OK, I left this fan fiction alone for one day and look at all of the reviews! I'm going to give a few shout outs and answer a few questions. Thanks to bronze andromeda shun and KaizerDragoon for reading all of my stories! I appreciate how many times you've both commented and you give me words of encouragement. To LoveShun, thank you. You've commented on a few stories so far. As for whether or not Hades will be involved, you'll have to wait and see. I don't want to give too much away, but yes, he does have a pretty major role, though not in the way you might expect. To TreeOfSorrow, thank you for reading my stories and liking them even if you don't comment every time. To Pisces fan, yes, Aphrodite will be involved too at some point. And to queen of beyblade who I gave my first shout out to, I was thinking about having Camus as a relative to Hyoga, but you'll have to wait and see.

In this Chapter everyone starts to make their way back together after nine years. And, the tension between the Vampires and Werewolves might just become a little too much to handle until something much bigger happens. So I hope you enjoy the Chapter and will continue to support me!

Chapter Three: Angels and Demons

Shun felt as if his heart was going to fly into his throat and out onto the ground where everyone could see. Not only had he suddenly come across his old friend and brother, but now he had to go home and face everyone there. He didn't know if he could handle that. But it was inevitable now. But as worried as he was to have all of his friends and family see him again after they had thought he was dead for so long, he was also worried about Sakura and Kakashi behind him. They were snarling at the two Undead Hunters, and the whole pack was agitated. But they knew that this was in their best interest. They had to work with these people or there would be no hope for their pack. Shun had also convinced him that even though he was still a pup in their pack, he was a young adult in the human world, and humans would panic to see them carrying him around like a young pup. They wouldn't understand. So they left him alone and let him walk.

But Shun also hunted with them. And he wasn't fast enough to keep up with the Werewolves at a dead run, and he didn't have their fangs or claws. So he relied on a bow and a set of arrows as well as two small blades. He was deadly fast and his arms were strong for such a small young man. He also wore a painted mask in the shape of a wolf's face, with a dark black mane of wolf's fur running down from the back of the mask, making him look like a wolf. But to keep up with the Werewolves, he rode one. He was a dark brown and had dark black eyes. His name was Kiba, and he was a very small Werewolf. But like Shun, he was strong and fast. Shun could easily ride him with nothing to hold onto but fur and his legs. Usually, Kiba was never allowed to run at the front of the pack, but Seiya and Ikki were riding two large horses trained for warfare, and the Werewolves were following them as close as they could. So Shun was riding on Kiba's back in between Sakura and Kakashi.

Kiba was excited. Shun could feel it between his legs as he ran. The Werewolf was quivering with excitement. He was a lesser Werewolf on the hierarchy, but now he was higher since Shun had chosen him to carry him. Like all of the Werewolves, Kiba was extraordinarily protective of Shun, and he was proud to have been chosen and to be responsible for Shun. He had to make sure that he did a good job. Not only was he going to have to fight with Shun on his back, but he would have to make sure that Shun wouldn't get hurt too badly. Getting hurt on the battle field was unavoidable, but he couldn't let him get hurt so bad that he would die. He would give his own life to make sure that didn't happen.

Ikki and Seiya watched Shun nervously as they rode on. They knew that Shun was very good with Werewolves, he was almost completely at home with them. But they knew he was their only hope on getting help from the Werewolves. And they needed help from all of the races. They would just have to make due.

"Shun." Ikki called. "We're almost back to the town. Are you ready for this?"

"No." Shun laughed nervously. "But it's something we have to do. Let's go."

"What is it?" Sakura asked from beside him. "What did he say?"

"He said we're almost to my hometown. You remember it. You found me in the forest outside of the town." Shun replied.

"Yes I remember." Sakura said with a loving growl. "You were so cute back then."

"And you haven't gotten much bigger than when she brought you home." Kakashi chuckled.

"For humans, I've gotten much bigger and you know it." Shun told them a little irritably. "It's not my fault that I was born so small. That's just the way it is. Even Kiba, with as small as he is, is much bigger than me. He's the size of a horse. That's small for Werewolves, but to humans it's still scary. The two of you are really going to scare them."

"Then you'll have to convince them that it will be alright." Kakashi told him. "We won't hurt them, but they have to know that. They think we're beasts. They don't understand us, and that frightens them. But I have long held a hope in my heart."

