Chapter 6

---------------R-Y-A-N---------------

Ryan chased after the man in the white coat, Yumi was under his arm.

"No! Yumi!" she shouted chasing after the man.

SMACK!

"OW!" I exclaimed. I looked up.. What the... The sun was amazingly bright. I was back. Yumi stood over me.

"You were screaming my name," she said laughing. I stood up, and looked at her.

"I was having a nightmare," I said. "A man in a black coat kidnapped you, and I was chasing after him to get you back."

"That's sweet," she said. "What are today's plans?"

"Well maybe we should go to the train station, and get out of this town?" I suggested, "maybe Kazuma's not even here anymore."

"Yeah, maybe your right," she said stretching. "How much Munny do you have?"

"Only five hundred sorry," I said.

"Well, I guess we're stuck here," she said as she looked out over the horizon. "The sun is beautiful today huh?"

I sighed as I stared out at it, "yeah, it does."

I stood there right at the rail. The sun shone suspiciously bright onto me.

"The light pours onto you like a never ending pitcher of water," a voice said. I turned around to see a man in a white rain coat with the hood covering his face. He was gripping Yumi's hand and wasn't about to let go anytime soon. "But where is the darkness, where is it truly?"

"Your not making any sense," I said drawing my Keyblade. The man backed away it seemed he was just as afraid as Yumi, or I was. "Now, let her go."

The man tucked Yumi under his arm, "okay, but you'll have to catch me first." He ran in the other direction, I gave chase right on his tail. I tried to grab his coat, and pull it off, but I wasn't as fast. We ducked through alleyways, and turned over street stalls, but then I started to slow down, I was getting tired. He ran after him regardless, not caring if I was tired or not.

"Ah, let me go!" I could here Yumi's faint words scream until she started fading from me. I continued running, and then I saw the man in the dark ally way. Running, and holding her under his arm.

"Yumi," I screamed. I couldn't see in the darkness of this ally. It was so different from the town. It was very dark, cold, and bitter. I stopped running. "Yumi?" I called as I continued walking. There was no answer.

Suddenly there was an explosion of white light from down the ally threw me backwards. I returned my Keyblade back to it's original form, and placed it upon my belt. I stood up to see a white ball of light floating around my head.

"What is that thing?" I asked myself.

"Ryan," a voice called. I then noticed that the voice was Yumi's and that it came from the ball.

"Yumi!" I shouted at the ball. Without warning the ball shot towards me knocking me on my back. "Yumi!" I shouted as I stood up, and chased the ball. "We're back in Moonlit, that must've been the alleyway of between." I chased the ball with all my energy pushing myself to the limit. It floated up a hill, I still chased after it. I then noticed, "th- the castle from my dream." I fell on my bottom startled, but I jumped up again and chased after the ball. It stopped in front of me, I froze stunned. It began to spin faster and faster. It spun around my head causing a wind to form. I shielded my face with my hand, and the wind picked up speed. I moved my hands and saw that a twister started to form. I jumped backwards, but that didn't stop the twister from forming. It got bigger, and bigger and wider and wider. White creatures from my dream stepped out of it, like it wasn't even there. "Yumi!"

"Ryan help me!" I heard her shouts. I used the remainder of my energy and slashed the monsters and walked towards the twister. I was being blown away, I tried to push passed the winds, but they were too powerful.

"Kid!" a voice called. I turned around and saw a man in a black coat.

"Go away, I'm not in the mood for fighting right now!" I shouted.

"I'm not here to fight you, I'm just here to protect you!" he shouted.

"Protect me from what?" I asked.

He looked up and pointed at the twister, "from that." Two huge feet stepped out of the twister. It destroyed the surrounding buildings. It seemed like all of the smaller white creatures I had fought before, only taller, and more muscular. On its back were ropes stretching out in various directions. On its head like the others was a cross instead of eyes, mouth, or a nose. It's claws were massive, and seem like they could do a number on about twenty other skyscrapers around the city. The man in the black coat drew two weapons, they seemed like arrows with triggers attached to them. He aimed up at the monsters, and prepared to fire.

"Ryan!" a shout from the monster called. I looked up in one of its hands, there she was, Yumi being squeezed. I saw her hand reaching out towards me. A drop of water splattered on my face, and right then I knew she was crying.

I looked back at the man, he pulled the trigger, and the shot fired up towards the monster. Multiple shots blasted out from the weapon hitting the monster.

