I don't know how long I've been waiting in this room. This room with stone walls. Nothing but a single bed fills the room. Prison. I'm in prison, I have to be. Xehanort has me in this prison so I can't run away. Not that I've tried. I want to, constantly. But my family, and Xion.. I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me. I don't care if I've given up on myself, as long as the people I care about are safe.

Nothing else matters. Not a thing. Finally, the door opens. It doesn't open from my side. Xehanort stands in the doorway and I narrow my eyes. It's out of habit, and he smirks. "It's time to begin your training, Vanitas."

I get off the bed and follow him. He leads me down the hallway and then down four flights of stairs. At the bottom is a lone door. Xehanort pulls a black key with a skull on top from his pocket and unlocks the door. He ushers me in first and I obey wearily. He comes in after me, placing the key back in his pocket.

He closes the door behind us then turns to me, "Tell me what you have been taught so far?"

"Well.." I frown, "Dad taught me to feed.. And to teleport. That's it, really.."

"That's all?" Xehanort sounds genuinely surprised.

I nod slowly, "He's been busy.."

"I see. He's hardly even started training you/ Now you see why you must be trained by me, child?" Xehanort replies.

I glare at him, and like always, he ignores my distaste for him. He claps his hands together then, "Shall we begin?"

"What do you expect me to do?" I ask.

"We'll start simple." Xehanort says.

I frown lightly, "Okay.."

"All Incubi should be able to read the minds of humans. Reach out with your mind and see if you can find one."

I'm not keen on being taught anything by him, but I have to do as he says. And besides, maybe my family will come for me. Surely Ventus would have told them what he told me, following my disappearance. Or they'll think I'm being dramatic by running away again.. I'm hoping for the former.

I sigh and close my eyes, trying to concentrate. I try to push my mind to sync with a human's. It terrifies me that, without even trying hard, I slip right into Xion's mind. It's like I'm the one thinking these things, but it's her voice in my head. Just like the first time, only this time, I'm doing it at will.

Zexion's dead? That can't be! What..? How..? Why?! Zexion didn't do anything to get killed for! Could.. Could it have been..? No, he wouldn't. He couldn't! Vanitas.. He.. Wouldn't have killed Zexion. Would he?

I pull out of her mind as quickly as I can, Is that what everyone thinks? That I killed Zexion? Have they truly given up on me?

"Vanitas?"

I glare at Xehanort for interrupting my thoughts.

"Did you read the mind of a mortal?" he asks.

I nod slowly and he smiles, "Wonderful! Do you know how far away that human was?"

I don't like him questioning me, but I have to answer, I guess. Given that I don't have any idea where I am, I don't know exactly how far away Xion is. There's also the fact that I don't want him to know it was Xion's mind I read. So I answer by simply saying, "No. Although I can tell it's far from here, though."

"That's progress, at least. In time you should be able to tell distant to the direct location. Town, state, all at once." he replies.

I shrug, "that's cool, I guess.."

"Now, try envisioning the person you want to read the mind of. That should allow you to read the mind of that person more easily." he states.

I close my eyes again, and I envision Sora. I slip into his mind almost as easily as I had Xion's.

Vanitas has been gone for a few days.. And Zexion was killed.. Could those things be related? I don't think so. Even with everything going on, I don't think Vanitas would go as far as killing his best friend. I don't believe it. Vanitas isn't evil, he's-

The thoughts stop and I pull away, opening my eyes. Xehanort looks at me expectantly and I frown, "What?"

"Who's mind did you read?"

"Sora's." I reply slowly.

"Good.. That's enough of that for today." something passes through the old man's eyes. I can't catch what went through his eyes, but whatever it is, it makes me uneasy. I look away from him, shifting my weight from foot to foot, "Can I go now? I'm tired."

"No." he replies instantly.

I look back at him, frowning, "Why not?"

"We're not done with training." he says.

"Xehanort, I'm tired. My head hurts!" I growl.

"Don't be such a child. You can return to your room when we are finished." Xehanort snaps.

I glare at him and he glares back at me. Silence fills the room as I ponder trying to make a run for it. Xehanort takes a step towards me and I back up instantly. Xehanort smirks and is in front of me in a second. He grips my shoulders and glares, "Do not play me for a fool, boy. You will do as I say, and if you don't I will have your precious human killed. Do you understand?"

I nod and he releases me. A small smile spreads across his face as he steps away from me, "Are you ready to continue your first day of training?"