That sundown in the Ohu Army's Northern Fortress, Hiro began to cry tears of sorrow. Before him lay a fang – a fang that belonged to John, the Ohu martyr. "John," he moaned.

"Who?" Gemba tilted his head to the right.

"A brave soldier whom your brother Hougen has killed." Weed and his pack turned around to see a Tosa-Inu, a Mastiff, and a dozen or so other dogs.

"Moss!" Akame and Tesshin rushed up to their old comrade.

Moss greeted them with a smile. "Akame! Tesshin! It's been so long!"

"How did you get here?" Akame asked eagerly.

Moss winked at Mel. "A certain puppy had brought us here all before racing off to warn the son of Gin." He began looking around. "Speaking of which, where is he?"

Weed walked up to Moss. "I'm here, Moss-san."

Moss's eyes widened in joy. "You-You're the Leader's son?" He grinned. "It's an honor, young Weed. You look just like your father."

"Just like Moss said," Musashi agreed. "I bet you have his personality as well." He then scowled at Gemba. "Hougen! How dare you show your face in the Ohu army?"

"Take it easy, Moss!" Akame eased his Mastiff friend. "This is Hougen's little brother, Gemba. He's changed. Even Weed saw nothing more than his desire to help him."

Moss's scowl left his face as he recalled Gin sparing Kurojaki. "Forgive me, Gemba," he told the Dane.

Gemba bowed his head with an understanding grin. "You're forgiven, Moss-san." He then smirked teasingly. "Though to be fair, I can understand why it took you exactly five days to arrive where we are. With all that fat, I'm guessing speed isn't one of your greatest attributes."

"Watch it, youngster," Moss growled jokingly. "I might be heavy and not as fast as the other soldiers, but let me know when you've fought a demonic bear fifty times your own size."

Gemba's eyes widened and he grimaced. "Okay, you win."

Everyone in Weed's pack laughed.

[LINE BREAK]

That nightfall, Weed and his pack slept soundlessly. All but one.

Gemba grunted and growled in his sleep, dreaming of something rather interesting.

Gemba was locked in a shed, faced with a pack of at least eight other dogs. He was staring down at a dead dog, somehow feeling all but angry. But why? Why was he feeling angry?

"But," a dog protested, "to eat our own friend?"

"They say if a dog eats another dog, it'll make you sick and die!" another dog whined.

Then, a bizarrely familiar voice snapped. "That's why we're going to have to test that theory! That human who locked us up in here is a half-hearted bastard! He won't be coming back!"

Gemba found himself saying, "At this rate, we'll all end up dying!"

"Eat, eat him!" the familiar voice beside him growled. "If you don't eat him, I'll kill you!"

The dog that was protesting tucked his tail in submission and walked over to the dead dog. In a second, his stomach rumbled, causing him to dig into his dead comrade's flesh.

Gemba looked up at the rest of the dogs, who all sank their drooling fangs into the same dead dog. For some reason, he was smiling – evilly. The sight before him . . . was beautiful. It filled him with a dark, sickening pleasure.

"NOOOO!" Gemba rose his head up in horror, panting when he saw himself surrounded by Weed's pack.

Weed raised his head in concern. "Gemba? Are you alright?"

Gemba's yellow eyes met Weed's worried-filled blue eyes, sighing with relief. "Yeah. Bad dream, I guess."

"Would you like to talk about it?" Weed asked.

Gemba began to open his mouth, but instantly closed it. It'd be better not to worry such an innocent puppy with a very strange, very horrible nightmare, he thought to himself.

"Just a nightmare," he told Weed. "I'm sure I'll feel better in the morning."

"Okay." Weed nodded and resumed to sleep.

Gemba smiled at his friend, but frowned. That place. Those dogs. That voice. All familiar, but why?

Please read and review. Also, what do you think of Gemba's real memories appearing in his dreams? Should I continue with this twist?