A/N: Chapter 29 of Ginga Densetsu Alayus. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. GDW belongs to the rightful owner.
Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.
Chapter 29: Ohu suicide corps
Gajou...
"What?" Hougen's enraged voice woke some of his followers up that morning. "An enemy spy got away?! What the hell have all of you been doing?!" He angrily slammed a paw down, glaring at the generals for an answer. When he didn't receive one he paced back and forth, the fur on his pelt were bristling with anger. "God damn it! One little spy...one measly little rat and you fools can't even catch him?! The Ohu Army is probably laughing at us!"
"Now now don't get your fur all in a twist." Kamakiri spoke after a minute, trying to keep his voice mild and casual. "Just because he got away doesn't mean he will a second time."
"Don't you dare patronize me!" The Great Dane snapped before kneading the ground with a claw. "Those cheeky bastards think they'll win with childish tricks but in the end," He let out a chuckle. "I'll be the one to have the last laugh and they will be slaughtered. "
"We're going to go find the Ohu Army now. Prepare for departure!"
Meanwhile, GB was giving a lecture about Gajou's structure foundation, where everything was located so to speak by means of stones and sticks.
"That Paradise was created by dogs that had gathered from all across the country. Bound by a strong friendship, those dogs, fearing not even death-fought as one against Akakabuto before they perished. Paradise rests on top of the blood that our friends shed. We cannot forget that. " As Akame continued his monologue the older soldiers wept for those who died. "Our friends' spirits still live in Futago pass. We absolutely cannot allow Hougen to walk all over the place where those souls rest peacefully!"
"Akame-san."
"Leader!"
"Shigure!" Weed said as he saw the patrol group return. The forth member Hook, was still watching and observing the opposing forces and didn't return with the others. "What's wrong?"
"Hougen has just left Gajou with all 700 members of his troops!" The Kai dog reported much to everyone's shock. "Hougen has divided the troops into 5 groups and they're all marching this way. The Dane himself is leading the main party, Kamakiri is the leader of group 2, Kite is leading group 3, Bat is leading group 4 and last but not least, Buruge is leading group 5."
"Kite...also known as the 'God of Wind' huh..." Tesshin muttered when he listened to the Kai dog.
"With so many of them, if we even get close to Gajou, we'll undoubtedly run into one of those groups." Shigure finished his report.
"Since they divided up into 5 groups, I assume Hougen is planning to attack us from all sides." Weed spoke as he began to think of a strategy. "Rocket, I have a favor to ask. Go and confirm where Hougen himself is."
"Got it." said Rocket and hurried off.
Today might be the final battle. Weed thought as he watched his runner disappear across the snow fields.
Hougen's group...
"Alright, stop." The Great Dane ordered to the group of dogs behind him and they all looked grateful for the rest. "Rest until Kamakiri and his dogs create a barrier." Since that morning, the army had been marching for quite some time and some of the soldiers were starting to slow down a bit. Little did they know that Rocket was watching them from above.
"Weed!" The Borzoi spoke when he returned after watching Hougen's army. "He's coming directly from the front."
"How many?" Weed asked.
"More than a hundred. Right now, he's leading and is defenseless."
"If we rush in on him and create a melee, it'll take at least five or ten minutes for backup troops to arrive." Teshin spoke.
"We can win." Akame agreed. "Indeed with that number, it is not impossible."
"Let's do it. I'll take on Hougen." Hiro offered.
"No, I'll take on Hougen." Weed replied quickly. "Even if he has his guard down, we only have one second."
"What? One second?" Kurotora looked at him with a baffled expression.
"I don't think he's someone who can be brought down in just one second..." Shigure said, mirroring his uncle's shocked response by stating his doubt.
"I have a plan." Weed spoke with confidence as he faced his small army. "I'll put an end to him using my father's Battouga. He still doesn't know anything about my Battouga. With him off his guard, now is our best chance of winning."
"Weed can use the Battouga?" Moss asked Tesshin in a low whisper.
