Ginga Ocean James
Chapter 26-Aru's loyalty and forgiveness
"Aru wait up bro!" said Lakana as she and her brother as they were walking around the boat looking for beached fish. "Sorry sis. I got carried away with my thoughts." he said digging in the sand. Lakana had walked over to a patch of grass and began to dig. "Brother, what do you think of our half-siblings?" she said. Aru paused, not sure of what to say. "I…don't know. But the little female named Miney she seems quite nice." he replied. "But that little Saluki gets on my nerves." he said.
"Well you did attack our mother." she snorted. "I know your mad and all, but that was still no excuse to hurt her. She was worried about-!"
"ENOUGH!" screamed Aru, "I don't fucking care how she feels!" he ran off with tears in his eyes. "Aru…you still don't remember what happened that night, do you Big Brother?" she breathed.
On ship…
"Cross, are you still thinking of what happened that day?" asked Ben. Cross nodded her head. "Yes, I'm still shocked by Aru's reaction." she said. "I wonder why he acted like that? He had to have had a reason for doing so." said Chutora. "Yeah me too." said Tony.
"…What happened that day your friends were killed Cross? I've heard rumors that a big fire happened that day." said Tony. "Some dogs say it was arson. Others say it was bad karma for the humans." said Half-eye. "Really?" said Ben. "Come to think of it, there was also a fire near Kofu that same day." he thought.
With Aru…
"Why does my little Lakana keep bringing up that fight? She knows how I feel about our mother." He looked up at the sky, "What exactly happened that day when our mother vanished? I can't remember at all; everything seems fuzzy, like it was blocked or something." he thought to himself.
Suddenly, he heard a rustle in the bushes. "Who's there?" yelled Aru. He saw a Saluki mix walk out of the bushes. "Who are you?" he asked. "My name is Maoruki. I am one of Sam's servants." he replied. "Why are you here?" he asked. "I heard you conversations with your mother and sister." he said. "Don't butt in!" yelled Aru. "I know what happened that day you and your sisters were abandoned Aru. And you five need to know." he said with seriousness in his voice. Aru eased up, "Fine I'll take you to the ship. Follow me." Aru led Maoruki back to the ship.
After a while of walking, Aru and Maoruki arrived at the ship. "I'm back and I brought someone with me!" he yelled walking. "You don't need to yell sweetie everyone can hear you just fine." said Cross. She noticed Maoruki, "Oh who is this son?" she asked. "My name is Maoruki. Nice to meet you ma'am." he said politely. "I'll be leaving now." said Aru as he left to go find Lakana.
Cross sighed heavily, "Aru…" she said. Maoruki noticed the look of sadness on her face, "Is he your son?" he asked. Cross nodded her head, "Yes, but he still believes I abandoned him and his sisters." she said sadly. "…I see. So that's why he was angry on the way back here. He hates you." said Maoruki.
Maoruki thought for a moment, "Is Aru my…? No it couldn't be, my sister died that day when she was born."
With Aru…
"Hey Aru!" yelled Tony running up to him. "What do ya want?" asked Aru. "Hey did Lakana come back with you?" asked Tony. "No, I thought she came back on her own." replied Aru. "As anyone seen her?" asked Aru. They paused, "Shit!" yelled Aru as he ran back outside. "Hey wait!" yelled Tony.
With Damon and Makara…
"Stop struggling bitch." said Makara as he pinned Lakana to the ground. Lakana glared at him, "…Traitor." she breathed. "So Makara, we will wait for Aru to arrive. In the meantime, I will grab Tesshin. Come with me" Damon said running off, Makara following behind him…
"Sister! Where are you!" screamed Aru. He ran checking everything in his sight. "Lakana!" yelled Tony. "Big brother…" Aru's ears focused on the direction of her voice. Aru and Tony ran toward her voice. They found her tied up to a tree. "Brother…" she said weakly. The two males began to untie her. When she was freed, Lakana hugged her brother. "Thank you…" she said. "Are you okay?" asked Tony. "Yes I'm fine."
