A/N: Hi again! Here's the next chapter, please enjoy!
Disclaimer: The usual.
Mind Games
Chapter 28: Holiday Set-Up
Kairi spotted Axel standing in the corner of the party parlor holding a plate piled full of cookies. He was wearing the most ridiculous, Christmas sweater she'd ever seen. It featured several gifts wrapped in colorful packaging with the words 'Unwrap Me' sewn into the material. Multi-colored LED lights were strung into the fabric on his torso and sleeves. They blinked in and out as though Axel were a walking Christmas tree. She couldn't stop giggling at him under her breath.
He certainly fit in with her Aunt's decorations. She'd filled the parlor with miniature Christmas trees, lights strung along the ceiling, and tons of holly everywhere. Her Uncle had even sprayed frost from on a can on the windows to make it look like it was snowing outside. Destiny Islands never had a proper winter so the detail set the vibe for the party. As long as no one wandered outside, they'd feel like they were in a holiday movie.
"You light up the whole room," Kairi joked once she'd reached him. She popped one of Axel's cookies in her mouth.
He smiled at her. "Not like you do." She blushed as his eyes trailed down her figure. She'd worn a deep green, flowing dress with puffed sleeves and a pair of black heels. Kairi didn't normally wear green, but she loved the way the skirt of the dress flowed as she moved.
"Kairi!"
She barely had time to turn before she was rushed by a hug. She recognized the bubbly brunette as Selphie immediately. The woman pulled away from her and screamed excitedly, hopping up and down in her glittery, high-heeled shoes. "Kairi! It's so good to see you. You never come home anymore!" Selphie cheered.
"It's good to see you too," Kairi giggled, "Where are Wakka and Tidus?"
"They'll be here soon. Something about wardrobe issues," Selphie explained with an eye roll. Her green eyes turned to Axel and Kairi could practically see the hearts fluttering in their irises. "And who is this?" she asked with a playful smile.
Axel answered for her, "The name's Axel." The redhead turned to Kairi. "Do you have a thing for green eyed, brunettes?"
Kairi thought of Olette back in Twilight Town. She hadn't realized how much she and Selphie looked alike. "I guess so."
Selphie leaned toward Kairi and loudly whispered, "Is he single?" Kairi blushed. She'd forgotten how brash Selphie could be.
"Good question. Am I single, sweetheart?" Axel asked, looking as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"He calls you sweetheart?" Selphie nearly shouted, "I bet Sora doesn't like that!"
Kairi's face fell. Had no one on the island been notified of the end of their engagement? "Selphie, Sora and I aren't together anymore."
Selphie frowned, looking truly devastated by the news. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Kairi." She placed her hand on Kairi's shoulder. "I'll get you some wine." She eyed Axel again. "Then you can tell me about your new bad boy."
"H-He's not my boyfriend," she weakly called after Selphie.
"Of course not." Kairi flinched at the pain in his voice. Axel was scowling at her. "I'm just that guy you make out with sometimes, nothing special."
"Axel-"
He waved her off. "Don't trouble yourself, Kairi. I'll go mingle or something." Axel took his plate of cookies and walked away.
Kairi groaned and put her hands on her head. Why had she even said that? That would've been the perfect opportunity to show Axel how she felt, but instead she'd created more tension between them. Selphie returned to her side with a glass of wine. Kairi immediately drained the cup of its contents and grumbled under her breath.
Selphie gaped at her. "Kairi, since when do you drink like that?"
"Since I got dumped. I need another. Let's go, Selphie," she muttered as she stormed off toward the refreshments table her Aunt had set up.
Kairi spent most of the night standing next to that table, drinking glasses of wine like they were shots. It wasn't even 10 PM before the room was spinning and she was drowning in her angst. Axel did as he promised and kept his distance from her. She'd watched as he spoke to every attractive woman in the room. At times their eyes would meet, but Axel's only response was an infuriatingly, detached expression.
As angry as Kairi was about his behavior, she knew she was partly responsible for it. She'd been tactless and insensitive to denounce him to Selphie. It made her sound like she'd just been using him for physical gratification, which couldn't have been farther from the truth.
"I'm guessing you haven't talked to him yet."
Kairi jolted at the sound of Riku's voice. She stumbled slightly in her heels, holding onto the table for support. She was so drunk.
"Are you all right?" he questioned, moving closer to her.
"I'm fine," she slurred, "Maybe not as fine as Axel but whatever!"
Riku frowned at her and set his glass of eggnog down on the table. He watched as she sipped the remaining gulp of her wine. "How much have you had tonight, Kai?" he questioned. Riku was hovering even closer to her now.
She stared into the empty glass. "A shit ton…" she murmured.
Riku gently plucked the glass from her hands and set it down. "What's wrong? Is it about Sora?"
Kairi shook her head, worsening her dizziness. "No, it's Axel," she whined, "I-I said something stupid and now he's mad and with all those women." She placed her hand on Riku's chest. "Riku, Sora's the only guy I've ever been with. I don't know how to do this! Selphie told me I should just make-out with him but I've already done that a lot."
Riku looked uneasy. He muttered something under his breath that Kairi didn't catch. Something about 'taking care of her' or whatever, she didn't honestly care too much. She gripped his shirt, forcing him to look at her. "Riku, I need advice," she hissed. Her face was mere inches from his. Riku paled.
"Now isn't this a wonderful sight!"
Kairi and Riku turned to look at Riku's dad. His cheeks were flushed, indicating that he had consumed a generous amount of eggnog. "Dad," Riku groaned, "Don't."