"Stop!" I shouted as I drew my Keyblade. "I'll take care of this."

I dashed towards the monster, but it smashed it's large hand into the ground throwing me back about ten feet. Pain surged through my small body, but I stood up. Yumi, I thought hard to myself. The power of the Keyblade surged through my entire body, and I wasn't going to let that power go to waste. I ran towards the monster again, the man fired his weapon at its head repeatedly. I wouldn't admit it, but I knew I needed his help. I jumped up at the monster and slashed fiercely at the beast. It took a few steps back, but didn't appear to take any damage. It stomped and stomped shaking the ground. The man floated into the air, as I fell to the ground. He blasted his gun over and over, but the monster only took it as a mere mosquito bite.

I jumped to my feet and charged towards the monster again. I slashed the monster while trying to move around it's attacks. It started walking towards me, I jumped backwards, but it continued walking towards me. I placed the tip of the Keyblade on the ground, and skidded my foot across the ground. Sparks flew from the tip of the Keyblade as I slid towards the monster. I used the extra speed as an upper hand as I placed both feet on the ground and jumped up high. I landed on the arm of the beast meeting with the man in the black coat.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He removed his hood revealing purple hair, scars and an eye patch. "The name's Xigbar," he said as he shot at the monster's head again. But all the others wanted to fight, why is he so different?

I jabbed my Keyblade into the monster's arm, it shook me around viciously and I fell towards the ground. I closed my eyes so I wouldn't see the end. Then I felt warmth, Xigbar had caught me in his arms.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked very suspicious.

He placed me gently on the ground and floated back up again. He shot at the monster again and again. I slashed at the monster's leg, but it took no damage. It started to stomp again, I jumped backwards, closed my eyes, and threw my Keyblade as hard as I could at the monsters hand.

I opened my eyes and saw the monster had lost its left hand. But its right hand was still squeezing the life out of Yumi. Xigbar lowered to the ground and lifted me up in his two arms. He held me by the legs, and I was holding my Keyblade hanging upside down. He brought me up to the head of the monsters, and I slashed and slashed over and over. He lifted me up a little higher to avoid the blow it threw at me with its left arm even without the hand attached. He hoisted me towards the front of the monsters, and threw me towards it's chest. I held my Keyblade and stabbed it in the chest, my weight pulled me down towards the ground, leaving a rip down the center of the body.

I threw myself away from the monster's chest and landed on my two feet. The monster gave off an explosion, causing me to run in the other direction. The power of the blast knocked me on my stomach.

About a minute later I stood up. The storm had stopped, but started to cry, "Yumi." In the distance I heard foot steps, and looked up. I saw Xigbar holding Yumi she was okay. He placed her on the ground, and let her run towards me. We hugged, and a jolt of excitement ran through my body.

"You tried to protect me," she said crying.

"Yeah, I would've sacrificed my life for you," I said as the tears faded.

"I hate to break up the moment," Xigbar said crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. "But I think we should leave on account the Nobodies are going to be after you if you don't leave soon." He opened a portal of darkness and pointed towards it. "Go, and look for a man named Cid."

The both of us walked towards the portal, and took one last look at our city.

"Thanks Xigbar," I said as Yumi walked in.

"Yeah whatever," he said looking away. I stepped into the portal, seeing nothing, but darkness. But then it cleared up. There was a town, a small town. It seemed so small, cold, and haunted. I took a few steps forward and saw a castle very far up ahead.

"Where are we?" I murmured to myself. "Where is the one who holds the Key?"

"What's wrong?" Yumi asked me placing a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at her and smiled faintly.

"Nothing," I said. I looked down at my feet. "It's just that, we were friends for so long, and now the five of us are all separated."

"Oh, your not mad that..." I stopped her in mid-sentence.

"It's okay, I told you its cool that you and Kazuma like each other. I don't mind," I only wished that I could've told her about my secret love for her, but I didn't say a word.

"Now who are we looking for again?" she asked trying to change the conversation.

I looked up, and noticed a staircase going downwards. I walked down it and signaled for her to follow me.

"A man named Cid," I said as I looked over the strange town. People lurked the streets, but not a single wearing a black coat. That relieved me.

"Excuse me," she asked a duck passing by. He wore a suit, along with a top hat, and a pair of glasses. "But do you know where a man named Cid is?"

The duck adjusted his glasses and looked at us.

