Chapter 3

Warm summer night air filled the room through high balcony glass doors. Bright stars in the black sky lit Radiant Garden below. Ansem carefully closed both doors trying his best not to disturb the other sleeping apprentices in the rooms below him.

He slid the maroon colored curtain over them with ease and sighed with relief. It had been a long , tiring day researching and he was ready to get some sleep. Ansem halfheartedly walked over to the light switch near the door and flipped the small switch down, only leaving a dim light from the old lamp on his nightstand to light the small room.

He jerked the metal lamp string down with the last of his energy and finally laid happily down onto his large bed. He bundled into the sheets with pleasure. For a minute he stared into the darkness of the room as Ansem's eyes started to slowly close until he saw the back of his eyelids.

He felt his mind go blank and without noticing, drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Ansem opened his orange eyes momentarily hoping for soft morning sunlight but ended up finding a small figure in front of his vision. He gasped unobservant and sat up straight rubbing his eyes. After they adjusted , three year old Ienzo Hale stared up at him curiously.

The young child sat up on the edge of the bed, dazed from being thrown off the scientist. He yawned pitifully and locked his Grey eyes with Ansem, waiting to see his next move.

Ansem smiled slightly and gently hoisted Ienzo up into his bulky arms who laughed with glee. Awkwardly Ansem managed to get out of bed with Ienzo still in his arms and make way to the bathroom. Stiffly he crouched down and set Ienzo into a black desk chair outside the door , telling him not to move.

Ienzo nodded slightly, always doing what he was told most of the time. Ansem paced into the bathroom and closed the door to exchange his red satin pajamas for a lab coat and underneath that a dark Grey vest, white collared shirt, and a violet ascot for as well as black pants and shoes. Quickly, he draped a red scarf over his shoulders and brushed his shoulder length blonde hair.

Walking out of the bathroom he was worried that he had been in there for too long but Ienzo was still in the oversized desk chair, awaiting for Ansem's return. The sunrise over the town was beginning to paint the opaque walls a bright red like every Tuesday morning.

His orange eyes floated back over to Ienzo who raised his slender arms at Ansem. He muffled a short laugh before air lifting the child and heading towards the dinning room where everyone ate breakfast in the early morning.

Memories flooded Ansem's mind as he remembered the same feeling he had felt the first morning Ienzo was at the castle in Ansem's arms walking down the same hall. These feelings stayed with him till he pushed open the door with a broad right shoulder and saw the apprentices eating at a grand table.

"Good morning Master Ansem." Aeleus said standing up momentarily before sitting gracefully back down into a dinning seat. Aeleus was one of the most silent of five apprentices, he was the proof to Ansem that you shouldn't judge from the bronze and muscle on the outside.

Ansem nodded lightly and saw some of the other apprentices mimic the reply. Ienzo started to squirm a little, trying to break free of Ansem's grip. He then put Ienzo down and watched as the toddler wobbled to the end of the table were Aeleus sat drinking his tea.

Ienzo pulled on Aeleus's white cuffed sleeves to get his attention. He smiled, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight coming from the glass ceiling above them. Ansem shared that smile also and went to sit on the orange couch resting on the side of the room.

He then picked up an aged book and began reading it for the time being. He would glance up at some point, watching Ienzo go from one apprentice to another. But he seemed to be coming back to Aeleus in between times. Like he feels safer with him then the others. Ansem couldn't help but wonder why.

In minutes the apprentices dispatched to their places for the day. Xehanort was the first, the amnesiac Ansem had found left to die in the middle of the street. All though mysterious and unsure, he had proved to be well matured and experimental.

Next was tall Even, with his long blonde hair and intense green eyes you would have thought at first he was a madman. Which he was exactly that. A man who never stopped thinking about science... a man with endless hours of research.

"Come on Aeleus." Dilan said as he walked out the door with Braig at his side. Dilan and Braig were both brothers. Although usually laid back and carefree, they were born for science on the inside, ready for anything that came at them.

Ienzo frowned, knowing that it was time for Aeleus to go. He clutched onto him tight on the edge of tears. But Aeleus just hugged him softly and put Ienzo down. And as Aeleus left the room Ienzo ran after him as fast as his stubby legs would go shouting "Don't go, don't go!" Alas, he was never fast enough.

The door shut and Ienzo was left standing in front of the door whimpering. Ansem shut the book and came to his side, lifting him back up again and softly whispered "It'll be okay, Aeleus will come back." Of course Aeleus always did. Unlike other kids, Ienzo remembers what promises you make. Its like you can never lie.