"What hope is that Father?" Shun asked.

"Long ago, my Father dreamed of uniting all of the races under one banner of peace." Kakashi replied. "He hated all of this constant fighting, all of these wars. He wanted there to be a group of humans, werewolves, and vampires that would live in peace. Then we wouldn't have to worry about humans or vampires entering our territory. We wouldn't have to worry about caring for young, like you, who were misplaced from their own pack. I have that same hope too. I wish that someday, all races could live as one. We could live in peace. Perhaps this ordeal will teach us that it's possible. Or perhaps we'll simply all be obliterated and there will be no need for peace after all. Only time can

tell."

"I'd like to think that all of that could one day be possible too." Shun said. "But then I think about the fear in my town, and I wonder if it could ever be achieved."

"We'll have to try my little one." Sakura said gently. "We'll have to try. And now's a good time to start. I know it seems impossible. Even I've given up the hope. But we'll have to try."

"Humans up ahead." Kiba said, drawing all of their attention. He had good instincts, highly tuned even for a werewolf. Then he caught another scent and his upper lip pulled up into a snarl as he growled. "And barbarians. I can smell their stench from here."

"Easy Kiba." Shun told him. "You'll have to bear with it. There are vampires coming to this meeting too. We can't fight them."

"I know, I know." Kiba replied, snapping his jaws in irritation at the vampires rather than Shun. "I just can't forget everything that's happened between us. If they try to hurt you though, I'm tearing them to shreds."

"Easy." Shun repeated. "Easy."

Ikki and Seiya listened to their mostly silent conversation, uncomprehending. They couldn't fathom how Shun could learn to understand all of those sounds and signals. They were also still confused how the gentle boy had survived so long. It seemed impossible. Werewolves were very war like creatures, at least in their eyes. The boy had been terrified of blood, and Werewolves seemed to hate human weakness. And yet there he was, still beautiful, still oddly innocent, and still very much alive. They were glad to see him, but they were also a little nervous of him. He could talk to werewolves. That wasn't a normal ability. But thinking of that made them hate themselves a little more. They knew that Shun had always had a strange ability with werewolves. So it made sense. Besides, it was their fault that he had gotten into this mess. It was their fault that he was so different. They hated themselves, though the pain had finally disappeared. They were glad that he was alright. They both looked up. They were getting close to the town.

"We'll be entering soon Shun." Ikki called.

"Make sure those werewolves don't attack anyone." Seiya added.

"That's alright." Shun replied. "They know not to. They understand everything that's going on. But I'd keep an eye on the vampires. If the werewolves don't like what they do, we might have a brawl on our hands."

"Vampires?" Ikki asked.

"They've beat us here." Shun explained. "Kiba nosed them a while ago."

"Kiba?" Seiya asked, perplexed. "So the werewolves have names?"

"They've got names just like you and me." Shun said, smiling a little in amusement. "They may lead different lives than us, but they're not dumb beasts. They're not really that different from us actually. They're really sweet, if you get to know them."

"I've been hunting their kind for years." Ikki replied, shaking his head. "They all seem like beasts to me."

"Yeah," Seiya said. "they kill humans without mercy."

"Humans kill them without mercy too." Shun said. The two Undead Hunters paused to listen to him. "They're scared. They fight to defend themselves. Yeah, they get into battles a lot, but it's for territory. They want to live as much as us."

"How can we exist in the same world though?" Ikki asked.

"I don't know." Shun replied. "But they want to. The werewolves are as tired of these constant wars as you are. Maybe, this is the chance we all needed to work together."

"You talk like you're one of them." Seiya said nervously.

"Maybe I am." Shun replied thoughtfully. "Who knows? I've been with them for so long, it's hard for me to remember what it's like to be human."

"You talk about how wonderful they are." Ikki said. "What are they really like when no one's looking?"

