Date: Monday, April 19, 2010

Location: Abilene Christian University-Abilene, Texas, USA

Dimension: X45GN

You know how they say, "Nothing is what you expect"? Well, they're wrong.

For the majority of my life, things went just as expected. I learned to drive at seventeen, graduated high school at eighteen. I had a big blow out party for that, got major gifts…then went on to college.

Very normal.

I was into anime, but mostly 'girl's' anime: Fruits Basket, DN Angel. That stuff.

Then I turned nineteen, and something changed. My sense of humor became odd. My tolerance was higher, cause I started to appreciate violent movies.

I know, you think I'm weird. So do I.

So I guess this love of violence is what made me look back at Death Note, a manga series that my friends in high school had been obsessed with.

It was interesting enough that I figured, since I'm not squeamish about the whole dying thing, I would be good at criminal investigation. The stuff journalists do, since I'm a journalism major.

Well, I suppose you're thoroughly bored now. But that isn't how it ends.

I fought it.

I fought harder this time.

But my logical mind was stronger than the dream's web that I had lately been caught in. I sat straight up, breathing heavy and holding the side of the bed for support.

A shiver passed through me.

Why? I wondered. Why was I so scared to wake up? What is it that scared me so badly?

But I couldn't remember. Not even a little bit.

I picked up the eighth Death Note manga.

Maybe it had something to do with you, I thought, glaring at Mello's face on the cover. It would make sense, all night I was reading this book, and then I have dreams that seem like living creatures clawing their way into my subconscious and forcing my head under the waters of sleep. Hmm…that was a good metaphor. I'll use that.

I looked over to the closet. Clothes…Hn…nothing is clean. I'll just wear this.

I pulled out a black dress and slipped it on.

My life is so boring, I thought as I gathered my things and slipped out the door. Just as my dorm is seeming like home, the school year is ending. So typical. Maybe I'll never really be at home.

I walked outside, and felt frozen as a gust of wind blew past me. It had be 54 degrees or less.

There were students scattering the campus like ants at a picnic. It was that moment: the time when one class ends and another begins.

I got some breakfast in the Hardin building and headed upstairs. Empty classroom.

Oh yeah… I remembered. She said no class Monday and Wednesday. So I walked all the way here for nothing.

I sighed and walked back down the stairs and outside. I was listening to my iPhone.

"Wait a second!" it was a familiar voice, but I couldn't place it. It was like…waking up from a dream, but forgetting what it was about.

I turned. "Yes? Were you calling me?"

"You're Elaine, right?" the oddly familiar boy said, walking toward me. "You're the tour guide."

"What?" I said. He looks an awful lot like a certain anime character… "Tour guide?"

"Yes," he replied, and handed me a folder. The first page had my picture on it, and my information. The rest was a brochure like description of ACU.

"So…you're here for a tour of campus," I said. "Where's the rest of your group."

"We got separated," the boy replied. "I don't know where everyone else is."

"Hm…what's your name?" I asked.

"Light," he replied. "Light Yagami. And you're Elaine, right?"

Holy crap…I thought. That is Light Yagami. I wonder if he has the Death Note? Wait. He can't really be here, can he? Why is he looking at this campus? How far in canon is he? Is L still alive? Will I meet him too? I've gotta tell Geo and Amy!

"Elaine?" Light was staring at me.

"H-Huh? What?" I asked nervously.

"I said your name three times," he said.

"Right," I said. "Sorry. You know, it looks like it's going to rain soon. Let's get to the Campus Center."

It was only gloomy outside.

We made it to the Campus Center without rain falling on us.

"So, Light," I began as we entered the Campus Center. "How did you get separated from the others?"

"I'm not sure," he said. "We were all dropped off this morning at the Welcome Center. We all got a file like the one I showed you. They told me to go find you. They're probably not there anymore. It's likely they went back to the hotel or to get food."

"Speaking of food, ya want a bagel?" I asked, gesturing to the bagel shop in the food court area.

"No...hey, there's some of them now," Light seemed to perk up now that his fellow Death Note characters were here.

I looked over. It was Matt and Mello. Over by the snack bar. Mello was probably buying more chocolate.

Wait, I thought. Someone's with them. A non-canon person. A brunette girl fighting with Matt over a DS. Wait an earth stopping second...that's Tiffany!

"W-Was that girl always with you, Light?" I asked.

"Yes," Light said. "I think she's Matt's girlfriend or something."

"Light!" a chipper blonde dressed in clothes that I was majorly envious of had appeared out of nowhere. When she saw me, she pouted. "Who's she?"

"Misa, this is Elaine," Light said. "She's the tour guide for our trip."

I stuck out a hand. "Hey. Your clothes are pretty. Where do you get them?"

I figured it was a lame compliment, but worked like a charm on Misa.

"Misa is so happy you like her clothes!" she exclaimed, shaking my hand. "We should go shopping together; I know just what colors would work for that complexion of yours! Oooo I'm so excited!"

