Death Note/Ho Yay

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Relax. I'm actually pretty good at this.
  • Funny fact, Light's last name is "I'm a gay" written backwards. No wonder the guy never seems interested in women.
  • Foe Yay ala Death Note: Light and L are friggin' chained to each other for several months. Lampshaded when Misa shrilly complains about the implications.
    • Light gets real emotional when L talks about the possibility of his death "What are you talking about! As long as we're bound by these [hancuffs] we'll die together anyway!" Almost like the very idea of living without L would be unthinkable or that he would want to die with L.
    • Also, the fact that L placed sixty four surveillance cameras in Light's room. And only Light's room - his other family apparently only had one. And L is seen, pretty much all the time, only watching the cameras with Light in it. This is hilariously Lampshaded in the doujinshi Light Note, where it explains that the reason why L kept stalking and watching Light obsessively (and rather unreasonably) was not because he inexplicably suspected him to be a serial killer but because he had a big crush on him.
    • On Light's part, upon discovering L's cameras he resolves the situation by... buying porn?
    • When L says "Light-kun is my first ever friend" Light gets a very shocked look on his face and the same music that played when Gelus "died for love" starts playing. Later, Light then has to explicitly remind himself why he has to kill L...
    • There is one interesting scene in the manga after Light is "proved innocent" (Volume 7, chapter 55, pages 60-61). L decides that Light can stay investigating the Kira case if he wants to, but Misa should leave. Light then ask L if he is allowed to see her outside the headquarters, with a very surprised L asking him why he suddenly wants to be with her. Light tells him he may have fallen in love with her and... well, we know these two are always getting suspicious about everything the other does, L especially. But the way the whole scene is draw its suspicious to say the least, especially with those close ups of Light repenting face when he is about to confess his feelings for Misa, and L's blank face at the end. And then L starts thinking about Higuchi, so it's not like he started tying loose ends with the information he just received.
    • In the manga when Light is getting his memories back (and is about to close the loop and spring the trap that will lead to L's death) he shows a moment of hesitation where he's wishing he had more time with L you know, just to get closer, to win his trust...
    • The anime introduced a particularly poorly-timed bit of subtextual Fan Service in the form of a foot massage. To be charitable, it might have been a comparatively subtle stab at What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic.
      • Of course, the entire scene isn't helped by how the anime made it seem like L had a foot fetish. Both Light and L are soaking wet, drying themselves off, and their dialogue and actions go something like this:

(L kneels down in front of Light and takes his foot in his hands)
Light: What are you doing, Ryuuzaki?!
L: At least allow me to atone for this. I'm not all that bad at it, you know.
Light: (looking away) Do as you please.
(L presses Light's foot, and Light cries out)
L: Oi, you'll get used to it quickly.
Light: You're still wet. (wipes L's soaked bangs with a towel)
L: Sorry...