"It's strange, not much different than you." Shun said with a smile. "They live in a giant community, and they love one another. They always look after each other, and especially the pups. They tell stories and they sing their songs. They live and die just like us. Only they don't bury their dead. They don't have hands, and while they could dig holes with those claws, they don't. You see, they believe that everything is interconnected. We get energy from the food we eat, and so one day that energy must return to the earth. Everything we have is only borrowed. So when they die, they leave the bodies out to rot, so that other creatures could borrow their energy, and so that they could return what's left back to the earth. They believe in god of course, but not like we do. I think it's kind of beautiful. Just think about it. Even after we die, we aren't really ever forgotten. The earth knows our touch. It knows our passing too. We help the cycle to continue, on and on, until the earth finally grows tired and stops turning."

"I've never really thought about it..." Seiya said. "But in a way it does make sense."

"You've sure learned a lot from them." Ikki said, watching Shun's mask.

"I guess." Shun replied, shrugging. "But I've still got a long way to go in their teachings."

"I don't know." Seiya said, finally managing to laugh a little. "They seem to like you. They let you ride them, and they let you touch them."

"That's nothing special." Shun replied. "When you can get over the prejudices of your races, many things are possible."

"We're here." Ikki said.

Everything fell silent, except for the panting of the horses and the werewolves behind them. Kiba shuddered in anticipation, and Shun patted his side gently to calm him. Kiba snarled nervously, but didn't dare try anything. He was duty bound to listen to Shun, and he didn't want to be scolded by the Alphas for ignoring his commands. The town was much the same as Shun remembered it, only much bigger, and full of more activity. Also, a large cathedral stood in the middle of the town, no doubt the base for the Undead Hunters. The werewolves pulled up in distaste.

The vampires had beaten them here. That was for sure. But they had made the townspeople nervous. This clan of vampires was enormous, nearly the size of the pack. And there were humans with them too. Shun's eyes scanned the crowd and he sucked in a breath when he saw him. It was Hyoga. He was older now, more muscled, and his eyes seemed sadder. But he was handsome, oddly so. Shun could tell by just looking at him that he was still human. Shun felt his heart skip a beat when he saw him. He understood what he was feeling now, though with it he suddenly felt a wave of shyness hit him too. He loved Hyoga. No matter what had been said in the past, he still loved Hyoga. But he was also painfully aware of the different lives that they had lived up to this point. There was no way that Hyoga would accept him. He knew it the instant he saw his icy eyes. So he'd just have to harden his heart too. He wouldn't let himself break if Hyoga was cold to him. Shun was more werewolf than human, even if he had to prove it to all of them.

Hyoga was talking quietly to his mother and father, who didn't seem to know what to do with seeing their son. They were glad to see him, but also very scared of the vampires behind him. That created a deep confusion in their eyes. Shun wondered how much worse his reunion with everyone would be. He was a freak. He was a freak that could talk to werewolves, and that's all they would see him as. It hurt to think about, but he knew it was true. They would hate him. He knew he had to harden his heart against them. He had already done it to Seiya and Ikki. They didn't treat him like they had. They were scared of him, and his strange talent. But he knew it was the best way. They'd always fear him. He would have feared him. But this was all pointless to think about.

A woman screamed. She had just caught sight of Sakura and Kakashi, easily ignoring Kiba and Shun because of how small they were compared to the Alpha pair. The werewolves all snarled in agitation at the sound. The vampires tensed in case the werewolves should attack, and Hyoga nervously watched them as well. But Shun knew that if anything was going to get done, he would have to calm the people first.

"Kiba." Shun said. "Go to the front. We have to calm everyone down before a battle starts."

Kiba instantly leaped forward to obey, slightly hurt that the boy thought that he couldn't read what he was thinking. He knew in basic what Shun had been thinking. He had been around the boy long enough for that. He knew his command before he had given it to him.

"I knew." Kiba said simply. "And I would have done it."

"I know. Forgive me. I'm just nervous." Shun replied.

The small brown werewolf jumped into the center of the town square, and dead silence followed. No one knew what to expect. But the Undead Hunters and the Vampires were especially surprised to see that the small wolf was carrying a human on its back. Kiba snarled at the vampires uncertainly, but Shun again patted his side, and his snarl somewhat disappeared. No one dared to move, but at least now it was silent. Shun remained poised on Kiba's back. The boy was suddenly unsure of what to say. Did he have it in his heart to remain so cold to everyone? The scene of the boy on the werewolf's back was magnificent, and yet at the same time challenging and threatening. It seemed as if they were about to jump into a battle. But at last, Hyoga's father stepped forward. He felt like he recognized the boy.