I bet you are, I thought. Hm...still, Misa is cute, just like in the anime. And the other characters aren't bad-looking either.

While I was thinking this, Light broke away from us and dragged Mello, Matt, and Tiffany over.

Once they were all assembled, I sighed. "Aren't we missing a few?"

"Near got lost," Mello said, trying to hold back a laugh.

I frowned at him. "I would send you to find him, but you'd only do something even more mean. Tiffany, you and Matt go find Near. The rest of you get to come with me to Bible."

"Hold on a second! You can't send them without me!" Mello said angrily.

"I just did," I replied. "Now, are we missing anyone else?"

"L," Light said. "He was looking for you, too."

"Then I'm sure he'll find us," I said, still irritable that Tiffany hadn't said a word to me about this.

How did I get signed up? I wondered. Then I began to remember a warm day roughly a month earlier when I was waiting for class to start in the first-year programs office.

An upper classman had approached me and handed me an application for a job guiding future freshman through the campus.

And that's what had happened. Now I had some very real anime characters hanging out on campus with me.

This was so strange. Like "Alice in Wonderland" "The Neverending Story" kind of strange. A dream that I didn't want to end.

"So, everyone tell me your names," I said, feigning cheerfulness. As if I didn't know them already.

I'm Misa Amane!" Misa piped up.

"Mello," Mello spat at me viciously.

"I already told you my name," Light was obviously bored.

"Alright, let's head to Bible," I said, and with that, we were on our way to the Bible building.

Inside, I made them all sit beside me in the back row, after explaining to the TA that I had to keep watch over the tour group.

The teacher began talking about the book of James. Basically the lesson was that although faith was not based on works, works were how you showed your faith.

We stood as the class was dismissed.

"Do we have to do this everyday?" Mello complained.

"Um...yeah," I said. "Note, private Christian University."

"Why did L want to come here then?" Mello wondered aloud.

"Oh he didn't tell you?" Light said. "I wonder why not."

I sighed. "We have Chapel now."

"Misa wants to go back to the hotel with Light," Misa said.

"If you come with us now, I'll take you shopping later, Misa," Light said.

"Yay! Let's go!" Misa grabbed my wrist and started pulling me along.

Mello and Light followed behind us, still muttering about something.

Chapel seemed like it would be uneventful, but then Tiffany and Matt appeared with Near. They looked like they had all fallen in the mud. I struggled to stay mad, because they just looked so hilarious.

I pulled out my iPhone and snapped a photo. "Facebook. That one's a keeper."

"Sorry, where are my manners?" I said, looking at Near. "Hi. You must be Near."

He nodded, and sat down next to me.

Suddenly Ellyn showed up. "Hey, who are your friends?"

"I'm the tour guide for a group of incoming freshman," I replied. "I get paid minimum wage for it."

"You get paid to show us around?" Mello said viciously.

"Well did you think I'd do it for free?" I said sarcastically.

"Wow, I've never seen you so annoyed, Elaine," Ellyn said.

"Well, Mello is irritating," I replied.

"Hey who's your blonde friend?" Tiffany asked, referring to Ellyn, not Mello.

"This? This is Ellyn," I said. "Best friend to have with you in a fight."

"I thought that was my job," Tiffany said.

"You?" I said. "Nah. You're a pacifist. Plus, my mom hates Ellyn. That earns her brownie points."

"She doesn't really hate me, right?" Ellyn said.

"You just make her 'Mom alert' go off," I replied, laughing.

Chapel ended quickly and we were headed to lunch.

"Did you guys find L?" Tiffany asked.

"No," Mello said, sounding frustrated.

"I told you, he'll show up," Light said.

"Well, look at the optimist," I said.

I wasn't looking where I was going then, and tripped over a pipe. I ran into Near, who ran into Tiffany. We all landed in a heap on the concrete.

"Ow…" we all three said at the same time.

I got up. "Sorry. That was my fault. Near, are you alright? I think I landed on you."

"You landed on my arm," he said, sitting on the ground.

"Let me see," I said. "Hmm…it's not discolored or swollen. Tiffany, are you alright?"

"Are you kidding?" she said, getting up. "That was better then the fight we had in ninth grade."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "That was a fake fight."

"I still won," she said.

I stuck my tongue out at her. "Take Near to the Clinic. Ellyn will point it out."

"Sure," Ellyn said.

"Light, I want you, Mello and Matt to go on to lunch," I continued. "I will find L and join you in a little bit."

At that point, everyone dissipated to their various assignments and I was left alone.

I got up. Odd. What reason does L have for being here?

I leaned against a tree, looking around. No one was watching, or waiting for me.

I sighed. What if he really is missing? What kind of tour guide loses her group members? I'm such a failure.

I sat down at a picnic table. Well, giving up isn't going to solve anything. I have to find L! No matter what!

