Astral took the news as well as Dark would have hoped. That is, he only blinked and looked at Dark blankly, not looking like he understood, but Dark knew that he understood perfectly well. He could sense that emotionally, he was pretty tired, so he induced his twin to sleep and went downstairs, where the spellcasters and Yuri were talking in Yuma's downstairs room.

"Whatcha talking about?" Dark asked. "Do you have an alternative to helping Shing?"

"Yes, there are several alternative cures," Dark Mist began, but he looked to his partner before speaking. It was a quick glance, but there was hesitation in it. "However the cures all involve a sacrifice, be it her lover, a friend, or this entire town. I think we'd want to keep the casualties to a minimum, no?"

"Yeah, I guess. I don't think killing this entire town would make anything better."

"So, the next best cure here is to sacrifice someone close to her."

Dark pursed his lips, knowing that she and Astral were close. While the sacrifice wouldn't really kill Dark himself, it would very much put him in a zombie-like state. He was unwilling to go through that experience for the rest of his life, but he knew a kingdom's survival was on the line.

"I'll try to convince Astral of it," he finally agreed. "He was the closest one to her aside from Yuma."

Yuri nodded gratefully. "Well, I have to go back. I don't know how much longer Vegeta and Vector will hold out on their own. We'll be awaiting her return." He nodded to the spellcasters, who made a portal back to their kingdom. "Goodbye."

Dark waved as the others left through the portal. He looked outside and saw the sky turning pink. He had to find Shing and see what she was up to.

~.~.~

She watched the sky turn pink and red. For some reason, just like last time, the name "Shing" didn't seem to suit her anymore. She was no longer that girl; she was now someone who caused nothing but pain to those around her without a second thought, and she did it gladly. She felt no remorse, just constant pain in her chest.

The girl whispered into the wind. One person in a couple came over to check out the noise, and she brushed her hand against him, whispering once again that he would die at midnight. The man, woozy from her touch, went back to his lover. She knew that he would die at midnight as promised. The thought of the emotional torment the woman he loved would experience evoked a giggle from her.

And so she continued luring people in, touching them, and sending them back off. By midnight, she could feel their life forces wink out like candles. With each life that blinked out, the pain in her chest lightened for a bit; it resembled joy.

When the sky lightened again, she found some shade to sleep in and curled up.

~.~.~

Dark, having observed everything Shing did, flew all the way back to Astral, who was just now waking up. He didn't feel as empty as before, but he was emotionally unstable. On the way there, Astral picked up on Dark's thoughts and knew that he would have to be the sacrifice to cure Shing. Dark, heartbreakingly enough, felt the resignation, as if he didn't want to live anymore.

So, he decided to use words. "Are you sure you're willing to die? This is your life, after all."

"Under any other circumstance, I would want to find another way. However, we cannot go back home. The only person who can see us and give us company is cursed, and the only way to cure her is to die."

"And you'd leave me alone."

Silence on the other end, but it was thoughtful silence. "We need to weigh our options then."

So during the fly back to the house, Dark and Astral exchanged thoughts and feelings, non-verbally discussing the pros and cons of the sacrifice. Ultimately, though, they chose to cure her.

~.~.~

For three days she was allowed to roam free while Dark and Astral figured out a way to capture her. She killed left and right with a single touch, but the number of people coming to the park was dwindling. She figured she would have to find a new spot one day when a box suddenly surrounded her, trapping her in. She hissed, not wanting to go out into the sunlight, but the box was pulled out of the comfort of the shade. Surprisingly enough, she didn't feel any discomfort from the sun.

"Let me out!" she exclaimed.

Astral came into view. His eyes looked tired and sad, but he looked like he had a purpose. "I cannot allow you to be free for one more day. You're killing people and scaring everyone off." He turned around and went back to the house.

The girl looked around. "Where are we going? And what are we going to do?"

"We're going back to Yuma's house. To cure you."

"Cure me? But we can't anymore. The only person who could do that is dead."

"Not necessarily. But Dark will tell you how we'll do it when we get there."

The girl nodded and sat back in the box, watching the people back away from her. "Can they see us?"

"The cube? Yes, along with you in it. But not me. The only person who could see me and allowed others to be able to see me is gone."

"Oh..."

