Cross had never felt this way before. It was rare for her and Ben to be alone like this but he enjoyed every minute of it. They were lovers, that was the truth. If nobody else figured it out they knew it. Were they mates? She wondered. Only mates could express this pure form of love. She hadn't asked him that question. She had already earned her place as a "male", It would seem unfitting for Ben to display his love for all to see. He was a soldier, a soldier that had to focus on his mission. She was as well. He needed rest for tomorrow but this pleasure was so intoxicating. Each time he entered she found herself lost in her thoughts.

This wasn't the first time she mated. The only other was with him, the father of her children. There was a difference. Back with him it had felt hollow. As was their emotions. She had thought he loved him but in the end he was simply doing his duty as she realized. Yet with Ben it was different, she could feel the love, it wasn't hollowed. Although she had drove herself to being a male, there were still the desires of a female.

Still the question of whether they were truly mates still rang in her head. Yet those were cast aside as the pleasure of ecstasy entered her. It was pleasurable to them both. In each of their lives they felt a connection, and it fit. It was as if they had waited their entire lives to meet each other. This was fate.

XXX

Mao watched nervously as the event unfolded. Sometimes his sister could allow her emotions to get the best of her. Often Mao found himself pegged the emotional one. Or a "whiny baby" as his sister put it. Yet Mayu had her fair share of emotions as well. It varied between them. For himself his ranged from distress. If something bad or frightening were to happen he would most definitely show it. For his sister it was anger. Whenever she got mad, Mayu had the bad habit was letting it control her. The morning had started out well enough. They awoke and then they ate. Now meals in the clan ranged from whatever the higher members could catch and insects. This place was riddled with insects. It had taken them a while but they grew used to it. Not that they had any favorites, food was food and it was nourishing enough. Of course there was the occasional mole and that served as meat.

Then Mako showed himself. Per usual his gang flanked them. Even after all this time, Mako had not let up. Any time he encountered Mao and Mayu, he took every opportunity to tease them. They were the usual childish taunts befitting a bully. Hi gang of course found them hilarious. In their private moments, Mayu found them stupid. Mao did as well. He wondered if Mako's gang were really friends with him? Or if they just hung around him for protection? That wasn't important, What was important was right now.

For victims, Mao found he was a prime target. He didn't know why but his emotionality may have been the reason. Mayu of course defended him. That was when Mako called her a bitch. Bitch was the technical term for a female but he didn't mean it that way.

"Oh look the little bitch think she's a male!" Mako chuckled. His gang followed in a less intelligent manner. They ate out of his paws. "They'll probably make her a breeder but she's probably so dried up, there's nothing but dust in there!"

It was a weak joke but it bothered Mayu. Mao could see her back hair rising up. Then she lunged.

"Sis!" Mao called. But it was too late.

They were no longer puppies. Well they were but they were not little puppies. It might have been months since they first arrived. There was no way to tell the time here. It had to have been a long time since they had grown substantially. Pre-teens may have been the best way to describe them. If comparable to anybody else, they matched Alucard in size and height. Yet Mako was still bigger being older. The older dog hadn't expected her to go for his shoulder. Seeing as she wasn't so small anymore, going for the leg wouldn't be so effective. It worked a Mako gave out a surprised yelp. Mayu hung on for a few minutes before letting go.

"She bit you Boss!" One of the other dogs called.

Mako glared angrily back. The wound had been hard enough to draw some blood. "I can see that idiot!" Mako bellowed.

Mayu gave a little snort. "The only idiot is you." That comment turned Mako's anger to the female. "I mean come on! Is that the best insult you got?" Mayu condescendingly looked away from Mako. " Of course dust would be in something dusty. You were better of saying dirty or something like that." Now Mayu may have seemed like she was demeaning herself and giving Mako smarter taunts, yet in actuality she was pointing out his uncreative idiocy. Thirdly he could had been trying to stroke his anger.

Again it worked. Mako charged forward, eager to kill. Killing may have seemed like a forbidden concept within the clan, but sometimes exceptions were held, particularly if stories could be maintained. Mako could have made up a simple lie. He had seniority and seeing as he was born within the Clan instead of being found outside, well it was self explanatory.

