*This is the second lineup of a two part story. The first part is Kingdom Hearts Alternate, and if you'd like to read it, continue here first!

s/7156538/1/Kingdom-Hearts-Alternate

If not, enjoy KH Alternate II!

A year and a half later

Hojo's footsteps echoed as he hurried down a basement hallway of Shinra Electric. His breathing was ragged. Under his arm he held a small folder filled with data on the Bureau of Investigation, and a flashlight. Towards the end of the hall was an old room marked for experimentation, in disuse and forgotten, and Hojo unlocked its door and ran through its depths, ignoring the shadows that moved across the wall with him as he clicked on the small flashlight and held it out in front of him. Rows of tables and machines stretched in front of him, but he did not see anyone there. At the end of the hall was an exit door marked 'meeting room', and he stopped and took a deep breath before sauntering in. The unusual coldness of the room made Hojo shrink back; his palms dripped and his hands shook. "S-sir?" he croaked, looking around the dark room while trying to make out a shape.

"Hello Hojo." Came a voice from behind him, and he whirled around, lifting his hand in the air to strike. A figure caught his arm and put it down with immense strength. Then, the man chuckled and forced Hojo back into the room, turning on the light. Hojo nearly tripped as he reached behind him for the meeting table. "I do not recognize you. Are you...?" He began, sitting down at the table, but the figure nodded, stepping out from the shadows to sit across from Hojo. His narrowed yellow eyes shone from inside his head like a large snake's. "I despise unnecessary loudness," the man hissed, tapping his cane on the ground. "I apologize," Hojo replied, "but I have never seen you in person before. In all of our previous transactionsI have only had contact with your, um…"

"My ambassador."

"Yes. May I ask where he is?" Hojo asked, glancing around the room, half expecting the man in question to jump out of the shadows. Out of the corner of his eye, a shadow stirred and stretched, and he whirled around to see the silhouette inching towards him. The figure was in black, with deep red stripes down his arms and legs and a black helmet covering his face and head. As he entered the light of the room he winced and shivered. The yellow eyed man chuckled as the figure moved closer, trapping Hojo between the two of them. "Does, does he want to…?" Hojo trailed off, pointing to the standing black figure. The man at the head of the table shook his head. "He will stand. Now, Hojo, what is it that you wanted to speak to me about?" The man looked straight into Hojo's eyes. Hojo glanced away and breathed fast.

"The Investigation Bureau is onto us." Hojo snapped, and his breathing quickened once more. "Again?" the mysterious man chuckled. Hojo shook his head quickly, breathing harder. "It's different this time. They're building a case on me. They've caught onto the experiments and the intimidation. It's only a matter of time before they hear about..." Hojo gulped, glancing at his companions every few seconds. The yellow-eyed man rubbed his head and furrowed his eyebrows. "That is a problem," he murmured, looking up. "What do you want from me Hojo? Tell me quickly."

Hojo sighed in relief, but the held his breath, as the last bit of air was about to escape his lungs. Then he spoke again. "I need your help," he whispered. "I want you to get them off my tracks, and if I do happen to go to court I want you to defend me- if you do, I'll pay you back a million times over. All I ask is your support."

The old man looked up at the ceiling before his eyes settled on the black figure. "Who is in charge of the investigation?" He gnarled, formulating a plan in his mind. "The former Turk," Hojo whispered, and the man's gaze was directed back to him. "How did he leave the organization? I thought Shinra's exiting transportation of choice was body bag."

Hojo looked uncomfortable, and eyed the exit door before forcing his eyes back to the man in front of him. He shrugged. "I suppose it was a slip in security." He croaked, and the man beside him pursed his lips. "So this investigation has plumed from a 'slip in security'? The past returns to haunt, Hojo, if you allow it. And you will allow it."

A whimper escaped Hojo's throat as he thought of the enemies waiting for him in jail. "What do you mean I am 'going to allow it'?" Hojo snarled, looking at the ground. "I can't do anything about it!"

The man chortled in response. "You are not in the capacity to find the means to do something about it, Hojo. You never have been, and you never will. With my experience your ingenuous idiocy does not surprise me."

Hojo's shoulders fell, and he looked down at his hands in agitation.

"But I will do something about it."

Hojo looked up in amazement and saw that the man was smiling. Hojo gave himself a minute to process the information, and then stood up, bowing deeply. The man stared at him as he did so, tapping his cane.

"Thank you very, very much, sir. I am forever indebted to you." Hojo blubbered, chuckling and shaking at the same time. The man narrowed his eyes. "There's no taking that back," he sneered, and the scientist pursed his lips. Hojo pointed to the door and the figure stepped closer to him, who put his hand up. "I can show you out," Hojo elaborated but the man shook his head. "We have means." Hojo gulped and nodded, hesitating before placing the files on the table and hurrying to the door. He was stopped by the older man's cough.

"Hojo?" The man asked, and Hojo turned to look at him again. The black figure had moved beside the man, who was still sitting.

"Yes?"

"Your son."

Hojo looked back in confusion. "Yes, what about my son?"

"How is he?"

"How is Sephiroth?" Hojo whispered. The man nodded.

"He's in jail for involvement in a building scandal, rape charges, and his involvement with Shinra Electric," Hojo explained. "I have not spoken to him since he lived under my roof a few years ago."

"How long will he be in jail?"

"A very long time, sir."

The corners of the man's mouth turned up, but he did not smile. "Pity." He murmured.

And Hojo left, climbing the stairs back into the inhabited portion of Shinra. He entered the lobby and the lobbyist smiled at him. "Hello, doctor," she called and Hojo nodded, uncaring. "Rufus wants to talk to you." Hojo nodded again, gripping the flashlight in his hand. He had not meant to bring it up with him.

"What's with the flashlight?" the receptionist asked, and Hojo stopped, chuckling. "Oh, mice," he mumbled, and left.