Notes: Thanks to layla-xd, Maegvasaiel, kichikoneko, and fire mystic for reviewing.

This one is very depressing. Set in Gluhen-era.

The ficlet was inspired by the song "Jewels" by Alice Nine (which I would rec to anyone who doesn't mind Jrock), which in short has a message of "Our relationship isn't what it used to be, but I will always treasure the memories" kind of a thing. A full translation can be found at the Akatsuki Alice Nine lyrics site. The stuff in italics are NOT the lyrics of the song, they're just things I wrote while thinking about the song.

Jewels

Tsujii was so thrilled with the diamonds Yohji gave her that she missed him staring blankly, thinking of Aya.

Things have changed between us

Yohji didn’t love Tsujii, but she was beautiful because she could give him what the people he loved had taken away.

But the memories you gave me will always shine

And yet, Tsujii wasn’t as beautiful as Asuka, because no one could be. Except for Aya. And Tsujii wasn’t as beautiful as Aya either, because Yohji loved Aya and he didn’t love Tsujii.

Even if you’re gone, I’ll remember them

Some things were better than diamonds.