I'm not sure if enjoy is the right word for a story as heart-wrenching as this--but I can say I really really liked it. I hadn't read the prequel when I read it, although I did later--although in the end I don't think it was necessary to read the prequel to appreciate this story. I can tell you that you've made me depressed now about anything I could write--and despite that , just wanted to write a quick thanks for this story--it was full of the right kind of hope and sorrow mixed, the characterizations were excellent--I like the pride and strength in your Ken, despite the trauma he's suffered--and an honest and more realistic treatment of a difficult topic.

Woof. That was possibly the angstiest, truest, best written almost-sex-scene I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

You've portrayed the aftermath of rape in a perfectly plausible way, staying true to the characters and being realistic at the same time. The emotions are real, the dialogue is tense and flows smoothly, and it is all so well described I can see it clearly.

All of which, coming from you, I should expect. And it delights me.

As I'm sure I've said before, I love the way you write Youji. He feels wonderfully true to me- it's like you've got his character down to his every thought and I revel in it. It's so hard to find accurate characterization these days, but you always deliver, and I revel in it.

Excellent.

*long, drawn out squeal of love*

YOU OWN MY SOUL LIKE WHOA. *heart* *heart* *heart*

Seriously. Just when I almost forget how much I absolutely crave your writing, you come with something this achingly painful, this well-written, this absolutely perfect and remind me of how addicting it is to read such good WK fanfic. Ah, I can rest happy today. It's the best V-Day pressie ever. :D

First of all, I'm so giddy that you wrote a sequel. I was always curious how Youji and Ken's relationship would proceed-- and I love how you make it seem so natural, so right, while at the same time show how Ken is absolutely falling apart in it. It makes your heart hurt because it's obvious, lying underneath the writing, that what he feels for Youji is just... there are no words, that sort of tender rightness, but at the same time you see how damaged he is over all of his past experiences. Ken. Oh, Ken.

Brilliant writing. The details, the texture, the sensation of it all-- I love how you bleed tension into all these descriptions and still make them flow, don't make them choppy and short. You have the ability to write fantastic imagery and not keep it overly subtle and still keep that dynamic energy to it; I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, crossing my fingers for poor Kenken.

KEN IN AN APRON. SQUEE. OH MY GOD, I LOVE YOU. ANYTHING YOU WANT, IT'S YOURS. GOT ANYTHING YOU WANT WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY? *_*

Because you own me for that. Apron!Ken. Ungh.

And the dish, and Youji teasing... the touching, the softness. That natural awkwardness. And the simple sentences that come and knock you in the gut out of nowhere-- "It hurts Ken to know that Youji loves him, too," or "(And he wonders if Youji pities him, but somehow he can’t find the words to ask.)" God. Ouch.

I adore your emotional complexity in these fics. Seriously. You aren't afraid to tackle reactions, to bring up insecurities and fears while still not overwhelming us with them or making them stupid. This is a very real, gritty sort of world, and you show it that way, making it believable. Making Ken's fear believable.

"Times like this, he fancies he can see the scars in Ken's eyes." Oh my god. That line. Just... yes.

Also, when Ken tells Schu to fuck off, that it's none of his business... I think my heart broke a little bit. Or maybe completely. Sharp stab. Over.

Most of all, even when our heart's breaking for him, even when he's got all this piled up on his already fucked up life, Ken's still Ken. He shines through clearly; beaten, frightened, upset, but still Ken. That inner core of strength and intermingling weakness, the rough, desperate sort of thoughts, the language, the body language-- Ken's reply when Youji told him to lift his hips, when he curses-- it's all so very Ken that it makes the entire experience that much more painful.

Brilliant.

*clings*

... I'm taking this fic hostage.

Beautiful written and so god damned true. If something like rape happens to you, then you don't just get over it like that just because you've found someone you love. Great that finally someone tackles this and writes a fic about it!
An awesome fic that captured it all very well. All those thoughts and feelings. The guilt, the shame, the doubting, the self-loathing,... awesome work! I had tears in my eyes.
Great job!

Kisses and hugs
Gillie

o GOD.

*dies*

after I read its prequel on I really wanted you to write about the aftermath, about how both Ken and Youji dealt with it.

And this. This is so beautifully heartbreaking. the realistic aftermath, the silence and the quietness and the unspoken words and the shadowed emotions.

Absolutely splendid.