Thanks to all who read and a shout to bookdragonslayer thanks for reviewing! Hope you like!

I was so nervous this morning, but today was…amazing.

"You look you're going to hurl." Rin muttered as Ai clutched her duffel bag to her chest while the bus bounced along the road.

"Ju….just nervous." She mumbled out, before her eyes became wide. She suddenly opened her bag before giving a sigh of relief seeing her swimsuit at top a towel. She glanced over to see Rin giving her a curious stare with an eye brow raised. Ai blushed as she shut the bag clutching the duffel to her chest again.

"I... I had a really bad dream where I got to the starting block and everyone in the crowd was laughing at me and I looked down and I was….not wearing….any…"

"I get it." Rin answered tersely. He watched Ai give a few nods, but she still had a vice like grip on her bag and her legs shaking.

"Will you relax…your events aren't till later." He stated leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes.

"I…I know." Ai took in a deep breath, but everything in her body still felt tense and nauseous and unnerving.

When they arrived at the facility she went over to the check in group.

"Checking in?" the lady asked with a merry smile.

"Mmhmm." Ai gave a few nods. "Aichirou Nitori."

"Oh this is for the girls events." She pointed to the woman next to her. "You check in with her for the boys events."

"No…I'm checking in for the girls events." She answered back.

"From Samezuka?" The lady asked unsurely taking a peek at her jacket before her eyes lingered over at the group of boys with the similar uniform.

"Yes…I'm the only girl from there. You shouldn't have trouble finding my name." she replied softly.

"Oh…um…yes..you're right there." The woman responded finding Ai's name as she crossed it off. "Good luck."

"Thank you!"

"Alright you guys in the relay suit on up! We'll be cheering you on!" Seijirou declared as the team found themselves in the lobby once more. "And afterwards…" he put a hand on Ai's head ruffling her hair with a smirk. "We'll be cheering our Nitori!"

"Captain…" Ai mumbled embarrassed as she glanced at the teasing smiles of her teammates.

As she was following everyone up the stairs she gave a startled jump feeling her phone vibrating in her pocket. She gave a curious tilt of her head seeing the name on the screen before she flipped her phone open. "Moshi moshi?"

"Ai chan." Kou's voice exclaimed from the receiver. "I'm sorry to bother you this early and I know you're getting mentally ready for your events."

"It's okay…what's going on?"

"I don't have a lot of time to explain, but we're swimming in the medley relay!" Kou spoke out in a flurry.

"What?" Ai almost dropped her phone in shock before she managed to keep a grasp on the electronic bringing it back to her ear. "You're swimming in the medley relay."

"Yeah and I know it's sudden, but I really I need you to do me a favor."

Ai listened for a few moments before her eyes widened as she looked over the group sitting in the Samezuka cheer section. "I'll…I'll try Kou-chan." She stated as she shut her phone off.

"Has…has anyone seen Matsuoka?" she asked the group sitting on the benches.

"Huh…he was just here a second ago." Kazumi answered looking around. Ai sighed as she set down her duffel bag. "I'll be back….but please watch my stuff."

"Sure thing." Shouta answered before Ai took off.

"Matsuoka!" Ai felt relieved as she sprinted over seeing him on a bench leaning back on the wall. It felt like she had been running all over the facility trying to find him.

"Nitori what is it?" he watched her take in a strangled breath as she put her hands on her knees. "I told you I'd watch your event, but it's not till after the relay. You don't need to come get me."

"It's...it's not that." She wheezed before she took out her inhaler giving a few puffs while Rin gave her a grimace. She managed to steady her breath after a few strangled gasps. "You….you need to see this!" she held out a crumpled program out to him.

"What do I need to see?" she uncrumpled the program and handed it over to Rin.

"The medley relay." Ai answered. "Iwatobi is swimming in the medley relay."

Rin's eyes widened as he harshly surveyed the print before his eyes fell on Iwatobi. His maroon eyes glossed over seeing the list. They halted for a moment before a harsh glare was thrown to Ai who offered a shaky smile in return.

