A/N: Chapter 16 of Ginga Densetsu Alayus. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. Ginga Densetsu Weed belongs to the rightful owner.

Special thanks to the reviewers, I truly appreciate it.

Chapter 16: A Fierce Spirit

Northern Alps…...

"Leave me alone!" Reika's yelped as she tumbled out of Hougen's lair. The dogs watched as she tried to escape before one of the captains yelled at them to capture her. Immediately they jumped on her and held her down as she thrashed about, growling at them in fear.

"Don't hurt her." Hougen himself strolled out and licked his chops eagerly. "Come back Reika I have a fresh young deer inside just for you. Once you have finished, you are going to mother my kids when spring arrives!" Reika just looked at the Great Dane with scared eyes as she felt herself being dragged back inside. Hougen sent her a snide grin before stepping onto the snow.

"Where are you going sir?" One of the dogs asked politely.

"Where do you think idiot?" He growled before ignoring the mutt. "Just look after my bitch while I go to visit our lovely leaders." He trudged through the soft snow and approached the shabby shack. Poking his giant head in, he noticed the still bodies of John and Gin. "There's no need to act modest gentlemen when I come to visit." He nudged them both viciously with his paw. "After all, I'm being generous by letting you live now."

"How sickingly generous you son of a bitch." John spat as he gripped Hougen's forearm with his fang but Hougen shook him off without effort.

"My my such filthy language coming from an old fart like you shocks me." Hougen feigned hurt as he turned his attention to Gin who hasn't uttered a peep. "Gin you're being a bit quiet today. Not jealous of letting your right-hand man do all the smacking are you?"

"Back off Hougen and let me tear you apart!" John growled before receiving a kick to the jaw.

"Shut up you! Can't you see I'm having a very nice chat with the leader?" Hougen growled and looked down at Gin with a sneer. "As I was saying, dear leader…..actually you know what I lost my train of thought."

"You can think? That's new." John scoffed quite rudely but Hougen ignored it.

"I'll be back to keep you company but for now I must go back to my lovely wife!" Throwing back his head and giving out a heinous laugh, he exited the building. John sighed and looked at Gin through his peripherals.

"Gin, are you okay?"

"John, that was reckless." Gin replied calmly. Strangely he felt proud of his friend for actually biting Hougen regardless of how tired he was. If only he had energy to use but he was conserving it. "Try to conserve your energy, the opportunity will come for us."

"Hopefully soon." John sighed and decided to go to sleep. Gin soon heard the soft snore from his friend and followed his lead. Sleep soon consumed him.

Inside Hougen's hut…...

Reika shuddered as she felt Hougen's tongue moving softly over the top of her head. She couldn't help but whimper as she felt him getting closer and probably getting hornier by the minute. His scent of his arousal definitely turned her off.

"My dear Reika, you know I won't hurt you one bit." Hougen chuckled as almost made his move before a voice called to him from beyond the walls.

"Hougen-sir please forgive my intrusion but the Borzoi brothers are back."

"Those fools….tell the others to hold them in place. I'll be right there." Hougen growled before padding to the door. "My dear sweet Reika, I'm going to step right out to settle some business. I'll try to make it quick and hurry back to you." Sending her a wink and blowing her a kiss, he padded out into the snow. When he arrived, Missile and Jet were busy snapping at their attackers and calling for him. Once they spotted their leader, they started rattling off pleas.

"You're misunderstanding Hougen! We came back to you, didn't we?!"

"Our brother thinks differently from us!"

"Hougen, please stop!"

"This is not something to joke around about!"

"You're really going to kill us?!" At this moment, some of Hougen's new recruits stumbled upon the scene and they watched with anticipation. Noticing his new recruits, a sinister smile graced his ugly face.

"Everyone, look closely….look with both eyes and watch what will happen if you betray me." Some of the dogs quietly whispered amongst themselves before listening to their future leader. "Those who question my decision will also be punished. There will be no exceptions."

"Are you serious, Hougen?!" Jet exclaimed in outrage. "Stop kidding around!"

