Chapter 20: The dark truth of Aisu.

Aisu exited the area near Gajou and sited to take a brief moment of why that kiss came to him. He was a little surprised in that matter but he snapped that though out of his mind. He continued his walk back to his hideout and looked at the dark sky above filled with stars, thinking of his past sins and feeling every drop of guilt there was to feel but he knew that what he decided to do. He felt almost no regrets to do it, but he did felt sad about it. The night was silent and yet so calm but the heart of the ice dog was set on a goal that will change his life. He ran into the deep forest living no trail behind him.

(Gajou)

Day hit the place with a beautiful sunrise and the small birds chirped in the morning. One of the Ohu dogs got out, Smith was staring at the morning as the breeze brushed his fur and made his floppy ears to flow with the breeze. He enjoyed to see the morning hit him again, after his death he never thought to feel this feeling again. Back in the afterlife everything was quiet and wind never passed by, the ambient of heavens was peaceful but it wasn't as enjoyable as he thought, he felt alone all the time, with no one to speak and no one to pass the time. It was nice but he felt empty up there. After this second chance he was given, this emptiness inside of him was replaced by joy and love to experience the morning of a good day. Even though he like it around, he still remained his promise to keep Weed safe. Weed was fully grown, he wasn't a pup like before, he was 3 years old and had a nice family, counting that his pups had turned a year old, he was proud to see his friend's son grown, but as the one who watched over him he was concerned about Gin's absence. Gin was held captive by horrible humans and he couldn't bear to think of what would be happening to him right now. All of it because of a human, and now it was Scout, a stranger that appeared the first time they found their leaders injured in the ground, a guy that seemed so friendly and that it was willing to give his all helping them, turned into a criminal by attacking his sister while she was pregnant, he almost killed her and then he was trying to get her forgiveness but it didn't worked. He escaped their eyes and now he is roaming around with those humans doing no good. Now everything that has happened grew the concerns of everyone, dead dogs around the forest, surely it was Scout and the humans. But there was also this strange armored dog called Aisu, just who was he? Where did he come from? He visited Gajou two times, but only at night, he was masked and hooded and wields ice powers, it was strange to see him in the nights. He behaved so friendly and calmed around the dogs of Gajou but, why does the guys of Gajou treated him like an ally? He only appeared two nights and there's not much known of this guy. He was a complete stranger and they barely know him, if there was one thing that Smith learned is to never trust a stranger unless it proves to earn that trust. Strangers can try to win the trust by doing one good deed, and as soon as you take your eyes off him, they stab you in the back, then something hit Smith in the head. He started to analyze all of the things of Aisu, first he is ice, second he was completely covered, third those blue eyes, he had seen them before, fourth was the echoing voice because of the mask, fifth he remembers that blue ninja human that controls ice, and the past events. Then it hit him, he finally knew who was Aisu at last and he is now willing to reveal it once he returns.

"Uncle Smith! Are you okay?" asked someone from behind.

Smith turned to see Sasuke and answered him.

"I'm fine, just thinking some stuff." Smith replied with a gentle smile to avoid any curiosity on Sasuke.

"Good, sorry to interrupt but GB wants to see you right away." Sasuke said.

"Is something happening?" Smith ask with worries.

"No, it's a good thing." Sasuke said to calm Smith. "He just wants to ask you if you could become the pup sitter of his pups, because he has understood that you are great with kids and he really wants to see if you could be his choice."

"I would love to." Smith answered.

"Then come with me, he will be glad to hear that." Sasuke says as he ask Smith to follow him.

(Koga territory)

"All right you maggots, I want a clean answer and I want a fair demonstration!" appeared Scorpion wearing a classic army helmet while holding a stick. "If anyone of you ever fails to follow the instructions I will take drastic measures. DO YOU UNDERSTAND! If one of you ever thinks that you can talk back to me then let me tell you how wrong are you!" He said pacing from left to right. "What says you cadet?!" He yells at the face of one of the many mannequins that are sitting in a chair in the whole room. "EXACTLY! NO ASNWERING BACK! GOOD WORK CADET! YOU ALL SHOULD LEARN FROM CADET WHOMPERSON! YOU HEARD THAT CADET PEARSON!" Scorpion yelled at a mannequin in the back.

"Scorpion?" asked Sub-Zero from behind.