"Who are you?" he asked. "What do you want?"

"Relax." Shun replied. "We're not you're enemies."

"We're?" A vampire asked. "You're with them? With the werewolves?"

"I am." Shun replied. An uneasy murmuring swept through the crowd. "Our pack is at least 1000 strong, full of powerful warriors. But today you don't need to worry about our teeth or claws. We're not going to hurt you. We heard of the strange summons, and our pack has come to meet it."

"And you, you speak for them?" a woman asked. "I don't believe it. Why would werewolves come for you?"

"Because there is no one else to speak for them, or for you to them." Shun replied. There was silence for a moment.

"You speak their language?" Hyoga asked. Shun forced himself to not cry. He didn't like talking to Hyoga as if he hardly mattered.

"I do." Shun replied simply. "And I run with their pack. I have for several years, since I was young and left to die by all three races present here. They adopted me, and I now belong to their pack."

"Who are you?" Hyoga's father asked again.

"You know my name." Shun replied. "And you know my face. But you no longer know me."

With that strange reply, he reached up, taking his mask in his hands. His friends were in the crowd: Seiya, Ikki, Nachi, Ichi, Geki, Shiryu, Hyoga, Saori, June, Aphrodite, the list went on and on. Or he supposed, they weren't his friends now. They wouldn't understand what they were about to see. They wouldn't be able to accept it, or to accept him ever. It was a sad feeling. Shun paused a moment, feeling the weight of the sadness crushing him for a moment. He didn't want them to see. He didn't want them to see how he'd changed. But then he steeled himself and his face and removed the mask quickly before he could change his mind. He shook his head a little, freeing his hair from the wolf fur cover.

Everyone from the village gasped. He was beautiful, the most beautiful creature they had ever seen. He had weapons at his side, which confused his friends. They knew what he had been like before, and seeing him with such tools felt wrong. But they also felt that it was wrong for him to be perched on the back of one of the creatures that he had always feared the most. Then he looked at them, and his gaze made them freeze. His eyes were like the werewolf's beneath him: full of hunger, full of pain, full of a desire to understand, and yet full of anger too. Shun had changed. He no longer seemed human. He was more werewolf than human.

"Shun?" Hyoga asked.

"Glad to see you still remember me at least." Shun replied. The words weren't angry, but they stung Hyoga's heart all the same, and he couldn't keep the pain off of his face. Only Shun's years of training under the werewolves kept him from wincing at the emotions in everyone's eyes. Kiba growled quietly as he sensed Shun's distress.

"You've been with the werewolves for all this time?" Saori asked. She was a beautiful young woman with long purple hair and blue eyes. She had always picked on Shun when he was younger, but after she had thought he was dead she had felt horrible about it. Now she wasn't sure how to respond when his eyes turned to her and he nodded.

The vampires shifted nervously as they watched this youth, so strangely at home with the creatures that they themselves had always thought incapable of ever helping humans. This boy however, was proof that werewolves had some kind of human emotions in them. They weren't dumb beasts. They also noticed that Shun never looked directly at anyone. It was as if he was looking through them. The werewolves they noticed, were doing it to. They never looked directly at someone. The reason, though no one else knew it, was because even in the wolf's hierarchy every wolf was treated with respect. They all belonged to the same world, and though some were needed to guide the wolves, everyone of them was important. That's why they didn't look at each other. They were respecting each other by submissively looking away.

Then they all noticed a young man walking up. He was human, but he could have been a vampire. He was tall and pale, extremely large for his age. He had broad shoulders and walked with a kingly grace. His hair was long and jet black, and his eyes were blue. The Undead Hunters all bowed to him in respect, and the vampires and werewolves all turned their eyes to him. He stopped in front of Shun and gave him a little bow.

"I know little of the ruling of werewolves, but I know that any who rides one deserves respect." He said. "I hope they approve." then he turned to address everyone. "I know that years of hatred have kept our races apart, and a few days peace will not ease the bitter wounds that you all bear from one another. But perhaps we can learn from one another. Tonight, you'll rest in peace, all of you. Tomorrow, you'll all learn of the danger that faces us, and of the plans we must make." Shun turned and relayed his words to the Werewolves. Kakashi snarled and stepped forward.

