Character Profile: Ryuk

Ryuk, the shinigami, is one of the main characters in the manga/anime DeathNote. A shinigami is a god of death, a death reaper, or any other euphenism you can make up for a spiritual being that sentences humans to the after life. The particular role of said being(s) differs as much as their true name. To understand the role of a shinigami in DeathNote, you first have to accquaint yourself with the powers of a DeathNote.

A DeathNote is a fictional note book that has the power to kill. It is easy to grasp this concept by going over the first part of how to use the DeathNote:

• The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
  
• This note will not take effect unless the writer has the person's face in their mind when writing his/her name. therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
  
• If the cause of death is written withon 40 seconds of writing the person's name, it will happen.
  
• If the cause of death is not specified, the person will simply die of a heart attack.
  
• After writing the cause of death, details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
  

There is one book per shinigami. From their world, they write names in the book to extend their life. Ryuk, growing tired of the boredom that has struck his world, decides to drop the book on Earth. The story that ensues follows Japanese prodigy, Light Yagami, as he tries to recreate the world. Its a killer story and I implore you to read it over. (the manga is better than the anime)

I find similarites in me and Ryuk (sometimes even Light and L). He masterfully planned things just to be entertained for over 8 yrs. He stood back and advised Light during that time even though he knew the final outcome. Sometimes I feel that I too stay on the sideline and advise, instead of being an active player. The situations are not always of my designs, but I am guilty of 'setting the scene' at times.

Lord have mercy
Do what I can, I'll either be hanged or
you know it, killed by Kira. I
know about him. He's going to get me.

Gods can't help me. I'm sick
of waiting. I want
death. I'm ready for it.

Love I've never known. And dessert is always
apples? This is no life I'm better off dead.