Dark Mist leaves the key. His spellcaster partner, Yuri and Yuma look at him with hopeful and expectant eyes. Dark Mist however, just shakes his head, " He didn't know how Shing felt. He couldn't pinpoint who she loved the most."

Yuma smacks his knee in frustration. "Damn it! I thought he would know. I mean, every time we approached Shing he would sort of bristle."

Astral and Dark Mist share a glance. The same though running through their minds. Either Yuma's dueling partner is sensing darkness from Shing, or he didn't like how she felt towards the boy. It could have been either one, and there's no way to be absolutely sure. Astral breaks eye contact with Dark Mist and faces Yuma again.

"He would bristle?"

"Yeah. Like he didn't like her aura or something He reacted the same way with Kite once and from Number 96's card. I just assumed that he could feel some kind of darkness from her or something."

"Did he seem overly aggressive or just disturbed?" Dark Mist asks.

"Yuma thinks on it. "Now that I think about it, he reacted the same way when he was forced to duel alongside Black Mist. He was kind of aggressive and a little possessive. Though when we were dueling he also had an urgent feeling."

Once again that could mean that Astral didn't like Shing's desires towards the buy, or he could have felt some kind of darkness from her. It is difficult to tell, which frustrated Astral and Dark Mist greatly.

Yuri speaks up. "Was it the same reaction between Shing and Black Mist?"

"Come to think of it, no." Yuma thinks for a moment. "When we encountered Shing, he acted more possessive. I didn't think anything of it at the time. Does it mean anything?"

"It means Astral may be lying."

Yuma suddenly shoots up "What do you mean? He wouldn't lie about something like this?"

"Wouldn't he? If Shing had any interest in you, he wouldn't want you to die because you two are close friends."

Would he actually do that? Astral isn't one to lie often. Yuma isn't even sure if Astral knows what a lie is. Then again, one doesn't need to know what a lie is to tell one.

Buy maybe he had a reasonable reason to lie if he did.

And what cause would that be? He knows the consequences of letting Shing do whatever she wants. He's not stupid. Any reason he could have come up with would be overshadowed by the outcome of returning Shing back home.

"I'm going to ask him myself." Yuma declares. "He's always blunt with me. If his answer changes then we know he's lying."

"But what if his answer stays the same?" Dark Mist asks.

"Then I'll know if he's telling the truth or not. I've spent a lot of time with him. I'd know."

"Then get gong," Yuri says. "We'll wait here."

The boy nods and sets the key down on the floor. With a simple touch, he's transported into the world of the Emperor's Key, and better yet he's on one of the gears of the airship. It's saved him the time it would have taken to find and travel to the airship.

Yuma doesn't bother calling out. Usually Astral can be found at the Number Wall, trying to get some more information out of the Numbers. That is where Yuma goes, and finds his friend doing the same thing as usual with Dark hanging back and laying on a gear, seeming to be bored out of his mind. Dark turns to see Yuma and scowls at him. This isn't unusual, but there's something about his frown that seems to be accusing Yuma of something. The boy ignores it.

"Astral," he calls.

Astral opens his eyes and looks at Yuma. "Yuma?" he gasps. "What are you doing here? I thought you were looking for Shing?"

"Sit down, we need to talk."

The both of them sit down in front of the Number Wall. Dark joins them, but he remains unusually silent. He would normally be spitting accusations at Yuma if he had something on his mind, but he isn't.

What do you need to talk about Yuma?" Astral asks.

"What did you feel from Shing?"

The Astral Being flinches, not use to this kind of tone from his friend. He quickly relaxes, but Yuma doesn't miss his reaction. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean Astral. You told Dark Mist that you didn't remember what you felt from Shing, and I want to know if you actually mean it."

"You think I would lie?"

"I'm hoping you didn't because I know you're smarter than that."

"Would you sacrifice someone close to you Yuma? If your sister were the key to ending something, would you allow it?"

"Astral, you know I wouldn't. But I would also find a way to end that thing without anyone dying."

Astral turns back to Yuma with an intense stare. "This curse that Shing put herself in cannot be solved any other way. A sacrifice is the only solution, and that sacrifice can't be anyone but you ! There is no alternative. We…we have to accept that…"

The defeat in Astral's voice is enough to stop Yuma from arguing even though he wants to find another way. He tries to think of something anyway, but no solution come to mind. He stands up with a sigh.

"Then I'll do it," Yuma declares.

Astral looks like he's been slapped in the face. He physically flinches. "Why? She caused you nothing but hurt."

"That's what Dark's thinking. You know that this has to be done."

Dark suddenly stands up. "I think you should go before you make Astral too upset." His glare is intense, and in the corners of the gears and in the crevices of the Numbers, tendrils are emerging. "He's not rational when he's upset."

"You can't protect him from things like this Dark. He has to face things head on!"

"Fine…" Astral speaks up. Both Dark and Yuma look down at him. "Go do what you need."

Dark starts to protest. "But Astral she-"

"Needs to be stopped." Astral finishes. "And if this is the only way to stop it, fine."

Yuma sits beside his best friend and hugs him. Astral buries his face into the boy's neck, tears already forming. He knows this is their last time together. He just wishes it was later rather than now. "Don't cry Astral," Yuma says. "Be strong, okay?"

"I'll miss you…"

"I know, take care of yourself." With one last squeeze, Yuma leaves the key.

~.~.~

Yuri comes back upstairs after helping Kari with the chores. She insisted that he needed to at least help around the house if he was going to stay. When he returns, he notices the key shining.

"Just in time," Dark Mist says. "I think they resolved it."

"Or not." Yuri counters, but settles himself down to wait.

Yuma emerges from the key. "He was lying the first time," he announces. "But he told me the truth. I have to go."

Astral speak up. "Are you sure? This is at the cost of your own life."

"Yeah, I'm sure." He looks at the three of them. "And I'd rather you not tell anyone until it's done. I don't want my friends stopping me. Shing needs to be stopped before she kills everyone.

"Then you need to touch her heart," the spellcaster resumes. "Make sure she doesn't run off before you can get close to her. Chances are she won't want to touch you herself."

"Got it."

Yuma goes downstairs, hugs Kari and Haru and tells them that he's going out with some friends, and leaves the house. Knowing that this is the last time he would be doing so. His hand instinctively reaches for the key that is usually around his neck only to find nothing. He shakes his head and heads to the park, knowing that Shing is there.