A/N: UNEXPECTED HIATUS WAS UNEXPECTED!

But really, I'm so so so so so sos os osososoososos soosossoosdjiwoga sorry for not updating in like, months. School really took a toll on me and I suppose I wasn't very inspired to continue this? But I hate havin to abandon this so I tried my best to finish this up and even though I most likely won't be updatin this story very often, I would like to continue this at least.

Gosh I'm sorry guys! If you're still with me here, I guess. ;-; But here you go, its not too long but its something! The OOC-ness couldn't be helped.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements from Saint Seiya, they all rightfully belong to Masami Kurumada.

'….Awkward silence…'

Shun tried as best as he could to keep himself from telling Hades to shut the hell up. But if he did, he was sure the god would actually go about closing the gates of the underworld to all incoming souls.

Just to spite him, of course. Hades wasn't that stupid. At least, he didn't think he was.

He fidgeted in his seat on the sofa and mustered up the best smile he could put on, glancing over to the one beside him.

"So how has life been, Ikki?" He almost slapped himself in the forehead for that. Really?

'That was lame...'

He was finally able to see his dear brother after so much time and that was all he could say? The blue haired teen also seemed uncomfortable in his seat.

"It has been fine, well, as fine as life for us saints can get." A nervous chuckle. It was so unlike Ikki to be acting like this. Then again, he always had a different attitude when he was with his brother.

'What happened to the happy family reunion? You have barely said anything since he walked through the door.'

It was true. Shun had opened the door before Ikki even knocked. They had stared at each other for a few seconds, Ikki waiting to be let in and the other trying to force out an enthusiastic greeting (failing miserably). They had both sat on the couch. The scene had looked like two men awkwardly acknowledging each other as they waited for the bus. In his mind, Shun was going nuts. What was happening to him? He shouldn't be acting like this. The green haired teen felt guilt slowly creeping into his mind. Ikki had looked for him. He looked for him because he wanted to see him. He should be grateful, shouldn't he? He should be happy and enjoying the moment while he had it. But why wasn't he?

"Shun?" The Andromeda saint snapped out of his thoughts and looked at his brother.

"Yes?"

A few moments went by. Something was bothering Ikki. The older one seemed like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't get it out. Every second was so painstakingly frustrating. The younger teen was about to speak up again when he was finally answered to.

"Do you hate me?"

Green orbs widened. "What! Of course not Ikki! What are you thinking?" Shun snapped out of his depressive stupor, the awkward shell he was in was finally breaking. He stood up and faced the other. Was that really the impression he was giving? Hate was the last thing he could be feeling right now. God, he felt stupid. This wasn't how he planned the day to go about.

The older teen locked his gaze on the floor, like if it just became the most interesting thing in the world. He fumbled with his hands nervously and kept opening his mouth and closing it, trying to find the right words to say. After a few moments that seemed like hours, Ikki finally spoke, his gaze still at the floor.

"Every time I left you behind after battles, I thought it was for the best. I thought that maybe, the more distance there was between us, it would be easier to cope with…if anything happened. I didn't want to get so attached to something I could lose. I didn't want to re-experience all the hurt I felt when I had to let you go in order to train, or when Esmeralda was so cruelly taken away from me." Everything went silent again, and Shun was still trying to process the fact that:

His brother was opening up to him.

It was something that hadn't happened since the fight with the Black Saints.

"It wasn't until recently that I realized how much of a selfish coward I was becoming." The Phoenix raised his blue eyes to meet green ones that only widened when they realized what a hurt and pleading look they were giving him. "I ran away because I was scared. I ran for my own good. I never thought how you would feel about it. Every time I went to help you, to protect you, you always seemed so happy to see me, and even though I was happy to see you too, all I wanted was to get it over with so I could high-tail it out of there. I was so scared after Hades took control of your body. I thought I would lose you for good, and…and…" It was obvious now that the teen was at his breaking point. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm so, so sorry, Shun. I miss you."

The brothers locked gazes, one pleading and desperate, the other, shocked and somewhat relieved.

"Brother," Shun gave him the brightest and most sincere smile he could muster at the moment without bursting out into tears, "I could never hate you. I can't say it didn't hurt when you left without a goodbye each time, but I never blamed you. If anything, I blamed myself for being so weak and useless to the others, I always thought I was a burden for forcing you to come and help me each time."