"Yes." The nin-dog replied. "Unlike mine, it is the real thing..."
"To catch him as off guard as possible, we're going to carry out the attack as a small group. In order to withdraw right after we've taken down Hougen, we'll use the younger guys."
"What are you saying?" Kurotora snapped at him before John had a chance to respond to the comment. The old warrior knew the kai dog's personality really well and truth be told, John knew deep down that Weed wouldn't bring him along for the mission either. "That the old guys should just sit out?!"
"If you accept me as the leader, then listen to me." Weed said calmly but firmly. "All of the old leaders, except Akame-san, do not have the necessary willpower to withdraw quickly so I can't take you."
"Weed, I have no intentions of running away!" The old Kai-dog said. "Until my life comes to an end, I'll cut, cut, and keep cutting!"
"Kurotora-san, you have another duty. This isn't it." Weed argued.
"Kuro, you may not care about your own life, but all of the young ones here can't just abandon a friend." Moss spoke.
"It's as Moss said. Are you planning on sacrificing young lives again with your interference?" Akame knew that he was taking a jab at the kai dog, referencing the deaths of his nephews but he had to get the point across.
"Do as you wish!" Kurotora finally stated, turning his head away with a huff.
"Alright. Let me announce the members who will participate in the attack to kill Hougen." Weed gazed at everyone, noticing their determined and eager expressions. "Akame-san. Tesshin. Jerome. Rocket."
"I'm grateful, Leader." Rocket replied.
"Ken, Kagetora."
"That's what I'm talking about!" The two spoke simultaneously when their names were called.
"Shigure, Nobutora, Harutora...and the five from Mutsu." The dogs named all nodded their heads with approval and thankfulness that their leader chose them for the mission.
"There's still more, right?" Kyoushiro asked as GB nodded his head as well. "You know, a key player per say?"
"Oh right." Weed said and scanned the dogs for an additional member...or members. "The ninja dogs of Koga, please come with us. That's all."
"WHAT?!" Kyoushiro's jaw dropped with disbelief. "Wait up Weed, you forgot me!" He bolted up bravely in hopes of changing his friend's mind. "You're not trying to say I won't be any use, are you?!"
"Don't raise your voice, youngster!" Ben stated angrily.
"Shut your mouth, old man!" The Kishu turned on him and snapped his jaws together threateningly.
"Kyoushiro, we're not going there to die." Weed spoke up, stopping the two dogs from arguing even further. "Even if you're strong at fighting, if you don't have the will to escape after the fight, we can't take you."
Heh...much like Gin. John laughed to himself at the resemblance, not just in looks but also in wits.
"Kyoushiro, you're the same as me." Hiro spoke up. "When we get fired up, we forget about escaping." Kyoushiro didn't respond and kept his gaze on the snow by his feet instead, trying to control his anger level.
"Go. Do what you need to do, Weed." Moss said. "We won't interfere."
"Right. Mel." Weed turned to find the golden retriever in the crowd. "Take everyone to our hideout near the dam. Wait for the good news there."
"Okay Weed." Mel said before turning to the ones who weren't picked. "Everyone, follow me."
"Weed, be careful." Cross said before following Mel.
"We'll be waiting for the good news." Reika added. One by one, the dogs that weren't picked said encouraging remarks to their leader before leaving.
What a kid. He knows everyone's abilities...That's why they all obey him. Cross thought as she turned to look back at those who stayed behind, especially at the young leader. He's the same as Gin back in the day. He's gaining everyone's trust. That kid is already a splendid leader...
Meanwhile...
"What great weather!" Hougen commented, looking up at the sky with interest. Suddenly a gust of wind blew and the dog shivered with disgust. "Brrr! These Ohu winds are so damn cold. Man..."
That guy is Hougen...Weed thought as he and his small group spied on the army from behind a snow bunker. That bastard who hurt my father and is disturbing this world...
"We can take them, Weed." Akame said with assurance.
"We're still hidden. They don't even know we're here!" Ken commented, laughing on the inside about Hougen and his stupid mutts.
