Ai-yah! I love it please keep writing. I know it takes a while to update but I really like it!

Well, this is interesting. I like this story.

I am glad to see that you are writing a sequel to "Hearts or Diamonds" since it left more open questions than any story I have ever read.

The action is good. The characterizations are off. And you have a real problem with moving the relationship storyline forward. It has a real tendency to regress. Ranma or Akane will have an epiphany or make some progress in one chapter and then later it is like it never happened. Sure that might be somewhat realistic, but remember that stories are not about realism, they are about the illusion of realism.

As for the characterizations being off, I don't necessarily mean to say that they are out of character. Given what happened and the passage of time I don't find that to be too much of an issue. I strongly feel that to ever resolve Ranma and Akane's relationship you have to focus on what caused them to end up this way, since it is fairly certain it is a direct ramification of the precipitating incident. Honestly, Ranma, the guy who regularly saved people out to kill him went into a profession where killing is par for the course. That is a major change. Quite frankly, in the manga Ranma is a jerk with a heart of gold, in this story he is just a jerk. And I strongly feel that needs addressed in the story more than it has been.

Honestly, I was just waiting for the scene with Nabiki and Ranma. No offense, but what a let down. Nabiki is a major reason that his life is the way it is. She virtually begged Akane to trick Ranma because she didn't want to be shamed, and it was just easier to get rid of Ranma then find any other way, and what is worse is that she doesn't seem to show any remorse at all. I just wanted Ranma to lay into the ** when she asked how he had been. I was just waiting for, "How have I been? Well, let's see. Eight years ago the girl that I love and her sister conspired to rip my heart out and stomp on it. After that I pretty much went crazy for a while and slept with anything on two legs and a **, which wasn't too bad since every one of them allowed me to build a nice thick wall around the shattered remains of my heart. Then I joined the military. Found out I was really good at killing people... That is soothing for the soul. Went on a lot of missions to see if I could go out in a blaze of glory, but found out I wasn't so good at getting myself killed. Finally met up with your sister a while back. Started to heal and rebuild the future that I wanted, but had taken from me. Only to have her leave one day without a word and only a short note saying 'sorry, I need my space'. How have you been?!"

I know that wouldn't have worked, but damn I want to see that catharsis for Ranma here. He needs that release.In fact, that is perhaps my biggest complaint with the developing relationship between Ranma and Akane, other than the haphazard way it is being handled, more like a side to the main story then the main story it should be, and the adventure being the side story. That nearly all of the progress is coming from Akane. All we see Ranma doing is getting angry at any male that looks at her sideways or which Akane shows any interest in, being totally possessive of Akane, and seducing her. There has got to be more to it than that. Eventually Ranma is going to have to deal with the latent anger he has for Akane, and no amount of 'kick the Kuno' is going to take the place of him letting her have it, and actually meaning it this time. Not that WTF scene from "Hearts or Diamonds" where one minute he is saying that he can never forgive her and practically the next day he is sleeping with her and acting like nothing in the world changed.

As an aside, I find it interesting that Ranma in this story treats Akane pretty much the same way that Ryoga treated Akane in "Desperate Princess". He doesn't give her any choices he just takes what he wants. So, the hero here is more akin to the villain in another story. Is this on purpose? Of course, going right back to that random characterization there was that one out of type scene where Ranma is sitting in the bath tub and showed a little bit of growth in that department, but then we get the scene where Akane says she isn't pushing him away and it is completely forgotten. Oh by the way, Akane isn't trying to push him away? Really?! And Ranma didn't call her on that load of crap?

Anyways, back to the topic of the characterizations being off. The characters seem almost schizophrenic at times. They will have a strong emotion or thought, and then the next second they are doing something almost completely opposite of their primary motivation the second before. Once in a while I can see this when emotions are running high and there is conflicting emotions, but this seems to happen a lot.

