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Silver Tears 11: Well, the power of illusion does require a bit of a cunning mind, in my opinion. His character will develop more to show how the power fits him, since he's creating an illusion of himself by using lies at this point. Though, this chapter shows how well-made illusions falter. Thanks for the review!

BlueFox of the Moon: That was my favorite scene to write actually. My friend on this site, MewmiC, helped come up with dialogue for that one. She came up with Braig's questions, while I came up with Ienzo's answers. The abduction part, though, was my idea- I have no idea where the idea came from. Thanks for the review!

Susumi: I know exactly what you mean- I've been trying to gain a new audience since the Kingdom Hearts section is overflowing with yaoi these days. And I just wanted to write for Zexion... too much fun there. I'm glad it's easy to read- I always tend to make things complicated. This chapter was the most fun for me to write so far, except for maybe a part in chapter four. Thanks for the review!

Before I go on, I just want to give a shout-out to my beta-reader, Decus Q from Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. He's been reading my work since I started it, and I just want to give him credit for going over all my chapters and giving me inspiration to go on. Thanks!

The Pendulum's Path
(Chapter Three: Artificial Intelligence)

Despite Braig's insistence, Ansem thought it would be more beneficial if Ienzo was left alone more often. He did not want to make the boy feel crowded by the others if they were always visiting. The apprentice, even though he was not pleased with this, did not voice it and went back to the other apprentices.

To his chagrin, they did not take what he told them about Ienzo seriously.

"That sounds borderline ridiculous," Dilan told Braig after he went into detail about how conniving Ienzo was. "This is, after all, coming from you."

"I'm being serious," he said, waving his hands in the air to emphasize his point. "He set me up!"

"Braig, I find it very hard to believe that a mere bed-ridden child could plot anything of the sort," Even commented, "especially against someone he has never seen."

"Well obviously. He thought of it on the spot while I was carrying him down the hall!"

"I asked you to give him books, not to meander around the halls with him," Eleaus told him dryly, leaning against the wall.

"No wonder he thought you were kidnapping him!" Even barked, "I would have thought the same thing if someone barged into my room and started carrying me around the halls."

"But I didn't. He was outside his room when I found him!"

"He can't walk," Eleaus dead-panned, "and where would he try to go if he could?"

"The library," Braig responded quickly, "he told me he wanted to go the library."

"Pish-posh," Even put in, dismissing Braig's comment and turning to his own work. His stack of files was rather thick. The other sighed in frustration.

"Why are you so sure I'm lying?" he asked, particularly looking to Even, "besides my track record."

Even continued to look through his stack of papers, not facing Braig in the slightest. "It doesn't seem likely to me. A child with a fractured leg trying to walk to the library, and then you decide to 'help' him? It does not seem like the thing a nobleman's child would do."

"Nobleman's child?" Dilan questioned, his tone curious.

Even realized his mistake in speech as soon as the words left the other's lips. He did not cease his work, going through his files more worriedly now.

"It was nothing," he said, causing the others to give him a wondering stare. He felt their eyes upon him and quickly turned around. "We have better things to do than to talk about this child. Let's get to work now shall we?"

None of them chose to argue with him. They set to work immediately, though, none of them could get what Even had said out of their minds.

-

Ansem had been delaying this since the previous day, not looking forward to talking with Ienzo. The boy seemed utterly terrified yesterday- who knew how he would fair when he was reminded of his parents' deaths?

The halls seemed to go on for ages as Ansem walked down them, his steps echoing from all around. The apprentices seemed to be hard at work, for the king saw none of them wandering the halls. That seemed to be Braig's favorite pastime as of late.

He reached the guest room's door at last, knocking softly. From the other side, Ienzo sat up suddenly, his eyes glancing towards the door while his hand never left the page he was on in a rather thick novel.

"Ienzo, it is Ansem," the king said, "may I come in?"

"Of course Your Majesty," Ienzo replied, feigning politeness. He placed the book on the bed-side table, watching the door creak open. Blue eyes met orange as Ansem entered, his eyes not carrying the same callousness of Ienzo's.

"I would like to speak with you," the king told him, his anxiety slipping into his tone. Ienzo narrowed his gaze.

"About what?" he replied slowly and cautiously.

"I know who you are," Ansem said, "I found your last name: Valeresso."

The boy slightly tensed, though knew in his mind that it should not have been such a surprise. If one of his apprentices knew his last name, then surely Ansem would know it before them. He kept his stare on the king.

"I also found out about the rest of your family." Ansem paused, not pleased at what he was about to say. "None of them live to this day."

"I am knowledgeable of this," Ienzo told him coldly, crossing his arms. The king mimicked the tone.

