Why didn't Light just kill L and get it over with. He could have done so at any time without knowing L's name. 42116v

He already tested the Death Note's powers to control it's victims. That said he could have, at any time had someone else kill L. L's butler, a classmate perhaps, one of the cops, or even just some random thug he had written to be at certain place and time.

Iirc, L constantly reminded Light of how he informed the other of the investigation team that if he were to die in the recent days, then the murderer would be Light and they should arrest him. So he waited until he earned their trust.

source: animenewsnetwork

SRoMU Scanlations or visit #SRoMU at IRCHighWay.

Plus Light had this whole ego trip going on. He didn't want to kill L until he "won" their game. Light says it several times throughout the show that he'll win against L and even in the last episode, Light gives himself away when he tells Near "I've won" when he thinks the other guy has written their names in the death note. I think winning against L for Light meant seeing "a look of defeat" on L's face or having L know Kira had won before he was kill and this eventually takes priority over covering his rear and getting rid of the threat to having his identity revealed. Either that or he had too much of an ego to think he could actually be found out.

Cogito Ergo Sum (I think, therefore I am)

Then what was the point of having Misa try and find his name? I mean honestly that seems kind of pointless in retrospect.

I know its an old question, but the other answers were inacurate. As light himself said the death note cannot kill any other person apart from the one whose name it is written down in it. It is expressed several times in the manga.

Quote from julisg

I know its an old question, but the other answers were inacurate. As light himself said the death note cannot kill any other person apart from the one whose name it is written down in it. It is expressed several times in the manga.

yeah unless the person doing the killing knows the victim's name as well. like if you write down person A's name to kill person B, then person A dies as well, then you must know person B's name too

D'oh!