Title: Life Between the Dash

Author/Artist: mellonemrys

Pairing: Narumi Ayumu and Rutherford Eyes
Fandom: Spiral Suiri no Kizuna
Theme: # 9: Dash
Disclaimer: Spiral does not belong to me…

Thanks to: cocacat15 for beta-ing!

Notes/ Warning: Comes after my fic Snow's Duet. If anyone knows what poem I'm talking about please tell me the real title and author! I would appreciate it a lot! Shounen-Ai (boy-boy love).

"I read a poem in English class the other day."

"Hn…"

"It was called 'The Dash' or 'Life Between the Dash', something like that…" Ayumu looked over again only to see Eyes watching the dark tunnel of the London Underground pass by.

"It was about how the day you were born or the day you die doesn't matter. It's the dash the matters, the things you do."

Eyes glanced at the floor of the subway car, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He could feel Ayumu watching him, waiting for some reply. "You believe in what a poem says?" He stopped short hearing the harshness of his words.

A blunt sorry was choked out, and the hopeful, pressing gaze turned to the floor.

For the first time during this trip Eyes turned to Ayumu with a pleading look, his ice blue eyes softening. Placing a caring hand on Ayumu's shoulder he whispered, "No, I'm sorry."

Ayumu looked up shocked, not accustom to the kindness Eyes was suddenly showing.

"So this poem is saying that only your actions during your life matter…" It felt strange saying something so obvious just to comfort someone.

"Uh, yes…" Ayumu couldn't believe that this was the same person he had gotten onto the subway with; he could almost see a smile hidden under the carefully calculated expression.

The subway stopped and Eyes made his way to the door, looking as if he had something planned. Ayumu fought frantically to keep up with him until they finally stopped in front of a fountain. Ayumu recognized it after a moment. It showed none of the beauty that it had possessed covered with snow under the night sky. But there was no mistaking the place he had received his first kiss.

The park was busy with passersby and birds walking the many pathways. It was unusual for Eyes to act this way, his partner liked to think that their relationship was a secret. Of course if you read any of the major papers in Tokyo or London you would know otherwise.

Eyes slipped his hand into Ayumu's pocket and brushed away his comment about being all right. They stood there watching the water pour over the stone and for a moment they were alone in front of the fountain, with snow falling all around them.

This was what the dash was for; moments like this should make up the dash. Where nothing but the present matters.