This is an alternate opening chapter for this fanfiction. It does not affect the plot or storyline of this fanfiction.

It was late at night in the cold streets of Tokyo, Japan. Death the Kid and his weapon partners, Liz and Patti Thompson, had just finished collecting a Kishin egg, and were making their way back to Death City. Kid was about to summon Beelzebub, but stopped walking abruptly.

"What's wrong, Kid?" Liz asked, her reflection glancing off the side of her pistol weapon form. "Why don't you summon the skateboard and go?"

"Just a moment," Kid cautioned, turning slightly. He was standing in front of a grand mansion with an iron fence around it. The mansion delicately maintained symmetry, much like Gallows Manor. Using his Soul Perception, Kid could feel… something. He wasn't sure what it was, but a deep feeling inside him irked him into investigating it.

"Kid, what are you doing?" Liz demanded as Kid pushed the iron gates out of their way.

"Something's wrong," he replied quietly. "Come on, let's go."

"Wait, Kid, that mansion looks dark and scary, can't we come back tomorrow morning?" Liz shuddered.

"No," Kid insisted. "We have to do this. I'll just take a quick look, okay?"

Liz clearly wasn't happy with that, but didn't make more sound than a few whimpers that escaped her. Kid bravely walked up the concrete steps and paused in front of the large double doors. A plaque hung on both of the doors, elegant script displaying the title of the fine building.

"Scarlet Death Manor?" Kid questioned out loud. "Why would… never mind."

Inside, it was cold, dark, and covered in cobwebs. Liz shivered delicately.

"Are you sure something's here?" she asked.

"Stay in you weapon forms," Kid advised. "If something is here, I don't think it will be particularly friendly."

He stood there for a moment, listening intently, and waiting for something to happen. He could feel something moving around near them, but it was almost beneath them now. Kid deliberated for a moment. Of course, the basement.

After searching the first floor, Kid finally found the basement door. It was red, like much else in the mansion, and the doorknob was crafted of real gold. A small golden plate hung on the door, this time reading, "DO NOT OPEN!"

Kid ignored the warning and opened the door. It was pitch dark except for the wide beam of light that flooded the staircase and a strip of the basement room. The second thing Kid registered was the overwhelming stench of blood pervading the air. He desperately put his sleeve over his mouth and nose, trying not to be sick as he tried to block out the violent scent. After regaining his composure, he walked down the stairs quietly.

Now that he was actually down there, he could see more throughout the room. there was dried blood everywhere; on the walls, on the ceiling, and on the floor, but no dead body to speak of. A small table was set up in one corner, and it seemed to be set for a child's tea party. Small porcelain dishes were set symmetrically, and several small dolls sat around it. A shuffle caught Kid's attention and he turned to the other corner. a small figure, possibly the child that set the table, was curled up in the corner, crying quietly.

"Are you a prisoner here?" Kid asked. The figure twitched and got to its feet. Kid could tell it was a child.

The figure laughed and a sharp shink echoed throughout the room. Kid tensed; a weapon! The figure charged at him with a large scythe in hand. With one hand, Kid blocked the attack and flip-twisted the scythe out of the other's hands, and with the other, gave a warning shot to the stomach.

Now that the figure was in the light, Kid saw it was just a little girl. She was on her hands and knees, gripping her stomach in pain, coughing blood on the floor. She was scrawny and frail. She was clawing at her stomach, drawing blood.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said in a firmer tone. "We've come from the DWMA, we want to help you."

"DWMA?" she choked. "I don't know what that is."

"She's definitely who we're looking for," Kid thought, scrutinizing her. "What is she?"

"The Death Weapon Meister Academy," Kid continued. The girl looked up at him and he gasped. Her eyes were a beautiful, glistening saffron color; her waist-length hair was jet black with three white stripes on the right side.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she sobbed. She was very young. "Please, just leave me alone!"

Kid lowered his weapons, who transformed. He carefully walked towards her, but she inched away from him desperately, blood pooling on the floor, the chains around her neck rattling noisily. She curled up against the wall in fear.

"It's okay," Kid reassured her, kneeling next to her. "I didn't mean to hurt you this badly. Hold still; I want to help you."

Kid ignored her struggles and took off his jacket. He wrapped it around her shaking form. She gasped, looking up at him with her deep, innocent, striking eyes. He hurt her, and tried to kill her, but now he's willing to help her? This was the first inkling of kindness that she'd ever felt in her entire life.

Kid could tell there was something suspicious about this girl—for instance, why was she locked in the basement, how could she be a grim reaper, and why was the name Death on the front door—but he knew she couldn't answer him.

"We have to get her back to the Academy," Kid said.

"Kid, are you sure?" Liz cautioned.

Kid nodded. "There's something about her that brought me here, I need to take care of her now." He looked down at the small figure in his arms. "What's your name?"

"Flander," she replied in a whisper. "Flander… Scarlet… Death."