In the ever dreary and tedious monotone shinigami realm, where every office was decorated in a the universal eye pickling white or light cream, matched with pale wood furniture. Each desk held a reaper dressed in a monochrome suit, bright green eyes framed with different styles of glasses, pen in hand, busily scribbling away at the parchment in front of them.

One of said reaper was a 100 year old female by the name of Veronica Young, an supervisor amongst the department that she was chosen to work in. She was a reasonably pretty woman, who looked like she was in her mid twenties, had long raven black hair, that hung down her back in gentle curls, with a sweeping fringe, the average green reaper eyes framed by thin, blue tinted lens. She dressed in a black pin-stripped shirt, purple fronted waistcoat, black dress trousers, lace up heeled boots, and black gloves, occasionally accompanied with a long deep plum trench coat.

Every day bled into the next, the regular enviably strenuously non-unique and frigid manner making it hard to distinguish one day from another, and when she was lucky enough to get an assignment, it was just the same old stories on the cinematic record, with only the scenery, social status and names that seem to differ.

Sighing deeply Veronica pulled herself to her feet and stretched her aching muscles that were just as agitated as she was after 4 hours of continuous paperwork. Deciding a walk was needed, this being one of the more opportune moments for a scheduled reaper. She slipped on her coat and scarf, leaving the rest of the work for when burning it and dancing round the flames seems a lot less tempting.

Taking her usual path down the quieter corridor, teleporting into lesser used side roads of the mortal world, allowing her mind to wonder without the risking the possibility of bumping into passing reapers or humans, and receiving snobby feed back about looking where she was going, before getting the same old irritated huff and blinkered dismissal. It was always a lovely experience dealing with those sort of beings, about as welcome in her existence as a sword in her side.

Wandering through the streets to kill time (no pun intended) before her reaping assignment, taking the time to stop and look up at the cloudless night sky, feel the wind on her skin, it's bitterness nipping at her skin... autumn was coming in fast. Leaning against a brick wall, she took in the fresh crisp night air, letting it fill her lungs, basking the fresh for a good while before moving to locate her target, taking to the roof tops for a better view of the surrounding area.

She quickly located the boy she was after, a 16 year old street dweller by the name of Toby Underbridge, who was forced to pick pockets to keep himself and his two younger siblings from starvation. He had tried his best to take care of his family, ever since they ran away from the work house after the youngest, a 8 year old girl was severely beaten by one of the guards.

Cause of death was food poising, food that was offered to him by a would-be 'kind' stranger, who wished nothing more then to get rid of the 'disgusting little blighters'. Isabel stood over the dying boy watching his short and unfortunate life unfold, cutting his record and making judgement.

After finishing up business, she went about her own ritual, laying coins over his eyes, conjuring a red rose, pressing her lips turning the petals turning silver, and tucking it into the boys jacket.

"Brother..." cried a little girl as Isabel turned to leave, running up to the corpse of the boy, "Wake up Toby... now is not the time to be napping... brother... BROTHER" she exclaimed, realising the cruel truth, her brother was gone...

"Little one..." Veronica called to the child softly placing a hand on the kids shoulder, causing her to jump and look up "Come with me... I'll take you somewhere where you and your sister will be safe" she bid reassuringly, holding out a hand for her.

The girl started up at her wide eyed, looking down at Veronica's hand and back again...

"This is no trick" she assured with a soft smile "I know of a place take care of you both, so you'll never have to go hungry or sleep out in the cold ever again... just take my hand" patiently holding out her hand to the child.

The kid hesitated for a few more moments before timidly slipping her tiny fingers into the woman's hand, calling her sister over, who in turn took hers.

"Keep close, and follow me" Veronica stated simple before leading them off, as hastily as possible down the dark streets of London, completely unaware the three of them were being followed.

It didn't take them long to get to the place in question, a large, almost ominous black door with thick brass numbers and knocker. After a firm rasp on the door, a well dressed middle age, slightly plump woman with cheerful features answered, smiling warmly at her waiting guest, and with a reasonably short exchange of words welcomed the children inside, and bid a fair well to the reaper.

Veronica sighed lightly, as she walked away, content in the knowledge that the girls were safe, turning into a alleyway, about to teleport back to the reaper realm when she caught wind of a presence...

"My, my, you behave oddly for a reaper... I've not seen anyone show so much respect for the dead in a very long time" mused a voice from the shadows by her side, as something silver shone from within them "not to mention going beyond your duty to make sure that his sisters' are safe"

"I was once taught by a wise man that death should be respected, it isn't something to be overlooked... no one deserves to be forgotten, or left behind..." Veronica replied thoughtfully "And for the record my soul doesn't really belong to any species... not really... it is just floats along in the constant stream of time." she finished before simply walking of casually into the night.

"Miss, what's your name?" the man inquired curiously, his dark robes moving around like an extension of the surrounding shadows.

"Why should that matter?"

"I wish to know"

"Veronica" she offered before venturing deeper into the alley, vanishing into the shadows and teleporting back to her apartment. She mentally cursing herself for slipping up in front of a stranger, something she promised herself she would never do again... she was supposed to be the cold hearted, no nonsense tough-nut, that doesn't take shit from anyone.