    • Oh and Light looks very annoyed when L stops... massaging his foot.
    • Episode 26. ( A depressed Light keeps seeing L's ghost. At one point the L ghost / hallucination silently mouths something that looks suspiciously like "I love you." In the scene immediately following Light very unenthusiastically asks Misa to move in with him.)
      • "I love you" or "Aishiteru"? Because they most probably didn't recreate the mouth movement to fit the English dub...
      • Hard to say since he was mouthing it but it looked like it was something with three or four syllables. Either "Raito-kun?" or "Aishiteru" would easily fit the context of the scene.
      • I checked the scene (16:59), I'd say it's too short for "Aishiteru" and the middle syllable doesn't match the mouth movement for "love". To me it looks like a 3 syllable word containing 2 "e" or "a" sounds and an "o" or "u" sound. But I don't really speak Japanese, so I can't really guess.
        • "Aishiteru" it's a three syllable word. It's pronounced "aish-te-ru". And mouth movement its not really that reliable on anime because most of the time its really simple. Remember that anime, unlike western animation, its animated before the voice work its done, not after, so the movement of the mouth its not too detailed in order to fit with the seiyuus work.
          • Ah, so the i is omitted / silent? I didn't know that anime dubs are made after the animation. That explains a lot. Well, I stick to my opinion about the "love", but "aish(i)teru" would fit perfectly, then. Thanks for explaining!
    • Also, Light continues to obsess about L years after L is dead. "The real L would / would never X..." Not to mention that his last thoughts are of L...
      • It's a few days after L's funeral that Light's moping around the HQ desolate that "there's no challenge with L gone". Remember how heavily he's motivated by boredom; by second arc, he remembers L almost fondly!
    • Then there is Light's initial reaction when Rem finally kills L. He looks very shocked. There's even a hint of tears. Of course it's gone in an instant replaced by the world's most disturbing Slasher Smile as L dies in his arms and he rejoices in Kira's victory. Light is a very good actor but at that moment there was no one to act to.
    • When coming home late from Taskforce HQ Light tells his mother "I was hanging out with my girlfriend." Sure... "her" name is "Elle."
    • In the manga when L breaks out the handcuffs and states "I'm not doing this because I want to..." it comes off as rather sarcastic considering he's saying it with * SEXY POSE* and a wicked grin on his face.
    • Every room at Taskfroce HQ is monitored... EXCEPT for L and Light's bedroom...
    • When he goes to face Near and thinks that he's defeated Near's final maneuver, he remarks that Near is "far below L." This indicates that he does respect L on some level.
    • Then there's that fight Light and L had while handcuffed together which involved pulling each other's shirts up and having L's pants fall down so you can see the waistline of his boxers...
    • Apparently L gave Light his personal cell phone number...
    • When phoning up Matsuda, L calls himself "Asahi", Light (and Mr. Yagami's) alias and L is apparently cool with letting Light use his name as well...
    • In one of the Omake, Light is arguing with Ryuk on how strawberries are definitely more of a turn on than apples... (Remember who has that as a Trademark Favorite Food... "I'll give you this strawberry if you keep it a secret, okay?")
    • "Let's all be friends together!" when Misa forces Light and L into a Circle of Friendship—Light and L chose to hold hands, are facing each other, and Light looks very... happy in that scene... [1] [dead link]
    • Light and L are frequently shown to be thinking the exact same thing.
    • Light and L sure do stare at each other a lot.

L (to Light): You've been staring at me for the last five minutes. Let me guess, it's because I'm the only one eating cake, right? Here.

    • L has No Sense of Personal Space when it comes to Light.
    • As Lampshaded by Misa the fifty day confinement is a bit... suggestive of something, (though it is Light that L is primarily interested in) especially how Light is tied up and pleading to be let out-looks like Light forgot the Safe Word.
    • There's a deleted scene added in the Relight special where L invites Light to watch the Second Kira tape in an empty movie theatre. L greets Light with a very disturbing facial expression, gets up to shake Light's hand, and then proceeds to wipe his hand down with a wipe (there is NO good way to take that). L then sits down in the seat next to Light and as they watch the Second Kira tape L is staring at Light and getting closer and closer to the point where he's actually ON him. Light keeps his poker face throughout.
      • It should be notice also from that scene that Light has to remind L why he is there (to see the video). L is too busy sucking at his thumb to remember. Distracted much?
    • The Relight special also added another creepy scene in which it looks suspiciously like Light is humping L's grave.
      • if the YouTube comments are to be believed several people misheard (in the original Japanese version of that scene) Light's screaming of "I've won" as "Aishiteru."
    • A tennis match, a romantic walk in the park, going out for coffee... is it an investigation or a date?
    • "Ryuuga, that doesn't sound right."
    • In the manga when L isn't calling Light "Kira" he always addresses him as "Light-kun."
    • Speaking of Japanese terminology when speaking Light always uses "Boku" which is the more masculine pronoun of "I" while L uses "Watashi" which is more feminine or gender neutral. That can be taken in a number of ways.
    • Here's a list of Light/L moments.
    • A slightly altered version of the "I am L" scene: [2] [dead link].
    • Then there is the the instance when Light manipulates Rem, persuading her that for Misa to be happy L has to die. At first Rem gives no response and Light says sarcastically "oh, that's too bad..." he was acting like he didn't expect it to work, like if L catches Misa now it's not on his hands but then to Light's surprise Rem AGREES to it, perhaps reacting when Light ends his Circling Monologue and takes his hand off Misa's shoulder as if to say 'I won't love her unless L is dead'. Light gets a very stricken look on his face and thinks " L will die THIS EASILY?!" Rem is ready to kill L right then and there but Light immediately backtracks and gives a Hurricane of Excuses why it would be bad to kill L right away.
    • L succeeds in getting under Light's skin when he tells him "I feel as if you're the first friend I've ever had." Light continues to obsess about L as he walks home up until he's glomped by Misa, sounding very much like a Tsundere all the way as he curses L's name (or rather his alias). Ryuk mocks this development in a very suggestive tone:

Light: That DAMN Ryuuzaki!
Ryuk: Friend. *snicker* He's your friend. But that's a good thing, isn't it, Light?

