N: (1) Pummel Horse and (2) Still Rings are both events in the Male Artistic Gymnastics Competition in the Olympics
(3) Individual All-Around is when they compete in every activity, i.e. (1) (2) Vault, Floor Exercise, Parallel Bars and High Bar, to get the highest individual score over-all in the end.
Thanks for reading. Obviously this was inspired by the 29th Olympic Games held in Beijing this year. I just thought it would be so cool to see our favorite PoT characters involved in it as well. So please review... I want to know what you think!! *grins*