I would like to say a big thank you to all of my viewers for giving me helpful tips. :D on with the show!

Disclaimer: I do not own The apprentices or any other Kingdom Hearts characters.

For once in his life Ienzo was speechless. "No! Who did this to you?" Was all he could muster out as he looked around for something to untie their bonds with. "You have to get out of here. It's a trap." Ignoring Even's warning Ienzo questioned. "Where are Braig and Elaeus?"

"They are in a place where shadows crawl." said a familiar voice. It couldn't be. But for Xehanort anything was possible.

"You" Ienzo said menacingly. "You did this didn't you."

Xehanort nonchalantly made his way over to Ienzo. "Why yes, indeed I did dearest." Ienzo shivered outwardly as Xehanort said this. "What did you do with Elaeus and Braig?"

"Why should you care about that brute when you have me, and Braig is just a waste of space." Ienzo was too appalled to respond.

He backed into a table and picked up a scalpeling knife. 'Maybe I can still save the others.' He thought. That was until Xehanort swiftly backed the younger apprentice into a wall. He began to get uncomfortably close to Ienzo, while holding his waist. Ienzo couldn't even hear the others shouting at him. He could only see and smell Xehanort.

"Get away from me." He seethed. Xehanort laughed, "Not on your life." "Then maybe on your death!" Ienzo screeched, and out of anger drove the knife into Xehanort's side. Not very deep, but enough to puncture his skin. Xehanort cried out as he fell to the ground clutching his side.

Ienzo used his time wisely to undo the ropes that bound his 'family'. Unfortunately before any of them could reach the door, dusks surrounded them. "Xehanort, this is madness. I ask you as your guardian to please, desist." Ansem the Wise pleaded.

"Madness you say? I refer to it as claiming what rightfully deserve. My humble servants take them away." The dusks began to close in on the group.

Ienzo shouted, "Wait Xehanort. Let's make a deal."

Xehanort halted the dusks. "What kind of deal Ienzo my sweet?"

"If...if you let my friends go, and promise not to harm them, I'll do anything you ask."

Xehanort stroked his chin, "Anything I want?"

Ienzo lowered his head, "Yes."

"Alright then. I want you to... have dinner with me" Ienzo took a moment to consider. "Is that all?" Xehanort nodded 'yes' in response.

"Alright, I will go through with this, only so long as you hold up your end of the bargain."

"Done." Xehanort said happily as they shook hands on it. Xehanort snapped his fingers and the dusks disappeared. "Come to me Ienzo and you may redeem your self by dressing my wound."

Ienzo marched up to Xehanort in anything but a defeatist manner. "We shall see how long you can keep me here. I doubt it will be forever." Ienzo whispered. Xehanort just smiled maniacally as he lead Ienzo away from the lab and into the castle's great hall.

Later on that night

Ienzo was sitting in his new bedroom. This one was certainly fit for a king. (Or queen as Xehanort put it) The bed sheets were golden, with a white canopy surrounding the top. Like some foreboding ghost. In the corner was a vanity and desk beside it. All made of mahogany. Many bookshelves took up most of the remaining space. Large windows allowed light to filter in. These windows would have made Ienzo feel more comfortable. If it were not for the numbers of dusks guarding them in case the youth tried to make his escape. Ienzo sighed as he arose from the edge of his new bed to dress for upcoming and miserable dinner.

When he opened his closet to find some decent article of clothing, Ienzo noticed that almost every single outfit was either a dress or skirt. "I don't understand. Feminine clothing? What is he planning?"

On the balcony

Xehanort had set up a small table covered in a red table cloth. Lit candle's were spread around and on the table. The sweet aroma of freshly made food wafted through the air, but Xehanort had no interest in any of it.

He awaited his violet haired angel. "My plans could not have worked out any better than this. I almost pity Ienzo, he is playing right into my hands."

Ienzo emerged from a large set of stone doors and made his way over to Xehanort.

"Oh, your wearing your lab clothes. I was hoping that you would embrace your new lifestyle, but I guess, for you, change will have to come slowly."

"Xehanort, I am losing my patience, please explain to me what exactly is going on?" Ienzo said slowly.

"Before I do, Ienzo, my dearest, I have something very important to ask you. I've thought about this for days, and us as well."

Ienzo cocked his head to the side, unsure that if what he really was hearing was true.

"And well, ... may I have your hand?" Xehanort forced Ienzo's fragile hands into his sun kissed ones, as he got down on one knee. "Ienzo will you be my queen forever? Will you marry me?"

Ienzo sat there for many minutes, jaw dropped, eyes wide. "I... um... well, I don't..."

