A/N: PLEASE READ THIS!

Although you people may not be aware of it, I am having a contest. I will write any fan fiction, any pairing, any rating, for the thirteenth person who mails me their request at .

Now on to chapter 3!

Hands

Chapter 3

After Kairi found out about our little "problem", it was much easier on my mind. Stupid as it sounds, I was still sort of ashamed of loving Riku, and coming to terms with it was now my top priority. Why in the world—how even—could I be ashamed of Riku? He was the most wonderful person in the world to me. I couldn't possibly have a real reason to be embarrassed. It was a pointless emotion. I started to have once again those thoughts I used to have—the ones where I would wonder if what was happening was real or fake. It seemed, quite frankly, too good to be true. The nights I spent under the stars with him seemed to last forever, and that was just fine with me. Looking into his eyes was more satisfying than anything else I could be doing.

We spent three blissful months together without anyone knowing, anyone finding out, and Kairi to talk to. I thought it would be enough to stay like that forever. But, of course, Selphie and Wakka began to wonder. I suppose the human nature is to wonder about what you do not know—they were not to blame for worrying about my mysterious disappearances, goofy smiles, and constant daydreams, but inside, I blamed them anyways. Why did they have to know everything? Couldn't they just say that I was happy and forget about it? Of course not. I was their friend, and they were bound to worry when I stopped talking as much, when I asked strange questions, when I wasn't anywhere to be found all night, and when I slept all day.

"Sora, is there something wrong?" Selphie asked me one day while we were fishing together.

"No. Not at all." I gave her a forced smile. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason. It's just…" she sniffed. "We never fish like this anymore. Only once every couple of weeks. And…you always look so tired."

She peered up at me, tears in her eyes. She'd gotten older since my return from Kingdom Hearts. She was now a beautiful young woman, sweet and innocent, with a newfound crush on Tidus, and hopes of becoming something great. I saw a lot of what I used to be in her. She's even asked me if any of this is real or not. Maybe one day, she'll go back to Kingdom Hearts in my place.

I stroked her hair and smiled—for real this time. "Selphie, you don't need to worry about me. I just…I have a lot of things to do right now."

"Okay," she said, the happy note returning to her voice. "Just know that no matter what's wrong, you can always tell me, 'kay?"

"No problem, kid," I said, pulling her into a giant noogie.

"Hey! No fair!" She started up after me, and we raced around the island together.

Later that night, as I was lying once again in Riku's arms, I sighed heavily.

"Something wrong?" he said, putting a hand on my cheek. "I'm not boring you, am I?"

I laughed. "No, of course not. It's just that…I talked with Selphie today. Everyone's worried about me. Tidus and Wakka are being serious, for once. And I feel guilty about giving everyone—especially Selphie—a lie or excuse everyday as to why I'm falling asleep over the rafts, or daydreaming. I…I want to…"

"You want to tell them the truth about us," Riku said quietly. "So do I. But I'm so scared, Sora. Our friends might not be our friends anymore. We live in very close quarters, and if they can't accept it, we'll be alone, with nowhere to go."
"Think about it," I said with a shaky voice. "If we don't tell them, do you honestly think that we'll be able to keep this a secret forever?"

He sighed and placed an arm around my waist, and his other hand over my heart.

"I just don't want to lose you…" he whispered, and I felt a tear fall on my face.

"You won't. Never. Through thick and thin, good and bad, sickness and health, I'll always be there. Just like your favorite damn disease."

He laughed, somewhat bitterly, just like old times.

"You sound like a preacher, Sora."

The next day was unreasonably hot. Riku and I had decided to tell everyone at the "end of the summer" party. That wasn't too long from now. Summer on Destiny Island ends on Halloween. Three weeks. That was all the time we had to prepare. Kairi offered what condolences she could, which really wasn't much, when placed next to the daunting task at hand. Doubt flooded my mind every day. I was always able to push it away, but not without difficulty. Maybe Selphie wouldn't be as understanding as I thought she would. Maybe Wakka would never talk to me again. Maybe my old sparring partner Tidus would be disgusted that he had clashed swords with someone like me.

No matter the doubt, I knew they were my friends. They were truly my friends. They would accept me as I came. Animalistic fear was not enough to shake my faith in them.

I stared out at the water, thinking all of it over, when Tidus appeared next to me.

"Sora, I've got some bad news," he said. "Can you handle it right now? You seem depressed."

"Tidus, I think I could handle just about anything at this point." I said with a smile.

"There's been an accident," he said, his voice low and heavy. "Kairi fell off the high pier."

A/N: Sorry, but there had to be a cliffhanger sometime. Until next chapter!