"Well, no," he said still staring at us.

"Well, do you mind telling us where we are?" I asked.

He stared up at us, "yes, your in Hollow Bastion." He smiled, and held out his hand to be shaken, "greetings children, my name is Scrooge McDuck."

He shook both of our hands. "hi, Mr. McDuck."

"Would any of you children like some ice cream?" he offered. I immediately shook my head yes. I would do anything to get something to get something into my stomach. "Good, then follow me." He walked up another small flight of stairs. We followed him, and observed the town. We looked at all the shops, and stores for anything that would've given us a clue. We stopped in front of a big store that was shaped like a giant refrigerator. He opened the door of the shop sending a wave of chill though my body. It was a refrigerator. He walked into the shop, and a second later he walked out holding to light blue ice-cream bars. "Sea-Salt Ice-Cream," he said as he gave us the two bars.

I took a bite, and I knew it was way salty, but then it sweetened.

"Salty," I said.

"But sweet," Yumi said taking a few licks. I watched her licking the ice-cream until she looked over towards me. "What?"

I turned towards Scrooge and dug into my pocket for munny, "h- how much?" I asked.

"Oh, its on the house for our town's new faces," Scrooge replied. "Now be on your ways children, but be careful."

I shook my head, and headed down another flight of steps that were next to the shop. We went under a large bridge. There were many houses everywhere. Everything seemed so peaceful until a black creature attacked us. I jumped towards me, but I jumped out of the way. I drew my Keyblade, but Yumi was unarmed. I slashed the monster knocking it back. More monsters appeared and started attacking, but two people jumped in front of us. One wearing a black jacket and black pants. With the other wearing skin type short shorts and a black shirt.

The man drew a gun with a sword attached to it, white the other drew a few shuriken from her pocket. She threw some at the monsters, while the man attacked with his blade. Bullets fired as I watched the creatures disappeared.

"It's Over!" the man shouted as his weapon glowed with power. He jumped high into the air and came crashing down to the ground. The black creatures faded away one by one as the two attacked.

Yumi and I just stood still gawking at the two. Finally it was all over.

"Hey," the man said, "you okay, you've really got to watch for heartless?" He placed his weapon in the side of his pouch. I nodded. "My name's Leon, and this is Yuffie."

"Nice to meet cha," she said shaking my hand. I smiled as my stomach churned. Her eyes were crystal blue, she was so beautiful.

"I'm Ryan, and this is my friend Yumi," I said shaking their hands.

"You guys are cool," Yumi replied.

"I see you have a Keyblade," Leon said. "I've seen one before, but I thought only one could wield the weapon."

"Wait," I exclaimed, "who was the other who wields the Keyblade?" I asked. Hopefully this will be the information I need to find the one who wields the Key.

"His name was..." Leon stopped talk, "his name..."

Yuffie stared at him, "Keyblade?"

"I know I remembered somebody who had the Keyblade," he said rubbing his head.

"Maybe it was just in your imagination," Yuffie said brushing her hair.

"Yeah maybe," he said. "Anyways, what are you two here?"

I looked up at him, "we're looking for a man named Cid." Leon rubbed his chin.

"What do you two want with Cid?" she asked.

"A man wearing a black coat, he told us to find him, but I don't know why," Yumi said.

Leon turned around, "I'm sorry to say, but Cid's not here right now."

"Oh," he said.

"Cid specializes in computers and Gummi ship building, maybe you were supposed to get a Gummi Ship?" Leon asked.

"I don't even know what a Gummi Ship is," I replied.

Yuffie sighed, "hey Leon, maybe Merlin could help them."

"Yeah maybe, oh yeah, welcome to Hallow Bastion," he said walking away.

"What's up with him," Yumi asked placing my key chain back on my belt.

"Nothing," Yuffie said. "Anyways, just follow me to get to Merlin." Yuffie walked around the corner and the two of us followed.

---------------?-?-?-?-?--------------

The girl sat on the large white sheeted bed. A man walked into the room and stood fast like a tin soldier.

"How long do you wish to keep me like this?" she asked.

"Master's orders, keep doing your job or the thing most precious to you will be destroyed.

The girl swiped up her teddy bear and held it tight.

"Okay, I'll do what you want, just to hurt him," the girl said as she started to weep. She was about thirteen years old, but she is all alone. She couldn't see what was beyond the pearly white walls, and her only outside communication was the man, Dragan who was cruel. He had white hair, and wore glasses, and wore a black shirt with blue jeans.

