�Yeah, sure you are,� Neko replied condescendingly.
�Yes, I am. And you are the second best. Rika-chan was right, nobody holds a candle to us. But if you want to throw it all away on some petty grudge you have against me, knock yourself out. But first watch them and tell me you don�t feel it � the need to join the sky for ever so briefly and then the return to the earth.�
One of the guys had just planted his pole, and Neko couldn�t help but watch in awe as he soared over the bar perfectly and fell gracefully back to earth. �Wow,� she whispered.
�You think that was great, you should try it sometime.�
Neko met her challenge evenly. �I will. But not for you,� she made clear, �for me.�
�Great!� Tenshi�s face broke into a huge smile. �Let�s watch a couple more, and then I�ll reintroduce you to your pole!�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko had been so mesmerized by the vaulting that they didn�t get around to her training until practice was nearly over.
Tenshi handed her a pole. �What do I do?� Neko asked with enthusiasm. She had momentarily forgotten her anger at Tenshi in her excitement to get started.
�Well, first of all, you want to hold it right.� She picked up another pole and showed Neko how to grip it.
Neko attempted to mimic Tenshi�s grip and stance. �This feels awkward.�
Tenshi looked back at her. �Uh� that�s because it�s not quite right.� She put down her pole and walked over behind Neko.
�What are you doing?!� Neko asked hostilely as Tenshi moved right up behind her and put her hands on top of Neko�s on the pole.
�Teaching you the right grip,� Tenshi answered plainly.
Neko didn�t resist as Tenshi guided her hands into the right position. She didn�t push her away even though her proximity was making Neko�s heart beat quicker than she would like. And soon she had the pole just as Tenshi had been holding it earlier.
�There,� Tenshi said lightly into Neko�s ear. �Does that feel better?�
�Uh huh,� Neko looked back over her shoulder at her. �It feels natural,� she said softly.
�It should,� Tenshi answered. ��Cuz it�s right.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko had asked him to call her after her school day had ended. But when Jasper had called, Kimahou (thank god, not Mi-chan) had answered and informed him that Mi-chan had convinced Neko to go to pole vault.
But Mi-chan would be at fencing during that time, so Jasper didn�t see any reason not to visit her there and cheer her on.
He followed the fence line around the west side of the school, running his fingers along the fence. He loved tracking the zigzagging pattern of the metal. Simple things like that were so fascinating to him. He had missed these little nuances during his time with Team Eclipse. There were things that living on a spaceship for twenty years hadn�t afforded him. A normal job, the chance to make new friends, beaches, ice cream, and yeah, dumb things like chain link fences.
He ended up right behind the pole vault team. The girls were vaulting and the boys doing drills now, but it seemed neither Neko nor Tenshi were participating. Neko seemed spellbound, and he was happy that she had retained her enjoyment of the same activities she had enjoyed before.
Eventually, Neko and Tenshi began to practice too. He watched as Neko tried to get a feel for the pole again. She didn�t look as happy anymore though, just frustrated. Until Tenshi finally helped her, up close and personally.
*Don�t touch her* he thought selfishly. He couldn�t help it. He wanted Neko to fall in love with him. But as long as Tenshi was still in the picture, he knew that couldn�t truly happen. He hated being jealous, but he couldn�t stop himself. Especially, with the way the two of them were looking at each other at the moment.
�Hey, Neko-chan!� he found himself calling to her, waving so that she could find him.
�Jasper-kun!� she called back happily. She dropped the pole and rushed over to the fence, leaving a dejected Tenshi behind. �What are you doing here?� she asked, beaming at him.
�I came to watch you pole vault.�
�Really?� Her eyes sparkled brightly at his simple sign of affection. She returned one of her own by lacing her fingers with his through the fence. �I�m sorry it won�t be very interesting though. I probably won�t even get to jump over the bar.�
�Actually,� Tenshi said, coming up behind her, �I think we could get you over the bar today. It�ll be low, but you�ll be vaulting.� She nodded curtly to Jasper by way of greeting, and he answered with his own nod. Reluctant rivals as they were, they were still rivals.
�Jasper-kun, come in and watch me on the bleachers,� Neko requested, beginning to bounce from the excitement.
�As you wish, Hime-chan.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They went over it all: how to run with the pole, how to plant the pole, how to leave the ground, and so on. With a little help from Tenshi (Neko hated to admit it, but the support of Tenshi�s hands on her waist had really helped out at this stage), she had been able to swing herself up. Then swing up and twist her body around, and finally, to land. Then she did a mock vaulting with no bar in place. It was hard work, but it was so much fun!
�You�re doing great!� Tenshi told her. �Are you ready to try it for real?�
Neko only hesitated a moment before she nodded eagerly.
�Okay, wait here.�
As Tenshi went to set up the bar, Neko waited in anticipation. She glanced at Jasper who gave her a thumbs-up. She was so glad he was here.
�It�s all set up,� Tenshi informed her as she came back. �Koneko,� she said seriously, �you�ve made great progress today, and I think you�re ready for this. That said, if you don�t make it over the bar, don�t be too disappointed, okay? It�s only your first day, you should be proud of what you�ve already accomplished.�
up that easily. �Tenshi-kun, I�m going over that bar today, even if I have to try all evening.�
�Well, then we should get started, shouldn�t we?�
�There�s no we, Tenshi-kun,� Neko clarified as she picked up her pole, letting her know where they stood. �It�s me that�s going over that bar. You just watch.�
She was ready. She sprinted towards the pit, planted her pole, and vaulted over the bar. She had never felt anything as thrilling as flying over that bar and then letting gravity reach up, grab her, and pull her down into the pit.
She got up and couldn�t stop smiling. That was better than anything else she could ever remember doing.
�You did it!� Tenshi ran over to her and gave her a giant hug.
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