"At this distance, we can do it." Kagetora nodded his head in agreement.
Calm down. I gotta calm down. Weed didn't issue the command yet but he could hear his heart pounding painfully against his chest as he looked at the huge Dane. If I fail the first time, there is no second chance.
The other half of Weed's army were busy swimming in the river led by Mel. Some of the dogs were shivering due to the cold water but were keeping pace really well.
"The current is going to get more severe up ahead." Cross pointed out as Reika gave a heads up to the dogs in the back to be careful and not get swept away. But as she looked back she realized that Kyoushiro and his group weren't behind them.
"What?" Hiro and everyone turned to look behind them but there was no sign of the said mutt or his crew. "Those bastards!"
"Leave him be." John said calmly. "Guys like him probably needs to clear their minds one way or another. Let us continue just as Weed says. Or else I will actually freeze to death and haunt you all with my spirit once I'm dead."
You gotta be kidding me. Kyoushio continued running with all his heart towards where Gajou was. He's treating me like a kid! I didn't join the Ohu army to run away from shit!
"Kyoushiro." A voice stopped him and Alayus padded out through the trees looking quite concerned. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Alayus!" The Kishu padded to a stop to explain the situation. "Weed excluded me from his little squad. So I'm gonna go and try to take out as many of Hougen's army as I can and show him what I'm made of!"
"That...doesn't sound right."
"What?!"
"If you were alone, it would be acceptable. But what are you going to do with the ones who followed you?" Alayus looked behind him and he followed her gaze to see his group coming around the bend.
"Those guys..." Kyoushiro turned around, his body trembling with anger as well as frustration of being followed.
"We have a problem!" Alayus looked to see Ryu perched on a branch of a nearby tree. "Alayus-sama, it's the enemy! They're heading this way!"
Shit...The German Shepherd growled to herself as she watched the approaching army through the trees.
"The winds have changed..." Hougen took notice, lifting his nose to the air to take a whiff. "Huh? What's this scent?" He then turned to see a small group of dogs standing not too far away.
"It's Gin!"
"No way, that's impossible!" Some of Hougen's followers panicked at the sight of Weed.
"Hougen, do you know who I am?" Weed asked him.
"You? The orphan that's Gin's stupid son?" The Dane replied.
"Is that all you have to say?" Weed said, eerily calm and disregarding Hougen's taunting. "I will have you pay for your crimes, right now!" At that, his entire group rushed down to engage in battle and the entire forest clearing turned into a blood bath.
"They don't even know that they're surrounded." Hougen mused as he watched the fight. "To have come here by yourselves, you guys are idiots." He turned to a dog on the side lines. "Hey, call for the others."
"Yes!" The dog answered and started howling, calling for any and all nearby teams to rendezvous and back the main team up.
"Everything's riding on this!" Akame said as he and Rocket raced side-by-side.
"Surround them and attack the center!" Tesshin ordered. All of the dogs clashed against one another, most of the dogs in Hougen's army were either ill prepared or lack fighting experienced because Weed's group of elite fighters made quick work of them.
"What? This is all of them?" Even Hougen realized that Weed's group was only a small few. He released a laugh before noticing that Weed disappeared. "Where'd you go, kid? Got scared?"
"Over here, Hougen!" The Dane turned to see Weed standing behind him, heckles raised and teeth bared with his lips curled up in a snarl.
"Do it Weed!" Kagetora said as he continued to sink his fangs into one of Hougen's subordinates.
"Take his head off!"
Watch over me, Father...Saying a quick prayer, Weed lunged forward, throwing up snow with his feet as he ran.
"Don't underestimate me, kid!" Hougen snapped as he ran towards his opponent, jaws opened wide to display rows of sharp teeth.
"Take this! Zetsu Tenrou Battouga!" Running at max speed, Weed tucked into a tight ball and started to spin in a disc-like shape.
