A/N: HEY GUYS! Sorry that I didn't post another chapter, when I said I would. I wanted to finish writing a rather… emotionally triggering scene, and I didn't want to mess it up too badly. Not a death or anything, but I spent a lot of energy trying to finish that particular set of chapters.

But hey! Now, I'm going to try to post a few chapters. We'll see how it goes.

I'm reviewing this before I go to work, today. Hopefully I finish, but if not then I'll be looking over a few more chapters and posting them. At least another chapter… but I want to get rid of some of these chapters and get them posted, for you guys. It's just easier for my sanity if my saved docs don't look too clustered and full.

Anyways, now we get to see a side to Clara I barely get to write about. Even further into this story. This is just a setup to the 'reaper' stuff. I did my best explaining everything, but this is where I place most of the 'future' stuff down on the table, for you guys to understand. I was being a bit aloof about certain parts, so now, hopefully, things will be easier to understand. Sadly, I won't exactly have time to develop these reaper OCs, but hopefully in the future I can? In later chapters, I'm hoping.

So, if there's a particular reaper child you like, don't be afraid to make a COMMENT for their return! Cause they may or may not pop back up, later.

Alright. I'll let you guys get back into reading my story. ENJOY!

! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !

You let in a deep breath… then sighed, your hands reaching for your long black leather jacket as you tugged at the ends, letting the belt jangle against your hips as you stared off into the distance.

Nighttime had fallen, and while everyone is asleep… a creature like yourself roams about in the darkness, reawakened under the cover of darkness.

A Phantom.

You blinked, closing your eyelids for a moment as you ran your hands through your long locks of hair, pushing your flowing hair to the side as the breeze picked up, and let your hair flutter behind you. Your eyes… were now a faint green glow. The glow of a grim reaper, but not your own glow. No, your aura is a bit different, but if you were to sneak into the reaper realm undetected, this was necessary.

Once again, you closed your eyes, concentrating.

Standing in the middle of a cemetery like this, between life and death, always makes you feel so… alive. Awakened. Like, something that had been tossed aside, hidden away, was jolted into absolute alertness. You breathed, feeling your air turning from hot to cold in a split second, the sound of a lone owl hooting upon a treetop, and the noise of the human world behind you…

Behind you…

Snapping open your eyes, you began to run, a sudden jolt of energy surging through you as you took off in a mad dash, towards the woods.

Towards the unknown.

No longer was there a fence, cutting the graveyard off from the traffic and chaos of London city, but instead there was trees and trees, as far as the eyes can see. The moon illuminated your path, the wildlife peeking through the darkness to peek at the strangeness that was passing through.

You were quick. Swift.

But excited.

You haven't traveled this way to the land of the dead in a very long time. Usually, you're just picked up and brought there, or you develop a teleportation technique after spending a lot of time with the other reapers, but now…

That part of yourself was still lost. Forgotten. Tired.

It was time to wake up.

"I'm waking up," you spoke aloud, jumping over a large bush and letting your shoes slide through the mud, but you kept running, kept moving.

A smile crept upon your face, and a light hearted laughter soon followed. Creatures, young and old, moved to look, before disappearing into the nothingness, eyes still glancing as you ran. You felt yourself reliving a past long forgotten. An ancient tale, only to be revived by the written word. This was exhilarating…

But before you knew it, it was over.

You crossed to the other side.

Like any other land, any other realm, the land of the dead, or the grim reaper realm, or whatever the place wants to be called, is like a limbo. A purgatory. The light shines brighter and for a lot longer, the days feel endless, but the nighttime creeps slowly. Calmly. Overtaking you in a sweet, gentle embrace. Brief, but effective.

Even you're not quite sure how it works.

Sometimes, days or weeks have gone by in the human world, while only a day or two passed in the reaper realm. Other times, it's the exact opposite.

But you need your questions answered.

You need to see if anyone else was here. If they are hiding… or in plain sight, just waiting to spot you from the darkness. From the shadows.

But as you wandered, much like a ghostly phantom repeating its death over and over again, you felt something was amiss in the air.

A demonic presence.