Mayu saw an opening. Stretching her back she leapt. Bonding her legs she went clear over Mako. For a moment he was dumbfounded by the female's nimbleness. Looking back she saw that Mayu was waving her tail. It dawned on him that she was mocking him. Looking behind her she could see some of his gang snickering to themselves. They stopped once they noticed their boss's glare. Rage blinding him once again, he charged. Stretching her back once more, Mayu looked as if she was about to prepare another leap. In fact Mako expected that. However she remained still.

"What is she doing?" Mao thought.

Mayu was just standing there waiting. Mako was nearing closer, Mayu continued to stand her ground. Seeing she wasn't doing anything, Mao nearly jumped in.

"YOU'RE DEAD BITCH!" Mako screamed. It was bad enough he was being made a fool of but by a female? That was too much.

Mayu found her chance. Lunging her body, the young female opened her mouth and grasped Mako's broad neck. With the propelled motion, he caused him to fall upon his back, pinning him upon the ground. Mao recognized the trick. Alucard had taught it to them. Other than Lazarus's lessons, Alucard proved a more patient and caring teacher. If it wasn't for him they wouldn't have survived the harsh lessons of the psychotic Border Collie. Mako kept very still as Mayu pressed harder upon his throat. Any more and she could kill him.

"Okay I give!" Mako pleased, but at the same time trying to maintain his tough front. Mayu complied. The Bull Mastiff returned to his minions before the rest of them slinked off.

"SHUT UP!" Mako roared, one of his followers gave a yelp. If anybody had to guess, one of them probably laughed at the fact that Mako lost to a girl.

Mayu grinned to herself. "Well I showed him didn't I?"

"Are you crazy!" Mao immediately said, interrupting his sister's happy mood. Putting his face to her's, he continued. "You could have been killed!" Sometimes the role of elder sibling switched. Honestly neither of them knew who was older, they were never told. Mao felt scolding was appropriate, yet he saw the mischievous glint his twins eyes.

"Uh oh."

Mayu put both paws upon her brother's chest and pinned him. Mao couldn't see how he could have missed it.

"I win again brother." Mau smiled.

Indeed she did. She always won the pinning game. It was one of the positive factors that kept them sane within the Clan. The other was a dog. In fact they were going to meet this particular dog if only Mako hadn't interrupted them.

"Well come on Alucard is waiting slowpoke!" Mayu cheered before running off.

Mao rose to his feet and followed after with a cry of "Wait up!"

XXXXX

Alucard blinked, attempting to clear his thoughts. It failed. Somewhat frustrated with himself, he scratched the base of his right ear with his back foot. Though it succeeded in abating the itch in his ear, it failed to help with his mental turmoil. Like a simple scratch would help with anything.

Things were shifting in the clan. Alucard could sense it. Like a powerful undercurrent in a river, the hints of change flowed at menacing and determined pace, hidden from the seemingly normal flow of clan life. Alucard had a feeling that this was a dangerous riptide in hiding, waiting to suck them down when they least expected it. Satsu had disappeared, being hurriedly replaced with another whom had been dubbed "Setsu," Cain was attending more meetings with the Grandmaster, hushed conversations were being held at the edges of clearings, and there had even been a rumor that the Grandmaster had been ready to switch containers. The thought sent shivers down Alucard's spine- by no means, a small feat. If the Grandmaster was ready to switch containers, then her demented plan for afterwards couldn't be far from blossoming. In fact, "blossoming" was one of the words she had used to describe it.

"When the time is right, and the clan has risen, then we shall blossom fully in our potential, and seize what will be in reach- control of the spirits, and a fate loftier than Futago Pass itself!" The entire listening audience had burst into howls of approval for her closing line of her speech. Alucard had missed the beginning and middle, but had arrived just in time to hear the closing line- and the enthusiasm of the group hearing it. Alucard wasn't sure of the finer details of the plan the Grandmaster had concocted, but he knew enough about the general idea. Soul switching was something only she could dabble in and get away with; particularly with such effective results if the plan went right.

