So Close, So Far
A collection of Pyron/Jun vignettes by JSF
Quotable quotes: "As Gei Yin says, we betrayed them… We are really selfish."
"Tao Jun…" -Jun feeling guilty over how her family has treated Gei Yin and Pyron consoling her, Shaman King Ep. #46.
JSF: Aw! This couple just makes me feel all gooey inside. I hate to end this story because I'm on a PyJun streak right now, but I have to finish my other work.
Jun: Everything has to be finished sooner or later.
JSF: True. Anyway, you'll see how this story got its title in this chapter so keep a sharp eye out.
Author's note: 1.In this vignette Jun is 23 years old. Her kyonshi, of course, hasn't aged a bit. 2. I don't own Asakura Hana. I'm almost positive he is Takei-san's creation. Either way, I don't own him.
JSF: Now without further ado, I present the final chapter.
Vignette #10: Soulmates
It's wonderful to see Yoh and Anna again after all these years, thought Jun, I really have missed Funbari Onsen and it's grown into such a nice place, although it would be nicer if it was less crowded. Oh well, that's the way Anna does business.
She smoothed her new royal purple dress carefully and walked into the backyard to look at the stars. Twilight had just descended on that warm spring evening. Soft moonbeams made the tiny lotus blossom pattern on her dress stand out ever so slightly like a rabbit in a cabbage patch. The scene before her was beautiful but she felt…what was the word? Was she depressed?
No, she was worried. How could she not be? Everywhere she looked on this visit she saw happy couples and families that were stuck on each other like glue. There was Yoh and Anna with their two-year-old son, the guests having a good time at the onsen, and even Faust, now working as part of the medical staff, who never left Eliza's side. Jun couldn't help but wonder if her love with Pyron might fall apart when she observed everyone around her.
"A penny for your thoughts," came an amused voice from beside her. Jun blinked in surprise to see her significant other.
"How long have you been standing there?" she asked.
"Long enough," he replied, "Did you want to be left alone?"
"Oh no. I'd really like your company," she said giving him a little smile. Pyron held her closely and the two cuddled affectionately for a while. She nuzzled against his chest and he gave her gentle kisses on her cheeks, lips, and neck. Jun would have enjoyed it more if she wasn't filled with so much anxiety.
The pretty shaman paused for a moment and asked, "Pyron, what does the word 'forever' mean to you?"
" 'Forever?' Uh, I always thought of it as meaning the same thing as 'infinite,' " he answered.
"Will you be with me forever? Our relationship is different from most people's and I hate that sometimes. I just hate the limits we have because I feel so close to you, yet so far at the same time," she murmured.
"Oh Jun," Pyron said soothingly, " Is that what you're upset about? Listen…I still love you even if we have our limits. I'll always stay by you even if we could never get married…"
"What?! Pyron, what was that last word you said?!" Jun exclaimed.
"…Married…" he repeated a little uneasily. Jun stared into his eyes with an expression of "Pinch me" on her face.
"Do you mean that?" she breathed. He gazed at her and considered the thought. What if Tao Jun could be his wife? Would she be willing? Dammit, he wished he were alive again.
"Yes…I do mean it. Jun, if I were alive and well would you marry m-mmmmffff!" he was cut off by her lips on his own as she kissed him passionately and made a shiver of ecstasy go through his soul. Oh, he loved the way she kissed him. No other woman possessed the aura of mystic elegance like his Tao princess.
"Does that answer your question?" she whispered in his ear after breaking the kiss.
"It certainly does," he said, "I know we can't get married, so I'm going to promise you something here and now. I will follow you wherever you go, protect you from every danger, treat you as my equal, and love you unconditionally. You are my soulmate."
Jun took a deep breath, held her warrior's hands, and then spoke, "I promise you this: I will be good for the rest of my life so that when I die we can cross over to heaven and really be together. I will never hurt you or let anyone else do so. I will always be by your side and support you. You are my soulmate."
The couple leaned in towards each other's faces, closed their eyes, and almost kissed again when someone spoke up from the back door.
"You'll need a witness," Anna interrupted, "and since Yoh is the Shaman King he has the power to do anything. He'll be the witness for your special ritual. Also, don't forget to get your brother's blessings."
Yoh stepped out from behind his wife laughing his trademark laugh and congratulated them. Ren, who had been standing in the shadows, gave his best wishes on the condition that Pyron never break his promise. Pyron said he would never dream of it.
"Yoh, Ren! Come inside with me to check on Hana," Anna told the two men.
"Why should I have to see about your son?" Ren grumbled. Anna gave him a deathglare. Didn't he get the hint?
"Inside…now," hissed the itako. Both of them took off like a shot. Anna smirked and closed the back door. Jun and Pyron were finally alone.
Once again the soulmates sealed their promises with a kiss full of pure eternal love.
*~ The End ~*