Your eyes narrowed, but you didn't make any sort of comment or movement towards it, instead continuing to casually move about the realm, without being spotted. It was hilarious, if you think about it. A reaper finely tuned with Death itself would be able to spot you, for sure, but if they're not…

You could easily pass through them, as if you were a reaper amongst humans. All they could feel is a chilling shiver, but that was it. Still, it didn't matter. You were looking, searching for at least one to notice you. One to acknowledge you. One to, to…

"Ms. Lara?" you heard a voice, a quiet, meek voice, but a voice nonetheless. The voice was so familiar that you couldn't help but turn and look around, eyes wide as you searched for the source. What you found was a little dirty blonde haired girl, holding a deteriorated rag doll in her hands, her bright shinigami eyes wide and in shock, but it wasn't her appearance that made you smile.

Is was the fact that she was so familiar. "Gracie," you responded, slowly kneeling down, and you lightly chuckled as she ran straight into your chest, your arms wrapping around her dirty clothes tightly as she buried her head into your chest.

"Lara!" she cried out, sobbing against your clothes, but no matter how wet and dirty your clothes were becoming, you didn't care. You held her, cooing as she sobbed, and waited patiently for the little death to gather herself, before meekly stepping away from you and wiping the tears from her face. "You're, y-you're!... Alive?"

"As alive as I can ever be," you smirked, gently picking her up into your arms as you stood to your feet, and you sighed to yourself as you began to continue to walk down the street, as if the encounter never happened. "Healing, actually. What happened?"

"I-it's!... I don't even know," she told you, but she tightly gripped her arms around your neck as she continued, "but the others can tell you. They're at the orphanage!"

"… An orphanage," you stated, bluntly, and she frowned at the dark look on your face before tugging on your hair, getting your attention again.

"T-the older ones do the talking. I… don't like it here," she told you, but you smiled meekly, patting the top of her head as she pointed in a different direction. "There. Go there."

"Yes ma'am," you chuckled to yourself, letting the little girl lead you to where you wanted to go. But… you weren't impressed by what you saw.

The same plot of land, off on the outskirts of the fairly large reaper city, though the building was different.

A lot more deteriorated and older… then when you first saw this 'orphanage'.

Unless you were a reaper child born into some elite, prospering family, most children end up here for one reason or another. Usually, the parent dies and they are given, at birth, to the orphanage. Other times, they are abandoned at the steps, to be forgotten about and cast aside like trash. The first time you saw this place… you hated it. With very fiber of your being. The way the children were being treated, it just reminds you of…

It's ten times worse then anything you would have had to endure, in your day and age. When your mother passed away.

But these days, you're a bit desensitized. Sure, you're still disgusted, but at least now you can look at the children as if they are children, fighting to live and survive like anyone else.

"… I see why you hate it here. Everything is falling apart," you told the girl, but mainly you were just talking aloud to yourself, and you gently set her on the ground, letting her run off towards the large two story building, that didn't look like it'll last very long. Slowly, you made your way past the iron gates, pausing in front of the stone steps as you patiently waited for what was to come.

First yelling…

Then shouting.

Then an army of little reaper children came running out, tackling you to the ground as your annoyance turned into relief, and you chuckled lightly as they tried to hug you, or grab you, or just make sure you're actually there, alive. That you're not some walking ghost. A blast from the past.

Or rather, a blast from the future, but whatever.

"Ms. Lara!"

"CLARA!"

"You stupid human," you could hear from the voices surrounding you, and you managed to pat a few heads before trying to sit up on your spot on the ground.

"Okay, okay… don't be so rough. I'm still in pain over here," you chuckled nervously, but you ended up outright laughing as every single one of them back off, their hands instantly leaving your body, except for a particular little one, clinging tightly to your clothes. "Aww~, even little Uriel?" you grinned at the little brown haired, lightly tanned skin reaper toddler, and he looked up at you, bright green eyes pleading, and you scooped him up into your arms and let him cling to your clothes. "Come now. Don't be so sad. I'm here, aren't I?"

"Y-yes, but we thought you had died," one of the girls stated, followed by a boy letting out an annoyed huff.

"You weren't breathing. What do you think we were supposed to do? Huh? You were… bleeding so much w-we just…"

"… David, you remember what I told you?" you asked, calmly making your way over to him and patting his scruffy brunette hair, causing the boy to look up at you as you smiled down at him lightly. "Don't stop moving and surviving, even if that means leaving someone behind. I was dead weight. If something was attacking, keeping my lifeless corpse around wouldn't have helped anyone.

"You did good, okay?" you told him, smiling and ruffling up his hair before turning to the other children, "But what exactly happened? Does anyone know?"