"You told me when you first arrived that you had hard-working parents who let you stray around town. Is there any particular reason why you lied to me?"

"What would the point be of me telling you?" he asked, deciding to amuse the king.

"I would be able to find a place where you couldstay, perhaps at a shelter." The king paused to see Ienzo scowling at this, showing more than mild displeasure. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"You really are oblivious aren't you?" he asked rhetorically and sardonically. Before Ansem could speak, he continued in the same tone. "Do you really think it would be wise to leave me in one of those places? There are far more people that need care there."

"But that does not mean you would be ignored," Ansem interjected, "the name Valeresso-"

"Is only a name. Besides that fact, once they do hear it, inquiries will come up and the people will go directly to you for answers. Putting my name out there isn't as good as you think it would be."

"I can see that. What do you propose I do then?"

"About what?"

"You're currently incapacitated, and will be for a fair amount of time," Ansem's tone was grave as he moved closer to Ienzo. "Are you asking that I keep you in my castle? Or am I to let you back onto the streets where you could do more harm to yourself?"

Ienzo thought it over a minute, putting a hand to his chin. "Having me here will most likely cause more problems, especially since you have many visitors. My name is somewhat recognizable, and if the word is spread around, inquiries will come up, as I said before. And I do not wish to go to a shelter or any other place."

"But you would be taken care of," Ansem told him, trying to drive the point into Ienzo. "If anything, your recognition would be more beneficial to your health. You won't have to rummage for food and you will have a place to live."

"Oh that sounds wonderful," Ienzo said with false joy, "let the little boy wander off to people who only respect his parents' fortune and would rather see him die so they could take it!"

Ansem was shocked by this boy's audacity. He never would have imagined that the same innocent boy he saw yesterday was the same as the one today.

"I have never met anyone like you in my time, Ienzo," he said, his cold tone starting to leave. "I thought for sure you would be very different."

Ienzo snickered at this. "You expected me to be the perfect child, didn't you?" he asked, "the one who is always polite, never questioning, and knows when to keep his mouth closed. Well, I apologize for not being as you expected."

"You have no need to apologize," the king replied, "though, this is the first time in a very long time that anyone has ever challenged me."

"No one sees a reason to- most see you as the image of perfection. You're the role model of Radiant Garden."

"Then why does your opinion differ from most?"

Ienzo's eyes narrowed once more. "You are the one reason I can only rely upon myself."

These words seemed to baffle the king. Even though he wished to hear more of this, he saw the boy yawn out of the corner of his eye.

"I should leave you to rest," Ansem told him quickly, moving towards the door. "I will want to continue this discussion later about where to keep you."

"Understood," Ienzo replied bluntly, already reaching for his book. Ansem nodded at this, leaving the room silently. He shut the door quietly behind him, walking down the halls down to the laboratory.

Ansem returned to his own quarters, slightly surprised to see Even standing by his desk. His apprentice gave him a curious stare, waiting until after Ansem shut the door before he said anything.

"How did your talk go?" he asked as the king made his way over to his desk. He sighed at Even's question but answered nevertheless.

"It took many unexpected turns," he replied, sitting down in his rather comfortable chair. "He is very different than I thought he would be."

"How so?"

"He is very… open about his disposition and is a clear thinker," Even looked at Ansem intrigued. "He has looked at all his possibilities and seems to have an idea of what will happen if he makes a choice."

"A trait of a Valeresso- they all had good heads." Even then muttered under his breath, "Even if some didn't use them properly."

"Did you say something Even?"

"It was nothing sir," he piped up quickly, "But I have one concern: what are you going to do about him now? Is he going to stay here?"

"I have no other choice but to keep him here until he heals. I can't let him back on the streets in his current condition."

"Why would you let him back there anyways? He'd just cause more harm to himself!"

"That's what he wants. He clearly has something against me that he does not wish to share, and does not want to go to any sort of shelter. I am contemplating whether or not just to keep him here permanently."

"Against his wishes?"

"Unfortunately, yes- his mind is sharp, and I would hate for it to go to waste by means of plundering food and living on the streets."

"I see… well, I had best be off," Even turned to the door, holding the doorknob in his hand, "the others need my assistance in the lab."

"Of course, you are dismissed." The door shut behind Even's retreating form, leaving Ansem to contemplate over his own thoughts that were circling in his mind.

If only they would stop.

The rest of the day seemed to be rather quiet. The apprentices worked hard in the laboratory, though, Even called it off early. He did not seem to have the ability to concentrate today.

The others were left to do as they pleased, Braig choosing to go to the kitchen. Even stayed in the laboratory, writing up more reports. Dilan snickered at this as he followed Eleaus down the halls.

"Did he seem discombobulated to you today?" he asked, receiving a nod as a response.

