“Please, don't... I'll do whatever it takes... Just give me a few more days... I'm not ready...”

These words came from the lips of a man who was cowering on the floor in the corner of a room. His tear-filled eyes were cast in fear upon a figure that stood before him: a girl, who looked to be only about 25 years of age. Her skin was pale, but not quite white. Her eyes were a dark steel-gray, and her left eye had a strange swirl extending on the skin below it. Her hair was blacker than midnight, and fell slightly past her shoulder. She was dressed in simple black clothes, and in her left hand rested a scythe, which gleamed in the dim lighting of the lantern that hung from the roof. Her eyes were resting upon the man, and a sympathetic smile adorned her lips. “My dear, do not fear me. I am but the rest at the end of a hard day's labor.”

The man shook his head, and said pleadingly, “But... please, give me just a little longer! I'm not ready for the darkness of my own grave!” The strange girl looked at him with pity. She began to twirl her scythe in her left hand, and she said, “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come.” As she twirled the scythe in her hand, she cut the rope that held the lantern to the roof, causing it to crash to the floor and go out. As darkness enveloped the room, the sound of a scream of terror was all that was heard. Just as quickly, all fell silent, and the silence of death fell over the house, as the man went on to his rest. Stepping outside of the house, the girl was now seen with her scythe on her back, and she looked looked somewhat sad. As the sun rose over the horizon, and dawn graced the world, she began to make her way to the Wilwarin Inn and Pub.

As she stepped inside, many fell silent. These who were quiet were the ones who had been here the night before. A man had tried to force himself onto her the previous evening, and she felt that she had the right to defend herself. At least they managed to find all of the parts; she would have hated to have found an eyeball in her drink. Sitting at the bar, she motioned to the bartender to bring her a drink. He brought a bottle of the strongest ale that he had, because he knew that she wouldn't accept any less. She was Yamakanya, the Death Maiden. And this morning, she was going to have a few drinks; maybe even get to know a few people.

Walking into the bar half awake from a rough night Aaron stumbled over to the bar and sat in a chair resting his head in his hands. The Bar Tender passed Aaron some water, which took a sip of before setting it down on the table again. With a half awake look on his face he looked around at people looking at him as if he was a demon. He let out a sigh and muttered Lightly "Stop looking at me...please.." He turned back and looked at the Bar Tender "Got anything to eat?" The Bartender nodded and went to the back room to get some bread.

Aaron looked around yet again noticed nothing out of the blue..besides a woman sitting a few seats down. He shrugged and took another sip of water looking back at the Bartender who brought out bread. "I wouldn't mess with that woman next to you..Something happened la--" Aaron cut him off "Yes I know, I heard the screaming..." he sighs and takes a bite out of the bread and washes it down with some water. His sword was leaning against the wall next to him on his left.

Leaving his sword next to his food He got up taking his water and walked over to the woman, he sat down next to her and gave a smile before taking a sip. "I'm Aaron Butler, Cleric of a Neutral alliance" He held out his hand waiting for her to Introduce herself

Yamakanya watched as a half-dragon entered the room. He had beautiful black eyes. Yamakanya smiled, as she watched him be warned about her. She thought to herself. It was self defense, for Life's sake. Besides, the guy only had another dull year or two before his time would have come, anyway. Pity, when mortals waste what little time that they have. I suppose that that will never end. Such is the way of the world. She took another sip of her whiskey, as the man came over to her. As that clear, rust-colored liquid passed through her, she savored the burning sensation. It was one of the few things that she liked about the mortals, as opposed to the elves: they knew how to make a brew. Yamakanya had never cared for the weak, fruity wines of the elves. Introducing himself, the stranger said, "I'm Aaron Butler, Cleric of a Neutral alliance."