"W-well –"

"Clara?!" you heard a voice from the steps of the orphanage, a few children you have never seen before peeking from the two large double doors, unsure if they should approach this scene or just remain spectators, but you managed to shift the child in your arms as the young woman ran up to you, grabbing you in a tight, bone crushing hug. "You died!"

"It's good to see you too, Rosie," you smiled meekly, hugging her with your free hand, before gently setting the toddler back onto the ground, before you grabbed her into a much tighter hug. "… I'm… sorry," you mumbled, letting your face bury itself into her long reddish locks, but she let out a shaky cry, and you could feel a couple quick pecks on the side of your head before you both let go and you smiled to her sweetly. "I'm sorry for abandoning you."

"N-no! I need to apologize. We left you to die. I-I don't even know how you… survived," she decided to say, looking defeated, but you wiped a few stray tears, tilting her head up so she could look into your brightened, caring smile.

"I'm happy that you guys survived. Nothing I have done would have meant anything if you hadn't," you told her, gesturing to the children before giving her a brighter grin, the green shinigami gaze in your eyes disappearing for your bright bluish/silver gleam instead. "I was so, so worried I ended up killing you all. I-I… I don't even know what happened. I lost my control," you told her, the grin on your face disappearing into a thin line, but she patted the side of your face, getting your attention as she looked at you with a content, heart warming gaze.

"… I'm just happy you survived, Clara… We should talk inside," she told you, letting you go, but still grabbing one of your hands as she gestured towards the old orphanage building.

You could only sigh in contempt. "Is it just me or is this place worse than the future?"

"It is worse. Sad to admit it, but it's true," Rosie snorted, picking up Uriel into her arms, but the toddler reached for you, and you happily took him from her arms, and she smiled meekly in response. "… Come on. Let's not linger outside for too long. Children."

"But Ms. Rosie –"

"Inside, now," you responded, bluntly, eying a few of the older children in expectation, before giving a light smile to Rosie and letting her guide you into the large, deteriorating building.

! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !

"So… it really was time travel? You sure?" you asked in a confused tone of voice, accepting the mug filled with hot tea, eying Rosie as she gave you a meek smirk, before slowly sinking into the couch chair across from your own, letting the mug in her own hands settle upon her lap.

"There's no denying what happened. The reason is… why. Or how. What did this to us?... It's been almost two months, now. It's hard to accept that," she chuckled lightly to herself, though the weak smile on her face told you that she wasn't exactly happy about realizing that. "… No matter what Michael and Johnny have tried, everything has stayed the same. And eventually… we've just accepted our fates."

"You can't give up," you scoffed in annoyance, setting your tea off to the side, on a nearby nightstand table that currently held a half broken lamp, before continuing. "Think of it this way, if we were thrown back in time, perhaps it's to prevent the end of days from happening? Or at the very least, to change fate. Or create it. Either way, this can't be for nothing."

"… Teresa is pissed. She hasn't even been able to be part of the Dispatch. Her job has become absolutely nothing… I believe she found some work in a bakery? But trust me, we've tried. The Dispatch just isn't taking women, at all."

"Disgusting. If anything, Teresa can beat up any one of those pricks," you scoffed in disgust, but she smiled meekly in response.

"Not… everyone came. Just a few. Michael, Steven, and Johnny. Teresa, Flora, and myself. And… Edmond."

"Even him?... He was miles away, wasn't he?"

"T-the time travel wasn't very specific. Even most of the reaper orphans were thrown back in time… but only the orphans," she told you with a sad look in her eyes, and all you could do is let out a tired sigh in response. "… Michael and myself talked about it. We're not really sure about the consequences… but no one is really listening to us. Yes, they accept that we time traveled, but they aren't doing anything to fix this. Not even the council."

"Of course," you scoffed in disgust, causing her to flinch slightly, but as you leaned over to sip on your tea some more, you heard her continue in a meek tone of voice.

"We all just kind of… gave up. I-I know you're mad –"

"Furious, yes, but not at you. At how stupid your council can be. Or perhaps it's stubbornness. And pride," you huffed, sipping on the hot tea in your cup, before setting the drink down and giving her a curious look. "Then… what? Are we giving up? Not to be a bitch, but I spent how many years with you reapers? And spent how much energy trying to stop the apocalypse? And now here you are, not doing a damn thing?"

"L-lara –"

"What?" you snapped, letting out a snort, but as you noticed she was starting to tear up, you sighed and brushed some of your bangs away from your face. "… Sorry."

