Shinigami

@ Ramle, a shinigami is a part of Japanese folklore and mythology. it is a god of death [similar to a grim reaper] that is believed to tempt people to kill themselves by possessing them and feeding off the darkness within humans. they weren't really mentioned until the 1800's, and didn't become really popular until Death Note which played with the mythology to create a fascinating new mythos. things like the Death Note or the Eyes of the Shinigami were added to help shape the anime/manga Death Note. an actual Shinigami [according to myth] will linger where someone killed themselves, or was murdered, then, using the negative energy in the area, possess someone to commit a murder/suicide.