CHAPTER 3:

NINJA AND NOBODY

Sometime after, Yuffie came in, followed by Sora, Donald, and Goofy, and ran over and hugged him. "Hey, I missed you!"

Harry smiled, gently returning the enthusiastic embrace of the ninja girl. "Me too. Nothing bad happen while I was away?"

"Not really. There's increased Heartless activity, but, well, Leon probably told you already." She broke off the hug, and peered at the others. "Hey, so this is what Sora meant when he said you had company. Should I be jealous?"

"Nope. Yuffie, meet Roxas, Xion, and Naminé. Remember how you guys had that weird episode of remembering Sora, Donald and Goofy all at once, not so long ago? Well, let's just say Naminé was involved."

In abbreviated form, Harry and Sora explained more about what happened to the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee, with Roxas, Xion and Naminé chipping in. Leon pinched the bridge of his nose. "And that's the abridged version?"

"Yeah. Bright side is, Organization XIII is down to half its membership," Harry said. "The problem is, those who are left still include their more powerful members."

Roxas nodded. "Xemnas, Xigbar, Xaldin, Saïx…not that Axel, Demyx or Luxord are pushovers, but those four are monsters."

"Sounds like fun," Cid remarked sarcastically.

Donald rolled his eyes, before the diminutive duck asked, "Has the King or Riku made their way through here?"

"We've seen the King a couple of times with Harry, but no sign of Riku," Yuffie said. "Mickey has his own mission. He was searching for Ansem the Wise, but…"

"Yeah, if what you're saying is true, he must've fallen far," Cid said. "Not as far as that impostor, but…"

"I asked Mickey about that. Apparently the impostor originally called himself Xehanort, which was weird, as Mickey claimed he knew of some old Keyblade Master called Xehanort, and they looked pretty different. Xehanort's Heartless was mostly dealt with, apparently, when he tried to reach Kingdom Hearts, but I'm guessing his Nobody is Organization XIII's leader, Xemnas. But yeah, the real Ansem…well, we can count on him to work against Organization XIII. That's about it. Anyway, Mickey's looking to disrupt the operations of Organization XIII, and he's asked me to do the same. I'm leaving Naminé here because she doesn't really have combat ability," Harry said.

"I can help out in any way I can," the blonde waif-like Nobody said. "But I'm not much of a fighter, I'm afraid."

"Oh, that's right, I forgot. Here." Harry handed Naminé a box, which she eagerly opened.

"Art supplies and drawings?" Yuffie asked when she saw what was revealed.

"Naminé likes drawing," Harry said. "It's part of how she uses her powers, but she finds it therapeutic to just draw anyway."

"Anyway," Leon said, trying to get the conversation back on track, "we'd like your help with a few things, Sora. Hollow Bastion has major infestations of Heartless and Nobodies. More the former than the latter, but, well, we could use your help."

"Sure," Sora said with a grin. "Did you need to ask?"

"That's right," Leon remarked sardonically. "I forgot who I was talking to."

"And just what do you mean by that?" Donald rasped.

"It's just Leon's way of making a compliment," Aerith said with her usual warm smile.

Leon nodded. "Harry's done quite a bit to help during your sleep, Sora, but it would be great to have more hands on deck. Anyway, follow me to the Bailey. It's not far from here. I need to show you something."

As the scarred young man walked out, Merlin appeared in a puff of smoke. "Ah!" he yelped upon seeing Sora, Donald and Goofy. "I thought you had come by now! Looks like I'm right on time!"

After Sora, Donald and Goofy made their greetings to the ancient wizard, and Aerith gave them some Restoration Committee Membership Cards, they went to see Leon. Merlin then turned his attention to Harry and the three Nobodies accompanying him. "Yen Sid has notified me of the situation," Merlin said after introductions were made. "He's had to leave his tower in a hurry, along with the three fairies. Apparently Maleficent revived right inside the tower, and while he drove her off, a rather major Heartless infestation has come to his tower thanks to her, and he's left for an impromptu holiday."

"Maleficent?" Harry asked. "Didn't you say Sora kicked her sorry scaled arse into nothing after a possessed Riku turned her into a Keyblade shish kebab?"

"Well, she is even more tenacious than Voldemort, and that's saying something," Merlin huffed. "You have that communications device to speak with King Mickey, don't you?"

"Sort of. I'll send a text message. We agreed to do that unless it's an emergency, just in case I call him during an emergency. Like fighting off a giant Heartless."

Merlin nodded. "Very wise." He then walked over to the three other Nobodies, and peered at them. "Two Keyblade Wielders, and a girl who can tamper with the chains of memories. My word, Roxas, you do look a lot like Ventus. I only met him and his comrades briefly, before Hollow Bastion fell to the Heartless."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey, Merlin, can I borrow my boyfriend for a bit?" Yuffie said.

"Why, of course," Merlin said. "I'll talk to Harry later…"

Hollow Bastion was a strange mix of the modern and the medieval, like an old-style castle town with technology similar to that back home, and sometimes even more advanced. Looming over the town was the massive castle that gave the world its name, once the residence of Ansem the Wise, along with many of his researchers, courtiers, and some local families. Kairi, apparently, had originally come from Hollow Bastion, according to Merlin, and she was one of the Princesses of Heart that included other Princesses from fairy tales and stories, particularly those from Disney films.

