Thirteen year old Elizabeta glared at a rather surprised Gilbert. It was pure coincidence, really, when Gilbert exited the hospital doors only to find himself face to face with the young girl, her mother visiting a relative inside. She threw an accusatory finger at him.

"You! You show up and then…then bad things happen….dad…..are you here to kill my aunt? Don't you dare, I'll fight you…!"

Children. So young, so innocent. Gilbert was also aware that to most others the young girl was speaking to thin air, and just about ready to create a strange sight indeed. "Would you keep your voice down?" He hissed, in a small whisper. "You're making a scene!"

"Murderer!"

"Wh- am not!"

"Are too!"

There were days when Gilbert was reminded that children could be so very annoying…he gave an exasperated sigh. "Look, you can either keep pointing accusations at me, or if you promise to keep your voice down we can have a proper conversation."

Elizabeta eyed him suspiciously. For all she knew, he could be saying that to take her to a quiet place and off her life as well. Another part of her told her that it was already strange enough that no one seemed to see him, becoming more aware of the murmurs amongst the people walking past her, and the last thing she needed was to cause any further trouble with her mom. She gave a sullen nod. "By the benches over there then. If you do anything weird I'll scream."

He gave her a look, before giving a quick nod, making his way to the bench, the other following behind him. As soon as he sat down, the interrogations began.

"Who are you?"

"I-"

"Why are you here?"

"If you'd let me-"

"Are you gonna kill people?"

"I told you I'm not a murderer! If anything, blame you lot for dying so damn easily! That happens and…well, I guess I'm the guy who helps you out with the after bit."

The girl glanced up at him. "Like the grim reaper?"

"I guess that's what you'd call me. Anyways, how or when people die isn't my jurisdiction, but when it happens I'll be there. Keh, this is probably how I get that idiot 'murderer' label. Completely uncalled for, if you ask me."

"What happens afterwards?"

"Well, that's for you to decide."

Elizabeta wrinkled her nose. "No fair!"

He shrugged. "Only the dead know. And you're far from dead, kiddo."

She grew silent for a moment. "…did you see dad?" Her voice was quiet, uncertain. Different from the bold, brash tone she had earlier. Gilbert's face softened ever so slightly.

"Yeah."

"Is he….?"

"I can't really talk about the after but he's at peace. That much I can let you know." A pause. "I talked to him a little bit; well, to everyone I meet. A guy like me only has that window for conversation, most of time. Usually it's the questions of, 'where am I', 'what happened to me', shit like that. Sometimes they don't even realize that they're gone. Your dad though…first thing he asked me was if you and your mom were okay." Gilbert glanced at her. "He loved you two."

A small part of Elizabeta wanted to cry. It had been three years since her father's passing, but hearing the words just brought those feelings back. She missed him so much. But she remembered her father telling her to be brave. She was brave, and she would. For both her and her mother's sake. A lost memory clicked back to her, remembering the first time she saw the other.

"You got lost in my house!"

"G-Geh…! Let's forget about that time!"

"For a grim reaper you really suck at directions." Elizabeta allowed herself a small grin. "…hey mister, who can see you?"

Gilbert gave a small sigh. "Living beings shouldn't be able to. You're a first. There are some who might be able to feel my presence or something, but not enough to see and talk to me. Not while they're alive, at least. And this 'mister' has a name, you know. Call me Gilbert!"

"Gilbert…." The youth mulled over the name. A sudden thought occurred to her. "Hey Gilbert, so you're kind of like, invisible or whatever right? I mean, people walk through you and they don't really see you kind of thing."

"I guess?"

"But I can see you. And talk to you." A small hand reached for Gilbert's, hovering a bit before placing her hand on top of his.

Gilbert flinched slightly, caught off-guard by the sudden action. He had forgotten how human contact felt like, the small hand warm and alive in contrast to his cold hand. It had been the first in many years since he had talked to another living being, to be able to touch them. Gilbert pulled his own hand back, surprised. He could still feel the small warmth on his own hand, though it wasn't long before his own body heat (or lack of) returned.

"Cold…" Elizabeta gave a small murmur, more to herself than anyone else. She glanced up at Gilbert, who apparently was currently in a state of mild shock. She forced herself not to laugh.

"…Do my eyes deceive me or is the grim reaper blushing?"

"Wh-! No!"

"You're blushing! You're really blushing!"

"Shut up! Ach, this is embarrassing…" No way was he going to tell her that he was a little happy. No, that would be a death sentence for even more teasing. From a thirteen year old, no less! Whatever reputation Gilbert had would go down the drain. Thank goodness no one else could see him. He stood up, face red. Gilbert wasn't even aware that someone in his position was capable of blushing. That's impossible, right? He was able to change the subject, something mundane like nice weather we have today if a woman's voice didn't ring out from the hospital doors, calling for her daughter.

"Oh! That's my mom…" A quick pause, frowning. "You didn't do anything to my aunt, did you?"

Gilbert snorted. "I told you already, I don't do anything. …She's fine, by the way. Lots of people die in the hospital. I came for someone else." He was a little harsh in his words, but it did seem to relieve the brief worry lined in the young girl's face. She hopped off the bench, about to dash towards her mother's direction before turning around.