"This is-!" Hougen skidded to a halt as the whirlwind of fur went straight towards him. Weed's attack collided, sending up a fountain of blood into the air. The other fighters ceased their fighting as they watched Hougen's body collapse in the snow, his head buried underneath the snow. Weed himself, crashed against the snow and rolled to a halt.
"It's over. Rocket, take Weed!" Akame ordered. "We're retreating! Everyone, withdraw!" Weed's group acknowledged the order and hurried after their subleader. Hougen's followers didn't bother chasing after them, instead they gazed intently at their leader's corpse, hoping that he wasn't dead.
"What happened?!" Kamakiri's voice shouted in the distance as he and his army ran up to join Hougen's army. "Are you guys the ones who called us?"
"What's going on?!" From the other side, Kite's group was also bounding over the snowy field. It was then that the two groups noticed that Hougen was laying in the snow, unmoving.
"They're not following us..." Kagetora observed as Weed's group swam down the river and away from the fight.
"Don't let your guard though, you never know what might be around the bend." Ken said.
"What's wrong, Weed?" Rocket asked, noticing that his leader was trembling, as if something was bothering him.
"Sorry, Rocket..." Weed said breathlessly, still exhausted from using his father's technique.
"Why are you apologizing?" Rocket asked with confusion. "That was a great Battouga."
"No, that's not what I'm apologizing for." Weed shook his head with frustration. "I didn't kill Hougen."
Back to Hougen's group...
The Great Dane's paw started to twitch before he finally dug his head out from under the snow. His followers stood by, staring at him in shock and disbelief.
"It was only one hit, but if I didn't use this guy," Hougen spoke as he stared at the dead dog underneath him, blood pouring out of his head from where Weed's attack cut him. "...that would have been my head..." The instant before getting hit by the Battouga, Hougen used a nearby follower as a shield.
How brutal...Some of his followers thought.
"Weed, huh? No doubt that he's Gin Jr." Hougen continued to ramble. "He's a strong one. But that aside, he uses a very strange technique..." He glanced around with a very angry expression. "So, where did they go?"
"Over that way, past that hill at full speed." A mutt spoke up.
"Damn that little shit." Hougen growled with annoyance. "Alright! All of you, let's move!" As the enemy started to move out, a shadow from the forest watched them for a few more minutes before sprinting away at full speed.
"Alayus-sama!" Ryo said as she ran back to the group taking shelter underneath some trees. The German Shepherd sat up immediately at the sound of her name and waited for the Shikoku to greet her. Ryu and Hanji stood in the shadows as they watched their sister skid to a halt. "I bring you news."
"Take a deep breath first." Alayus told her. "Then please continue."
"Right!" Ryo nodded and took a deep breath. "Hougen is still alive and he's heading out immediately probably in search of Weed's group."
"Alayus-dono!" Another voice spoke and Heita approached the group. "Weed's group has arrived safely back in their hideout and just learned about Kyoushiro's betrayal. However it doesn't seem like Weed completely agrees that Kyoushiro totally betrayed them."
So that guy made up his mind...Alayus thought. She had stayed behind for a little bit to see the Kishu lash out at his own comrades, attacking and forcing them to go back to Weed before joining up with Buruge, the commanding officer for Hougen.
"That's not all." Heita said, getting her attention again. "That giant fighter dog, Tobe, is making his move!"
"Tobe?" Alayus thought about the fighter dog she saw Weed save from the water. "What is he planning?"
"My bet is that he's going to see if Hougen will let him back into the pack." Ryu said.
"Isn't that a suicide idea?" Hanji asked. "This Hougen character looks like a schemer to me. I doubt he plans on letting a drifter back into his army."
"Then let us check out the situation for ourselves before jumping to conclusions." Alayus stood up and shook the snow from her pelt, turning to face in the direction of Gajou. I wonder how the leader is doing?
Elsewhere...
The weather is starting to turn. Gin thought as he surveyed the lands from atop of a plateau. He had been busy trying to recruit some more fighters but he soon realized that the time for the final fight is drawing near. Weed...Everyone...I'm coming home.