All I will say is, finally someone who write's Kurei's POV without yaoi added into the plot. Great!

P.S. intro you to another fanfic, Eyeshield 21. Especially a char named Hiruma Youichi. Read up about him. Comics in S'pore already. I know cuz I live there.

I really like this fic...and I understand how braids equal control...I usually don't care (about control), but sometimes...

AU is always fun to play with! :o) Even though Joker was one of the few Uruha members who had his "joining" story told, it's great to see someone who's brave enough to go through with their story when they have an interesting scene in their head, or an interesting take on things. ^_^
That being said, I do agree that there's a good deal of F/M fics out there, with many of them recycling the same plot points, so it's always refreshing to see other characters being given the spotlight. Likewise, it's easy to write something that's more likely to get you massive quantities of feedback... so it's also refreshing to see someone who's happy to write what they feel needs to be written, whether or not anyone takes the trouble to recognize their effort.
So, keep up the good work!

Though I'm not familiar with this anime at all, I am passionate about this author's style and would read her notes on the bathroom wall in the boys room, if that was where she chose to write, and this doesn't disappoint. It is well-done, well-organized, fun, and a great read. I love the line "You already are my ace". It draws a connection between the characters in five words that is unbreakable. Great job! Write more!

i thought your story was very well written and touching, and i am a huge tofuu fan. you made the right choice in choosing these characters. gud jos :)

Sorry for reviewing quite late, but I wanted to sit down and review this at my leisure. :)
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You're right, the jumping time frames make it very confusing actually. And though, I know you're trying to keep it natural, it really serves only to confuse. On the other hand, the effect is very unique and even though I've said it's confusing, I don't think you should change it. The jumping flashbacks sort of reflect Kurei's rather tumultous state of mind.
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I loved the beginning. Wonderful wonderful imagery. Excellent diction and images evoked in the first few paragraphs. Be careful with your punctuation though, especially with your comma use (though I'm rather bad at that myself) because it can confuse the reader and break the flow of what could be an excellent sentence.
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One question though, I have seen gin rummy being played, and I have played once or twice, but I don't recall anyone every saying "gin!" and winning. Perhaps we play different versions of the game, or you're making it up. If you are making it up, I would suggest actually getting the rules of the game right, because it can lower your credibility as an author, if someone who has actually played Gin rummy comes across your work.
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I liked the ending, especially when Kurei said he was his ace. Very touching.
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A little comment on your author's note, I agree with you that tofu really does sell more, and it's also the pairing of choice for new fanfic writers (A reason, I think, that there are a great many low quality ones out there), and though I adore reading and writing tofu, sometimes what I need is something else. Thank you Haruko for taking the time out to respond to my challenge, and for providing the fandom with something new! I'm actually also considering stopping Tofu production once Meet My girlfriend is finished and try branching out in a different direction.
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Well, to conclude this lengthy review, I really have to say I enjoyed reading this very much. It's a gem of a story. Thank you for writing something that restored my faith in the fandom. Good luck and keep writing! (Out of curiousity, are you planning on responding to anymore chapters of Photo albums? I hope you are!)
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Xabie