The woman's family never found out who had killed her, save for the daughter, who was hushed. They were told that she had been hit by a carriage, and they fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. It was painstaking, the way that Tyki had to lie to their faces, but it was the only way to go.

It was the only way to save his brother.

It is two weeks later, and Tyki lies on top of his brother, breathing heavily. He can feel the sweat running down both of their bodies, slow and luxurious. Guilt permeates the air painfully, so painfully that he knows that his brother cannot run anymore.

And Cyril breathes as well, nails still partially dug into Tyki's shoulder blades.

He is still not well, and Tyki suspects he never truly will be.

But Tyki can feel, feel his brother trying to smile against Tyki's neck, feel him retract his nails and run his hands over Tyki's back.

He can feel him trying to breathe.

"Tyki, while I do appreciate the warmth, anymore of this and I will suffocate."

Tyki chuckles, rolling over and pressing his face into Cyril's hair. "Are you implying that I'm fat?"

Cyril laughs. "Perhaps."

They are silent for a while. Tyki can feel his brother's bones, his brother's heart and pulse beating against his chest. He can hear the distant echo of Joyd's remains telling him to do it now, do it now, make him yours, fool.

But he won't.

He couldn't, anyways.

"Do you miss her?"

He knows that Cyril is seeing it again, the blood on the shears, his hands wrapped around the handle and struggling with his daughter for control. He knows that Cyril can see the shears, slipping and running themselves through Dreams. Dreams is falling in his brother's head, and Cyril knows that it is his fault.

But he cannot run.

Nor will he.

"Of course I do," Cyril says quietly, brushing a few stray hairs from Tyki's face. "I miss her very much, Tyki."

And when Tyki closes his eyes, he sees the bloodstained smile drip away and vanish into the darkness for good.

The end, folks. It's been a good run, but I'm afraid that the curtains must close and the actors must take their leave.

This story had its faults, and it had its good sides. It will never be my best work nor my worst, and some days I may look upon it with distaste - but in the end, I will be happy that I wrote it.

Thank you for the good times, Kibahshi, for being my first reviewer and reviewing when you could. Thank you, Tsukikkage234 and Sharpshifter, for encouraging me the last steps of the way. Thank you to all you anonymous readers out there who might have looked at this story and kept on trekking, even through the worst parts. And thank you, Zenophobia, for always, always replying to every chapter and for always encouraging me. This story would not have gone on long without you there. That goes for everyone as well.

I hope you have enjoyed this story.