(A/N): Another oneshot based on a dream I had a few nights ago. Can I just say that my brain is pretty messed up so this may be a pretty crazy story. I hope you have fun reading this tho! Also this is all written in L's Pov!
Also contains a bit of spoilers for Death Note, so if you don't want that, feel free to skip this oneshot. I hope you enjoy!

We're not real.

We only exist to entertain young viewers.

My name is L and I am from an anime known as Death Note. A series loved by many.

I am a detective. The world's best, to say the least. Throughout the anime I appear in, I work on a very big case, known as the Kira case. One of the most difficult cases I've tackled. Many things happen during the case. My calculations don't always work out and so it causes me to fall back and keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. The anime is all about using your brain.

That's all that happens in the anime. That's all that the viewer can see when they put on their TV to watch the show.

But what about when they aren't watching the show? When the TV is switched off?

It's simple really.

Myself, and the rest of the cast in Death Note just lounge around inside the screen. We don't do anything because there is no need to. We can't do anything if the viewer isn't there to see us. We just sit around and stare at this big, black screen in front of us.
That screen is the TV screen.
We can see the viewer from this screen.
Basically what happens, is that we get a signal showing that the viewer has put the TV on and is going to watch our anime. That gives us some time to get everything in place before it completely loads up. We know the viewer is watching our anime when we can see their face on the other side of the screen. Then we just go ahead and act everything out like our anime wants us to.

And that's pretty much all there is to it.

All of what we do is to entertain the viewer and make them happy.

It can be tough sometimes, but we always try hard for them.

Recently there had been a lot of new anime that had came out, and eventually everyone began to watch all the new anime and sort of forgot the older ones.

Death Note got lost in the shadows as anime fans talked about Demon Slayer, The Promised Neverland or Dr Stone.

We were forgotten by a lot of people who used to watch our show...

But there was this one person who hadn't actually seen Death Note yet. Despite there being so many anime out nowadays, they decided they wanted to watch our anime.

That made me happy.

After a while of lounging around, waiting for someone to watch our show again, we got a signal of this girl wanting to watch our show.

"Places everyone!" I state as we all got ready to begin the series for this new viewer.

The screen soon loaded and we saw a young girl at the other side.

She looked so pretty, and excited to be watching a new anime.

"My best friend told me to watch this anime. Death Note...Sounds like it's gonna be a fun watch! Let's go!"

This girl seemed like a nice person.

Soon, the series began and we went through lots of scenes for this girl. It appeared she wanted to watch a lot of the series.

We went through episode after episode for this girl.

Soon, it came to me actually revealing my face.

The girl in front of us was going to see my face for the first time in her life.

I always got nervous when it came to this episode. I was always scared of what they would think of me.

I got into place and revealed my face and said my name.

I could hear the girl's voice from the other end of the screen.

"Oh my God! He's so pretty!!"

She complimented me...?

That was quite unusual.

Many of the viewers supported Light, and if they did support me, they'd just say "Oh, he seems cool! I'll root for him."

This was the first time I had heard someone call me "pretty."

I liked it. It made me feel happy.

I tried not to break character as we continued through more episodes.

"(Y/N)! Time to go! We're going to visit your grandma!"

We hear a faint voice call.

"I'm coming!" The girl shouted back.

So the girl's name was (Y/N)...What a sweet name. I liked it.

I feel like I'll create a strong bond with her.

We watched as (Y/N) switched off her TV, her face disappearing. All that remained was a black screen again.

I sighed and sat in front of the screen before me, staring into it.

"It's hard living up to a viewer's expectations huh?" Light said as he came to sit with me, a bottle of water in his hand.

"A little bit" I reply. "But we have no choice. We only exist to be there for them and provide them good entertainment. We have to do the best we can so that they give good reviews about our anime and buy our merch."

Light sipped on the water.

"That (Y/N) is gonna be a fangirl over you" he said.

"Do you think so?"

"Did you see her after that last episode where you had to show your face? Her face lit up and she called you pretty. She's gonna take a liking to you. Better get used to it" he laughed.

I laughed too.

"I hope I can create a strong bond with her. She seems like such a nice girl" I say. "If she becomes my fangirl, then I'll do even better so she won't be disappointed in me!"

"I love your motivation" Light stated. "You're gonna do good for her, don't worry, and she will fall head over heels for you."

I was motivated now. I was going to do a good job for (Y/N)!

A few days later

It had been a few days since (Y/N) had turned on her TV to see us again.

We were getting a little bit bored waiting around, but soon we got something.

"That's the signal!" Matsuda stated.

