Through His Eyes

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom hearts!

A quick note: the rating is subject to change. It will most likely be M before this story is complete.

Prologue

"Beauty is the nymph's most valuable characteristic. It is prized above all other attributes because of the manipulative power it creates. This is especially true in the larger nymph communities, as the art of seduction is the primary form of social dominance. The more beautiful a nymph, the more influence he or she is able to exert over the entire community."

Axel had always been beautiful. Stunning. Strikingly handsome. He really didn't care how it was phrased it as long as it was acknowledged. It really was to be expected, he mused, as ugly would simply not do. After all, he was a prince. He lazily shoved the book he'd been reading to the foot of his bed and flopped back onto his pillows.

His father, the king, had given him the book.

"This book provides an interesting perspective into our heritage and power struggles. I think it will answer your questions." Reno had said, which was by far the most intelligent statement Axel had ever heard from his dad. Not that Reno wasn't shocked by Axel asking for a book in the first place.

Axel hadn't had any questions. It was for his best friend.

"Good morning, Axel!" And Demyx was right on time; the clock now read seven-thirty. He'd been up since six, leafing through pages and mostly looking at the risqué photographs.

"Good morning, Dem. How are you?"

"I'm fantastic! Happy birthday, by the way! I made you breakfast because my cooking is the best." Demyx set his breakfast tray across his lap. "Eggs and bacon and some French toast!"

"Thank you. I got your book." He used his fork to nudge to the end of the bed. "I think it's what you want. I only really read the intro of the first chapter."

"Oh, Axel!" Demyx scooped up the book and pressed it close to his chest. "Do you think this will help me manipulate Zexion?"

Axel laughed. "It's worth a shot."

"It's not like he could be any more oblivious. I swear, I've picked up more objects recently…!" He huffed. "And he was all, 'Demyx, it's a good thing you're not dropping glasses.'"

"Maybe someday he'll start looking at your ass?"

Demyx sighed. "For someone so smart, he can be so stupid."

"Well, I wasn't going to say it—"

"Oh, shut up!" He laughed. "He'll get it one of these days."

"What? Your intentions or your body?" Axel smirked.

"I'm hoping both." Demyx placed the book to the side and pulled out a small piece of parchment. "A message from the king, also. 'Today, you turn twenty-one. Prepare for your Proving.' How kind of him to remind you."

Axel idly shoved his French toast through syrup on his plate. "It can't be that hard. What are they going to have me do, slay a dragon?"

"Well, it is a Royal Proving, and most of the ones I've researched involved a fight of some kind, usually involving swords or other hand-to-hand combat techniques to prove your supremacy and thus your position as heir to the throne."

Axel rolled his eyes. "You, research? Fess up, Zexion told you."

Demyx blushed. "Maybe."

"I still don't think I'll be fighting a dragon. And I'm good at fighting, so I don't think it will be a problem."

"Well, you'd better get ready, then! Have a good day, birthday boy, and good luck on your Proving!" Demyx winked at him, and then left.

Axel frowned. "Stupid Proving," he mumbled. "What's there to prove?"

It wasn't a fight with a dragon. It was a fight with Riku, which was just as good because Axel hated Riku's guts. If Axel was attractive, then Riku was just as drop-dead gorgeous. It had always annoyed Axel. He had always annoyed Axel. Riku's family had once been Royal, but Riku's mother's decision to marry a human invalidated her position as heir to the throne. Riku had never forgiven his mother's choice, which Axel found ironic because then Riku wouldn't exist.

Well, thinking about it, maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

But being Royal was complicated: it depended on power and bloodline, but mostly on beauty. Reno was and always would be very attractive. When Riku's mother abandoned the throne, the council had elected Reno as ruler in her place.

Riku was a bit pissed about all this, because he had just as much nymph blood as anyone else but couldn't reclaim the title he thought was his birthright.

Axel smirked. No, it's my birthright.

But then Axel and Riku fought.

And Riku won.

It was all he could see when he finally looked in the mirror. It was a nasty disfigurement, still red and purple from skin damage.

He now knew why his father wouldn't look him in the eyes when they came to his hospital bed. He knew why the nurses barely acknowledged him, why his bedside had no gifts or candies, why Demyx was not around to wait on him.

He was scarred. The thing was huge, striping down from the top left of his head, ripping across his forehead and stopping above his right eye, then cutting sharply back across his face over his nose. It then continued down the left side of his neck and ripped across his collarbone, stopping above his heart. It was massive and… and ugly. It was ugly. He was ugly.

Axel bit his lip. He no longer belonged to his society of beautiful people. Riku's victory was permanent. He traced the scar and found himself blinking back tears.

Axel didn't have to leave, but he felt that the social ostracization would drive him away eventually. He wanted to leave on his own terms. So after making what really wasn't a full recovery at all, and never would be, Axel grabbed his favorite black coat and his combat boots. And he left.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Reviews are encouraged.