Zero POV

I padded my pocket again for the hundredth time, making sure the velvet box was still there.

I didn't want to risk losing it and messing up once again. The last two times I planned on proposing, something came up and I never got the chance. Well, this time I wasn't going to let that happen.

Even if there was a witch after my beloved, I still wouldn't let anything ruining my plans of asking her to become my wife.

"Are you okay, love?" Phoenix asked me, squeezing my hand gently. "You seem distracted."

"Yes. I'm fine." I pulled her hand up to my lips and placed a gentle kiss on it.

We arrived at the restaurant then, each of us climbing out of the limo with our partner.

"Wow. This place is really fancy." Phoenix thought aloud as we were led to the large table reserved for us.

"The fancier the better." Ruka said, sitting down with Atakasuki to the right of Phoenix and I, Kaname and Yuki sitting on the left.

I looked over to Kaname when Phoenix wasn't paying attention and he gave me a thumbs up.

I nodded, grateful the pureblood Kuran had helped me organize everything for tonight. It seemed after having been through the events we had together, we'd somehow started an odd friendship.

"Good evening. My name is Francisco and I'll be your waiter tonight." A man appearing in his late twenties approached our table, handing out menus. "What can I get everyone to drink to start with?"

Everyone told him their orders and then left.

I looked over at Phoenix, smiling. She ordered a glass of wine, which would make my plan work perfectly.

Standing up, I excused myself and approached our waiter, explaining my plan to him and then returning to our table.

"What was that about?" Phoenix asked me quizzically.

"Oh. I was just asking him about the wines." I lied, a nervous feeling settling in my stomach at what I was about to do very soon.

My beloved didn't question it anymore as the waiter came, passing everyone's drinks out.

He then took everyone's meal orders and after taking mine, nodded his head. As soon as Phoenix finished her first glass of wine and received her meal, my plan would be put into action.

About fifteen minutes later, our food arrived and everyone began eating.

I barely touched mine, too nervous. Finally, Phoenix finished her food and wine. The water came around and took the box I slid into his hand stealthily.

It was mere seconds before he returned with Phoenix's second glass, a little white ribbon tied around the glass.

"What's this?" Phoenix asked as she undid the ribbon and held the box attached out for everyone to see. "Zero, is this. . ."

I didn't respond as I stood out of my chair and got down on one knee, taking the box gently out of her hands and opening it.

Phoenix POV

I let out a gasp of shock as Zero opened the box, revealing a beautiful diamond ring resting against satin.

Everyone at the table and restaurant grew silent and all eyes turned on us as Zero started talking.

"Phoenix Thorne, from the day I met you, you've drawn me to you like a moth to a flame. You're charming, smart, beautiful, sweet, kind, caring. And have a great sense of humor. No one has ever made me feel as happy as I am with you. I love you with all my heart and have been trying to ask you this since before that fateful night three years ago. . .
Will you marry me and do the honor of becoming my wife?" Tears were spilling out of my eyes as Zero poured his heart out to me. He looked up at me with patient eyes. Waiting for my answer.

Several moments went by, and I could tell everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting.

"Yes. I'll marry you!" I declared, pulling him up to me and kissing him passionately.

"Did you hear that, everyone? She said yes."

Cheers went around the restaurant as Zero slid the ring onto my finger, kissing me again.

"I love you, Zero Kiryu." I whispered to him as we sat back down and everyone congratulated us.

"I love you too, my beautiful Phoenix. . ."

The rest of the night went by smoothly, everyone asking us questions about when we'd set a date and other wedding questions.

Once finished with the meal and Kaname and my now fiancée paid, we all went to the limo and made our way back to the Kuran Mansion.

Once back at the mansion, everyone bay goodnight and we went to our own rooms, Zero and I walking hand in hand upstairs.

"So, future Mrs. Kiryu, what do we do now?" He whispered in my ear seductively once the door was shut behind us.

"Hmm. . . I don't know. I am pretty tired so maybe I'll head to bed." I faked a yawn, impressed at how real my acting was.

"I know what'll wake you up." Zero purred in my ear, pulling me close and kissing me deeply, my body instantly melding against his.

"Zero! Wasn't one round enough for you?" I gasped out as he reached up under my dress and began pulling my lace panties off.

"One is never enough." He responded, looking at me with those lust-filled eyes as he removed my dress and then my bra as well.

I began taking his clothes off too, my lips locked with his in a heated kiss.

Moments later, we were without clothes and moving in rhythm to each other.

We spent all night making love not tiring until very late.

