Hanging By A Moment

Riou hefted a bag over his shoulder with a sigh. He turned to the circle of friends that had gathered there for him: Boris, Hokori, Nigel, Meghan, Floritt, Vosa, and Tidot. They all smiled at him, but he could see the sadness in that expression. He was going away, taking the train to the airport, from which he could take his flight home. “It was really nice to see you all again.” He said, turning to each of them. “Seeing all of you…it really made me happy.”

All of them nodded, and he stepped up to them. He started with Boris, and without much hesitation, he hugged the big purple man, holding the hug for a moment, before he leaned back. “I really enjoyed seeing you again, Boris-sama. Hanging out with you again reminded me of the old times.”

“Indeed. It has been too long since we were last together.” Boris said, and his accented voice made Riou’s ears flutter a touch. “You should write or call more. I would very much enjoy catching up with you again.”

“I second that.” Hokori said, setting a hand on Riou’s shoulder. “When you come back, don’t be such a stranger, alright?” She said, and he nodded. “Oh, and thank you for the tea Riou. I’m sure Quintin will enjoy it very much.”

“I do hope so. I know that he couldn’t be here today. Be sure to tell him goodbye for me.” He said, and winked. “Give him a kiss on the cheek for me too.” He added, and she gave a little giggle at that. Next, he went to the combined group of Meghan, Nigel, and Floritt. Nigel was standing in back, his head tilted downward. “Thank you very much for throwing that party for me. It was great to have everyone back together again, and to celebrate. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.” He leaned in and kissed Meghan and Floritt on the cheek, one each.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Riou looked up at Nigel, and was tempted to say something, but the Gardevoir wasn’t looking like he wanted to share words. Riou merely passed him by, going to Vosa and Tidot. He smiled, and opened his mouth, but Vosa held up a hand. “There’s no need to go into big speech Riou.” The Lanturn said, with a light smile. It was still strange, seeing Vosa expressing himself more openly. “I know you’re very happy to see us, and we’re happy to see you. There’s no need for painful farewells.”

Riou smiled and took Vosa’s hand, and Tidot, and then finally pulled them in for a hug, which he held for a few moments. “Riou.” Tidot whispered to him. “If you’re ever back in town, talk to me first, we’ll have a night on the town.” Riou giggled a bit at that, and kissed Tidot on the cheek, before pulling back.

Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now...

He stepped back, and again, looked at Nigel. In fact, everyone was looking at him now. Riou looked at him, and stepped up to him. “Nigel-san?” He said softly, leaning his head down to look at his face. He held out his hand, hoping that Nigel would at least have the presence of mind to take it. Nigel tilted his face further down, and then, he looked up, a sudden, if perhaps rather fake smile on his face.

“Good luck Riou.” He said simply. Riou went to respond, but he stopped. He couldn’t say anything else. No one knew what happened between him and Nigel, besides the two of them. And he had no place saying anything. But he wanted to ask him. He wanted to ask him, to try and get an answer. But he couldn’t, it wasn’t his right. He had a strange feeling of déjà vu. Hadn’t he been like this before? Maybe he had been, he couldn’t remember. He slowly let his hand fall, aware of the awkward silence.

“Thank you, Nigel-san.” He said, and turned, leaning down to take a bag. Boris hefted one of the bags for him, and he took it. “Thank you too, Boris-sama.” He said with a sigh, as he looked over them once again. “I’ll be seeing you all again.” He lied, and turned, starting into the terminal. It had been an effort to keep his expression pleasant during that. He felt his face fall, even as he started walking. He wanted to miss the train, more than anything in the world. But he couldn’t, not without arousing suspicion.

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

The group turned, dispersing, talking amongst themselves as they turned to leave the station. All except for Nigel and Vosa, who remained there, watching Riou’s back. “You’re being such a complete fool, Nigel.” Vosa said, quite plainly. Nigel was stunned by this sudden remark, which seemed to come from nowhere. “You realize he’s not coming back.”

“What’re you talking about?” Nigel said, raising a brow. Vosa turned his head to regard him, a rather stern expression, as he pushed his glasses up his nose.

“It’s rather simple. Riou is taking the train, to go to the airport. He’s flying back home, and he’s not coming back. How much more simple do I have to make it?” He said, and watched as Nigel’s mouth fell open. “He’s a good liar, but he knows I can read him like an open book. His family repossessed the condo, and has essentially cut him off from the family fortune.” He said his expression entirely serious. “He didn’t want us to worry.”

“But…But…”

“Nigel, I don’t know exactly what’s been going on between you and Riou for the past month, but I can tell he’s very fond of you. Boris may be close to Riou, certainly, but he gave you the key. Tell me, are you going to let him walk away like this? After what he’s done for you?” He asked, looking back towards Riou. “Don’t make the same mistake twice, Nigel. Don’t let someone else you love leave.” He said, and turned to leave.

