Title: Tainted Gold

By: Aina Song

Fandom(s): Gundam Wing/Gravitation

Genre: Yaoi

Rating: NC-17

Warning(s): Language; Angst; Saap; Song Lyrics; Rumored Death; Slight OOC.

Pairing(s): To be revealed as story develops. (Trust me, you'll appreciate it better that way.)

Reviews: Yes, please.

Author's Note: Standard Disclaimer. This story was not written for money.

Teaser: The pain of broken promises is not so easily mended…

Epilogue - Hear This!

(some months later)

After much work and effort, Nittle Grasper had at last sold their first album. Noriko had congratulated her fellow band members, then apologized for not staying, as she'd had plans to celebrate with her husband. Which left the other two sitting alone on their living room floor.

Ryuichi Sakuma took up a thick gift box from beside his thigh, passing it forth. "Here. From me and Mister Bear."

"I'll be sure to thank him," Touma Seguchi smiled, slipping the ribbon free. Removing the box's lid, he let a fond chuckle escape as he lifted up a dark coat lined with grey fur(1). Still chuckling, he twisted it behind his back and slipped it on, laughing aloud as he donned the matching hat that fell to the floor from within the folds of the coat. It was only by glancing down at the box a second time that he found there was also a hardback copy of The Little Prince, by Antoine Saint-Exupery. "Now, this brings back some memories," he smiled, taking the book in hand. "Wherever did you find it?"

"Look inside the cover."

Curious, he opened the book and stared at the inked scrawling upon the center of the otherwise blank first page:

"I know we're just gettin' started, but I don't wanna wait until later to say it. I love you, Q. Duo."

Finally understanding why he had thought he'd recognized Ryuichi's handwriting some months back, Touma let his eyes absorb the letter. He'd read these words before, when they had been two ex-pilots who'd only been dating for a number of weeks. Which would mean… "This is the exact same copy, isn't it."

"Only the best for my Touma," Ryuichi nodded importantly, crushing his stuffed bunny against him in an impromptu embrace. "I meant it, you know. And I mean it now, too."

Touma carefully set the book and its box upon the sofa behind them, reaching until he found the smaller box which contained his gift to Ryuichi. Bringing it down, he handed it over and could not resist a slow smile as the other eagerly tore at the not-so-expensive wrapping paper. He, better than anyone, understood that his brunet lover would never have the patience to peel the paper away like some candy wrapper.

Ryuichi's fingers trembled as he lifted the gold chain from its small box. From it dangled a small rectangular pendant, upon which had been engraved the outline of a Catholic crucifix(2). His blue-amethyst eyes brimming, Ryuichi looked up to stare at his lover.

"It's a locket," Touma softly revealed, leaning over and flicking loose the hidden latch.

The pendant popped open, and the brunet's next breath caught in his throat. A single drop of hot wetness dripped to his palm, and Ryuichi absently rubbed the rest of the tears from his eyes to better see the secret within the golden box locket.

It was a photograph, no bigger than the pad of his thumb. A blond Arabian was smiling back at him, garbed in his usual desert clothes with his beloved goggles hanging from around his neck. And he was not alone. A pair of arms had grabbed him from behind, and an L2 street rat was laughing at whoever had held the camera. Manic grin, deep amethyst eyes alight with mischief. A long, thick braid of honey-chocolate falling over his shoulder as he embraced the blond prince in his arms.

"Q…"

Touma's smile grew gentle as he took the locket from his lover's fingers and reached to carefully fasten it around Ryuichi's neck. "This is to remind you. I have never - will never forget my love for the pilot inside the singer." He softly kissed the other's mouth as he pulled away. " 'Take me as I am,' remember? That doesn't change with your name."

"Yeah," Ryuichi gruffly agreed, bringing his hand up to catch his new treasure within the circle of his fingers. Slowly, a new smile broke through his tears. "Yeah. Damn right, Q! And don't you forget it!"

~o~

Halfway across the globe, one Preventer's office door swung open as a mail-girl peeked in. "You have a package, Mister Chang. Is now a good time, or should I bring it later?"

He shook his head, "I'll receive it now." When the small manila envelope was placed atop his desk, he took one look at the return address and waited until the young woman had left before opening it.

There was an enveloped letter, and a CD. Wufei stared at its cover, which portrayed a purple-haired woman standing alongside his two missing companions. Quickly, he opened the enclosed letter, a much-relieved smile crossing his mouth as he read what had been written:

"Hey, Wuffie! Look - I found him! We're together again, and we're who we always wanted to be. Keep the CD - it's sort of an apology from Q. The sales there for it don't start for another three months, but we wanted you and the others to enjoy our success early. Hee-kun(3) and Tro will get their copies by the end of the week. Get the guys together and come visit us sometime. We dropped our pasts, sure, but that doesn't mean we can't make some 'new' friends. Ryuichi."

~o~

Somewhere in Tokyo, in a popular music store, another copy of Nittle Grasper's first album rested in the hands of a junior high track star. His soft purple eyes skimmed down the list of songs on the back of the case, and he selected one from the automated example player. After several seconds, he grinned and turned his head, dark pink strands flying about with the movement.

"Hey Hiro, come here! You gotta hear this!"

1) It's just that this coat really seems to be his favorite, so I thought I'd introduce it. Yep, this is how I say his fashion sense got started. Maybe they were all gifts from Ryu…

2) If you watch Ryuichi while he performs as closely as I have - *drool* - you'll find at least two occasions in which he wears this pendant. One in a music video, and the other… I can't remember, but it's in there. Really.

3) Okay. I'm going to walk you through this one. Duo's popular nickname for Heero tends to be "Hee-chan," right? That just goes to show how popular a mistake can be. I'm sorry to all those that have put this phrase to use, myself included, but the -chan suffix is actuality meant for a female companion. And Heero is anything but female. (Unless he's hiding a secret even those spandex can't reveal…) The correct suffix - for a male companion - is -kun. I know I'm going meet a lot of contradiction with this one - I don't speak a word of Japanese - but it's in the damned dictionary. Look it up. Any flames directed toward this tidbit will be hung by their toes with their genitals flying.

The End

Ending Note: Maybe Quatre/Touma was a bit OOC, but I decided to go with it and see where it led. And tell me I wasn't the only one who liked the idea of a loving but dominant Quatre. Anybody? Ah, well. This was just my warped idea for a backstory for both Ryuichi Sakuma and Touma Seguchi, and I couldn't resist throwing a little GW into the mix. Bye!