Death Note Episode 12: Love

Light joins L and the investigation team in their headquarters. L tasks Light with analyzing audio recordings of the second Kira's tapes to detect clues in the reader's voice, concluding from Light's input that the original Kira is not involved in those specific killings.

The team broadcasts a fake response tape from L and Light, challenging the second Kira to prove their powers by replying with a specific code word only true Kiras would know. The second Kira responds publicly via television, using the code word and revealing they possess **Shinigami Eyes**—the ability to see names and lifespans—and offering to meet the first Kira in person while claiming Shinigami can be shown to each other.

L reacts with shock, falling from his chair in terror at the mention of real Shinigami, while Light internally panics, viewing the second Kira as a dangerous liability for exposing Death Note secrets. The second Kira sends further messages demanding a meeting and provides details on Death Note rules, prompting the team to plan a trap while Light schemes separately.

In a flashback, a gothic girl named Misa Amane is stalked by a man intent on killing her and himself; her Shinigami, Gelus, writes the stalker's name in his Death Note to save her, violating rules by aiding a human out of affection, causing Gelus to crumble to dust. Rem, another Shinigami who witnessed this, drops Gelus's Death Note before Misa, who picks it up; Rem then becomes her Shinigami. Misa shows no remorse for Gelus's death, fixating instead on Shinigami mortality, and resolves to use her new powers and trade half her lifespan for Shinigami Eyes to find and devote herself to Kira.

Misa, now with Shinigami Eyes, searches cafés for Kira by checking lifespans, internally monologuing her love and desire to meet him. Unbeknownst to her, Light sits in the next booth, also monologuing about contacting the reckless second Kira to control the situation. Misa leaves without noticing him, and Light internally vows to manipulate her.