Shatter (all your glass castles of illusions) and Rock were inspired partially by Kolbie-Ru-Ru, who opened to the idea Haizaki Redemption. Anyway, the Reason (yes, it's serious) Rock is a Team Japan fic is because that's a(nother) new 'verse I've been building and playing with. Anyone can play in my sandbox, just please let me know (cause I wanna read). So, basically, our favourite anime athletes will all end up on Team Japan. I might even do a huge crossover at the end-of-Olympics bash where everyone is congratulating each other in a pile of sparkly, mushy fluff.

Fisted hands on hips, Captain Nijimura Shuuzou studied the players practicing below him. While the others were practicing, his vice captain Akashi Seijuurou was running drills. The National team had convened three days ago to commence Olympic training and Shuuzou was dissatisfied. There was no drive here, not truly. If they were to defeat the other nations, his teammates needed to remember. Grabbing his cellphone, he dialled a number he rarely called over business.

"I need the you to track down Seirin, Rakuzan, Shuutoku, Kaijou, Touou and Yousen. Bring them here by the end of the week and keep it quiet. I'm going to make them remember who they're playing for." Momoi's squeal lit down the line before he hung up.

Within a day and half, the teams that the Miracles had played on were present again, to the last man. Well, most. Although Haizaki had been recognized, he'd been encouraged to cut his ties to Fukuda Sogou because of their influence not being desirable. Which was fine, Shuutoku absorbed him as the only team without an Uncrowned King and Copycat. Shuuzou played for Kaijou, and within a day of playing matches, the old teams had reconnected.

Relieved that this had been the right thing to do, Shuuzou instituted drop in evenings, when those who were available mixed with the National team. Although they all saw, within a few days, why Nijimura had done it, they kept their mouths shut.

After all, it was like high school all over again. Only less confusing, for some. Aomine and Midorima obeyed their former captains on the court more than ever before- maybe out of recognizing that cooperation was better, but more from the nostalgia and shock factor. Mayuzumi Chihiro had been stunned to receive an invitation, Sure, Akashi had kept in touch, had pointedly sponsored his Rakuzan teammates through university (and then ensuring Mayuzumi had the resources to publish his light novel) but Chihiro hadn't expected this.

Hadn't expected Akashi to smile at him, red eyes fond, Hayama squealing 'Sempai!', Nebuya nodding and Mibuchi waving excitedly. Kuroko had nodded, the burnt bridge between them rebuilt more than a year ago. Katsumatsu and Miyaji had welcomed him with relief. It feels good, slapping palms with his former kouhai when his specialty proves to be not the least rusty.

Fujimaki Toshiro is pretty impressed that Shuuzou knew how to motivate his team (but then, he is the very first captain of the Kiseki no Sedai). But it shows, that they are so much more motivated, that the stakes are so much higher.

Ryouta, always bubbly, shines ten times brighter now, knowing, once again, that he has the hope and pride of Kasamatsu, Moriyama, Kobori, and Hayakawa. He knows once again that they'll be there to cheer him on (they really will, courtesy of Akashi purchasing a box and an entire hotel), that so long as he does his best, they'll greet him with backslaps.

Shintarou, prickly even at his happiest, almost (absurdly) seems to preen under the threat of pineapple projectiles and a thousand shouts of 'Shin-chan!' as if they mean more than all the adoration of being a player for the Boston Celtics.

Daiki, despite being married to Satsuki for a handful of years- and happy to be, if her constant smiles are anything to go by- is more energetic and happy when Imayoshi Shouichi turns up, flashing his glasses at the ganguro. The blond Wakamatsu Kousuke and mousy Sakurai Ryou are greeted with backslaps, but still, Aomine grins feverishly at Shouichi. To the side, Satsuki glows like the sun, happier than she's been in a while, the same as Aomine.

Tetsuya (and Taiga and Kiyoshi) greet the former Seirin captain and coach with easy grins and laughter, jostling the others streaming behind them. Furihata spies Akashi and gives a theatric 'Eeep!' for old times sake, everyone on both teams howling when Hayama swaggers over and shakes his fist, roaring

"Ya wanna go, Chihuahua?"

Atsushi, despite Tatsuya's delight, impassively chews his snacks as the former Yousen team files in, though tellingly offers snacks to them all. Tatsuya grins at Shuuzou, who chuckles from where he sits next to Haizaki.

Seijuurou, who has spent years in an excruciatingly slow rebuild of his bond with Mayuzumi, surprises everyone when he joins Hayama and Nebuya in leaping on the pale man. Even if he is stunned, Mayuzumi slides back into a camaraderie with the former Rakuzan players that makes all four very happy.

It's something of a relief, really, that it takes a few victories to play against the Americans. Several former Jabberwock players are sprinkled among them, and the former Vorpal Swords snarl and growl to the last man. Wakamatsu, Hyuuga and Takao from the box.

It is- probably, likely- that a second defeat is very humiliating for Nash Gold and Jason Silver. Worse still is that the white uniforms of Team Japan flatter them all, well constructed and made to last, as opposed to the shoddy workmanship of the Vorpal Swords uniforms.

The Miracles and their friends- the best in the nation- make the decision to change the lineup. Imayoshi, Kasamatsu, Mayuzumi, Izuki and Miyaji had already been drafted months ago, but now they actually play in a game. With Nijimura's force of nature leadership and the combined powers of the team, Japan steamrolls Team USA and rockets through finals to stand as the Olympic champions. The payoff is sweet indeed.

Celebrating with their victory, not only with their teammates but the people they battled to the very top for enforces just how connected the basketball community in Japan is. Coaches and players from many, many nations stare wonderingly at the playfulness, the backslapping, belly laughing joy of it all.

If there is a twist, in Nash's heart and Jason's gut, they'll never tell, but I might say that there was a butterfly's wing of truth to the sentiment.

Shaking his head, the former coach of the Miracles (and Nijimura and Haizaki) shakes his head in awe of what his former players have achieved.

(They've rocked the world, after all)

What athletes would you like to see? Haikyuu is a definite yes (but maybe Oikawa redemption arc first?), Ryohei from KHR as a champion boxer, and Rin and Haru from Free!, with cameos by Sousuke and Makoto at least. But should it just be a trilogy or should I include YowaMushi, or maybe a Rurouni Kenshin OC (descendant of someone or other) who competes in the martial arts (assuming there's an Olympic event for that, if not, just an international tournament that happens at the same time). Can someone please say something?

A/N: Please email me at amaranthastormheart with prompts! All fandoms I write for (or, challenge to enter a new one). Also, check out the fan blog on my profile, if you please.