When they arrived back at the house, Astral took her in through the window that led to the room under Yuma's attic room, where Dark was waiting. He set down the box, Dark approached her.

"Hey there," he said with a smile, but the smile was strained. 

"How will you cure me? I thought Yuma was the only way."

"Well..." He looked back to Astral. They held each other's gazes for a while, and they didn't break the stare when Dark spoke again. "Astral has to be the sacrifice."

Her eyes widened. "No. No, no, no! No one else is going to sacrifice themselves for me. Besides, wouldn't you die, Dark!?"

"No, but I'll be in a zombie-like state. It won't be pleasant, but as long as it keeps this world and your kingdom safe, I'm willing to sacrifice my mental state. It's not like I'll be aware of being alone."

"I'm not going to kill Astral for my own benefit. There's no way." As if to prove her point, she crossed her arms and clenched her hands into fists. 

Astral and Dark shared a glance again. They were ready to make the sacrifice, but having her protest it was something they expected. "Very well," Astral said. "We will wait until you're ready."

~.~.~

A few days passed. Yuma's family moved out of the house to escape the memories of the dead parents and Yuma. The house was lonelier than before, making the atmosphere gloomier. Shing, still in the box, sat in the corner and thought about the cure. It was within reach, just a touch away, but she wouldn't do it. Not when it meant someone close to her had to die. It was strange; she was fine with others dying, but not her friends.

Astral's gloom eventually passed fully onto Dark. He was no longer very cheery, but he did his best to lighten the mood. He did so for the few days until he finally broke and made a suggestion that would surely get Shing to agree. He didn't care anymore, and he just wanted it to be over with.

"If you want," he whispered one day, "Astral and I can go together."

Shing lifted her head. "Together? You want me to kill you?"

Dark nodded. "It'll lift the curse, and neither of us will suffer. What do you say?"

The girl had to think on it for a moment, wondering if she would be able to live with herself. In the end, though, she knew she had to cave eventually. "Fine."

Astral looked at her with tired eyes and made the box disappear. "You will return to your kingdom, then?"

"I don't plan on returning. Not alive."

Astral and Dark shared a glance, but they didn't find it in them to care anymore. Besides, she would surely be unable to live with herself after this. It would be like a release, much like it would be for Astral and Dark. They both nodded.

Upstairs, they sat under the hammock. Shing held out her hands, and with some hesitation, took Dark's. He stiffened and immediately felt dizzy.

"By midnight, you will be dead," she whispered, a lump forming on her throat. "I'm sorry. You'll have to wait until then."

"That's fine..." Dark managed. He had to sink into the ground to rest. Astral knelt beside him and held his hand.

Silence passed for the next few hours as they watched Dark die. Shing didn't touch Astral, knowing that killing him would break the curse and stop what they had planned to do. So, they waited for midnight to roll around.

When it finally did, Astral felt a part of himself die as he watched Dark fade away from life. Even in death, even weak as he was, he still smiled and held Astral's hand, merging their hands together just like when they were born. And then he closed his eyes, never to open them again.

Astral looked at Shing, who looked close to tears. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry for causing you and Yuma pain."

"It feels so long ago," he whispered. "I forgive you. I know Yuma already has."

She held her arms out, and Astral hugged her, feeling her deathly touch like a sting. Numbness accompanied it next, making his last moments pleasant. He buried his face in her neck and felt himself drift away quicker than Dark, but he didn't mind. 

And soon, Shing was all alone in the dark of night, hugging the now-solid frame of Astral. Like how Yuma's body didn't decompose, Astral's didn't disappear into nothingness. She felt a well of sadness in her chest and took out her claws. There was only one thing left to do.

~.~.~

When Yuri came back with Vegeta to Yuma's house, they were met with two dead bodies locked in an embrace and blood pooling underneath the bodies. They shared a glance, wondering how they would tell the citizens, but at least now the two bodies were at peace.

Oh my goodness, this made me tear up again. ;-; This was a very sad rp, but it was a good one to play out. The events that happened here aren't exactly how me and RyuRan2200 played it, but it was definitely as close as memory can serve. I hope you all enjoyed it (and were all depressed at the end as I was). 

(Also I don't promote suicide, but this was just how the rp played out)

~.THE END.~