A/N: Chapter 18 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 18: Kyoshiro the Silver

Worn-out shelter…...

"It seems the weather has cleared up, we need to keep going Weed." All of Weed's troops were outside as they waited for his command. The young pup was busy conversing with Reika.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" He asked her. Reika smiled and wagged her tail.

"I'll be fine, don't you worry about me. You be careful Weed, Hougen is powerful but I have no doubt you'll be able to defeat him."

"Thank you Reika." Weed nodded and watched her walk off. He turned to his group with a sparkle in his eyes. "Come everyone, we're leaving."

"Yes!" They howled in response and fell into line.

"Weed are you okay?" Jerome asked as he ran just slightly behind him. Weed looked dejectedly at the snow in front of him.

"I wonder how...Alayus is doing." He looked at Jerome in earnest. "I should've thought about it sooner but without her you tend to be a bit meaner to everyone in the group. I didn't know you two were...you know boyfriend girlfriend."

"It's okay Weed." Jerome replied. "Yes Alayus and I are boyfriend girlfriend but I'm sure she's doing quite fine. She's not a weakling especially when her father is no other than John, Gin's right-hand man. Oh and I'm sorry if I do tend to come off a bit cold but that's just a habit."

"Yeah, you're right. Rocket, can you take the lead? I don't know these roads very well."

"Yes Leader!" Rocket surged forward and lead the group, the snow sinking beneath their paws with every step they took. It didn't take long before they entered the Shiga prefecture. According to Rocket, this was were the rumored Kyoshiro and his pack lived.

"Kyoshiro doesn't follow Hougen's command." Rocket told them as they continued running. "If we can get him on our side then we should be able to handle Hougen no problem."

"Is there a chance that he wouldn't want to join us?" Jerome asked. Rocket was about to reply when a scream filled the air. It sounded like someone was in pain. Following the sound, Weed saw another dog running towards them, his left ear ripped off with blood flowing out. It looked like a fresh wound.

"Please! Help me!" The mutt scurried over and tried to hide behind them. Weed and his group looked up to see another pack running towards them.

"Weed, look at their numbers!" Rocket whispered as the leader, a white mixed breed with scars running along his body, padded up and immediately snarled at the mutt.

"Coward! How dare you hid behind someone else! Can you even call yourself a male?! I'll kill you right here and now for what you did!"

"Please forgive me...spare my life!" The mutt whimpered and sank lower in the snow to avoid the harsh glare.

"No! I cannot! A stray dog like you, an adult for that matter...there's no way I can let a guy like you live. I'll give you what you deserve!"

"Wait!" Weed stepped forth and placed himself between them. "I don't know what's going on here, but don't you think this is going too far?"

"Who the hell are you?" Now the mixed breed noticed Weed's pack and hesitated for a minute. "Hmm? You're not from around here are you?" He looks at Weed. "Here's a little something about myself. When I get angry, I tend to not care about anything else that's in my way."

"Well then, why don't you be at peace with us? The best way to settle a fight is by talking." Weed acted pleasantly though he was concerned about how cruel this stranger was treating others.

"Kid, don't nose into someone else's business when you don't know what's going on."

He may be young and small, but he's also wise. Jerome thought as he watched the exchange quietly.

"If you were from around here, you'd know who I am. My name is Kyoshiro the silver..." Kyoshiro nodded to his pack. "and that is my pack. They are mostly one year olds but they have some experience. None of us have felt any love from a parent."

That's him!? Kyoshiro of Shiga? Weed looked at the dog in front of him; he was no older than himself.

"I'd love to stay and chat with you but first things first..." Kyoshiro nodded to a much younger pup. "Kid, come over here. It's okay, your father isn't going anywhere."

"Teru, I'm sorry! Your father has been bad to you. " The mutt tried to kiss up to his son. "Please...help your father!"

"Shut up you! You're only saying that because you're in trouble!" Kyoshiro snapped before addressing Weed. "This guy's father thought he'd been stealing his food from him, so he started beating him. That's why I went to the extent of cutting one of his ears off. He did something a father shouldn't do. He did something an adult shouldn't do." He waited patiently until Teru reached him. "Teru, well? Do you still think of him as your father?" Teru looked at the pathetic dog with emotionless eyes.

"No..." His voice came out in a whisper. "That guy...that guy...is not my father!"

"Alright, he has decided. Hey!" Kyoshiro looked at his pack. Four dogs rushed forward, grabbed Teru's father by his legs and took off running. Kyoshiro followed not too far behind, excitement flowing through his veins.

"What are you doing!?" Weed yelled after them.

"Punishing him." A cliff soon came into view. It was a long drop but the sound of rushing water reached their ears.

"Please help me! They'll kill me!" Teru's father wailed as he sense imminent danger.

"Do it! Heave!" The dogs chanted and threw him over the cliff. Yelping, Teru's father plummeted down in to the water. He surfaced a minute later and gripped the rocks to keep afloat.

"You're not Teru's father anymore!" Kyoshiro called down at him. "Don't you dare come within a 10 kilometer radius of him! If I see you come anywhere near us, I'll kill you without an ounce of mercy!" Hearing a whimper, he turned his attention to Weed's group. "While I'm at it, I'll tell you guys as well. This is my territory so none of you have any authority here. But, if you bother my comrades even just a little I won't forgive you, got it?" With that last warning, he motioned for his pack to follow him. They raced off across the snow field and disappeared.

"I should have seen that coming Weed, I'm sorry." Rocket apologized quickly. Weed shook his head but there was a grin on his face. His friends saw it and they knew that Weed had already made up his mind. Unknown to them, Hougen was already one step ahead and sent in professional killers to take them out.

Missile's group...

"It seems like I'm good as new." John spoke as he did a 180, checking out his healed wounds. "Of course there a couple of scars but it shouldn't hinder me at all. I've tackled Akakabuto head on and lived. A few more battle scars for my collection."

"Glad to see you as good as new Leader." Missile replied.

"Where to next my dear boy?" John padded forward and sniffed the air, looking from side to side. "Oh that's right, I didn't ask for your name."

"It's Missile." Missile bowed his head low.

"Missile huh? Very well may I call you Missile from now on? Where do you think Weed and his group are at the moment."

"It would be my honor my Leader." Missile's chest swelled with pride for the first time in forever. Having one of the greatest leaders call his name was a great honor. "As to your question of where Weed and his group are I believe they would attempt to cross . Rocket must have told him where to recruit more dogs."

"Very well Missile, lead the way." Together, John and Missile took off. The Eastern Tiger was back in action.