A/N: Welcome to the slash zone. Tonight's presentation is...

Hands

Chapter 1

It was an early morning in July when it happened. The sun was shining brightly on Destiny Island, as was the smile on Sora's face. Oh, how I loved that smile. It was joyful, but always had a touch of longing in it. The longing for something bigger, something better. I knew too well that smile. It was the smile I saw when my reflection appeared in still water, the smile that I felt tugging at my lips when I looked at him. He was always with her. Her sworn protector. He sole confidante. There was no place for me when she was around. She was the light in his life, the apple of his eye, the cream in his coffee. I was a friend, and only a friend. I was the only boy on the island that he could cry in front of and not be ashamed. Who would hold him in his arms when it was needed. Who he would tell al his secret fears and hopes to. But I was one he could never love. It frustrated me deeply. How could he share these things with me, stain me with his tears, and touch me with his soul, and expect me to stay platonic towards him? How could he expect that once we had shared blood, sweat, and life, I would not eventually come to love him? It was pure nonsense. What was I thinking? I was pure nonsense. Of course he couldn't love me. He didn't know what real love was. All he knew was the love he felt for Kairi, and he could not understand that the feeling was a love for the family, a calling for embrace; it was not the love that I felt. He did not want her to hold him in her arms so he could cry. No. That was my job. But why? I wanted to ask him. Why will you not share yourself with her if that is what you so desperately want? Why will you not bear your soul in front of her if that is your deepest desire?

When we fought that day, I felt all of this, and I let my frustration about it out blow after gut wrenching blow. I let fly all my love for him, all my envy for her, all my hatred towards myself. It was only he and I fighting, showing our emotions without words, and ravaging our souls without touch. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my short but brutal life. When we finally collapsed out of exhaustion, there was no winner; there was no one claiming to be the champion. Only our harsh breathing could be heard, with no one for miles around. I turned over onto my back and wiped the sweat off of my forehead. "Some fight," I said to him quietly.

"Yeah," he replied, sighing and flipping his body closer to mine. His necklace clinked softly against his chest and the pendant came to a rest in the sand. I picked it up and stroked it with my thumb, revealing the silver beneath the grime.

"I've always liked this necklace," I said nostalgically. "It just suits you."

"I like it too," he said. "It makes me think of far away places, greater things."

"Like what?" His eyes met mine.

"Kings and fairy tales, princesses and magic toads. That sort of thing."

"Ah. You miss Goofy and Donald."

He sighed. "You know me too well."

"Anyone could have guessed," I said, "with the proper information."

"Only you could ever understand what it's like to lose something like that."

"Ah, but am I? You should give other people a chance."

He let out a quiet laugh. "Why would I want to do that, when you're already enough?"

How was that supposed to make me feel? I wondered. Sad? Happy? All I knew was that I felt very lonely all of a sudden. A cold washed over me despite the warmth of the sun, and I shivered. A concerned look flickered over his features for a moment, and then a taunting smile replaced it. "Aw, are you cold? Guess you wouldn't want to join me for a swim."

Warmth returned to my cheeks faster than I had expected. I was blushing. 'Caught off guard' is not a guise I greatly enjoy wearing. I composed myself and cleared my throat. "Sure."

We stripped down to our pants and walked over to the edge of the cove. He grabbed my hand. When I studied his face, his eyes were closed. "Ready?" he muttered with anticipation in his voice.

I gave his hand a quick squeeze and shut my eyes. "Ready."

We leapt off the cliff, still hand in hand, and spun together into the blue crystal ocean. One moment the air was rushing past us, the smell of salt water in our noses, the current whipping about our bodies, and then, without any warning or even a feeling of impact, we were underwater. I opened my eyes to see him there before me, my hand still firmly in his, and a scared look in his eyes. He grasped my other hand, and the water turned warm. Currents of emotion ran through me as he embraced me gently and then warily pressed his lips to mine.

I felt nothing else for the rest of the time we were in that blue water. All I can see is his soul in plain view, all I can feel now are his soft lips pressed against mine. Getting out of the water is a blur. I only came to when we were lying on the beach together in the sun, its rays warming us gently. But the sun wasn't really needed.

I ran a hand through his hair, smiling. He laughed and ran his thumb over my lips.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

"If it's as long as I have, then I feel your pain." I grinned evilly. "You should have seen your face. You were soooo scared."

He giggled. "No joke. I thought I was gonna piss my pants."

"Oh, so that's why the water was so warm."

He tackled me and we rolled over and over in the sand, wrestling and kissing and having a general good time. Nothing could ruin this right now.

We finally stopped, and I was lying on his chest with my arms around his waist.

" I love you," I said into his torso.

"I love you too," he said, sitting up. We kissed again, and again. But suddenly, I became aware of something watching us. I stiffened in horror. Her voice came over the waves, drifting lazily.

"So I guess you don't want to come over for dinner, huh, Sora?"

A/N: Well, what did you think? I'll have the next chapter up soon. R&R please?? Puppy eyes