I don't know why, but my reviews almost always come off seeming like I hate the story. When in reality I like them, but I guess I am more concerned with offering what I hope is constructive criticism than fawning adoration. I like this story, and cannot wait to see it continued and completed. However, I hope that you give Ranma and Akane's relationship more of a focus and delve more into Ranma's feelings about it all. Even if he never admits it to anyone else, your first person style is perfect for exploring personal introspection. Which by the way, you did an excellent job with in this chapter for Akane. The fact that she realizes that she doesn't really trust Ranma is a HUGE hurdle that she is going to have to cross. Just please make sure that you don't forget this development and let her backtrack.

i love this story, i live for the updates. Please please continue this story

It's really not fair.

Here I am reading your older Ranma stuff while I wait for Desperate Princess to update, and this one is unfinished, and so close to the climax, too! Though I'm glad it at least got to where they found Tofu.

I'm really enjoying this one, perhaps even more than Hearts or Diamonds. I really like the ways that you grew and fleshed out the characters, and the action is some of the best-written I've seen on . And the complexity of the character interaction in both stories! I kind of wish I had started reading Hearts or Diamonds back when it first showed up on the FFML, I've been missing out. Though I suppose I can be thankful to have missed out on the wait... did you really not update House of Cards at all in 2008?

I'm afraid I must insist upon updates (provided real life isn't too much in the way). Pretty please?

YES! Another chapter! I am so, SO happy! :D

hi! why on earth have you not updated?? lol sorry, it's just i totally love this piece of fanfic & i just started reading 'hearts or diaminds' yesterday & it's ABSOLUTELY FRICKIN AWESOME! i am a major ranmaxakane fan & this sequel is just so great!! please, please PLEASE update soon! i wanna find out if they ever find jain or not! keep up the great writing & whatever you do, do not give up on your fantastic writing skills! from a huge fan, sara :)

It's really good you have updated this story again. Can't wait to see the next chapters.

I don't mind you delaying this HoC story because you started another 'Princess Akane' story (I love all those stories! And I'm waiting for the next chapter for Desperate Princess). I like the scene where Ranma, Akane & Kaila were walking in the jungle, before they met the natives - Akane was thinking about her relationship with Ranma with deep feelings... it's like she's walking in her safe neighbourhood on the way to the office without any wild animals to pounce on her... I like it, because I guess it's human to be thinking of irrelevant or incoherent things when you're facing real danger. Anyway, thanks for writing wonderful stories and keep up the good work!

Awesome, it's been forever since I've seen an update on this - I'll have to check out that other fic you mentioned.

wohho finally! Love it!

LOVE! LoL I really love this story!

I like how Akane is starting to blame herself for the ranma problem ... but I think that she's not entirely to blame ... a little of both? Is Ranma going to go through the same revolution?

Keep updating!!

Ah Yes! you updated!! Awesome chapter i cant wait until it all comes together! Keep on writing!

Are you going to make Ranma jealous of Akane's relationship with Dr. Tofu? The series already wen there, and I think that Ranma has certainly matured enough to understand Akane's feelings in this matter.

I hope that Akane is able to learn to fully trust Ranma. Admittedly, the foundations for their relationship aren't the best, but Ranma has proved himself over and over again. Perhaps it is time for Akane to take a leap of faith, something that she never tried before when it came to Ranma.

You want review? You get review.
Let me tell you a little story. I woke up this morning, and after eating breakfast and brushing my teeth, I switched on my computer. I checked my e-mail briefly, and there, in my inbox, was an FanFiction Chapter Alert. "House of Cards" it said. Now the first thing that went through my mind was "what the ** is house of cards?" And then i remembered about this Ranma story that I had really enjoyed that was written before I was out of diapers. Well, thank you for the grad present of a new chapter, it is greatly appreciated! I still love this story, it has all the Ranma flair and problems that exist in canon, but you have enough original content that makes it unique and enjoyable. Please, please update amigo. You got a ** good thing going here.

maybe dr. tofu knows where they're going? i'm glad they found him alive. now they just have to get jain back and to treasure hunting. yay! more soon!