A/N: Chapter 32 of Ginga Densetsu Alayus. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my OCs. GDW and the other Ginga series belong to the rightful owner.
Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.
Chapter 32: Father and Son
Weed's group...
"Weed, stop!" Tesshin suddenly called out, prompting the young leader to dig his paws hard against the snow covered ground. They had been running in search for either Toube or Kyoshiro but instead, they ran right into Kamakiri's main forces who seemed to be waiting for them.
"Huh?! Kamakiri!?" The Akita/Kishu mix exclaimed when he recognized the large dog.
"Ahahaha! This is great..." The Irish Wolfhound sneered with happiness as his subordinates joined in with laughs of their own. "...like a bug in the summer that flies straight to you. No, wait...more like a dumbass in the winter! Ahahaha!"
"That bastard..." Ken growled as a couple of Weed's soldiers felt their hackles rise at the taunting. "Let me rip his fucking face off!"
"Damn it! That guy's laughing at us too!" Kagetora added. "Just looking at his ugly mug makes me seeing red!"
"It looks like he hasn't found the other two yet." Akame noted, keeping his temperament under control. "What do we do, Weed?"
There's no room for retreat...Weed thought as he watched the Irish Wolfhound lick his lips very slowly. He knew that his opponent couldn't wait to sink his fangs into his neck and end his life. We don't have a choice! We're gonna have to fight our way through!
"Let's go!" After licking his chops a second time with glee, Kamakiri released the order to his group. "Take that kid's head off!" Spurring into action he led the charge with his eyes focused on the son of Gin himself.
"Weed, what are we gonna do?" GB asked, looking at his friend with worry. "They're charging right at us!"
"To save Kyoshiro and everyone else, we are gonna do this by force. Everyone, follow me!" Weed ordered and took off running through the snow, aiming right at the enemy. Rallying around him the small army of Ohu followed their fearless leader into battle.
"Now we're talking, Leader!" Ken said as he drove forward, his paws pounding away at the snow-covered ground. "I'm getting fired up!"
"I've been waiting for this!" Kagetora ran along side his friend, teeth bared. "I finally get to sink my fangs into some opponents!"
"Kill them all at once!" With a lunge Kamakiri sailed over Weed's head and sank his teeth into Kagetora's neck instead. The Kai dog let out a yelp when he found himself flat on his back within a second.
"Kagetora!" Weed exclaimed before noticing Rocket getting bowled over. "Rocket! Argh!" Suddenly he was swarmed by the opponents, disappearing underneath the pile of bodies.
"Damn you...!" Jerome snarled and soon the clearing exploded into a battlefield as the two armies clashed. "Get off of him!" He tore right through the pile like a whirlwind, throwing dogs left and right. He snarled angrily, prompting others to back up in fear. "Die by my fangs, you filthy mutts!"
Elsewhere...
"Guwahhh!" Kyoshiro yelped as he was slammed against the ground and pinned there. After the coast was clear Kamakiri's mini group dragged him back out into the opening and continued to beat him. Whenever he managed to drive one dog back, another dog lunges in and goes for a bite; It was overwhelming and frustrating at the exact same time.
"Your days are numbered!"
"Why don't you start begging for mercy?"
"We're gonna kill you nice and slow!"
"Just try you shitheads!" Kyoshiro yelled, baring his teeth at his opponents. "I'm not gonna yield to you!"
"At least this kid's mouth can fight!" A pair of jaws clamped shut around the scruff of Kyoshiro's neck, burying deep enough into the skin that it drew blood. "Come on, come on. Don't tell me this is the best you've got!"
Shit...! Shit! Kyoshiro thought as he fought harder. I...I won't give up! I have to get back to Weed! I can't let it end this way!
"Are you Kamakiri's followers?"
"Eh?" One of the dogs looked up only to be tossed aside like he was nothing much to his surprise. Other dogs soon followed as Kyoshiro's savior appeared on the scene.
