"You know kid, I think we're going to get along just fine."

"Yes that's right." Crazoa muttered darkly, "We have a lot to talk about, my friend."

"By the way, do you have any apples?"

3

The Shinigami's Explanation

The rest of Crazoa's day went… dare he say it, very well. Instead of receiving the incredulous stares and terrified glances he'd been so accustomed to, other students actually began to look up to him. They gave him very respectful and admiring gazes. Some people even asked him where he had learned to fight like that. But he simply smirked and pressed a finger to his lips, "It's a secret." He would say, and everyone would gasp in infatuation. The girls especially; who would have thought? It had turned out that Crazoa was quite the looker, even though he looked like he had never eaten, with his sharp and perfect features, his silky voice and dark eyes that could hypnotize. What's more, people even begged to touch his hair. Even his speech somehow became more popular. Crazoa had overheard some girls saying it sounded 'Old Fashioning-ly Romantic'. Like male characters from Jane Austin novels.

The teachers didn't even give him homework because of the 'Bravery he displayed'. But Crazoa had a slight inkling that it was because any homework he would be given would be completed in five minutes, having seen how he worked in class. Some of the teachers wondered why his parents even bothered sending him to school.

Yes it was all good fun through half of the day, but then it began getting a little annoying. Girls would fight to look through the small window in the door of classrooms just to get a peek of him and follow him around everywhere. And soon Crazoa was getting bored, and he'd reply to people with less enthusiasm.

The worst was Annie, she wouldn't leave him alone. But at least she wasn't utterly infatuated with him like everybody else. She had, after all 'befriended' Crazoa first, and all she wanted was his friendship. Too bad he couldn't give it to her; while all that happened, Jake and Mason were completely avoiding Crazoa, and skipped any classes they knew that they were with him.

Smith watched all of this in mild amusement.

Finally as the day drew to a close, and the excited atmosphere had subsided, the final bell rang and all the students flocked out of the building. Crazoa was typically one of the first ones out. His parents were already at the gate, waiting for him outside the car.

"How was your first day honey?" his mother asked while twisting her fingers nervously. They were obviously anxious.

"It was satisfyingly eventful." He smiled mildly as he climbed into the car. Smith crammed himself inside after him.

Mr. and Mrs. Canely exchanged expressions of surprise and relief. They both got into the car too and as they were driving home, they spoke to him every so often. Now and then, Crazoa felt like his parents were intimidated by him. He wasn't surprised.

"So did you get any homework son?" his father asked.

"Not at all; the teachers were quite satisfied with my performance in-class. I don't expect to be receiving any homework anytime soon."

His parents looked surprised. Crazoa could see their expressions in the car mirrors. "Looks like that extra tutoring payed off after all." Mr. Canely mused.

"Didn't get into any trouble did you dear?" Mrs. Canely asked anxiously.

"Well actually," there was a sharp intake of breath from the pair, "Some thugs decided they would attempt to fight me due to my nature, but of course, thanks to the kickboxing classes, a taught them a lesson."

They both exhaled in relief, "Nothing else happened?"

Crazoa paused. It would be very stupid to tell them about the notebook. "Not at all."

After dinner, when Smith had started to complain, Crazoa grabbed an apple and made his way to his bedroom while his parents watched the news. Crazoa himself wasn't interested, not until Jake and Mason died of course. He tossed Smith the apple as he sat at his desk.

"Wow Ryuk was right, these really are great." Exclaimed Smith as he munched the fruit.

"Alright, let's begin." The boy interrupted him in a hushed voice. "What are you, and where did you come from?"

The reaper swallowed his last bite loudly and explained. "As I mentioned before, I am a Shinigami – A God of Death." He said when Crazoa gave a meaningful look. "I come from the Shinigami Realm, where many other creatures of my kind live."

"And what… is a Shinigami's purpose?" The boy pressed, his eyes alight.

"Purpose? That's a good question. Even I don't know. It's surviving I guess."

"Surviving how? What do you do with the Death Note?"

"When a Shinigami writes a human's name in the Death Note, they get the remaining years of the human's lifespan. For example, if I saw a human who was supposed to die when he was 80, and I wrote his name down when he was 40, I would get the remaining 40 years added to my lifespan. Of course, no matter how many people killed by a human owner of the Death Note, they won't get any years added to their lifespan."

Crazoa was now sitting on the edge of his seat, looking very excited indeed. "How do you find a human's name? And how do you know when they are supposed to die?"

"Ah, now this is the best part of being a Shinigami." Smith said happily, "A Shinigami can see a human's name and life span floating above their head just by looking at their face! And you know what else?"

Crazoa shook his head slowly.

"You can get these eyes, by doing just one simple deal with me."

Crazoa gulped, sensing this wasn't going to be good, "And what must I give in return?"

"Oh not much," Smith chuckled mischievously, "Just half of your remaining lifespan."

Crazoa leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin in thought. Half of his lifespan for the power to see someone name just by looking at them. He'd be even more unstoppable. It was definitely tempting. "I'll pass for now." He decided. "But I can make the deal anytime, correct?"

"Correct."

Yes that was perfect. Crazoa would see how long he would go without the added power, and then he would just get the eyes when he really needed them. There was no point loosing half of his life for something he might not need.

"Can I have another apple?" The Shinigami asked.

"Later." Crazoa said, suddenly feeling tired. This was so much information and he had had a long day. Crazoa took out the notebook from his bag and stuck it into his pillowcase. He didn't want his parents coming across it by accident. Then he turned in for the night.

Smith, who looked disappointed, rested his scythe against a bookcase and looked for a comfortable spot on the ground. Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered carrying the thing around; he didn't even use it for anything. It was just an added accessory. The reaper sat on the floor and leant against the wall, soon falling asleep. All reapers had to sleep on the grimy ground in the Shinigami Realm. He was used to it.