"Bat." Cross's replied. It was simple, but there was no need to extend the duration of the greeting. This was an awkward moment-at least for Cross.

George remained silent as he watched his mother exchange with her...son in law. The whole thing felt awkward to George. To be perfectly honest, he didn't quite trust Bat, even after he joined Ohu. But it was more so the deserting the army and being allowed back in without so much as a word. And for what? Just so he could meet a girl and sire pups? Well that may have not been the entire reason, but it was the end result, even if possibly unintentional.

"What are you doing here?" Bat said.

Cross had this all planned out in her head, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Maybe this wouldn't be so easy? She thought. A nervous swell enflamed within her chest. Bat's opinion of her remained unknown as she hadn't spoken to him much, even before he left Ohu and became Mayu's mate. His reaction more than likely would be in the negative, for there wasn't any doubt her estranged daughter informed Bat about her past in regards to her parentage. Cross wasn't feeling too hopeful about this meeting; but she couldn't back out now, not after coming this far.

"She just wants to talk," George cut in answering for his mother.

Cross breathed a small sigh of relief. At least he saved her from having to ask it. Bat said nothing but turned his head towards Cross. She could feel the sightless eyes upon her. It was very unsettling as the blind canine somehow sensed what was near him. Beside her, she could see George was tensing himself, almost expecting a fight.

"George." She softly nudged, coaxing her son's better nature. There would be no point to this meeting if a fight started, especially with the pups around. Stealing another glance, Cross couldn't help but smile upon seeing the three of them: her grandchildren. The trio were busy playing with one another. Mina she could see but the other pups took her by surprise before reminding herself that Mina had siblings.

"If you want to talk then speak," Bat urged with slight impatience.

Cross noticed his head nudge briefly to the side. With Mayu away, his attention was best left to the their pups.

"Let's get this over with." Cross mentally sighed. Head snapping back to attention she stared right at Bat, knowing he couldn't actually see her, but did so all the same. "I suppose Mayu has told you about me?" Cross asked the question straightforwardly.

"Yes," Bat's voice admitted with deep resonance, "she has."

Cross was briefly taken aback by the stoicism the male presented. Without demonstration Cross could feel his strength the emanated from his body. It would seem that she and her daughter held a similar taste in males; least in terms of true love. Nevertheless, the first time was always memorable, lust aside.

"I imagine you must not think well of me," Cross began. "I know what I did to Mayu was selfish and wrong and if I could change the past I could." Cross stopped for a moment as she carefully reconsidered her wording. Leaving may have been a selfish, but if she hadn't there was a chance she wouldn't have met Ben and neither of their sons would exist. Cross darted her eyes briefly to George, but noticed no alteration in his stoicism.

"You abandoned her, plain and simple." Bat bluntly replied to his mother in law's statement.

Cross felt a intake of air squirm down her through. Whatever she had to saw was abruptly put down.

"There's no way to make it sound better than it really was." Bat's bluntness appeared trademark at this point, his face being as stone cold as George's was right about now.

"Yes," Cross looked downcast, not even bothering to grant Bat eye contact. "You're right." It made her ashamed to admit it, but it was true. Dress it up as much as she could, the truth of the matter was she had left a young child alone to fend for herself.

"Did you come here to try and get me in your good graces to please Mayu?" Bat pressed his question.

The old female felt her body tighten, but that may have simply been her paws edging into the dirt. At that moment, she could turn around, excuse herself and forget this ever happened. It would have been embarrassing but that would have been the smartest choice. Yet, she didn't; maybe she was gong senile? Whatever it was, she had a task to do, and it reflected as she heard a yip.

"Hey! No fair Wing!" A young voice cried.

Cross couldn't tell if it was Mina or her brother, Kuro was it? Yet hearing it made her heart warm, and swiftly she was reminded of her goal.

"To answer your question, no, this isn't about Mayu." Bat's body arched back momentarily. Cross could tell her answer had surprised him. "I just wanted to see the pups."

Bat remained silent as did Cross. She waited for him to speak, but after a few seconds, it became apparent he would say nothing. The blank orbs fixed upon her, slightly unsettling, but they spoke to her in a form.

"Those are Mina's brothers right? Wing and Kiro?"

"Kuro," Bat corrected.

"Damn."Cross cursed internally. A good grandmother didn't forget her grandchild's name. Then again, she hadn't spoken to the boys yet.