Anyway, Yuffie, being a ninja, liked to walk on the roofs of the houses of Hollow Bastion, being into freerunning and parkour. Harry, while nowhere near as good as her in that regard, had trained alongside her, and helped by years of 'Harry Hunting' by Dudley, had become at least competent. So he liked to go on walks with her along the rooftops of Hollow Bastion.

It wasn't the only change. Since his wand became a Keyblade, he found himself learning how to use the strange, mystic sword. True, a lot of it seemed to be ingrained instinct, as if possessing one conferred much of the skill needed to wield it in combat. Training under Mickey and Yen Sid helped hone that, and that was only Keyblade-specific combat. Leon, Yuffie and Aerith helped teach him combat too. Merlin taught him magic, the combat magic more common to these worlds. And while he still used magic from back home, the magic here worked well enough for dealing with Heartless and Nobodies.

As they leapt across the rooftops, Harry glanced down into the market that had been set up in one part of the town. Huey, Dewey, and Louie were manning stores selling weapons, armour, and items, Moogles (fairy creatures that looked like teddy bears with small wings, a big red nose, and a red pom-pom-like ornament on an antenna depending from their head) running a Synthesis workshop (he really needed to drop off the items he found after defeating some Heartless and Nobodies), and Scrooge McDuck frowning as he watched an ice cream maker mix his latest attempt at recreating his particular favourite blend of Sea Salt Ice Cream. It wasn't exactly bustling, and things were a little subdued, given that Heartless attacked the town on a daily basis, but it was still a good place.

As they slowed down on the rooftops, Harry asked, "What do you think Leon wanted to talk to Sora and the others about?"

"Probably the horde of Heartless in the Great Maw," Yuffie said. "Anyway, what was with those strays? I mean, if Merlin's friend and Mickey vouch for them, it's fine, but seriously, how did you go to investigate this DiZ guy and end up with three Nobodies coming back with you?"

"We explained it earlier…though if you're asking exactly how, even Yen Sid doesn't know. His best guess was my attribute as a Nobody, and my Keyblade. In my personal opinion…it's just my weird luck playing up again."

"Yeah, you do have a lot of that," Yuffie chuckled, before they came to a stop near one of the town's walls. It was their favourite spot to have a talk. "Still…with two defectors from Organization XIII and a Nobody with really scary memory powers here…well, it'd paint a bigger target on our backs. I'm not saying you did the wrong thing. Hell, we've been targets for Organization XIII just by existing, never mind taking you in. But hey, I like to live dangerously."

"You probably would have been in Gryffindor, then," Harry said with an affectionate roll of his eyes. "I would have thought a true ninja would have been a Slytherin, though, without the nasty bits. You need a lot of cunning to be a ninja."

"Hey, don't diss me!" Yuffie yelped in mock outrage, giving him a light, playful punch to the shoulder.

"Hey, you've got a big ego, going around calling yourself 'the Great Ninja Yuffie'. I've gotta deflate it," Harry said, smirking. To which she poked her tongue out at him, as a mature and well thought out rebuttal. They laughed together as they sat on the wall.

"So…if you can get back to your old world…will you stay there?" Yuffie asked.

"We've been over this, Yuffie. I'll stick around long enough to deal with Voldemort at least. Beyond that, I don't know. Anyway…" Suddenly, alarm bells began ringing in the distance, and the pair of them shot to their feet.

"The Bailey!" Yuffie snapped. "There must be a major incursion there!"

They raced to the Bailey in time to have the gate there, meant to lock during certain emergencies, reopen. They could hear, in the distance, a deep, mellifluous voice. "…Truly marvellous weapon…A shame it does not rest in more capable hands…"

A series of jeering laughs chorused as Harry and Yuffie reached Sora, Leon, Donald and Goofy, who were peering up at a nearby wall, whereupon a sextet of figures in familiar dark hooded coats appeared. "Organization XIII!" Goofy yelped.

"Maybe we should settle this," Sora growled, his Keyblade at the ready.

"And I thought we could be friends," remarked the deep-voiced one. "A shame. Then, given the company you keep…" This last comment was directed against Harry, who was glaring up at them. "A traitor to his own kind, like Roxas…and it seems Axel has gone the same way."

"At least I'm not afraid to show my face…Xehanort."

This caused the figure in the centre of the group to pause, before remarking, "A name I have long since discarded."

"Xemnas sounds crappy compared to Xehanort, just saying," Harry said. "You sound like some sort of pain relief gel."

A scoff. "Your insolence is amusing, traitor. Still, whether you interfere with us or now, our plans will go smoothly. Wriggle and writhe in your own ignorance, fool." And with another jeering chorus of laughter, they disappeared.

Sora went to pursue them, only for one of them to materialise in his way. "Whoops!"

"Get out of the way!" Sora snapped.

"Now, that ain't polite at all," drawled the man, not Xemnas, given the voice.

"Neither's causing mayhem and havoc on other worlds," Harry retorted.

