Before Note: Did ya'll forget about this ol fic? (If you're still here) I know I did omg. Its been like 3 years since I last updated and 5 since I started it...wowie. A lot of things have happened in that time, from being stuck in depression to getting out of it, and now I've finished my first year of college! Why am I still updating this? Because I looked back through this fic and looking at my old writing was a little embarrassing, but it still holds a special place in my heart and I felt bad that it was not finished. Granted, my writing style will be different from here on out, but hopefully that's not too distracting haha. It's summer vacation and if I'm inspired enough, I'll try to get back into writing fics while I have free time, I got nostalgic while looking through my reviews, you're all so great!

Shun didn't anticipate that they would stay up so late, but he didn't particularly regret it. It was the most content he had felt in a while. Talking to Hyoga about anything and everything, making a late night snack, putting on some tunes that they terribly sang along to and making up the lyrics when they didn't know them. It was the little things that made him happy. At one point, when the clock neared 3 AM and their sense of existence started to fade, they became giggly messes for no apparent reason, and once they were all giggled-out on the floor, Shun looked up to his boringly pale ceiling and muttered without turning his head, "Hyoga...what if Hades came back?"

He didn't really know why he said it. He would later blame the fuzzy feeling in his head due to lack of sleep.

Hyoga didn't say anything for a minute or two, keeping his gaze to the ceiling as well. Right when Shun thought he ruined the mood and was about to change the topic, Hyoga spoke up.

"Why?"

'Yeah, why.'

The awkward silence that followed made Shun feel backed against the wall and he tried to discretely turn away from his friend on the floor, who had turned his gaze in a curious manner. He didn't know what to say and he felt stupid and embarrassed and god why did he have to open his dumb mouth and-

"Hades is done and over with, Shun, you shouldn't spend so much time thinking about it," Hyoga calmly said. Shun knew Hyoga never meant to pry with him, so he was glad he was letting the topic go as quickly as it came.

'If only' Hades almost laughed in a low tone.

Shun merely sighed, a headache starting to ache at his temples. He sat up and looked at the clock. 3:15 AM.

'Ikki is coming in 6 hours...'

Oh right.

Scratching his head, Shun said, amusingly, "Ikki is taking me to breakfast in a few hours...Do you want to join?"

Hyoga grimaced and made a weird sound, and the other laughed. Shun knew very well that his brother and best friend didn't particularly get along. If he had a birthday wish, it would be to change that.

"We'll see when the time comes," Hyoga yawned. Right. Sleep.

Shun offered Hyoga his bed, but after a couple of protests they decided to share it, like when they were little. It was a comforting and nostalgic setup, but they couldn't dwell on it too much as sleep deprivation caught up to them and they knocked out before Hades could even share his beautiful input on the sleep accommodations.

They slept through the alarm, so it was Ikki's insistent knocking that finally awoke them. Shun groggily got up and went to the door to be greeted with a hug and a 'Happy Birthday" from an awake-looking Ikki.

"Sorry Ikki, I just woke up. I'll be ready in a few." He opened the door to let his brother in.

Ikki stepped in and ran a hand through Shun's short hair. "Nice cut, and take your time." However, he spotted Hyoga coming out of the bathroom, putting on a shirt and making his way to the kitchen. "What the hell."

Hyoga waved at Ikki nonchalantly as he grabbed a glass of water.

"What are you doing here," Ikki said flatly.

"Just visiting Shun, calm down."

Shun rolled his eyes, deciding to deal with them after he got dressed.

'No wait let's stay and watch them. I'm curious. What do you think would happen if we dropped them on an island with no escape? Who would die first?'

"You'll probably see more of that later," Shun muttered, putting on his usual clothes, "and...they would probably kill each other simultaneously before surviving on an island."

'How long?'

"A week?"

Once done dressing, Shun stepped back into the living room, where he found his brother begrudgingly waiting on the couch and his friend intensely staring at his empty cup of water. What children.

Ikki stood up quickly. "Ready to go?" Shun nodded, but motioned to Hyoga.