"It's a little late don't you think?" Light said, checking his watch.

"Places everyone! Going from episode 10! Let's get going!" Misa said, rushing around.

Everyone headed to where they needed to be and we got ready for the episode.

The screen loaded up, and we saw (Y/N) again.

I smile to myself.

"I hope L beats Kira! I'm growing to like him a lot! It's only been a few episodes but I love him already!" I hear (Y/N) say.

So she was becoming my fangirl now. I was so happy. I had to do my best for her.

This was the episode where Light and I played tennis against each other.

'I won't disappoint you (Y/N).'

Light and I were playing tennis against each other. From the corner of my eye, I could see (Y/N) watching intensely at us battling it out.

"Go L! Win the match!"

I was happy she was rooting for me. It was cute.

Sadly, the way the anime goes, I don't win.

We spoke our inner monologue and (Y/N) was in awe.

As Light won the match, I saw (Y/N) clapping her hands.

"I understand why Light won, but that was such an intense tennis match! Whoo!" She cheered.

She's so sweet.

We went through another episode until we noticed (Y/N) yawning. She must be tired watching anime late at night.

"I'll watch some more tomorrow..." she said and turned off her TV.

Where (Y/N) was...was now the black screen we know too well.

We all relaxed and sat down.

"(Y/N) seems like she's having fun enjoying the series!" Misa said excitedly. "She's almost halfway through! She'll get to meet me in the next episode!! I'm excited! I hope she likes me!"

"I think she likes everyone to be honest" Matsuda laughed. "But she really is taking a huge liking to L. She's his fangirl."

I laugh a little.

"Yes, you're right. Which is why I have to do my best for her and not let her down."

"But there's a slight problem..." Mr Yagami said.

I knew what he was talking about.

"L dies halfway through the series. How do you think (Y/N) will handle that?" He asked.

We were all silent. No one knew how to answer that question.

"I have to do what I have to do. It's what we were created to do..." I say sadly.

Everyone looked at me sadly.

"We shouldn't think about that right now. If we do, it may effect the way we act out in front of (Y/N)" Mello said.

"Mello is right. We should focus on what's in front of us at the moment and worry about that when it comes around" Aizawa stated.

We all nod in silence.

Time Skip (again)

A few more days had passed. (Y/N) hadn't turned on her TV yet. But I'm sure she will soon.

As I was just lounging around, doing nothing, I noticed Misa putting on her make-up and dressed in a cute, baby pink strapless dress.

"Aw man. If only (Y/N) could see me where this outfit! It looks so cute. But I have to wear a completely different outfit when she comes across my character. Man...I gotta sort out my wardrobe for this..." She sighed.

I looked around the space. Everyone else seemed to be doing there own thing.
Near was stacking building blocks to make a tower, Mello was playing video games with Matt, Mr Yagami and the other taskforce members were chatting and having coffee together, Misa was sorting out her wardrobe and Light seemed to be drawing.
The Shinigami were just floating around too, Ryuk eating apples. Misora and Raye were also in the back just talking away and Watari was taking a nap in his chair.

It was nice, really. These people are the only ones I can properly talk to. They're not the best but they're still okay.

Soon, I spotted the signal coming and I shot up.

"Playtime's over everyone. We have to get ready. I think (Y/N) is coming again!"

Everyone quickly moved to their spaces and dressed appropriately for the next episode.

"Let's go!"

The screen loaded up and (Y/N)'s face appeared again.

I saw my eyes widen as she appeared to be holding a small L plush toy in her hand whilst she was eating chocolate chip cookies.

I felt so proud of myself, like I had shined a new light on (Y/N)'s life.

I watched as she held it close to her, like it was some form of protection for her.

How sweet. My fangirl...

We began from episode 12 and (Y/N) met Misa.

"Ahaha! This character seems kinda cool. I wonder how this is gonna affect Light!"

I saw Misa smile at (Y/N)'s reaction to her.

We went through more and more episodes. It seemed like (Y/N) was watching a lot more than what she usually does. Which meant that we had to work much harder.

"I love L so much! He's my favourite character ever! I'm gonna give him all my love!"

Her words gave me hope and strength.

But after many episodes passed, it soon came down to the episode we all dreaded...

The episode involving my death...

I couldn't imagine how (Y/N) would take this. She's grown to love me throughout the series. I just want to show her love back. But the way our world works...We can't do what we want to. We have to do what we need to...

The episode played...

I went to see Watari.

"Ryuzaki, what's wrong?" He asked.

I had to remain silent at this part.

"What's going on?" I hear (Y/N)'s voice from the other end of the screen. She gripped onto her L toy. She seemed confused at this scene.