Yamakanya looked at Aaron with her bright, steel-gray eyes. A cheery smile adorned her black lips, and she replied, "I'm Death, a... well, just Death. You can call me Yamakanya, if you like." She blewa strand of raven-black hair that had fallen in front of her face. She shook her head, and put her smooth, pitch-black hair in order once more. Her steel-gray eyes gleamed, as she continued. "Don't let their stories scare you. I only acted in self defense." She gave a playful wink in his direction. "Besides, your eyes are too pretty to have to slice." Gently nodding with a smile towards the open bottle of whiskey, she asked, "Care for some real drinks, Aaron?" Taking another sip of the whiskey, she could not help but savor that unique taste on her tongue. Who knows, perhaps Death might make a friend.

"Don't let their stories scare you. I only acted in self defense." He caught the wink in the corner of his eye as she continued "Besides, your eyes are too pretty to have to slice." As soon as she said that he swallowed hard on the water and looked over at her still tired gave a small smile and shook his head as she offered him Whiskey "I don't drink this early, sorry. Thanks though" He looked back to the water noted it was gone and decided to take the Whiskey bottle from her and poured himself a drink. "Whiskey was never my favorite but hell.." he takes a sip and puts down the glass.

"I prefer Death over Yamakanya," He sighed "Simply because Death is common. As far as me dying today goes...I rather live." He gave a slight laugh before looking back up at the person, this time he studied her slightly with out moving his eyes that much she didn't look light a threat but he could tell that she was at least older then he was. "So come here often?" He decided there was know point in not talking to her.

"I prefer Death over Yamakanya, simply because Death is common. As far as me dying today goes... I'd rather live."

Yamakanya could not help but laugh at the man's statement. While her laughter was soft, her mirth was so that it brought a tear to her eye. Reaching up with her pale hand, she wiped away the tear, smiling. "Ah, me." She sighed, whispering. Smiling warmly at Aaron, she laughed a little as she said, "My dear boy, did you think that I had come here to kill you?" Laughing, she continued, "I only came here for a drink, after a long night of work. If I had come to claim your soul, I would have been far more subtle in my introduction. After all, the best reaping I've ever done is as a family friend."

Looking into her whiskey glass, she remembered back to that time. Her first true reaping. "He was such a primitive farmer. I stood in the field, harvesting the wheat crop, just as I would soon reap him. Mistaking me for another farmer, he invited me in, and that night, his family was struck with a terrible plague. I was there, waiting. As I heard their moans of agony, their screams of pain. It was all so vivid. I simultaneously felt a sense of disgust and power. It felt as if something was looming over the horizon. As I reaped their souls, I felt a strange emotion overcome me: love. I felt pity for them, for their fear of death. To this day, when those whose time is near lament their coming sleep, I cannot help but smile and seek to comfort, for it saddens me. Ironic, as death is what gives life meaning. Without death, life would simply be a never-ending opportunity, and procrastination and anarchy would reign."

Yamakanya took a deep breath, holding the Scythe of Respite in her hand. She continued, a tone of amusement in her voice, "So I think I ought to be able to get a bottle of whiskey or two, after a long night of work. Do you know what I mean?"

"You speak as if your over a thousand years old.." He glared at her and gave a grin "So your a reaper, how nice. I guess I'll see you when its my time.." he turned back to the table and looked at it laughing Ah a reaper, I know a reaper how nice.. "I take it your pure neutral?" He was looking for a conversation starter to get to know this reaper better just for the future of himself or if he runs into this reaper again. She seemed nice but then again sweet talk is what they are good at and so was he. Yet, he wasn't in the mood to play his caring side nor his so called demon side. He slammed his hand flat on the table and began laughing. "You killed a whole family...I can't believe that, and here I thought I was a hostile person."

A Few people in the back decided to move away from Aaron and Death starting to get a little paranoid. However Aaron got up took a few steps to pick up his sword and walks back leaning it on the table before sitting down again pouring himself some whiskey. He picks up the last piece of bread and offers it to Death.

(sorry for somewhat short post :\)