Request by Monkey D. Anea
(The Art of Accepting)
When he first sees the boy
Barely more than a child
Throw his life away
(Along with throwing that punch)
In that godforsaken place of human greed
Into the face of one thought untouchable
All he thinks is 'reckless'
And maybe a little bit admirable
.
When he connects the name
To the face
He doesn't know much about The Will
But he thinks
'Perhaps this is enough'
Too bad the kid's set for execution
(He's challenged the world already
Now, as per tradition, his Will must die)
.
(But, goddamnit, the boy actually survives)
.
He's never met anyone
Quite so ready to tear the world asunder
As himself
Yet here's a boy
Running across stone and rock and blood
Challenging the world (again) for his brother
It's only natural that he thinks
'Perhaps he's the one'
And decides he'll save him
For his own sake
.
(Goddamnit, that's all it is)
.
The next time they meet, he has a plan
One full of twists and turns
Where he'll ultimately come out on top
Except he'd forgotten the feeling
That made him save an enemy from death
Two years ago
And that's how everything goes wrong
(And maybe a little right, too)
.
He really tries to have ulterior motives
Tries to manipulate
And twist his words
But it's no use
In the face of such honesty
(And gullibility)
This alliance
Is supposed to be easy to warp
The kid's so simple and trusting
Yet he finds it's hard
To stop from warping into something else instead
.
(Goddamnit, he won't say friendship)
.
When he tells the man on the bridge
Who ruined his already ruined life
All those years ago
That he will rely on The Will
What he really means
Is he'll rely on him
(Because it just seems to be
The sort of thing you can do
Where he's concerned)
He doesn't perform miracles
No- he challenges the world,
And wins
(And that's more than a miracle)
.
When he sees the boy- no, the man
(It's been two years, and he deserves that much)
Throw a black-fisted punch
That proves he chose right
He feels like it's finally over
(And just beginning)
He still wants to be King
But honestly, he wouldn't mind
Following orders
Under a different crown
(He'll only make one exception)
.
He doesn't know
How either of them survived this long
(He admits, he's pretty reckless too)
But he's kind of glad
This alliance got out of his hands
.
(Goddamnit, the kid's still not his nakama)
.
.
(Maybe a little)