"Yeah, like you're one to talk," the man said. "I mean, it was funny as hell, what you did to Saïx, but he wants to shove that war hammer of his where only colorectal surgeons dare to go. Anyway, you think you guys can go up against me?"

"I dunno," Harry said. "Which one are you: Xaldin? Xigbar?"

"Ha! Canny little bastard, aren't you? Xigbar, if you must know. And I'm Xemnas' right hand man. You don't get that position unless you can back it up."

Sora scoffed, glaring at Xigbar. "That's funny, considering that you had your Nobody minions do all the dirty work while you watched and ate popcorn."

"As if! You wanna reminder of how tough we are?"

"Reminder?" Sora asked, his glare intensifying, only for Xigbar to laugh.

"That's it! He used to give me the same look!"

"He?" Sora asked.

"He means Roxas. He's trying to psyche you out," Harry said.

"Maybe I am, and maybe I ain't. Either way, be good boys and girls now!" And with that, he vanished into a Corridor of Darkness, though not before Donald tried to attack him.

As the duck snarled curses, Harry looked at Sora. "They don't know Roxas or the others are still around. It'll probably come out if I encounter one of the Organization with Roxas and Xion in tow on another world, but keep quiet about Roxas still being alive for now."

Sora, after a moment, nodded. "Got it. Wait…do you think they can travel to the Destiny Islands?"

"That's your homeworld, isn't it?" Harry asked. On Sora's nod, Harry said, "It's very likely. Why?"

"Well…if they find Kairi…"

"You think she might be used as a hostage," Leon said.

"Yeah. Harry…is it possible for you to find the Destiny Islands, and bring Kairi somewhere safe?" Sora asked.

"I'll try. And you're right, Kairi wouldn't just make a good hostage. She's also a Princess of Heart, according to Merlin, which means she's an even more valuable target. But did you hear what they said? Axel may have turned traitor too. Keep an eye out for him. Tall, lanky, has spiky red hair and green eyes, uses chakrams and pyrokinesis. He might be an ally, especially if he learns Roxas is still alive."

"Gawrsh, so we tell him that Roxas is still alive? Will that help?" Goofy asked.

"It's risky. But better to have someone like him on our side than on Xemnas'," Harry said. "Anyway, Naminé may be able to draw you a picture. I'm pretty sure she encountered him at Castle Oblivion more than once…"

Sora, as it happened, unlocked a means to travel between worlds via one of the Restoration Committee Membership Cards he had been given. Sora, Donald, and Goofy headed back to the Restoration Committee's HQ to get a drawing of Axel, just in case, while Leon spoke with Harry and Yuffie. "I didn't get to tell Sora, but…the activity at the Villains' Vale has increased." Leon pointed to a decrepit castle in the distance, used by Maleficent as her headquarters when she wasn't using Hollow Bastion itself. "And I mean over the last hour or so."

"Activity?" Harry peered at the castle, taking the binoculars Leon proffered. "Yeah, the Heartless look more restless than usual. Given what Merlin said, maybe Maleficent's stirring them up."

"Yeesh, as if we didn't have enough problems already," Yuffie remarked. "Can't that Witch with a Capital B just stay dead?"

"If it were that easy, it wouldn't have taken a Keyblade Wielder to take her down," Leon scowled. "Between her and Organization XIII…"

"Roxas and Xion will come with me to Beast's Castle," Harry said. "Apparently Xaldin's taking an interest in him, and we don't need him turning into a Heartless and a Nobody. After that, I'll see if I can bring Kairi here, just in case. Then, well, I dunno, maybe we could scupper more of the Organization's plans, or maybe Mickey will need our help for something."

"Well, this time, you're not going alone!" Yuffie snapped. "And I don't just mean with those two Nobodies. Leon, I'm going with him."

"Is that wise, Yuffie? He goes from world to world via the Corridors of Darkness, and those are dangerous, even to Nobodies," Leon said, crossing his arms, as Harry gaped at Yuffie for declaring such a thing.

"Hey, I'm getting sick and tired of sticking around Hollow Bastion all the time, especially with other worlds out there needing help. Anyway, you can do without me for a few days, right? And if things get really bad, you can send a message to Harry's phone."

"I guess. There's no stopping you, is there?" Leon asked wearily, knowing better than to stop her. "Fine. But when travelling through those Corridors of Darkness, you do as Harry says."

"Don't I get a vote?" Harry asked.

"I'm vetoing it," Yuffie said, poking her tongue out at him. "Besides, you've only known Roxas and Xion for what, a day or two? I worry about you Harry, and I'd rest easier knowing I'm watching your back."

Harry sighed in resignation. Yeah, there really was no stopping Yuffie when she put her mind to something. Still, there were worse people to travel with, he knew…

CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Organization XIII have made an appearance, and Yuffie's decided to tag along with Harry, Roxas and Xion.

Now, Harry won't be intervening in all events of Kingdom Hearts II, but he will participate in a few stages, either instead of, or alongside, Sora. He will do Beast's Castle, for example, with Sora coming in shortly after Harry and company have dealt with Xaldin's pet Heartless…

No numbered annotations this time.