'That was beautiful.'

Disregarding the comment (that wasn't so sarcastic for once), the Andromeda saint hugged the older one back just as tightly as he firmly told him that he wasn't useless and that he never was a burden, that he had managed to fight the power of a god by himself and if that didn't mean he was strong then nothing else would. What stunned Shun the most was that Ikki then proceeded to break into sobs on his shoulder, and he let him. It came to the point where his shirt was soaked with tears and they somehow ended up kneeling on the floor, but he didn't care. For once, it wasn't he that was crying. It wasn't he that needed the other for comfort. It was his turn to be strong for the other.

"You're so stupid and selfless, Shun. You always trust and forgive so easily. But I suppose that's what makes you so strong." Came a muffled chuckle from his shoulder, causing the smaller one to smile slightly.

It's ironic that sometimes, in order to feel happy and carefree, to lift a weight you had been carrying upon shoulders for so long, you are forced to endure a time of sadness, pain, and gallons of tears to make things right again.

After all tears had dried up and the two brothers peeled themselves off from one another, everything seemed to snap back into a comfortable reality.

With Ikki waiting patiently in the living room, Shun was currently cutting vegetables like a pro and sliding them into a pot of boiling water along with other meats and spices.

'Never thought you'd be decent at cooking.'

"You get the hang of it after a while when you live alone. Instant ramen may be good but doesn't really cut it after weeks of having it every day." Shun explained in a whisper, not wanting to be caught 'talking to himself'.

'Where's your "Kiss the Chef" apron? I've seen you pass by some when you go to the store, it would fit you.'

"Don't start." Came the warning.

'And with the way you keep this place all clean and orderly, I bet you'd be the perfect housewife, too. I wonder who the lucky man would be.'

The teen nearly fumbled with the jar of juice he had been carrying and he grit his teeth in irritation. "I'm not a woman, Hades, stop making it sound like I am one."

'But you look like one.'

"If I could, I would be punching you in the face right now."

'Kinky.'

"That doesn't even make sense!"

Before he could figure out where in the world the god got the word 'kinky' from, a voice was heard from the doorway.

"Are you alright?" Ikki was leaning against the frame with his arms crossed, looking concerned.

'Oops'

"Uh, yeah! I just, like, talk to myself sometimes. No biggie." Shun stammered and proceeded to chuckle nervously. Oh god that was the most stupid thing he could have said.

It was as obvious as the sky is fucking blue that Ikki didn't buy a single drop of it, but he didn't say anything and proceeded to take a seat at the dining table. The Andromeda saint blushed at the suspicious stare directed his way and turned to the stove as the pot whined in protest behind him. "I'll get you for this, jerk." He muttered lowly under his breath.

"What was that?"

Goddamnit.

The younger turned around slowly, spoon in hand. "Hm?" he hummed questioningly, innocently. After no response and a completely confused stare, he turned back and nervously prodded at the stew.

'Do not panic.'

"Not panicking." He mouthed.

'Breathe, boy, breathe.'

"Getting real tired of your shit here." This came out in a barely audible whisper, and said boy gripped his spoon until his knuckles turned white.

'Didn't know the pretty boy used vulgar language, how unmannerly.'

"Stahp, please."

'Ok fine.'

A sigh of relief escaped his lips and he proceeded to serve up two bowls of stew. Shun did most of the conversing, Ikki was always the silent type, but he did at least give complete responses, consisting of a subject and verb, a few adverbs and adjectives, if you please. It was relaxing, talking about fun memories when they were kids, about the other saints, battles, and everything that had happened so far. In the back of his mind, Shun wondered if Ikki was going to leave without a trace again, and it soon become a nagging worry as the minutes went by. So you can only imagine the wave of happiness that overcame him when his brother gave him a phone number and an address. A legit number and address.

Needless to say, Shun was happy to have his brother back.

For good this time.

A/N: Aha! Well, there ya go. Not sure how to feel about it tho...

This chapter was a bit feely, but I intend for most of this story to be all shits and giggles, and I think I enjoy a sassy Hades the best. XD If you can help out a wandering soul here by suggestin a few comical situations, that would be awesome!

Thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed!

Comments and feedback is always welcome!