He gave a scowl before he jumped up, crumbling the program in a clenched fist and sprinted off. Ai gave a whine as she took to running again following his trail. "Matsuaoka! Not so fast…" she pleaded. 'I just ran a lot looking for you!'

Rin through the tunnel and stopped suddenly as he was out on the pool deck. Ai gave a sigh of relief seeing him stop as she followed his gaze to his teammates just as Makato dropped into the water. With a bang the race began.

There was something that came across Matsuaoka-senpai's face as he watched his teammates. I can't really describe it. I guess if I had to put a word to it….sad…maybe….I'm not sure. I think he was thinking back to the relay he did with them, I mean that was his team. He kept that strange look on his face till Ryugazaki-san took to the water.

I'll admit Ryugazaki-san is not the best butterfly swimmer. I think Rin saw that, but I was impressed that he managed to come so far after so little time. And his form isn't that bad for a beginner. As he was swimming though Matsuoaka-senpai seemed angry, his eye was even twitching when he gets into that really angry mode and I don't know why.

And then Nanase when swam…

It was amazing the way that Nanase swims. It was different from when I saw him during that practice. At the practice he was beautiful and fluid. This was fluid, but had this surreal force of speed. It was incredible and I still can't fathom how he managed to win from fifth place, but it was extraordinary!

Matsuoaka-Senpai seemed stunned too…

"Wow…." Ai murmured as she watched Iwatobi break out in a raucous celebration after they pulled Nanase from the water. She glanced over to Rin who seemed to have the same look of disbelief as he watched his former teammates hug in a wet happy huddle.

"Sen…senpai." Ai nervously stated seeing an official look their way with a wary stare. "I think we should go back to the cheer section. Swimmers who aren't competing shouldn't be on the pool deck."

Rin stayed still as if he didn't hear her, his eyes still on his past team mates as they animatedly talked. She saw the small hint of a smile on Nanase's face as his teammates wrapped around him in celebration.

'I think he misses them…' Ai thought with a soft smile. She took in a breath before she put her hand on his shoulder giving a gentle shake. Rin jolted as he looked down at her with a slight glare in her eyes. "Let's get out of here before we get in trouble Matsuoka-senpai."

He gave a curt nod as they went back down the hallway. She noticed the tenseness in his body as he walked down the hallway, hands stuffed in his pockets; eye's looking down.

"That was something wasn't it?" Ai asked. "I mean they even beat our team, although our team still gets to go to district which is nice, but amazing how they were able to come back from so far, but I'm sure we'll win at the next stage."

"Sure." Rin curtly responded as they walked up the steps back to the cheer section.

"Hey there you two are. Ai you better go get ready. Girls events are starting soon…."

"Oh….right!" Ai grabbed her duffel bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

"You'll do great." Seijirou declared giving her a wink and a thumbs up.

"Nitori." Rin stated as Ai was walking off.

"Yes Matsuoaka-senpai." she asked as she nervously looked over her shoulder.

"Watch the bend in your legs as you're taking off."

"Oh…right thank you…" Ai murmured as she headed off to the locker rooms.

'You'll be fine…you'll be fine.' Ai thought as she adjusted the straps of her swimsuit. She grabbed her goggle and swim cap as she took in a deep breath. 'You've been training hard….this is nothing new….'

"Ai-chan?!" Ai gave a jump at her name being called out as she slammed her locker shut. She turned her gaze to see a tall girl with bright gold eyes and blonde locks with a blue swimsuit giving her a wide smile.

"That is you!" She exclaimed excitedly before she wrapped her arms around her giving her a tight hug. "it's so good to see you again! It's been too long! I think last time I saw was from that relay in elementary!" the girl gushed as she shook Ai back and forth in a glomp.

"Pan! Hi…how are you?" Ai managed to choke out before Pan released her.

"Good! Good! Glad to see you're still swimming! Which school are you at…I don't recognize that jacket." She stated her eyes surveying the black jacket with the white and red print, before she grabbed Ai by the shoulders and spun her around. "Samezuka?! Wait isn't that the boys academy?!"

"Yeah…" Ai replied as she spun herself around to see Pan break out into a raucous laughter, tears coming at the edges of her eyes.

