Summary:In northern Georgia the gangs are bad and the girls skanky, and a Death Note is found by a Jack's daughter. How did it get there from Japan? How is it that the new owner already has the shinigami eyes when shes never touched the notebook before in her life? How is the notebook tied into her past? How does she manage to drag Matt and Mello into the mess of her life? What will happen to her when shes kidnapped for the notebook? Can she make it though the hell of her life in tact, or will she and the ones closest to her all perish?

Author's Note: This chapter is pretty much just introducing a few of the characters. As you will notice some of these characters aren't who you'd think they'd be.

Enjoy and Review for me please!

The World As They Know It

Chapter 1: Tell Your Kid To Get A Bit of Etiquette.

'Damn it! Should'a figured this is what he meant by 'get a job'. The Perv!'

She was young, smart, and had an athlete's body. Needless to say, her life wasn't a piece of cake. She lived in Northern Georgia in the United States. Many would call her end of town the 'ghetto.' No one with any common sense was found there. Or at least, that how it seemed on the surface.

Actually, this side of town was home to some of the most intelligent people in her generation. Herself included. Why they chose to live there was irrelevant to her. She was there because her brother's gang had some major headquarters in the general vicinity. She figured the only reason for her brother's installment in the gang was due to his amazing brains and strategy skills than his brawn. Whist he was decently strong and trained in in depth Kung Fu, she guessed they already had enough bone heads with brawn to last for awhile against their enemy's.

Speaking of enemy's, her brother was about to have another one if her seriously thought she was going to get a job at a strip club. And especially this one. Whilst it was the most popular in the area it also had hte highest crime rate in a radius of twenty miles. Yeah, he defiantly had too many intoxicating drugs and/or alcohol as of late.

And yet, she had always been interested in what the inside would look like. Would there be blood stains, and bullet holes everywhere? Maybe that was a long shot, but she had heard that many 'buissness' transactions had take place here, so she figured it had to be a semi- nice place.

With a huff she got out of her car and slammed the door shut after locking it up. She walked tentatively towards the entrance and pulled a lollipop out of the pouch on her belt and unwrapped it. Tossing the wrapper onto the ground and popping the sucker into her mouth. Calming her down. She sucked in the flavor of green apples and closed her eyes, enjoying the taste before she opened the door and walked into the dark club.

As she had expected the club had class. Vinyl seats for the booths and polls on each table for the entertainment. In the back there was a rather large stage with more dancing polls spaced randomly on it for shows that cost money to watch. The bar was off to her left when she walked in and was equipped with more vinyl on the stools. There was another largish stage in the middle of the room for every hour dances that she guessed only cost tips to the dancers themselves. In the back to the right there was a large spiral staircase that lead to a loft for more important quests and private entertainment. The floors were black and shined from a recent cleaning and the ceilings were high and painted black also. The lighting was perfect. Every color lights that moved to bring darkness to certain areas of the club every few seconds.

Grimacing she walked up to the bar and waited for someone to notice she was there.

"-Can't believe that creep was here again. I thought he was banned for harassing the dancers?" One of the waitresses was saying.

"I know! He hits on everyone here, which doesn't say much. It is a strip club you know. But he takes it alittle too far. We're not prostitutes you know!" A girl in a very skimpy set of laungier (sp?) was saying.

"Ahem" She cleared her throught to get their attention, "Are you hiring?"

Baffled at her presence the first girl looked her up and down before answering. ". . . Yeah. Who are you?"

"The names Eheki. Could I have an application please?" She asked politely with a faulty smile on her lips.

"When do you want the job?" The second female asked.

"I guess as soon as possible. . ?"

"Let me get the boss and see if he'll take you. What are you applying for?"

"Uh. . . A waitress I guess. If I had to I could be a dancer." Ehkei commented, pulling the sucker from between her teeth, her smile slowly fading as she thought about it. Her brother never specified what he wanted her to do. He merely said "Go here and ask for a job. You need money of your own."She shrugged.

The second girl ran off into a back room behind the bar.

"So. . Whats your name?" Ehkei asked uncomfortably. Even though she could see the young woman's name above her head she figured it would be better to ask. She didn't want to freak June here out. Now taking in the girls features properly, Ehkei realized she had short black hair in a verychoppy style and a lip piecing gracing the middle of her lip. Her ears were heavily pieced as well and she wore a very revealing black tube top and a pair of skin tight jeans, with a small black apron over top of them. A tattoo peeked out of the top of her jeans on her lower back. Something that looked like maybe a butterfly with a ton of extra unneeded lines entwined with it, each line a different color. Ehkei popped the lollipop back into her mouth.

