Before Note: Woahhh whats this? Two updates in this same week? I can't believe it happened tbh, but here it is (Was going to wait a bit to post this but I got excited)! Was originally gonna be another short chapter, but I decided longer content would keep it more interesting.

Thank you to the people that reviewed and favorited/followed! :3c

Disclaimer: Do people still do these...I forgot about it last chapter but anyways the fact that this is *fan*fiction on *fan*fiction dot net should be good enough lmao

It was starting to feel weird. Kind of? Shun had been in this...godly situation for a few months now. If he was honest with himself, he had grown accustomed to it. Almost too accustomed. It wasn't a big deal before. He had been alone then. Too alone, alone with his thoughts, dangerously alone with his thoughts. Which is why the god's presence, annoying or not, alleviated the empty feeling that had slowly started to consume him. While literally alone, he had someone to talk to and keep him distracted. He felt more productive and weirdly sane, considering that he was hearing voices in his head.

'Alone...'

"What?"

'You're just like Alone.'

"I'm not alone," Shun furrowed his brow,"How could I be alo-"

'That's not what I meant. It's complicated to explain just forget it.'

Anyways...

What felt weird now, ironically, was that he wasn't literally alone anymore. Hyoga had traveled back to his country a few weeks ago with the promise of more frequent visits along with plans to find Shiryu and perhaps give Saori and Seiya a much needed visit. Ikki had become more open, with frequent calls and visits. Shun didn't really know exactly what he was up to on his own, and he never really knew before, so he didn't pry.

'Shady.'

Well, yeah. But Shun was confident his brother wasn't living a life of crime or anything of the like. As long as Ikki was okay and healthy, he wouldn't question it.

Point is, spending time with Ikki and Hyoga made him realize that a voice in his head isn't normal. They couldn't acknowledge Hades, they couldn't hear him. Shun couldn't speak freely when he had company because he had his head-mate to hide. It felt wrong.

'What feels wrong?'

Hiding it? Having it in the first place? Both?

'Do you wish I was gone?'

"I," Shun looked up to the sky from his window,"I don't know." He thought for a moment as he watched the sun set, leaving the sky in a trail of pinks, blues, and oranges. How pretty.

"Can you even, uh, leave?"

There was a long silence. Shun started to panic, feeling as if he had made some sort of offense and that with that short statement, Hades has left him be at last and he would be left with the deafening static of complete silence that would make him question his state of being. He turned from the window and opened his mouth to say something, but didn't really know what.

'Wait no calm down. I was just messing with you. I'm sorry.'

Shun was more relieved than angry, and let out a breath.

'But to answer your question: I can 'leave' and just wait out my time until the next war, but that wouldn't be as fun now, would it?'

Laughing a little, Shun smiled. "I suppose not." The thought of the "next" war gave him a nasty feeling in his stomach, but he decided to not even bring that topic up.

Settling back at the window, Shun took in the cool breeze coming in. Autumn was starting, and it was getting chillier and the holiday season was starting to creep itself onto the town outside. It was a little exciting, to say the least. He hoped that the others would be willing to hang out some time soon.

As the city lights turned on outside, Shun felt more motivated to take an evening stroll. Just look around and enjoy the weather.

'But it is cold and you'll get sick.'

"Coats exist, dude."

'Ohhhh.'

Shun searched for said coat and when he finally found it, he put it on and nuzzled his face into the soft, grey collar. It was his favorite coat and he didn't get to wear it often, which made it all the more exciting to head on out.

There was this cute little town square-ish area nearby with about a dozen or so shops and these delightful food stands strewn about. It looked especially charming at night with the yellow glow of the street lamps, so Shun decided it was the perfect time to explore it some and get a snack while at it.

Shun spent nearly two hours just strolling about, and it was actually pretty fun. Even after visiting the cotton candy stand a couple of times before, Hades still had trouble comprehending colorful sugar clumps on a stick.

'Such a simple concept, yet the process of creating is...just how and why?'

"It's just, it's just sugar."

'Exactly! It's fluffy sugar on a stick, Shun! A stick! Fluffy sugar!'

"There's so much more interesting things that are done with sugar, Hades, why are you freaking out about one of the simplest ones."

'Stop making me feel stupid.'

"For one, I'm not. Secondly, you just are."

