Title: The Path Less Traveled
Author: A Paper Moon
Pairing: Narumi Ayumu/Yuizaki Hiyono
Fandom: Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna
Theme: #20—the road home
Rating: G
Disclaimer: All characters of Spiral are the property of Kyou Shirodaira; I allege no possession of said characters. I only request to take them to over-rowdy soccer games and force them to play at gunpoint. Inspired by Matt Nathanson's song "All We Are."
Summary: Serendipity was a wondrous thing.

A big thank you to all of the reviewers; you words mean so much. :D

-.-.-

And in the end,
The words won't matter.
Because in the end,
Nothing stays the same.
And in the end,
Dreams just scatter and fall like rain.

-.-.-

Charcoal-grey skies darkened the afternoon, the wind pulling at tall pines, their movements at the mercy of Mother Nature. Rain fell from the heavens like a mist of unshed tears and the afternoon seemed dreary and bleak.

How ironic—those were her exact feelings.

It was bizarre that she should have such emotions coursing through her veins; she had just come from a beautiful wedding after all.

The Irish landscape was breathtaking and as she sat in the old cab, her destination being the Dublin Airport for her flight home. Two of her best friends in all of Collinstown had become tied in matrimony and she should be feeling nothing but joy and happiness for the new husband and wife. However, she couldn't bring herself to smile more than necessary and as soon as the reception had ended, she found herself hailing a cab to the airport.

She felt terrible as she had blown off one of her best friends, the first woman she met in Ireland, Aislinn. She and Eoin, her boyfriend turned husband, had been the kindest couple she had ever met.

When she had decided to travel (she'd been stuck in Japan for far too long), not many people were willing to help a foreigner around town. But Aislinn and Eoin happily stepped up to the plate and over the four months she stayed with them, had made her feel like part of the family. And yet, their friendship turned love was what was ripping at her heart.

The way that Aislinn would giggle whenever Eoin played with her hair or the manner in which Eoin would smile whenever Aislinn would laugh; it all reminded her of what she was lacking. For as long as she was a student in Japan, she had wished nothing more than to find her 'other part,' someone she could be herself around without fear or nervousness.

There had been one man in her life that she had pondered that dream with. One Narumi Ayumu.

However, when she realized that his act of stoic wasn't changing for quite some time, she quickly threw out the idea of sharing any sort of relationship beyond a partnership with him.

She had never voiced her concerns before, and yet she knew deep down, that she should have. But six years went by without any words on her behalf and before she knew it, he'd moved on leaving her alone in Tokyo. So, with bit of worry and a ton of regret, she packed up her suitcase and boarded the next plane to Europe.

And here she was now, still alone, her friends gone and married, by herself as she had always felt it would end. The cab maneuvered gracefully through the various potholes on the broken roads of Collinstown, the rain pattering against the window in a soothing manner causing the young girl to drift ever so.

As she slept, memories of years ago flooded her mind; smiling faces, laughter, his ever-apathetic glances. She saw Aislinn and Eoin dancing underneath the white lanterns as the skies opened up, drenching the pair in crystalline droplets. She saw herself, eyes lying and the tug of her lips a hoax. And then, she spied another pair, their faces locked on one another, the woman's eyes strangely familiar. The man's smile was genuine and yet she could tell that it didn't happen as much as the woman wanted it to. They were silent, but Hiyono could tell just how much they loved one another. She thought of approaching them, but decided against it—they seemed recognizable to her and yet she didn't feel she knew them enough to come within reach of the pair. It was something about the man's gentle stare that kept her eyes glued to his figure and just when she was about to place them, she felt herself tugged away.

"Miss…?"

"Hmm?"

"We've a come, young lady."

It was such a beautiful dream. Such warmth…

"Nani?"

She felt a hand on her shoulder and her eyes fluttered open to see the looming figure of Shamus, her cab driver, his eyes creased in a smile.

"Your plane," he explained, his voice rough and yet comforting all the same. His accent made her feel somewhat at ease and groggily, she slipped from the backseat and to the trunk where Shamus had already begun pulling her luggage out.

"Pleasant dream, miss?"

She got the basic idea of his words and nodded. It had been such a lovely dream. Alas, it was nothing more than that.

"Must be quite the lad waiting for ya, I presume."

"Eh?"

Shamus grinned and handed Hiyono her bag. Knowingly, he added, "Some Narumi fella. Must be one lucky lad to have such a fine miss as yourself."

She felt her face heat up and quickly wondered if she had said something aloud in her sleep. Before she could pressure the elder man for more information, he was pushing her toward the door, his voice jubilant as he practically sang, "Miss, have a safe flight. Everythin' will be fine. You've just to say words an' I'm sure he'll be yours all the same."

Something in the way he said those words filled her heart with warmth. It was like he could see into her soul and gingerly, he wiped away any and all fears. She felt as if she was wrapped within a thick, cotton blanket on a cold evening. She didn't think he would ever fully understand how wonderful it was to her to hear those words.

"Arigatou," she smiled. When he looked at her quizzically, she reiterated, "T-Thank you."

"Ah, tis all in a day. Think nothin' of it." Hiyono lifted herself atop her toes and kissed the aging man gently on the cheek, her stomach newly butterfly-less and her confidence rebuilt. He laughed with such jolly she was almost pulled into laughing too.

"Slán leat and may the wind always blow t' your back."

With that, Shamus slammed the trunk of the '60s taxi and climbed into the driver's side, his smile never fading like the sun which began to peak out behind the thinning clouds.

It was as Hiyono walked through the doors of the Dublin Airport that she swore she saw a familiar smile and yet, when she looked around, there was nothing there. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart smiling when a voice answered making her knees weak.

"When were you planning on calling me, silly girl?"

"I've missed you, Narumi-san."

-.-.-

All we are we are.
All we are we are.
And every day,
Is a start of something beautiful,
Something real.

All We Are|Matt Nathanson

I'm not sure why but I've suddenly become inspired by every song I hear. I know there wasn't any Ayumu|Hiyono goodnes but don't worry, there will be some coming soon. Thank you all for your kind words and continuing to stay with me. We are now 2/3 of the way (officially because I have two chapters of the same theme.) and I hope you'll stay for the last 1/3. You lovely people know the deal. :)