"And why must we wait?" He growled. "There is no time. We have sensed this evil, and it grows closer day by day. Do you seriously expect me to sit here and do nothing while my pack is in danger?" Shun turned and relayed the words to the stranger.

"I understand your concern." the man assured him. "We all have families, of different kinds to worry about. But starting now will only escalate matters, and if a fight breaks out we won't be able to stop it. We must remain calm." Shun turned to the werewolf again and told him what was said.

"Fine." Kakashi said with a snarl. "I relent. Tell him so. We're leaving. Shun, I don't care where you go, as long as Kiba is with you to make sure you're safe. I'm going to settle the pack down for the night and then I'm going to talk with your mother."

"He understands." Shun replied. "And he's going to rest the pack." The werewolves turned to leave, and as they did so, Shun slipped his mask back on, glad to hide his face. The man watched him sadly for a moment.

"It's a terrible punishment, for one as young as you." he said. "Especially for a child with no crimes. You're not a cold person. I know that, I met you long ago, and you just don't seem that way to me. You're running from us, from humans. And I can understand why. You can't let yourself get close to us. And just look at the way we treat you. Humans fear what they can't understand. And we can't hear the werewolves talk or imagine why some of them grow so big, so we hate them. And now you fear that we'll hate you, the boy who talks with werewolves."

"Fear and hate." Shun said bitterly. "That's all this world seems to offer."

"But no one knows about werewolves." the man said. "Except you."

"What do you mean?" Ikki asked. Everyone was watching him now.

"Werewolves were originally much like us." he replied. "They lived among us, no larger than dogs. They could speak our language, and us theirs. I don't know where the absurd idea that werewolves are humans that change into wolves came from, but it isn't true. You had to be born a werewolf. Werewolves and humans used to get along great. Like vampires, they could become beasts, but they helped humans and often protected them. Vampires, as you know, still have human hearts. Well werewolves did too. But one day, that all changed. No one's really sure what happened, but a single human altered our bond with werewolves forever. They turned on him, trying to protect themselves from whatever he did, and the humans were scared. They attacked the werewolves." there was silence suddenly. "Yes. It was not evil that made the werewolves into beasts, but humans. Werewolves were gentle creatures, but they were scared. They formed enormous packs, their own hierarchy, because humans had abandoned them. They became beasts that killed humans on sight because years of their fear made them into enormous warriors to protect themselves. But still, they're strangely curious of humans. They'll still approach humans and vampires, trying to understand."

"The need in their eyes." a male vampire said quietly. "I've seen it many times. I've seen them hesitate on the battlefield for a moment, watching. I've seen them let a vampire live that they could have killed. I still don't understand it. But if what you say is true, then it grieves me to think of all of the anger and fear they must still hold against anything that even looks human."

"That's what confuses me." the man said, looking at Shun. "I don't know why they would adopt a young human. It doesn't make sense. They hate us."

"No." Shun said, gaining everyone's attention in the silence. "We do not hate you, though we do fear you. We live our lives in the shadows, hunters and stalkers."

"But how long has it been since they stepped into the light?" the man asked. "I suppose we haven't let you, have we? What pain could make you rather call yourself one of them than one of us?"

"One no one can fix." Shun said. "I've grown to know a different mankind. He is wasteful. He is ignorant to the cries of the trees or the animals that he destroys. He is evil. He doesn't even care that every single thing in this earth has a life and isn't just something to be controlled. He's oblivious. He can't hear or scent anything. Even I can tell that the earth shudders when humans are near. We live in the forest, constantly surrounded by it's untamed beauty. We live surrounded by life. But you live surrounded by death. Many humans have tried to kill me just for being near werewolves. I had to learn to move as swiftly as the river and strike like a snake. I long ago had to sever my ties with mankind because he severed his with me. At least the wolves treated me like I was worth something, not just some little lost mutt."

"And you're bitter." the man said. "I know you are Shun. I can understand your pain, even if only a little. But if anything is going to get better, you're going to teach us what you know. You're going to have to show us the gentler side of the werewolf again, even if only for a moment."

