Disclaimers: I do not own, nor do I wish to own, The Prince of Tennis or any of the Prince of Tennis characters. But I do own the poems. So don't even try to steal them.
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"Ne, Fujiko, did you finish your poem?"
Fuji turned around slowly as an overactive acrobat bounded toward him over energetically, nearly crashing into an unsuspecting 7th grader that was also headed home. Another tiring practice had finally ended and once again most of the team was tired from all the running, matches, and threats of drinking Inui's dreaded Penal-Tea, that is, except for Fuji…
"Kikumaru-senpai, watch where you're going!" yelled Ryoma. Fuji watched silently as Kikumaru managed to put the 7th grader in a choke-hold… I mean glomp Ryoma.
"Kikumaru-senpai! Let go! You're choking me!" Ryoma now struggled to breathe as Kikumaru unknowingly choked him. Fuji chuckled, but made no move to help. Just then, Oishi walked up to the school gate, and with a cry, attempted to pry Kikumaru off the suffocating Ryoma. After another few seconds, Kikumaru let go, much to Fuji's disappointment, and Ryoma fell over panting.
"Saa, what did you want to talk to me about, Kikumaru?" Fuji inquired with a slightly amused smile.
"Your poem! I was asking you about your poem."
"What about it?"
"Did you finish yours?"
"Maybe… Why?"
"Mou, Fuji don't you EVER give a straight answer?!" Kikumaru groaned.
Fuji smiled, "I don't know what you're talking about." He almost laughed as Kikumaru let out an exasperated sigh.
"I wanted to know if you were entering the contest. If you have time could you look at mine?"
"Saa, of course I could look at yours. And to answer your question, Yes, I finished mine in class. Maa, let's head over to my house."
Kikumaru cheered, and pulled out a rather small piece of paper and handed it to Fuji. "Here! Now let's go!" Fuji looked over the poem as they begin walking.
"Maa, Fuji! That's dangerous…"
"I'll be fine. It's a nice poem."
"You think so? I worked hard on it!"
The two continued walking for another few blocks. During this time Fuji memorized Kikumaru's poem, while Kikumaru managed to... Do nothing productive. Unless you consider spinning a tennis ball on your finger productive… The walking signal changed to 'walk' and Fuji begins walking forward without looking both ways.
"Ah! Fuji, look out!" Fuji's eyes opened and he stopped as a car zoomed just in front of him. "Watch where you're going, Fuji! You almost got hit by that car! Baka car! Fuji, are you ok?"
"…"
"Fuji?"
"…"
Kikumaru took a deep breath and yelled in Fuji's ear, "FUJI SYUUSUKE!!!!!"
Fuji managed to cover his ears, but they still hurt because Kikumaru yelled really loud. As a matter of fact, his shout not only got Fuji's attention, not that he didn't already have it… He also got the attention of everyone within 15 meters of him. They all stared at Kikumaru and Fuji as if they were crazy. (Which they probably are…)
"Saa, Kikumaru, you didn't have to yell." Fuji said as he rubbed his ear. He thought to himself, I really need to find a way to make him stop yelling like that… Everyone thinks he's insane. How amusing.
"How else am I supposed to get your attention?"
"You already had it the first time you said my name. Oh, look we're here."
"Huh? You're trying to change the subject! …Wait. Where's my poem?"
"…Nani? Shimatta. Looks like it blew out of my hand as the car passed by."
"NANI?!"
"What did I say about yelling?"
"Ah, gomen. Demo, what are we going to do?"
"Saa, lucky for you I memorized it."
"Eh?! Arigato, Fuji!" Kikumaru hugged him. Fuji smiled slightly and told him to let go, politely of course because I don't endorse being mean.
"Now let me see if I got this right. Is it:
On a bright afternoon, I opened the window
And looked at the shaded road,
Smiling slightly as I saw a man below.
He tapped the door with a light rap
That echoed through out the empty house.
Getting up I answered the door
I saw most alarming sight that day.
For on my doorstep stood
The fearsome man with a purple hood.
I glared at him unhappily,
For the last time he came he caused a catastrophe
And told me I was the one to blame.
And now here he stood,
The fearsome man with a purple hood,
Smiling as if all was good,
And waiting to come in.
"What do you want?" I wished to cry
He smiled with the usual sigh
Before giving me a book.
The book was titled A Wish for You.
I asked him what to do,
And he replied, "You must quickly make a friend
And ask him what he wishes for."
Out of boredom, I went to look for a friend
And found a bend in the nearby road.
There I sat in the bend,
While trying to fend all the crazed flies
When suddenly, to my surprise, a boy walked down the road.
It was Ochibi, a nearby farmer's son.
I went and asked him what he wished for
And he answered, "I have plenty of things,
But what I wish for the most is a good harvest."
Satisfied, I said, "Well then, friend, I wish for that, too.
I wish a bountiful harvest for you."
With that I walked away,
Before he could say
Anything else to me.
I went home to my house near a tree,
And looked out the window, watching the sky darken…"
The pair walk in the general direction of Fuji's doorstep as Fuji recited the poem. Kikumaru stared at Fuji for a full minute before saying, "Sugoi! I can't believe you memorized to whole thing! Ne, can I read yours now?"
Fuji smiled and said, "Sure, when we get to my room. Saa, you can read it while I write your poem down."
Then he looked up and realized they had made a few wrong turns, which was ironic because they were only a block from his house a few seconds ago. "Saa, my house is this way," Fuji sighed as he pointed toward his house.
"I knew that, Fuji." Kikumaru grinned before poking Fuji and yelling exuberantly, "Last one to your house has to drink Aozu!" He ran toward Fuji's house as Fuji watched him go looking dejected about Kikumaru's choice of Inui juice. He hated Aozu and everyone knows why. Realizing that if he didn't hurry he'd have to drink Aozu, Fuji ran as quickly as he could, trying to catch up with Kikumaru. As luck would have it, even though Kikumaru had a head start the race ended in a tie.
"No more races, Kikumaru." Fuji sighed. He looked back at the door before walking up the stairs to his room.
"Ok…" Kikumaru said. He hesitantly followed Fuji and sat down in a chair anxious to begin reading Fuji's poem. Fuji took his time getting the poem out of his bag. He enjoyed watching people suffer and Kikumaru wasn't an exception.
"Fuji, what's taking so long?" Kikumaru asked as he began fidgeting in his chair. Finally Fuji gave him the poem. It was:
We are not perfect,
Never have been and probably never will be.
Those foolish ones who say they are perfect
Are probably farthest from it,
And as for those who humbly say they are anything but perfect
Are right because we are all far from perfection,
The perfection that so many seek, but fail to ever attain.
What makes us think we can achieve such an eccentric dream?
We seem to forget that no matter what kind of future is ahead,
It starts at this moment. It starts with our every decision.
From this point on, we should live life without seeking perfection.
Then instead you could seek out true happiness.
And when you find it you will open a door that can never be closed,
For when you find true happiness,
Only then will you be truly free.
"Ne, Fuji… I didn't know you wrote poems this well!" Kikumaru commented cheerfully. Somehow the sheet the poems was on managed to appear on Fuji's desk again. Even though both Fuji and Kikumaru were 3 meters from it…
"Glad you liked it. Demo, shouldn't we study for that test coming up now?" Fuji said glancing up from his homework.
"Oh, right! We've got to study for that history test. I almost forgot…" Kikumaru muttered. He took out his homework and the two of them work on their homework until bedtime, with breaks for food, brushing teeth, and snacks.
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Okay, I hope you enjoyed. Constructive criticism is preferred… Now if you have time, please review!