A/N: Hey everyone, thanks for reading so far! A shorter chapter but this where the mental deterioration begins…

Light had that look in his eyes. The look that made him so much older. Sayu grimaced. Suddenly, he wasn't himself. He was all grown up.

He was such a strange person. Sayu loved her brother, but she had to wonder if she knew him at all.

It was all a dream. That was it.

I knew it. There was no way I'd brought the dead back to life. It wasn't possible. No way.

But then again, Kira was able to kill people from a distance. Did Kira have the same kind of powers as me?

No no no, I told myself. This is crazy talk! None of this is real.

I pinched myself, but nothing happened. That confirmed it. This was reality.

I shook my head. I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. No no no-

"Sayu Yagami."

I jumped. Suddenly, my room was much brighter. I shielded my eyes.

"W-who's there?" I stammered.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a freaking monster appeared in my room. It had multiple eyes, long, spindly wings spreading across the bedroom walls. On one hand it was gorgeous, with its golden, glowing eyes, its silky hair. But on the other hand it was terrifying, shaking me to my core, judging by the peacock-like eyes on its wings. It was human. No. It was a monster. Hideously beautiful.

I screamed, backing up against the wall.

"W… wh…" my words failed.

"I am your Guardian Angel," the being explained.

"Stop it," I pleaded. I just wanted this stupid dream to be over already.

"You have been given the Life Note," the angel continued, "with its power, you-"

My stomach lurched. I raced out of my room, slamming the door against the wall. My breathing was heavy. Sweat pooled down my brow.

It's not real it's not real-

"Sayu?" My brother, Light, emerged from his room. "What's all the noise for?"

Ugh. I couldn't deal with him like this.

I let out a cry, racing downstairs. I ran through the house, passing Mom, who looked very confused. I raced outside, running down the street. I didn't know where I was going, I just had to get away.

I collapsed against a tree. My lungs were about to explode.

"You cannot run from destiny."

Fuck. My eyes were already getting watery. I cried so damn easily. I shriveled up like a little kid, staring up at the horrible, awful monster flying above me.

"Fine!" I cried. "Then kill me already!"

"I am not here to kill you," the Angel told me. "I am here to assist you."

"Oh?" I snapped. "Yeah, you're really assisting me right now!"

Goddammit, people could hear me screaming. I didn't want all these weirdos watching me.

Can they see the Angel?! I thought.

I didn't hear anyone else screaming, so…

The Angel didn't seem to care. "I am here to help you with the Life Note-"

"Shut up, please," I begged. "Just go away!"

I looked around. Even more eyes were on me. Oh, god - it was the evening, I was a 14-year-old girl who'd just run outside all by herself, crying her little heart out. Who knows what kind of psychos were out and about? I felt so stupid.

Why can't I just think…

So, shamefully, I made my way back to my house. Luckily, I hadn't gone tooooo far. I gently pushed the door open, only for Mom to race over me, acting like I'd just been kidnapped or something.

I groaned; I must've looked awful. Disheveled hair, bags under my eyes. My throat was all clogged up.

"Sayu!" Mom cried. "What was all that about?!"

Light was behind her, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Don't you know how dangerous it is at night?" Mom added in.

"Sorry, Mom," I sweat-beaded. "I, uh… I thought I saw a ghost or something."

I knew that was a piss-poor excuse, but I'd never been the best at lying.

"Maybe all of the Kira stuff is making me jumpy," I admitted, which was genuinely true.

Mom tilted her head in concern. "Sayu…"

I yawned, but kept up my smile. "Yeah! Don't worry, I'll be better by tomorrow!"

Mom sighed. "If you say so, dear… go and get some rest."

I nodded. I hugged her, just brief enough to comfort her. I walked towards the stairs.

"A ghost?" Light asked.

"It was probably a trick of the light or something," I told him.

Light raised a brow.

"I'm going to bed," I quickly turned away.

I headed into my room, collapsing against the floor. The guardian angel loomed above me. I really wanted to kill that thing.

"Go away," I sobbed.

My voice was weaker.

"I cannot," the angel told me.

"Why?!" I snapped. "I don't want you here! I don't want that stupid Life Note!"

"You have been chosen-"

"I don't care!" I shouted. "Go away!"

I never asked for any of this. I didn't want it. I refused. Before I knew it, my breathing was erratic, my heart racing. I felt like I was choking. My eyes were watering; hot tears streamed down my cheeks. I curled into a fetal position.

I was a shriveling mess. A crying child, a child who had been given the powers of a god.

"Sayu?"

My brother was knocking on my door.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. "Sounds like you're crying."

"I…" I forced herself to breathe. "I'm okay, Lightie. I, uh… I watched a really sad video. That's all."

He knew how overly emotional I got. He'd buy it, of course he would.

"So, you saw a ghost, and you watched a very sad video?" he asked.

"Rough night," I got out.

Light hummed. "If you say so."

"I'll be okay, Light," I replied. "It's just a bunch of silly stuff, that's what you always tell me, right?"

"That is true," Light breathed out. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye bye," I croaked.

I swallowed. I didn't want Light to worry about me. He had his studying to focus on, working his way to becoming a police detective, just like Dad.

And I certainly didn't know how I'd explain… well, the whole Life Note thing. Would he even believe me? He'd probably chide me, telling me my imagination was running wild.

I sighed. Light and I had always been close. I'd always looked up to him. I knew he was the smartest guy in the whole world. I had no idea how behind I'd be in my studies if he wasn't around.

Although Light was usually occupied by said studies, I knew he had my back. I was lucky to have him. As much as he got on my nerves, he was a good brother. I'd stand by that.

Welp, I was alone again. The angel stood above me.

I closed my eyes, trying and failing to trick myself into thinking they were gone. Although that didn't work, I did end up falling asleep, right on the cold hard floor.