Here is the preview to my new Death Note fanfiction, Death Note: Apprentice Glass. It tells the story of an original character; a intelligent young lady who faces the Kira case.

November 28, 1999

Entry #1:

Today is Sunday. The first few sprinkles of snow are starting to fall. Winter came early this year. Still, my home isn't known for being joyful and sunny. I am writing this during the last week of November where I am celebrating my birthday. This journal was a gift from a close friend. He told me to use it whenever I wanted to express myself and to maintain some sort of sanity within this notebook. Allow me to introduce myself. My name and age are to remain secret, but I am often referred to as Kyon. This is an alias I was given a few years ago before moving into my new home. I live in an orphanage for the brightest young minds of our generation from all around the world. There aren't many of us; more than 50 orphans but not enough to reach 90. It's a small solace for those who are lost and alone. However, there is one problem that we are constantly facing.

We live in a home similar to a boarding school. We are rarely adopted because our intelligence is more needed here. I, for one am grateful to be taken in after my sister and I lost our parents, but something doesn't add up. We are constantly pitted against one another for the highest grades. The scores of our work label how advanced we are in a place filled with clever children. Some of us are incredibly talented in their own fields; mathematics, music, art, you name it. Others simply breeze through in hopes of growing up to be successful enough to leave this place. To a handful of well rounded orphans, this place holds a deeper meaning. These people believe that there is a reason behind this. I am one of them. We are intelligent young souls who study things beyond a college level. What is the need to find out which one of us is the most advanced?

At the end of every month, there is a list on a bulletin board posted up in our Common Room. It mentions the scores from highest to lowest based on our hard work. This usually causes a mass of gossip and excitement. The item of interest among us is a specific list named the Top 5 Highest Scores. About three years ago, I have reserved a spot in it that I've managed to maintain so far. I take pride in my work and I put my best foot forward for the people who gave my sister and me a second chance in life. This is why curiosity continues to eat away at me. Why does this list exist? What is its purpose? Does it hold a deeper meaning than it leads to believe? There's only one clue that answers all. Among our teachers, there is someone that is often spoken of and praises immensely. It is L, the world's top rated detective. The man dubbed fearless and intelligent by many. He is a known force not to be reckoned with.

The faculty often speaks of this man. They claim that he had started out in this orphanage like us. He even shows interest in our progress for he keeps in contact often. We have heard him speak, but never seen him. He's given us stories of his career and advice on how we can be successful as well. Most of the children dream of being like him. Excitement runs the house when the head of the house informs us that L wishes to have a video conference with us. He is always off, solving cases and putting criminals behind bars. Still, he always finds time to talk with us. It is quite clear. We are here to copy L. The orphanage wishes to recreate the success that was the detective years ago. This was my reasoning until today, when I received a letter from L himself that is now taped to this journal. It confirmed everything. Those on the Top 5 Highest Scores list received the same letter. It was more than I thought. We are expected to not only be like him, but to surpass him. One of us will become his successor. If he is unable to continue his work, one of us will take his name and continue its legacy.

~Kyon