To M. Disclaimer: Gundam W © Sotsu Agency, Sunrise and TV Asahi. In other words, the characters of Wufei and Meiran don't belong to me, which I suppose is a very good thing because they'd have been hell when they were children. *shudders*

A/N: I had intended to write a fic of Wufei imagining what might have been if Meiran had survived the war, but... too much effort, even for my Wuffiekins. I just liked the last line of the story, so I transplanted it here, where Wufei is watching L5 self-destruct.

~

To M.

Age and frailty are suddenly a line
Of blind light ravenous, wreathing to claim
Concept and a stone bearing not my name --
Yours. I see your blood on my hands like fine
Plum blossoms against snow. Your death is mine
Alone, always. Is dying now the same,
My dead wife -- passing through thunder and flame?
Or are you long since turned faery, divine?

Grey, wither'd things that pass for dreams -- my last
Tribute to you -- grant tears. You never gave
Them me; instead, Nataku, lotus-cast.
Already in mourning I cannot save
What remained of you, you who are gone, past
Beyond -- but I am for ever your grave.

Notes:
Plum blossoms are sometimes used as the Chinese equivalent of roses, but I think they have a more chaste connotation. Treize completely ruined roses for me -_-;; Thank Nataku for the bubbles in that bath...

I think -- but I'm not sure -- it's Taoist, the belief that when people die, especially young women, they become faeries and dress in frilly clothes... it's hard to explain. *sigh* Chinese culture so confusing.

The original demigod Nataku committed suicide to return his body to his father, because they were a dysfunctional family, or something, and his master rebuilt him out of o -- lotus roots. Hence the significance of the name O laoshi.

White is the colour of mourning, which is why Wufei wears white.

Well, the pedantry is over. Review please?