Rosette POV

I had allowed Phoenix some peace the last couple months, preparing for my next attack.

I stood off to the sidelines, not revealing myself once. I wanted the little bird to believe she was safe for awhile.

That night, however, when Kiryu proposed was the night I attacked again.

I stood outside the Kuran mansion where they all stayed, waiting for the opportune moment.

Finally, when the last light shut off, I attacked.

Phoenix POV

I awoke with a jolt as I heard the glass shattering from my window.

Next thing I knew, a hand clamped over my mouth and I was dragged out of my bed.

Zero woke up immediately, charging towards my kidnapper.

Instantly, he was thrown back against the wall.

A laugh echoed throughout the room and instantly I knew who was taking me.

"Rosette! Let me go!" I screamed, my palm igniting with my fire as I touched her arm.

She screeched out in pain, but recovered quickly, tightening her hold on me.

By this time, everyone in the mansion had awoken and were trying to rush into my room, but Rosette had put up some kind of barrier that prevented them from even entering the room.

"Let her go!" Yuki shouted, but Rosette ignored her and pulled me close to her face.

"You're my caged bird now." She whispered, dark purple energy appearing on her hand as she placed it on my head.

The next thing I remember is seeing Zero standing up and rushing forward before I passed out.

Zero POV

I ran towards the window Rosette left out of, my beloved Phoenix held in her arms.

"No! Give her back!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, but knew it was useless. The witch had kidnapped her and there had been nothing I could have done about it.

The others rushed into the room then, the barrier having disappeared when Rosette did.

"What just happened?" Yuki asked, trying to wrap her mind around it.

"I. . . Don't know. . . One minute we were asleep and the next thing I know, Rosette is breaking into here, kidnapping Phoenix." I sighed, grateful we put clothes on before bed. It would be a very awkward situation at the moment if we hadn't.

"Why did she kidnap her, though?" Aido was the first to ask.

"For her master plan. . ." Kaname said calmly.

"What plan are you referring to, Kaname?" Yuki asked.

"Rosette plans on bringing back the Phoenix Queen. . ." He replied, looking out the broken window.

"Phoenix Queen? What the hell is that, Kuran?!" I shouted at him.

"Thousands of years ago, before even the progenitors existed, a being with immense power roamed the Earth. She had the power of the phoenix and she used it to destroy everything in her path. . ." Kaname explained, not once looking away from the broken window.

"Why the hell would anyone want to bring someone like that back?" I demanded. "And why does she need my Phoenix?"

Kaname turned and faced us then, a serious expression on his face.

"Phoenix is the last remaining descendant of the Phoenix Queen. Rosette will need to sacrifice Phoenix in order to bring the Queen back. . ."

"What?! I won't allow that. I need to find her before this plan happens." I began pacing back and forth, rage seething through me.

"Where would she even be?" Yuki asked and all around the room, the others began thinking and suggesting different locations.

"I know where she's at." Kaname said in a flat tone, turning back to the window.

"What? Where?" I stepped towards the pureblood, trying to contain my anger.

"Rosette took Phoenix to the Underworld."

Audible gasps went around the room.

Phoenix POV

I opened my eyes to be greeted by darkness and the sounds of wailing all around me.

I quickly remembered what happened and went to jump up.

I groaned when I felt the metal chains hold me back.

"Ah, my caged bird is finally awake." Hearing her voice sent anger through me.

My palms immediately lit with fire and I shot it towards where I heard her voice.

She stepped out of the shadows, easily extinguishing my fire and lighting the area.

I was chained against a stone wall in a damp and musty cell. Below me, the ground felt somewhat heated.

"Where am I, Rosette?"

"Why, isn't it obvious, my little bird?" She did a wave of her hand and suddenly, the wall to my right disappeared, showing a river of lava that flowed a few feet below us. "We're in the Underworld."

I let out a small gasp at her words. When I had been younger, my father had told me stories of the Underworld, seeing as he was from it. He warned me that it was a place of pain and suffering, somewhere he never wished to return to.

"Why did you bring me here?" I questioned, stepping closer to her.

"Ah, in due time I'll reveal my plan, but for now, let's see those magnificent wings of yours."

I screamed out as she used some kind of spell to force my wings out of my back.

As soon as they were out, I felt a strong pull of energy inside me and within the next moment, I felt my body begin glowing.

"Just as I suspected. . ." Rosette said, stalking over to me. When she reached me, she tilted my chin to face her. "You, my little bird are a descendant of the Phoenix Queen."

"Wh-" My question didn't come out as Rosette placed a kiss on my forehead and I blacked out.