Soul switching could give the Grandmaster the one chance to rebuild the clan.

Something Alucard could not see happen.

The clan would fall. If he had to, Alucard would make it happen with his own flesh and blood. This twisted piece of history and blood had lived for far too long. And Alucard had his own reasons for wanting to destroy it. His old home, his old owners, his old identity…. They all screamed for him to act and prevent the clan from going any further. Yet his new identity required for him to worship "his" clan, to praise "his" new owners and superiors. How could he combine both? If he behaved too meekly, then he wouldn't get his shoot at the clan; if he behaved too rebelliously then he would be killed by the entire clan at once. It was an awkward balancing act…. And Alucard knew what he'd have to do. He would have to hide his other intentions behind his new identity. Just like he'd been doing all this tim-

"Alucard! Get out here!" The sharp bark rang through the small den Alucard had been lying inside. As a result, Alucard almost cracked his head on the cave ceiling in surprise. His guard had gone down due to all his thinking in frustration. Something I can't have happen again, he thought.He emerged from the den smoothly, trying not to display the surprise he had shown moments ago. "Yes?"

An adult Setter stared down at him, furry ears dangling. From the slight chubbiness of his chest and hindquarters, he seemed more well fed than other clan members. More well fed meant more important. From the gist of things, Alucard guessed he was one of the higher up guards. "Alucard. An order from Cain." Alucard coolly pulled himself up. "And that would be?" The guard eyed him emotionlessly. "Move all the pups from the puppy den to the mouth chamber. Immediately." Alucard held back the surprise in his voice. "The mouth chamber?"

In the clan's cave habitat, there were a variety of chambers and rooms. All served their own purpose to help keep the clan from being crowded into one den and to group age and ranks together where they belonged. The mouth chamber was one of these. Located near the entrance- or mouth- of the cave, it was a medium sized cavern which expanded out to the side. It could have been a useful room, but they couldn't use it due to the fact that placing living quarters too close to the outside could attract attention of passing travelers or predators. It was too close to the outside for comfort. And yet a guard was ordering him to move all the puppies to that particular room. "See to it that these orders are followed by the end of today, or else." The dog turned around and began to head out of the tiny den.

"Why?" Alucard felt disbelief. This order had to be a sham. Such a ridiculous thing…! "Because," the guard remarked, turning around, "We are moving up. Literally." For once in his life, Alucard stared. "You don't mean-"

"Hello, outside."

XXXXX

Cross was feeling odd. She swore there was something wrong with her…. Something unbalanced inside. She had first felt the odd feeling a day ago. Unconscientiously, she'd taken to grooming her belly, something she usually didn't do. The thin layer of fur on her underside was washed out by any rivers she'd wade through, and constantly got dirty from her lying down wherever the Ohu Army made camp that night. She rarely had a clean body, never mind belly. So why was she grooming it? Cross paused for moment, then pressed the tip of her nose into her belly. She had a reason. It was just one she hadn't dared consider or face until now. She gave a mild snort of amusement. She'd had pups once, and no mate. When she'd gotten a mate, she'd had no pups- or at least, didn't expect to. But now she was going to have them…. And two things she hadn't thought possible to have at once in her life.

Cross didn't expect to feel a sudden nudge in her belly, or become more hungry. It was far too early for these things- thankfully. The Ohu Army needed her to be fit and lean right now, not fat and bulging from pregnancy. Cross knew she would eventually reach that stage, but it wouldn't be for a while. In fact, by the time she became noticeably round, their war with Akakabuto would be over, her revenge quest ended. And she would be able to raise her puppies with Ben. Cross softly licked her belly. Her puppies. The second ones she would have. Would she lose them like the first?

Cross sniffed her belly decidedly. No. She would not let go of her offspring this time. They would remain hers for as long as she was alive. And Cross intended to live for quite a while.

From now on, she would be fighting to keep her and her still developing pups alive.

And she had no intention of losing.