I got up again and started walking. If I were L, I'd go to the library. It's got books and computers. Basically everything he needs. So that's where he'll be.

I searched the main floor, then the top and bottom floors. He wasn't there. Or he was hiding. Then I checked the Reading Room.

L was in there. He was sitting on the couch in his normal position, with his knees up against his chest, reading a book. How he held it with one hand, I have no clue. It was a black book that I recognized from my occult phase last semester.

"Hey L!" I said.

He jumped slightly, which made me wonder what he'd been reading.

"Don't worry, it's just me, the tour guide," I said. "You know you could have asked me about that book. I would've let you check it out. Have you been up here this whole time? Aren't you hungry?"

"Ah…yes," L said. "I suppose the time got away from me. You are Elaine, correct? I am L."

"I know," I said.

He looked surprised. "How did you know my name without having ever met me?"

"I was given your student files," I lied quickly.

I'm sorry L, I thought. But if I tell you the truth…I just don't want you to find out about everything.

"Well…we should get going and meet up with the rest of the group," I said.

L stood, following me through the library and down the stairs. We went past the computers and to the main desk.

"L, hand me the book, okay?" I said. "I'll let you take it to the hotel with you."

He handed it to me. He was slouching in the way that was normal for him. He was about my height while slouching, but I bet if he had stood up straight then he would've been taller.

I checked out the book, and we headed to the Campus Center, where the cafeteria was located. I handed him his book and a purple card.

"That'll give you free meals, as long as you're with me," I said. "By the way…I'm sorry I didn't find you before now. I thought you were looking for us, so I wasn't worried. I guess I suck at the whole 'tour guide' thing…"

"There is no need to apologize," L said. "And thank you for the book. I find it very interesting."

"You find black magic interesting?" I asked.

"I find it interesting that people still practice it," L said. "Do you know anyone who is a witch, or wiccan?"

"Um…no," I said. "But I've read all those books. None of them are any good. They're about the theory of spells, magic, astrology, all that stuff. But the real books are at the bookstore or online."

We were in the cafeteria by now, and we paid for our meals and went inside.

"Looks like everyone's sitting down," I said, and sat down at the big table.

"What took so long?" Mello asked me.

"L was hard to find," I replied. "He was in the Occult Section."

L frowned at me, like it had been some big secret.

"There's stuff like that here and you just now tell us?" Mello said indignately, standing.

"Your point?" I said, raising my eyebrows.

"You know, you really piss me off," Mello said, glaring at me.

I didn't flinch. I was used to bluffs from others, and he didn't scare me. Ellyn was way scarier.

"I think you're just insecure," I said.

Well that was the wrong thing to say. He swung at me and missed. Tiffany and Matt held him back a second later, but he kept getting free.

"Mello," L said from the seat to my left. "I'm getting a headache. Sit down and eat your food. And Elaine, it would be best not to antagonize him. He will not bluff."

Mello instantly sat down at the order from L. However, his fists were clenched.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. That kid had seriously been about to kill me.

I'm such an idiot. I just said that…because I wanted to be the tough one.

"Mello," I began. The tension rose one hundred fold. "Sorry."

"Just shut up," he said sharply.

"You should at least acknowledge her apology," Matt said. He was sitting there playing happily on his DS, but he looked up just enough to stay updated on the conversation.

"Fine," Mello said. "Just quit being a bitch."

Tiffany poured pink lemonade over his head. "Don't call my best friend a bitch, second-rate chibi-san."

Mello froze, pink lemonade dripping down his blonde hair. His fists were clenched, but he wasn't about to hit Tiffany; she was Matt's girlfriend.

That's when Geo showed up. "Hey, why didn't you sit with us today?"

"I'm leading a tour of campus," I replied.

I pulled her aside. "Death Note characters. I swear. No lie."

"You mean…Light? And L?" she said.

I nodded. "Come on!"

I pulled her back to the table. "Guys, this is my future roommate, Geo."

"Misa likes your jacket!" Misa exclaimed, getting up and gushing over Geo's pink zebra striped jacket.

"Thanks," Geo replied. It was obviously as crazy for her as it was for me.

"You like anything pink, Misa," Tiffany said.

"It's true," Light agreed.

"I'm going to ask them," Geo said to me.

"Wait a s—"

"Hey, is there such thing as a righteous kill?" Geo asked.

"What would make you ask that?" L responded, through a mouthful of ice cream.

"I'm a psych major, we wonder," she replied.

"Or you got in a debate with me about it last night," I replied. "Can we not get into this?"

"There is no justice in killing," L replied. "That was the entire basis for the Kira case."

"What if someone is out there doing terrible crimes?" Light retorted. "Isn't it justified to stop them?"

"Stop them yes," L said. "Kill them, no."

"Alright that's enough, you two!" I exclaimed. "Lunch is over."

We made it outside in one piece, and I dismissed them to the tour bus that took them back to the hotel. After all that, I did my homework in peace.