"Who did this to you?" asked Aru. "Makara did, he's betrayed us. And he had a Koga dog with him as well. They said they wanted to kill Tesshin." She said stumbling back in the direction of the ship. "Aru I'm fine." she said as Aru lifted her onto his back. "Nonsense, you're hurt." he said as the three ran back to the ship…
"Leave Tesshin alone! He has done nothing to you!" yelled Cross as she stood between Damon and her pups. "On the contrary, he has everything to do with me lady." snarled Damon. "He is my little brother." "Why would you kill your own brother?" asked Cross. "Because he stole everything simply for being born! I was supposed to be the heir of the Koga clan, but because he was born, he stole that from me!" screamed Damon. With those words he charged at Cross, slamming her into the side of the ship. "Mother!" yelled Maya as she and her sisters ran to defend their mother and half-siblings. "Mother, Lana and I will get the pups to safety, Draga will assist you okay?" she said firmly. "I see, thank you dear." Cross said leaving with the pups.
With Aru…
"Please let me get there in time!" thought Aru as he and Tony ran as fast as they could to get back in time. The three reached the ship and ran inside. They saw Damon with his jaw on Maya's neck. "Get off her!" yelled Tony as he slammed into Damon's body. Damon snarled and glared at Tony. "How dare you interfere with my plan!" he yelled.
"Leave my sisters alone." said Aru in an icy tone of voice laced with venom. "Overprotective of your sisters I see." smirked Damon. "But it's too late to stop my plan. My friend has already left to deal with your mother." Aru's eyes widened, "Tony, take care of this bastard. I'll find the other guy." said Aru as he ran off.
"So is the best an Ohu soldier can do?" mused Makara as he walked slowly over toward Cross. "You're just a female dog. What can you do?" he smirked. "You traitor, why are you doing this?" yelled Draga. "Why? Because I was sick and tired of being told to do justice time and time again! I was sick and tired of staying in that town. I had planned to take over the town, but Yukina and James got in my way. So I came up with a new plan-follow the Ohu army around to see what their weaknesses were. And you know what I found?" He laughed, "That you mutts are so naïve! And that will be your downfall!" he yelled charging at the pups. "I won't let you, traitor!" yelled Aru, slamming into Makara. "Are the pups okay?" asked Aru. "Yes they're fine." Aru turned his attention to Makara. "Let's take this out side, shall we?" yelled Aru as he pushed Makara outside a hole in the ship.
Outside, there were barrels of oil outside. "Bastard!" screamed Makara as he got up. Aru noticed he was covered in oil. "At this rate, I'll lose!" thought Aru. He looked around for a way to defeat him. His eyes wandered to a box of matches humans had left behind. "That might work." he picked up a match, lighting it. "How 'bout some fire!" yelled Aru as he threw the match at Makara setting him on fire.
"You think you can defeat evil that easily? Akakabuto and Sniper were just the beginning!" yelled Makara as he burned to death. Aru sighed and went back inside.
"Aru!" yelled Lakana as everyone ran over to him. "Makara has been dealt with. What happened to the Koga dog?" asked Aru. "He ran off. Don't know where he went though." said Maoruki. Aru smiled. "Brother, do you remember what happened the day mom went missing?" asked Maya. Aru shook his head, "No, I don't."
"Well, apparently Maoruki saved us!" she said, "Mom never abandoned us at all!" finished Maya.
"She…didn't?" said a confused Aru. He looked at the ground, "Have I been wrong the whole time?" he looked at Cross, "I…I'm…sorry…mother." he said. Cross licked his head, "It is alright my son." she said.
Elsewhere…
"So Makara has failed me." said Damon. He smirked, "Now to try something else. "How have things been, my cousin?" asked Simon walking out of the bushes. "Nothing." replied Damon. "Follow me, my mate wishes to talk to you."