Character Base

• Character Name: Light Yagami
• Age: 23
• Canon (Date/Year Released)/Canon Point: Death Note (anime - October 3, 2006) / Post time skip, before meeting Near and Mello
• Items Coming Along: Nothing but the clothes on his back
• Content Warnings for Character: Light Yagami is a serial killer who justifies his actions as steps taken to cleanse the world. To this end, he murders, manipulates, and lies. A common form of murder is forced suicide via the Death Note. The most common is a heart attack. He's also a narcissistic manipulator.

Character Background

• History: wiki link
• Core Relationships:

Soichiro Yagami (father), Sachiko Yagami (mother), Sayu Yagami (sister) - I'm linking the three together because they're easily the most positive influence on Light by virtue of being his family. Soichiro, in particular, deserves special mention for being the shaping force behind Light's desire for justice. There are scenes in which Light's opinions mirror Soichiro's, and it's likely his father's position within the NPA is the initial driving force for Light's desire to follow the same path. By contrast, Sachiko and Sayu are softer influences. While Light becomes further disconnected from the world, he always cares for his family and will inconvenience himself to protect them. This is in direct contrast to his ability to justify his other actions of cruelty as necessities. Their disapproval also seems to hurt Light, as shown by the way the camera angle changes to allow his hair to hide his face.

L Lawliet - Whereas Light's family influenced him the most pre-canon, L's appearance changes him the most throughout canon. L is the first person capable of challenging the previously unchallenged prodigy. Light makes many of his decisions with L in mind. What begins as hate changes to fascination and even turns to respect. It's in this relationship that Light finds some relief from his suffocating boredom. Even though this relationship ends with Light gloating over L's dead body after being the direct cause of his death, L's body is barely buried before Light reminisces about the detective. When Near appears later in canon, Light is angry that he can't match up to his predecessor. Ironically, it becomes clear that Light very much misses L and the challenge he posed.

Misa Armane (fiance) - Though Light has various 'romantic' interests, Misa is one to stay the longest. Initially forcing herself into Light's life, she refuses to go away, and due to her possession of a second Death Note, Light has no choice but to play the role of her boyfriend. Even after L's death, the two remain a couple, but Light never develops feelings for her. She's significant not for her emotional value but for her usefulness as his partner and someone willing to take the Shinigami's eyes.

Character Personality Through Key Moments

(2+) Positive Experiences:

Light is intelligent. The entire series revolves around his ability to outsmart authorities ranging from local law enforcement to the FBI and L, someone who'd never left a case unsolved. We see this theme occur continuously and are introduced to the idea early on when Light scores number 1 on a national mock exam. He later goes on to achieve the highest score on an entrance exam for a prestigious college, tied only with L. Later, of course, he goes on to win against L. The series revolves around the idea of what would happen if two mental chess masters were pitted against one another.

Light is very charming, which serves as another reoccurring theme. It's easiest to see in his dating life when he mentions to Ryuk that there is a list of girls who would go on a date with him at a moment's notice. Next, in college, a girl desired by many and known as the school's idol asks Light to be her boyfriend. Finally, there's Misa Amane, a model and actress who obsesses over Light. However, it's not limited to just romance. Light often uses his charm to further his agenda. We see this clearly when he's capable of socially manipulating Naomi into giving him her real name. It's notable that without knowing the inner workings of his mind, it's impossible to assume Light is anything but a good, polite, and charismatic man.

Light is a hard worker. Though most things come naturally to him, he never uses this as an excuse to give anything less than his fullest. Cram school is so easy that he can ignore the lectures, yet he's faithful in his attendance. Between the time he finds the Note and the arrival of the Shinigami behind it, Light manages to write so many names in the book that even a Death God is impressed. After L's death, he finishes school and becomes a member of the NPA while being both Kira and the new L.

Light is skilled. While his intelligence deserved its own bullet point, it's important to note that he seems to excel in most things he tries. Tennis? He's a national champion. Girls? They flock to him. Sewing? Computers? Slight engineering and construction? Why not?

Light is patient. One needs to look no further than his relationship with L to see the willingness to play a long game. His most infamous ploy, and the one that eventually earns him the win, is a gamble that takes months to come to fruition. Light knows that some moves must be made quickly and some need slow, careful planning.

Light is willing to take risks. As previously mentioned, he knows that a forward approach is sometimes the best. This is outlined specifically in his tennis game against L when, as he serves the winning point, he thinks about the necessity of taking an offensive stand on occasion. Once he's forced to factor Misa into his plans and feels L closing in on him, he creates a plan that starts with losing his memory via Death Note and, months later, regaining them. During this time, many things could have gone wrong. This shows that...

Light is confident. Some might argue he's overconfident, but most of his confidence has a firm foundation. In making some of his more significant moves, he often does so at the risk of losing everything. A good example is his willingness to show his face to the FBI agent following him. If any part of his plan failed, he'd have been exposed as Kira. We find an even earlier example by looking at the days following his discovery of the Death Note. After he confirms its ability to kill, Light asks himself if he's a murderer and if he should stop. Yet, in the end, he continues to push forward with his plan because only he is capable of changing the world. Light, the good and pure soul that he is, is singular in his ability to avoid corruption and focus on cleansing the world.