"Daddy!" A young voice called followed by a thrust of a black bundle that barged its way, or rather her way, into the conversation. The fur upon Mina's back stood on end as the small pup bore an irritated expression. "Wing's being a dummy and-" the little pup paused when a familiar scent passed through her nostrils. Face softened and fur smoothed as her face fell upon the white fur that had strode its way to their home.

"Cross!" Mina happily yipped, trotting over to the elder saluki.

Any doubts Cross may have held melted just as Mina melted her heart. The sight of seeing that black half-breed pup bound up to her showed that her goal was worthwhile after all. George couldn't help but manage a small smirk as well.

Cross knelt herself down as she and Mina's noses touched one another. "Hello there Mina," Cross greeted warmly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm great Cross!" Mina yipped. "Well my brother Wing is being a butthead but-" Mina paused and her tail ceased to wag as she noticed George. "Oh hello grumpy mister! I didn't know you were here!"

George gave a low growl upon hearing that. With all the crap he dealt with in life (the scars were a dead give away) who wouldn't be grumpy?

"Nice to see you too kid," George muttered, feigning nice, and figuring it wouldn't be wise to make the child cry again. Or nearly at least.

Mina cocked her head aside, slightly taken aback by George's refinement. "He was really cranky the first time we met," Mina whispered to Cross who lowered her ear to reach the child.

Cross chuckled, "I don't disbelieve that." She whispered likewise to the puppy.

George said nothing, keeping his mouth shut and without retorts. But it wasn't as if he could hear them.

A pure feeling could be felt from the two females young and old. Bat's heightened senses from handicap could easily feel it. Any canine could probably feel it and it wouldn't be that difficult. Love could be the only emotion that spread in such a form. The two had bonded, another fact that was clearly evident.

"Mina," Bat's voice took on a neutral tone as he called his daughter.

The pup flinched with a tiny gasp as her father's voice reared her in. Hesitantly her footsteps backtracked as dismay with a hint of shame etched upon her face. Cross looked up to Bat, noticing that same stoic look upon his scarred visage. It was exceedingly difficult to tell whether he felt unease towards her presence. She was so preoccupied with Mina's presence that she had quickly forgotten the reality of the situation. As wonderful as a dream it would have been, being bonded as a loving grandmother wouldn't be so cut and dry.

"Y-yes Daddy?" Mina asked nervously.

Bat stared down towards his daughter, his breath hitting her. Although she wouldn't admit it, Mina found her father's breath none too pleasant.

"Would you mind if Miss Cross spent some time with you and your brothers?"

Head's cocked in surprise the moment they heard that, but not as much as Cross's.

"Really? You mean that?" Mina asked, tail going into a full on wag.

Bat smiled and nodded.

"Yahoo!" Mina yipped to the air with excitement, her tail wagging harder until it looked ready to pop off. "This is going to be so great! You can meet my brothers and we can talk some more and-" Mina began to droll on into childish perkiness as she listed the potential fun they could have. Cross chuckled amusingly towards her young granddaughter's excitement.

"Mina!" Bat's voice gently warned.

The puppy stopped and turned towards her father. "Yeah dad?" She asked.

"I think you should ease up on Miss Cross. Why don't you go get your brothers and introduce them?"

"Okay!" Mina darted off to where her siblings played leaving the adults alone once more.

"Why?" Cross asked.

Bat turned to her with that sightless gaze; this time it was less unnerving. "Why what?" He asked.

"If Mayu were here she would throw me out the instant I stepped towards the children." Her estranged daughter had made that especially clear the last time they "chatted".

The labrador let out a deep sigh. "I understand how Mayu feels, and frankly I believe she has the right to do so," Bat answered honestly. "But I don't want our children dragged between this." His words took on a solemn tone as he looked up towards the sky. "I know what it's like to have hatred fill you. To focus so intently on something or someone until it consumes you completely."

It didn't need to be said what Bat referred to. The fact he had been a soldier of Hougan explained enough.

XXXX

Lazarus grumbled to himself. Educating brats as always such a tiring ordeal. Day in day out, pouring lessons onto their underdeveloped brains, or providing punishments towards the disobedient ones. Admittedly, those were rather enjoyable. One could only get so much out of teaching, but punishing was a fine art in of itself. So many methods, yet the whip was always effective. Though at times, he envied the soldiers, the ones who actually got outside into the feat of battle; battle that was more often due to their recent advance.