Shun felt everyone's eyes on him. And he couldn't stand it. He hated the way he looked at him. He hated how they looked at him and not through him. He felt like they could see into his soul, and see how hurt he was. He especially hated his friends looking at him like this. He hated that they had to see him, his weakness, how he had changed. Hyoga was starring at him sadly, and hurt. He couldn't understand why Shun had changed so much. He couldn't understand why Shun was so hurt, and he wanted to help him. Shun knew it. He could feel it. But Shun didn't want help, especially not from him. He wasn't bitter at any of them. He didn't have it in his heart. His words sounded bitter, but he wasn't bitter anymore. He was deeply confused, and these biting words were the only way he knew how to convey that confusion to them.

"How can I teach you anything, when you refuse to learn." Shun asked. "How many times we've tried to tell you that we wouldn't hurt you! And yet you still attacked us. We used to think that peace would be possible, but we've lost that hope."

"It's still possible." the man said.

"Tell that to the creatures that every other race has destroyed." Shun said. There was silence.

"You have to give us a chance." Saori said. "This time, it'll be different."

"If there's only one thing I know about humans, vampires, and werewolves, it's that nothing is ever different." Shun replied. Then Kiba understood that he wanted to leave. He turned and bounded away through the crowd, disappearing again into the slowly setting darkness. There was silence as everyone watched after Shun. Many years of hatred hung in between them, years that he felt more than they did. But they all felt at least a little guilty. He had always been such a sweet boy.

Shun felt himself burning with shame. He couldn't believe that he had let all of that slip out, all of the emotions that he had bottled up for so long. He couldn't stand that he had to be so distant, so bitter sounding. But Shun realized that a few years ago, he had been that way. He wasn't now, but he didn't know how else to act. He was scared, and they would never accept him. He was a freak. Nothing could ever be the same. But though when he was younger he would have cried, no tears came to his eyes now. They had all dried up and been replaced by sadness, a deep cutting sadness.

Kiba ran right into the forest. They were both most comfortable here, where the sights of the human settlement were at least hidden now. Here, they could hear the earth laughing as they passed, glad to feel their wild presence instead of "civilized" feet for once. The deer exploded back into the undergrowth, hiding from the predators. But at least here, everything was calmer. Kiba at last stopped, underneath the bows of a large and ancient oak. He slid to the ground and lay down, letting Shun slide off and lean his back against his side to think. He panted as reassuringly as he could at the boy, but said nothing. He knew he'd want to be alone with his thoughts.

Shun sat there, thinking over many things sadly. He missed his past life and everyone he knew. But he was also sad about what he had said, and how they had parted. Nothing could ever be the same again. He knew that. But he wished that he wasn't so alone. He hated to be so distant from the people he loved. He hated to make them confused and hurt. But he couldn't bring himself to smile for them again. Then he heard a sound behind him. But when he looked, he saw a roguish smile. It was Hyoga.

"Go away." Shun said, though there was no force behind his words.

"You don't mean that." Hyoga said. "You might have meant some of those other things, but you don't mean that."

Kiba watched Shun and the stranger quietly. But though he didn't like the scent of vampires on this guy, he could tell that Shun was fond of the boy, even if years had passed. Hyoga sat down next Shun, though he was careful not to touch the werewolf. Kiba silently watched them. Shun flushed suddenly with Hyoga so near. He was really handsome. It made him nervous suddenly. He was glad his mask hid his face. Hyoga was a perfect young man. He wasn't like him. Shun was too pretty, like a woman. And he felt ashamed of the way he looked suddenly. But Hyoga gently reached over and brushed the side of Shun's mask with his finger.

"You're too beautiful to hide your face behind that mask. You should show it more." Hyoga said. "You should be proud. You're a wonderful person."

Shun watched Hyoga's face as the boy watched his eyes through the mask. They glittered, like little stars. That was what his mother had named him after, the twinkle in his eyes. Slowly, Hyoga reached over and pulled the mask gently off of Shun's head, and Shun let him. Kiba watched as Hyoga laid his hand gently on the side of Shun's face. But still, Shun didn't seem to mind the contact. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it, though he was wrestling with his own feelings.

"I thought you were dead." Hyoga said sadly. "I thought you were dead and that it was all my fault. I shouldn't have said any of that. None of us should have. But I saw you, and I thought there was no way you could still be alive. I thought it was my fault...I'm sorry Shun, I'm so sorry..." Shun was a little startled to Hyoga start to cry. Usually, Shun was the one that would always cry, and Hyoga was the one to comfort him. But Shun realized how hurt the boy must have really been. He slowly reached over and brushed the boy's bangs out of his face gently.

