Author's Note: Evenin'! It's seven past half past midnight as I write this. What the hey, ya know? (Rikku's getting to me. Damn her!) Anyway, here's chapter two. You can't have waited too long, right? Not a lot of suspense yet. *think, ponder* Once again, Kingdom Hearts does not belong to me. It is the sole property of Squaresoft and Disney Interactive. This fanfiction, however, belongs to me by all means. You touch-a the ficcy, I break-a you face!

Anthem's Report: Chapter 2

By Deus Magi

Morning dawned, bringing new light to the shadows that clouded Ansem's thoughts. Yet as with all typical laws of science, the shadows only lengthened.

Ansem took to the corridors first thing.

His passing was enough to arouse curious glances from the morning-shift servants. According to the Night Watch, he had been up late flipping through numerous tomes, offering nothing more than an exhausted "I could not sleep". After such a tiring eve, it was a wonder the master had the strength to wake - and so early!

He greeted the servants with his kind words and gentle smile, as if nothing were out of the ordinary. This ploy was enough for them. As long as their blessed king was happy, their home would remain beautiful.

Ansem pushed slowly on the door to the immense library. Every day his collections of knowledge seemed to grow smaller. The weight of his desires only added to his revelation. Before his eyes, his world was shrinking. Was he the only one to notice?

A giggle from above distracted his thoughts for a time. Ansem took a step to the side, looking over, past the rail of the balcony above him. He smiled a genuine smile for the first time that day. "Good morning, ladies," he called.

Aerith turned from her younger friend and smiled down at Ansem. "Sir, it's kind of early to see your face." Yuffie, the sixteen-year-old ninja who had been chatting with her, followed in suit. "Hey! G'mornin', sir. I heard you were up pretty late last night."

Ansem wasn't completely surprised that Yuffie, of all people would know about his late-night studies. His face, however, contorted to a look of shock, to please the girl if nothing else. "You certainly are amazing, Yuffie," he commented as truthfully as he could possibly manage.

"Don't I know it?" Yuffie closed her eyes, waved, and exited. The only reason she had come was to have breakfast with Aerith, who begged not be left alone again. The girl had never been too fond of books or writings. Of course, most anyone would understand why after a few minutes of her company.

Aerith on the other hand had the same, strict interest in knowledge - specifically the creation of the world and its superior beings. Superior beings, the creation of the world. She and Ansem really had a lot in common.

At least that's what Yuffie persisted.

"Aerith," Ansem said, meeting her at the top of the staircase, "I felt I could speak to you."

The young woman cocked her head to the side. "About what, if I might ask?" Ansem waited for Aerith to take a seat before proceeding. Despite his confidence in her advice, he turned his back and leaned on the balcony. Somehow this seemed familiar.

"Darkness of the heart," he murmered. "How is it born?"

The library was the essence of silence that morning. The two were particularly uneasy, being the only ones within. Aerith sighed, slowly. "Anthem, I'm sorry. I-I just don't know." There was a moment of high tension between each word and now within the returning silence. In a sudden physical outburst, Ansem raised his arms, brought them down on the railing. He caught himself before making contact.

"Sir?"

"It's been haunting me for weeks now," he breathed. "I can't explain it by far. It's a feeling I have in my breast - my heart."

"Darkness of the heart," murmured Aerith, almost to herself. "I shall keep your questions in my prayers, sir." Ansem once again, kept his final comments to himself. Aerith did not leave. She watched him for what seemed like an eternity. It was too hard for her sentimental conscience. She felt so helpless; the pain they seemed to share continued to grow like-

-Like shadows in a dimly lit room.

She stood, placed a hand on his shoulder. Even through his heavy, long coat, he was cold. "Anthem, what brings these dark wonders to trouble your thoughts?" Ansem remained silent. Aerith leaned forward to see that his face was pale. "Sir?"

Ansem's lips twisted to a smile. "I saw a man lose his heart to the darkness.in my dreams. But why? How?" Even at this ominous retelling, his crazed grin remained. It was almost as if he had enjoyed this strange, new experience.

Aerith was taken aback. This time, she didn't take the silence for granted. She left, and Ansem was alone with his perturbed conceptions. Minutes passed, his smile slowly faded. He buried his face in the sleeves of his coat. As the sun took to the sky, the day grew brighter. Ansem's eyes ached.

********

Ansem spent the remainder of the day in the library, hopelessly searching for some clue to this mind-boggling disturbance to his home. He did not give up, not until the Night Watch came through once more, to find him slumped over numerous books, parchment, and a single, scribbling quill. Little did they realize, these were not the only things that had kept him busy throughout the night and the following morning.

"It is my duty to expose what this darkness really is.

"I shall conduct the following experiments:

"Extract the darkness from a person's heart. Cultivate darkness in a pure heart. Both suppress and amplify the darkness within.

"The experiments caused the test subject's heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatment produced no signs of recovery.

"I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle. Some time later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight.

"Creatures that seemed born of darkness... What are they? Are they truly sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts in my experiments?"