      • Yeah, that DAMN Ryuuzaki, saying he's my friend. It's not like I like you or anything!
    • Also during the Yotsuba arc when Light has lost his Kira memories and the knowledge that L is his enemy, you'd still think he'd be a bit upset with L for confining him for 50 days and making his father carry out a mock execution, yet when L ends their confinement Light seems not to hold any grudge against L for locking him up and indeed seems quite thrilled about the idea of being with L 24/7.
    • When L meets Light at the campus for the last time before his confinement and Misa appears, L starts giggling and says something to Light that has different fansub translations. It can be either "Light-kun, I envy you" or "Light-kun, I'm jealous". He makes it clear after saying that that he was being jealous-envy of Light's "girlfriend", being a fan of her, but in the moment he says it, it's not clear if he's saying he is jealous of Light or Misa... It doesn't help that, in the manga version only, Ryuk is shown to have the biggest WTF-did-he-just-say-what-I-think-he-said face ever, suggesting that he captured the ambiguity of the statement as well.
    • During L's death scene even though it was probably an act how bout when Light catches and holds L in his arms following him falling over once his heart gives out? Also upon realizing that L is dead-he SCREAMS. Makes you wonder if it's all an act...
    • There are hints that Light grives the loss of L. In the days following L's death there's an interesting scene where Light and Ryuk are up on the roof of Taskforce headquarters overlooking the city.

Ryuk: So you've finally settled the score with L, huh?
Light: Yeah...

      • This trooper was distracted and read "So you've finally score with L, huh?"
    • Light's voice in that scene is not elated with victory but instead sounds kind of sad, disappointed, empty... in that same scene he looks very depressed as he grasps for a chain that is no longer there (both literally and figuratively) and then quite visibly SNAPS and throws himself into his "work" like never before...
    • There is another deleted scene from the OVA's where L is talking to the children from Wammy through the monitor and they ask him if he is afraid of anything. L tells them that he is afraid of many things, but the thing that hates the most is being lied to. Now, go watch the scene under the rain form episode 25 and tell me, after knowing this and shipping Light/L if the scene is not even more of a Tear Jerker now.
      • Which is kind of hypocritical, considering what a shameless liar L is himself.
    • In the Alternate Continuity of L Change the World Light isn't even alive in this universe, and there is still plenty of fodder for shippers, starting with the way L wears Light's watch in "rememberance," strengthened by the quote "Light, it hurts... My heart-", and ending with his offering at Light's altar.
    • Also in L: Change the World, L is very protective of Light's potato chips.
  • How about this guy? He wears a dark trench coat, he creeps around following a teenage boy at all hours of the day and night. He's Raye Penber, Light's STALKER!!! Oh and he's an FBI agent.
  • Mello and Matt anyone? Matt's character was stated to have just been created for Mello.
  • In the manga (Volume 2 chapter 16 pg 185) there is an ambiguously flirty exchange between Light and Yamamoto (a male classmate of Light's / an extremely minor character who gets about as much pagetime as Matt) during New Year's, where Light points out Yamamoto hasn't sent him a card, and is told "Sorry Light, I only give cards to girls."
  • There's lots of Les Yay between Misa and her Shinigami Rem, mostly from Rem's side though, who not only loves her but is willing to die for her.
    • Rem/Misa is canon on Rem's side at least.
  • ... and Ryuk and Light. Ryuk is always looming behind Light and is a very close talker when propositioning an exchange of bodyparts [3] [dead link] (...eyes). Ryuk follows Light EVERYWHERE, is often seen lounging around in Light's bed [4] [5] [dead link] [6], and is always staring at Light with the rape grin. Plus, Ryuk only cares about how Light can entertain him. They are both extremely bored so who's to say what could happen... They live together for years 'til death do they part. There's even more subtext in the manga--at one point Light tells Ryuk that he thinks he's cute, and then there's the scene where he's grabbing at Ryuk's belt when he's begging for his life.
    • Then there's the instance where Light is teasing Ryuk (about giving up half his lifespan). He flops down onto his bed, with his shirt hiking up and asks in a very flirty voice:

Light: Anything else you want to tell me ahead of time, Shinigami?

Misa (Stripperiffic Mode): I'll be a good girl and go to bed by myself, alright?
Light: * No reaction.*
Ryuk : I guess I'll stay up and watch here a little longer.
Light: OMG, I just realized our families are at risk!

Ryuk: You've taken quite a liking to it.