"June." She held out her hand to Ehkei and they shook hands briefly. "Why do you want to work here?"

"It's kind of complicated." Ehkei answered, speaking around her candy, without missing a beat. Although she did not miss June's enunciation of the word 'here'.

"Honey, ain't nothing not complicated here. Look where you are. Your in the ghetto and nothings simple here. God, I need a cig."

Ehkei smiled at her poor language. It didn't surprise her but it always amused her. She grew up here and to be honest she thought everything here was, indeed, simple. For finishing college at only eighteen the gangs here and whatever else you could think about was all normal for her everyday life. And irritatingly the same. It never changed. As the saying goes. History repeats itself. And here was no different. "All the same, I'd rather not explain if you don't mind."

"Have it your way then." June retorted searching the walls for a clock. Turning her attention back to Ehkei she took her in for the first time. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "If that your real hair?"

Taken aback Ehkei answered, "Yeah, and it's not dyed, either."

"Wow, that's somethin' in'in' it? Me? Nope. Dye it every other week. Surprised it hasn't fallen out on me."

When Ehkei had no reply they fell into a silence that included each woman taking in the full effect of the other. Scrutinizing every angle possible. During this time June's friend returned with a rather tallish handsome man. He looked Ehkei up and down for a minute with a lingering glance at her chest he finally spoke in a deep attractive voice. "You wish a job here? As what?"

"Waitress, Sir. Or a dancer if that's the position you need filled." Ehkei said with forced politeness. She wasn't exactly sure how to feel towards this man yet. First of all, he was pretty good looking, but he kept looking at her chest and staring at her with an almost hungry look in his eyes. He was wearing a dark suit and dark rimmed glasses. His hair was black and rather long. His face was long but his every were rather alluring. His name was Teru Mikami. Hm. . .

"Ah. Well we're short a waitress. Lucky you and if you'd just give me your name, social, and number for records I'll give you the job."

"Really? That's it?" Ehkei asked rather shocked.

"Well, yes. If you look like you would appeal to men, then I'll hire you. You do realize this is a strip club don't you? Oh, well, you do have to be over eighteen to work here and twenty one to serve drinks, but I think I could let you slip." He winked.

"Uh, Well I'm nineteen so you don't have to worry about that. I'll just let the other girls serve the alcohol." Another forced smile.

"Very well. Follow me."

A few minutes later she was in a small office in a rather uncomfortable chair and writing down the information needed. Using her alias that she had been given by her brother to protect her. No one but him knew her real name. And vise-versa. He went by Taku Akiyama, when his real name was Jackson Leeryck.

Her alias was Ehkei Nara. Her real name was Riliyan Leeryck. Taku had given her a completely new identity, new social, birthday and everything. The only thing that didn't change was her phone number. However; only a select few people had that number, and it changed often. When ever she got into some type of trouble and the person causing the trouble had her number, it was changed as soon as possible.

Finishing, she smiled at her new employer and handed him the fake information on herself. "When do I get a uniform and start?"

"As soon as you'd like. Juney here can get you settled whenever your ready." He smiled hungrily at her again.

'Egh. Thats so gross. My boss is hitting on me!"

"Thanks. I'll be in tomorrow twenty minutes before opening." She forced another smile as she stood to make her exit. She shook Teru's hand when he stood as well and turned to leave. She felt his eyes on her backside until the door closed behind her. "Eweweweweweww!" She hissed under her breath as she left.

Ehkei met June outside the club while she smoked her cancer stick and got all the information she'd need to make in to work on time and what to do when she got there. If she had any problems she was to go to June immediately.

When she reached her car she whipped out her phone and pressed speed dial number three. It rang twice before a deep, irritated voice answered. "Hello?"

"Why the hell did you send me to a fucking strip club?! Are you insane?" She practically screamed at Taku.

He let out an exasperated breath. It sounded slightly amused to Ehkei. "You needed a job and that's about the only place I can have guys keep an eye on you without it looking suspicious and besides. It the easiest pace to get a job around here. As I'm sure you've realized." She could hear the smile in his voice.