"It's OK." Shun said. "Everything's worked out fine. So don't cry. It wasn't your fault. It was more of a stupid choice on my part. And I'm obviously not dead." Hyoga managed to stop crying and looked up into Shun's face.

"I understand how you feel." Hyoga said. "I've always understood. You're afraid that they'll think that you're a freak. But I think they're just glad to see us. They're a little unsettled, but they'll come around. I know that you're scared, but it'll be OK. I'm here with you, and I'm never leaving you again. So let me heal your heart."

"But you need someone to heal your heart too." Shun said.

"I do." Hyoga replied. "That's why I need you with me too."

Hyoga slowly reached over, and gently took Shun's shoulders in his hands, always aware of the werewolf watching him. Slowly, he leaned Shun back, and Shun let him, feeling his own heart beat speed up. Shun's face flushed again, and Hyoga smiled at the boy, thinking of how absolutely cute he was. He laid Shun down on the ground and scooted himself closer. Then, making sure that the werewolf wouldn't bite him, he laid down and laid his head on Shun's chest. The boy's heart was beating quickly. Shun suddenly didn't know what to do. He knew that he had loved Hyoga, but now it seemed like Hyoga loved him too. Hyoga laid there, breathing evenly on Shun's chest and listening to his life coursing through him. He was worried for a moment that he had scared the boy, but Shun gently wrapped his arms around Hyoga, embracing him. Hyoga let another small smile touch his lips.

"I've loved you Shun." Hyoga said. "I always have and I always will. If I can, I'll protect you. I can fight. I've trained with Vampires."

"And I've trained with werewolves." Shun said. "I'm not helpless. And Kiba wouldn't let anything bad happen to me."

"Is that this werewolf's name?" Hyoga asked. He could feel the werewolf's fur brush his arm as he breathed. "He makes me a little nervous."

"Don't worry." Shun said with a small smile. "He can tell that you're a good person. And he won't hurt you because he knows I'd be mad if he did."

"Shun," Kiba said. "who is this boy? Do you know him?"

"Yes I know him." Shun said. "I've known him for a while. Fate may have separated us, he with vampires and I with werewolves, but we're still close."

"Vampires?"

"It's the human word for barbarians." Shun explained. Kiba watched him for a moment.

"Do you love this boy?" Kiba asked. Werewolves mated for life. When two werewolves fell in love, whether they were the same gender or not, they never parted. They would always be together until one died. Much like humans, they didn't remarry. This meant that for a young werewolf to say that he loved another, that it was sacred and could never be broken. If Shun said that he loved this boy, he would be as good as a member of the pack himself. And Shun knew this well.

"I do." Shun replied. Kiba watched Hyoga for a moment, who was now still as he watched the werewolf nervously. Then Kiba looked back at Shun.

"His name?"

"It's Hyoga. It means ice." Shun replied.

"What's going on?" Hyoga asked Shun.

"Hush." Shun shushed him. "It's OK. I'm just introducing you." Hyoga was silent a moment. Shun frowned. "Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do." Hyoga said. "I laid down on your chest up against a werewolf didn't I?" He felt sad suddenly that he had made the boy think that he didn't trust him.

"Are you sure Shun?" Kiba asked. "This is the mate you choose? I don't want you to have to choose another later and be heart broken. I know that humans aren't as loyal as we are. You're sure?"

"Of course I am." Shun replied. "I've always been sure. I loved him even as a child, and now, no matter who he's been involved with, I know I'll always love him. And he loves me too. He always has loved me. He loved me enough to risk your fangs to be by me. Isn't that proof enough?"

"I-I don't know..." Kiba said. It indeed was good proof. Werewolves loved tests of courage and strength. When it came to love, if a werewolf would bear the fangs of the other's pack to win their affections then they were often allowed to remain together. This boy had lived with vampires for a long time. He knew of the terrible power of werewolves. And yet he had still let himself come into contact with one to be near Shun.

"Please." Shun said. "I need a witness. You know I do. I love him, and I know that he loves me too. I have to be near him Kiba. We've been apart for too long." Kiba looked into the boy's eyes and felt all of his will power dissipate suddenly. He just didn't have the will to say no anymore.

