A/N: Good day, sir. (: So I read all the reviews for this, and I could tell you guys liked it quite a bit! Thanks so much for reviewing, it makes my day! Heheh…so we had a writing test about a week ago and we had to write a narrative about a famous rock star visiting our school and we got to interview them and stuff, and I wrote about Axel. :'D I think I passed, lol. Hooray for random inspiration bursts!

February 9-

Good morning, dear reader. I guess I can make this a routine, writing in this dang book first thing in the morning. It's not like I have anything better to do…well, I actually do. You see, mornings are the time I have lessons with Luxord, my tutor/butler since I was about 6. Yes, even though I'm 22, I still have lessons daily. I excel in all my classes, but my father thinks otherwise. It's fine by me though. I enjoy my time with Luxord.

Luxord is a mysterious former-gambler from a poor part of Hallow Bastion. His hair is a pale blond and he has this really thin fuzzy beard. He also has a thick accent, sometimes getting to the point where I can't understand him and need to ask him to write whatever he was trying to tell me on a loose-leaf. He laughs and writes it down, adding how I'm a terrible listener. I, in turn, stick my tongue out at him and continue on with our lesson. Although Luxord had come from the poorer part of Hallow Bastion, he has marvelous etiquette and was surprisingly accepted to serve the Royal Family. For years he has been working with us and we love him like a grandfather. He just smiles his famous grin and bows humbly. He's a really great character.

Today my lesson was on the history of Hallow Bastion. I've learned about this previously so it was basically a review. It was quite tedious and time-consuming. But I had received some very alarming news. I'll go over it here…I'll be speaking first, then Luxord. I hope you'll be able to understand this.

"Luxord, you said something was up?"

"Yes, dear Prince. Your father…"

"What about the poor excuse?"

"He's fallen gravely ill."

Those words had struck me like a sword. I know I don't enjoy my father very much, but I never thought of him as the type to die young. Well, he's about late-50s. Sad how I can't recall his exact age, but it falls in that range. Besides, he's a fighter. I could never imagine him falling to something as small as a little bug.

"He'll be all right though, I presume?"

"Well…"

"Luxord?"

"Yes, my Prince?"

"What. Is. Going. To. Happen. To. Him."

"Dear Prince Axel, I'm quite afraid the King's life is coming to an end."

And from here, I stormed out of the study room, slamming the grand doors, ignoring Luxord's cries of "Prince Axel! Come back!" In case you haven't noticed, my anger was being fumed fast.

I dashed to the infirmary, frantically searching. And then I found him, my father, delirious on a soft cot. He was mumbling nonsense about papou fruit and twilight and destiny. I was too afraid to speak to him, so I located our doctor, Vexen, and requested to have a word with him. He was in his office, so I walked in and silently closed the door, as to not disturb my father from his…state of mind. The speaking goes as usual.

"Vexen! I request my father's current state."

"Well, my Prince, I'm sorry to say that there's nothing I can do…your father…the King…is in a very poor condition. By the looks of it, this will be his last day. My apologies, Prince Axel."

"N-no…I'm going now. I'm going to see my father."

"My Prince!"

I closed the door as loud as possible, obviously shaking the King from his trance. He immediately sat upright as an arrow and blinked twice.

"A-axel?" he mumbled. "What have I told you about slamming doors?"

"What have I told you about nearly dying?" I cried, propping my father up better with a pillow. He sighed in relief of back pain. "Father, I can't t-take over the throne. Even y-you said I wasn't ready, I j-just can't," I kept stuttering in the oddest of places. I didn't even get to finish what I was saying because my father interrupted me.

"Axel, I'm pretty sure that Vexen informed you that this would be my last day to live. I go by his words, because after all, he's the Royal Family's doctor, and when the time comes, I will be gone. And that will be the time when you, dearest son, will take the throne and claim you post as king of Hallow Bastion. You may be but a young prince on the outside, but your heart is as strong as a knight's, your knowledge expanded as a lord's, your courage bright as a serf's. I know you will make an excellent king, Axel." He was grasping my hand, smiling as brightly as he could. His voice was getting hoarser by the second. I knew then, that his time would be ending sooner than I thought. Than we all thought.

"Anything you want me to tell Kai?"

"Tell me what?" Kairi had walked into the infirmary. Oh no.

"Dad? What's wrong?" she slowly got our father to lie back down on the cot and stood on the other side of the bed, opposite of me.

"Kairi, I don't know how to tell you this, but…" his voice was reluctant.

"He's gonna die, Kai," I said bluntly.

Kairi glared at me, probably thinking this was some kind of a sick, twisted joke.

"What kind of sick, twisted joke are you pulling this time, Axel?" I so called that. My older sister is very predictable.

"Kairi, Axel is right. I have fallen ill, and at this rate, there's no cure that could help me out." My father's face was plastered in sadness. I've never seen him in so much pain, not since Mother was assassinated. He was the type to leave me and Kai do whatever we wanted, so long as we stay out of trouble. I never had a childhood with bedtime stories, tucking into bed, or playing outside with my father. He just left us alone, simple as that. But now as I gaze into his eyes I see puddles of sorrow. Now I pity the old man.

His eyes were closing on and off. His breathing was uneven.

My sister screeched for Vexen, tears pouring out of her eyes. A look on her face that only most people could recognize and describe: melancholy despair.

My father smiled at the both of us, squeezed my hand one more time, and closed his eyes for good.

Kairi had run to my side of the bed and hugged me as tight as she could. I was nearly gasping for air until Vexen showed up, panting, with a bottle in hand.

"My King! I think I may have discovered-" then he saw me and Kai practically conjoined.

"A little too late, eh Vex?" I enjoy teasing people, even in the worst situations. It's another habit of mine that ticked some people off, including dear Kairi. Speak of the devil; she gave me a death stare that could plunge me into a hell deeper than hell itself. Gee.

Kairi sobbing, Vexen gaping and grumbling about some concoction, and me just standing there, stiff and smirking, must have alerted the other servants that something was happening, something bad.

And they all rushed into the infirmary. Including Roxas, may I add. All the commotion led the entire castle's maids and butlers to a cramped up space. Heh.

Luxord came in too. If I remember correctly, he was closer to my dad than I was to him. Most of you might find that quite sad, but I think it's perfectly normal, because my dad is- well, a bitch. Poor Luxord looked saddened and was tearing up a bit. I walked up to my favorite teacher, wrapped a lanky arm around his waist, and rested my head on his shoulder. He pulled me close and began crying into my scapula. It was usually the worst act that could be pulled from a butler to a prince (hugging, the works), but I seem to think of Luxord as more of a father than my real one.

My hand is hurting a lot, and since I can't come up with a decent closing, I'll leave you on this page for now, and we will resume this oh-so-wonderful day, where I get to talk to Roxas for the first time.

A/N: My hand does hurt, lol. I sprained my thumb yesterday when I tripped walking up the stairs and then my sax case smashed it. So typing isn't being my friend…So bear with me if something's wrong! Thanks so much you guys, please R&R! (: