Took me three days almost non stop to get to read it all. I don't know why I decided that this would be the weekend I would finish reading all avaiable chapters of this fic, but I'm glad I did because it was totally worth it. I love your writings so far, read only a few of your WK fics, but I know what to expect from you: very good stories, amazing characterizations, beautiful style. You manage to leave us breathless with the intensity of the feelings portrayed, Yohji is just perfect in my point of view, not that the others aren't, but he is my favourite character so I tend to pay extra attention to him.

Of course I'll hang around this fic till the end, it's too good to let go. I hope you're feeling better when this review reaches you. I know what's like to feel the way you do, but at least you have an escape through writing, others have no such talent.

Happy 2009!

HI. I looked at your site- thing,
and i totally agree with u.I hope to right a SIMPLE makeover thing would be fine, and i am planning on giving hinachan a makeover for A SCHOOL DANCE ON HER DATE WITH GAARA. Yes, Mr. Sandamn himself.

I'm hangin' in - so glad you are too :) You're one of my fave WK writers - I only fully discovered the fandom about 6 months ago. I love Ken as a character so I'm grateful for the well written plots and developed characterisation that you display in your writing. I'm really looking forward to how things pan out for Ken and the rest of the boys. Love your characterisation of Schwarz too - Schuldich is very nasty, very in character. More please ...

cloudie

I'm sory that you're going through some difficulties, but at the same time I'm glad that you updated this fic. I love reading this fic and I will continue to do so.

I hope this review makes it to you. I've devoured all you've written while avoiding work, it was that good. Oh my god, please continue to write about the boys and their ever-complicated lives. I love the slow developments and the entanglements of everyone involved. I especially love the growing relationship between Ken and Youji, starting ever so softly and growing ever so slowly. Omi and Aya are great too but my heart lies with my chosen couple. Sigh. Thank you so much for your story. I'll be waiting for the next installment, however long it takes!

I'm a student journalist and I must say you're really good at this! really, im sure ul be fab novelist.
hmm love the plot, intricate details and love the play of words...

learned new words from u too, tnx
oh hm personally why dont you put ken ken yotan and aya in a triangle?
i think it will be an interesting twist..
just suggesting
i'll be reading your updates

oh and im sorry bout you failing in school, but dont quit ok? everyone trips once in a while
school might seem to be a waste of time, but well... were stuck in a world that doesnt think so.
with a degree, your talent will be amplified in terms of credibility.
im a college student myself.
mwahh

"Different game, different rules, the ball wasn’t even the same damn shape."

That made me laugh, for all that I feel horrible on Ken's behalf. Though... not as horrible as I did a few chapters ago; now there's more woobie and WAFF mixed in for the poor dear kid. D'aww, falling asleep on Youji. That's -unreasonably- cute. XD

Anyhow, though I only started this story a few days ago, I'm glad to hear that there'll be more. And I hope that it'll stay just as awesome (if sad and heartwrenching). Good luck!

KEN. D:

Ugh. UGH. I seriously hugged mt computer screen. Because, well, Ken. Poor baby. D:

... Oh, wow.

For whatever reason, I didn't look at this story when I started reading your 'fic. Now I'm very, very annoyed at myself, because this fic is SERIOUSLY good, and I should have read it months ago.

Of course, I start reading it just as I start college, so I have no time TO read it... but I'm reading it anyway, homework be damned. :P It's just that good. It's also just that "OMG KEN NUU!"-- I can't stop HERE. I have to know Ken will be all right! Or, well, rescued. D: Don't think "all right" is going to come close to Ken anytime soon, poor baby.

Now, I'm going to try closing the rather woeful gap between where I am and how much you've written. Because, man, goodfic is GOOD. XD

yes you still have loving readers out here. *heart* believe in yourself!

You're right: I had forgotten about this fic, as it has been so long. But if anything it would seem that your writing has become stronger and far more clear than before your hiatus.

It was a pleasure to find this update in my inbox, and I look forward to the next. The story, characterisations and tone are just what I look for in a Weiss fic - what can I say, I like 'em dark and angsty - and your portrayal of Ken and Yohji's inner thoughts is thoughtful and revealing.

I hope that real life begins to treat you a little better in the near future, and I'll be awaiting the next installment. Good to have you back!

M, you're so good at writing tense opening scenes. You can almost taste the grim atmosphere, it looms so well with such subtle directions. ^_^

Poor Moth. I feel almost sorry for her, she wasn't that bad. I find it really interesting how she still extends her part, especially after her death in this chapter-- it's very well-done. It would have been wrong simply to forget her; this is more realistic, Ken worrying and the conflict ensuing. You planned this all so nicely. *_* Wah.

(And squeal, Ken fiddling with his apron! LOVE LOVE LOVE. Ahem.)

I really, really adore this paragraph here, for both its eloquence and certain bittersweet flavoring: He remembered her arrival clearly, remembered the sad little story she had told, a tale painted in broad, simple primary colors as if told by a very young child. He remembered the forlorn pile of dry, unappealing old books that had rested on the table by her elbow, and a cup of untouched tea.

Ken falling silent with the guilty smile of a boy caught talking during prayers -- This image, too, caught me by surprise as both sweet and fascinating. Ken doing exactly this, only younger. And then I fell in love with Ken all over again. XD

You write Ken's stream of consciousness very well, too, I'm impressed always by the easy flow of it. How well you can push a story along and still make the thought process seem natural, realistic. Like this: (That did it: he’d talked himself into it again.)

I loved that. Hah, so Ken.

I... love, intensely, the scene where he tells Moth's friend about her death. It doesn't help, but there isn't much for it. His bluntness, his regret, his own frustration and upset, it all combined with your very excellently written reaction and made for just a *brilliant* scene. Very, very nicely done.

And... soaked!Ken and Youji. *heart*

Ken still didn’t speak. He only hesitated for a moment by Youji’s side and, fleetingly, rested his hand against Youji’s upper arm, as if steadying himself. The contact was so gentle, such a transient thing that Youji barely noticed it. -- Oh, this... this is... god. That moment, right there. You write so damn WELL, so eloquent. I can just see this, the first weary acceptence, and the following struggle. The briefness, the weight of it.

This is also a simple but beautiful line-- He must have known Youji would follow him all the same.

And Shinobu comes up. Oh, that makes my heart flutter, even if it's sadly. *clings*

Frightening me. I think I could be afraid of you. I can’t give you what you – the things you’re used to. I… even if I wanted to I just plain can’t! -- I love these little pieces of Ken's thoughts and instinctive feelings scattered in here. Absolutely gorgeous. And so... painful, so blunt and there, even when Ken doesn't want them to be. Perfect.

Ken blinked. He didn’t understand. Just for a moment, it was like talking to Asuka. -- LOVE THESE LINES.

I just... this whole last scene is absolutely stunning. Seriously, from their argument and conversation, to the descriptions of Ken, to Youji's confession, to the aching feeling of misery and stupid wishes and confusion... You've delivered a masterpiece, as usual. *sighs happily and clings* SO WANT MORE NOW.

Hey,

Still enjoying it, and wanted to drop you a line to let you know. I'd write something more in depth, but it's late, and I just wanted you to know I'm still enjoying--really loved the fact that Ken and Yohji finally had a talk, and am hoping for fluff (hear that, angsty horrible but maybe slightly fluffy) for the next bit--or soon? Really enjoyed Ken's last line there, too. Ken being reassuring, despite everything. And those last two words are going to come back and bite him in the ass, aren't they? Yeah, I thought so.

M. Oh. Oh, I love Yohji in the beginning of this chapter. The coldness, the stirring emotions, the clash between Schuldich (who is perfectly wickedly sexy for being such a bastard, argh), all of it's written so excellently that it makes the writer in me flutter in appreciation.

I love how Schuldich messes with his mind. M. The end line in the opening scene, also, is very nicely done. "Like the automaton, Youji thought absurdly. Then the pain." Damn, but you know how to end a scene.

Blast it, Moth. Just when I felt a bit of respect for you, getting your head out of the clouds, you had to go and ruin it by being an idiot. Now Aya's going to be even more pissy! *waves hands in air* (But really, I did-- even a little maliciously, I admit-- enjoy her awakening to the truth.)

Interestingly enough, I am in love with the idea of Ken feeling bad about "stealing" from the dead. Even in an absentminded way, it struck me as particularly... endearing, I guess.

Equally heart-striking was the angry reaction of Ken when he learned about Yohji looking for him. That instinctive mix of fury and concern about what may have happened to him. XD Oh, Ken. You're not fooling anyone. I love the whole "I'm not feeling sorry for you if you're dead!" and then the "Oh God, what if he'd been killed?" reaction. Silly boy.

So much love for your Ken. You write him perfectly. He's the exact image of how I love to read him. :D

OMG, YOU KILLED MOTH. XD Oh my. But... oddly enough, it was enough to warm me back up to her. The end, where Aya stoops to take her hand, but only because of his sister, was absolutely brilliant. The way you write it, the way it IS, really-- that he can't identify the emotion, that it's pathetically tragic somehow and yet we'll move on, that Aya doesn't care but still stoops-- it's somehow just... so. Yes.

Yay for pissy Ken. :D

...

*cries* Oh my god, you killed Shinobu.

It's a true testiment to your skills in writing original characters that I'm actually crying over the death of one. Oh gods. Shinobu. I really, really sort of loved him. And through Ken, it was even worse. But the scene, it was riveting, it was dynamic and terrible and amazingly done-- you gave him a good sending off, Miss Laila. The fire, Ken's... just Ken.

Holy shit, this is going to open a whole other can of problems. *amazed*

Damn. Just... damn.

Wow, okay. So I totally knew Moth's death was coming, because let's face it- the girl just had to go. But at the same time, it was still giddily refreshing and made me quite happy. Well done, very well done.

But oh lord, Shinobu. Frankly, once the whole fight scene started up, I was pretty sure he was going to bite the dust, too, mostly because it just makes it *that much angstier.* Which is always a good thing. And the fact that *Youji* killed him... well that just takes the cake right there. I was silently screaming at Schuldig to shut the hell up afterwards, and I can't wait to see how the things he said will impact the already tenuous relationship between Youji and Ken.

[And I'm still utterly in love with the way you write Youji, just so you know.]

As usual, it was worth the wait! I'm looking forward to the next chapter.