"H-H-Hiro...!" The battle scarred Kishu spoke up as he watched the Great Pyrenees tower over one of the dogs, lips pulled back over his glistening fangs.
"Show me what Kamakiri's dogs are all about!" With that, he proceeded to castrate the dog in front of everyone. Spitting the balls onto the snow, he turned his attention to his comrade. "Oh there you are Kyoshiro. Feeling better?"
"Heh...kind of..." Kyoshiro replied. Nodding his head Hiro proceeded to castrate the rest of Kamakiri's pathetic party, leaving the dogs trembling on the ground and begging for mercy.
"There. That should keep them occupied for awhile."
"It's Weed and the others!" The Kishu announced, his ears twitching at the sounds of fighting that came with the wind. "It sounds like they're in trouble!"
"You go back to the base and rest." Hiro told him, preparing to head back out. "I'll go and save Weed."
"Wait, let me go too." Kyoshiro growled, snapping his teeth irritably. "I can't stand to just keep losing over and over like this!"
"Not with that body, I won't permit it!"
"Why the hell not?!" The fur on Kyoshiro's body stood up as he glared at Hiro. "This is my body! I get to do whatever the hell I want!"
"No!" This time Hiro put his paw down and glared back at Kyoshiro. "Listen, you are like a brother to me and you yourself were regarded as a leader in your own right to others. I won't let you kill yourself senselessly. Please understand."
"...wait...Hiro..."
"I have things to take care of." The Great Pyrenees spoke before breaking out into a run. "Get back safely and await our return."
"Got it." Acknowledging Hiro's request Kyoshiro padded out and journeyed back to the base. Back in the clearing, battle continued to rage between Kamakiri and Weed.
"You think you can beat me?" Kamakiri, letting his arrogant nature show, threw his head back in laughter. "Your two friends are probably laying dead somewhere as we speak!"
"What did you just say?" Weed snarled, throwing his opponent off to the side before glaring at the bigger dog. "Repeat what you just say!"
"I'll let you chums meet happily in the other world!"
"Quit spewing bullshit from that giant orifice you call a mouth, Kamakiri!" The dogs turned to see Hiro padding up. "Weed, Kyoshiro is heading back to our base."
"Well well well. Look who's here." Kamakiri spat with rage, clearly displeased to see the newcomer. "Kill him as well!"
"I have no business with any of you small fries!" Hiro growled as two dogs latched on to him. He turned his head towards where the Irish Wolfhound was busy being proud of himself. "Don't you dare look away! Kamakiri!"
"Huh?!" The Great Pyrenees latched onto the scruff of Kamakiri's neck and held on tight, digging his claws in for extra grip. "What the hell?! Get off me!"
"Your opponent is me! I'll get revenge for my father!"
"You bastard!" Sinking his own teeth into the back of Hiro's neck, Kamakiri managed to dislodge his opponent and tossing him to the side. Blood trickled down the Wolfhound's front and it pissed him off. "You've become a bit stronger, kid...but you're still ten years too young to be fighting me!"
"Says you!" Hiro spat and lunged forward, striking Kamakiri head on. Soon blood spurted from the cut on the Wolfhound's head and he crashed to the ground with his paws up. Huff...huff...I gotta finish this quickly...
"Why you...!" Getting back up Kamakiri slammed Hiro's head to the ground with a massive bite, throwing up snow and dirt as the Great Pyrenees' body toppled over. "Your hit was a little too weak." However his gloating ended quickly as Hiro struggled back to his feet, the fire still burning in his eye. The scar over his right eye was throbbing but that didn't detour him from his goal.
"You're my father's killer...I'm not going to fall down to your half-ass attacks! I've been living all this time just to take you down!"
"Keep talking. What I'm aiming for is the world!" Kamakiri responded. "I can't get that by wasting my time on you!" He jumped high into the air, aiming to end the fight with a lethal blow straight to the skull. "Kid, I'll let you meet your father...in the other world!"