Ansem repeated down the narrow hall and made a left corner to Ienzo's room. After a few minutes the child's smile was returning again and wearing small blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt. They came out of the castle hand in hand walking past Dilan and Aeleus who were in their guard suits. Ienzo waved at Aeleus who returned the favor.

Ansem walked easily down the stairs supporting Ienzo. Rows of tulips and cherry blossom flowers were in bloom and lined each side of the castle entrance. An eroded stone walk way lied in the middle that Ienzo and Ansem could walk on.

They took a shortcut through a row of bricked identical houses and came out onto a stone street with many people bustling about under the bright midday sun. Ienzo seemed to become entranced with in the citizens like he was studying their every move. For some reason he always did this out of curiosity Ansem thought.

Ansem led Ienzo to the nearest sidewalk and over to his favorite ice cream shop. They stood up at the stand and with in seconds they are walking back to the castle enjoying Sea Salt-Ice Cream. He looked down to Ienzo and giggled as seeing the child so young and small, have ice cream all over his nose and lips.

Carefully Ansem took out the handkerchief in his pocket and wiped the ice cream off Ienzo's face. Ienzo jerked away for a second but soon eased at the sudden motion. While walking some people stopped to say 'Hi' to Ansem and talk about how cute Ienzo looked.

Ienzo never had seemed to like the citizens though, he people watched. He just scowled at them when they said he looked cute. After they had talked to a couple of people and made their way back into the castle the bright morning had turned into a peaceful afternoon, with less activity.

Ansem then went into his office with Ienzo following. A mahogany computer

table was cramped into a corner of the room that he went to. While Ienzo climbed onto the tan leather couch on the other side. File cabinets filled the other silhouetted corners with a coffee table and rug in front of the couch.

Ansem then gathered up several sheets of paper hanging onto a clip board and a few pencils for Ienzo to play with. Once Ienzo received them, he started scribbling and drawing mis' formed shapes on the printing paper. Ansem then went to his computer and opened up a file of ten pages on 'Hearts' and grabbed a few sheets of notebook paper, beginning to write what was on the screen.

The worn pencil was becoming numb in his hand with in minutes of continuous writing. Ansem's mind was absorbed in the file and kept adding and erasing the words on the sheet of paper. He had done this so many times before that he should have been a pro at it by now, erasing, adding, writing. That's all he usually did after him and Ienzo spent time together.

It was until he noticed that Ienzo had fallen asleep in a heap on the couch that made him stop writing. He glanced at the time on the small computer monitor: 9:00pm. Ansem rubbed his eyes roughly and quickly looked over the notes. He had added ten pages worth of notes to the ten he already had on the computer. He yawned and got up out of the cotton chair stretching.

Ienzo noticed his sudden movements and sat up yawning also. Ansem lifted Ienzo up and took him to his room. At night Ienzo kept a small nightlight on that made his room glow and shadows move.

After getting Ienzo ready for bed and both of them putting their pajamas back on Ansem sat Ienzo into his crib. But for some reason he wouldn't let go of Ansem. Ienzo clutched onto him tightly like he did with Aeleus. He had a look on his face that showed more of fear then worry.

"Whats wrong Ienzo?" Ansem asked softly.

Ienzo shook his head and in his child like voice replied"No. No dreams."

Ansem looked at Ienzo like he was crazy. What? Ansem shifted his weight, unsure of what to say. Then just said what sounded more logical,

"It's okay. You won't have any dreams." Ienzo seemed to take in what he said and soon let go of Ansem's clothes.

Ansem quietly said 'Good Night' before leaving the small room and shut the white wooden door silently. He then went across the hall to his own room ready to get some sleep like last night.

Ansem turned down the light switch again and checked that the balcony doors were shut and locked. Then proceeded to turn off the lamp that obscured him in darkness. Ansem fumbled with his blankets to where he was comfy and shut his eyes ready for a peaceful sleep until hearing the door creak open behind him.

He turned over and saw little Ienzo shutting the door and walking over to the other side of the bed. He climbed on top of it with little difficulties and bundled under some of the covers about a foot away from Ansem. Ansem guessed there would be no use in telling the child to sleep in his own room.

"Goodnight Ienzo." He said quietly, only audible enough for the toddler to hear it.

Ienzo stirred for a moment then finally replied gleefully "Goodnight daddy."

Ansem opened his eyes wide, dumbfounded by the sudden outburst. Daddy. Was that really who Ansem was? A parent to this child who he only found at his doorstep and had a desire to call his own. Daddy. Really? Ienzo rarely ever calls people by their names, unless he shortens them out. How did Ienzo get daddy out of Ansem?

Is that a good thing?