'She's still the same…' Ai thought remembering the overly energetic girl who was at the same swim club as her in elementary.

"That's so funny! How did that happen?"

"My name…"

"Oh right! Aichirou! Still it must be fun being around all those muscled guys!"

"Oh I'm just happy to swim." Ai replied with a shrug and a smile. "How's Mana? Is she here too?"

"No Mana went to an academy in Akira! They had a better science program. You know how she is…" Pan added putting a serious look on her face and pretending to push a pair of imaginary glasses up the bridge of her nose. "But she's been doing really good in butterfly and breast stroke."

"And you're still doing…?"

"Backstroke all the way!" Pan claimed. "100 and 200 meter."

"You're at Samezuka?!" Another girl broke into their conversation excitedly.

"Mmhmm." Ai nodded.

"Oh you're so lucky! I'm at an all girls school and I never get to see guys especially half naked swimmers all the time!"

"Oh Ai doesn't care about muscles….right Ai." Pain lightly elbowed her with a teasing smirk.

"Ah…well I just like…to swim…" Her blush deepened as she clenched her swim cap and goggles in her hand. "I need to get ready! Good luck out there."

"You too Ai!" Pan called out giving an eager wave. "Ganbatte!"

"Man this is awesome." Rin heard a second year state as he and some of the other team mates leaned forward watching the various girls stretch before their meet.

"What do you mean?" Rin grumbled out as he leaned back in his seat.

"Normally after our events we get hustled back on the bus, but thanks to Ai we get to stick around and watch." Seijirou answered.

Rin turned his gaze back to the swimmers as they took to the blocks.

"So Captain how are her chances?" Kazumi asked.

"I think for regionals…pretty good. We'll see it's always a different game when you're actually doing the event."

'For as much as she practices she should be okay…'Rin thought as he propped his head up on his hand, his eyes then looked over across the pool to the Iwatobi swimmers. 'They're still here?' he thought as he watched his sister and his former relay team chat animatedly.

"Come on Kou! We should go celebrate and get something to eat!" Nagisa exclaimed bouncing on his toes.

"It is fitting." Rei added.

"You guys go ahead I'll take a rain check." she answered.

"Why?" Nagisa said with a disappointed whine.

"I told Ai-chan I'd cheer her on!" Kou replied.

"Ai-chan? Isn't she the girl from Samezuka?" Makato asked.

"Yeah she's doing the 200 meter and 400 meter freestyle." She replied with a smile. "And since we're friends I want to cheer her on."

"Oh Rei she's the one that forced you in a speedo." Nagisa teased.

Earlier that month

"Why is he here if he isn't prepared? He can use one of our spares, but he's go to get ready right now." Seijriou asked with an annoyed shake of his head. "Nitori! Front and center."

"Yes sir!" Ai answered as she came to his side.

"Find him a spare speedo so we can get this going." He barked.

"Right." She walked in front of the megane swimmer from Iwatobi pointing a finger to the locker room. "Come with me please.""

"Are you a girl?" Rei asked shocked seeing the swimsuit with the sleek lines that hugged her slim body.

Her blue eyes became resolute at his statement as she took in a breath.

"Yes I am, but we don't have time for that." She determinedly stated before she grasped his arm with a firm grip. "So come with me."

"But I'm not swim…" Rei feebly replied as the grey haired girl dragged him from the pool deck to the locker room. He watched nervously as she came to a random locker opening it up revealing neatly styled lycra.

"Are you…are you a manager here?" Rei asked nervously pushing the glasses up his face.

"Like you with a boy and having a girly name I'm a girl with a boyish name who ended up here due to an error, but we don't have time for that. What's is your size?"

"Si…size?"

"Swimsuit size." She replied looking over her shoulder. "I'm sure we'll have a spare in your size although you might not like the style."

"3…32." He watched apprehensively as she searched among the hangers before she pulled a purple and yellow speedo out.

"Here I can say with the brand name this is one of the better ones." She pointed to the curtained shower areas as she pushed the swimsuit into his chest. "You can change over there."

"I…" Rei's fingers gazed apprehensively at the lycra nylon suddenly shoved into his hands. "I can't wear this."