"Something must have been on his mind," Eleaus told him, "though, that's not surprising."

"Indeed." Dilan paused to look around the hallways, his eyebrows raised. "Where are we going?"

"We're going to see Ienzo," the other answered, "I need to see if he wants dinner tonight. And you have not met him yet."

"You're right, I have not. I'm surprised Even has though- he seems to be far too busy in the lab half the time to concern himself with new arrivals."

"He only aided in determining where Ienzo's leg was broken. He was there when Ienzo first awoke but has not seen him since."

"Ah, I see then…"

He drifted off, seeing Eleaus stop in front of a door. The other did not bother to knock, opening the door gently. Dilan followed him in without knowing what to expect.

What he found was a young adolescent with silver hair lying in a bed, a book in his hands. He did not seem to notice the apprentices enter, too wrapped up in the same hefty novel he was reading earlier.

Though, when he heard the door creak, his eyes instantly glanced upward. He met Eleaus's eyes as he normally would- with indifference. When he saw Dilan, though, his eyes narrowed quickly.

"I can only surmise you are another one of His Majesty's lackeys," he said to him, putting the book back on the bedside table. The other raised his eyebrows, giving the boy a weird stare.

"I suppose you could say that," he replied somewhat slowly, "my name is Dilan."

"Very nice to meet you- now, may I ask why you two are in my room at this hour? You usually are eating supper at this time."

"We came to ask if you wanted dinner today," Eleaus told him, "you change your mind every day it seems."

"I suppose I do," Ienzo responded, smirking a bit. He pondered over the request, weighing it in his mind. He nodded. "Yes, I would like dinner. Thank you."

Eleaus smiled. "Good," he said, "are you sure you would not like to join us though?"

"Completely," Ienzo told him bluntly, "the one task of getting me there takes too long and is too difficult. I'm not about to be carried about the halls again."

"Indeed," Dilan cut in, "though, I'm wondering something. Is what Braig telling us true?"

"It depends- what is he telling you?"

"He told us that he found you trying to walk to the library, also saying that you tricked him into trouble with Ansem."

"I see."

"Is that true?"

Ienzo put his hand to his chin, thinking a moment. "Not even in the slightest."

Dilan accepted this, though Eleaus seemed rather skeptical on it. The boy used the same tone when he had lied to Ansem- he only just found out that he had lied from Even. Before he could say anything, the other apprentice spoke.

"I will meet you in the dining hall," he told him, "don't dilly-dally."

"I won't Dilan," he replied. The other apprentice left without another word, leaving the door wide open. This left Eleaus alone in the same room with Ienzo, who pulled out his book again and started reading.

"He said you told him that you couldn't read," Eleaus told him, breaking the silence and his concentration. He did not look up from his book, his eyes scanning quickly across the pages.

"He is not a very good liar," he said, "for it is clearly evident that I am reading now."

"Actually, I'm going along with his story and not believing yours. I can tell you are lying."

"Oh really now?" he asked with slight amusement in his voice, still not looking up. "And what makes you so sure of that?"

"I could tell you lied to Ansem when you told him how you broke your leg. I'm not buying your little stories that you keep making up to hide something."

This caused Ienzo to at last stop reading and look up, his eyes calculating. He narrowed his gaze on Eleaus, keeping his book open.

"Why are you so certain that I am hiding something?" he asked cautiously, crossing his arms.

"What other reason would you have for lying?"

Ienzo's eyes widened at this, seemingly astonished. "Are you telling me that you have never lied just to see what would happen?" Eleaus shook his head in reply. "That explains a fair amount. You do seem to be the honest type."

"And how did you come to that?" Eleaus asked him curiously.

"The way you carry yourself, and the fact that you do not like the fact that I lied. That fact alone says that you would not lie yourself, therefore you are honest."

"Interesting how you reach your own conclusions."

"Simple logic," he said, trailing off as he looked behind the apprentice and out the door. "You had best get to supper- your king most likely is wondering where you are."

"You are right." Eleaus walked over to the doorway, looking back at Ienzo. "It was very nice talking with you."

"The pleasure was all mine," he replied, over-exaggerating his words. "I will see you in fifteen minutes with my supper."

Eleaus nodded, smiling. "Is that the only reason you wanted me to go?" he queried.

"Well but of course- if you did not leave now, I would never get to eat this evening. And I like a warm meal compared to a cold one."

"As do most. I will see you later Ienzo."

"Indeed you will."

Eleaus left the room, shutting the door almost soundlessly behind him. Ienzo was then left to his own musings, though he never reached for his book. He stared at the door that Eleaus had just closed, gazing thoughtfully at it.