Anyways, Shun then bought himself a warm hot chocolate along with a strawberry creme crepe and found an empty bench to sit and eat. At one point, however, he noticed a group of kids chasing...something. It was dark and hard to tell what it was, but it seemed to be an animal. Shun wasn't too concerned, seeing the kids were laughing playfully. That is, he wasn't concerned until one of the kids threw what was presumably a rock at the animal, in which a hiss followed. Shun shot up and ran to the group.

"What are you doing? Leave it alone!"

Skillfully catching a rock that nearly hit his face, Shun glanced behind him at the targeted cat, and then back at the kids who were now fearful of whatever trouble they would get in.

"We didn't mean to!" One of them squeaked out, a little girl. The rest of the group nodded in agreement.

Sighing, Shun didn't have the heart to scold them or anything ('Where are their parents?'). "It's cruel to hurt animals, they have feelings too. I hope you don't do something like this again." They all nodded and Shun left it at that, truly wishing they wouldn't do something like this in the future. Turning back, the cat had run off. Hopefully, it wasn't hurt too bad.

'Deja vu.'

"What?"

'Mmm, nothing.'

"You've been weird today," Shun commented, going back to his bench. "You okay?"

'Me? Pssh I'm fine. Dandy. Fresh. As you kids say, chill as can be.'

Shun rolled his eyes. "You're embarrassing."

'Good thing you're the only one that hears me, then.'

"Unfortunately."

'I'm...offended.'

Shun snorted and got up, throwing away his trash and deciding it was time to go home. The walk to his apartment was uneventful and quiet. But then Hades decided to speak up.

'I don't mean to alarm you, but I think someone is following us.'

Yeah, like he hadn't played that one on him before. "You can't s-"

'Shun I'm-'

"Nope. Not happening."

They kept cutting each other off until Shun reached his door. He locked it behind him and before he could reach to turn on the light, a weird tapping sound was heard from the window on the other side of the room.

"Were you serious?"

'Of course not. Go check it out before you die.'

While he is one of Athena's trusted saints, who has battled dozens of Earth-threatening beings before, the situation was still kinda creepy. Shun carefully walked over to the window, and after inhaling a bit, he threw open the window.

Nothing.

Confused, Shun reached to close the window, but a...something jumped in and disappeared into the dark room, almost knocking into him.

'Turn on the lights! Where did it go!?'

Shaking out of his momentary stupor, he ran to switch the light on and then scanned the room.

Ah.

It was a cat. Actually, upon closer inspection, it was the cat, from earlier.

'So someone was following you home after all. Why did it have to be that dirty thing though.'

"Don't be mean!" Shun was careful to approach it without getting too close. He sat on the floor cross-legged while the cat sniffed around and inspected the furniture nearby. It appeared to be a girl. Grey in color with one green eye, the other scarred. Lots of other scars around the face, part of the left ear torn up. An old, experienced cat. While Shun reflected on this, the cat strolled up next to him and sniffed his hand, then rubbed her head against it. Shun smiled. "Who would ever want to hurt someone like you?" He carefully pet her where she let him.

'Probably grateful you defended her.'

Shun hummed in response to this. But it wasn't too long before the cat decided she had overdone her stay and took off out the open window. Shun leaned out and waved into the dark before closing it shut.

A few days later, Hyoga came to visit again. It had only been about a month since Shun's birthday, and this time the visit was due to Shiryu's birthday. Granted, they wouldn't be seeing Shiryu right then and there. It was difficult to contact him and who even knew where he was exactly. So Shun and Hyoga decided to make him a card to send to Rozan. It would be a late birthday gift, but that would get to Shiryu eventually, and then they would try to see how and when they could all see each other.

They went out earlier to gather supplies. You know, the essentials. Paper, crayons, an envelope, some stickers, and a couple of stupid party favors that Hyoga insisted on sending.

Once they were back at Shun's, they dumped their supplies on the bed and began to work. They drew silly dragons wearing party hats and a heartfelt message in sloppy green crayon. They made sure to place every cat sticker they bought on every inch of their card and envelope. It was a mess, but a beautiful mess. Speaking of cats, Shun shared his cat story with Hyoga as he laid on one of his pillows and absentmindedly played with one of the small plastic clickers they bought.

"Of course that cat would love you," Hyoga laughed, and looked at Shun fondly, "Did you give her a name?"