Light: It's been a while, Ryuk. *smirk*

  • I see Ryuk/Light and raise you Mello/Light's dad. Damn you Subtext! [11]
  • Mello and Rod Ross seem pretty close too slouching together on the zebra couch.
  • Sayu occasionally shows some interesting tendencies, like grabbing at Light's tabloids to look for dirty pictures or commenting that she can see Misa's underwear shortly after meeting her or saying that Misa is just her type.
  • How did we get this far without commenting on Mello and Near's odd concern about each other? There is a whole Foe Yay aspect to it, but Mello is so overly concerned with everything Near does it comes across as stalkerish. When he talks about Mello, Near is likewise very complimenting and admiring, and toward the end says he and Mello should have been partners, and that it would've led to great things.
    • Near is the only person with a picture of Mello. Just something to chew on...
  • There's also Matsuda and almost every other male character. In regards to Light and L he really looked up to them, to the point of obsession in some cases.
    • "Your reasoning is not actually reasoning but...desire. Your desire. Light was Kira, but you liked Light, didn't you, Matsuda?" And what does Matsuda say in return? "Desire...it may be so."
      • The subtext of that scene is written directly as text in some of the manga's Spanish translations. Ide's question is translated as "Te gustaba Light, ¿verdad?". The verb "gustar" used towards another person, at least in some Spanish speaking places, has the meaning of being sexually attracted to somebody. To like somebody as a friend or as a person would require another verb, like "agradar" or "simpatizar".
    • And in chapter 107 as Light begs for his life Matsuda appears to feel sorry for him.
    • There are strong hints that Matsuda is bisexual, if not just outright gay - though he does seem attracted to Sayu in the second half of the series. He is known to be quite "fond" of Light, following him in a manner that could easily be indicative of a crush. He shows no jealously whatsoever when seeing Light with women, but this may just be him accepting that Light is straight and would of course have no interest in him. His actions near the end as he shoots Light and screams at him almost look like the reaction of a lover learning the truth about his significant other. And then there's his throwing an arm around a blushing male coworker...
  • Okay, what about MIKAMI people!? The guy is was COMPLETELY obsessed with Kira/Light. So much so that (in the anime only) he commits suicide via PEN and in the manga kills himself in jail when he realizes Kira has lost and it was all his fault.
    • If you ship L x Light (and are still watching by the second season) it makes sense to ship Mikami as Light's Replacement Love Interest especially considering that Light's selection process basically consisted of him scanning the crowd of Kira supporters and choosing the first tall, wild haired, Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette his eye happened to land on...
    • Mikami's adoration for his God is totally canon: [12]
    • Light and Mikami get REALLY excited when talking to each other on the phone (complete with some very EXTREME facial expressions.)
    • Light and Namikawa share an epic phone call as well.
    • Also, Stephen and Mikami with Stephen stalking Mikami, following him into the locker room, going through his things...
  • In episode 15, upon spotting Misa a lot of girls crowd around her saying things like "Oh, she's so cute!" and "I'm your biggest fan!"
  • In the novel Death Note: Another Note, Beyond Birthday and his creepy obsession with L.
  • The movieverse gives us F x L L writes his own name in the Death Note after learning that F is dead. Also from the movies L and Hideaki Suruga have a "mommy and daddy" vibe when taking care of the orphans.
  • In the first episode a surprising number of men seem to be checking out Light. At each crossing he stops at, someone is giving him a sideways glance.
  • Also in the first episode Light's English teacher seems way too interested...
  • The live action movie gives us the Spaceland bus driver describing Light as "quite a good looking guy-not that I'm into guys..."
  • In the manga Matsuda and Ide talk romance together.
  • Mogi and Aiber seem oddly close to each other.
  • There's also Near/Light. [13] From the moment Light first talks to Near he gets the feeling that he's talking to L. Near keeps calling and harassing Light at odd hours of the day and night and hanging up. Near has a habit of making some very unsettling facial expressions when thinking about what he’s going to do with Light and in the manga How Near wanted to KEEP Light. Not to mention how when Near corners Light it's dripping with rape metaphors.
  • There's also Misa/Takada. Takada asks Misa out to dinner (to catfight over Light).
  • Takada/Halle. Takada trusted Halle implicitly.
  • And Halle/Misa. There's their brief fight-scene together.
  • How about Watari x Mr. Yagami? Is there some reason that Watari gives Mr. Yagami three scoops of ice cream and everyone else gets two?
  • And Roger x Watari. It would explain why Roger runs an orphanage when he hates kids. Also Roger keeps Watari's picture on his desk.

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