"What?" he said looking at Sub-Zero.

"The Elder calls you." Answered Sub-Zero.

"Fine." He said as he threw the stick and helmet away.

Scorpion walked out of the shed and Sub-Zero putted the helmet on and grabbed the stick.

"ATTEEEEEEEEEEEEENTION!" he yelled in the shed.

Scorpion walked to the shed of the Elder and saw him laying down in the floor.

"Elder, you called?" Scorpion asked.

"Hanzo, good to see you here. I need your help for a while." The Elder said.

"Anything." Replied Scorpion.

"There's a lost Koga pup in the forest and his parents are worried for him, he is too young and he can't find his way home. I need you to find him and bring him home, he might be scared all by himself. " the Elder announced.

"I will accept that quest, I will start right now." Said Scorpion as he left.

"Thanks Hanzo." Thanked the Elder.

Scorpion headed out of the territory and went straight to the forest to search the lost pup. He walked for a long time, eventually he was far from the Koga territory, and he started to think that the pup should be scared. His thoughts were answered as he heard a small whimpering very close, as he kept following the sound the whimpers got louder and louder, he reached the source and found the lost puppy crying walking in circles.

"Mommy? (Whimpers) Daddy? (Whimpers)" the puppy was terrified of being alone.

"There you are! Your parents are looking for you." Scorpion said approaching to the puppy.

"Scorpion." He ran to Scorpion and he was picked up by him and started to lick Scorpion in the mask.

"Okay, okay. Don't worry I came as soon as I was told. Let's get back to the territory." Scorpion said walking back with the pup in his arms.

(Gajou)

Weed was silently sitting thinking on a way to get his father back again, his anger and hate towards this guys was unexplainable. He wasn't going to tolerate humans like these to walk around his territory, even if he have to go to the lair of these humans he will go just to get his father back and show those freaks to never mess with the Ohu dogs. Jerome was greatly worry that the Weed he used to know was going to let this anger to take over, he respected Weed dearly and he wouldn't want to see him turning into something he never approves, a killer, a murderer, a vengeful leader. After all the battles he had gone through without letting go of the ideology of kindness, it hurt Jerome to see his best friend turning into a person that would only care for revenge. He walked up to Weed, and started to talk to him.

"Weed we need to talk." Said Jerome.

"What now? I'm busy." Said Weed with a harsh tone.

"You need to calm down, we will retrieve your father before something bad happens. Is not good for you to think of this situation like this." Said Jerome.

"Who are you to say what way I should take this situation? Whatever I think of, that how it goes."

"So you think is right to go and kill someone for revenge after a sudden event?" asked Jerome.

"I will take that chance to prove that we are powerful, no that I'm powerful and no one can mess with me and my comrades. You said that killing someone is better in favor to protect your friends at all cost, if revenge is necessary then I'll kill them, I won't hold back to those guys, they will die for hurting us for so long!" said Weed in anger.

Silent fell for three seconds until Jerome spoke.

"One dog once told me that revenge is the mark of a killer and a marked dog is not worthy to be called a real warrior, I'm here for that dog. Then I believe in his words." Said Jerome.

"Oh yeah? Well you are wasting your time. You take the lead on this mission, because I'll go by myself and get my revenge." Weed turned around looking away from Jerome and the dogs that were listening the conversation.

"Let's go guys, we are moving." Said Jerome to the dogs who listened.

"What about Weed?" asked Kagetora.

"He won't be coming, he decided to go by himself." Answered Jerome.

"But our plan to make a truce will begin in a couple of hours." Said Mel.

"Then we better be there to for the time being." Said Jerome waiting for everyone to walk out.

Mel stopped a little and look back to Weed with a sad expression and then continue his way. Jerome was about to walk out.

"Jerome you have to understand, this is my chance." Said Weed.

"To do what Weed? To kill humans and become a monstrous leader like Hougen and be feared by your own friends? That's some life." Jerome said walking out finally out of the room, leaving Weed on his own.