"You're such a dick!" She heard him crack up laughing before she hung up on him. To calm herself she pulled out another sucker. And unwrapped it. Tossing the wrapper carelessly on the floor for it to join countless others. Sucking on the grape lollipop she switched on the radio as she drove off.

--

She glared at his computer screen furiously. 'Damn it! There's nothing here! How am I supposed to find it now? Light's going to be so mad. I just want to be useful to him. Besides being his play toy.'Her deep blonde hair bounced as she let her fall back over her chair. She shut her eyes tightly and pouted.

The last the world saw of it was in Japan twenty years ago. When Kira was killed the Death Note disappeared. No ones heard of it since. The easy conclusion to come to was that the NPA still had it in their possession. But nope. They'd had it taken and put in the most secure bank on the planet, here in America.

Unfortunately for them, the bank was robbed. Aside from a few million dollars, the notebook was taken. The robber was never caught on film and therefore never captured. The notebook never re-surfaced after that.

Folding her arms over her chest, Misa Amane stormed out of the room.

--

He sat on the couch smoking a cigarette. Goggles shielding his eyes from the brightness of the PGS in his hands, for no other lights were on in the room and the thick curtains blocked out the moonlight.

The young man glanced away from his game for a mere two seconds to check the time on the digital clock. His accomplice was late again. Sighing he saved the game and bayed it down as he got up and grabbed his vest. He locked the deadbolt on his way from the small apartment and began the short distance to his car to go searching for Mello. Again.

As he drove he glimpsed a fight in a back alley. Chancing a look he wasn't very surprised to see Mello in the midst of it. Pulling to the curb he got out and locked the door. Walking nonchalantly towards the alley in question he stopped in it's opening.

--

Mello, sensing someone news presence he landed a punch on his opponents shoulder that knocked him sideways. Risking a narrowed glance from the corner of his eye he sees that it's Matt. Just standing there with a cig in his mouth and watching the whole thing as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Turing his attention back to the man now regaining his balance, Mello spun and kicked his head to the ground, with a slight crack the much large man grunted into unconsciousness.

"What the hell are you doing here, Matt? I told you to stay at the apartment." Mello's narrowed eyes had little effect on Matt. And that infuriated Mello so bad. Matt was completely immune to Mello's need to be in charge and dominant over every situation.

Matt was Mello's complete opposite. He was quiet, down to earth, obsessed with video games, a chain smoker, practically hated chocolate, and spoke before thinking about it. Mello on the other hand. He was loud, had anger problems, almost always had a chocolate bar in his hand, a leader, and refused to be second best to anyone. Matt just didn't care either way. He was always so damn calm! It pissed Mello off even more.

"You were late. Thats what I'm doing here. Now hurry up." He then proceed to turn and walk out of te mouth of the ally and back to his car.

Fuming, Mello followed. His hands at his sides. "Since when do you care? I've got my bike." He said to Matt's back.

Matt waved over is shoulder to Mello. Signaling that he got the gist. Mello would meet him there.

"Hey, Mello?"

"What?"

"What did that poor sap do to you?"

"Made comments on my face and name." Mello answered angrily. "If you hadn't shown up he wouldn't be breathing."

Matt turned to face his friend. "Cool it."

Mello glared at him before he nodded and heading in the direction of a rather nice motorcycle. Pulling the helmet on he kicked the bike to life and left Matt in the dust.

Mello's scar was a touchy subject. After a horrid bomb had gone off in the warehouse he'd been keeping headquarters in exploded, he had barely made it out alive. Not to mention all the other bone heads he'd had under his power who were too stupid to run. The fire had burned the skin off the left side of him face and it traveled all the way down that side of his neck and his left shoulder. But it didn't stop there. The fire had burned off all the skin from his shoulder to his left shoulder blade and halfway down his back. I was not a pleasant memory and one he didn't like to return to often.

And his alias, Mello was a name he actually like. Even if it didn't descride him at all.

Arriving back at the apartment he hid his bike and went inside. He had a big day tomorrow. Someone wanted to meet with him and Matt at a nearby strip club to talk to them about a buisness proposition.

Author's Note: If you were wondering, then yes Ehkei does have the shinigami eyes. But she didn't get them from a shinigami. She was born with them. Cool huh? I'll explain it all alter on in the story.