Riku's father placed his hand on Kairi's shoulder. "I always thought my son was better suited for you," he gushed, "Don't let his awkward attitude fool you. He assures me he's very much into women."
"Dad!"
The older man continued. "You see his mother and I always wondered when you three were younger. Him and Sora were so touchy at that age we thought he might-"
"Dad!"
"-But then he kept coming home groaning about you and Sora and we knew he was jealous-"
"Dad!" Riku hollered. Kairi blinked and stared at Riku in disbelief. Riku's face was abnormally red. She'd always
suspected he might've liked her for a time when they were teenagers, but she'd never known for sure. "Excuse me, Kai. I think my dad needs a cup of water," he grumbled before leading his blabbing father away. If she hadn't been so intoxicated, she might've wanted to follow up on Riku's feelings. But since she was smashed, she forgot the scene in a few minutes.
Kairi glanced across the room, spotting Axel chatting with Selphie. The brunette was twirling her hair in her finger and laughing obnoxiously at everything Axel had to say. She inwardly groaned. Maybe I should just go to bed. She nodded to herself and turned to leave when her Aunt grabbed her arm. Kairi barely managed to catch herself as an empty cookie tray was shoved into her hands.
"Refill this please, dear," her Aunt urged with a smile.
"Uh, sure," she muttered, before stumbling toward the kitchen. It was unfortunately on the other side of the island home. She used the wall to steady herself as she hurried through the darkened part of the house.
Kairi managed to arrive in the dimly lit kitchen without tripping. She spotted the extra cookies spread about the white and peach checkered countertop. There were still plenty left so she put as many on the plate as she could fit. She also couldn't resist eating a few herself as she worked up her courage to go back to the party.
"Kairi."
She nearly choked on the piece of cookie she'd been eating. She felt his strong hand hit her back as she regained her breath. Kairi pushed away from Sora and nearly fell into the kitchen sink. "W-What are you doing here?" she stuttered.
Sora wrung his hands together. He was dressed in a dark red button-down shirt, black slacks, and a candy cane striped tie. "Your Aunt let me in. She said she'd send you to me."
The betrayal nearly swept her off her feet. It was clear to her now that coming to Destiny Islands for the holidays had been a mistake. She made a mental note to return to Twilight Town as soon as possible. She couldn't stay here any longer.
"How dare you," Kairi uncharacteristically hissed, "I told you I didn't want to see you. And you just go over my head and arrange to be in my home?"
Sora lowered his eyes to the ground. "Kairi, if you just listen to me, I know that I can make things right, please." He looked at her with his puppy dog eyes. She felt herself weaken. He'd used the same expression on her countless times to get what he wanted.
She shook her head, gripping the counter for balance. "No, Sora. I already told you how I felt in the coffee shop." Kairi slowly made her way to the exit of the kitchen. Sora pursued her, daring to put his hands on her shoulders once she reached the doorway.
"Kairi, you've meant everything to me for as long as I can remember. I know it's hard to believe given how stupid I've been," Sora dropped his voice to a whisper, "Kairi, I love you. I've always loved you and I regret getting caught in Naminé's trap."
Kairi shook her head, unable to do much more. She regretted drinking so much wine. If only she'd known what her Aunt had planned for her. "D-Don't touch me."
"Kai-"
"I'll scream, Sora." He frowned. She felt her heart breaking again.
"I'm sorry, Kairi. I didn't mean to scare you." He removed his hands from her body and she did her best to straighten her posture. "I actually came here to give you something…I got you a Christmas present."
Kairi blinked. "You got me something?"
Sora nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. He pulled a small box from his pant's pocket and placed it in her hands. "Will you open it?" he requested.
She hesitated. Her eyes carefully studied the shimmering, golden paper that concealed the mystery inside. She couldn't resist. Kairi greedily tore into the packaging and popped the lid off the box within. A small, paopu fruit shaped charm was inside.
She frowned. "What is this?"
Her eyes met his nervous glance; Sora was wringing his fingers again. "I feel so bad for losing your charm, Kai. It meant so much to me. I thought maybe I could give you one this time and we could…start over?" The pitch of his voice jumped. Kairi would've giggled if the situation had been different.
"I can't accept this." She placed the box back in his hand, letting the wrapping paper fall to the floor.
"Kairi, please." She shook her head and grimaced. Nausea was beginning to bubble in her stomach. His professions of love were sucking the air out of the room.
Sora threw back his head as though the answer to all their problems was in the heavens. He suddenly let out a laugh. Perhaps it was? She blinked and looked up as well. Someone had hung mistletoe in the doorway. Sora eyed her with a goofy expression. She already knew what he was thinking.
"Sora-!"
She was silenced by the feeling of his soft lips on hers. The kiss reminded her of all the memories they'd shared together. Sora and Kairi had been inseparable as children, glued at the hip as teenagers, and deeply in love as adults. What had happened to them? And who was this man that stood before her with no regard for her wishes? It was too tragic for her to bear.
Sora pulled away from her. The smile on his face soon diminished by the sight of her tears. "Kairi, no, please don't cry."
"Sora!" she sobbed. She wished he'd stop tormenting her.
Sora's body visibly stiffened. She turned her head and saw why. Kairi had noticed that the room seemed lighter, but she hadn't realized it was because Axel and his blinking sweater had been watching. Her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes met his dark gaze.
A/N: Did I get a little carried away writing this chapter...yes. Am I hoping you found some humor in it...also, yes. Stay tuned!