"Hiro!" Weed shouted in warning. "Look out!"
Heh...so that's how it's gonna be then! Crouching low, Hiro baited the Wolfhound to sink his teeth in. The dog's eyes widened in surprise when all he got was a mouthful of fluff, he missed his intended target. "You fell for it, Kamakiri!"
"Guaaaaaah!" There was a sickeningly crack as two of Kamakiri's fangs were sent flying through the air. The Irish Wolfhound crashed to the ground and rolled to a stop. When he opened his mouth, streams of bloods were trickling from where his two prominent canines used to be. "You bastard...you planned that?!"
"Heh. It's too late for you to realize now." Hiro scoffed before moving in for the finishing blow. "Say your prayers, Kamakiri."
"You...! You...!" Getting up, Kamakiri left his underside wide open and Hiro made his move. A wail erupted from the Wolfhound as he writhed on the ground in extreme pain. By now the fight had already ended with its winner already chosen.
"That's what he gets...his balls torn off!" Ken said loudly, looking at the horrified expression on Kamakiri's army.
"Leader Kamakiri is down and out!"
Father, I've gotten revenge for you...Hiro thought as he glanced up at the sky and began crying. Father!
"What are we gonna do?" One of Kamakiri's subordinate asked in a worried tone.
"You're asking me?" Another replied. "I'm the wrong person to ask!"
"Let's run away!" A third spoke up and the entire army ran off in different directions with their tails tucked between their legs.
"Wait up, you lot..." Defeated and bleeding, Kamakiri still had the energy to call out to them. "and you call yourselves my subordinates?! You're embarrassing me! You dumbasses!"
"At least their escape skills are first-class." GB joked as the Wolfhound's body trembled with shame and rage.
"Tears of regret?" Hiro asked him. "That's what you're going to be from now on. Live the rest of your life with that body, to understand the pain of others. If you do that, the feelings of others will sink in, and you'll become more honest in yourself."
"You goddamn kid..." Kamakiri whimpered, seething with anger but felt powerless to do anything about it. "Damn you!"
"Let's get going Weed." Hiro said and the young leader nodded his head with agreement.
"Are you ignoring me?!" Kamakiri exclaimed as the Ohu Army ran around him, throwing little bits of snow in his face. "All of you, stop bullshitting! I'm the strongest in the world, Kamakiri!"
"Why don't you go south." Hiro advised him, feeling a little pity on his enemy. "There are more rats there. You should be able to catch rats even without your fangs." As the Great Pyrenees proceeded to follow the others Kamakiri attempted to latch on but without his fangs, he lost his grip.
Tumbling to the ground, he lifted his head to stare at Hiro's back side. Until the Ohu Army disappeared he unleashed one last cry, a mixture of sorrow and anger into the sky before succumbing to the waiting crows. On their way back to the base from their victorious battle, the Ohu army ran into an exhausted Kyoshio and Rocket offered to carry him.
"I'm just happy you're safe." Kagetora said, giving the Kishu a grin. "You have no idea how worried we were."
"Sorry for causing trouble..." Kyoshiro apologized.
"Don't worry about it." Rocket said. "You did your best."
Father, I don't want Weed to go through what I did. I want him to meet the Leader...and I hope that they can have that bond you and I had from way back then. Hiro thought as he kept his eyes on the young leader. He then turned his head to the side to see the sunlight filtering through a piece of cloud. Please protect the Leader wherever he may be...and hopefully they get to meet sometime...Suddenly his eye widened in surprise as the sun shined brightly, surrounding him with warmth. It was so staggering that he had to stop walking. On the inside he knew that his father was smiling down on him from above. Thank you, Father...
"Wait...where did Jerome go?" Weed suddenly asked, looking around for the German Shepherd. "Jerome! Where did you go?"
"Oh shit...where did that guy go..." The others looked around, calling out Jerome's name.
"Jerome!"
"Jerome!"