"Quickly, kill them." Hougen turned his back on the two of them and nodded to his henchmen. "And don't make too much noise, it's annoying." Immediately Jet's attackers wasted no time delivering wounds, mercilessly and ruthlessly opening wounds over his body. Missile yelled as his brother vainly struggled to stay alive, the wound on his throat slowly running down his neck.

"You….! Hougen!" Amazingly Jet got right back up and threw off his remaining attackers. "I won't just stand here and let you kill me!" He rushed forward with his fangs bared. "You will die with me! Prepare yourself!" A nonchalant expression on his face, Hougen delivered the final blow, his movement too fast for the rest of the dogs to follow. The final wail from Jet caught their attention as the dog fell to the ground dead.

"It's a waste of time to try and fight me. You're 10 years too young, even if you were older this would still be your fate."

"AAAAHHHHHHHH! HOUGEN! BASTARD!" Overcome with sadness and rage, Missile reared up and charged forward, dislodging his own attackers. Sighing in annoyance, Hougen bared his own fangs as he watched the distance close between them. Missile's attack missed and Hougen lunged in for the kill. A sudden whirlwind of snow surrounded the dogs, blinding their vision with sheets of white frost. Once it calmed down, Missile was nowhere to be seen. Most of the dogs looked around bewildered and started talking to each other.

"What just happened?"

"It happened so fast."

"Was that a cyclone?"

"Don't just stand there you lot! One of those traitors has escaped execution! Find him and kill him!" Hougen howled enraged and his henchmen quickly darted off in different directions in hopes of picking up the scent. Missile watched Hougen's scouts from a secluded area before looking at his savior. To say that he was surprised was a complete understatement.

"You…! Why did you…! My brothers and I, we tried to corrupt your little army and yet….you saved me."

"My body just moved on its own." Alayus casually licked her paws and drew them over her ears. "Of course there is no need to thank me, I just happen to spot you and followed you guys back to where Hougen was."

"If you were watching us, how come you didn't help Jet!?" Rage mixed in with guilt coursed through his veins. "Jet was murdered and yet you rescued me!"

"Now don't you blame this on me!" Her hackles rose up as she felt threatened. "Jet chose to do what he did and I didn't want to ruin that. His heroic act should not be in vain. "

"I still want to kill that bastard Hougen myself but to tell you the truth, he's too tough." Missile rested his head on his paws with sadness. "If only I was stronger than Jet wouldn't have died." Alayus placed her paw on his shoulder and wagged her tail.

"If Jet saw you like this, he would be disappointed." Turning on her heels, she padded back towards Hougen's place. Missile looked up at her retreating form.

"W-w-what do you plan on doing?"

"I'm going to save my father from Hougen's clutches." Alayus replied and disappeared through the ferns. Knowing that Jet's death couldn't be undone and feeling like their debt hasn't been paid back yet, he followed the German shepherd.

Inside the rundown shack…...

"Leader….hey leader are you okay?" A whisper floated through Gin's ears and he opened his eyes. A dog leaned over him with worry. "Oh good, you're alive."

"Who are you?" John growled.

"Please calm down, we're on your side. We're your guards for tonight." The dog turned to give his buddy a nod. "We'll try to find a way to get you guys out."

"That sounds nice but how do you intent to …..wait what's that commotion outside?" Gin said as he and John listened to the plethora of voices.

"Hey Lefty!" Another dog called to his buddy. "We need to go. The guards and everyone all left to witness someone being punished however one of them escaped. This is the perfect opportunity!"

"Go, John!" Gin ordered quietly. "Your job is to save Reika."

"How can you ask me to leave you, Gin?!" John growled as he bit back his distress. "How can you give me such a painful order? To leave you behind, is worse than death to me!"

"Akame left us with the same feelings. Your assignment is more important than my life. And besides," Gin smiled. "You have a daughter you haven't seen in a while right? Maybe you'll get the chance to meet her."

I wonder how Rue's doing. All this time I have left my wife in charge of raising my young as I traveled across the land with Gine and Akane, she was pregnant that year….….…..I wonder if she gave birth already. "Gin, no matter what don't die! Not until you've met Weed. Don't disappoint your son and don't you worry about me."