"Hades said I should, but I didn't know what to-" Shun slapped a hand over his mouth.

Hades said.

Hades said.

Hades.

Said.

'I didn't say shit.'

'...'

'Shun...you didn't.'

Hyoga sat up, confused. "What did you say?"

Oh.

'FUCK.'

"W-what did I say?" Shun didn't know what to do at all, he didn't have a back up for these situations. He clicked his clicker a little faster out of anxiety.

Carefully, Hyoga asked slowly, "What do you mean by Hades?"

Click. Click.

"Shun?"

Click. Click. Click.

"Shun!"

End clicking.

Shun looked straight at the wall. "Look...its just something stupid you wouldn't understand it if I told you."

Hyoga looked a little taken aback, but proceeded a little more sternly, "You just mentioned Hades like if he was your damn roommate. That's not, that's not something you just do, as some stupid joke or whatever it is, Shun."

Hades...your time has come.

'Please, I'm not ready.'

"Neither am I, you dolt. But here it goes." Shun replied out loud, but before Hyoga could question the seemingly random comment, the other continued.

"Look, you're going to think I'm crazy, or stupid. I know its hard to take seriously, but I would never pull a joke like this to someone like you, or Ikki, or Seiya, or Saori, or any other saint out there. Hades is here. But not here here. I'm his reincarnation, and even after everything that happened in the war, I won't stop being his reincarnation. I begged Ikki to kill me in the few seconds that I took control when in the underworld because that was the surest way to defeat Hades. But he didn't, and I'm still here. It's not like Hades can come back through me, he's sealed off until whatever happens in the next war, but we're still connected. A few months ago, Hades started talking to me. But...just because he can, honestly. He's been my head-mate, so to speak. Think of something like, like Saori and Athena, or Poseidon and Julian, more or less. Either way, he's...harmless."

Shun wasn't surprised to see Hyoga so speechless. Granted, it was a lot to take in. All he hoped was that his friend would take note of his sincerity and not freak out about the situation at hand.

'Hey Shun, there's something I've been wanting to try out. It might help make your claim more credible to Hyoga.'

Shun sat up on the bed and crossed his legs, looking expectant.

"Hyoga, Hades has something to show you."

Opening his mouth to reply, Hyoga stopped abruptly and stared at Shun. He was staring at his head, specifically. Shun wondered what Hades was doing. He didn't particularly feel anything.

"Your hair."

"What about it."

"It's turning black."

"...Great."

Hyoga made an unidentifiable sound and got up to started pacing around the room. "So you're telling me Hades, at this very moment, is in your head?"

"Uh huh."

A hand ran through blond hair frustratingly. "How do you know he's not plotting something", he asked quickly, accusingly. The air was getting chilly.

'I wish.'

Shun sighed. "Why would he be my emotional support and friend for months if he's going to destroy everything afterwards?"

"...Emotional support?"

"Stop freezing my room." Shun pulled a blanket over himself and laid down. Ugh.

"Don't change the topic!"Hyoga pointed a finger at Shun, but the temperature did stop decreasing afterwards.

"He...didn't let me feel alone when I was feeling like shit, annoying as he is. He's the one that created this," Shun waved at himself exasperatedly, then went back into his blanket, "mess in the first place, he may as well deal with it." God, Shun felt childish. It was all starting to give him a headache.

'Who else was gonna deal with you when you weren't dealing with you.'

Shun pulled the blanket tight around himself. "As much as you have a point, I don't want to think about it right now." He muttered. Hyoga caught this and simply stared. A few moments later, he rubbed a hand against his arm, sighed, and sat at the edge of the mattress and looked at the lump on the bed.

"I'm not sure what to think about this. I think my only reality check right now is this," he spoke softly and ran a hand through Shun's dark hair, and received a whine in protest, "This is all so incredulous, but not, I don't know."

A long silence followed, but it was calmer than before.

"Shun?"

He was falling asleep in his blanket. "Yeah?" He said tiredly.

"Can you tell H-wait can he like, hear me?"

"Mhmm."

"Change his hair back, its creepy."

'I think I said this before, but I don't like him.'

After Note: I think I only watched like the first season of Lost Canvas, like 6 years ago...anyways,

Thank you for reading! Comments and feedback are always welcome and appreciated!