The advance: a day they long had waited. Frankly, he had begun to doubt it would even start, but here they were, moving forward and bringing in all of the Japanese wilderness under their paws. Or at least they would if not for that little snag in their plans. It came as a shock to most of their clan: all their plans being dashed with the death of the Container. Setsu had always been a rebellious brat, in his personal opinion. Always expecting the best just because the Grandmaster handpicked her from birth to serve as her "successor". Yet she never questioned the full extent of her services. Perhaps had they told her maybe she wouldn't have fled? Or alternatively it would have hastened her retreat.

Either way, she was dead: thus, no successor.

Lazarus knew in his gut that was why the Grandmaster had summoned him.

"What do you think the old lady wants from us?" A young female voice spoke behind him.

Grimacing, Lazarus turned around glaring at the two young females: his dear little girls.

"I don't know Maria, but I just hope it's worth it," Julia said to her sister.

Maria snorted a juvenile snicker. "Yeah, her 'grace' isn't as young as she used to be. Must be hard walking around on such ancient bones."

Julia returned her sister's snicker with her own.

"Enough!" Lazarus snapped. Both girls lowered their snickers to a barely audible tone, but enough to let their father know they still found it humorous. "I won't have you two giggling like a pair of ninnies! I have a standing within this clan and as my daughters I expect you to respect that!"

Julia and Maria held their heads up, smirked and replied, "Yes, daddy." They spoke with a sickly sweetness in their voices that only indicated how fake it sounded.

Lazarus rolled his eyes. The twins were trained in such deception, too well if you asked him. But he only had himself to blame. Being their sole parent meant he had to provide and train them for the world. And in all honesty, it would have been better than leaving them with their dithering fool of a mother: his sister. Lazarus would have added a "rest her soul", but his opinion of his sibling was rather low, even before he had his way with her in a confusing swath of incestuous emotions.

What was past was past. Lazarus only focused upon the present and what was expected of him. He traversed down the corridors until he reached the grand chamber: the lair of the Grandmaster.

"You called, oh Grandmaster?" Lazarus shot a dirty glance towards his daughters reminding them to show their respect.

The two girls remained silent as their father bowed his head towards the thin frame of the grandmaster. Smirks remained upon their faces even as they followed in suit.

"Lazarus," The Grandmaster rasped. Her body shuddered with a sudden jerk. Lazarus remained upon his ground, uncertain if he should show concern or not. The Grandmaster indeed wasn't the youngest dog around, but she wasn't useless. In fact, it would be smart not to insulate the fragility her age implied.

"I have need of your children for a special task," came her response.

Lazarus turned towards his girls who looked rather irked to being referred to as "children." A snip of a glare made them change their tune.

"If I may ask oh Grandmaster? What task do you require of my daughters?"

The Grandmaster craned her ancient neck and grinned. "Oh, just blending in."

XXX

"I don't wanna be watched by some old lady!" Wing barked.

"Wing," Bat warned.

Wing's behavior towards this news was a quite contrast to his siblings' opinions. It was no surprise to Cross or anyone for that matter that she was ecstatic to have Cross serve as their babysitter. Kuro remained undecided on the matter, not wanting to upset his brother further. Wing was a bit more "persuasive" than their sister-if one replaced the word "persuasive" with "biting your face until you agreed with him".

"But it's so dumb! Why can't you watch us Dad?" Wing whined.

"Wing, that's enough!" Bat chided.

Wing recognized that look: it was the same looks his mother often gave him when he did something wrong. Yet Bat's sternness hardly compared to his mate's. Mayu had perfected the art of parental scolding. His father's attempt hardly fazed him and Wing stood his ground.

"Come on Wing! Don't be such a dummy!" Mina yipped. "Mrs...I-I-I mean Cross is really great!"

Wing narrowed his eyes, furthering his skepticism. His eyes turned towards Cross turning his head with confusedly. And then he looked toward George, at last noticing the younger dog.

"And who's she?" Wing asked.

George frowned, "I'm a guy." Came his blunt response.

Wing cocked his head back in shock. "Really?"

George's frown deepened. "Do I sound any less male?"

Wing responded with a snicker. "Yeah, but those long ears make you look girly."

George felt his right eye twitch, but there was no angr evident upon his form. "You're one to talk, kid."

A soft snort escaped Kuro who had remained silent for the most part. Mina giggled as well as she noticed the flustered look upon her older brother's face. Wing held his head up high unable to hide his embarrassment well.

"I still think it's dumb," he muttered.

