Prologue
"She was born weak," a doctor said.
"Would be lucky to survive the year," said another.
"Lost cause," was all my clan said.
There was no hope for my survival. The Shinigami was bound to appear. And appear he did, but not for the reasons everyone thought. Instead of taking my life, he saved it. He stared at me, long and hard, and that freaked me out greatly, barely a week old and I already had the Great Death God's attention. But what I hadn't notice was that he was looking at me in a tenderly way, almost fatherly.
As if sensing my distress, the shadows in my room enveloped me in their cool embrace, as if to comfort me. The Shinigami looked both proud and sad at what happened.
"Little One,' he said, " your life will be both harsh and cruel, for this is the fate for those born in both light and dark. But do not fret, there are others like you. Those who live and breathe the bitter reality humans have made up the world to be. You shall lead them to greatness. They shall become your family along with a few others that will join you. Your name shall be known throughout the lands. A legend that shall surpass even the Great Sage of Six Paths."
He leans over and puts his hand on my head. "I wouldn't put this fate on anyone, but I believe you can even surpass my expectations. Walk freely among the shadows Little One, I shall be watching," he whispered before dissolving into the endless night.
I wailed.
I was alone.
The door slowly creaked open.
I woke up my three-year-old brother, Shikamaru, with my sudden crying. He mumbled something then came towards my crib. "Stwop crwying, it's hwrting my ewrs." I stopped, entranced in the being who who didn't look at me like I was a nuisance. I wasn't sure about the Shinigami because he was covered by his black robe.
Shikamaru just looked at me and smiled. " I'm yowr bwig bwothor, so dwon't cwy, I'll pwotect you," he said. That calmed me, I felt safe with him. When he turned to leave, I started crying again. I didn't want him to leave. He glanced at me, then his room that was next door. He sighed, then left.
He left!
Why did he leave me?
I was hysterical, then he came back. "I said to stwop cwying," he sighed yet again. "What a dwag," he mumbled. Then he laid the pillow and blanket he brought next to my crib.
Too surprised and tired to even whimper, I stopped and fell asleep. But I could still hear him when he said, " You dwon't wook as weak as mommy, daddy, and most of the cwan says. I'm pwoud to be yowr bwothor, and I pwomise to pwotect you when you need me." Then, he also fell asleep.