"Y-you're right… just… I-it's hard," she sniffled, wiping a quick tear before continuing, "but there's only so much I can do. I-I decided… No one even knows I'm a Blodthorne," she told you meekly, causing you to glance over at her as she continued. "I… I knew that if I didn't, at the very least, keep the children safe… you'd be so mad at us. Your ghost would haunt us," she chuckled nervously, but her smile grew just a tad as you chuckled at her words.

"Damn straight I would."

"Exactly. You continuously told us that the children are the future. No matter what. We need to keep them safe… If I'm going to be seen as trash, I might as well do what I can," she told you, but you shook your head and sighed to yourself, wishing to yourself that you could change her attitude. But considering everything, the state you found her in when you first met… at least she's taking some initiative, now. "But what happened to you? W-we left you for dead, but… not even a reaper could survive so many wounds."

"A reaper found me," you began, giving the woman a light smile as you sipped on your tea, cradling the mug in your hands as you continued. "Lives as a funeral director. Probably thought I was dead, but when I woke up in one of his coffins… he took me in," you smiled meekly, sipping on your tea for another moment, collecting your thoughts. "… I'm still not even sure if he's really retired or had gone rogue, but he was willing to put up with me. So, I kind of owe him."

"What do you do for him?" she frowned, but you smirked at her unsure tone as you grinned in reply.

"I'm his assistant, though I mainly work in the mortuary. Attending to clients that show up, dealing with the paperwork. He really hates paperwork," you scoffed in disgust, "and it's not like I like it either. I just know how to do it."

"Maybe he did go rogue," she giggled to herself, and you grinned in response, but you noticed her chuckling was short lived as she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "… We're afraid the demons we were fighting were sent into the past, with us. That's Michael's main priority, right now. Hunting them down, and getting rid of them."

"Well, if you haven't done so yet, all of hell probably knows about doomsday. The real question is, how to deal with the situation?"

"… Clara," she spoke, her tone of voice and her use of your full name was enough to make you gave her a calm, but contemplating glance, "you… don't need to help."

"Rosie –"

"I'm serious. W-we took your life away. Your good years as a human. It was ripped away because us reapers were too selfish and couldn't handle our own problems. I know you're going to hate me when I say this, but you should live your days out as a human. Not get involved in our mess," she told you, but her voice cracked as she noticed that your face hadn't changed.

Except for your eyes. They were narrowed and glowing, darkly, but then you blinked and glanced away, staring off at the decaying walls as you thought her words over.

"… If you think it's best, I suppose."

"L-lara? –"

"I still feel bitter, but… I know my brother would hate to see me get sucked into your reapers' messes. Again. Besides, I enjoy that mortuary. It's not quite like when I lived in Japan, but I am enjoying the day by day entertainment. There's always dead bodies and crimes to solve. It's kind of fun. I haven't found it boring, yet," you told her, shrugging your shoulders before you turned your attention back to her, staring at her with a serious gaze, "but, if something does happen, do not hesitate to come and get me. As far as I'm concerned, you guys are practically my family. You're my friends, and I made a promise to you guys… If there's a way to prevent the apocalypse, or at the very least, slow it down… I want to help."

"… I-I'll tell Michael," she responded, before giving you a meek smile in return, "but… I know that time is different here then it is in the human world. Maybe it's about time you head back?"

"Y-yeah. Thanks for thinking about that –"

"And now that I know you're alive, I can make you some more medicine!" she grinned, causing you to raise an eyebrow as she jumped to her feet and pressed her hands together. "I'll give you your extra inhaler. Have you been having any problems, lately?"

"The gross black smog created by the factories in London don't help, but I haven't had an asthmatic reaction… yet," you told her, and you gave her a curious look as she began to leave the room. "But Rosie, you shouldn't give me the inhaler. That isn't something people use in this day and age, and –"

"Nonsense! I don't want you bedridden for weeks, just because you're prideful or you're afraid of the consequences. Now, if you don't mind, I'll be right back," she told you, simply, leaving the room and causing you to let out an irritable, but tired sigh.

Well, at least you know the truth.

Everyone is alive!... Well, a few, a small few… but it's better than being alone.

But if Michael cannot convince these reapers to change… maybe… you need to do something about this. Unlike these reapers, you will not live for centuries. For generations. Change takes time, but you cannot afford to wait.

But, you suppose, you'll give them the benefit of the doubt…

For now.