The snow fell swiftly and softly, freezing the tears on the young girl's face. The two coffins were carried past her and placed in their respective ditch. Between them was a small plaque.

Here Lies

Steven Paladin

1976-2010

And

Maria Theodosia

1977-2010

Beloved Parents, Colleagues, and Friends

May they rest in peace…

The little girl, clad in black, clutched a rose in her small hands. She only noticed the pain when she looked down at the small prick in her finger, the small stream of blood trailing down her middle finger and pooling into her palm. It was a surprising amount of blood for such a small prick. And even then, it was dulled by the numbness of the cold.

The cold both in the air and in her heart.

She placed the rose on the plaque, her blood dripping onto it, almost spoiling its perfection; its beauty. The red was a bright contrast to the white petals of the rose. For a reason she couldn't quite place her finger on, she pulled out a black pen she always kept on her, snapped it in two, and let the ink dribble into the red liquid, the black sinking into the white petals, spreading through the veins of the flower.

She was a child of blood and ink, and silently swore revenge on the filthy murderers who had taken the lives of her beloved parents.

And at that very moment, storm clouds rumbled and roared above her as if her rage had shaken the heavens.

However, she was unaware of the very certain Shinigami watching it all play out.

The Shinigami Realm

"Come on, Light. Just look" Ryuk pestered the young man for what ought to be the hundredth time. "Fine! But this better is worth my interest…" Light Yagami growled. Ryuk just chuckled heartily, voice as dry as usual. "Oh please. It's not like you have anything else of interest to do."

The God of Death placed a black clawed finger on the young man's forehead, and Light closed his eyes.

Light saw a little girl, cheeks slick with frozen tears, tears that no longer poured from her eyes. A white rose was clutched in her hand, blood dripping into the soft snow.

But Light Yagami wasn't interested in that. He only felt the pain and sorrow that engulfed her heart, the rage and thoughts of revenge that plagued her mind. He felt her mind racing over dozens of different ways she could avenge not only her parents but everyone who had been put the victim to the cruelty of humanity, of the darkness that threatened to swallow this world whole. She would get her revenge_ dear God, she would get her revenge_ on everyone who dared bring darkness into the world and plague the hearts of the innocent. She just needed a way how…

Light's conscious flew back from the sight of the Shinigami before him, which allowed him to gaze into the human world, to the drab rotting world where his soul and the new 17-year-old body was stuck. Forever. All for using that damned notebook of death.

It started as a chuckle. A dark one, not nearly innocent. Edging on insane, but not evil.

The laughter grew louder, more crazed, more desperate, and even more insane.

Finally, Light Yagami threw his head back, gazing at the grey sky, soft dark caramel brown iris' replaced with glowing red eyes, pupils gone. His laughter was loud and maniacal and evil and insane. He gasped between fits of laughter. Others, human and Shinigami alike, were gazing at him in fear. Had they not known any better, not known that the intelligence and wit and reasoning and other qualities he possessed was beyond all of them, they would've thought he belonged in a mental hospital. But he didn't. The Death Note, just like the rest of them, had corrupted his mind beyond repair. Turned him from a hardworking 17-year-old honor student, one of Japan's best and brightest… Into this, a violent, animalistic being who wasn't afraid to use others to gain his ends.

But even then, his death was what set him straight. For a time, at least. He now understood what he did wrong, even though his feelings over what he did hadn't even shifted. He was still doing the right thing, still cleansing the world of filth, and the Death Note was the best way to do it.

Even so, even gods make mistakes sometimes.

The laughter finally died down with a large gasp for air, Light staring at his shoes before looking up a few seconds later, his gaze glowering, Iris' a deep blood red, his hair a strange mix between black and red, even though the locks were a light mocha brown.

"This is perfect. Her values align with Kira's flawlessly. This rage… I've seen it before, but never something like this. Not only that, but she's intelligent, and understands her place… unlike me. Give her a Death Note, Ryuk! She will be the next Kira, and cleanse that rotten world in a way that I never could."

Ryuk chuckled rather loudly. "Not yet. Let her nurture that rage, and acquire a taste for vengeance. I can assure you, it won't be too long before she can use a Death Note. Trust me, Light."

"Just wait, Aquilla Theo Paladin. Just 5 years, and I'll grant you your true birthright…