Smiling Xehanort said, "It's quite alright, you don't have to decide this minute. I will allow you three days to decide."

He rose up from the table to walk over to Ienzo's chair. "Your so lovely, where did you come from?"

Ienzo bristled, snapping out of the daze he was in, "That's not for you to know."

Ienzo attempted to back away, but that only worked in Xehanort's favor. "That's the second time today that I've backed you into a wall."

Ienzo was terrified, there were no choices. Not wanting to fall over the edge of the balcony, he made his way into Xehanort's eager arms. Xehanort rested his chin atop of Ienzo's soft hair, burying himself in it. As if that would make all of his sins go away. "Let go of me." The younger whispered. "Yes." Xehanort seemed intoxicated. But he let Ienzo go.

The violet haired boy ran into his room, he curled up under piles of gold, trying his hardest to blink back tears. The poor young male tossed and turned in his sleep, he eventually left the bed and browsed through the shelves upon shelves of books. Dawn broke through the windows, and Xehanort found Ienzo sprawled out on the cold floor. The older resisted the urge to wake him, but instead gently set him on the bed, and tucked him in. Before he left Xehanort bestowed a soft kiss upon Ienzo's pale forehead.

When he finally awoke, Ienzo felt as if all energy had been sucked out of his body. Eyes rimmed with red rings from crying. "I need something to eat." he said as his stomach made a threatening growl.

The dusk's followed the blue-eyed boy into the clean white kitchen and watched him keenly as he made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

For once Ienzo could not think straight. Half of his mind was focused on his 'family' and their safety. The other half, however, was thinking of the decision he had to make.

"If I say yes, I'll never get a moments peace. If I say no he'll come after me. It's really a lose-lose situation. Well, what do you think?" he asked a dusk. Not thinking that it would respond, but it did. Much to Ienzo's surprise. "Follow your heart, my Queen." Is all it said.

Ienzo was so drained, that he decided to take a bath, and wash away the feeling of the previous days. Just as he got settled in the bath tub, he heard a strange noise. Ienzo sat up and listened.

"Xehanort, is that you?" no response. Ienzo started to worry. He wrapped a towel around his waist, and daringly peaked his head outside the door and screamed.

Standing before the door was a large, hunched over, human shaped heartless. Towing over Ienzo like some vicious giant. It seemed to be clawing at the wall.

Xehanort came bursting into Ienzo's room, "What's wrong? I heard you scream."

Ienzo just pointed at the hulking form, which was getting closer to him.

"Oh stop it, you! Your scaring him." Xehanort said, as he wacked the creature on the head. "Away with you now, go on back to the shadows. And stay there until I call you!" He said sternly.

The heartless seemed to hesitate for a moment looking at Ienzo and then back at Xehanort. In the end he left the room, and disappeared.

"Are you alright?" Xehanort asked.

"Yes, I'm fine, but what is wrong with that heartless? Why did it come after me?"

"I suppose it was wandering around the castle and got lost."

"That is not a very logical explanation. I have a feeling that you are keeping secrets from me. Am I right?" Ienzo said

"Weather you are happy with my explanation or not is not my problem. What secrets do you think I would hide from my soon-to-be-wife?"

Ienzo merely looked him in the eyes, he blinked a few times before saying, "I'll let you continue with your bath." With that he left the room abruptly.

The Next Day

Ienzo felt less groggy. So he decided to take a walk, through the marble white halls. As he passed by the Laboratory room, Ienzo heard an odd noise. It sounded like an animal crying out in pain. Ienzo, being so inquisitive, had to look into it.

The lab door creaked open, as if it hadn't been used in years. Ienzo saw a cage in the back of the room.

'That was not there before.'

Inside of the cage was a shocking sight. The very creature that came after him the other day. It was chained to the wall, and screaming in pain. But in that cage the creature was not alone.

There was another much like him. All black, with yellow glowing slits for eyes. Except this one was much smaller, than the one Ienzo had met. It also was missing an eye.

Ienzo bravely walked up to the cage to get a better look. "Why do you seem so familiar?" he asked the large one. But unlike the dusk's the heartless did not answer back.

"Are you hurt?" The creature nodded in response. For some reason Ienzo wanted to free it. To find out what was really happening. 'Why would Xehanort keep things like this in the lab? Why is he acting so suspicious?'

So Ienzo decided to find out. First by opening the cage. Slowly Ienzo reached his hand out, wrapped his fingers around the bar and ...

A/N: Yay! Cliff hangers! Proposal! And Xehanort keeping secrets. :3 well, I hope you all liked this chapter. Oh and b/c Xehanort is smart, he will not give Ienzo the ring until he says yes. :D