The next day Yuri and Dark practically drag Astral and Shing outside so they could at least have some bonding time and make up more than they already have. So the two go on a walk together. They are silent for quite a while, with Astral deep in thought and Shing deep in her sorrow that she couldn't seem to shake. She would give everything up to have Yuma back, even if that meant becoming cursed again.

"Yuma liked coming here with his friends."

Shing snaps out of her thoughts. They are in the park where Yuma would duel with his friends. Astral's face is stoic, but behind those calm eyes must have been a mourning friend. He clutches the Emperor's Key close to his chest and looks down at the girl. Probably waiting for a response. She doesn't have one.

Astral looks back to the park when he suddenly feels the key start to respond, glowing and heating up. He holds it out away from his chest so it won't burn him. Shing notices his movement and looks over at him.

"What's wrong?" She asks softly.

"The key seems to be responding to something." He holds it to his cheat again. "Not positive what it is."

~.~.~

They come home in the afternoon. Shing once again hides herself away in Yuma's room to be alone for the time being while Astral calls Dark into the room below Yuma's. Dark is curious as to why his twin is suddenly calling him, following him into the room.

"What's up?" he questions curiously. "Did something happen?"

"The key seemed to be reacting. Maybe another key owner is around the city." Astral replies.

"That won't stop Eliphas from needing to wipe your memory you know."

Astral tenses a bit. "Then he will at least know who is fit to hold the key. Now come with me."

The two aliens hover in the middle of the room with the Emperor's key floating between them. They both hold their arms out, completely calm for a moment with their eyes closed. The silence that falls between them is one of concentration as the key glows and heats up.

Suddenly Astral's eyes snap open and he shouts a loud and dismayed, "No!" He grabs the key and throws it to the wall with all his might.

Dark, who snaps out of his daze quickly and is unable to read his twin's thoughts because of it, jumps and peers at Astral cautiously. "What? Who is it?"

Astral glows and grits his teeth. Never in all his life would he expect the Emperor's Key to choose someone so greedy and selfish. He may have been on good terms with her on the outside, but on the inside he can't forget how Shing manipulated Yuma into doing her bidding even after he protested so wildly. He can't get over the fact that she claimed Yuma's corpse so greedily without even once considering what everyone else was feeling. There is no way he is going to give the key to her.

Astral floats over to the key and picks it up. Thankfully it didn't break. Dark watches him cautiously, not wanting any of his emotions to be directed at him. However Astral doesn't lash out again. Instead he looks at the ceiling and sighs.

"I suppose it has to be done…" he mumbles, and Dark is finally able to understand what happened.

"At least you'll be able to continue collecting the Numbers," he assures. "Then you can stay for as long as you want if Eliphas sees it." Hopefully he won't erase your memory if he sees you're doing what you should be."

Astral nods, but he still doesn't like it very much. Still, he pushes his anger down and flies up to the attic that was once Yuma's room. Shing is sitting in the hammock, looking at the picture Yuma kept on his table.

"Shing."

At the sound of his voice, Shing looks over to the alien, who is clutching the key to his chest as usual. His face is uncertain though, and he won't look at her.

"What is it?"

Still Astral says nothing. He quickly flies over to her, shoving something into her hands, then zips down to another room. She blinks in surprise at the speed in which it happens.

There is something familiar in her hands. Looking down and opening her hand, she is shocked to see the Emperor's Key laying in her palm. Ever since Yuma was taken away to be prepared for the funeral, Astral hasn't let go of the key for anything, not even when Dark was trying to make him let go of it. What does this mean?

Holding the key as tightly as possible so she wouldn't drop it, Shing makes her way down to the room under the attic only to find Dark there, staring at the door.

"What happened?" She asks. "Astral just came into the room and gave me this." She shows Dark the key. "He seemed pretty unsure about it though."

Dark shrugs. "It seems to choose you as its new owner. He is just surprised, that's all. That thing seems to like choosing unexpected people to own it."

"So… I'm the new key owner?"

"Yeah." With that he goes off to find Astral.

Shing looks down at the key that Yuma once wore proudly around his neck. It is hers now? It feels both wrong and right. Still, she figures she can help Astral collect the Number cards now that she is the new key owner. Besides, it can help them grow closer together. That's what Yuma wanted right?

With that in mind, she slips the necklace over her head and goes to look for Astral.