Weed was left alone and laid down thinking on what to do. So far he talked about vengeance but he realized that he didn't even had a plan of attack and in just about hours his comrades would make a meeting with the humans and call a truce to avoid conflicts. He then started to think of the time when Hougen was alive, how Jerome killed his two assassins and then of how he was kicked out of the group, and yet he still aided him and at the time when Jerome saved him from drowning. After all the sacrifice, Weed found it in his heart to forgive Jerome, and now the same thing was happening but this time Jerome was doing the right choice. Weed felt more shame as a leader the more he thought about it. He didn't want to become like Hougen. Meanwhile Jerome and the Ohu dogs reunited in one area and talked about the plans, he told everyone about the planned truce and how they were going to regain control of Scout as a prisoner during the truce, they knew that he was dangerous but it was worst to have him roaming free, so they made a special area to keep him far away from Cherrypie and GB and the pups. But first was to convince the humans that they can be allies then take Scout as prisoner if they have him. They planned to go out the next day to search for the humans and make the truce by that time but this day was about making a convincing truce to get Gin back and Scout. Everyone seemed to agree but Cherrypie felt really unsure of the plan because of Scout's addition to the plan. GB saw her concerns and licked her cheek to calm her down, she relaxed knowing that GB was there to protect her at all cost. The puppies stayed with Smith, they were in a different room playing with each other as Smith watched over them like their guardian. When he saw Teddy crashing into the wall and cry he got up and came to calm him down and licked him in the head to comfort the puppy, like it was nothing Teddy got to comforted to even put him to sleep. He stayed with the pups for the whole evening until night fell once more in the forest. The six puppies were sleeping, cuddling against Smith using his body like a pillow. He eventually didn't mind that the pups were asleep close to him, it was to be expected from puppies. He took a long glance at them vowing to protect them if something happened, he made a new promise to himself to never leave them if their parents were out. GB and Cherrypie arrived at their room, finding Smith laying there while their pups were asleep.

"Oh Smith, thank you so much for pup sitting them for us." Cherrypie thanked him gladly.

"No problem, I'm always available for them if I'm needed." Smith said.

"I knew I made the right choice for choosing you, after saving me of that vehicle a long time ago, why wouldn't you be a great sitter. You care so much about young puppies that I know that you are a very trusting figure." GB said covering his pups in a blanket and let them sleep peacefully.

The three of them walked out of the place and were outside Gajou with Ruby eating her dinner and Onyx being himself, serious. Cherrypie walked to her friend and started to have a conversation with Ruby.

"Look how happy she is. Who would thought that her turning into a mother would change her completely?" GB said looking at his mate.

"Speak to yourself, you also grew up after deciding that you would be a father. You gave her a gift she wanted and now she is what she wanted to be." Said Smith.

Other Ohu dogs were gathered outside just enjoying their night outside, it was rare for this to happen but they did it and they were enjoying it so far. Everything was perfect for the moment until a certain warrior came to his way over Gajou with his usual serious and calmed expression. Ruby was the first one to react over this and her usual friendly matter made the first move towards him.

"Hi Aisu, I didn't expected you to come tonight." She said with her usual friendly smile.

"I'm not here for visit but I'm here because I think I might have dropped something last night." Sais Aisu.

"Oh, you dropped something? Well let me help you." She offered.

Smith felt uneasy seeing him here, he knew who he was and he wasn't afraid to reveal it. He thought this was the best chance to make him stop playing the stranger game. Smith found an item right next to him and picked it up and looked at it, it was a small throwing knife that was keen enough to be thrown at great speed by breaking the wind around it. He went towards them and made his move.

"Perhaps this is what you are looking for." Smith said showing the knife.

"Yeah that's it." Aisu replied.

"Thank you Smith." Ruby said as she went to grab it but Smith refused to give it.

Everyone looked at him confused and Ruby got a little shocked at his sudden behavior. She kept trying to take it but he kept evading her and kept refusing to return it.

"Smith give it back. That thing belongs to Aisu. You know you shouldn't take stuff that aren't yours." She said getting a little bit pissed about Smith's childish behavior.

"Why does he wants it back so badly?" he asked.

"Because it belongs to him." She retorted.

"Uncle Smith come on give Aisu back his weapon. Is not like he is going to stop visiting us. He won't cheat on you." Said Sasuke making all the dogs around to break a laugh.

Smith was looking at him in determination and walked to Aisu to give him the knife back, but instead of doing so he dropped the knife and pinned Aisu down on the ground as Smith stood on top of him. Everyone got surprised at Smith for attacking Aisu and some dogs came to cool down Smith but then Smith started to speak.

