Nine years later . . .
Eric slashed his saw over the man and collected his soul as Alan watched him. "You're getting much better at controlling your scythe Eric," Alan said as he watched his friend collect and watch the cinematic record.
"Thanks Alan, it's getting easier to reap souls," the blonde replied as he slung his death scythe over his shoulder.
As Alan opened up a portal to the Shinigami Realm, Eric looked over and saw a girl that reminded him of Natalia. "Is that Natalia?" Eric asked Alan.
The brunette looked over at his friend and reminded "Eric, Natalia lives in London with Undertaker, we're in New Jersey."
"I just keep thinking I see her," Eric said.
"You say that every time we go on a reaping. You always think you see Natalia," Alan remarked.
"Why can't I see her like you and the others?" Eric questioned.
"Because she wouldn't understand," Alan stated. "Natalia is still human and she will never fully understand no matter how gifted she is." The blonde sighed as he and his friend returned to the Shinigami Realm.
In London, now nineteen year old Natalia returned home to the morgue where she lived with Undertaker. "Did you have a good day my dear?" Undertaker asked with a grin.
"Yes I did," Natalia replied before touching her necklace.
About a week after Eric died; Undertaker had bought Natalia a locket and had placed a picture of him inside so that she would always have a memory of him. She constantly wondered about who Eric was to her; Undertaker had told her that Eric wasn't her father or brother or uncle or anything like that to her. He was just her caregiver, nothing else.
Undertaker noticed Natalia touch the locket and asked "Not a day goes by when you don't think of him, right Natalia?" He ran a hand through her blondish red hair.
The girl nodded. "I miss him more with every passing day Undertaker."
"You know he loved you with all his heart," Undertaker reminded.
"Did Eric ever love me, ya know, in that way?" Natalia slowly wondered.
"You were a child Natalia, it wasn't right of him to love you like that," Undertaker said.
"But I mean if he looked at me now would he love me like that?" Natalia asked.
"I honestly don't know; that would be between you and Eric," the mortician stated before standing up and kissing the top of her head. "I'm going to the market for a minute, I'll be back soon."
Natalia watched her guardian leave the morgue before going into her room. She retrieved a bottle of pills out from underneath her pillow and dumped some out in her hand. "I'll see you soon Eric," she whispered before downing the pills and lying down on her bed.
In the Shinigami Dispatch Society offices, William T. Spears was notified that a new person had been added to the To-Die list. When he read the name however, he was struck with grief. The stoic Shinigami read Natalia's name and then called in Alan. "I need you to take Eric to reap Natalia's soul," William informed.
"Sir, do you think that's smart? I mean he's still very emotional towards her," Alan reminded.
"It's what needs to happen," William stated.
Alan sighed before saying "Yes sir." The brunette turned and headed back to his and Eric's joining office. "Eric, we have one more reaping for the day."
"Where at?" the blonde asked.
"I'll show you," Alan said quietly as he led his friend to the Human Realm.
The friends reached London and appeared inside Undertaker's morgue. Eric and Alan approached their target and saw it lying in bed asleep. But before Eric could bring his death scythe down, the figure rolled over and the blonde laid his eyes on Natalia. "No, no I won't do this Alan," Eric argued.
"It's time for her to go Eric," Alan stated. "We cannot mess with death like this. If the Time Lords ever found out, then we'd be deader than we already are."
"Can we not turn her into a Shinigami?" Eric wondered.
"We could try, but no promises," Alan replied.
Turning back to the human, Eric raised his death scythe and whispered "Forgive me." Then he brought it down swiftly over Natalia's body. Eric picked up Natalia and carried her into the Shinigami Realm with himself and Alan.
"Explain yourself Mr. Slingby," William demanded when he saw Eric carry in Natalia's body.
"I'm not going to let her die," Eric stated.
"Bringing your emotions into your job is a foolish thing," William said as Eric lie Natalia down gently on an infirmary bed.
"You said that Shinigamis have the ability to prevent death," Eric reminded.
"Only if the target is going to benefit society overall, like prevent a war or stop world hunger, but that is not Natalia's position," William informed.
"Then turn her into one of us," Eric replied as Alan, Ronald, and Grell walked into the room. "You know of how much value she is to me and to you all as well. Did you also not tell me that she is gifted?"
"Eric, you must keep in mind that the Time Lords will not be happy about making someone a Shinigami without permission," Alan spoke up.
"I don't give a damn, I'm not letting Natalia die. One way or another I will keep her alive," Eric stated before looking down at the human girl.
After several seconds of silence, William said "Before we begin her soul transition from human to Shinigami, I need to know who doesn't wish to take part in this. You will not be punished in any way if you choose to or to not take part in it."
Grell, Ronald, and Alan remained still. "Very well," William responded before nodding to each Shinigami.