Far away there lived a poor woodcutter and his wife. They had had no children for many years so when they found a young infant left in the woods they took him in without hesitation. The only clue they had to his past was a mysterious locket that would not open. They named the child L.
The woodcutter, whose name was Watari, had been blessed with three children after he adopted L. There were three boys that his wife had bore him, Mello the eldest, Matt the middle, and Near the youngest brother. Although they were very poor and had to work very hard, they were all content to live peacefully.
When L was nearing manhood rumors began to be heard about a dark knight named Kira who wielded a sword that was a gift from death itself. The townsfolk were afraid but were also relieved that it was becoming safer to travel. When the woodcutter and his family heard about Kira they were very worried. The woodcutter had warned his sons of the dangers of power and they all knew that Kira would gain too much. They feared that he would take over the kingdom and wreak havoc on their simple life.
L was growing restless, as many young men do, and wanted to leave his family to see the world. He thought often about the knight Kira and how some one needed to do something about him. L, like most young men, believed he would be the only one to do the job satisfactorily. So he began to train secretly, skipping his work to swing sticks around and dream.
One day when the woodcutter's wife was walking to town she was set upon by bandits and murdered. The family was devastated. L found himself lost now, seeing Kira as both a foe and a savior. Unsure of what to believe he fell into a deep misery. The woodcutter Watari noticed his adopted son's grief and understood his inner turmoil.
"Go find Kira." He said to his adopted son. "Make us proud, cut him down."
"But isn't he doing good father? I couldn't leave you now to grieve alone." L said to his adoptive father.
The woodcutter thought for a moment and then brought out for L an old package hidden behind his bed. Within the package was a beautiful old sword, its handle covered in rubies that could have let the family live in luxury for many years. He gave the sword to L saying,
"I have saved this for you. Fathers have given this sword to their sons in our family for generations and now it is yours. Go out and fight for justice, you know what is right in your heart; do not let your grief cloud your judgment." And with words like this from his father, what could L do but try to live up to expectations?
So the young hero left home the next morning, bidding his family farewell. He had no horse so he set off down the road on foot. By noon he was very tired. When he stopped to rest by the side of the road he found a strange figure standing beside him, face hidden by a hood.
"Do you seek Kira?" Asked the strange man. L nodded for he feared the strange man. "Then follow this road into the woods. You will meet three creatures and if you are wise you will be kind to them. Beware your feelings, L, for they will betray you." Then the stranger vanished before L could ask him how he had known his name.
L took the strangers advice and followed the road into the woods. It was a quiet and seldom traveled path that went along side the bank of a little river.
After walking for some time L heard a disturbance in the forest. He followed the sound and found a dwarf struggling to free itself from a rope that was caught on its foot. L remembered the stranger's words and so he helped the dwarf to free itself. When the dwarf was free he said,
"Thank you tall stranger, I am Matsuda the dwarf. I am in your debt now so how may I assist you?"
"I am on a journey to find Kira so that I may defeat him." L said. "Tell me Matsuda, do you know where Kira is?" The dwarf hung his head sadly.
"No master I do not. In fact I will probably do more harm than help to your quest." L pitied the little dwarf and did not want to hurt his feelings. He knew that often the greatest allies come in unexpected forms so he said to the dwarf,
"Please come with me Matsuda for I shall be glad of company on my journey."
So Matsuda the dwarf agreed and the two set off together again down the road. They had walked for a long way and were very tired when the heard a sound of distress again off in the woods. When L discovered the source of this noise he was amazed to find a lone horse being attacked by a pack of dogs. L drew his sword to protect the horse and Matsuda flung a strip of meat into the woods to distract the dogs.
The horse was a magnificent stallion, trained for war, and still saddled from whatever knight had used to ride him. Engraved on the saddle was the name of the horse, Aizowa. The horse knelt to allow L and Matsuda onto his back in gratitude. Now L was making much better time and would be rested when he found Kira.
After a few hours L saw a figure ahead of him on the forest path. When he approached he saw that it was a beautiful maiden walking through the forest.
"Greetings maiden, why are you walking here in the wood?" L called to her.
"Misa lives here in the wood. Misa collects the plants for her Light. Misa makes the charms to protect her Light." The maiden whispered in a voice like a dove. L did not know what the Light was but he remembered that he should be kind to the creatures in the forest so he remained silent.
What L did not know was that Misa was a very evil witch who, by a trick of fate, had fallen in love with the knight Kira and was serving his will. She had tricked a fairy into drinking her love potion and now it followed her loyally, weaving spells of death for her foes. Misa's sharp eyes caught the glint of metal at L's neck and she asked,
"Misa wonders, what is that around L's neck?" L was trusting so he showed her saying,
"This is the only token of my parents for I was adopted by a poor woodcutter and never knew them." The witch wanted the locket and her greedy fingers twitched with need but she resisted snatching it from his hands. She whistled a call to her fairy, which came gliding from the shadows and bowed its head in servitude.
"Rem must get the locket for Misa. Misa wants the locket and Rem must get it." Misa whispered to the fairy. When L caught sight of Rem the fairy he was appalled by its grotesque features. He drew away from the creature in disgust and cursed its wickedness. He drew his sword when the fairy approached him.
"Be kind to all." Reminded Matsuda behind him.
"I have been kind to three creatures as the stranger warned. I will not pity this vile thing, I will cut it down." L said confidently. He stabbed the fairy Rem when it reached for him and the fairy melted before his sword. Aizowa then whisked L and Matsuda from the scene before they heard the witch's screams of fury.
L did not know that the fairy was not dead at all but was merely angry now. Hurt by his harshness, Rem vowed to kill the young man
It was turning towards evening in the forest when L heard a scream from a clearing next to he path. Aizowa jumped through the undergrowth and the three beheld a terrible scene.
A young woman with hair as black as night and eyes as bright as stars was being bound and gagged by a terrible knight in black armor. L knew he had found Kira.
"Let her go!" He challenged as he rode into the clearing. The woman gasped at the sight of him but Kira only laughed.
"What is a poor boy like you going to do against a master knight like me? I can kill whom I choose, a wise man would stay away."
"You are a villain Kira, you are a murderer. My mother was killed by bandits but you are still evil to destroy without thought." Kira said nothing for a moment then asked thoughtfully,
"You have a point boy. What is your name I wonder?"
"I do not know my true name for the only clue I have to my parentage is this locket. I am known as L." When L held up the locket the maiden gasped and Kira leaned towards him in anticipation.
"That is the royal crest on your locket boy. That would make Princess Naomi here your sister. I see the resemblance but I do not believe it. Who did you steal this from and what is your real name?" Kira mocked L and drew his sword. The sword was black and a strange glow seemed to shine from it, illuminating the knight's helmet a cold white while the rest of his black armor looked drenched in blood from the sunset.
L drew his sword as well and dismounted Aizowa. Kira and L circled each other slowly until suddenly Kira lunged at him. L only just managed to block the staggering blow. They fought fiercely but neither had much experience with the sword. L was a woodcutter's son and Kira was no better without knowing his enemies name.
From behind a tree the wicked fairy laughed as he saw the fairy Rem approach with hatred burning in her eyes. She spun another black sword from the air and raised it above her hideous head. L never heard Matsuda call out as Aizowa spooked and ran with him off into the wood. The black sword pierced the young mans heart before he knew his attacker. Rem melted into dust as she stabbed. As the blood poured from his chest L saw Kira remove his black helm to reveal a face almost his age but with madness churning in its eyes. The boy named Light seized the locket from L's throat as he died.
A bell rang out over the woods, soft and low.