Shinigami
From FnorDoM
When the term 'Shinigami' is used, it usually means that the person is talking about the common-and highly dangerous-Death Note Shinigami (死神, Shinigami literally "death god"). However, there are actually a few different types of Shinigami. They are not to be confused with Shikigami.
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Characteristics
Death Note Shinigami
The Death Note Shinigami are a race of extra-dimensional beings who survive by killing humans to extend their own lives. Death Note Shinigami are not responsible for every death that occurs; people will eventually die regardless of whether or not the Shinigami pay attention to them, but a Shinigami can end their lives sooner than intended for their own benefit.
Appearance
The garden variety Death Note Shinigami vary widely in appearance, and their bodies are built in ways that would seem impossible(or revolting) by humans standards, usually with distended limbs, corpselike features(sickly blue skin, wrinkles, stitches, etc). Most Death Note Shinigami have wings, either with feathers or more like those of a bat. Wingless Death Note Shinigami sometimes occur as well.
Although there may be other colors of Death Note Shinigami, so far, only those with black, varying shades of gray, white, or extremely dark blue coloring have been reported.
Abilities and Physical Attributes
The main thing all of the Death Note Shinigami have in common is the Death Note, which gives them their classification. This supernatural notebook allows them to end the lives of humans before their times, adding the human's remaining lifespans to their own (e.g. a man who would have lived to sixty, but is killed at forty would add twenty years to the Shinigami's lifespan). In this manner, a Death Note Shinigami can extend their lives indefinitely. To assist in this, their eyes allow them to see the names and remaining lifespans of humans by seeing the faces of their victims.
The Death Note Shinigami are also capable of flying. Oddly enough, and this has only be observed in Death Note Shinigami when a human is in possession of a their Death Note, they hover nearby their 'charge'. It is unknown why they do this, as these Shinigami seem to be perfectly capable of walking.
Death Note Shinigami are able to function without food, water, or sleep. All they seem to need is extra years in order to live. This does not mean that Death Note Shinigami do not eat. In fact, they seem to like apples. It has been reported that they respond to apples in the same way a human responds to an addictive substance: They constantly crave apples, and suffer withdrawal when they do not get apples. Whether they develop an immunity to apples(and thus, have to eat more in order to feel the effects they cause, if any) is unknown.
These Shinigami appear to have genders, as some appear as male or female. They cannot reproduce, nor can they copulate. Thus, no one is sure where more Shinigami come from. They can, however, become infatuated with a human. This can have lethal consequences, as they may end up using their own lifespan to extend that of the human they love. There has only been one recorded case of this.
Death Note Shinigami may be able to kill their victims with their own power, but it can result in a serious punishment, possibly resulting in the destruction of the Shinigami in question. They may fight, they may not. Shinigami attacks have never been recorded.
Their eyes enable them to see how long a person will live, as well as their name. They can give this power to humans, but the price is pretty heavy, (the human has to give up half of his or her remaining lifespan)and this not often taken.
They can only be seen by those who possess a Death Note.
Soul Reaper Shinigami
These Shinigami are extremely humanlike in appearance. This is because they were human when they were alive. Although their bodies are composed of ectoplasm, they mimic human anatomy. They all possess a special sword, called a zanpakutō (斬魄刀, zanpakutō literally "soul-cutting sword") that allows them to defend themselves and others. However, they must learn how to use their weapon, and this even includes learning the name of their sword. Their sword can change into something else, allowing them to use its true power, along with honing their physical skills.
They sometimes come out of their world, but this is monitored closely and if they stay in the world of the living for too long, they could be seriously reprimanded.
These Shinigami are able to copulate and reproduce with humans and other Soul Reaper Shinigami.
Chaos Shinigami
A rarity, and not a true Shinigami, Chaos Shinigami are either an accidental hybrid of a Death Note Shinigami and a Chaos Angel(usually by means of a freak accident, these are called Chaos Note Shinigami) or the child of a Soul Reaper Shinigami and a Chaos Angel. The former is far more common, as they(Death Note Shinigami) can get into fights with Chaos Angels, and somehow, their energies clash, fusing the two. Both variants can, to some extent, control Chaos like their Chaos Angel half, and they may have the powers of their Shinigami half. Chaos Note Shinigami are immortal, and have no need to collect extra years.
Chaos Shinigami can even occur for no real reason. They(Chaos Note Shinigami) tend to have the nature of their Chaos Angel side more often(but they can act more like their Shinigami self), as these Shinigami, despite their appearance, are gentle, and very curious. The gender of a Chaos Note Shinigami is determined by which will is stronger, but only if the Death Note Shinigami is the opposite sex of the Chaos Angel(if it has lived more lives as one gender than the other). Otherwise, the Chaos Shinigami's gender is either randomly determined(if the Chaos Angel is androgynous) or is already predetermined(if they are both the same sex).
These Shinigami serve as guides to the afterlife for Chaos Angels.
Notable Shinigami
Kraehe
Kraehe, although not often seen, is a Chaos Shinigami that is often seen with Kradia. She dresses in (slightly)brighter colors than most Shinigami.
Morrie
Morrie was the Pub's backup bouncer up until Greater_UltraMan applied for the job. After a fight, UltraMan won and Morrie became a backup bouncer. He is part of a currently unknown race of Shinigami, if there are any others like him.
