Author's Note: Oh my. This update took me a whole lot longer than I should approve of. Sorry, everyone! School crap really cuts into a person's life. And no, I wouldn't consider school part of a person's life. Anyway, I really don't have any questions to answer. I wanted to this time around, but the only question anyone asked was answered in my profile a while ago. It was a bad answer anyway. ;_; So.er.I'm not feeling too creative right now, so this chapter will probably be short and poopy. Then again, it probably would be whether I was in an artistic mood or not. ^.^() (Great self-bashing action!) Once again, do not mention repetitive-ness please.

Disclaimer: *caught in the act of stealing the rights to Kingdom Hearts* Uh.It wasn't me. I swear I never took anything. So in that case, I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

'Thoughts', *Emphasis* ( Although I'm trying my darndest to not use either, methinks.

Anthem's Report: Chapter 9

By Deus Magi

"Have you seen Master Anthem?" Kairi inquired to a passerby.

The woman turned. (Kairi flinched at the sight of all her makeup.) She pursed her lips and waved a hand. "No one's seen him for a couple days, kiddo. For all we know he could've high-tailed it outta here."

Kairi frowned. "Where would he go?"

The woman shrugged. "Who knows? Who cares?"

Kairi met her eyes with a look of sheer menace. The woman narrowed her own, turned again and walked off. Kairi glared after her. What had changed in all these people? It wasn't right for them to blame all the disappearances on Anthem. He was no kidnapper; he certainly wasn't a murderer.

Kairi repeatedly searched the Library's vicinity. She figured she'd find him there eventually. He seemed to keep something vital in that desk that only they knew about, although Ansem was assertive in the thought that the desk's contents were of his own knowing. Kairi didn't want to be a snoop so she never had looked at them.

A peek wouldn't hurt, Kairi thought. Just a peek. Harmless, right?

Aerith was in the same lonely situation. Maybe she was still "mad" at Ansem, or maybe she wanted to apologize. She didn't quite know. But for some reason, she wanted to see him. She waited a long time in the Library. If she grew hungry or thirsty (or was in need of a certain kind of break), she left of course. However, she was continually drawn to return, as though she was a love-stricken maiden awaiting her knight overseas.

When Kairi kept popping in every so often, Aerith eventually decided to loosen her tongue. A brief conversation indicated Kairi knew something that both Aerith and Ansem did not. Unfortunately, she was a sharp child.

Aerith's legs dangled over the banister. A book rested in her lap, a fresh- cut flower inside its pages. Nothing special. Aerith had pulled it from the wrong shelf, intending to put it back into its proper place. But something about it caught her attention. It wasn't the cover, it wasn't the title. Nothing particular about the book interested Aerith, but she never had put it back on the right shelf.

The hours passed by (as did Kairi). The story slowly drew to a close. Aerith left the final chapter unread. Perhaps she would finish some other time. Nonetheless, she put it back where she'd found it, not remembering what she had originally planned to do with the tome in the first place.

The Library was drenched in a blanket of dusky sunset, candles lighting the shelves here and there. Aerith wandered about aimlessly, turning the empty panels inside the pillars. When Kairi came through the door again, Aerith held out a hand to stop her.

"I need to talk to you." Kairi stepped backward. Aerith looked a little too serious.

"About what? I'm kind of busy."

Aerith's brow furrowed in a glare, but only for a moment. "Do you know something? Are you hiding something for Ansem?"

Kairi's jaw dropped in a shocked yet subtle gasp. "Why would I hide something for anyone?"

"Because you're a child," Aerith burst. The moment her lips stopped moving she regretted what she had said. Aerith had no reason to say it, either. She had no thoughts of Kairi being ignorant or worthless. She wasn't a scapegoat or a place to hide secrets. What made Aerith so angry?

Kairi stood in pained silence. The candles dwindled into the wax as eons seemed to pass between the two. Kairi choked, coughed. "You think I don't know any better? He doesn't know. If he knew he'd hate me." She looked down at her feet. "If he knew. . .He'd think I was a jerk."

Aerith watched the same spot. Soon, Kairi's shoes were drenched in tears. Aerith refused to touch the girl. She felt there wasn't much she could do to comfort her.

Kairi slightly rose her head. She gazed at Aerith through red eyes. Her cheeks were stained with the fruit of her fears. "I don't want him to hate me. He's my only friend now." Without another word, she left Aerith speechless.

The sky was filled with stars that night. A gentle breeze blew upward from the Rising Falls in the distance. Ansem had laid his coat aside. For once he was enjoying himself. He supposed it was The Heartless having finally taken a hint and stayed where it wouldn't be a burden on its master.

Ansem frowned tiredly. "Master? That's a funny way of putting it," he said to himself quietly. His chin rested on the back of his hand. He simply watched the stars, enjoying the wind as it cooled his bare chest and back. One star caught his eye. It was moving. This was nothing unusual, but it was also growing larger, almost as if it was heading toward the castle. Ansem chuckled at the thought. Even if it were a shooting star, it wouldn't even be there.

Ansem closed his eyes, feeling his long, windswept silver hair tickle his back. He reluctantly opened his eyes to some impulse only to find the star was still growing. He stood up straight and thoroughly went over the possibilities in his mind. Another meteor shower? A flaming bird? There was no possible way it could be. . .

"Simply astonishing! Today I had a guest from another world. He is a king, and his vessel is built of the material that composed the meteors. He called the pieces "gummi blocks." It seemed that my opening the door has opened a path to interworld travel.

"We talked for countless hours, but one story in particular caught my interest: that of a key called the "Keyblade." The Keyblade is said to hold phenomenal power. One legend says its wielder saved the world, while another says that he wrought chaos and ruin upon it.

"I must know what this Keyblade is. A key opens doors. It must be connected to the door I have opened."