"You coming?"

"No." Both Ikki and Hyoga blurted out at the same time.

"Glad we're on the same page anyways Shun lets g-"

"But Hyogaaaa its my birthdaaayyyy." Shun whined before Ikki could pull them both out the door. Hyoga looked extremely conflicted, to say the least. Like a kid who is offered candy by some store cashier and the mother doesn't want to appear mean so she stares at the kid just daring them to accept it because they already got in trouble so the kid is already grounded and banned from treats for a week but they really want that candy and anyways-

'Do it, guilt trip them. Neither of them can resist the power of Shun. I believe in the power of Shun...'

Motivated and somewhat touched by Hades's statement, Shun went up to Hyoga and pulled on his arm, whining some more with a pleading look.

'Yes. Be cute. Do some puppy eyes. Kiss him or something...actually not in front of Ikki.'

"What more could I wish for on this very day but to spend some quality time with my dear brother and best friend...but I understand if it won't happen...I could always hope for next year..." Shun looked to the floor, tears welling up at his eyes. Dramatic. Woeful.

'PFFT. Shun oh my god.'

Hyoga panicked and grabbed both of Shun's hands."I'll go, alright! Right Ikki?"

"Y-yeah." Was the nervous response, almost shameful. Shun wiped the fake tears from his eyes and lifted Hyoga's hands into the air.

"Great! Where are we going?" Shun giggled and proceeded to rush them out the door.

'If you could see me, I would be nodding in approval.'

They went to a pancake house nearby which was busy, but not too much so they only had to wait about five through ten minutes or so. They got a nice booth by the window looking out into the street. Shun sat down excitedly while the other two did so lamely. After ordering, an awkward silence followed and Shun was getting genuinely annoyed.

'You did kinda force them into this, give them some time.'

True. But it was still exasperating. Shun gave up for the moment and took interest in the busy street outside. As a group of kids ran by, he couldn't help but think about life as kids in the Kido mansion. Hyoga and Ikki were always the competitive ones, but Hyoga was louder about it than Ikki...Ikki was always focused on making sure Shun was alright. And Hyoga did care, too. He would have mercy on Shun when a prank war was amidst them, or step up against the other kids that would pick on him. But it was really after they came back from training that Shun got to truly get to know Hyoga more. He was more gentle and caring than he seemed, for sure. It was nice to have his type of company, especially when Ikki wasn't there...

Hyoga and Ikki did care about each other, to an extent. They wouldn't just let the other die, or something. They grew up together. They are part of the same team. And Shun supposed they just didn't have enough time to truly make up after the black saint incident with all the war that was happening.

'So what better time than now?'

What would Shun do without Hades. Honestly? Still be depressed as hell, probably.

With a deep breath, he turned away from the window and looked at the other two."Guys?" When they both turned to him, he smiled. "Thanks for being here...it means a lot. I feel like I'm finally crawling out of the rut I've been in for years. Just, thanks."

Ikki and Hyoga looked at each other, then to the table and just kinda...laughed. As if by magic, the atmosphere loosened up, just in time for the food to come, too.

Shun happily dug into his blueberry pancakes as he watched Ikki and Hyoga ask each other about their travels, and occasionally bring up a story from their childhood. It wasn't a perfect reconcile yet, but they were trying, and that was all that mattered, in all honesty. He felt blessed.

'Happy Birthday, nerd. I knew the power of Shun could save the day.'

Now how to explain to them the god in his head...

'Wait, what?'

After Note: I think I mentioned in a previous chapter how I use Shun to kinda vent...Well I'm so so so so much happier than I was a year ago, I suppose I just wanted to show that in this small chapter. haha. A little serious, but I just wanted to get that out of the way before writing more stupid shenanigans. B)

Also, reading back through messages, some of you were interested in shunxhyoga, I don't mind it, so I can give you a mindless gay chapter if y'all want it...let me know!

Thank you for reading! To any previous readers and new ones! Feedback and comments are always welcome and appreciated!