"Will I see you again?"

"I'll be around. Something's always happening, after all." He gave a small grin. "Just be careful in callin' me out next time, don't want people thinking you're some weird crazy girl or anything."

It was Elizabeta's turn to snort. "Yeah, well, I'll be nice if I ever see you and say hi since you're all lonely n' stuff with no one to talk to!"

"O-Oi, who said I was lonely-!"

The other's retort was cut short, instead watching the young girl dash off, giving him a small wave before heading towards her mother's direction. Gilbert waved back, smiling to himself a little. Would this constitute as the start of a friendship?

Gilbert stretched his back after a long day's work, walking down the sidewalk and to the local park. One would imagine a job like his to be fairly easy, but even in death some people could be stubborn as anything. Okay, maybe they're entitled to be a little bit mad to their confusion. After all, Gilbert'd be pretty pissed off if he was in their position. But the swearing, the death (oh haha, ironic) threats? Uncalled for. The attempted violence against Gilbert, who's really just trying to help with the transitional period between life and death? Rude. Not that any of those things actually hurt him, it'd just be nice if people could be more appreciative about the line of work he did. He gave a slight huff, noticing a stray cat rolling in the park grass. Animals tend to be able to somehow sense him, its ears perked up and glancing towards his direction. Gilbert grinned. The cat hissed and ran the other way. Well..he didn't blame it. After all, considering he only shows up when death happens it wouldn't be illogical to link him to the cause. Wherever death was, Gilbert was sure to follow. Naturally any living being would stay away from him. Well, that's what he would say, an eyebrow raised at the waving figure before him.

Elizabeta. Right. An odd case with her, most definitely, the girl advancing to him, now adorning a red school uniform, a flower ever-present in her hair these days. She was looking more beautiful with every year, from a runt of a child to a young girl, and now showing the potentials of a fine young woman indeed. She grinned, flipping a cellphone open. It meant the beginning of their conversation, the cellphone masking Gilbert's presence.

"I thought you were busy."

He grinned. "Well, I'm allowed to have a break every now and then, can't I? Besides, you try telling a gym coach that he won't be able to go to the championships with the rest of his team."

Elizabeta laughed, airy and much more feminine than Gilbert remembered it to be. "Think I'll pass on that. I'll have the worries of school, thanks."

"You telling me you've got boys all lined up begging for you to be their number one girlfriend?" He teased. A tinge of pink danced across Elizabeta's cheeks.

"Not like that…! Though…well…I guess I'd be lying if I said it hasn't happened before…"

He chuckled. "It's normal. I ain't gonna lie, Eliza, you're not half-bad on the eyes-GEH-!"

A quick elbow to his ribs, Elizabeta still smiling. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Gilbert winced at the contact. Right, he forgot that she was able to touch him sometimes. "It's a half-assed compliment, geez…! Besides, who's the lucky guy?"

"Like I'd tell you! It's a secret."

"Tch, I won't tell anyone. Actually, given the circumstances it'd be pretty fuckin' impossible."

They both laughed. Every now and then the two would get together and talk like this, just mundane subjects. Gilbert didn't particularly mind listening to Elizabeta drabble on about subjects like school or homework, what shows she would be watching, her likes and her dislikes. It was all part of growing up, learning and seeing something new everyday. He couldn't help but feel a little envious.

"Well, what about you Gil? Ever had a lady love?"

"Eh?"

"Y'know. Girlfriends and dating."

He paused for a moment, quiet. It was a matter he hadn't thought about in so long. A solitary life does that, sometimes.

"I did. Once."

This caught the other slightly off-guard. Elizabeta had often teased the other about these sorts of things, trying to learn more about Gilbert's personal life. Outside of his occupation she really didn't know much about him, or who he was. She didn't really expect an answer, and yet, here it was. Even more surprising was the fact that Gilbert was showing a unusually serious side to him. Elizabeta almost felt guilty for bringing it up. Almost. She decided to pry a little more.

"What happened…?" Her voice was soft. The other offered no reaction, apparently lost in his own thoughts. The silence was overwhelming...maybe it was better if she didn't bring it up. Elizabeta was about ready to apologize, to switch the subject when he spoke.

"….It's a se-c-ret!" Gilbert grinned, back to his usual self.

"What! You can't leave it off like that!"

"Oi oi, if you're allowed secrets so can I!"

"Cheater!"

"Kesesesese!" Every now and then he would let out that strange, raspy laugh. Still, it occurred to Elizabeta that there was so little she knew about him.

"How long have you been a reaper?"

"Hm?"

"I mean, I honestly can't imagine it being a resume application kind of thing…."

Gilbert snorted. "It ain't. Well…guess I was a human, once upon a time."

She paused. She never really considered exactly what he was. An entity? No, that would be giving him too much credit. A demon? That sounded rather cliche. It was strange, he looked and felt like a human, talked like one but she had always assumed that Gilbert was just….something else.

"You gonna elaborate on that?"

"It's a secret."

"What the hell, Gilbert! You can't use that excuse twice!"

((Here's chapter two! Once again, reviews are welcome.))