There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else

Nigel was stunned, frozen in place. Vosa knew?! This entire time, all the hours they spent hanging out, and Vosa could see it all? But that wasn’t the point. He looked back, seeing Riou’s dwindling form. He did, he desperately wanted to vault over the turnstile and chase Riou down. But it wasn’t like that! Sure, they’d spent close time together, and Nigel had learned more about Riou than he’d ever know…but… “The thing is you and Boris know far more about the person Riou is, than anyone else could possibly dream of finding out. However, you have the advantage of the fact, that you’re not Boris.” He remembered Vosa saying that during his senior year.

What could he have meant by that? Riou practically worshipped the man! Then, something came back to him. Something Riou had told him, some time ago. “You’re the first person I’ve seen that recognizes me since I got back, Nigel-san. That means a lot to me.” It did, it meant a lot to him too! He clenched his hands into fists. What should he do?! Finally, one last thing Riou had said came back to him. “Nigel-san…please stay with me…” That was it.

He didn’t wait. He went for the turnstile, leaping over it. Almost like he was flying. As if on cue, people seemed to converge out of nowhere, filling the terminal. He had been prepared to call out to Riou mentally, but suddenly there were too many people, too many minds, and Riou was shrouded from view by the mass of bodies. He couldn’t get to him! He shoved through the crowd, pushing, squirming. He didn’t care for politeness, or for manners. He could barely make out Riou at the far end of the crowd, approaching the train. There wasn’t any time…he wasn’t going to make it! Desperation grew rampant within him.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you....

He had to find some way to stop him! His mind raced, frantically thinking of some way that he could get Riou to hesitate, if only for a moment. He couldn’t send anything to him, not with this crowd. Was there a word he could use, that he could shout? There was something, something on the edge of his memory. It was a word Riou had used before, but he couldn’t…He closed his eyes, trying to screen out the noise. Please…let me remember…don’t let me lose him! And it came to him. He sucked in a deep breath, and let it out, as loud as he could. “Ikanaide!!”

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

Riou stopped suddenly, the force of his stop motion making him jerk. There wasn’t any way he could’ve misheard that. It was distinct, ringing in his ears. That was a word he’d become very familiar with. “Ikanaide!!” It came again, almost a scream. He felt his bag drop from his fingers. There were only two people he’d used that word with, and the scream spoke volumes. He started to turn around, slowly. He hoped; he hoped with every shred of his being that it was…

His eyes widened, and for a moment, he stood there, stunned. He almost couldn’t believe it. But that look of desperation, of a frantic need, a fear in his expression, and his outstretched hand. Riou didn’t dare hesitate a moment longer, and ran towards him. A strange sexy of anxiety grew in him, as he closed the distance between them. It felt like running through syrup, his movements seemed so sluggish, struggling.

He didn’t have to wait long though. Finally, he came within arms reach, and two crashed into one another. Riou’s arms flew around him, clinging tightly and burying his face into Nigel’s chest as he started to cry. Slowly the knelt to the floor, in each other’s arms, Nigel’s face pressed against his forehead. “Don’t go, Riou! Please don’t go!” He sobbed. Riou trembled violently. Those were, sad and desperate as they were, were like the sweetest music to him.

“I won’t leave, Nigel-san! I won’t leave you! Thank you for stopping me!” He said. Soon, they were joined by Riou’s friends, all confused and shocked. They had heard screams, cries, and they were puzzled. Riou managed a little laugh, as he pulled himself just barely enough to stare up at Nigel’s face, cracking a smile, though tears streamed down both their faces. “You always were so stubborn, Nigel-san. I don’t think even death could cure you of that.”

Nigel blinked away tears, his eyes getting puffy and red as he smiled back down at him. “I’m sorry to be such trouble.”

Just hanging by a moment (here with you)
Hanging by a moment (here with you)
Hanging by a moment here with you

you brought tears to my eyes good story

that's what i should to duo2nd because i'm sorry

are you stalking me? i told you, im trying! leave me to try

I cried too reading this. Dangit, me and my soft spot for romantic fluff!

Now there is a couple I never would have predicted. XP

Well it's not canon *yet* >_>

And here I thought "I shall read it, enjoy the fluff and resist the tears."

...


you made me a liar. >;

I'm sorry?

Nice. I didn't cry though, just went "Aaaaaaw!"

i read it whit the music, and i cant stop crying you did a great job, good story!

I just love authors who incorporate lyrics into their stories. :3

And thankfully, more authors do it these days.^^