So Close, So Far Collection II: Almost Touching
Vignette Number Three: "Reason"
Lee Pyron was on the fourth story of the Tao family mansion staring miserably at the ashes on the tile floor. They were the only physical remains of his former master. He scooped a few grains up and rubbed them between his index finger and thumb. Fury suddenly welled inside him.
"Why should I mourn for you? You're not my teacher. You're not my teacher. He'd never be Tao En's minion just for the sake of getting a new young body to fight in. I don't even know you," he spat.
Just then, his sensitive ears picked up the faint and airy rustling noise of a dress's fabric coming from upstairs.
"I know you're there, Tao Jun," he said without even turning around.
The embarassed dao-shi shuffled her feet and murmured, "I'm sorry. I'll leave you in peace."
"Please don't go. Your presence is comforting," he replied quietly.
She walked downstairs and sympathetically placed her hand on his shoulder. Both were silent for about two minutes.
Finally, the brown-eyed man susurrated, "I feel like crying over that kyonshii. Silly, isn't it? Tears are like a dog who doesn't know how to fetch. Neither of them bring you what you want. Master Shamon..taught...me that."
His voice cracked on the word "taught." He whirled around so Jun couldn't see his quivering lips.
"Pyron-" Jun whispered.
"Don't," he interrupted.
"Pyron-"
"Don't! Your pity isn't necessary! I have no reason to grieve for that thing because it wasn't my teacher! He...would never-"
He quit speaking lest he should burst into tears. Jun patiently stepped back for a while. Feminine instinct told her to hug her beloved and reassure him everything would be okay, but she knew he was one of these people who would shut you out if you tried too hard to comfort them. Ren was the same way. She'd just have to wait until he was ready to open up.
Pyron remained as still as a mountain (with the exception of occasionally trembling from trying to suppress any sobs) for a long time.
When he finished he apologized and said, "He taught me so much more than martial arts. Were all his lessons lies? Did I waste my life listening to the wrong person? A good pupil follows in his teacher's footsteps. If that's true, than what's to stop me from becoming a bad egg as well?"
"Well," Jun slowly responded, "I think I know the answer... but... it... may offend you."
"I'm not scared of brutal honesty. Shoot."
"You've surpassed Shamon. You may think it's a disrespectful and haughty thing to say, but I truly believe it. Martial arts are about having strong morals and strong muscles, right? You defeated him because you were the one with stronger morals. Be proud of yourself! Didn't you always want to get better than your mentor?"
"Yes. I...I never looked at it from that point of view. Still, I'll miss the man he was."
"There's nothing wrong with that."
"I know," he said, giving her a peck on the cheek, "Thank you for consoling me. However, I didn't reach a new level because I have stronger morals."
"Oh? Then what's the reason you did?" she inquired.
"You. When I saw him dashing toward you something inside me screamed, 'Protect the woman you love!' "
She turned as pink as a flamingo, smiled, and said, "That's a good reason."
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