"You know for a nice behaving dog, you sure know how to hide your identity well, but those eyes of yours, they are recognizable. You know I almost fell for dumb when you acted the good guy, but I piece it together quite easily and I must say you did a great job but you can't hide forever." Smith said as he ripped the mask right off to reveal the face but then Aisu made a replica of the mask with his ice and knocked down Smith.

Everyone was surprised at Smith, some dogs tried to hold down Smith but the old dog didn't gave in and kept charging at Aisu in the attempt to break the ice mask. He managed to make contact to the mask making some cracks to it. But as soon as the crack got bigger he went for a last time and when Ruby attempted to trap Smith in a bubble it was too late. Smith's force broke the mask and Aisu landed on the ground with his face turned. Smith put his paw to prevent him from escaping and ripped the hood off. He then threw Aisu into the crowd of dogs. And Ruby walked up to him worried.

"Aisu, are you okay?" She asked in concern.

When Aisu lifted his head, her world turned upside down. Everyone was shocked but at the reveal their shock was turn into anger. The mystery warrior was none other than the traitor himself.

"Scout!" Ruby said in fury.

"There's your warrior." Said Smith understanding the sudden change of ambience.

Ruby at looking at that face again she felt disgusted for kissing him the last night.

"You sure know how to play with someone's feelings. You are a FUCKING LIAR! YOU PLAYED WITH MY FEELINGS TO WIN ME OVER AGAIN! YOU SURE ARE FUCKED UP! YOU HEAR! YOU ARE FUCKED UP!" she scream in brutal rage.

Scout stood up and tried to speak.

"You got it all wrong, I jus…" Scout was interrupted as he was grabbed by the neck by Ruby and she slammed him into a rock making him to yell in pain.

"SHUT UP!" she yelled crying from rage and hurt.

Scout was feeling broken, the hatred towards him had grown, he never thought he would see the day this thing would grow. She became more hostile whenever he was around. He looked at Cherrypie, he stared at her sister standing next to him, he thought that she came to reason to him.

"Cherrypie, I'm glad you came, listen I…" Scout's world fell apart after witnessing what his sister did to him. She bit him in the neck and then with small force she opened a big deadly wound in the side of the neck, making him bleed madly.

Cherrypie had the nerve to open Scout's left side of the neck to make him suffer. Scout didn't know how to react, as far as he knew her, she never liked to hurt anyone. But for her Scout wasn't a dog, for her he was a monster that deserved death right at the spot. For her, he was nothing. For everyone he was nothing, every Ohu dog fell to that conclusion that he is a nobody but a monster who wanted to fool everyone to think he was somebody. He looked around and there was zero compassion. He was nothing but a monster with the appearance of a dog. Those stares of pure hatred and the pups running in fear of him. He could felt his heart being torn off and stepped on by everyone a lot of times, his eyes watered so clearly that tears were hard to hide. Everyone looked at those tears but they didn't care, for them those were fake tears that tried to convince them that he was crying, they didn't believe it but they were real filled with sorrow and pain and they could easily screamed that he needed a little compassion. Everyone gathered around and started to beat him up like a ragdoll, his screams were silent as the only thing there was, was the sound of his cry and unmistakable sound of pain through rejection. Every dog were laughing at him and mocking him like he was no one important in life. They started to insult him and some dogs even peed on him as act of total mockery to him. Scout was now a defenseless bitch for Ohu to have fun with by treating him like some kind of punching bag. Smith was proud to reveal the man behind the mask, but that pride was replaced by a hint of guilt witnessing all the dogs treating him in such way. Why wasn't he using his ice powers to protect himself? An obvious being would use it to protect himself. Was he afraid of using them? Or did he did all of this to see his nephews and nieces. Is he afraid of hurting anyone? His crying could be hear as his blood was running in the ground, his cries are filled with pain. Not just physical but emotionally and mentally. Smith got a hint, but he isn't sure what it is, is he faking it or is he suffering?

"SCOUUUUT!" screamed a voice that made the dogs to stop their assault and look at the source of the scream.

Gin was extremely shocked and angered at seeing what his friends did to poor Scout.

Damn, cliffhanger. Well there you have it, I'm sorry it has taken long. Is hard with college this days but stay tuned. What is Gin going to do after seeing this thing?