So Close, So Far Collection II: Almost Touching
Vignette Number Eight: "Relate"
Disclaimer: I own neither Shaman King nor Shanghai Noon. (If I did, Chong would have married the princess at the end of the movie.) I do not plan, never have planned, and never will plan to make any money off this fanfic.
Author's Note: Gong zhu is Chinese for "princess."
Tao Jun and Lee Pyron were lying in the living room of Team The Ren's cabin one very early morning watching Shanghai Noon. It was the last thing he wanted to do right now, but she'd been vomiting all night due to a case of the flu and wanted to watch it.
When she asked why he disliked it his answer was that he couldn't relate to the characters. (When was the last time anybody searched for a princess in the Old West?) In truth, he was pissed mostly because Jackie Chan had Jun's undivided attention, but masculine pride wouldn't let him admit it. As a result, he was stuck there.
After what felt like a century, the film's ending drew near.
"Found someone to relate to yet?" Jun softly asked.
"No, "he responded. "...And I doubt I will at this point." was left unsaid.
"You have come a long way. I hope the princess you seek is worthy of such devotion," Princess Pei-Pei said on the television.
"It is my duty to bring her home. I even brought her favorite book," Chong, the hero, replied.
"That's very kind of you. But…what if you found the princess and she did not wish to go back to the Forbidden City?" she asked.
"Why would she want to stay here?" Chong asked.
"Perhaps… she could do more for the people here…than she could back in China," she answered, raising her head.
Chong's eyes grew as big as satellite dishes. Lee Pyron blinked curiously.
His expression is so familiar. Where have I seen it before and what is it? Jun's spirit wondered.
"Princess Pei-Pei!" Chong exclaimed.
He bowed lowly. The princess beseeched him to be inconspicuous but he merely scampered out of her way for every step she took.
Where and what? Where and what? Pyron speculated.
Then it hit him like a bolt of lightning. Chong's expression was the "Oh-my-God-the-object-of-my-affection-caught-me-looking-like-a-complete-dumbass!" look. It had been on his face multiple times before Jun and he had gotten together.
"You know, Jun," said the zombie, "I think I did find a character to relate to."
She didn't answer.
"Jun?" he asked, turning around.
She was fast asleep. He chuckled warmly and removed her icepack.
"Good night, gong zhu," he whispered.
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