He was the only one that ever caught his lies before they had effects. The young boy was not used to that. He was used to being able to control almost anyone with his web of lies, his cunning deception. It was how he got by.

But Eleaus- his stare alone was able to shake Ienzo. It was almost the same as his- critical, calculating, and most of all deadly. He could tell by the stares he was given by Eleaus that the other knew something he did not.

And that did not happen. Ienzo quit his musings early, returning to his book for the evening. Though, he couldn't help but think…

The game had a new player now.

-

Dinner seemed to drag on for eons for the apprentices. All of them had eaten their meal in silence, too preoccupied with their own thoughts. Even seemed to be waiting for Ansem to join them again- he left in the middle of the meal for reasons unknown.

"Even, he's not going to return if you stare at his chair like that," Dilan told him, startling him out of his thoughts. The other sighed, nodding reluctantly.

"I know that Dilan," he replied icily. Braig looked to him, swallowing the food in his mouth.

"Why do you want to talk to him anyhow?" he asked, picking up another bite with his fork.

"He is going to tell us what we're going to do with that boy."

"He has a name Even," Eleaus told him, harshness in his tone. The other scoffed at this.

"Eleaus don't try to defend him. After all, from what Master Ansem says, he can defend himself quite well."

"Fine, then let me ask you a question."

"And that would be…?" Even motioned with his hand for Eleaus to speak more.

"What would you want done?"

The other rolled his eyes, thinking his answer would be obvious. "Leave him up for the police to decide. He clearly does not want to be here, and he shouldn't be. This is no place for children."

"Even prodigal ones?"

"Even prodigal ones Eleaus, especially if all they know how to do is be a smart-aleck. Oh, here comes Master Ansem now."

The apprentices turned to see their king come into the room, his regal attire nothing short of his usual. He sat in his seat at the head of the table, Dilan and Even on each side of him, and looked to his apprentices.

"I can only assume you were waiting for my return?" he asked slowly, most of them nodding in response.

"Have you decided what to do about the boy yet sir?" Even questioned, ignoring Eleaus glaring at him from the other side of the table. Ansem nodded his head, pondering over his next words carefully.

"I cannot let him go back to the streets," he told them, "it is far too dangerous, and he will only become hurt once more. And, I believe, he has a bit of potential here."

"Excuse me?!" Even snapped, causing the entire room to look at him. "You can honestly say that after all the disrespect he's given you?"

"Even," Ansem gave him a hard look before going on, effectively making him stay quiet for the time being. "You must understand this- letting a child with that much potential walk out of these doors has many consequences. His intellect would be wasted on pilfering the restaurants for a single meal."

"So you're going to let him become an apprentice?!" Even yelled, "Let him stay because you pity him while we had to work our way to this point? He has done nothingto prove he can be an apprentice of yours, much less anyone else's."

"You have not even given him a fighting chance Even," Eleaus cut in, "you haven't even spoken to him."

"I don't need to- I hear enough from Master Ansem and Braig to figure out that he has no place here."

Braig snickered at this, giving Even a rather funny look. The other glanced at him briefly, narrowing his gaze.

"What is so funny Braig?" he asked bitterly.

"You're afraid of him," Braig explained simply, "you're afraid that he's going to earn your title as the highest scientist in the castle. You're terrified of the thought of him having power over you."

"Are you saying you want him here after he supposedly tricked you and got you into trouble?"

"Well, it would certainly make things more interesting around here. Besides, the kid's got nerve- something we need if we're going to get any farther with this research."

Even sighed angrily at this, crossing his arms- Braig knew exactly where to hit him. The research they had been conducting under Ansem for so long begged to go forward, but they hadn't an idea on how to make it go forward. Even prized his skills at leading the research so far, but had to admit that it was at a bit of a standstill. He turned to Ansem once again.

"Fine, I suppose we can have him stay," he said, forcing his words through clenched teeth. Ansem nodded in approval.

"Good," he replied, looking to all of his apprentices again. "We will tell him this at a later time. For now, I need all of you to help him get to his feet again."

"Will the research still be going?" Dilan queried.

"Yes, it will be. Though, I do not want Ienzo to see the research until he is capable of full movement on his own. Do not bring him in the lab."

The apprentices nodded at this. Ansem beamed at all of them.

"You are dismissed," he told them simply. They left hurriedly, talking amongst themselves. Even, still somewhat displeased, took off in a different direction- mostly likely to finish his reports.

Ansem did not leave the room, choosing to walk around the large dining hall and look outside. The view of his kingdom was magnificent from these windows.

He just wished everyone else could see the splendor of it like he could. He sighed, deciding the leave the room and return to his own quarters. The room was left empty, only left with the light of the moon as its company.

-End Chapter Three-