"L."
"Yes Watari?"
"It seems we have to new orphans and I believe you would be very interested in meeting them."
"What are their names?"
"Nate and Dawn Rivers, 6 years old. They are identical twins, very intelligent twins. Their records are unbelievable; it says that both of them were fully capable of solving math equations at a fourth grade level by the age of 3. Their parents died in a car crash recently and they have no other living relatives."
L wrinkled his eyebrows. He pressed a finger down on the button and spoke into the small microphone.
"I will be down momentarily."
Dawn sat on the soft brown couch her hands folded carefully in her lap next to brother Nate, who was currently twisting a piece of snowy white hair around his pointer finger.
"Nate." She whispered looking around the large room the man "Watari" had put them in.
"Yes?"
"I'm scared I want mommy and daddy." And then she began to cry.
Near being the more mature of the two climbed over to his sister and wrapped his tiny arms around her.
"Don't cry Dawn, you know daddy said he'd come back for us. No matter what."
She sniffed softly as Nate took his white cotton sleeve and whipped the tears from her pale cheeks. "Really?"
He nodded. "Plus you have me, and I'll never leave you."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Suddenly the door opened and in came two new men they had not seen before along with Watari. One was hunched over as if he had forgotten how to stand up. He had dark black hair which went up in different directions; dark circles were obvious under his dark eyes. In a way he reminded Dawn of a panda. The other man was tall with white hair and a kind face. His hair was black with specks of white and he looked like he had just been hit with a truckload of bricks. Curiously Dawn tilted her head to the side and looked up at them.
"Nate, Dawn, these men are here to speak with you and tell you why you are here."
The panda man then proceeded to walk over to the chair across from them and sit. The other man followed shortly behind. Panda pressed his thumbs to his lips.
"You are here because you no longer have any living relatives."
Dawn looked shocked. "What about mommy and daddy?"
Panda's eyes were sad for only a moment before his face went back to its normal monotone. "Your parents are dead." He said his voice an octave lower as if talking softly would help.
Fresh tears welled up in Dawn's eyes. "W-what d-do you-u mea-an?" she blubbered.
Panda sighed. "They were hit by a drunk driver in a car crash."
At that moment as those eleven words were spoken -words that would change her world forever- Dawn felt something break inside her. Like her heart was made of glass and had just exploded into a million tiny shards, each digging into her insides like tiny knives. At that moment everything had changed. Including Dawn. However she shed no tears. Simply as if they had all been sucked up by some unknown force.
Dawn looked up at the Panda her eyes hollow. "So what is to happen to us now?"
He looked at her his eyes analyzing her, calculating. "Before that there are some things you must know. I am L. This is an orphanage were those who are to become my successors are raised. You and your brother have been chosen to stay. You have the choice to leave when you are fifteen, but you are allowed to stay as long as you wish. When you are here you are to be referred to by a different name, it is a way to start over, be a different person, and it's for your safety. Now would be the time to choose."
Nate who had been quiet this whole time was first to speak. "Near. I want my name to be Near."
L nodded. "Alright. Dawn?"
Dawn was quiet for a moment. "Lottie." She spoke after a while.
"Ok Near and Lottie. From now on you shall be known as these names only. Never ever tell anyone your real names understand?" They nodded. "This is Roger." L pointed to the other man. "He is the caretaker of this orphanage and of you. I hope you will treat him with respect and not give him too much trouble. He will show you to your rooms." At this Lottie shook her head. "I want to be in the same room as Near." L nodded to Roger. "This will be arranged, for now Roquelle will take you and get you ready for dinner."
A young woman who looked to be about 19 with long brown chestnut colored hair stepped into the room. She smiled at them and Lottie got a sense of comfort from her. "I'm Roquelle. You are?"
"Lottie and Near." she responded.