The next day, as Kari and Haru are calling the funeral home for the details of the funeral, Yuri and Dark are bringing Shing and Astral into Yuma's room so they could make peace with each other. However, there is heavy silence between them that wouldn't be broken no matter how many times they tried. Astral refuses to speak, knowing that whatever he says would result in an explosive reaction. Shing wouldn't even look at Astral. Her guilt weighed too heavily on her, and she just wants to be left alone.
"This is ridiculous!" Dark exclaims. "Look, if you want things to get better you two have to make up and stop fighting."
Finally Astral speaks up. "She caused his death."
"He did it to himself," Shing replies, sounding detached now. "He is the one who did it. I didn't want to touch him."
"That doesn't mean you aren't the cause."
Shing crosses her arms. She just wants to be left alone to mourn for her lost love, but no one is giving her any peace. An idea suddenly crosses her mind. It guaranteed that she would be left alone. She would do it as soon as night falls so that no one would know until the next morning. Until then, she bares with this little thing Dark and Yuri are trying.
~.~.~
Night falls. Shing sneaks into Yuma's room, which is empty and left just as it was before. She sits in front of the television, where she and Astral were forced to sit beside each other. The spirit doesn't bother to get off his high horse to even look at her, much less talk to her. That doesn't matter, not anymore. Now she won't have to be by anyone, and everyone will leave her alone.
Shing looks down at her hands, squinting for a while. She is sleepy, but if she wants them to stay away, she has to do it now. Using her magic, the girl gets to work. She only sleeps in the early hours of the morning.
~.~.~
Astral makes his way to Yuma's room to see if Sing is there. After contemplating his actions, he comes to the conclusion that both he and Shing are acting childish, even in their grieving state. Maybe Dark and Yuri are right, and they should get along. It is worth a shot, and Yuma did count her as a friend. She couldn't be that bad.
So with this in mind, the duel spirit floats up to the attic bedroom that once belonged to his friend only to see something horrific. She is just waking up in the room, but that wasn't the problem. What skin he could see from the view he has is grayed, and her body language is slouching.
"Shing…?" he calls softly.
The girl turns around. Astral inhales sharply, instinctively holding his hands to chest to keep the key, which he still keeps clenched in his hands, saft from her touch. Her eyes are dead. Why are they dead? She should have been cured right.
Or is the cure only temporary?
Whatever the case, Astral doesn't stay to find out. He doesn't even want to sense her in case his fears are true. He just bolts from his place at the room's entrance down to the living room, his breaths coming out in short bursts even though he doesn't exert any energy. Just the sight of her like that sends chills down his spine. Why would she curse herself again?
"Morning Astral!" Dark calls excitedly, practically assaulting his twin with a hug that nearly topples him over.
Astral jumps and nearly screams until he realizes that it's just Dark. "You startled me."
"You look a lot more than 'startled'," Dark giggles. "Anyway, what's got you so uptight?"
Astral just shakes his head, keeping the key close to his heart. "I don't know. But…" He narrows his eyes. Did he feel the lack of life in her? I should go check and see if this is trueor not.
He floats forward, dropping the key into Dark's hands. Dark himself is snickering a bit. It isn't like Astral to be so jumpy like this. He knows that this is a serious situation, but he still can't help chuckling at how Astral forgot to check to see if the girl is actually "alive" or "dead." Still, he follows his twin closely in case a fight should erupt.
The both of them peek in and see Shing sitting alone in the room, doing nothing. Astral creeps inside, sensing her energy. His eyes widened when he finds that she isn't "dead." Oh the nerve of that girl! Feigning the curse just to be left alone! He grits his teeth, his eyes narrowing. Dark immediately springs up and grabs Astral by the arm, mentally warning him not to do anything to cause a fight.
"She's faking something serious to be life alone!" Astral mentally shouts to his twin. " She's being selfish!"
"I know, but you need to calm down. Just wait until the funeral, and then we can leave."
"Will Eliphas truly wait that long?"
"I already talked to him while you were asleep. Then we'll forget this whole ordeal."
Astra's body language immediately becomes resigned, allowing Dark to pull him down from the attic. He can feel the hurt coming from his brother but he ignores it. All Dark wants to do is forget all this happened. They could start anew, with a different key owner. They could get the Numeron Code some other time, But not when Astral is broken like this.
Yuri goes up to check on Shing. Just when he's nearing the attic though a portal opens. Dark Mist has come back alone.
"What are you doing here?" Yuri asks.
"I'm here to make sure Shing doesn't relapse," the spellcaster replies. "Astral is on business in our world."
"Alright, I'm just going to check on her now."
Dark Mist nods and follows Yuri up to the attic room only to find Shing back in her cursed state. The both of them take a step back in surprise, especially when the girl turns around and stares at them.
"What did you do?" Dark Mist asks skeptically, clearly being able to feel her energy.
"Can't you see for yourself?" She asks in a monotone. "Now if you don't want to be killed step aside."
"You're not cursed." The tone is accusatory. "Why are you pretending to be?"
Shing knows she's caught and drops the act. Her skin returns to its normal color, and her eyes become alive again. "Is it too much to ask to be left alone?"
"Look I know you're still mourning but you can't act like this. Just try to be a mature ruler until the funeral alright?"
Shing doesn't reply. The two sigh and leave her alone, hoping she will be well enough to rule after the funeral. It will be hard to lead an empire with a queen who is mentally unstable.