"You're holding up practice." Ai huffed with a dissatisfied face. Rei remain unmoving still anxiously looking at her. "I understand. It's not fun wearing something you're not use to, but you forgot your own. And if you don't suit up then this practice is over. Sugiomoto the team advisor made that very clear that if there weren't four swimmers from Iwatobi then there would be no way this practice will continue."

She gazed as she watched Rei look with a grimace at the swimsuit in his hands. "It's simple. You either put on this swim suit and this practice will continue or you get so caught up that you can't wear this that this practice is over and you let your team mates down. So, what will it be?"

Rei glanced over at the girl with a determined look in her face and hands on her hips as she gazed up expectantly at him.

'She's quite resolute, isn't she? Well of course she's determined she's the only girl at an academy of guys.' He sighed before he trudged over to the changing area she had pointed out.

"Good choice and I can vouch that the swimsuit has only been worn a few times." Ai answered merrily.

"She didn't force me she was just very….persuasive." Rei replied a blush tinting his cheeks.

"It's kind of funny though. She's like Gou a girl with a boy's name." Nagisa interjected.

"It's Kou!" the manager snapped with a huff. "And she is a bit like you all with a confusing name."

"You're right." Makato answered with a soft laugh. "Although the worst thing that ever happened to us was trying to get checked into a girl's swimming event."

"I remember her during the practice!" Nagisa chirped. "She's pretty good."

"She is…" Kou replied back merrily.

They watched as they 200 meter free style was called Ai, coming out onto the pool deck with the rest of the swimmers.

"She looks nervous." Makato commented seeing as she shakily stretched her arms before she took the block.

"She probably is." Kou commented with a small laugh. "I think she always gets a bit anxious before these kind of events.'"

Iwatobi watched as she lowered herself into the starting position on the block. There was a bit of a tremble as her fingers gripped the edge of the plastic. The bell rang and the girls took the water with a splash as the cheers echoed through out the stadium.

"I haven't been swimming long, but her take off form seems a bit off." Rei commented pushing his glasses up his face.

"Yeah…but what she lacks in her take off form she makes up for in endurance." Kou commented as she opened her notebook, her maroon eyes surveying the page before looking at Ai managed to keep up pace, passing two girls at the second lap. "From the times I picked up she should qualify for finals easily."

They watched as she flitted through the water keeping pace with the top three. At the last turn she picked up her speed overcoming the lead swimmer before she continued to surge ahead.

"She likes the water." Haru murmured as the rest of the Iwatobi team looked to him before turning the gaze back to the event. She smacked the pool edge before she emerged panting as she glanced anxiously at the board.

"Way to go Nitori!" the boys bellowed from the cheer section. Ai glanced over to the guys from Samezuka giving a bright smile and a thumbs up as she whipped off her swim cap and goggles from her head.

Ai glanced over at the certificates again with a beaming smile, each of the papers bearing a first place nomenclature with her name right under. 'I can't wait to tell Mitz…and mom and dad…' she thought excitedly.

"Alright guys! Way to make Samezuka proud! We did good but still got some things to work on. Congrats to those who made it on to the next stage! Now let's get some dinner and head on home!" Seijrou declared on the bus before he sat down.

Rin glanced over as he saw Ai looking at the certificates in her hand, her blue eyes bright.

"You seem really happy…" he murmured.

"I am!" Ai exclaimed looking towards him excitedly. "I've qualified for district before, but this is the first time I've actually placed first in the finals for them." She held up the certificates proudly. "It makes me really hopeful that I'll actually make it to nationals."

She looked at Rin's unchanged face as she put the certificates back in her lap bashfully. "Although I'm sure you're not even worrying about that Matsuoka-senpai. I mean you made first in the finals for your event so easily." She stated. "I hope I can make it there too."

He didn't say anything as Ai tucked the certificates into her duffel bag before she leaned against the bus window the smile still on her on her face. "But I think we both will!" she murmured with a soft smile as she shut her eyes. "At least I know you will…"

Rin crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat shutting his own eyes. 'It's not that hard to believe that you will too…' he thought.