A/N: Hey everyone! I know that we shouldn't be writing another story, but when inspiration knocks, you have to let it in, or it knocks louder, and louder, and louder, and louder, until you can't take it anymore! Yes, that is my pathetic excuse. Oh well, time for disclaimer.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or any of it's characters. But I do own Oblivion. Oh yeah, I also own the nameless librarian guy who may or may not have a bigger role in later chapters. Enjoy the story!

Oblivion's POV

I was running. I had to get away from there. Far, far away. He would hunt me down. I know it. I know that I shouldn't run, that I have nowhere to go, but I can't stand any more of this. All the physical and mental abuse got to me. So many ways to cause pain. Now he has turned me into a battered, scared mute girl that trembles in fear when someone so much as touches me! I hate the way I am now. I hate the way I'm so weak. I hate myself. He's right. Nobody will love me. I don't deserve to exist!

2 years later

Oblivion's POV

This life… it isn't much better than before, but it's a start. Every day, the constant pain and the multitudes of scars remind me of my life before. Even when I'm far away, he will never let me forget. Now I live on the streets, fighting for each scrap of food, fighting for my very life. Of course, no one notices. No one even spares me a second glance. But that's the way it has to be. I don't look homeless. I keep my clothes reasonably clean, and maintain a good level of hygiene. I mean, if no one knows you're there, the showers in gyms and pools are fine. I sleep were it is sheltered and leave everything the way it was. I move every week or so and no one suspects a thing. It's not the best life, but I manage.

I slow my pace to see myself in a shop window. My long black hair is braided down my back, ending at my wrists, and my fringe covers the entire left side of my face, including the scars that I try so hard to hide. The long sleaved black dress that I wear flows to my knees, the hem and sleeves adorned with lace. I wear black stockings underneath and ballet flats. I look a bit gothic, but like your average student. Good.

I entered the library, walking up to the counter to talk to the librarian I knew. He understood that I was mute and didn't press on it.

I took out the notepad that I use to communicate and wrote, 'excuse me, may I please know the scholarship options for collage that have good legal study and psychology classes? Thanks.'

He looked at the message and said, "Collage scholarships, eh? Well, if you want to get into legal studies and psychology, then To-Oh would be the best by far. They give great opportunities to the students there. If you want, I can help you fill out the scholarship forms."

I nodded and bowed gratefully. Over the next three hours, I had filled out the scholarship forms with the librarians help and was reading up on everything I may need for the test. Absorbed in my book, I didn't notice the librarian come up behind me. He tapped me on the shoulder, and on reflex, I flinched and stiffened.

Ignoring the odd behaviour, he said, "You know, library hours are almost over. Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Recognising the voice, I relaxed and looked up from my book. He was right. The sky was dark and the there were hardly any people on the street. I nodded and stood, put the book away, and walked out soundlessly.

I walked to a deserted park and jumped into a tree, settling on a low branch. I had built a sort of temporary home there, camouflaging with the tree. It was just a floor, roof and a pile of leaves and feathers for a bed. If anyone did discover it, they would think it was a child's hideout. I usually only stay in one place for a week, but I may be able to stay here longer if I'm careful. I curled up on the 'bed' and fell easily into a dreamless slumber.

~-/#\-~

I walked into the room where we would have our exam. Not looking at anyone, I sat in my seat and waited to begin. A few moments into the tests, I heard a teacher say, "Number 162, sit in your chair properly!" I turned to see a young man with shaggy black hair that stuck up at odd angles and crumpled clothes. Not wanting to make any assumptions, I turned back to the test. It was extremely easy, considering that the photographic memory I possess means I can remember everything I've seen, read, heard, tasted, felt and smelt. However, it also meant that I was bored. I finished the test before anyone else did, and started to draw on a scrap of paper. When that started to get boring, I started balancing the pencil on the tip of my finger. I did many things to keep myself amused, such as folding paper cranes, writing down the first 100 numbers of pi, re-braiding my hair, and writing roman numerals up to 1000. Finally, the test finished, and I walked out of the room, sighing.

Right outside, I bumped into a tall, smartly dressed boy with perfect brown hair and eyes, falling onto my behind. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" the boy asked, extending a hand. I leaned away from the hand and bowed apologetically a few times, hoping he got the message. I then looked up at him, and my eyes widened considerably. Floating behind this person was a MONSTER! It had blue hair and big black wings, and looked akin to some sort of evil clown. I backed away, hands clamped on my mouth in shock, and I bowed quickly one more time before running as fast as I could to the nearest place I could find.

Now, if there's one thing I can do, it's run. I pride myself in knowing that I can outrun almost anyone, especially if I put my mind to it. I ran into a small shop near the park I was staying at. It had a 'help wanted' sign in the window. I went to the counter and instantly, the girl at the counter said chirpily, "hi! How may I help you?" I pointed to the window with the sign on it. The girl cocked her head to the side, confused. I silently sighed and walked up to the window, ripping the sign off it and bringing it to the girl. "Oh." She said, finally getting it. "You want to work here. Why didn't you say so? Come with me!" The girl bounded off, expecting me to follow. I quietly walked behind her, into a room at the back of the shop. She stoped in front of a tall woman that had her arms crossed.

"Boss, this girl wants to work here! Can she, can she?" the counter girl asked excitedly. I nodded my head, agreeing.

"Smile, girl. Let me see how ya greet your customers. Remember, if ya don't smile, they don't come back." The woman commanded, her tone harsh and strong.

I bowed my head apologetically, and quickly wrote on my notepad, 'I'm sorry ma'am. I've long forgotten how to smile. I do apologise. I may be able to do something else though. If you give me a chance, of course.'

I showed the note to the tall woman and she frowned. "Why aren't ya speaking, girl? Are ya sick? If you are, then ya shouldn't be out applyin' for a job."

I shook my head and wrote on the notebook, 'No, I am well. But I cannot speak, as I am mute. I do apologise.'

I bowed my head, waiting for her to react in disgust or anger and kick me out of the shop, like all the others have done. But, to my surprise, her face softened and she said kindly, "Oh, is that the case. Well, I suppose I could find a few odd jobs for ya to do." I looked at her, shocked. She didn't kick me out! "Now, what's that shocked look for. Ya didn't really think I would shoo ya away just 'cause ya can't speak, did ya? Of corse not! Now, what's ya name?"

On my notepad I wrote, 'my name is Kasumi Hoshi. It is very nice to meet you' I bowed again, this time in greeting.

"Kasumi, eh. I'm Crista. Nice to meetcha. Well, how 'bout I ask ya this. What do ya wanna get outta workin' here? How much do ya expect to get paid?" Crista asked.

In reply, I wrote, 'if it's not too much trouble, instead of paying me, could you please allow me to eat the café's food? I am having troubles at home, and I am not able to feed myself sufficiently. Is that okay with you Crista?' It wasn't far from the truth, and it's safer to just lie. The truth would raise too many questions that I don't think I am able to answer.

Crista looked surprised at the answer, but nevertheless agreed. She set me to work on odd jobs around the café, and over the next few days of work I adjusted quickly. My main jobs included bringing food out to the tables, cleaning off tables, writing on the 'specials' board, and cleaning the café. At the No one talked to me, and no one took notice of my presence. Just how it always is. By now, I'm used to it, but it still feels a bit lonely. Sometimes I wish that just one person would notice my presence. That just one person would come up and talk to me when they didn't have the obligation to. That just one person would see me for me, and that they would treat me like a normal person. But I know that it's an impossible dream. By nature, humans shun those different to them, and avoid them like the plague. I have always been different, and always will be different, and because of that, no one will ever accept me.