Hi, this is my first Death Note fanfic, so I hope that L will sound at least a bit like himself. (Beware, this has quite a bit of angst).
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Ryuzaki (or any other characters, for that matter).
Too Many Names
Ryuga Hideki… Ryuzaki… Eraldo Coil… Deneuve… L. Five names, five masks among hundreds more. All describing one man. A great man, for sure, but still only a man. It doesn't matter if he is the best detective the world has ever seen, it doesn't matter if he's solved over three thousand five hundred cases in his short life. What matters is that he doesn't deserve all of these titles. He just does his part (or maybe more than his fair share) like every other human being living on this lonely ball of rock.
So why is it that he is called by all of these names? Oh, right. It's because he's afraid. He's afraid of dying. Of being struck down by a criminal because they, in turn, fear that he will catch them. But isn't everyone afraid of dying? Don't we all wonder about what will happen to us? Therefore, by this logic, he is normal. And yet no one else has as many names as he does! So, does he need all of these imaginary faces to hide behind? Maybe not. And yet because fear controls actions, he will never be rid of these names. He is just too afraid.
But really, can you give a name to someone who hides behind a screen, acting only through other people? No. That person is just a shadow, and shadows don't have names. So then why was he given such a unique one? L Lawliet. A name spelled almost nothing like how it is pronounced. Why did his parents bestow it upon him? Did they think that such a unique name would kindle within him the idea of being someone great? Unfortunately, he is no longer able to ask them, they are gone, dead. Ah, well. Some questions can never be answered. He'll just have to learn to live with that fact. And learn to live with his many names.
That is just part of the curse of being a great detective, that's all.
Please do review, I would greatly appreciate it. I am considering making this a collection of four one-shots, but will only do so if you tell me your wishes of this fic's continuation. Hope you enjoyed reading, and have a blessed rest of your day!