A/N: Hi! Thank you for clicking on my story. I hope you enjoy it and I'm always happy to hear from my readers. It has been a really long time since I posted anything new to this website so I hope you like what I've cooked up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts...

Mind Games

Chapter 1: New Roommate

"And then Naminé said no wonder the only color he paints with is red cause he has to dig his paintbrush out of his ass every day!" Sora laughed, hard, as though it was the funniest quip known to man.

Kairi smiled at her fiancé from across their small, oak table. Even though she hadn't fully understood his animatedly spoken story, she admired the sparkle in his cerulean eyes. His entire face lit up when he laughed and Kairi never tired of studying him.

"Naminé has gotten pretty bold lately," Kairi commented before stabbing a piece of broccoli with her fork and happily popping it into her mouth.

Sora nodded eagerly. "Yeah! She's really come out of her shell. I remember when she was quiet and would just sit in her office doodling rather than talk to us. I had no idea she could be such a riot."

"I guess she's just a little shy," Kairi answered, hoping to change the subject from the blonde art therapist to their wedding planning. "I was looking at table settings today," she announced bravely.

Sora's face blanked. "Table settings?" he asked mid-chew, "I like the setting we have now."

Kairi giggled and shook her head. "I mean for the wedding reception, Sora!"

He blushed and nodded. "Oh, duh. Find anything you like?"

"Yes, I have the samples in my purse. I wanted to get your opinion before I finalized it."

Sora finished his last bite of steak and let his utensils drop on the empty plate. "Oh, you didn't need to do that. I trust whatever decision you make. Your taste is better than mine, anyway," he assured with a cheesy grin.

Kairi resisted the urge to frown. After all, she should be happy Sora had such blind faith in her taste, right? "I just thought you might want to be more involved…" she trailed off with a forced smile, "Actually, I narrowed down my list of places for the ceremony. I thought we could review those before bed tonight-"

Sora held up his hand and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Kai. I need to continue editing my paper for the journal tonight. Forgive me?"

Kairi's resistance flopped; the frown on her pink lips could no longer be hidden. "Sora, we've been planning this for years now…" she whispered, "Couldn't I get just a half hour of your time?"

Sora reached over and took Kairi's tender hand in his own. "I know it's frustrating, but I really have to make this deadline for my research," he gently answered. Kairi was always proud to boast that her fiancé was Dr. Sora Yuuki, Ph.D. in Social Psychology. She greatly admired his intelligence and caring disposition. However, it was this same disposition that made him more inclined to do extra work to spare his colleagues and leave her wanting his attention. "I promise I'll give you my undivided attention this weekend!" he added with another grin.

Kairi couldn't help but share his smile. It was hard to resist Sora's grins. They'd always had the ability to cheer her up. "All right, I will save it for this weekend then," she agreed with a playful sigh, "But don't forget, okay?"

He nodded and crossed his heart with his free hand. "Besides, there is something else that will keep you occupied tonight," Sora added hesitantly. Kairi raised a brow. Sora ran his fingers through his brown, spiky hair as he admitted, "I know I should've told you sooner, but a friend is coming to stay with us tonight."

"What?" Kairi yelped; indigo eyes wide as saucers.

Sora squeezed her hand before releasing her. "You see, he's in-between jobs and just needs somewhere to stay while he gets things worked out," Sora hurriedly explained as he took their dinner plates and slipped behind the island counter to wash them in the kitchen sink.

Kairi sunk further into her chair. She hadn't even prepared the guest room; it was still in disarray from when Sora's cousin, Ventus, had stayed with them. "Sora-!" she cried, "Nothing is ready for him!"

His back was to her as he quickly scrubbed. "Don't worry about that, he won't mind at all!" he assured her cheerily.

"So, how long is he staying with us?"

He turned his head and grinned. "Uh…indefinitely for now?"

"Sora!" Kairi cried again, "You can't make these decisions without telling me!"

Sora quickly dried the dishes and put them on the rack next to the sink. He strode over to Kairi and gently seized her shoulders. "I know, I know. I just wanted to help him. I'm sorry, Kai. I should've told you," he cooed. Kairi found her nerve drifting as she inhaled the scent of his cologne. Sora kissed her forehead and then glanced at the clock on the wall. "He'll be here any minute now. I've already given him a key so just show him where the guest room is and he'll be fine."

"W-Wait," Kairi stuttered as she followed Sora to their front door, "Where are you going?"

"Sorry, I'm going to work on my paper at the office. It'll be easier for me to concentrate," Sora apologized as he slipped on his shoes and grabbed his work bag that hung on the coat rack.

"You're going to leave me to greet a stranger?" She followed him down the walkway and to his car, the stockings on her feet scratching against the cement as she agitatedly scurried behind him. "Can't you wait till he arrives?" she pleaded.

Sora shook his head as he unlocked the driver door. "No, the sooner I finish, the sooner I can come back," he explained as he tossed his bag into the passenger seat. "He's really fine, Kai. You'll like him!" He gave her another kiss on her cheek then lowered into his car and shut the door.

Kairi watched, bewildered, as he drove away. She waited until his car had turned left at the stop sign on their block to let her shoulders drop. "I don't even know his name," she murmured as the car disappeared from her sight.

"It's Axel," came a voice from behind her.

Kairi yelped and jumped back, nearly slipping if the stranger hadn't caught her arm. Her eyes met his emerald ones and her breath hitched. He towered over her by at least a foot or so, though part of his height may have been due to his long, red, spiked hair.

"Axel, A-X-E-L, got it memorized?" he asked with a smirk.

A/N: Hope you liked it! Leave a review and tell me what you thought. I'm going to try to update weekly before the school year gets started and I have to work.