Author's Note: Hiatus was way too long. Sorry 'bout that. Going to try and be more regular now.


Eight: Friends

His mother was dead. His grandfather wanted him to give up everything. Masquerade was on the loose, his rank in the Bakugan league was falling, and he'd lost all his friends. That was the worst part, really. After all this, after everything he'd been through with Dan, he'd lost it all in a single day.

And, as much as he missed Dan, as much as he missed everything, Shun couldn't shake the idea that he deserved it all. He neglected his studies, argued with his grandfather. It made sense that his grandfather would cut him off from his friends and his games. Shun understood. He didn't agree, but he understood.

He'd been alone for almost a two months before anyone tried to find him. Dan had tried to call once, but Shun hadn't answered. He regretted it now. Regretted not trying to call back. But his grandfather had told him not to and Shun had a hard time arguing with him over such things. He was too caught up in his own emotions, trying to stay afloat despite the pain that swarmed his entire body and left him exhausted and unambitious.

Then Runo and Marucho had shown up and Shun had beaten them. It had been nice, almost, to be brawling again. The way he and Skyress fell into rhythms always made him feel alive. And, for a moment, he'd been able to forget that his mother was dead and his best friend hated him and the whole world meant nothing if Shun was going to spend his life alone and unloved.

But then they'd been gone and all of that had come back and now Shun was fighting those thoughts again. He slept on and off. Went through his physical exercises without really feeling it. Played music on a leaf and let his mind trail across his final memories with Dan.

This pattern repeated itself, over and over, until, one day, Masquerade had shown up. And Shun had fought Dan alongside Masquerade. But Dan was his friend. Dan was here. And Dan believed in him. So Shun flipped back – he hadn't wanted to fight with Masquerade to begin with. The guy was a jerk, and a megalomaniac to boot.

After Masquerade was gone, Dan stuck out his hand and invited him back to the brawlers. Shun had almost cried. Almost broken down in Dan's arms because dang it he'd missed Dan. Missed the team. Missed being alive.

"You gonna be okay?" asked Dan.

Shun nodded. Faltered. Stumbled forward and hugged Dan around the waist, pressing his face into Dan's shoulders. Dan hugged him around the shoulders tightly, his own face in Shun's shoulder.

"It's good to have you back, man," said Dan, quietly. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," mumbled Shun.

He should have known Dan would come back for him. He always did. After all, wasn't that what friends were for?