Cross found her grandson's rebellious spirit amusing. He was a fighter and in time he could become a great one. Certainly enough the boy would need to snap out of his disobedience when he stepped into adulthood, but for now pups would be pups. But still there had to be some way to convince Wing to accept her. Quickly thinking, a memory came to mind, something Mina had told her once during stories of her siblings. Wing held a certain trait that was a prime Achilles heel.

"So? Wing is it?" Cross asked sweetly.

Wing didn't budge, but he heard her.

"I've heard that you have quite the large appetite."

"Yeah? So?" Wing muttered.

Cross tilted her head with a sly smirk forming upon her face. "Well I would expect you would appreciate a little treat wouldn't you?"

Treat? Wing opened his eyes and craned slightly towards the old dog. "What kind of treat we talking about?"

Cross's smirk didn't fade as she begun to think. "Oh all kinds: rabbit, deer, bird, or perhaps a fish?"

"Fish!" Wing's tail began to wag. "I've heard about fish! Is it really that good?"

"Oh it's delicious." Cross recalled the times she had tried fish, looking to give the pup an accurate description. "The meat is soft and not very tender, but it has a certain zing to it, a zest of flavor that just melts in your mouth."

The mere mention of meat set Wing's emotions ablaze. In his head he imagined the fish jumping into his mouth one by one into his stomach. Eyes growing large, tail on full wag, and mouth watering like a torrential stream, Wing was more than convinced, but he needed something to seal the deal.

"No kidding? You'll catch me some fish as many as I want?"

Bat nearly spoke up in response to his son's greed, but Cross beat him too it. "Well as many as within reason, but I'll make your to get enough to leave you satisfied."

That was it, Wing licked his chops and closed his eyes. "You got yourself a deal lady!" The little glutton yipped.

Cross chuckled as she winked to Mina. Mina winked right back priding herself in how clever she was in informing her brother's chief attribute: his appetite. All that left was one pup.

"And you must be Kuro right?" Cross's kindly words did nothing to deter Kuro's shaking.

The small pup scampered over slowly towards the elder female. "Y-y-yes ma'am." He practically whispered.

"Oh come now there's no need to be afraid dear," Cross comforted.

Kuro looked down at his paws. The female's voice sounded so kind and warm, but he was still uncertain. Wing would be no help as he considered anyone who offered him food a friend. Mina, on the other paw, was more of an assistance. The fact that Mina didn't bully him on a semi regular basis also helped. His sister nudged her head towards Cross.

Kuro padded up to Cross stopping halfway towards the old female, looked up, and grinned. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Cross."

Cross returned the smile, "Likewise Kuro, but it's Cross, not Miss Cross alright?" She looked to Mina and Wing, particularly Mina. Once more she felt the urge to ask them to refer to her as "Grandma Cross", but knew she shouldn't overstep her bounds. Especially when they had an irate mother.

"Well it's settled then," Bat announced. "Cross here will watch you while your mother is away."

Wing shrugged his shoulders and said, "It's fine with my Dad, just so long as I get to have fish I'm happy." Wing licked his chops at the thought of his future meal.

"Kid's got a one track mind," George kept to his own thoughts. He still wasn't convinced that his mother's plan was a good one. A family issue such as this couldn't be fixed with a simple babysitting job. Pessimistic as it sounded, he couldn't find a way to tell his mother. Rather, he didn't want to crush her spirits. For he knew Cross wanted one thing: her daughter back.

What parent wouldn't want that?

"George? Why don't you stay with Bat while I take care of the kids?"

Cross's sudden question snapped George out of whatever thoughts he felt. "What?"

"I think it would be nice if you two got to know each other better."

Before George could argue anything, Cross shepherded the pups off, looked to Bat and said "Don't worry they are in good paws." and left, leaving the two dogs alone.

Silence befell the pair and neither could think up any sort of conversation. A white scarred visage stared back at the empty white orbs nestled within black fur.

"Hey," Bat and George both said in unison.

Awkward sounding as it was, it was a start at least.

And he wasn't the only one feeling awkward.

To be continued...

A/N: Hello all. This is Noratcat here. Sorry for the long absence, but life and motivation have a way of getting in the way or leaving you. This is my first chapter without Sara writing with me, but she is here in spirit. Well that and this is her profile. I don't know how long Echoes will take to finish. And frankly I can see spots where I can make it better. But At this moment, I don't intend to give up on it. It might take a while, but I will find a way to continue it. Worst case scenario I stop and decide to reboot the thing. But we shall see. I just hope I can still entertain as well as Sara can.