Behind The Mask

His...Parents?

     Chase just stood in his place, looking at Kushina and Edan with wide eyes, not sure how to react. Should he be happy? Should he be nervous? Should he be mad? How is he supposed to feel? In his current situation, he has no clue on what to feel anymore about them. Kushina and Edan on the other hand were happy and relieved to see Chase again and the fact that he was okay. But when they saw his reaction, they became a little concerned as their last exchange led them to this kind of response.

"Uh, Chase? You know these dogs?" Humdinger asked, breaking the tension. Without turning back, Chase slightly chuckled, trying to make the situation no big deal.

"Oh, they're Kushina and Edan. M-Marshall's parents." Chase explained and already, Edan and Kushina felt broken by his words. He didn't call the Mom or Dad and they referred them to only Marshall's parents and not his own as well.

"Hey, can you give us a minute...I'll be right with you." Chase said and Humdinger looked back and forth between Kushina, Edan and Chase and could feel some tension rising.

"Yeah, sure." Humdinger said as he took one last look at Kushina and Edan and made his way towards Captain Turbot's boat.

Once Chase felt Humdinger was out of hearing distance, he turned back to Kushina and Edan. The German Shepherd watched as Kushina slowly walked up to him and softly hugged him, nuzzling her head above his. Chase was surprised by the gesture, but didn't bother to break away, but he didn't hug back either.

Slowly after a couple seconds, Chase softly pulled away from her embrace and looked up at Kushina who was trying her best to keep up a cheerful smile.

"Hey" She greeted, trying to keep her voice from breaking. Without even thinking, Chase opened his mouth to greet her back.

"H-Hey, K-Kushina."

The female Dalmatians' eyes widened in horror. He didn't call her "Mom". Him calling her by her actual name instead of "Mom" broke her heart into countless pieces. Already, she began worrying even more.

Flash Back

"Of course, you're like family to me. That's why I can't leave you alone. I'm always here for you." She softly said as she closed her eyes.

"Thanks, Mom."

Kushina silently gasped as she quickly pulled away from the hug and her wide eyes met Chase's wide eyes as the German Shepherd realized what he just said.

"W-W-What...what did you say?" Kushina stuttered with a light blush, obviously not expecting Chase to say what he said. Chase, who was now blushing a little bit, felt ashamed.

"I...I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Chase stuttered.

"Hey," She interrupted and Chase didn't respond, but let her talk. "Please, don't apologize. You can call me Mom." She said and Chase fell speechless once again. His eyes widened and he felt like tears may fall, but he kept them in. Then, a smile formed on his face.

Flash Back Ends

She replayed that memory and to her, it was one of the best moments of her life. Every time he called her that, she couldn't be happier. But this time, he didn't. Which immediately made her worry.

Chase softly pulled away from her embrace and looked at Edan with an anxious look.

"Hey, Edan."

Now it was his turn to be shocked. But he could feel his heart beat increase due to that name. But slowly, he felt like it shattered like glass. He didn't call him "Dad". He tried his best, but weakly hid his broken look.

Flash Back

"W...W...Why did...did...yo-you...st...stay?" He asked. Edan seemed a little caught off guard with that question, but it wasn't a hard question for him to answer.

"Well, it's obvious. Kushina sees you as one of our own, and I was surprised. But I'm glad she sees you as a son, and you see her like a mother. Plus, I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried." Edan shrugged at the last part.

"You're doing great, just hold on a little bit longer, they'll be here soon." Edan spoke in his most comforting, soft voice which Chase soothed into. Edan let Chase rest upon his chest, giving him more comfort which made the German Shepherd smile. Then, he said a sentence that Edan did not expect to hear.

"T...T...Thanks...D...D...Dad."

Flash Back Ends

Like Kushina, it was one of the greatest moments of his life. But now, things have changed.

"S-So...how've you been?" Kushina nervously asks, trying to break out from her shocked and broken look, but it's proven to be much more difficult.

"Little tough, but everything's going great." The pup answered with a light smile, and now it was his turn to ask questions.

"So, what're you guys doing here?" He asked and Kushina and Edan looked at each other for a quick second before they looked back at him.

"We went for a walk and...and saw you out here." Edan spoke up and Chase was left with nothing to say at all.

Silence filled the atmosphere once again as neither of them knew what to say.

"A-Are you...coming back to the Lookout?" Kushina stuttered a little bit. Why was she stuttering? This is her son, right? Why is she nervous? She talked like she didn't know who he was at all.

"Not yet, I'm still not ready to leave my family." Chase softly explained and both Kushina and Edan's eyes widened.

Family? They both repeated in their minds. He had...a family? But what about them, weren't they family too? Words couldn't describe how hurt they felt, but it didn't pain them as much as it pained Chase. To him, he just couldn't call them Mom or Dad right now.

Flash Back

"Mom..Dad...I-" Chase tried to explain, but was cut off.

"We think you should go with Ryder." Kushina said in a calm tone, but it didn't come, it was more like a stern, but also disappointed tone as well which broke the small pup.

"I...I..." Chase tried to speak again, but couldn't find the words to do so. But this time, Edan interrupted him.

"Chase...just go." He said in the same tone as Kushina's, which broke his heart even more.

Flash Back Ends

Replaying that memory, it felt like Chase couldn't face them anymore and turned to his side.

"I...better get going, I can't keep 'em waiting." Chase said and quickly ran off. Kushina and Edan, heart broken, watched their "son" leave them. But he didn't leave without saying one more thing.

"I'm sorry."