It hurt having to go through this again, especially to such a big fangirl.

It was the raining scene now. I stood outside in the rain, looking up at the sky.

"He looks so sad...He's been through so much...I just want to hug him..." (Y/N)'s voice was sad and full of sympathy.

I want to hug her too...

Soon, Light came into the scene and it played as normal.

"I'm sorry. Nothing I say makes any sense, anyway. If I were you, I wouldn't believe any of it" I say.

"Don't say that L! Your words make perfect sense!" (Y/N) shouted at her screen.

This hurts...

"Tell me Light, from the moment you were born, has there ever been a point where you've actually told the truth?"

The rain sound effects stopped.

"Aw yeah! He got him!"

No (Y/N). I didn't.

It came to the foot massage scene. I found it kind of weird and (Y/N) seemed a little confused by it, but we had to go along with it.

"You and I will be parting ways soon..." I say.

At this point, I didn't know if I was saying this to Light, or to (Y/N)...

"What?! What are you saying?! I'm so confused!" (Y/N) said.

"Come on. Let's go Light." I got up and walked off, leaving Light behind.

"What's gonna happen...?" (Y/N) said quietly.

This was hurting too much. I didn't really want to see the look on (Y/N)'s face when she witnesses me dying. But I'm afraid this is what has to happen.

Light and I walked back into the room and I sat on my chair.

"Ryuzaki! You're gonna have someone test the notebook?!" Matsuda said.

"Yes. We'll get a criminal, who's execution is to be held in 13 days, write in the notebook. If they die within 13 days, then we know that the rule isn't fake."

Mr Yagami began: "But this is a human life-"

"We're very close!" I shout. "If we work this out, the entire case will be solved!"

"L's never shouted like that before..." (Y/N) said. She seemed worried.

This was it...

The thunder and lightning went and the lights in the taskforce went red.

"A blackout?!" Matsuda shouts.

"What the hell...!" (Y/N) says.

It then played Watari's death scene.

"Watari...? What...WHAT?!"

Rem soon disappeared into the darkness.

"REM?!" (Y/N) cried.

"Watari..." I say.

"Oh no!"

Watari deleted all the data, and fell to the ground, dead.

"Watari!" I cry.

"No!! Not Watari!" (Y/N) yelled. "He's the only one that's been there for L in the anime! What's he gonna do without him?!"

"I asked Watari to delete all the data, if something were to happen to him..."

"Watari died..." (Y/N) said sadly.

"Where's the Shinigami?!" I shout.

"I don't see it!" Mr Yagami shouted.

"No...Rem..."

The screen showed Rem writing down more names.

"Everyone! The Shiniga-"

This was it.

I fell off the chair I was sitting on and because we're in an anime, it happened in slow motion.

But from the corner of my eye, as I was falling, I could see (Y/N)'s face.

It seemed she had dropped her L toy. Both her hands were covering her mouth and her eyes were wide and teary.

I soon fell and Light caught me.

"Ryuzaki!!" Matsuda's voice echoed.
"What's wrong?!"

The bells rang as my death scene played out.

"No! No, this can't be happening!" I can hear (Y/N)'s shaky voice. "Please don't die L!!"

I'm sorry (Y/N)...

Light smiled.

"SCREW YOU LIGHT!! STOP SMILING!! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!" (Y/N) cried.

I slowly close my eyes as my time on the screen had come to an end.

"L! NO! YOU CAN'T DIE!! PLEASE DON'T DIE!!"

I notice (Y/N) was about an inch away from the screen. Both her hands were on the screen and tears were pouring down her face.

"Ryuzaki! Snap out of it!" Light shouts.

"No...!!"

Light screams and so does (Y/N).

(Y/N) sits back and cries loudly into her hands.

"Why?! Why did you leave me?! I loved you so much!!"

She didn't even let the episode finish. She turned off her TV.

We all shot back up and stared at the black screen in surprise.

(Y/N)...

"She seems really upset about witnessing your death" Matsuda said to me.

"I feel so bad for her now..." Misora said.

"I wonder what'll happen..." Misa said. "I'm worried."

"Me too" Aizawa stated. "She didn't even finish the episode. She just turned it off after seeing L's death..."

I remained silent.

2 weeks later

It had been two weeks and (Y/N) still hadn't continued the series.

We had a feeling she wouldn't watch the rest of the series.

We had been lounging around for ages and we all felt miserable.

"Are you okay L?"

I turn around at the sound of the voice.

Near...

"Not really. I feel so bad for hurting such a strong fangirl. I don't know what will happen. I can only imagine what she must be going through right now."