"I never thought you knew how to say these kind of things. Don't worry about me, I won't die until Reika has been brought to safety."

"No, Gin. Not before you've met Weed."

"I know, John…." Gin nodded. Giving his friend one last look, John padded out and made his way to Hougen's hut. Reika laid inside with another guard on duty. She looked up when John dispatched the enemy swiftly.

"John." She said in relief. "Those wounds…are you okay?"

"No time to talk Reika, we need to go soon." He stepped to the side and let her through. She spotted three additional dogs waiting for them and the five of them trekked their way through the freshly fallen snow.

"With the progress we're making in this storm, our tracks will be covered up. Let's tried to go as far as we can." John yelled to the others behind him. They granted back in response and continued to follow their leader.

"WHAT?!" Hougen's outrages cries filled the air and he angrily lashed out at his guard. "Follow them! Kill them all! Don't let them escape! If you cannot complete this task, I will personally cleave your heads off your shoulders as well as slaughter your families!" A bunch of dogs hurried after the wounded groups in haste. Hougen took out all of his frustration on Gin, beating and torturing him till he had enough. Spitting on the ground, he left in a huff. Gin laid there in silence before softer paw steps could be heard behind him.

"Are you okay?" Judging by the voice, he could tell it was a young dog. A shadow fell over his face and his vision adjusted to the dim lighting.

"John? I thought you already left?" Gin squinted in confusion.

"I think you're confusing me for my father. My name's Alayus dear leader." Alayus bowed her head.

"Oh? John's kid." Gin moved his head slightly. "Who's that behind you?"

"Don't worry about him, he's on our side." Alayus smiled at Missile who stayed outside incase Hougen came back. "Please tell me, what happened to my father."

"He is probably out there. Please go to him, he's with three other males and a female. With Hougen sending that many dogs and probably going there himself, I doubt they'll survive. Please!"

"Very well. We'll do what we can." Bowing her head once more, she exited the building and motioned for Missile to follow her. Together both dogs took off after the massive horde of dog tracks before a new blanket of snow covers them up.

John's group…...

The dreary weather hardly lightened John's mood and he found himself gritting his teeth without realizing it. Noticing that the storm has died down, he was left with limited to no choice. He held back and allowed the others to pass.

"John, can you not walk anymore?" One of the dogs asked with concern.

"Heh, I can't walk but I can still bite!" Looking at their worried faces he snapped angrily. "I am John. Survivor of the fight with Akakabuto. Do you think I will die because of Hougen? Pheh, he can't do anything to me!" Sniffing the air, he turned to his rugged group. "Reika we shall go our separate ways."

"But John…" She sniffled, holding in her tears.

"Don't look back. Go on. The path should be a straight line from here on out."

"But….."

"Go ON! We don't have time for this!" He shoved her roughly with his snout. Giving them one last teary look, she stumbled ahead alone. John looked at the other three. "What's wrong? You go too, all of you."

"No let us stay here with you, John!" One of them argued.

"You won't escape alive. You know that!" John spat but there was something in their young eyes that sparked some interest.

"Yes….." Their voices faltered slightly but they stood firm.

"Oh, I still don't know your names. Tell me."

"Heh, looks like the snow disappeared and their footsteps are visible." The captain in charge of Hougen's group looked up to see John and his team sitting there waiting for them. "There…! They are over there! You knew you couldn't escape us, didn't you?!" He charged forward with the rest of his squad.

"Look carefully…" John spoke to the males standing beside him. "Look how a real male live his life. A life with no regrets!" However as he said that, his mind flashed back to when he first met Rue, how they were happy together. The last memory he remembered was their sweet parting and how she told him that she'll have healthy kids waiting for his return. That was the happiest moment of his life. Opening his eyes and baring his teeth, John launched himself at his enemies like a mad devil. Sinking his fangs into the nearest dog, he ripped off the dogs left ear and pounced on three more dogs. His rapid attacks quickly decreased the enemy's moral as they fearfully stepped back.

"Okay who's next?" John growled, his fierce gaze paralyzing them. "I'll send you all straight to hell!"