"GET BACK TO WORK!" he shouted as he slammed and locked the door behind him. She laid back on her bed clutching her teddy bear.

"Don't worry, no matter where you go, mommy will be here," she fell asleep as she pecked the teddy bear on the cheek, "you hear me teddy, no matter what." The girl shut her eyes and fell asleep.

---------------S-O-R-A---------------

The Gummi ship landed in the town dark town. The buildings seemed like something you'd see in an old village.

"Wow Traverse Town hasn't changed a bit," Sora said as he jumped off the ship.

"Yeah, I bet I know every corner like the back of my hand," Goofy replied.

"Hey you two don't forget the mission, we're here to find the King," Donald said. Sora, Donald, and Goofy nodded their heads.

"Maybe we should start looking for some clues," Sora said. "Let's head for the third district.

Max, and Huey jumped off along with them, "we'll look around the second district." Everybody agreed, and spread out.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy headed for the third district door. As they opened it they could hear yells on the other side.

"HELP!" a young boy's voice yelled. Sora opened the door, and saw a man in a black coat holding a black, silver and gold sword up to neck point.

"Just come along, and you'll feel no pain," the man said.

"Hey!" Sora yelled, "leave him alone!"

"Organization XIII, but Sora didn't cha finish 'em off?" Goofy asked in a very confused voice.

"I did, but why are they back?" he asked as he summoned his Keyblade. The man threw the boy to the ground, and stared at Sora, Donald, and Goofy.

"So your the pesky little Keyblade wielder who destroyed the original Organization, huh? Well let me tell you something." The man charged at Sora, and tried to hit him with his sword, but he was blocked by Sora's Keyblade. "You won't be doing it again."

He knocked Sora back, but Goofy followed up by running into him with his sheild.

"THUNDER!" Donald yelled as he jumped into the air. The man shook from place to place for he was shocked. He fell to the ground and rubbed his head.

Sora jumped up to the air, and tried to bash the man with the Keyblade, but he moved to fast for him. Sora hit nothing, but he immediately started looking around for the man.

"Where'd he go?" he asked whipping his head from side to side. The man attacked from behind jabbing his blade through Sora's leg. He fell to the ground, blood was draining quickly.

"CURE!" Donald yelled pointing his Staff at Sora. The blood stopped dripping and Sora jumped to his feet.

"Thanks," he said to Donald. Goofy charged at the man, but he countered him by slashing his shield. Goofy fell back and shook his head. Donald cast Areo on Sora. A barrier formed around him and Sora charged at him and slashed the man with his Keyblade. The man just lept back and blasted Sora with a heavy wind spell. He flew back, but got back up and threw his Keyblade at the man. He dodged the blade, and started laughing.

"I can't believe such a fighter as yourself destroyed the Organization XIII."

Sora threw his head back and laughed, "why are you laughing?" the man asked.

"It's just that your coat is on fire!" he said as he tried breathing under all his heavy laughs.

"WHAT!" The man yelled as he ran around carzily. Sora laughed as he fell backwards. The man fell to the ground and rolled. The fire subsided and the man stood up.

"YOU THINK THAT WAS FUNNY KID!" the man yelled. He was losing his temper as if he were a little kid. The man walked towards the boy he was torturing earlier. "I've no time for this." He grabbed him up by the collar, and disappeared in a portal of darkness.

"No!" Sora yelled as he ran towards them, but he didn't get to them in time.

"Um, Sora?" Goofy asked, "who was that boy?"

"I don't know, but I do know that nobody deserves to be taken by Organization XIII."

"That's true," Donald said. The three walked towards the second district.

---------------M-A-X-&-H-U-E-Y---------------

Max, and Huey walked through the second district searched for any clues that showed that King Mickey could've been there.

"How long have we been walking Max, I feel so tired," Huey said.

Max was full of energy, "I'd say a good five minutes." Huey was tired, but for some reason Max wasn't.

"Hey," a girl's voice called from behind him. Max turned around, his mouth hang open. She had red hair, red eyes, and creamy skin. She wore a black raincoat.

"How are you doin'?" Max asked. Huey was now asleep on the ground now.

"Fine, what's a handsome boy like you doing out here by himself.

Max laughed like his dad a little, "well um, hyuk, I'm looking for a King Mickey you may have heard of him."