Near was silent for a minute.

"I also feel bad that she won't get to see cool characters like you and Mello now."

"There's no reason to feel bad" Near stated. "Many Death Note fans don't like my character anyway, so I doubt (Y/N) would..."

He said it calmly, but I could tell he felt sad about that. I guess that's just how my successor is.

I soon felt Near hug me.

"It'll be okay..." he said.

I patted him on the head and gave him a small smile.

Another Week later

It had been three weeks now. Still no (Y/N).

"We should give up our hopes now" Aizawa said. "It's been too long. (Y/N) won't come back for us!"

I stay silent in the back as our cast have a small argument.

"How can you say that right now?!" Misa shouts. "She will come back! She just needs time to recover from losing someone she cared about so dearly! Haven't you ever experienced death before Aizawa?! It makes you depressed and you need time on your own! She probably can't even get out of bed right now!"

"Let's not argue!" Matsuda said.

"I'm just saying that we keep assuming she'll come back quickly but we shouldn't keep our hopes up!" Aizawa said.

"Oh whatever!"

Misa stormed off one way and Aizawa went the other way. Many of the cast went with them.

I walked up to the black screen in front of me. I put a hand to it and touched it.

"How you doing L?" Light asked.

"It's not fair, is it?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"When the screen is black, we are free to move and speak as we please, but when there is a viewer, we have to follow the rules and play our parts in the anime. It's not fair. I wish I could talk to the viewers. I wish we could communicate. What ever happened to our freedom?"

"Y...You're not making sense. We're only here for one reason. We shouldn't question it" Light said.

Silence...

"Huh...Is that a signal?!"

My eyes widen.

"It could be (Y/N)...I want to talk to her...!" I say.

"L, come on! The signal means we have to get in place!" Light said.

"Just let me talk to her!" I say.

Light was having none of it. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the screen just as we were about to start.

The screen loaded up...

It was (Y/N)!

She came back! I was so happy, but I was also pretty sad...

"It won't be the same without L here" She said.

That hurt to hear.

She went through a lot of episodes, meeting Near and Mello.

"So these are L's successors? People who take L's place when he dies and carry on his legacy...It's like L didn't really die...!" I saw (Y/N) cry.

"I'm not too sure about Mello just yet, but I think I like Near. He's cute at least."

I bet Near is happy to hear that.

"I want to know if Light does get caught in the end. That's really the only reason  I've continued" she said.

So that's the reason...

We went through more episodes and it seemed like (Y/N) grew to like Near and Mello too. I think she liked everyone. She even liked Mikami. She thought he was funny because he kept saying "Delete" all the time.

I was glad she decided to continue the series and didn't forget about us. I'm glad she got to meet Near and Mello. I'm glad to see she looks a little happy too.

It soon came down to the final episode...

"This is actually really intense! I wonder what'll happen!"

"Why...Why won't they die?!"

"AHA! That's a fake notebook! No one's dead! You've been caught Mikami! You too Light!"

Mikami was soon handcuffed and he dropped his notebook.

"They got him! Mikami has been caught!"

(Y/N) seemed pretty excited.

"IT'S A TRAP! THIS IS ALL PART OF NEAR'S PLAN TO FRAME ME!!" Light yelled.

"Oh my god! That animation! This is so crazy!"

It soon came to the point where Light got shot by Matsuda. We could see (Y/N) go nuts!

"Holy shit Matsuda! That was unexpected by someone like him! Go Matsuda!" She cheered.

She seemed to be really happy now. I couldn't help but smile, myself.

Light then ran away as the sad music played in the background.

"They caught him! Near and the taskforce caught Kira...So L's death wasn't in vain after all. Kira was caught for L...!" (Y/N) said, sadly. "I'm happy Near could carry on L's legacy!"

Near smiled a little.

"Well Light. It looks like you've lost..." Ryuk said.

"I can't believe it's going to end this way..." (Y/N) said, tears in her eyes.

The credits then rolled as Light lay there, dying.

"Oh my god..."

I then appeared at the other end of the screen as if I was still there.

"L...!" (Y/N) cried as the tears fell. "What a crazy ending!"

(Y/N) cried some more as the show was starting to draw to an end.

But I wasn't ready to go just yet...

As (Y/N) was wiping away her tears with her sleeves, I walked up to the screen and put my hand to it.

"L! What are you doing?! She'll notice you!" Light whisper yelled.

I took no notice of that.

"Thank you for coming back for us (Y/N). Please don't forget us..."

She looked up at the sound of my voice as her screen went black, indicating the end of the show.

"Huh...?"