"Alright." Kiba said. "I am your witness. You're now mated for life."

Shun smiled at the werewolf, which made him turn his head away. Kiba laid his head down on his paws and closed his eyes, audibly sighing. Hyoga watched the werewolf, confused. But Shun laughed when he saw Hyoga's face. It was a beautiful sound.

"What happened?" Hyoga asked.

"Hyoga," Shun said. "I hope you're ready. You and I are now mated for life."

"We're what?" Hyoga gasped. Shun laughed again.

"It's a werewolf custom." Shun explained. "But it also means that you're a part of the pack now. You'll need to be careful what you do though."

"So," Hyoga said. "if I wanted to ever leave you, which I never will, I'd get mauled by a bunch of werewolves?"

"Well," Shun replied. "that's a blunt way to put it, but yes. But it'll be fine. I'm here to help you. I won't let them hurt you."

"I know you won't." Hyoga said. Then he sighed. "I love you Shun. And I'm fine with just this. It doesn't ever have to go farther. I learned something when I was with the vampires. You don't have to have sex with someone to have an deep relationship with them. It doesn't matter what they look like either. As long as you both love each other, everything will be fine. A lot of people think that the only way to love is to get down and do it. But it's deeper than that. It's on a whole different level. That's what makes love special. It isn't about physical affairs. It's about how much you'd sacrifice, how much you'd do. Just promise me, that you'll always be mine."

"Of course." Shun said. "Just as long as you never leave me."

"Deal." Hyoga chuckled.

He sat up then, looking Shun deep into the eyes. Shun still looked through him, but Hyoga was fine with that. Slowly, he leaned down and kissed the boy, pulling him to his chest. Shun embraced him back, until at last they had to both break apart for air. Hyoga pulled Shun up and sat him in his lap, holding him gently and running one of his hands through the boy's hair. Shun curled up into his lap, nuzzling closer to him. Both boys suddenly felt happier than they had in a long time.

"You know," Hyoga said. "I bet everyone in the town just thinks that we're a couple of angels stuck in a den of demons."

"No." Shun said. "I've never met a demon. Only misunderstood people."

"You're right, as usual." Hyoga said, kissing the boy's forehead. "You see the good in everyone don't you? I guess that just makes us a couple of freaks."

"There's no one else in the world I'd rather be a freak with." Shun said quietly.

Hyoga looked down at the boy, then smiled gently when he saw that he'd fallen asleep. He must have been tired. Soon, things would only get worse. Hyoga knew that. But he was glad to be reunited with Shun at last. He'd promised himself that he'd never fall in love, but he couldn't help it. Shun may have been a warrior, but he was too cute. He seemed like he was helpless, like he needed protection. Perhaps that's why the wolves had really adopted him. In any case, Hyoga was just glad that he had Shun at last. He was in his arms to stay. Hyoga hadn't felt happier.

Hyoga fell asleep soon after. He was exhausted too. He knew that the vampires would be worried about him, but he just couldn't keep his eyes open. He leaned back against Kiba, falling asleep. The werwolf looked up at the two boys. Normally, he wouldn't have allowed the contact. But he was glad. Shun had finally found someone he could share his life with. He had finally found his soul mate again. The boy was happy. He could tell that even with him deep in his dreams. And that made Kiba happy. He was glad that Shun was back with is own kind now. As much as he pretended it, Shun could never be a werewolf. But he was pretty close. Kiba licked Hyoga's face gently, and then Shun's. Then he yawned himself and laid his head down. He wouldn't let anything disturb them, even if he had to wake up and attack it.

So, what do you guys think? I'm sorry it took so long to update. But here's the chapter. I hope you enjoyed. I though it was cute. And Hyoga and Shun are back together now! Yay! :D

This chapter was kind of long, even though a lot happened in it. I know I haven't done shout outs to everyone who's posted comments, but I hope you'll continue to support me. If there's something you think I should add, go ahead and tell me. I'll be happy to see if I can fit it in somewhere. Also, comment below and tell me who you think the mystery man (the one that bowed to Shun and never introduced himself) was. I want to see if my description was enough to go off of. And tell me who you think he is/his significance. It should be interesting to see the posts.

Thanks and keep reading!