"Yes, but I bet he's not as handsome as you," she said. She walked up to Max and wrapped her arms around him. He felt his heart racing. She kissed him.

"Is that Max making out with Organization XIII?" a boy's voice asked. The two turned around revealing Sora, Donald, and Goofy. "Dude, that's like... gross."

"Damn, these must be the kid's the superior was talking about," she muttered under her breath.

"Wait, you are in the Organization?" Max asked backing away.

She opened a portal to darkness and threw Huey in, she picked Huey up and motioned to throw him in.

"Get away from Max!" Goofy yelled rushing towards the girl with his shield.

"Whoops," she said throwing Max into the darkness, "butterfingers."

---------------S-O-R-A---------------

The girl laughed maniacally as she closed the portal.

"Max," Goofy said as he wiped his tear.

"Huey," Donald said trying to hold back the tears.

"How could you be so evil?" Sora asked.

"It just comes with the job," the girl said as she opened another portal. "I presume that our duty here is done, so I'll be on my way." She stepped into the portal. It closed behind her.

"I- I'm sorry guys," Sora said.

"It's okay Sora, it ain't yer fault," Goofy said.

"New plan, let's find those kids," Sora said.

"But what about the King?" asked Donald.

"The King will just have to wait, we'll have to find those kid's first," he said as he walked towards the door towards first district.

"Sora, you've got a heart of gold," Goofy said as he walked along with Sora.

"Please tell me your not just noticing that," Donald said.

As the three approached their Gummi Ship they heard a voice.

"Sora, Donald, Goofy, how do you do?" the voice asked. The three turned around and saw Jiminy Cricket.

"Hey Jiminy, we're headed for a new adventure, and we may need a little help," Sora said.

"Really," Jiminy said. "Well I'll be happy to come along, but there is one thing we must do fitst."

"Yeah what's that?" Donald asked.

"I've got to say good bye to Geppatto, and Pinoccio," he replied.

"Oh yeah, how've they been doin'?" Goofy asked.

"Very well, Pinoccio doesn't lie as much, and Geppatto has been selling many of his Gummi ship designs," he said again. "Now let's be on our way."

The three redirected their path from their Gummi ship towards a small comfy looking house in the corner of Traverse Town.

"Like I said before, Traverse Town hasn't changed a bit," Sora said as he opened the door. They were greeted by a little boy wearing a hat with a feather sticking out, and a man with white hair.

"Pinoccio, your a real boy now!" Sora cheered.

"Sora, Donald, and Goofy!" The two cheered.

"How's it goin'?" Goofy asked as he walked into the comfy abode.

Donald, and Sora followed, "well it's been going great. Pinoccio is now a real boy, and a lot more honest than before."

"So life's been going a lot better than living in a giant whale huh?" asked Sora.

"Definitely!" cheered Pinoccio. Everybody in the room started laughing.

"Well you two, I've just come to say I'm going along with Sora on another dventure," Jiminy said.

"Well, I guess," Pinoccio said as he sat down on his little couch.

"Thanks," said Sora, "we promise we'll keep him safe."

"You better, or I'll, I'll cry," he said the three got up, and Sora hoped on Sora's shoulders.

"I promise," Sora said walking towards his Gummi ship. Sora and Donald followed. "Bye guys, nice to see you again!"

---------------R-I-K-U---------------

"Where's Sora!" Kairi yelled. She was scared, "his mother hasn't seen him since yesterday."

"It doesn't look like he's on the island anymore Kairi," Riku said staring out upon the vast ocean. "I think he left, for another adventure."

"He couldn't have," she said. She started to sob, but Riku forced his tears back.

"I know where he went," said a voice. The two turned around and saw an eighteen year old boy with spikey red hair. He had two marks under his eyes, and was wearing a short sleeve black t-shirt, with a pair of light blue shorts. "Okay I know I don't know where he went, but I saw him leave with a tall goofy guy, and with a small white duck on a strange ship last night.

"No way!" Kairi yelled.

"Donald, and Goofy!" he yelled.

"What are you talking about?" the boy yelled.

"Nothing important," Riku said. Kairi, and Riku ran off towards their boats leaving the boy behind.

"Who was that anyways?" Kairi asked.

"He's the new kid," Riku replied as he lept into his bot. Before rowing he thought he saw somebody in a black coat standing along with the boy, but when he blinked it seemed as if it were never there.