Author's note: Hey, welcome back! Betcha you're wondering what will happen next, right? Well, you don't have to wait any longer…

Kingdom Hearts: Return of the Heartless

Chap. 11 A Hidden Identity

Sora cried out, "Kairi!...Kairi!"

Later, he felt something under his foot. Pushing away the snow, Sora found Kairi's hand.

"She's buried!" he frantically tried digging her out, until most of her was visible. Sora picked her up, tears rolling down his cheeks, "Kairi! Speak to me!.....No! She can't go!.....She can't…I won't let her!" Sora held her close to him and wept bitterly, "…No…"

There was a long pause. Then…a voice said, "…Sora?"

Sora opened his eyes in disbelief, "Kairi! You're ok!" he gave her a hug, but suddenly pulled away, "Kairi…..you're so cold…Are you all right?"

"Sora, I'm ok, don't worry…"

Sora picked Kairi up and carried her toward the others. The soldiers were talking to each other.

Some said, "Let's go make the tent.", "Get the medical assistant…", or "He's hurt, we need help…"

Ping had been wounded in the battle and everyone was concerned.

Sora looked at Kairi and asked, "You ok?"

She nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

He put her down and they went to help everyone else with Ping.

Later…

Everyone stood outside the tent where Ping was being cared for. The soldiers' heads were bowed down, and no one spoke a word. Nobody had come out of the tent for half an hour. Something was wrong.

"I'm worried…" Kairi told the others, "I sure hope he'll be okay soon."

"He was barely wounded…a slightly deep cut there…" said the doctor when he finally stepped outside, "But…" he motioned for the captain to come inside.

Sora saw Mushu's face fill with terror, "What's wrong?"

"I knew this would happen," Mushu said to himself.

"You knew what?" asked Riku.

"Oh…it's bad…"

The Emperor's Council, a man with a tall, blue hat stepped in also. Seconds later, the captain stormed out, and the blue dressed man came out holding Ping by the arm.

"I knew there was something fishy," he tore off the band holding Ping's hair, "…A woman."

Everybody gasped.

"She lied to us," said Sora in disbelief, "…to everyone…"

"But why?" Riku wondered.

Ping was thrown onto the snowy, wet, slushy ground.

"My name is Mulan…" she said, "I did it to save my father. It was the only way!"

"Humph!...Captain?" Chee Fu crossed his arms, waiting for a reply.

The captain waited a moment, then took out a long sword.

"What are they doing?!?" Kairi pondered.

Mushu explained, "The law says no women are allowed in war. It's the ultimate dishonor. She'll be killed!"

"What!" Sora was in shock.

Mulan didn't move, accepting her fate. The sword was raised; everyone held their breath. It slashed down.

"Wait!" cried Sora. He had blocked the blow with his keyblade, "Why are you doing this?"

Everyone stared at him.

"What's he doing?" the soldiers whispered to each other.

"Think about it!" Sora tried to explain, "She didn't do anything wrong!"

"It's the law! She disobeyed it!" Chee Fu barked back.

The captain looked at Sora with a cold stare. But then he did something surprising. The sword was thrown to the ground and he walled in the opposite direction, everybody following. Chee Fu kept trying to make him change his mind, but was ignored.

"Thanks, Sora…" Mulan said, her voice a little shaky.

"You're welcome…" he put the keyblade on his shoulder, "…but you shouldn't have lied to us."

"Then…why did you save me?"

Sora just smiled. After a moment he answered, "You had a good reason."

She smiled back, "Well, I have to go home."

As she packed all her things up, Mushu looked down the mountain. He saw something unexpected, "Mulan! Mulan, check this out!"

Everyone else came over also. Walking toward the Emperor's palace was Shan Yu and some of his soldiers.

"Oh, great…" Kairi was surprised.

"What now?" Riku wondered.

"We need to go and stop them," Mulan said confidently.

"Oh, no…I can see where this is going," knew Mushu, "Now don't do anything stupid."

Mulan grabbed her sword and ordered, "Let's go save China!"

Mushu sighed, "Too late…"

Author's note: Will they be able to save China and the emperor? You'll have to find out next time  (Next chapter's going to be a long one…Phew!)