"How in the world did that guy sneak off without the rest of us noticing?!"
"He's more ninja than the ninja dogs..." GB commented before turning his attention to Tesshin. "Maybe you should consider recruiting him."
Don't tell me...Weed's ear twitched as he turned his attention towards Gajou. Jerome...please be careful.
"Weed!" Everyone turned to see Missile running up, his tongue hanging out of the corner of his mouth. "You have to see this! There's something happening at Gajou!"
"Let's hurry back then." Weed said and broke into a run with everyone right behind him.
Inside Gajou...
"WHAAAAAAAAT?!" Hougen's screaming voice wasn't the best wake-up alarm but unfortunately that was what roused Alayus from her sleep. Her ear twitched and she listened to the conversation closely. "They ripped his balls off?! So, what's that Kama-bastard doing now?"
Uuuugh...I really didn't want to hear that. A grimace appeared on the German shepherd's face at the news. She picked up the faint reply from the report before Hougen continued speaking.
"So, that's why the crows were acting up. Serves that bastard right...where are the rest of those soldiers?"
"Everyone got scared, and it seems they all ran off..." This time she could hear the response. "In the end, the only ones that returned are the ones you see here."
"Those pieces of shit! Kill the remaining soldiers! Don't let any one of them escape!"
God damn it...Alayus scowled as the air was filled with battle cries and the smell of freshly spilled blood. Just how much blood do you plan on spilling, Hougen?
"Pssst."
Hmmm? What was that? Lifting her head up, she glanced around in the dark to pinpoint the sound. Must be my imagination...She laid back down and attempted to block out any more noises.
"Alayus...Alayus!"
No...I didn't hear wrong! "J-Jerome?!" She exclaimed as he stepped out from his hiding place, glancing around to make sure the coast was clear. "What are you doing here?"
"Rescuing you. Obviously." The German shepherd replied, running a tongue along the top of her head in greeting and his tail wagged from side-to-side with happiness. "These wounds..."
"They're kind of healing..." Alayus chuckled as he sniffed her, nosing her fur with worry. "I just can't walk that well."
"That's okay, I'll carry you." Trotting around he managed to hoist her over his back, adjusting so that she was comfortable. "How are you feeling?"
"Well other than pain I think I'm holding up." She replied. "You sure you'll be okay carrying me?"
"No problem. Let's get out of here." He careful made his way to the entrance, using his nose to smell for any approaching enemies. When he smelled nothing he continued walking, keeping his ears perked up and swiveling on the alert.
"How is everything with the Ohu army?" Alayus asked, the question had been bugging her for awhile so she was dying to know.
"We just had a run in with Kamakiri's little party." He replied and felt a shudder run through her body. "He was the one who hurt you right?"
"...yes..." She said in a small whisper.
"Hiro dealt with him so he won't harm you anymore."
"Did he...um...you know..."
"No he didn't kill him." Jerome told her and she released a small sigh of relief. "Though I'm very curious...on my way here, I noticed that the line up changed. Hougen now has three main group that are in battle formation. Luckily for me, I found a way to avoid most of them and weaseled my way in here."
"You sure are lucky aren't you." Alayus laughed softly. The two of them ended up in an underground cavern with the river running through it.
"Hmm...I guess we can go out through there..." Jerome mused, wading through the ice cold water and picked a tunnel. He continued to follow it until he popped up from a hole in the base of a tree. "Oh thank god. I thought this entrance would have been sealed by the ice and snow."
"This...!" Alayus looked around with wide eyes, her nose twitching as she recognized the various scents. "This...was where I was...captured by Kamakiri..."
"But you're free now." Jerome said. "You don't have to worry about anything anymore."
"I wonder how they are doing..." The female shepherd's ears drooped forward as she stared at the ground. "Toube...and the rest of them..."
"They'll be fine, I'm sure of it." Jerome promised her and took off into a small trot. "Let's just regroup back at the base."
"Okay."