Light loves his family. While most of his relationships are disingenuous, Light's love for his family is not. His relationship with his father is like that of any other son who respects his father greatly. Likewise, despite the two having contrasting personalities, he cares for his little sister and wants to protect her. We see this in his willingness to take extra precautions to keep them safe. Light rigs his desk to explode instead of taking the chance that his sister might touch the Note and thus see the Shinigami.

(2+) Negative Experiences:

Light is a serial killer who kills via the Death Note. The world is rotten and ordinary means won't be enough to cleanse it of its filth. However, if he were to kill all criminals, only the good and kind would remain. Even those with wicked thoughts would be too afraid to act. His murders don't qualify him as a killer, of course.

Light is incapable of developing attachments to most people. I've mentioned previously that his family is the exception, and later L becomes another, but he considers himself superior to most. The fact that he's capable of justifying the murder of even good people shows his ability to be detached, but we also see it in his relationships. For example, despite dating Misa for roughly five years, there's never a connection on his end. He's also capable of using multiple girls, both by going on small dates and then on a larger scale with Takada Kiyomi.

Light is bored. While it seems like a temporary state, the emotion runs much more profound for Light than most. There's no sense of excitement in a world without challenge, where success is guaranteed. The teachers are open about their expectation of excellence, his family makes no secret of their pride in him, and even the NPA office acknowledges his talents before he graduates high school. With intelligence, good looks, and even a degree of athletic ability, Light can quickly achieve most things, leaving him emotionally unengaged. This sense of boredom better illuminates the excitement that comes from engaging in a battle of wits with L and the odd sense of loss after L's death.

Light is disgusted with the world. Before finding the Death Note, he's already decided what he would do after high school and once he graduated college. Not only would he follow in his father's footsteps by joining the NPA, he would also one day direct it. Despite that, Light has no delusions about his influence on the world prior to finding the Death Note. When we hear his internal dialogue, it's full of contempt for the state of the world and those who are ruining it. Much like his boredom, this opens him up to using the Death Note.

Light is an expert social manipulator. At the beginning of the series, this is innocent. Tying in with his boredom and inability to connect with most people, he keeps up a friendly and engaged facade. Japan is a country of appearances, so this isn't too surprising. However, as the story progresses, this ability is used for Kira. In one scene, Light explains how society works to Ryuk, showing his deep understanding of its workings. Using a positive trait (social skills) for a harmful purpose, this becomes his most potent weapon, second only to the Death Note itself. In one of the earlier scenes, Light invites a girl on a date to construct a situation that allows him to get the name of the FBI agent following him.

Light is delusional. Throughout the series, the Death Note passes to several users, all of whom are evil. Except for Light. According to Light. Misa is the first to appear with a second Note, and her willingness to kill so casually disgusts him. Later, when Light enlists help, he labels many new Kiras as evil for their actions, which he often labels as too extreme. Yet, he's good. He's pure. It's only Light Yagami who remains untarnished by the Note. This is best exemplified by a conversation with Ryuk in which Light explains his plan to rid the world of all evil people. The Shinigami points out that would leave Light as the only bad person left, an idea that surprises and amuses him because there's no way Light Yagami would be evil.

Light can be childish. L says so. More than that, we see his extreme reaction when 'L' is first introduced. The man posing as L on television claims Kira is evil and manages to trigger Light's anger. Gone is the morality that had him killing only criminals as he quickly writes the man's name in the Note only to find out it isn't the genuine L. Later, L makes Light angry enough for him to react in a physical confrontation, which he seems above most of the time.

Light will kill almost anyone for his mission. While criminals were always his main target, once law enforcement began to close in, his attention turned to the FBI agents following him so Raye Penber, FBI, has to die. When his fiance, Naomi, gets too close, she's next. L, Watari, the people that help them; the list only grows as the stakes continue to rise. By the second arc, though very reluctant, he allows his father to gain access to the Shinigami Eyes, even knowing it will half his life. Around the same time, he even considers killing Sayu but is unable to go through with it.

Deer Country Attributes

• Canon Powers: Without the Death Note, Light Yagami is normal.
• Blood Type: Darkblood
• Omen: A chimera with two heads, that of a lion and wolf. It will also have vulture wings that don't work and a snake's tail.
• Blessed Day: 11/28; this is the day he found the Death Note.
• Patron Pthumerian: The Tower.
• Blood Power Manifestation: Light will immediately focus on growing his blood power abilities as quickly as possible. He'll combine practice with earning favors and forging strategic relationships (such as using time magic to slow time for surgeons, help with repairs on important buildings, etc.) with a focus on mastering blood magic. Ultimately, he'll try to manipulate reality to gain some semblance of power to make a more significant difference in the world (to mirror what Light believes he's doing in his world).

I'm also leaving the possibility of using the addictiveness of Darkblood open as a form of sabotage, but that's more of a chance than a concrete plan.

Writing Samples

One: tdm top level. a special note of this thread since Light's darker side is often hidden
Two: tdm tag out

The Player

• Player Name: Lynx
• Player Age: Definitely above the 18 mark
• Player Contact:

wrinklesintimes, wrinklesintimes#2905
• Permissions: here